Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Rolls Royce and (b) other aerospace and engineering employers in the Bristol region.

My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has regular discussions with aerospace and engineering companies who employ people in Bristol, such as Airbus and GKN. Most recently, he spoke with John Rishton, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce on 3rd November. I also speak to aerospace employers regularly, including through the Aerospace Growth Partnership.

Over the past year, my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has visited Bristol on three separate occasions on 3 April, 7 July and 30 October. On 3 April he visited Redcliffe Precision, a small aerospace company, and he also met with West of England Local Enterprise Partnership which includes Bristol Airport and Airbus. On 7 July he visited Bristol Robotics Laboratory. On 30 October he spoke and participated at an event at the National Composites Centre involving around 350 representatives from a wide range of aerospace and engineering employers, including from Bristol.