I concur with what my hon. Friend says and congratulate him on securing the debate. I agree that the sector needs a strategic vision, but will he reaffirm his welcoming of the Government’s textile growth programme? It has so far engaged with 68 companies in Lancashire, eight of which are...

I concur with what my hon. Friend says and congratulate him on securing the debate. I agree that the sector needs a strategic vision, but will he reaffirm his welcoming of the Government’s textile growth programme? It has so far engaged with 68 companies in Lancashire, eight of which are...

Absolutely. I hope to meet the programme’s project director next Tuesday in my constituency, but I already know the extent of the programme’s success from previous conversations.

However, a programme or initiative in itself does not amount to a national strategy, which is the point that I am trying to make...

Absolutely. I hope to meet the programme’s project director next Tuesday in my constituency, but I already know the extent of the programme’s success from previous conversations.

However, a programme or initiative in itself does not amount to a national strategy, which is the point that I am trying to make...

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate. Does he agree that we need support for the textile industry’s supply chain? Burnley is home to a company called boohoo.com, which is one of the biggest online fashion retailers in the country and perhaps Europe. Its problem is that it...

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate. Does he agree that we need support for the textile industry’s supply chain? Burnley is home to a company called boohoo.com, which is one of the biggest online fashion retailers in the country and perhaps Europe. Its problem is that it...

That is exactly the point. I congratulate my hon. Friend on the work that he does as the apprenticeship tsar. As has already been indicated, apprenticeships have developed fantastically over the past few years, but they need continuous pushing so that parents, children and young people see them as a...

That is exactly the point. I congratulate my hon. Friend on the work that he does as the apprenticeship tsar. As has already been indicated, apprenticeships have developed fantastically over the past few years, but they need continuous pushing so that parents, children and young people see them as a...

I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Bradford East (Mr Ward) not only for securing this important debate, but for his chairing of the all-party group for textile manufacturing, which he worked so hard to set up as a champion for the sector. I also pay tribute to other...

I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Bradford East (Mr Ward) not only for securing this important debate, but for his chairing of the all-party group for textile manufacturing, which he worked so hard to set up as a champion for the sector. I also pay tribute to other...

As I asked in my intervention on the hon. Member for Bradford East (Mr Ward), is the Minister aware of the skills that we have available in Northern Ireland since the closure of many factories? Will he agree to contact the responsible Minister in Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster, the Minister...

As I asked in my intervention on the hon. Member for Bradford East (Mr Ward), is the Minister aware of the skills that we have available in Northern Ireland since the closure of many factories? Will he agree to contact the responsible Minister in Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster, the Minister...

Yes, I work regularly with the Northern Ireland Executive, including Arlene Foster, on such issues. We should take up the question of the transfer of skills. Northern Ireland’s apprenticeship reforms are similar to our own, and we share the thinking about the need to ensure that the skills taught are...

Yes, I work regularly with the Northern Ireland Executive, including Arlene Foster, on such issues. We should take up the question of the transfer of skills. Northern Ireland’s apprenticeship reforms are similar to our own, and we share the thinking about the need to ensure that the skills taught are...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will request the Groceries Code Adjudicator to investigate the gap between the price wool farmers receive for fleece and the shelf price of that fleece.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will request the Groceries Code Adjudicator to investigate the gap between the price wool farmers receive for fleece and the shelf price of that fleece.

At the end of another week when significant redundancies have been announced in the knitwear industry in Hawick in my constituency, will the right hon. and learned Lady ensure that when the Chancellor introduces the debate on the economy in due course, he acknowledges the challenges facing that world-class industry...

At the end of another week when significant redundancies have been announced in the knitwear industry in Hawick in my constituency, will the right hon. and learned Lady ensure that when the Chancellor introduces the debate on the economy in due course, he acknowledges the challenges facing that world-class industry...

I will bring the points that the hon. Gentleman has made on behalf of businesses in his constituency to the attention of the Chancellor, and if he thinks it right, he can include them in his remarks to the House.

I will bring the points that the hon. Gentleman has made on behalf of businesses in his constituency to the attention of the Chancellor, and if he thinks it right, he can include them in his remarks to the House.

Draft Wool Textile Industry (Export Promotion Levy) (Revocation) Order 2008. Considered by Delegated Legislation Committee. Minutes of proceedings at UP 7 2007-08.

Draft Wool Textile Industry (Export Promotion Levy) (Revocation) Order 2008. Considered by Delegated Legislation Committee. Minutes of proceedings at UP 7 2007-08.

I join in the thanks to the noble Baroness for producing the order. The presentation, justification and consultation process were extremely clearly set out. I congratulate the civil servants who were responsible for conducting this exercise. I shall be interested to hear the noble Baroness’s response to the questions asked...

I join in the thanks to the noble Baroness for producing the order. The presentation, justification and consultation process were extremely clearly set out. I congratulate the civil servants who were responsible for conducting this exercise. I shall be interested to hear the noble Baroness’s response to the questions asked...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Wool Textile Industry (Export Promotion Levy) (Revocation) Order 2008. The noble Baroness said: The order has been laid before Parliament under Section 9(9) of the Industrial Organisation and Development Act 1947. Since its...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Wool Textile Industry (Export Promotion Levy) (Revocation) Order 2008. The noble Baroness said: The order has been laid before Parliament under Section 9(9) of the Industrial Organisation and Development Act 1947. Since its...

I thank noble Lords. As regards the shortfall, my understanding is that we do not yet have a clear view but there is expected to be a shortfall. It is up to the industry to decide how it will market the product. As regards the demise of the industry, it...

I thank noble Lords. As regards the shortfall, my understanding is that we do not yet have a clear view but there is expected to be a shortfall. It is up to the industry to decide how it will market the product. As regards the demise of the industry, it...

I thank the Minister for introducing the order, which is relatively uncontroversial. Given that it seeks to cut regulation, primarily regulation of small businesses, I have no difficulty in supporting it. To put it into perspective, the levy currently raises about £190,000 a year, which accounts for just over half...

I thank the Minister for introducing the order, which is relatively uncontroversial. Given that it seeks to cut regulation, primarily regulation of small businesses, I have no difficulty in supporting it. To put it into perspective, the levy currently raises about £190,000 a year, which accounts for just over half...