26/01/2017 Business Questions

was Saudi Arabia is doing as well. Could the Leader of the House please

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

as follows, Monday the 30th of January, second reading of the

pension schemes Bill Lord's, Tuesday the 31st, second reading of the EU

notification of withdrawal Bill, day one. Wednesday the 1st of February,

conclusion of second reading of the EU notification of withdrawal Bill.

Thursday 2nd of February, select committee statement of the second

report of the public illustration committee entitled Will the NHS ever

learn, followed by a general debate on the Armed Forces covenant report

2016. The subject of that debate having been determined by the

backbench committing. 3rd of February private members bills. 6th

of February will be as follows, Monday the 6th of February,

consideration in committee of the EU notification of withdrawal Bill, day

one. Tuesday the seventh, continuation of consideration in

committee of the EU notification of withdrawal Bill. Wednesday the

eighth, conclusion of consideration in committee of the EU notification

of withdrawal Bill. Followed by remaining stages of the EU

notification of withdrawal Bill. Thursday ninth, business to be

nominated by the backbench business, Nessie. Friday the tenth we will not

sit. The business in West Westminster Hall for the sixth and

9th of February will be as follows, Monday the sixth, debate on an E

petition relating to the domestic ivory market in the UK. Thursday

ninth, debate on the sixth report from the science and technology

committee on the smart monitoring of electricity and gas. In recent

weeks, exchanges at business questions have been notably

protracted and it would really help if questions and replies could be

pithy, including the exchanges from the front bench. Thank you. Your

comments are duly noted. Can I thank the Leader of the House for the

business. And could he start by confirming that the 20th of July

that will be the date that the house rises for summer recess? In

addition, the great repeal Bill will be in the Queen's speech, could you

let us know when that will be debated? The British people owe a

debt of gratitude to Gina Miller because of her courage the highest

court of the land confirmed it is inconsistent with long-standing and

fundamental principles that far-reaching constitutional change

cannot be brought about by ministerial decision all ministerial

action alone but requires an act of Parliament. Can the Leader of the

House tellers if the Prime Minister got the memo that Parliament is

sovereign? White papers are a tool of participatory democracy not a

policy commitment. The honourable member earlier this week along with

30 members across the house or asked for the white paper on the Gottman's

plans. The Secretary of State had exhumed on Tuesday did not answer.

Instead the Prime Minister announced it in response to a question at

Prime Minister's Time. Can the leader please confirm whether all

policy U-turns will be announced in this way and will we have two

negotiate an extension for Prime Minister's Question Time? And could

the leader respond to will the white paper and risk assessments be

published before the committee stage in the coming two weeks. The Kaufman

is clearly does not do process or substance. The Secretary of State

had ex who said what we have come up with is a competence of free trade

agreement and customs agreement that will deliver the exact same benefits

as we have, same outcome different name. We call it the single market,

we... Could the Leader of the House in sure there is time to debate this

alternative terminology so there is no confusion? And staying in the EU,

could the Leader of the House find time to debate the comprehensive

trade agreement between EU and Canada? The Secretary State for

International development apparently committed the Government to have a

vote before the 15th of February and the Secretary of State confirms the

chair of the European scrutiny committee that he overwritten

Parliamentary scrutiny. The Government can't use the Brexit

shambles as an excuse at four policy failures of fiscal irresponsibility

so could we have a debate on the NA oh report at HRC policy with

concentric. ?23 million was paid as commission to the farm on a

commission worth --. ... If the Government can find the 23 million

for the commission can any damages the breach-of-contract be set aside,

10 million of which could be set aside to cover the costs of child

burial, a campaign sake started by the man of the Swansea East. Could

we also have debate on the climate change risk assessment? The report

highlighted urgent priorities. It said were action was needed on

flooding coastal change risks. There are risks from health from high

temperatures. Risks to public water supply. No speech, no statement and

a twitter account is stark silence. Irresistible to the White House.

Could we have a statement from the Secretary of State as many people we

need to know what steps will be taken to protect future generations.

A five-year sentence has been confirmed, it is not clear what the

charges are, and representation must be made. And I'm sure all members

will join me in celebrating the consecration of the first woman

bishop in Wales! She will now become Bishop of saying Davies. Great

little city. Whatever the shape of the bill to be published later

today, I would like to remind honourable members that the

procedural material is open in the library to help people with the

bill. Parliament is indeed sovereign. Mr Speaker, if I can try

to reply briefly to the points made by the honourable lady, I join her

firstly in welcoming the new Bishop of St Andrews, saying Davies, to her

duties, I'm getting carried away by Burns day... Saints Davids. To her

duties. And I think that she has obviously taken charge of what must

be one of the most picturesque and delightful dioceses in the country.

