Horticulture (Skills and Training)

Debate between Lord Vaizey of Didcot and Bob Russell

Wednesday 14th January 2015 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy (Mr Edward Vaizey)]

I apologise for it being me again. I seem to be dominating proceedings in the House this afternoon, representing the Government across a range of fronts, from steel to vegetables. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Sir Bob Russell) on an important and timely debate on the horticulture industry. He is quite right that we do not have enough time to go into all the issues that we could cover under the auspices of this debate. Certainly, I could have carried on listening to him for a great deal longer, particularly his pun-tastic approach in talking about home-grown skills.

I was interested to hear about my hon. Friend’s boy scout gardening badge, which shows that we are never too old to learn a new skill. He was slightly modest in outlining his horticultural achievements. I have been informed by a good source that he has made a prize-winning blackcurrant jam.

[Sir Bob Russell]

Blackberry.

[Mr Vaizey]

I stand corrected.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Vaizey of Didcot and Bob Russell

Thursday 3rd July 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vaizey]

Broadband is going extremely well in the UK, mainly because we are better together. We are working with Scotland and Wales to roll out broadband and 4G coverage. The hon. Gentleman should not be so modest: we have outstripped a lot of the Scandinavian countries. We have just laid 400 km of undersea cable to the highlands and islands. That could not have been done without the UK Government working with the devolved Government to bring broadband to our rural areas. We are better together.

[Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD)]

Tourism is a major economic generator in Colchester. Does the Minister agree that the best way to support tourism is by reducing VAT on tourism to 5%? Will he have a chat with the Chancellor, please?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Vaizey of Didcot and Bob Russell

Thursday 12th December 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vaizey]

As always, the hon. Lady makes a fantastically brilliant point. It is important to strike a balance. This is not just a matter of London organisations going out to “the regions”. I am very excited about more co-productions between, for example, the National Theatre and the regional theatres, to enable productions created in regional theatres to come to London so that we can get some of the fantastic benefits of the brilliant arts going on outside London.

[Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD)]

10. When she last met representatives of the Football Association and the Football League to discuss their stewardship of professional football.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Vaizey of Didcot and Bob Russell

Thursday 14th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vaizey]

The cultural delights of Southend are well known: the Pier Cultural Centre, Priory Park bandstand and, of course, the Cliffs Pavilion where tonight Billy Fury’s Tornados will be playing. No doubt they will perform “Last night was made for love”.

[Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD)]

Will the Minister accept, however, that Colchester is clearly the cultural capital of Essex, and therefore that Colchester should have the title of city of culture?

[Mr Vaizey]

I acknowledge Colchester’s important cultural value, which has been acknowledged since the Romans arrived.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Vaizey of Didcot and Bob Russell

Thursday 3rd November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vaizey]

I am aware of the dispute, which is obviously on the desk of my colleague the Minister for Sport and the Olympics. I would say that the Dow Chemical Company is a top sponsor of the International Olympic Committee and my understanding is that it has been for many years.

[Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD)]

6. What discussions he has had with the Football Association on ensuring that all Football League stadiums have adequate access and facilities for disabled spectators.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Vaizey of Didcot and Bob Russell

Thursday 3rd March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD)]

Heart radio has more than halved the number of local stations for which it was granted licences. Those lost include the one in Colchester. If Heart is not prepared to reopen that station, surely the frequency should be offered to the local community to run its own radio station—Radio Big Society Colchester.

[Mr Vaizey]

If Radio Big Society Colchester does get off the ground, we all know who the breakfast presenter should be.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Vaizey of Didcot and Bob Russell

Monday 29th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vaizey]

As I have said, libraries are a statutory service, so local authorities must provide them, and providing that they have a far-seeing and imaginative plan, they can do so. There are many excellent local library services up and down the country, and the future libraries programme is making sure that that knowledge is widely disseminated.

[Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD)]

8. What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the use of the surface rail route between Liverpool Street and Stratford as part of the transport network for the London 2012 Olympics.