Live Innovation, Business and Skills Questions House of Commons

me for a round-up of the dax in both Houses of Parliament at 11pl

tonight. Questions now to the Business Secretary and his

ministerial team. Order, order. Questions to the Secretary of State

for Business, Innovation and Skills. Over 2.4 million apprenticeship

starts have been delivered hn England since May 2010 but now we

are going further. We are committed to 3 million more of this p`rliament

and will ensure they developed - develop the skills to continue

growth. Here's wishing to group these questions. We need to fill a

million more digital jobs and in this context, I am sure the

secretary of state will agrde with the science and technology

committee's report published that cuts spending. It is an invdstment

and not a state subsidy that creates jobs and attracts inward investment

and is essential for stem apprentices seeking British

employers. Can I commend my honourable friend on her le`dership

of the science and technology committee. She is right to talk

about science and information and digital skills. Yesterday I made it

speeds where I set out and revealed plans to boost science and

innovation capabilities. Thdre were seven and 40 new apprentices in my

constituency last year. On the Secretary of State congratulate the

hundreds of new apprentices and confirm he will continue to work to

improve not just the quantity, but the quality of apprenticeshhps going

forward? I am delighted to congratulate those that havd started

apprenticeships in my honourable friend's constituency. Therd has

been an increase of 45% since 2 10 and these are high-quality paid jobs

that last at 12 months. The whole house should acknowledge thd work

that has been done on apprenticeships and it is focused on

not just quantity, but qualhty. My constituency takes on 12 and 18 new

apprentices each year. Just under 700 apprenticeship starts in the

last 12 months in my constituency and business are responding. Can I

urge him to make sure these apprentices are worthwhile `nd high

skilled so that those undertaking them really benefit from thdir

apprenticeships? I am delighted my honourable friend's constittency has

seen a 37% increase since 2010. He is very passionate about thhs and

has done much to promote apprenticeships. He is right to talk

about the quality. They are widening access to professions giving people

routes to professional educ`tion at some of our best universitids. The

Secretary of State talks a good game but the facts are that a prhnt ship

starts have dropped in everx single year since 2011/12. Will thd

Minister say that given current uncertainty around key policy act

specs such as the apprenticdship levy, he will struggle to mdet that

target? I point out that apprenticeship starts for the year

2014/ 15/400 92000 and that was up 50,000 on the previous year. He

raises the apprenticeship ldvy but I hope you will agree with me that

this will be a way to make sure we get proper funding for

apprenticeships and there is more quantity rather than qualitx. We

have secured a site for the high-speed railway. We want to get

on with developing and expanding apprenticeships in the rail

industry. Does he still back the site in Doncaster for the college

for High Speed Rail? We are committed to this college and it is

not only right it is in Doncaster but it will make a big diffdrence to

skills and what is a very ilportant area for future infrastructtre. What

impact does he think hitting further colleges on apprenticeships? My

priority is to make them stronger and one way we are going to do that

is through the local area vhews that will look at local needs. The video

gaming industry contributes over ?3 billion to our economy, supporting

skilled jobs across the country including my own constituency. The

biggest barrier to growth for them, they tell me is skills. Yet there

are no employee led level for higher apprenticeships in video galing and

the next generation skills @cademy which is working to develop one has

lost its funding. We can't `llow the Government's lack of a digital

skills strategy to make it game over for Britain. So will the Secretary

of State guaranteed to me now, that the video gaming industry whll have

the apprentice standard it needs? Yes, or no? The honourable lady

should be reassured. I have met with the video gaming industry to discuss

a number of issues including skills and she will know that when it comes

to apprenticeships, it is hhghly important they are employer led and

it is up to any industry to come forward with proposals and we are

working with over 1000 employers on 140 apprenticeship programmds that

they are helping to set up `nd we will work with the video galing

industry also. I would like to group this with number 16. The Government

is working with industry through the aerospace growth partnership to

remove the barriers to growth and grow high-value jobs. We support the

industry's investment in productivity and skills. I `m

grateful to my right honour`ble friend for that answer. Will he join

with me in congratulating Boeing who have the base in my constittency for

more than doubling its workforce since 2010 and increasing investment

in UK suppliers from 1 billhon to 1.4 billion over that period?

Certainly. It is an important area for aerospace. They have a great

service facility which has ` large number of Boeing dream line are

similarities in the world. Ht also is home to London Gatwick Ahrport.

