Work Experience

Debate between Marcus Jones and Glyn Davies

Tuesday 13th March 2012 Westminster Hall

[Mr Jones]

It does have to be experience, but I hope that the hon. Lady is not taking us down the route of demeaning certain types of employment—I will come on to this in a moment—or of being what I call a job snob. I am sure that she is not seeking to do that at all. Over recent weeks, however, we have seen a small cohort of people who have been willing to show a great deal of vitriol towards some of those companies which were willing to give young people an opportunity. In the debate today and over the past few weeks, we have seen what I consider to be the huge red herring of whether work experience is compulsory or voluntary, and that has been a huge distraction from the real issue.

[Glyn Davies (Montgomeryshire) (Con)]

I associate myself with my hon. Friend’s disappointment at what has happened in recent weeks. Does he condemn those organisations that have sought to spread fear, and have organised letter-writing campaigns, with no basis? They have made the scheme, which should have been a great success, questionable. Does he welcome the fact that we seem to have dealt with the issue, that the argument seems to have turned around, and that the scheme is now being welcomed?

[Mr Jones]

I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention, and I agree absolutely. A small number of people—I emphasise that it is a small number—have put their political ideology before the best interests of disadvantaged young people, whom the Government and employers who have taken part in the Work Experience scheme are seeking to help. That is disgraceful, and an indictment of the methods that some of the people in that extremist group use. I hope that today we will hear from the shadow Front-Bench spokesman that the Opposition do not support such groups, and that they support the Government’s scheme to give young people opportunities. It is incumbent on the House to provide as many routes as possible for our young people.

NHS Risk Register

Debate between Marcus Jones and Glyn Davies

Wednesday 22nd February 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jones]

The same practice was followed by the shadow Secretary of State’s predecessor as Health Secretary, the right hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle (Alan Johnson).

[Glyn Davies (Montgomeryshire) (Con)]

Does my hon. Friend agree that the Opposition know perfectly well that what they are asking for is unreasonable, and that the case that he is making is absolutely sound? They are seeking to discredit the Government rather than support the NHS, and they are taking a completely irresponsible position.

[Mr Jones]

I absolutely agree. The points that they are making today are just as confused and incoherent as the rest of their policies. They seem to just cut and paste their policy with some frequency to suit the bandwagon that they wish to jump on at a particular point.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Marcus Jones and Glyn Davies

Tuesday 12th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Marcus Jones (Nuneaton) (Con)]

4. What recent representations he has received on steps to reduce the budget deficit.

[Glyn Davies (Montgomeryshire) (Con)]

6. What recent representations he has received on steps to reduce the budget deficit.

[The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr George Osborne)]

The Government’s plan to tackle the record budget deficit they inherited has been supported by the CBI, the OECD and, now, the International Monetary Fund. We have received more than 60,000 representations from the public as to how to go about deficit reduction and many of their suggestions are being put into effect. To date, we have received no proposals and no suggestions from the official Opposition, who created the deficit in the first place.