:00:00. > :00:09.2015. European Union referendum act 2015. European Union approvals act
:00:10. > :00:17.2015. Business questions. Mr Chris Bryant.
:00:18. > :00:20.Will the House give us the business for next week and preferably the
:00:21. > :00:24.recess as well. Business next we will be nothing at
:00:25. > :00:30.all. I hope everybody will be enjoying a good festive break. The
:00:31. > :00:35.business for the week commencing January four, on the Monday the
:00:36. > :00:39.House does not sit, we return on the Tuesday, and I remind colleagues
:00:40. > :00:45.that it is a Monday timetable starting at 2:30pm. We will be
:00:46. > :00:56.debating the remaining stages of the Housing and planning Bill. The first
:00:57. > :01:00.of two days debate. On Wednesday we will have an opposition day on a
:01:01. > :01:05.subject to be announced. On Thursday the 7th of January we will debate a
:01:06. > :01:09.motion relating to the effect of the equalisation of the state pension
:01:10. > :01:15.age for women, followed by a debate on a motion for children in care,
:01:16. > :01:18.both subjects selected by the backbench business committee.
:01:19. > :01:21.Friday, January eight the House does not sit. Provisional business for
:01:22. > :01:27.the week commencing January 11 includes, on Monday, remaining
:01:28. > :01:32.stages of the Armed Forces will, followed by business to be nominated
:01:33. > :01:38.by the backbench business committee. And the business in Westminster Hall
:01:39. > :01:43.on Monday, January 11, the week when we return, Thursday January seventh,
:01:44. > :01:54.a general debate on the Armed Forces covenant, and the Monday 11, a
:01:55. > :01:58.debate on a e-petition relating to the NHS bursary. The House will rise
:01:59. > :02:04.from the Easter recess at the close of business on Thursday March 24
:02:05. > :02:19.2016 and return on Monday, April 11 2016. In what is a festival week --
:02:20. > :02:24.festive, with the member for Suffolk Coastal and the deputy Leader of the
:02:25. > :02:31.House in a particularly festive mood, in aid of charity, I commend
:02:32. > :02:36.her work and support charity, I therefore take the opportunity to
:02:37. > :02:45.wish you and her, the shadow team, and all members of this House a very
:02:46. > :02:52.happy Christmas. And for those north of the border, a very happy Hogmanay
:02:53. > :02:55.as well. I am sure the House will join me in recognising the important
:02:56. > :03:00.work that goes on to support the House throughout the year. I thank
:03:01. > :03:03.all the staff working throughout the Palace of Westminster. I wish them
:03:04. > :03:10.all a restful Christmas and a happy New Year. In particular, Mr Speaker,
:03:11. > :03:13.since there are always staff on duty there, to wish those who have to
:03:14. > :03:17.work over the Christmas period a pleasant break when they have won,
:03:18. > :03:24.and to express our gratitude to them for their work over the festive
:03:25. > :03:30.varied. -- period. Despite the caterwauling yesterday
:03:31. > :03:35.from the Leader of the House who insisted on making lame jokes about
:03:36. > :03:40.Star Wars, as indeed the primer Mr did, I is your you that I have a
:03:41. > :03:43.complete UK exemption from Star Wars related humour and some perfectly
:03:44. > :03:49.good Lamela Labour jokes of my own without resorting to that -- is the
:03:50. > :03:56.Prime Minister did. As you know, the pantomime season is now upon us. And
:03:57. > :04:00.Cinderella is appearing at the park. Apparently auditions were last month
:04:01. > :04:06.so unfortunately Rhonda will have to do without my Prince Charming.
:04:07. > :04:09.However I see that the Epsom Playhouse this year, in the
:04:10. > :04:13.constituency of the right Honourable member, his beauty and the beast.
:04:14. > :04:17.There is a rumour going around that the leader and deputy leader are
:04:18. > :04:22.actually going to be appearing in this production on select nights.
:04:23. > :04:26.The only question is which part they are going to be playing I am pretty
:04:27. > :04:33.certain that the deputy leader will be playing Mrs Potts. Obviously she
:04:34. > :04:45.is Mrs Koff reports. That is the worst Labour job today. It may not
:04:46. > :04:49.be actually. And as for the Leader of the House, he is no beast,
:04:50. > :04:58.obviously, but I hear there was a mystery bidder at the sale of Mrs
:04:59. > :05:03.Thatcher's frocks. There's a rumour that he will be seen waltzing across
:05:04. > :05:07.the stage in that black, printed chiffon number in the beauty and the
:05:08. > :05:18.beast later this week. Now, can we have a debate on food waste? Last
:05:19. > :05:24.year 1.2 million sausages were sent to landfill in the Rhondda alone,
:05:25. > :05:29.which is why whilst it is great that the local council is signing up
:05:30. > :05:38.people to food recycling, new figures show that this House, last
:05:39. > :05:42.year, wasted 45,000 meals. There are 33,000 Russell trust food banks
:05:43. > :05:48.within the M25 Circle and 75,000 children going to bed hungry tonight
:05:49. > :05:53.so is it not time the leader to donate unused food from this powers
:05:54. > :05:56.to local London food banks? The leader announced that the Prime
:05:57. > :06:00.Minister will make a statement on his first day back. Will he make
:06:01. > :06:05.sure that this statement is on the primer Mr's renegotiation of the UK
:06:06. > :06:11.relationship with the EU, and how that is going? I ask because I
:06:12. > :06:16.gather that his EU counterparts are now so heartily sick of his endless
:06:17. > :06:19.whining that he is finally going to be allowed to speak tonight for a
:06:20. > :06:23.couple of minutes during dinner whilst the waiters are clearing away
:06:24. > :06:30.the plates, somewhere between courses. He is becoming rather like
:06:31. > :06:34.one of those really irritating relatives who pops around 40 every
:06:35. > :06:39.now and again and casually asks if he can sleep on the sofa for a
:06:40. > :06:42.couple of days, drinks all your whiskey whilst telling you where you
:06:43. > :06:47.have gone wrong in life, and when you finally summon up the courage to
:06:48. > :06:52.ask him to leave, says, do you mind if I redecorated bathroom? Because
:06:53. > :06:55.there seems something utterly illogical about the renegotiation
:06:56. > :07:00.process. The Prime Minister seems to think that EU citizens in Poland and
:07:01. > :07:04.Rumania sit around trying to work out which is the most generous ten
:07:05. > :07:09.of that system in Europe before deciding where to go and live and
:07:10. > :07:14.work -- the most generous benefit system. Isn't that really what
:07:15. > :07:20.members opposite thing people do? Is it really the conversation they
:07:21. > :07:26.think they have? Which is better, the UK Denmark for Social Security?
:07:27. > :07:28.Well I am not sure, but I certainly prefer the Scandinavian model to the
:07:29. > :07:36.German system of contributory benefits. This is a complete
:07:37. > :07:42.nonsense! Every single one of us. M and he is clever enough to know it!
