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Following the Table of Contents is a more detailed list which gives subject headings, timelines and names of speakers

Volume No. 542 Part No. 280

House of Commons Debates 15 March 2012

house of commons

prayers

oral answers to questions

business, innovation and skills

apprenticeships

university applications

inward investment

graduate employment

business growth

careers guidance

uk’s science base

employment protection law

traditional craft industries

groceries code adjudicator bill

industrial strategy

village post offices

companies act 2006

small businesses (access to finance)

topical questions

business of the house

speaker’s statement

points of order

charging for access to parliament

common fisheries policy

legal aid


This Table of Contents lists column numbers, headings, time lines and names of Members in the Commons Hansard Debates text for 15 March 2012

Volume No. 542 Part No. 280

Clicking on an item will fetch the appropriate file and position it with the item at the top of the screen.


Column: 357

Column: 357

House of Commons [15 Mar 2012]

Prayers [15 Mar 2012]

[Mr Speaker] [15 Mar 2012]

Oral Answers to Questions [15 Mar 2012]

Business, Innovation and Skills [15 Mar 2012]

Apprenticeships [15 Mar 2012]

Matthew Hancock (West Suffolk) (Con):

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Vince Cable):

Matthew Hancock:

Vince Cable:

Column: 358

Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op):

Vince Cable:

Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con):

Vince Cable:

Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/Co-op):

Vince Cable:

Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con):

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Vince Cable):

Column: 359

Peter Aldous:

Vince Cable:

Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab):

Vince Cable:

University Applications [15 Mar 2012]

Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab):

The Minister for Universities and Science (Mr David Willetts):

Mr Speaker:

Mr Willetts:

Column: 360

Andrew Gwynne:

Mr Willetts:

Duncan Hames (Chippenham) (LD):

Mr Willetts:

Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab):

Mr Willetts:

Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham, Ladywood) (Lab):

Mr Willetts:

Column: 361

Inward Investment [15 Mar 2012]

Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) (Con):

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Vince Cable):

Stuart Andrew:

Vince Cable:

Mr Geoffrey Robinson (Coventry North West) (Lab):

Vince Cable:

Alok Sharma (Reading West) (Con):

Column: 362

Vince Cable:

Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op):

Vince Cable:

Graduate Employment [15 Mar 2012]

Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East) (Con):

The Minister for Universities and Science (Mr David Willetts):

Mr Wilson:

Mr Willetts:

Column: 363

Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab):

Mr Willetts:

Business Growth [15 Mar 2012]

Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op):

Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab):

The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr Mark Prisk):

Mark Lazarowicz:

Mr Prisk:

Nick Smith:

Column: 364

Mr Prisk:

Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan) (Con):

Mr Prisk:

Gavin Williamson (South Staffordshire) (Con):

Mr Prisk:

Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool) (Lab):

Column: 365

Mr Prisk:

Mr Wright:

Mr Prisk:

Careers Guidance [15 Mar 2012]

Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con):

The Minister for Universities and Science (Mr David Willetts):

Damian Hinds:

Mr Willetts:

Simon Hughes (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) (LD):

Mr Willetts:

Column: 366

UK’s Science Base [15 Mar 2012]

Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab):

The Minister for Universities and Science (Mr David Willetts):

Stephen Timms:

Mr Willetts:

Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con):

Mr Willetts:

Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab):

Column: 367

Mr Willetts:

Roger Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire) (LD):

Mr Willetts:

Employment Protection Law [15 Mar 2012]

Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab):

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Vince Cable):

Nia Griffith:

Vince Cable:

Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset) (Con):

Vince Cable:

Column: 368

Ian Murray (Edinburgh South) (Lab):

Vince Cable:

Lorely Burt (Solihull) (LD):

Vince Cable:

Traditional Craft Industries [15 Mar 2012]

Sajid Javid (Bromsgrove) (Con):

The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Greg Clark):

Column: 369

Sajid Javid:

Greg Clark:

Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill [15 Mar 2012]

Mr Adrian Bailey (West Bromwich West) (Lab/Co-op):

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Norman Lamb):

Mr Bailey:

Norman Lamb:

Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con):

Norman Lamb:

Mark Durkan (Foyle) (SDLP):

Norman Lamb:

Column: 370

Industrial Strategy [15 Mar 2012]

Angela Smith (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Lab):

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Vince Cable):

Angela Smith:

Vince Cable:

Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central) (Lab):

Vince Cable:

Village Post Offices [15 Mar 2012]

Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (Lab):

Column: 371

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Norman Lamb):

Michael Connarty:

