Jonathan Davies

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Huq. The east midlands has been a driver of Britain’s economic growth since at least the earliest days of the industrial revolution. Belper in my constituency was the world’s first factory town; it spun cotton for textiles at a previously unimaginable rate, and that model was exported around the world. Now, our region hosts advanced manufacturing, cutting-edge technology and world-class research. Colleagues have touched on that and, as time is short, I will not go into it any further. However, our region faces significant challenges. Housing costs and low wages mean that many young people are stuck renting or living with their parents well beyond the time when they would have liked to move out. That is why I am very pleased to lend my support to the regeneration of the Belper mills, a significant series of historical buildings integral to the Derwent valley UNESCO world heritage site. Bringing heritage buildings like that back online—with 130 homes, in this case—and making them work for the community is essential. When such assets are also used to grow the visitor economy, as we are seeking to do in Belper, the economic returns are multiplied. To deliver that, we must ensure that we have the craftspeople to bring the buildings back into use. The technical excellence colleges for construction that are being established, including in Derby, must ensure that there is training in heritage building techniques and planning so that we have the skills to revive these valuable assets. Doing so not only benefits the economy and the people that it serves, but helps people understand our shared national story. It brings people together in engaging with the past and celebrating beautiful architecture that truly builds pride in place at a time when society feels increasingly fractured. A second challenge for the region is the under-investment it has suffered in its public transport. The east midlands has consistently been the least funded region, but helping people to get around, whether for work or leisure or to access public services or education, is key to economic growth. The Labour Government have made a good start on that through initiatives such as the £2 billion for public transport that they have allocated to Mayor Claire Ward. I want to see a good chunk of that money spent in rural and semi-rural communities, of which there are many in Derbyshire, where bus services are insufficient. The issue of public transport in rural and semi-rural areas is highlighted in the Labour rural research group’s latest report, “Rural Poverty in Britain”, and I strongly recommend that Ministers take the time to look at that publication. I am also keen to see the Government bring forward plans to electrify the remaining section of the midland main line, which was first mooted in the 1970s but has been kicked into the long grass numerous times. That would reduce carbon emissions and costs over the long term while delivering improved reliability and shorter travel times. It might also enable more services to stop in Belper, Duffield and Spondon. Given that Derby is the home of the railways, it is not acceptable that no electric trains run through the city. The east midlands is not just about Britain’s past; it is integral to its future, and when it succeeds, Britain succeeds. I hope the Minister has gathered plenty of insights to take forward with colleagues so that our region can truly achieve all that it has the potential to do.