Business Committee begins Industrial Strategy inquiry

• Watch Parliament TV: Post-pandemic economic growth: Industrial Strategy
• Inquiry: Post-pandemic economic growth: Industrial Strategy
• Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee

The Industrial Strategy inquiry is looking at the barriers to growth and these hearings form part of the Committee’s overall ‘super-inquiry’ into Post-Pandemic Economic Growth.

The evidence hearing on Thursday will explore issues such as evaluating the success of the Government’s Industrial Strategy, the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit on Industrial Strategy, the effectiveness of the support provided to industries and sectors, and whether the Industrial Strategy should be more interventionist and protect key UK sectors.

Speaking ahead of the first session of the Industrial Strategy inquiry, Darren Jones, Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, said:

“In this inquiry, we will want to examine whether, particularly following the impact of Covid-19, the Government’s current industrial strategy (IS) is fit for purpose, whether it is genuinely strategic, and whether it is focused on the right sectors, issues and policy areas.

“On Thursday, we will be keen to explore key questions around which sectors and areas of our economy should be prioritised for Government support. As we continue to grapple with the impact of Covid-19 and consider what our economy might look like in the future, we want to examine what sectors and industries are best placed to deliver jobs, growth and innovation?”

Witnesses

Thursday 24 September - Please note there is no access to Parliament and the session will have remote participation by witnesses and Committee members

At 10,30am

• Rain Newton-Smith, Chief Economist, Confederation of British Industry
• Kate Bell, Head of Rights, International, Social and Economics, TUC
• Dr Anna Valero, ESRC Innovation Fellow – Growth, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE

At around 11.30am

• Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Chair, House of Commons Science and Technology Committee

Industrial Strategy sub-inquiry & the overall Post-pandemic economic growth inquiry

The Post-pandemic economic growth inquiry, launched in June, is an over-arching inquiry likely to run through the Parliament and will include a series of sub-inquiries examining issues such as devolution and the ‘levelling-up’ agenda, the role Government might play as a shareholder or investor in businesses in the future, and the measures needed to rebuild consumer confidence and stimulate economically and environmentally sustainable growth. Further terms of reference for these sub-inquiries will be published during the course of the Parliament.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees

Image: CCO