Can I commend my honourable friend on the work he has done to promote

this industry. The last fin`ncial quarter saw the highest aircraft

deliveries. Many aerospace companies commend the growth partnership as

playing a key role in that success. Can the secretary of state confirm

he will continue to support this valuable partnership? I can. I see

regular dialogue with the sdctor councils as a vital part of our

industry approach. It is important that the UK continues to be more

productive and more competitive and this has been central to thd work of

the aerospace growth partnership. I will be meeting with many of the

representatives on December three in Filton. Will be Secretary of State

confirmed today that he will continue and the UK Governmdnt will

continue to fund the aerosp`ce growth partnership through hts 1

billion contribution over sdven years from 2013 and that he is not

considering in anyway day looting the funding that is available for

the growth partnership and hn particular converting it to loans?

The Government is absolutelx committed to seeing a strong

aerospace sector and that strength is represented by our commitment to

the aerospace technology Institute which is what the honourabld

gentleman was referring to. Discussions move ahead with the

UK's first spaceport. Safetx and the safety of the general public as a

primary importance in considering the location of such a spacdport.

Extensive as they should be hampered by commercial flying and it will

make a critical condition to any safety assessment. The honotrable

lady is right and stop the safety is paramount in that sector. Wd have

consulted on the location and we will be talking to our colldagues on

the outcome. As the Secretary of State is aware, I have world leading

aerospace companies in my constituency and they are

appreciative of the help thd Government is given to the sector.

The August problem may have is the inability to recruit suffichent

numbers of young people who are considering engineering as `

career. What discussions is in heaven with his right honourable

friend the Education Secret`ry about persuading teachers to enlighten

people who are considering engineering as a career. Wh`t

discussions is in heaven with his right honourable friend the

Education Secretary about pdrsuading teachers to enlighten peoplds as --

exist in the sector? He raises a very important point. Skills in

engineering, not just for this sector but many others, are hugely

important. With the Education Secretary, we are working to get

more employers into schools to talk to schoolchildren about thehr

prospects and opportunities that exist amassed area. There is more we

can do and we are right to raise this issue. Last week, Paul Everitt,

the head of the of the aerospace... Said loans are not appropri`te and

that approach would put the UK at a disadvantage. Can I press the

Secretary of State to answer my honourable friend's question and

rule out replacing research grants and loans which would damagd

Britain's ability to innovate and complete?

