13/10/2016 Business Questions

smiling. Sir Tim, I'm afraid I may have called you Mr Barrel bx

mistake. Apologies for that. All other meetings now adjourned.

Bombs fell on a funeral cortege Last night, rebels fired at war

ships that are owned by the Americans in the Gulf of Addn. The

situation in Yemen is deterhorating. We had an important debate on Syria,

which was well attended in the House and granted by Hugh, Mr Spe`ker but

we must not allowed Yemen to be a forgotten conflict. When can we have

a full debate on the situathon before it gets even worse? First of

all, I am grateful for his kind words. I think somewhere in my loft,

I have the programme cover that lists him as college secret`ry at

some distant date in the past. He raises a series subject. Yelen is

too often overlooked in our focus on the appalling situation in Syria at

the moment. As he will know, I think by now, he has been successful in

obtaining an adjournment debate on Yemen on the 18th of October, which

will enable him to raise sole of these matters. We have Forehgn and

Commonwealth Office questions on the 18th of October, which will allow

him and other colleagues rahse these matters with the secretary of state

and Foreign Office ministers. I completely share his view that the

needs to continue to do all that it can to help support the UN special

envoy to Yemen and his vali`nt efforts to try to establish a

credible peace process as wdll as to devote a decent slice of our

humanitarian aid budget to help those people who are in desperate

need in that country. The ldader of the house will be bringing to the

house is debate soon on the ball deep cant of Parliament frol the

Palace of Westminster. He knows my views and I am questioning this but

what is important is that wd get a range of options. I wonder hf there

Leader of the House would consider not just having a nuclear option,

where we all leave for six xears, but to have a range of options, one

being that we start work now during the summer break and abolish the

summer sitting, or have the September sitting in Edinburgh or

Belfast or Cardiff, which would be an option. What I'm asking him is

can we please have a full r`nge of options. Sometimes in life, a

Marmite solution, which you either love or hate, is not the best

solution, sometimes a more nuanced solution is better. As recolmended

by the joint committee, there will be a debate and a decision by this

house and the House of Lords separately on the proposals embodied

in the report. I'm giving thought at the moment to the precise wording of

the motion, which will be ptt down. What ever form of words is people by

way of motion, it is subject to your rulings, Mr Speaker, capabld of

amendment and I'm sure membdrs on all sides will want to look at the

motion and see whether they want to change it in anyway. I would just

say this to my honourable friend and colleagues around the I really hope

that honourable members do take the time to actually read the rdport

that the joint committee has put together. It was a cross-party

committee, they spent a lot of time, interrogated and lots of witnesses,

before they came to their recommendations, and I think the

house owes it to those colldagues who served on that committed to look

seriously at the arguments `nd evidence they presented. Thd litre

just put a very complacent gloss on the care quality commission report.

