Oral Answers to Questions

Lindsay Hoyle Excerpts

Thursday 24th February 2022 Commons Chamber

[Virginia Crosbie (Ynys Môn) (Con)]

4. What recent progress the Brexit Opportunities Unit has made in delivering growth and innovation.

[Mr Speaker]

I welcome Jacob Rees-Mogg to the Dispatch Box.

[The Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency (Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker; it is a rare treat.

Her Majesty’s Government are delivering an ambitious programme to seize the opportunities of Brexit and deliver growth and innovation across the United Kingdom. The Brexit Opportunities Unit co-ordinates those reforms in close partnership with other Departments, including by working towards our target to cut at least £1 billion of EU red tape to help businesses to innovate and grow.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Rees-Mogg]

My hon. Friends the Members for Cleethorpes (Martin Vickers) and for Ynys Môn (Virginia Crosbie) compete with each other to be greatest champion of their constituencies. I look forward to visiting Cleethorpes in the not-too-distant future. There is a date in the diary, and I am looking forward to the finest food that Cleethorpes can provide when I go there to speak.

[Mr Speaker]

Don’t get too excited. You should be going to Lancashire for food.

[Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab)]

5. What steps he is taking to facilitate open and transparent public procurement.

--- Later in debate ---

[Steve Barclay]

I take my hon. Friend’s point, but having the 12 regional clusters will help businesses that want to do the right thing and know how best to protect against the risks of cyber. Our aim is to help businesses improve their cyber-security. Given events in Europe today, it is particularly pressing that businesses take this seriously.

[Mr Speaker]

I call John Spellar. Not here.

--- Later in debate ---

[Nigel Adams]

It plays a key role in the support of modern Government communications on social media. With respect, I will take no lectures on spin from Labour: the Labour Government spent £2.5 billion a year on marketing and communications and 4,000 spin doctors worked in central Government and their quangos—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Minister, this is about the Prime Minister and press; I do not think we need to wander around the world.

[Neale Hanvey (Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath) (Alba)]

20. What his latest estimate is of the (a) number and (b) value of contracts for the supply of PPE and covid-19 testing equipment to the NHS which were processed through the high priority lane.