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Economic Downturn (Unemployment)

As I recall, some of the changes that we have made might make that possible. In essence, we want people to be available for work and for interviews if paid work becomes available, but I am happy to have further discussions and write to the hon. Gentleman about exactly how it works, and I will copy the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome into that correspondence. As I said, the Government have designated the region the first low-carbon economic area, which will bring £100 million worth of investment, £19.5 million of it from central Government, to developing existing expertise on wind and tidal power, building on the South West of England Regional Development Agency’s visionary investment in the wave hub. I know that the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome will be delighted to hear another example of great action by the South West of England RDA. We need to make the south-west more attractive to investors by improving its transport infrastructure, supporting our already high-tech skills in engineering and advanced manufacturing and showcasing our skills at every opportunity. Last month, £45 million in funding for Rolls-Royce was announced, which will result in four new advanced manufacturing facilities being built in the UK, creating and sustaining another 800 jobs. Lord Mandelson also announced a £151 million package for advanced manufacturing, which, among other benefits, will create a centre of excellence for silicon design in the south-west. We need to work together as a region and put all our voices together to be heard in Whitehall in order to show what a great place the south-west is. Forums such as this Grand Committee will help us develop that voice. As MPs, we may not always agree, but when it comes to getting the best for the south-west we should—and will, I am sure—stand shoulder to shoulder. We have great strengths: our environment, our quality of life, our creativity and science and, above all, the people whom we represent. By pulling together in the public, private and voluntary sectors in every part of the region and by using every Department in Whitehall, we can come out of recession not only sooner but stronger.