Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Ninth Report - UK plc
Business and Trade Committee
HC 1120
Published 24 March 2023
Recommendations
6
Accepted
Para 27
We note that there are numerous Ministers with responsibility for skills—from compulsory, further, and higher...
Recommendation
We note that there are numerous Ministers with responsibility for skills—from compulsory, further, and higher education to adult and in-work training. The Government previously coordinated a ‘Green Skills Taskforce’ between the then Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and …
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Government Response Summary
The government refers to the existing Green Jobs Delivery Group, co-chaired by ministers and industry representatives, as a means of grappling with skills shortages.
Department for Business and Trade
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12
Accepted
Para 48
We call on the Government to ensure effective partnerships with business and other related parties...
Recommendation
We call on the Government to ensure effective partnerships with business and other related parties on the development of regulation, with better use of impact assessments. It would be for the Government, industry, and regulators to determine the form of …
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Government Response Summary
The Government agrees with effective engagement with business and key stakeholders, with reformed Better Regulation Framework launched to broaden early-stage impact assessments for significant regulations including impacts on businesses, households, trade, competition and innovation.
Department for Business and Trade
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13
Accepted
Para 49
The Regulatory Policy Committee should be supported for its work in supporting Parliament in understanding...
Recommendation
The Regulatory Policy Committee should be supported for its work in supporting Parliament in understanding the impact of proposed regulation and we recommend these impact assessments are used much more widely throughout the legislative process. Given the transfer of regulatory …
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Government Response Summary
The Government is committed to ensuring Parliament has information to scrutinise regulatory proposals and that impact assessments are published, with independent scrutiny taking place at an earlier stage in the development of proposals.
Department for Business and Trade
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14
Accepted
We note that the Chancellor referred to an ‘industrial strategy’ in his Budget statement, but...
Recommendation
We note that the Chancellor referred to an ‘industrial strategy’ in his Budget statement, but that no industrial strategy was published. Given the global context referred to by our witnesses, and the very real threat of UK investments being tempted …
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Government Response Summary
The government identifies five key growth sectors, outlines support measures in the Spring Budget (R&D tax credits, carbon capture investment, investment zones), mentions regulatory measures to reduce red tape, and highlights ongoing dialogue with businesses.
Department for Business and Trade
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Conclusions (4)
1
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 17
Part of the reason why the UK achieves lower productivity rates than other advanced economies is that levels of business investment and research and development investment have fallen behind.
Government Response Summary
The government outlines ongoing reviews and changes to R&D tax reliefs aimed at supporting innovation, including increasing the R&D Expenditure Credit rate and introducing a new rate for R&D intensive SMEs.
4
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 22
There is a need to raise not just the basic skill levels of young people entering the workforce but also their digital and “green” skills, both of which contribute to enhancing productivity in the modern digitalised economy.
Government Response Summary
The government states that the Green Jobs Taskforce reported its conclusions in July 2021, and that policies and strategies are in place to address the challenges identified.
5
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 26
Witnesses supported the apprenticeship levy in principle but told us that more Government support for skills development should be directed to upskilling existing members of the workforce, whether through reform of the apprenticeship levy or other mechanisms.
Government Response Summary
The government is already addressing skills development for net zero through the Green Jobs Taskforce, Net Zero Strategy, and the Green Jobs Delivery Group, which includes ministers from across Government and industry representatives.
9
Conclusion
Accepted
Regional disparities in productivity are limiting the UK’s economic growth. A concentration of resources towards cities outside London and to improving regional productivity should be a priority for the country’s overall economic growth. (Paragraph 38) UK plc 17 Government and regulation
Government Response Summary
The government describes existing initiatives aimed at addressing regional productivity disparities and improving living standards, such as the Levelling Up Mission, investments in city regions, and expansion of devolution.