Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Julian Smith Excerpts
Thursday 26th June 2014

(10 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Matt Hancock Portrait Matthew Hancock
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I recognise the problem that used to exist. The introduction of traineeships has tackled that. It is now possible for someone to go on a traineeship while still receiving their jobseeker’s allowance, because we have tackled the 16-hour rule for traineeships. If the hon. Lady writes to me about the individual case, I will make sure it is taken into account.

Julian Smith Portrait Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con)
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At the Mighty Middle conference held by GE Capital and the Reform think-tank this week, mid-sized companies from across Britain were exceptionally positive about the Government’s long-term economic plan. What more can we do to celebrate and assist those mid-sized companies?

Vince Cable Portrait Vince Cable
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Mid-sized companies are absolutely central to the Government’s industrial strategy. We are working with them to develop supply chains in the car industry, aerospace and the various energy sectors, and to support access to finance, training and innovation. They have a great deal of potential, as they do in countries such as Germany, where the Mittelstand are better developed than they are here.