0:00:01 > 0:00:03future business, please? The business for next week, on Monday
0:00:04 > 0:00:08the 21st of March, we have the continuation of the budget of eight.
0:00:09 > 0:00:15On Tuesday we have the conclusion of the budget they'd. On Wednesday
0:00:16 > 0:00:18proceedings on the high-speed rail London to West Midlands bill,
0:00:19 > 0:00:25followed by consideration of Lords amendments, followed by a motion of
0:00:26 > 0:00:30the European communities amendments act, followed by a motion related to
0:00:31 > 0:00:36short money. On Thursday there will be a debate relating to court
0:00:37 > 0:00:43closures, followed by a debate on matters to be decided before the
0:00:44 > 0:00:50forthcoming Easter recess adjournment, and I might also say
0:00:51 > 0:01:02that next Thursday we will be told... We look forward to that. The
0:01:03 > 0:01:07business for the week commencing the 11th of April, when we return from
0:01:08 > 0:01:11the Easter recess, Monday the 11th of April will be the second reading
0:01:12 > 0:01:16of the Finance Bill. Tuesday the 12th will be a debate on reform and
0:01:17 > 0:01:20support arrangements for people with contaminated blood, a subject
0:01:21 > 0:01:24determined by the backbench business committee, and the chairman of ways
0:01:25 > 0:01:29and Means is expected to name a proposed Private business for
0:01:30 > 0:01:33consideration. Wednesday will be an opposition day, and Thursday will be
0:01:34 > 0:01:37a further day nominated by the backbench business committee. Friday
0:01:38 > 0:01:43the 15th of April we are not sitting. The business in Westminster
0:01:44 > 0:01:49Hall for the 24th of March will be a general debate on the NHS in London.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54He means that I'm not going to be here next week, so my eminently
0:01:55 > 0:02:03capable deputy will be taking this up on our behalf. What a dreadful
0:02:04 > 0:02:07two fingers budget. Two fingers up to the most vulnerable in the land,
0:02:08 > 0:02:10those who cannot dress clean themselves, and two fingers crossed
0:02:11 > 0:02:16behind our back in the hope that the black hole will come right by the
0:02:17 > 0:02:20end of the Parliament. What a turnaround. Only weeks ago the
0:02:21 > 0:02:25Chancellor told us that the future was sunny. Now he says that storm
0:02:26 > 0:02:30clouds are on this horizon. That is a routine that Dame Edna haired wage
0:02:31 > 0:02:35would be proud of. Every single target missed. He's no William Tell
0:02:36 > 0:02:40either! Growth figures, wrong, product over the, wrong. The deficit
0:02:41 > 0:02:45was meant to be abolished by 2015, and now he hopes beyond hope to have
0:02:46 > 0:02:58a surplus by 2020. Does anyone really believe this? Isn't this
0:02:59 > 0:03:03another pledge not worth development is not printed on? More leaks than
0:03:04 > 0:03:08Wales, more spin than a whirling dervish in a washing machine. He
0:03:09 > 0:03:13boasted yesterday about extra money for school sports, when he cut it in
0:03:14 > 0:03:16the first place. That is like a burglar going to the police and
0:03:17 > 0:03:24begging for a reward for turning himself in. Frankly, burglars can't
0:03:25 > 0:03:30be choosers! Can the leader explained for us the commitment to
0:03:31 > 0:03:38turn every school into an academy? There are 15,632 schools in England,
0:03:39 > 0:03:45which are not yet academies. The cost for the conversion is ?44,837,
0:03:46 > 0:03:49which comes to ?700 million. But the Chancellor wrongly allocated ?140
0:03:50 > 0:03:56million to academy changing. Where is the shortfall of ?560 million
0:03:57 > 0:03:59coming from? I have to say that there were some things to rejoice
0:04:00 > 0:04:04about. I am glad that the Severn Bridge tolls will be cut in half,
0:04:05 > 0:04:14thanks to the campaign by my honourable friend for Newport East.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Last week, I'm sure you will I announced that the obesity strategy
0:04:18 > 0:04:23will be out soon, and now we have it, or at least part of it, the
0:04:24 > 0:04:26sugar tax. I am delighted that finally the Chancellor has realised
0:04:27 > 0:04:37the dangers of Cork. LAUGHTER -- Coke.
0:04:38 > 0:04:49It is just a shame that he could not have said call -- cola instead.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Regarding independence payments, how can he tell us how they will be
0:04:54 > 0:05:03brought in? Surely they should be in primary legislation. Surely the
0:05:04 > 0:05:07changes should be brought in in primary legislation so there can be
0:05:08 > 0:05:13proper scrutiny in both houses. Give another recent cuts to disability
0:05:14 > 0:05:19benefits, will the government produced an impact assessment? There
0:05:20 > 0:05:22is something deeply distasteful about a cut per person to the
0:05:23 > 0:05:27200,000 most vulnerable people in our country, while the richest get a
0:05:28 > 0:05:32?200 tax hand-out. I am not surprised that Graham Ellis, a
0:05:33 > 0:05:37disability campaigner, has resigned from the Tory party. We will fight
0:05:38 > 0:05:42these changes, but I warned the leader before not to try to pull a
0:05:43 > 0:05:44fast one on working tax credits by using secondary legislation that
0:05:45 > 0:05:48cannot be amended, and I do it again now. Yesterday saw the government
0:05:49 > 0:05:57defeated three times in the House of Lords. By big majorities as well.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Nearly two to one in every case. There is more to come. Isn't it time
0:06:02 > 0:06:10the government gave up on this didn't it than piece of legislation?
