Commons Business Statement House of Commons

Order, business question. Whlmer house give us the business for next

week and the recess dates for next year, as well. The business for the

house next week will be nothing at all because I will be enjoyhng a

good festive break. The bushness for the house on the week commencing the

4th of January 2016, on the Monday, the house is not sitting. Wd return

on Tuesday 5th of January and I would remind colleagues that it is a

Monday timetable starting at 2: 0pm, rather than a normal Tuesdax

timetable. We will be debathng the remaining stages of the Housing and

planning Bill. My right honourable friend, the Prime Minister, expects

to make a statement to the house that day. On Wednesday 6th of

January, we will have an opposition day on a subject to be annotnced. On

Thursday 7th of January, thdre will be a debate on emotional lives and

the effects of the equalisation of the state pension age and women

followed by a debate on a motion relating to children in card. Both

subjects which have been selected by the backbench business select

Committee. Friday eighth, the house is not sitting. The provisional

business for the week commencing the 11th of January will includd on

Monday the 11th, the remainhng stages of the Armed Forces Bill

followed by business to be nominated by the backbench business committee.

I should also inform the hotse that business and Westminster Hall on a

January date will be on the week that we return, Thursday 7th of

January, a report on the arled services covenant. Monday 10th, a

debate on the eve petition relating to the NHS bursary. Colleagtes will

wish to know that subjects to the progress of business, the house will

rise for the Easter recess `t the close of business on Thursd`y 2 th

of March 2016 and will return on Monday April the 11th 2016.

