Thursday Volume 506 4 March 2010 No. 50 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 4 March 2010 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2010 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ Enquiries to the Office of Public Sector Information, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 995 4 MARCH 2010 996 Miss Anne Begg (Aberdeen, South) (Lab): Will the House of Commons Minister examine the OFT’s powers to tackle this issue? The electronic version of these scams is new, whereas Thursday 4 March 2010 the paper version is not, but, like the paper one, it is becoming much more sophisticated and much more believable. I am not sure that the OFT has sufficient The House met at half-past Ten o’clock powers to tackle those scams, particularly when they originate from another country. PRAYERS Kevin Brennan: My hon. Friend raises a good point. [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] The OFT and trading standards have powers under the Enterprise Act 2002 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, but we are examining BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS enforcers’ powers to tackle online consumer problems to see whether they need to be strengthened, and we are LONDON LOCAL AUTHORITIES BILL [LORDS] discussing that possibility with the relevant key players. (BY ORDER) Second Reading opposed and deferred until Thursday University Funding 18 March (Standing Order No. 20). 2. Mr. Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Lochaber) (LD): When he last met representatives of the Russell Oral Answers to Questions group to discuss university funding; and if he will make a statement. [320193] The Minister for Higher Education and Intellectual BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS Property (Mr. David Lammy): I last met the director general of the Russell group on 23 February, when we discussed higher education funding, among other subjects. The Minister of State was asked— Mr. Kennedy: The Minister will be aware of my Online Fraud association with the university of Glasgow, which is a member of the Russell group. The Beatson institute for 1. Ann Winterton (Congleton) (Con): What steps his cancer research remains at the cutting edge and international Department is taking to protect individuals from forefront of cancer research generally. Given the squeeze organised fraudulent online schemes which solicit on higher education funding, can he assure us that money and financial details. [320192] internationally leading research of the type at Glasgow will continue to receive the support that it both needs The Minister for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and, as I am sure he will agree, deserves? and Consumer Affairs (Kevin Brennan): On 2 July 2009, the Government published the consumer White Paper, Mr. Lammy: I acknowledge the right hon. Gentleman’s which details plans for more effective enforcement against position as rector of that university and his continuing those who deliberately set out to defraud consumers. I championing of it in this House. I also recognise that recently announced funding of £4.3 million for the that cancer facility is world renowned. He will appreciate Office of Fair Trading and trading standards to tackle that the Scottish Funding Council and the research those who use the internet to con consumers. council are rightly responsible for science funding more broadly, and that any funding decisions are rightly their Ann Winterton: The majority of victims of cyber responsibility under the Haldane principle. scams are people aged between 35 and 44, but those aged 55 and over lose most money and are more likely Dr. Brian Iddon (Bolton, South-East) (Lab): Will my to succumb to scams on more than one occasion. What right hon. Friend ensure that when the research money specifically are the Government planning to assist those is allocated there is no further concentration of funding, people to understand the dangers that they are face? for example, on the Russell group? Will he confirm that all centres of excellence in research, wherever they may Kevin Brennan: The hon. Lady is absolutely right to be found across the university system, including in the say that it is very important to consider the impact on superb materials science group in the university of vulnerable people, including the elderly, of the sorts of Bolton—my own university—are considered equally scams that we have seen operated on the internet. That for funding with the top-level research universities? is why we are investing in the scambusters team and trying to raise awareness of the problem among older Mr. Lammy: Drawing on his tremendous experience, people. She might be interested to learn that my predecessor my hon. Friend continues to champion science and and former First Minister of Wales, Rhodri Morgan, research issues in this House. He is absolutely right to has just taken up the internet; when he was recently in say that we should fund excellence wherever it is found, the office he received an e-mail, which he showed to me, and that is the Government’s policy. from a woman who said that he was exactly the kind of man she was looking for. I did point out that it was not Dr. Evan Harris (Oxford, West and Abingdon) (LD): from my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North Can the Minister give an undertaking that when the (Julie Morgan)—his wife. Browne committee reports after the election and imposes 997 Oral Answers4 MARCH 2010 Oral Answers 998 greater debt on students in order to fund universities, Late Payments that funding will not be removed from universities in terms of their central Government funding? Can he assure 3. Mr. Brian Binley (Northampton, South) (Con): us that universities will at least be better off if students How many small businesses which supply his have to pay higher fees through increased debt? Department did not have their invoices paid within his Department’s target time in the latest period for which Mr. Lammy: I know that the hon. Gentleman is an figures are available. [320194] educated man, but I did not realise that he was a fortune teller. I am not going to anticipate the Browne review. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr. Stephen Timms): In January, Mr. Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab): Will the fewer than one in 18 supplier invoices to the Department Minister consider reducing funding to universities that took longer than 10 days to pay. Data are not kept fail to take action to stop the propagation of Jew hate separately for small businesses, but data regarding the and anti-Semitism on campus? invoices of all suppliers are published on the Department’s website every month. Mr. Lammy: I recognise that this is a very serious issue. I was pleased to meet the all-party group against anti-Semitism and to meet Jewish students recently to Mr. Binley: About 4,000 business failures were caused discuss these matters. My right hon. Friend will know by late payment last year. How will the Government that I have regularly brought together universities, students protect failing businesses as a result of late payment and others in the sector to discuss these matters. I do and what sanctions have they promised to impose on not believe that this is a widespread problem across businesses that contribute to the problem by delaying British universities, but I recognise that examples of it payment? are patchy. We must remain vigilant and we must not allow anti-Semitism anywhere on campuses in this country. Mr. Timms: The hon. Gentleman will know about the legislation that we have introduced, but, in reality, companies Mr. David Willetts (Havant) (Con): Will the Minister are reluctant to take sanctions against their customers. confirm that the Government have set a target of 50 per He is absolutely right to highlight the importance of cent. of young people going to university, and that this this issue and to draw attention to those 4,000 businesses. year—the very year to which the target applies—they That is why we launched the prompt payment code for are fining universities to the tune of £10 million simply government at the start of the downturn. We have because they have recruited more students? Is it not the committed to a central Government target of 10-day final absurdity of Labour’s target culture that it can set payment of invoices, on which we have a very good a target and then punish institutions for taking the record of adherence. In addition, we have taken very measures needed to hit it? Why does he not instead successful action to support small businesses through match our pledge to offer 10,000 more university places the Revenue and Customs’ time to pay initiative. The this year? measures that we have taken have made a big contribution to the relatively low record of business failures during Mr. Lammy: Because the hon. Gentleman’s pledge is the recession that we have just come through, compared bogus and ridiculous. It would involve the Government with past recessions. borrowing more money to help which students pay off their loans quickly? The richest students. That is where Royal Mail his heart lies. The 50 per cent. participation rate is an aspiration that his party has continually opposed. We have got the figure up to 43 per cent., so there are more 4. Mr. Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) young people than ever before going to university, including (LD): What plans he has for the future of Royal Mail’s more young people from poorer socio-economic groups universal service obligation; and if he will make a than ever in our history, but his party has opposed the statement.