0:06:11 > 0:06:17I have told to become. -- be more calm. We have the debate for short
0:06:18 > 0:06:20money next week. Our usual discussions have been productive,
0:06:21 > 0:06:27and I thank the leader for the part he has played. I am hopeful that
0:06:28 > 0:06:32these will be published soon, this afternoon, or on Monday? Many
0:06:33 > 0:06:40members have had real difficulties recently, with banks which have in
0:06:41 > 0:06:45dealing with money laundering in a disproportionately. We all want to
0:06:46 > 0:06:50tackle money-laundering, but it must be crazy that people are being
0:06:51 > 0:06:56denied bank accounts simply because they are connected to a politically
0:06:57 > 0:07:00exposed person. Can the government ensure there will be a debate on
0:07:01 > 0:07:06this in government times we can get the balance right and tell the banks
0:07:07 > 0:07:15where to go. Holy Week starts on Sunday, so I wish all members and
0:07:16 > 0:07:21families a happy Easter. Next week Jewish people remember the attempt
0:07:22 > 0:07:26of Jews to be killed in Persia. That was not the last annihilation of
0:07:27 > 0:07:35them. 74 years ago today the first Polish Jews were gassed in an
0:07:36 > 0:07:40extermination camp. Anti-Semitism is still alive today, and we must do
0:07:41 > 0:07:42everything in our power to stop religious intolerance and racial
0:07:43 > 0:07:49hatred affecting our political parties. That means calling out
0:07:50 > 0:07:53anti-Semitism wherever we find it, even if it is inconvenient to
0:07:54 > 0:07:57ourselves, and expelling those who continue these file arguments from
0:07:58 > 0:08:01our political parties. I hope the leader would also agree that all
0:08:02 > 0:08:05religious prejudice is equally despicable, and would frankly this
0:08:06 > 0:08:11on the Tory campaign against Labour's candidate for Mayor of
0:08:12 > 0:08:13London, which is the most desperate, divisive and racially charged
0:08:14 > 0:08:21campaign London has ever seen. They should the ashamed. Can I also echo
0:08:22 > 0:08:26the words that the Shadow leader has said about wishing happy Easter
0:08:27 > 0:08:33period to all of those who work in this House. Can I start by
0:08:34 > 0:08:37addressing the issue of member security. There were a number of
0:08:38 > 0:08:42incidents following a recent vote. This will always be completely
0:08:43 > 0:08:47unacceptable. I hope the police will deal with them strongly. Can I
0:08:48 > 0:08:55remind members that the new security packages available to them and their
0:08:56 > 0:08:59staff, if any member experiences teething problems with this new
0:09:00 > 0:09:03package, with the police tell myself or the chairman of ways and Means,
0:09:04 > 0:09:13and we will address these issues. We have heard a lot about the budget.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16You can tell when the opposition are maddest. Normally it is easy to
0:09:17 > 0:09:20catch the eye of the Shadow leader, he is always chatting across the
0:09:21 > 0:09:25chamber. But yesterday I could not catch his eye for the moment because
0:09:26 > 0:09:30he knew just how bad it was. Next week, we will see a continuation of
0:09:31 > 0:09:36the budget debate. I could not make head nor tail of what the Leader of
0:09:37 > 0:09:42the Opposition was saying he would do yesterday, but at least this week
0:09:43 > 0:09:45we had another insight into Labour's economic policy. It turns out that
0:09:46 > 0:09:59the Shadow Chancellor draws his inspiration from Marks, Trotsky and
0:10:00 > 0:10:09-- to. Labour's policies would crush the middle classes and working class
0:10:10 > 0:10:11people. This morning the Shadow Chancellor could not even said he
0:10:12 > 0:10:18supported capitalism. That is where they have got to as a party. He
0:10:19 > 0:10:20raised a question about the changes to independence payments. We will
0:10:21 > 0:10:27publish details in due course. All members are produced with an impact
0:10:28 > 0:10:31assessment. He mentioned the trade union bill in the Lords, I would
0:10:32 > 0:10:34remind the House that we are seeking to give trade union members the
0:10:35 > 0:10:40choice about whether they contribute to the Labour Party or not. Two
0:10:41 > 0:10:43nations to our party are from people who choose to donate to our side of
0:10:44 > 0:10:46the political spectrum. They have to depend on people who are obliged to.
0:10:47 > 0:10:55That is what has the change. I am also grateful for the
0:10:56 > 0:10:59collaborative discussions that have taken place on the short money
0:11:00 > 0:11:02motion. The motion will be published before next week. On the
0:11:03 > 0:11:09money-laundering points, I agree with him. This concern is shared on
0:11:10 > 0:11:13all sides of the House. We cannot have a situation, not just when
0:11:14 > 0:11:18individual members, but members of their families are affected by a
0:11:19 > 0:11:21change that is unacceptable. We have discussed it with the Treasury and
0:11:22 > 0:11:26have received assurances that they believe people should not be
0:11:27 > 0:11:30affected, but clearly, they are. I therefore will treat this as a
0:11:31 > 0:11:37matter of great importance and I think we all should. He made a point
0:11:38 > 0:11:41about anti-Semitism. Of course, anti-Semitism has featured recently
0:11:42 > 0:11:49in a number of political activities, and that is unacceptable and should
0:11:50 > 0:11:53always be so. But I should remind him. He makes a comment about the
0:11:54 > 0:11:57election in London today. I would also remind him that anti-Semitism
0:11:58 > 0:12:00was also present in elections a year ago in the general election in
0:12:01 > 0:12:05London, and not from our side of the political spectrum. I hope he takes
0:12:06 > 0:12:10the words he has said today and makes sure they are properly put
0:12:11 > 0:12:17into route in his party. It is not acceptable in any part of life. It
0:12:18 > 0:12:21should not happen. Finally, this week we had the revelation that the
0:12:22 > 0:12:25shadow leader doesn't want to be shadow leader. He wants to be
0:12:26 > 0:12:29Speaker, so much so that he appears to be even preparing a campaign
0:12:30 > 0:12:36team. Of course, there is not a vacancy for your job. But I did have
0:12:37 > 0:12:41an idea for him. This week is apprenticeship week, and I wondered
0:12:42 > 0:12:46if you might consider taking him on as an apprentice Speaker. But there
0:12:47 > 0:12:50is one small problem. If the honourable gentleman wants to be the
0:12:51 > 0:12:54next Speaker, he needs to remember one thing. You need to be popular
0:12:55 > 0:13:05and respected across the House, and he still has some work to do.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Could we have a debate on the TUC's dying to work campaign, which
0:13:09 > 0:13:12focuses on strengthening legal protections for terminally ill
0:13:13 > 0:13:17employees like my constituents Jackie Woodcock, who has been
0:13:18 > 0:13:24treated badly by her employer, which tried to force her to resign? Mr
0:13:25 > 0:13:30Speaker, my honourable friend raised this issue yesterday. She's right to
0:13:31 > 0:13:34bring forward a case like this. I would hope every employer would
0:13:35 > 0:13:37treat with respect and care anybody in such a terrible situation,
0:13:38 > 0:13:46whether in the public or private sector. We expect decency from
0:13:47 > 0:13:50employers in this country. Can I also thank the Leader of the House
0:13:51 > 0:13:54for announcing next week's business. It is the usual day after the Budget
0:13:55 > 0:13:58night before, and already, the wheels are coming off and the
0:13:59 > 0:14:03smattering of fiscal fairy dust is wearing thin, revealing the useless
