Live Innovation, Business and Skills Questions House of Commons

Order, order. Questions to the Secretary of State for business,

innovation and skills. Mr Peter Aldous. We want to make the UK the

best place in Europe to innovate and patents new ideas. That is why we

are creating a supportive business environment, through innovate UK and

with tax credits. I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that

reply. The UK's position as the world leader in offshore renewables

is underpinned by industry and academics from across the European

Union working together on innovation projects and by funding from the

European investment bank and other European or collaborative research

and development funds. Can the Secretary of State give me an

assurance that this number one position will not be put at risk by

Brexit. The UK will be the world's largest offshore wind market by the

end of the decade. Despite the decision to leave the EU, I am

confident that we can cooperate with our European Union counterparts and

I believe that will make sure that this sector remains very strong.

Innovation and research are inextricably linked. Yesterday I

asked the Prime Minister about the impact on our research institutions

of the decision to leave the EU and he ensured us that existing

contracts would be honoured. Researchers are applying for funding

on a daily basis. What support can be put in place to deal with the

uncertainty that is there today, tomorrow and next week? First of all

I will tell the honourable gentleman that there is no immediate change,

as he knows, for a least two years. Of course companies are concerned

with what replaces that and that is what we are working on now with many

researchers and businesses and others. My honourable friend the

science Minister takes this very seriously and has already been

speaking to a number of stakeholders. A vital component of

innovation in business is a superfast broadband connection.

Would the Minister consider allowing pooling of voters to enable

community schemes such as fixed point wireless? I will certainly

discuss that with my colleague, the culture Secretary. But when I was

the culture Secretary, I was pleased to have introduced that scheme. It

has been making progress and my honourable friend might like to know

that the national innovation plan, to be published shortly, will be

absolutely key. I met the textiles industry in my constituency last

Friday. They are absolutely appalled by the decision to leave the

European Union. Surely we should have more of the calm words this

morning, that there should be an emergency package to deal with the

real concerns of exporters and innovators in our country. Well

said. Of course there will be a number of companies within the

textiles or other sectors that will have concerns about the short-term.

And that is why myself and my colleagues are already in touch with

the number of companies and businesses around the country, today

for example I will be holding a roundtable with businesses that

represent every sector of the economy and we will be following up

on those issues. The innovation that British industry needs is a range of

innovative trade deals with super economies outside of the European

Union. We need to do this now and not wait for exit to start. What

steps is my honourable friend taking to supercharge the trade unit within

his department to get crack trade officials working on these

agreements straightaway? My honourable friend is absolutely

right. What he highlights is that with this issue, and of course there

are short-term challenges but they are also medium and long-term

opportunities. Trade is one of those. It is something the

department had already thought about in case the decision was Brexit. We

will be putting that to use immediately. Scotland voted to

remain within the EU and has secured around ?120 million from Horizon

2020, the biggest EU research programme. Participation in these

programmes have enhanced our scientific and business reputation.

What will the Minister do to ensure similar supporting options are

available post Brexit? The honourable lady may be interested to

note that there are a number of countries that are part of these

collaboration programmes and are not part of the European Union. Israel,

for example. It is perfectly possible to continue if we choose to

do so, working with our EU partners on science and research. Question

two, Mr Speaker. I am implementing a package of measures to support a

cultural change to tackle late payment including the small

commissioner, a duty for large businesses to report on payment and

support for the voluntary prompt payment code. I thank the Minister

for his answer and welcome his work in this area. Not just late payment

but lengthy term payment. I way of example, an SME in my constituency

is negotiating with a multinational company. It is an excellent

opportunity but the payment schedule would mean a 98 day weight for

payment of a ?3 million project which is something of a

disincentive, indeed a risk. We recognise that the market is opening

up to SMEs but does my honourable friend agree that we need to keep

working to inspire a more level playing field across all aspects of

business practice is SMEs are going to compete? I absolutely agree with

my honourable friend. These requirements would give small

businesses the ability to negotiate terms and encourage companies to

improve pay and packages. We are determined to change this type of

bad behaviour. One of the worst performers for late payment with

small and medium-size businesses are the public sector themselves. What

is the Secretary of State is doing to ensure that government

departments, agencies and businesses pay promptly? The honourable

gentleman will be pleased to note that was the case in 2010. It was

appalling practices throughout the public sector. There has been

significant improvements throughout the government and beyond. In my

department we take pride in paying almost all invoices within seven

days. We welcome the move is to set up a small business Commissioner to

help of late payment. But the proposals for the small business

Commissioner are modest. Can the Secretary of State insurable small

businesses out there who will be dramatically impacted by the

downturn resulting from Brexiter that he will put additional support

to them in the supply chain to deal with the consequences of any of

their customers delaying payment to deal with the problems of Brexit. I

can assure that the proposals are not modest. The Small Business

Commissioner will have additional powers including providing direct

advice and services for the smallest of all businesses. He will also be

able to consider complaints and take super complaints from trade bodies.

