Oral Answers to Questions

Susan Elan Jones Excerpts

Thursday 24th May 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hayes]

I guarantee this: the scheme we have built to deliver the most apprenticeships in our history, of the highest quality, will not be altered. I also guarantee that adult and community learning, which was constantly threatened when Labour was in government, will be secure and safe under this Government, with £210 million a year for adult and community learners: second-chance education delivered by this Government.

[Susan Elan Jones (Clwyd South) (Lab)]

7. What recent assessment he has made of the Government’s relationship with the business community.

[The Minister for Universities and Science (Mr David Willetts)]

The Department has an honest, constructive and positive relationship with business based on the shared belief that enterprise and Government working together can get us out of recession—not more taxation, regulation and borrowing. Ministers also have one-to-one strategic relationships with key international companies.

[Susan Elan Jones]

I am grateful to the Minister for that answer. Will he tell us why he does not agree with the chair of GKN, Mr Mike Turner, who is calling for a more active “industrial strategy”? Why does he not listen to him? Surely Mr Turner knows something about business.