Author Archives: HM Government

It’s a great pleasure to be here in Brussels today … and I’m grateful for the opportunity to update you on the current situation in Northern Ireland.

During my visit today I am taking the opportunity to brief senior members of the Commission along with MEPs as the UK Government continues its negotiations to leave the EU in 2019.

And of course part of my role … working with the Prime Minister and the Secretary for Exiting the EU … is to ensure that we secure an agreement deal that delivers for all parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland.

Everyone here knows that Northern Ireland has unique circumstances which need to be recognised in the final withdrawal treaty to leave the EU … and making progress on the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland is essential in moving negotiations to the next phase.

But before I talk specifically about Northern Ireland in the context of leaving the EU I thought it would be useful to give an overview of the current political, economic and security situations there.

Because as I stand before you today, nearly a quarter of a century after the terrorist ceasefires and twenty years after the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement, it’s easy to assume that everything in Northern Ireland has been solved.

And you could easily be forgiven for thinking that’s the case.

Northern Ireland today is in so many respects unrecognisable from where it was in the early 1990s.

Until the beginning of this year we had seen a decade of devolved government in Northern Ireland led by the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein … the longest such period of uninterrupted devolved government since the 1960s.

The kind of terrorism that I used to see growing up in the 1970s and 1980s is no longer a daily fact of life … along with the military presence to deal with it.

Northern Ireland today is the most popular destination outside of London for foreign direct investment into the UK. And of course relations between Northern Ireland and Ireland … and between the United Kingdom and Ireland … are at their strongest ever.

So there are so many positives to take about Northern Ireland.

The beautiful scenery and countryside.

The industrial heritage.

The exciting new opportunities.

Our thriving creative industries.

The quality of life.

The warmth and friendliness of people who live there.

And of course the example that Northern Ireland has shown the world as to how it is possible to emerge from a period of terrible suffering and conflict to a new era of peace, stability and greater prosperity.

In that context I would like to pay tribute to the European Union … including Michel Barnier … for the support you have given to Northern Ireland … backing the peace process, encouraging economic growth and providing vital funding for programmes designed to bring communities together.

The EU can be very proud of the role that it has played in Northern Ireland over decades … and both the UK and Irish Governments are very grateful for that.

But for all of this progress significant political, economic and security challenges remain … and I would like briefly to take each of these in turn.

Politically, Northern Ireland has been without a functioning devolved government since the beginning of this year. Civil servants have been able to spend money but key decisions over local services that require political input have not been taken.

Crucially, a budget for the current financial year has yet to be set.

This is putting public services under strain … and very soon both the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Civil Service assess that Northern Ireland will begin to run out of resources.

Earlier this year I had to step in and legislate to set some local taxes so that local councils could continue to carry out their functions.

We have now reached the point at which it is unlikely that an Executive could be formed in time to pass a budget for Northern Ireland by the end of this month.

In those circumstances I am left with no option but to legislate at Westminster to enable the Northern Ireland civil service to continue spending money to already agreed totals.

This would not be my budget … it would be one prepared by the Northern Ireland civil service on the basis of the previous Executive’s priorities.

Should an Executive be formed the budget could be amended or changed … and indeed if an Executive were formed with sufficient time left under expedited procedures to pass the budget bill in the Assembly … I would clearly wish to proceed instead with legislation to enable that to happen.

I’m clear … introducing and passing a budget in Westminster does not mean that we are introducing direct rule, any more than legislating for local taxes did earlier this year.

And needless to say, the UK Government will only take this step with the greatest reluctance … not because we want to but because we have to.

But it would be a dereliction of duty to see the public services on which people rely begin to disintegrate before us.

Of course I still hope we can avoid this step.

The UK Government … along with the Irish Government … is working tirelessly to bring about an agreement between the main Northern Ireland parties that would enable an Executive to be re-formed.

And we will stick at it, because . . . as President Clinton’s visit to Northern Ireland last month, nearly 20 years after his key role in the Belfast Agreement, prompted many of us to reflect . . . we have come so far.

But ultimately we have a responsibility to provide good governance in Northern Ireland … and we will not shirk our responsibilities.

The next area where we have a great deal more work to do is in strengthening the economy and building a stronger society.