Number three, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I continue to promote the

engine which could add an extra ?34 billion to the local economy by 2030

and create 300,000 new jobs. I am pleased that we have appointed chair

of the Midlands Engine, to drive security and growth up across the

region. Warrington's economy is a great contributing part of the

region's economy. What efforts are being made to transform the wider

Midlands engine from concept to reality? I recall visiting video

games companies with my honourable friend and I know he does a great

deal locally to help local businesses. The business engine is

already delivering. We have a ?5 billion trade and investment

package, ?60 million for research and a ?5 million award from Midlands

Collector. -- Midlands connector. The results of the Brexit referendum

show a deep divide in part of our country. What step will the

Secretary of State take to ensure that the devolution agenda increases

jobs, skills and infrastructure investment in some of these per

referral economies, not just our great metropolitan cities? Well, the

honourable lady will know that since 2010 we have seen considerable

growth in every single region of the UK. That includes the Midlands.

Because our focus is on the Midlands engine, we want to see even more.

She is right to highlight the importance of devolution. The

devolution of skills will make a big difference in my department, for

example. One of the best way to bring jobs is

exciting plans for an Institute of Technology which we were so

delighted to welcome the Minister for schools to earlier this year and

I think he was impressed with. Will he meet a delegation from Dudley to

discuss these plans in detail? Mr Speaker, I am a big fan of Dudley

and I would love to visit again. I was delighted to hear that my

constituent was appointed as the head of the Midlands engine project.

He is the founder of expedient and the chairman of Burberry. Will my

right honourable friend assure me that the Midlands economy is

prepared for Brexit over the next few weeks and months? Mr Speaker, my

honourable friend is very right and he makes a powerful point. The

Midlands is doing well, it could do better. I plan to read the first

Midlands only trade Mission board to North America, in September, I would

be honoured if companies from his constituency would join me. The

insolvencies services investigation into B-eat H -- VHS continues. The

proper regulation is in place to prevent abuses. We have lodged our

consultation on a review of the corporate insolvency framework, not

words that trip off the tongue, but importantly if there are any early

emergency findings finding -- I will assure them they will be found out.

The pensions black hole in this country has reached a high of ?900

billion. Can the Minister assure this House, myself and my

constituents who work in BHS and Clyde mag that they're doing

everything in their power and to ensure their pension funds?

Yesterday was a dreadful day. On the markets and we saw that two of banks

had to stop trading. Today, according to the results is a better

day. It is important, as the Prime Minister said yesterday, nothing has

changed at the moment as we know. It is really a portent that we talk up

great country and great economy, we instil confidence and stability on

all sides. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The issue of pensions is very

important in the context of BHS and in the context of Tata steel. The

consultation finished on the 23rd of June. Could the Minister please give

the House an update on where we are with the pension scheme and reflect

the fact that the trade unions and others have said that booting the

pension scheme into the PPF would be a complete disaster. The

consultation has now finished. I think there were concerns on the

side of the House that perhaps the other side of the House had been as

supportive for the future plans of Tata as we would have liked. Our

doors remained open to him, the great work he has done, to make sure

we have a sustainable steel industry in South Wales. The many workers at

BHS like those in my Livingston constituency will have been watching

in horror as it events unfold. What further support and assurance can

she gave to the staff to support them through this difficult time?

