Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Scotland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Gemma Doyle Excerpts
Wednesday 21st July 2010

(13 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Mundell Portrait David Mundell
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I am glad that the Government are dealing with the issues that the hon. Gentleman raises with even more urgency. As he knows, the major package of reforms to business taxation in the Budget is designed to make the UK the most competitive tax regime in the G20 and that will substantially help the video games industry.

Gemma Doyle Portrait Gemma Doyle (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab/Co-op)
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9. What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effects on Scotland of ending the future jobs fund.

David Mundell Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell)
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I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh South (Ian Murray).

Gemma Doyle Portrait Gemma Doyle
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I am disappointed that yet again the Minister has failed to address the substance of this question. I have listened to his colleagues rubbishing these jobs, calling them artificial and unsustainable. Frankly, I am not surprised that a Cabinet packed with millionaires who went to exclusive private schools and elitist universities cannot see the need for such a scheme and how valuable it is to have paid employment on the CVs of these young unemployed people. Will he press his colleagues to re-examine the decision to scrap the future jobs fund?

David Mundell Portrait David Mundell
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When I had the opportunity to visit the Clydebank jobcentre in the hon. Lady’s constituency, I found that the people there—who are on the front line in helping the unemployed into work—welcomed the Government’s measures to replace the myriad schemes introduced by the previous Government with a single Work programme.