Northern Ireland’s economy continues to grow.

Unemployment is still falling … while in the past twelve months employment has hit record levels. As I said earlier we continue to attract significant foreign direct investment.

And we have some world beating businesses.

But the economy is still far too dependent on government spending.

And we need to rebalance the economy in a measured and sensible way.

Levels of worklessness and welfare dependency are still far too high.

So we are looking at things like City Deals that have proven very successful in other parts of the UK.

And we remain committed to the devolution of Corporation Tax so that Northern Ireland is better able to compete for investment with its nearest neighbour, Ireland.

But for that to happen Northern Ireland needs a functioning devolved government.

Alongside strengthening the economy, we need to tackle deep seated social divisions.

In Northern Ireland today over 90 per cent of public housing is segregated along sectarian lines.

Over 90 per cent of children in Northern Ireland are educated separately.

It is regrettable that additional so-called peace walls … or interface barriers … have been erected since the signing of the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement in 1998 and still divide communities today.

Indeed some independent estimates put the cost of division in Northern Ireland at around £1.5 billion.

So bringing people together … and building a stronger, more shared society has to be an urgent priority.

Most of the responsibility for tackling this rests in the devolved sphere.

And the previous Executive had made a start … for example with programmes under its strategy called Together: Building a United Community.

For our part the UK Government has provided significant financial support … for example in helping to fund schemes to promote greater shared housing and more shared and integrated education.

But clearly much more needs to be done.

It requires significant political will and drive if we are to overcome decades … some might say centuries … of division and build a stronger more united community.

And that needs to come primarily from local politicians working together for the good of the whole community. So there’s another reason why it’s so important to have a functioning Executive back up and running.

The community divisions that still exist in Northern Ireland can, on occasion, still fuel tensions and public disorder … though on a much reduced scale than in previous years.

And they can also be exploited by paramilitary and terrorist groups that continue to exist and operate in Northern Ireland.

The threat level from dissident republican terrorists remains severe in Northern Ireland… meaning that an attack is highly likely.

Even though they are relatively small in numbers, they retain lethal capability and intent.

The fact that you don’t hear more about them is primarily down to the superb efforts of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, our security services and An Garda Siochana.

And the levels of co-operation that currently exist between the PSNI and the Garda … and between the UK and Irish Governments … must be preserved, and where possible enhanced, following Brexit.

In addition to the continuing threat from terror too many communities in Northern Ireland are held in the grip of paramilitary groups … criminals who prey on society primarily to line their own pockets.

They engage in gangsterism and carry out brutal attacks … often by appointment … on people within their own community to exert fear and control.

Following the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement the Executive … working with and supported financially by the UK Government … devised a strategy for tackling paramilitary groups with the aim of putting them out of business for good.

There was never any justification for the existence of paramilitary and terrorist groups in Northern Ireland … and there is none today.

But if the strategy for tackling paramilitary activity is going to be at its most effective … and that will only be seen through results on the ground … then it needs to be led locally.

And that’s another reason why Northern Ireland needs a properly functioning Executive.

Finally, Northern Ireland needs a fully functioning Executive to ensure that its voice is fully heard as the UK leaves the EU.

As I have said before … we joined the Common Market in 1973 as one United Kingdom and we will leave the European Union in 2019 as one United Kingdom.

And as the Prime Minister has made clear … leaving the EU will mean that we leave both the single market and the customs union.

I find it difficult to imagine how Northern Ireland could somehow remain in … while the rest of the country leaves.

But as we have made equally clear we are determined to find bespoke solutions to Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances … not least as the only part of the UK to share a land border with an EU member state.

We need to deliver an outcome that works for all parts of the United Kingdom.

We fully recognise the extent to which the Northern Ireland economy, while an integral part of the UK economy, is also fully integrated with that of Ireland particularly in areas like the agri-food sector.

We fully recognise the flow of traffic across the border on a daily basis for people going about their business be it to work, study, shop or simply visit friends and relatives.

And we fully recognise those ties of family and shared history that exist between people on the island of Ireland as well as between Ireland and Great Britain.

