Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Percy Excerpts
Thursday 23rd June 2011

(12 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mike Penning Portrait Mike Penning
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The Government are very enthusiastic as well, and there have been discussions with colleagues in the area and the Secretary of State in past days. We have to accept the financial mess that the previous Administration left us in, but we will do everything we can. If there are huge investments going in, perhaps the investors would also like to invest in that infrastructure, as is the case in other parts of the country.

Andrew Percy Portrait Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con)
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The Humber local economic partnership recently submitted a bid for an enterprise zone based around both sides of the Humber—the green port in Hull and the Able UK site on the south Humber gateway. The A63 will be key to linking that. What discussions has my hon. Friend had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills about the enterprise zone? Will he work in a joined-up way across Government to progress the A63 development?

Mike Penning Portrait Mike Penning
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We work across Government on all such projects. We accept that enterprise zones will bring in more investment and growth, which is what we need to get out of the financial mess that we are in. I am sure that we will meet other Ministers and work forwards, but we have to go through the statutory process first.

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Maria Miller Portrait Maria Miller
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I reiterate the role that user-led organisations can have, such as the one in Blackpool, BSafe, that I visited with my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys (Paul Maynard). Such organisations can have a real effect by giving people the confidence to report. If they have the right systems in place—we are helping RADAR develop those systems—third-party reporting can be effective as well.

Andrew Percy Portrait Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con)
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As schools already report any incidents of hatred against disabled people, will the Minister work with the Department for Education to ensure that the trends reported in schools are carried over to Home Office figures? Will the two Departments work together so that if there is a problem of hatred against disabled people in schools, the Home Office is aware of it and will work with schools to address it?

Maria Miller Portrait Maria Miller
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My hon. Friend raises a very important point, and I will ensure that it is taken up.