0:14:04 > 0:14:07old banger underneath. I think all of us who listened to the Today
0:14:08 > 0:14:10programme this morning enjoyed greatly the evisceration of the
0:14:11 > 0:14:17Chancellor of the Exchequer when he was asked, to gentle enquiring from
0:14:18 > 0:14:22John Humphrys, what does it take to get sacked from his job? As he
0:14:23 > 0:14:27defiantly tried to defend his own targets. We also have to commend
0:14:28 > 0:14:31some of the conservative disabled activists who have made their voices
0:14:32 > 0:14:35heard in the last 24 hours, particularly with that website. Even
0:14:36 > 0:14:39conservative members are recognising in this Budget the redistribution
0:14:40 > 0:14:46aspect of it from the poorest to the wealthiest. That is what
0:14:47 > 0:14:49characterises this Budget more than anything else. The Leader of the
0:14:50 > 0:14:53House often talks about him and I wandering through the same lobby.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Maybe next week, we will have this opportunity with the tampon tax. I
0:14:59 > 0:15:03opposed this because of women being taxed for their biology. Leader of
0:15:04 > 0:15:08the House, come on. You and I can much through the lobby together to
0:15:09 > 0:15:14oppose the Chancellor and his EU politicised Budget. Regulations that
0:15:15 > 0:15:19deprive overseas pensioners of the operating to the pension has been
0:15:20 > 0:15:26forced through this House without any debate. Some 550,000 pensioners
0:15:27 > 0:15:31will be included in this with so many people involved, half a
0:15:32 > 0:15:35million, surely you have to have some sort of statement from the
0:15:36 > 0:15:42government about their intent in this regard and I hope the Leader of
0:15:43 > 0:15:45the House will give with this. Last week, my constituents got in touch
0:15:46 > 0:15:48with my office, watching the spectacle in this place. They were
0:15:49 > 0:15:55appalled at the behaviour of a small number of politically motivated,
0:15:56 > 0:15:57predominantly conservative members filibustering on private members'
0:15:58 > 0:16:03bills, just to stop consideration of bills that they don't personally
0:16:04 > 0:16:07like. We saw an almost destructive glory in the way they filibuster
0:16:08 > 0:16:12against the NHS bill. Of course, they are entitled to do this
0:16:13 > 0:16:15according to the rules and boy, did they take advantage. But why is it
0:16:16 > 0:16:21only private members' bills that this applies to? The rest of the
0:16:22 > 0:16:26debates in this House are properly timetabled and regulated. This has
0:16:27 > 0:16:31to end. Our constituents are taking an increasing interest in these
0:16:32 > 0:16:33private members' bills. There is a procedural committee looking at
0:16:34 > 0:16:37this, I accept that. A strong we worded message from the leader of
0:16:38 > 0:16:42saying this cannot go on would be helpful. Lastly, tugged away in the
0:16:43 > 0:16:48Budget statement yesterday were plans to extend English modes for
0:16:49 > 0:16:52English law to income tax. But apparently, legislation is quiet for
0:16:53 > 0:16:57this. With the Leader of the House explain how this will be progressed
0:16:58 > 0:17:00what type of legislation will be put in place, and will it give us the
0:17:01 > 0:17:08opportunity to properly scrutinise this dog's breakfast that is Evel? I
0:17:09 > 0:17:14would love to hear the leader's remarks on that. First up, the
0:17:15 > 0:17:18honourable gentleman talked about evisceration is in interviews. I
0:17:19 > 0:17:21presume he heard the interview with Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First
0:17:22 > 0:17:26Minister, on the Sunday Politics last week, which could not expect
0:17:27 > 0:17:29how her sums added up she could not explain how it was possible for
0:17:30 > 0:17:33Scotland to carry on spending the same amount of money without tax
0:17:34 > 0:17:36increases or how she would deal with the huge Budget deficit without
0:17:37 > 0:17:42spending cuts. So if we are talking about people with no idea how to
0:17:43 > 0:17:46manage an economy, no idea how to manage finances, we just have to
0:17:47 > 0:17:51look to Edinburgh. He talked about the Budget more broadly. He talked
0:17:52 > 0:17:56about people on low incomes. Our policy since 2010 has taken the
0:17:57 > 0:18:00lives of people back into work and lifted more than half a million
0:18:01 > 0:18:04children out of households where no one works into an environment where
0:18:05 > 0:18:08people get up in the morning and go to work and bring a sense of
0:18:09 > 0:18:13responsibility to their lives. By 2019, the top 20% of our population
0:18:14 > 0:18:16will pay 50% of all taxes. This is a government that is proud of its
0:18:17 > 0:18:19record, that has made a difference to this country. All we hear from
0:18:20 > 0:18:26the party opposite is carping about success. He talked about the bill
0:18:27 > 0:18:32last Friday. I find it baffling that he is complaining about the handling
0:18:33 > 0:18:37in this house of an NHS bill. The last time I looked, the NHS in
0:18:38 > 0:18:43Scotland was devolved. So why is the SNP so concerned about debates in
0:18:44 > 0:18:46this House about the National Health Service, when this House has nothing
0:18:47 > 0:18:51to do with the National Health Service in Scotland? Surely it is
0:18:52 > 0:18:56another example of SNP opportunism. And he talks about English votes for
0:18:57 > 0:19:01in just laws. -- English votes for English laws. We were clear that
0:19:02 > 0:19:09this would apply to tax measures which do not apply in Scotland. It
0:19:10 > 0:19:13seems not fair to me that the SNP should be able to impose increased
0:19:14 > 0:19:19taxes upon the English if they gang up with others to do so. That is
0:19:20 > 0:19:23what we sought to avoid. That is what our reforms will make sure
0:19:24 > 0:19:26cannot happen in future. Can I follow up with my right honourable
0:19:27 > 0:19:30friend his response on money-laundering? When are we going
0:19:31 > 0:19:34to have a debate about this? Will the government commit to voting
0:19:35 > 0:19:37against these proposals, and does my right honourable friend agree that
0:19:38 > 0:19:43the current proposals show that we are being contaminated in our public
0:19:44 > 0:19:48life by the corruption in the rest of the European Union? This is an
0:19:49 > 0:19:54important point. I am looking into this as a matter of urgency. It is
0:19:55 > 0:20:01important not just for people in this House, but for members of
0:20:02 > 0:20:06families as well. We will need to discuss this on a cross-party basis.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09We want to make sure this cannot affect our only members, our
0:20:10 > 0:20:19parents, children and siblings as well as ourselves. The Leader of the
0:20:20 > 0:20:23House and myself are becoming very good pen friends, writing to each
0:20:24 > 0:20:26other on a regular basis. Following our recent correspondence, I welcome
0:20:27 > 0:20:30the leader's commitment to ensuring sufficient chamber time to be found
0:20:31 > 0:20:33for the number of days allocated to the backbench business committee.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39That is provided for in standing order 14. However, I note our views
0:20:40 > 0:20:45are not aligned on the nub of days that are to be allocated this
0:20:46 > 0:20:48session. Standing order 14 is clear that only days when backbench
0:20:49 > 0:20:52business have presidents should count towards the allocation. I
0:20:53 > 0:20:59think there is a dispute about the number of days that remain to us.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02Might I suggest that there might be merit, touting the clerks of our
