Oral Answers to Questions

Barry Sheerman Excerpts

Wednesday 10th September 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Newmark]

My hon. Friend makes an extremely important point. We are working closely with key stakeholders to ensure that social ventures can access the support and finance that they need throughout the different stages of development. Following the support provided through the social incubator fund, there are now a number of opportunities for social ventures to access support.

[Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op)]

I see that you are wearing a slightly pinkish tie today, Mr Speaker, but pinkness seems to be absent from the Government Front Bench. Today is “wear it pink” day, which is the national campaign day for breast cancer.

Social enterprise is a very important sector and it is getting more important by the day. Has the Minister seen the wonderful picture of Mrs Thatcher’s face with Che Guevara’s beret, which launches the new manifesto for the social enterprise sector? That is important, because it marks the conjunction of social enterprise, social enterprise investment and crowdfunding. We would be very grateful if he put his weight behind it.

[Mr Speaker]

The image is visible in Westminster station and doubtless elsewhere, as I am sure the Minister is aware.