All of this requires creative and imaginative thinking by the UK and Irish Governments along with negotiating partners in the EU. But I believe solutions can be found … and it is in that positive sense that the UK Government has approached the current phase of negotiations and we will continue to do so.

And the Northern Ireland and Ireland position paper published by the UK Government in August set out clearly and positively where we stand.

We want to ensure that the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement is fully protected … including the constitutional principles that underpin it, the political institutions it establishes and the citizens’ rights it guarantees.

We want to preserve the Common Travel Area … and, yes, ensure that we have as frictionless and seamless a border as possible between Northern Ireland and Ireland with no physical infrastructure at the border.

We want to protect the single electricity market that operates across the island of Ireland to ensure continuity of supply for the benefit of business and domestic consumers.

At the same time we need to ensure that nothing is done that undermines the integrity of the UK single market … Northern Ireland companies sold four times as much into Great Britain than to Ireland in 2015.

And of course no border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland or anything that fractures the internal market of the United Kingdom, which benefits Northern Ireland hugely.

Of course none of this was ever going to be easy.

But I believe that with a positive attitude on all sides it is achievable.

As both the Prime Minister and the Secretary for Exiting the EU, David Davis, have set out to the House of Commons in recent days, significant progress has been made in the negotiations so far.

Within the Northern Ireland-Ireland Dialogue, we have agreed that the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement should be protected in full, including its constitutional arrangements.

We have proposed that the UK and the EU seek to agree text for the Withdrawal Agreement that recognises the ongoing status of the Common Travel Area…and have already developed joint principles with the EU on this.

We have also mapped out areas of cooperation that function on a North-South basis to ensure this continues once the UK has left the EU.

And we are determined to press on so that we can move to the next phase of negotiations as we deliver on the democratic wishes of the people of the UK as set out in the June 2016 referendum.

During this speech I have deliberately set out some of the big challenges that face us in Northern Ireland. But I want to end on a positive note.

Nearly twenty years on from the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement Northern Ireland is immeasurably in a better place.

Huge progress has been made.

What have often looked like insurmountable problems have been overcome.

We’ve seen commitment, courage and above all leadership on all sides.

And we’ve seen enormous international goodwill and support … including from the EU.

But we can’t just rest on what has been achieved.

We need to tackle today’s challenges in order to build a better tomorrow.

For our part the UK Government … along with our partners in Ireland … are determined to do just that…

As we strive to build a stronger, more prosperous Northern Ireland for everyone. And a Northern Ireland that can look to the future with confidence and optimism.

Thank you.

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Arts Minister John Glen has placed a temporary export bar on a rare book with unique annotations to provide an opportunity to keep it in the country.

Workes, an annotated collection of writings by Ben Jonson, is at risk of being exported from the UK unless a buyer can be found to match the asking price of £48,000.

Ben Jonson (1572-1637) is hailed as the most important writer of the English Renaissance after Shakespeare, having lived and worked in an age of great social change that produced some of the finest works of English literature.

This extraordinarily rare volume is the only known example of a document showing how a play by Ben Jonson was prepared for performance. Material that tells us about the performance of pre-Restoration plays is extremely scarce.

This volume occupies a unique place among surviving materials because of the nature and range of its annotations to Epicoene, or The Silent Woman – including stage directions, details of props, and textual corrections – which collectively do not fall into any category previously known to scholars of seventeenth-century theatre. The volume is therefore of outstanding interest to the study of English theatrical history.

A product of a period when plays were seen not as finished pieces, but as perpetual works in progress, this volume has the potential to change scholars’ understanding of how plays were transmitted from the page to the stage and back again.

Arts Minister John Glen said:

This fascinating book shows how Ben Jonson’s works evolved and were translated to the stage.

I hope that we can keep it in the UK to enrich the study of English theatrical history and learn more about the performances of his work.

The decision to defer the export licence follows a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA), administered by The Arts Council.

RCEWA member Peter Barber said:

The annotations in this volume shed uniquely detailed light on how one of the hit comedies of the seventeenth century might actually have been performed.

Samuel Pepys thought The Silent Woman ‘the best comedy that ever was wrote’ and this book enables us to go the theatre with him. It must remain in this country.

