Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Evans of Rainow Excerpts
Monday 6th January 2014

(10 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Edward Timpson Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Mr Edward Timpson)
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I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for asking that question, if for no other reason than that I get to answer a question. This is an extremely important issue. I know that he agrees with me about the utmost need to make further inroads into eradicating child neglect in our society. There are two definitions of child neglect which relate to criminal law and civil law. I assume that he is talking about the criminal aspect and the work that is being done in the Ministry of Justice, with which I have had discussions. This is an ongoing issue and I am happy to discuss it with him further.

Lord Evans of Rainow Portrait Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)
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T2. What steps is my hon. Friend taking, working with the Treasury, to equalise the VAT treatment of sixth-form colleges, such as the outstanding Mid Cheshire college in my constituency, to bring them in line with school, academy and free school sixth forms?

Matt Hancock Portrait The Minister for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock)
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I am a passionate supporter of sixth-form colleges. I recognise the work that they do, in particular Mid Cheshire college with its outstanding status. I have regular discussions with the Treasury. However, we do not think that we will be able to find the resources in the current spending round to solve the problem with VAT that my hon. Friend raises. I will continue to work with the Treasury to try to find a solution.