Midlands Engine
Debate between Lilian Greenwood and Chris White(7 years, 10 months ago)
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Chris White
That is a salutary reminder that the midlands are made up of both the west and east, and I thank my hon. Friend for that contribution.
Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab)
Will the hon. Gentleman give way on that point?
Chris White
I will, although I can imagine what the hon. Lady is going to say.
Lilian Greenwood
I just wish to follow up on the point made by the hon. Member for Erewash (Maggie Throup). East Midlands Airport is, of course, different from Birmingham Airport in that it is the second-largest freight airport in the country, which is hugely important for serving businesses across the whole region. Will the hon. Gentleman acknowledge that point?
Chris White
I thank the hon. Lady for making it simple for me by asking me to acknowledge the point. I most certainly do.
As with the industrial strategy, it is important to provide measures to understand how the midlands engine initiative is succeeding. For example, to what extent do we need to boost foreign direct investment? How many apprenticeships are needed in the region? What is the required level of financial support for science and research? An office for industrial strategy could and should be created and held accountable for the progress made, including our region’s economic success.
The Green Paper sets out 10 pillars to boost the nation’s economy, from business growth and investment in infrastructure to clean energy and world-class research. The midlands engine touches on all those pillars and will benefit from the strategy. In turn, the region can play an instrumental role in our nation’s success.