Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Wednesday 6th July 2016 Commons Chamber

[Anna Soubry]

Yes, because we fully understand the difficulties in the oil and gas sector at the moment. That is why we have launched this plan. By working together we can improve the lot, but these are difficult times for the oil and gas sector.

[Mr Speaker]

I am extremely grateful to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr Mak), who posed the question succinctly but comprehensively, and to the Minister for succinctly but comprehensively answering it, so that it is now time for Prime Minister’s questions.

The Prime Minister was asked—

--- Later in debate ---

[Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South East) (Lab)]

Q5. Before I ask my question, may I thank the Prime Minister for the support he gave my campaign to get an inquiry into a drug called Primodos, which was given to pregnant women in the 1960s and ’70s and resulted in thousands of babies being born with deformities?Our universities are global success stories, outward looking and open for business with the world, and attracting the brightest and the best students and researchers to produce ground-breaking research in areas from cancer to climate change. In the last year, UK universities received £836 million—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I need a single-sentence question. Forgive me, but there are a lot of other colleagues who want to take part.

[Yasmin Qureshi]

What assurances can the Prime Minister give that, in the light of the fact that we are now out of the European Union, that money will be safe?

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Robin Walker (Worcester) (Con)]

Right from the start, this United Kingdom has been an outward looking international trading nation. I am glad to see that the Trade Minister, Lord Price—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The hon. Member for Worcester is entitled to be heard and his constituents are entitled to be represented.

[Mr Walker]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am glad to see the Minister for Trade and Investment out in Hong Kong today talking up the prospects for investment in the British economy, but what steps can the Prime Minister take to bolster the resources available to UK Trade & Investment and the Foreign Office to make sure we attract as much trade and investment in the wide world as possible?