Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Willetts and Rehman Chishti

Thursday 10th April 2014 Commons Chamber

[Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con)]

Farmers are the backbone of the £97 billion agriculture and food sector. How are the Government helping them take advantage of the latest science and innovation supporting our world-class agricultural technology sector?

[Mr Willetts]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the significance of this sector, and that is why we have a £160 million agri-tech strategy, which is aimed at promoting exports and investment in high-tech agriculture for the future.

Higher Education Funding

Debate between Lord Willetts and Rehman Chishti

Wednesday 3rd November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Willetts]

The Secretary of State and I work so closely together that we are, for all practical purposes, interchangeable.

[Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con)]

I welcome the Minister’s statement as a constructive and progressive way forward. Will he clarify whether students from my constituency who go to university in London will receive a London weighting with their maintenance grant?

[Mr Willetts]

My hon. Friend is quite right to raise that matter. We are indeed committed to keeping the special arrangements for London maintenance.