-- St Davids. On the question of misses Ratcliff, one ruble friend

the Minister for the Middle East has spoken on Monday this week to

express concern about the appeal verdict, this case has been

previously raised directly by the Prime Minister and the Foreign

Secretary with the president and with the Foreign Minister, our

Ambassador will continue to raise this case at every level and at

every opportunity in Iran. -- Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. On the

question of consent checks, the government has accepted that both

provided an acceptably poor service and HMRC must learn lessons from

this experience, I hope the house will recognise that the government

was right to prioritise the people who actually had tax credit claims

that had either been handled wrongly or had not been properly assessed,

and HMRC has now dealt with all 181,000 cases taken back from

concentric. I shall look at her request for a debate on climate

change, but as she will know, this is something to which the government

continues to give a higher priority. I cannot as yet give the house

details of dates for the summer recess. I would hope to do so as

soon as possible. There was a need for the right honourable friend to

over right scrutiny procedures because the EU timetable for

agreement accelerated faster than expected and was frankly in our

interest, a relationship with Canada, support for free trade. And

EU relationships with other countries that we agreed, the

agreement was something that the UK has been championing since the

inception of negotiations. But I did say in my evidence to the scrutiny

committee two weeks ago that we would look for an opportunity,

possibly to try to link the debate to a broader debate, on

International Trade, before much longer. On the broader question

about Europe, I have to say to the honourable lady, that I'm sorry that

she was a little bit grudging in her response to the government

announcement on a white Paper. This was not in this case the government

made the announcement in prime ministers questions, with a packed

house, packed press gallery, and packed gallery, I thought the

honourable lady might have welcomed that, and I hope that it will not be

much longer before in prime we will have authoritative statement of what

on earth the opposition policy is for which we have been waiting for

too long. Would my right honourable friend find time for a debate on

regulation finding the operation of... I understand it was very well

for some people but it has had an adverse impact on the licensed taxi

trade in Southend. -- finding the operation of Uber. I understand that

that got my understanding is that drivers whose licences have been

revoked by Southend Council who continue working in the town by

obtaining a Tfl icings and working for Uber. -- Tfl licence. Those

concerns should be raised directly with Tfl. It is the responsibility

of local licensing authorities to ensure that not just taxi drivers

but private hire drivers are also fit and proper person's to hold that

licence. -- fit and proper persons. Thank you for an immaculate silk of

grace last night, just to let you know, you are down for it is enter

next year! LAUGHTER -- you are down for a tam o' shanter

next year. He should have chanced his arm and said we will definitely

be staying in the European Union, because first there was a White

Paper, then there was no White Paper, act and for! As leader of the

house, as the guardian of this house's

Can we have a debate about special relationships, particularly how, you

are supposed to behave in one of the special relationships. When a United

States president says torture is an instrument of policy, when

particular religions are picked out for exclusion, when women's rights

are set back decades, should this country be not just a little more

cautious before accepting this Trumpian embrace. What we now know

is that all these Scotland acts, demolition and settlement, they are

not worth the ermine they are written on. There is no such thing

as permanence as Parliament, what we heard about, what was so convincing

about enshrined in law is nothing other than Parliamentary wore full.

Week by week, of "Brexit" Britain, is looking like a less attractive

prospect for Scotland. We need to know that our views will be

respected, or we will have to consider whether we remain in this

British Isles. On the important question asked

about torture, the Prime Minister said very clearly, the United

Kingdom remains resolutely opposed to torture on grounds of moral

principle, on grounds of our participation in the UN Convention

against torture, and other such international legal incidents, and

on the grounds that it does not work because you cannot place much value

in information, evidence extracted by means of torture. That continues

to be and will continue to be the government position. I have to say,

this question about Scotland, in the United Kingdom, it was the Scottish

Government's decision to go to the Supreme Court, over the question of

consultation with the devolved administrations. It has always been

the case, and set down in the three devolution acts, that the United

Kingdom's participation in international organisations,

membership of international organisations, is a reserved matter,

under those devolution settlements. On the other questions about Europe,

this house voted overwhelmingly for the referendum Bill to give a

decision to the people, it voted overwhelmingly for the Prime

Minister to trigger Article 50 by the end of March, and that is what

we are seeking to deliver. In reminding colleagues of the need for

brevity I also remind them that those that came into the chamber

after the debate started should not be standing, it is as simple as

that. And the leader of the house confirmed that during the committee

stage of drawing the bill, the government temptation will be to

resist every and each amendment which seeks to guide the government

in legal knots and in Piedmont negotiations. The bill, as

honourable members will see when they have studied it, is a short

bill which empowers the Prime Minister formally to trigger Article

50 and commenced the negotiation, that is all that the bill is about.

