:00:00. > :00:00.today but is at an LGB T conference. This is an important issue. The
:00:00. > :00:00.Prime Minister's commitment to invest in mental health services
:00:00. > :00:15.this week will be important in this space. Will the leader of the out
:00:16. > :00:24.campaign give us the business for next week, please? The business for
:00:25. > :00:30.next week will be on Monday we will have the second reading of the
:00:31. > :00:33.energy Bill. On Tuesday, an opposition day with a debate on the
:00:34. > :00:40.cost of public transport followed by cost of public transport followed by
:00:41. > :00:51.a debate on prisons and probation. Wednesday, the remaining stages of
:00:52. > :00:57.the psychoactive substances debate. Thursday, business will be nominated
:00:58. > :01:01.by the Backbench Business Committee. Friday, we will be debating private
:01:02. > :01:06.members bills. Monday 25th, the remaining stages of the childcare
:01:07. > :01:12.bill followed by business to be nominated by the Backbench Business
:01:13. > :01:17.Committee. Tuesday 26th, a motion to approve the money resolution
:01:18. > :01:20.relating to the charities, social investment and protection Bill,
:01:21. > :01:31.followed by the remaining stages of that same bill. Wins the 27th, a
:01:32. > :01:39.further opposition day. Thursday 28th, Backbench Business Committee.
:01:40. > :01:48.Friday 29th, Private Members' Bill is. In Westminster Hall, there will
:01:49. > :01:58.be a debate for small businesses and the self-employed. And another
:01:59. > :02:07.debate on transitional pension arrangements for women born in the
:02:08. > :02:12.1950s. Can I start by warmly congratulating the Scottish
:02:13. > :02:18.Secretary for joining the ranks of being an out MP. Can I assure him
:02:19. > :02:25.that being gay is not necessarily make you any better as a politician.
:02:26. > :02:35.I didn't think that was very funny, but what mac it appears appropriate
:02:36. > :02:49.that we should have a debate on space, following the debate of David
:02:50. > :02:57.Alway, the ultimate star man. -- David Bowie.
:02:58. > :03:08.The Prime Minister used the word menial. He demeans himself by using
:03:09. > :03:15.that word. There are not menial jobs, only attitudes. Can we have a
:03:16. > :03:21.debate on mysterious disappearances. It is like an Agatha Christie novel.
:03:22. > :03:25.The mystery of the missing Health Secretary. Besought him here, they
:03:26. > :03:34.sought him there, but even when the first strike was happening, he was
:03:35. > :03:35.nowhere to be found. Not even in the television studio. Surely he should
:03:36. > :03:40.be easier cleaning house he has lost the respect and trust of the whole
:03:41. > :03:42.medical profession? Then there was the disappearance of the
:03:43. > :03:51.government's consultation on the future of the BBC. The closing date
:03:52. > :03:56.for the consultation was 99 days ago and it is sown over to be seen. The
:03:57. > :04:00.charter runs out in less than a year. When will they published a
:04:01. > :04:08.consultation on the new draft charter? On Tuesday, a whole
:04:09. > :04:15.committee a was supposed to meet at committee a was supposed to meet at
:04:16. > :04:17.2:30pm in committee room tend to consider the ports authority
:04:18. > :04:21.regulation. Something I'm sure all honourable members think is
:04:22. > :04:24.important. Members of the public turned up from far and wide to you
:04:25. > :04:29.about the Minister had to say, but the government had pulled the
:04:30. > :04:35.meeting. Why? This is an important matter that affects 47 UK ports.
:04:36. > :04:38.Airport workers are very concerned about it. The European scrutiny
:04:39. > :04:43.committee have said they remain deeply concerned the government
:04:44. > :04:47.continues to refuse to have a floor debate on this issue. How can the
:04:48. > :04:52.serious eurosceptic when he won't serious eurosceptic when he won't
:04:53. > :04:57.even allow the House to debate EU measures? That is not the only
:04:58. > :05:00.debate to disappear. The leader of the House promised a debate on
:05:01. > :05:07.abolishing student grants. He made that on 10th December. I know he is
:05:08. > :05:11.doing his huffy puffy, I'm going to get very angry about this later
:05:12. > :05:18.face, but he should admit it. His precise words were these. On student
:05:19. > :05:22.finance regulations, the honourable gentleman is aware that if you want
:05:23. > :05:31.a debate on this in this House, all he has to do is pray against it. I
:05:32. > :05:37.am not aware of any situation where that has not led to a debate in this
:05:38. > :05:52.House. We took him at his word. EDM eight to nine is on the order paper.
:05:53. > :05:57.-- 829. Instead, he has arranged the only debate there will be held will
:05:58. > :06:05.be in committee not in this House, but in a committee at 1130 AM today.
:06:06. > :06:09.Because it is in committee, even if every single member of the committee
:06:10. > :06:14.were to vote against the motion, it would still pass into law. That is
:06:15. > :06:18.not Chrissy, it is government by diktats. Let me be clear. This
:06:19. > :06:24.should not be secondary legislation. should not be secondary legislation.
:06:25. > :06:29.This major change and will deprive around 500,000 of England's
:06:30. > :06:33.pluralist students of maintenance grants. The Deputy Leader is talking
:06:34. > :06:37.nonsense. If she doesn't know the rules of this House, she should go
:06:38. > :06:48.and get another job and come back. Forcing them with debts. As a man of
:06:49. > :06:52.his word, will the leader of the House now ensure there is a proper
:06:53. > :07:00.debate and vote in this House before 23 January? Which brings me to the
:07:01. > :07:05.curious Case of the missing ministerial backbone. You see, I
:07:06. > :07:08.thought ministers were men of integrity and principle. When they
:07:09. > :07:14.was time the leader of the House for it. Last week, I suggested it
:07:15. > :07:18.was time the leader of the House came out as an outer. There is a
:07:19. > :07:27.vacancy. They want a leader. Surely the time has come. Cometh the hour,
:07:28. > :07:33.started to take my advice. Years started to take my advice. Years
:07:34. > :07:38.even written a piece in the Daily Telegraph about it. I was hoping for
:07:39. > :07:42.a proper full throated eurosceptic intellectual argument from the
:07:43. > :07:48.leader of the House. But it is the most missed peddling facing both
:07:49. > :07:53.ways piece of pedestrian journalism which has ever come from his pen.
:07:54. > :07:58.What is the phrase from the Bible? Because thou art lukewarm and
:07:59. > :08:03.neither cold nor hot, while I spew the out of my mouth? I know he was
:08:04. > :08:08.born on first April, but he cannot treat all of us as fools. I know he
:08:09. > :08:15.is desperate to keep his place in the Cabinet but this is becoming a
:08:16. > :08:19.farce. He's pretending he supports the Prime Minister's re-negotiation
:08:20. > :08:23.strategy when he is really necessary to mount the barricades with the
:08:24. > :08:27.banner of English and was. Apparently the Business Secretary is
:08:28. > :08:33.going to pretend he is in favour of leaving the EU so as to bolster the
:08:34. > :08:35.prospect of his favourite candidate for leader, the Chancellor. This
:08:36. > :08:40.really is not a game. It is not really is not a game. It is
:08:41. > :08:45.about the leadership prospects of one or other Tory minister, it is
:08:46. > :08:49.about our constituents's jobs. Our standing as a nation. The most
:08:50. > :08:55.important this country will make in this generation. He says it will be
:08:56. > :08:59.disastrous for us to stay in. I Brown be disastrous for us to leave.
