Businesses: Technology

Lord Mountevans Excerpts
Wednesday 10th April 2019

(5 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Henley Portrait Lord Henley
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As always, my noble friend makes a valid point. We will see new jobs, better jobs, greater productivity and a general growth in the sector.

Lord Mountevans Portrait Lord Mountevans (CB)
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My Lords, fintech is a great story for Britain. Later this month, we have the Innovate Finance FinTech summit marking the beginning of UK FinTech Week, but 42% of those working in the sector come from overseas. Does the Minister agree that access to this country for the young innovators from abroad is essential, and that we should have an immigration regime which permits them to come to this country?

Lord Henley Portrait Lord Henley
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My Lords, the noble Lord rightly points to the importance of the fintech sector and the fact that London is its leading world player. We shall have to look carefully to ensure that we can attract the right people not only from abroad but from the UK. That is why skills will be important. I am sure that my noble friend from the Home Office will have noticed what he had to say on bringing in people from overseas.