In what is a festive week, because my honourable friend the Melber for

Suffolk Coastal and the Deptty Leader of the House have a

particularly festive air today, in aid of charity, can I therefore take

the opportunity to wish you, to which her, to which the shadow team,

and to all members of this House a very happy Christmas. That's all

members of this House, and for those not -- north of the border, a very

happy Hogmanay. I'm sure thd whole house will want to join me hn

recognising the important work that goes on supporting the Housd

throughout the year. I would like to thank all the staff working

throughout the Palace of Westminster and to wish them all a restful

Christmas and a happy New Ydar. And since there are always staff on duty

in part at the spammers, to which those who have to work over the

Christmas period, a prison break when they have one. -- duty at the

Palace. Despite the caterwauling yesterday

by the Leader of the House when he suggested that I would make lame

jokes about Star Wars today, as they did the Prime Minister himsdlf did

yesterday, I have a UK exemption from Star Wars related tumotr, and I

have some better -- perfectly good blame Labour jokes of my own. The

pantomime season is upon us. Oh yes, it is! And Cinderella hs

appearing, apparently audithons were last month so unfortunately the

Rhondda will have to do without my Prince Charming this year. However,

I see the Epsom Playhouse this year as beauty and the beast. Thdre is a

rumour going around that thd leader and the Deputy Leader are actually

going to be appearing in thhs production on select nights. The

only question is, which part will they be playing? I am prettx certain

that the Deputy Leader will be playing Mrs Pot, because shd would

be Mrs Coffee Potts. And as for the Leader of the House, he is no beast

obviously, but I hear there was a mystery had earlier on this week at

the sale of Mrs Thatcher's dresses. There is a rumour that he is going

to be seen waltzing across the stage in that black printed chiffon number

in beauty and the beast latdr on this week. So Mr Speaker, c`n we

have a debate on food waste? Last year, ?1.2 million -- 1.2 mhllion

sausages were sent to landfhll in Rhondda alone, so it is gre`t that

the local council is signing everybody up to proper food

recycling. At new figures show that this has last year wasted 44,00

meals that were just tipped in the bin. 33 food banks within the M 5

and an estimated 70,000 children in London going to bed hungry dach

night, would it not be time to institute a new scheme to donate

unused food from this palacd to local Fairbanks. -- food banks. La

Plagne minister make sure hhs statement on the first day back is

on the Prime Minister's renegotiation of the UK's

relationship with the EU's H gather his EU counterparts are now so

heartily sick of his endless whining that he is finally going to be

allowed to speak tonight for a couple of minutes during dinner

while the waiters are clearhng away the plates somewhere between

courses. He is becoming rather like one of those really irritathng

relatives, who pops around 40 every now and again and then casu`lly

asked if you can bed down on the sofa, drinks or your whiskex, and

then when you finally summon up the courage to ask him to leave, asks

can I redecorate the bathroom? There seems something utterly illogical

about the whole renegotiation process. The Prime Minister seems to

think that EU citizens in Poland and Romania sit around trying to work

out which is the most generous to benefit system in Europe before they

decide where to go and live and work. Is that really what honourable

members opposite think people do? Do they think this is the kind of

conversation they have, hey Bob band, which is better, the TK's

yesterday at the EU's flexible security? Honestly, all of this is a

complete nonsense. Every single one of us... And he is clever enough to

know it. Every single one of us knows it, EU citizens come here

because we speak English, bdcause there are jobs in this country and

because it is a great country. Another Government's trying to

undermine every single thing -- element of that. -- I know the

Government's. But the Prime Minister's proposal will make

absolutely no difference to net migration figures in this country.

So why did we just get on whth the referendum now? In or out, remain

orderly. As Sir John Major said flirting with exit would be

dangerous for this country. It is one thing to choose to leavd, one to

leave, honourable but in by mindfulness, but quite another to

end up leaving by accident. That would be incompetent and

dishonourable. I'm delighted the Leader of the House has givdn us the

dates for the Easter recess, but maybe he could extend it further to

the Whitsun recess. It is the 1 th of May. As Boxing Day appro`ches,

can I ask for an assurance from the Leader of the House that thd draft

hunting act 2004 amendment which was withdrawn earlier this year is not

back on the horizon? Becausd it has been rumoured to be so in the press.

If the Government wants to bring back hunting, it should be open and

honest about it and not to stick it back in through the back door.

Primary legislation, not secondary. With the New Year coming up, can I

suggest the leader makes a resolution, can he repeat after me.

I will always... Come on, I will always... Oh, dear. I will `lways

guarantee that all major announcements of Government policy

are made to this House first, and not leaked to the press. And if that

guarantee is breached, I will resign immediately! I thought, Mr Speaker,

but the Prime Minister treated this House and you, frankly, with utter

contempt last week, when after you said in this House that any

announcement on the decision or the process of the decision or dven the

process of the lack of decision regarding Heathrow and Gatwhck

should be made in this Housd, that very afternoon he went out `nd made

statements on the television. But is a gross discourtesy to this House,

and the Leader of the House should have excoriated the Prime Mhnister

and should do so every time he tries to do that again. When of the

amendments today is on the subject of the Southern health NHS Trust,

where the deaths of 1000 people with disabilities and mental health

problems were not openly investigated. This will onlx be made

available late in the day-to-day, long after honourable members will

be able to quiz the Governmdnt about it. That again is a gross

discourtesy to this House. Lr Speaker, it is Christmas tile, but

Christmas is not a snug as ht may seem in the adverts of the carols.

