Hove MP quizzes cabinet ministers in the Commons

Hove MP Peter Kyle has put questions to two cabinet ministers in successive days.

Mr Kyle asked the Business Secretary Sajid Javid today (Tuesday 30 June): “Brighton and Hove is the most entrepreneurial city in the country but still lags behind the region for productivity.

“What is the Secretary of State doing to increase productivity among small businesses?”

Peter Kyle in the House of Commons

Mr Javid said: “There are a number of actions that government can take and some of them were taken by the coalition government and are now bearing fruit, such as cutting taxes and the employment allowance.

“During the lifetime of this parliament, there will be a big focus on productivity and there will be further measures, including on deregulation.”

Yesterday Mr Kyle put a question to the Communities and Local Government Secretary Greg Clark.

Mr Kyle said: “In all the debates about the northern powerhouse, I am very keen for us not to forget the southern powerhouse.

“What powers does the Secretary of State expect to devolve from Westminster to cities such as Brighton and Hove?”

Mr Clark, who signed the City Deal in Brighton last year when he was Cities Minister, said: “The honourable gentleman should be aware of the success of the Brighton city deal, which has been warmly welcomed throughout his area, and which is one of the reasons for the fact that unemployment in his constituency has fallen by 53 per cent since May 2010.

“That is a powerhouse that is performing.”

The City Deal signalled the investment of £170 million in the Greater Brighton economic area.