Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Paul Blomfield Excerpts
Thursday 17th February 2011

(13 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Vince Cable Portrait Vince Cable
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The Government are not in favour of imposed quotas, but the detailed proposals will shortly come forward. As the hon. Lady knows, a report is close to fruition and will be announced in a few days. It will advance the issue of greater women representation on boards, which has been shamefully low for many years.

Paul Blomfield Portrait Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central) (Lab)
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Two days ago, with colleagues, I met the business leaders who are board members of Sheffield city regional local enterprise partnership. They are enthusiastic about their task but bemused by the lack of clarity about the powers, responsibilities and resources they will have to undertake it. Will the Minister tell the House when that will be clarified?

Mark Prisk Portrait Mr Prisk
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We are setting out the proposals clearly. They are also in the local growth White Paper. We have written to the boards and we are having a summit of all the board leaders together. There are various things that Sheffield will want to do and Leeds will want to do, which are different in other areas. We want to make sure that we do not strangle that initiative.