:00:00. > :00:00.shall now redouble our efforts in the coming years to improve further
:00:00. > :00:08.upon it. In order, business question, Valerie
:00:09. > :00:12.vows. Thank you Mr speaker. World Leader
:00:13. > :00:18.of the House please give us the forthcoming business?
:00:19. > :00:24.Did business for next week will be as follows. Monday the 23rd of
:00:25. > :00:27.January, second reading of the local government Finance Bill.
:00:28. > :00:32.consideration of Lords amendments to consideration of Lords amendments to
:00:33. > :00:39.the Wales Bill. Followed by a motion relating to the charter of budget
:00:40. > :00:46.responsibility, and Wednesday the 25th of an opposition day, there
:00:47. > :00:53.will be a debate on prisons, followed by debate entitled the
:00:54. > :00:58.detrimental effect on disabled people from government plans on
:00:59. > :01:05.employment and universal credits. Thursday the 26th of January,
:01:06. > :01:08.debates determined by the backbench business committee, the first one on
:01:09. > :01:14.a motion relating to the statutory pubs code, and the pubs code
:01:15. > :01:24.adjudicator. Followed by a debate on a motion relating to access to
:01:25. > :01:26.breast cancer drugs. The provisional business for the
:01:27. > :01:32.week commencing the 30th of January will include Monday the 30th of
:01:33. > :01:38.January, second reading of the pension schemes Bill. Tuesday the
:01:39. > :01:41.31st of January, second reading of the bus services Bill Lords,
:01:42. > :01:46.Wednesday the first of debris, opposition day, 20th allotted day,
:01:47. > :01:50.debate on an opposition motion subject to be announced. The second
:01:51. > :01:56.fabric, business to be put forward by the backbench committee. I would
:01:57. > :01:59.also like to inform the House the business in Westminster Hall for the
:02:00. > :02:06.remainder of January will be: Monday the 23rd of January, a debate on an
:02:07. > :02:11.EU petition relating to the banning of non-recyclable and
:02:12. > :02:14.non-compostable packaging. Thursday 26th of January, General debate on
:02:15. > :02:20.protecting civil society space across the world. Monday the 30th of
:02:21. > :02:28.January, debate on an EU petition relating to pay restraint for a
:02:29. > :02:32.agenda for change NHS staff. Thank you Mr Speaker. Can I thank
:02:33. > :02:35.the Leader of the House for his statement and we still don't appear
:02:36. > :02:39.to have a date for the summer recess. Could I ask him if he could
:02:40. > :02:44.think about it very carefully and perhaps come back next week. And
:02:45. > :02:49.also a date for parochial of Parliament and the State Opening of
:02:50. > :02:54.Parliament. Mr Speaker, can I wish you were very happy birthday. I am
:02:55. > :03:04.afraid the House can't sing to you. As a tennis fan, as a tennis fan I
:03:05. > :03:12.don't know if your presents included new balls... But we all know how
:03:13. > :03:21.well you handle a racket both inside and outside the chamber. And also an
:03:22. > :03:25.inspired choice for Speaker's chaplain. Great pastoral support for
:03:26. > :03:29.MPs. At the Leader of the House will join us in a doubles match for
:03:30. > :03:35.Charity! Mr Speaker, sadly this house is
:03:36. > :03:40.losing MPs and we have lost a former Prime Minister. I want to know how
:03:41. > :03:44.many members made an incredible contribution you can do things for
:03:45. > :03:48.the backbench. The member for Dewsbury amended the Finance Bill.
:03:49. > :03:54.The member for Cheltenham increased a ten minute rule Bill on stalking
:03:55. > :03:58.and the Government has extended the sentenced to ten years. The on the
:03:59. > :04:01.member for North Ayrshire, I don't know if she is in her place, when
:04:02. > :04:05.speaking on her own experiences on the loss of her baby reminded us
:04:06. > :04:11.that in England we should allow coroners to investigate stillbirths,
:04:12. > :04:14.so care can be addressed. There are many other honourable members across
:04:15. > :04:19.the House that do great work. That is why many of us cannot understand
:04:20. > :04:24.why the Prime Minister, on a major policy announcement that affects the
:04:25. > :04:29.whole country, refused to come and tell the House and its elected
:04:30. > :04:33.representatives about those 12 points of principle, which should
:04:34. > :04:37.have been 12 paragraphs in a white paper, as they are government policy
:04:38. > :04:41.initiatives. As the honourable member for New Forest West said last
:04:42. > :04:45.week, my pleasure is magnified when I addressed the chair and you, sir,
:04:46. > :04:50.are occupying it. I wish he would tell that to the Prime Minister. Mr
:04:51. > :04:54.Speaker, these 12 clauses in the white paper should have been set out
:04:55. > :04:56.last September, and that would have ended the speculation and
:04:57. > :05:00.uncertainty that has engulfed us that the last six months. I can see
:05:01. > :05:04.why the Prime Minister didn't want to come to be questioned about it
:05:05. > :05:08.because we still need clarity on a number of issues. Principal four,
:05:09. > :05:11.maintaining the Common travel area with Ireland is welcome. The Prime
:05:12. > :05:14.Minister said the joint administration will be consulted,
:05:15. > :05:26.but given their Iraqi elections in Northern Ireland, could the Leader
:05:27. > :05:27.of the House confirm who will be sitting on the joint ministerial
:05:28. > :05:29.committee? -- given there will be committee? -- given there will be
:05:30. > :05:30.elections. Gibraltar voted 96% to remain. What consultation does the
:05:31. > :05:32.Government intend to have with Government intend to have with
:05:33. > :05:36.Gibraltar? And Spain have already threatened to plant their flag in
:05:37. > :05:39.Gibraltar. The Prime Minister talks of a global Britain yet principle
:05:40. > :05:43.five sets out the Government's proposals to keep the world out. The
:05:44. > :05:46.Prime Minister said because we are no longer members of the single
:05:47. > :05:50.market we will not be required to contribute huge sums to the EU
:05:51. > :05:56.budget. Printable ten, she wants the UK to continue to be the best place
:05:57. > :06:00.for science and innovation, forgetting the UK received 8.8
:06:01. > :06:04.billion euros, the fourth largest share in the EU for research and
:06:05. > :06:09.develop men. The private sector were perceived ?1.4 billion in 2013 for
:06:10. > :06:13.research and development. That is just one sector. We get but we give
:06:14. > :06:19.something back. As we wait the judgment from the Supreme Court, on
:06:20. > :06:22.a point of law, on the 24th of January, next Tuesday, let's remind
:06:23. > :06:30.the people that judges are on the people side, upholding the rule of
:06:31. > :06:32.law. Can the Leader of the House confirm whether whatever the Bill
:06:33. > :06:39.that comes out after the judgment, it won't be a cynical, one line
:06:40. > :06:42.Bill, as suggested by government? The Prime Minister wants to do this
:06:43. > :06:48.pariah children and grandchildren but our children between the age of
:06:49. > :06:50.18-24 voted overwhelmingly, 75%, to remain in the EU. They already feel
:06:51. > :06:59.let down. As we remember Martin Luther King
:07:00. > :07:06.day this week and Holocaust Memorial Day next week, let us remember the
