Live Business Statement Business Questions

the Committee on Standards in Public Life? Yes. Thank you. Order,

business question, Mr Chris Bryant. Will the Leader of the House give us

the forthcoming business? The Leader of the House. Mr Chris Grayling. Mr

Speaker, can I start by in forming the House that the State Opening of

the next session of Parliament will take place on Wednesday the eighth

info of May. -- the 18th of May. I am also very pleased to announce the

calendar for this House for the remainder of the year. The House

will rise for the early May bank holiday on Thursday the 20th of

April and return on Tuesday the 3rd of May. For the Whitsun recess, the

House will rise at the conclusion of business on Thursday the 26th of May

and will return on Monday the 6th of June. Members will wish to know that

additionally, the House will rise at the conclusion of business on

Wednesday the 15th of June and return on Monday the 27th of June.

The House will rise for the summer recess at the conclusion of business

on the 21st of July and will return on Monday the 5th of December. --

Monday the 5th of September. The House will then return on Monday the

10th of October. The House will rise on the 8th of November and return on

the 14th of November. And finally, for the Christmas recess, the House

will rise at the conclusion of business on Tuesday the 20th of

December and return on Monday the 9th of January 20 17. All dates are

as usual, as they have been in the last few weeks, Mr Speaker, subject

to the progress of business. On that question, next week, on Monday the

14th of March, we will have the remaining stages of the energy bill

in the Lords. On Wednesday 16th of March the

Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver his Budget Statement is. On

Thursday 17th of March, continuation of the budget debate. 18th of March,

the house will not sit. For the week commencing 21st of March, a

continuation and conclusion of the budget debate. On Wednesday and

Thursday, the high-speed rail is built. My thanks on behalf of the

house to all of those who have been involved in the extended considering

phase of the committee stage of that bill. On Friday the 25th of March,

the house will not be sitting. The business in Westminster Hall for the

17th-21st of March will be a general debate on cabin air safety and aero

toxic syndrome. A debate on contract did go see Asians with the British

Medical Association. Mr Speaker, I am delighted that the leader has

confirmed the recess dates which I announced three weeks ago. I'm glad

he is catching up. I have to say, the decision to hold the Queen 's

speech on the 18th of May is a profound mistake. Whatever the

government's intentions, they will be misconstrued. We have already

seen that the Brexit campaign are so desperate that they are trying to

claim members of the Royal family to their cause. Lay off the Queen and

think again. The delay on the decision on Heathrow is hurting

business. The longest delayed child obesity campaign is hurting

children. The Prime Minister even mentioned the bill on phone masts

yesterday but we have been calling it for years. Why don't they publish

the electronic Communications code tomorrow? Has the government learned

anything from yesterday? How to count, perhaps? The way ministers

handle the enterprise Bill was a classic case of how not to do it.

They let it go through the Lords without mentioning Sunday trading

which they inserting upstairs in committee and at one point ministers

forgot to vote. They were generously allowed a second chance. They tabled

a manuscript amendment to their own amendment. Some people have said

they are being too clever by half. To be honest, I think they are just

a little dim. There were many managements to rebels yesterday,

arms were twisted, the Chief Whip explained the facts of life to

recover to members. The Cabinet secretary tried to be charming. That

was so terrifying that one rebel turned company a grey and may never

gain the power of speech again and after all that they lost. Can you

hear that sound? It is the sound of the slow ebbing out down the beach

of the authority of the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the

X. I offered this advice for free, this house doesn't like sharp

practice. Stop trying to pull a fast one and do things the proper way.

Isn't it time we abandoned evil. Last night we had the hilarious

sight of government ministers staring at you in blank amazement

when you suspended the house. When the member for North Perthshire

asked the chairman 's former ways and means who should know the answer

if he could explain, he made it clear he didn't have the foggiest

idea. Looking at the Minister for small business, there was a desert

of vast eternity between their ears. Nobody understands it. It wastes

time and hasn't made a difference to a single decision. It is time to

abandon it. I note that the leader is giving a Brexit speech today. We

are agog. Did he get approval from the Prime Minister or from the

actual leader of the out campaign, the Justice Secretary? Can he

guarantee that his special advisers were not involved in briefing papers

on his speech and won't be attending the speech because the cabinet

secretary has explicitly instructed that specialist advisers may not do

so during office hours. He and I have one thing in common, the Labour

Party auctioned the opportunity to swim with sharks with me on Tuesday

night instead of attending a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, I