The RCEWA made its recommendation on the grounds of the annotated volume’s outstanding significance for the study of English theatre in the seventeenth century and, in particular, for the study of Ben Jonson’s plays in performance.

The decision on the export licence application for the book will be deferred until 5 February 2018. This may be extended until 5 May 2018 if a serious intention to raise funds to purchase it is made at the recommended price of £48,000.

Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the book should contact the RCEWA on 0845 300 6200.

A photo of the book can be downloaded via our flickr site.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Details of the book are as follows: A second edition of volume 1 of Ben Jonson, The Workes of Benjamin Jonson (first published c1620; this edition 1640, published in London by Richard Bishop to be sold by Andrew Crooke). The volume has been rebound in plain sprinkled calf, probably around 1900. It measures (cm) 30 x 19 x 6. There are some small tears, repairs, and staining, but the book is generally in good condition.
2. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by The Arts Council, which advises the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.
3. The Arts Council champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. It supports a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. www.artscouncil.org.uk.

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The projects are designed to inspire interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and provide exciting contexts for the teaching of a range of subjects. This will, in turn, help the growth of the space sector, which is currently hampered by the lack of graduates and technicians with relevant qualifications.

The seven new projects were selected to support the aims of the Education and Skills Strategy, and build upon the Agency’s investment in a number of areas, in particular:

• Earth Observation
• Satellite Launch Programme (UK spaceports and launchers)
• James Webb Space Telescope

Susan Buckle, Astronaut Flight Education Programme Manager, said:

“We are delighted to be funding all these projects and to work with a variety of different organisations – from the D&T Association with expertise in design and technology to the Triathlon Trust with expertise in getting children active, as well as the more traditional STEM organisations. Each project will fulfil the objective to inspire the next generation to study STEM and consider a career in the space industry, whilst having a lot of fun along the way.”

The 7 successful projects to be funded are:

1. Glasgow Science Festival: Get me into orbit!
2. Triathlon Trust: Space to Earth view
3. Mangorolla CIC: Space zones ‘I’m a Scientist’ and ‘I’m an Engineer’
4. Institute for Research in Schools: MELT: Monitoring the Environment, Learning for Tomorrow
5. The Design and Technology Association: Inspiring the next generation: design and technology in space
6. European Space Education Resource Office-UK: James Webb Space Telescope: Design challenge
7. Children’s Radio UK (Fun Kids): Deep Space High – UK Spaceports

The MELT project will allow students to understand and analyse key earth observation data relating to the North and South Pole.

This work is in collaboration with Robert Swan on his Antarctic expedition, who said:

“I’m delighted to be working with IRIS on the MELT project. Students looking at Earth observation of the poles will be directly observing our South Pole Energy Challenge and seeing what a crucial role they have in understanding and taking care of their environment.”

Emma Watson from The Design and Technology Association said:

“The Design and Technology Association are delighted to be working with the UK Space Agency to develop a series of curriculum based resources which will use the design and technology curriculum as a platform to motivate more young people to consider careers in the space industry.

“Structured around Earth Observation, Satellite Launch Systems and the James Webb Space Telescope, these innovative resources will inspire young people to imagine new possibilities, drawing on their existing STEM knowledge, and applying it to real-life space contexts.”

More details on each of the projects will be available as they develop their resources and activities.

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Education Secretary Justine Greening has today announced that Ian Bauckham CBE will provide the Department for Education with advice on how relationships education, including relationships and sex education for older children, should be taught in schools.

With 32 years’ experience as a teacher, and 13 years spent as a headteacher, Ian has worked in a variety of roles, including heading up the Association of Schools and College Leaders in 2013 and 2014.

As part of his new role, he will speak to parents, teachers, children and other interested groups about the topics that young people today need to understand to stay safe and happy, including age-appropriate content on mental wellbeing, keeping safe online and LGBT issues.

Education Secretary Justine Greening said:

We want all young people to feel equipped to have healthy and respectful relationships, so they can succeed in adult life in modern Britain. That’s why we’ve committed to making sure more children learn these important lessons as they grow up.

I’m delighted that Ian Bauckham will be working with us to gather views from a variety of interested stakeholders and to make sure we are reaching as many people as possible.

