12/01/2017 Business Questions

Business question, Valerie vows. Could the Leader of the House please

give us the forthcoming business? The business for next week will be

as follows, Monday 16th of January, second reading of the National

citizens service Bill, Lordes. Cheesecake 17th of January.

Opposition Day, impact of leaving the EU on the rural economy debate,

followed by a debate entitled, impact of DWP policies on low-income

households. Both debate arising on a motion raised by the SNP. Wednesday

18th of January, a general debate on exiting the EU and security law

enforcement and criminal justice. Thursday the 19th of January, debate

on the motion relating to Kashmir, followed by a general debate on

Holocaust Memorial Day 2017, both debate is determined by the

Backbench Business Committee. Friday the 20th of January, Private

Members' Bills. The provisional business for the week commencing

23rd of January will include... Monday 20th of January, second

reading of the local Government Finance Bill. Tuesday 24th of

January, consideration of Lords amendments followed by a motion

relating to the charter for Budget Responsibility. When the 25th

allotted day, a debate on opposition allotted day, a debate on opposition

motion, subject to be announced, Thursday the 26th of January,

business to be nominated by the Backbench Business Committee.

Friday, 27th of January, Private Members' Bills. I would also like to

inform the House that the business in Westminster Hall for the 19th of

January will be a general debate on the decommissioning of in vitro

fertilisation and other NHS fertility services. Thank you. I am

slightly concerned that it appears we're not going to rise after we get

to the summer recess. We do not appear to have a date. Just to warn

everyone to be prepared to work through the summer! Can I wish

everyone here and all the staff a happy New Year, we will need all the

wisdom and strength we can get for the task ahead. And Mr Speaker, can

I just follow on from remarks he made earlier, something that has

been raised to me by honourable members, to extend the time for FCO

questions, never before has the reasonable voice of Britain going to

be needed in international affairs. It could just mean extending by one

hour, one day. We have excellent diplomats with institutional memory

could make a big difference in the world. The of the House's attention

to reports which may have got lost in the Christmas revelry. The

headline one was, Procedure Committee rails against hand-outs

and Private Members' Bill. That was the reports on the 18th of October

but there was a further instant on the 16th of December. A Private

Members' Bill was one of the speeches took one, 70 minutes. The

vote was guilty of it of the Bill. 130 eyes tattoo knows. It cannot be

right. One of the recommendations for the committee was for you to

invoke standing order 47, to put a time limit on Private Members'

Bills. Since I have been in the House, that has been used in every

single debate apart from on Fridays. One of the... In a letter to the

Clerk of the House, the member for Broxburn, indicated it means need a

resolution of the House. The third report, and it will be clear by

taking the two together, the 14th of December, the committee, the

Procedure Committee, recommended the use at Westminster of the Welsh

Grand Committee, it was suggested by my honourable friend: the member of

clue itself, and she has indicated it is cheaper to do it here, the

official report says it is no problem. The committee asked for a,

backbench committee, but rather than eat into backbench trade, and those

two resolutions be taken together in Government time? We do need

clarification of this for our urgent, for the waiting time

targets, is it for urgent matters, urgent cases or nonurgent cases?

Earlier this week on a radio programme, the Secretary of State

health said that Simon Stevens was running the NHS. Could we have

clarification that is the Secretary of State that is running the NHS? We

had the bizarre scene of the Secretary of State running down the

road. I thought he was doing his 30 minutes that is required for

activity by the health Department but then he jumped into his car.

Having been on the select committee for five years, with numerous

reports, we know of the chaos that the Health and Social Care Act,

which unprecedentedly, was paused with the intervention of the Prime

Minister. The Shadow Secretary of State health has written to the

Secretary of State for Health with 25 questions. Who the Leader of the

House provide those answers within the target time that is required? Mr

Speaker, and again, back to Brexit, we had a report from the other

place. Brexit financial services. They confirmed that London is

currently ranked as the leading financial services centre in the

world. They call for a transition period to protect jobs in this

sector. The environmental Audit Committee, in their report, page

three, paragraph two, in the summary, states that the Minister

has indicated that the UK is likely to the single market and the customs

union. I had not understood that to be settled Government policy. That

is why we need these debates, proper debates. But the environmental

committee calls for a new environmental protection Act, while

negotiations are ongoing. And a list of zombie legislation, that the

legislation that is transposed into British law but is not updated. It

is possible that the confusion lies because the departments have

proliferated. It cannot be right, with figures from the House of

Commons library, in December, 2016, that Dixie has only 300 staff, while

the IT have 2709 staff. Tip has taken staff from FCO so we

need clarity. Can I suggest we are our Majesty's opposition but we want

to propose something, so the Leader of the House should look at the

judgment handed down by the Supreme Court and the triggering of Article

50 to review what each of the performance do, and the British

public will never forgive this government when they see people

dying on trolleys while Vanity departments are set up to keep

Honourable members inside the tent rather than outside. Mr Speaker,

whilst this task is enormous, we need to remember the reasons why we

joined the EU and why there was a vote to leave. That way all the

views can be respected and we can negotiate from a position that

protects jobs, workers' rights, the environment and security. We need to

do what's best for the UK, not based on the rhetoric of the campaign for

a clueless government. Mr Speaker, I share the Honourable Lady's good

wishes to you and the House of Commons staff for a happy New Year.

