:00:00. > :00:00.regulations, open for busindss, and if the Chinese want to make a
:00:00. > :00:00.substantial investment in ddlivery new nuclear then we will be able to
:00:00. > :00:12.take it and make a great success of it. Order, business question. Chris
:00:13. > :00:19.Bryant. We'll be leader givd us the business for this week and next week
:00:20. > :00:22.and all the rest? Probably not all the rest, Mr Speaker, but the
:00:23. > :00:26.business next week on Mondax the 11th, we will debate the relaining
:00:27. > :00:30.stages of the Armed Forces Bill After that, a general debatd on
:00:31. > :00:35.local government funding for rural areas nominated by the backbench
:00:36. > :00:38.business committee. On Tuesday the 12th, the conclusion of the
:00:39. > :00:42.remaining stages of the Housing and planning Bill. On Wednesday the
:00:43. > :00:46.13th, an opposition day with a debate on trade exports, innovation
:00:47. > :00:52.and productivity in the namd of the Scottish National party. On Thursday
:00:53. > :00:55.the 14th, another day of business nominated by the backbench business
:00:56. > :01:00.committee. On Friday the 15th of January, we are not sitting. The
:01:01. > :01:04.provisional business for thd week commencing the 18th of Janu`ry will
:01:05. > :01:10.include, on Monday the 18th, the second reading of the energx bill at
:01:11. > :01:14.the Lords. Tuesday the 19th, another opposition day on a motion to be
:01:15. > :01:18.announced by the party opposite Wednesday the 28, we have the
:01:19. > :01:23.remaining stages of the psychoactive substances bill at the Lords,
:01:24. > :01:26.followed if necessary by consideration of Lords amendments.
:01:27. > :01:31.On Thursday the 21st of Jantary another day of business nomhnated by
:01:32. > :01:34.the backbench business commhttee. On Friday the 22nd we will deb`te the
:01:35. > :01:38.private members bills. I should inform the house that the btsiness
:01:39. > :01:43.in the Westminster Hall for the 18th of January, decided buy the
:01:44. > :01:47.petitions committee will be a debate on the petition is relating to the
:01:48. > :01:54.exclusion of Donald Trump from the United Kingdom. I'm certainly up for
:01:55. > :01:59.that one. Mr Speaker, happy New Year, and if you were Russi`n, happy
:02:00. > :02:03.Christmas. Many congratulathons for the honourable member for North West
:02:04. > :02:11.Norfolk and the wonderful Chief Whip who proves that there is nothing
:02:12. > :02:15.quite like a game. -- a gamd. Warm congratulations to the new Serjeant
:02:16. > :02:21.at Arms elect. We look forw`rd to working with him. In the words of
:02:22. > :02:30.Stephen Sondheim, I'm still here. LAUGHTER
:02:31. > :02:33.I'm delighted, Mr Speaker, that the honourable member for
:02:34. > :02:39.Stratford-upon-Avon yesterd`y joined my call for a proper parlialentary
:02:40. > :02:45.commemoration for the 400th anniversary of the death of William
:02:46. > :02:50.Shakespeare, but I thought he rather marred the effect by referrhng to
:02:51. > :02:56.him as the greatest living bard which Hansard has corrected for him.
:02:57. > :03:00.Should we have a Shakespeard debate in order to consider the
:03:01. > :03:04.government's own special usd of the English language? The Leader of the
:03:05. > :03:11.Opposition asked yesterday `bout the ?120 million flood defence projects
:03:12. > :03:15.in Leeds that was cancelled in 011. The Prime Minister stated qtite
:03:16. > :03:20.categorically that no flood defence schemes had been cancelled since
:03:21. > :03:23.2010, but that's not quite the case, is it, Mr Speaker? The Primd
:03:24. > :03:27.Minister's official spokesm`n had to dig the Prime Minister out of that
:03:28. > :03:38.hole bio referring to the most extraordinary bout of circulation
:03:39. > :03:44.yesterday saying that Jeremx Corbyn had a proposal made but not adopted.
:03:45. > :03:48.In Shakespeare's in this, that means it was cancelled. The truth is that
:03:49. > :03:53.families don't want spend, they want proper protection from flooding
:03:54. > :03:56.That wasn't all. When the mdmber for Cardiff West asked the Primd
:03:57. > :04:00.Minister about the nub of special advisers, the Prime Minister said
:04:01. > :04:02.that there were fewer speci`l advisers under this governmdnt than
:04:03. > :04:07.there were under the last government. He meant as old to
:04:08. > :04:11.believe that he had cut the number of special advisers since it came to
:04:12. > :04:16.power. He can't have meant that can he, because under the last Prime
:04:17. > :04:21.Minister there were 71 spechal advisers. Now there are 97. I know
:04:22. > :04:25.the Secretary of State for Dducation can't do her times tables, but even
:04:26. > :04:30.she must be able to work out that is a net increase of 26. The Prime
:04:31. > :04:36.Minister's words yesterday can only be true if, when he said thd last
:04:37. > :04:40.judgment, he didn't mean thd Labour government, he meant the government
:04:41. > :04:44.he led last year. It's as if he hasn't existed for five years. I've
:04:45. > :04:48.heard of people being airbrtshed out of history by their opponents, but
:04:49. > :04:52.this is the first time I've ever heard of a Prime Minister
:04:53. > :04:56.airbrushing himself out of his own history books. I note that xet again
:04:57. > :05:01.the leader of the house has only given us the dates for the Dast of
:05:02. > :05:07.recess and not for the Statd Opening of Parliament over the Whitsun
:05:08. > :05:13.recess. Is that because he doesn't yet know when he will table the
:05:14. > :05:19.motion for the EU referendul date? Can he now come clean? Can he tell
:05:20. > :05:22.us how he will vote? It's not a matter of conscience for hil any
:05:23. > :05:25.more, he would even be able to keep his two special advisers and
:05:26. > :05:35.ministerial car and salary. He could tell us, in or out. It's an outcome
:05:36. > :05:40.isn't it? Come on, come out Can I also suggest that after every
:05:41. > :05:44.recess, the first day back hs devoted to no business other than
:05:45. > :05:48.statements from government linisters and urgent questions. Firstly, it
:05:49. > :05:51.might stop the government from piling up bad news announcelents for
:05:52. > :05:56.the last day before the recdss. This December was the worst ever with 36
:05:57. > :06:01.in one day. In one day we ldarned immigration officers have ghven up
:06:02. > :06:05.hunting for 10,000 missing `sylum seekers, the HMRC lost out on ? 6
:06:06. > :06:09.billion of tax, there will be a massive expansion of fracking for
:06:10. > :06:13.shale gas, and in the recess we learned that the government has
:06:14. > :06:16.abandoned the SCA review of the culture of banking, and half the
:06:17. > :06:24.Cabinet went to pay tribute to Rupert Murdoch. Bearing gifts of a
:06:25. > :06:27.licence fee cut, and ending the Levenson and tax cuts for
:06:28. > :06:33.billionaires. Isn't it time they learned that Rupert isn't the
:06:34. > :06:36.Messiah, he's a very naughtx boy. On Tuesday we will have the relaining
:06:37. > :06:40.stages of the Housing Bill. For the first time in our history, some
:06:41. > :06:44.members of this house will be barred from voting in a division in this
:06:45. > :06:51.chamber. Was it not propose to us that we started debating thd bill at
:06:52. > :06:54.8:50pm on Tuesday, and over the recess the government tabled 65
:06:55. > :06:59.pages of amendments to a bill that is only 145 pages long. Not one
:07:00. > :07:05.amendment on resilience and sustainable drainage. Can the leader
:07:06. > :07:08.calorie and a view things about the operation of evil on Tuesdax next
:07:09. > :07:12.week? Because of the progralme motion the government has t`bled we
:07:13. > :07:15.will have to proceed on the basis of manuscript motions from the
:07:16. > :07:19.government and manuscript amendments, if there are anx. That's
:07:20. > :07:24.right, isn't it? Surely it's wrong to proceed on shut important
:07:25. > :07:28.measures the first time we `re doing this on manuscript business. Would
:07:29. > :07:32.it be better to devote the whole of Tuesday to report stage and keep
:07:33. > :07:38.remaining stages for another day. Could there be a clearer sylbol of
:07:39. > :07:44.how incompetent conservativd ministers are than the events of
:07:45. > :07:48.this Monday afternoon when two government ministers visited flood
:07:49. > :07:51.victims in Pooley. Not only did they arrive late, but they turned up at
:07:52. > :07:55.the wrong end of a bridge that had been washed away a month ago. A
:07:56. > :08:02.farmer had to be dispatched on a quad bike to take the two MPs a 30
:08:03. > :08:06.minute ride, while the bewildered entourage of civil servants, and hat
:08:07. > :08:10.carriers to trundle along in a minibus. I suppose you can just
:08:11. > :08:14.understand the confusion if it weren't for the fact that the two
:08:15. > :08:17.ministers concerned with thd transport minister, who really
:08:18. > :08:22.should know when a bridge h`s disappeared, and the local LP! Who
:08:23. > :08:27.had already visited the bridge once before since the bridge dis`ppeared.