Since this government came to office, it has sought to avoid

government scrutiny to leave the EU, and achieve ends by resorting to the

use of the Royal prerogative, bypassing this Parliament. First it

lost in the High Court, then it lost in the Supreme Court, and now

finally, it has had to concede that Parliament is sovereign by

publishing a bill and a White Paper. I was astonished at the amount of

time that the leader of the house has given this Parliament to debate

it. He's being very quiet about whether the White Paper will be

published. Can you give us more time and tell us that he is going to

publish the White Paper? I think, if you consider that this is a two

clause bill, of which the second clause is dealing only with the

extent of the bill, to the United Kingdom, there is plenty of time,

including two full days at second reading, for all opinions to be

fully expressed. Can we have a debate on the ongoing witchhunt of

former service people who served in Northern Ireland during the

troubles, this is a travesty of justice, bringing shame on the

country, and has to stop. There will be Northern Ireland questions next

Wednesday, February one, when my honour above friend may wish to

press this point, as he knows, the Secretary of State has already

expressed concern about this and it is important that criminal

investigations are conducted independently and impartially but

service men and women are not singled out in any way. Can I thank

the leader of the house for the statement and the confirmation that

there will be a backbench debate on the Armed Forces covenant. Earlier

this week, backbench committee determined that a debate on is ready

settlements in occupied Palestinian territories would be tabled for the

next available date, and that will be on the 9th of February. Also

hoping that we can table on that date but we need confirmation from

the applicant is that it is OK to do so a debate on the governance of

football. Can ask that I am --... I am

grateful to the honourable gentleman and I try to assist in getting him

adequate notice. He is helping the whole of the house. We hear about

the excellent work in my constituency. With increasing life

expectancy and conditions like dementia on the rise, can we have a

debate about how we can support such organisations and cooperation train

them and local authorities? He's quite hard right to highlight this

point and I would like to congratulate him and those people in

Warwickshire who are working so hard to improve those services living

with people for -- for people living with dementia and contributing to

research. We've seen a doubling of funding for research on dementia.

Helping people living with dementia needs families, voluntary

organisations and local authority statutory services to cooperate. Can

I tell him that just three days to debate the detail of the most

important issue facing this country in a generation, the repercussions

of which will face generations to come, is completely unacceptable and

I vote that every opposition party in this house and everyone who come

cares about democracy, will vote against this contempt of Parliament

when it comes to the motion. I would say to him that his party supported

the referendum Bill inputting the question to the people, and his

party supported the timetable of triggering Article 50 by the end of

March. The Bill is designed to secure those objectives are met.

Does the leader agree that there is actually ample time to debate the

Bill, with two days second reading and three days in committee stage.

Could he confirmed the precise sitting times on those days? We will

try to ensure that there is plenty of time and that adequate protection

is given against the risk of statements or urgent questions so

that members on all sides have the opportunity to debate these matters

fully. It's such a pleasure and surprise to be called before

friends! Previously I asked about the budget for a National Audit

Office and consequences for Scotland he has still to get back to me. Last

week there should be barnacle consequence was for the budget. How

much will they get and when will it happen? I would like to go see the

response he has had about this but I'll do my best to provide a

response. Because the pro Minister has been so clear, I do hope that

the white paper won't tell us anything that we don't already know.