If I can respond to some of the other points she made, I mean, in

terms of her point about the jury terms of her point about the jury

should Foreign Office questions, I accept that there is a great deal of

demand from members across the house to put questions to my right

honourable friend the Foreign Secretary and his team.

Spoken at backbench committee debates here, as I think is

happening again later today and will happen again in backbench business

time on Kashmir next week, and in Westminster hall too. It has always

been the case while I have been in the house that the allocation of

time between different departments in questions has been a matter for

discussion in the usual channels. If the opposition wants to put forward

ideas of his liver government will look at those but in fairness if one

has to say that if time were added the Foreign Office questions, time

and have to be subtracted from some other part of House of Commons

business, and that needs to be weighed in the balance as well.

About the procedure committee, the very last thing I would accuse my

honourable friend of his rent in. Whether I have agreed or disagreed

with him on particular subjects, he has always expressed his views in a

very civilised manner, and the government will respond to reports

in the procedure committee in the way that we do to other select

committee reports. Her various points about EU exit, I would say on

Article 50, and the changes within Whitehall, that we must not

underestimate the reality that the decision that the electorate took in

the referendum represented a profound, far-reaching change in the

policies pursued by successive governments in this country, and by

the character of the United Kingdom's international

relationships, which have been built very much for half a century around

member ship of the European Union, aspiring to it and an operating

within that. So it seems perfectly reasonable that in those

circumstances they should be a reconfiguration of resources and

apartments within Whitehall, in order to deal with the very complex

task of negotiations that are now before us. It is not just the

department for exiting the European Union that is involved, many

different departments right across the government are also involved at

Minister real and that official level, and I would repeat on the

question of the single market and the customs union what the Prime

Minister has said often, that one of the core objectives of our

negotiation will be to seek to achieve the best possible freedom

for British companies to continue to operate within and to trade with the

single European market. On health, obviously her points requesting an

early reply to her honourable friend will have been noted by the

ministers concerned, and I will make sure that that is properly reported

to my right honourable friend, the Secretary of State. But I just say

this about waiting time targets that the Secretary of State was very

clear about this in yesterday's debate. He was clear that we

continued to be committed to the four hour target and we took pride

in it, I think it is worth the house also noting that, despite the

pressures being experienced this winter, NHS staff through their

immense professionalism and hard work have actually been treating

record numbers of patients at a and E in hospitals throughout the United

Kingdom when they have presented themselves at A departments. But

it is also the case that the director of acute care within NHS

England has estimated that about 30% of people who come to AMD currently

really ought to be seen somewhere else -- A should be seen elsewhere

or would benefit from self treatment at home. That is the judgment of the

professional director of acute care in NHS England. It seems sensible

that we look actively, both in terms of national policy but critically

too in terms of local NHS organisations at how we provide

those alternative sources of advice and roots to treatment for people

who seek advice or treatment but don't actually need the specific

services of accident and emergency. The government must be applauded in

making it a manifesto promise to leave the environment in a better

state than we found it. Would the Leader of the House find time for a

debate on the issue of the environment, and the potential

opportunities presented to us to become world leaders on this issue,

and the technologies relating to it, for example the tidal lagoon

technology in the press this morning, and if we do deliver more

for less increasing productivity and resilience in line with our

industrial strategy, then the environment must become a

cornerstone of our social and economic thinking. My honourable

friend is absolutely right. I can't offer an early debate in government

time, but she might find this is a subject in which the backbench

business committee might take an interest in which there might be a

90 minute opportunity in Westminster. But I agree with her, I

think the report that has come out today from our former colleague,

Charles Hendry, is something the government will want to pay very

close attention to, and I hope the house will welcome the fact that

last year was the first year on record where more electricity in

this country was generated from renewables plan from coal. That was

a good step forward. Can I thank the Leader of the House for announcing

the business next week and can I wish you, all members of the house,

the staff and service, a happy New Year. Being the New Year, we now

have a maximum of ten weeks in which this government intends to triple

Article 50. And we're still don't have any sort of Scooby about what

sort of Brexit plan this government has in mind for us. The only

government that has attempted to come up for any solution for Brexit

is the Scottish Government, trying to keep in line with the views of

the people of Scotland. Can you tell us what debates we will have around

the triggering of Article 50, and regardless of what happens in the

Supreme Court, this house will have a vote and a say in what will be the

single biggest decision this country will undertake? Mr Speaker, after

yesterday's extraordinary press conference in the United States, and

what may or may not have happened in that Russian hotel room, and

identified to focus on that part of the debate, Mr Speaker, can we have

a debate on fake news in this country? Because I actually remember

the days before fake news was cool, when we were told that there was 45

minutes for weapons of mass destruction to reach the United

Kingdom. We were also told by some news organisations that this

government is confident and it actually knows what it is going to

be doing with Brexit, so can we have a debate about fake news in this

country, and that can the house tell us exactly what is going on for

English votes for English laws, because it seems like nobody wants

it any more. We had another one of these English legislative grant it

is on Monday, the bells went on, the house was adjourned, the bills went

on again, the house was in session, the mace went down and out, and not

one word was said. This is now beginning to embarrass this house.