:07:07. > :07:09.words of Martin Luther King, and a Holocaust survivor who died last
:07:10. > :07:14.year, let us remember that the European Union was formed for
:07:15. > :07:21.nations to come together in peace, not hatred. We must remember that we
:07:22. > :07:27.are interdependent on each other, we do not live in isolation, whether as
:07:28. > :07:32.individual countries, nations. We want economic and social justice
:07:33. > :07:42.here and in Europe in the months and years ahead. Let those speeds are
:07:43. > :07:47.guiding principles. Mr Speaker, in terms of the dates of summer recess
:07:48. > :07:51.and prorogation, while I would hope to oblige the House as soon as I am
:07:52. > :07:54.able to do so, I think the honourable lady and others will
:07:55. > :07:58.understand there are uncertainties about how long it is going to take
:07:59. > :08:05.to transact business before the House in the weeks to come, so I'm
:08:06. > :08:11.not able to give firm dates as yet. She made a of criticisms about the
:08:12. > :08:19.government's handling of the forthcoming EU negotiations. I have
:08:20. > :08:24.to say the Secretary of State gave an oral statement and answered
:08:25. > :08:37.questions from about two hours, and I rather detected in her strictures
:08:38. > :08:46.on the Prime Minister is, a sense of frustration that I sensed her
:08:47. > :08:48.frustration. On the question of Northern Ireland, the ministers who
:08:49. > :08:55.have not resigned from the executive in the way that Mr Martin McGuinness
:08:56. > :09:02.has stepped down as First Minister, remain as Acting ministers until the
:09:03. > :09:07.new executive can be appointed, so the government is able to talk to
:09:08. > :09:13.them and officials from the Northern Ireland Executive continue to attend
:09:14. > :09:19.meetings. In the days when I used to chair committees on Europe, I can
:09:20. > :09:27.remember a previous occasion after last Stormont elections when it took
:09:28. > :09:31.awhile for the next executive to be formed, and they attended joint
:09:32. > :09:35.meetings to ensure Northern Ireland was represented. On Gibraltar, in
:09:36. > :09:41.line with the undertaking that the Prime Minister gave following the
:09:42. > :09:43.referendum, ministers and officials are in regular contact with the
:09:44. > :09:51.government of Gibraltar from the Chief Minister Darren. More broadly,
:09:52. > :09:57.on the question of European Union and the honourable lady's concluding
:09:58. > :10:05.words, I think the Prime Minister made it very clear during her speech
:10:06. > :10:11.that the last thing that she and the government was seeking was a
:10:12. > :10:16.weakening or dismantling of the European Union, the Prime Minister
:10:17. > :10:20.said she wanted the European Union to succeed. And my right honourable
:10:21. > :10:28.friend and the entire government are very aware of the fact that for much
:10:29. > :10:32.of Europe, the mid-20th century was an utterly scarring experience. And
:10:33. > :10:38.that many governments, many people in those countries, still look to
:10:39. > :10:46.European institutions as a safeguard against anything like that happening
:10:47. > :10:51.again. And we respect that view, that outlook, which terms from --
:10:52. > :10:56.stems from their historical experience in the last century. And
:10:57. > :11:01.so we will go forward respecting and determined to implement the
:11:02. > :11:06.democratic verdict of the British people last June, but also in a way
:11:07. > :11:10.where we will be seeking to achieve a future relationship with our
:11:11. > :11:14.closest neighbours, which is based on mutual trust, friendship and
:11:15. > :11:22.continued alliance and cooperation on a whole range of policy measures.
:11:23. > :11:26.Finally, I would join the honourable lady in wishing all the best to you
:11:27. > :11:33.and also the Speaker's Chapman on your birthdays today, and I would be
:11:34. > :11:38.happy to accept the honourable lady's challenge, but I have to say,
:11:39. > :11:48.knowing your prowess on the tennis court, I would regard the outcome is
:11:49. > :11:54.something of a foregone conclusion! It is a bit rich coming from the
:11:55. > :11:59.shadow Leader of the Commons complaining about parliamentary
:12:00. > :12:02.scrutiny matters announced in the media, when I lived through the Tony
:12:03. > :12:09.Blair and Gordon Brown years, when they never turned up to answer
:12:10. > :12:14.anything! Yesterday, though the opposition claim they want to
:12:15. > :12:18.discuss Europe, the debate on Europe finished early. There were not
:12:19. > :12:28.enough speakers from them! So will be excellent Minister continue to
:12:29. > :12:31.schedule general debate, but to those be seen debates, and each of
:12:32. > :12:36.the 12 points the Prime Minister mentioned, be one of the debates, so
:12:37. > :12:45.they can have as much time as they like to discuss it? Finally, I want
:12:46. > :12:48.to put to rest a live. The leader of the Liberal Democrats claimed I
:12:49. > :12:56.might have written to reason may's speech. I am afraid I had nothing to
:12:57. > :13:03.do with it, it was her own work. Mr Speaker, I do not know of that last
:13:04. > :13:11.comment was a bid to join ministerial speech writing teams in
:13:12. > :13:13.the future. On the point about debates, there will be ample
:13:14. > :13:17.opportunities for the House to continue to debate all aspects of
:13:18. > :13:31.the forthcoming negotiation on the European Union. Thank you. Can I
:13:32. > :13:39.also wish you a happy birthday. Lang may your lum reek. This has been a
:13:40. > :13:43.bad week for Parliament. The Leader of the House should be ashamed. The
:13:44. > :13:47.Prime Minister made about the most important statement about the future
:13:48. > :13:50.of this country not here where elected members are, but in an
:13:51. > :13:55.assembly full of press and diplomats. We know now it is almost
:13:56. > :14:03.certain that a bill will be required in order to trigger Article 50, so
:14:04. > :14:08.will he ensure this is subject to scrutiny, and thoroughly debated in
:14:09. > :14:12.this House? Can we have a debate about to win friends and influence
:14:13. > :14:17.people? The Fallen secretary is touring Europe like a dodgy
:14:18. > :14:20.character doing his utmost to upset the very people that global Britain
:14:21. > :14:24.needs to negotiate with to get a good deal about Brexiting the
:14:25. > :14:33.European Union. We now know that this government's predominant
:14:34. > :14:46.obsession, everything that underpins Brexit is immigration and freedom of
:14:47. > :14:50.movement. Can the Leader of the House do what the Prime Minister
:14:51. > :14:53.failed to do yesterday, and that is to confirm that English votes for
:14:54. > :14:59.English laws procedure will not be applied to the great repeal bill?
:15:00. > :15:03.This will cross across many devolved areas, it will be very complicated,
:15:04. > :15:06.and there will be so many jurisdictions involved. So will he
:15:07. > :15:12.do what the Prime Minister said Andrew outback today? We lost about
:15:13. > :15:18.half of our opposition day on Tuesday, and it was necessary to
:15:19. > :15:22.have the opportunity to question ministers about an important
:15:23. > :15:31.statement. Will he pledged to give us that half day back in the future?
