To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent steps have been taken by the Government to increase levels of manufacturing employment. (229396)

The UK is the world's sixth largest manufacturer—the industry accounts for over half our exports, contributes £150 billion to the economy and around three million jobs. Manufacturing industries spent 75 per cent. of all business R and D in 2006 and the sector attracts more foreign direct investment than every other country in Europe and globally is second to the USA.

The Government are strongly committed to providing support to the manufacturing sector and its Manufacturing Strategy: New Challenges, New Opportunities, launched on 8 September 2008, sets out the combined views of Government and industry of what the sector needs for success in the long term.