All 2 Debates between Lord Willetts and Justin Tomlinson

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Willetts and Justin Tomlinson
Thursday 6th September 2012

(12 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Willetts Portrait Mr Willetts
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We agree; it is very important that banks are encouraged to lend to successful businesses. That is what the coalition is doing. Incidentally, the old pessimism that manufacturing will always go east is clearly now being reversed. We are optimistic about the prospects of manufacturing in this country.

Justin Tomlinson Portrait Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con)
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Following today’s fantastic announcement of a further £267 million investment programme in the Honda plant in my constituency, what measures will the Minister take to help start-up businesses to take advantage of the potential opportunities in the supply chains of Honda and the UK automotive industry?

Lord Willetts Portrait Mr Willetts
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Immediately after these questions my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is going to Swindon to join Honda in this very welcome announcement. The Department absolutely understands the importance of the supply chains behind these large companies. Of course, the commitment to the supply chain is one of the many reasons why Britain is moving up the competitiveness league table.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Willetts and Justin Tomlinson
Thursday 13th January 2011

(13 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Willetts Portrait Mr Willetts
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My hon. Friend was, of course, a lecturer in a further education college, and it is only right that he should remind us of the contribution that FE colleges can make. He is absolutely right, and we do hope to encourage higher education in further education institutions as part of our White Paper.

Justin Tomlinson Portrait Justin Tomlinson
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In an ever more complex financial world, does the Minister agree that offering additional financial education will give universities a unique selling point in providing quality student support on post-study matters, and therefore should be considered as part of higher education pastoral support in the forthcoming White Paper?

Lord Willetts Portrait Mr Willetts
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the importance of people having access to good financial advice. Of course, one thing that students can be advised is that in future, under the coalition’s proposals, their monthly repayments on their student loans will be lower than under the current scheme.