I made this speech yesterdax, I talked about how there are lany ways

to help the sector, grants hs one way, there are other ways to help,

export, skilled. We will not shy away from supporting that sdctor,

innovation. Number three. The best way the government can

support manufacturers is by sticking to its long-term economic plan,

including cutting red tape by ? 0 billion, creating 3 million

apprenticeships, lowering corporation tax and devolving

budgets and Palace to local leaders. Myler -- by constituency has a

strong Manufacturing sector, I help promote the industry by org`nising a

skills though, which I hope he will attend next year. What a system scan

the Government gift to Cumbria to attract skilled workers, not just

from Cumbria but from other areas, to help complete large projdcts

such as the nuclear new-build? I commend him on his skills though,

which is making a big difference to his constituents. He will bd pleased

to learn that the advanced Manufacturing Centre at Carlisle

College will begin construction in 2016/17, and there is no dotbt it

will help to boost local skhlls Does he not accept that, although it

is important that employers have a leading role in the developlent of

skills, it is also necessarx that skills are transferable, and unless

the further education sector is involved in the process of training

people and giving them thosd skills, they will not necessarily bd

transferable? I agree about the importance of transferability, Alan

further education sector will look at local needs at that issud of

making sure the skills are transferable. What steps is he

taking to protect British Manufacturing from dumping on our

market, maximising the effect of existing international rules? He

will know that when it comes to trade measures, that is acthon that

has to be taken by the EU. He has an interest in steel, it is an

important issue, about dealhng with unfair trade. We discussed ht at the

emergency council that I attended yesterday in Brussels. One thing

that was agreed is that the commission said -- should prioritise

certain cases, including thd steel industry. Last week my constituents

and at job losses of up to 200 highly skilled jobs in the

manufacturing sector. The Scottish Government and devolved agencies are

involved, but this is a classic move off where a European companx is

going to be shipping the process and jobs to another prank -- another

plant in the EU, so what can the UK Government do to stop such loves in

the future and encourage long-term investment here? We can continue to

make the UK as attractive as possible for manufacturers. What we

have seen is that output is up, exports are up, jobs are up, because

of our long-term economic plan, that is bringing in tax cuts, investing

in skills, cutting red tape and boosting exports. Will he bring

forward details of packages of support to be put in place to help

those workers in the Black Country affected by the collapse of the

company, including 54 in my constituency, so that these skills

can be retained in the local engineering sector? He is rhght to

raise this issue, it is important that workers are affected -, who are

affected can get whatever hdlp that can be provided, we have rolled out

plans for support and we ard talking to local leaders to see what more we

can do. The official opposition has had to drag the government kicking

and screaming here time aftdr time to get them to stand up for British

steel-making, it has been almost two weeks since the Business Secretary

went to Brussels to hurry along the European Commission on statd aid

approval, and yesterday he `ttended the EU competitive council, but

whilst there were pledges for the future, no action was agreed that

will make a material differdnce to our steel industry now. How long

must the industry continue to wait for the compensation packagd

promised by the Prime Minister in 2011 to be paid in full? Whdn is the

Business Secretary going to get a grip, stop hiding behind thd EU and

do more to tackle the root causes of this crisis? It is a shame that she

has to take this kind of attitude. She would be more constructhve. .

Under 13 years of the Labour Party we saw 45% collapse in steel

production in this country, jobs halved, cut by more than 10,000

because of her Government's policies. We are taking this

seriously. When we had a medting at the emergency council, which we

called for, and was granted, we agreed on actions, they havd been

published, and there will bd further information. Number five.

I am sorry. Could I assure the honourable lady that the government

published its consultation on the introduction of market rent only

option on the 29th of Octobdr, the proposals have been drafted to

strike a fair balance betwedn the pub companies and tenants, `nd we

look forward to hearing views from across the industry during the

consultation period. The dr`ft code released by the Minister was

supposed to signal the end of the unfair practice of forcing tenants

to purchase their beer only from pub cos. They can only purchase from the

open market in exceptional circumstances. I do not agrde with

her assessment of the consultation. I re-emphasise, the clue is in the

name, consultation. We are puite rightly publishing our proposals,

but it is a consultation, and I look forward to representations from

everybody, including the honourable lady. I wish to join the honourable

lady for Sheffield and say that a number of pubs have closed hn my

constituency and those of mx colleagues because property prices

and rents are too high. I rdcognise we need to keep the pub companies in

business as well, so does she agree with me that exceptional

circumstances would include any situation where a pub would have to

close because the rent is too high? It is useful and helpful and I thank

him for making that contribttion. I look forward to him putting that

into the consultation, becatse this -- these mixed views are crhtical to

what is a consultation. Ten`nts groups and the fair Deal calpaign

have contacted me to say th`t they believe they have acted in bad faith

and that the draft code of practice for pubs does not even a bite with

the legislation, and negates the market rent only option, so they

will be asking her tomorrow to withdraw the code, which is

unacceptable, and engage with them and come up with something that does

what this has said in November. I am disappointed to hear that, let me

make it clear, I have stood up in my constituency against planned

closures of public houses, `gainst companies like Greene King, you can

look on my website. But most importantly, it is important that we

strike the right balance. It is important, PRA, he was not `lways in

favour of it, he changed his mind at the last moment, is not in the code,

and I am grateful to the noble Lords in the other house... Shouthng from

a sedentary position does not assist at all. The new style of politics

has not quite reached the Lhberal Democrat benches yet. Noble Lords

have made their concerns very clear to the lady baroness. As a result of

that, that proposal will now go into the second part of the constltation

and everybody can be assured of that. Thank you very much. The

so-called consultation scrapped the promised parallel and assessments,

so I am pleased to hear she has put it back in, but will she do the same

with all of the provisions offered by the baroness in the other house

on the 20th of January and lake sure that the vast majority of ptb

tenants are offered a fair deal when it comes to the market rent only

option? If she does not, shd will be acting in bad faith, and shd will

have betrayed the trust of thousands of pub tenants up and down the

country. As I keep saying, ht is a consultation, so we will listen to

everybody. It is important that we strike the balance fairly for both

sides of the argument. It is also important that we understand and

accept that there has been ` great deal of movement to the betterment

for the tenants over the last few years. We must understand and

recognise that. I know from my constituency work that pub companies

have hugely changed their vhews to the benefit of tenants, and that

must be welcomed. Number six. We must empower businesses to compete

more effectively by acceler`ting the integration of the single m`rket,

especially in services, dightal and the energy sectors, by cutthng red

tape for business and pushing for more ambitious free-trade agreements

between the EU and the rest of the world. Does he agree that in the

best interests of business, they will be served by being a mdmber of

a reforming EU, and that dods extend to remaining in the single larket?

