Investing in Britain’s Future

Debate between Rob Wilson and Danny Alexander

Thursday 27th June 2013 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his comments about the new prison. I think my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change welcomes the fact that he has full and wholehearted support from the Treasury for his policies to bring forward the low-carbon investment this country needs.

[Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East) (Con)]

Having been an early applicant for a university technical college, UTC Reading will open in September. May I welcome the 20 UTCs and 180 new free schools announced in today’s statement? Does the Chief Secretary agree with me that those innovative new schools are essential to raising educational standards and providing the skills this country will need in the global race ahead?

[Danny Alexander]

I certainly agree with the hon. Gentleman that the innovative UTC model offers real benefits to the Government’s strategy on raising educational standards across the whole schools system. That is why we have invested in more UTCs, and I am delighted to hear that the one in his constituency is working so well.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rob Wilson and Danny Alexander

Tuesday 26th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

I do not know the details of the Ely North junction project but I shall certainly raise the matter with the Secretary of State for Transport. However, that is precisely the sort of project we have been bringing forward over the past two years to support economic growth across the whole of the United Kingdom, rather than having a model of growth based solely on receipts from the City of London, which was basically the policy of the Labour party.

[Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East) (Con)]

11. What recent steps he has taken to increase bank lending to small businesses.

Tax Avoidance (Public Servants)

Debate between Rob Wilson and Danny Alexander

Thursday 2nd February 2012 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

I cannot give a detailed answer about the fees paid to that company. My understanding of the arrangement that was in place is similar to that which the hon. Gentleman has described.

[Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East) (Con)]

I know that the Chief Secretary well understands that there is a question of fairness at the heart of this issue for all public sector employees, so should we not either allow all employees of the Government the same advantages of tax efficiencies, if legal, or stamp out such practices altogether, right across the public sector?

[Danny Alexander]

I would not agree with the hon. Gentleman that such arrangements should be put in place for every public sector employee. The review that I have put in place is precisely designed to root out such arrangements across Government.

In answer to the earlier point, I gather that the fees that the hon. Member for Rochdale (Simon Danczuk) asked about are set out in the Student Loans Company annual report, which is available publicly, so he may wish to avail himself of a copy.

Public Service Pensions

Debate between Rob Wilson and Danny Alexander

Tuesday 20th December 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East) (Con)]

I congratulate the Chief Secretary and indeed the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General on the successful negotiations, particularly in respect of the protection for low-paid workers. Is the Chief Secretary as disappointed as I am that the PCS union has not only walked away from this agreement but has continually misled its members by telling them that the Government were not interested in meaningful negotiations. How does that sit with so many other unions that have signed the heads of terms today?

[Danny Alexander]

I do not know quite how disappointed my hon. Friend is, but I am certainly very disappointed in the stance of the PCS. I hope that it will come round in time to seeing this as a beneficial and positive agreement. It is striking that, in the end, other trade unions have looked at the interests of their members and put those first rather than be too worried about the rhetorical position of a small minority of unions.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rob Wilson and Danny Alexander

Tuesday 21st June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

We always said that the economic recovery would be choppy, but it is none the less welcome that we have seen significant job creation in the private sector over the past year. That offsets some of the job reductions in the public sector that are necessary as part of our deficit reduction programme.

[Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East) (Con)]

May I tell my right hon. Friend that since May last year unemployment in my constituency has fallen by 11%? That is due to fast-growing private companies, such as Pegasystems. Is not the key to reducing high unemployment sticking to the deficit reduction programme and removing barriers to growth?

[Danny Alexander]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We have to stick to the deficit reduction programme, which is the essential underpinning for future economic growth in this country. We also need to take steps to ensure that that economic growth is balanced across the country, and the regional growth fund and the local enterprise partnership programme are an important part of ensuring that we have growth across the entire United Kingdom.

Public Spending

Debate between Rob Wilson and Danny Alexander

Thursday 17th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

The hon. Gentleman will know that benefit and Department for Work and Pensions spending is a reserved matter, so does not have a Barnett consequential. He will also know that the Government have set out plans to establish a Work programme, which will replace those programmes during next year. That will be a more targeted, quicker and effective programme, based on paying suppliers by results to ensure that people get back into work quickly. I welcome that programme and I hope that he will, too.

[Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East) (Con)]

Can the Chief Secretary confirm the good news for Reading and for my constituents—that the Government are fully committed to the Reading station upgrade, because it offers excellent value for money?

[Danny Alexander]

I have heard what the hon. Gentleman has said. It will be for the Department for Transport to announce the details of projects that have been approved.