Norman Lamb:

Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire) (LD):

Norman Lamb:

Companies Act 2006 [15 Mar 2012]

Alun Michael (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/Co-op):

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Norman Lamb):

Column: 372

Alun Michael:

Norman Lamb:

Small Businesses (Access to Finance) [15 Mar 2012]

Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East) (Lab):

The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr Mark Prisk):

Mr Bain:

Mr Prisk:

Topical Questions [15 Mar 2012]

Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central) (Lab):

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Vince Cable):

Paul Blomfield:

The Minister for Universities and Science (Mr David Willetts):

Column: 373

Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con):

Mr Willetts:

Mr Chuka Umunna (Streatham) (Lab):

Vince Cable:

Mr Umunna:

Vince Cable:

Column: 374

Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con):

The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr Mark Prisk):

Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab):

Mr Willetts:

Gavin Williamson (South Staffordshire) (Con):

Vince Cable:

Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab):

Column: 375

Mr Prisk:

Guy Opperman (Hexham) (Con):

Mr Willetts:

Ann McKechin (Glasgow North) (Lab):

Vince Cable:

Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con):

Vince Cable:

Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore) (Lab):

Column: 376

Vince Cable:

George Eustice (Camborne and Redruth) (Con):

Mr Prisk:

Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab):

Mr Prisk:

Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) (Con):

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Norman Lamb):

Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab):

Norman Lamb:

Column: 377

Margot James (Stourbridge) (Con):

Norman Lamb:

Mr David Lammy (Tottenham) (Lab):

Mr Willetts:

Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con):

Mr Prisk:

Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab):

Column: 378

Mr Speaker:

Mr Prisk:

Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con):

Mr Prisk:

Mr Geoffrey Robinson (Coventry North West) (Lab):

Mr Willetts:

Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con):

Mr Prisk:

Column: 379

Business of the House [15 Mar 2012]

11.34 am

Ms Angela Eagle (Wallasey) (Lab):

The Leader of the House of Commons (Sir George Young):

Ms Angela Eagle:

Column: 380


Column: 381


Sir George Young:

Column: 382


Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Natascha Engel (North East Derbyshire) (Lab):

Sir George Young:

Column: 383

Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire) (LD):

Sir George Young:

Jim Sheridan (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (Lab):

Sir George Young:

Mark Lancaster (Milton Keynes North) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Column: 384

Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab):

Sir George Young:

Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab):

Sir George Young:

Mr David Amess (Southend West) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD):

Column: 385

Sir George Young:

Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP):

Sir George Young:

Brandon Lewis (Great Yarmouth) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab):

Column: 386

Sir George Young:

Mr Marcus Jones (Nuneaton) (Con):

Sir George Young:

David Wright (Telford) (Lab):

Sir George Young:

Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con):

Column: 387

Sir George Young:

Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North) (DUP):

Sir George Young:

Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op):

Sir George Young:

Column: 388

Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):

Sir George Young:

Phil Wilson (Sedgefield) (Lab):

Sir George Young:

Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab):

Sir George Young:

Column: 389

Dan Byles (North Warwickshire) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab):

Sir George Young:

Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD):

Sir George Young:

Column: 390

Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool) (Lab):

Sir George Young:

Karen Bradley (Staffordshire Moorlands) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab):

Column: 391

Sir George Young:

Guto Bebb (Aberconwy) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab):

Sir George Young:

Gavin Barwell (Croydon Central) (Con):

Column: 392

Sir George Young:

Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab):

Sir George Young:

James Morris (Halesowen and Rowley Regis) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Ian Paisley (North Antrim) (DUP):

Column: 393

Sir George Young:

Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Mr Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab):

Sir George Young:

Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con):

Column: 394

Sir George Young:

Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Nick de Bois (Enfield North) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Column: 395

Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Column: 396

Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con):

Sir George Young:

Mr Speaker:

Column: 397

Speaker’s Statement [15 Mar 2012]

12.28 pm

Mr Speaker:

Column: 398

Points of Order [15 Mar 2012]

12.29 pm

Mr Chuka Umunna (Streatham) (Lab):

The Parliamentary Secretary, Office of the Leader of the House of Commons (Mr David Heath):

Mr Umunna:

Mr Speaker:

Column: 399

Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con):

Mr Speaker:

Sir Roger Gale (North Thanet) (Con):

Mr Speaker:

Column: 400

Backbench Business

Charging for Access to Parliament [15 Mar 2012]

Mr Speaker:

12.36 pm

Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con):

Column: 401

Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife) (Lab):

Robert Halfon:

