Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gavin Newlands and Lord Johnson of Marylebone

Thursday 5th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)]

T5. The east coast franchise is now run with the part publicly-owned London North Eastern Railway, and it is a major transport operation in Scotland. Despite that, the UK Government have not allowed any Scottish Government representation on the board. Will the Secretary of State rethink that, and commit to ensuring that the Scottish Government are represented on that vital piece of infrastructure?

[The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Joseph Johnson)]

The London North Eastern Railway started operations on 24 June. We are in the process of establishing the east coast partnership board, and we will ensure independent representation on that board. We are in consultation with stakeholders across the length and breadth of the line to ensure that their views are taken into account in the management of that new operation.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gavin Newlands and Lord Johnson of Marylebone

Tuesday 14th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Joseph Johnson]

I certainly can. Through our industrial strategy, we are backing Britain’s innovators with the biggest investment in science and technology since 1979 and a new industrial strategy challenge fund to bring cutting-edge ideas out of the lab and into the wider economy.

[Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)]

T10. A recent Resolution Foundation report stated that one in three UK businesses admitted to under-investing over the last five years. What measures will the UK Government take to turn that around?

[Joseph Johnson]

Yes, this country does recognise that it has been under-investing in research and development, and that is why at the autumn statement and in the Budget we have made the biggest investment in R and D for more than 40 years. Public investment in R and D helps to bring in private sector investment at the rate of about £1.36 for every £1 of public investment.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gavin Newlands and Lord Johnson of Marylebone

Monday 6th February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Joseph Johnson]

The key thing is that, whether or not they are in those figures, there is no limit on the number of international students who can come here to study. The UK is the best place in the world to get a higher education, and we are delighted that, for the last six years, over 170,000 international students have come to study in the UK.

[Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)]

24. Recent UCAS figures show that the number of EU students applying to Scottish universities has already fallen by 5%. The University of the West of Scotland has a new global reach strategy that aims to grow the number of international students attending UWS. Will the Minister explain to the university what it should do to achieve that goal despite the Brexit barriers the Government are putting in its way?

[Joseph Johnson]

The UK is immensely successful at attracting international students. We are second in the world in terms of our market share, behind only the United States. We continue to extend a warm welcome, and we wish that more international students would come.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gavin Newlands and Lord Johnson of Marylebone

Monday 19th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)]

T6. The higher education sector in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland supported SNP amendments to the Higher Education and Research Bill to ensure fair, UK-wide representation on the board of UK Research and Innovation. Does the Secretary of State have any plans to look at this issue again, or is she happy to ignore the respected HE voices within the devolved nations?

[Joseph Johnson]

The hon. Gentleman will have seen the amendment that the Government tabled to the Bill ensuring that there will be at least one member of the UKRI board with experience of the excellent research that goes on in at least one of our devolved Administrations.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gavin Newlands and Lord Johnson of Marylebone

Tuesday 15th March 2016 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)]

T5. In February, the Cabinet Office announced its intention to insert a new clause into grant agreements for charities. Many universities, including my local University of the West of Scotland, are worried that that will prevent them from being able to advise Government, Parliament and political parties. Will the Minister confirm whether universities will be exempt from any new clause, and if so, what form the exemption might take?

[The Minister for Universities and Science (Joseph Johnson)]

We are discussing with Cabinet colleagues exactly how we might treat universities with respect to that proposal.