Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Rehman Chishti and Lord Willetts(10 years, 7 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con)
Farmers are the backbone of the £97 billion agriculture and food sector. How are the Government helping them take advantage of the latest science and innovation supporting our world-class agricultural technology sector?
Mr Willetts
My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the significance of this sector, and that is why we have a £160 million agri-tech strategy, which is aimed at promoting exports and investment in high-tech agriculture for the future.
Higher Education Funding
Debate between Rehman Chishti and Lord Willetts
Mr Willetts
The Secretary of State and I work so closely together that we are, for all practical purposes, interchangeable.
Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con)
I welcome the Minister’s statement as a constructive and progressive way forward. Will he clarify whether students from my constituency who go to university in London will receive a London weighting with their maintenance grant?
Mr Willetts
My hon. Friend is quite right to raise that matter. We are indeed committed to keeping the special arrangements for London maintenance.