:08:28. > :08:31.I gather there was some signalling from the villagers on the other side
:08:32. > :08:37.of the river, but it's not puite clear what they were trying to
:08:38. > :08:42.suggest. You really couldn't make it up, could you, Mr Speaker. Finally,
:08:43. > :08:45.four new elements of the periodic table have been discovered this
:08:46. > :08:51.week, and scientists are looking for new names for them. Apparently,
:08:52. > :08:57.these elements are dangerous and short lived. Rather like thd...
:08:58. > :09:01.Rather like the Right Honourable member's policies at the Ministry of
:09:02. > :09:16.Justice. Can I suggest one of them is named Graylingium. Welcole to day
:09:17. > :09:20.four of the Labour reshuffld. I imagine it's been a frustrating week
:09:21. > :09:23.for the shadow leader. As Oscar Wilde so famously said, the only
:09:24. > :09:28.thing worse than being talkdd about is not being talked about. Never
:09:29. > :09:34.mind, I suspect he will makd a return to the on Monday. It's his
:09:35. > :09:40.birthday and I think he will appear in the court circular and I wish him
:09:41. > :09:44.happy birthday for next week. Can I also echo your comments yesterday
:09:45. > :09:51.about the new Serjeant at Arms. I worked with him, he's a find man and
:09:52. > :09:56.a consummate professional. When I discovered he was in the fr`me for
:09:57. > :09:58.this job I was delighted. Hd will be an excellent appointment and will
:09:59. > :10:03.serve the house at Arab League. I'm very grateful to all of those who
:10:04. > :10:08.sat as part of the recruitmdnt process for the work they dhd, for
:10:09. > :10:16.the choice they made, and I would commend the appointment of ` house.
:10:17. > :10:19.-- serve the house admirablx. The new Northern Irish First Minister
:10:20. > :10:24.took her position over the Christmas period and takes up a difficult and
:10:25. > :10:28.challenging role. It's in all of our interests to wish her well for it.
:10:29. > :10:34.We all want to see stabilitx continue in Northern Ireland and it
:10:35. > :10:38.continued to succeed in the future. On the European Union, the Labour
:10:39. > :10:43.Party has a leader who has changed his mind twice in the last few
:10:44. > :10:46.months. They claim to support a reformed European Union, but won't
:10:47. > :10:50.say what they want to reforl. They didn't even want a referendtm. The
:10:51. > :10:55.Prime Minister this week has done the right thing. I'm not gohng to
:10:56. > :10:57.take any lessons from the p`rty opposite. When are they ever going
:10:58. > :11:05.to do the right thing for their people? Mr Speaker, he talks about
:11:06. > :11:11.the issue of what people me`nt, what people say. I would remind him of
:11:12. > :11:16.what it means in a Labour P`rty when people say something. In a Labour
:11:17. > :11:20.Party... The Conservative P`rty a free vote means you can votd
:11:21. > :11:24.according to your own conschence. In the Labour Party, a free vote means
:11:25. > :11:32.you can vote according to the leader's conscience. In terls of the
:11:33. > :11:37.flooding issue, I am proud of the response this country has m`de to a
:11:38. > :11:42.devastating situation in so many parts of the country. Our elergency
:11:43. > :11:45.services, our voluntary services, local community, the Armed Forces,
:11:46. > :11:50.have come together to deal with a dreadful situation I think
:11:51. > :11:54.effectively and well. We have committed as a government to provide
:11:55. > :11:56.financial support to all colmunities affected in a way that goes far
:11:57. > :12:03.beyond what has taken place in the past.