This is now beginning to make this house look extremely foolish. When

will this bizarre and unnecessary practice and? -- end. On the

honourable gentleman's final point, I would suggest that if the ball

rules are operating in an uncontroversial matter, that is

something the end tyre house or the welcome, if that means the SNP is

accommodating itself to the need for English members to have the final

say on laws relating to England, which in Scotland relate to policies

devolved to Scottish parliament, that should be a good thing.

He asked about Article 50. The Prime Minister has said that the

government will publish a document setting out our negotiating

objectives before we come to trigger Article 50 later this year, and it

has been widely reported, as the honourable gentleman will know, that

the Prime Minister intends also to make a speech on the subject in the

next few weeks. Clearly, the character of any Parliamentary

proceedings on Article 50 will defend to some extent on what the

Supreme Court judgment actually involves. On the honourable

gentleman's comments about the media, clearly what is said in the

United States is a matter for the people of the United States, but I

think that while all of us do, from time to time, have reasons to

complain about the character or accuracy of various news reports or

articles in the press, that is a fact of life in a free society, and

I would always want to err on the side of saying that there should be

many and discordant voices without the state interfering in what is

said by either broadcast or written media. And I think that is the

better way to proceed, and the sort of attempts we sometimes have two

intimidate individual journalists, as we saw shamefully in the closing

weeks of the referendum in Scotland in 2014, when individual journalists

were singled out for attack, is not something which any member of the

house should be taking pride in. My right honourable friend, the member

for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, recently raised the prospect of the

European court of justice requiring everyone who uses a vehicle to

require insurance. For example, householders mowing their lawns on

ride on mowers. Could the Leader of the House find house Dodt -- find

time to vent this absurd requirement being brought in UK legislation? As

I'm sure my honourable friend for the Isle of Wight knows, this

particular issue derives from the Fanuc judgment by the course of

justice of the European Union. I would encourage my honourable

friend to make his representations in particular the transport

ministers who will be in the front line of trying to make sure that

judgment is implemented in a way that causes as few as possible

difficulties for the users of those vehicles. On behalf of the backbench

business committee, can I wish the Leader of the House and yourself a

very happy New Year. Can I thank the Leader of the House for advertising

our wares as a backbench business committee, in terms of the way he

has represented the opportunity to apply for debates to all honourable

and right honourable members? Can I also remember honourable and right

honourable man was about the opportunities to think ahead in the

calendar. Time sensitive debates are very important, as with next week we

have Holocaust Memorial Day being debated in the week before the

Holocaust Memorial Day itself, so can I please ask everybody to look

at the calendar, think about what is coming up and if you want to have a

debate on a particular time sensitive subject can you please

make your application in the appropriate time.

I am very grateful to my friend for his New Year and remarks. I think it

is good news there is great awareness across the House of the

role of the Backbench Business Committee. If that can lead to more

timely debates, debates on subjects in which electors are interested,

but which may not be the subject of legislation from the Government,

that can only be a good thing. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Oh, sorry!

THE SPEAKER: Yes, I said Mimms rather than Phillips. Yes, I know

that the honourable gentleman has secured election to the women and

equality Select Committee, although he was the only candidate, so his

election was not very burdensome. Don't worry, he will not be

overlooked. We will get to him. The honourable gentleman did take my

place on the Select Committee so there is something going on there!

Anyway, thank you Mr Speaker. Air pollution, standing traffic and up

predictable journey times cause stress, impact on productivity,

impacts on jobs. Good health of UK plc as well as us humans. Could the

leader of the House find time for a debate on critical infrastructure

which will benefit business and communities, so such as roads, the

Chippenham link road which will be for business and communities can be

looked at in a whole -- holistic way.

I think pretty well every member of the House would agree with the

pointeds that my honourable friend has made. I think that is why the

Chancellor's Autumn Statement and his inclusion of ?23 billion on

infrastructure, and also broad bard is so important.

-- broadband is so important. Thank you very much. When we debate Early

Day Motion 852, which draws attention to the huge success of

presumed organ transplant consent in Wales and urge the Government to

support the Private Member's Bill, which would be presented on Monday,

that urges that the advantages of consent is spread to the rest of the

United Kingdom. We know now this is a practical law. It is popular with

the public and it saves many lives. Well, I cannot promise a debate in

Government time. Clearly the Private Member's Bill, to which the

honourable gentleman has referred will provide an opportunity for

further debate of this subject. There may be opportunities, it seems

to me, with the Backbench Business Committee or in Westminster Hall. Mr

Speaker, Labour-led North-East Lincolnshire council, in considering

their budgets for next year are considering the closure of

Cleethorpes library. Obviously a much-loved local facility. Could the

leader arrange for a debate on the value of libraries to local

communities? Again, this may be something where my honourable friend

might seek an adjournment debate on the particular issue regarding

Cleethorpes library. I am sure he and his constituents will be urging

the council to look very seriously at their priorities. Also how tone

sure that library services can continue to be provided to the

people of Cleethorpes. It is the provision of that library service,

clearly the objective which must be sustained.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I hope the lead ore the House agrees with me