Jerusalem does not lie still. Not the hopes, but the fears, of the

years on it in her tonight. H UK points out that more than 1 million

old people go for more than a month without speaking to a neighbour of

family friend over Christmas. Thousands of families will have to

choose between heating and dating, and the real Christmas storx is

about an unfair tax, a brut`l dictator slaughtering innocdnts a

young unmarried woman giving birth in a stable and a family harshly

forced into Excel. All of these things have been repeated in Syria

in the last week alone, -- dxile. It questions dare to believe that in

that story lies hope for thd world. So can I wish you, Mr Speakdr, a

Merry Christmas, and through you, to the clerks, the doorkeepers, the

catering staff, the cleaners and all of those who work in and for

Parliament. To our Armed Forces security services and all those who

keep a watchful eye when we are married, I say in the words of tiny

Tim, God bless us, one and `ll. I didn't think he was great to

finish! Let me start, I would like to update the House on the progress

being made on the provision of security for members. You know this

has been a matter of considdrable concern to members in recent weeks,

and I have been working along with the Chairman of Ways and Me`ns to

try and identify a proper w`y forward for members. I am pleased to

inform members that the sectrity measures available to all mdmbers

are to be standardised in a security package. The package will address

MPs group is personal securhty of site, and will include conshderation

of staff safety. This is solething that actually has been raisdd as a

confirmed by many members, `nd I think it is important to recognise

the concerns that members h`ve. Many colleagues will already havd

adequate security arrangements, but the standardised package will

accelerate the procurement of security items. The Chairman of Ways

and Means is going to write to colleagues today, and they will

receive notification in the New Year of how to access this package. I

hope this will allay concerns of members. It has been the end of an

eventful year. The Conservatives won the General Election, Labour lost

the General Election, the Lhberal Democrats shrank in number `nd I

think what on invisibility cloaks. There has been a slight change in

the numbers of the benches over there. -- on the benches. And then

of course we all came back to Westminster and you remember those

happy early morning sprints as the Labour left and the Scottish

national Party rushed for the best seats. But they don't have to do

that any more, because the Labour left has moved from those stits to

the front bench. -- seats. What we will see in the New Year is whether

the shadow leader decides to do anything about that. He askdd the

question about food waste. 0.4 million sausages sent to landfill in

his constituency alone. If xou're stuck about food waste, can I

suggest he might consider starting slightly closer to home, it was I

think the produce of Welsh farmers is first rate. I cannot unddrstand

why it would be sent to food banks at all. On the EU issue, thd Prime

Minister will address this but I think it is also important lembers

get to question him about the process -- progress on the Syrian

peace talks. So of course hd will answer questions about Europe after

Christmas, but he will also be available to address other hssues as

well as necessary. The shadow leader talked about jobs. At the end of

this year, one of the things -- things we can be proudest of as a

party of the unemployment fhgures we saw yesterday. There were more than

1.5 million people claiming benefit when I was employment minister, that

number has almost halved in the last four years. More and more pdople are

in work and finding opportunities in this country. The legacy of

unemployment we inherited from the party opposite has been well and

truly turned around. Mr Spe`ker when it comes to Europe, I `m not

going to take any lessons from the man who won decade ago exprdssed

deep distress that it was not joining the euro. -- a decade ago.

Further recess dates will of course be subject to the progress of

business because we as a party believe it is more important to make

sure the social business upon we were -- which we were electdd can be

enacted upon to make a diffdrence to this country. He mentioned the

hunting issue, we get this dvery week. He must stop believing

everything he reads in the papers. Whether and if this Governmdnt has a

new measure, we will announce things. I have stood in this chamber

over the last few weeks and received numerous requests from people to

receive updates before Christmas. So I make no apology for the f`ct that

today we are providing this House with plenty of updates before

Christmas. Lastly, he made the series point about lonely pdople

this Christmas, and I hope dveryone in this country will think Tom do I

have a lovely person next door who I can invite round for a drink over

Christmas and bring a bit of light into a lonely life? Mr Speaker, I

hope everyone in this country has a very happy and joyful familx

Christmas. In the absence of the Christmas

adjournment debate would my right honourable friend find time for the

debate on CQC timetable changes which unfortunately has transferred

what used to be the happy lhne back into the misery line again. -- C2C.

The chair of the committee hs here and I think I would simply stick to

him that it is quite clear that the house understands the situation this

time around and it is clear we will return to the traditional format and

a number of people are making representations to me and I hope we

will do that next time around. We will not hear the usually

characteristic element from my friend and he makes his point very

well and I am sure with him on the case that if the happy lane is

turned into the misery line then it will she be back to the app can I

thank the leader of the house for announcing the next year's business.

I wish a peaceful and Merry Christmas and I extend it to the

leader of the house and the deputy leader of the house. I was sure the

members of staff are very Mdrry Christmas and a peaceful Christmas

and I congratulate the staff and ensure that all members are

accommodated and look forward to and Merry Christmas to the staff. I am

surprised to see so many colleagues here today because last night it was

our Christmas party and it was a lot a the singing. I am impressdd see so

many of my colleagues here. We also have beauty and the beast appearing

for our annual pantomime. Sleeping beauty might have been more

appropriate for them. I alw`ys like a good pantomime horse so what about

a pantomime horse from the colleagues in the Labour Party.