0:21:03 > 0:21:06committee to make sure there is clarity on the amount of backbench
0:21:07 > 0:21:09time remaining so that the government does not find itself in
0:21:10 > 0:21:13the unfortunate position of falling short of the amount of time required
0:21:14 > 0:21:18to provide the backbench community on the floor of the house? I did not
0:21:19 > 0:21:22realise they have so much influence. Last week, when I spoke in my
0:21:23 > 0:21:29exasperation about Newcastle United, within 24 hours, there was a change
0:21:30 > 0:21:37of management! Office chair of the backbench business committee.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40Exercises and influence beyond what we previously knew! The Leader of
0:21:41 > 0:21:46the House. I hope for his sake that the result of a change is that his
0:21:47 > 0:21:49team marches to survival in the Premier League, although I notice
0:21:50 > 0:21:55they did not manage it last week in their match against Leicester. But I
0:21:56 > 0:21:59suspect that most of us who support other teams, perhaps not Tottenham
0:22:00 > 0:22:03supporters, but the rest of us, for at least the last eight weeks have
0:22:04 > 0:22:07been Leicester City supporters. We wish them well for the remainder of
0:22:08 > 0:22:13the season. I hope the honourable gentleman manages to turn up at St
0:22:14 > 0:22:18James' Park next season cheering on a Premier League team. In terms of
0:22:19 > 0:22:21the allocation of time, the difference between us is that there
0:22:22 > 0:22:24was a period of time at the start of this session after the general
0:22:25 > 0:22:28election before the backbench business committee could be formed,
0:22:29 > 0:22:33so a number of days were set aside for general debates. I am happy to
0:22:34 > 0:22:36meet him to talk about that, but if the backbench committee is only
0:22:37 > 0:22:41there for a part of a session, there are time pressures that we have to
0:22:42 > 0:22:45cater for. I remember making sure there was time for general debates
0:22:46 > 0:22:53in that period before his committee was formed and I am happy to talk to
0:22:54 > 0:22:57him about it. Would my right honourable friend find time for a
0:22:58 > 0:23:01debate on the erecting of statues in the centre of London? I find it
0:23:02 > 0:23:06extraordinary that in Westminster Square, there is no statue of the
0:23:07 > 0:23:09first female Prime Minister and more pertinently, that there is no statue
0:23:10 > 0:23:12of Her Majesty The Queen, the longest reigning monarch ever and
0:23:13 > 0:23:19about to celebrate her 90th birthday. First of all, on the
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Queen, I think we all look forward to celebrating her 90th birthday. We
0:23:24 > 0:23:29look forward to activities up and down the country and of course, we
0:23:30 > 0:23:33should all be thankful to my honourable friend the Mayor of
0:23:34 > 0:23:36London and the Secretary of State for Transport for deciding that
0:23:37 > 0:23:39Crossrail should be named the Elizabeth line, a fitting tribute to
0:23:40 > 0:23:45the Queen. On the subject of a statue of Margaret Thatcher, I know
0:23:46 > 0:23:48the shadow leader, a champion of equality and opportunities for
0:23:49 > 0:23:52women, would join me in thinking it is appropriate for Britain's first
0:23:53 > 0:24:01female Prime Minister to be celebrated in such a way. Didn't the
0:24:02 > 0:24:05House reach a historic low in political opportunism yesterday,
0:24:06 > 0:24:10when the Prime Minister defended himself and his lamb a double record
0:24:11 > 0:24:13on air pollution by claiming credit for the clean air act, which was
0:24:14 > 0:24:21passed by this House ten years before he was born? The subject is a
0:24:22 > 0:24:25serious one and I recently had a debate that was pulled because the
0:24:26 > 0:24:33government didn't have us suitable blister available. -- did not have a
0:24:34 > 0:24:37suitable minister available. 9000 people die every year because of
0:24:38 > 0:24:41abolition, 70 in the city I represent -- because of air
0:24:42 > 0:24:44pollution, and there are no plans to make our policies even legal. This
0:24:45 > 0:24:51is a scandal that should be addressed. I would make two points.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55Firstly, it is an issue that we are dressing, for example through the
0:24:56 > 0:24:59work we have put in to incentivise hybrid and electric cars and looking
0:25:00 > 0:25:03at ways to cut emissions from power stations. We have done as much as
0:25:04 > 0:25:07any previous government. The point that and macro misses that we on
0:25:08 > 0:25:10this side of the House are proud to be part of a party that over the
0:25:11 > 0:25:15last 200 years has been responsible for most of this country's great
0:25:16 > 0:25:18social reforms. That is a track record but we regard as a foundation
0:25:19 > 0:25:23upon which we should build for the future.
0:25:24 > 0:25:41Cross Cani Chase there are many voluntary groups supporting families
0:25:42 > 0:25:44with dementia. -- cannot chase. Will my right honourable friend join me
0:25:45 > 0:25:49in commending the work of this group as well as the others who provide
0:25:50 > 0:25:54this incredibly valuable support, and can we have a debate in
0:25:55 > 0:26:01government time to discuss what further support will be provided to
0:26:02 > 0:26:04those families affected by dementia? As my honourable friend may know,
0:26:05 > 0:26:10members of the Cabinet went through the training module to be a dementia
0:26:11 > 0:26:14friend couple of years ago, and it was enlightening. I have experienced
0:26:15 > 0:26:17dementia and my family and it taught me things I did not previously now,
0:26:18 > 0:26:23so the work that is done by these groups make a real difference to
0:26:24 > 0:26:27those who are suffering and also to those who are helping those who are
0:26:28 > 0:26:35suffering. I commend her, her colleagues and those involved in
0:26:36 > 0:26:37this area of the work. While I welcome the budget news regarding
0:26:38 > 0:26:44further small business rate relief, I am concerned with the impact this
0:26:45 > 0:26:47will have on local authorities, such as my own. Can we have a debate to
0:26:48 > 0:26:54discuss what measures will be put in place to ease the burden on
0:26:55 > 0:27:01cash-strapped councils, many of whom are already struggling to balance
0:27:02 > 0:27:04books? First of all, as we heard last week there have been people on
0:27:05 > 0:27:10those benches who say that we need to do something about the business
0:27:11 > 0:27:12rate impact on small businesses. I am delighted the Chancellor did that
0:27:13 > 0:27:18in his budget statements. I did not notice I mentioned to that in the
0:27:19 > 0:27:25remarks earlier. Next Monday and Tuesday she will have the
0:27:26 > 0:27:32opportunity to put those discussions in place. The front page of the
0:27:33 > 0:27:35Jewish Chronicle today gives a litany of the anti-Semitism that
0:27:36 > 0:27:41sadly we are beginning to see more and more frequently in the ranks of
0:27:42 > 0:27:45the Labour Party, and in other institutions like universities in
0:27:46 > 0:27:51this country. Can we have a debate on the subject of the increasing
0:27:52 > 0:27:58anti-Semitism in public bodies and institutions? This is an important
0:27:59 > 0:28:02point, where I agree with the Shadow leader and my honourable friend,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06anti-Semitism has no place in our society, and when we hear words from
0:28:07 > 0:28:11the parties opposite, we have heard of too many occasions in the past 12
0:28:12 > 0:28:17months where they have tolerated tolerated anti-Semitism in their
0:28:18 > 0:28:23ranks. That is unacceptable and something they should change.