LAUGHTER All colleagues will have followed

the Government's various statements on their approach to the EU exit

with the assiduous nurse might honourable friend has shown. We

should be clear about that while we wish to provide clear statements it

would not be in the national interest to set out in detail our

negotiating position. That would be the most foolish step for any

Government to take. Should it not be made clear next week for not only

does the UK not sanction torture as stated yesterday but will condemn

the use of torture by the United States, if waterboarding is brought

back? Would it not be absolutely wrong if this country, this

Government, became an apologist for a bigoted and wrong-headed US

president? There is no question of this country endorsing or supporting

torture. The rejection of torture is written into the various

international agreements to which we are party and has been integral to

numerous statements on this subject by the Prime Minister, the Foreign

Secretary and many other members of the Government. Can we have a debate

on how Government can do better to ensure the prosperity agenda

stemming from defence procurement is used to ensure existing clusters of

high-tech businesses in the south-west such as jovial benefit

from inward investment by large beneficiaries of governance spending

such as Boeing? My honourable friend highlights real opportunities for

business to benefit from technology. One of the things this country does

need to improve on is how we turn our intent is this and our

technological expertise into commercial job creating

opportunities and this may be a very good opportunity to seek a debate to

pursue this further. Last week I attended the Eastbrook primary

school in my constituency. They have a free breakfast club attended by

around 70 children every day. This is facilitated by Huddersfield town

football club and their charity partners. They support a number of

schools in the district. Can we have a debate to discuss how we can

encourage or mandate other football clubs to do other types of community

initiatives which support the communities? I can't promise a

debate in Government time but I applaud the initiative and I think

there are many parts of the country in which local sports clubs and

other voluntary organisations are supporting their schools

incompatible ways. Some of us in this place can talk for Britain, not

me, of course. But surely we can hardly complain about getting four

days -- five days on to Klaus Bell. This is implementing the will of

people. -- two Klaus Bell. Can the leader confirm he will try to avoid

statements on any of these days. We will try to, not to have unnecessary

statements, but events happen and there is other business that has to

be presented to Parliament. That explains why we said that on Tuesday

next week the secretary debate will continue until midnight and I'm sure

the honourable members will have every opportunity to speak and make

all the points they went to make in rats. Doesn't it beggar belief that

the Government are so afraid of proper debate that they've only

allocated this pathetic three days to the committee of the EU

withdrawal Bill, less than we had for the Lisbon Treaty, the Amsterdam

Treaty, the single European act, and a tiny fraction of what we had the

Maastricht, an eighth of the time we had? Doesn't it speak volumes of the

Government's deficiency of their plan that they are trying to gag

Parliament in this way? I have more respect than him to suspect this is

anything more than synthetic rage. There is no comparison between

previous bills that sought to ratify EU treaties which had a direct

impact on many different aspects of UK law, and eight to Klaus Bell of

which a single clause is a substantive one which is entirely to

give authority to the Prime Minister to trigger an Article 50 process and

begin a negotiation. Last Friday I had the honour of attending bracken

barracks to Kaymer rate the 138th anniversary of a battle that was

immortalised in the film, Zulu. Can we have a debate on importance of

educating young hit people on the history of our Armed Forces? My

honourable friend draws attention to the very deep connection between

Brecon and the 24th Rab judgment of foot. I understand the museum is

there. I hope the commemoration goes well and he may seek other

parliamentary opportunities. The leader would not want to constrain

the debate around the Article 50 Bell. Will he therefore be bringing

forward with the Bill a money resolution so that the widest

possible range of amendments can be tabled? I don't think the Prime

Minister can needs any additional resources to trickle after tackle 50

once authority has been given. Will he join me in welcoming today's

growth figures. Can we have a debate on the fundamental strength of the

UK economy which grew by 2% last year? I would like to think that

very good news on growth, which is also good news for jobs and living

standards in this country, would be welcomed across the house. It is

attributable to industry and workers. The former Conservative

Lord Chancellor described Government in this country as an elective disc

dictatorship. This Government with their timetabling of the EU

withdrawal Bill seems determined to prepare right. Whether he was right

or wrong, it seems in the name of two not Christie that people

campaigned frostily see you. I repeat the question, why are

discovered in trying to muzzle voice of the people in Parliament with

their timetabling of this Bill? I think the five days allotted can

hardly be described as muzzling and the house voted both for the people

to take the decision and for the March timetable for the triggering

of Article 50. The passage of the Bill through Parliament is intended

to ensure the wish of the house can be delivered. Next week one of my

constituents appears in the Supreme Court because the Department for

Education wants judges to interpret the word regular in relation to

school attendance. If the Government wins the case the law will

retrospectively criminalise the actions of tens of thousands of

parents. If the law needs to be changed it should surely come before

