Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Harrington of Watford and Debbie Abrahams

Tuesday 8th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Richard Harrington]

I certainly can, and I welcome the deal proposals that have been put forward by both the offshore wind and the offshore oil and gas sectors.

[Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddle- worth) (Lab)]

24. It is almost a year since Carillion collapsed, leaving losses to small business supply chains of more than £2 billion. My constituent, Neil Skinner, was among those affected. Will the Minister and the Government support my ten-minute rule Bill, which is coming to the House next week and would introduce project bank accounts for all public sector contracts in order to prevent such losses to small businesses?

[Richard Harrington]

I am sure that the hon. Lady will be delighted to know that we are working closely with the sector. I have some experience of project bank accounts in the construction sector and I have seen them work. We will look very carefully at this.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Harrington of Watford and Debbie Abrahams

Monday 12th October 2015 Commons Chamber

[Richard Harrington]

The Government are working closely with the authorities in Calais to make sure that this does not happen.

[Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth) (Lab)]

16. Oldham and many other areas are under incredible financial pressure at the moment, but we want to do our bit to support refugees. What practical and financial support will be provided by the Government beyond the single-year funding that is currently provided, and will any such support reflect the good practice set out in the UNHCR’s gateway programme, which has shown the long-term benefits of financial front-loading?

[Richard Harrington]

As the hon. Lady will be aware, the year one costs are taken care of, to cover the cost of refugees coming to this country. The Government have looked carefully at covering years two to five, because we are conscious of the fact that local authorities will be incurring extra costs. In the letter that I wrote on 1 October to the chief executives of local councils, it was made clear that the Government would be assisting them with the extra costs incurred.