:12:04. > :12:10.But I am proud of the way this country has responded. I'm happy to
:12:11. > :12:15.say I think we have done a better job this time than has been done in
:12:16. > :12:19.the past. We will learn lessons for the future, but it is imper`tive
:12:20. > :12:24.that we do the right thing when troubles like this strike. On the
:12:25. > :12:28.question of the announcements made before Christmas. I have stood at
:12:29. > :12:34.this dispatch box week after week, listening to questions on when can
:12:35. > :12:38.we have an update, can we h`ve an announcement for Christmas, can we
:12:39. > :12:43.have a publication of the rdport before Christmas? We actually
:12:44. > :12:45.produced before Christmas a whole range of announcements and
:12:46. > :12:50.publications confirmations, then they complain about it. It hs
:12:51. > :12:55.nonsense. We will do the right thing this country. It will continue to
:12:56. > :13:04.complain about it, but I am taking no lessons from them. On thd housing
:13:05. > :13:06.report, we are having a two,day report on this bill, somethhng which
:13:07. > :13:24.is often called for. At 1am on Tuesday, when we, and this
:13:25. > :13:28.side of the house, were deb`ting those measures, most of the people
:13:29. > :13:32.on the benches opposite had gone home to bed, so why will take no
:13:33. > :13:36.lessons from him either on them saying we should be offering more
:13:37. > :13:42.time for debate on when we `re debating and fearlessly. He brought
:13:43. > :13:47.up the question of Shakespe`re. And when I listen to him, it relinds me,
:13:48. > :13:58.when I listen to him, it relinds me of that great quote from King Lear,
:13:59. > :14:05.have more than usual, speak less than you know. We should express our
:14:06. > :14:10.thanks to the Labour Party. When we come back to work after Chrhstmas,
:14:11. > :14:18.we think, I wish it could bd Christmas every day. Looking at the
:14:19. > :14:25.Labour reshuffle, frankly, ht is. Successful local businesses in a
:14:26. > :14:27.prominent office building in my constituency have recently been
:14:28. > :14:32.informed they will have to vacate so that force can be converted. Come
:14:33. > :14:38.and have a debate and consider whether the planning system affords
:14:39. > :14:41.adequate protection for high-quality business space, which is so vital
:14:42. > :14:48.for generating jobs in placds like Cheltenham? I understand thdse
:14:49. > :14:52.points. The change we have brought forward is to make sure that
:14:53. > :14:57.redundant office buildings can be quickly used for residential
:14:58. > :15:00.purposes, given the nature of the housing challenge we face in this
:15:01. > :15:05.country. We all agree we nedd to make more housing available, but I
:15:06. > :15:08.will take note of what he s`ys. There will be an opportunitx to
:15:09. > :15:12.question the Secretary of State for local government. I think hd does
:15:13. > :15:15.make a valid point, but I think this is a policy we need to make sure we
:15:16. > :15:22.don't have empty commercial buildings of people are strtggling
:15:23. > :15:25.to get on the housing ladder. Thank you for announcing the business for
:15:26. > :15:30.next week. Can I take this opportunity to wish you properly a
:15:31. > :15:36.happy New Year and that is dxtended to all the staff who worked so
:15:37. > :15:43.diligently throughout the course of the year. On behalf of the Scottish
:15:44. > :15:49.National party, we want to congratulate the first BM e`se
:15:50. > :15:54.Serjeant at Arms and we wish them the best for the future. I think
:15:55. > :16:01.this could be a fantastic ydar, it will be a particularly good year for
:16:02. > :16:05.the SNP. Restart the New Ye`r just as we entered the old year, with
:16:06. > :16:10.divisions in the Conservative Party and the Labour Party. With the
:16:11. > :16:13.Conservatives, it is Europe as usual and I know the leader of thd house
:16:14. > :16:19.is now looking forward to campaigning for the cherishdd exit.
:16:20. > :16:25.At least he will have the opportunity. We might, as a nation,
:16:26. > :16:29.be taken out of the European Union against our will. The Labour Party
:16:30. > :16:35.are probably divided on just about anything else, and as the Chvil War
:16:36. > :16:40.descends into the total, intractable variety, it is time to send some
:16:41. > :16:46.international peace envoy, because somebody needs to rescue thdm from
:16:47. > :16:50.themselves. This week's bushness has been dominated by the floodhng, the
:16:51. > :16:54.flooding that has impacted on practically every constituency in
:16:55. > :16:58.this nation, and my constittency remains so much underwater, given I
:16:59. > :17:02.have the biggest river systdm in the whole of the UK. But that is a
:17:03. > :17:09.massive disappointment in the country on the tune of the debate.
:17:10. > :17:13.When we have tragedy like wd have observed, I think this housd hasn't
:17:14. > :17:22.risen to the occasion and ddbates have been of their partisan and
:17:23. > :17:27.point-scoring for IT. There will be much more debates like that in the
:17:28. > :17:31.future. Can I make an appeal, but we try to debate this properly and
:17:32. > :17:35.consensually and constructively might we have heard on the SNP when
:17:36. > :17:40.we have addressed these isstes in this house. Listening to thd
:17:41. > :17:46.Chancellor this morning, wh`t has happened to the Chancellor? After
:17:47. > :17:50.all the cheesiness of the Attumn Statement and the gloom tod`y, I
:17:51. > :17:56.don't know if it is just sole are characteristic honesty, Dorothy has
:17:57. > :18:07.had some assessment of the fortunes of the country? Perhaps we can find
:18:08. > :18:15.out what is ailing him and offer him some proper economic medicine. As we
:18:16. > :18:18.finish this debate today, wd will be discussing the appalling situation
:18:19. > :18:28.of the unfair change to the state pension imposed on women. I'm
:18:29. > :18:33.delighted that it is the yotngest member of this house who will be
:18:34. > :18:37.leading the debate. So many of our constituents caught up in this trap
:18:38. > :18:42.and we're hoping to hear solething positive today when the minhster
:18:43. > :18:46.response. Let's just hope the government thinks about doing the
:18:47. > :18:49.right thing for obese women. Lastly, this will be a massive year, and of
:18:50. > :18:54.the government think they c`n put their feet up while observing the
:18:55. > :18:58.chaos in the Labour Party, they will have another thought, because it
:18:59. > :19:02.will have united opposition and that united opposition will inhabit the
:19:03. > :19:10.benches here, which will make sure the government is held to account.
:19:11. > :19:15.Happy New Year to the honourable gentleman and his colleagues. It is
:19:16. > :19:20.good to see him back in this house. We are going to disagree on much
:19:21. > :19:24.this year, but on that lattdr point, we will agree. It has been `
:19:25. > :19:34.shambles. The one thing that has been a shambles -- hasn't bden a
:19:35. > :19:39.shambles is that I do offer congratulations to the opposition
:19:40. > :19:43.Chief Whip. It is a well-deserved honour, she has been an excdllent
:19:44. > :19:48.servant of those highs and ht is something that has been welcomed on
:19:49. > :19:59.all sides of this house. I offer her my sincere congratulations. The
:20:00. > :20:03.shadow leader likes the sound of his own voice more than anyone dlse in
:20:04. > :20:15.this place. If you could just be patient, I was about to comd on and
:20:16. > :20:20.say I am also delighted that the other member honoured in thd New
:20:21. > :20:26.Year 's Honours list, they both very much deserved it and I apologise for
:20:27. > :20:34.not seeing so earlier. It h`s been an utter shambles in the Labour
:20:35. > :20:39.Party. I noticed the shadow leader's Parliamentary Private Sega J has
:20:40. > :20:48.disappeared, so maybe he is being moved around into different
:20:49. > :20:53.positions. You could not make up the idea that we would get into four
:20:54. > :20:55.days of the reshuffle and this is just a sign of how utterly
:20:56. > :21:00.incompetent they are as an opposition. But he is back on some
:21:01. > :21:06.of his usual themes this wedk. I would remind him that the United
:21:07. > :21:10.Kingdom will vote on a future in the European Union and Scotland voted to
:21:11. > :21:15.be a part of the United Kingdom I know he has never quite accdpted
:21:16. > :21:19.that reality, but the reality is nonetheless that Scotland chose to
:21:20. > :21:23.be part of the United Kingdom and we will vote as one United Kingdom On
:21:24. > :21:31.the economy, the Chancellor is talking about the challenges we face
:21:32. > :21:36.internationally. The number of people claiming jobseeker's
:21:37. > :21:39.allowance has have since 2000. The number of children growing tp in
:21:40. > :21:44.work with households has fallen by half a million. The level of
:21:45. > :21:49.employment in this country has mushroomed under this government. He
:21:50. > :21:53.should look across at this bench and say, these are people who h`ve
:21:54. > :21:58.delivered for this country `nd they will carry on delivering for this
:21:59. > :22:04.country. He talked about thd floods, I would pay to beat all of those in
:22:05. > :22:10.Scotland. I know Southwest Scotland was particularly badly affected All
:22:11. > :22:14.those involved in the emergdncy services have done a fairly good
:22:15. > :22:18.job. It was a distressing pdriod for this country, I hope those
:22:19. > :22:23.communities get themselves back together shortly. I will look
:22:24. > :22:27.forward this year to our ustal amicable debate. We will not agree
:22:28. > :22:33.on most things, but I always enjoy seeing him there and I look forward
:22:34. > :22:39.to this year. Do you recall that in little bit this year, the
:22:40. > :22:41.administration nodded through an unwelcome recommendation from the
:22:42. > :22:46.House of Lords that we should abandon the centuries-old tradition
:22:47. > :22:51.of recording acts of parlialent on bail, will which means we are
:22:52. > :23:03.putting out a number of workers in Milton Keynes, who are the last
:23:04. > :23:15.remaining experts on this. ,- recording acts of Parliament on
:23:16. > :23:19.vellum. Will the other housd tell me if the government has any plans to
:23:20. > :23:23.make time available for deb`te and if there is no debate, can he
:23:24. > :23:31.confirm the recommendation cannot go ahead? This is a matter for
:23:32. > :23:35.discussion by the relevant committees, it is on their `gendas.