:15:32. > :15:38.I cannot promise him to give the SNP that additional day, and I recognise
:15:39. > :15:43.the pressure that there was on the limited time because of what he
:15:44. > :15:48.himself acknowledge where two important statements. I will reflect
:15:49. > :15:51.on that request but he will understand that there are other
:15:52. > :15:56.pressures on the parliamentary timetable as well. He asked two
:15:57. > :16:03.particular points about European Union legislation, and on the first
:16:04. > :16:07.point, clearly, until the Supreme Court has ruled, we do not know
:16:08. > :16:15.whether any bill will be required or not. But any bill, if it is to
:16:16. > :16:19.become law, has two goals to the full parliamentary process in this
:16:20. > :16:25.chamber and in the other place. That is the only route available to
:16:26. > :16:31.change primary law in this country. So I hope that gives him some
:16:32. > :16:37.reassurance. The extent to which amendments are in order, that
:16:38. > :16:43.clearly depends upon the rules of the House and the interpretation of
:16:44. > :16:48.the chair. On his question about the English votes for English laws
:16:49. > :16:57.arrangements, it might be helpful if I remind the House for any matter to
:16:58. > :17:03.be subject to the Evel arrangement, it must be subject to tests, it must
:17:04. > :17:10.revert to a matter which is devolved in Scotland, the legislation here
:17:11. > :17:21.must refer only to England or to England and will, and there must be
:17:22. > :17:25.a certification from Mr Speaker that the clause or the bill or the
:17:26. > :17:37.statutory instrument meets those tests. We have not yet published or
:17:38. > :17:44.determined the final shape of the bill that will give effect to our
:17:45. > :17:49.excerpt from the EU, the repeal Bill, but those tests would continue
:17:50. > :17:56.to be the ones that would have to be met in any case. And I think it is
:17:57. > :18:04.very clear to me that if, for example, we look at a measure that
:18:05. > :18:09.is repealing the communities act 1972, clearly that has UK wide
:18:10. > :18:15.implications, and not just applying to one part of the United Kingdom.
:18:16. > :18:23.Can I also wish you a very happy birthday. Yesterday the youth
:18:24. > :18:29.employment APPG heard from a number of youth employment ambassadors, and
:18:30. > :18:33.these young people with inspirational but their achievements
:18:34. > :18:37.were not going to the careers advice they achieved, but self belief and
:18:38. > :18:41.determination. Can we have a debate about how careers advice can be
:18:42. > :18:47.improved as currently there are examples of where we are potentially
:18:48. > :18:56.letting people down. That sounds to me like an important issue which
:18:57. > :19:00.might be in any area of the backbench committee debate. This is
:19:01. > :19:03.also something to which my right honourable friend the Secretary of
:19:04. > :19:16.State for education is getting very close attention. Many happy returns.
:19:17. > :19:23.Can I thank the Leader of the House for notifying us of the business on
:19:24. > :19:29.the backbench business. Provisionally we have tabled a
:19:30. > :19:34.six-hour debate on the Armed Forces covenant for the 2nd of February.
:19:35. > :19:39.This Monday, the House adjourned at 7:40pm, which frankly was rather
:19:40. > :19:44.predictable, given the business on the day, and I wonder if this leader
:19:45. > :19:49.could yet again consider working with us to consider backbench
:19:50. > :19:52.debates which would take second place should government business run
:19:53. > :19:57.its full course on such days in future. I am also asking the Leader
:19:58. > :20:01.of the House to resolve thorny problem. We have had an application
:20:02. > :20:09.for the debate on International women's Day, which is the 8th of
:20:10. > :20:12.March, which is also scheduled for the spring statement. I wonder if we
:20:13. > :20:15.can work with the Leader of the House to get a debate on
:20:16. > :20:25.International women's Day is close to the 8th of March, probably before
:20:26. > :20:29.hand, if possible? I will do my best to meet the honourable gentleman's
:20:30. > :20:32.request on the last point. I take seriously and I will see whether we
:20:33. > :20:42.can do anything more to accommodate the problem he identified regarding
:20:43. > :20:47.last Monday. Difficulty for business managers is that you cannot tell by
:20:48. > :20:51.the day -- until the day whether there will be questions that will
:20:52. > :20:56.take up time, or how many members on each side will participate and for
:20:57. > :21:01.how long they which bid wish to speak. I can remember previous
:21:02. > :21:06.occasions in the House, when it was backbench business that came under
:21:07. > :21:10.enormous pressure, resulting in a debate that had to be abandoned or
:21:11. > :21:16.drastically curtailed, which was understandably immense frustration
:21:17. > :21:19.to the backbenchers who had altered their arrangements so they were in
:21:20. > :21:21.their places to participate in the debate. It is trying to strike a
:21:22. > :21:30.balance. Would he find time for a debate on
:21:31. > :21:34.national schools funding formula, because of the proposals go ahead,
:21:35. > :21:39.every single school in South Bend will be worse off, and we will rank
:21:40. > :21:50.84th out of the 533 constituencies in England, worst affected? I
:21:51. > :21:55.understand his concern, and a new he is always a formidable active
:21:56. > :22:00.champion of his constituents' interests. What I advise him is the
:22:01. > :22:06.consultation, run by the Department for Education, is live now. It
:22:07. > :22:12.doesn't end until the 22nd of March. What I would urge to do is to make
:22:13. > :22:15.sure that he, on behalf of his constituents and perhaps
:22:16. > :22:22.constituents individually, makes strong representations to that
:22:23. > :22:27.consultation. I am always willing to offer breathtaking saturation is to
:22:28. > :22:35.young people, be it yourself or your chaplain. Can I ask a Leader of the
:22:36. > :22:39.House This question? Why is this constant delay and evasion in the
:22:40. > :22:44.government bringing a motion before the House on the renewal of the
:22:45. > :22:50.Parliamentary building? I know about the debate in Westminster All next
:22:51. > :22:54.Wednesday, but why is there this delay? Isn't it essential that a
:22:55. > :22:58.decision is reached, so that ever general election is going to take
:22:59. > :23:05.place in 2020, those elected will now they would be sitting in this
:23:06. > :23:09.building, for the work will be carried out without members of staff
:23:10. > :23:13.being present, and hopefully will be completed much shorter than if
:23:14. > :23:16.evacuation doesn't take place. When are we going to have a government
:23:17. > :23:24.recommendation on this very important issue? He will be in his
:23:25. > :23:28.place in his birthday, which if memory serves me correctly, is the
:23:29. > :23:33.26th of June. We look forward to that and to the honourable gentleman
:23:34. > :23:41.undertakings interrogation on that day. I understand his urgency to get
:23:42. > :23:45.on with this. It's a feeling I share. Its possible additional
:23:46. > :23:51.legislation will be needed after a court ruling next week. But there is
:23:52. > :23:59.pressure on government time. I hope we can come forward with a clear
:24:00. > :24:03.date as soon as possible. In addition to your birthday today,
:24:04. > :24:08.maybe slightly less illustrious, last week saw the 70th anniversary
:24:09. > :24:17.of Crawley being declared a new town. I appreciate it is obviously
:24:18. > :24:21.for her Majesty to convert city status, but would the Leader of the
:24:22. > :24:27.House speak with the Communities Secretary to see what process that
:24:28. > :24:33.Crawley may be able to start to initiate, to explore that
:24:34. > :24:37.possibility? I am happy to pass that request on to the Communities
:24:38. > :24:41.Secretary, and I think the whole House will wish the people and civic
:24:42. > :24:48.leaders of Crawley congratulations on this achievement, and their work
:24:49. > :24:52.over the decades in building a thriving and successful community.