fear he may be swimming with the fishes after the 23rd of June. The

Business Select Committee has two Mike Ashley demanding that he gave

evidence on his company's decidedly shady practices which he has refused

to do. This is a hideous company. 80% of staff in one warehouse is an

zero hours contract. Staff are subjected to a 50 minute search on

paid -- 15 minute search on paid at the end of every day. Can the

committee ordered Mr Ashley to appear and they can force him if

necessary to be arraigned before the bar of the house. He might be the

22nd richest man in Britain but he is running a modern day sweatshop

and this house will get to the truth. Surely, if we are to

criticise the working practices of sports direct, we should put our own

house in order. The cost of agency staff in this house has quadrupled.

They represent one in 12 members of staff. That means that the house is

paying substantially more than the employee gets and the employee will

get no share in the tips. Should we not bring the staff in-house and

make sure that everyone gets a fair share of the tips when we give them.

Finally, happy birthday to my father for tomorrow. Delighted to send many

happy returns to the honourable gentleman's father and also to

celebrate another important occasion. Tomorrow is the centenary

of the birth of Harold Wilson. I think it is worth marking that. I

think a lot of people made the case for having a statue of him in this

place and there is a lot to be said for this. I hope they work about

committee will give consideration to it. At the moment we celebrate his

life because 41 years ago he was the first person to give others a

referendum on the membership of the European Union. I hope to be part of

a winning side as well. Mr Speaker, the other thing about Harold Wilson

is that he is a former Labour Prime Minister that they are still happy

to talk about. In today's world, that is a rarity. The shadow leader

went on about the Queens speech. I don't understand what he is talking

about. He is talking on one hand about a zombie parliament with

nothing to do but now he is complaining about important measures

that will help reform the country. When they talk about a zombie

parliament, last Monday, we brought forward the policing and crime Bill,

an important set of measures that will make a difference to policing

in this country. We were here debating it. Where were the Labour

Party? They Bailey turned up and business finished early. We do not

have a zombie parliament but a zombie opposition. -- they barely

turned up. He spoke about the authority of the prime ministers

seeping away. Coming from the Labour Party today with the authority of

their leader seeping away, it is frankly unbelievable. We sit here in

prime ministers questions each week and look at the faces of the party

opposite as their leader asks questions. The shadow leader's base

is a picture because we know what he thinks about is leader. They are

profoundly depressed, miserable. To the extant that the day we have the

first speech in the next Labour ship leader contest. The shadow leader

axed about the speech I am going to be given today. I have already given

it. He clearly wasn't paying attention. Surprisingly enough, I'm

not after his support. LAUGHTER The evil procedure he talked about,

we stood on a manifesto of giving the British a share in the

devolution settlement. If it is now the Labour Party's policy to say to

English voters, we will take a way you're part of the devolution

settlement, I look forward to having that debate on the doorsteps and at

the ballot box. On the question of Mike Ashley and the Business Select

Committee, it should always be the case that this house seeks to bring

somebody before it, and they should be free to do so and it should

happen unequivocally. On the subject of employees in this house, I

remember that the honourable gentleman is a member of the

committee that discusses how we spend money in the house. I'm sure

he will bring the matter to the commission and we will discuss it.

This weekend is the denoument of the Rugby six Nations between England

and Wales at Twickenham. I say, may the best team win. The one thing we

can be sure about is that although he will not be singing Delilah this

weekend, as a Republican, I look forward to a good old blast of God

Save The Queen and I am sure you will be joining the amp on Saturday.

Next week I will be going to read Brock Hayes community primary School

in Brereton which has been rated good following a couple of years of

hard work and commitment from the headteacher Chris Gaffney and his

team. Can we have a debate in government time about the progress

being made in terms of improving school standards? My honourable

friend makes an important point. And happy birthday for Saturday, as

well. We have made enormous progress on improving educational standards.

I pay tribute to the headteacher she makes reference to an all of those

in her constituency who are making a difference for the young people of

Cannock Chase. Let's see if we can get through this business quite

quickly so the house can resume its core business of slapping off the

Right honourable friend the Prime Minister. I have an elegant solution

how we discover whether the Queen is for Brexit or not? Yesterday the

government were defeated... He said what he said but for the benefit of

the house and new members, we don't discuss the views of the monarch in

this chamber. There have been debates occasionally on matters are

pertaining to the Royal family but we don't discuss that matter and

it's better that we leave it there. Please continue. Absolutely right.