Ian Bauckham CBE said:

As we work to update relationships and sex education and consider the role and importance of PSHE in schools, I am looking forward to meeting and hearing from a wide range of interested parties. Schools, pupils, parents, teachers and a range of groups with valuable experience in these areas will have important views and insights to share to help the government shape the next stage of schools’ work on RSE and PSHE. As a teacher and headteacher I am pleased to be able to contribute to this important work which will help to make our young people safer and better prepared for the complex world in which they will live.

Relationships and sex education is a key part of the government’s wider plan to ensure every young person has the essential knowledge they need to stay safe and develop healthy relationships.

Currently only pupils attending local-authority run secondary schools – which represent around a third of secondary schools – are guaranteed to be offered Sex and Relationships Education as currently delivered.

The teaching of this important subject in schools is supported by the wider public. Recent surveys show that:

· 91% of parents believe all pupils should receive lessons to teach them about the risks of sexting, as well as other issues such as contact from strangers online; and

· 74% of 11 – 15 years old believe that children would be safer if they had age appropriate classes on relationships and sex education.

Ian Bauckham, who was awarded the CBE in 2017 for services to education, will advise on this process. As well as starting a multi academy trust, he is head teacher of a large 11-18 Church of England comprehensive in Kent and, as a National Leader of Education (NLE), works with many other schools in the region and more widely.

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Thank you and it is a pleasure to be here.

Last year I spoke to you about my belief in a well regulated free market economy.

I said it was the very best way to spread opportunity and lift people out of poverty.

We should never underestimate the immense value and potential of open, innovative, free market economies, when they operate under the right rules and regulations.

Around the world, over the last century, it has been those countries with well-functioning free markets which have enjoyed the greatest economic, social, and technological advancements.

At its best, when a free and open market place is combined with the rule of law, individual freedom, equality and human rights in a representative democracy, great things are possible.

People live longer and more secure lives.

They have the freedom and the means to fulfil their ambitions, and make the most of their potential; to bring up their families, care for one and other, and give something back to their local communities and to wider society.

And I believe that the approach I set out to this gathering last year for a more co-operative partnership between business and government is the right one to build the even stronger economy we all want to see.

An economy fit for the future, ready for the next decade, delivering greater opportunity and prosperity right across the country.

I believe that the opportunities ahead for our country are enormous.

And the Government I lead is determined to support British business in making the most of them.

Good economic news

Over the last 12 months, I have led trade delegations to India and Japan.

I am always hugely impressed by the businesses and entrepreneurs I take out with me on those visits, and who I meet week in and week out.

I am immensely proud of what they have to offer international investors.

Last year Britain enjoyed record levels of foreign direct investment.

Across the UK, we have seen Toyota announce a £240m upgrade to their car plant in Derbyshire and BMW announce that they will build a fully electric version of the Mini in Oxford.

In Newport, the train manufacturer CAF is expected to create 200 skilled jobs in its new factory, following a £30 million investment.

With support from the Department for International Trade, Elite Electronic Systems in Enniskillen has won contracts worth £1.4 million over the next five years.

And bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis secured a £44 million deal to export double-deckers to Mexico City, supporting hundreds of jobs in Falkirk and Guildford.

Here in London Google will also open a new London office, with £1 billion of investment.

As we celebrate this good news, we should keep clearly in mind what it all really means.

It’s not simply numbers on a balance sheet, but an investment in people’s livelihoods and the economic security of families across Britain.

It is a vote of confidence in the UK – in our talents, our skills, our infrastructure and our ideas.

And the reason we want a strong and thriving economy, and successful businesses, is because we want to help more people to lead full and happy lives, with good-quality jobs and rising living standards.

To build a country that works for everyone and an economy that is fit for the future.

New challenges

For the last decade, the biggest economic challenge facing the government has been dealing with the consequences of the financial crash and the great recession which followed it.

Thanks to the innovation and the entrepreneurship of British business, the hard work and sacrifice of the British people, and the Government’s clear economic plan, that situation has now been transformed.

The deficit has been cut by over two-thirds and the economy has grown for nineteen consecutive quarters.

Since 2010, over 3 million more people now have the security of a job.

There are nearly a million fewer workless households.

