Oral Answers to Questions Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Mann Excerpts
Thursday 6th March 2014

(10 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Matt Hancock Portrait Matthew Hancock
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

The National Apprenticeship Service does a magnificent job in putting together events such as national apprenticeship week, and it is important to ensure that we run it as effectively as possible. I can tell the hon. Gentleman that a record number of people have participated in apprenticeships in the last year, and that they are doing a fantastic job. It is true that we had to remove some low-quality apprenticeships that were only six months long. The Opposition claim that they want high-quality apprenticeships, but then complain when we remove low quality. I will not take any lessons from them.

Lord Mann Portrait John Mann (Bassetlaw) (Lab)
- Hansard - -

10. On what date he plans to visit Bassetlaw to inspect and meet local businesses.

Vince Cable Portrait The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Vince Cable)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I have provisionally booked a ministerial visit to Bassetlaw and to neighbouring areas in Nottinghamshire for early June.

Lord Mann Portrait John Mann
- Hansard - -

I will parlay with the devil to get jobs and investment into my constituency, and I can guarantee the Secretary of State my personal protection from my constituents and their anger with the coalition. Perhaps we shall be able to have, for the day, a healthier coalition promoting jobs and investment in Bassetlaw.

Vince Cable Portrait Vince Cable
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I am not sure I shall need much protection because the firms in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency are already beating their way to my door. I believe 14 companies have availed themselves of the enterprise finance guarantee scheme, there have been five start-up loans and 17 other companies are using the growth accelerator, all in his patch.