Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Andy Sawford Excerpts
Thursday 21st March 2013

(11 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Fallon Portrait Michael Fallon
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I congratulate the Cleethorpes Chronicle on reaching that milestone and we should send our best wishes to Nigel Lowther, Mark Webb and the team. It is a great local paper, committed to the community and the businesses that it serves.

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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I do not wish to be unkind to the hon. Gentleman, but he represents a Northamptonshire constituency: he does not feature in north-east Lincolnshire. He is close, but not quite close enough. I will give him a go later, if he is a patient fellow, as I am sure he will be.

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Jo Swinson Portrait Jo Swinson
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My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills outlined in response to an earlier question the significant progress we are making, particularly in non-EU economies, which are seeing much better growth than the EU. The Government have a range of different programmes, with the industrial strategy, the advanced manufacturing supply chain initiative and UK Trade & Investment providing help for businesses to export. In fact, in the past year they have supported firms in creating and securing more than 100,000 jobs for the UK economy.

Andy Sawford Portrait Andy Sawford (Corby) (Lab/Co-op)
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The Geddington road in my constituency links Corby not only to north-east Lincolnshire but to export markets all around the world. Will the Minister prevail on Northamptonshire county council to reopen the road to goods vehicles, which is important to ensuring that goods can get to markets from my constituency?

Jo Swinson Portrait Jo Swinson
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The hon. Gentleman ingeniously uses the question to highlight a local issue. It is obviously up to local authorities to make their own decisions, but he uses this opportunity to put his views firmly on the record. No doubt his colleagues on the council will look closely at his comments.