And like the experience I had as many others have had, BHS would not

engage with me as a local member. How can she make sure they will

engage with local members? I would be quite surprised if they did not

think age. We have ensured that the working with them to make sure that

people are getting the support that they need and your opportunity is

that they need to get jobs. So I am glad and pleased that that work

continues. In fact government does continue in spite of last week's

thought. Number five, Mr Speaker. Sorry, Mr Speaker, that is also one

of mine. I nearly called the honourable lady the right honourable

gentleman. The dedicated IP crime unit launched by the last Coalition

Government investigates the sales of counterfeit goods. We introduced a

criminal sanction to address intentional copy of product and

design. Research has found that 64% of counterfeit products are no

purchased online with sales via social media increasing by 15% every

year. Has the government considered the impact of this trend on the

consumers and industry itself? Can I just first savour the record, I

would like to thank the honourable lady to give notice of

supplementary. I can give for a proper and good answer. Otherwise

she would have got, I will happily meets. The government industry and

law enforcement are working together to tackle the threat of online

counterfeit electrical goods. It has been targeting sellers of

counterfeit goods on Facebook in particular and succeeded in removing

thousands of listings and users profiles. Mr Speaker, in my

constituency which is home to the headquarters of the Scottish Fire

and Rescue Service, 214 House fires were caused by faulty electrical

items in the past five years alone. Because trading standards is largely

enforced on a local level, online sales may be harder to tackle. What

is the government strategy on tackling theirs? She makes an

important point about some of the real dangers from faulty goods,

especially sold online. I was delighted that one campaigner has

major that people are kept safe, she has been working with the

government. She produced an excellent report and her work

continues at the way we look at policy to see how we can make things

better and safer. Questions six, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I am surprised

you have shortened my name today. The traineeship programme grew by

over 85% in 2014-15. We showed positive progression rates. 17%

going on to further learning. I am sorry to disappoint the honourable

gentleman. Maybe we should say that his name is Nicholas called rich

balls. -- called Reg balls. There is a risk perception that they

are somehow second-class to other career routes. As a former

apprentice myself, I know just how rewarding they can be. This summer,

Mr Speaker, I will be a skilled trades school in my constituency to

help young people in mechanical engineering. I wonder if the

Minister will meet with me and members of the college in the

constituency to talk about how we can raise the profile of those

important trades. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to

congratulate the honourable gentleman on his initiative. As an

apprentice he can preach the reality of it. I have to confess to him I

have never been to Oldham, I would love to come for the first time to

join him. Traineeships ought to be linked to good quality

apprenticeships, but we know there remains a gender pay gap over ?1 an

hour. Can the minister suggests how traineeships can be developed to

Anchorage girls and young women into career routes that with good

prospects? I think it is an important challenge and she

identifies and one that has been long in existence but nevertheless

we have a long way to go to go to correct it. I think the key thing is

to try and persuade young women of the kinds of jobs that are open to

them that could be the much better rates, that is stem related careers,

engineering related jobs. Traineeships are often a good way

for people to get a taste of our profession, but we need to tackle

the problem earlier in primary school, to shape the attitude of

young girls, that a career in technology is open to them. Thank

you, Mr Speaker. The chief executive of the CAPD has said if the

government is serious about improving the quality of

apprenticeships and skills as well as the quantity, it needs to

completely overhaul the apprenticeship levy. Is he right? He

is right to an extent that we want to massively improve the quality of

apprenticeships as well as the quantity and they are not in

conflict. But if you do both, you need to have more money to spend.

That is why the apprenticeship levy is critical. It will allow us to

take government spending from ?1.5 billion a year at the moment to ?2.5

billion a year in England by the end of this Parliament. That is

essential if we want to get the quality up as well as the numbers

up. Mr Speaker, the Minister has tried to construct reassurance on

apprenticeships, but facts tell a different story. Freedom of

Information figures published say that just 9% of 19-24 -year-olds

went on to traineeships from apprenticeships. The late party has

consisted traineeships to get more people into quality apprenticeships.

Why has the government wasted three years failing properly to promote

and target them. Ten days ago the Minister warned about Brexit

threatening apprenticeship grows and the levy. Will he know spell out new

initiatives to tackle that increase in traineeships that is needed,

including support to colleges and providers who are desperate to press

ahead with them. And risk failing that generation? Can I congratulate

the honourable gentleman on being one of the few people to resist the

temptation to resign in the past 24 hours. They will go down in the

history books as brave champions of modern opposition. On the point he

makes, I am delighted he is an avid reader of FV week. It is an

interesting publication. He will know that traineeships are not only

about pre-apprenticeship programmes. The whole aim of traineeships is to

take people into either apprenticeships or jobs, or further

training, whatever is best for them. He would seek to narrow this

programme whose great strength is its versatility. Number eight

please, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, we are as has been often discussed, we

are inducing an apprenticeship levy which will have two main outcomes.