We will leave it to government figures to do that. Yesterday, the

government were defeated and it was the SNP what won it. We can't take

exclusive credit for that incredible victory. We did have some friends

who also helped. THEY TALK OVER EACH OTHER

We really enjoyed the wailing and gnashing of conservative teeth.

There was something almost delicious about the ways the Tories lashed out

at the SNP after this government having imposed English votes for

English laws criticised our temerity for getting up and supporting

Scottish workers. Does the government believe for a minute that

normal rules stand when it comes to issues like that? What about this

rule? Nobody had a clue what was going on yesterday. I asked the

Deputy Speaker what was going on and he didn't have a clue. You would

need an advanced degree in madness to understand what is going on with

the dog 's breakfast that is English votes for English laws. The time has

come to abandon the plan that doesn't work. If there was some

accidental consequence for the support of the European leave

campaign it will be his legacy. What a legacy to leave this house?

I want to support the calls yesterday for my right honourable

friend the member for Moray on the treatment of asylum seekers in this

country. Perhaps we could have a proper look at the use of private

services when it comes to the treatment of asylum seekers in this

country. Lastly, we are also grateful to the Leader of the House

for announcing the recess dates and the announcement that there will be

after all a Queen's Speech in advance of the referendum. But once

again what we find with the recess dates, they do not cover the

Scottish National Party conference. We are the third largest party. It

covers the Liberal conference, Mr Speaker. So can I get a guarantee

from the Leader of the House that the 14th of October will be a norm

sitting day so that the second party of this House can also get to its

conference. Once again, what we find with all this time off that we have

in the summer, we find that it does not include the Scottish school

holidays once again. My honourable friends, they want to spend time

with their families, as honourable members across there will be able to

do from other parts of the United Kingdom. We need to get this sorted

for next year, Mr Speaker. First of all, can I thank you for what you

have just said about the Queen and the Royal Family, Mr Speaker. The

one thing which it is always appropriate to say in this House is

how much we value our monarchy and we appreciate the magnificent job

she does for our nation. With regard to the events yesterday, phrase, it

was the SNP what one it. I have a high regard for my honourable

friend, but yesterday was one of those occasions where it is very

clear how far away from political principle the SNP can find itself.

You cannot on the one hand talk about the importance, as they have

always done, of standing aside from matters which are England only, and

then diving in when it is opportunistic for them to do so.

That is a party of opportunism, I'm a friend, not a party of principle.

And I listen and again to the honourable gentleman's words about

English votes for English laws. As he knows, I was in Scotland last

week supporting our fine team campaigning in the Scottish

elections there. One of the Scottish members said to me, that Mr Wishart,

he is very hysterical, isn't he? I had to reassure him and say, he is

actually a nice guy behind the scenes. But when I hear comments

like his ones this morning, I can understand why some of the people in

Scotland get the wrong idea about him. On the asylum seekers, it is a

matter the Home Secretary takes seriously. We will always do our

best to make sure that people in this country are treated humanely.