:24:53. > :24:55.I'm sure he will agree that community pharmacies are very
:24:56. > :25:00.important part of taking the pressures of overstretched casualty
:25:01. > :25:03.Matt at the moment. Despite cuts to their funding just last month. The
:25:04. > :25:09.government had introduced a pharmacy access scheme, to help deal with
:25:10. > :25:14.some of the cuts and communities. I was really surprised to see, that in
:25:15. > :25:18.the Prime Minister's constituency, 37% of our pharmacies will be able
:25:19. > :25:24.to apply for that additional funding. In the three constituencies
:25:25. > :25:28.in my city, only 1% of pharmacies can apply. The debate about Wyatt is
:25:29. > :25:34.that the most disadvantaged communities still suffer the biggest
:25:35. > :25:42.cuts this government? I am happy on the particular points you raise, I
:25:43. > :25:49.clearly don't know the detail of the situation in Hull to ask the
:25:50. > :25:55.relative health minister. I will ask them to write to you about this. The
:25:56. > :25:59.principle is that there are now 15% more pharmacies in existence than
:26:00. > :26:04.there were just a decade ago. Two fifths of pharmacies are within ten
:26:05. > :26:09.minutes of two or more other pharmacies. The average pharmacy
:26:10. > :26:16.receives roughly 220,000 a year in NHS funding. Even after changes, the
:26:17. > :26:21.community pharmacies budget is going to be 20% more than it was a decade
:26:22. > :26:26.ago. So I think the government is demonstrating it remains committed
:26:27. > :26:32.to community pharmacies. For disabled people, achieving a job can
:26:33. > :26:38.be a life changing experience. Last Friday, I was privileged to promote
:26:39. > :26:43.a disability event in Cleethorpes to encourage local employers to take on
:26:44. > :26:47.more disabled people. Could the leaders of the house join me in
:26:48. > :26:50.congratulating Lorraine Alexander and her team from Grimsby job
:26:51. > :26:55.centre, who did a great deal of work to stage the event, and also all the
:26:56. > :27:00.voluntary and charitable groups? And could we find time to debate the
:27:01. > :27:08.role and opportunities for disabled people in the workplace? I am very
:27:09. > :27:13.happy to congratulate his constituents on this successful
:27:14. > :27:17.event. I think it's been a really important step forward that we've
:27:18. > :27:23.now got a record number of people with disabilities in work. I am the
:27:24. > :27:26.first to acknowledge there is more that still needs to be done, but I
:27:27. > :27:31.am heartened by the fact we are making progress, and that the risk
:27:32. > :27:35.that kind of local and using a sum that he has described, which is
:27:36. > :27:39.helping to highlight the opportunities for people with
:27:40. > :27:44.disabilities. In contrast to just about every one of his predecessors
:27:45. > :27:49.for the last 30 years, the leader shows no inclination to defend the
:27:50. > :27:53.wider interests of the House, as to really progress on government
:27:54. > :27:58.business. While his disgraceful treatment of the Parliamentary
:27:59. > :28:02.Boundaries Bill is an example of that. What representations does he
:28:03. > :28:08.make when a parliamentary select committee recommended the White
:28:09. > :28:11.Paper before the implication of Article 50? What representations to
:28:12. > :28:15.team-mate to secure that in the wider interests of the House, as
:28:16. > :28:24.opposed to a prime ministerial statement, not even me there? Will
:28:25. > :28:29.he indicate to the House, across the House, that he will see his job as
:28:30. > :28:35.executing effective parliamentary scrutiny of a major constitutional
:28:36. > :28:40.decision, however long it might take? I am absolutely committed to
:28:41. > :28:45.their being full parliamentary scrutiny. Indeed, I have the delight
:28:46. > :28:50.of appealing for the first time in my current responsibilities before
:28:51. > :28:53.the European scrutiny committee yesterday in order to give evidence
:28:54. > :29:04.to them on one aspect of that subject. I think that he makes
:29:05. > :29:07.incorrect assumptions about the role of the Leader of the House in
:29:08. > :29:13.relation to individual select committee reports. It is for select
:29:14. > :29:17.committees individually to come to make their recommendations to
:29:18. > :29:22.government. It is then primarily for the department to which those
:29:23. > :29:27.recommendations are addressed to recommend to government colleagues
:29:28. > :29:33.what that response should be. Then there is a collectively approved
:29:34. > :29:36.government response to that select committee report. If the right
:29:37. > :29:42.Honourable gentleman believes that any government of any political
:29:43. > :29:46.colour is likely to agree with absolutely every recommendation of
:29:47. > :29:49.every select committee, then I do think he has read many select
:29:50. > :29:55.committee reports responses from governments to them over the years.
:29:56. > :30:04.It is a perfectly fair, transparent way that we operate. With the
:30:05. > :30:10.decision of the backbench business committee not to schedule a debate
:30:11. > :30:16.on settlements and the destruction yesterday, is the other possibility
:30:17. > :30:21.of a government statement on what seems to be a shift in government
:30:22. > :30:25.policy over recent days as because he up to the incoming American
:30:26. > :30:33.administration in granting complete impunity to Israel? The government
:30:34. > :30:40.policy on Israel and Palestine has not changed. We remain committed to
:30:41. > :30:46.a two state solution, involving you soften viable Palestinian state
:30:47. > :30:51.living alongside Israel, with mutually agreed land swaps where
:30:52. > :30:56.appropriate and with Jerusalem as a shared capital of both states. Our
:30:57. > :31:02.view on the settlements remains that they are illegal in international
:31:03. > :31:09.law and it is that which is at the heart of the United Kingdom's
:31:10. > :31:13.policy. Thank you to the honourable member for putting me right earlier.
:31:14. > :31:19.I should have realised that the honourable member would never write
:31:20. > :31:24.such an extreme speeches that. I wonder if I could ask the Leader of
:31:25. > :31:29.the House, on the matter of flood hit communities, not least mine in
:31:30. > :31:33.Cumbria after the devastating floods in December 20 15th, if there will
:31:34. > :31:36.be debate for financial support for those communities, in particular in
:31:37. > :31:41.the light of the government decision in recent days to spend the entire
:31:42. > :31:45.amount of the ?15 million we have now got, in respect of the December
:31:46. > :31:50.flooding is from the European Solidarity Fund, to spend the whole
:31:51. > :31:57.money, not giving support to the communities it was for, but to pay
:31:58. > :32:02.the historic fine incurred in 2007 by a previous government. Whoever's
:32:03. > :32:05.fault it was that the fine was incurred, for certain, it was not
:32:06. > :32:10.the fault of communities such as mining Cumbria, and will he commit
:32:11. > :32:13.at all of that money should come to those communities, or at the least
:32:14. > :32:23.whether to be a debate on that matter? I think the best way forward
:32:24. > :32:28.on this issue as it affects his constituency. In fairness, Defra
:32:29. > :32:32.ministers have tried to make sure the money has been made available
:32:33. > :32:37.more rapidly than has sometimes been the case in the past when
:32:38. > :32:43.communities have been badly hit by floods. I will look into that
:32:44. > :32:47.particular point about the European Solidarity Fund money that he has
:32:48. > :32:57.raised, since I'm not sited on that, and one of the Defra ministers will
:32:58. > :33:03.write to him on that. We have a football stadium that is still fully
:33:04. > :33:06.usable, but demolition notices have been issued. Would you join me in
:33:07. > :33:11.urging the owners to sit down with the local authority and the local
:33:12. > :33:16.football club and community, to have one last look at whether a solution
:33:17. > :33:21.can be found that retains all or parts of the stadium? Once it is
:33:22. > :33:26.gone, it is gone. Can we have a statement on this next week? This
:33:27. > :33:35.strikes me as a natural adjournment debate opportunity, but I very much
:33:36. > :33:39.hope that organisations in Corby are able to come together and find a way
:33:40. > :33:43.to maintain what is clearly a much loved community sports facility.