that future generations will be, of the British people l be very

unforgiving in this -- if this generation of politicians allowed a

catastrophic failure to damage this House, in the knowledge that we did

nothing about it now. I wonder if he can update the House on when he

intends to hold a debate on the joint recommendations for the

refurbishment of this Palace of Westminster? The honourable

gentleman served on the joint committee himself that made that

recommendation. I do hope that we can bring this to a debate and get a

decision as soon as possible. THE SPEAKER: The voice of Shipley

must be heard, I do not wish to wait any longer. I thank you for

highlighting my nomination for the women and Select Committee committee

was so popular that nobody wanted to oppose me. Could we have a debate by

jockey club racecourses to close Kempton course racecourse. Lord

knows what it is about. And if it has been proposed by the arena arena

society members of the jockey club would be the first to complain,

given it is a profitable racecourse. Can we have a debate to see what we

can do to stop these plans, which will be a hammer blow for National

Hunt racing and would cover a great swathe of green belt in that area

too? As my honourable friend would see, this is a matter for the jockey

club on the one hand, I with has a royal charter to act for the

long-term good of British racing and the local planning authorities, in

terms of the particular site. I can completely understand the point that

my honourable friend makes and the importance, not only of Kempton Park

to the horse race industry, but the importance of horse racing, both as

a source of great pleasure to millions of British people, but

really an important industry for this country. And I hope whatever

decisions are ultimately taken about Kempton Park, we will consider to

ensure that the horse racing industry thrives. Generates jobs and

continues to bring great enjoyment and pleasure to so many people.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, I will endeavour to behave on this

occasion. Well over a year ago, I raised in

this House there is not a single NHS dentist available in my

constituency. And the incidents of child tooth decay is five times the

national average. I understand my constituency is one of the worst in

the country, if not the worst for dental provision. I further raised

it and had a meeting on 7th November this year. I've heard nothing,

despite his promises. Can the leader of the House advise why this

Government don't aware to care about people's teeth in the Dewsbury

constituency? Well, I think that the honourable lady has said herself

that she did have a meeting a few weeks ago, before Christmas, with

the minister concerned. I will ask the Department of Health to follow

up in writing on the outcome of that meeting. Mr Speaker, as we all know,

our country is about to go into the most important negotiations we have

entered into in decades, with consequences for generations to

come. Yet the three big issues which actually divide within parties, not

just across the House, the single market, free movement and the

customs union has still not been debated in this place. Some think

that is verging on the disgraceful, Mr Speaker. Could the leader please

now give an assurance to this House that we will not only debate those

issues for the obvious reasons, but in order to bring together, as the

Prime Minister has said properly in her New Year's message, she seeks to

do, everybody in this country, however they voted in the

referendum, so we get the very best deal for everybody and for as long

as we possibly can. Well, there will of course be

further debate both general debates on exiting the European Union and

other debates on that matter, as we approach the decision on Article 50.