0:28:24 > 0:28:34I was shocked to learn the House has still been using Betamax tapes for
0:28:35 > 0:28:36parliamentary recordings, and they now have to stop because they are
0:28:37 > 0:28:41not being produced any longer. Technological adaptation is slow,
0:28:42 > 0:28:48can he do this and update on steps being taken to update this?
0:28:49 > 0:28:56Honourable members will be aware that trials have been taking place
0:28:57 > 0:28:58on the use of tablets in division lobbies. Those trials are now
0:28:59 > 0:29:00beginning to show distinct improvements, which is likely to be
0:29:01 > 0:29:10the way we record in the future, which allows us to publish things
0:29:11 > 0:29:13quickly. I do not support going further on swipe cards, as the
0:29:14 > 0:29:26opportunities we have to go through the division lobby... HMS
0:29:27 > 0:29:32Shropshire, a heavy cruiser, was completed for the Royal Navy and
0:29:33 > 0:29:40served with distinction until 1942. Can we have a debate on when the
0:29:41 > 0:29:48Royal Navy will once again name and naval ship after Shropshire? He
0:29:49 > 0:29:55makes his point in his customary way, and I'm sure the Ministry of
0:29:56 > 0:30:03Defence will have noted his comments. There will be plenty of
0:30:04 > 0:30:09opportunities for ships to carry the name of his county. Could the leader
0:30:10 > 0:30:15help honourable members who are keen to meet the young constituents
0:30:16 > 0:30:17coming to the excellent new education centre, but find getting
0:30:18 > 0:30:23into the education centre quite a trial. It is easier to get into Fort
0:30:24 > 0:30:29Knox and it is to get into the education centre with the level of
0:30:30 > 0:30:34security. As you know this is a subject which is of concern to me.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37This is a matter that is subject to discussion. We have to take
0:30:38 > 0:30:45appropriate steps for child protection and make sure common
0:30:46 > 0:30:51sense applies. Sometimes with the budget you have to read the redbrick
0:30:52 > 0:30:57to see what it was really about and to see what the Chancellor meant, --
0:30:58 > 0:31:05the Redbook. There was a lot of loading of debt reduction, and I
0:31:06 > 0:31:10understand that on the 24th of June, when we come out of the EU, he will
0:31:11 > 0:31:16have ?15 billion a year to reduce the public debt. So in regard to
0:31:17 > 0:31:23that, we had a tie produced for him with his initials on it. I think it
0:31:24 > 0:31:29does to jobs. That the Chancellor wants to come out of the EU, and he
0:31:30 > 0:31:35can promote it himself. Could we have a written statement on that?
0:31:36 > 0:31:39Yes, far be it from me to comment on the aesthetic virtues or otherwise
0:31:40 > 0:31:45of the tie, but the use of props in this place is generally deprecated.
0:31:46 > 0:31:54The honourable gentleman has got away with it. He is always ingenious
0:31:55 > 0:31:59in a variety of different ways. He makes his point in his effective
0:32:00 > 0:32:03way, and I know he is playing an active part in the campaign to leave
0:32:04 > 0:32:07the European Union. I suspect he may have more of a challenge than he
0:32:08 > 0:32:14thinks to change the Chancellor's mind on this. And maybe more of a
0:32:15 > 0:32:21challenge to ask the Chancellor to a tie of that colour. The Leader of
0:32:22 > 0:32:26the House might not know this, but it is estimated that autism costs
0:32:27 > 0:32:32this country ?23 billion a year. Today after the budget it is worth
0:32:33 > 0:32:39about that some. You're a great supporter of autism charities and
0:32:40 > 0:32:44often host events in your rooms. But isn't it the fact that we have
0:32:45 > 0:32:50recently found we have taken away the educational element of the
0:32:51 > 0:32:53personal allowance by people on the autism spectrum received, which
0:32:54 > 0:33:02means they cannot get education. Can we have a debate on this? First of
0:33:03 > 0:33:07all, I share his understanding and his view on the issue of autism.
