Question to the Prime Minister
4th February 2009
The Prime Minister: The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to highlight this problem - first, because of the failure to introduce early payment to many of the suppliers. We are asking the supermarkets to do that. Secondly, in relation to developing countries, we have been in talks with supermarkets such as Asda about how they can source their produce from those countries at a fair price. We will continue to push that as quickly as possible.
Dr. Hywel Francis (Aberavon) (Lab): On 12 February, the globalisation report will be published by the Welsh Affairs Committee. One of the key themes of the evidence that we received from witnesses was the importance attached to higher-level skills to build the knowledge economy. Will the Prime Minister give serious consideration to the report's recommendations, particularly in the context of the present restructuring in the steel industry, of the demands by the steel unions for better opportunities for skills training, and of the coal industry, which is now reviving and could face a skills shortage? Does my right hon. Friend agree.
Mr. Speaker: Order.
The Prime Minister: I agree with my hon. Friend about the need for more investment in skills and training in Wales and the rest of the country. Through the Assembly, Wales has developed a new programme called ProAct to help people to stay in jobs rather than be made unemployed, and a great deal of work is being done by us to look at that scheme and at how it could apply to other parts of the United Kingdom. We are also putting aside £250 million for training opportunities during the course of this downturn, and we are determined to do everything we can to help people to get into the jobs that are available.