This is our independent health and social care regulator. The report is

devastating, it contains an explicit request for urgent funds now, and

this is unprecedented from the Commission, into social card. This

follows the same called by the person the government appointed to

lead the NHS, Sir Simon Stephens. So when will we get an emergency

statement from the Secretarx of State for Health about what he's

going to do about the collapsing state of our health and sochal care

system? I would take issue with his description of my early response. I

not a movement at the report this morning, I listen to the chhef

executive of the Commission speaking on BBC Radio, and it was he that

said one of the important ldssons here is that best practice needed to

be copied by those authorithes and those NHS areas that were not

delivering the best quality service at the moment. My right honourable

friend the Secretary of State for Health will of course consider very

carefully and urgently the views expressed in the Care Quality

Commission's report today and I m sure he will want to make clear to

the house his view on the recommendations in the relatively

near future. There will be opportunity for health questions to

be put to him. In East Cowes, the homes and

community agency seems to h`ve forgotten they need to provhde

business premises as well as domestic commerce. Would yot

consider a on this issue? -, would you consider scheduling a ddbate on

this issue? I can't guarantde a time, but you have been herd long

enough to know there may be opportunities by way of adjournment

debates are questions to ministers that enable him to speak up on

behalf of his constituents. Figures show one in five of my constituents

in Bristol South are over indebted, which is why I am bringing the Money

Advice Service to the consthtuency to meet with other agencies. Can we

have a debate on debt in thd country to help understand the government

position and the strategy for addressing the serious issud for

working people? I think we `ll have constituents who have benefhted from

debt advice. It's not always something that is best provhded by

an agency that has OHMS stalped all over it, sometimes it's better

provided by a voluntary org`nisation that is to engage with people in a

less rule- boned way, than hs usually the case with government

agencies. I will take back to my honourable friend with Ms

ministerial responsibility, the concerns you have expressed and I

will ask him to write to yot directly. The National Citizens

Service provides incredible opportunities for young people in

Korby. At the very welcome news that David Cameron is going to bd taking

at greater role in their NCS programme, can we have a debate

about the terrific opportunhties it provides for young people across our

country? This is a cause David Cameron championed during hhs time

as Prime Minister, and I'm delighted he's continuing his association with

the cause afterwards. As my honourable friend for all pdople

know, the government introdtced the National Citizenship Servicd bill

this week Apple put the NCS on a statutory basis for the first time.

Yesterday, I attended a govdrnment, and events by the Gun Control

Network. Measures Brought In At The Time Of The Dunblane Tragedx Have

Made An Enormous Difference And Have Undoubtedly Saved Many Lives.

Regrettably, People Are Still Dying From Gun Use And Gun Ownership And

Too Often It's Through Licensed Firearms. I Wonder If We Did Have A

Statement From The Government On The Plans Didn't Continue To Colbat

Crime. . I know that the Hole Office is looking at legislation on gun

dealers at the moment and that may go some way to address his concerns.

I think that it is also right to remind ourselves that policd forces

have a responsibility in making sure that people who hold firearls

licences legitimately both store guns and ammunition is in a secure

and safe fashion, and that they are fit and responsible people to hold

such licences. The government has a policy of

closing old Victorian prisons and replacing them with modern prisons.

Wellingborough prison is a reserved prison. Could we have a statement

next week from the Secretarx of State for Justice on how thd policy

is working out, and in parthcular what is happening to the prhson in

Wellingborough? I am sure that my honourable friend will want to speak

to the prisons minister abott Wellingborough in particular. But I

am sure that the policy is the right one for our right honourabld friend

to be pursuing. More modern prisons are not only more cost-effective

than maintaining prisons on what has become very valuable inner-city real

estate, but they also provide conditions for prisoners th`t are

both more secure and more htmane than the old-fashioned Victorian

prisons that have lasted fotr, in some cases, far too long. Thank you.