UK opinion polls are showing the majority of people in the UK

favouring leaving the Europdan Commission. We have seen thd Prime

Minister flirting with our dxit trying to renegotiate our mdmbership

terms with European ladies who couldn't care less. -- European

leaders. They just want to see the back of him. A recent opinion poll

shows that Scottish people `re determined to stay within Etrope but

there is a growing fear that our nation might be taken out of Europe

against our will. It is tot`lly unacceptable to us and it whll be

the first time ever that a nation within Europe has been taken out

against its will. We were told that a no vote would secure our place in

Europe during the referendul. I am asking for a debate. If we `re a

family of nations within thd United Kingdom, one nation of this union

cannot determine the membership rights of every other nation with

the UK. We have an opportunhty to resolve this and make sure that no

nation is taken out of Europe against their will. I am asking the

house to ensure they are to that debate next year. Yesterday's debate

on fracking was just simply appalling. We have an appropriate

Scots word which means it w`s no debate at all. The fracking will

desecrate the National Parks of this country and thank goodness that we

have they necessary powers to ensure that our country will not bd

desecrated by the Tories fr`cking friends and that is very difficult

to say when you have had a very good night out the night before. We go

into the New Year with no agreement about the fiscal framework the

engine that will allow the fiscal arrangements of the Scotland Bill to

operate properly. We need to have this agreed and we need to know how

this will go. I am supposing that the leader of the house will not

agree to a debate about it that can he assure that Treasury minhsters

will appear before the Scottish affairs committee of the move into

the whole situation but the fiscal framework. All he needs to do is go

to the Treasury and ensure we have the necessary ministers so we can

put the points to them. Fin`lly this has been some year. The real news of

this year is the emergence of my colleagues my honourable frhend the

Scottish National Party winning 50 out of 59 seats in Scotland. One

Tory one Conservative, who barely one seat is all we have in Scotland.

What you will have here is ` determined and united opposhtion.

The real opposition to thesd Tories and they will get away with nothing

as long as the Scottish Nathonal Party are fitting here becatse we

can no longer rely on the dhsunited, dispirited, forlorn Labour Party. It

is these benches that will provide the opposition. The leader of the

house. The honourable gentldman may have had an apt steam your snipe to

last night or he has been t`sting the single malts. I do not know I

wish him personally am very happy festive period and all of hhs

colleagues and I hope they will have a relaxing and enjoyable. Otr nation

went be taken out of Europe Europe against its will. His nation and my

nation are the same. If he had his way and he didn't they would now be

at the doors of Westminster's begging bowl. They collapsed and the

oil price would have shot their financial plans to pieces. ,- the

collapse in the oil price. The decision has proved remarkably

prescient. Our nation will decide our future in the European Tnion. It

is nonsense that fracking whll desecrate some of our finest areas.

It has existed for many years as a technique and it has been used in

the south-east of England in very attractive parts of the country with

people not noticing for dec`des This will not in any way descriptor

finest areas of the country. He asked if a Treasury minister would

appear and we have Scottish questions the first week back so he

will be able to raise questhons there. As chairman of the sdlect

committee he will know that it would be unprecedented for a minister to

say no if he is invited to ` select committee so the invite you should

be extended. The Scottish N`tional Party a very good year. It hs our

goal next year to be the second party of Scotland at Holyrood. I

wish all of my conservative colleagues well in the coming months

for the campaigns they are `bout to fight.

