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Tuesday Volume 689 9 February 2021 No. 174 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday 9 February 2021 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2021 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 135 9 FEBRUARY 2021 136 Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab) House of Commons [V]: Weare all grateful to Britain’s world-leading scientists for blazing a trail of hope in this terrible pandemic, Tuesday 9 February 2021 but how are Government protecting science’s future? Medical charity research is predicted to fall by over £4 billion after Government refused support. University The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock research has only been offered loans to cover losses from international students, while 90% of UK researchers are excluded from support, even though the virus PRAYERS prevents them from finishing their research. Postgraduate research students from the nine doctoral training programmes have written to demand action, given the [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] escalating scale of the crisis, and there is a massive Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Orders, reduction in funding for early career researchers. Why are 4 June and 30 December 2020). Government not protecting the future of the science [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] that is protecting us? Kwasi Kwarteng: The hon. Lady seems to be living in a parallel universe. If we look at the vaccine roll-out—we Oral Answers to Questions have seen 12.3 million, or nearly 12.3 million, people vaccinated as of this morning—we can see that the strength of the UK science base is really impressive. It is BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL looked on throughout the world as something to aspire STRATEGY to. We are a world-leading science power—a science superpower. I have already mentioned the £14.6 billion that we have committed to R&D, and this is an area The Secretary of State was asked— where we are confident and world-beating. UK Research and Development Post Office Closures: Scotland Jack Lopresti (Filton and Bradley Stoke) (Con): What steps his Department is taking to support UK research DavidMundell(Dumfriesshire,ClydesdaleandTweeddale) and development. [912039] (Con): What assessment his Department has made of the effect of the closure of post offices operated by Mr Speaker: I call the Secretary of State—and CJ Lang & Son Ltd on the post office network in congratulations. Scotland. [912040] The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Strategy (Kwasi Kwarteng): Thank you very much, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Paul Scully): Post offices Mr Speaker. and postmasters have played an absolutely key role in We announced at the spending review an investment our communities, especially at this particular time, and of £14.6 billion in R&D for 2021-22. This will no doubt I am pleased to report that, of the 25 CJ Lang branches cement our status as a science superpower here in the due to close—while discussions continue—CJ Lang UK. We are taking forward the ambitious commitments has agreed to keep 18 open. Post Office Ltd is actively in the R&D road map, which was published only last working on alternative arrangements to ensure continuity year, and we are of course continuing co-operation with of services for affected locations. the EU through association with the Horizon Europe programme. David Mundell: My constituents in Eastriggs, Thornhill, Gretna and the Georgetown area of Dumfries will be Jack Lopresti [V]: Apprentices have played a key role pleased to hear that their local post offices are not to throughout this pandemic, including working on the close at this time, particularly during a pandemic. Can Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which is helping the country the Minister reassure me, however,that in the negotiations overcome this virus. Can my right hon. Friend confirm or discussions that are to take place between the Post that, in National Apprenticeship Week, he will be working Office and CJ Lang—or SPAR, as it is known locally—the with and encouraging more R&D-based businesses to Post Office will have the flexibility to look at new models provide apprenticeship opportunities so that more young of operation of a post office in such a retailer so that people can gain the skills they need to progress in this that model can meet the needs of the retailer, the needs field? of the Post Office and, most importantly, the needs of the post office customer? Kwasi Kwarteng: Absolutely. I thank my hon. Friend for the great work he is doing as co-chair of the all-party Paul Scully: My right hon. Friend has been a big parliamentary group on apprenticeships. He will know champion for post offices in his constituency and across that apprenticeships are a key part of this Government’s Scotland, including the world’s oldest post office in plan for jobs as we build back better from the pandemic, Sanquhar. I am glad to report that, yes, the Post Office and that is why we are offering employers cash payments does want to be flexible in delivering postal services of up to £2,000 when they hire a new apprentice, until across the country, including different models, according 31 March this year. to demand. 137 Oral Answers 9 FEBRUARY 2021 Oral Answers 138 Dismiss and Re-engage Tactics support for businesses, including the job retention scheme, support grants and Government-backed loans. I speak NavenduMishra(Stockport)(Lab):Whatrecentdiscussions regularly with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of he has had with (a) employers and (b) trade unions on the Exchequer on all the support measures available for the use of dismiss and re-engage tactics in negotiations businesses, including in the next stage when we try to with employees. [912042] lead and help them through the pandemic and towards recovery. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Amanda Solloway): Using Jason McCartney [V]:Hundreds of my local hospitality threats of firing and rehiring as a negotiating tactic is businesses are extremely grateful for the Government completely unacceptable. That is why this Government support grants they have received. As the success of the have asked ACAS to look into this matter. It is talking vaccine roll-out allows those businesses to start planning to businesses and employee representatives to gather reopening, will my right hon. Friend continue to speak evidence of how fire and rehire has been used in practice. with the Chancellor about helping hospitality businesses, including the wedding industry, as they get back on their Navendu Mishra [V]: I refer the House to my entry in feet, perhaps by extending help with VAT and business the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. rates? GoNorthWest bus workers, many of them my constituents, are balloting for industrial action against Kwasi Kwarteng: As my hon. Friend knows, we speak shameful fire and rehire tactics that would see 10% cuts all the time not only to my right hon. Friend the to wages and jobs and sickness protection policies shredded, Chancellor of the Exchequer but to the sector; indeed, all in the middle of a pandemic. With British Airways ministerial colleagues spoke to the sector just yesterday recently forced to back down from similar threats against and I have dipped in on roundtables as well. We are very cargo staff after targeted strikes by Unite the union, concerned about this; we fully recognise the great efforts does the Minister agree that Government inaction against my hon. Friend is making on behalf of his constituents, this exploitative legal loophole has meant that industrial but we are in regular contact with our colleagues in the action and trade union organising are working people’s Treasury. only defence against disreputable employers? David Linden: Almost 24,000 retail, hospitality and AmandaSolloway:ThisGovernmenthaveanunprecedented leisure businesses in Scotland are currently supported record in looking after employee rights, and we expect by 100% rates relief. That support has been extended all employers to treat employees fairly in a spirit of until the end of July, but the Scottish Government want partnership. to go further and Scottish businesses need us to go further. However, due to borrowing constraints placed on Scotland’s Parliament, the funding necessary to extend Covid-19: Support for Businesses further can only come from the UK Government, so does the Secretary of State agree that his Government Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con): What steps should step up and fund this relief for another year? his Department is taking to support businesses during the covid-19 outbreak. [912043] Kwasi Kwarteng: What I do agree with is the fact that we have extended an unprecedented range of support David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP): What discussions and measures. I am in regular contact with my right he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on hon. Friend the Chancellor; he has taken a nimble approach, increasing support to businesses affected by the covid-19 and I look forward to engaging with him on what further outbreak. [912050] support we can supply. Selaine Saxby (North Devon) (Con): What steps his Selaine Saxby [V]: The hospitality supply chain has Department is taking to support businesses during the remained open despite a significant loss of earnings to covid-19 outbreak. [912055] continue supplying the NHS and schools that have to be open. Here in North Devon, Philip Dennis and Savona Allan Dorans (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (SNP): delivered to people’s homes and operated pop-up click What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the and collect venues when many vulnerable households Exchequer on increasing support to businesses affected struggled for supermarkets slots.However,these companies by the covid-19 outbreak.

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