:23:36. > :23:41.As of today, I have had no requests to make available time. There is a
:23:42. > :23:44.balance between maintaining traditions of this house and
:23:45. > :23:49.country, also making sure what we do is cost effective. It is a latter
:23:50. > :23:57.for debate and am not aware that any final decision has been reached Can
:23:58. > :24:01.we have a debate, perhaps in government time, or in backbench
:24:02. > :24:09.business, on flooding, with a particular focus on Brazili`ns of
:24:10. > :24:17.major critical infrastructure assets. A quarter of all brhdges,
:24:18. > :24:20.10% of all emergency stations, % of hospitals are in areas suscdptible
:24:21. > :24:25.to flooding. The last resilhence review did not report to Parliament
:24:26. > :24:30.because of national securitx issues. Can he make sure that the ndxt flood
:24:31. > :24:35.resilience report which is `bout to be carried out, does report to this
:24:36. > :24:37.place and is treated by the intelligence and Security committee
:24:38. > :24:42.as the national security threat which it actually is. One of the
:24:43. > :24:49.things we will have to do is learn lessons from the flooding, like the
:24:50. > :24:54.areas where mobile phone networks have come down. These are things
:24:55. > :24:57.that are already being lookdd at very carefully in the government
:24:58. > :25:02.office. We did have a debatd yesterday, there will be further
:25:03. > :25:07.opportunities to discuss thhs in future, but I can assure her that
:25:08. > :25:12.work is taking place now to make sure lessons are learned and been
:25:13. > :25:19.can protect our critical national infrastructure. She is absolutely
:25:20. > :25:23.right. We have a debate on the action needed on air polluthon on
:25:24. > :25:30.health. Across the world, wd are losing around 7 million people a
:25:31. > :25:34.year due to the effects of `ir pollution and locally, the terrible
:25:35. > :25:40.consequences of standing tr`ffic, which you see in my constittency. I
:25:41. > :25:44.know she has been a tireless campaigner since her election on
:25:45. > :25:50.trying to secure local improvements. I know she campaigned on a link
:25:51. > :25:55.ruled in her constituency. Lany of these decisions are now takdn
:25:56. > :25:58.locally and discussions with county councils about what should be
:25:59. > :26:03.prioritised for the future. We will continue to look for ways in the
:26:04. > :26:06.best thing nationally and providing financial support to local `nd
:26:07. > :26:11.regional authorities to makd sure we provide what they need to kdep
:26:12. > :26:19.traffic flowing and ease thd ear pollution. Could I thank thd leader
:26:20. > :26:24.of the highs for the business statement and the advance notice of
:26:25. > :26:29.the two days of backbench btsiness committee debates to be held on the
:26:30. > :26:33.14th and the 21st. I'm glad to say that before the Christmas rdcess, we
:26:34. > :26:40.were pretty much up-to-date with our waiting list of debates to be tabled
:26:41. > :26:43.and we must have a clear deck, so appealing to honourable members
:26:44. > :26:44.across the house for applic`tions for business on those two d`ys.
:26:45. > :26:54.Thank very much. Can I commend the honourabld
:26:55. > :26:57.gentleman and his committee for the work they do. For the backbdnch
:26:58. > :27:01.system to work well we need colleagues on all sides to come
:27:02. > :27:07.forward with topics for deb`te. We have seen requests in this session
:27:08. > :27:11.in recent weeks for things like the debates on policing and so forth,
:27:12. > :27:14.and I want to see members sdeing those traditions continue, but the
:27:15. > :27:17.appropriate channel now is to go through the backbench busindss
:27:18. > :27:23.committee, where I'm think there will be a receptive ear. Is the
:27:24. > :27:27.leader of the house aware that the European Commission is attelpting
:27:28. > :27:34.for the third time to introduce damaging and wasteful regul`tions on
:27:35. > :27:38.the UK's ports? Employers and workers representatives agrde that
:27:39. > :27:45.these measures will damage investment and jobs. The European
:27:46. > :27:49.committee of which I am a mdmber has called for these measures to be
:27:50. > :27:54.debated on the floor of the house, not in committee. Can the ldader of
:27:55. > :27:57.the house look urgently at this issue and ensure this matter is
:27:58. > :28:03.properly scrutinised by the whole house? I'm aware of the isste. I've
:28:04. > :28:07.had a number of discussions with colleagues who represent ports and
:28:08. > :28:12.have concerns about these issues in the last couple of days. Thd Chief
:28:13. > :28:15.Whip and I are considering those representations now and I c`n assure
:28:16. > :28:19.my honourable friend this is a matter that is on our agend`. We
:28:20. > :28:23.have to make sure this is got right. When the Prime Minister talks about
:28:24. > :28:29.the need for deregulation in Europe, he's right, and it's not entirely
:28:30. > :28:33.clear to me why we should h`ve regulation of ports at European
:28:34. > :28:39.level anyway. It needs to bd the right regulation, if it needs to
:28:40. > :28:43.happen at all. The leader of the house will be delighted to know that
:28:44. > :28:47.Hull has been put in the top ten cities of the world to visit by the
:28:48. > :28:53.rough guide, alongside Vancouver and Amsterdam. I can see he's ddlighted
:28:54. > :28:57.by that why the comment he hs making to the government Chief Whip. On
:28:58. > :29:02.that basis, can we please h`ve a statement from the Minister for the
:29:03. > :29:09.Northern powerhouse to disctss how transport links can be improved to a
:29:10. > :29:11.global city, and the UK global city of culture 2017, including
:29:12. > :29:16.electrified rail and the scrapping of the Humber tolls on the Humber
:29:17. > :29:22.Bridge. Can I congratulate her and all the people of Hull on a
:29:23. > :29:26.remarkable achievement. It's always a matter of pride to this country
:29:27. > :29:30.when one of our great cities received worldwide acclamathon and
:29:31. > :29:34.we can all be proud of Hull making that achievement. We should also be
:29:35. > :29:39.proud of the preparations for the capital of culture year. It promises
:29:40. > :29:41.to be a great year for the city I know my colleagues in different
:29:42. > :29:46.parts of government will do what they can to help ensure that for the
:29:47. > :29:49.people and authorities of Htll, it's a moment of great historic
:29:50. > :29:56.importance and enjoyment for the city. The Prime Minister quhte
:29:57. > :29:59.rightly has made the decision that all members on this side of the
:30:00. > :30:03.house can speak with their conscience over the European debate,
:30:04. > :30:07.and rightly so. Given that, can we have a series of debates on the
:30:08. > :30:11.European Union and what it will mean for this country when the rdferendum
:30:12. > :30:14.comes, so the people of this country are aware of what they can `nd can't
:30:15. > :30:18.vote for and why they should and shouldn't vote the way therd
:30:19. > :30:24.conscience is take, the way this side of the house can. I suspect we
:30:25. > :30:27.will have extensive debates in this house and around the countrx, and
:30:28. > :30:33.rightly so, over the next fdw months. This is perhaps the key
:30:34. > :30:40.issue for our generation. While there appears to the debate around
:30:41. > :30:44.much of the country, they do not have the debate on the other side of
:30:45. > :30:47.the house. They called for ` reformed European Union, but will
:30:48. > :30:55.not say what they are prepared to reform. Can I thank the leader of
:30:56. > :31:00.the house for his kind commdnts in relation to the new leader of the
:31:01. > :31:07.DUP, and the incoming First Minister. We look forward to a
:31:08. > :31:10.bright future for Northern Hreland. The leader of the house will be
:31:11. > :31:14.aware, because I know of his interest in this, of the High Court
:31:15. > :31:18.decision to grant a was at control licence, something that took five
:31:19. > :31:27.years to happen. In light of that High Court decision, will the leader
:31:28. > :31:33.of the house say that all ftture buzzard control licences will be
:31:34. > :31:42.looked unfavourably in the future? I will ensure that my right honourable
:31:43. > :31:48.friend takes a look and givds a proper response. I'll ask hhm to
:31:49. > :31:50.write to and respond. As solebody interested in international Pavel
:31:51. > :31:56.and, you will be interested to know I just returned from Uganda, looking
:31:57. > :32:01.at the terrible situation of the malaria epidemic in the north of the
:32:02. > :32:05.country. Could we have a debate on the health systems in Ugand` which
:32:06. > :32:09.are failing the people, mothers and children are dying of malarha, it
:32:10. > :32:12.should not be happening in this day and age. Could we have an urgent
:32:13. > :32:19.debate on discussing this shtuation in this house, please. First of all,
:32:20. > :32:23.can I commend my honourable friend on the work she's doing. Malaria is
:32:24. > :32:26.a scourge in many parts of the world and is particularly bad in Tganda at
:32:27. > :32:31.the moment. They terrible dhsease that can cost the lives of very
:32:32. > :32:36.young people and blight comlunities. She makes a very portable point I
:32:37. > :32:40.know she herself was looking to debate the matter of Uganda in this
:32:41. > :32:46.house. There is a broader ddbate happening in this house in the near
:32:47. > :32:51.future on the impact of a m`laria globally. She makes a good point
:32:52. > :32:57.that the situation in Ugand` merits attention in this house, and I hope
:32:58. > :33:02.the fact we are as prominent and international donor of aid `s any
:33:03. > :33:05.country in the world, we cotld do some thing as a nation to hdlp
:33:06. > :33:10.Uganda, a country with which we have historic ties. Could we deb`te
:33:11. > :33:15.whether Parliament is slipphng back into its bad old ways that lead to
:33:16. > :33:19.the expenses scandal? In recent cases involving Malcolm Rifkind
:33:20. > :33:27.Jack Straw, Tim Yeo, and Lord Ben Carson wrote, we need decishons were
:33:28. > :33:30.made by bodies in this housd, but harsh decisions made by inddpendent
:33:31. > :33:37.voices outside, including the courts and Ofcom. The committee
:33:38. > :33:43.adjudicating on Lord Ben, w`s chaired by Lord Siew, who h`s his
:33:44. > :33:46.own difficulties now. If we don t look at how one of our bodids who is
:33:47. > :33:54.meant to be a watchdog, is `ctually toothless Aussie cat, and look at
:33:55. > :34:00.the uselessness of it so, and expensive ornament, isn't there a
:34:01. > :34:07.grave danger we can slip back into new scandals in the future? I think
:34:08. > :34:12.we now have the most regulated system of operation for any
:34:13. > :34:17.Parliament across the whole of Europe, probably. The reality is
:34:18. > :34:20.that there are always cases to be made to improve the situation. I
:34:21. > :34:27.will not discuss individual members here or of the House of Lords, but
:34:28. > :34:30.there are proper processes hn the house to make changes and
:34:31. > :34:34.improvements, meticulously through the standards and privileges
:34:35. > :34:41.committee, which has responsibility for the overall approach. This
:34:42. > :34:48.Christmas news headlines were dominated by the floods. We can
:34:49. > :34:53.recognise that. I'm concerndd about the number of wildlife that has been
:34:54. > :34:57.lost, including hedgehogs. While Plymouth didn't face the kind of
:34:58. > :35:03.problems that saw the railw`y line at Dawlish washed away, over the
:35:04. > :35:07.last to make years, in my constituency the walls are falling
:35:08. > :35:11.into the sea. Can we have a statement from the government as to
:35:12. > :35:15.how it is local authorities can make sure they can apply for mondy in
:35:16. > :35:22.order to deliver and look after their heritage as well. Can I start
:35:23. > :35:26.by saying to my honourable friend that I have seen over Christmas that
:35:27. > :35:29.he has continued his valuable campaign on protecting the hedgehog,
:35:30. > :35:33.and I'm sure we will hear more about that work in the coming months. In
:35:34. > :35:37.terms of the impact of floods, last year it was about the south,west,
:35:38. > :35:43.this year it's about challenges further north. It's important we
:35:44. > :35:46.learn lessons. We have to ensure we make compensation available for
:35:47. > :35:50.communities affected by flooding, and there are various mechanisms and
:35:51. > :35:53.funds available for communities to protect historic buildings `nd
:35:54. > :35:57.historic sites. There are m`ny of those in his constituency and I will
:35:58. > :36:02.be happy to make sure that the relevant minister talks to him about
:36:03. > :36:07.the options available. The leader will be aware of significant
:36:08. > :36:11.concerns that the UK might be in breach of international law for
:36:12. > :36:18.supplying Saudi Arabia with weapons used in the Yemen. Does the leader
:36:19. > :36:21.have any intelligence about when the arms intelligence select colmittee
:36:22. > :36:25.will be re-established. We need that select committee looking at the
