Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Neil Carmichael and Danny Alexander

Tuesday 10th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

We have already announced measures to deal with intermediaries, both offshore and onshore. As the hon. Gentleman will know, a consultation on the issue is taking place at the moment, and it is important to ensure that companies cannot put in place artificial arrangements that are designed to reduce their tax bill and often have the consequence of removing important employment rights from workers. We continue to take that matter incredibly seriously.

[Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con)]

Does the Chief Secretary agree that one key aspect of the long-term economic plan is investment in skills, and will he reassure the House that the Government will carry on doing that?

[Danny Alexander]

Yes I can. As this is national apprenticeship week it is worth reflecting on the fact that in this Parliament we have created more than 2 million more apprenticeships. That is a great achievement of this Government and has helped to ensure that young people have the skills they need to succeed in today’s economy. From my perspective that will continue to be a priority in the next Parliament.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Neil Carmichael and Danny Alexander

Tuesday 29th April 2014 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

The hon. Lady will know that the OBR forecasts earnings to grow more rapidly than inflation throughout the forecast period—that is the answer to the question. I have to say that the hon. Lady seems to have been listening to the shadow Chancellor rather too closely. I notice his recent quote:

“I had no awareness at all that there had been any damage”.

He was referring to his car rather than to the British economy, but it is about time that the Labour party apologised for the mess that it made of the latter.

[Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con)]

7. What fiscal steps he has taken to encourage manufacturing in the UK.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Neil Carmichael and Danny Alexander

Tuesday 11th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con)]

Part of the long-term economic plan is the drive to improve skills, which is relevant to my constituency, where manufacturing is important and growing. Does the Chief Secretary agree that it makes a big contribution to driving up productivity?

[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.