I have had many constituents contact me about Visa refusals for close

relatives wanting to visit their family. Many unsuccessful applicants

have visited to the UK prevhously, ensuring full compliance. C`n he

agreed to a debate that can look into a this issue and why wd are

seeing more refusals than in previous years, which are l`rgely

unexplained. I think any of us who deal with a significant amotnt of

immigration casework now th`t it is quite difficult to generalise about

cases where the quality of the evidence can vary a lot frol one to

the next. In my experience, what I advise my constituents as it is

important to have the audit trail of evidence to show there is a previous

pattern of sticking by the terms of these as that have been granted on

past occasions, and also thd best possible documentation to show that

the visitor has a good reason for returning home, family or job

reasons, if allowed to come here as a visitor. The late Eric Forth used

to have a description for e`rly day motions, but there is not stfficient

chastity and language withott offence to repeat it. But

nevertheless, could we have a statement from my right honourable

friend about the wholesale `buse and trivialisation of them, not least

from the Scottish National Party. I do think that early day mothons at

an overrated currency, I was somewhat surprised to see the

reports this morning that honourable members from the Scottish N`tional

Party had been spending so luch time tabling early day motions on

subjects that ranged from Christmas trees to the anniversary of the

first screening of Star Trek, and I think he and his colleagues need to

be careful because a number of us are coming to the conclusion that

they find they have not got enough work to do, and I think thehr

constituents would be somewhat shocked in finding that out. I

welcome the shadow leader and acknowledge her reference to the

peace in Colombia and forthcoming visit of President Santos. Will the

Leader of the House make sure that he and his colleagues valid terms in

which they rule out a second referendum here do not... Whth the

context and challenges of Colombia, a second referendum might wdll be

what they need following thd national dialogue and other

negotiations that are now h`ppening. For a long time and under stccessive

British governments, we havd supported the efforts to brhng about

an end to the appalling conflict in Colombia. We welcome the cotrageous

work that President Santos has done to try to reach that agreemdnt, and

it is certainly the case th`t British ministers are not going to

end anyway seek to tell the president of Columbia how hd should

proceed in setting the final seal on an agreement that we all hope will

endure. Can we have a statelent from the Secretary of State for Justice

on the policy of allowing prisoners out to spend time with their

families at Christmas? In an answer to a parliamentary question, it

seems that 973 prisoners were allowed home to spend time with

their families last Christm`s, including 61 murderers. I would have

hoped it might have gone without saying that the victims of those

murders will never be able to spend Christmas at home with their

families again, and perhaps the government might reflect on what the

families of those victims mtst think Windows murderers are allowdd out to

enjoy a family Christmas at home, when they will never have that

experience again. Perhaps the government might tell prisoners that

if they want to spend time `t home with their families at Christmas,

they should not commit the crimes in the first place that got thdm sent

to prison. I will certainly draw the attention of the Justice Secretary

to the point he has made. Btt I would just add this to him. All but

a very small number of prisoners are going to be released one dax, either

at the end of the sentence on life licence. And I do not think it is

unreasonable in the context of people who are approaching the end

of a sentence to be looking at ways in which to make it possibld for

them to adjust to society ottside prison and to earn a living, take

family responsibility and hopefully pursue a better path at that point,

but he is absolutely right that it is such -- such as bed needs to be

looked at in context of overall sentence planning and should not be

a into which so often the ndcessity for the punitive aspect of ` prison

sentence, which the public rightly expect judges and the prison service

to see enforced. In responsd to the crisis in the steel industrx, the

government produced some better procurement guidelines. It would

appear that they have not ydt reached the Ministry of Defdnce who

are using French steel to btild Trident submarines. Can we have a

statement by the Business Sdcretary of how those procurement guhdelines

are affecting the steel indtstry in a positive way, and how he hs going

to move up the marks from e,mail -- e-to A plus. There was no stpplier

of the steel required for this particular part. Other stagds of

construction will include steel that British suppliers will support, and

they will take the opportunhty to bid for this. As with every

government, we are working hard to make sure that where we can we

source British Steel and we expect that 85% of BAE Systems supply chain

for a venue submarines to bd based in the UK. Could we have a debate in

government time on long-terl funding for health and social care? And the

way in which we raise the ftnding. There was a very interesting read in

The Times yesterday on that subject, with some suggestions, but H think

it is absolutely vital that we take the opportunity now to look at how

things move forward post-2020, given the government's welcome support up

till then. It will be important as we move forward towards 2020, to see

the NHS making best possibld use of the extra ?10 billion that the

government has allocated it, 2 billion more than it requested, but

also for the NHS to deliver on the internal reforms that the Chief

Executive has said that he both intense and needs to carry out. I am

sure that my honourable fridnd will find an opportunity in which to

raise some of these wider qtestions about future funding with hdalth

ministers either that questhons are perhaps the Westminster Hall debate.

-- or perhaps. Can we pleasd have a debate on the political and security

situation in Kashmir? He will be aware there has been a serious

escalation in violence in rdcent weeks. Understandably it is a matter

of great concern, not just to my constituents who have a Kashmiri

heritage, but to those right across the country. My honourable friend

may well have the opportunity to raise this matter directly with the

Foreign Secretary at FCO qudstions next Tuesday. I share his whsh to

see an end to the violence hn Kashmir that has continued for far

too long. That will, in the end depend upon the readiness of the

governments of India and Pakistan to hammer out an agreement of which

they both feel able to live. One congratulations to my honourable

friend, whose talents have `t last been recognised, and it does

guarantee that the exchanges between her and the Leader of the House will

continue to be very welcome -- a oasis of good sense and humour. When

can we debate the Royal Prerogative and the supreme duty of this

Offerton to act in the interest of the nation when the governmdnt

starts to act on its own interests rather than the nation's interest?

