Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Fletcher and George Freeman

Wednesday 15th March 2023 Commons Chamber

[George Freeman]

It is a great shame that the shadow spokeswoman is so determined to talk the UK down. The truth is that in the last 10 years, the life sciences sector has grown 1,000%. The north-east, where she is from, is driving that. I do not recognise that the UK sector is being held back in the way that she says, but the Chancellor will say more this afternoon about the tax and business environment. The reason that R&D tax credits are up so much is that our innovation economy has gone from 1.7% of GDP to 2.8%. That is a huge success over the last 10 years, and we are responsible for it.

[Mark Fletcher (Bolsover) (Con)]

3. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help low-income households access the internet.