Business, Innovation and Skills. Backbench debate.

Business, Innovation and Skills. Backbench debate.

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise concerns about the collection and recycling of hazardous mercury-bearing waste from lamps, and waste electrical and electronic equipment, known unpromisingly as WEEE. WEEE is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the UK. Following the adoption of a European directive in 2003,...

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise concerns about the collection and recycling of hazardous mercury-bearing waste from lamps, and waste electrical and electronic equipment, known unpromisingly as WEEE. WEEE is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the UK. Following the adoption of a European directive in 2003,...

I am grateful for this opportunity to put on record my concerns about how the Higher Education Funding Council for England—HEFCE for short—will, in 2012-13, allocate its funding to widen participation in higher education, and how that will impact on the Open university, which is in my constituency. The Open...

I am grateful for this opportunity to put on record my concerns about how the Higher Education Funding Council for England—HEFCE for short—will, in 2012-13, allocate its funding to widen participation in higher education, and how that will impact on the Open university, which is in my constituency. The Open...

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for calling me to speak in this Christmas special. Thanks to the vision of a Labour council supported by a wide range of stakeholders and community groups in north Lincolnshire, Scunthorpe now has a fantastic new performance venue, the Baths hall. On Sunday, the Scunthorpe...

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for calling me to speak in this Christmas special. Thanks to the vision of a Labour council supported by a wide range of stakeholders and community groups in north Lincolnshire, Scunthorpe now has a fantastic new performance venue, the Baths hall. On Sunday, the Scunthorpe...

I join others in wishing you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and the rest of our colleagues a very happy Christmas. The theme of this debate has already become apparent. It is warnings against excess, calls for a fairer and more prosperous society, requests for things we want in the new year—not...

I join others in wishing you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and the rest of our colleagues a very happy Christmas. The theme of this debate has already become apparent. It is warnings against excess, calls for a fairer and more prosperous society, requests for things we want in the new year—not...

I start by wishing everyone a happy Christmas. I have been waiting a considerable time for this debate, and I am glad that it is now upon us. I would like to talk specifically about businesses and growth and some of the barriers affecting growth in my constituency. By way...

I start by wishing everyone a happy Christmas. I have been waiting a considerable time for this debate, and I am glad that it is now upon us. I would like to talk specifically about businesses and growth and some of the barriers affecting growth in my constituency. By way...

I thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and the Backbench Business Committee for giving me the opportunity to rediscover my voice in the Chamber, and for the format of the debate, so that one does not have to sum up 46 contributions in one go. I shall make a couple of...

I thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and the Backbench Business Committee for giving me the opportunity to rediscover my voice in the Chamber, and for the format of the debate, so that one does not have to sum up 46 contributions in one go. I shall make a couple of...

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to take part in the pre-Christmas recess debate. I also wish to thank my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr Dunne) for taking the time to reply. Enterprise zones offer great potential to the people of Fylde. In September,...

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to take part in the pre-Christmas recess debate. I also wish to thank my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr Dunne) for taking the time to reply. Enterprise zones offer great potential to the people of Fylde. In September,...

It is a great pleasure to speak in this debate on credit and debit card surcharges. This Christmas, more people than ever are buying their presents online. Last week's retail figures showed that internet shopping, or, as it is rather mysteriously called by the Office for National Statistics, non-store retailing,...

It is a great pleasure to speak in this debate on credit and debit card surcharges. This Christmas, more people than ever are buying their presents online. Last week's retail figures showed that internet shopping, or, as it is rather mysteriously called by the Office for National Statistics, non-store retailing,...

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Fylde (Mark Menzies), who, of course, comes from my constituency. I also welcome the opportunity to raise a very timely issue: the collapse of the Farepak Christmas savings club. It has been raised in this Chamber on many occasions, because...

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Fylde (Mark Menzies), who, of course, comes from my constituency. I also welcome the opportunity to raise a very timely issue: the collapse of the Farepak Christmas savings club. It has been raised in this Chamber on many occasions, because...

Christmas focuses the mind on shopping. At this time of year, we become more aware of the importance of retail to our economy and the recovery. Retail is Britain's largest private sector employer, providing 2.9 million jobs and representing more than 10% of total UK employment. In my constituency, more...

Christmas focuses the mind on shopping. At this time of year, we become more aware of the importance of retail to our economy and the recovery. Retail is Britain's largest private sector employer, providing 2.9 million jobs and representing more than 10% of total UK employment. In my constituency, more...

Together with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, I would like to inform the House that Mary Portas has today presented the Government with a report presenting the findings of her independent review of the high streets, and recommendations for action. This timely report is published alongside new Government...

Together with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, I would like to inform the House that Mary Portas has today presented the Government with a report presenting the findings of her independent review of the high streets, and recommendations for action. This timely report is published alongside new Government...

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Vince Cable) has today made the following Statement. Together with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, I would like to inform the House that Mary Portas has today presented the Government with a report presenting the...

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Vince Cable) has today made the following Statement. Together with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, I would like to inform the House that Mary Portas has today presented the Government with a report presenting the...

The Portas Review: an independent review into the future of our high streets. 55 p.

The Portas Review: an independent review into the future of our high streets. 55 p.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel about the payment of compensation to shopkeepers in Hebron, who had their shops closed or their apartments seized by Israeli settlers; and, if so, how much.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel about the payment of compensation to shopkeepers in Hebron, who had their shops closed or their apartments seized by Israeli settlers; and, if so, how much.

I would like to update hon. Members on the main items of business undertaken by my Department since the House rose on 20 July 2011. Supporting High Street Recovery As I outlined in my written statement of 11 August 2011, Official Report, column 121WS, my Department has taken a leading...

I would like to update hon. Members on the main items of business undertaken by my Department since the House rose on 20 July 2011. Supporting High Street Recovery As I outlined in my written statement of 11 August 2011, Official Report, column 121WS, my Department has taken a leading...

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Eric Pickles) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. I would like to update honourable Members on the main items of business undertaken by my department since the House rose on 20 July 2011. Supporting High Street...

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Eric Pickles) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. I would like to update honourable Members on the main items of business undertaken by my department since the House rose on 20 July 2011. Supporting High Street...

Letter dated 19/07/2011 from Earl Howe to Lord Stoddart of Swindon regarding Tobacco Advertising and Promotion (Display and Specialist Tobacconists) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011. 4 p.

Letter dated 19/07/2011 from Earl Howe to Lord Stoddart of Swindon regarding Tobacco Advertising and Promotion (Display and Specialist Tobacconists) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011. 4 p.

The Minister has artfully described what an LEP is. Can he tell us what an LEP does? That is the thrust of the question.

The Minister has artfully described what an LEP is. Can he tell us what an LEP does? That is the thrust of the question.

My Lords, I begin by thanking my noble friend Lord Lucas for raising the whole question of rabbits out of hats. I think that the answer was given to him by the noble Lord, Lord McKenzie of Luton: a question of time is a question for the usual channels. They...

My Lords, I begin by thanking my noble friend Lord Lucas for raising the whole question of rabbits out of hats. I think that the answer was given to him by the noble Lord, Lord McKenzie of Luton: a question of time is a question for the usual channels. They...