:33:44. > :33:47.Notwithstanding that many of us were disappointed with the result of the
:33:48. > :33:52.referendum, we recognise that the people have spoken. Nevertheless,
:33:53. > :34:00.it's not just whether government to decide the detail of that. It's very
:34:01. > :34:03.important this house gets a say. The Leader of the House has indicated
:34:04. > :34:08.there will be ample opportunity for debate, but can he be specific about
:34:09. > :34:12.how many days this House will get to debate and influence government
:34:13. > :34:15.thinking on how we progress these negotiations, so our constituencies
:34:16. > :34:25.and businesses are concerned, that they have their concerns aired in
:34:26. > :34:29.this House? There has, as she knows, been a number of debates already on
:34:30. > :34:33.aspects of our leading European union, and I fully expect there will
:34:34. > :34:39.be that such debates related to additional specific topics in the
:34:40. > :34:45.months to come. What ever happens doesn't happen next week, we will
:34:46. > :34:50.have a bill in the new parliamentary session to repeal the European
:34:51. > :34:56.communities act 1972, that will provide plenty of opportunities as
:34:57. > :35:00.well. There were also, at my last kind, more than 30 different select
:35:01. > :35:04.committee enquiries into different aspects of our leaving the European
:35:05. > :35:08.Union, being conducted by committees either in this place or the House of
:35:09. > :35:11.Lords. Mechanisms do exist are bringing those select committee
:35:12. > :35:19.reports to the House for debate as well. This week of all weeks, it is
:35:20. > :35:22.absolutely right that we see in this House of Commons that we want to
:35:23. > :35:26.proceed with the building of a Holocaust Memorial Museum. But as
:35:27. > :35:31.the Leader of the House is responsible, at least in part, for
:35:32. > :35:33.the environment of the Palace of Westminster, will he accept there
:35:34. > :35:38.may be merit in debating the siting of the new museum. There is a view
:35:39. > :35:45.among many people that the best place for this museum to be would be
:35:46. > :35:50.in or outside the Imperial War Museum, so that the many visitors to
:35:51. > :35:56.that museum can see the link between the Holocaust and war and teachers,
:35:57. > :36:01.rather than siting it in Victoria Tower Gardens, which is one of the
:36:02. > :36:05.last green spaces here, visited by many thousands of people a year. As
:36:06. > :36:09.this museum will be two stories underground, there may be a flood
:36:10. > :36:12.risk. There is a need for debate on the location.
:36:13. > :36:19.This may be a subject on which my honourable friend wants to seek a
:36:20. > :36:24.Westminster Hall debate. The previous Prime Minister gave a
:36:25. > :36:26.commitment to the site, something reactivated by the current Prime
:36:27. > :36:35.Minister. Ultimately the planning matters to which he alluded are
:36:36. > :36:38.going to be the responsibility of Westminster City Council to
:36:39. > :36:45.determine. Congratulations, as you approach the prime of life and the
:36:46. > :36:51.halfway point of your speakership. You may be surprised to know that
:36:52. > :37:02.all but two up your 54 years, the Severn Bridge users have been used
:37:03. > :37:05.as a cash cow, suffering double taxation of paying for the National
:37:06. > :37:24.road system and the local tolls. Can this rip-off now be ended as the
:37:25. > :37:26.bridge comes into public control? Mr Speaker, I sometimes heard Welsh
:37:27. > :37:29.people say that you have to pay to come to Wales because it is a
:37:30. > :37:32.privilege to come here, whereas everyone wants to get out to England
:37:33. > :37:49.in a hurry! Steady on excavation mark no, they
:37:50. > :38:06.say it in the nicest possible way! -- steady on!
:38:07. > :38:20.Mr Speaker, the point I did not make clearly enough is that if you try to
:38:21. > :38:24.charge people to get back into England, they would stay in Wales
:38:25. > :38:29.and never leave. To take the point the honourable
:38:30. > :38:37.gentleman made, I will take that up with transport ministers. Clearly
:38:38. > :38:45.the tolls help to pay for the cost of the crossings, and that is
:38:46. > :38:50.important, but I will get the Transport Minister to write to him.
:38:51. > :38:57.Could he give consideration to the time allocated to questions in
:38:58. > :39:02.DEFRA, the environment committee and the European Union. Having 30
:39:03. > :39:09.minutes for oral questions and ten for topical, particularly with the
:39:10. > :39:14.relevance of these departments, I am asking to get more time allocated to
:39:15. > :39:19.them. I am happy to discuss that proposal through the usual channels
:39:20. > :39:27.because these matters are agreed by consensus, if possible. I have two
:39:28. > :39:32.also say that if we add time to these departments, it means one of
:39:33. > :39:37.two things has to happen, either we take time off other departments or
:39:38. > :39:44.we extend the cycle of departmental question times to six weeks, rather
:39:45. > :39:53.than five, which leads a longer gap before members can question the
:39:54. > :39:58.Secretary of State. This week saw the release of the extremely damning
:39:59. > :40:05.National -- National Audit Office reports into the centric scandal,
:40:06. > :40:11.which showed neglect at the heart of all agencies in this. The vast
:40:12. > :40:14.majority of victims of the scandal have not received compensation. I
:40:15. > :40:17.have written to the Prime Minister to urgently intervene in this matter
:40:18. > :40:21.and hope that the Leader of the House will support me in this. But
:40:22. > :40:25.we really must have a debate in the House around this gamble because
:40:26. > :40:28.people receiving money back which they should have had in the first
:40:29. > :40:32.place are receiving it in instalments rather than one lump
:40:33. > :40:36.sum, affecting their ability to claim other benefits to which they
:40:37. > :40:41.are entitled. We would like the opportunity to tell ministers across
:40:42. > :40:44.the House how much constituents are being affected so justice can be
:40:45. > :40:49.done, because this is embarrassing for the government which requires
:40:50. > :41:05.immediate rectification. We are clear to the response that the
:41:06. > :41:08.service provided by Concentrics was poor, and HMRC has apologised and
:41:09. > :41:20.knows that it has to learn lessons from that contract. When it became
:41:21. > :41:27.clear that their customer service could not be rectified by then, HMRC
:41:28. > :41:34.took back 100,000 incomplete cases and redeployed hundreds of its own
:41:35. > :41:39.staff to deal with this. They then also had to deal with monetary
:41:40. > :41:42.reconsideration request, of which 36,000 have been received, and
:41:43. > :41:46.allocated additional staff to this work. That means requests could be
:41:47. > :41:52.dealt with quickly and payments restored we're big claimants were
:41:53. > :42:00.entitled to them. There may be an opportunity for a Westminster Hall
:42:01. > :42:05.or backbench debate, but I think HMRC was right to give priority to
:42:06. > :42:11.the incomplete cases and deal with those first. It is now proceeding as
:42:12. > :42:17.rapidly as it can to sort out remaining monetary reconsideration
:42:18. > :42:22.requests. Could we have a debate on dementia? I am sure the Leader of
:42:23. > :42:24.the House would like to join me in congratulating the social housing
:42:25. > :42:29.provider for Bradford in my constituency for training their
:42:30. > :42:33.staff for supporting residents with dementia, and in such a debate
:42:34. > :42:36.perhaps we could encourage other organisations to do the same and
:42:37. > :42:43.find out what more the government can do to help people who suffer
:42:44. > :42:47.from dementia, estimated to be 6500 people affected in the Bradford
:42:48. > :42:53.district, and what more support can be given to their families who have
:42:54. > :42:59.a difficult job of caring for them. I hope he will have that
:43:00. > :43:04.opportunity, but I would like to add my salute to his two those groups
:43:05. > :43:12.and individuals in his constituency and many others who have been both
:43:13. > :43:18.highlighting the challenges posed by dementia, but also encouraging more
:43:19. > :43:23.people to become dementia friends, and ensure we treat people living
:43:24. > :43:27.with dementia with the respect and dignity to which they are entitled
:43:28. > :43:31.and they get the solidarity and support from their fellow citizens
:43:32. > :43:37.that they are entitled to expect. Can we have a debate on bravery? In
:43:38. > :43:45.March 1936, a young, gay conservative member of Parliament
:43:46. > :43:49.celebrated 3 million -- demilitarisation. When he visited he
:43:50. > :43:53.went to the first concentration camp, and saw such horrific violence
:43:54. > :43:59.to Jewish people and homosexuals that when he came back here he
:44:00. > :44:02.campaigned relentlessly against anti-Semitism and appeasement. He
:44:03. > :44:07.was spat at when he raised such matters in this chamber at the
:44:08. > :44:22.Carlton club last night -- that night. He was killed in the Second
:44:23. > :44:26.World War, and should -- should we not do everything we can to put an
:44:27. > :44:34.end to anti-Semitism here? I agree with every word that he said. And I
:44:35. > :44:37.think the tribute he has just paid was a most appropriate one, as we
:44:38. > :44:46.come towards the Holocaust Memorial Day. I hesitate to spoil your good
:44:47. > :44:51.humour on such a day, but you will be aware that Tottenham Hotspur are
:44:52. > :44:58.rebuilding White Hart Lane. As a result we have defined a new home.
