Speeches by Poynton.

“Go ahead—I would like to hear the hon. Member’s intervention.”

“I am afraid the hon. Member often falls into the trap of thinking that being just a little bit better than the Tories is good enough for Scotland. I see Scotland as much more than that. While this Government are providing businesses with the certainty that they need to plan for the future, the SNP has been content to m…”

“I speak today as a member of the Business and Trade Committee and as the MP for Livingston constituency, determined to see this Department play its vital part in delivering the Government’s No. 1 mission of economic growth and economic renewal, all underpinned by a pro-worker, pro-business approach. One of the crucial …”

“We will shortly see the forthcoming sector plan on the professional and business services. Can you help us think about how we should judge that sector plan, both in itself, but then on an ongoing basis? What does success look like?”

“Mr Walker and Mr Brierley, I have a slight variant on that. Mr Walker, you outlined well the challenges we face, particularly in start-ups getting capital. What should the Government be doing specifically there to try to help start-ups?”

“Mr Walker, I want to pick up on your point on capital, looking at mobilising capital and crowding in investment. I will perhaps start with you, Mr Stephens, if you do not mind. You mentioned the US $53 billion versus the UK’s £1 billion and there being only one mention in the industrial strategy. How do you think the G…”

“What has been your experience, Ms Yvernault, of speaking to the UK Government? When you speak to different Departments, do you get different answers? Can you navigate that?”

“Why do we not focus on that piece, then? I will go to Mr Bates first. What Government Departments have you spoken to about the life science sector plan? Are they all on the same page?”

“Finally, we are keen to look at the governance and oversight of the industrial strategy and, frankly, how we make Government function alongside industry. Perhaps I will start with you, Sir John. You mentioned in previous answers that you speak to other countries. What do you say to them when you are talking about the l…”

“I thank the Prime Minister for his statement and the leadership he is showing at this moment of uncertainty. The quality of the contributions from Members on both sides of the House today shows this Parliament and this country rising to meet the moment. That is why it is so disappointing, but perhaps not surprising, th…”

“Does my hon. Friend agree with me that the Scottish Government need a new direction on business rates, because not only have they not passed on the money—the Barnett consequentials that have come from the UK Government—to hospitality and retail, but they have failed the town centres over the last 18 years?”

“I completely agree. We need to be much more creative about how we use the units. Some of these businesses, frankly, are not coming back to our high streets so we should be honest about that and look at other options such as childcare, co-working spaces and housing in town centres to help rejuvenate those places and get…”

“Yes, I completely agree with my hon. Friend. I also think that his point about antisocial behaviour is a strong one; these town centres and high streets need to be places where people feel safe and want to spend time with their families. As I was saying, the rejuvenation of our high streets and town centres is possible…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Desmond. I congratulate the hon. Member for Stockton West (Matt Vickers) on securing this important debate. I will focus my remarks on Scottish high streets, which should be the beating hearts of our communities, because thriving high streets, and the businesses ba…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stringer. My congratulations to the right hon. and learned Member for Kenilworth and Southam (Sir Jeremy Wright) on securing this important debate. Online safety and the wellbeing of our children and young people in digital and online spaces are issues that guide many …”

“Eric, what is the perspective from the US on that?”

“I would like to change gears a little bit to think about how trade, exports and imports are affecting workers and businesses here in the UK. This is probably one for Rosa, but I would be interested to get Eric’s perspective from the US too. Given the rapid growth in global ecommerce and regulatory responses from the US…”

“That was my next question. You have all very clearly outlined some of these economic security risks. The question for us now is what the UK Government should be doing about that. What are the safeguards and tools that the UK now has in place to help protect against some of these economic security threats? What should w…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Vickers. I am the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on children’s online safety, but I am contributing on my own behalf. The opportunities and perils of social media are increasingly weighing on the minds of parents, educators, society and, above all, young…”

“I thank the Minister for that answer. In the Livingston constituency, we have a number of fantastic biotech and life sciences businesses, such as Valneva, which is working on a range of vaccines, including for malaria, and as the Minister mentioned, SilviBio, which is working on sustainable alternatives to peat. Given …”