:07:43. > :07:46.Every single one of us know that EU citizens come here because we speak
:07:47. > :07:51.English, because there are jobs in this country, and because it is a
:07:52. > :07:54.great country. I know that the government is trying to undermine
:07:55. > :08:00.every single element of that even the pensions secretary, Home
:08:01. > :08:03.Secretary, and Justice Secretary, has told the Prime Minister but his
:08:04. > :08:08.proposal will make absolutely no difference to admit migration
:08:09. > :08:11.figures in this country. So why don't we just get on with the
:08:12. > :08:18.referendum now? It is a simple question. In or out? Stay or leave?
:08:19. > :08:24.As John Major said, flirting with exit is dangerous for this country.
:08:25. > :08:28.It is one thing to choose to leave. Honourable, to my mind, but foolish.
:08:29. > :08:34.But quite another thing to read by accident. That would be incompetent
:08:35. > :08:38.and dishonourable. I am delighted the Leader of the House has given us
:08:39. > :08:42.the dates for the Easter recess. But maybe he can extend further to the
:08:43. > :08:49.Whitsun recess. May 15. Why can he not give us the recess dates for the
:08:50. > :08:52.whole of next year? Is Boxing Day approaches, can I ask for an
:08:53. > :08:56.assurance from the Leader of the House that the draft hunting act
:08:57. > :09:06.2004 exempt hunting Amendment order to thousands of teen, which was in
:09:07. > :09:10.drawn -- withdrawn this year is not on the horizon? Because it seems to
:09:11. > :09:14.be in the press. If the government wants to bring back hunting it
:09:15. > :09:19.should be open and honest and not sneak it in through the back door.
:09:20. > :09:22.Primary legislation, not secondary. And with the New Year coming up can
:09:23. > :09:32.I suggest the leader makes a resolution? Repeat after me. I will
:09:33. > :09:35.always... , on! Oh, dear. I will always guarantee that all major
:09:36. > :09:41.announcements of government policy are made to this House first and not
:09:42. > :09:48.leaks to the press. And if that guarantee is breached I will resign
:09:49. > :09:52.immediately. I thought, Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister treated this
:09:53. > :09:57.House, and EU, frankly, with utter contempt last week, when after you
:09:58. > :10:02.decision process the decision, decision process the decision,
:10:03. > :10:09.regarding Keith Rowe and Gatwick Airport capacity, should be made in
:10:10. > :10:13.this House -- and you, frankly. Regarding Heathrow and Gatwick
:10:14. > :10:16.Airport. He then went and made statements on television. The Leader
:10:17. > :10:22.of the House should have excoriated the Prime Minister and do so every
:10:23. > :10:25.time he tries to do that again. There are 36 written ministerial
:10:26. > :10:30.statements on the paper today, conveniently on the last day so as
:10:31. > :10:36.to avoid scrutiny. One of them is on a particularly serious matter, the
:10:37. > :10:39.southern health NHS Trust, where the deaths of 1000 people with
:10:40. > :10:43.disabilities and mental health problems were not properly
:10:44. > :10:47.investigated. This will only be made available late in the day-to-day,
:10:48. > :10:51.long after Honourable members will be able to quiz the government about
:10:52. > :10:58.it. A gross discourtesy to this House. Mr Speaker, it is Christmas
:10:59. > :11:03.time. Well, as event at the moment. But Christmas is not as snug as it
:11:04. > :11:11.may seem in adverts and carols. Jerusalem does not lie still. Aid UK
:11:12. > :11:16.point out that more than 1 million owed people say they go far over a
:11:17. > :11:21.month without speaking to a friend, neighbour, or family member, over
:11:22. > :11:26.Christmas. Many people over eat but thousands of families will choose
:11:27. > :11:32.between heating and eating. The real Christmas story is about an unfair
:11:33. > :11:36.tax, a brutal dictator slaughtering innocents, a young, and married
:11:37. > :11:40.woman giving birth in a stable and a family forced into exile. All of
:11:41. > :11:43.these things have repeated in Syria in the last week alone yet
:11:44. > :11:50.Kristianstad to believe that in that story lies hope for the world. I
:11:51. > :11:53.wish you, Mr Speaker, a mirror Christmas, and to the Turks, the
:11:54. > :11:58.doorkeepers, the police, the catering staff, the cleaners, and
:11:59. > :12:05.all who work with and for Parliament -- the clerks-. To our security
:12:06. > :12:09.services and all those who keep a watchful eye whilst we are very, I
:12:10. > :12:16.say in the words of tiny Tim, God bless us one and all.
:12:17. > :12:22.Mr Speaker, I didn't think it was going to finish... I would like to
:12:23. > :12:29.update the House on progress retires been made regarding provision of
:12:30. > :12:38.security for members. This has been a matter of serious concern for
:12:39. > :12:44.members. I have been working to try to identify a proper way forward.
:12:45. > :12:48.Security measures available to all members are to be standardised in a
:12:49. > :12:52.security package. The package will address personal security off-site,
:12:53. > :13:00.including constituency offices and homes. This is something which has
:13:01. > :13:10.been raised as a concern by many members. Many colleagues will have
:13:11. > :13:21.adequate measures in place, but this will provide standardised approach.
:13:22. > :13:27.We will write to colleagues today. There will be details issued in the
:13:28. > :13:37.New Year regarding access. I hope this will allay concerns. It has
:13:38. > :13:42.been the end of an eventful year. The Conservatives won the general
:13:43. > :13:52.election. Labour lost. The Liberal Democrats shrank in number. Has been
:13:53. > :13:57.asked like change in the numbers on the benches over there. Then we all
:13:58. > :14:00.came back to Westminster and you will remember those happy
:14:01. > :14:06.early-morning sprints as the Labour left and the Scottish National Party
:14:07. > :14:10.rushed for the best seats. But they don't need to do that any more
:14:11. > :14:24.because the Labour left has moved from their to the front benches. He
:14:25. > :14:28.asked a question about food waste. 1.4 million sausages sent to
:14:29. > :14:38.landfill in his constituency is alone. Can I suggest he might
:14:39. > :14:43.consider starting closer to home. I think the produce of Welsh virus is
:14:44. > :14:50.first-rate. I can't imagine why the produce of Welsh farmers would want
:14:51. > :14:56.to be sent to food waste. I made the point that the pro-minister will be
:14:57. > :15:01.here to make a statement. Eulogy -- he will address European Union
:15:02. > :15:07.issues. But I think it is important that we get an update on the Syrian
:15:08. > :15:12.peace process. He will be available to address other issues if
:15:13. > :15:16.necessary. The shadow leader talks about jobs. I have to say at the end
:15:17. > :15:19.of this year one of the things we can be proudest of as the
:15:20. > :15:27.unemployment figures we saw yesterday. 1.5 million people were
:15:28. > :15:32.claiming Job Seeker's Allowance. That number has almost halved in the
:15:33. > :15:40.past four years. More and more people are in work. The legacy of
:15:41. > :15:44.unemployment we inherited from the party opposite has been well and
:15:45. > :15:47.truly turned around. When it comes to Europe, I will not take any
:15:48. > :15:56.lessons from the man who a decade ago expressed deep distress that
:15:57. > :16:04.written was not joining the euro. I am glad to announce recess dates. We
:16:05. > :16:09.as a party believe it is more important to make sure the essential
:16:10. > :16:20.business on which we are elected to pass through gets enacted. He must
:16:21. > :16:26.stop believing everything he reads in the papers. When and if this
:16:27. > :16:30.government has a new measure, we will announce at. I have stood in
:16:31. > :16:34.this chamber over the last few weeks and received numerous requests from
:16:35. > :16:40.people to receive updates before Christmas. I make no apology for the
:16:41. > :16:46.fact that today we are providing the plenty of updates before Christmas.