Parliament for proper debate and scrutiny. Could the leader in

courage the secretary of state to make a statement on this. My

honourable friend I'm sure we'll understand it would not be

appropriate for either the secretary of state or me to comment on this

case when it is currently before the courts. The Department requested

permission to intervene because we need clarity about what the law

actually says and means now, before we can take any policy decisions

that might be needed. Last week the business Department announced a

major review. Yet on Monday of this week the Treasury brought forward a

legislative reform order, seeking the formation of a new type of

limited partnership with even less controls. Can we have a debate on

the use of Dallara owes? Is the honourable gentleman knows, Ella

Rose have a genuine purpose in Scotland and have existed through

long time in Scottish law. As he also says there have been serious

allegations and evidence that this status has been abused and that is

why the enquiry is taking place. If the enquiry concludes there is a

need for changes in the law then the Government want to consider those

quickly but carefully. We are hearing from Labour's backbenches

that they would seek to as oppose the Government. Has he had any

representations from labours front bench that they will seek to oppose

the Government 's programme motion? It is not for me to disclose on the

floor of the house. But I think there have been public, numerous and

often contradictory about the plans they can to take. Hull has had

nearly 350,000 people attending in the last week. I hope you might be

able to attend in the course of 2017. Many of those visitors

actually came through the railway station and imagine my surprise when

I learned that trans-Pennine who operate the railway station and

decided to close the waiting room and toilets at 7pm because of

anti-social behaviour. After the three hole and peas have made

representations they said keep them open till nine. But only if there is

no more anti-social behaviour. Could we please have a debate about when

we decided jobs could dictate the facilities passengers and general

maps of the politic -- public? First of all, I would like to congratulate

the city of Hull on their first few weeks as city of culture and I hope

many honourable ambers on all sides are able to take the opportunity to

go to hold during the course of this year. The last time I went, I do

remember visiting City Hall and being hugely impressed I the

architecture and the sense of civic pride. On the question of

anti-social behaviour that she raised, I have a lot of sympathy

with what she says. I would hope that the franchise holder, local

police, local authority, can work together to find an effective

solution that means these facilities can remain open.

I welcome the government commitment to publishing the White Paper this

week, I thank my friend for his work in enabling this to happen, but can

he outlined discussions he has had to enable this, and also on the

timescale that my constituent views can be heard in Parliamentary time.

There will be fiercely opportunities to debate the particular bill that

has been published today. Pretty narrow in scope but there will be

the repeal bill, which the government has said we will

introduce there will continue to be various debates on aspects of

departure from the European Union. Notwithstanding the importance of

issues like "Brexit", will the leader of the house consider how we

ensure that other legislation receives the prominence it deserves,

yesterday was an historic day for the parliament, when the gender pay

gap red regulations were passed, forcing large companies with more

than 250 employees to publish gender pay gap information. Very happy to

give consideration to that because I think that we will all wish to see

much greater public knowledge of and understanding of things that go on

in our Parliament that perhaps you not grab the headlines and do not

happen at when prime time. It does demand considerable consensus among

the house. Last week, a gas issue meant the town was disconnected from

the network for a considerable will the leader of the

house join me in thanking all efforts on the ground, and can we

have AIDS debate next week on emergency planning and getting it

right. -- can we have a debate. Given the other business we have, I

cannot promise a debate, but can we unhesitatingly both thank and

congratulate the statutory services and individual constituents in

Rafael what they managed it. Can we have a statement on funding cuts to

the equalities and human rights commission, with hate crime on the

increase, does the leader of the house appreciate that many

honourable members think these cuts send their own message to women, the

BAME community and those that suffer from disabilities. Because of the

need to bring public finances under control, all parts of the public

sector are facing difficult decisions but I can point the

honourable gentleman towards questions on women's equality on

February two. The leader of the house and I were both elected in

1992. And he will recall the many days that we spent on the Maastricht

Treaty. Can you tell the house how much consideration he has given to

previous debates on these matters, not just in 1992 but in the 1970s,

when we joined the European Union, and also, what discussions and

considerations were given at that time to the opposition parties and

what they said then compared to what they are saying now? If I am honest,

I think that any of us who came in in 1992 would probably not look back

at the debates on the Maastricht Treaty as the greatest moment of

glory for the House of Commons. And it is not something that I think we

necessarily want to put more recently arrived colleagues through!

I think that given the very narrow scope of the bill that is being

published today, that the five days that we have announced and the six

substantial amounts of additional time, particularly on second

reading, that we are providing four, means that Parliament has plenty of

opportunities to have a debate on this will stop in full.

