UK Parliament / Open data

United Kingdom Internal Market Bill

Of course, Dame Rosie, and I mean no discourtesy, either to them or to your chairing of the debate. It is just a little unusual not to be able to see the Member that you are directing a comment to.

Let me turn to amendment 22 on the important topic of climate change, tabled by the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas). She made her case with her usual passion and eloquence, which I greatly respect, and I share her determination to see those goals achieved, and so do the United Kingdom Government. However, there is already an overarching legal and policy framework for achieving those goals, and I do not think it is necessary to put that restriction on to that power, so I urge her to withdraw the amendment.

Let me turn briefly to the Government amendments 23, 24, 25 and 36, which seek to add to the types of mechanisms by which such assistance can be provided to further support economic development and other matters across the UK by means of an investment fund. Those are to help to ensure that this power can be used to best effect to boost growth, and I certainly hope every right hon. and hon. Member would support that.

This power, and the Bill overall, present a real once-in-a-generation opportunity to level up our country, to strengthen our Union and to allow the UK Government to invest better the taxpayers’ money that was previously spent by Brussels. We have a responsibility to support people, businesses and communities across the whole of our United Kingdom. This power enables the UK Government to do that in a variety of ways. I say to my right hon. and hon. Friends who asked about the UK shared prosperity fund that we can meet the manifesto commitment to deliver the fund, which matches the value of EU structural funds by using the provisions set out in this part of the Bill.

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This power gives us the ability to support our world-leading cultural sector, which includes more than 30 world heritage sites, some of the most visited museums and galleries in the world, and festivals that showcase the UK’s creativity and innovation. It also provides the chance further to support sports policy interventions that will benefit the whole or any part of the UK. It gives us the chance to support educational and training exchanges in the UK and beyond, benefiting not only students but all of us. The Government are determined to pursue high-quality educational opportunities that meet our skills needs, fuel our economy and create world-leading outcomes for students.

The power means that we can consider infrastructure investment across the boundaries of the nations—constituency examples have been given that show why that is so important, especially in areas where two of our nations come together—and it leaves the competences of our devolved Administrations intact. Above all, the Bill will deliver a thriving UK internal market, underpinned by the strength of the UK Government. It will provide opportunity and prosperity for citizens across this country. I commend clauses 46 and 47 to the House.

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
680 cc439-440 
Session
2019-21
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
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