:09:00. > :09:04.leaving our economy on the sidelines destiny at the
:09:05. > :09:08.leaving our economy on the sidelines of the largest market in the world
:09:09. > :09:15.and would undermine the battle against environmental degeneration
:09:16. > :09:21.and international terrorism. You leave, I am staying. Me I thank the
:09:22. > :09:32.innovative and talented rock star I so favourably David Bowie, the most
:09:33. > :09:38.innovative and talented rock star I ever had the privilege of seeing or
:09:39. > :09:41.hearing. Can I endorse the words about the Scottish Secretary. I'm
:09:42. > :09:46.proud of my colleague and the statement he made yesterday. Can I
:09:47. > :09:56.send the good wishes of this House to the people of Indonesia. And can
:09:57. > :10:00.I wish the Speaker happy birthday for next week. Can I thank you and
:10:01. > :10:06.the clerks for the work you all dead, that they all did, in ensuring
:10:07. > :10:11.the first English and Welsh grand committee passed smoothly on
:10:12. > :10:12.Tuesday. In our manifesto, we committed to introducing English
:10:13. > :10:17.votes for English laws and we have votes for English laws and we have
:10:18. > :10:22.now delivered at. We thought there was at his irony that the longest
:10:23. > :10:34.contribution we heard yesterday came from the honourable member for Perth
:10:35. > :10:46.who claimed he was being excluded from the debate and that seemed a
:10:47. > :10:52.tad hollow. With a closing date of 26 January, there will be
:10:53. > :10:59.consultation with members is of staff in both houses. Can I
:11:00. > :10:59.interest in the project to take part interest in the project to take part
:11:00. > :11:06.in the consultation? Now, the shadow leader. Today we have heard another
:11:07. > :11:14.seven minute rhetorical flourish from the honourable member with his
:11:15. > :11:23.usual wit and repartee. But... Bat, Mr Speaker, what on earth does he
:11:24. > :11:26.think he is doing? He represents Her Majesty's loyal opposition. Last
:11:27. > :11:32.week, on the day that Kim Jong-un announced he had developed a
:11:33. > :11:38.hydrogen Bob, he was joined at the Shadow Cabinet table by the Shadow
:11:39. > :11:42.Cabinet secretary who believes we should unilaterally disarm our
:11:43. > :11:47.nuclear defences. He set alongside a Shadow Chancellor who attended an
:11:48. > :11:53.event that claimed Jihadi John was a kind and beautiful young man. He
:11:54. > :11:56.works for a man who sacked the Member for Wolverhampton South East
:11:57. > :12:02.are having the effrontery to criticise terrorists.
:12:03. > :12:10.We have seen several more junior members of his front bench have the
:12:11. > :12:11.courage to stand up to his situation which most people in this house
:12:12. > :12:18.regard as distasteful and wrong, they gave up their places on this
:12:19. > :12:22.frontbench. While he and more senior members on gone to their jobs. It is
:12:23. > :12:29.all very well him coming here on a Thursday morning and cracking jokes.
:12:30. > :12:32.I have a simple question for him. Given the disgraceful turn of events
:12:33. > :12:43.in the Labour Party, what on Earth is he still doing here?
:12:44. > :12:46.Can I call on the Leader of the House to hold an urgent debate in
:12:47. > :12:50.government time on the recommendations being made today by
:12:51. > :12:58.the women and equality is committee, the first report of our committee
:12:59. > :13:03.into trans writes and the problems they face today. This Government
:13:04. > :13:06.needs to face swift action and a debate in the House would
:13:07. > :13:08.demonstrate the commitment of the entire house to resolving these
:13:09. > :13:13.problems. Can I congratulate my honourable
:13:14. > :13:18.friend on what she's doing? I am powered to be part of
:13:19. > :13:20.that is leading the way in addressing equality is issues and I
:13:21. > :13:24.think she reflects the best of this house in also addressing those
:13:25. > :13:27.issues. The government will be considering very carefully the
:13:28. > :13:31.report she has brought forward this morning. I commend her and the
:13:32. > :13:36.committee for this work and I have no doubt she will look to get the
:13:37. > :13:40.backbench business committee to debate the report she has brought
:13:41. > :13:49.forward this morning. Make also thank the leader of the
:13:50. > :13:51.Eurosceptics -- make I also thank? It is like a boss, at you wait
:13:52. > :14:01.decades for a mass more -- nasty decades for a mass more -- nasty
:14:02. > :14:06.water, long and two, long that once! My honourable friend on Bastin, we
:14:07. > :14:10.do of the House today for his Euroscepticism. This is serious in
:14:11. > :14:14.Scotland. It is likely our nation may be pulled out of Europe against
:14:15. > :14:18.us and we need a statement from the Leader of the House to say he will
:14:19. > :14:23.respect the views of Scotland on this issue. It is popcorn time here
:14:24. > :14:31.as we watch both UK parties knocking lumps out of each other and out of
:14:32. > :14:35.themselves. Mr Speaker, this week, I have to say I felt like an
:14:36. > :14:40.meeting of the image Parliament got meeting of the image Parliament got
:14:41. > :14:45.right down to it. It was quite a remarkable event. The first time a
:14:46. > :14:50.cause I image Parliament has met since the 18th-century. And we have
:14:51. > :15:01.to make sure it is done properly. What did we do? We put signs on the
:15:02. > :15:03.lobbies, England and Wales. We looked for no Scottish, but they
:15:04. > :15:09.were not there thankfully. Suspending the House's business well
:15:10. > :15:13.you had to see out the clocks to see is something needed to be
:15:14. > :15:20.recertified. This is no way for one of the great Parliament of the world
:15:21. > :15:28.to conduct its business. And it is a sad day for any motion and idea of a
:15:29. > :15:30.unitary Parliament, the United Kingdom being the place where all
:15:31. > :15:36.members are equal and I am sure the Scottish people were observing these
:15:37. > :15:38.events with their Members of Parliament when they became
:15:39. > :15:44.second-class and diminished in this nation and there is real anger in
:15:45. > :15:48.Scotland. There was a Britain ministerial statement from the
:15:49. > :15:53.Secretary of State who I want to congratulate for the way he has
:15:54. > :16:00.identified his sexuality this week. There was a statement with a scheme
:16:01. > :16:03.for Scotland. Forget about the fact the post and you work scheme is
:16:04. > :16:08.wanted by all the higher education institutions in Scotland and the
:16:09. > :16:12.business institutions and employer organisations and even the Scottish
:16:13. > :16:19.Conservatives. The committee which I chair is currently undertaking a
:16:20. > :16:22.report into post and work scheme is. That is practically made irrelevant
:16:23. > :16:27.because of the statement. What do we have to do now, Mr Speaker? Should
:16:28. > :16:31.we get a statement from the relevant department before we undertake such
:16:32. > :16:37.enquiries? I think that was a gross discourtesy and disrespect to the
:16:38. > :16:44.Select Committee in this house when it comes to these things today. This
:16:45. > :16:50.has been a week when the real opposition established itself in
:16:51. > :16:54.this house. It was ours that led as the Leader of the House and we had
:16:55. > :17:00.the debate on trading economy, we will be leading
:17:01. > :17:03.debates today, one on space and you are right, I was devastated about
:17:04. > :17:07.the news of the death of David Bowie this week and I have seen him
:17:08. > :17:12.several times and we have lost a musical icon in this country. One of
:17:13. > :17:18.the things that thrilled me and I am sure thrilled my honourable friend
:17:19. > :17:24.behind me was the endorsement from Star Trek about our space debate
:17:25. > :17:26.today which shows while these two rip themselves apart, it is the
:17:27. > :17:31.Scottish National Party which is Scottish National Party which is
:17:32. > :17:37.boldly going where no party has ever gone before! Of course, Mr Speaker,
:17:38. > :17:44.his party was previously led by one of this house's for most bigger Star
:17:45. > :17:48.Trek fans. As I always say in these events, I have the greatest regard
:17:49. > :17:53.for the honourable member but he does talk an awful lot of nonsense
:17:54. > :17:59.on this. The first thing I would say is the honourable member and I have
:18:00. > :18:02.been friends for more than 25 years and we will carry on being friends.