:16:47. > :16:48.He made a serious point about lonely people this Christmas. I hope
:16:49. > :16:53.everyone in this country will think, do I have a lonely person next door
:16:54. > :16:57.like an invite round for a drink over Christmas and bring a bit of
:16:58. > :17:02.light into what would otherwise have been a lonely life? I hope everyone
:17:03. > :17:11.in this country has a very happy and joyful family Christmas. In the
:17:12. > :17:15.absence of the Christmas adjournment debate which would have allowed
:17:16. > :17:19.colleagues to remit -- to raise urgent matters, with my right
:17:20. > :17:25.honourable friend find time for a debate on CTC timetable changes
:17:26. > :17:35.which unfortunately has transferred what used to be the happy line back
:17:36. > :17:44.into the misery line again? The chair of the committee is here, it
:17:45. > :17:52.is clear the will of this House, that we should return to the
:17:53. > :18:01.traditional format. I hope we will do that next time around. A
:18:02. > :18:09.characteristically eloquent speech from my honourable friend.
:18:10. > :18:16.Is can I thank the leader of the House for announcing next year's
:18:17. > :18:23.business. Can I wish you and your staff all the best for a very
:18:24. > :18:29.peaceful and merry Christmas. I know my rouble friends from the SNP would
:18:30. > :18:40.like to wish all members of staff are very merry and peaceful
:18:41. > :18:45.Christmas. We wish to congratulate the staff for ensuring that all new
:18:46. > :18:53.members in this House feel welcome. I'm surprised to see so many of my
:18:54. > :18:58.staff here. Last night, it was the Christmas party for the SNP. I'm
:18:59. > :19:06.impressed to see so many of them here today. In Perth concert hall,
:19:07. > :19:11.we also have Beauty And The Beast. Our annual pantomime. Looking at the
:19:12. > :19:17.Labour benches, I thought sleeping beauty might have been more
:19:18. > :19:22.appropriate. What about a pantomime stalking horse for our colleagues in
:19:23. > :19:25.the Labour Party for next year? There is real growing concern in
:19:26. > :19:30.Scotland just now about what is happening in the debate about Europe
:19:31. > :19:38.with UK opinion polls now showing a majority of people throughout the
:19:39. > :19:42.United Kingdom favouring Britain leaving the European Commission. We
:19:43. > :19:46.see the Prime Minister flirting with our exit, trying to renegotiate our
:19:47. > :19:51.membership terms with European leaders who couldn't care less. It
:19:52. > :19:58.is like Chewbacca without the four trying to renegotiate our
:19:59. > :20:03.membership. European leaders just want to see the back of. The
:20:04. > :20:06.Scottish people remain determined to stay within Europe, yet there is a
:20:07. > :20:11.real growing fear that our nation might be taken out of Europe against
:20:12. > :20:15.our will. That is totally unacceptable to us. It will be the
:20:16. > :20:20.first time ever that a nation within Europe has been taken out of Europe
:20:21. > :20:24.against its will. During the referendum, we were told and no vote
:20:25. > :20:36.would secure our place in Europe. If we dared to vote yes, we would be
:20:37. > :20:39.dragged out. I'm offering the leader of the House a solution. That is a
:20:40. > :20:41.quadruple lock. If we are a family of nations within the United
:20:42. > :20:50.Kingdom, one nation of this union cannot determine the rights of other
:20:51. > :20:54.nations within this continent. I am asking the leader of the House to
:20:55. > :20:59.ensure she agrees to that debate next year. Yesterday's debate on
:21:00. > :21:16.fracking was simply appalling. There is a Scottish word for it and that
:21:17. > :21:22.is sleekit. Thank goodness we have the necessary powers to ensure that
:21:23. > :21:26.our country will not be desecrated by the Tories's fractures friends.
:21:27. > :21:36.And that is a difficult thing to say when you have had a good night out
:21:37. > :21:38.the previous night. There is no agreement about the fiscal framework
:21:39. > :21:43.which will allow the fiscal frameworks for the Scotland Bill to
:21:44. > :21:48.regress properly. We need to have disagreed and we to know how this
:21:49. > :21:52.government as a pro -- approaching this issue. I am proposing the
:21:53. > :21:57.leader of virus will not agree to any debate about this, but can
:21:58. > :22:03.ensure that Treasury ministers will fear in front of the Scottish
:22:04. > :22:07.affairs committee? He needs to go to the Treasury and I sure we have the
:22:08. > :22:19.necessary ministers so we can put our points to them. Finally,, this
:22:20. > :22:25.has been some year because the real news is the emergence of my friends.
:22:26. > :22:30.The Scottish National Party winning 56 out of 59 seats. One conservative
:22:31. > :22:38.who barely won his seat as we have in Scotland. What you have here is
:22:39. > :22:42.determined united the real opposition and they will get away
:22:43. > :22:51.with nothing as long as the Scottish National Party sitting here. We can
:22:52. > :22:54.no longer rely on this disunited, dispirited forlorn Labour Party.