-- of the sovereign. Know that there is a certain Brexit crisis `head on

the fact we should judge thd value of the referendum on the basis it

was one e-deceptions, exaggdrations and lies by both parties, and then

we looked to see how he would deal with the situation if a dechsion is

taken that those Royal Prerogative is delegated by the sovereignty are

withdrawn. What would he do to deal with that if this Offerton hs acting

in the service of the nation? - Esau

When I looked at the Hansard report of yesterday's debate, I fotnd the

issues of prerogative powers and the rights of Parliament were bding

heard at considerable length and I'm sure that will be the case `s we

find other opportunities to debate this. Services to my constituents

provided by North East Lincolnshire Council could well suffer in the

near future because the council have been forced to make safe and

maintain a listed building to the tune of ?2 million and rising. The

owner has abrogated their responsibilities. Could the

government find time for a debate to consider whether legislativd changes

are required to avoid this happening again? I cannot offer him a debate

in government time. If you would like to put some of the det`il to me

in a note, I will draw it to the attention of the relevant Mhnister

at the Department of Culturd, Media and Sport, so he can have a

comprehensive response. Tod`y is breast Cancer awareness Day. --

secondary breast cancer awareness. Given that the campaign, secondary,

not second-rate, has found that people facing this disease stays

poor care, lack of informathon and support. Next Tuesday there is a

half-hour adjournment debatd in Westminster Hall on cancer diagnosis

that might provide the opportunity for an intervention, but thd

honourable lady does the Hotse is a service today in reminding ts of the

importance of the issue, and I am sure we would all wish to stpport

the work that the cancer ch`rities are doing to highlight the

importance of secondary bre`st cancer to ensure that challdnge is

not being overlooked. And that we support both the research into

causes and cures, and the work going on to try to support those who have

to live with second breast cancer and their families. With thhs

government's excellent support for keeping fit, active and healthy can

I ask if we can have a debate on the possible closures of sports centres,

such as the one in my consthtuency, a centre providing fantastic

facilities on a cross-border basis that is under the threat of closure

by the local authority. Sorry to learn about what was happenhng in

his constituency. Obviously these decisions are sometimes a m`tter for

the local authorities involved. If you would like to let me have the

details, I will ask the sports minister to the point were smart --

respond to him, but he may be able to secure a reply in this sdssion of

the House. Many of my consthtuents and hundreds and thousands of people

across the country have had their summer ruined again. They c`nnot sit

in their gardens are open whndows, why? Because wagons carrying the

rotting carcasses emitting ` horrendous stench travel up and down

the road past our people's homes. Can we have a debate in govdrnment

time on the need for sealed wagons to control the stench given out by

these rotting corpses of anhmals and other meat products? Or indded

should we be bringing anteaters -- containers of rotting meat here

perhaps it is good enough for this House since it is good enough for my

constituents. I confess this is not a subject with

which I'm familiar. This was likely to involve responsibilities of a of

different departments. My advice to him would be to look for

opportunities to raise this with the relevant nesters or to secure an

adjournment debate to try to take this forward and to get a rdply from

ministers directly to the concerns his constituents are expressing

More than 65,000 people are employed in the British nuclear industry and

I'm delighted that more than a fifth of that workforce are no wolen. Can

we have a debate on the importance of the nuclear sector to our

economy, particularly considering the energy gap and how we c`n

support nuclear through invdstment in skills, infrastructure and the

supply chain, especially given the recent announcement on Hinkley point

C. I welcome her support for the nuclear industry and I shard her

view that nuclear has an important part to play in this countrx, as it

already has in France, as p`rt of an overall energy mix to make sure we

have supplies of fuel but are both clean as possible and are rdliable.

It is also true the nuclear industry provides many opportunities for

highly skilled and relatively well-paid employment, often in parts

of the country where such jobs are very scarce indeed, so whild I can't

promise her an early debate in government time on this, I think she

will find her comments have struck a chord with honourable members on all

sides of the House. On Mond`y, we had a written statement frol the

Minister of defence on protdcting our soldiers overseas from the legal

process and it was highlighted also by the chairman of the defence

committee today, on how we should be looking after our soldiers who are

under that process. In Northern Ireland, where just about to start

the process for some who have been hold back from political re`sons.

Can we make sure, and can wd have a statement from the three ministers

together, defence, Northern Ireland and justice, to make sure otr

service men are treated fairly? Clearly, in all parts of thd lighted

kingdom, decisions about individual prosecutions, individual cotrt cases

are rightly the province of independent prosecuting authorities.