:36:26. > :36:32.issues and ensuring the UK hs not in breach of international law. That
:36:33. > :36:35.committee is effectively a conglomeration of four diffdrence
:36:36. > :36:39.elected committees that can meet whenever. Its decision to mdet and
:36:40. > :36:42.not meat is not a matter for the government, it's a matter for the
:36:43. > :36:51.chairs of those committees. There's no reason that can't happen now I
:36:52. > :36:57.was disturbed last night whdn I visited a winter night shelter
:36:58. > :37:02.posted by churches across Enfield. I spoke to a man who told me that if
:37:03. > :37:06.it wasn't for the night shelter he would be travelling around the night
:37:07. > :37:11.buses tonight and in future nights because he himself is either not too
:37:12. > :37:16.young or vulnerable enough to get housing. Can we have a debate which
:37:17. > :37:18.looks at developing a cross departmental strategy for
:37:19. > :37:21.homelessness which will prevent people like him becoming holeless in
:37:22. > :37:27.the future. It should not bd tolerated in Britain in 2016. Can I
:37:28. > :37:33.start by commending my honotrable friend. He is typical of many people
:37:34. > :37:37.in this house who do unseen and unsung work in the communitx,
:37:38. > :37:41.visiting shelters, spending nights out with the homeless on thd
:37:42. > :37:45.streets. I commend him for what he's doing and bringing this isste to the
:37:46. > :37:49.house. The best solution for homelessness is to have mord homes,
:37:50. > :37:55.which is at the centre of which this covenant is doing. -- what this
:37:56. > :38:01.government is doing. We will do what we can to end the blight of
:38:02. > :38:06.homelessness. Can we have a debate on how we improve support and the
:38:07. > :38:14.dignity of people who suffer in continents. Sadly there is `
:38:15. > :38:19.postcode lottery across the UK for access to support and advicd on
:38:20. > :38:26.these problems. There is also a problem and how often you c`n access
:38:27. > :38:32.the problems materials to ddal with the problem. 200,000 people were
:38:33. > :38:40.admitted to hospital with your retreat tract infections. If we
:38:41. > :38:43.attack these problems we can do it with dignity and respect and save
:38:44. > :38:47.considerable sums of money. Can we look at this problem across covenant
:38:48. > :38:57.and see how we can begin to tackle it? For those who suffer from the
:38:58. > :39:00.different conditions described, it's both enormously disruptive to life
:39:01. > :39:04.and distressing, but the decisions about these things are devolved not
:39:05. > :39:07.only with the United Kingdol to different parts of the Unitdd
:39:08. > :39:10.Kingdom, but local clinical and commissioning groups who take the
:39:11. > :39:15.decisions about how to oper`te policies in their local comlunities.
:39:16. > :39:17.Where there are members who have a situation in their constitudncy
:39:18. > :39:21.which they think are not right, they need to take those up with the local
:39:22. > :39:25.clinical and commissioning groups and try to get a change of practice
:39:26. > :39:29.in those communities. My constituency in Kettering are
:39:30. > :39:33.outraged that an illegal imligrant from Sudan, who broke into this
:39:34. > :39:38.country by walking through the Channel Tunnel has this week been
:39:39. > :39:44.awarded asylum and allowed to stay here. Not only does this send an
:39:45. > :39:47.appalling signal to the staff at Eurotunnel and our hard-working
:39:48. > :39:50.border staff, both in this country and in France, what's the point in
:39:51. > :39:57.intercepting these people if they are going to be given permission to
:39:58. > :40:00.stay? It gives a green light to illegal immigrant is across the
:40:01. > :40:03.world, that they might as wdll give it a go, because they might make
:40:04. > :40:08.asylum. Can we have an urgent statement from the Home Offhce on
:40:09. > :40:12.this matter. I understand the concerns by honourable friend makes.
:40:13. > :40:15.We have Home Office questions on Monday. We are subject to
:40:16. > :40:18.international rules about asylum claims, and the best way of
:40:19. > :40:22.addressing those pressures hs to continue the work we are dohng to
:40:23. > :40:30.make sure border controls in Calais are secure and I'm grateful for the
:40:31. > :40:36.work the French government has done on this. It's a constant battle for
:40:37. > :40:40.the border forces. Can I congratulate the leader of the house
:40:41. > :40:43.on his bold leadership of the anti-European faction in thd
:40:44. > :40:48.government. Has he considerdd what all this means for the geography of
:40:49. > :40:52.the house? As I understand ht, if the Right Honourable member for
:40:53. > :40:56.Leeds Central loyally supports his leader by disagreeing with him
:40:57. > :41:03.again, he will be moved to the backbench. But in leader of the
:41:04. > :41:09.house is summing up, we'll he moved from the dispatch box as to the
:41:10. > :41:12.backs benches? Call me old-fashioned, but could we go back
:41:13. > :41:16.to the previous practice whdre government ministers not agreeing
:41:17. > :41:22.with the policies of their own government, they just tendered their
:41:23. > :41:30.resignations. If I understand correctly, we are about to love on
:41:31. > :41:35.from the days of call Nick Clegg on LBC, to the days of call Aldx
:41:36. > :41:44.Salmond on LBC. When he gets a call from Chris of South London, can he
:41:45. > :41:47.work out whether... North London? I look forward to hearing the
:41:48. > :41:50.programme. I will say that we will all have a lively debate ovdr the
:41:51. > :41:55.next few months. It's right and proper to have the debate as a
:41:56. > :41:59.nation. I have to say to hil, on this side of the house we are a
:42:00. > :42:01.united party in government. On that side of hours we have an opposition
:42:02. > :42:16.not to be in opposition. Three quarters of all pensions tax
:42:17. > :42:21.relief goes to those who le`st needed. Can we have a debatd on
:42:22. > :42:28.addressing the situation and proper reform for pensions tax relhef so
:42:29. > :42:31.that we can benefit millions of ordinary British workers? The
:42:32. > :42:34.Chancellor of the Exchequer is currently undertaking a revhew of
:42:35. > :42:39.pension tax relief and we are pension system works. I know he has
:42:40. > :42:42.great expertise in the Celi` and I would urge him to discuss hhs views
:42:43. > :42:49.with the Chancellor and makd sure they go into the review. Whdn it
:42:50. > :43:02.comes to discussions of reform, there will be a chance to ddbate it.
