Post-16 Education and Skills: Funding
Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
The announcement was made only yesterday, so we are still in conversations with all the relevant parties. But in this large sector, there is welcome surprise at the actual numbers that were announced, in a very difficult fiscal climate. I hope that teachers recognise the real esteem in which we hold them and the important role that they have. There are always tough choices to be made and we will address the wider implications, as the noble Earl suggests.
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)
My Lords, does my noble friend get increasingly exasperated, as I do, when Front-Bench spokesmen opposite get increasingly strident in their attacks on the Government? We have not cleared up their mess in defence spending, immigration and schools, which they left us after 14 years in power.
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
I thank my noble friend, as always, for his continued support from the Benches behind me. As well as that, the frustration I have is that there is no recognition or acceptance from the other side of the mistakes made and opportunities missed in those years. We see this particularly in the awful plight of the nearly 1 million young people who are NEET—not engaged in education and training. That is what we should be focusing on, and making sure that we do everything that we can for young people in this country.
Zero-emission Vehicle Mandate
Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)
My Lords, does the Minister share the views put to me by other Ministers that the biggest problem they have is clearing up the mess created by the previous Tory Government?
London Underground
Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
I understand the noble Lord’s comments; they will be subject to further discussion when the main rail Bill comes forward. I note his comments and I am sure we will have the opportunity to discuss this more. We know that there are significant failings on our railways and that action has to be taken. We cannot continue with the failures that we have at present.
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)
My Lords, with no disrespect to London, is my noble friend the Minister aware of a feeling in the north of England and in Scotland that London gets a disproportionate amount of spending, particularly in transport? Regarding what the Opposition Front Bench says about economic growth, there would be greater benefit for economic growth if more money was spent in the north of England and in Scotland and Wales.
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
As a founder member of Transport for the North, I can only agree with my noble friend’s pertinent comments. I welcome the fact that significant discussions are happening with the regional mayors and that we have on the table a five-year £5.7 billion investment to improve transport networks across the regions. However, we all recognise the contribution of London to the economy of the whole country, and we want to make sure that investment in the regions complements the success in London and spreads wealth and prosperity around all the regions.