:18:03. > :18:08.side of the House is that when we do side of the House is that when we do
:18:09. > :18:12.it on the site, we have it with good grace and on that side, they hate
:18:13. > :18:17.each other. And they really do hate each other, Mr Speaker. And I have
:18:18. > :18:20.to say I am still baffled. He talks about the real opposition but it
:18:21. > :18:24.still baffles me how those who purport to claim bail sensible
:18:25. > :18:27.figures in the shambles of the Labour Party can still sit on the
:18:28. > :18:32.front bench and represent a leadership I regard as being utterly
:18:33. > :18:38.beyond the and which will keep completely away from ever having a
:18:39. > :18:41.chance of running this country. Mr Speaker, again, I talk about the
:18:42. > :18:46.propensity of the honourable member opposite to exaggerate just a little
:18:47. > :18:50.bit. His comments about the debate on Tuesday did not really brings
:18:51. > :18:53.very true. This idea that he is excluded from the debate in which
:18:54. > :18:58.she spoke for the best part of half an hour to the great enjoyment of
:18:59. > :19:01.members on the side of the House who enjoyed his rhetorically flourished
:19:02. > :19:04.enormously. But the idea he was in some weight excluded I am afraid
:19:05. > :19:09.it's just stretching the point in little bit and I would just remind
:19:10. > :19:13.him that every poll done in Scotland says the Scottish people support a
:19:14. > :19:18.England and that is what we are England and that is
:19:19. > :19:22.doing. And I thank him for his kind words about the Scottish Secretary
:19:23. > :19:25.and extend the banks of myself and my colleagues to the Scottish First
:19:26. > :19:29.Minister and other leading figures in his party who also made Gracias
:19:30. > :19:33.statements about the Scottish Secretary yesterday, we all very
:19:34. > :19:37.much appreciated that. -- Gracias. On the post and he work scheme, we
:19:38. > :19:41.have to have a managed immigration system. You can do a graduate level
:19:42. > :19:45.job here but it is right and proper we have appropriate safeguards in
:19:46. > :19:48.place, that is what the electorate expects and we will deliver and have
:19:49. > :19:55.delivered and it is what the electorate across the UK of
:19:56. > :20:02.happily we remain still part want us to do.
:20:03. > :20:06.I am glad the European Scrutiny Committee with all-party support has
:20:07. > :20:09.forced the government to cancel this European Standing Committee on ports
:20:10. > :20:16.regulation which would in fact and may continue to damage 350,000 jobs
:20:17. > :20:22.in the UK. This is a vital national interest. Does he recognise that
:20:23. > :20:27.this must be debated on the floor of the House and voted upon and
:20:28. > :20:33.furthermore, does he accept this is a perfect example where the
:20:34. > :20:35.government is effectively through the European Community arrangements,
:20:36. > :20:43.European Union arrangements, in a position where it can only accept
:20:44. > :20:46.either a majority vote or a seedy compromise, and this is a perfect
:20:47. > :20:51.example of why so many people in this country want to leave the
:20:52. > :20:55.European Union! I hope my honourable friend will take comfort from having
:20:56. > :20:59.raised the issue last week that indeed raising an issue like this at
:21:00. > :21:03.business questions can be deeply effective and has led to the changes
:21:04. > :21:07.he suggests. We have been talking about how to address an issue for
:21:08. > :21:09.some many members and we will refer to him shortly and I thank him for
:21:10. > :21:18.the wiki has done in raising this and other issues.
:21:19. > :21:22.This week, my constituents have been suffering due to cancelled trains
:21:23. > :21:24.because of a landslide on our local rail line. Can we have a statement
:21:25. > :21:30.from the Transport Minister because there is complete chaos on all
:21:31. > :21:35.lines? There is a knock-on effect and there seems to be no information
:21:36. > :21:39.on south-eastern, no information about when the service is likely to
:21:40. > :21:45.getting to and from work and getting to and from work and
:21:46. > :21:48.businesses are suffering, we really need somebody to get a grip on the
:21:49. > :21:51.situation. I understand the problems events like these cause for his
:21:52. > :21:55.constituents and elsewhere. Other parts of the network have suffered
:21:56. > :22:00.in recent weeks because of extreme weather. I will make sure concerns
:22:01. > :22:03.are drawn to the attention of the transport Secretary This Morning who
:22:04. > :22:05.will be here in ten days' time, but it is more urgent than that and his
:22:06. > :22:13.concerns will be passed on immediately.
:22:14. > :22:16.I have to state my interest although declaration is not necessarily
:22:17. > :22:19.required. I wonder if my honourable friend would persuade the gunman to
:22:20. > :22:24.have a debate on the UK relationship with the Commonwealth, particularly
:22:25. > :22:27.the old, wealth? -- the honourable gentleman. I have just returned from
:22:28. > :22:31.New Zealand and it is definitely there and I am conscious that in our
:22:32. > :22:35.drive to reduce immigration, we are drive to reduce immigration, we
:22:36. > :22:38.losing out on highly educated English speaking people, generally
:22:39. > :22:44.graduates, who have much to offer in health, education, agriculture,
:22:45. > :22:48.banking, research, Armed Forces and dare I say it rugby! That are issues
:22:49. > :22:53.with these nations, they have and they are still today standing with
:22:54. > :22:58.us in major and less major wars and we need to recognise this. I
:22:59. > :23:04.understand my honourable friend has family roots in New Zealand so he
:23:05. > :23:08.has an understanding of the issue. We try to maintain a sensible
:23:09. > :23:12.balance in the immigration system. It is necessary to have controls and
:23:13. > :23:18.it is right and proper to have controls, but we do also have roots
:23:19. > :23:21.for experienced people to come here and work and many from Australia and
:23:22. > :23:24.New Zealand and the Commonwealth have done over many years. I am sure
:23:25. > :23:28.the Home Office ministers will have heard the comments he made and will
:23:29. > :23:31.do their best to take as pragmatic and approach as they can but he will
:23:32. > :23:37.understand the half to be limitations, electorate expects it.
:23:38. > :23:43.-- there have to be. Given the abolition of student grants will hit
:23:44. > :23:46.half a million university students from the poorest backgrounds, can
:23:47. > :23:51.this is not being debated on the this is not being debated on
:23:52. > :23:54.floor of the House? The people in my constituency certainly did not vote
:23:55. > :23:57.for the people on the opposite benches and their democracy is being
:23:58. > :24:04.assaulted. Mr Speaker, this is following the
:24:05. > :24:07.normal route and it will not pass without a vote of the entire house
:24:08. > :24:12.and will be debated again in this house which is more than just this
:24:13. > :24:16.room. And the Labour Party as I have just announced as a number of
:24:17. > :24:20.opposition days coming up and if this is significant enough, I would
:24:21. > :24:23.suggest she encourages her colleagues to bring this to the
:24:24. > :24:30.floor of the House if they do to do that if they choose to do so.
:24:31. > :24:33.Part of the agreement says all illegally held persons should be
:24:34. > :24:41.released or exchanged between Russia and the Ukraine, will he call for an
:24:42. > :24:45.early debate regarding the release of a member of the Ukrainian
:24:46. > :24:50.Parliament and Council of Europe? My honourable friend makes an important
:24:51. > :24:56.point. I hope consideration will be given by those involved in this
:24:57. > :24:59.detention to that situation. And I am sure my Foreign Office colleagues
:25:00. > :25:04.are both aware of and pursuing the issue. Clearly, we want to see a
:25:05. > :25:07.peaceful situation between Russia and Ukraine and we want to see areas
:25:08. > :25:13.of dispute like this resolved quickly.