I am very confident in the months that follow that. My honourable

friend might also like to know that while it will not set aside her

demand for a debate, there are questions coming up in the next

fortnight, both to the Home Office, which would cover the free movement

question and to the Secretary of State for exiting the European Union

on 26th January. Can we have a debate as to what constitutes a

crisis in Accident Emergency in the National Health Service? The

Prime Minister and the Health Secretary refuse to accept there is

a crisis, but the Welsh Tories say there is a crisis in Accident

Emergency in Wales. The Health Secretary says the English figures

are better than Wales, but failed to find out on the basis of what was

released this morning, the Scottish figures are 5% better than those in

England. Can we have that debate and a definition of what represents a

crisis before the Government fiddles the figures in their response to

patient suffering? Well, we had both a statement and then a lengthy

exchange of questions and answers from the Secretary of State for

Health on Monday and then a full day's debate in the Labour Party's

time yesterday on this subject when all these issues were thoroughly

aired. I would just say gently to The Right Honourable member that he

ought not to be too complacent about the situation in Scotland, when on

the latest figuresvy seen, NHS Scotland was meeting only one of

eight key targets and one in 12 hospital bed days in Scotland were

lost because of delayed discharges. Thank you, Mr Speaker. In wishing

happy New Year to the leader of the House, my hope that 2017 for the

United Kingdom is as good as 2016 was for the United Kingdom. To do

with business next week, or perhaps the week after, or perhaps the week

after that, when the Supreme Court makes its decision would the leader

of the House guarantee that a minister will come to the House to

give a statement? Would he also agree that there'll be no prior

comment to the media before this House is informed of what the

Government is thinking? Well, I think we shall: And we don't Mr

Speaker yet know the timing of the Supreme Court decision that makes it

slightly difficult for me to give the firm assurance that my

honourable friend wants. I mean, let there be no doubt, the Government

will want to come, and I suspect Mr Speaker, you would insist comes to

Parliament to explain its response to the judgment. Mr Speaker, may I

first of all wish you a happy kiss of ginger day. The member for North

Antrim quite rightly asked the question... I am sure you can look

it up! Mr Speaker, the member for Northampton raised a very serious

question earlier about the committee report which was produced 18 weeks

ago on the future of the Palace of Westminster it is becoming

irresponsible that we've not yet had a debate because a fire in one of

the 98 rises in this building would spread very rapidly and abscesses to

if found would lead to the closure of this building. And the sewerage

at the bottom of the building could close the building immediately. Will

he make sure we get on with this immediately? We are running

unnecessary costs and risks. Well, the honourable gentleman... The

honourable gentleman summer rises the points that were made at much

greater length in the committee report about the very real

challenges in terms of managing risks that there are with the

building of the Palace of Westminster. I repeat, as I said to

the honourable member for Antrim North, that I would hope we have a

debate. THE SPEAKER: This kiss a ginger

activity is perfectly lawful. But I have no plans to take part in it at

all myself. It strikes to me a run business. I have not the slightest

idea of what the honourable gentleman was saying, so the matter

had to be googled for me. Yesterday there was the decision to

restore preferential status to Sri Lanka, which it withdraw in 2010

because of human rights abuses by the Sri Lankan Government. Despite

them not complying with resolution 31 and a damning report against the

committee on torture, this decision has been made. It still has to go

through the European Parliament. I ask for a debate in this House to

consider the bad decision which I know is a matter of concern to all

members. I would encourage my honourable

friend to apply to the back inch business committee for that debate,

but I'm sure he will acknowledge that the British government has

always been in the front rank of those which have been pressing for

not only on the previous Sri Lanka government to end human rights

abuses, but subsequently the reconciliation and peace building

within Sri Lanka. That was symbolised by the former Prime

Minister David Cameron's visit to Jaffna in the north of Sri Lanka

during the Commonwealth that of government conference about a year

or so ago. So the British government's support for

reconciliation and respect for human rights in Sri Lanka is real and

continuing. Will the Leader of the House join with me in paying tribute

to all those who contribute to and work in food banks up and down the

country, like in my constituency, particularly over the Christmas

period, when demand was so high? And can we please have a debate in

government time about the worrying increasing rise in the use of food

banks, which all evidence would suggest is as a direct attitude of

this government's Social Security. First of all I would agree I would

pay tribute to all of those who work in the food banks. Of course it has

been only since 2010 that DWP offices have actually been

encouraged formally to refer people to food banks, who might be in a

family crisis and in urgent need. Previously that was actually

forbidden to them. The reasons why people use food banks are complex,

and I think that if she looks at the figures, first of all the number of

people receiving the key benefits who are subject to sanction in any

one month is very small, and it is not a neat relationship between that

and the use of food banks. And secondly, I wish she would

acknowledge that the government's decision to establish and then to

increase the national living wage has led to the biggest pay rise for

the lowest paid workers in this country that we have on record. Can

I gently point out to the house that a further 33 members are seeking to

catch Rayo. Colleagues know that my normal practice is to facilitate

everyone who wishes to take part in the business question, and I'm keen

to sustain that record, but colleagues should be aware that the

debate on Yemen is heavily subscribed, and some priority has

also to be attached to that. So, in short, we need short questions and

short answers if I'm not to leave colleagues disappointed. Thank you

Mr Speaker, could we have a debate on government support for UK

businesses to export? There was a welcome increase in new call -- UK

export finances but we lag behind on further support to get into markets

and support company is when they are already there. I think it is

particularly important that we encourage more the medium-sized

businesses to take part in exports, often through supply chains than

direct exports. I will flag my honourable friend's focus on the

subject to the Secretary of State for International trade. I suspect

the backbench committee is the best way forward. Greater Manchester

Police are losing control of Rochdale town centre full. There is

not enough priority being given to police in begging, street drinking

and surely this warrants a debate in Parliament. This is clearly a matter

primarily for the area commander for the Chief Constable and for the

Police and Crime Commissioner in the honourable gentleman's error, but I

think you might be lucky in securing Westminster hall for an adjournment

debate to put those point in more detail. In Labour's Lala land,

nuclear energy has no place to play in you claim nuclear's energy mix

is. -- in the UK. Can we have a debate sometime soon to establish

which is the party of nuclear energy that create wealth, jobs and

prosperity in the north-west of England? My honourable friend is

utterly right in that nuclear energy plays a critical role in ensuring we

have the right energy mix going into the future, and in the north-west we

have a key area for the nuclear sector. Places like Sellafield and

Springfield provide high-quality well-paid jobs in areas where they

are much needed. Can we have a debate on government time on the

cost of telephone calls to UK Government departments, particularly

that the Visa helpline is ?1.37 per minute. Isn't it time this telephone

tax was ended by this government? I will ask the relevant minister to

write to the honourable gentleman. Next week I will be speaking at an

event about energy switching, or should I say lack of, because the

majority of consumers don't switch their energy supplier and get a poor

deal. Could we have a debate about what can be done to engage consumers

such as those in Cannock Chase in this market? My honourable friend

makes a good point, record numbers have been switching suppliers but

she is right to say that most people actually stick with the one that

they happen to have. It is something that our right honourable friend the

Secretary of State for business is looking at very closely indeed to

see what more could be done. On a daily basis, women face intimidation

in the entrance to the Mattock Lane pregnancy clinic from protesters who

wept when rosary beads and gruesome images of foetuses. The police say

that existing public order legislation is insufficient to keep

the pavement a safe space, so can we have a statement from the government

on establishing buffer zone so that women can be protected in their hour

of need, as the group says the supporter asks? Any situation that

involves balancing the right of people to assemble and demonstrate

peacefully, and the right of other people to go about their lawful

business, these are matters where innovative there will have to be

local police judgment of some sort. There are questions to the Home

Secretary on Monday 23rd January. I think that will give her the

opportunity to put the point she raises directly to ministers. I am

saddened to have two inform the house that my constituent Rolf Moss

with passed away last week. It was not only a distant was business when

a manufacturer but also worked alongside Alan Cherry -- Alan Turing

Asatir cryptographer at Bletchley Park. His death reminders we are

rapidly losing the last of this heroic generation, and I am sure the

whole house will want to join with me in expressing our condolences to

his widow and family. Would my right honourable friend look at

establishing a permanent memorial here in Parliament to commemorate

the pioneering work of the men and women in Bletchley whose work

undoubtedly shortened the war by at least two years? I first of all want

to join my honourable friend in expressing condolences to Mr Knox

with's family and friends, and to salute the work which he and so many

other men and women took, Paul vital that secret work at Bletchley Park.