Clearly I owe him an apology regarding the SNP conference. I had

thought that making sure he had the opportunity to be here on the first

day of the SNP conference was a help to him rather than a hindrance,

because I never had the sense that he was desperate to get there. I

thought that as this year, we would enjoy being here on the first day of

conference. Clearly we will have to look at whether we do the same thing

next year. And finally, I have some bad news for him. He has

competition. As he may know, there are people on this side of the House

who are also now making some fine music and I have to say, I think the

honourable member looks like being tough competition for him when it

comes to Eurovision next year. May the best man or woman win. Mr

Speaker, it will not have escaped the Leader of the House that

depending on how the business pans out today, in particular the

Northern Ireland business, there is a likelihood that the very important

debate at the end of the day on the way in which our acts of Parliament

are recorded may be squeezed out, possibly completely. Will the Leader

of the House now find government time for substantive debate on the

matter so that we can let the House of Lords know what we think about

it? This is of course a subject which has been brought forward on a

backbench day. I think it is appropriate to be a matter for the

House and not something which government time is made available

for. And so as the Chair of the backbench committee is here today,

if he is not able to move his debate today, then the opportunity will be

found to bring that matter to the House. I am sure that that will be

the case. I am grateful also to the Leader of the House for the

announcement of the future business. And with the date of the State

Opening be announced for the 18th of May, can I remind the Leader of the

House that it is a standing order the House that the backbench

business committee be awarded 27 days of business time within a

session. We are still some way short of that. And we are expecting a glut

of backbench business in the five weeks which remain after Easter and

the State Opening. I would add one personal thing - if we do get this

to Mike Ashley into This Place, can we also question him about the

terrible running of Newcastle United Football Club at the same time? I do

not want to diminish the importance of the employment practices of

Sports Direct, but I'm afraid to say that based on the management of

Newcastle United, I do not expect a very big party at a brewery any time

soon. It is tough being a Newcastle supporter at the moment. I wish him

and his team well for the rest of the season. There is time to escape

the relegation zone and I have no doubt he will be cheering from the

stands. I have no doubt that he is going to be seeking more time over

the next few weeks. I am not sure we are quite in agreement on the

numbers. But we will have a proper discussion about that. I hope he

would note that in response to his request we did make a protected time

available for a debate on Tuesday. We will obviously look at doing that

in the future where it is important to do so. On Saturday, I joined the

Dartmoor search and rescue team and learnt that 70% of calls to the

service come from within the boundaries of Plymouth, many in Home

Park, due to elderly people getting lost. Can we have a debate on how we

might support these excellent volunteers, who get no money from

central government? Mr Speaker, my honourable friend makes an important

point. One thing I have suggested before is that the back edge

business committee might consider holding a four-day debate when one

is available on volunteering in this country. There are a large number of

members who would like to pay tribute to the work done in their

constituency. I cannot resist simply drawing attention to a news story

this week that a council in East Anglia has appointed the first

hedgehog tsar. It is clear that his campaign is already making a

difference. Last week I was approached by retailers facing an

affordable business rates due to the end of the business rates retail

relief. Can we have a debate to discuss whether the government plans

to subsidise these retailers, many of whom would have to close as a

result of the rises average Mr Speaker, of course we are all very

concerned about the future of the high street. This is a matter which

certainly can be brought up during the debate on the budget next week.

I do not yet know whether the Chancellor has any plans in this

area, but she will want to make the case for her constituency in the

four days of debate which followed a budget. It is very much one of the

matters on the agenda. Today we are starting a consultation on the

designs following the terrible flooding we had in 2011 on the River

Parrett. I am grateful for the support from across the House. This

is massively important. 12% of my district council were underwater in

2011. The history and the lessons we are learning in the south and the

north of the UK, is there a time to have a statement in this House?

First of all, pay tribute to buy honourable friend, who has been a

more than effective advocate for his constituency and for the areas of

Somerset affected by flooding. I know lessons have been learned and

some significant steps have been taken since. There will be another

occasion next Thursday to question the Environment Secretary, which I

am sure he will do. When can we discuss early day motion 1182, which

takes us into the forbidden area that the views of the monarchy

cannot be discussed in This Place, and only in This Place - it can be

discussed everywhere else. But it does raise the conduct of a

well-documented conspiracy between Sir Jeremy Heywood and Sir

Christopher guide at a time when the Scottish referendum appeared to be

in trouble from the governance Ali point of view. And it is alleged

that these two gentlemen conspired to put the Queen'sopinion into the

public domain. Is it not important that we discuss those who give

advice to the Royal Family, because their main function is to act in

situations where a Prime Minister is acting in her or his own interests

against the interests of the country, and then, the

politicisation of the monarchy would mean that they could not act in

those situations, and any exposure of the Royal Family 's views

threatens the and continuation of the institution? There are rather

large numbers of conspiracy theories in this world. If we spent all that

time in this House discussing them, we would not get around to

discussing the serious business of the nation. Therefore I regret I

think we will not be discussing that particular issue. Can I say, right

honourable friend how pleased I am that the House will be sitting on

the 26th of May, because that will be the seventh anniversary of the

Prime Minister's famous speech on fixing broken politics, in which he

called for more backbench power, more free votes and less pudding.

