:00:00. > :00:11.As many as are of the opinion, say "aye". To the contrary, "no". I
:00:12. > :00:22.think the ayes have it. Questions to the Secretary of State for Business,
:00:23. > :00:25.Innovation and Skills. With your permission I'd like to answer this
:00:26. > :00:30.question together with question number three. I recently announced a
:00:31. > :00:37.joint review into business broadband to ensure businesses can access
:00:38. > :00:41.affordable high-speed broadband. Over 250,000 homes and businesses in
:00:42. > :00:44.Yorkshire and the Humber and 100,000 in the north-east have superfast
:00:45. > :00:48.broadband available for the first time thanks to the Government's
:00:49. > :00:55.investment Road ground. I thank him for his response. If they are on
:00:56. > :01:01.track to meet targets, why does Ofcom analysis predicts that by
:01:02. > :01:08.2017, when 95% of all premises will have broadband, a land AT present --
:01:09. > :01:12.18% will not. Why are so many businesses left behind and does he
:01:13. > :01:19.accept his plans show a lack of ambition? I do not accept that and I
:01:20. > :01:22.hope the Honourable lady will recognise that superfast broadband
:01:23. > :01:30.coverage throughout the UK has increased from 45% in 2010 to almost
:01:31. > :01:33.90% now and we are fully on target to reach 95% by 2017. It is
:01:34. > :01:42.important to keep looking at new ways to extend coverage and that is
:01:43. > :01:46.what we are doing. A senior adviser at the Institute of Directors said
:01:47. > :01:49.they expect the Government to meet the universal service obligation but
:01:50. > :01:54.the latter is only because the bar is set so low. How will the
:01:55. > :01:57.Government provide the infrastructure to make Britain's
:01:58. > :02:05.position at the forefront of digital innovation is business and also --
:02:06. > :02:12.and business and also I'd ask him to address the previous question, and
:02:13. > :02:23.my question, about the lack of provision for S M Es. There are
:02:24. > :02:28.hundreds of thousands of them including in our own constituency.
:02:29. > :02:36.We are on target and our US all is twice as high as recommended in the
:02:37. > :02:41.EU and despite their being more work to do, we have wider coverage than
:02:42. > :02:49.EU partners and higher speeds and lowest average price. The Ofcom
:02:50. > :02:55.solution to the desperately poor penetration of fibre to premises in
:02:56. > :02:57.the UK to open access to BT's infrastructure but that would
:02:58. > :03:03.require reasonable rates of access as well as a clear network map. What
:03:04. > :03:09.can the Secretary of State do to make sure BT complies with
:03:10. > :03:13.requirements? I can tell my honourable friend, I have read the
:03:14. > :03:16.Ofcom report carefully and met with them a number of times on this issue
:03:17. > :03:25.but I have every reason to think the key will comply. If not we will look
:03:26. > :03:36.at what action we can take. Question two. We are absolutely committed to
:03:37. > :03:44.regional growth. We had a fresh round of golf deals. Including a
:03:45. > :03:51.?250 million investment fund and the devolution deal for greater language
:03:52. > :03:55.worth ?450 million. One of the keys to growth in the Black Country is
:03:56. > :04:02.greater collaboration between business and further education
:04:03. > :04:08.colleges and I have two of these excellently severing my
:04:09. > :04:11.constituency. Would the Secretary of State agreed to meet with the
:04:12. > :04:18.principles of each to talk about reducing the skills gap and promote
:04:19. > :04:22.further growth in the region? I agree with my honourable friend. One
:04:23. > :04:28.reason we have seen a 50% fall in his constituency is because he has
:04:29. > :04:33.been promoting that type of collaboration and I enjoyed visiting
:04:34. > :04:35.hills on college last year to learn about the technology centre and I
:04:36. > :04:52.will be more than happy to meet with him and the college representatives.
:04:53. > :04:59.Mr Keith Lasley to -- Keith Vaz. Would the Secretary of State like to
:05:00. > :05:10.join me and other lesser MPs in congratulating -- Leicester MPs in
:05:11. > :05:17.congratulating Leicester FC. It will boost jobs in the region in tourism.
:05:18. > :05:23.Rather than call it red Leicester anymore it is actually blue
:05:24. > :05:29.Leicester. I like the sound of that very much. Let me to gradually at
:05:30. > :05:34.him and his constituents on their stunning victory last night. The
:05:35. > :05:44.whole nation celebrates that and I suggest he makes the most of it
:05:45. > :05:51.while he can. Amanda Maling. Regional growth is reliant on
:05:52. > :05:54.businesses investing and exporting. I visited the business on Friday
:05:55. > :06:00.looking to grow their business but facing difficulties in terms of
:06:01. > :06:04.access to finance from their bank. This resulted in them switching
:06:05. > :06:09.bank. Can he outlined what measures are being taken by the Government to
:06:10. > :06:19.improve access to finance for small and medium businesses? She raises a
:06:20. > :06:26.unimportant issue and I will highlight two things. First there is
:06:27. > :06:29.the local growth fund which is already allocated ?8 billion and the
:06:30. > :06:34.Chancellor spoke of a further 4 billion by the end of Parliament.
:06:35. > :06:38.Also the launch of the Midlands engineering investment fund,
:06:39. > :06:48.hundreds of millions allocated to small businesses including those in
:06:49. > :06:54.Cannock Chase. We are going to get visitors across the sand West
:06:55. > :06:57.midlands and get the engine moving, will he talk about infrastructure
:06:58. > :07:04.investment more generally because in the East Midlands we are losing out,
:07:05. > :07:10.only ?37 per head of rail investment compared to over 200 in London. He
:07:11. > :07:15.raises an important issue and that is because we have a strong economy
:07:16. > :07:18.under this government that we have a programme of ?300 billion of
:07:19. > :07:23.investment over the next few years. That includes the Midlands including
:07:24. > :07:29.the mainline, investment in HS2, but there is always more we can do and I
:07:30. > :07:33.am happy to hear new ideas. Will the Secretary of State to take this
:07:34. > :07:42.opportunity to praise the work of promoting the economy of West
:07:43. > :07:54.Midlands, particularly Greater Birmingham Solihull. Could you
:07:55. > :08:04.clarify what will be the role of the LEPs in helping to promote regional
:08:05. > :08:13.economy? I join them in commending the work. Especially the Birmingham
:08:14. > :08:17.and Solihull LEP and I have seen the work they have achieved and that is
:08:18. > :08:26.commendable. They will work throughout the Midlands with
:08:27. > :08:32.cooperation on things like infrastructure and trade and skills.