They really are the unsung heroes of that period. The honourable lady may

wish to write formally to the House of Commons commission about the

question of a memorial but I am sure she will be reassured to know that

the Bletchley Park trust itself has reconfigured the museum at Bletchley

Park so that it becomes much more of a memorial than it has sometimes

been at the pass to the heroic week of -- work of those men and women --

Rolf Noskwith. I understand my private members bill is raised

regularly in the house in question is, business questions, and that the

Leader of the House's response is that he is waiting for me to come

forward with some costs. This is a private members bill, so there is

me, and then we have the Leader of the House with his array of civil

servants willing and able to provide these figures for him. However, if

the Leader of the House wants to let me know in detail, he can write to

me what exactly he wants, then I will be happy to provide it, I'll

try, on my own, for him and his civil servants, as long as he

accepts this is the will of this house, and that members gave up

their Friday surgeries to be here from every part of this country, and

right across the house from every party, and that he will stop

preventing this, or will he let me know when he will put this into

committee and come forward with the money resolution? The honourable

lady, sincere as always, in speaking up for her private members bill, but

it is also the case that the bill was only published I think it was

only two days or three days before it was introduced, and there was no

memorandum of costs associated with it. Frankly, it is also the case

that while the honourable lady is sincere in her championship, this

bill is not exactly a disinterested initiative. But a deliberate effort

to try to ensure that we have very unequal sized constituencies. The

government, as I have said before, the government is continuing to

consider the financial implications of the honourable lady's bill. Can

we please have a debate on immigration policy? This will give

the government the opportunity to explain what progress they are

making on meeting the immigration target, but of course it will give

Her Majesty's loyal pictures -- opposition to explain what their

policy is. My honourable friend will have an opportunity to pursue Home

Office ministers on Monday 23rd January. I fear that even a whole

day's debate that getting a reliable policy out of the opposition might

be be under us. The Leader of the House, can I first of all wish him a

happy New Year, and also welcome the Henry report today in the tidal

energy. But can we have a debate in government time on transmission

lines, because low-carbon 21st-century comes from when -- wind

commerce or the new cooler and tidal, situated in coastal areas,

very sensitive areas will stop National Grid only propose one

system, pylons. Their 1950s technology. We want 21st-century

technology Reeva 21st century low-carbon energy. Can we have a

debate on National Grid, its role in disregarding the will of many

communities? The honourable gentleman makes an important point.

I know it matters to a lot of people living in all areas in particular,

and coastal areas too. I would encourage him probably to seek a

Westminster hall debate. There are also questions next week to the

Secretary of State for environment, food and rural affairs, and that

might give him an initial peg on which to raise these arguments. On

Saturday, I took part in the corporate Park run, brilliantly

organised, week in, week out, by Paul Humphreys and his brilliant

team, and they are also fundraising for a new defeat later in whiskey

Park. Can we have a debate to recognise the enormous community

effort that Park runs make across the country and to say a huge thank

you to all those who give up their free time to organise them. I can't

offer a debate in government time, I think my honourable friend is

absolutely right in saluting the importance of the Park run movement

as an entirely voluntary body that has literally energised, in more

than one sense, thousands of people around the country to get more

active and more fit in the way that every doctor would recommend, but

has also come as he said, in terms of Corby, helped to raise

significant sums of money for charities. Teaches at Whitehaven

Academy in Cumbria have been striking over the crumbling

buildings and meagre resources. In 2010 the government scrapped the

building schools for future programme where Whitehaven Academy

was to get significant funding. Now other schools are waiting for

funding as well. Can the Education Secretary: make a statement of his

house about exactly how the government is going to sort out this

mess so that Cumbrian children can have the education they deserve? I

will ask the Education Secretary, or one of his team, the right to the

honourable lady about that particular issue. I am sure that she

would welcome the fact that the National funding formula for schools

will ensure a pharaoh distribution of available resources than has been

the case in the past. To try to accommodate everybody, might I

suggest that we move to single sentence questions, and of course

pithy replies? Can I use your officers to remind colleagues next

week we debate the Holocaust Memorial Day, and a book of

commitment is open from Monday for two weeks, things to your good

offices, between the corridor between the member states and the

members cloakroom. But can I also ask, Mr Speaker, that we have a

statement following the Sunday conference on the Middle East in

Paris, because FCO questions went on far longer because the government

didn't give a statement or respond to an urgent question on the

subject. There would be far better to have a statement in government

time on the outcome of that conference.

