Local MP, Sir Nicholas Winterton raised the issue of the parlous state of the United Kingdom’s manufacturing industry in the House of Commons during Prime Minister’s Question Time on 20th May. However, the Macclesfield MP first paid tribute to the outgoing Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon Michael Martin MP, who announced his retirement earlier in the week.
The Macclesfield MP asked:
“Does the Prime Minister accept that manufacturing industry is one of the only sources of sustainable non-inflationary economic growth? Sadly, the number employed in manufacturing has dropped from 4.5 million in 1997 to 2.73 million today.
“Will he and his Government ensure that they do not place any additional burdens, such as the increase in national insurance, fuel tax and regulation, on manufacturing industry? We want to be competitive. Please will he encourage, and not de-incentivise, industry and manufacturing in this country?”
The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP replied:
“The future of this country will be built on modern manufacturing strength. In advanced manufacturing we are one of the great leaders of the world; we have some of the greatest companies in the world—they operate from Britain but are global players with huge strengths in new technology and in innovation. Our manufacturing strategy is to support our large companies and to encourage innovation so that we have small and medium-sized companies coming forward.
“We gave additional investment allowances for manufacturing in the Budget, our corporation tax is the lowest that it has been for many, many years, and we continue to support small businesses with enterprise grants; 128,000 businesses have now received some help from the Government during this downturn to get through these difficult times.
“As 50 per cent. of our manufacturing is exported, it is so important that the European economy moves forward as well; it is very important to us that we work with Europe so that we achieve growth and jobs for the future,” concluded the Prime Minister.