:08:33. > :08:36.A couple of weeks ago I asked the Prime Minister about the possible
:08:37. > :08:43.closure of British Gas Albury with the loss of 700 jobs. His reply, he
:08:44. > :08:51.should meet, we will make sure a ministerial task force can talk to
:08:52. > :08:57.the company and the community. Imagine my disappointment to be told
:08:58. > :09:04.that there is no ministerial tax force -- task force. I don't think
:09:05. > :09:09.it matches up to the assurance from the Prime Minister that there needs
:09:10. > :09:23.to be real drive to keep and replace these jobs. Job losses are
:09:24. > :09:28.regrettable in all cases and we must do everything we can. Soon after the
:09:29. > :09:33.Prime Minister said that there was a meeting by the Business Minister and
:09:34. > :09:37.the employment minister with fellow managing director from British Gas.
:09:38. > :09:41.I understand the redundancies are not yet final but there's a
:09:42. > :09:47.consultation period so let us hope they are not as bad as soon. We will
:09:48. > :09:54.continue to do whatever we can including contacting the company.
:09:55. > :09:59.Question number four. We are protecting adult education budget in
:10:00. > :10:06.cash terms, subsidised loans to advance learners and having it an
:10:07. > :10:11.apprenticeship levy so this will be higher in cash terms by 2020. We are
:10:12. > :10:17.told that old skills budget will be devolved to regions securing a
:10:18. > :10:21.devolution deal but can he secured me these budgets will be ring fenced
:10:22. > :10:26.and not subjected to cuts? We will ensure these budgets are spent on
:10:27. > :10:42.skills training but the whole point of evolving the budget is -- default
:10:43. > :10:49.link -- evolution of the budget... Area reviews are an important way to
:10:50. > :10:54.understand the need for adult education so will the Minister be
:10:55. > :10:57.encouraging reviews on the needs of women to return to work after caring
:10:58. > :11:06.responsibilities? My honourable friend is absolutely
:11:07. > :11:08.right and one of the great opportunities in the apprenticeship
:11:09. > :11:14.programme is that apprenticeships are all age and four women who have
:11:15. > :11:17.perhaps taking a career break just want to change their profession, and
:11:18. > :11:22.apprenticeship is an opportunity to gain new skills will also earning an
:11:23. > :11:27.income so that they can forge a great career. When will the
:11:28. > :11:30.Government be publishing guidelines on how skills budgets may be
:11:31. > :11:37.devolved in those areas where devolution is being looked at? It
:11:38. > :11:42.depends on when the devolution deal is done and as he will be in our own
:11:43. > :11:46.county greater Lincolnshire, that you'll is reasonably well advanced.
:11:47. > :11:50.Another part of the country it is less well advanced but fundamentally
:11:51. > :11:53.it is pretty simple, we want them to be commissioning from their local
:11:54. > :12:01.colleges the adult skills provision they believe their area can benefit
:12:02. > :12:04.from. Given the budget is a finite amount, it is important it is
:12:05. > :12:09.targeted with it is green to have them most effect. Does the Minister
:12:10. > :12:12.agree that young adults who are low skilled and those actively seeking
:12:13. > :12:17.work at the best places to target those funds? I do agree those will
:12:18. > :12:22.often be the best targets but what I think is even more important is that
:12:23. > :12:29.his local authority and other combined authorities are best placed
:12:30. > :12:36.to identify particular groups where it is best placed and respond
:12:37. > :12:40.accordingly. Further education colleges in Scotland are the largest
:12:41. > :12:46.providers of apprenticeship education. We'll be therefore be
:12:47. > :12:52.exempt from the apprenticeship levy? Mr Speaker, the apprenticeship levy
:12:53. > :12:56.will apply to all employers through the United Kingdom with a payroll
:12:57. > :12:59.bill of more than ?3 million but of course there is absolutely nothing
:13:00. > :13:04.to stop any employer in Scotland who is paying the levy from putting
:13:05. > :13:10.pressure on whoever is in Government in Scotland after this Thursday to
:13:11. > :13:15.make sure they are increasing the investment in apprenticeships as we
:13:16. > :13:18.are doing in England. Mr Speaker, tucked away in the odd statement was
:13:19. > :13:25.the Government's admission they will be cutting efficiencies. ?360
:13:26. > :13:30.million of adult non-apprenticeship funding between now and 2022 dozen
:13:31. > :13:36.the ministers see a paradox of the Government going hell for leather on
:13:37. > :13:39.young people's apprenticeships while failing to ring fence funding for
:13:40. > :13:45.basic skills when England has 9 billion people with low literacy and
:13:46. > :13:55.we are ranked bottom in literacy and next to bottom in illicit among 23
:13:56. > :14:01.developed nations? -- 9 million. The Government cut grants by 18%. Why is
:14:02. > :14:06.the Government's G White paper to address technical skills shortages
:14:07. > :14:12.being delayed? Is it a strategy or a wing and a prayer? There was a lot
:14:13. > :14:16.of detail in the honourable gentleman's question but not a lot
:14:17. > :14:20.of clarity. The clarity is that we are increasing total funding
:14:21. > :14:26.available for total education by 40% in cash terms to do this Parliament
:14:27. > :14:31.so he talks about last year because he doesn't like this year because
:14:32. > :14:38.this year tells the story of the Government investing in skills for
:14:39. > :14:43.the future. Question five. Mr Speaker, we have removed employers'
:14:44. > :14:51.national insurance from apprentices under the age of 25 and introducing
:14:52. > :14:56.a levy for larger employers which would use the training fund to ?2.5
:14:57. > :15:05.billion by 2020. To mark National apprenticeship week I visited Silent
:15:06. > :15:09.night whose apprenticeship scheme has created 44 full-time jobs. Does
:15:10. > :15:13.the Minister degree that trips like this who are seeing you on year
:15:14. > :15:23.sales growth at the moment are a great inspiration to employers
:15:24. > :15:27.across the UK? I welcome that example of Silent Night because what
:15:28. > :15:31.is important is that apprentices and value to their employers, they're
:15:32. > :15:37.not just receiving training, they are adding value and consistently
:15:38. > :15:44.find employers saying they bring enthusiasm into their businesses. It
:15:45. > :15:48.is becoming increasingly clear that the systems and processes needed to
:15:49. > :15:55.implement the apprenticeship where they are far from ready. Many see
:15:56. > :15:59.this as an attack on jobs and the CBI have called for a radical
