Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Tuesday 25th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hammond]

I know that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government will want to look at the allocation of funding to local authorities, including Derbyshire County Council. As the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr Skinner) will know, there are many powerful advocates for Derbyshire on both sides of the House.

[Mr Speaker]

I wish the hon. Member for Solihull (Julian Knight) a speedy recovery. He may ask his question from his seat.

[Julian Knight (Solihull) (Con)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Chancellor will be well aware that the west midlands has a trade surplus with China, thanks to Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull and wider manufacturing. On their visits to BRIC nations, previous Chancellors have been keen to trumpet business in the northern powerhouse. Will this Chancellor help the cogs of the midlands engine to turn by taking west midlands businesses with him on future visits?

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[Kevin Hollinrake (Thirsk and Malton) (Con)]

I welcome the Government’s ongoing commitment to the northern powerhouse given the impact that that can have on manufacturing, in particular in my constituency, and the allocated funds for the A64 at Hopgrove. Does the Minister agree that such investments must seek maximum economic benefit? The current proposal from Highways England will simply kick an existing pinch point down the road if we do not see the dualling of that carriageway on the A64.

[Mr Speaker]

That had an extremely tangential relationship with the matter of manufacturing industry, therefore meriting an extremely pithy response.

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[Edward Argar]

Earlier this year, a Grant Thornton report suggested that the east midlands could contribute £53 billion to the UK economy by 2025, reflecting the central role that Leicestershire and the east midlands continue to play in driving the country’s growth. Does my hon. Friend agree, however, that if we are to sustain that record of success, it is vital for us to continue to deliver on investment in Leicestershire’s road, rail and broader infrastructure?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. May I remind colleagues of the merits of the blue pencil?

[Simon Kirby]

Good advice, Mr Speaker, as ever.

I thank my hon. Friend for his interest in the east midlands. I agree that improving transport between and within our major cities is vital to help them fulfil their productive potential. As the Chancellor has said, we are investing over £5 billion in transport infrastructure to put the midlands at the heart of a modern transport network.

[Mr Speaker]

Pithiness personified.

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[Shabana Mahmood]

The Chancellor’s predecessor had many a failed target and plan, one of which was a target of £1 trillion in exports by 2020, a target that is nowhere near being reached even with full access to, and membership of, the single market. Meanwhile other countries such as Germany currently export more than we do to China and other growth markets. Does the Chancellor agree that the failure of the Government to improve the UK’s export performance has left us unable to take full advantage of opportunities outside the EU and more vulnerable to—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I think the hon. Lady should leave a full version of her question in the Library of the House.

[Mr Hammond]

The Government can of course support and enable exporters, but we cannot do their job for them. It is for British exporters to make their businesses competitive and to go and sell their wares around the world, but we will do everything we can to support them in that endeavour.

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[The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Simon Kirby)]

The Financial Conduct Authority is looking at this important issue, and we will wait on its view.

[Mr Speaker]

Michael Fabricant—not here. That is unprecedented in the history of my being in the Chair. I have never known the hon. Gentleman not to be here, but, fortunately, Mr Philip Davies is here.

[Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con)]

T9. How much UK taxpayers’ money used to bail out and to loan to other EU countries by the EU has been repaid to the UK, and how much is still outstanding? What is the Chancellor doing to ensure that we get all that money back when we leave the European Union?

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[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Mr Speaker]

I am afraid that this will be the last topical question.

[Alex Chalk (Cheltenham) (Con)]

Does the Chancellor support Cheltenham’s Cyber Innovation Centre, and does he agree that spending on our world-class defence and security assets, such as GCHQ, can play a vital role in nurturing the high-tech civilian jobs of tomorrow?