:25:14. > :25:18.Last October, the government hosted the Seal Summit at which industry
:25:19. > :25:23.laid out the urgent actions it needed from government to protect
:25:24. > :25:27.the UK steel industry in extremely challenging times, can we have an
:25:28. > :25:31.update about higher -- have asked the government is acting? There has
:25:32. > :25:33.been some movement on energy costs but many areas need government
:25:34. > :25:39.action and the situation is critical. This is still an ongoing
:25:40. > :25:42.concern for members, not just those with steel concerns in their
:25:43. > :25:47.constituencies. I will certainly ask for an update from my colleagues in
:25:48. > :25:52.the business Department, I will ask if they will write to her and to
:25:53. > :25:57.give her an update. There was due to be a debate on steel this afternoon
:25:58. > :26:00.in Westminster Hall but I believe the member who has announced it has
:26:01. > :26:03.withdrawn it, which is a shame, but no doubt there will be other
:26:04. > :26:08.opportunities to debate this shortly. In the light of my right
:26:09. > :26:12.honourable friend's important article in today's Daily Telegraph,
:26:13. > :26:17.and early debate on the issue of and early debate on the issue of
:26:18. > :26:23.ever closer union and how it is possible to ensure legally at the
:26:24. > :26:31.European Court of Justice and the EU majority voting rules cannot prevent
:26:32. > :26:32.the sovereign Parliament being able to exercise its sovereignty in the
:26:33. > :26:44.future? He makes an important point. When
:26:45. > :26:52.the Prime Minister returns from the council in February, it is an total
:26:53. > :26:59.way -- undoubtedly something he will put forward for the country to judge
:27:00. > :27:11.whether that is sufficient for them to vote to stay or leave. There are
:27:12. > :27:23.reports that a mini beast has spoken on a possible British exit. Can he
:27:24. > :27:41.update the House about people living in his constituency who are citizens
:27:42. > :27:48.of the EU. The only many things I have notice are the Liberal
:27:49. > :27:53.Democrats. Can we have a more widespread debate in this House on
:27:54. > :27:56.the merits of leaving remaining in the European Union? In that debate I
:27:57. > :28:05.think we will see the only arguments think we will see the only arguments
:28:06. > :28:21.the people who want to stay have ask airmen in. Those who are most
:28:22. > :28:25.enthusiastic idols who were enthusiastic about as joining the
:28:26. > :28:31.euro in the past. That is certainly true. What I would say to my
:28:32. > :28:36.honourable friend is he mixes point with his customary articulate and
:28:37. > :28:41.debate that lies ahead. There will debate that lies ahead. There will
:28:42. > :28:42.undoubtedly be extensive discussions undoubtedly be extensive discussions
:28:43. > :28:49.in this House and around the country. We as politicians and the
:28:50. > :28:57.public as a whole needs to decide whether future of this country lies.
:28:58. > :29:01.When can we debate the gravy train of 25 foreign ministers in the last
:29:02. > :29:08.government who are enjoying lucrative jobs in areas they once
:29:09. > :29:14.regulated and the five former chairs of select committees who are
:29:15. > :29:22.involved in jobs over firms which the ones adjudicated? Isn't this a
:29:23. > :29:28.gravy train that is leading to bring this House into disrepute? Because
:29:29. > :29:33.of the feeling that people are talking their insider knowledge to
:29:34. > :29:37.the highest bidder. Last week, the honourable gentleman said he was
:29:38. > :29:43.happy with the situation that all was fine. Previous holders of his
:29:44. > :29:49.office have led in reforms of this House. When will he is leader of the
:29:50. > :29:52.House start to Leeds? In response to the issues raised in the Daily
:29:53. > :29:59.Mirror article, there is one simple to Word and serve which is Tony
:30:00. > :30:03.Blair. As I said to him last week, there are plenty of opportunities
:30:04. > :30:07.for him to raise his concerns with the relevant committees of this
:30:08. > :30:13.House. I suggested last week he did so. I'm sure he will make his point
:30:14. > :30:26.and seek the changes to the rules he is after. A building in my
:30:27. > :30:32.constituency is 45 years old as it is collapsing and it will be
:30:33. > :30:38.demolished. The Scout group are having fundraising problems. Would
:30:39. > :30:42.he facilitate a debate where we can explore how big society
:30:43. > :30:48.organisations like that that serve the wider community can access
:30:49. > :30:53.facilities? Can I pay tribute to the facilities? Can I pay tribute to the
:30:54. > :30:58.volunteers in her constituency who are clearly doing a fantastic job
:30:59. > :31:01.working with young people, providing opportunities for young people?
:31:02. > :31:08.Everyone of us as constituency MPs have a story our Ronan constituency
:31:09. > :31:11.whether it is the Scout or others who are doing fantastic work helping
:31:12. > :31:15.our young people. One of the things I hope the back end business
:31:16. > :31:20.committee will do with the time it has available is to look to one or
:31:21. > :31:26.I think would be in tune with the celebrate our voluntary sector
:31:27. > :31:28.I think would be in tune with the wishes of the size and provide an
:31:29. > :31:33.opportunity to do precisely what my honourable friend has just asked
:31:34. > :31:36.for. With more job losses announced in Aberdeen this week, the UK
:31:37. > :31:41.Government needs to take action to ensure a drive for increased Robert
:31:42. > :31:44.Dinwiddie in the North Sea does not come at the expense of health and
:31:45. > :31:48.safety on the rakes. When can we safety on the rakes.
:31:49. > :31:53.hear a ministerial statement on this matter? She makes an important
:31:54. > :31:58.point. The North Sea oil industry remains an important one to United
:31:59. > :32:03.Kingdom. It is under great pressure because of the fault the oil price.
:32:04. > :32:07.We should not wish to see safety standards compromised as a result.
:32:08. > :32:11.We will debate the energy bill next week which contains measures we
:32:12. > :32:14.believe will help bring costs down for the energy committee, but all of
:32:15. > :32:21.us should work together to ensure we do all we can to help the industry
:32:22. > :32:24.through what is clearly a difficult time. I pay tribute to Sir Albert
:32:25. > :32:38.McQuarrie who died yesterday. Will he find time for a debate on
:32:39. > :32:43.timetable changes for real services in my constituency. There will be a
:32:44. > :32:52.non-violent demonstration tonight at Fenchurch -- Fenchurch Street
:32:53. > :32:57.station at 5:30pm. Connecting graduate him for his continuing work
:32:58. > :33:02.on behalf of his constituents? There is work to be done by our train
:33:03. > :33:06.companies in ensuring the deliver the best possible service. The
:33:07. > :33:10.Secretary of State will be here in ten days to take questions. I'm sure
:33:11. > :33:11.he will take advantage of the opportunity to raise that issue
:33:12. > :33:20.again. I will make sure my right again. I will make sure my right
:33:21. > :33:28.is aware of the concerns he has raised today. As a greater
:33:29. > :33:32.Manchester constituency MP, I am concerned that Fire And Rescue
:33:33. > :33:39.Services are being treated disproportionately again compared to
:33:40. > :33:45.other services across the country. 16 fire engines will be out of
:33:46. > :33:53.action from the streets. This year -- Lea Valley engines and he was
:33:54. > :34:01.that have responded to the flooding emergency is.