:16:00. > :16:02.rethink. I was grateful for the minister meeting myself and members
:16:03. > :16:06.of the oil and gas secretary and he knows the issues that still are
:16:07. > :16:12.around around double charging. Other minister CDs calls and Olivia
:16:13. > :16:22.fermentation of the apprenticeship levy until business has been fully
:16:23. > :16:25.engaged -- delay. We would be doing that because the Government has
:16:26. > :16:28.adequately gripped the problem in this country which is that
:16:29. > :16:31.businesses invest too little in skills development and that is what
:16:32. > :16:37.holds our productivity back. Since the CBI's survey and other surveys
:16:38. > :16:45.of the same kind, we have published a detailed technical guide on how
:16:46. > :16:50.the apprenticeship levy will work. I encourage her and her constituents
:16:51. > :16:57.to look at it. The levy will be coming in in April 2017 and we will
:16:58. > :17:01.be fixing Britain's skills problem. On Friday, I attended an event to
:17:02. > :17:11.mark the first anniversary of the extremely successful care Academy
:17:12. > :17:20.which is a unique collaboration in my constituency. In effect, it
:17:21. > :17:24.the excellent students who have been through the care Academy in the
:17:25. > :17:30.first year and a CD with me this is an extremely worthwhile programme
:17:31. > :17:37.for the future? -- does he agree with me? This kind of Academy is
:17:38. > :17:44.exactly what we need to see more so I am delighted that his constituency
:17:45. > :17:48.are setting an example. The Minister will know that the number of staff
:17:49. > :17:53.working on the apprenticeship programme is due to fall massively
:17:54. > :17:59.by 2020. What assessment has he made of the capacity of his department to
:18:00. > :18:02.deliver the apprenticeship target? The number of staff will be working
:18:03. > :18:07.on the apprentice programme will fall but only because we are setting
:18:08. > :18:22.up a new system apprenticeships that'll take up jobs currently taken
:18:23. > :18:28.by this staff. Several businesses in Bath have taken hundreds of new
:18:29. > :18:33.apprentices since the scheme started and it has enabled young people to
:18:34. > :18:38.get the qualifications for a great career. Whether Government is doing
:18:39. > :18:41.a lot to encourage older people into apprenticeships, the cultural shift
:18:42. > :18:47.is required to inspire even more into it? I think he is right because
:18:48. > :18:50.I think there is a common misconception that apprenticeships
:18:51. > :18:53.are only appropriate for school leavers whereas the reality is that
:18:54. > :19:00.they offer opportunities to people at all stages of their lives and
:19:01. > :19:03.careers so it doesn't just for new recruits going into an employer, it
:19:04. > :19:05.can be for somebody who has been working for several years but has
:19:06. > :19:17.discovered in themselves potential to develop. Through our one nation
:19:18. > :19:21.reforms we are committed to a labour market that allows everybody to
:19:22. > :19:24.fulfil their obligations and their opportunities whenever and whoever
:19:25. > :19:28.they are including those with autism. That's why the Prime
:19:29. > :19:32.Minister wants the disability confidence campaign and we have
:19:33. > :19:36.spent ?100 million a year on the access to work scheme, helping over
:19:37. > :19:38.36,000 people were difficulties into and we have published gains for
:19:39. > :19:42.employers with people with autism and Mike honourable friend the
:19:43. > :19:52.minister for business and small skills have met with Autism UK. The
:19:53. > :19:56.autism employment gap is much larger than the disability employment gap
:19:57. > :20:02.with only 15% in full-term employment and 26% of graduates
:20:03. > :20:08.remaining employed. We are losing the potential of people with autism
:20:09. > :20:12.to our economy. What specific support will be provided to
:20:13. > :20:14.employers and job-seekers to close the startling gap and all the
:20:15. > :20:21.Government produced aggregated data to evidence progress? The honourable
:20:22. > :20:26.lady makes an important point and I pay tribute to her work. We're
:20:27. > :20:28.investing substantially on it and through the disability confidence
:20:29. > :20:32.campaign we are actively engaging with employers of different sizes
:20:33. > :20:38.and sectors to promote access for work with people who have autism and
:20:39. > :20:40.on autism Day on the 2nd of April we launched the latest part of that
:20:41. > :20:58.campaign. We don't think waters as the right way to work. We want to
:20:59. > :21:01.encourage -- quarters. In -- quotas. Coding is an ideal job for people
:21:02. > :21:10.with autism because of the rigid nature of the work. I would be
:21:11. > :21:16.delighted to work with him and other ministers. It is an excellent system
:21:17. > :21:22.and I commend him for his leadership on it. When will the front bench
:21:23. > :21:26.take the example of Leicester City football club and try to get into
:21:27. > :21:30.the premiership on this question? There are so many talented people on
:21:31. > :21:36.the autism spectrum desperate for a job, waiting for a job. Many of them
:21:37. > :21:41.in regions like Yorkshire. What we are faced with is uncertainty for
:21:42. > :21:47.everyone, apprentices, people but autism, under this great cloud that
:21:48. > :21:51.we might lead the GP in union. No one is investing, no one is hiring.
:21:52. > :21:56.Even for me it would be a stretch to delve into the European Union on
:21:57. > :22:01.this question but the Government is doing, I think you'd agree ?100
:22:02. > :22:05.million a year the access to work scheme helping people with
:22:06. > :22:11.disabilities into work, we are committed to this and we are serious
:22:12. > :22:20.about giving them opportunities. April is Autism Awareness Month and
:22:21. > :22:24.the Economist led with an article about how the skills of people with
:22:25. > :22:27.autism are being wasted and if the Government had more friendly
:22:28. > :22:30.approaches to developing skills we could have many more people in the
:22:31. > :22:34.workplace. We had a fascinating and moving debate last week on autism
:22:35. > :22:40.and many membership moving experiences of their own children,
:22:41. > :22:43.including my honourable friend for Angus. Will he meet with me and a
:22:44. > :22:49.cross-party delegation to discuss how we can get businesses to
:22:50. > :22:57.properly marked the number of people on the autism spectrum and how we
:22:58. > :23:01.can work across this House? I was free to invite the honourable lady
:23:02. > :23:10.to seek an adjournment debate until you realise she now had it!
