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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their timetable for implementing the recommendations of the Made Smarter Review.

We have been working hard with Industry and Whitehall colleagues to consider how to build on existing pilot activities and align programmes in areas such as skills, and research and development. We are also exploring how to better coordinate institutions, such as Catapults and research bodies, to help realise the opportunities Made Smarter highlights for manufacturing across the UK.

These discussions will continue throughout 2018/19. In February, my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy announced two developments:

• He asked Sir Mark Walport to work with Juergen Maier on the development of an Industrial Strategy Challenge on the digitalisation of our manufacturing industry. Successful proposals will be announced later in the year.
• The Made Smarter Commission, an industry/government collaboration to lead on the future of UK manufacturing and provide governance for a future sector deal. Membership is currently being considered and we anticipate further announcements in the coming weeks.