:22:55. > :23:04.These benches will provide the opposition. The honourable gentleman
:23:05. > :23:08.is in his characteristic flamboyant form because he had an extremist
:23:09. > :23:13.night last night or because he has been tasting a lot of single malt. I
:23:14. > :23:19.wish them personally very happy festive period. And all of his
:23:20. > :23:23.colleagues. I hope they have a relaxing and enjoyable time. Our
:23:24. > :23:31.nation will not be taken out of Europe against its will. His nation
:23:32. > :23:38.and my nation are the same. I should simply remind him that if he had had
:23:39. > :23:40.his way, and he didn't because the Scottish people voted to remain a
:23:41. > :23:45.part of the United Kingdom, they would now be at the doors of
:23:46. > :23:50.Westminster with begging bowl because the collapse in the oil
:23:51. > :23:53.price would have totally shocked their financial plans. I think the
:23:54. > :23:59.Scottish people took a sensible decision and one that has proved
:24:00. > :24:04.remarkably prescient. I say again, our nation will decide our future in
:24:05. > :24:10.the European Union. On the fracking point, it is nonsense that this will
:24:11. > :24:14.desecrated some of our finest areas. Fracking technology has existed for
:24:15. > :24:19.years. It has been used in oil exploration in the south-east of
:24:20. > :24:24.England. People have not noticed for decades. I do not believe, and nor
:24:25. > :24:28.does the intention of this government, that taking advantage of
:24:29. > :24:31.shale gas, an important resource for the future, will in any way
:24:32. > :24:40.desecrate the finest areas of this country. He asked if a Treasury
:24:41. > :24:43.minister would appear. As the chair of the select committee, he will
:24:44. > :24:49.know that if a minister is asked to appear, it would be almost
:24:50. > :24:53.unprecedented for them to say no. I simply suggest he extends the
:24:54. > :25:03.invitation. On Scottish politics, it is true the SNP had a very good
:25:04. > :25:09.year. It is our goal next year to be the second party of Scotland at
:25:10. > :25:13.Holyrood. I wish all my Conservative colleagues well in the coming months
:25:14. > :25:20.for the campaigns they are about to fight. He dropped a Star Wars joke
:25:21. > :25:34.into his speech. I have to say to to him that although I have yet to see
:25:35. > :25:38.them in action, I was disappointed the shadow leader did not want to
:25:39. > :25:45.see a Star Wars joke because I think a number of people have freely
:25:46. > :25:54.described him as the Jar Jar Binks of the Labour Party. Seasons
:25:55. > :25:59.greetings to all. International women's Day 2016 will be on eight
:26:00. > :26:03.March. The theme next year will be make it happen. I wonder if the
:26:04. > :26:07.leader of the House would offer a chance for us to focus on the
:26:08. > :26:12.opportunities of getting more female representation into this House and
:26:13. > :26:17.all parliaments around the world on that day? And perhaps have a debate
:26:18. > :26:23.about it leading up to that date, the 8th of March next year? She
:26:24. > :26:26.makes an important point. Getting a much better gender balance in this
:26:27. > :26:31.House will continue to be a priority. I am delighted to see a
:26:32. > :26:35.really good intake of new female members of Parliament on both sides
:26:36. > :26:46.of the House. I think the House is a better place for it and long may
:26:47. > :26:49.that continue. Mr Speaker, can I say that there was a debate on
:26:50. > :26:57.international men's day and I think it would be appropriate there is one
:26:58. > :27:02.on International women's Day. The most interesting debate might be
:27:03. > :27:12.between both honourable friends. You can, on behalf of the backbench
:27:13. > :27:22.business committee and its staff, wish the House a Merry Christmas and
:27:23. > :27:26.a happy and healthy 2016. I thank the Leader of the House the
:27:27. > :27:32.statement, and the advance notice that we are to be allocated time on
:27:33. > :27:39.January 11 for the remaining stages of the Armed Forces. Will that be
:27:40. > :27:46.protected time for the committee, as did happen a number of days ago? We
:27:47. > :27:51.were given three hours protected time, just in case there was, for
:27:52. > :27:56.instance, and overrunning of considerations for the remaining
:27:57. > :28:00.stages of the Armed Forces Bill. I apologise to the Honourable member
:28:01. > :28:05.of South and West. The committee made a decision about the allocation
:28:06. > :28:10.of time for today in good faith based on information provided to us
:28:11. > :28:12.at the time. I have not been inundated by other members
:28:13. > :28:18.complaining about the decision we made, but I was aware of the concern
:28:19. > :28:24.of the member for South and West and also my colleague from Leicester.
:28:25. > :28:27.But there are important debates this afternoon which have a local support
:28:28. > :28:33.and on that basis the committee took its decision.
:28:34. > :28:37.I am aware of the issue about the subject of protected time for the
:28:38. > :28:41.committee and it is something I will give consideration but judging by
:28:42. > :28:46.the speed at which this bill has made progress so far, with consensus
:28:47. > :28:49.on both sides of the House, the likelihood is on that day they will
:28:50. > :28:53.end up with more time rather than less but I will continue to review
:28:54. > :28:59.the issue. I think his committee works well. It has provided an
:29:00. > :29:04.interesting range of topics for debate. My one request to them, and
:29:05. > :29:09.it is not the government to interfere, but they have a number of
:29:10. > :29:12.points, for example, how we deal with the veterans in the Armed
:29:13. > :29:16.Forces, and I hope the committee will always look to that as a part
:29:17. > :29:21.of its calendar. The chair of the backbench business
:29:22. > :29:37.committee had the Honourable member for also South in mind. -- Walsall.
:29:38. > :29:40.It is in fact her little brother who represents Leicester.
:29:41. > :29:45.The director generals of the Royal armouries Museum and the National
:29:46. > :29:49.Army Museum have warned that significant damage will be done to
:29:50. > :29:53.their collections of firearms leading to the near destruction of
:29:54. > :30:00.thousands of historic guns if the proposed changes to the EU firearms
:30:01. > :30:02.directive goes ahead. Can we have a statement from the government on
:30:03. > :30:09.what they are doing to stop this happening?
:30:10. > :30:12.We will have questions with the Foreign Secretary shortly after I
:30:13. > :30:15.will return in January but I will say that it is important, whether in
:30:16. > :30:23.this place of Russells, that new legislation is thought through
:30:24. > :30:29.carefully -- this place, or Brussels. It is absolutely a policy
:30:30. > :30:34.one can understand because of course we want to see a removal from Europe
:30:35. > :30:39.or dangerous firearms but it should not be at the expense of historic
:30:40. > :30:50.museums. The Foreign Secretary will take careful note of what he says.
:30:51. > :31:01.My mistake, she is firmly rooted in her seat.
:31:02. > :31:05.My constituent was tragically stabbed to death whilst on a night
:31:06. > :31:11.out with friends and family in central London. He was a valued
:31:12. > :31:16.member of the community, a father to a three-year-old boy and care to his
:31:17. > :31:20.elderly grandfather. He was warm, intelligent, and kind. Weeks ago I
:31:21. > :31:29.told the House, and other constituents, and ask the Leader of
:31:30. > :31:36.the House if you could have a debate on the matter. He dodged the
:31:37. > :31:40.question and gave no answer. Today I ask again. Willie one of the victim
:31:41. > :31:53.and allow us time to debate? -- will he
:31:54. > :32:02.honour? . I legislated in the last parliament to create a mandatory
:32:03. > :32:08.jail sentence for somebody caught carrying a knife of the second time.
:32:09. > :32:15.I will give careful consideration to what time can be made available but
:32:16. > :32:18.actually a lot of the time provided by this House is in the hands of the
:32:19. > :32:25.backbench business committee, I would encourage her to talk to them.
:32:26. > :32:29.Given that the Lord Chancellor has announced he is undertaking a review
:32:30. > :32:34.does the Leader of the House think it would be sensible for time to be
:32:35. > :32:37.given for a general debate on sentencing so that he can get a
:32:38. > :32:43.sense of the wishes of the House before bringing forward legislation?