:43:03. > :43:06.Could we have a debate on the use of language in this house and find out
:43:07. > :43:09.what the Prime Minister means when he says he's going to look hnto
:43:10. > :43:14.something, what ministers mdan when they say they will review something
:43:15. > :43:19.and discussion about what is meant when someone asks a question of a
:43:20. > :43:27.wanton answer to that questhon, not some thing completely unrel`ted to
:43:28. > :43:35.that question. Nobody this week had accused Labour Party or the lack of
:43:36. > :43:40.plain speaking. Member after member opposite has lined up to sax their
:43:41. > :43:49.leader is hopeless. The question is, are reactionary going to do anything
:43:50. > :43:57.about it? And please have a debate on the health benefits of e`ting
:43:58. > :44:05.black pudding? My right honourable friend will not doubt have seen
:44:06. > :44:10.reports this week that thosd tasty delicacy is full of protein,
:44:11. > :44:14.potassium, calcium, magnesitm, iron and sync, so it is not only good for
:44:15. > :44:20.you, it is actually a superfood and the debate will enable us to make
:44:21. > :44:36.sure the benefits are more widely known. There were distinct nods of
:44:37. > :44:45.approval from the deputy sh`dow leader but not the same view from
:44:46. > :44:48.the leader. I remember workhng walking -- walking round market is
:44:49. > :44:55.seeing black puddings and they are tasty too weak perhaps in
:44:56. > :45:00.moderation. Given that 21 mdmbers stuck it out and 2:30am yesterday to
:45:01. > :45:07.take part in any debate on the world's on the Welsh language
:45:08. > :45:11.channel and only to receive the most land of brush of this, surely there
:45:12. > :45:20.should be an opportunity to discuss and vote on the government policy of
:45:21. > :45:26.milking the channel to death. Westland was broadcasting is
:45:27. > :45:32.important as any changes brought forward would be a matter for
:45:33. > :45:39.discussion and debate in thhs house. -- Welsh language broadcasthng. I
:45:40. > :45:43.student enquiry into it pump prices and we heard the number of
:45:44. > :45:47.independent petrol retailers is reduced from 14,000 to 8600 in the
:45:48. > :45:54.last decade. They said the `utomated car washes have been a much,needed
:45:55. > :46:00.source of income for independent petrol retailers, but it is now
:46:01. > :46:05.calculated that 30,000 people are now employed in the hand car washing
:46:06. > :46:12.industry and the petrol ret`ilers Association can't the Treastry could
:46:13. > :46:18.be missing out on ?200 millhon of tax, and debate on the hand car
:46:19. > :46:22.washing industry, please? There will be an opportunity to raise this at
:46:23. > :46:26.Treasury questions shortly, but the important thing here is not to say,
:46:27. > :46:29.we shouldn't have hand car washing of this country, but to makd sure
:46:30. > :46:35.that people doing it and thd businesses operating at our
:46:36. > :46:38.operating properly within the tax system and have legitimate right to
:46:39. > :46:45.be doing the work, to make sure they don't hold back any other btsiness.
:46:46. > :46:51.This week, the Department of Justice and the United States filed a civil
:46:52. > :46:56.lawsuit on behalf of the environment protection agency against Volkswagen
:46:57. > :47:00.cars on behalf of the fact that 600,000 engines were basically
:47:01. > :47:07.illegal because of defeat ddvices. It might of the fact that 30,00
:47:08. > :47:12.people in Britain die from diesel emissions, much of the contribution
:47:13. > :47:16.to those extra emissions from the illegal defeat devices, what legal
:47:17. > :47:20.action or the government take, in line with the Americans, ag`inst
:47:21. > :47:31.Volkswagen and can we have `n urgent debate on this matter? What VW did
:47:32. > :47:33.was shocking and inappropri`te, but prosecution decisions in thhs
:47:34. > :47:38.country are not a matter for government, they had a mattdr for
:47:39. > :47:42.the relevant authorities. I'm sure they will note what he has said
:47:43. > :47:47.today, but it would be wrong for politicians to get directly involved
:47:48. > :47:51.in prosecution decisions. Over the Christmas period, I had to
:47:52. > :47:56.constituents, one Muslim and one Jewish, contact me about problems
:47:57. > :48:00.they had with the out of hotrs coroners service. Pupil of those
:48:01. > :48:04.religions need is death certificate within 24 hours to comply whth their
:48:05. > :48:09.religious beliefs and dispose of the body. Can we have administered come
:48:10. > :48:12.and explain to the house how the government is making sure that is
:48:13. > :48:19.professional across the whole of the UK to make sure there is a 24-hour
:48:20. > :48:25.coroners service available to all? I am aware of the issues and
:48:26. > :48:28.challenges we face in north London and the communities who livd there.
:48:29. > :48:33.This is an area now subject to review by the Minister of Jtstice
:48:34. > :48:37.and I would hope they can bring forward ideas to improve thd
:48:38. > :48:44.situation. Can we have a debate on government time of the plight of the
:48:45. > :48:52.3000 refugees living in tents near Dunkirk. 90% of people suffdring
:48:53. > :48:55.from scabies and 80% sufferhng from hypothermia. Does the leader of the
:48:56. > :49:00.house think this is a peopld should live and does he not accept that the
:49:01. > :49:04.UK Government must do more? I have a simple view on this. Firstlx, we are
:49:05. > :49:10.providing more support to rdfugees in and around Syria and any other
:49:11. > :49:15.country except United States. We're taking thousands of refugees into
:49:16. > :49:18.this country to provide the most honourable with the route to skip
:49:19. > :49:23.that environment. But I do not believe you should be able to come
:49:24. > :49:28.through France and just comd into United Kingdom. If you are genuine
:49:29. > :49:33.refugee, you are seeking safe haven. France is a safe haven. It hs not
:49:34. > :49:40.clear to me why we should throw open borders and allow people to travel
:49:41. > :49:44.to the United Kingdom. Honexpot Lane Forest part of the border bdtween my
:49:45. > :49:50.constituency had a yeast and the honourable member for Brent North.
:49:51. > :49:57.It is also that spider boundary BG Group read in Harrow. Brent Bader
:49:58. > :50:00.has a policy to introduce a barking exclusion zone on honeypot Lane All
:50:01. > :50:07.the residents on each side have been consulted and objected. On the
:50:08. > :50:11.Harrow size, there has been no consultation other than a t`tty
:50:12. > :50:16.notice applied to a lamp post. We have a debate in government time on
:50:17. > :50:20.the implementation of controlled parking zones and the need for
:50:21. > :50:26.public authorities to properly consult people before anythhng is
:50:27. > :50:29.done. This is a matter of local controversy, maybe one were to
:50:30. > :50:33.members could be working together, but in terms of the overall rules,
:50:34. > :50:38.the practicalities going to have to be dealt with at a local level, but
:50:39. > :50:45.you have the opportunity to argue that the duty of local authority to
:50:46. > :50:49.make people aware of changes could be raised at the next local
:50:50. > :50:51.government debate. On Tuesd`y, a Foreign Office minister told the
:50:52. > :50:59.house that is no agreement on judicial Corporation between the UK
:51:00. > :51:05.and Saudi governments. The Secretary of State visited Riyadh to sign a
:51:06. > :51:11.memo of understanding on judicial Corporation. The government refused
:51:12. > :51:22.to publish a memorandum, cotld we have a statement to explain the
:51:23. > :51:33.stark inconsistency? There will be plenty of occasions to challenge
:51:34. > :51:36.that in the coming weeks. Following the recent local government
:51:37. > :51:43.settlement, Lancashire County Council will have 713 million to
:51:44. > :51:46.spend, compared with 704 million this year, yet the Labour rtn
:51:47. > :51:52.council continue to slash sdrvices and waste money, the latest example
:51:53. > :51:56.being spending 6.6 million on consultants to help them iddntify
:51:57. > :52:00.cuts they can make. In a debate on local government finance to discuss
:52:01. > :52:06.the appalling way some of otr local councils are being run. We have a
:52:07. > :52:11.debate coming up on funding for rule all areas. It is quite noticeable at
:52:12. > :52:16.Conservative councils using the challenges real face have rhsen to
:52:17. > :52:19.the challenge is to deliver high quality services at a lower price of
:52:20. > :52:26.Labour councils are strugglhng with the money they have got. Drhven
:52:27. > :52:31.grouse shoots damage wildlife, increase water pollution, increase
:52:32. > :52:37.greenhouse gas emissions, increase water bills, resulted in thd illegal
:52:38. > :52:39.killing of Penn Harriers and shed water off the hillside, causing
:52:40. > :52:43.millions of pounds of damagd and floods, such as we have seen in
:52:44. > :52:51.recent weeks. Could we have a debate and vote on whether to abolhsh
:52:52. > :52:54.driven grouse shoots? We believe we should support our countryshde and
:52:55. > :52:58.our country traditions. Those on the other side of the house havd no
:52:59. > :53:00.interest in the ruble communities, no interest in the people who live
:53:01. > :53:07.in those communities and evdry time they go there, they do gym damage to
:53:08. > :53:23.those communities. -- rule `ll communities. -- rural communities. A
:53:24. > :53:30.student at a Glasgow collegds was removed from the UK, and now his
:53:31. > :53:34.home and those of his relathves have been raided by Pakistan authorities
:53:35. > :53:39.and he finds himself on the run While the government make a
:53:40. > :53:44.statement or a lover debate on government time and deportation and
:53:45. > :53:48.government removal orders and how we arrange a safe passage back to UK
:53:49. > :53:53.for those people served with those orders? I don't the details of the
:53:54. > :53:56.case, the Home Secretary will be fewer on Monday to answer qtestions.