The first is that we will be increasing spending on

apprenticeships and it will require large employers to either invest in

apprenticeships or see their money used by someone else. I think he is

seeking to group this question with number 12. I am grateful to my

honourable friend for his ansa. He like I will be aware that certain

employers have said they are not happy with the apprenticeship levy

and have asked the government to rethink. Does my friend Makro agree

with me that the levy is the best way to ensure that businesses invest

in their apprenticeship skills and they are on a sustainable footing?

Forgive me, Mr Speaker. I should have mentioned that I am seeking to

do this question with a later one. My honourable friend is right. What

we are trying to design with the apprenticeship levy is something of

an innovation in government, which is a new tax but which the people

who pay the tax, the companies that pay the tax, will have the ability

to spend it on training that directly benefits them. It creates a

huge incentive who pay the levy to get maximum benefit out of it by

creating more apprenticeships. And I believe it will have a powerful

impact in her constituency. The importance of home-grown skill is

known and even more important given the result of the referendum last

week. Considering the funding to British universities, how will he

ensure that they will be equipped and supported given last week's

thought? I do agree with the right honourable gentleman. We as a nation

will have to do what we have done for hundreds of years, which is

lived by a Whitsun talents. We need to develop those talents by

investing in education and in science and in research and in

skills trading. He is right about the crucial role that universities

play. Obviously my honourable friend is leading on that. We are working

very closely together to get more universities involved to agree on

apprenticeships, so people can get a degree and rise to a high position

through an apprenticeship. One of the messages that has come across to

me campaigning in the referendum is that free movement between people in

this country and the European Union is no longer desired. The honourable

gentleman will know that there are no changes that will take place at

any time soon in any of the arrangements with the European Union

because we have made a decision we are going to leave the European

Union. There will be a lengthy process of negotiation to establish

what new positions will be put in place. One of the chief sources of

concern in our communities is that free movement of people. He is also

right that in his constituency as in my own, that would have been a

motive for many people to vote. the key reasons why we have resisted

pressure to make apprenticeships something only for young people and

only for new recruits, because if you are 45 and you are perhaps

returning to work after a career break or you have discovered in

yourself a potential you did not know about, it is right that there

is government support through apprenticeship training to enable

you to develop those new skills and go a rewarding career. Local

businesses in Worcester tell me they worry about skills shortages and

they want to invest in young people. To do so, it is crucial that young

people have information about apprenticeships. Does the Minister

agree that we need to keep making sure that inspiring apprentices and

employers get into our schools to talk about what they can offer? My

honourable friend is right and I know that he will be playing our

vital role in shepherding the bill through Parliament that will require

all schools to give an opportunity to other providers of opportunity

after the age of 16, whether further education colleges or apprenticeship

employers, into the school, during school hours, to make young people

aware of the range of opportunities out there. One of the ways in which

skills gaps in the economy have been filled is with EU nationals, which

is an opportunity that could be lost to Scotland, in particular

geographically rural areas. Can the Minister guarantee that these skills

are valued and they will be able to stay? I am very grateful to do that,

and to give you -- to give that confirmation, not just in her

constituency but across the country. There are skills locked in by very

valued migrant workers, not just from the European Union, though

importantly from the European Union, and the Prime Minister has been very

clear that those people's position in our country is secure. They are

working rights are secure and we remain a member of the European

Union. It is not just that they are secured, they are valued and we

welcome them. We want them to stay here and help make our society

great. Question number nine, Sir. The higher education and research

white paper and now the bill before Parliament set out on the steps we

are taking to raise the quality of higher education and help ensure

that students get the teaching experience that they expect from

their time at university. The University of Winchester is

exceptionally strong when it comes to degree partnerships, performing

consistently well in the student satisfaction surveys. We are in the

top 95% when it comes to graduate prospects. Does the Minister agree

that these are key drivers for young people deciding to make a

significant investment higher education, and in that, Winchester

is well-placed. The University of Winchester is leading the way in so

many areas, and I have been delighted to meet with the Vice

Chancellor, Professor Joy, and Winchester is a great example of the

university where students have excellent employment outcomes with

95% going on to graduate employment or further study in a very short

period of time. At the University of Sussex, there is ?9 million worth of

funding from the European Union. The Leave campaign was clear that this

funding would be replaced by the British Government funding after

Brexit. Can the Minister get to his feet and guarantee that this funding

will continue and if not, can he bring his brother down to Brighton

to explain to students why the door of education is going to be slammed

in their face? This government more than any other understands the

importance of science funding and that is why we have protected

science spending until the end of the Parliament, a decade of real

terms protection. Our universities and institutions can continue to

apply for EU competitive funding streams under Horizon 2020 and I'm

sure they will continue to be successful as they are today. Can I

praise the catapult programme that has been run by the department?

And can he reassure me that it is going to be rolled out more wildly?

Absolutely. We are committed to rolling out the catapult network,

which provides resources to companies that they might otherwise

not be able to construct and maximises the research coming out of

our university system. We have already delivered on new catapults

in Cambridge and Cheshire. It is an expanding and successful network and

it will continue to be so. The Minister's white paper bangs on

about how important high-level skills are but the skills white

paper is not actually part of the new bill. With those that teach,

manage or work in ... Should he not be prioritising these colleges? Why

is he gambling on probationary degrees from probationary providers,

risking our universities' reputation overseas and productivity at home? I

am working closely with the skills minister who has a forthcoming white

paper which will revive many of those answers you look for. But we

are surprised to see the scepticism about the potential for new

providers of higher education to enhance the range of high-quality

higher education on offer in this country. Number Ten, Mr Speaker. A

minister. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The government is fully committed to

making the UK the best place in the world to do science and the number

of full-time students accepted to study stem subjects in England is up

17% since 2010. Initiatives such as the stem ambassadors programme and

the polar Explorer programme are providing information for young

people looking to consider these careers. To what extent can studio

schools be used to promote the take-up of stem subjects later on in

a student's career, during university or apprenticeship? Studio

schools are pioneering a new and valuable approach to learning,

focusing on equipping students with a wide range of employability skills

and qualifications. Schools like those in Banbury and best, opening

in September, gives students the opportunity to work with employers

such as the UK Space Agency. As vice chair of the new killer APPG, I

think it is important for us to get more women into these engineering

positions. I was pleased to hear the Minister agree with them the Member

for Stretford End Urmston about the need to get in much earlier, at

Primary School level, if girls are going to take the subject through to

higher education. Can I ask what specific action the government is

taking to achieve that aim and how they will take into account the work

that is already being undertaken in Cumbria? The government continues to

work with all partners to range initiatives, including the science

fund, launched with the Wellcome Trust, and stem ambassadors, a ?5

million programme. As well as the industry led, your life campaign,

providing information for young people considering stem careers. I

am pleased to say that 50% of stem undergraduates are no women. The

Minister will now how important EU funding is to our universities

particularly in relation to stem subjects. -- 50% of stem

undergraduates are now women. It was promised that no sector would lose

as a result of Brexit. If I could push him on his earlier answer, what

will he be doing to ensure that UK Government funds replace European

funding, pound for pound, in supporting research in our

universities. We remain members of the European Union and our

institutions are able to apply for and win European competitive funding

streams. They will continue to be able to do so until such time as we

the relationship of our -- the nature of our relationship. Another

equally important Johnson, Diana Johnson. We recently consulted

options for the land Registry and this consultation closed on the 26th

of May. We are currently reviewing responses and until this is

completed, there will be no decision made. Having a land Registry office

in Hull, I noticed that in 2014, in the July consultation when the

coalition scrapped the plan is to set up a land Registry, only 5% of

people consulted said it would be more efficient to sell it off. They

admitted that the case for change had not been made. What has changed

since then? As I say, no decision has been made but what is clear is

that the land Registry has been moving increasingly to electronic

means. This kind of modernisation and efficiency changes need to carry

on so regardless of ownership, this is the kind of change we want to

see. One of the strengths of the land registry is its transparency

and independence but those proposing to buy the land Registry has links

to offshore tax havens, places that do everything to avoid such

transparency and independence. Mr Speaker, the sale to firms with

links to tax havens will undermine the trust of homeowners. Isn't it

the truth that the sale of family silver makes a mockery of government

claims to be tackling tax avoidance and tax evasion? It would be

entirely wrong to comment on any press speculation but as I said, no

decision has been made. Question number 13, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker,

we are working with employer groups to develop new apprenticeship

standards such as Forest operative, and if I am seeking a new career, I

could hardly think of a better one. And we're working on pilot between

death trap and business to boost the number of businesses available in

national parks. -- between DEFRA and business. I'm delighted that the

horticulture Trailblazer initiative is successful. Can the Minister tell

me what Roxie has had with the Department for Education to make

sure that courses offered to students provide what businesses

need so that a petition to really work? I will welcome the Minister to

my constituency to talk about that. It is an excellent question and I

have one advantage because I am also a minister in the Department for

Education. I talk to myself worryingly often. The honourable

lady makes an important point. When the skills plan is published, which

will be soon, we will be guided very heavily by the review currently

being undertaken, recently completed by Lord Sainsbury, looking to ensure

that the course as people are offered in college are genuinely the

courses that employers want. I am sure the people of Ponton are in a

state of eager anticipation and high excitement at the prospect of a

visit from the Minister. -- the people of Ponton. Wales also offers

opportunities for apprenticeships in horticulture. But employers in Wales

are worried about how the British or work. What discussions has he had

with Julie James in Welsh government and when does he expect the scheme

to be finalised? Lay Lady asks a reasonable question.

There have been very intensive contacts both between HMRC and the

Welsh and Scottish and other governments to discuss how the levy

arrangements will work from a tax-raising view and to discuss how

the levy will operate and we will be publishing more details before the

summer recess. Number 14, Mr Speaker. My thoughts are very much

whether workers and families at this difficult time. Jobcentre can

support with local partners for others. I thank the Secretary of

State for that answer. Could he take steps to tighten loopholes

restricting companies from moving assets to third-party partners. My

honourable friend will revert to my father's first job. It is sad what

has happened. The current insolvency law allows assets to be disposed of

before recovery. For action to be taken against directors of

misconduct, it is possible if the administrators. I will look at that

report carefully when it is published in three months' time.

Number 15, Mr Speaker. Crossrail Europe's biggest project uses 7000

tonnes of British Steel. Network Rail sources 96% of its steel from

Britain and it is all made in Scunthorpe. That is 120,000 tonnes a

year. It will give UK steel every chance to win contracts. It would be

impossible not to buy British Steel. I thank the Minister for her

response. We have intentionally to new proposals for branch lines. On

the Okehampton link. Does my honourable friend welcome these

proposals. There she thinking light of the referendum result, it can be

used in all of our railway construction is across the whole of

the country? We have changed the procurement rules in relation to

government funded. There is really no excuse. We know how Britain --

brilliant British Steel is when it comes to... Is specially when it

comes to railway and the construction of railway lines

because it is the best steel in the world and that is why so many people

buy it when they are constructing railways. I welcome the Minister's

comments on British Steel and Scunthorpe steel. What is she doing

to insure there is a clear pipeline of infrastructure projects in trains

so that the correct capacity for creating the steel for those

projects is put in place? I am grateful as ever for his question.

One of the things taking place today is the Secretary of State is leading

an extremely large meeting with all the key players of the British steel

industry. One of the things we have discussed is the need to make sure

that huge infrastructure projects, if it is at all possible, whether it

is HS2, incredibly important now and making sure we do the best in what

has been a bad decision by the British public if I may so. A

topical question for Lucy Allen. Number one, Mr Speaker. Following

last week's referendum result, my department has in speaking to

businesses are pinned down the country and we will continue talking

with them in the weeks and months ahead. I am hosting a roundtable

with business leaders to consider next steps. I would like to welcome

Tim Peake back to earth after six months have brought the -- or the

International Space Station. I spent last week visiting businesses across

Telford and notwithstanding short-term market volatility, equity

is back up today. Business leaders and Telford are confident about the

future. Having visited Telford on several occasions, does he agree

that Telford has a bright future and is a great place to do business? Mr

Speaker, I absolutely agree with my honourable friend. I will visit

Telford again and again. Unemployment in her constituency has

fallen by 60% of the last three years, that is a testament to local

businesses. I will work with her in every way to secure Telford boss

Mike Bright future. Mr Speaker, despite the Secretary of State's

complacency, this is a very difficult over British business.

Over the past 24 hours we have lost triple a beating and seen 150

billion wiped off the value of the FTSE 350. Can he be sure the many

worried and businesses that unlike with Tata will, he will be in the

boardrooms of innocent and Hitachi, Jaguar Land Rover work and across

the country, sharing with them his plan for secure, economic exit as

they make their investment decisions in the weeks and months to come? I

was hoping to welcome the honourable lady as the Shadow Business

Secretary. I believe she is not in that position yet. I would be happy

to make some suggestions of the problems. What I can assure the

honourable lady. Of course there are some short-term challenges were

businesses, but we should also remember there are medium-term and

long-term opportunity is business as well and that includes the

automobile industry. It is clear that not only does he not have a

plan, he does not have a plan to have a plan. He cannot say whether

he personally wants to retain access to the single market for goods and

services. Isn't the truth that the only plan the Secretary of State has

is for his joint leadership bid and British businesses and jobs stand to

lose from the economic uncertainty has party's divides have unleashed?

Mr Speaker, I was hoping the honourable lady would not play party

politics with something as straightforward as this. There are

many businesses up and down the country that are reflecting last

week's decision and my job is to reassure them that this decision can

be made to work, as well as looking at challenges, there are plenty of

opportunities. When I meet with businesses later this afternoon,

that is the message I will be giving them. The Greater Manchester region

is a huge supporter of apprenticeships with 30,000 starts

last year alone. I have met with apprenticeships in my constituency

doing work on the development of underwater sonar systems. Can he

underline what additional support his department is giving to increase

uptake? Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to congratulate Ray Teret

Manchester on achieving 75% increase in apprenticeships since 2010. We

have devolved the apprenticeship grant for employers which is an

incentive payment to in Courage employers who have not previously

employed apprentices, to do so. They can target it to particular types of

employers they want to see apprenticeship grows come through.

As we head towards Brexit, many EU directives will be under review. Can

we have confirmation from the government but it -- to their

intention to retain all elements of working time directive 's clash

marked nothing changes for the next few years. All rights and

obligations will be respected. In the longer term, work -- 's country

has always been committed to workers' rights, and that will not

change. Pendle is home to a number of excellent in this -based

companies. What assurance can the government gave the sector in view

of the referendum? Later on today we are meeting with the trade Council

that represents the aerospace industry because we are committed to

them. We will continue to work closely with them to tackle growth.

Fire And Rescue Services are attending up to three fires a day as

a result of faulty fires. Which the LGA electrical first aid first have

always concerned with the world Whirlpool has handled this problem.

Is the Minister comfortable that Whirlpool has issued a safety

statement and not a total recall? Mr Speaker, I had a meeting with the

honourable lady and she has led for consumers on this issue. There has

been an investigation as I explained to her which suggested that the

approach Whirlpool was taking was reasonable but the nature of the

risk wasn't such that a total recall was required. She is right to say

that they need to get a move on and that it is not right or reasonable

to leave people waiting for months and months to have a faulty product,

for which Whirlpool should be accountable, replaced. Would my

right honourable friend agree that it is the duty of government

ministers who are loyal to the crowd to promote the British economy and

not talk it down. Would he agreed to a joint meeting with me to discuss

how we can more effectively promote and develop defence industries such

as those found in my constituency? I absolutely agree with my honourable

friend. He is absolutely right. These are difficult times but it is

important that we do not talk down a great British economy and that we

instil that stability and confidence. He is right to point out

our defence industry, we work and in glove with the MOD and we will

continue to do that. I have already spoken to the minister responsible

for procurement. Mr Iain Wright. I think that is the kindest thing

anyone has ever said to me. The Secretary of State appreciates that

uncertainty lasting months and years are draining business investment

away from Britain. In the select committee this morning, Funding

Circle told those that are ?100 million deal will not go ahead. It

will not be the only one. Today's roundtable is a welcome gesture but

in the face of this unprecedented uncertainty at 90, what tangible

actions is he putting in place now to maintain and stimulate inward

investment to maintain that funding gap and to steady business nerves?

Mr Speaker, it is good to see that there is some leadership on business

issues on that side of the House still. The honourable gentleman

makes an important point. The roundtable we have today, it is not

a gesture, it is genuinely listening to real businessmen and women about

the issues that they face and also to listen to them about the

opportunities that will be created to take advantage of those

opportunity is as well. He will know that nothing changes were a couple

of years and that will give us time to plan for the future, including

inward investment opportunity is. I would be happy to meet with them and

discuss it further. A significant amount of public money that is to

bring broadband to rural areas. Because of a bureaucratic logjam, it

remains unspent whilst a number of businesses in Cheltenham cannot

grow. What can be done to unlock that money and get the remaining

premises connected? May I say how pleased I am to see you in your

chair. A rock of stability as the stormy seas of change crash around

us. post office was ?439,000. This money

was spent making significant changes in order to improve services to

customers and hands the profitability of the Crown network.

Given that the post office is... Moving to and non-successful and

inadequate thing, can the Minister justify why the money was spent on

refurbishment. Mr Speaker, I will keep it brief.

