Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Prisk and Diana Johnson

Monday 4th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)]

Last year, the then Housing Minister proposed outlawing council tenants from sub-letting, with up to two years in prison or a £50,000 fine. Now the Government are advising people to sub-let to cover the bedroom tax. Do the Government actually know what they are doing?

[Mr Prisk]

I am sorry that the Labour party does not understand this issue. As the Under-Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bath (Mr Foster), rightly pointed out, a substantial number of households have two or more spare bedrooms. Is it right that the 250,000 people who are living in overcrowded accommodation should simply allow that to persist? Why did the Labour party not do anything about that in 13 years? That was an abject failure on its part.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Prisk and Diana Johnson

Thursday 15th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Prisk]

We can do what good Conservatives do, which is to introduce competition. That is why we are ensuring that we get new entrants into the market, so that the four or five that take the view that they have an opportunity to dominate the market are unable to do so. Let us get the new entrants in. I am proud that, as a coalition Government, that is precisely what we are doing.

[Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)]

The most successful defence-exporting countries procure and buy from their own home-grown industries. How will the approach that the Ministry of Defence is now taking—buying off the shelf in open competition, without any regard for British firms—help us to export more to the rest of the world?

[Mr Prisk]

We need to ensure that we get the very best value for money on behalf of the taxpayer, but do we need to ensure that procurement contracts reflect good indigenous British businesses? Yes, and that is exactly what is reflected in the White Paper. That is the approach we want to take.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Prisk and Diana Johnson

Thursday 27th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)]

T8. Does the Minister of State really think that sending a letter to Members whose constituents are affected by the potential redundancies at BAE Systems stating that those people could move to other parts of the country to get jobs shows any understanding of the regional economy and the need for skilled manufacturing jobs, particularly in the Humber area?

[The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr Mark Prisk)]

The letter sets out, first, help for those individuals on the ground at those sites. Secondly, it refers to making sure that by having the new talent retention service we do not lose those skills; and, thirdly, it refers to making sure that we put enterprise zones in place. I have to say that the response I have had from local people has been far more positive, sadly, than that of Labour Members.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Prisk and Diana Johnson

Thursday 14th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)]

15. What recent assessment he has made of the state of the construction industry.

[The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr Mark Prisk)]

For three years now, construction has faced very tough times after one of the sharpest recessions ever, but there are encouraging signs. Output in May rose by 0.4%, with increases in new work for most of the construction subsectors. We have published the national infrastructure plan, for the first time in this country, with £200 billion of investment over the next five years.

[Diana Johnson]

The purchasing managers index for construction shows that in June employment in the UK construction industry fell at its fastest rate since January’s VAT rise, and cuts in social housing investment, particularly in areas such as mine in Hull, are not helping. Would not a temporary VAT cut help to protect these skilled construction jobs at this difficult time?

[Mr Prisk]

I am fascinated to see this re-presented to the House. As I recall, when the opportunity came for Labour Members to vote on it, they ducked it—they abstained. It is a shame that they do not have the courage of their convictions.