Oral Answers to Questions

Angela Rayner Excerpts

Monday 9th September 2019 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Williamson]

I am very happy to write to the hon. Lady with more details and give her the reassurance that she seeks. We recognise how important it is for the UK as a whole to remain an attractive destination for people who wish to study, and that is vital in every component part of the United Kingdom, including Scotland.

[Angela Rayner (Ashton-under-Lyne) (Lab)]

Well, well, well. The Secretary of State has had quite a start. Rumour has it that he forgot to appoint a Skills Minister, and we are now waiting for our fifth Higher Education Minister in just two years. Will he tell us the fee status of European students after 2020, and will our universities still benefit from Horizon, Erasmus, and the European University Institute or not?

[Gavin Williamson]

We continue our negotiations and discussions with the European Union to ensure that we have access to these schemes.

[Angela Rayner]

Well, I am sure that the Secretary of State would like me to shut up and go away, but I am not going to do that. He has to try harder with his answers. Will he publish officially his no-deal impact assessment and contingency plans, and tell us how much his Department is spending on no-deal preparations? Can he give us a clear guarantee that his no-deal plans do not include suspending or weakening food standards in our schools?

[Gavin Williamson]

I can give the hon. Lady that assurance, yes.