Newport Wafer Fab

Debate between Lord Campbell of Pittenweem and Lord Callanan

Thursday 7th April 2022 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

I am sorry, but that comment is unwarranted. This is a commercial transaction between a company called Nexperia and Newport Wafer Fab. There are a lot of jobs involved—people are employed by Newport Wafer Fab—and this is an important issue. The Government will consider it properly with appropriate due diligence, based on the advice from a number of other government departments and from the National Security Adviser. The Business Secretary will take a decision in due course.

[Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (LD)]

My Lords, did not the Prime Minister announce on 7 July last year an investigation and a review into this matter? What has happened to that review?

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

The Prime Minister announced that the National Security Adviser would be asked to look at the transaction, and he is indeed doing that.

Global Navigation Satellite System

Debate between Lord Campbell of Pittenweem and Lord Callanan

Wednesday 10th March 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

The UK PNT strategy group is developing the UK’s first national PNT strategy, which includes a review of critical dependencies and actions. Decisions on the publication of the strategy and leadership for implementation are subject to a wider review of PNT governance being led by the Cabinet Office.

[Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (LD)]

My Lords, the Government paid £400 million for a minority interest in a failing company whose satellites, as we have heard, are for communication, not navigation. What kind of investment was that?

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

I outlined in answer to three other questions the rationale for our investment in OneWeb.

Retail Sector: Unemployment

Debate between Lord Campbell of Pittenweem and Lord Callanan

Wednesday 27th January 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

The noble Lord will understand that I cannot give commitments on VAT and tax changes. They are rightly a matter for the Chancellor. We need to do all we can to assist the sector in these difficult times. I have outlined some of the measures we are taking to support retail. We will continue to do that and will keep all future policies under review to see what we can do to help.

[Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (LD) [V]]

My Lords, if one of the alternative uses is housing, can we ensure that that housing is of the highest standard? Some existing conversions for that purpose have been very poor. Can we also ensure that there will be mixed tenure, with a proper segment for social housing, and that any buildings should fit the existing townscape and not be an excuse for multi-storey conversions?

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

The noble Lord make some good points but he is tempting me to get into planning matters, which, of course, are not my responsibility. We need to make sure that housing, when it is built, is sustainable and of a proper and appropriate quality.

Covid-19: Business

Debate between Lord Campbell of Pittenweem and Lord Callanan

Wednesday 13th May 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan]

My Lords, as always, I am very happy to join my noble friend in paying tribute to the many small community businesses up and down the country that play such an important part in our community life, and our message to them is a simple one. We will stand by them. We have announced an unprecedented range of measures to help them get through this extremely difficult and challenging period. The bounce-back loans scheme, which I am sure my noble friend is aware of, is a 100% government-backed loan scheme for small businesses. Any business will be able to borrow between £2,000 and £25,000 and have access to that cash, literally, within days. Those loans will be interest-free for the first 12 months. Businesses can apply online in a short and simple form. I totally agree with my noble friend that we need to stand by these businesses.

[Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (LD)]

My Lords, in the present circumstances it is clear that many businesses —particularly small ones, as has been mentioned—are desperate to avoid liquidation or bankruptcy, with employees in turn equally desperate to keep their jobs. In those circumstances, how can we be confident that both will not be tempted to cut corners?

[Lord Callanan]

That is why we have put in place such a strong enforcement regime. We have given extra resources to the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities to help them enforce these demands. Ultimately, it is a matter of trusting in the many sensible, established companies up and down the country to do the right thing for their employees. Most companies are endeavouring to do that; it is in their interests, and that is why they are successful. We will not hesitate to take enforcement action against the small minority that do not.