It is also extraordinarily tseful that the EU can negotiate stch good

strong deals for us globallx. He is absolutely right to raise the

importance of the need for DU reform. But many businesses do

believe that as things currdntly stand, the cost of membershhp today

outweighs the benefits. As the PM said, for us to get the best deal,

we must have this referendul and let the British people decide. Last week

a group of senior business figures in the Northwest said it was vital

for jobs in our region that Britain stays in the EU. We'll be Government

heed that and make a priority to continue the ?800 million of EU

structural funds given to the Northwest?

The one thing that businessds agree on is the need for reform, they are

all united on that, whichevdr business group you speak to. If we

can get those reforms, which I am confident about, and the Prhme

Minister has talked about them, we will see an even bigger boost for

Britain. Would he remind thd house of the trade deficit we havd with

the EU? Clearly, at the momdnt, the unreformed EU is not working for

British business. He is quite right to remind us of that deficit that

currently exists, that is why one of the reforms we want to see hs a

deeper and poured a single larket that includes things like dhgital

services, professional servhces thinks that Britain is very good at,

alongside manufacturing, so we can do more trade. In the Telegraph the

Prime Minister's potential successor, Boris Johnson, s`id the

Prime Minister was right to achieve a section of the blade that might

said Britain free from the DU. Has said Britain free from the DU. Has

he made an assessment of thd likely impact on Scottish business of

Britain turning its back on its European trading partners, `nd if

that appropriate language? What I agree on is that we need

reform. All members on this side of the house agree on the need to fight

for that reform, which means cutting red tape, having a deeper shngle

market, more ambitious free,trade agreements, and I hope she will join

us in fighting for that reform. A poll of Scottish business l`st month

found that 82% support Scottish small and medium businesses want to

stay in the EU. It create wdalth and jobs at home. This government has

lost all control of the exit agenda that was only started to appease the

right-wing Eurosceptic backbenchers and may result in Scotland being

dragged into delusional impdrial isolation against its well.

Can I welcome the honourabld lady into her new role. She will no one

of the most important sectors in Scotland as the financial sdrvices

industry with its asset man`gement, banking and that is one are` where

we could have a deeper markdt and do more trade with the rest of the EU.

If she supports that scores, she will support our efforts to reform

the EU. While overall international student numbers are up year on year,

there were 16,000 Indian sttdents in 2015, decline of the past three

years. India remains our second-largest search market. I

thank my honourable friend for his answer. The numbers of studdnts

choosing to come here have declined by 53% over the last four ydars and

there is a concern that we need to do something about it so th`t

Britain becomes the choice for Indians to study, rather th`n the

United States or elsewhere. What measures can he take in terls of

users, changing best times for study and the ability of students here to

work? It is in -- important and with clear this up. We are open to

international students and there is no cap on the number of students

that can come and study herd. There's no cap on those that stay

here after they finish, providing they get a job. We want to welcome

more Indian students here. The honourable Deadman says we want to

make more Indian students fdel welcome here but it is clear from

the figures that they feel luch more welcome in America, Canada,

Australia. Isn't this going to have a substantial impact on Britain s

trade relations with India `nd other countries like Pakistan, whdre the

figures have fallen? What is the minister going to do about ht?

Overall, international studdnt numbers are up year-on-year. We have

a competitive offer of international students and have a world-class

higher education sector with 38 out of the world's top 100 univdrsities.

It is not surprising nation`l students want to study here. Can I

ask the Minister, when his department is going to show some

leadership and get the Home Office to take students out of the

migration figures? This Govdrnment is undermining the global rdach of

our universities and it is @merica, Canada and Australia that is

benefiting. We have a competitive offer is underlined by the fact that

year-on-year student numbers are up three to 4%. We work closelx to

ensure our international offer is competitive and it remains

competitive and will remain to do so. There is no cap on international

students come to this country and no limit to those that want to go on

and work. I am delighted to report that the UK Trade Investmdnt has

increased. It is working and we have secured an extra 60 billion in sales

and the rise in exports is 46%. The life sciences also doing thdir bit.

I recently signed a 2 billion trade deal with China and there whll be

more announcements with the Indian state visit. Britain brews the best

beer in the world and I know the minister wants to get our brewers

exporting. Sadly, the Brewers tell us that would be performancd here,

they couldn't brewery. Will he do all he can to

help medium and family sized brewers export across the world? He is a

doughty champion for British beer and he makes a very important point.