3.4 million new apprenticeships have begun.

Income inequality is at its lowest level since 1986 and the number of people living in absolute poverty is at a record low.

British businesses – and indeed the CBI itself – can take their share of credit for what Britain has achieved in the years since the financial crisis.

But our job now is to look to the future.

If the last ten years have seen us weathering the storm of the financial crisis and rebuilding our fiscal and economic position, the next ten years must see the beginning of a new chapter in the story of the British economy.

Because for all our progress, there is still a long way to go.

So today I want to talk about my vision for the stronger, fairer, and better-balanced economy we need to build in the years ahead.

The Conservative Government’s plan to deliver this is very clear:

We will get the best Brexit deal for our country, guaranteeing the greatest possible access to European markets, boosting free trade across the world, and delivering control over our borders, laws and money.

We will take a balanced approach to government spending, ensuring debt is falling, and at the same time investing in our key public services and keeping taxes low.

We will help businesses to create more good jobs across the country, with a modern industrial strategy that invests in the skills, industries and infrastructure of the future.

We will build the homes our country needs, so everyone can afford a place to call their own and all the security that brings.

We will carry on improving standards in our schools and colleges, so our young people can get on in life.

We will back the innovators and wealth creators who deliver growth, jobs, lower prices and greater choices for consumers – and step in if businesses don’t play by the rules.

And we will work tirelessly to tackle the injustices that hold people back from achieving their true potential.

By following this plan – a balanced approach to public spending; the best Brexit deal for Britain; an active Industrial Strategy; more homes; higher standards in our schools; backing innovation and wealth creation; and fighting tirelessly against injustice – we can create a country with a stronger economy and a fairer, more caring society, one that will guarantee a better future for the next generation.

Industrial Strategy

Central to this plan is our modern Industrial Strategy.

The Government will be publishing our Industrial Strategy White Paper later this month, and we will speak in more detail about it then but let me set out today some of the underlying principles which are driving our work.

For a free market economy to succeed in delivering economic and social progress for everyone, the Government has a vital role to play.

That starts by setting the right rules and making sure they are adhered to.

And some say its role should end there too.

But I believe the proper role of government goes beyond that.

Through how it invests public funds, how it provides an education system for the next generation, how it commits to long term goals, and how it supports business, people and places, a strategic state has a major influence on the economy.

In exerting that influence, governments must inevitably make choices, and in a democracy, be held to account for them.

The choice which this government makes is to deploy this influence in a thought-through way, taking decisions for the long term.

Because while the power and potential of the market is immense, I also strongly believe in the good that government can do.

We have already seen this approach work for one sector of the economy – the financial services sector.

Over decades, Governments of all parties pursued the aim of making the UK the world’s foremost centre for financial services.

They worked with business to set a clear, long-term framework for the sector to succeed and it now accounts for 7.2% of the British economy.

It contributes over £70 billion to the exchequer annually and employs over a million people across the United Kingdom here in London yes, but also in Edinburgh, Cardiff, Bournemouth, Leeds, and in other towns and cities.

And when the regulatory structures governments put in place fail, and the irresponsible practices of a minority damage the economy as a whole, as happened during the financial crisis, government has duty to step in.

When British banks suffered during that crisis, government did not turn its back on the sector, wasting decades of effort, and forfeiting our global position.

Instead, we were steadfast in our commitment to fixing things and making the sector even stronger than before.

Government worked to create a more stable and effective regulatory framework, and in doing so strengthened the resilience and reputation of the UK’s finance sector and contributed to the strengthening of the global financial system.

This has been a success story for Britain, and that success has been enabled by strategic support from Government and a long-term commitment from Conservative and a previous generation of Labour politicians to provide certainty and follow through.

That model – a strategic, long-term partnership between government and a vital sector, effective and evolving regulatory frameworks and incentives – has led to global pre-eminence for the UK, good quality jobs across the country, and tax revenue to fund vital public services, like schools and hospitals.

By setting the right frameworks, and investing in skills and infrastructure, we can help broaden our economic base, build a more balanced economy and make Britain a true global leader.

Of course, we cannot – and will not try – to make a plan for every corner of our economy.

We believe in the free market and won’t attempt to shield the economy from market forces.