:44:59. > :45:03.The current proposal is that Stadium will be used for them for a season,
:45:04. > :45:08.which will increase our national stadium by 60%. It is an important
:45:09. > :45:15.issue for my constituents which becomes the car park for Wembley
:45:16. > :45:19.Stadium on such event days. Worse still, Chelsea football club are
:45:20. > :45:23.intending to come to Wembley for three years hereafter. So can we
:45:24. > :45:28.have a debate on the use of our national stadium and the uses to
:45:29. > :45:31.which it has been put so we can put on record our concerns about
:45:32. > :45:38.potential abuse of our national treasure? I think he has put his
:45:39. > :45:46.constituents' concerns on the record effectively, but there might be an
:45:47. > :45:51.opportunity to voice this further. The Emirates is a very, very special
:45:52. > :45:57.place in London, if I could put that on record. It seems appropriate that
:45:58. > :46:06.we not only have an amazing exhibition of photographs on Syria
:46:07. > :46:10.by William Winter cross, a brilliant photographer, and hope people will
:46:11. > :46:16.be able to see it, but also having a debate on Holocaust Memorial Day.
:46:17. > :46:25.Could we also think about a debate on a report that came out in July
:46:26. > :46:29.2008, I believe, and it was called the Bercow report on children and
:46:30. > :46:33.young people. Because of cuts by the government, young people are in
:46:34. > :46:39.dreadful ginger. Child protection is becoming very difficult to maintain.
:46:40. > :46:43.-- in dreadful danger. Could we see what progress has been made since
:46:44. > :46:48.those recommendations? I cannot promise a debate in government time,
:46:49. > :46:58.but the backbench committee time as they are for the honourable
:46:59. > :47:03.gentleman. As it is a double birthday today, may we have a pair
:47:04. > :47:09.of statements, one on the long-term future of HMS Albion and Bull work,
:47:10. > :47:20.two of the most versatile and essential ships in the Navy, whose
:47:21. > :47:24.future is threatened by a shortfall in the budget, and another offering
:47:25. > :47:32.the same legislation protection to our veterans sue -- who served in an
:47:33. > :47:35.order in Ireland, that is currently offer two terrorists who fought
:47:36. > :47:45.against the welfare of the community that the veterans fought to defend?
:47:46. > :47:50.-- HMS Bulwark. On his second point, the Northern Ireland Secretary has
:47:51. > :47:54.already said he feels disquiet at some of the reports of proposed
:47:55. > :47:58.prosecutions, and he is working actively to try to secure an
:47:59. > :48:01.agreement in Northern Ireland to legislate on the legacy of the
:48:02. > :48:09.troubles in a way that settle this issue as well as a number of others.
:48:10. > :48:12.On his point about the two naval vessels, I will ask the relevant
:48:13. > :48:23.defence minister to contact him about the detail. The UK's last
:48:24. > :48:31.independent savings bank is to end all business activities after 182
:48:32. > :48:33.years and the loss of 70 jobs. Secured loans and mortgages will be
:48:34. > :48:40.transferred to the TSB, and customers will be helped to find
:48:41. > :48:43.alternative banking providers. Unite, the trade union, has said the
:48:44. > :48:48.Airdrie savings bank has become yet another innocent victim of casino
:48:49. > :48:59.bankers. Can we have a debate in government time to discuss the state
:49:00. > :49:02.of UK banking? While I completely understand the concern of the
:49:03. > :49:06.honourable lady and those constituents who have accounts at
:49:07. > :49:11.the bank at the loss of this historic institution, I think most
:49:12. > :49:18.important thing -- the most important thing is their savings are
:49:19. > :49:24.protected and that a banking service that is accessible to them remains
:49:25. > :49:29.in being. We have seen over the years a number of mergers of
:49:30. > :49:36.different banks and building societies, we have also seen a shift
:49:37. > :49:40.towards many more customers making use of online banking. Those are
:49:41. > :49:47.going to drive change, but it is having the service available that is
:49:48. > :49:53.the key thing we have to preserve. Can I thank my right honourable
:49:54. > :49:56.friend for providing time for the approval of the name for the
:49:57. > :50:01.candidate of the new parliamentary and health service ombudsman which
:50:02. > :50:07.was approved by the health -- health select committee yesterday. Can I
:50:08. > :50:14.also point out that this is the day, Tuesday the 24th, that the Supreme
:50:15. > :50:19.Court is delivering its judgment. Can I suggest to my right honourable
:50:20. > :50:26.friend that it would be expedient of a government to a statement
:50:27. > :50:33.immediately on the future implications for business, even if a
:50:34. > :50:41.substantive statement on the implications of such a judgment
:50:42. > :50:45.needs to be made at a later date? Clearly I and other ministers will
:50:46. > :50:48.want to come forward and brief parliament on the substance and
:50:49. > :50:53.implications of the judgment, once we know what that is. We do not yet
:50:54. > :51:02.know its content or complexity. We are unlikely to get, or at most a
:51:03. > :51:09.very brief prior knowledge of what the judgment contains.
