Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Sarah Wollaston Excerpts
Thursday 6th September 2012

(11 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Matt Hancock Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Matthew Hancock)
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I am grateful for that question. It is clear that we have not only supported the union learning fund, but we will be driven by the evidence of what works to ensure that we increase the skill levels of the British population, both for its own sake and so that we can drive our competitiveness in the years ahead.

Sarah Wollaston Portrait Dr Sarah Wollaston (Totnes) (Con)
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T5. I know the Front-Bench team are totally committed to promoting growth in our economy. Will the Minister set out how he will boost employment and growth in rural areas while balancing the need to protect the environment from unrestricted development?

Vince Cable Portrait Vince Cable
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Several local enterprise partnerships are specialising in developing the rural economy—the hon. Lady’s LEP is one of them. Such development should be dealt with properly at that level. At my level, I look forward to talking to the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about how we integrate economic development and rural development.