Cowie on that occasion have a debate -- less whipping -- on the progress

made on those principles?! Independent spirit on the

backbenches is certainly not something which is lacking in this

Parliament. This day week is St Patrick's Day. Yesterday I tabled a

request that the government bring forward legislative proposals

because it is not a devolved matter, to make St Patrick's Day a public

holiday in Northern Ireland. Will the Leader of the House facilitate a

debate about this important issue? Well, Mr Speaker, of course it is a

subject she feels strongly about. I think we always have to be careful

about granting too many extra bank honoured a is because of the

economic impact on the areas. I am sure she will bring forward an

adjournment debate and bring a minister to the House to make the

point which she has raised this morning. Would my right honourable

friend find time for a debate on the practice of big businesses trying to

stop members of Parliament doing their democratic duty and raising

constituentss' concerns in This Place? Outrageously, national

express group plc has written to the Noble Lord Fellman, the chairman of

the Conservative Party, complaining that I have been raising in This

Place issues regarding my constituents' anxieties over CQC

timetable changes. Mr Speaker, I suspect that National Express May

Need A New Political Advisers. One Thing You Can Be Certain Of Is That

Writing A Letter Of Complaint About My Honourable Friend Is Likely To

Make Him More Zealous, Rather Than Less Zealous. And rightly so! At

seven a this morning, a report was produced on the energy market

investigation. I welcome this report. It focuses on prepayment

users and the hashtag prepay rip-off. I have had an adjournment

Abate, I have written to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State

and the response has been inadequate. Will the Leader of the

House make government time so that we can have a proper discussion,

which is urgently needed in this House, to explore the CMA's

recommendation, which the minister said that she will in ferment? Of

course, the Energy Secretary will be here in ten days to do just that. If

she wants to raise matters before that, I suggest she writes and I

will make the Energy Secretary aware that she will be raising the issue

at that point. In the first half of last year, six cyclists were fatally

injured in London following collisions with HGV four. Would he

find time in the Parliamentary calendar to debate the costs and

benefits of restricting HGVs from city centres at rush-hour times?

This is a deeply important matter. We have seen far too many tragedies

in recent times, sometimes deaths are sometimes serious injuries. The

issue has been widely raised as a matter of concern, including by the

Times newspaper, which tragically saw one of its members of staff

seriously injured in an accident with an HGV. We want to take all

possible steps to improve the situation. The Mayor of London has

taken a lead on this. We will continue to look at different ideas

on improving the situation. This week we saw the Premier League

make the good announcement that all clubs will cap the cost of away

tickets at ?30. More pressing for fans, particularly Middlesbrough

fans who will be watching their team at Charlton is the changing of

fixtures. Their recent game was supposed to be on Saturday. Many

fans made arrangements and will not be able to attend due to changing

those arrangements. With television coverage having such dominance over

coverage, can we have a debate about that? TV coverage has brought the

ability to watch matches to a much broader audience but I absolutely

understand the point he is making. I do not support last-minute changes

to arrangements. Can we have a debate on oral

payments agency? Does the leader share my constituency concerns that

some small shrubs up our farmers -- some small Shropshire farmers have

still not been paid causing great hardship. It is not acceptable for

small farmers to be left in a position where their cash flows are

left inappropriately stretched. A series of payments have been made

covering the full range of small and medium-sized farm businesses across

the industry. 83% of medium farm businesses have received payments

but the Secretary of State is well aware of the need to complete this

job and we do not want to see farmers under undue pressure and it

is not fair for them to be left high and dry. As chairman of the

all-party kidney disease group, can I say, welcome to world kidney Day.