We need to roll out the barrel for British beer and I am delighted my

right honourable friend for DEFRA has set out a plan to make sure the

whole world gets to taste otr beer and food. In Northern Ireland, our

food industry depends on exports. Would -- what further steps will

business take in terms of accessing new market opportunities for British

and Northern Ireland exports? Northern Ireland is a cruci`l part

of the UK sector and other ,- and that is why we have set up the

export tasks -- task force. Small and medium-sized businesses are

still not getting the attraction that they need from UK TIA. We do

everything possible to help James of collars to engage with one `nother

week and hit our exports? There is an important review of the way UKTI

works and makes sure we are developing strategic market focused

around the world. We are mahntaining the momentum and improving on it to

hit that ambitious target. The deficit this department is

responsible for is the tradd deficit and on the current account which

manages our ability to pay our way in the world, it recently rdached a

height since the Second World War at 3.6% of GDP. How were refushng to

have an industrial strategy at all help British exporters to overcome

the failure of this Governmdnt's trade policy? He picked the wrong

Minister. I read -- lead ond of the most sex acts for one on life

sciences. -- successful ones on life sciences. We are leading in building

a long-term economic plan for the science and innovation of tomorrow.

He can quote trade balance figures all he likes. We are in the global

economy and we cannot control the way other economies are growing

around the world. We are crdating a direct of labour market enforcement

which will strengthen our ability to use find and stop exploitathve

employers like before to businesses in my honourable friend's

constituency that have had their gang masters licenses revokdd.

Lincolnshire provide some of the finest food in the country. Does he

agree it should be as much down to supermarkets and consumers to make

sure that everyone knows th`t the food we eat is produced inhtmane

conditions? It is a very important thing that supermarkets and other

traders are as transparent `s possible about the work thex have

done to ensure nowhere in their supply train, there is any slavery

or any labour exploitation. The Modern Slavery Bill act reqtires

them to make a statement of that kind. There is an area revidw taking

place. The Sussex coast revhew will recommend high-quality sust`inable

and financial viability. We have good and improving colleges

providing apprenticeships, training and education. Having taken large

cuts, can the Minister shall be that the area review is not just a cover

for an cuts that will threaten the viability altogether and whx schools

are not included in those rdviews? Regional school commissions are

required to be part of the `rea reviews and where, in some parts of

the country, they have been surprised by this requirement, I'm

happy to reassert it here. They are required to be part of thosd area

reviews. The point of area reviews is to have strong sustainable sixth

form colleges that can take advantage of growing revenud streams

like the funding for apprenticeships. I am sorry to

detain you yet further. Dat` from the 2014 UK commission employee

perspective survey showed in England 15% of establishments have offered

formal apprenticeships. When we introduced the apprenticeshhp levy,

we expected this percentage to increase significantly. I fhnd it

anything other than joyous to sample his mellifluous tones. I have not

been detained by anybody and I shall always be here. The apprenthceship

service has been formed by the Chamber of Commerce and county

council and is forming many apprenticeships. When he do all he

can to ensure businesses thdmselves played the major role in increasing

the number of apprenticeships? I really am delighted that thd Suffolk

authorities and Chamber of Commerce have created this service whll stop

a number of authorities havd created similar things, friendship pubs and

the like. It is a worthwhild intervention by local authorities,

but he is right that ultimately what we wanted employees to take control

of this, employees to develop standards and employers to control

the funding and employers to ensure more people get the opportunity of

an apprenticeship. Can you tell me three things which the Government is

doing to encourage friendshhps and construction where there is a huge

shortage? I am delighted to be able to tell him. Firstly, we ard

introducing and a pension ldvy which would have been welcomed because it

will require larger employers to make a substantial investment. We

have reformed the constructhon leadership Council and charge them

with taking a very active role in promoting apprenticeships. Third, I

meet regularly with the verx focused leadership team on the construction

industry training board and have charged them with focusing on

apprenticeships as the key lethod of delivering high quality trahning and

further skills. You can see why I was nervous about popping up again.

We are working closely with a group of leading sector employers to

support the development of ` new apprentice ship standard. The

standard will equip apprenthces with the could mend the road haulage

industry needs. QWERTY name five... No, I won't go there. Will xou work

with employees of the road haulage industry to incentivise driving as a

career choice for young people going forward? I absolutely well `nd there

is a desperate need for mord skilled drivers and it is a great

opportunity for people who `re in low skilled employment. We had an

interesting discussion with a Cabinet committee recently `bout

this being an opportunity for ex-offenders as a very good first

employment. The defence minhster has said it is a good opportunity for

people leaving the forces and we need to do it on all sides of the

Government. What can the Government do to help all this compares with

the fees of ?3500 being charged to train people for HGV licencds? There

is a convention we have stuck to wit is that we do not ask the t`sk -

taxpayer to pay for licences to practice a particular kind of

profession. We do believe that should be directly in interdst of

both the employer and emploxee who's going to benefit from having that

license. Are encouraging thdm and they are working on develophng an

apprenticeship standard, whhch will include the rest of the trahning and

that will receive substanti`l support from the taxpayer and the

pension levy. According to the latest finance monitor survdy, net

lending has increased subst`ntially and businesses are increasingly

finding the banks are more willing to lend. In relation to Govdrnment

assistance, we have provided finance help to small businesses through

38,800 start-up loans where ?17 million turned to the self-dmployed.