0:33:08 > 0:33:12There is some fantastic work done in society to help young people on the
0:33:13 > 0:33:15autistic spectrum, and I pay tribute to a school in my constituency and
0:33:16 > 0:33:22its counterparts around the country that do a fantastic job working with
0:33:23 > 0:33:27young people. I would say to him that as a government we have looked
0:33:28 > 0:33:32more money into education, more money into the support we provide
0:33:33 > 0:33:39for people with disabilities, and there is enormously good work being
0:33:40 > 0:33:44done around the country. The Leader of the House may be aware that the
0:33:45 > 0:33:49new leader furnished hospital in Henley has now reopened and treated
0:33:50 > 0:33:52its first patient. Would he agree to have a debate on the future of
0:33:53 > 0:33:58community and local hospitals will be can reinforce the message that
0:33:59 > 0:34:05this clear is in the best interest of patients? I remember when I was
0:34:06 > 0:34:08helping with the campaign to get my honourable friend elected for the
0:34:09 > 0:34:13first time, so I am the weighted to see that the work he has done since
0:34:14 > 0:34:17then has come to fruition and his town has a great new facility. On
0:34:18 > 0:34:20Tuesday he will have the opportunity to tell the Secretary of State how
0:34:21 > 0:34:29much difference it will make to his constituency. Given that recesses
0:34:30 > 0:34:33approaching, the upcoming regulations that will deprive
0:34:34 > 0:34:37550,000 overseas pensioners will be enacted when we return to this
0:34:38 > 0:34:44House. Will the government bring forward a debate to allow us to
0:34:45 > 0:34:52consider this? This issue has been raised on many occasions, and when
0:34:53 > 0:34:55these pensions were moved, they were aware of the arrangements. It would
0:34:56 > 0:35:09cost many hundreds of millions to sort this out. The government has no
0:35:10 > 0:35:18plans to do so. Could the Leader of the House seek that Treasury
0:35:19 > 0:35:24Minister attends the chamber to discuss the decision about Lloyds
0:35:25 > 0:35:30bank to redeem notes early rather than waiting until they reached
0:35:31 > 0:35:34maturity? We will have the debate over the next three days in the
0:35:35 > 0:35:39budget, -- on the budget, and we will discuss this. The Chief
0:35:40 > 0:35:47secretary will be here on Tuesday to make sure he raises the point. I
0:35:48 > 0:35:53welcomed the Prime Minister's statement about universal superfast
0:35:54 > 0:35:58broadband. That was a few months ago. Can we have a debate in
0:35:59 > 0:36:02government time so we can see the mechanisms for it going forward? We
0:36:03 > 0:36:06are all in favour of it, it should be debated, we should know exactly
0:36:07 > 0:36:12what to do, and I could offer Anglesey as a pilot scheme. It is a
0:36:13 > 0:36:19priority for the government to provide superfast broadband and
0:36:20 > 0:36:23connectivity to all rural areas. I would want to see Anglesey included
0:36:24 > 0:36:28in that. We have made good progress, we have got as far as any other
0:36:29 > 0:36:35country in Europe in developing modern communication networks, but
0:36:36 > 0:36:40there is work to do. In the last Parliament, the government tasked
0:36:41 > 0:36:49the Law Commission with drafting a wildlife Bill. That may -- they have
0:36:50 > 0:36:57done. Could he say when such legislation might come forward? We
0:36:58 > 0:37:03cannot give advanced notice of what will be in the Queens speech in May,
0:37:04 > 0:37:06but I have spoken to the ministers involved, who tell me they are
0:37:07 > 0:37:10looking at the issue carefully and have to respond over the course of
0:37:11 > 0:37:15this year, and Law Commission bills are normally given a parliamentary
0:37:16 > 0:37:21slot, but I cannot commit to an exact timetable. Yesterday the
0:37:22 > 0:37:24government claimed to be on the side of both the workers and the Next
0:37:25 > 0:37:28Generation. Could be there for half action beyond the rhetoric and have
0:37:29 > 0:37:33an urgent debate on the irony that workers aged under 25 are excluded
0:37:34 > 0:37:40from the government's new national living wage? The evidence we are on
0:37:41 > 0:37:46the side of workers and young people is in the number of apprenticeships,
0:37:47 > 0:37:48the deep crease in the number of unemployed junk people, we are
0:37:49 > 0:37:54making real progress. When I took over as employment Minister in 2010,
0:37:55 > 0:37:57I regarded with some trepidation though sessions I had with six
0:37:58 > 0:38:03formers and college students talking about their future prospects. I
0:38:04 > 0:38:09would not have such trepidation today. They have business
0:38:10 > 0:38:15investment, opportunities. It is a transformed picture compared to six
0:38:16 > 0:38:18years ago. For the last two decades, the level of transport
0:38:19 > 0:38:23infrastructure spend in London has dwarfed that of the regions. Perhaps
0:38:24 > 0:38:29in the region of ten to one. That the government has come forward to
0:38:30 > 0:38:34build Crossrail two, which so far has received no scrutiny in this
0:38:35 > 0:38:43House. Could we have a debate in government time regarding this? He
0:38:44 > 0:38:47is right to talk about the need to provide balance across the country
0:38:48 > 0:38:50in investment and infrastructure. But if we look back at the years of
0:38:51 > 0:39:11Labour government can do project that sat on the shelf, they are
0:39:12 > 0:39:13being built. -- project that sat on the shelf, they are now being built,
0:39:14 > 0:39:21which I did not see happening when the opposition were in power. Can we
0:39:22 > 0:39:28have a debate on the withdrawal of mobility cars, which is preventing
0:39:29 > 0:39:32disabled people carrying out jobs they have secured. Does it make any
0:39:33 > 0:39:40sense to put disabled people out of work in this way? There will be
0:39:41 > 0:39:44debates on the budget and on any changes in the welfare system, but I
0:39:45 > 0:39:47will remind him that it is important for government to ensure we provide
0:39:48 > 0:39:54support with that is needed, when it is needed, but we also get the best
0:39:55 > 0:40:01value for taxpayers money. Trees are important to us all, some might say
0:40:02 > 0:40:13in transforming much of the hot air that we expend, but particularly
0:40:14 > 0:40:20ancient trees are bio by the, and there are only 2% left in the
0:40:21 > 0:40:23country. Bio diverse. Can we have a debate about the protection of
0:40:24 > 0:40:31ancient woodland? We must protect ancient woodland and
0:40:32 > 0:40:34also create woodlands for the future. One of the most exciting
0:40:35 > 0:40:40developments over the last few years have been the Woodland Trust's plan
0:40:41 > 0:40:42for new forests in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to
0:40:43 > 0:40:47commemorate the centenary of the First World War by turning farmland
0:40:48 > 0:40:51into a Forest that will be enjoyed by generations to come. My
0:40:52 > 0:40:54honourable friend is right, we need to protect what we have got, but we
0:40:55 > 0:41:01need to create the ancient woodlands of the future as well. I have yet to
0:41:02 > 0:41:04hear a satisfactory response to previous pensions questions I have
0:41:05 > 0:41:07asked. So it is no surprise that the government is trying to force
0:41:08 > 0:41:11through operating regulations which will have a devastating impact on
0:41:12 > 0:41:14fully paid-up UK pensioners living overseas. The government cannot keep
0:41:15 > 0:41:18ignoring these groups of people who have done the right thing. Surely we
0:41:19 > 0:41:24must have an urgent debate to allow this to be properly discussed. There
0:41:25 > 0:41:27has just been a debate on the issue of women's pensions. But the
0:41:28 > 0:41:31honourable lady does not accept is that we do not agree with her. My
0:41:32 > 0:41:36view on the issue of women's pensions is that it is a difficult
0:41:37 > 0:41:40one. Putting any transition in place is always difficult because someone
0:41:41 > 0:41:44is always affected by the changes, but if we are to have an affordable
0:41:45 > 0:41:48and fair pension system for the future, we have to put through some
0:41:49 > 0:41:56of these changes and sometimes not make changes, even though people may
0:41:57 > 0:42:01want them. Many of my constituents are concerned about post Office
0:42:02 > 0:42:05plans to move their local branch, despite strong local objections.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09Given that many such changes, good and bad, will be made by the Post
0:42:10 > 0:42:12Office in constituencies across the country in the coming years, can we
0:42:13 > 0:42:17have a debate on the post office's approach to its branch modernisation
0:42:18 > 0:42:20programme and on its approach to consultation and taking into
0:42:21 > 0:42:25consideration the views of local people? This is something that is
0:42:26 > 0:42:29visible to members across the country. As my honourable friend
0:42:30 > 0:42:33says, there has been a range of changes within the post office. I
0:42:34 > 0:42:39would say that at least this is about upgrading post offices. We
0:42:40 > 0:42:43have often battled to save post offices from closures. Now there is
0:42:44 > 0:42:46an opportunity for them. We have seen sadly in the past, the
0:42:47 > 0:42:50disappearance of many local bank branches. Of course, the post office
0:42:51 > 0:42:53offers an alternative to many small businesses and I hope that will help
0:42:54 > 0:42:59secure its future in many communities. This probably does not
0:43:00 > 0:43:02need a debate, but this morning my question to DEFRA was
0:43:03 > 0:43:07unceremoniously dumped by the department. Could the Leader of the
0:43:08 > 0:43:14House looked at the possibility of ensuring that when such a thing
0:43:15 > 0:43:17happens, that the department contact the table office rather than letting
0:43:18 > 0:43:25them know by letter, which I only received yesterday? The honourable
0:43:26 > 0:43:29lady once a statement on the matter. I am happy to give her a short one.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32The question concerned was transferred between departments
0:43:33 > 0:43:36because it was judged to be the best place for the question to be
0:43:37 > 0:43:40answered. I have ensured that her question will be answered today. I
0:43:41 > 0:43:43do think the department concerned did the right thing in telling her
0:43:44 > 0:43:51that, but I will pass on the message that they might consider telling the
0:43:52 > 0:43:54table office as well. Can we have a debate on inward investment? This
0:43:55 > 0:43:59will give the House the opportunity to consider the announcements in the
0:44:00 > 0:44:03past few days from Avon products, who intend to move their worldwide
0:44:04 > 0:44:08headquarters from the United States of America to the UK, and from the
0:44:09 > 0:44:18South African owned company who plan to create 6000 jobs in South Wales.