Polycystic kidney disease accounts for one in four kidney dialysis

patients and transplants. I know that the leader of the house is

allergic to anything to do with Brussels but the polycystic kidney

disease Association do have a Brussels declaration which calls for

a coordinated approach to the disease, funding of research,

patient centre care parts ways as well as to those knowledge --

knowledgeable about this disease. Can we have a debate about this

matter? I understand the need to provide high-quality services to

patients affected. To my mind, the important thing is to take the right

decisions for patients in this country which is what the government

is doing through Investment In Health Care. Can we have a vote on

English votes for English laws. The farce that we had yesterday showed

that we don't have English votes for English laws and it was made

abundantly clear yesterday. Can we have a debate to get it straight and

out once and for all to find out what the English public think is

meant by English votes for English laws? Can we have a policy on the

fact that every time the SNP vote on an issue that only effects England,

we deliver it Act two Holyrood for them? My honourable friend has

innovative ideas to deal with the situation. He is right to talk about

principles and the SNP. We said that they would have the ability to say

no to measures enforced upon them by other parts of the UK. We now know

that they not only want to interfere in matters like those discussed

yesterday but they also want to team up with the Labour Party and impose

an England solution is that the English do not want. I have been

approached by small businesses in my area regarding the Chancellor's

decision to end the business rate relief scheme for small businesses

from April this year. Around 1000 small shops in the borough of

Rochdale will face extra bills of up to ?1500. For many small shops, that

is the difference between survival and going bust. Can we have an

urgent debate on government time on this important subject? The answer

is yes. It will start next Wednesday and the party opposite will have the

chance to speak and vote on these matters if they choose to do so.

Following yesterday's deliberations on Sunday trading, can I

congratulate the government on the precedent they have set with the

family test alongside legislation conceding the negative impact on the

family. Can they confirm that all primary and secondary legislation

will have a family test at the beginning of proceedings and what

will happen when legislation does not pass the family test? Of course,

the purpose of impact assessments and family tests is to enable the

house to take an informed decision. These tests are less about an

individual bar over which a measure need to jump and more about a

package of information that can inform decisions. We intend to keep

the house as fully informed as possible so they can take decisions.

I raised the question of a constituent who was imprisoned in

Israel. What action is the government taking

regarding the worrying rise in blasphemy charges in Egypt? I

commend his stand in protecting the Christian faith. I am aware of the

concerns he has raised today. Following Tim Peake's call for

pupils in Brecon and Radnorshire, can I ask my right honourable friend

if we can have a debate on promoting the sciences as an option to pupils

so that Britain can capitalise on our Peking interest it in science so

we continue to lead the world in research and development for years

to come? An important point. We celebrated Tim Peake going into

space and we should also celebrate the contribution he has made since

having regular interactions with the International Space Station, talking

about the work he has done and inspiring young people. Long may

that continue and long may there be role models like him contributing to

our innovative future. Contact the elderly is a small national charity

in Scotland which helps old people who live alone by funding monthly

get-togethers. This kind of community support initiative is

excellent and inspiring. Can we have a debate to discuss these selection

initiatives? I very much support the idea of session debates. It is a

real opportunity. We have had fixed moments in the past two debate

things like veterans's issues and now there is a real opportunity to

have debate across the United Kingdom. I forgot to say earlier, I

hope the committee will give judo consideration -- due consideration

in the form of a pre-recess adjournment debate. I welcome the

Premier League announcement on capping away tickets at football

next season but is the leader of the house aware that might seem others

feel town will be offering a season ticket for just ?179 next season. ?7

80 per game, great value in the championship. Will he allow a debate

on the cost of football which is so important for fans across the

country? I applaud what others feel town are doing. The point is that

clubs like that play such an important community role and I know

they are very involved in charitable activities across the town. I pay

tribute to the club for playing that role in the community and doing what

they can to give fans the opportunity to see them play and

affordable basis. May they succeed on the pitch as a result. Happy

birthday to my daughter next Tuesday. On the matter of Wales

against England, made a better team win and may it be Wales. Couldn't we

use the annunciator to have subtitles when we go

into the 10th one procedure so they can explain the impossible task of

describing what is going on. What I am not doing is reversing the

gesture we made to the English of saying you have got a part of the

devolution package as well. I don't think that a position that says that

the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish can have devolution without the

English having it is something we can go back on. West Berkshire

Council has been forced by bizarre funding to do a very unconservative

thing which is to raise taxes and cut services to those in need. We

have the perverse actions of the office which can wipe millions of

pounds of business rates from a small unity authority for large

sites. Can we have a debate about the actions of the valuations office

agency about how small councils are funded? An excellent point. I will

draw attention to his concerns to the Secretary of State. It is likely

that the issue of business rates will be addressed next week as well.

