Oral Answers to Questions

Lucy Allan Excerpts

Tuesday 14th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Margot James]

The hon. Gentleman knows that the Taylor review is currently examining all the issues that he raises. I am very concerned about the plight of some low-paid workers—they may well actually be workers, rather than self-employed. That is up to the courts and the Government to conclude later this year, but I assure him that we take the issues he raises very seriously.

[Lucy Allan (Telford) (Con)]

11. What assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Government’s industrial strategy on the west midlands.

[James Morris (Halesowen and Rowley Regis) (Con)]

13. What assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Government’s industrial strategy on the west midlands.

[The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Greg Clark)]

Last week, we published the midlands engine strategy. It is further demonstration that this Government are committed to investing in the midlands, a region that has seen over 180,000 more people in employment since 2010.

[Lucy Allan]

I thank the Minister for his reply. Telford is seeing increasing inward investment from businesses in the automotive supply chain such as Polytec and Magna’s Cosma, bringing real jobs and growth to Telford. Does he agree that Telford, with its reputation for innovation and advanced manufacturing, is set to play a key role in the midlands engine strategy, and will he congratulate those businesses on helping to build a successful future for Telford?

[Greg Clark]

I will indeed. My hon. Friend’s constituency, which includes Coalbrookdale, has a good claim to be the cradle of the first industrial revolution—[Interruption.] It is perhaps a disputed claim, but I think Abraham Darby, in 1709, was fairly early. However, now, Telford is at the heart of the fourth industrial revolution, as my hon. Friend says. The T54 site is proving to be a very important location for automotive sector supply chain.