Contributions
2,308 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs I recall from my recent time in the Treasury, the levelling-up fund is not a one-shot opportunity and there will be future iterations and bidding processes. The first round is…23 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsI always look forward to an opportunity to visit Darlington, and I share my hon. Friend’s passion for moving more jobs. When I was Chief Secretary to the Treasury, one key thing I…23 Sept 2021HANSARDPolicy Decisions: Use of DataI would have thought that, when talking about data, we would have been talking about the fiscal support that has been offered to Scotland, about the way in which the Scottish…23 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend raises an important point, and I reassure her that the Government are working to manage the impacts of gas price rises affecting the UK. We are confident in the…23 Sept 2021HANSARDCivil Service ApprenticeshipsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right, and the declaration particularly focuses on new entry routes for professionals from outside Government, encourages new entrants with specific…23 Sept 2021HANSARDGovernment Contracts: Small BusinessesMy hon. Friend raises a very legitimate point, and, in short, yes we will. To encourage the issue he highlights, we require public buyers to divide contracts into more accessible…23 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsThere is a clear process set out in the ministerial code. I am not aware that any ministerial colleague has breached that. Obviously, a due process is applied through PET—the…23 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsI pay tribute to my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), for his leadership of the Cabinet Office over the last two years and wish him…23 Sept 2021HANSARDGovernment Contracts: Small BusinessesWe are increasing opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises in a variety of ways, from transparently publishing contract pipelines to simplifying the bidding process.…23 Sept 2021HANSARDCivil Service ApprenticeshipsThe civil service published its apprenticeship strategy on 29 April 2021, and in this strategy we focus not just on the numbers but on the quality of training on offer to ensure…23 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Lady is right that we need to ensure that we learn the lessons, and that point was made a moment ago. It is why within Government we have been looking more widely at our…23 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsIn a session that has involved a new ministerial team looking forward, we see the SNP, as ever, constantly wanting to look backwards, yet when it comes to their own independence…23 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend raises a very good and practical issue about how such businesses benefit from the public spend. I would draw his attention to things such as the Contracts Finder,…23 Sept 2021HANSARDPolicy Decisions: Use of DataMy hon. Friend brings a welcome clinical focus, and he is absolutely right on the importance of data and interoperability. He will know that the data strategy for health and…23 Sept 2021HANSARDPolicy Decisions: Use of DataThe national data strategy sets out a vision to transform the Government’s use of data. The declaration on government reform, published in June, further committed to data being…23 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe have been clear that we will have an inquiry, and that will be next spring. Clearly, there will be consultations on shaping the leadership of that, its terms and how it will be…23 Sept 2021HANSARD Health and Social Care Levy BillI beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. Last week the Prime Minister announced a plan to tackle the NHS backlog, put the adult social care system on a sustainable…14 Sept 2021HANSARD Health and Social Care Levy BillMy hon. Friend, and good friend, has raised two connected points. The first was dealt with earlier in points of order: it is the will of the House that decides the timings of…14 Sept 2021HANSARD Health and Social Care Levy BillI could probably go slightly further—Chief Secretaries do not like to spend, not necessarily just on any particular area of Government policy—but my hon. Friend is absolutely…14 Sept 2021HANSARD Health and Social Care Levy BillI will give way once more.14 Sept 2021