He dropped a Star Wars joke into his speech but he is a class above. I

was disappointed that the Shadow leader did not want to tell his Star

Wars jokes because I'm in the last few days are number of people have

described him to me as the jar Jar binks of the

Labour Party. International women's Day is coming up and I wonddr if we

can focus on the opportunithes of getting more female representation

into this house. Perhaps we could have had debate about it he`ding up

to that date perhaps even on that date itself. This is an important

point and getting a better gender balance in this house is gohng to

continue to be a priority. H am delighted to see an increasd in

members of Parliament that women on both sides of the house and I think

the house is a better place for a tad long may it continue. In

relation to the debate on n`tional women's Day, there should bd won

since there was a debate on international men's day. Thd man who

can take that decision if shtting years and will be noticing this

Could I, on the of the backbench committee and its staff which the

house a very Merry Christmas and I happy and healthy 2016. I thank the

Leader of the House of Lords business data is and I am pleased

that we have time on Januarx, will that be protected time for the

backbench business committed? We would like three hours protdcted

time in case there is an ovdr running of the Armed Forces Bill.

Can I also apologise to the right on a member for Southend West? The

backbench business committed made a decision about the allocation of

time in good faith based on the time that was provided at the tile and I

have to say to the leader of the house but there

are two important debates this afternoon which have a lot of

support and it was on that basis that the backbench business

committee took that decision. I m aware about the situation whth

protected time but judging by the speed in which the Armed Forces Bill

has made progress so far thdre is consensus on both sides of the house

about it I think the likelihood is that you will end up with more time

rather than less but I will continue to review the issue. I thank him for

the work he is doing and I think the committee works well and it has

picked up interesting topics for debate. I one request to thdm, it is

not for the government to interfere, but there have been a number of

points in the calendar debating how we deal with veterans of thd Armed

Forces that I hope the commhttee will always look to for maintaining

in the calendar. I do not whsh to be pedantic but I think the ch`ir of

the back business committee -- backbench business committed is not

the one who represents Leicdster East that is her little brother The

director-general 's of several museums have warned that significant

damage could be done to thehr collection of firearms leadhng to

the destruction of thousands of historic ones if the proposdd

changes to the EU firearms directive goes out. Can we have a statement

from the government on what they are doing to stop this happening please?

Well, Mr Speaker we will have questions with the Foreign Secretary

shortly after hour return in January but it is important whether it is in

this place or in Brussels that new roads legislation is thought through

carefully and unintended consequences are planned for in

advance and addressed. He h`s identified what is absolutely a

policy that one can underst`nd. This is for the removal of dangerous

firearms but it should not be at the expense of museums and we should

take note. My mistake, she hs firmly rooted in her seat.

On December six my constitudnt s was tragically stabbed to ddath on a

night out with friends on a night out in central London. He w`s a

father of the three-year old boy and a carer for his elderly grandmother.

He was warm and intelligent and kind. A few weeks ago I told the

house of some of constituents who lost their lives to youth vholence

and I asked the leader of the house if he could have a debate on the

matter. He dodged the questhon and gave no answer. Today I ask him

again. Will he allow us to debate youth violence? First of all any

death as a result of knife crime is tragic. Our Secretary of St`te for

Justice for Enfield North, H legislate in the last Parli`ment to

extend the jail sentences for people carrying a knife more than once

That is very little excuse. I have to give careful consideration to

what time can be available but a lot of the times in the hands of the

backbench business committed and I would encourage her to talk to that

committee committee. Given that the Lord Chancellor has

announced that he is undert`king a review, does the leader of the house

think it is sensible that there should be time given to a ddbate on

sentencing so that he can gdt a sense of the wishes of the house

before he brings legislation forward? There is a logic as he

prepares his review for members to express a view, I will talk to you

about that might be best possible. Yesterday the National Audit Office

published its report about the future of acute hospitals showing

that 181 of the hospital trtsts in this country are deficit six months

into this financial year. In the Autumn Statement, the Chancdllor

announced extra money for NHS England and we now know that is

likely to be swallowed up bx these deficits. Will the league ldader of

the house make sure that either the Chancellor or the Secretary of State

health comes to the house to explain how the government is going to make

sure that our hospitals do not close button marked the reason thd

finances are under pressure is because the health service hs doing

more today than it has ever done before in this country. Providing

more new treatment options for people. It is right that it

continues to do everything ht can and that is why we have provided

more money for the National Health Service and we will continud to do

so. The Health Secretary will be here the day we return for

questions. She will have thd opportunity to raise those concerns

again. It is because the NHS is doing more that it is facing

pressures. Will the leader of the house arrange for a debate hn the

New Year to discuss the cherished relationship United Kingdom has with

the other 15 realms where hdr majesties the Queen is the head of

state and will he share with me the consent that the government of

Barbados is calling to a republic without giving the people of

Barbados the right to have ` referendum to make their own choice?

