Julian questions Business Secretary on facilitating investment in cutting-edge local enterprises
June 12, 2019
Julian yesterday pressed Greg Clark, the Business Secretary, to ensure that the government do everything it can to support business investment in innovation and new technology, using the example of York Instruments, based in Heslington.
During questions to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in the House of Commons, he asked:
“York Instruments, based in my constituency, is doing ground-breaking work developing advanced medical devices, attracting £10 million of private investment from the US to sustain 41 high-skilled jobs. Can the Government assure me that they are doing everything possible to facilitate this kind of investment, which can be very difficult for some small businesses to navigate?”
In response, the Secretary of State confirmed that the government was focused on supporting this kind of investment. He noted the government’s creation of the Life Sciences sector deal, which covers medical technology, a partnership between government and the private sector to support innovation, job creation and productivity. Greg Clark said this programme “has been so successful that we are on the second version of it, and further investments will be announced shortly.”
On leaving the House of Commons Julian said:
“York Instruments are doing great things in attracting overseas business investment in their new technology and creating high-skill jobs, and we want more enterprises like this in our city.
I am encouraged by the Business Secretary’s awareness of the need for government to facilitate this kind of investment, which is where new skilled jobs and the productivity gains that deliver higher wages are going to come from.
I will continue to press the government on its duty to do absolutely everything to secure future prosperity and opportunities for York.”