:23:11. > :23:15.I would simply say, yes, the right meeting would be with the Secretary
:23:16. > :23:20.of State for DWP who really done this and my friends are ministers
:23:21. > :23:23.for skills and small business. We are actively in gauging with all
:23:24. > :23:27.relevant charities on this issue. The lady is content with that issue
:23:28. > :23:35.but whether she is or isn't, she's had it! With your permission, I'd
:23:36. > :23:45.like to take question seven with number 14. We think leaving the
:23:46. > :23:51.European Union would be an absolute disaster for Britain's digital
:23:52. > :23:56.industries. If you were here, but he isn't, so it isn't, is the short
:23:57. > :23:58.answer, but we will recede unabashed by the absence of the honourable
:23:59. > :24:07.gentleman because we have got the honourable member, Mr Nicholas
:24:08. > :24:11.Brown. I thank the minister for his answer. The secretary is very
:24:12. > :24:19.important to the North East of England as the member for Sunderland
:24:20. > :24:24.Central made clear. There are 25,000 jobs now directly involved in the
:24:25. > :24:28.sector. What the assurance can the Minister give the host that there
:24:29. > :24:34.will be market access arrangements with our partners in the European
:24:35. > :24:37.Union in the event of a no vote? I can't give him that the assurance
:24:38. > :24:42.and that's what really worries me about us leaving the European Union.
:24:43. > :24:51.Not only the 25,000 jobs he mentioned that overall the digital
:24:52. > :24:54.industry represents about 7% of the UK's GVA and we are at the heart of
:24:55. > :24:58.negotiating the single digital market which will give us even more
:24:59. > :25:06.opportunities and that is why we must stay. This morning, I was at a
:25:07. > :25:10.breakfast meeting with digital companies from Vancouver and British
:25:11. > :25:13.Columbia who were looking at investing in the UK. Does the
:25:14. > :25:19.Minister agree that this dangerous and damaging Remain campaign which
:25:20. > :25:25.is wholly based on a fear of leaving the European Union which is not
:25:26. > :25:28.justified will do a great damage? Is that any assessment of how much
:25:29. > :25:34.damage has been done by the talking down those who want us to in
:25:35. > :25:39.servitude to the EU? -- remain in servitude.
:25:40. > :25:48.I hear what he has to say and I do wish the Leave campaign would stop
:25:49. > :25:56.running this terrible campaign of fear. I am pleased to hear that our
:25:57. > :26:01.Canadian trade envoy, which I gather my honourable friend acts as, shows
:26:02. > :26:04.that even as members of the EU we can still negotiate and engage
:26:05. > :26:08.globally with many other countries to stop being a member of the EU
:26:09. > :26:20.doesn't prevent us working outside the EU and the Leave campaign of
:26:21. > :26:27.fear is to stop saying that it does. On Sunday, the EU slashed roaming
:26:28. > :26:34.charges by 75%. And they will be abolished altogether next year. That
:26:35. > :26:41.is a huge boost to British businesses with European ambitions,
:26:42. > :26:49.as well as to Leicester City fans now with Champions League travel to
:26:50. > :26:53.plan. The UK is Europe's biggest digital economy. We buy and sell
:26:54. > :26:59.more online than any other country. Would the minister like to estimate
:27:00. > :27:03.how long it would take him, even with his fabled charm, to
:27:04. > :27:12.renegotiate all our international digital agreements in the event of a
:27:13. > :27:17.Brexit and what are ?180 million digital economy would do in the
:27:18. > :27:22.meantime? I think it would take ages, years to renegotiate. I
:27:23. > :27:30.recently returned from a G-7 meeting in Japan, again proving that the
:27:31. > :27:35.Leave campaign of fear is wrong. I was able to spend some time with the
:27:36. > :27:39.European vice president speaking of the great opportunities the digital
:27:40. > :27:47.single market presents. We want to be part of that market, growing for
:27:48. > :27:56.Britain. Tom Blenkinsop. Number eight. Global overproduction of
:27:57. > :28:00.reduced amount has cost steel prices to drop. We have acted decisively to
:28:01. > :28:07.help UK steel companies by delivering lower vouchers to prices,
:28:08. > :28:12.tackling unfair trade and introducing flexibility in emissions
:28:13. > :28:20.regulations. One of the issues is time. One deal took 12 months and
:28:21. > :28:26.that time is allocated to ensure a better buyer came forward as opposed
:28:27. > :28:38.to the original potential one. What conversations has he had with Tata
:28:39. > :28:48.to encourage the best buyer to come forward? Does he still see Tata is
:28:49. > :28:51.remaining in situ in some form? He is right about the importance of
:28:52. > :28:59.time in terms of securing a viable long-term future for the Tata
:29:00. > :29:02.business. I have spoken to officials and they have been straightforward
:29:03. > :29:07.about being reasonable with time. They do not have an unlimited amount
:29:08. > :29:15.but they understand and have shown that it does take time. Can I
:29:16. > :29:23.congratulate my right honourable friend on his approach particularly
:29:24. > :29:29.to Tata but also the steelworks in Cardiff. ?76 million already given
:29:30. > :29:35.and 100 million the Government is projected to spend this year. Can
:29:36. > :29:41.you confirm that and what future support we can get to high-energy
:29:42. > :29:46.steelmakers? He is right to raise the issue of steel in Cardiff. We
:29:47. > :29:52.want to see it continue. Electricity and the price of it is important to
:29:53. > :29:56.steel producers. We have extended the conversation available and
:29:57. > :30:03.announced we are moving to exemption and I think that will help them and
:30:04. > :30:05.many others. May I thank the Secretary of State for attending the
:30:06. > :30:10.Select Committee inquiry on steel on Thursday. I asked him about
:30:11. > :30:13.maintaining confidence. There are growing concerns firms are not
:30:14. > :30:17.supplying to connect to facilities because they fear the business may
:30:18. > :30:22.go into administration and will not get paid and credit insurance is
:30:23. > :30:26.being withdrawn. Businesses do not want to get their fingers burned
:30:27. > :30:30.twice and customers with long-term horizons are looking at competitors
:30:31. > :30:35.for provision. What further steps will government take on the matter
:30:36. > :30:39.of credit insurance to ensure a word goes out that this is a viable
:30:40. > :30:47.operation and firms can supply and buy from Tata with confidence? Can I
:30:48. > :30:52.thank him for the work of his committee in this area? It helps
:30:53. > :30:58.with the debate and also looking at this more closely. In terms of
:30:59. > :31:02.suppliers and large customers, I have already written and asked
:31:03. > :31:13.officials to write to all suppliers and customers. We have contacted the
:31:14. > :31:15.largest ones had Tata have given us reassurance but the biggest
:31:16. > :31:19.reassurance I can give is the approach of this government in doing
:31:20. > :31:25.everything possible to secure a long-term viable future for the
:31:26. > :31:29.business. Tata is a vital component of the Midlands engine so could the
:31:30. > :31:32.Minister update the House bearing in mind commercial sensitivities as to
:31:33. > :31:43.where discussions are to secure its future? Let me say that his approach
:31:44. > :31:47.on the work he is doing to secure Corby's future is commendable. He
:31:48. > :31:55.understands there is a limited amount we can say about a can
:31:56. > :32:00.actually -- commercially sensitive subject but we are doing everything
:32:01. > :32:05.we can. It is of strategic importance to the Welsh and wider UK
:32:06. > :32:14.economy to keep the blast furnaces operational in Port Talbot following
:32:15. > :32:22.any future takeover. It is important to provide fiscal incentive to
:32:23. > :32:26.safeguard steel-making in Wales. I agree that I would like to see a
:32:27. > :32:31.future for steel-making in Wales and we are doing everything we can to
:32:32. > :32:34.help with that. The honourable gentleman mentioned the management
:32:35. > :32:40.buyout proposal and we are taking a careful look at that and we would be
:32:41. > :32:45.willing to work with them. What action is he taking to help UK steel
:32:46. > :32:53.suppliers to get government contracts and ensure that SMEs and
:32:54. > :32:57.the supply chain benefit from that? He asks a good question and he will
:32:58. > :33:01.now we have already changed procurement rules so they can take
:33:02. > :33:05.into account economic and social factors and we are also providing a
:33:06. > :33:12.much greater visibility of the pipeline of deals and especially
:33:13. > :33:20.targeting that to SMEs. The First Minister in Wales had a package of
:33:21. > :33:26.support in place following Tata's intention to sell an announcement.
:33:27. > :33:29.Now the UK Government has belatedly followed that lead, how confident as
:33:30. > :33:36.the Minister that Tata's true intention is to be responsible? Long
:33:37. > :33:42.products took over a year and Tata want this done by the end of June.
:33:43. > :33:48.Is this a realistic prospect? I'd say we are working with the First
:33:49. > :33:52.Minister and his government on this and we understand how important it
:33:53. > :33:58.is. It is important we continue to work together. Regarding timing, as
:33:59. > :34:03.I said earlier, I believe Tata is a very sincere with a commitment to a
:34:04. > :34:07.reasonable time frame and process. I have no other reason to think that
:34:08. > :34:14.is not the case and they continue to show flexibility and I hope it stays
:34:15. > :34:18.that way. Number nine, please. Of course we have a growing and healthy
:34:19. > :34:21.economy which is good for all business but in particular it
:34:22. > :34:25.encourages people who want to start their own business and we are
:34:26. > :34:30.looking at ways to improve for example practices for self-employed
:34:31. > :34:39.people but we also have a start-up loan scheme set provided over ?10
:34:40. > :34:47.million. In my constituency there has been an increase of 10% from
:34:48. > :34:50.2014 to 20 15th in the number of registered businesses, something I
:34:51. > :34:57.am sure my right honourable friend the degree is welcome. I visited a
:34:58. > :35:02.new business set up by two sisters in my constituency. Does my right
:35:03. > :35:07.honourable friend agree that the first few years in business can be
:35:08. > :35:11.the most challenging and could she indicate how this government is
:35:12. > :35:17.doing all it can to support new and small businesses? We do know it is
:35:18. > :35:22.the first few years that are the trickiest. If you can get over that
:35:23. > :35:25.hurdle you can almost achieve anything and make sure your business
:35:26. > :35:29.grows. I explained about the start-up loans but the other great
:35:30. > :35:33.achievement in the last 12 months of this government is our work on
:35:34. > :35:40.cutting business rates. They're the biggest ever cuts in business rates,
:35:41. > :35:42.reducing the burden by ?6.7 billion, benefiting 900,000 smaller
:35:43. > :35:51.properties, very good news for small businesses. Small businesses might
:35:52. > :35:55.like to start off in the town centre of my constituency except that
:35:56. > :35:59.footfall is through the floor as the Co-op and Lloyds Bank are now
:36:00. > :36:03.closing. Who should my constituents blame for the dereliction? Tory
:36:04. > :36:06.ministers who withdrew from regeneration or absentee landlords
:36:07. > :36:12.who bought up and are now nowhere to be seen? I don't think it is as
:36:13. > :36:17.simple as that. It is unfortunate when bad news is delivered week turn
:36:18. > :36:23.it into a party political football. There are all sorts of reasons a
:36:24. > :36:28.number of high streets have problems and there are all manner of
:36:29. > :36:35.solutions to turn it round. I'd ask her to look at some of the successes
:36:36. > :36:38.of Conservative, Labour and Lib Dem councils to help and support their
:36:39. > :36:44.high streets but most important late I would suggest -- importantly I
:36:45. > :36:51.would suggest that rather than talking down her High Street she
:36:52. > :36:56.should be talking it up. Number Ten. We want to ensure apprenticeships
:36:57. > :37:00.are accessible to the widest range of people and we are rewarding
:37:01. > :37:05.reasonable adjustments to disabled learners and apprenticeship training
:37:06. > :37:11.for young people aged 19-24 and a health plan for care leavers up to
:37:12. > :37:18.the age of 24. As the Government has targets to increase the proportion
:37:19. > :37:21.of BME apprenticeships by 20% does the Minister not agree they should
:37:22. > :37:28.do the same for people with disabilities and care leavers? What
:37:29. > :37:32.I agree is that we should do all that we can and we have made this a
:37:33. > :37:38.huge priority of helping more individuals with learning
:37:39. > :37:41.difficulties and disabilities take up apprenticeships and we have done
:37:42. > :37:44.that by providing guidance and working with employers to help them
:37:45. > :37:52.better understand what more we can do. Our apprentice revolution will
:37:53. > :38:01.leave no one behind. Is he aware that the CIPD based in my
:38:02. > :38:06.constituency have been excellent in encouraging people with disabilities
:38:07. > :38:08.to take up apprenticeships. Can he confirm that when the existing levy
:38:09. > :38:12.is merged with that condition levy they will still have funding to
:38:13. > :38:15.carry on these programmes and will he come to my constituency to visit
:38:16. > :38:22.them at some stage during his tenure? I think he is absolutely
:38:23. > :38:28.right to raise their good work in this area. When the apprentice
:38:29. > :38:32.should levy is introduced in April 2017 we can make sure they will
:38:33. > :38:41.continue to have the funding available to do the same kind of
:38:42. > :38:45.work. Question number 12. I spoke to Treasury ministers on a continuing
:38:46. > :38:50.basis and in my ministerial role I am more than happy to take up the
:38:51. > :38:53.cause of small businesses. I met with the Federation of Small
:38:54. > :38:58.Businesses last week and they reiterated their concerns about the
:38:59. > :39:02.proposals but this is not a mandatory filing every quarter, it
:39:03. > :39:07.is effectively good book keeping. They raise concerns and I am or than
:39:08. > :39:11.happy to listen, and to represent them to the Treasury. We have a
:39:12. > :39:17.consultation taking place so there is always room to make sure we
:39:18. > :39:20.continue to do the right thing. I'm glad the Minister is listening
:39:21. > :39:24.because my constituent Sheila Knight is the director of a small local
:39:25. > :39:30.business and she is concerned about the proposal to make businesses
:39:31. > :39:35.submit data quarterly to HMRC. She says it will cause a huge amount of
:39:36. > :39:40.extra work, expense and worry for absolutely no benefit. Like most
:39:41. > :39:44.small businesses I collate my account information once a year and
:39:45. > :39:48.give it to my accountant. Having to do this four times a year will be
:39:49. > :39:51.huge imposition and my accountant fees will be more expensive. Does
:39:52. > :40:03.the Minister not agree with me not more bureaucracy and unnecessary
