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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the financial cost of unfreezing UK-issued pensions in those British Overseas Territories where they are frozen.

Richard Harrington

The Government has a clear position, which has remained a consistent policy of successive Governments for around 70 years. UK State Pensions are payable worldwide and are uprated abroad where we have a legal requirement to do so; for example in the European Economic Area, or countries where we have a reciprocal agreement that allows for uprating, and so annual increases are paid to UK State Pension recipients in Gibraltar and in Bermuda. We have no plans to change this policy.

Were this to occur, liabilities for pensioners who live in other countries and territories would also have to be met. The estimated cost of increasing pensions in those countries where they are not currently uprated would be over £0.5 billion a year. This would be financially unaffordable.

The annual additional cost of up-rating the State Pensions of those recipients who are resident in the British Overseas Territories was estimated at approximately £1million in 2015/16.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to prioritise the sourcing of UK-made components and materials for the construction of Hinkley Point C.

Jesse Norman

The Department has been clear with EDF as the developer of Hinkley Point C, as well as all other potential new nuclear developers in the UK, that we expect substantial involvement of UK industry in their projects. Government has taken steps through the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, with the support of Nuclear Industry Association and the National Skills Academy for Nuclear, to develop UK skills and capabilities, and to identify manufacturing opportunities. This has contributed to UK firms being in a good position to supply components and materials for new nuclear construction. The UK content figure has steadily increased as we have worked with the UK supply chain to help them succeed in winning contracts and EDF now expects 64% of the value of Hinkley Point C to be spent in the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of construction equipment manufactured in the UK.

Jesse Norman

Construction equipment is a key sector for the UK economy, with revenues in excess of £11bn from 1500 UK companies employing 40000 people. Most of the equipment used on construction sites is provided by plant hire companies directly to the contractor or sub-contractor on a project by project basis. It is not something that either the client or the contractor generally purchases directly. That is why we believe that the most important thing the Government can do to promote the use of construction equipment manufactured in the UK is by working with the sector to improve its competitiveness and productivity. The Department also works closely with the Department for International Trade to help showcase the UK industry globally to help ensure it remains an important and growing part of the UK’s manufacturing footprint.

The construction equipment sector is represented on the Automotive Council and has played an important role in setting the direction and long-term strategic priorities for the industry. A number of the sector’s manufacturers and their suppliers are involved in key innovation and development projects and programmes supported and funded by the Advanced Propulsion Centre and Innovate UK. The Government has also supported the UK industry through schemes such as the Regional Growth Fund and the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI).