Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Nicholas Dakin Excerpts
Tuesday 2nd February 2016

(8 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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My hon. Friend is right to talk about SMEs being the lifeblood of the economy in terms of the employment and growth that they produce. We have taken a number of measures, including cuts to tax and to regulation. Later on today, I will be opening the Second Reading debate on the Enterprise Bill, when we will announce a number of new measures.

Nicholas Dakin Portrait Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)
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T4. The welcome new procurement guidelines for steel are worthless unless they have an impact on procurement practice. What are the Government going to do to ensure that this is delivered properly? How will they ensure that all Departments and government contractors follow these guidelines? How will the Government assess their impact?

Anna Soubry Portrait Anna Soubry
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The hon. Gentleman makes a good point, and he will of course know that 98% of Network Rail’s tracks are made in his constituency. He can be assured that we will make sure there is real delivery on those procurement changes. May I just pay tribute to the councils of Corby, Sheffield, Powys, Cardiff, Rotherham and his own in North Lincolnshire, all of which have signed up to the new agreement to make sure that in their procurement they use sustainable and brilliant British steel?