When this house agreed we had not discussed the issue of women's state

pension and equality, will this government bring forward a debate

and make sure it bring forward proposals that deal with the women

that are suffering. The last government the coalition did commit

over ?1 billion to lessen the impact on those who were worst affected by

the change in pension age, no one will see their pension age change by

more than 18 months. Those who face the largest increase in the state

pension age released at least seven years notice of that. We have also

got to be realistic about the fact that people are living longer and if

we are going to equalise the state pension age, then we do need to

raise the state pension age for both men and four women, and the cost of

reversing the 2011 at will be ?30 billion. -- 2011 act. In Gwent, the

air is fresh and pure, but the air in London is putrid, can we have a

statement on air quality and the impact of diesel emissions, the

government needs to better protect the public health of its people.

Improving air quality is a priority for the government and for my right

honourable friend the Secretary of State for environment in particular,

we follow best available evidence but we are ready to update those if

necessary, and we have been at the forefront in Europe to make sure we

can see more accurate real world emissions testing of cars in

particular. Can we have a debate on the Mersey

crossing so that the government Canuks blame why they have broken

promises to my constituents. I cannot promise a debate in the

meantime. -- so that the government can explain. I will always ask the

relevant Minister to explain. 40 branches of banks are being closed,

200 jobs will be lost. My constituents will be left without a

single local bank branch. We can send a strong signal to banks,

including Clydesdale, about the negative impact this closure will

have on local economies and local communities. I think that this is

probable is something you want to raise by way of an adjournment

debate or backbench debate on the issue, more generically, but I quite

understand the plight of some of her constituents, it is incumbent upon

the big retail banks to reflect very carefully, in particular before

closing the last banking outlet in a particular community. Will the

leader of the house do me a favour and stop suggesting that those who

are on this side of the house and the other side of the house they

believe passionately in the scrutiny of this European built being

thorough, would he stop suggesting that we are trying to overturn the

popular vote on the referendum. That is not the case, new nose it is not

the case, please be honest about it! This house, as well as voting for

the referendum, also voted for the Prime Minister to trigger Article

50, before the end of March, 2017. Because of the Supreme Court

judgment, it is necessary for a bill to go through all its legislative

stages in both houses, for the wish of the house, in respect of the

timetable to be met. I believe that the five days we have allotted will

give ample opportunity for the narrow issue to be adequately

debated. And we have a ministerial statement on HS2 in South Yorkshire,

they went out for consultation, plenty of support in South Yorkshire

but not a consensus and consequently they are currently out thought by

the MHC Easton Road re-routed through South Yorkshire, we have

learned this week that they are now looking at putting a parkway station

on possibly eight hearts of that re-route but none of them are for

public consultation now. Could we make sure that we have good return

for public money, they are wasting money hand over fist! What I would

suggest is that I report to the Minister with direct responsibility

for HS2, to, like you, Mr Speaker, I can speak with personal constituency

experience of wrestling with HS2, and it is important that the

honourable gentleman and his constituents get clear answers and

are able to make strong representations. In January last

year, a group of MPs invited trade union leaders to address a meeting

in Parliament and it has since emerged that meeting was equally

recorded. Given that MPs of all parties hold meetings on the

parliamentary estate, I would be grateful if the leader of the house

could clarify rules on third parties recording meetings without consent

and give me his view on whether those rules may have been breached?