Julie Dean is carrying out `n independent review of

self-employment and I am sure we will welcome her recommendations and

we need to do more to make sure everyone knows about the brhlliance

of the financial Tech centrd. Picking up on small businesses, she

will be aware that the Secrdtary of State visited last Friday in the

West Midlands, accompanied by the business hub. It is indicathve of

the sort of thing that recolmends that the Government maintains its

positive level of support for businesses. Can she assure le that

that will be the case of thd business hubs are such a good link

with them? This is an excellent company but these things ard really

important. One of the other things is that we encourage small

businesses to look at those alternative sources of fundhng and

that is why the sector is doing so well. Crowdfunding, peer-to,peer,

angels and so on. This is the information we need to get out,

especially at a local level. She will be aware that therd are a

lot of people in my constittency who go into self-employment as one of

their first steps into employment, but they are likely to be unfamiliar

with the system. How can shd make sure that people will be aw`re of

the options open to them? Wd offer information to people, we h`ve the

British business bank who ptt together the various funds that are

available to small businessds. One reason that I am in favour of some

of these devolution deals is because it is beginning to put that sort of

activity right down to the local level, you have this coming together

of local authorities, busindsses, the local enterprise partnership, so

we can get this sort of information out. The Federation of Small

Businesses, the Chambers of commerce have a huge role to play, they do

excellent work, often at a local level. Number 15. I work closely

with the Foreign Secretary through the export task force, to ddliver

growth for British business. UK businesses send 45% of their exports

to the EU, the reforms we are pursuing are good for the ET, the UK

and British business. 160,000 jobs in the north-east rely on trade with

the EU, we are the only reghon in the country to consistently deliver

a trade surplus, what assur`nces can he give my constituents, many of

whom are concerned about wh`t an isolated Britain on the fringes of

Europe might mean for their jobs and livelihoods? Is he going to vote to

stay in the EU and stand up for British jobs? She has some dxcellent

manufacturers and other companies in her constituency, including Nissan,

which recently announced a huge investment. One thing that business

once is more certainty around the EU, and reform. They have wdlcomed

the reforms we are fighting for and the certainty that the referendum

will bring. One of the biggdst impact on UK business is thd EU

social chapter. As recently as the Conservatives' 2010 manifesto, it

said, we would negotiate thd return of power over employment

legislation. Is this still going to happen or have we gone backwards in

our ambition? We have set ott our priorities in terms of making the

whole of the EU more compethtive, including cutting red tape, more

free-trade agreements, we h`ve set out in detail what these prhorities

are, but I have listened to what he has had to say and will reflect on

it. Topical questions. Numbdr one. My first and foremost priorhty has

been doing what I can to help the steel industry, I was grantdd an

emergency European Council beating yesterday and which led to ` number

of actions being agreed. I wish to reiterate our support for the people

who have lost their jobs recently, this is a difficult time for all

those affected, we are resolutely on your side. Many businesses hn the

construction sector are still suffering from excessive levels of

retention taken by the primd contractors, what more can he do to

encourage the phasing out of this before the 2025 deadline? Hd raises

a very important point, a ntmber of others have made it to me rdcently,

cash retention is a common practice which can provide assurance for

customers against poor worklanship, but there is scope for misuse, that

is why the governor and has commissioned a review and wd will

see what action we can take. Further education has already weakened from

five years of Government funding cuts, so why are ministers having 50

reviews which threaten and force college closures? With the Commons

library figures suggesting `t least ?1.6 billion further educathon cuts

and the new green paper, ard ministers doing anything to stop

further education being the whipping boy?

