THE UK has long been at the forefront of developing new technologies to boost growth and address global threats, including our global leadership in the production and adoption of electric vehicles –Britain already manufactures 20 per cent of those sold in Europe.

I am proud that the Prime Minister has committed to ensuring the UK continues to lead from the front in phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles, announcing a £106m funding boost for the research and development of zero-emission vehicles to help the UK meet its target for all new cars and vans to be effectively zero-emission by 2040.

The electric vehicle revolution will help with our decarbonisation commitments in the Paris Climate Agreement, and also make the air we breathe cleaner. I know air quality is a major concern in the Devizes area, and the latest Wiltshire Annual Air Status Report found that a major factor in this is the number of petrol and diesel vehicles on the roads in our area, which is why the Government’s ‘Road to Zero’ strategy is so important.

But as well as this, it also provides huge new opportunities for British manufacturing, and automotive giants last week announced £500m worth of zero-emissions investment in the UK, creating more than 1,000 jobs across the country in this cutting-edge sector.

In Wiltshire, Dyson recently announced that it is planning a £116m expansion of its Hullavington site to test prototype electric vehicles, which will create many new skilled jobs for people living locally in this exciting industry.

Last week I also attended the ‘No-Deal Cabinet’, to discuss potential impacts of leaving the EU without a deal in March 2019.

The civil service has undertaken extensive work over the past two years on a series of technical notices to provide advice to businesses and citizens on what steps to take in the case of a no deal Brexit.

Whilst I am very hopeful of achieving a deal with the EU, I do think that it is sensible and practical to prepare for all options, including leaving without a deal.

Having sat around the table and listened to the potential impacts of a no deal scenario, I remain more convinced than ever that our best prospect lies in convincing the EU to agree to the Chequers proposal for our free trade agreement with the EU, then gaining Parliamentary approval, so that we can leave the EU with minimal disruption to businesses and individuals, while also gaining the freedom to make sure our laws and regulations are the best fit for the UK, and seek out new free trade deals across the world.