To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils in maintained schools were entered for individual science GCSE examinations in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in each year since 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils in maintained schools were entered for individual science GCSE examinations in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in each year since 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of (a) maintained, (b) specialist science, (c) grammar and (d) independent schools offered triple science GCSE courses in physics, chemistry and biology in each year since 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of (a) maintained, (b) specialist science, (c) grammar and (d) independent schools offered triple science GCSE courses in physics, chemistry and biology in each year since 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils in maintained schools were entered for individual science GCSE examinations in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in each year since 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils in maintained schools were entered for individual science GCSE examinations in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in each year since 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department plans to take to improve teaching provision for science in schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department plans to take to improve teaching provision for science in schools.

Queen's speech debate (third day) on employment, universities and skills and housing.

Queen's speech debate (third day) on employment, universities and skills and housing.

Lords debate on Queen's speech (third day) on business and economic affairs.

Lords debate on Queen's speech (third day) on business and economic affairs.

It is a great privilege to have been elected to this Chamber and to have the opportunity this evening to make my maiden speech. The traditions of this Chamber bring many benefits—I am told that this is a prime education forum. Had I been making an address in another educational...

It is a great privilege to have been elected to this Chamber and to have the opportunity this evening to make my maiden speech. The traditions of this Chamber bring many benefits—I am told that this is a prime education forum. Had I been making an address in another educational...

My Lords, in the short time available to speak I want to confine myself to three issues, and I take as my text for the first two Mervyn King’s comment to the Treasury Select Committee on 25 November that, "““the single most pressing challenge … is to get the banking...

My Lords, in the short time available to speak I want to confine myself to three issues, and I take as my text for the first two Mervyn King’s comment to the Treasury Select Committee on 25 November that, "““the single most pressing challenge … is to get the banking...

My Lords, the gracious Speech made it clear that the economy is the overriding priority for the Government. I declare an interest as a professor of manufacturing, a vital area of the economy. Hence, I shall concentrate entirely on manufacturing and in our ability to compete both during and after...

My Lords, the gracious Speech made it clear that the economy is the overriding priority for the Government. I declare an interest as a professor of manufacturing, a vital area of the economy. Hence, I shall concentrate entirely on manufacturing and in our ability to compete both during and after...

My Lords, this is the first time that I have spoken in public since my severe stroke in 1999. It was only the brilliance of the National Health Service over nine years and the care of my wife over the same period that have allowed me to be here today...

My Lords, this is the first time that I have spoken in public since my severe stroke in 1999. It was only the brilliance of the National Health Service over nine years and the care of my wife over the same period that have allowed me to be here today...

My Lords, in the past decade Britain has experienced a period of remarkable uninterrupted economic growth. We have heard the successes trumpeted many times: low unemployment, low inflation and historically low interest rates. Mortgages were being offered at 125 per cent of a property’s value, at six times an applicant’s...

My Lords, in the past decade Britain has experienced a period of remarkable uninterrupted economic growth. We have heard the successes trumpeted many times: low unemployment, low inflation and historically low interest rates. Mortgages were being offered at 125 per cent of a property’s value, at six times an applicant’s...

My Lords, I declare my interest as a fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and my role as a lay governor of Aston University. I want to say a few words about our role in using science and technology in the economy. I believe that there remains an...

My Lords, I declare my interest as a fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and my role as a lay governor of Aston University. I want to say a few words about our role in using science and technology in the economy. I believe that there remains an...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, and I entered the House of Commons on exactly the same day and I have heard him speak on many subjects over many years. I have never yet heard him make a boring speech, and that one certainly was not either. It is...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, and I entered the House of Commons on exactly the same day and I have heard him speak on many subjects over many years. I have never yet heard him make a boring speech, and that one certainly was not either. It is...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Sheldon, because he clearly shows that there is a rich mixture of opinion in this House. We have not been much good at forecasting lately. I wonder how much confidence we can have in present forecasts. After...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Sheldon, because he clearly shows that there is a rich mixture of opinion in this House. We have not been much good at forecasting lately. I wonder how much confidence we can have in present forecasts. After...

My Lords, today we get the chance once again to address the issue of business and the economy. We have had much activity in recent weeks, with Statements, the Pre-Budget Report and the Queen’s Speech; but still there is much to do in a continuing scenario. I will concentrate on...

My Lords, today we get the chance once again to address the issue of business and the economy. We have had much activity in recent weeks, with Statements, the Pre-Budget Report and the Queen’s Speech; but still there is much to do in a continuing scenario. I will concentrate on...

My Lords, I am delighted on this side of the House to follow my noble friend Lord Thomas’s fine remarks. Like him, I congratulate the Government on their handling of this extremely serious crisis. As we know, they have led the world in handling the banking aspects of the crisis...

My Lords, I am delighted on this side of the House to follow my noble friend Lord Thomas’s fine remarks. Like him, I congratulate the Government on their handling of this extremely serious crisis. As we know, they have led the world in handling the banking aspects of the crisis...

My Lords, the starting place for today’s debate must be the financial and industrial crisis about which many noble Lords have spoken. All that I can say is thank goodness we have a Government who quickly came to grips with the crisis and acted, instead of just resorting to what...

My Lords, the starting place for today’s debate must be the financial and industrial crisis about which many noble Lords have spoken. All that I can say is thank goodness we have a Government who quickly came to grips with the crisis and acted, instead of just resorting to what...

My Lords, I was pleased to see in the gracious Speech the promise that the Government, "““will work for a co-ordinated international response to the global downturn””." I am slightly surprised that I am the first to pick up this theme of the economic statements in the gracious Speech. We...

My Lords, I was pleased to see in the gracious Speech the promise that the Government, "““will work for a co-ordinated international response to the global downturn””." I am slightly surprised that I am the first to pick up this theme of the economic statements in the gracious Speech. We...

My Lords, I am afraid that I cannot compete with the noble Lord, Lord Wakeham. I started my own business only 23 years ago, but he is absolutely right that for a viable business the availability of finance matters much more than a percentage or two on the price. Today...

My Lords, I am afraid that I cannot compete with the noble Lord, Lord Wakeham. I started my own business only 23 years ago, but he is absolutely right that for a viable business the availability of finance matters much more than a percentage or two on the price. Today...