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Hello, I'm Sean Curran, and this is yesterday in Parliament from BBC Radio 4.

On Monday, the 7th of April, the Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, told MPs

the government had given British car manufacturers certainty and support on the transition to electric vehicles,

after she confirmed that manufacturers would be given more freedom in how they met electric

car sales targets. The House of Lords began its Easter break last week. The Common starts a two-week

recess later today. With no big votes scheduled for this week, the Common starts a two-week recess later today. With no big votes scheduled

for this week, the turnout for the Transport Secretary's statement was respectable rather than

standing room only. Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander.

Sekeir Starma had already confirmed during a visit to a Jaguar Land Rover plant in the West Midlands

that the government would relax the electric vehicle sales targets

and Heidi Alexander had been on an early morning tour of the radio and television studios.

Now she told MPs that ministers had listened to car manufacturers.

The automotive industry is a cornerstone of our economy.

It supports over 150,000 jobs and generates 19 billion pounds every year.

Today, with government backing, it must negotiate the turbulence of fresh global economic challenges.

Those challenges include President Trump's decision to introduce taxes on imports into the United States.

The Conservative Shadow Transport Secretary Gareth Bacon hoped the government would succeed in negotiating a better deal with the US.

The announcement by the United States of America that 25% tariffs will be imposed,

rather, on the UK automotive exports has understandably caused significant concern within the automotive sector.

Automotive manufacturers now face tariffs of 25% on around £8 billion worth of cars and

auto parts exports. And these tariffs constitute a potentially devastating blow for the automotive industry.

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