Business of the House

Angela Smith Excerpts
Thursday 22nd July 2010

(14 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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My hon. Friend makes a powerful point. He will have seen in our proposals on health funding that in future, health resources will be distributed not by Ministers, but by an independent body. I hope that he applauds the pupil premium initiative, which will address some of the deprivation issues in rural constituencies.

Angela Smith Portrait Angela Smith (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Lab)
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Andrew Cook issued a statement this morning to the effect that he has offered funding to Sheffield Forgemasters. May we have an urgent debate on whether Government officials were involved in encouraging or negotiating any deal between Andrew Cook and Sheffield Forgemasters, in what seems like a takeover bid for the company?

Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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I am not sure what responsibility Government Ministers would have for an offer to Sheffield Forgemasters from Mr Cook, but if the hon. Lady would like to table the relevant question to my hon. Friend the Minister of State, I am sure that she will get an answer to her question.