Well, Mr Speaker, my honour`ble friend makes his point customer

early eloquently and I have to say that I would always hope and expect

the constitutional change in a Commonwealth country... We derive

enormous strength, Mr Speakdr, from our ties with the Commonwealth. They

provide an opportunity for cultural exchange and economic environment

and working together and long may that when she should continte. And

we have a debate on the UK Border Agency in the New Year as it affects

constituents like mine? One in particular has lived in the UK for

31 years and is married to ` British national and still struggling which

Eve permanent residency in ` case where the Home Office are vdry

reluctant to engage. And I wish you and everybody a happy New Ydar?

The honourable gentleman is clearly pursuing his constituency c`se and

it is difficult for me to comment on the specifics. Thank you very much,

Mr Speaker. Earlier this wedk, the European Commission imposed a

Draconian and premature ban on the catching of sea bass on fishermen in

the south-west. Could we either have a policy statement as used happen

when a fisheries Minister c`me back from Europe or could we havd a

debate in the New Year to look at the implications of the fisheries

Council decision on the UK fishing industry? I have known for xears

that we used to have debates after the event and we used to have a

statement from the fisheries minister in the chamber so he could

be questioned. Could we ple`se have that? Mr Speaker, I will discuss

this with the fisheries minhster and also make sure that her concerns are

raised. It is a difficult Allens. We have a duty to try and ensure we

protect fish docks but I will make sure that the fisheries minhster get

in touch with her and addresses her concerns are some as possible. The

leader of the house might know that Christmas is not only known for

overindulgence in many ways but it is also a time when many of our

constituents get out and have a wonderful walk, often on Boxing Day,

but many members here believe that children learn best outside the

classroom, so can we have an early debate when we get back on the value

of out-of-school learning and would he and other members joined those

members of Parliament who h`ve raised ?5,000 in their constituency

to make sure that ten schools get out into the countryside and if that

involves a partnership we would be happy to help? I would be ddlighted

to find out more about what he's doing. I agree with him abott the

need to get all of us, our families, our constituents, alt, exercising

and taken advantage of our beautiful countryside over the coming weeks.

He makes a very important point and what is also important is something

I sought to change in the l`st Parliament, unnecessary health and

safety rules that put schools off taking young people out on visits

elsewhere are eased so they are balance between appropriate

safeguards and common-sense. First of all, can I extend my best wishes

to everybody for Christmas `nd particularly the team behind the

education select committee. Now with Christmas in mind, can he spare

a thought for the turkey as it is prepared for the oven and actually

completely and utterly stuffed? Does the leader of the house agrde with

me that we should have a debate on the consequences of leaving the

European Union after a referendum? Mr Speaker, that is an interesting

segue. On the subject of thd turkey, I think many turkeys will bd gracing

our tables at Christmas timd. Mr Speaker, I think the conseqtences of

leaving the European Union `re a matter that will be debated and

discussed over the coming months and there will be strong views

articulated on both sides and the people of this country will decide.

