MPs debate trade, exports, innovation and productivity
13 January 2016 (updated on 13 January 2016)
MPs debated trade, exports, innovation and productivity in the House of Commons on Wednesday 13 January. The subject of the debate was chosen by the Scottish National Party.
Trade, exports, innovation and productivity
The debate was moved by the Shadow SNP Westminster Group Leader (Economy), Stewart Hosie. Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise, Anna Soubry, responded on behalf of the Government.
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Motion debated
That this House regrets the continuing lack of balance in the UK economy and the UK Government's over-reliance on unsustainable consumer debt to support economic growth; notes in particular the UK’s poor export performance, which resulted in a trade deficit in goods of £123 billion in 2014; further notes the UK’s continuing poor productivity record and the lack of a credible long-term plan to improve it; and is deeply concerned by the UK Government’s change to Innovate UK funding of innovation from grants to loans, which this House believes will result in a deterioration of private sector research and development.
Related information
About Opposition day debates
Opposition days are days allocated in the House of Commons in each session for the discussion of subjects chosen by the Opposition.
Seventeen days are at the disposal of the Leader of the Opposition, the leader of the largest opposition party, to decide which matters are debated. Three days are usually divided between the other opposition parties.
The Opposition generally use them to raise questions of policy and administration. Frequently, two separate subjects are debated on an opposition day.
Watching Opposition day debates from the public gallery
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