Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

John Pugh Excerpts
Thursday 8th December 2011

(12 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Vince Cable Portrait Vince Cable
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The Merlin project certainly did not succeed in its central objective, which was to achieve growth in gross lending by banks. There has been a contraction in net lending for a variety of reasons, not least the fact that many companies are holding more cash. Credit easing will be commenced soon. The Treasury will maintain a metric of performance by individual banks, and this will lower the cost of capital for many of their customers. The cost of borrowing and covenanting, as much as access, has now become the central concern.

John Pugh Portrait John Pugh (Southport) (LD)
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Will the Minister explain how revising TUPE will actually create more jobs, as opposed to facilitating outsourcing?

Ed Davey Portrait Mr Davey
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My hon. Friend will know that there are mixed views in the business community about whether or not the current TUPE regulations are gold-plated, which is why we have called for evidence. We have not published a consultation with specific proposals as we want to have evidence from all stakeholders, so that when we make our proposals in a future consultation they will be well evidenced.