Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support manufacturing jobs in North East England in his negotiations with the EU for when the UK leaves the EU.

As we leave the EU there is an opportunity for us to do far more to engage with the wider world beyond Europe where there is so much emerging innovation and opportunity. The Industrial Strategy builds on our strengths, creates strong foundations to meet the challenges of the future and will help us to make the best of our relations with Europe and beyond. This helps ensure that minimal disruptions are made to UK manufacturing and facilitates conditions for it to thrive.

We recognise the challenges faced by EU Exit, and we remain committed to making the UK the best place in Europe to own and grow a business after the UK leaves the EU. Through our Industrial Strategy, we will make sure that we are using all the tools we have to stimulate growth in places such as the North East. This includes using our record investments in infrastructure to unlock growth in every part of the country; using the major new investment in research to support innovative manufacturing businesses across the country; and encouraging inward investment into the parts of the country where we need to get growth going faster. We are also cutting business taxes and slashing red tape.

Government is also supporting the North East LEP Growth Deal by providing £380 million of funding that will lead to an estimated 8,000 new jobs. The Growth Deal includes funding for the International Advanced Manufacturing Park, providing a world-class environment for high-tech industries and advanced manufacturing businesses.