I am an easy about the idea that governments should intervend, either

to try to initiate or to stop a prosecution that has been ddcided

upon independently in that way, but I completely understand the point

that the honourable gentlem`n makes. I think that pretty well evdryone in

the House will acknowledge that bravely over so many years of

service men and women who sdrved in Northern Ireland's, he'll wdar a

line of defence for decent, law-abiding people of all

communities in Northern Ireland against ruthless terrorism, and I

will draw his remarks to thd attention of the ministers he

mentioned. Walter Kershaw from my constituency is the world f`mous

mural artists. His work is exceptionally well received from

Portugal to Pedro, but his work these come back home. Could we have

a debate on what is Arts Cotncil England funding is availabld to

works like this? I can't promise an immediate debate in governmdnt time,

but I think it's quite an ilportant principle, that the Arts Cotncil

administers its budget at arms length from ministers. I don't think

we want to have any suggesthon that political sympathies start to

influence individual grants decisions by Arts Council England or

other arts organisations in the UK. But the honourable gentleman has

demonstrated again today th`t he is a champion of the achievements of

Rochdale in the artistic world as well is in many other areas of life.

To disabled veterans living in Bridgend decided to spend ?0500 of

their own savings to buy lunch for a citizens across the county borough

of Bridgend. They wanted to carry out random acts of kindness to

people, because within their disability, they have found great

help and support from the local community. A local branch of Subway

added 500 meals, so we handdd out 1000 lunches. In a week where we

have discussed Brexit, Aleppo, the fall of the pound, can we h`ve a

government statement on the importance of random acts of

kindness in raising the spirits of us all and making this a grdat

country to live in. Can I wdlcome her comments and can I add ly

unreserved congratulations, support and goodwill to her to constituents.

I think it's the that every single one of us in this house, in our

constituency work, comes across cases like the one she has described

to us this morning, of the lost incredible acts of selflessness and

public spirit by our fellow citizens. And that is something

that, whenever politics is `t risk of making you feel low and

depressed, those sorts of acts of kindness and generosity by ordinary,

decent British citizens, do really warm the heart and make you have

faith in this country. I am sure the house will join with me in wishing

Sheffield's very own Jessic` N as hell all the best on the dax she

announces her retirement and also in congratulating Yorkshire, go to s

very own county, of course, for securing the world Road cycling

Championships in 2019. Can H ask the leader to commit the governlent to

continue to support the county as it works to make the most of this

wonderful opportunity? I am happy to endorse her congratulations to

Yorkshire and I will make stre that the sports Minister is award about

her concerns about funding. I'm sure my honourable friend the want to

have Jews regard to the importance of this event is being a success,

and I think everyone in the House will want to say to Jessica

Ennis-Hill, thank you for all that you have done, for your achhevements

in your chosen sport, but also for the inspiration that you have given

to so many aspiring young athletes, particularly women athletes in

Yorkshire and far beyond in the UK. Hummus and taramasalata are big

business in Gwent. But the cost of their imported ingredients `s

increased as the pound has dropped. Can we have a debate on Brexit and

its impact on family food bhlls because it looks like breakfast and

now lunches getting an expensive, as our currency weakens. We do seem to

be moving from toast Bridges through to Peter bread and dips --

pitta bread and dips. Yes, hmports become more expensive, but dxports

become cheaper. It happens the other way round and companies of `ll types

learn to plan and adjust for those currency risks. Currencies go up and

down, they fluctuate in thehr value, so I think, if the companies in his

constituency are producing good high quality products in an

efficient way, they should still be able to look forward to a stccessful

future. Over the last key ydars the rise in cancer has been alarming.

Insert your lifestyle and environment. From a pollution to

pesticides and diet. Can I `sk, can we have a debate on the risd of

cancer for children? I think nobody here would dissent from his view

that any rising incidence of childhood cancer should be deployed

and we should be active in seeking ways to prevent the occurrence of

cancer, to ensure it is early detection and effective tre`tment. I

hope he will have the opportunity at Health Questions in the futtre or at

an adjournment debate to highlight this in the future. Present`tion of

Bill, Amber Road. We now cole to the first of two debates under