:53:57. > :54:04.We have to provide a fair b`lance in this country be June providhng a
:54:05. > :54:08.refuge for people who are gdnuinely fleeing persecution, but we can t
:54:09. > :54:12.provide an open door for evdryone. In the last eight days, we have seen
:54:13. > :54:19.a Chinese government to valte its own currency and intervene
:54:20. > :54:23.aggressively on its own manufacturing business. Can we have
:54:24. > :54:27.a statement from the governlent on why they are supporting Chinese
:54:28. > :54:34.manufacturing, given the amount of steel which is flooding the UK
:54:35. > :54:37.market. We have Treasury qudstions coming up shortly and the
:54:38. > :54:40.opportunity will be there to question the Chancellor. It is right
:54:41. > :54:44.and proper to maintain closd ties with China, which is shaping up to
:54:45. > :54:59.be the world's biggest economy for this century.
:55:00. > :55:05.Many of my constituents havd lost Motability vehicles only to have
:55:06. > :55:09.them restored at a later date on subsequent appeal, but caushng a
:55:10. > :55:17.huge amount of distress, a real sense of isolation. Motabilhty is an
:55:18. > :55:21.important scheme and indeed, the welfare support we provide to people
:55:22. > :55:24.who face disability challenges is very important, but it is rhght and
:55:25. > :55:28.proper that we have gateways in place. One of the reasons wd change
:55:29. > :55:41.the system was that a large number of people who were receiving at an
:55:42. > :55:47.allowance or not the people who really needed it. In a statdment
:55:48. > :55:51.from piling minister and carbon reduction and building regulations,
:55:52. > :55:56.given that it is clear to all but ministers that it is more
:55:57. > :56:00.cost-effective to integrate solar power on buildings at the
:56:01. > :56:04.construction stage, both thd Greater London authority and the Scottish
:56:05. > :56:08.Government have improved thdir building regulations in this
:56:09. > :56:15.respect. Isn't it time that the rest of the United Kingdom followed suit?
:56:16. > :56:18.I think we have a wreckage `nd government second to none and
:56:19. > :56:22.encouraging the growth of ptpils in this country. In the last ydar, we
:56:23. > :56:30.have seen the level of electricity generated by renewables risd by 25%.
:56:31. > :56:33.But in the end, there has to be a degree of flexibility for btilders
:56:34. > :56:46.to decide what products thex actually build.
:56:47. > :56:50.During our enquiry, received evidence from industry experts that
:56:51. > :56:54.manufacturers were treating the safety regulations in order to get
:56:55. > :56:59.around them. Is it not the case that we now need a debate in this house
:57:00. > :57:02.on the regulation of cars and other vehicles on the road as far as
:57:03. > :57:07.software that is concerned `nd cheating devices used for elissions,
:57:08. > :57:10.because the list of countrids taking action across the world is getting
:57:11. > :57:31.longer, and the UK Government's silence is getting more defhnite. --
:57:32. > :57:37.If he feels the need to bring the matter to this house it shotld talk
:57:38. > :57:45.to the chair of the backbench business committee. If the DU was to
:57:46. > :57:50.confirm the status of coming is China, it would have a detrhmental
:57:51. > :57:53.effect on UK steel jobs. Cotld we have a statement in this hotse to
:57:54. > :57:58.update us on discussions in Europe on this matter and UK Government
:57:59. > :58:02.position? He will have that opportunity on Tuesday becatse the
:58:03. > :58:05.Foreign Secretary will take questions and I encourage hhm to put
:58:06. > :58:12.the point to the Foreign Secretary. We are long overdue a debatd on the
:58:13. > :58:15.Parliamentary and health service ombudsman. We have a nonsensical
:58:16. > :58:20.situation where it's supposdd to be the ombudsman for Parliament and
:58:21. > :58:22.parliamentarians, but the sxstem can only be changed if the government
:58:23. > :58:28.decides to bring forward legislation. Bollettieri 's in this
:58:29. > :58:33.house must have decisions on where the optimum instruction and
:58:34. > :58:39.ombudsman without fearing interference from government. In
:58:40. > :58:45.maybe the backbench business committee is the right way to test
:58:46. > :58:49.the views of this house and see how the people share his opinions. There
:58:50. > :58:52.is a matter of debate about the future of the ombudsman, how it s
:58:53. > :58:58.structured and how it works. I expect to see it debated in the
:58:59. > :59:02.coming months. We know this house relies on convention and following
:59:03. > :59:06.on from the comments from the Right Honourable friend from Gordon, can I
:59:07. > :59:10.get a statement from the le`der of the house to explain his
:59:11. > :59:15.understanding of collective carbon at responsibility, and what has to
:59:16. > :59:19.happen for Cabinet members who disagree with policy and how does
:59:20. > :59:22.that compare with a weak Prhme Minister who will allow his
:59:23. > :59:28.ministers to campaign against his own viewpoint? We have a grown-up
:59:29. > :59:31.approach to politics on this side of the house. We will have a great
:59:32. > :59:37.national debate and the prilers that has set out his position. Looking at
:59:38. > :59:41.the party opposite, and I don't blame the Scottish Nationalhsts for
:59:42. > :59:51.this, and they looked at thd vote on Syria, a free vote, and those who
:59:52. > :59:54.spoke out against the leader were sacked. We come to the backbench
:59:55. > :00:00.motion on the effect of the equalisation of the state pdnsion
:00:01. > :00:10.age on women. To move the motion, I call Mhairi Black. I beg to move the
:00:11. > :00:13.motion on the order paper. H want to thank the backbench committde for
:00:14. > :00:14.giving us the time to debatd this