:51:10. > :51:14.I can't make a promise about specific timing, but the principle
:51:15. > :51:22.he has at the heart of his question is one I completely endorse. Can we
:51:23. > :51:27.have a debate on the future of the Crown Post Office network? Crown
:51:28. > :51:33.Post offices break even, unlike the post office network as a whole, but
:51:34. > :51:38.the government is forcing through a programme that will put scores of
:51:39. > :51:43.post offices across the country, including one in my constituency, at
:51:44. > :51:48.risk of closure. We need a guarantee that those services will stay. Can
:51:49. > :51:53.we have a debate about it? The key point is that the services remain,
:51:54. > :51:58.whether they are carried out in a Crown Post Office or whether they
:51:59. > :52:02.are continued in a sub post office, and of course the sub post office
:52:03. > :52:06.network provides post office services to the overwhelming
:52:07. > :52:10.majority of our constituents throughout the country. So I would
:52:11. > :52:15.certainly hope that his constituents will continue to get better
:52:16. > :52:18.services. In my own constituency where the Crown Post Office closed,
:52:19. > :52:28.those services continued but at a different location. Many happy
:52:29. > :52:33.returns for today. As chair of the disability all-party Parliamentary
:52:34. > :52:38.committee, I am extremely concerned by a report that disabled people are
:52:39. > :52:41.much less likely to be able to access affordable credit and that
:52:42. > :52:46.therefore been plunged into the hands of payday loans and loan
:52:47. > :52:50.sharks. Can we have a debate on equitable access to affordable
:52:51. > :53:01.credit, so that the most vulnerable in our society are not left open to
:53:02. > :53:08.financial exploitation? I can't offer an immediate debate. I think
:53:09. > :53:13.she makes a reasonable point. I think the banking industry has a
:53:14. > :53:17.social responsibility to make sure that its services are accessible to
:53:18. > :53:22.people with disabilities, to people on low incomes and others who do
:53:23. > :53:26.quite often find in the experience that it is quite difficult for them
:53:27. > :53:33.to get access to conventional banking. That does need something of
:53:34. > :53:37.a cultural shift. Could the Leader of the House arrange for an urgent
:53:38. > :53:41.debate before the Budget on school funding? Across the country, many
:53:42. > :53:46.schools over the next two years faced a crisis in their budget.
:53:47. > :53:51.Teachers will be sacked, and spending per pupil is going to go
:53:52. > :53:56.down. Nottingham county council by 2019 will lose ?40 million. It's not
:53:57. > :54:01.good enough, schools deserve better and so do the children of this
:54:02. > :54:05.country. Of course, the government had to take some very difficult
:54:06. > :54:13.spending decisions as a result of the need to continue to reduce the
:54:14. > :54:16.inherited deficit, but I am pleased that the government has, despite
:54:17. > :54:23.that difficult fiscal environments, been able to protect the core
:54:24. > :54:29.schools budget. When you look at the money that is going to be paid to
:54:30. > :54:34.schools, coupled with rising pupil numbers that we are expecting, that
:54:35. > :54:41.should make sure that most schools, depending on whether they are
:54:42. > :54:49.gaining or losing pupils, that the overall core schools budget should
:54:50. > :54:53.be protected in cash terms. Can I declare an interest as a crofter on
:54:54. > :54:59.the Isle of Skye? On the 23rd of November last year, the farming
:55:00. > :55:04.Minister and Defra stated we would have a review of the allocations of
:55:05. > :55:09.funding before the end of the year. I put down a written statement which
:55:10. > :55:15.had a reply to yesterday, which indicated that an update will be
:55:16. > :55:18.provided shortly. Mr Speaker, this is unacceptable. Can the leader of
:55:19. > :55:23.the host make sure that the Minister makes a statement on the urgent
:55:24. > :55:26.review of the convergence funding? This is an important matter for a
:55:27. > :55:33.and farmers throughout the and Islands. Over 200 million of Euro
:55:34. > :55:36.funding was given to the government on the understanding that I could go
:55:37. > :55:44.to those in most need of it. That has not happened. He has raised
:55:45. > :55:51.exactly this point during the debate on their rural economy on Tuesday
:55:52. > :55:58.this week. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State
:55:59. > :56:02.replied to him that he -- she recognise this point and that she
:56:03. > :56:07.would keep up-to-date on progress. I think it had a very clear
:56:08. > :56:11.undertaking from the Secretary of State. Twice this week, I have
:56:12. > :56:19.raised the issue of the concerns of my constituents on cuts to council
:56:20. > :56:23.services and ministers have swatted. Can he take this opportunity to
:56:24. > :56:26.address those concerns and to demonstrate the impact these Tory
:56:27. > :56:33.cuts are having on local people, that it's been taken seriously by
:56:34. > :56:37.this government? We have confirmed a settlement for local councils that
:56:38. > :56:41.his flat in cash terms, I completely accept that. But we have also
:56:42. > :56:47.delivered what local authorities are asking for in terms of certainty
:56:48. > :56:55.over a four-year period of funding. We are planning legislation now
:56:56. > :56:59.being before Parliament very soon, that will enable local government to
:57:00. > :57:06.keep all of the business rates that it collects by the end of this
:57:07. > :57:12.Parliament. And we have provided the power of local councils to levy a
:57:13. > :57:18.social Keo precept in order to help them with the challenges they face
:57:19. > :57:23.in dealing with social care. The terms of your earlier statement mean
:57:24. > :57:28.that happy birthday isn't your wish, but obviously an observation of
:57:29. > :57:33.fact. Can I also in passing mention yesterday's 80th landmark birthday
:57:34. > :57:38.of landmark statesman John Hume, co-founder of our peace process. Can
:57:39. > :57:54.the leader tell us if he will Doctor the National Audit Office and
:57:55. > :58:00.Treasury ministers to confirm that there is an investigation about the
:58:01. > :58:04.tobacco scheme in Northern Ireland? There is also concern about the
:58:05. > :58:07.period were regulations ran out and spending continued, not covered by
:58:08. > :58:18.the Northern Ireland budget. Did the Treasury budget funded during that
:58:19. > :58:23.period? Can I first joined her in sending belated birthday wishes to
:58:24. > :58:29.John Hume? And I think we would all salute the heroic role he played in
:58:30. > :58:35.helping to start and then drive through the peace process in
:58:36. > :58:40.Northern Ireland. On his point about food renewable heat incentive
:58:41. > :58:44.scheme, the Northern Ireland scheme is fully devolved to the Northern
:58:45. > :58:49.Ireland Executive and is now the subject of an opening quietly by the
:58:50. > :58:54.Northern Ireland Public Accounts Committee and therefore, it is
:58:55. > :59:04.within their re-meet to investigate. -- we met. If the honourable
:59:05. > :59:08.gentleman has evidence that Treasury money was in some way involved in
:59:09. > :59:14.supporting the Northern Ireland scheme, and that money was
:59:15. > :59:18.misplaced, I would urge him to write with the detail of that to Treasury
:59:19. > :59:24.ministers, and I am sure they will respond. Like many members and like
:59:25. > :59:30.the Leader of the House himself, I have been quite appalled by the
:59:31. > :59:33.comments of the Foreign Secretary. The Prime Minister has three
:59:34. > :59:39.options. She can either sack him, she can gag him or she can educate
:59:40. > :59:48.him. If she decides to educate Kemp, can we be involved in that process?
:59:49. > :59:56.When I think about our relationship with France, I think about how we
:59:57. > :00:01.stood with France, with the Free French Forces and the Resistance
:00:02. > :00:06.fighters against Nazism. I think about how we in France did together
:00:07. > :00:12.against Soviet tyranny. I think about the very act of work we carry
:00:13. > :00:18.out with France today against international terrorism. And we look
:00:19. > :00:24.for a relationship after we leave the European Union that enables us
:00:25. > :00:28.to build on those historic strengths and enables us and France to
:00:29. > :00:35.continue to work as very active, complimentary partners on a whole
:00:36. > :00:43.range of issues. In yesterday's Scottish questions, I counted 13
:00:44. > :00:56.non-Scottish MPs answering. It was a humiliating exercise, could we have
:00:57. > :01:00.a debate to ask the secretaries of state for Scotland to answer to
:01:01. > :01:05.Scotland? The Secretary of State for Scotland, like every other Secretary
:01:06. > :01:11.of State, answers to the House of Commons. It has always been the case
:01:12. > :01:15.that it is open to members from any part of the United Kingdom to
:01:16. > :01:23.participating questions to any Secretary of State. It is the
:01:24. > :01:27.honourable gentleman's party who are frequently complaining about any
:01:28. > :01:32.arrangements for English votes for English laws. It strikes me as a bit
:01:33. > :01:36.bored by him to come now complaining that members from other parts of the
:01:37. > :01:41.UK want to aspirations of the Scottish Secretary. On the 16th of
:01:42. > :01:47.December, a post office in my constituency closed without warning.
