Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Valerie Vaz and Ed Davey

Thursday 27th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davey]

My hon. Friend has been a doughty campaigner on the subject, and he will know that the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee has just undertaken a report on all those issues. The Government are therefore considering it and will respond to it shortly. If I were tempted into replying to the details of his question, I would prejudice that response.

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

Having withdrawn funding from the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology, will the Secretary of State tell us which women’s organisations he has contacted to encourage women back into those under-represented areas?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Valerie Vaz and Ed Davey

Thursday 18th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davey]

As my hon. Friend knows, such issues are operational matters for the management of Royal Mail, but I will certainly raise that matter with them.

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

May I press the Minister on when exactly he spoke to the Department of Health about forgivable loans for medical students?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Valerie Vaz and Ed Davey

Thursday 8th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

Will the Minister assure me that in the lifetime of this Parliament he will not cut the budget of a vital part of his Department, the companies investigations branch, which does vital work to protect front-line services and consumers?

[Mr Davey]

All partner organisations and all parts of Government have to look very closely at their budgets as we approach the comprehensive spending review. We will ensure that key parts of the Department, which I often refer to as “the plumbing”—the parts that uphold company law and competition policy and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, for example—get the resources they need, as they affect key areas of our economy.