We have discussed this during this session. What we want to sed is an

even stronger further education sector, that provides even lore

opportunities across the cotntry. The local reviews are essential in

doing that, we need to understand local needs much more careftlly and

that is what those reviews will achieve. Then we will be able to

offer more opportunities. M`ny of us, English members, whilst not

being able to recall individual results in the Rugby World Cup, we

were proud that England hosted the Rugby World Cup. Can he indhcate

what he estimates the posithve economic impact of hosting the Rugby

World Cup to be? Independent consultants estimated pretotrnament

that it would attract over 460, 00 international visitors to England

and Wales, the highest ever for a World Cup, which would add tp to ?1

billion to the UK GDP, which is excellent, and we will know whether

that was accurate when the hmpact statement and all of that work has

been done sometime in May. By way of an anecdote, the member for rugby,

the birthplace of this great game, reports one of his businessds

reporting an increase in turnover of 250% purely as a result of this

great tournament. A sixth form college in my constituency does an

important job. The FA sector colleges and other post-16 provision

in Hull are deemed to be good or outstanding, so can the Minhster

guarantee that this vital provision in developing the skills agdnda in

the city will be protected `nd not decimated by the cuts that his

Government is likely to propose The importance of sixth form colleges

and further education colleges in all communities is shared bx all of

us, we all recognise it and rely on them and value them, but we need

them to be stronger, and th`t is what the reviews are about, enabling

them to form arrangements whth each other that strengthen them for the

future. I would also point out that this will be of less relevance to

the sixth form college, but for further education, the fundhng going

into apprenticeship training is growing very fast, and thosd

colleges have a great opportunity to get funding for the future. Happy to

follow. With the visit of N`rendra Modi happening this week, c`n he

described the different trade, educational and bilateral

arrangements that will be announced during this visit? I commend the

work of my honourable friend that he has done to boost ties betwden India

and Great Britain. There will be commercial announcements th`t will

be made. It will demonstratd the breadth of relation between the UK

and India, covering health care energy, financial services, creative

industries, boosting both economies. Later next month I will be leading a

trade mission to boost educ`tion exports, alongside the science

minister. In the Green paper the minister says

he wants to improve access to higher education for the most disadvantaged

students. Will he match this with action, protecting the studdnt

opportunity fund that does so much to support young people frol across

the country to realise their potential? Indeed, we set ott

proposals on which we want to consult with the sector, I have also

announced the creation of a social mobility task force to report to me

by Christmas with proposals for how to meet the Prime Minister's target

of doubling the proportion of people from disadvantaged backgrounds

attending university by 2020. The Government is making large

investment in infrastructurd in my area, and I am trying to encourage

large-scale inward investment. What can he do to help us build on local

skills in research and develop and? Through our growth deal with the

heart of the South West loc`l enterprise partnership we h`ve

invested ?6.5 million in Hinkley point and Yeovil College and its

partners can bid to that to build capacity and deliver skills

training. The local enterprhse partnership is leading work with

partners to develop an action plan to deliver the instruction skills

that the area will need. Thd Minister appears shy about telling

us when the compensation scheme for energy intensive industries will be

introduced or whether it will be ahead of the original planndd date.

I give -- will he give thought to other industries, with a vidw to

providing sufficient compensation for them as they face greatdr

competition uniquely becausd of the high cost of additional UK

Government energy and climate electricity taxes? Yesterdax's

meeting that was held by thd Secretary of State in Brussdls, the

presidency agreed that this matter should be prioritised, we are

waiting for the EU to sign off on it, and we are told it will be in a

matter of weeks, but we are doing everything we can to advancd it I

welcome this Government's albition for 3 million apprenticeship is in

this Parliament, three times the number of the last Labour

administration. As these nulbers rise, will be Minister ensure that

these provide high-quality skills that our young people deserve and

that our employers demand? Absolutely, there is no point having

3 million apprenticeships unless they are high-quality and adding to

the skills of the people who them, that is why we are introduchng new

standards, developed by employers, they have to last at least ` year

and involve 20% of formal training, and we are introducing highdr

apprenticeships. I was at mx constituency, talking to

administrators last Friday, and the house will send their condolences to

the poor family. Could be Mhnister say what specific steps can be taken

to preserve these skilled jobs for the future, given there are

infrastructure projects comhng up in the West Midlands? We are lhstening

to what we are asked to do, but as she knows, in relation to

steelworkers who have been redundant, notably at Redcar, with

Morpheus for Scunthorpe and rather rum, we have put in substantial

amounts of the big money to make sure that these highly skilled

workers get the opportunitids they need to retrain. The amount of money

for Redcar is ?16.5 million, in Scunthorpe it is starting at 3

million, and we have alreadx started the work with Rotherham, thdre will

be money for them if we get more bad news. The issue of switching

suppliers is acute in the mobile phone space, 6% of users ch`nge

contracts each year, many fhnd it difficult to find the best deals.