The honourable member tabled a name they on this and I have replied to

explain it is the matter for the Chief Executive. She has written a

letter to the honourable member which is in the library for the

house's benefit, I confirm that from the ?13 million investment in our

crown, ?440,000 has been spent on the Paisley branch and through the

Crown transformation plan, we have a post office which is more stable and

closer to break even. 200,000 extra opening hours and 3800 branches open

on Sundays. The people of Paisley have a strong and secure post

office. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I commend the

Ministers on the Treasury bench for their pragmatic approach to the

result last week. We are all committed to the UK becoming an

outward looking, global trading nation. With that in mind, will the

ministers redouble their efforts to support the Australian Prime

Minister, who said he has instructed his officials to work with New

Zealand to prepare a train to deal with the UK very shortly?

Mr Speaker, what my honourable friend highlights are the

opportunities of Brexit, and we should absolutely start embracing

those opportunities. Free trade agreements with many more countries

is one of those. Australia is an excellent example of what we should

be working on. Many of my constituents in Ealing

and Southall have no of very little access to computers and internet. I

hope this Government will continue to press on other key providers to

maintain high street services open to customers to receive utility and

other ills in paper form on request. -- other bills.

It does not intervene in the individual billing arrangement of

utilities or companies but there are arrangements in place to make sure

those who need paper bills can require them. Those who have

disabilities such as the blind have protections to ensure they get

appropriate billing. If there are particular issues, I will look into

them for you. Small and independent retailers in

my constituency have recently experienced difficulty in accessing

telephone and broadband services when moving into new premises. I

have expressed this due to my new community office. Well they talk to

the service providers to ensure we get those vital services in the

21st-century, to be carried out in a reasonable time frame?

I have made no secret of my concerns about open reach's quality of

service, and while I think we have had a very successful rural group

broadband programme, there is a particular unit which seems to

target Members of Parliament in order to drive them completely...

Make them angry. -- Openreach. They take it out on me and I take it out

on Openreach but they have to read the terms and conditions. The new

Chief Executive has made supplying businesses priority.

We are blessed to have a second dose of the honourable gentleman this

morning. The fermentation of the pubs

coach... With licensees missing out due to business mistake and the

delay. -- implementation. Will they ensure the code is retrospective

from the original date as we clearly can't be?

Mr Speaker, we have relayed the regulations and I am looking forward

to passing through the stages so we can implement the pubs code as

urgency. I hope it will be implemented by the time this house

races. Thank you for giving me two bite at

the cherry. I welcome the Government commitment to seek new universities

coming forward, including Somerset, but given the recent developments

regarding EU, will be ministry agree with me that it is even more

essential that we provide universities to provide the skills

to upgrade the workforce so we can maintain our world position?

Yes, indeed, the productivity challenge we face as a country is

grave and our universities are a part of the answer. New universities

in cold spots such as Somerset are part of the solution.

I understand that the UK Government is yet to confirm the allegation of

apprenticeships in Scotland, whether it was based on the number of

employees based in Scotland -- presentation. Can the Minister

provide the clarification? Mr Speaker, as I indicated to the

honourable lady representing the Welsh Government in this

conversation, there have been discussions ongoing. It is a matter

for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and not something I am

directly responsible for. I know there have been intensive

negotiations and discussions but I fear... I do not want to pass the

buck but we will have two directly question to a Treasury Minister,

because it needs the Treasury and HMR see to handle this discussion

is. -- HMIC. Thank you, Mr Speaker. This month,

it was announced that manufacturing exports from Northern Ireland

increased by 24% to non-EU countries whilst they fell 4% to EU countries.

What steps can the Minister take to help Northern Ireland firms exploit

the opportunities in growing international economies, in order to

promote growth in Northern Ireland, increase employment and help reduce

UK payments deficits? It is great to hear and the

honourable gentleman is right. Manufacturing is on the rise in

Northern Ireland and throughout the UK. Volumes and exports are up,

employment is up. There are further steps we can take. I was asked about

free trade agreement and that is something we can do and exploit now

we have RMT. Order. -- now that we have Brexit.

I was led to believe that the Labour front bench were we requesting a

statement on the further chaos we have heard this morning on HS2, in

resources and preparations, but are now sucking up from our economy. Did

you receive any indication for a statement on HS2? We have the

Business Secretary here. Does he not realise British industry in chaos,

and reeling from Brexit, once to see HS2 Stubbs now before it sucks up

those resources? -- stopped now. I would not discuss on the floor of

the house applications for urgent questions because colleagues will

understand that as a long-standing convention, that those matters are