It is will for Foreign Office ministers to decide whether they can

offer a statement. I would say too that I am sure as in previous years,

many, many honourable members from all parties will want to sign the

Holocaust remembrance book. Can we have a further debate on the crisis

in social care? Today, Nottingham University Hospitals have over 200

patients who are medically safe to be discharged who cannot be. Is it

any wonder that the hospital is on black alert again and

Nottinghamshire County Council are calling on the Government to take

action. When will the Government wake up to this crisis? While it is

undoubtedly true there are pressures on the NHS and on social care at

this time, the Government has acted through the better care fund,

through the social care present and recently through bringing forward

?900 million of additional spending to give local authorities additional

resources. It is also the case a lot of local variation. And more than

half of the delayed discharges in our hospitals relate to just 24

local authorities. So it is also a case of disseminating best practise

and embedding that everywhere in the country. The Government confirmed

this House would be presented with a plan on how it would begin to exit

the European Union. Can my friend outline the processes on which the

House will be engaged in that plan? I am sure there'll be opportunities

for that plan to be debated here. I am sure too when that is published

that the relevant Select Committees will want to take a look at it. I

don't think my honourable friend will be disappointed in terms of

parliamentary scrutiny. Mr Speaker, a removal of an imgation accept thor

is use of police cells. It turns out there is no information on how many

times police cells are used can we have a debate on what is on going A

planning application for the new facility which would replace it was

refused by Renfrewshire. And dun gavel is to going to remain open.

Its future is depen dantd on a successful planning application for

a new short-term holding facility. Can we have a statement on the

credibility of the allegations made in this dossier about

President-elect Trump. This is a dossier that was written in the UK

and the UK Government has both place and lifted a D notice on the former

MI6 officer who wrote the allegations. We had a warning before

Christmas from the head of MI6 about hostile states. Can we have a

statement from the Foreign Secretary on what action he's taking to

prevent ourselves and our Nato allies from being subject to cyber

attacks and propaganda attacks from hostile states? The Foreign

Secretary and indeed the Prime Minister has repeatedly made clear

their concerns about the cybercapacity and cybertactics of

Russia and of other countries towards the interests of the United

Kingdom. The honourable lady will understand why I can't go into

details about these matters, but these are issues which are

considered regularly by the National Security Council.

We have a statement from the Government about the increased role

of the military of defence police in undertaking duties in civilian areas

outside of Faslane and cool port, in order to establish who took the

decision, why was it made and are these officers armed and under

watching of command do they operate? I will, I will check whether there

were defence questions coming up next week. Since there are not I

will ask the relevant to write to the honourable gentleman. The reason

we have a debate here needs to be led by the Prime Minister so we can

ask questions about what she's doing about the NHS. Simon Stephens said

it is stretching the truth to say they got more than what they asked

for and we are spending less than other developed countries. The NHS

is in crisis and the Government is doing nothing about it. The

Government is actually meeting the spending commitment that the NHS

wanted to support its plan and, yes, there are pressures - nobody denies

that. We have seen since 2010 significant increases in the numbers

of doctor, the number of nurses, the number of diagnostic tests, the

number of A and treatments. There is real improvement goes on. We

should pay tribute to the NHS staff who are delivering that.

Mr Speaker, can we have a debate about how the Government could take

a more proactive role to preserve banking and Post Office services on

our local high streets. In two years the Bank of Scotland has closed one

in my constituency. Wave had announcement this week that four

Post Offices are under threat across Scotland. I am very conscious from

the exfeerns of my constituency of the -- experience of my constituency

of the pressure on shop owners thon and the lack of service to customers

and small business. My understanding on Post Offices is that the Post

Office proposes that the, crown Post Offices that they would close would

instead become sub-post offices. Sub-post offices would continue in

those communities. The provision of the service is important. It is

right there should be full consultation with the local

communities about in I of those proposed closures. It is a reality

that more and more of our constituents are using on-line

banking services and that is bound to have an impact upon the economic

viability of branch networks. Can we have an urgent statement from

the energy minister on the forthcoming industrial action in the

nuclear industry, which is being caused as a direct result of the

Government's beal of workers in that industry, despite the amendments we

put down at the time in the enterprise bill and the promises

that were made at the time of privatisation? I cannot offer a

promise of a statement, but this may be something the honourable

gentleman may wish to seek an adjournment debate on.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Following on from my honourable friend from

Edinburgh South West, can we have the post services minister to give a

statement on the Government's role in the Post Office and its future. I

received a litter that morningside Post Office would be closed and

franchised. It is a well-used Post Office and should be stopped. Can we

have a statement on what the Government will do about these

closures? A process that the Post Office operates for consultation and

decision, I would encourage the honourable gentleman to use that

opportunity on behalf of his constituents.

But it is also the case that the vast majority, 97% of the Post

Offices branches around the country are already operated on the basis

that they are sub-post offices, independent businesses with a Post

Office franchise. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Can

we have a statement on the unlawful implementation on various provisions

of the investigator powers act and vault personal data sets, following

on by the European Court of Justice that e-mails and communications by

Governments is illegal. A point frequently underlined by my friend

and I join the bills progress? The Government is considering its

response to that judgment. U bit is certainly the view of those who

serve us in the security intelligence agencies that the

ability to collect bulk data is something that is of vital

importance in the continuing battle against terrorism.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can we have a debate on the excellent report of

the Defence Select Committee on decision making in defence policy?

