Oral Answers to Questions

Kelvin Hopkins Excerpts

Tuesday 11th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

I totally agree with my hon. Friend and I congratulate him on the work he has done in his constituency to promote the take-up of apprenticeships. The fact that there have already been 1.6 million apprenticeship starts during this Parliament compared with about 1 million during the previous Parliament shows the additional emphasis, even in these tough financial times, that this Government are putting on making sure that young people have the right skills for today’s economy.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

Britain has a growing and enormous trade deficit with the rest of the European Union, which is overwhelming evidence, if it were needed, that we have an inappropriate exchange rate, which means that we are in effect exporting more than 1 million jobs. When will the Government develop a sensible exchange rate policy?

[Danny Alexander]

Monetary policy is, rightly, the preserve of the independent Bank of England. I would also point the hon. Gentleman to the fact that 3.5 million jobs in this country are linked to British membership of the European Union. That is why I believe so strongly that Britain should stay a full member of the European Union.