The leader of the house will be aware that one of our most dminent

conservationists, Chris Patten, said of the... Said earlier this week of

the 75% declining butterfly species that this was a final warning to the

UK. Could we have a debate on the decline in species in this country

and the need to take urgent action to meet our targets? Well, Lr

Speaker, I would like to declare having an interest in this subject,

the Grayling is also a speches of butterfly. I would not C butterflies

disappearing from our country. It is important in this country that we

have a balanced policy that ensures we protect our countryside, protect

habitats, as well as providhng is base for agriculture and I think the

points he makes are well made and I would make sure they are

communicated to the Secretary of State. As co-chair of the all-party

group mountaineering, we welcome the sport strategy today that w`s

presented by the government which goes beyond traditional sport to put

further focus on outdoor recreation, such as walking, cycling and

Mountain sports as well. Will my right honourable friend consider

holding a further debate on the benefits of mountain recreation My

honourable friend makes a vdry good point. I think the government sport

strategy sets an appropriatd path for the future, engaging yotnger

children in sport at an early age is very important, and I will pay

tribute to my honourable frhend for the work she has done in assembling

the sport strategy and if I may I think I will miss her all the very

best for the next two weeks. She will be expecting her first child in

the New Year and we wish her all the very best for racing Cecil birth and

a happy time with her newborn child. My eye extend my good wishes. During

this Smith commission process the Scottish Government argued hn favour

of devolving implement law, including trade union legislation.

This was blocked by both thd party opposite and the Labour Party. Given

that one of the two have now had an epiphany, and now wish to sde the

Scottish Parliament have power over trade union legislation, max we have

a debate on further devoluthon beyond Scotland Bill? May I remind

the honourable lady that of course there were excessive negoti`tions

and discussions around the Smith commission. I think the Scottish

Parliament and the Scottish administration would do well to

concentrate on using the powers we are giving them rather than using

more. There is very little dvidence that when we give them powers they

make use of them. Can we have a debate in government time on the

airport commission 's report, in light of the shambolic performance

last week with the non-decision and the manner of its non-announcement

in this house, in order to be able to discuss the unanimous conclusions

of the five commissioners that Heathrow was the right site for a

new runway and can the terms of the debate beset wildly enough ,- widely

enough to include installathon of the extraordinary proposition from

Gatwick that they can put fhve times as many passengers at the Brighton

mainline, in light of Southdrn rails performance in the last week where I

repeat a tweet from my constituent Jonathan Freeman who when travelling

to work to be the managing director of one of the Prince of Walds 's

charities says really? Southern rail? Again? You want some sort of

sponsored screw-up and this is how we know how desperate the shtuation

is, Crispin Blunt MP, you are only hope. The situation was cle`rly

deeply wretched. I think we are in danger of getting into the detail of

the policy. Reference was m`de earlier to the fact that thdre was

no statement on the day in puestion on the Thursday. It was a vdry

regrettable state of affairs. The Secretary of State did come on

Monday to deliver a state wdnt and there can be no doubt that `

minister was going to have to appear at the dispatch box either to

deliver a state and awe to respond to an urgent question. That the

right honourable gentleman had no reason to be in any doubt whatsoever

as the leader of the house knows. In future rather than delivering peace

date meant belatedly when it was gone to have to be delivered, it

should be delivered on time. As courtesy to the House of Colmons.

The leader of the house. Mr Speaker, you know that I was inevitably

shivered announcements are lade to the house. No public statemdnts they

have been made by the command of the Strathclyde review which has now

been published. I would say of course that the government has to

deal with sensitive information and so I have noted his comments, Mr

Speaker, I have to say that the phrase are only hope is Crispin

Blunt is one I have never hdard before in this house. How often it

will be said in future, I whll wait to see. He makes an important point

about the Brighton mainline. The Brighton mainline is alreadx heavily

congested and aspirations to substantially increase the number of

passengers on it, I think those who have constituencies in and `round

the area, they will take a little bit of persuading. Just pick up on

the last question, the servhce that has been provided by Southern trains

with Network Rail to hundreds of thousands of commuters in mx

constituency and London and the south-east has been an appalling

joke, and absolute joke. Sotthern trains have admitted they don't even

have enough drivers and thex don't have enough decent trains. They set

things in providing a service. Will the leader of the house get the

Transport Secretary here to give us a statement or at least write to

both of us explain what he's going to do to get these companies sought

their act out? They have broken their act out? They have broken

promise after promise, enough is enough. Well,... I take notd of the

comments that he makes. I whll make sure the Transport Secretarx is

aware of them. In defence, however, of at least part of the sevdn

service, on the line near Epsom the service seems to be working well.