:32:44. > :32:48.I think there is absolutely a logic, as he prepares his review, to
:32:49. > :32:54.express that view. I will talk to him about how that is best made
:32:55. > :32:58.possible. Yesterday the National Audit Office
:32:59. > :33:03.published a report about the future of hospitals showing that 181 of the
:33:04. > :33:08.240 acute hospitals trust in this country are at a deficit six months
:33:09. > :33:11.into the financial year. In the Autumn Statement the Chancellor
:33:12. > :33:16.unveiled extra money for NHS England, we now know it will likely
:33:17. > :33:20.be swallowed up by deficits. Given that the Chancellor's sleight of
:33:21. > :33:22.hand will the Leader of the House make sure that either he or the
:33:23. > :33:30.Secretary of State for Health explain how the government will make
:33:31. > :33:33.sure our hospitals do not close? The reason health service finances are
:33:34. > :33:37.under pressure is because the health service is doing more today than
:33:38. > :33:41.ever before in this country, treating more patients, employing
:33:42. > :33:45.more people, providing more treatment options for people, it is
:33:46. > :33:48.right and proper we continue to do everything we can and that is why we
:33:49. > :33:53.have provided more money to the NHS and will continue to do so. The
:33:54. > :33:56.Health Secretary will be here the day we return and have the
:33:57. > :34:00.opportunity to raise those concerns again. If we take those issues
:34:01. > :34:07.seriously but it is because the NHS is doing more that it faces
:34:08. > :34:10.pressures. Will the Leader of the House arrange for a debate in the
:34:11. > :34:15.New Year to discuss the cherished relationship the UK has with the
:34:16. > :34:23.other 15 rounds were Her Majesty is the head of state? Will Esher with
:34:24. > :34:30.me the concern that the government of Barbados is intending to call a
:34:31. > :34:36.republic felt a referendum? My honourable friend makes his point
:34:37. > :34:39.customarily eloquently and I have to say that I was always hope and
:34:40. > :34:44.expect that constitutional change in a common of country would come with
:34:45. > :34:49.the opportunity for the people to express a view. I commend the work
:34:50. > :34:53.it does on Commonwealth matters. We derive enormous strength from our
:34:54. > :35:00.ties with the Commonwealth. We provide an opportunity for cultural
:35:01. > :35:05.exchange and economic development. We have a debate on the UK Border
:35:06. > :35:10.Agency in the New Year, as it affects constituents like mine. One
:35:11. > :35:19.in particular, Michael Alphonso, who has lived in the UK for 31 years,
:35:20. > :35:22.this -- is married to a British national, but struggles to achieve
:35:23. > :35:39.permanent residency in a case in the Home Office are reluctant to engage.
:35:40. > :35:46.Mayor also wish you a... SPEAKS WELSH.
:35:47. > :35:49.. I do not think I could reply in kind ex-commissioner Mark I will
:35:50. > :35:54.make sure the concerns of passed on to my right honourable friend the
:35:55. > :36:00.Home Secretary. Earlier this week the European
:36:01. > :36:08.Commission imposed a Draconian than on the catching of sea bass on
:36:09. > :36:12.fishermen in this south-west. Can we have a policy statement, is used to
:36:13. > :36:17.happen, when a fisheries minister came back from Europe? Or can have a
:36:18. > :36:26.debate in the New Year to look at the implications of the fisheries
:36:27. > :36:30.Council decision? I have known for years that we used to have debates
:36:31. > :36:33.after the event and we used to have a statement from the fisheries
:36:34. > :36:38.minister in the chamber so he could be questioned. Can we please have
:36:39. > :36:41.that? My honourable friend makes an
:36:42. > :36:45.important point and I will discuss this with the minister and make sure
:36:46. > :36:52.her concerns are raised. It is a difficult rounds. We have a duty to
:36:53. > :36:55.protect fish stocks -- it is a difficult balance. But we understand
:36:56. > :36:59.the demands on communities like her and I will make sure the minister
:37:00. > :37:04.get in touch with her and addresses the concerns as soon as possible.
:37:05. > :37:11.The Leader of the House might know that not only is Christmas known for
:37:12. > :37:15.overindulgence but it is also a time when many of our constituents get
:37:16. > :37:19.out and have a wonderful walk. Often on Boxing Day, or over the holiday.
:37:20. > :37:23.He knows that many members here believe that children learn best
:37:24. > :37:28.outside the classroom. Can we have an early debate when we get back on
:37:29. > :37:34.the value on out-of-school learning? And will he and other members join
:37:35. > :37:38.those members who have raised ?5,000 in a constituency to make sure that
:37:39. > :37:40.ten schools could out into the countryside and that if that
:37:41. > :37:44.involves a partnership, the trust would be happy to help?
:37:45. > :37:50.I would be delighted to find out more about what he is doing. I agree
:37:51. > :37:54.about the needs to get the book, our families, constituents, out
:37:55. > :37:58.exercising, taking advantage of the beautiful countryside over the
:37:59. > :38:03.coming week. After a good Christmas dinner, I think. He makes an
:38:04. > :38:05.important point. And what is also important and something I sought to
:38:06. > :38:11.change in the last Parliament is that unnecessary health and safety
:38:12. > :38:15.rules that put schools off taking him to ring out elsewhere, are used,
:38:16. > :38:20.so that there is a talent between appropriate safeguards and
:38:21. > :38:25.common-sense. Can I extend my best wishes to
:38:26. > :38:30.everybody for Christmas? Particularly the team behind the
:38:31. > :38:37.education select committee. With Christmas in mind can be spare a
:38:38. > :38:41.thought for the turkey? Is it is prepared for the off, completely and
:38:42. > :38:45.utterly stuffed. The Leader of the House agree with me that we should
:38:46. > :38:48.have a debate on the consequences of leaving the European Union, after
:38:49. > :38:57.the referendum? That is an interesting segue. On the
:38:58. > :39:02.subject of the turkey, many will grace our tables and Christmas time,
:39:03. > :39:07.possibly with pigs and blankets, except in the Rhondda, where the
:39:08. > :39:11.sausages are all thrown away. But because sequences of leaving the EU
:39:12. > :39:14.will be debated and discussed over the coming months, strong views will
:39:15. > :39:22.be articulated on both sides and the people will decide.
:39:23. > :39:31.The Leader of the House will be aware that one of our most eminent
:39:32. > :39:38.conservationists, Chris Patten, said of the... Said earlier this week
:39:39. > :39:47.that of the 75% decline and butterfly species, that it was a
:39:48. > :39:51.final warning to the UK. Can we have a debate on the decline in this
:39:52. > :39:57.country and the need for urgent action to meet our targets for
:39:58. > :40:01.energy? I ought to declare a particular
:40:02. > :40:07.interest in this subject since the Grayling is not just a species of
:40:08. > :40:11.fish but also brown butterfly. Like him I would not like to see them
:40:12. > :40:16.disappear from our country and I share the concerns he has raised. It
:40:17. > :40:20.is important in this country to have a talented policy protecting our
:40:21. > :40:27.countryside, habitats, as well as providing space for agriculture -- a
:40:28. > :40:30.balanced policy. I will communicate his concerns to the Secretary of
:40:31. > :40:39.State who I'm sure she the views he and I both do. -- shares.
:40:40. > :40:48.As a member of the parliamentary group for mountaineering I welcome
:40:49. > :40:52.the sports strategy today going beyond traditional sport to put
:40:53. > :40:57.further focus on outdoor recreation such as walking, cycling, and
:40:58. > :41:01.Mountain sports. Will my right honourable friend consider holding a
:41:02. > :41:03.further debate to highlight the benefits of outdoor recreation in
:41:04. > :41:19.terms of physical health, and mental well-being is to -- well-being?
