Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Vince Cable and David T C Davies

Thursday 11th September 2014 Commons Chamber

[Vince Cable]

I fear it is. I think that the hon. Gentleman will also recall that most of the deep-mine pits closed under the previous Government. However, we indicated that we were willing to advance a loan to make the closure of the pits a lot less brutal than it otherwise would be.

[David T. C. Davies (Monmouth) (Con)]

RBS has today recognised the competitiveness of the UK, or at least the southern part of the UK—the bits that are run by the coalition Government. Does my right hon. Friend agree that if RBS wants to domicile itself in the southern part of the United Kingdom, it should bring its jobs with it and not expect us to underwrite any mistakes that it may make in future?

[Vince Cable]

As it happens, I met the chief executive of RBS a couple of days ago. It is making good progress on sorting out the problems with its balance sheet and returning to normal business lending. I have been pointing out for quite a long time that the position of RBS in an independent Scotland would be very difficult, since its balance sheet is 10 times the size of the Scottish economy. It could hardly operate within Scotland as an independent country.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Vince Cable and David T C Davies

Thursday 9th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Vince Cable]

I am not sure I should take lectures on manufacturing industry from a representative of the party that presided over the biggest decline in manufacturing of any major country, but none the less the hon. Gentleman is right that there are some good legacies. One of them is the Automotive Council, which works extremely well and contributes very positively to the supply chain. I welcome that.

[David T. C. Davies (Monmouth) (Con)]

2. What steps he is taking to reduce the burden of administration on employers offering to take on apprentices.