:40:04. > :40:06.cost? It is about reducing bureaucracy and cutting the cost for
:40:07. > :40:10.small businesses. This is not a quarterly tax return but sensible
:40:11. > :40:14.book-keeping which could businesses do in any event and it will help
:40:15. > :40:21.small businesses when they come to submit their final quarter, final
:40:22. > :40:25.return, the fact they have kept their bikes every quarter ended
:40:26. > :40:28.conditions. I am more than happy to meet her constituent and explain it
:40:29. > :40:33.because I think there is a lot of misinformation about it. I am
:40:34. > :40:39.pleased to hear the minister met with the FSB, which I am a proud
:40:40. > :40:44.member of, but from that meeting she will know that 50% of businesses do
:40:45. > :40:48.not operate digital accountant systems so can she understand the
:40:49. > :40:51.anxiety in that heart of the community and which she agree it
:40:52. > :40:57.might be sensible for the Treasury to introduce this on a voluntary
:40:58. > :40:58.basis the same way as with self-assessment which made it a
:40:59. > :41:06.success? There would always be full and good
:41:07. > :41:11.support into this digital movement and I think the other thing of
:41:12. > :41:14.course which is of concern to some small businesses is access to
:41:15. > :41:19.superfast broadband. There is no point in doing this unless you have
:41:20. > :41:23.that many businesses have a reticence to be up to speed but I'm
:41:24. > :41:28.confident with the excellent work of my honourable friend the Minister,
:41:29. > :41:36.we are making huge progress and making sure all businesses have
:41:37. > :41:39.access to superfast broadband. The Minister has singularly failed to
:41:40. > :41:45.explain how this is helping businesses. I don't not she's ever
:41:46. > :41:49.produced a of business accounts but the financial Secretary to the
:41:50. > :41:56.Treasury told MPs in the west Minister halt debate in January that
:41:57. > :42:02.this would require a summary of income and expenditure. As of the
:42:03. > :42:04.best -- as every businessperson knows, you can only do that by
:42:05. > :42:10.putting together the full detail each quarter. Whether she calls at
:42:11. > :42:14.filing, or updating, her claims that this is a reduction in red tape is
:42:15. > :42:21.laughable. It is a major increase in the bureaucracy, increase and costs
:42:22. > :42:27.of those businesses that do not have digital access and the Government
:42:28. > :42:31.should go away and think again. Of course Mr Speaker I am one of those
:42:32. > :42:37.people who had a real job or two before it came to this place and I
:42:38. > :42:39.can assure the honourable gentleman as a self-employed barrister I
:42:40. > :42:43.absolutely don't have too provide accounts each week but I don't claim
:42:44. > :42:48.to have been somebody who ran a business of more than just myself
:42:49. > :42:50.and maybe one other. The most important thing is that these are
:42:51. > :42:54.not quarterly returns on the honourable gentleman should
:42:55. > :42:59.understand what is proposed. This is a very good way of making sure small
:43:00. > :43:03.businesses keep up-to-date all the time with how their business going
:43:04. > :43:13.and will enable them when they come to do that return to do it better.
:43:14. > :43:16.The Government is committed in its manifesto to cutting ?10 billion of
:43:17. > :43:22.business red tape through the business impact target and we will
:43:23. > :43:26.report on our progress in June. We cannot ignore the fact that the most
:43:27. > :43:30.order some regulations on British companies are from the European
:43:31. > :43:35.Union, costing British business ?22 billion a year. Given in 2015 over
:43:36. > :43:42.469 new pieces of EU regulation and 51 EU directives, is the only way to
:43:43. > :43:49.end this cost to British business to leave? He is right to raise the
:43:50. > :43:53.issue of cutting business regulation but I have to say I don't recognise
:43:54. > :44:01.this 22 bouillon pound a year figure of EU regulation -- 20 ?2 billion.
:44:02. > :44:06.He should also look at the benefit of the single market, it is the
:44:07. > :44:09.world's biggest economic zone and it is not that it helped to generate
:44:10. > :44:16.jobs throughout Britain and Greater Manchester. Many small businesses
:44:17. > :44:20.often applied to only one lender for finance and it is usually their own
:44:21. > :44:25.bank. Of those that turned out, two in five of those businesses don't go
:44:26. > :44:30.on to apply for finance anywhere else so what more is the Government
:44:31. > :44:36.doing to make sure that small businesses have access to as good a
:44:37. > :44:43.range of financial products as possible to keep the economy moving
:44:44. > :44:47.in the right direction. The honourable gentleman may know that
:44:48. > :44:51.one of the changes brought in during the coalition Government was that if
:44:52. > :44:56.a small business is refused an application for credit that
:44:57. > :45:00.application can be, with their permission, passed on to other
:45:01. > :45:04.potential lenders and that has changed the landscape. We can also
:45:05. > :45:07.help to increase competition, that is something the Treasury has been
:45:08. > :45:10.reading on, but if you look at the number of providers you will see
:45:11. > :45:21.there has been a dramatic change there, too. Productivity measured as
:45:22. > :45:27.output per hour increase by 1% in 2015, the largest increase as a
:45:28. > :45:33.whole is 2011. It is now 1.7% higher than it was in 2008. This
:45:34. > :45:38.Government's record on productivity has been one of failure. Last July,
:45:39. > :45:40.the Government monster is deeply underwhelming productivity plan
:45:41. > :45:48.which was damned by the select committee as the vague selection of
:45:49. > :45:50.existing policies collecting dust on Whitehall book shelves. Can the
:45:51. > :45:57.Minister did the House on what steps she has taken to improve on the
:45:58. > :46:00.Government's record to date? And very sorry the honourable lady
:46:01. > :46:07.didn't seem to hear my answer and I would remind her that productivity
:46:08. > :46:11.is now 1.7% higher than it was in 2008 and we had the largest annual
:46:12. > :46:16.entities since 2011 on the last year so I don't know where she is getting
:46:17. > :46:21.her information wrong though my suspicions, but unfortunately she is
:46:22. > :46:24.wrong. This Government is absolutely committed to improving productivity.