:41:20. > :41:21.It is an appropriate part of the future, engaging children in sport
:41:22. > :41:25.at an early age is very important and I pay tribute to my honourable
:41:26. > :41:30.friend the work she has done assembling a sports strategy. I wish
:41:31. > :41:35.her all the very best for the next few weeks. We know she is expecting
:41:36. > :41:36.her first child and we wish her the very best for a successful birth and
:41:37. > :41:57.a happy time with her newborn. Merry Christmas to all in the House
:41:58. > :42:03.and a happy New Year. During the Smith hash Smith Commission process,
:42:04. > :42:10.the Scottish Government voted in favour of devolving trade union
:42:11. > :42:17.legislation. This was blocked by the party opposite and the Labour Party.
:42:18. > :42:32.One party has had an epiphany, so can we have an -- a further debate?
:42:33. > :42:38.Lord Smith has said we fulfilled the terms of the Smith Commission. To be
:42:39. > :42:40.honest, I think the Scottish administration would do well to
:42:41. > :42:45.concentrate on using the powers we are giving them, rather than asking
:42:46. > :42:51.for more. So far there is little evidence that when we give them
:42:52. > :42:59.powers they make use of them. Can we have a debate in government time on
:43:00. > :43:09.the report regarding the shambolic performance last week of the
:43:10. > :43:11.non-announcement to this House, to discuss the unanimous conclusions of
:43:12. > :43:17.the five commissioners that Heathrow was the right site for a new runway?
:43:18. > :43:21.Can the terms of that debate be set widely enough to include
:43:22. > :43:29.consideration of the extraordinary proposition from Gatwick that they
:43:30. > :43:35.can put five times as many passengers on the train line, where
:43:36. > :43:45.I repeat a message on Twitter from one of my constituents, who went to
:43:46. > :43:52.work and said, southern real again? Are you on some sort of sponsored
:43:53. > :44:03.screw-up? Crispin Blunt, you are our only hope. The situation was clearly
:44:04. > :44:06.deeply wretched. I think we are in danger of getting into the detail of
:44:07. > :44:13.the policy. Reference was made earlier to the fact that there was
:44:14. > :44:16.no statement on the day in question, it was a very regrettable state of
:44:17. > :44:21.affairs. The Secretary of State came on Monday to deliver a statement and
:44:22. > :44:26.there can be no doubt that a minister was going to have to appear
:44:27. > :44:30.at the dispatch box, either to deliver a statement or to respond to
:44:31. > :44:35.an urgent question. Of that the honourable gentleman had no reason
:44:36. > :44:39.to be in any doubt whatsoever. In future, rather than delivering the
:44:40. > :44:43.statement later Billy when it was going to have to be delivered, it
:44:44. > :44:49.should be delivered on time, as courtesy to the House of commons
:44:50. > :44:56.requires. You know I always endeavour to make sure announcements
:44:57. > :45:00.are made to the House. No public statements have been made by the
:45:01. > :45:04.government today about the Strathclyde review which has now
:45:05. > :45:10.been published. I would say that the Vermont has to do deal with market
:45:11. > :45:17.sensitive information. I have noted his comments. I have to say the
:45:18. > :45:21.phrase our only hope is Christian Blunt is one I had never hoped for
:45:22. > :45:27.in this House. How often it will be heard again, we will wait and see.
:45:28. > :45:30.He makes an important point about the Brighton mainline. At a time
:45:31. > :45:35.when there is discussion about reopening the south coast line to
:45:36. > :45:43.London, it is because there is heavy congestion already. Aspirations to
:45:44. > :45:46.substantially increase the number of passengers on it, those who have
:45:47. > :45:56.constituencies in that area would take some persuasion. The service
:45:57. > :46:02.which has been provided to hundreds of thousands of commuters in my
:46:03. > :46:07.constituency has been an appalling joke. And absolute joke. Southern
:46:08. > :46:11.trains have admitted they don't have enough drivers and they don't have
:46:12. > :46:16.enough decent trains. Basic things in providing a service. Will the
:46:17. > :46:19.leader of the House at the Transport Secretary here to give a statement
:46:20. > :46:23.or at least write to both of us explaining what he is going to do to
:46:24. > :46:31.get these companies to sort their act out? They have broken promise
:46:32. > :46:35.after promise. Enough is enough. I understand the pressures on the line
:46:36. > :46:40.passing through his constituency. There is a massive investment at
:46:41. > :46:45.London Bridge to create better infrastructure for the future. I
:46:46. > :46:49.take note of the comments he makes. I will make sure the Transport
:46:50. > :46:58.Secretary is aware of them. In defence of at least part of the
:46:59. > :47:07.southern service, the section near Epsom appears to be working well. My
:47:08. > :47:09.constituents value the right to compensation for certain flight
:47:10. > :47:22.delays of more than three hours. There is one airline which appears
:47:23. > :47:29.to disagree with this. One of my constituents suffered an extremely
:47:30. > :47:32.long delay. Can we have a debate about airlines fulfilling their
:47:33. > :47:43.obligations under this European ruling? This is a legal requirement.
:47:44. > :47:47.Any airline failing to comply is subject to legal action. It would
:47:48. > :47:54.not be appropriate for us to offer legal advice, but there are channels
:47:55. > :48:01.for someone who wishes to pursue a legal claim against any
:48:02. > :48:07.organisation. BT's handling of broadband infrastructure and leaves
:48:08. > :48:11.a lot to be desired. Constituents constantly complain about service
:48:12. > :48:16.they receive. My constituency office has a problem. We still have no
:48:17. > :48:22.broadband and no phone connection nine weeks after moving into a
:48:23. > :48:26.brand-new building. Given BT's constant failure to deliver in a
:48:27. > :48:32.timely fashion the broadband infrastructure this country so badly
:48:33. > :48:36.need the -- needs, can we have a debate on whether it is time to
:48:37. > :48:44.separate the infrastructure and retail elements of this badly
:48:45. > :48:49.performing company? She makes her point very eloquently. If she wants
:48:50. > :48:55.to raise specific concerns with the Department and ask them to put fresh
:48:56. > :48:59.on BT over this, she writes to me with the details, I will make sure
:49:00. > :49:04.that is paid attention to. I will make sure the points she makes are
:49:05. > :49:08.passed on to the business Department. In previous years, there
:49:09. > :49:15.has always been a statement or debate in this House on the police
:49:16. > :49:19.grant. I note on the order paper it is by written statement. Given we
:49:20. > :49:22.have good news to talk about on the police grant and the Mayor of London
:49:23. > :49:28.has announced today that the police funding will never ensure at least
:49:29. > :49:32.one police constable and one PCS or for every ward across London, surely
:49:33. > :49:37.we should have a debate on the issue so we can highlight the proposal
:49:38. > :49:41.from the other side to reduce police grant by 10%? Well, the honourable
:49:42. > :49:48.gentleman makes an important point. It is a sign of the way in which we
:49:49. > :49:57.have turned the economy around. We have been able to make decisions to
:49:58. > :50:01.protect police budgets. It will return to this House in the New Year
:50:02. > :50:06.for approval. He will have the opportunity to make the important
:50:07. > :50:13.point he makes. And to put the other side to shame over their record. Can
:50:14. > :50:22.I join the festive compliments by wishing you all Americans must and
:50:23. > :50:34.happy New Year in Gaelic? -- a Merry Christmas. The government seems to
:50:35. > :50:40.be giving evermore status to the state and whether or not the UK is
:50:41. > :50:44.in breach of the arms trade treaty. Many of us are concerned this is
:50:45. > :50:57.Wilford has been dressed up in sheepdog clothing. Can I say to the
:50:58. > :51:00.honourable gentleman that we've particularly stress of peaceful
:51:01. > :51:03.Christmas for the people of Northern Ireland. We hope it will be a
:51:04. > :51:15.productive and peaceful year. Regarding Saudi Arabia -- we always
:51:16. > :51:22.raise matters on human rights with the Saudi government. If he has
:51:23. > :51:28.concerns, he will have the opportunity in the New Year to raise
:51:29. > :51:34.his concerns. They have been a nation with which we have a
:51:35. > :51:53.long-standing partnership. Can I draw the House's attention to my
:51:54. > :51:57.entry for interests? We expect to publish a report in the spring. Can
:51:58. > :52:07.we please have a debate in government time to ensure we are not
:52:08. > :52:14.holding problems for the future? He makes an important point. Most of us
:52:15. > :52:16.have from time to time had constituents come to us who have
:52:17. > :52:26.been badly let down on buying new homes. He is doing important work in
:52:27. > :52:32.this area and I commend him. There will be a recommended provision for
:52:33. > :52:37.hedgehog superhighways in construction. Can I draw the House's
:52:38. > :52:40.attention to the excellent use the Home Secretary has agreed to
:52:41. > :52:46.withdraw from legal action and will that -- left the ban on the
:52:47. > :52:59.international seat Federation. This needs to be voted speedily
:53:00. > :53:15.through by both houses. I will certainly do that. The leader will
:53:16. > :53:21.be aware of proposals regarding limiting extracurricular activities.