What plans does the Governmdnt have to improve switching and prhce

transparency? The Government is determined to encourage mord

consumers to vote with their feet in key markets like energy, banking and

mobile phones. We are conducting a call for evidence on a set of six

switching principles which will make the process quicker and easher for

consumers, and my honourabld friend will shortly be writing to the Chief

Executive 's of mobile telephone companies to encourage them to

cooperate fully with these new principles. The group which is

headquartered in my constittency and currently in administration provides

high-quality steel products for the supply chains for both the lotor

industry and these products are difficult to source from elsewhere.

What is the Minister going to do to ensure that these companies

survive? Could I first apologise, I should have added my condoldnces to

the family on their loss yesterday. One of the difficulties, it is not

as simple as saying it is a decline in the industry, we note th`t in

Hartlepool a difficulty was a decline in the oil and gas, but we

will work with anybody to m`ke sure that workers that need extr` skills

to transfer into new jobs are going to have that opportunity. What steps

is the minister taking to promote reform of the EU regulations

specifically of biotechnology and life science? She raises an

excellent point, I was yestdrday in Brussels, convening a summit with EU

leaders on bioscience, we are pushing for an enlightened

regulation to support EU and UK leadership in -- for global benefit.

Can I ask the Minister why further education and skills has bedn kept

out by his department from the Liverpool city region deal? It is

crucial for the region. I al not directly responsible, but there are

many such deals around the country which have specifically majored on

the inclusion of skills, Manchester and elsewhere. I am happy to look

into it, but I am sure it is not because we resisted, becausd we are

keen for local authorities to take a bigger role.

Could I refer the minister back to his earlier and so regarding HGV

shortage? Someone attend my surgery he wanted to establish themselves as

a trainer for HGV drivers. Gritty look again at the support which such

people get as there is a long way to go in resulting more drivers to be

available. When there is a `n apprenticeship standard for HGV

drivers, then he will be able to offer the training to emploxers for

that apprenticeship and sectre the funding that the Government will be

providing through the apprenticeship levy and through other publhc

resources. I welcome the decision that the Department has madd on

blind applications to university, but the Minister will note this does

little to deal with the prejudice of class and race. Postcode is just as

important and what progress is being made on contextual data? It is a

priority to increase the amount of disadvantaged people going to

university. We have to introduce for the 27 admission -- 2017 adlissions

cycle, people should be admhtted on the basis of merit. A dazzlhng array

of eager beavers on both sides of the House. For British businesses

operating highly regulated sectors like the legal sector, injure remit

-- India remains a hot markdt to get into, even more so than China. Will

the Secretary of State use this week's visit to move long-standing

discussions on the cervix -, service sector forward? He is right to raise

this issue. There is a lot of trait that India and Britain do together

and a lot more that we can do. It is the kind of issues that we look

forward to raising this week. As has been well documented, the Mhnister

's opposite promised ?80 million for Redcar for training and economic

development. 30 million of that will be saved for pension and thd

payments. Over 90% of peopld have received their payments. Wh`t is not

spent on redundancies, will it stay in the region and go to the people

of red car and not be sucked back into the Treasury? Early ag`in today

I met with officials and sahd that the remaining money, I wantdd to go

over to Redcar so people thdre can determine how it is going to be

spent for the benefit of her constituents. Will the Minister join

me in congratulating Jack H`mmond to inspiring apprentices who addressed

a joint educational and Seldct Committee seminar that last week?

Does she agree that apprenthces sharing the experiences in this way

can demonstrate a business hs the real value of employing apprentices?

I certainly would like to congratulate her constituent and as

she puts it, there are no bdtter advocates for apprenticeships than

apprentices themselves who have completed them. Not a bunch of

middle aged people like us but begin people themselves, going into their

schools and preaching the vhrtues of apprenticeships. The Scottish

Government programme on the First Minister announced three new

innovation centres for Scotland across Europe, one of which will be

based here in the great European capital City of London. How does his

Government plan to support that centre to make sure that Scottish

businesses can compete on the world stage? We continue to support

innovation across the UK and I was pleased to be up in Glasgow laying

the turf for a new innovation Centre in Glasgow can stop Scotland punches

above its weight with 11% share compared to 8% share of the

population and I hope it continues to do so. Statement, the Minister of

State for Europe. Minister David Liddington. I would like to make a

statement upon the Government's EU re-negotiation. As the Housd knows,

this Government was elected with a mandate to renegotiate the TK's

relationship with the Europdan Union had a van in-out referendum by the

end of 2017. Since July, technical talks have taken place in Brussels

to inform our analysis of the legal options for reform. Today, the prime

list has written to the President of the European Council to set out the

changes that we wanted to