Oral Answers to Questions

Tristram Hunt Excerpts

Thursday 8th December 2011 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Tristram Hunt (Stoke-on-Trent Central) (Lab)]

1. What recent steps his Department has taken to support the manufacturing sector.

[The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Vince Cable)]

The Government are taking action to support and grow modern manufacturing in the UK by encouraging higher levels of innovation exports, business investment and technical skills.

[Tristram Hunt]

In the last few weeks, five ceramic and brick companies have gone bust in the UK, including the Jesse Shirley bone china works in my constituency. The energy-intensive industry measures announced in the autumn statement did little for our pottery industry. Can we now have some movement from the Government on capital allowances for the ceramic sector, which is a vital part of our manufacturing industry?

[Vince Cable]

I will look at the specific issue of the ceramics industry. I know that the hon. Gentleman was involved in promoting an anti-dumping action. We considered the matter carefully, and there were not sufficient grounds to support the rather disproportionate action advocated by the European Commission. Indeed, the Chinese market share has remained pretty unchanged over the past decade. However, we will certainly consider what else can be done to help the industry.