I'm very concerned by what has been said, if you would like to let me

have full details, then I will investigate this as quickly as

possible. The Prime Minister has indicated that Parliament will vote

on the terms of a final "Brexit" deal, what if there is no deal, will

there be a reference back to this house, will there be a vote about

whether we leave the EU on no terms? The decision to leave the EU was

taken by the referendum. The house knows where I stood, as Democrats we

have two except the outcome of the vote, but if there is no deal under

the terms, specified in article 50, then, as the Prime Minister said

yesterday, we have to fall back on other arrangements. The SNP will

certainly be the opposing quite a disgraceful motion, but will the

White Paper, giving the government's position, organising irrevocable

step to the greatest constitutional change in this country for 50 years,

been published before the committee stage of the bill, and if not, why

not? I said to the house a few moments ago, I hope that we can

publish the White Paper, as soon as possible, and the other point I

would make to the right honourable gentleman, is that the authorisation

for our departure from the European Union was given by a referendum of

all people of the United Kingdom, some of us like that decision, some

do not, but it was a democratic decision that the electorate was

entitled to take. 22 weeks, still no date for the restoration and renewal

debate, as the leader of the house turned into Oscar Wilde, who said,

never put off till tomorrow what could possibly be done the day

after, or Ellen Degeneres, who said, don't procrastinate, put it! -- put

it off. Or does he seriously think that we can carry on like this and

hope that somehow we will muddle through. He says that we will have a

debate Sunday, but Sunday is not a day of the week. The honourable

gentleman made his point as forcefully now as he did during his

debate in Westminster Hall, early this week. He will know, from the

business that faces the next two weeks, that it has not been possible

to schedule the debate on restoration and renewal then, I hope

that we will be able to identify a date as soon as possible. The leader

of the house will be aware of the controversy in Northern Ireland

surrounding the renewable heat initiative and the millions lost, a

colleague of mine sought information from Whitehall departments, under

freedom of information, received a letter this week from both, one

month after asking for the information. Saying that there was

too much work needed to get that information, so he has put the

questions in again. Can we guarantee from the leader of the house that no

politics will be played here and that the information will be found

and will come out? The deadlines set under the Freedom of Information Act

are a matter of law. Not a matter of discretion. For ministers or

officials. Clearly, ministers here do not have any direct authority

over the devolved departments within Northern Ireland. But I would

certainly hope that any Whitehall department would respond well within

the time frame, specified within the Freedom of information legislation.

We all wish the Prime Minister well in her work to increase exports. Is

it time for a debate about the relationship between this country

and a president who since he's in your duration has behaves like a

petulant try child out to destroy the achievements of his

predecessors. A new region is promised between Trump and the UK.

Is there a danger that this will be a new dark age? Mr Trump has been

elected by the people of the United States under their democratic

constitution. And under Conservative and Labour governments alike it has

rightly been a national priority in terms of our security interests,

geopolitical interest, interesting prosperity and trade, to forge as

close as possible a partnership with and understanding of a new American

administration. That has to be in the interests of the people we

represent and that is what the Prime Minister will be seeking to do in

Washington. Further to the point made by my honourable friend, the

member for Chester, can we have an urgent debate discuss the Government

Ponte's relating on its promise to provide special help for small

businesses when they knew... That is the second time they've written I

reneges on something. That decision was announced by the then Chancellor

on the 23rd of April 2000 15. Can we have an urgent debate to find out

again by the Government is refusing to honour its commitments? There are

questions the Secretary of State for business on Tuesday the 31st which

will provide you with an opportunity. If I may I will look

into the pointy raises a long sized that raised by his honourable

friend. Given the decline and the abuse of civil liberties and human

rights in Malaysia over the last few months, in particular the arrests,

would the leader agreed to a statement or better still a debate

on this matter? As so often, he is pursuing his interest in human

rights, I can't offer an immediate statement in Government time but I

will ask the appropriate minister to write to you. Gwent music is a local

authority music service that provides opportunities to young

people in my cup constituency, including my own daughter, can we

have a debate on the importance of affordable music lessons in our

schools across the country? I recognise and sympathise with the

underlying point you are making. This will turn on decisions not just

by the United Kingdom Government but by the Welsh Government and Welsh

assembly, by local authorities and by individual schools about their

priorities. But I would hope ways can continue to be found to be

maintaining those standards of excellence for war people wanting to

pursue music. Can he give us an absolute guarantee that the

unelected House of Lords will not have more time to debate the Brexit

Article 50 Bill than the elected House of Commons? The House of

Commons will have the final say, as an practically all legislation. As

is always the case, the House of Lords has its own procedures and it

is not in the gift of the Government to set down what times will debate

are going to be in the House of Lords on any Bill. And the prize the

patients goes to Jeff Smith! -- patience. And we wish him a happy

birthday. Thank you. It is quite right other Parliamentary business

should be shelved in the next couple of weeks to debate Article 50,

including the bus services Bill. In Manchester we have been demanding

London style bus franchising powers the many years. We can wait a little

longer but can I encourage the leader to reschedule the bus

services Bill as soon as possible after the recess so Manchester can

properly manage our transport network? This may be an inadequate

birthday present, but I will do my best to deliver on what you want.

Point of order. I am glad the Brexit secretary is here to his moment of

history. If I could just detain him for a second, he used