:53:22. > :53:35.They would need to be available for Ofsted inspections.
:53:36. > :53:44.With the Lido use his influence to seek an extension to the 11th of
:53:45. > :53:48.January deadline? She makes an important point and has been a great
:53:49. > :54:04.champion for these issues. I will make sure today that we will pass on
:54:05. > :54:08.the request she has made. There has been an economic impact published in
:54:09. > :54:13.my constituency suggesting there will be job losses regarding fishing
:54:14. > :54:29.grounds causing between the mainland and the Isle of Rothesay.
:54:30. > :54:41.I understand that point. I am not aware of the detailed situation, but
:54:42. > :54:49.I will make sure his concerns are passed and try to get an early
:54:50. > :54:54.response for him. Merry Christmas. Can we have a debate on planning law
:54:55. > :55:01.to look to make an amendment is so rejected applications for fast food
:55:02. > :55:08.takeaway is with close proximity to schools don't have a right to
:55:09. > :55:15.appeal. My constituents are objecting to a KFC yards to the
:55:16. > :55:22.entrance of a primary school. My noble friend has campaigned on
:55:23. > :55:25.behalf of his constituents since his election. I commend him. He makes an
:55:26. > :55:33.important point. We have ongoing work being done to make it as
:55:34. > :55:37.efficient as possible. Concerns will be noted since we have one of the
:55:38. > :55:43.relevant ministers on the bench next to me. I am sure they will give it
:55:44. > :55:49.due consideration. Whilst we leave this place to celebrate the
:55:50. > :55:56.holidays, we must spare a fought for the hundreds of thousands of
:55:57. > :56:04.schoolchildren who qualify for a free meal. Can we have an urgent
:56:05. > :56:08.debate to discuss the impact on their life, health and long-term
:56:09. > :56:15.aspirations? I am proud that since we took power in 2010 there has been
:56:16. > :56:19.a fall in nearly 700,000 of the number of workless households. The
:56:20. > :56:24.best way we have available for us to ease poverty is to get families
:56:25. > :56:37.working on moving up the economic scale. That is a priority for us.
:56:38. > :56:42.I was appalled by the announcement we are no longer vaccinating
:56:43. > :56:53.Padgett. Can we have a debate about the performance of Defra? I don't
:56:54. > :56:58.think the very continental grip. -- don't think it would be very
:56:59. > :57:04.complimentary. He knows full well the impact that
:57:05. > :57:09.bovine TB can have on the farming community, spread by badgers, and
:57:10. > :57:11.that is why the difficult decisions we have taken have they did to be
:57:12. > :57:34.taken. The -- have needed. Next year, seafarers UK, will be
:57:35. > :57:42.getting ready to celebrate its centenary. Will the Cabinet Office
:57:43. > :57:47.or Department for Transport be able to help this excellent charity
:57:48. > :57:56.prepare for this and in we? -- for the centenary?
:57:57. > :58:01.I will pass the request on. I would not normally pay tribute to work
:58:02. > :58:05.done by a Labour government but I do think the effort put into rebuilding
:58:06. > :58:10.the British flag motion fleet by the former Deputy primus stove was a
:58:11. > :58:22.real benefit to the country -- Prime Minister.
:58:23. > :58:28.Can we have a debate on the importance of small businesses to
:58:29. > :58:35.our national economy and the future of the Northern Powerhouse?
:58:36. > :58:42.I express thanks to all members, and I know he was one, and part and
:58:43. > :58:46.small-business Saturday. I know his constituency well. I know what an
:58:47. > :58:55.important role small-business plays in the era he represents. I graduate
:58:56. > :58:58.on his efforts on behalf of the local business community I have no
:58:59. > :59:03.doubt they'll is restricted due to him for so doing.
:59:04. > :59:09.I have been contacted by a local foundry in my constituency
:59:10. > :59:14.highlighting concerns at the severe increase in energy costs they face,
:59:15. > :59:17.17%, year-on-year. Can a statement be made about the progress of
:59:18. > :59:22.discussions with the European Commission in relation to further
:59:23. > :59:27.compensation for heavy industries? The honourable gentleman makes an
:59:28. > :59:32.important point. He knows it is a matter of ongoing concern to the
:59:33. > :59:34.government. The Secretary of State that Energy and Climate Change
:59:35. > :59:37.Committee her the Thursday after we return and I will make sure the
:59:38. > :59:42.authors are aware of his concerns. They will be better prepared to
:59:43. > :59:48.answer him. I previously raised the subject of a
:59:49. > :59:52.campaign and the problems with pension equalisation measures. I am
:59:53. > :59:57.glad to see a backbench committee has granted a debate on the petition
:59:58. > :00:06.has not exceeded more than 70,000 signatures. In that debate can he
:00:07. > :00:08.make sure the Secretary of State response, particularly given the
:00:09. > :00:15.comment by his former Minister for pensions?
