Growing the UK Economy

Sam Carling Excerpts

Wednesday 29th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sam Carling (North West Cambridgeshire) (Lab)]

I welcome the Government’s announcements today, in particular on the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are an economic powerhouse for our country. What we often find is that spin-out businesses from Cambridge look to move to Peterborough as they grow, because of our expertise in advanced manufacturing and logistics. Does the Chief Secretary agree that, with the benefits the growth corridor will bring, it is also vital that we bring in the expertise from Peterborough and utilise the increased transport connectivity to do that?

[Darren Jones]

I thank my hon. Friend, who is absolutely right. The growth corridor is an important enabler not just for developments along the railway, but for the whole region, as we see from other countries that get such projects right—for example, the Chancellor referred to silicon valley—where the opportunities for the broader region are made available. I am sure they will be available to the people of Peterborough, too.

Oral Answers to Questions

Sam Carling Excerpts

Tuesday 29th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Rachel Reeves]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. This is an issue that resonates right across the House, with so many of us hearing terrible stories at our surgeries about the lack of support for some of the most vulnerable children in society. I know that it is a priority for the Education Secretary too, and we will set out more detail on departmental settlements in the Budget tomorrow.

[Sam Carling (North West Cambridgeshire) (Lab)]

T8. There are over 50 pubs and breweries in my constituency, supporting more than 1,500 jobs and contributing millions of pounds to our economy. Whether it is the Mulberry Tree Farm in Hampton or the Windmill in Orton Waterville, these are valued businesses that have earned their place in our local community. Does the Chancellor agree that they deserve to be supported, and that this Labour Government will give hospitality the tools it needs to thrive?

Public Spending: Inheritance

Sam Carling Excerpts

Monday 29th July 2024 Commons Chamber

[Rachel Reeves]

If the right hon. Gentleman has any chance of fixing the mess that his previous Government made, he might want to start with an apology.

[Sam Carling (North West Cambridgeshire) (Lab)]

I thank the Chancellor for her honesty on the incredibly serious situation that she has just outlined. Does she agree that the above-inflation pay deals agreed by this Government with our public sector staff will begin the process of rebuilding trust between them and our Government and will benefit the public purse by reducing strike action?

[Rachel Reeves]

I thank my hon. Friend for that question. Let us just be clear that the pay recommendations today are in line with private sector pay. These are just the pay deals that are received by the majority of workers in the private sector. My hon. Friend is right that we owe a debt of gratitude to our frontline workers, who got us through the pandemic and so many other challenges over the last few years, and they deserve to be paid properly for their work.