Blair sees bright future for UK manufacturing
Prime Minister Tony Blair has told industry that manufacturing is “alive and kicking” in the UK.
Speaking to the CBI in Birmingham, the Prime Minister said that highly skilled workers, and a technologically advanced manufacturing sector are needed if the UK is to compete with the emerging economies of China and India.
He said that the UK is at the forefront of emerging sectors such as nanotechnology and biotechnology, which promise to drive future growth in the economy.
Promising that the Government is committed to easing the burden of regulation on business, he said there would be a “decisive break with past attitudes to regulation”. The UK will push for change within the EU, he said, advocating a “one in one out” approach, where any further legislation is balanced out by deregulation.
At home, reform of the civil service would include a change of “culture”, which would favour non-legislative means to achieve Government policy objectives.
Mr Blair acknowledged the importance of an efficient transport system: “The absence of a first class transport infrastructure is a real brake on business.” However, he noted that attempts to make up for years of underinvestment have come up against increased demand, of 25 per cent on the railways for example, stimulated by a “booming economy”.
The Government’s reform of the education system will produce workers with the basic literacy, numeracy and ICT skills employers need, Mr Blair said. He promised that, while the Government will not scrap GCSEs and A levels, the recommendations of the Tomlinson report would lead to improvements.
In particular he promised a clearer vocational pathway from school into work would be developed, calling the current system “ad-hoc” and “demotivating” for young people. While the introduction of vocational GCSEs was an improvement, there needs to be a clear route from a GCSE to a modern apprenticeship for young people. There is a need for a greater emphasis on basic skills within vocational education, he said, as currently one in 10 students leave school without achieving any grade in maths or English.
Mr Blair concluded: “We have to invest in the new generation of science and technology opportunities; we have to take our academic and vocational skills base to a new and higher level; we have to make a decisive break with past attitudes to regulation from Governments of both colours; and we have to encourage, not hold back the enterprises of the future.
“This is a great country. Britain is working. But in the future it can be better still. Work with us to do it.”