0:44:19 > 0:44:24Those are two really good announcements which we welcome.
0:44:25 > 0:44:27Given all the pressures in the steel industry, we want to see as many new
0:44:28 > 0:44:32investments in Wales as possible. The honourable gentleman says it is
0:44:33 > 0:44:35labour. Actually, it is because this government made the UK a strong
0:44:36 > 0:44:41place for international businesses to invest. We also saw the decision
0:44:42 > 0:44:46to build a new factory to build Aston Martin cars in south Wales. It
0:44:47 > 0:44:52is reassuring to see that even in a difficult time internationally, the
0:44:53 > 0:45:00UK is still seen as a strong place for international investment in the
0:45:01 > 0:45:06long term. As of today, 78 members of this house, from seven parties
0:45:07 > 0:45:08including the government party, have signed an EDM seeking to know a
0:45:09 > 0:45:16statutory instrument freezing pensions. Regulations that deprive
0:45:17 > 0:45:19overseas pensioners of blue uprating adjustment to their state pension
0:45:20 > 0:45:22have been forced through this House without a debate. Will the
0:45:23 > 0:45:25government hid the cross-party initiative to annul this revelation
0:45:26 > 0:45:29and bring forward a debate urgently to assess the devastating impact
0:45:30 > 0:45:32these changes will have on UK pensioners living abroad and perhaps
0:45:33 > 0:45:38this time, he might answer the question. I have answered the
0:45:39 > 0:45:41question. I have been the work and pensions minister and have looked at
0:45:42 > 0:45:45this issue before. The government has no intention of changing the
0:45:46 > 0:45:48current situation. The cost of doing so would be enormous and the
0:45:49 > 0:45:54situation these pensioners face has been in place for decades. Horlick
0:45:55 > 0:46:00nationwide Limited are a recruitment business in rugby who have developed
0:46:01 > 0:46:05IT software to much HGV drivers with haulage contractors. Last year, the
0:46:06 > 0:46:09NHS spent 3.3 billion on agency staff and ministers are working to
0:46:10 > 0:46:12reduce this figure. The owner of Katmai College believes he can match
0:46:13 > 0:46:16available medical staff with hospital trusts and has outed
0:46:17 > 0:46:20talking to the NHS innovations team. May we have a debate to consider how
0:46:21 > 0:46:24companies in the private sector can share innovative ideas with the
0:46:25 > 0:46:29public sector? My honourable friend talks about what sounds like a very
0:46:30 > 0:46:33interesting opportunity. One of the tragedies of the argument that comes
0:46:34 > 0:46:37particularly from those benches about removing the private sector
0:46:38 > 0:46:49from the NHS is that we would lose the opportunity to see that kind of
0:46:50 > 0:46:53innovation. People in my constituency of Halifax are under
0:46:54 > 0:46:57pressure and facing hospital reconfiguration. We understand that
0:46:58 > 0:47:01pharmacies are facing a cut of 6%, which the government expects will
0:47:02 > 0:47:05see up to 3000 closed nationally. Can we have a debate to discuss the
0:47:06 > 0:47:09role of pharmacies, the role they play in alleviating the pressures on
0:47:10 > 0:47:12GP surgeries and our A departments and how those pressures would get
0:47:13 > 0:47:19worse if we saw up to 3000 closed nationwide? I know this is an issue
0:47:20 > 0:47:22of concern. The government is sticking to ensure we use the money
0:47:23 > 0:47:27we have as effectively as possible, that we are funding the right mix of
0:47:28 > 0:47:31pharmacies. We want to see pharmacies in all those communities
0:47:32 > 0:47:35where they are required. I have no doubt this will be brought before
0:47:36 > 0:47:40the House in due course. The minister responsible, my honourable
0:47:41 > 0:47:43friend for North East Bedfordshire, is sensitive to the concerns she has
0:47:44 > 0:47:47raised and he will seek to do the right thing in making sure we have a
0:47:48 > 0:47:53balance between spending money wisely and maintaining the right mix
0:47:54 > 0:47:56of pharmacy services. Will the Leader of the House make time for a
0:47:57 > 0:48:01debate on the effect of sodium valproate, a drug given to treat
0:48:02 > 0:48:06epilepsy and other neurological conditions, but which has an impact
0:48:07 > 0:48:12on unborn babies? My constituent is campaigning for years following the
0:48:13 > 0:48:17birth of her two sons, who were affected by this drug, which is
0:48:18 > 0:48:20still being prescribed today. This is obviously a difficult and
0:48:21 > 0:48:25sensitive issue. I don't know enough about the drug, but I will make sure
0:48:26 > 0:48:28the Health Secretary is aware of the concerns she has raised. He is here
0:48:29 > 0:48:36next week and I would ask her to consider bringing it up with health
0:48:37 > 0:48:39minister is then as well. I previously asked the Leader of the
0:48:40 > 0:48:42House if this House would have a debate on the disproportionate size
0:48:43 > 0:48:45of the House of Lords compared to the House of Commons, but it was
0:48:46 > 0:48:50dismissed, so I will try again. Can we have a debate on the role of a
0:48:51 > 0:48:53bicameral parliament in a representative moxie in the 21st
0:48:54 > 0:48:57century in order to consider whether it is appropriate that more than
0:48:58 > 0:49:00half of the members of the UK Parliament are appointed by the
0:49:01 > 0:49:05Prime Minister, rather than elected by the people? Last week, I remember
0:49:06 > 0:49:08that the party opposite were praising the House of Lords for one
0:49:09 > 0:49:15of the votes they had passed through. Right now, this country has
0:49:16 > 0:49:23greater priorities than sorting out changing and reforming the House of
0:49:24 > 0:49:27Lords. The Leader of the House didn't and so one of the points