On the 2nd of December, the Prime Minister promised this house that he

would make quarterly statements on the involvement of British military

forces in Syria. That should have happened by the 2nd of March. Can we

have an urgent statement of when we are going to have these vital

quarterly updates? What I said last week is that we would be holding

such statements and it would happen before the Easter recess. Can I add

my voice to the calls for a debate on having genuine English votes for

English laws, despite the recent reforms, yesterday proved that the

votes of Scottish MPs are still able to stop my constituents from

enjoying the same freedoms that their own constituents enjoyed. An

important point. We should remember that the SNP when we were debating

EVEL said that we don't need this because we don't take part. That

promise was shown yesterday to be paper-thin. We celebrated

International Women's Day with a superb debate in the chamber. I

pointed out that only fathers names appear on birth certificates and not

mothers named. I have a private members bill that will add mothers

marriage names -- names to marriage certificates. Can we please have a

debate in government time? Can I say to her, I'm afraid that she is

running into a long queue at the end of the session for private members

bills but the commitment that the government made stamps.

As this is English Tourism Week, could we find time for a debate on

the important contribution of tourism to the English economy? A

record 35mm as it is came last year, but we need to get them out of

London to visit other areas of the country, and maybe visit the fleece

Inn, which was named Pub of the year recently?! Indeed, I hope that the

announcement of the recess dates will give a moment for honourable

members to pay ever visit to Worcestershire and take advantage of

the fine hospitality you will find there. I am sure he would be

delighted to have the whole house visit. The Leader of the House will

know that I have been calling for support on all sides of this House

to address the root causes of serious youth violence. We had a

backbench debate on the issue last week. Earlier this week, the

Secretary of State adjusters confirm that he will report back to the

House on progress made on this issue. Can the leader of the explain

how this will happen and when we can expect that report? My right

honourable friend has these matters under review all the time. We have

made significant changes for example to the laws on live crime. We have

taken through the work which has been done with the Home Office on

gangs, to try to break them up. And of course the Justice Secretary is

before this House regularly and will provide regular updates. Can

a debate on the importance of raising the profile of dyslexia

teacher training, which many people are concerned is not getting the

sort of focus which it should be? Mr Speaker, my honourable friend makes

a very, very important point. It is certainly the case that many young

people who struggle at school do so because they are dyslexic. I have

already discussed this with the Secretary of State, who assured me

that part of the training manoeuvre teaches does contain help on the

understanding of dyslexia. We will do everything we can. I'm sure the

House will want to join me in welcoming the two defeats last night

in the Other Place on the Immigration Bill? Could he make a

statement to confirm whether the government will use last night's

vote as motivation to start treating asylum seekers with the respect and

dignity that they deserve? That is a first, I cannot remember the

Scottish National Party praising what happened in the House of Lords.

But what I would say to him is that I think we have a record of treating

asylum seekers which bears comparison with anywhere in the

world. I will not hear anybody say otherwise. Can I congratulate my

right honourable friend for his excellent contribution to Radio 4

and for his excellent speech? And can we ask for a speech in

government time on the merits of leaving the EU, which I suggest

should have a project title Hope? He tempts me but he must bear in mind

that the governments position is to recommend that Britannia Stadium the

European Union. We will have debates in the country and ultimately in

June, the British people will decide. Three days, the

institutional investors group which represents ?13 trillion of assets

under management wrote to the Chancellor to ensure mandatory

corporate disclosure of climate risks. Could we have a debate in

government time on the mandatory reporting of climate risks, so that

there is transparency about the financial health of our corporate

and that the confidence of such an enormous body of investment funds

can be increased? He is another person we need to wish a happy

birthday to. We are at the leading edge in this country in combating

climate change. We have adopted targets which stand comparison with

anywhere in the world. But I do think simply putting additional

reporting requirements and the sleep on to business leads to us having

fewer jobs in this country, and not more. -- requirements endlessly on

to business. As tens of thousands of people arrived in Cheltenham for the

superb jump racing festival, we are reminded how necessary have been the

upgrades at the railway station. Can we have an announcement on the

delivery of station funding pledges? Of course we have just missed

transport questions, which took place this morning, but I'm sure he

will be able to raise an adjournment debate if he wants. Can I wish him

and his constituents well for what is one of the best racing events in

the country - perhaps not quite as good as the Epsom Derby. Tomorrow I

will be visiting my constituent Walter Brown from Duckinfield, who

is 90 years of age but who has just been awarded an award from France

for his role in the liberation of France in 1944 as a Marine

commander. Can I request a debate on what a privilege it is to request

somebody like Walter Brown in the House of Commons and request the

whole house put on record it's thanks? I absolutely agree with him.