So we will have to make strategic decisions about where the government can – and where it cannot – best support key sectors of our economy.

Such an approach avoids the failed state interventionism of the 1970s.

But it also learns from the past failures of governments to give sectors and places across the country the long-term support they need to cope with economic change and compete in a changing global market place.

And as we take the Industrial Strategy forward, I want the CBI and the businesses represented here to work with Local Enterprise Partnerships and elected mayors to ensure that all parts of our country can benefit.

Brexit

Our approach to Industrial Strategy reflects our ambitions for the British economy as we leave the European Union.

A more productive, dynamic, innovative, world leading economy which embraces technological change and is globally focussed.

In my Florence speech in September, I made a generous offer to our European partners and I am pleased that EU leaders responded to it positively.

The Council acknowledged the progress we have made and called for a further acceleration.

And since I spoke in Florence, I am pleased that there has been further progress on citizens’ rights, including an agreement on reciprocal healthcare and pensions, and further alignment on a range of important social security rights.

Our EU negotiating team is now preparing for the next phase, and I particularly welcome the beginning of internal discussions among the EU 27 about their position on our future relationship and the implementation period.

When sufficient progress is agreed we want to move as quickly as possible on both of these issues.

Throughout this process, I have been determined to give business and industry as much certainty as possible.

Achieving that maximum certainty was the first objective I set in my Lancaster House speech in January and it has remained fundamental to our negotiations to date.

We want to forge an ambitious economic partnership, out of the Single Market but with a new balance of rights and responsibilities between us and the European Union.

One which respects the freedoms and principles of the EU, and the wishes of the British people.

We should be excited by the possibilities which this new relationship presents for the future, just as we are realistic in acknowledging that it will take time to finalise.

I have made clear that a strictly time-limited implementation period will be crucial to our future success.

I know how important it is for business and industry not to face a cliff-edge and to have the time it needs to plan and prepare for the new arrangements.

During this period our access to one another’s markets should continue on current terms, and I want us to agree the detailed arrangements for this period as early as possible.

But we should also be able to develop our relationships with countries outside the EU in new ways, including through our own trade negotiations around the world.

Embracing change

And that world is changing in profound ways.

The technologies which are emerging today will have as profound an impact on our economy and our lives in the 2020s and 2030s, as the internet and smart technology have over the last twenty years.

And Britain is already a world-leader in a number of these fields.

In FinTech, the UK is ideally placed to be the world’s hub with the sector contributing a greater proportion of our GDP than any other G20 country.

And In Artificial Intelligence, I believe Dame Wendy Hall and Jérôme Pesenti’s independent review into the potential of that sector set the right ambition by arguing that we should seek to make the UK ‘the best place in the world for AI businesses to develop, start, grow, and thrive.’

The economy fit for the future which we must build over the next decade will be driven by science and innovation.

As well as supporting economic growth and helping to create the good jobs of the future scientific and technological advancements also have the potential to transform and improve our lives with life-saving medicines, new clean sources of energy and breakthroughs in the digital technology which we use every day.

Last year at this conference, I committed to a record increase in public spending on research and development, with an additional £2 billion per annum by 2021.

I want us to build on our strengths in science and innovation and make Britain an international centre for the transformative technologies of the future.

We are playing our part, by increasing public sector support for R&D to record levels and we will say more about the further action we will take in the Industrial Strategy white paper.

But today I also want to put the challenge to you – and to industry across the UK – to do the same.

Because the immense benefits which investment in R&D can bring will only be delivered in partnership with business.

You will develop the products and services that convert scientific discovery into real improvements in people’s daily lives.

Today, for every £1 of government investment in R&D, British businesses invest around £1.70.

But in Germany, businesses invest around £2.40 and US businesses invest nearly £2.70.

So I want you to work with us to drive up business investment.

To help develop the next generation of technologies here in the UK, so that we can deliver more good jobs across the country and improve living standards for everyone.

This is a goal we all share, and one I know the CBI has long campaigned for.

And Britain has always been at the cutting-edge, the birthplace of the first industrial revolution and the home of more Nobel Prize winners than any country outside the United States.

We must see these coming technologies as forces for good with huge potential for our economy and our society.