:46:25. > :46:27.We have already heard by way of example the Skills Minister talking
:46:28. > :46:31.about the work that we are doing to provide the right skills, an
:46:32. > :46:40.essential part of the productivity part. Ministers and officials across
:46:41. > :46:46.Government continue to work around the clock to support Britain's steel
:46:47. > :46:53.industry. I will continue to update the House whenever appropriate. Our
:46:54. > :46:57.two major pieces of legislation and we are on the verge of naming the
:46:58. > :47:01.National environment research vessel. The final decision will be
:47:02. > :47:11.made by my honourable friend the Minister for science or the latest
:47:12. > :47:17.CM, -- like to call him, Joey McJoeface. It was reported in the
:47:18. > :47:22.Sunday Times that meetings are taking part in France looking at how
:47:23. > :47:25.they could take that it the UK. Does the Secretary of State agree with me
:47:26. > :47:32.that remaining in the EU is vital for British trade, particularly in
:47:33. > :47:41.the automotive and it is for the health of the British economy as a
:47:42. > :47:45.whole? I do agree and she mentioned to industries, automotive and there
:47:46. > :47:49.is space, two of our strongest industries. They lie on an
:47:50. > :47:52.international and European Supply chain but equally she could mention
:47:53. > :48:03.our services industries which account for 80% of our GDP. With the
:48:04. > :48:06.minister except that the proposal to allow waiters and waitresses rather
:48:07. > :48:12.than restaurant owners to deceive tips given to them will be warmly
:48:13. > :48:16.welcomed but does he not think the House of Commons should surely lead
:48:17. > :48:21.because in our own restaurants, agency workers and part-time workers
:48:22. > :48:31.who serve guests do not deceive tips? Can I begin by paying a huge
:48:32. > :48:38.tribute to everybody who works in this place but especially in the
:48:39. > :48:40.catering services? They often have to work the most unsociable hours
:48:41. > :48:43.and in the most difficult of conditions because suddenly they
:48:44. > :48:47.have a huge flocks of all of us going into the tearoom or whatever
:48:48. > :48:50.it might be and perhaps we underestimate the work they do. I
:48:51. > :48:53.think the honourable gentleman makes a good point and I would be more
:48:54. > :48:56.than happy to take it up with the House of oddities but I can
:48:57. > :49:02.gradually my friend the Secretary of State on launching this because
:49:03. > :49:07.quite greatly when you're in any facility and pay a tip, you expect
:49:08. > :49:11.the person you want the tip to go to to receive all of it so I think we
:49:12. > :49:19.can begin to see progress that we do the right thing on this. To select
:49:20. > :49:25.committees of this House are now prepared to examine the collapse of
:49:26. > :49:29.BHS into administration this week. Sir Philip Green bought the company
:49:30. > :49:41.for ?200 million, to convince ?1 million out of it for his own family
:49:42. > :49:44.and then sold it for ?1. What does the secretary think of the issues
:49:45. > :49:46.for public policy as he contemplates the current situation and as he
:49:47. > :50:00.think it represents responsible ownership? The honourable lady is
:50:01. > :50:03.right to a raise this issue. There has been considerable concern
:50:04. > :50:09.expressed in Parliament so I share some of those concerns. That's why I
:50:10. > :50:15.can inform her that I have written today to the Chief Executive of the
:50:16. > :50:18.insolvency service and I have instructed her to immediately
:50:19. > :50:23.commenced an investigation. She has agreed to do so and I will make both
:50:24. > :50:27.those letters, Maine and hers, available in the libraries of both
:50:28. > :50:36.houses later today. -- mine and hers. I welcome the steps the
:50:37. > :50:42.Business Secretary has taken. The pension fund went from a surplus to
:50:43. > :50:45.a black hole of ?571 million. What options do the Government and
:50:46. > :50:51.pensions regulator now have two insure Sir Philip Green pays his
:50:52. > :50:53.fair share of this huge liability and does the Secretary of State
:50:54. > :50:57.agree with me that the Pension Protection Fund was designed as a
:50:58. > :51:04.lifeboat for staff pensions, not a funding stream for the owner's
:51:05. > :51:08.luxury yachts? Hopefully the honourable lady will understand it
:51:09. > :51:16.would be wrong of me or anybody else to single out any particular
:51:17. > :51:20.individual. That is what independent investigators -- that is for
:51:21. > :51:25.independent investigators. She will also that when it comes to defining
:51:26. > :51:29.benefit pension schemes there are many deficits and just because one
:51:30. > :51:33.is in deficit does not mean there has been wrongdoing but this is an
:51:34. > :51:36.investigation I have instructed from the insolvency service but also she
:51:37. > :51:42.should be reassured that the pension regulator will also be looking into
:51:43. > :51:47.this matter. 50,000 dementia sufferers in the UK and that number
:51:48. > :51:53.is set to double over the next few years. What is the minister doing to
:51:54. > :51:59.encourage British scientists to be as innovative as possible in
:52:00. > :52:04.delivering on improved care for those suffering from dementia? We
:52:05. > :52:08.took the decision to protect the science budget, enabling us to
:52:09. > :52:13.invest and pitting the UK at the front of tackling diseases like
:52:14. > :52:16.dementia. In addition to 150 money and pounds of Government investment
:52:17. > :52:24.and is by the Prime Minister to establish dementia research, I am
:52:25. > :52:28.glad that to leading charities -- two leading charities have no place
:52:29. > :52:31.a further ?100 million towards this project and the medical research
:52:32. > :52:36.Council will be looking for an inspirational director to lead this
:52:37. > :52:40.research and bring together the research that exists in the UK and
:52:41. > :52:55.worldwide. Gaines issued by the Government on the 8th of February --
:52:56. > :52:57.guidance because concern. Can the Government agree that all grants
:52:58. > :53:19.will be exempt from the anti-lobbying cars bark
:53:20. > :53:32.I am pro that Rochester has provided the largest amount of the South
:53:33. > :53:37.East's 348 apprenticeships. I am also grateful to companies such as
:53:38. > :53:41.BAE Systems which makes an annual commitment to 12 high-level
:53:42. > :53:44.apprenticeships in my area but I would like to ask the Secretary of
:53:45. > :53:48.State had he can provide further support to my constituency, small
:53:49. > :53:50.and medium-sized businesses, to offer more local people the
:53:51. > :53:57.opportunity of a really quality apprenticeship. The performance of