0:49:28 > 0:49:30raised by the honourable member for Perth and North Perthshire. There is
0:49:31 > 0:49:37an amendment on the order paper today timetabled by colleagues from
0:49:38 > 0:49:41Berwick-upon-Tweed, asking as a Budget amendment to remove the
0:49:42 > 0:49:48tampon tax. Will he support this in solidarity with members Brexit women
0:49:49 > 0:49:51across the country? Of course, the imposition of VAT on women's
0:49:52 > 0:49:54sanitary products is a matter for the European Commission. We have
0:49:55 > 0:49:57made representations as a government and are expecting a response
0:49:58 > 0:50:01shortly. I hope the commission will agree with every person in this
0:50:02 > 0:50:10House that this tax is inappropriate. If no one has yet
0:50:11 > 0:50:17done so, may I wish you, Mr Speaker, with a certain amount of Irish blood
0:50:18 > 0:50:21in me, a happy St Patrick's Day to you and a whole House? Mr Speaker,
0:50:22 > 0:50:25it is unacceptable that this government should choose to do
0:50:26 > 0:50:28nothing, not even allow a debate on the hugely important issue of the
0:50:29 > 0:50:36uprating regulations of state pensions. It will affect half a
0:50:37 > 0:50:40million or more overseas pensioners and will lead to them having their
0:50:41 > 0:50:44pensions frozen. The Leader of the House is aware that this is due in
0:50:45 > 0:50:50to come into force while this House is in recess, and given the depth of
0:50:51 > 0:50:55feeling across this House, surely this is an issue worthy of an urgent
0:50:56 > 0:50:58debate? This issue has been considered many times over the
0:50:59 > 0:51:08years. The government position on it has not changed. The First Minister
0:51:09 > 0:51:12of Scotland is committed to not 95 or any other figure, but 100%
0:51:13 > 0:51:17coverage for superfast broadband for Scotland. Given that the UK controls
0:51:18 > 0:51:21the regulations over mobile signals, can we have a debate on how the UK
0:51:22 > 0:51:28Government might achieve that for mobile signals across the UK? We are
0:51:29 > 0:51:32working to achieve that and we are looking ahead to the reduction of
0:51:33 > 0:51:38five GN this country. I wait with interest to see how successful the
0:51:39 > 0:51:42First Minister of Scotland is, having made a substantial promise.
0:51:43 > 0:51:49Some of her promises in the past have not come to fruition. This
0:51:50 > 0:51:58House rightly celebrates community champions. One group organised a
0:51:59 > 0:52:02lunch for disabled people who would otherwise have spent Christmas Day
0:52:03 > 0:52:10on their own. Isolation affects millions. Can I ask if we can debate
0:52:11 > 0:52:14this serious issue? It is clearly a big challenge for our society and
0:52:15 > 0:52:17something that can only be dealt with in local communities and by the
0:52:18 > 0:52:23kind of work he has described, which I praise. As he will know, I have
0:52:24 > 0:52:29suggested to the backbench business community that they might set aside
0:52:30 > 0:52:32a day for the whole House to debate the work of voluntary sector groups
0:52:33 > 0:52:40that can make such a difference to people like those he describes.
0:52:41 > 0:52:44Given the well-known views of the Leader of the House on matters
0:52:45 > 0:52:49European, can I urge him to come to the aid of the thousands of UK
0:52:50 > 0:52:56citizens living in the EU who face being deprived of their pension
0:52:57 > 0:53:01upgrade, a move which is not even going to be discussed in this House?
0:53:02 > 0:53:09And I urge him to overcome the European democratic deficit and
0:53:10 > 0:53:16organise such a debate? That does not apply in the EU. On that same
0:53:17 > 0:53:19theme, apart from the general unfairness of the frozen pensions,
0:53:20 > 0:53:25analysis has shown that the frozen pensions prevent some pensioners
0:53:26 > 0:53:30from emigrating and forces others to return to the country. So reversing
0:53:31 > 0:53:34that would save money on health, welfare and housing, which should
0:53:35 > 0:53:39appeal to the Leader of the House. Therefore, I will try again. Can we
0:53:40 > 0:53:43have a debate on this? I am not of the view that government policy
0:53:44 > 0:53:51should be about getting pensioners to move to other countries. The
0:53:52 > 0:53:58Leader of the House wrote to me on the 24th of February in relation to
0:53:59 > 0:54:02the issue of the pension fund of employees of the Commonwealth War
0:54:03 > 0:54:06Graves Commission and said to me on the 24th of February that no
0:54:07 > 0:54:09decision had been made. Yet on the 29th of February, ministers had said
0:54:10 > 0:54:14a final decision was made in September. Could the Leader of the
0:54:15 > 0:54:18House provide a statement as to why he gave such inaccurate information?
0:54:19 > 0:54:21I would not have made that comment without having been told by the
0:54:22 > 0:54:27Ministry of Defence that that was the case, so I will have to ask them
0:54:28 > 0:54:36to respond to him. Order. Statement, the Secretary of State for Wales.
0:54:37 > 0:54:40Secretary Stephen Crabb. I will make a statement on the publication of
0:54:41 > 0:54:45the report of the mercury view. On the 5th of November 2012, the Prime
0:54:46 > 0:54:49Minister announced the stubs of an independent review into the scope
0:54:50 > 0:54:53and conduct of Sir Ronald Waterhouse inquiry into allegations of child
0:54:54 > 0:55:01abuse in care homes include between 1974 and 1990. We are talking about
0:55:02 > 0:55:05dark and shameful events that are stain on our nation. These were
0:55:06 > 0:55:06children in the care of the state because they were vulnerable and the
0:55:07 > 0:55:19state let them down. Our first thought will always be the
0:55:20 > 0:55:21victims, supporting them in bringing the perpetrators to justice. A