Through our Industrial Strategy, the Government will help ensure Britain makes the most of them.

And as is our duty, we will also work with and support those who are disrupted by that change as well.

Infrastructure and skills

That will mean ensuring that the UK has modern and efficient infrastructure, which delivers for taxpayers and businesses across the UK.

And considerable progress has already been made.

More than a quarter of a trillion pounds has been invested in UK infrastructure since 2010.

And the National Infrastructure Commission is giving us impartial, expert advice on the crucial infrastructure decisions of the future.

But as well as investing in our physical infrastructure, we also have a duty to invest in the skills of our workforce.

For too long technical education in this country was regarded as second best, and our economy suffered as a result. We are changing this.

Our new T-Levels, backed by over £500 million every year in additional funding once fully rolled out, will transform technical education in England.

Last month we announced the first three subjects that the T-Levels will cover: Digital, Construction, and Education & Childcare.

These will be of equivalent status to A-Levels and will give young people who want to pursue a technical career a better and clearer path to follow.

But improving our offer on technical education takes nothing away from the importance of higher education.

I want to see more people, from more diverse backgrounds, both going on to university and enjoying the benefits of higher-level study of all kinds.

Our international competitors are producing more and more skilled workers, and we need to do the same. These are exciting times for our country and I am optimistic about the future we can build for our young people if we keep pressing ahead with our reforms.

Better schools, improved technical education, more accessible universities.

Giving everyone the chance to get on in life, with a good quality job, the chance to get a secure home and to raise a family.

That’s what our Industrial Strategy is there to deliver.

Abuse allegations

I have talked this morning about how government and business can work together to pursue a modern Industrial Strategy and build an economy that is fit for the future.

But gathered here today, we cannot ignore the ongoing allegations of serious abuse and harassment in Parliament and across Westminster.

As representatives of British business, you know that your firms only truly succeed when you provide safe, secure and professional environments for your employees.

Parliament and Whitehall are special places in our democracy, but they are also places of work too, and exactly the same standards and norms should govern them as govern any other workplace.

What has been revealed over the last few weeks has been deeply troubling – and has understandably led to significant public unease.

Women and men should be able to work free from the threat or fear of harassment, bullying or intimidation.

But for too long the powerful have been able to abuse their power, and their victims have not felt able to speak out.

Let me be very frank – political parties have not always got this right in the past. But I am determined to get it right for the future.

So I have already published a new code of conduct and grievance procedure for the Conservative Party, which will apply to all Conservative office holders and representatives.

It sets out the high standards we expect and the procedure we will follow to deal effectively with complaints.

And later today I will convene a meeting with my fellow party leaders to discuss establishing a new common, robust and independent grievance procedure for Parliament.

Because those working for Members of Parliament should not have to navigate different party systems depending on their employer’s political affiliation.

We need to establish a new culture of respect at the centre of our public life, one in which everyone can feel confident that they are working in a safe and secure environment, where complaints can be brought forward without prejudice and victims know that those complaints will be investigated properly.

And where people’s careers cannot be damaged by unfounded rumours circulated anonymously online.

Of course people can be friends with their colleagues and consensual relationships can develop at work – this isn’t about prying into private lives.

What we are talking about is the use and abuse of power.

We must stand up for all the victims of abuse, harassment or discrimination, wherever it has occurred.

Now is the time to act decisively – without fear or favour – to guarantee a safe and respectful working environment for everyone in the future.

Conclusion: a better future for Britain

So as we look ahead to the next ten years for Britain’s economy, we should do so as rational optimists.

There are huge opportunities ahead. Making the most of them will demand hard work, imagination, and commitment.

But Britain has succeeded in the past when we have been confident in our strengths and bold in our action.

When we have backed the ambition of our wealth-creators, who use their talent, hard work and skill to take a chance, to grow a business and to spread economic opportunity to others.

With the right economic foundations – a balanced approach to public spending and the best Brexit deal for Britain; the right long-term incentives for business; and our wealth creators given the freedom and support to thrive and Government playing its proper strategic role in support of economic growth right across the United Kingdom – I am convinced that we can and will make the most of those opportunities and build a better future for everyone in our country.

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