I have a gentleman in my constituency in the same position. I

think it is a real tribute to the government of France but they have

seen fit to honour in this way the grip of people who risked their

lives to try to save France from the Nazis, and did so successfully. We

should always remember them and be grateful to them and I am very glad

the French have recognised that. You will be aware that on previous

occasions I have raised the issue of literally hundreds of casual

labourers congregating outside the queue in Queensbury, on the border

between my constituency and that of the honourable member for brand

north. I am pleased to say that Harlow Council and Brent Council

have introduced a public space protection order under which anyone

that picks up those casual labourers will be liable for a fixed rate

penalty of ?100. Could we find time for a debate in this House, because

this is a problem which emanates across the country? So that public

space protection orders can be put in place to stop this unauthorised

activity? It is a very important issue. The Business Secretary is

here on Tuesday and I will ask him to be prepared to address the issue.

All too often these people are operating within a gang master

culture which is below the radar and is not within the legal framework of

work in this country. And where those people are very likely to be

exploited. Last year, Sir Nicholas McPherson said he would not hesitate

to call in the police if the budget was leaked. Should any stories about

this year's budget appear in the papers this weekend, will the Leader

of the House join this most senior official in calling for the police

to come and investigate and give time for this House to debate it?

I'm not sure that if the civil service think anything untoward has

been done, we will take appropriate action. Last Saturday I joined

hundreds of residents at the only municipal golf course in our area to

protest against plans by the council to close the facility. The Lib Dem

run council claimed that getting the course would save ?50,000 a year and

blamed cuts in government funding. However the same month, the council

spent an estimated ?300,000 on a now unused health centre and admitted

they have no plans for what they intend to do with it. Can we have a

debate on the shocking mismanagement on my local council? As ever, my

honourable friend is a very articulately presented if of his

constituents. He is an appropriate critic of his Labour council. Around

the country, where difficult decisions are having to be taken by

councils, one finds Conservative ones taking a thoughtful approach

whilst Labour councils take dumb decisions like the one he has just

mentioned. As my honourable friends have referred to, the Chancellor

Sunny decision to remove retail rate relief is causing great

consternation for small businesses, having to find an extra ?1500 a

year. In the area of Chester, 472 businesses will have to find an

extra ?1.8 million next year. Can the leader assured us there will be

sufficient time over the next few weeks to debate whether this is

really the right time to start clobbering small businesses with

more taxes? Mr Speaker, I can assure him that time will be available next

week. We have four days available for the post-budget debate. When he

talks about clobbering businesses, for 13 years in this country,

businesses and suffered at the hands of a government which did not

understand them, regulated in a way which caused them deeper problems

and led to the halving of our manufacturing sector. Ministers have

been very willing to engage on the steel issue. But in advance of the

budget next week, will there be the opportunity to put the case for a

business rates holiday for the injury to the Chancellor on the

floor of this House? Mr Speaker, there will be that, at the Business

Secretary is here on Tuesday, and he has been working with the steel

industry. Can I suggest that he raises it with him then? Apologies

for leaving the Chamber earlier on. It was somewhat ironic, a number of

SNP members actually got a cheer from the office in the last ten

days. Will the Leader of the House make a statement outlining that the

title is not a complete misnomer? During the enterprise built, the

second reading, the House was asked to vote on amendments which had not

been seen. The government took a view on the SNP position Joseph

Tuite now know was wrong. A government minister was pleading the

House to vote with them because he was not going to implement what was

on the bill. It was a farce from start to finish. Can we get a

statement from the Leader of the House and the government? I am sorry

but I think the only farce around here is the approach the SNP has

taken to this. I did not vote in amity. They then decided to vote

against it later, and we know it was for reasons of opportunism, not

principle. -- in amity. He may know this week we had a serious outbreak

of Stockholm syndrome in the east of England, as eight local leaders

backed the remaining campaign in the press. Is it not important that

voters know what level of funding from all forms of the European Union

has induced this self-interested plea to hand more powers and money

to Brussels? Mr Speaker, we have well established principles in this

country of transparency in our political system. I think it is

important in the coming months, whichever side of the argument we

may be on, that people who have a financial link to the European Union

make that clear as they make their arguments. Statement, the minister

of State for