Barry Gardiner MP, Shadow Secretary of State for International
Trade, responding to today’s announcement of a partnership between UKEF
and high street banks, said:

“Small
and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of our economy, but have
been neglected for too long. Lack of adequate export finance continues to be a
big barrier to trade for British SMEs, which make up to 60 percent of private
sector jobs, but currently only one in five exports. There is great untapped
potential here for exports and growth.

“Labour
has repeatedly called for more to be done to support and ensure that UK Export
Finance (UKEF) is broadened away from arms and big ticket items exclusively,
and in our General Election manifesto we committed to championing SME export
interests.

“Today’s
announcement from the government is a welcome agreement with us. However,
export finance underwritten by British taxpayers should be subject to the most
stringent scrutiny, risk assessment and ethical controls. Banks should not be
allowed to pass ordinary lending risks to the taxpayer, nor should they be able
to undertake undue risk under this scheme.

“This
initiative should be used to support the growth in strategic sectors for the
future of the UK economy. It should work in tandem with our industrial strategy
so that taxpayer subsidised export credit does not put British industries and
British jobs at risk.”

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the
Government’s decision to not publish the extremism funding report in full,
said:

“The public has a right to know if any governments, foreign
or domestic organisations or individuals are funding extremism in this
country, and what the UK government intends to do to prevent that.

“Of course, security intelligence should not be compromised but
this is easily achieved by redaction and other means. The Government would
never have commissioned this report if it considered this problem
insurmountable.

“Instead, there is a strong suspicion this report is being
suppressed to protect this Government’s trade and diplomatic priorities,
including in relation to Saudi Arabia. The only way to allay those suspicions
is to publish the report in full.”

Paul
Blomfield MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Brexit, speaking after a
Westminster Hall debate today on the UK’s future membership of Euratom, said: 

“This
is yet another important debate that the Brexit department has dodged, instead
sending a Business Minister who was unable to provide any answers.

“The
former Chancellor has indicated that David Davis and Greg Clark were overruled
on continuing membership of Euratom by the Prime Minister. Reports from David
Davis’ former chief of staff suggested that this was because of the Prime
Minister’s absolutist and obsessional stance on the ECJ.

“There
is clear and strong cross-party concern about leaving Euratom. It is time for
David Davis to clarify if he is content to allow the Prime Minister’s reckless
red line, threatening jobs and cancer treatments, to stand.”

Rebecca
Long-Bailey, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and
Industrial Strategy, responding
to the Citizens Advice Bureau report calling for £7.5 billion of profit made by
energy network operators to be returned to bill payers, said:

“The
Citizens Advice Bureau’s figures showing that energy networks have made over
£7.5 billion unjustified profit over an 8 year period, are quite simply eye
watering. The Tories have completely failed to deliver an energy system that
works for people, businesses or our environment.

“It
is simply unacceptable that customers are forced to accept such costs in their
bills. They have no choice, there is no option to shop around as these
companies hold a monopoly over the network, which is why Labour proposed to
gain greater public control and transparency over these companies in our
manifesto.

“The
Government must direct Ofgem to take action on this unjustified behaviour
immediately. Sadly, despite the Government promising to cap energy bills during
the General Election, they have already rowed back on such strong action under
pressure from the Big Six energy companies.”

Debbie
Abrahams MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on today’s
Labour Market Statistics, said:

“We
welcome the overall increase in employment, but are deeply concerned that
millions have faced a real terms pay cut under this Government.

“The
cost of basic essentials continues to rise as real wages decline under the
Conservatives. Millions are struggling to get by while Theresa May hands £1
billion to the DUP to keep herself in a job.

“Too
many people also continue to face barriers to getting a job on the basis of
their age, ethnicity, disability or where they live. These same groups bear the
brunt of this Government’s failed austerity plans.

“A Labour government will implement a real Living Wage of £10 per
hour, and bring an immediate
end to Tory austerity.”