:34:02. > :34:09.It is our hope and belief that as we move to try to unify many aspects of
:34:10. > :34:15.the workings of our emergency services, including the sharing of
:34:16. > :34:20.political leadership, it will provide an opportunity to deliver
:34:21. > :34:26.savings, but at the same time ensure we deliver front line services. I
:34:27. > :34:29.know my right honourable friend is in the Home Office will work to try
:34:30. > :34:35.and ensure that happens. There is no option but to take tough decisions
:34:36. > :34:46.challenges. Could we have a debate challenges. Could we have a debate
:34:47. > :34:49.on the activities of Network Rail in landscape sensitive areas such as
:34:50. > :35:00.the area of outstanding natural beauty. Nobody wants to hold up
:35:01. > :35:07.electrification, but a level of... I am aware of his concerns. I have
:35:08. > :35:11.walked through the Goring Gap recently seen the work taking place
:35:12. > :35:16.news for people in his constituency the great Western rail line
:35:17. > :35:20.news for people in his constituency and in South Wales. And will be a
:35:21. > :35:27.benefit to the shadow leader's constituency as well. It is long
:35:28. > :35:31.overdue. When they were in power, only ten miles of railway was
:35:32. > :35:36.electrified. Network Rail needs to use care and be thoughtful to make
:35:37. > :35:45.sure this essential work does not amidst the landscape. In the wake of
:35:46. > :35:50.recent floods, there have been calls for flooding to become a statutory
:35:51. > :35:57.responsibility of Fire authorities. The answer from the government seems
:35:58. > :36:00.to be that the fire Brigade will attend emergencies. Fire Brigade
:36:01. > :36:07.attended fires for many years before it was thought to be a good idea for
:36:08. > :36:14.there to be a statutory responsibility. Will there be a
:36:15. > :36:19.statement to determine whether they are examining this issue? At some
:36:20. > :36:25.point in the future, flooding to be a statutory responsibility of the
:36:26. > :36:28.Fire Service. On this issue we disagree. The idea you need to pass
:36:29. > :36:33.a law to tell the emergency services a law to tell the emergency services
:36:34. > :36:36.to respond to emergencies I think would be insulting to a group of
:36:37. > :36:45.professionals who work hard on our behalf. A record 10.2 million
:36:46. > :36:51.passengers passed through Birmingham International Airport in 2015. With
:36:52. > :37:01.all the attention on Heathrow, could he find time to discuss how we can
:37:02. > :37:08.further support regional airports. Worming airport is essential part of
:37:09. > :37:15.the Midlands economy. It is the Midlands economy. It is
:37:16. > :37:19.encouraging to see links improving. It has been helped by the work done
:37:20. > :37:25.by local members of Parliament. This is an issue I know my colleagues in
:37:26. > :37:31.the Department for Transport regard as being immensely important. We
:37:32. > :37:35.will continue to work alongside him in an attempt to continue the
:37:36. > :37:41.successful development of that airport. What message does the
:37:42. > :37:44.leader of the House believe he is sending to young people watching our
:37:45. > :37:53.proceedings today when a government elected by the majority of just 12
:37:54. > :38:01.on a minority share of the vote can abolish grants in such a manner?
:38:02. > :38:06.This is a matter that will be voted on by this House. If it is the
:38:07. > :38:11.choice of a house to vote against it, that is what will happen. It
:38:12. > :38:19.will sit on the floor of this House. If members want to vote on it, they
:38:20. > :38:26.business committee is indisposed. We business committee is indisposed. We
:38:27. > :38:30.send our best wishes for a speedy recovery. On behalf of the
:38:31. > :38:35.committee, can I invite members to apply for the opportunities the
:38:36. > :38:38.leader of the House has set out backbench committee debates. We
:38:39. > :38:45.don't have a huge amount of debates requested. Could I ask members to
:38:46. > :38:53.complete the forms thoroughly, follow the guidelines that are put
:38:54. > :38:57.so the whole process is sped up. One of the main issues that is of
:38:58. > :39:01.concern at the moment is the transport unions are threatening
:39:02. > :39:07.three further strikes on London Underground. This will bring misery
:39:08. > :39:14.to commuters across London. Can we have an urgent statement on what is
:39:15. > :39:16.to be done about this to prevent this action inconveniencing
:39:17. > :39:25.commuters and disrupting the whole of the business of London? Well, I
:39:26. > :39:30.pay tribute our noble friend for the work he and his colleagues ordering
:39:31. > :39:37.yet backbench committee. Were making a lot of time available for that
:39:38. > :39:53.committee. There will be issues of the real sector. These are sections
:39:54. > :40:02.of time set aside and I hope members raising issues today will look to
:40:03. > :40:07.the Backbench Business Committee. I refer to a written question I placed
:40:08. > :40:13.which asked the government what discussions it had with financial
:40:14. > :40:16.institutions prior to the new rules for entrepreneurial visas. The
:40:17. > :40:24.subsequent response simply said the subsequent response simply said the
:40:25. > :40:29.government has met with financial responsibilities many times which is
:40:30. > :40:35.inadequate. Can I get a more substantial response please? If this
:40:36. > :40:42.was raised as a point of order, you would offer the advice to beat
:40:43. > :40:50.persistent. And keep asking individual questions. Ministers
:40:51. > :40:56.involved in migration matters have regular meetings with representative
:40:57. > :41:02.groups and we will discuss this issue on a regular basis. These
:41:03. > :41:09.matters are discussed regularly. A recent report found that consumer
:41:10. > :41:16.strongest year since 2008. Can we strongest year since 2008. Can we
:41:17. > :41:17.have a debate on the steps need to be taken to ensure this positive
:41:18. > :41:26.trend continues? It is a sign of continued economic
:41:27. > :41:31.progress and it is encouraging we have seen that in the Midlands and
:41:32. > :41:35.the Northwest the economy has been growing faster than in South. There
:41:36. > :41:39.is a lot of work still to do. We have a lot of ground to cover but
:41:40. > :41:45.we're making good progress, this country is moving in the right
:41:46. > :41:50.direction. And backwardness was us rather than the party opposite which
:41:51. > :41:56.set up economic policies that would be disastrous for this country.
:41:57. > :41:58.Despite the response by the Secretary of State for the
:41:59. > :42:00.environment to my question on November the 5th stating that she
:42:01. > :42:05.would be happy to discuss the future of the national wildlife crime unit
:42:06. > :42:10.and despite a number of e-mails chasing response, the matter remains
:42:11. > :42:13.unresolved. Given members across the House showed support for the unit at
:42:14. > :42:19.an event last week, can to a range for an adventure -- a debate on this
:42:20. > :42:23.issue in the near future? I know this is a matter of concern and I
:42:24. > :42:29.understand the issues. Some of the wealth is crimes we see in this
:42:30. > :42:33.country, not just in the UK but the smuggling of rare species and Bush
:42:34. > :42:39.meat and products from Endangered Species Act, things we would wish to
:42:40. > :42:44.see stamped out. I will follow it up if he
:42:45. > :42:52.ensure he gets a response quickly after today's debate.
:42:53. > :42:55.EU membership is especially unpopular in my constituency because
:42:56. > :43:00.of the damaging impact of the common fisheries policy. Could the lead of
:43:01. > :43:07.the House arrange for a statement to assure my constituents reform is
:43:08. > :43:13.actually taking place during the renegotiation? I understand the
:43:14. > :43:19.concern he industry is very important to his
:43:20. > :43:23.constituency and the constituency of the shadow Deputy Leader. It is a
:43:24. > :43:30.long-standing and important part of the economy. There have been many
:43:31. > :43:34.calls over the years for more responsibility over the fishing
:43:35. > :43:40.sector to be taken at a local level. Subsidiary take something the
:43:41. > :43:43.premise has set at the heart of his renegotiation and whatever the
:43:44. > :43:49.outcome of the negotiations and a referendum, the idea of decisions
:43:50. > :43:53.being taken above that I think we would all agree should not be the
:43:54. > :43:57.case. Yesterday, myself and my colleagues from the Select Committee
:43:58. > :44:02.met with the Vice President of the EU Commission and I asked him about
:44:03. > :44:05.the European Union's position on the Chinese market. He said that debate
:44:06. > :44:09.has to happen and the decision will be taken. Energy intensive
:44:10. > :44:14.industries such as steel manufacturing alike upon this
:44:15. > :44:18.decision. Why is still the case and can we have statement why? The
:44:19. > :44:22.government, irrespective of being a member of the U or not, why are they
:44:23. > :44:31.backing the Chinese market without other clarification or qualification
:44:32. > :44:35.to that statement? It is worth being cleared China is the largest economy
:44:36. > :44:38.in the world. It is a country with which we have historic links. It is
:44:39. > :44:45.right and proper we should engage with China economic life. But what I
:44:46. > :44:50.would say this train has also, as we saw at the summit in Paris,
:44:51. > :44:52.recognised the importance of environmental issues and I think the
:44:53. > :44:58.outcome of that summit, figures including my right
:44:59. > :45:03.honourable friend the Secretary of State for climate change, that has
:45:04. > :45:08.started this world on a path in the right direction. Mid County College
:45:09. > :45:13.in my constituency is doing a phenomenal amount of work to
:45:14. > :45:16.encourage apprenticeships at informs me the greatest challenge is to
:45:17. > :45:20.ensure young people and their parents see apprenticeships as a
:45:21. > :45:23.good and vital alternative to university. Can we have an urgent
:45:24. > :45:28.statement about what the government is doing to assist his colleges to
:45:29. > :45:33.equally valuable career option? I equally valuable
:45:34. > :45:41.great success stories of this Government. Since 2010, we have seen
:45:42. > :45:44.2.5 million young people take apprenticeships in this country, a
:45:45. > :45:48.step in the right direction. My experience is I seemed young people
:45:49. > :45:52.in my constituency recognise the potential of them at their is a lot
:45:53. > :45:57.of work to do. We have a duty as constituency members to promote
:45:58. > :46:01.apprenticeships, some colleges have held apprenticeship affairs. The
:46:02. > :46:07.point he makes today, we should continue to deal with an debate on
:46:08. > :46:12.the floor of this House. Can I thank the Leader of the House for his
:46:13. > :46:15.excellent timing in the Easter recess, he could not have timed it
:46:16. > :46:21.better. Can I also draw his attention to another constituency
:46:22. > :46:26.matter, in my name and many others about the goodness of Stornoway
:46:27. > :46:34.black puddings declared a superfood. Due to it being rich in calcium, in
:46:35. > :46:41.IM, magnesium, potassium, protein rich and the glycaemic index -- in
:46:42. > :46:45.iron. Will he keep himself in good health and Google that so he can
:46:46. > :46:51.time his recess perfectly? honourable gentleman has raised the
:46:52. > :46:55.issue, I can tell the story the most unusual e-mail I have had in this
:46:56. > :46:58.job was from the honourable gentleman who said, could you tell
:46:59. > :47:06.me when the Easter recess is going to be because I need to work out
:47:07. > :47:12.when to put the RAM out with the ewes. We clearly have a taste
:47:13. > :47:15.contest between himself and the honourable member for Bury North as
:47:16. > :47:22.to who can deliver the tastiest black pudding. Perhaps you should be
:47:23. > :47:27.the judge next week and they should ring in Istanbul and you should be
:47:28. > :47:32.the arbiter. It will be diplomatic. The honourable gentleman and unusual
:47:33. > :47:41.have always been very much more than nodding acquaintances!
:47:42. > :47:46.Can we have a statement on the use of smart technology for reporting
:47:47. > :47:55.potholes? Tomorrow is national pothole day and it is a great day
:47:56. > :47:59.for people to develop and app which has seen the number of potholes my
:48:00. > :48:08.constituency reported and sorted double. It is a really good bit of
:48:09. > :48:12.technology and I think the representative for the Department
:48:13. > :48:19.should embrace this. I think I see the emergence of an all-party black
:48:20. > :48:23.pudding group here! I would say this is, especially at this time of year
:48:24. > :48:26.and with the rain we have had, an issue for constituencies across the
:48:27. > :48:30.country and he makes an important point and I am sure members who have
:48:31. > :48:33.an excess of potholes will take note of what he has said and offer
:48:34. > :48:39.guidance to constituents affected and we hope they will be repaired as
:48:40. > :48:42.quickly as possible. At the last general election, the Conservative
:48:43. > :48:48.party promised to protect Social Security for disabled people. And in
:48:49. > :48:51.addition, edition to the cuts proposed for the welfare reform and
:48:52. > :48:56.work bill, before Christmas, they announced a consultation on the
:48:57. > :49:04.process activate introduced it which will in effect reduce eligibility to
:49:05. > :49:07.disabled people. So will the government explain why they have
:49:08. > :49:13.Renate on a promise and when we can have a debate in government time on
:49:14. > :49:18.this very important issue? -- they have gone back on their promise. The
:49:19. > :49:23.system with PIP was its predecessor was being used not for the purpose
:49:24. > :49:26.it was intended. DLA and PIP are both designed to provide extra
:49:27. > :49:29.financial resource for people with disabilities to cover the extra
:49:30. > :49:36.costs they incur in their daily lives. It has become a big call as a
:49:37. > :49:39.sickness benefit and was being used by people who self referred with
:49:40. > :49:42.temporary illnesses rather than a disability. The system was designed
:49:43. > :49:47.to make sure we pay benefits to those people who need it for
:49:48. > :49:54.disabilities are not those who do not have genuine disabilities rather
:49:55. > :49:55.than health problems. That is what the system was introduced for and it
:49:56. > :50:01.is perfectly reasonable to review that system after two years so it is
:50:02. > :50:11.delivering that objective. Yesterday saw the launch of one
:50:12. > :50:16.doors worldwide watch report on persecution of Christians for 2016,
:50:17. > :50:21.which regrettably is growing and has got to a stage where Christians are
:50:22. > :50:25.now the most persecuted group. Will the Secretary of State welcome the
:50:26. > :50:30.work OneWorld and open doors to and secondly asked for an update on his
:50:31. > :50:38.implement their proposal that the right honourable friend the
:50:39. > :50:42.implement their proposal that the UK's position as a major aid donor
:50:43. > :50:48.gives as leverage in ensuring respect for faith in a recipient
:50:49. > :50:53.country? I am very happy to do both of those things. I think we should
:50:54. > :50:57.say very clearly is a Parliament and as a nation that the persecution of
:50:58. > :51:05.Christians around the world is to be aboard. This is a world that should
:51:06. > :51:07.respect freedom of individuals to follow the religion, nobody should
:51:08. > :51:11.be persecuted in their religion and it is right around the world that
:51:12. > :51:15.persecuted for their religion. It persecuted
:51:16. > :51:18.should be for this country as a beacon of Liberal democracy to stand
:51:19. > :51:27.up for them and we will do and we should do. The Leader of the House
:51:28. > :51:32.may be aware yesterday, the House ruled -- allowed my bill on the
:51:33. > :51:39.national anthem to pass to second reading. There is a huge amount of
:51:40. > :51:44.Bill came it was batted away without shame if when the ten minute
:51:45. > :51:47.Bill came it was batted away without a debate. What steps can he take to
:51:48. > :51:52.enable the voice of England to be heard and we can make a decision
:51:53. > :51:55.about whether or not we have a different national anthem?
:51:56. > :51:59.Yesterday's debate was certainly interesting and I am not sure he had
:52:00. > :52:04.and high unity from the frontbench. Jerusalem is a magnificent part of
:52:05. > :52:09.our musical heritage. And although it was broadcast last night and
:52:10. > :52:13.yesterday morning around Westminster, having heard it for the
:52:14. > :52:16.20th time, you just began to think on selective occasions but I commend
:52:17. > :52:21.him for the wiki is doing and it him for the wiki is doing and it
:52:22. > :52:24.will be discussed further. He could bring this to the backbench is this
:52:25. > :52:28.committee and have it debated on the floor if you chose to do so. I am
:52:29. > :52:36.sure House will support the proposal to direct a reconstruction of the
:52:37. > :52:41.Temple of Els arch from Palmyra in Trafalgar Square in April and May
:52:42. > :52:45.this year and maybe longer. That proposal coincides with the Queen's
:52:46. > :52:52.Speech with my right honourable friend will be involved in. To
:52:53. > :52:56.increase the symbolism of our environs against Daesh, with the
:52:57. > :53:01.Leader of the House include the ratification and bring into law the
:53:02. > :53:05.Hague Convention on which this area has
:53:06. > :53:09.concluded swiftly in this House and the other ways and will be an
:53:10. > :53:16.important symbol for this country? Can I say first my honourable friend
:53:17. > :53:19.makes an important point. We have looked at dismay at the gratuitous
:53:20. > :53:22.destruction of part of our collective heritage in the Middle
:53:23. > :53:26.East at the hands of a group of people nothing short of barbarians.
:53:27. > :53:30.He will forgive me that it will not be appropriate to give advanced
:53:31. > :53:34.billing of the Queen's Speech. I will simply say I know this is a
:53:35. > :53:38.honourable friend the Secretary of honourable friend the Secretary of
:53:39. > :53:40.State for culture and the government and I welcome what will be happening
:53:41. > :53:44.into vulgar square, we need to work together across the world to protect
:53:45. > :53:47.the architectural treasures and archaeological treasures that will
:53:48. > :53:54.be a part of our heritage and those of future generations. My
:53:55. > :53:57.constituent Mark Middle Hirst is in a critical condition in hospital in
:53:58. > :54:02.Perth Western Australia after suffering a severe brain injury as a
:54:03. > :54:06.need to raise over ?50,000 to make have travel
:54:07. > :54:11.need to raise over ?50,000 to make the journey back to the UK,
:54:12. > :54:15.accompanied by a medical team. And the Leader of the House asked the UK
:54:16. > :54:19.Ambassador to Australia to make urgent representations on this and
:54:20. > :54:23.ask the Foreign Secretary to publish a statement next week with the
:54:24. > :54:29.response? Can I first extend my best wishes to him and his family and to
:54:30. > :54:33.him personally for the wiki is doing? It is always distressing as
:54:34. > :54:41.constituency members when we come across a tragic case like this. I
:54:42. > :54:42.will this morning after this session may contact with the Foreign Office
:54:43. > :54:48.to follow up the point he has raised. It's very unfortunate when
:54:49. > :54:52.people travel without insurance and we will always advise constituents
:54:53. > :54:54.not to do so but I am sure the diplomatic service will do
:54:55. > :55:02.everything it can to help the family. Following the point made by
:55:03. > :55:05.the honourable member for Newark, can I ask the Speaker if he will
:55:06. > :55:10.meet up with the members of the all-party Parliamentary group on
:55:11. > :55:13.cultural heritage to discuss the issue of the Hague Convention and
:55:14. > :55:17.how we can ensure it does become part of UK law in the next Queen's
:55:18. > :55:23.Speech? Happy to discuss the issue with my honourable friend and
:55:24. > :55:26.State is here for questions next week so you can raise the issue with
:55:27. > :55:32.him. It is a matter the government is well aware of. There are growing
:55:33. > :55:38.concerns across the UK and Northern Ireland to do with Sharia law and
:55:39. > :55:43.councils. The Leader of the House, there can never be two legal systems
:55:44. > :55:51.in the UK, the law is created and processed as this only law of the
:55:52. > :55:55.land. All the Leader of the House agreed this is a legal matter? Let's
:55:56. > :55:59.be absolutely clear, we have one more of the land that applies to
:56:00. > :56:03.every single citizen of this country, every
:56:04. > :56:08.country, regardless of race, colour or creed. That is beyond question.
:56:09. > :56:14.It can never different in my view. Where we have systems that offer
:56:15. > :56:20.arbitration services within for example religious groups, those
:56:21. > :56:24.alternately are not legally binding, they are automatically the only
:56:25. > :56:31.place in our country delivering legally binding solutions, the
:56:32. > :56:33.courts and people always have recourse to the courts in
:56:34. > :56:37.challenging matters in their lives. I know this is a concern for the
:56:38. > :56:41.Home Secretary, she will be here next week and I would encourage him
:56:42. > :56:49.to raise those concerned with her as indeed I will.
:56:50. > :56:54.Figures published today show there has been a 30% increase in acid
:56:55. > :57:02.attacks over the last two years. Little attacks leaving victims with
:57:03. > :57:10.a life sentence. Can we have a debate in this House on how to
:57:11. > :57:14.tackle acid attacks? I had a brief discussion about this matter with
:57:15. > :57:20.Home Office minister of biological. I know it is a matter of great
:57:21. > :57:24.concern to Home Office ministers. They have been looking at issues
:57:25. > :57:26.around acid attacks and have been discussing it in recent days. I will
:57:27. > :57:33.make sure his concerns are raised make sure his concerns are raised
:57:34. > :57:40.after the session. It is a matter of great concern. The lasting effect of
:57:41. > :57:47.such an attacked on an individual can be life changing. Last Monday
:57:48. > :57:52.saw the deadline passed for responses to the Greater Manchester
:57:53. > :57:59.spatial framework consultation which sets out housing land supply for the
:58:00. > :58:02.next 20 years. The fact that very few councillors in Greater
:58:03. > :58:07.but the fact the public did not know taking place would be
:58:08. > :58:16.but the fact the public did not know at all this consultation was taking
:58:17. > :58:19.place is atrocious. Can we have a debate on the accountability of
:58:20. > :58:24.combined authorities, particularly to the electorate, but also to the
:58:25. > :58:32.councillors of the constituent councils? I listen carefully to what
:58:33. > :58:38.he says. I will pass his concerns to the humanities and local government
:58:39. > :58:50.and undoubtedly they will be concerned to ensure the new systems
:58:51. > :58:53.are working effectively. There is a duty on councillors to convey to
:58:54. > :59:00.their constituents what is happening. They need to try to make
:59:01. > :59:05.sure the message get out. I was pleased that the Minister for
:59:06. > :59:18.equalities welcomed the trans-report. May I divert my
:59:19. > :59:20.expertise to the clerks for working out whether this has happened
:59:21. > :59:25.before. As I understand it, there before. As I understand it, there
:59:26. > :59:32.has not been a debate on the main floor of this House regarding the
:59:33. > :59:37.trans-community. I think that would be a very sensible thing to do. The
:59:38. > :59:41.deputy chair of the Backbench Business Committee is sitting there.
:59:42. > :59:51.place, formal -- request from the place, formal -- request from the
:59:52. > :59:55.committee needs to be played. That is an ideal opportunity for this
:59:56. > :00:01.report to be debated. I suspect the issue has not been debated before in
:00:02. > :00:07.this House. But it is a genuine one and needs to be discussed. The
:00:08. > :00:09.leader of the House will be very well we are the feet of six British
:00:10. > :00:18.sailors in Shanghai, including one sailors in Shanghai, including one
:00:19. > :00:24.of my constituents. They were detained for two years and have now
:00:25. > :00:30.been sentenced to five years in prison. It has caused great upset to
:00:31. > :00:33.the men and their families. Could I ask the Foreign Office to make an
:00:34. > :00:39.urgent statement to the House as soon as possible about what they
:00:40. > :00:44.plan to do to help these men. I know the honourable gentleman has been a
:00:45. > :00:48.vigorous campaigner on behalf of these gentlemen and their families.
:00:49. > :00:53.After the session has finished, it will pass that message to the
:00:54. > :00:59.Foreign Office and ask them to respond to him. Once a court has
:01:00. > :01:03.ruled, it is a much more challenging situation to address because we have
:01:04. > :01:10.to respect the Justice systems of other countries. If they choose to
:01:11. > :01:19.appeal, I would expect usual consular access to be made
:01:20. > :01:22.available. It has been reported that the President of America will be
:01:23. > :01:25.visiting this country in May, no doubt as the start of his farewell
:01:26. > :01:34.tour. It is is will be invited by the Prime
:01:35. > :01:40.Minister to comment on the merits of Britain staying in the European
:01:41. > :01:44.Union as part of an increasingly desperate attempt to shore up the
:01:45. > :01:50.increasingly threadbare proposals for us to stay in the European
:01:51. > :01:54.Union. With the leader of the House right to be knighted States
:01:55. > :01:58.ambassador not only to welcome President Obama to this country but
:01:59. > :02:01.to make it clear to the ambassador the president should not be
:02:02. > :02:06.commenting on very important domestic issues important to the
:02:07. > :02:12.people of this country? I think I can reassure my honourable friend
:02:13. > :02:13.that I suspect such a letter is not that I suspect such a letter is not
:02:14. > :02:17.needed because I have no doubt the American ambassador follows closely
:02:18. > :02:22.the proceedings at in this chamber and those comments will be reported
:02:23. > :02:31.to him. I'm sure that message will filter back to the Americans. Can we
:02:32. > :02:40.have a debate on the rather bizarre decision reached by the fisheries
:02:41. > :02:46.minister at the open opportunities meeting, whereby guild net fishing
:02:47. > :02:53.the endangered bass species, whereas the endangered bass species, whereas
:02:54. > :03:00.domestic anglers are told they are to have a zero bag take. It seems to
:03:01. > :03:08.me and many domestic anglers and absolutely unfair decision that
:03:09. > :03:13.stops their recreational fishing whilst increasing a huge take on an
:03:14. > :03:22.Endangered Species Act by fishermen including in the fisheries industry
:03:23. > :03:30.ministers construe it stay that constituency. She is not the first
:03:31. > :03:33.one to raise this concern. I can understand why honourable members
:03:34. > :03:37.think it is somewhat strange. I will ask my honourable friends to write
:03:38. > :03:40.to her after this meeting to talk to her about the reason for that
:03:41. > :03:48.government has a new years decision and what will happen next.
:03:49. > :03:53.government has a new years resolution to further deregulate
:03:54. > :03:57.Sunday trading in the forthcoming enterprise Bill? Why doesn't the
:03:58. > :04:00.government which the results its Sunday trading consultation which
:04:01. > :04:05.might have got lost in the Christmas decorations back? This is a New Year
:04:06. > :04:09.is resolution which makes no business sense, no family sends and
:04:10. > :04:12.should be broken as soon as possible. IPAQ this is an issue my
:04:13. > :04:19.honourable friend feel strongly about. If any proposals are to be
:04:20. > :04:21.brought forward, the House will be properly informed and all
:04:22. > :04:30.appropriate information will be provided to the House. After the
:04:31. > :04:36.legislative grant committee on Tuesday, there were some forlorn
:04:37. > :04:43.looking clerks in the division lobbies packing away iPads which
:04:44. > :04:49.were not used. Why not put them to use and record all divisions and the
:04:50. > :04:53.House as the first step towards a 21st-century system of electronic
:04:54. > :04:58.voting? I think that is the intention. House of Lords is already
:04:59. > :05:06.using them. It seems logical we should do the same. The system is
:05:07. > :05:10.now in place and it is my hope and expectation we move to general
:05:11. > :05:27.recording in the near future. Businesses across York have been
:05:28. > :05:36.devastated by flooding. Can we have a debate on funding available. Can
:05:37. > :05:45.he make it clear that the best way to support such places is to visit
:05:46. > :05:55.and take advantage of the fantastic amenities. York is a large place.
:05:56. > :06:02.The floods were damaging part of York. We should be encouraging
:06:03. > :06:06.people into the city to visit, to people into the
:06:07. > :06:12.shop, eat and rent and make sure the economy flourishes. That is true of
:06:13. > :06:20.other places affected by flooding as well. Next week, the High Court will
:06:21. > :06:36.hear a judicial review regarding a civil partnership. This is a matter
:06:37. > :06:41.for Parliament. Will he find government time to legislate to
:06:42. > :06:46.allow different sex couples to enter civil partnerships? He makes a point
:06:47. > :06:52.that he has made before. If this is that he has made before. If
:06:53. > :06:57.a matter before the courts, it is not appropriate to start discussing
:06:58. > :07:03.it today. The government does not currently have proposals to make a
:07:04. > :07:11.change, but it is always something we will keep under review. The
:07:12. > :07:18.energy secretary has noted her frustration that the foul in
:07:19. > :07:25.wholesale prices has been passed on to consumers. Frankly, my
:07:26. > :07:29.constituents want to know what action will be taken. Can we have a
:07:30. > :07:33.statement on what she will do to help hard-pressed businesses and
:07:34. > :07:44.households from paying through the nose? Shop around. The have been
:07:45. > :07:48.reductions in price. We have taken significant steps to try to
:07:49. > :07:56.encourage a broader range of providers in the market. It has
:07:57. > :08:06.risen from six to 30. We should try everything we can to help encourage
:08:07. > :08:10.people to switch easily. Can we have a report from the museum Association
:08:11. > :08:20.that reveals nearly one in five regional museums have closed part of
:08:21. > :08:22.their facilities to the public. The North of England has been
:08:23. > :08:29.disproportionately affected. We can't dictate what local authorities
:08:30. > :08:33.do with their money, but in Mr -- in the Spending Review we protected the
:08:34. > :08:34.money going to cultural institutions because we recognise the importance.
:08:35. > :08:45.It is for a local councils to set It is for a local councils to set
:08:46. > :08:49.their own local priorities. The leader of the House will be aware
:08:50. > :09:01.that the Welsh grand committee meets from time to time. I believe he
:09:02. > :09:06.appeared once in Wrexham. Members may make representations and speak
:09:07. > :09:09.in either English or Welsh. However, when the Welsh grand committee meets
:09:10. > :09:15.in this place in a committee room, members are only permitted to use
:09:16. > :09:22.English. There are two official languages in Wales. We have Welsh
:09:23. > :09:27.grand committee coming up on three February. Will he commit that all
:09:28. > :09:35.Welsh? She makes a serious point. We Welsh? She makes a serious point. We
:09:36. > :09:39.will look at that. Clearly it is important in Wales that happens. I
:09:40. > :09:46.was not aware that was not possible in this building. I will look at
:09:47. > :09:51.that for. Every piece of evidence shows that scrapping student grants
:09:52. > :09:56.will deter students from Hoover backgrounds. Isn't this about
:09:57. > :09:59.democracy? We have a proposal not contained within the Conservative
:10:00. > :10:03.manifesto affecting over half a million people and it will be
:10:04. > :10:08.shoddy way to do the government number of people. Isn't that
:10:09. > :10:11.shoddy way to do the government should show the courage of their
:10:12. > :10:16.convictions and allow a full debate and a full vote on the floor of this
:10:17. > :10:23.House. If the Labour Party feels as strongly today about this, there is
:10:24. > :10:29.an opposition Day on Tuesday it could use to debate this issue.
:10:30. > :10:32.Statutes of this kind cannot pass into law against the wishes of the
:10:33. > :10:40.voted upon on the floor of the size. voted upon on the
:10:41. > :10:44.Every night, we address motions at the end of the day. If they
:10:45. > :10:54.disagree, they will vote against them. I will remind him. The number
:10:55. > :10:59.of young people from deprived backgrounds going to university has
:11:00. > :11:06.increased, not decreased. Can we have government time to debate
:11:07. > :11:20.cervical smearing for women under 25? Too many have died after being
:11:21. > :11:25.refused a smear test? They are being erroneously diagnosed as having a
:11:26. > :11:32.human infection. It is time to offer young women tests and promote more
:11:33. > :12:04.to encourage take-up of smear tests amongst women of all
:12:05. > :12:14.Will I make the Health Secretary aware of her point. Today we have a
:12:15. > :12:29.debate on space technology, in sharp contrast, the leader of the House
:12:30. > :12:35.hardly supports 20 for six -- 21st-century technology. Because
:12:36. > :12:38.normal e-mails are not secure. I am secure that it implies that MP's
:12:39. > :12:43.e-mails are not sink your. Kimi ever e-mails are not sink your.
:12:44. > :12:49.proper ministerial statement and debate on the security of the IT
:12:50. > :12:55.system? Mr Speaker, the honourable gentleman makes an important point.
:12:56. > :13:03.On these e-mails, it is a matter being discussed as a matter of
:13:04. > :13:08.ongoing concern. The new head of security has discussed the
:13:09. > :13:12.importance of the integrity and security of e-mail systems. I give
:13:13. > :13:20.assurance to the House that this is indeed the case. Point of order, Mr
:13:21. > :13:28.Chris Bryant. The leader of the House has twice that that the
:13:29. > :13:32.student Finance measure that was being considered at 11:30 a.m.,
:13:33. > :13:37.there will automatically be a vote of the whole House, on the remaining
:13:38. > :13:44.orders of the day. But is not the case. I would say this gently to the
:13:45. > :13:45.leader of the House commie does not understand the rules