:53:58. > :54:01.businesses in my honourable friend's constituency is a marketable and
:54:02. > :54:04.leads the way in the South East. I hope she is aware that we offer
:54:05. > :54:10.those employers, small employers who have never had apprentices, a grant
:54:11. > :54:13.to help them with their first fight apprenticeships and I hope she will
:54:14. > :54:19.be able to communicate with them and make sure they take up that glad --
:54:20. > :54:34.first five. Given the similarity of recent events at DHS with what
:54:35. > :54:42.happened to Hull based, Comet, will he make sure the report on Comet and
:54:43. > :54:44.the scandal is published? The honourable lady will know that was
:54:45. > :54:50.commissioned by my predecessor. I will take a close look at what she
:54:51. > :54:55.said and get back to her. Given the hope of renewed trade links between
:54:56. > :54:58.the UK and Iran, which will be dependent on good communication,
:54:59. > :55:04.does my rate honourable friend consider that now is the best time
:55:05. > :55:10.to withdraw accreditation for Persian GCSE and A-level? My
:55:11. > :55:14.honourable friend is right to raise the issue of importance with trade
:55:15. > :55:17.with Iran and that is why the Government as an stated mission that
:55:18. > :55:20.will take place soon and the more people that speak Persian in the UK
:55:21. > :55:23.and the more people that speak Persian in the UK the better. I will
:55:24. > :55:30.take this up with my honourable friend the Education Secretary. I
:55:31. > :55:33.welcome the fact that BHS administrators have entered
:55:34. > :55:37.consultation with the regional union but it was the lack of consultation
:55:38. > :55:44.that was in part to blame for the pension from going from a ?5 million
:55:45. > :55:46.surplus to a ?571 million deficit. Other Secretary of State consider
:55:47. > :55:51.the case that there should be in hands employee rights in light of
:55:52. > :55:56.this, in particular this aspect of companies law?
:55:57. > :56:02.I think it would be wrong for anyone to jump to conclusions about the
:56:03. > :56:07.pension fund and why it has this deficit. The right way forward is
:56:08. > :56:15.for independent regulators to take a look. As a champion of the Sutton
:56:16. > :56:18.trust and social mobility is inquiry into access into leading professions
:56:19. > :56:21.could the Secretary of State informed the House what is
:56:22. > :56:24.department is doing to support or leading confessions to work with
:56:25. > :56:28.schools and universities to build up the skills -based so that more young
:56:29. > :56:40.people from disadvantaged backgrounds can access to
:56:41. > :56:42.professions? We have made sure all young people know about the
:56:43. > :56:45.opportunities through education reforms and we have given young
:56:46. > :56:52.people more information about choice and introduced apprenticeships as
:56:53. > :56:57.new routes into professions. We want to see universities play their part
:56:58. > :57:06.as well which is why I have asked for more work on that. 11,000
:57:07. > :57:10.employees of PHS face an uncertain future over not just their jobs but
:57:11. > :57:18.their pensions. Will the responsibility for the pension be on
:57:19. > :57:21.the taxpayer or the company who paid themselves ?400 million of dividends
:57:22. > :57:29.whilst the pension fund was driven into the ground? The Honourable lady
:57:30. > :57:32.will know that when benefit pension funds have trouble we have the
:57:33. > :57:38.pension protection fund in place but of course we should always examine
:57:39. > :57:42.why eight pension fund may need recourse to the PPF and that should
:57:43. > :57:50.be done by independent regulators not politicians. A trading facility
:57:51. > :57:52.in my facility was established tenure ago as a partnership between
:57:53. > :57:58.the local authority and private sector. Since when, 800 apprentices
:57:59. > :58:04.have passed through its stores. Could I invite him or the skills
:58:05. > :58:10.minister to visit them and would he agree this partnership is the way
:58:11. > :58:13.forward? I feel sure he is slightly disappointed to have just a
:58:14. > :58:20.Lincolnshire neighbour coming to visit him but if you can put up with
:58:21. > :58:23.me I'd be delighted to. In the Secretary of State's discussions
:58:24. > :58:28.with Tata might also have time to raise their involvement in the
:58:29. > :58:36.outsourcing of up to 800 jobs in British Airways? They have already
:58:37. > :58:40.announced 80 redundancies. This is another example where their actions
:58:41. > :58:46.threaten our national security and jobs so will the Government started
:58:47. > :58:49.to protect those? If the honourable lady wants to send me more
:58:50. > :58:56.information on that in more detail I will gladly take a closer look. Why
:58:57. > :59:01.should 100% of British businesses have to comply with EU regulations
:59:02. > :59:13.when less than 10% of them export to the EU? I touched on this earlier
:59:14. > :59:18.and I think it is the importance of the single market, 500 million
:59:19. > :59:21.consumers, the largest single market in the world, bringing huge benefits
:59:22. > :59:31.to British businesses in terms of growth and jobs. Can I ask him to
:59:32. > :59:35.reconsider the division of bursaries for nurses and that he should
:59:36. > :59:51.consider scrapping them for two reasons. Firstly it would terms
:59:52. > :59:56.which are students and people from disadvantaged communities and also
:59:57. > :00:02.50% of training as doing practical work and it would be unfair for them
:00:03. > :00:09.to have to pay to provide service to other people. I share a
:00:10. > :00:15.determination to make sure that groups she mentioned have maximum
:00:16. > :00:18.opportunity in the NHS and that is one reason we are developing a new
:00:19. > :00:22.nursing apprenticeship offering as we enter the profession while
:00:23. > :00:29.working and earning to gain the qualification. There is no law
:00:30. > :00:32.against selling a company to a bunch of clowns, which is a great pity for
:00:33. > :00:39.the employees and pension holders at British home stores. There is an
:00:40. > :00:48.expectation that the public should be able to look at advisers on such
:00:49. > :00:52.a sale, the liars and -- lawyers and accountants, to live up to their
:00:53. > :00:58.duties. Can the assured me he will look carefully so we do not see
:00:59. > :01:05.another great British company sold to a bunch of Muppets. I can
:01:06. > :01:11.reassure him of that. He spoke on this issue number of times, very
:01:12. > :01:16.eloquently. He knows this issue well and has spoken of it before. We will
:01:17. > :01:22.learn lessons from the collapse of any company but especially something
:01:23. > :01:27.as important and as large as BHS. There will now be an investigation
:01:28. > :01:28.by the insolvent is -- insolvency