Living wage boost for county firms
New or expanding businesses applying for grants will get more money if they pay staff the “living wage”.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has recently revised the criteria of its Business Growth Programme – a scheme to provide financial support to businesses in the area. EXPANDING HEATHROW Airport will suffocate the growth of the country’s regional airports, Theresa May was warned by one of her former Cabinet colleagues in the Commons.
Rotherham-born Justine Greening, who lost her position as Education Secretary in a re-shuffle earlier this year, told Prime Minister’s Questions that the proposed third runway would lead to a drop in international flights outside the capital.
reported earlier this month that the Government’s own projections suggested that regional airports such as Leeds Bradford and Doncaster Sheffield will see fewer international flights if the expansion goes ahead.
Labour revealed yesterday that its leadership opposes plans for a third runway at Heathrow but will give its MPs a free vote on the proposals.
Support for expansion was conditional on four tests being met but the Government blueprint falls short, Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said. Labour has called on all parties to offer a free vote when the divisive plans go before MPs.
In the Commons yesterday Ms Greening, whose Putney constituency is under the Heathrow flight path, said: “Is the Prime Minister aware that Birmingham Airport will have 15 per cent fewer international flights than otherwise, Manchester 11 per cent fewer, Newcastle 14 per cent fewer and Bournemouth over 40 per cent fewer international flights than otherwise by 2030 as a result of Heathrow expansion?
“How does it help investment in our regions by suffocating the regional airports’ growth?”
Mrs May responded: “When we first made the announcement about the in-principle decision on the third runway at Heathrow I went down to Cornwall and visited Newquay.
“In Newquay they were very pleased and welcomed the announcement because the ability it is going to give them to improve their local economy and expand, particularly, their tourist industry.”