Question
Although Portsmouth is on the south coast, its legacy of deindustrialisation and privatisation brings us challenges familiar to many cities and towns across the north. Reindustrialisation must be national and not confined to the north. The loss of shipbuilding under the Tories devastated Pompey, but we are resilient and proud, and—despite huge losses—have retained a world-class defence cluster in advanced manufacturing and hugely skilled jobs in companies such as Accuracy International, Harwin, Griffon Marine and Airbus. To enable real reindustrialisation across the whole country, will the Minister commit to a national reindustrialisation strategy that protects advanced manufacturing, backs innovation and drives growth?
Answer
My hon. Friend is right to raise the importance of reindustrialisation. Too many places were harmed by the deindustrialisation that accelerated in the 1980s. The need for more good jobs in more parts of England matters in the south, as well as in the north; it matters in our towns, as well as in our urban centres; and, of course, it matters in Portsmouth too. My hon. Friend is a strong advocate for her community, and I look forward to working with her to build on Portsmouth’s proud industrial and maritime strengths.71% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (28/100)
The reply engages with the topic of reindustrialisation and makes general points about jobs across the country, including in Portsmouth. It does not say whether the Government will commit to a national reindustrialisation strategy, and it names no specific plan, mechanism, or funding to back one. The response is mostly hedged and vague, so the person who asked would likely need to ask again for a clear answer.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Government commit to a national reindustrialisation strategy, covering the whole country rather than only the north, that protects advanced manufacturing, backs innovation and drives growth? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply engages with reindustrialisation and the whole-country point (jobs matter in the south as well as the north, in towns as well as urban centres, and in Portsmouth), but it never says whether the Government will commit to a national reindustrialisation strategy, and it names no strategy, mechanism, or commitment to protect advanced manufacturing or drive innovation. The closing commitment to 'work with' the MP on Portsmouth is local and gestural, so the core 'will you commit to a strategy' question goes unanswered. |