:00:16. > :00:18.My honourable friend is making very effective use of social media in his
:00:19. > :00:26.campaigning and I commend him for it. I will make sure his request is
:00:27. > :00:33.passed on. The Manchester evening News recently
:00:34. > :00:37.ran a piece highlighting premise is in greater Manchester with poor food
:00:38. > :00:41.hygiene ratings. It featured the red line in Denton. Unfortunately for
:00:42. > :00:49.the newspaper that is under new ownership. The editor has apologised
:00:50. > :00:55.to the proprietor but they tell me that they got the information from
:00:56. > :01:00.the government website. So can we have a debate in government time on
:01:01. > :01:06.how up-to-date the information on government websites are? And
:01:07. > :01:13.whether, when information is incorrect, it can be corrected
:01:14. > :01:17.promptly? Most importantly, before any newspaper publishes a list of
:01:18. > :01:22.people to name and shame it is good practice to telephone them first and
:01:23. > :01:27.put that to them. In that situation they would have been corrected. I
:01:28. > :01:30.would always want and expect the government websites to be as
:01:31. > :01:34.up-to-date as possible tracking every change in management in an
:01:35. > :01:38.organisation that has had a poor report would be an impossibility. It
:01:39. > :01:43.is good journalistic practice to ask for a quote and discover that the
:01:44. > :01:49.change has happened. The number of off-licences in my
:01:50. > :01:53.constituency has led to a rise in anti-social behaviour and street
:01:54. > :01:58.drinking. Can we have a debate on what it means to be a socially
:01:59. > :02:02.responsible business in the 21st-century? And the cumulative
:02:03. > :02:05.impact on businesses that do not take their social responsibility
:02:06. > :02:08.seriously? There are extensive powers that are
:02:09. > :02:14.not always use of local authorities to deal with problem premises. If
:02:15. > :02:18.things are not working in the way that local planning laws work, we
:02:19. > :02:20.have a team on the front bench who I'm sure would be very happy to look
:02:21. > :02:36.at specific issues. On the subject of abysmal train
:02:37. > :02:41.services can I add my name to the list of people who would like to
:02:42. > :02:49.receive letters? What I would like to ask is, has there been a request
:02:50. > :02:54.from the Home Office to debate the disclosure service? I am not sure if
:02:55. > :02:59.he is aware that the service is 70,000 outstanding cases at present,
:03:00. > :03:06.having a huge impact on people's ability to take up jobs.
:03:07. > :03:10.This is an issue I have had constituency cases in the past. I
:03:11. > :03:15.have not had any in recent times but it is always a matter of concern. We
:03:16. > :03:18.do not want people not getting jobs because the appropriate
:03:19. > :03:24.certification has not come through. I will make sure the Home Secretary
:03:25. > :03:29.is aware of the concerns raised. Thank you, and happy Christmas, Mr
:03:30. > :03:33.Speaker. Can we have a debate and the access to elected office fund
:03:34. > :03:39.supporting disabled candidates in elections, given the government
:03:40. > :03:42.decision to cut funding for them? We have regularly electoral
:03:43. > :03:47.commission questions, we have just had those, so she had an opportunity
:03:48. > :03:51.to raise these issues. We continue to to provide support where we can
:03:52. > :03:56.for things that require support. But in recent years we have had to take
:03:57. > :04:07.typical decisions. To make sure we have stable public finances.
:04:08. > :04:12.Will the House make progress towards the publication of this report
:04:13. > :04:15.report? It is sadly not a matter for
:04:16. > :04:19.government otherwise it would have been published a long time ago. It
:04:20. > :04:32.is entirely in the hands of Sir John Chilcott. We have absolutely no
:04:33. > :04:35.benefit at all, no incentive at all as a government, to delay
:04:36. > :04:40.publication, because we were not in power at the time of the events it
:04:41. > :04:45.covers. We hope it will be brought forward as soon as possible in the
:04:46. > :04:48.New Year. We all agree on the importance of
:04:49. > :04:55.the NHS and staff will stop my constituent faces Christmas jobless
:04:56. > :05:00.because as a radiographer Ealing Hospital she exposed the malpractice
:05:01. > :05:04.of consultants taking extra financial inducement. Can we have a
:05:05. > :05:10.debate on whistle-blowers in the NHS? It is not done since 2009
:05:11. > :05:15.according to the Commons library. Can he grant is a debate, if not a
:05:16. > :05:23.statement? What I can offer is the Health
:05:24. > :05:28.Secretary on the first day back. She makes an important point. It is not
:05:29. > :05:31.the government policy to see whistle-blowers penalised. I do not
:05:32. > :05:35.know all the details of the case she raises but if you write to the
:05:36. > :05:38.Secretary of State or to me I will make sure that is available to him
:05:39. > :05:42.before he comes to the House on the first day back.
:05:43. > :05:50.Merry Christmas Mr Speaker, to you and yours. I have received a letter
:05:51. > :05:59.from a constituent, who confirms that a government minister is to
:06:00. > :06:03.receive a visit from three spirit on New Year's Eve. Will the government
:06:04. > :06:07.make a statement, having confirmed a new and munificent attitude to life,
:06:08. > :06:11.to address the many iniquities of our current Social Security system?
:06:12. > :06:18.Or are the hopes and aspirations of many milli on bug?
:06:19. > :06:21.If anyone had a visit from three spirit of Christmas these days the
:06:22. > :06:25.spirit of Christmas past which show a country in trouble, Internet, with
:06:26. > :06:35.high. It would show Christmas present with falling unemployment,
:06:36. > :06:41.and a high-tech exciting country with opportunities for all.
:06:42. > :06:46.I warmly endorse the tributes that the Leader of the House gave to the
:06:47. > :06:50.staff of this place. Can we have perhaps a debate on staffing here in
:06:51. > :06:53.Parliament? It might give the government an opportunity to explain
:06:54. > :06:57.why at the same time it is allowing the number and the cost of special
:06:58. > :07:03.advisers to skyrocket and check, it is reducing by 20% the short money
:07:04. > :07:20.support been given to opposition parties? -- and and we spend more
:07:21. > :07:23.short money the special advisers. I have had contact from a
:07:24. > :07:26.constituent who thinks the SNP are doing a great job providing a real
:07:27. > :07:30.opposition to the Conservative government. He wants us to keep
:07:31. > :07:35.asking tough questions and would like a statement on how we can
:07:36. > :07:43.afford to fund ones for Syria, and nuclear weapons, well people in this
:07:44. > :07:50.country are having to use the banks? -- bombs. I don't want to hear any
:07:51. > :07:53.war for about how we have them in Germany.
:07:54. > :08:02.We are affording military support to people who are trying to rescue
:08:03. > :08:05.refugees. We are funding support to rescue a civilian population that
:08:06. > :08:11.has been through a trauma unlike any experienced anywhere on this planet
:08:12. > :08:15.in 50 years. Our job, our goal, the present of our forces in Syria and
:08:16. > :08:18.Iraq is to restore peace to people who are wandering around a region
:08:19. > :08:24.desperately looking for a home. We need them to be able to go back to
:08:25. > :08:35.their own homes. The Secretary of State for
:08:36. > :08:40.Communities and Local Government. I believe that our gloriously
:08:41. > :08:44.diverse country will prosper more of the district, counties, towns, and
:08:45. > :08:48.cities that make it up, have more power. If you accept that it follows
:08:49. > :08:53.that you must believe councils to be capable of exercising that power.
:08:54. > :08:54.Over the last five years councils have shown a