Brandon Lewis (Great Yarmouth) (Con):

Robert Halfon:

Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con):

Robert Halfon:

Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab):

Column: 402

Robert Halfon:

Mr David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate) (Con):

Robert Halfon:

Dr Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire) (Con):

Robert Halfon:

Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North) (DUP):

Column: 403

Robert Halfon:

Kate Hoey (Vauxhall) (Lab):

Robert Halfon:

Column: 404


Sir Roger Gale (North Thanet) (Con):

Robert Halfon:

Mrs Anne Main (St Albans) (Con):

Robert Halfon:

Column: 405


Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con):

Robert Halfon:

Chris Heaton-Harris (Daventry) (Con):

Robert Halfon:

Mrs Main:

Robert Halfon:

Column: 406

Mrs Main:

Robert Halfon:

Dr Murrison:

Robert Halfon:

Several hon. Members

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle):

12.59 pm

John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):

Column: 407

Thomas Docherty:

John Thurso:

Mrs Main:

Column: 408

John Thurso:

Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD):

John Thurso:

Jake Berry (Rossendale and Darwen) (Con):

John Thurso:

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle):

Jake Berry:

John Thurso:

Column: 409

1.7 pm

Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife) (Lab):

Kevin Brennan:

Thomas Docherty:

Column: 410

Sir Roger Gale:

Thomas Docherty:

Charlie Elphicke:

Thomas Docherty:

Jake Berry:

Thomas Docherty:

Jake Berry:

Thomas Docherty:

Column: 411

Jake Berry:

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle):

Thomas Docherty:

Robert Halfon:

Thomas Docherty:

Mrs Main:

Thomas Docherty:

Column: 412


1.16 pm

The Leader of the House of Commons (Sir George Young):

Kevin Brennan:

Sir George Young:

Sir Roger Gale:

Column: 413

Sir George Young:

Sir Roger Gale:

Sir George Young:

1.20 pm

Ms Angela Eagle (Wallasey) (Lab):

Column: 414

Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough) (Con):

Ms Eagle:

Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham) (Lab):

Ms Eagle:

Kate Hoey:

Ms Eagle:

Column: 415

Charlie Elphicke:

Ms Eagle:

Several hon. Members

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle):

1.28 pm

Mrs Anne Main (St Albans) (Con):

Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):

Mrs Main:

Column: 416


1.33 pm

Column: 417

Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab):

Sir Bob Russell:

Kevin Brennan:

Column: 418


1.37 pm

Nadine Dorries (Mid Bedfordshire) (Con):

Duncan Hames (Chippenham) (LD):

Nadine Dorries:

Column: 419


1.42 pm

Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP):

Thomas Docherty:

Jim Shannon:

Column: 420

Column: 421

Several hon. Members

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle):

1.48 pm

Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough) (Con):

Column: 422


Duncan Hames:

Mr Jackson:

John Thurso:

Mr Jackson:

1.54 pm

Column: 423

Mr David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate) (Con):

Nick de Bois (Enfield North) (Con):

Mr Burrowes:

Column: 424

1.59 pm

Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con):

2.1 pm

Column: 425

Mel Stride (Central Devon) (Con):

Column: 426

2.5 pm

Jake Berry (Rossendale and Darwen) (Con):

Thomas Docherty:

Jake Berry:

Column: 427

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle):

Laura Sandys (South Thanet) (Con):

Jake Berry:

Mr Deputy Speaker:

Jake Berry:

2.11 pm

Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset) (Con):

Column: 428


Robert Halfon:

Jacob Rees-Mogg:

Column: 429

2.16 pm

Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con):

John Thurso:

Martin Vickers:

Column: 430


Mrs Main:

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle):

Robert Halfon:

Mr Deputy Speaker:

Column: 431

Common Fisheries Policy [15 Mar 2012]

2.21 pm

Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con):

Column: 432


Mr John Redwood (Wokingham) (Con):

Miss McIntosh:

Column: 433


Mr Redwood:

Miss McIntosh:

Amber Rudd (Hastings and Rye) (Con):

Miss McIntosh:

Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP):

Miss McIntosh:

Dr Sarah Wollaston (Totnes) (Con):

Column: 434

Miss McIntosh:

Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall) (Con):

Miss McIntosh:

Fiona O'Donnell (East Lothian) (Lab):

Miss McIntosh:

Column: 435

Jim Shannon:

Miss McIntosh:

Sheryll Murray:

Column: 436

Miss McIntosh:

Fiona O'Donnell:

Miss McIntosh:

Dr Wollaston:

Miss McIntosh:

Column: 437


Several hon. Members

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle):

2.46 pm

Mr Frank Doran (Aberdeen North) (Lab):

Column: 438


Sheryll Murray:

Mr Doran:

Jim Shannon:

Mr Doran:

Column: 439


Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP):

Mr Doran:

Andrew George (St Ives) (LD):

Mr Doran:

Column: 440

2.59 pm

Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall) (Con):

Column: 441


Ian Paisley (North Antrim) (DUP):

Sheryll Murray:

Amber Rudd:

Column: 442

Sheryll Murray:

Andrew George:

Sheryll Murray:

Column: 443


3.10 pm

Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby) (Lab):

Andrew George

Austin Mitchell:

Column: 444


Jim Shannon:

Austin Mitchell:

Mr MacNeil:

Austin Mitchell:

Column: 445


Ian Paisley:

Austin Mitchell:

Column: 446



3.24 pm

Amber Rudd (Hastings and Rye) (Con):

Jim Shannon:

Column: 447

Amber Rudd:

Mr MacNeil:

Amber Rudd:

Sheryll Murray:

Amber Rudd:

Column: 448

Andrew George:

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle):

Amber Rudd:

Column: 449

3.35 pm

Dr Eilidh Whiteford (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):

Column: 450


Andrew George:

Dr Whiteford:

Column: 451

Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab):

Dr Whiteford:

Column: 452

Mr MacNeil:

Dr Whiteford:

3.48 pm

Column: 453

Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con):

Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury and Atcham) (Con):

Peter Aldous:

Sheryll Murray:

Column: 454

Peter Aldous:

Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con):

Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo):

Peter Aldous:

Column: 455


Dr Wollaston:

Peter Aldous:

Column: 456


4 pm

Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab):

Column: 457

Mr MacNeil:

Barry Gardiner:

Mr MacNeil:

Barry Gardiner

Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo):

Barry Gardiner:

Column: 458


Column: 459

Andrew George:

Barry Gardiner:

Column: 460


Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo):

4.14 pm

Eric Ollerenshaw (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Con):

Column: 461


Barry Gardiner:

Eric Ollerenshaw:

Column: 462


4.21 pm

Ms Margaret Ritchie (South Down) (SDLP):

Column: 463

Mr MacNeil:

Ms Ritchie:

Andrew George:

Ms Ritchie:

Column: 464

4.32 pm

Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Con):

Column: 465


Mr MacNeil:

Oliver Colvile:

Mr MacNeil:

Column: 466

Oliver Colvile:

4.40 pm

Mrs Mary Glindon (North Tyneside) (Lab):

Mr MacNeil:

Mrs Glindon:

Column: 467

Column: 468

4.46 pm

Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con):

Oliver Colvile:

Richard Drax:

Column: 469

Sheryll Murray:

Richard Drax:

Neil Parish (Tiverton and Honiton) (Con):

Richard Drax:

Column: 470

4.54 pm

Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con):

Sheryll Murray:

Martin Vickers:

Column: 471

Neil Parish:

Martin Vickers:

Oliver Colvile:

Martin Vickers:

Richard Drax:

Martin Vickers:

Sheryll Murray:

Column: 472

Martin Vickers:

5.4 pm

Neil Parish (Tiverton and Honiton) (Con):

Sheryll Murray:

Neil Parish:

Column: 473

Oliver Colvile:

Neil Parish:

Richard Drax:

Neil Parish:

Sheryll Murray:

Column: 474

Neil Parish:

Oliver Colvile:

Neil Parish:

Column: 475

Sheryll Murray:

Neil Parish:

5.17 pm

Fiona O'Donnell (East Lothian) (Lab):

Column: 476


Sheryll Murray:

Fiona O'Donnell:

Column: 477


Column: 478

Dr Whiteford:

Fiona O'Donnell:

Column: 479


5.33 pm

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Richard Benyon):

Column: 480


Column: 481

Dr Whiteford:

Richard Benyon:

Column: 482


Fiona O'Donnell:

Column: 483

Richard Benyon:

Sheryll Murray:

Column: 484

Richard Benyon:

Column: 485


5.56 pm

Miss McIntosh:

Column: 486

Legal Aid [15 Mar 2012]

5.58 pm

Karl Turner (Kingston upon Hull East) (Lab):

Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab):

Karl Turner:

6 pm

Karl Turner:

Column: 487

Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab):

Karl Turner:

Column: 488

Column: 489


6.14 pm

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Jonathan Djanogly):

Column: 490

Column: 491


Column: 492


6.25 pm