:01:48. > :01:51.It is a rural village and it's not easy for residents to travel
:01:52. > :01:54.elsewhere. I understand the closure was unavoidable, but we have no real
:01:55. > :02:02.timetable for the opening. Can we have a debate on what can be done to
:02:03. > :02:06.speed up this process? I can see this may be an adjournment debate
:02:07. > :02:10.opportunity for the gentleman. The reasons for delay vary, I know from
:02:11. > :02:15.my own experience, it is sometimes not easy to get a new manager who
:02:16. > :02:19.wants to take over the franchise to operate that sub post office. I hope
:02:20. > :02:27.very much for his constituents' sake, that the Post Office is able
:02:28. > :02:33.to open as swiftly as possible. A Christian convert from Islam was
:02:34. > :02:39.accused of publishing pictures and comments on Facebook and arrested in
:02:40. > :02:45.Algeria. He was given the maximum punishment for blasphemy of five
:02:46. > :02:49.years imprisonment and a large fine. On the 8th of January a Court of
:02:50. > :02:54.Appeal upheld his conviction, sentenced him to one year in prison.
:02:55. > :02:59.Can I ask if we can have a statement on how we can encourage Algeria and
:03:00. > :03:06.other nations to repeal blasphemy laws? While I don't know the details
:03:07. > :03:11.of the particular case, it is my view and the government's view, that
:03:12. > :03:16.we should champion religious freedom everywhere in the world. We pride
:03:17. > :03:22.ourselves on being a plural society that respects people of different
:03:23. > :03:27.faiths and people of no faith. And that view of the world, those values
:03:28. > :03:33.influence our foreign policy and will continue to do so. Every
:03:34. > :03:40.weekend, Parkland volunteers make it possible for thousands of people to
:03:41. > :03:46.take part in five kilometre runs. I myself completed a run on Christmas
:03:47. > :03:55.Eve. Can we have a debate on that contribution that part run makes to
:03:56. > :03:59.our communities? I am happy to join him in paying tribute to those who
:04:00. > :04:05.organise the part run. I have completed the Aylesbury one myself.
:04:06. > :04:10.I think it's remarkable as a demonstration of how voluntary
:04:11. > :04:16.grassroots initiative is helping not just to get people more active, but
:04:17. > :04:22.to change attitudes towards activity, by making people, who been
:04:23. > :04:25.shy about getting involved in organised sports, feel that they are
:04:26. > :04:32.welcome to come along and participate. Debating with this
:04:33. > :04:36.government that has forsaken all reason Re: Brexit is proving to be a
:04:37. > :04:40.bit like administering medicine to the dead. Nonetheless, can we have a
:04:41. > :04:50.debate in government time on Scotland's place in Europe? I think
:04:51. > :04:59.that Scotland's place in Europe is going to be prosperous and secure
:05:00. > :05:03.through its continued membership of the United Kingdom, which while it
:05:04. > :05:11.leaves the European union, will be forging a new partnership on trade,
:05:12. > :05:15.on security, on cooperation against crime, that will work to the benefit
:05:16. > :05:22.of everyone in Scotland, as well as everyone else in the United Kingdom.
:05:23. > :05:26.The Leader of the House has previously told me and this Carries
:05:27. > :05:30.that the reason the boundaries Bill couldn't proceed to committee stage
:05:31. > :05:34.was because it didn't have a money belt attached. But I've just
:05:35. > :05:39.finished serving on the homelessness reduction committee, which went
:05:40. > :05:44.through without such a resolution. So why is it one rule for one bill
:05:45. > :05:45.and one rule for another? When is the boundaries Bill going to go
:05:46. > :05:58.through to committee stage? I am not in a position to announce
:05:59. > :06:05.anything further on that. Clydesdale bank's latest closures includes gift
:06:06. > :06:12.Mac in my constituency, and as well as causing difficulty for causing
:06:13. > :06:16.problems and high streets, it is difficult for people who have
:06:17. > :06:23.trouble getting about. -- Giffnock. Can we have our debate about these
:06:24. > :06:30.latest closures and the roles and responsibilities of high-street
:06:31. > :06:35.banks? I think it is right that the banks do stick to their own code,
:06:36. > :06:41.which requires particular attention to be paid when the last banking
:06:42. > :06:45.outlet in a community is scheduled for closure. But it is also the case
:06:46. > :06:52.that these are independent businesses and that they are facing
:06:53. > :06:58.a future in which many more of their customers are choosing to bank
:06:59. > :07:04.online, rather than in person at a local branch. So it is a challenge
:07:05. > :07:07.on them to get the balance right and ensure that everyone in her
:07:08. > :07:16.constituency has the access to banking services they need. Happy
:07:17. > :07:21.birthday. This government commissioned a report on electoral
:07:22. > :07:25.fraud, but what is needed is a review into the behaviour of
:07:26. > :07:30.political parties in election periods and the punishments
:07:31. > :07:34.available. The Lib Dems were fined ?20,000 for non-declaration of
:07:35. > :07:41.?200,000 of spending, which is money down the drain. But Labour was also
:07:42. > :07:45.fined and an investigation went on into its own party. The electoral
:07:46. > :07:50.committee have said a fine of ?20,000 alone -- no longer enough of
:07:51. > :08:00.a deterrent to ensure the rules are followed. Can we have a debate about
:08:01. > :08:07.this? We have an independent investigators and legal system that
:08:08. > :08:13.can look into political parties that can ensure expenses are checked, but
:08:14. > :08:17.I have to say, for members of the Scottish National Party to give
:08:18. > :08:25.lectures about good practice during election campaigning is a little bit
:08:26. > :08:30.rich, and I think there are plenty independent journalists who objected
:08:31. > :08:37.to the kind of bullying they were subjected to during the last
:08:38. > :08:41.campaign and referendum. Prior to the Christmas tree service I served
:08:42. > :08:44.in a European committee on asylum with two glaring problems. Firstly
:08:45. > :08:49.all of the deadlines involved had passed already, and eyes had already
:08:50. > :08:53.decided the motion the previous week. Can the leader tell us what
:08:54. > :09:04.steps he is taking to make sure this does not happen again? I dealt with
:09:05. > :09:07.this to some extent yesterday, but there was an error on the part of
:09:08. > :09:14.the government in the handling of that business, for which an apology
:09:15. > :09:19.was given to Mr Speaker and the European scrutiny committee
:09:20. > :09:27.chairman, and steps have been taken to ensure we do not get repetition.
:09:28. > :09:39.Point of order, very briefly, Mr Ian Blackford. I will be brief. I am
:09:40. > :09:44.seeking your guidance on the response I had from the Leader of
:09:45. > :09:48.the House on the question I put. If I can quote from Hansard, on the
:09:49. > :09:52.23rd of November, when the farming minister said, we will provide an
:09:53. > :09:56.update on the review of cap allocations before the end of this
:09:57. > :09:58.year. We have not had an announcement from the government on
:09:59. > :10:00.this. If