Craig Tracey: I thank the Minister for that response, and I welcome the fact that there has been nearly 1,100 apprenticeship starts in north Warwickshire and Bedworth over the last 12 months. However, I know that local businesses are concerned that the focus might be on quantity than quality. What assurances can the Minister give to my constituents, especially those in highly skilled engineering, that that...
Craig Tracey: What assessment he has made of trends in the number of workless households in Wales.
Craig Tracey: Does the Secretary of State agree that the Government’s welfare reforms are improving the life chances of children in Wales?
Craig Tracey: What steps the Government are taking to improve the gender balance of the boards of FTSE companies.
Craig Tracey: What plans do the Government have to ensure that businesses of all sizes understand the financial and productivity benefits of diversity in their senior teams?
Craig Tracey: I intend to speak well within the time that you have given us as a guideline, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Hyndburn (Graham Jones). I am very pleased to speak in this important debate, which has been sponsored by the Backbench Business Committee. I congratulate my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham (Stephen Phillips) on...
Craig Tracey: I could not agree more. My hon. Friend has put it very well. A stable Kenya can be a prosperous Kenya. The country has the largest, most diversified and most innovative economy in East Africa. However, that potential is currently not being fulfilled. The number of poor people in Kenya is thought to be constant or growing, owing to low growth and rising inequality. In 2005, 43% of the...
Craig Tracey: Does my hon. Friend share my anger and that of my constituent Carol Valentine, whose son Simon was tragically killed while serving his country in Afghanistan, at law firms such as Leigh Day, which are heavily involved in actions against veterans and serving members of our armed forces? What action can the Government take to close down this industry, which is causing so much unnecessary...
High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands) Bill: High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands) Bill.
Witnesses: Rt Hon Jeremy Wright QC MP Water Orton Parish Council Water Orton HS2 Action Group Lee Marston Parish Council Middleton HS2 Action Group Middleton Parish Council Kingsbury & District Stop HS2 Action Group Kings Bromley Parish Council Craig Tracey MP Nicholas and Timothy Dowdswell Patrick Dillon Warwickshire County Council North Warwickshire Borough Council Warwick District Council Coventry...
Craig Tracey: I am grateful to you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to speak in the debate. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Aberconwy (Guto Bebb) on securing the debate. I declare an interest: before coming here, following in the footsteps of my parents who ran their own insurance and financial advice business for 45 years, I ran my own regulated insurance brokerage for nearly 20...
Craig Tracey: My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and that was indeed my experience. I was coming on to say how many firms have disappeared since regulation was introduced. To put it into context, in my final years as a broker, 80% of my time was spent working on compliance rather than being productive in my business. That was a small brokerage providing a valuable high street presence to people who needed...
Craig Tracey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she expects the decommissioning of Sparrowdale School to be completed.
Craig Tracey: What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of steps taken to rebalance the economy in Wales.
Craig Tracey: Does the Secretary of State agree that the success of the manufacturing industry in Wales, and across the rest of the UK, reflects a growing global demand for our products and is further evidence of the success of the Government’s ambitious Exporting is GREAT campaign?
Craig Tracey: I welcome the fact that my constituents have been given more control over their finances, thanks to changes implemented by the Government. Can the Minister advise me on what steps have been taken to ensure that the regulation applied to small high street financial advisers and insurance brokers is both fair and proportionate, given the important service that they provide?
Craig Tracey: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to widen access to financial advice.
Craig Tracey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans (a) his Department and (b) NICE has to reform the process for the appraisal of cancer drugs.
Craig Tracey: What progress the Careers & Enterprise Company has made on improving careers education and inspiring young people about the world of work.
Craig Tracey: I was delighted to meet representatives of the Careers & Enterprise Company recently in my role as chairman of the all-party women and enterprise group. What steps will be taken to ensure that great models and mentors are provided to supplement the company’s work, and that students from all backgrounds are aware of the wealth of opportunities that are available to them once they have left...
Craig Tracey: Virtual school heads are taking great steps in promoting the educational achievements of all children looked after by their local authority. Will the Minister join me in encouraging the progress of virtual school heads such as mine in North Warwickshire and ensure that they help to facilitate the entitlement to a good education for all children and young people in care?