Oral Answers to Questions

Kevin Hollinrake Excerpts

Tuesday 8th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Margot James]

I certainly agree with the hon. Gentleman that we need to invest more in support for SMEs, and that is precisely what we intend to do in my Department.

[Kevin Hollinrake (Thirsk and Malton) (Con)]

14. What steps his Department is taking to support the growth of businesses in the north of England.

[The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Greg Clark)]

Our investments in the northern powerhouse continue to support the growth of businesses in the north and are helping to build an economy that works for all.

[Kevin Hollinrake]

Work on Yorkshire’s largest economic project—a potash mine on the North York Moors—and the drilling of the UK’s first shale gas well since 2011 are both planned to commence early in 2017, but much of the associated traffic will travel down a single lane of the A64. Will the Secretary of State agree to meet me and representatives from the Department for Transport and the Treasury to see how we can make sure we have the necessary infrastructure upgrades to support those key economic developments?

[Greg Clark]

It would be a pleasure to meet my hon. Friend. One of the reasons why we have created the local enterprise partnerships and the growth deals is to make sure that the investment in infrastructure can go alongside economic development, and that is a big step forward.