Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Fiona Bruce Excerpts
Thursday 13th January 2011

(13 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Vince Cable Portrait Vince Cable
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The British economy is indeed recovering. It was in an appalling state, but economic growth is now strong. It will become stronger as a result of the work that the Government are doing in stabilising finances, and real wages will appreciate on the back of that.

Fiona Bruce Portrait Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)
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We have heard today about some excellent initiatives involving skills training, apprenticeships and mentoring for business. What concerns me is that many owners and managers of small and medium-sized enterprises spend their days with their heads down, concentrating on their businesses. What we need to do is communicate the opportunities to them. What can the Minister do to reassure me that the 4,000 SME owners in my constituency will hear about those initiatives?

Mark Prisk Portrait Mr Prisk
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Not only have we put the information online, but we are working through the excellent trade bodies representing small businesses to feed it out to them. I urge Members, when talking to members of the small business community, to tell them what is being done to help their businesses to grow and prosper. That is the job that we need to do, and I hope that Members will support us in the task.