Sarah Olney asked in the Commons why Britain does not provide the same subsidies that other countries do toward solar cell manufacturing. That was the gist of it at least. As the FT reports on the same incident:

But Chris Case, its chief technology officer, told the Financial Times that between continental Europe, the US and the UK, the latter was the “least attractive” location for the factory to manufacture the cells because of a lack of incentives.

Incentives, here, being of course taxpayer subsidies to the capitalists so they’ll build their factory here, not there.

At which point a suggested response for the Prime Minister.

“Mr. Speaker, the situation outlined is that German taxpayers are subsidising the production of solar cells. This then makes solar cells cheaper in Britain, solar panels cheaper in Britain and, as these things work out, solar power cheaper in Britain for Britons. I am then asked what I’m going to do about this. The response is, obviously, nothing.

“Just to point out my current job is Prime Minister of this country, not Chancellor of Germany. German taxpayers are losing money so that British consumers will be better off. I should stop this process why?

“As Tim Almond has pointed out, the correct response is “Great, they’re subsidising the buffet, pull up a bollard and tuck in.” If a software developer in Swindon gets this why is it so difficult for the Hon Member for Richmond Park to grasp economic reality?”

We recommend it to the House.