Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Vince Cable and Mark Menzies

Thursday 26th June 2014 Commons Chamber

[Vince Cable]

The maritime industries are, of course, crucial in Portsmouth, as they are in the right hon. Gentleman’s Southampton constituency. On the approach we are adopting, a Government group led by the Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Michael Fallon) is as rapidly as possible finding alternative commercial users, working with the Ministry of Defence. I welcome in particular the very exciting Ben Ainslie project and my colleague is working closely with Rear-Admiral Stevens to develop the Solent maritime industries.

[Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con)]

T2. Fylde has a significant amount of advanced manufacturing companies, including BAE Systems and Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel. May we have an update on what steps are being taken to increase the number of highly skilled apprenticeships in the advanced manufacturing sector?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Vince Cable and Mark Menzies

Thursday 6th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Vince Cable]

This is an absurd misunderstanding of what is called the resource accounting and budgeting—RAB—charge system, which depends on long-term predictions of earnings growth. I assure the hon. Gentleman that if the recovery of the economy continues as it is, the RAB charge estimates will be substantially revised down and the imaginary black hole will very soon disappear.

[Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con)]

T4. What steps is the Department taking to support small and medium-sized businesses in Lancashire that are keen to export their goods and services?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Vince Cable and Mark Menzies

Thursday 18th July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Vince Cable]

I already have responsibility for one of the biggest Departments in Government, and taking over responsibility for parking charges from my colleagues and local councils would be an exercise in departmental imperialism that I will not embark on. I note the hon. Gentleman’s question and I am happy to talk to my colleagues in government about it, but he is missing the bigger picture of how we help the retail sector adapt to the massive technological changes that are taking place, and the perverse fiscal incentives that currently operate.

[Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con)]

T3. What efforts are the Minister and his Department taking to support small and medium-sized businesses in Lancashire in the export market?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Vince Cable and Mark Menzies

Thursday 2nd February 2012 Commons Chamber

[Vince Cable]

My colleague, the Minister for Universities and Science, has already given a very full answer on this issue. When I spoke about it earlier, I should have made it clear that Mr Lester had accepted a pay cut, not a tax cut. In addition, there will shortly be an urgent question on the matter, when any further details can be pursued. As for the wider policy questions, we made it very clear last week that we believe that our reforms of executive pay will radically reduce the rewards for failure and mediocrity in business.

[Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con)]

T4. I welcome the Government’s plan to set up catapult centres. Will the Minister update the House on what progress has been made in setting these centres up?