Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lloyd Hatton and Peter Kyle

Thursday 2nd July 2026 Commons Chamber

[Lloyd Hatton (South Dorset) (Lab)]

T6. The Dorset Innovation Park already has a growing ecosystem of defence companies, including BattleLab and a proposed factory, which are developing cutting edge drone technology. The opportunities are truly immense. Will the Minister commit to working alongside DSIT and the Ministry of Defence to help establish the park as a hub for defence firms looking to develop the very next generation of drone technology?

[Peter Kyle]

I am already working with DSIT on these issues, but because of my hon. Friend’s informed question and the imploration for me to do more I will double down on that. He is giving real voice to an incredibly important part of the defence technology sector which we need to foster. The defence investment plan invests much more in drone technology. We will be investing more than £5 billion in drones over the next four years, and that his constituency will be playing a very key role in that.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lloyd Hatton and Peter Kyle

Thursday 12th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Lloyd Hatton (South Dorset) (Lab)]

11. What steps he is taking to support the creation of well-paid jobs.

[The Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Peter Kyle)]

The industrial strategy focuses on business investment and creating high-quality jobs. We back our strengths and are unblocking barriers, including through £1.2 billion of skills investment by 2028-29. This Labour Government are investing in skills, in jobs, and in creating wealth and opportunity across the United Kingdom.

[Peter Kyle]

I absolutely will. First, Hendon has a champion in you—I mean my hon. Friend—and that counts for a lot. It also has a champion in you, Mr Speaker, as you make sure that we get through these questions so swiftly and efficiently. I can assure the House that the industrial strategy has delivered, on average, over £7,900 more in wages in the sectors that we are supporting through it. Over 50,000 jobs have been supported through investment commitments made to the industrial strategy’s eight sectors in the last quarter alone. This Government are attracting investment, spending it wisely and making sure that all communities, including Hendon, benefit from it.

[Lloyd Hatton]

It is no secret that clean energy is creating the next generation of well-paid jobs, and it is essential that South Dorset gets its fair share of them. The development of offshore wind at Portland, including the exciting Morwind and PortWind projects, would certainly help to create much-needed maritime, engineering and construction jobs for local people. With that in mind, will the Minister work with me, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Crown Estate to support the development of offshore wind off the coast of Portland?

[Peter Kyle]

It would be a pleasure to work with my hon. Friend to unlock more investment in offshore wind in South Dorset. Dorset council and the Crown Estate have already committed up to £1 million to support a feasibility study for a £500 million clean energy port facility adjacent to Portland port that has been proposed by energy developer Morwind. Clean energy industries are expected to support 860,000 jobs across the UK by 2030, including up to 100,000 direct and indirect jobs in offshore wind. Thanks to the work that my hon. Friend is putting in, I am sure that South Dorset will benefit from this incredible and growing British industry.