In particular, it noted the lack of understanding of military strategy

in key decision makers. Can we have a debate on military strategy that

will allow us to look at whether issues such as forward deployment of

personnel is deterrents or provocation? Well, I think that I

mean we would welcome the possibility of a debate possibly

through the Backbench Business Committee. I have to say, when it

comes to the forward deployment of UK forces as part of Nato

contingents in Estonia and in Poland, this is all about deterrent

and solidarity with a Nato ally. Nato was an organisation which Atlee

and Bevin helped to create. I look forward to the day when we have a

Labour leadership that gives full hearted support to Nato.

The Government has talked out three out of four SNP private member

bills. The treatment for Durham's bill is completely appalling and its

response to the report is inadequate as the system itself. It did accept

there should be a change to the standing order that requires Private

Member's Bills to be published slightly earlier than they are. When

it will give us time to debate that proposal that it does accept? We are

looking at the moment, Mr Speaker, at a number of proposed changes to

standing orders, some many coming from the procedure committee and

some coming from other committees of the House. I think it will probably

be for the convenience of the House if we can find an opportunity to

deal with all of those as a block, rather than piecemeal. That is the

kind of arrangement I'm hoping to secure. I am very sorry to be picked

so late on kiss a ginger day. As we only get one day a year. I wonder if

you might be colour blind. I would recommend a... Mr Speaker, can we

have a debate on the future of our parks funding. The park in my

constituent receives higher level funding because of its higher nature

of its budget. I would be very grateful if we can have a debate in

Government time? There'll be questions next Thursday to DEFRA

ministers or to DCLG ministers next Monday. The few xur of stewardship

funding is being considered in the context of denoshations after all.

Dozens of my constituents have complained they have been miss-sold

solar panels under the Government's green deal. By answer I have learnt

the company which has since gone into liquidation was previously

sanctioned by the Government in November 2015 for breaches of the

green deal code of practise. Maybe have a statement from the Government

as to what support it will offer my constituents who have been left

struggling their electricity bills which have in some cases tripled.

Well, clearly in any system that one has, I mean there is sadly a risk

that somebody may seek to abuse that what I suggest the honourable lady

does, if you write either to me or directly to the minister responsible

for these matters, setting out the detail of what has happened to her

constituents and detailed response to the particular concerns they

have. Member of the House, I am delighted to be called last. They

have heard from North West Durham about her bill. She's offered

support for the, whatever the problems the House has. Saying it is

now about time. If it was only three days before the Bill was published

when it was supported in this House that is eight weeks and two days

ago. Can he explain what the problem is with bringing this bill into

committee? Or is it problems on his own backbenches because there was

too much support on that side of the House? As I said earlier, Mr

Speaker, the Government continues to consider the financial implications

of the bill. Mr Speaker, the business lead ore of

the House has ask -- Leader of the House has been asked twice for a

debate of the Post Office. The Government cannot wash its hands of

the matter. You told of sub Post Offices. In Dundee the general Post

Office has been there a century. It is set to close. Arguing for a

sub-post office is not good enough. Furthermore about pensioners. Many

do not go on line to do on-line banking or check Pension Credit. Can

I ask we have an urgent debate on the important matter of closing

these offices I think the key concern of pensioners and others in

his constituency in Dundee will sure I will be whether they continue to

have access to the Post Office services which they need, whether

those are provided via a crown Post Office or through a franchised

sub-post office is a separate issue. It is the quality and accessibility

of the service which must come first.

Can we have a debate in government time on the future and current

performance of UK border aforesaid airports? According to the tourism

and industry council if the 23 million EU visitors who visit the UK

are subject to four border checks of enquirer staffing to move to 300%.

What other government's plans? I would signal 23rd of January and

questions to the Home Secretary when he at that point to her. The plight

of religious minorities who are subject to such terrible conditions

from Daesh including secretary -- sexual slavery should be a priority

for all of us in this house, Canellas the government for

clarification on how we intend to support these people at the time of

terrible need? We are providing an enormous amount of support, ?2.5

billion almost to ease the humanitarian crisis in Syria and

neighbouring countries. That is helping people, including refugees

in the region. We are also giving as much priority as we can in our

resettlement schemes for people who have been victims at risk of sexual

abuse to women and children who are particularly vulnerable. Clearly we

are actively looking always for other ways we can help these people.

My honourable friend is sitting and would have further points my

honourable friend has made. There can't be much that cheapens the

honour system more than dishing out gongs to people who have been found

by a UN committee to have breached human rights, including those of

disabled people. Not a despotic regime but two senior civil servants

in the Department for Work and Pensions. So with that in mind will

he facilitate a debate on how we can reform the honour system? No, and

the government has already made clear that we regard the report from

that particular UN committee as a grotesque representation of the

state of affairs in the United Kingdom. The report for one thing

took no account of the very successful record we had in getting

a record number of disabled people into work, and the programmes of

support for disabled people who are in work. Points of order will come

later. We now come to the select committee statement. The chair of

the women inequalities select committee, the right honourable

member for Basingstoke, will speak for up to ten minutes, during which

no interventions may be taken. At the conclusion of her statement I

will call