:00:00. > :00:00.but have not yet done so. Business question. Could I ask the Leader of
:00:00. > :00:13.the House to give the House the forthcoming business. The business
:00:14. > :00:17.for next week will be as follows. Monday the 20th of March, second
:00:18. > :00:21.reading of the prisons and courts bill. 21st of March, remaining
:00:22. > :00:29.status of the intellectual property unjustified threats bill. Followed
:00:30. > :00:33.by a general debate on fuel poverty. 22nd of March, remaining stages of
:00:34. > :00:40.the pension schemes bill, Lords, followed by a debate on exiting the
:00:41. > :00:45.European Union and global trade. Thursday 23rd March, debate on a
:00:46. > :00:50.motion of compensation for Equitable Life policy holders. Followed by a
:00:51. > :00:54.debate on the motion of the social mobility and state of the nation
:00:55. > :00:57.report. Both subjects determined by the backbench business committee.
:00:58. > :01:07.24th of March, private members bills. The week commencing the 27th
:01:08. > :01:10.of March, remaining stages of the bus services bill. I would also like
:01:11. > :01:18.to inform the House the business in Westminster hall for the 27th and
:01:19. > :01:26.30th March will be Monday 27th of March, debate on a petition relation
:01:27. > :01:32.to badger culling. 30th of March, a debate relating to the future of
:01:33. > :01:37.local and regional news providers. : I thank the Leader of the House for
:01:38. > :01:41.giving us the business and could the confirm the rumours circulating that
:01:42. > :01:49.the Queen 's Speech will be on the 17th May. Can I wish everyone a
:01:50. > :01:58.happy St Patrick's Day for tomorrow. It is an interruption of the Lent
:01:59. > :02:03.and fasting process. Salt and vinegar crisps all round to cheer up
:02:04. > :02:09.the troops? This has been a week of delay, incompetence and confusion.
:02:10. > :02:14.Starting with energy companies. The big six have raised their prices and
:02:15. > :02:18.consumers have been overpaid. In response to the member for
:02:19. > :02:24.Hartlepool yesterday, that prices had been raised by 14% and SSE also.
:02:25. > :02:28.It has been reported by Ofgem that there is no need to increase prices.
:02:29. > :02:33.The time is up for these companies. Instead of acting, the Minister
:02:34. > :02:39.problems she was a green paper. The Minister must now take a leaf out of
:02:40. > :02:43.the 2015 Labour manifesto and put a cap on prices. Instead of being
:02:44. > :02:47.obsessed by the way someone eats bacon sandwich, it was a popular and
:02:48. > :02:49.costed policy so could we have a debate on what the powers the
:02:50. > :02:54.Government will use to protect consumers immediately. Speaking of
:02:55. > :02:59.manifestos, it's because the Government has got away with it
:03:00. > :03:03.before, they said no more top-down reorganisation for the NHS and they
:03:04. > :03:07.did it. They said in Coalition, no increased tuition fees and then they
:03:08. > :03:11.did it so they thought they could do it again. There is a real piece of
:03:12. > :03:14.wood to be done on National Insurance contributions. Bizarrely,
:03:15. > :03:20.they instigated the Taylor review, due to be reporting in June and yet
:03:21. > :03:25.they put their policy through. They should have given time for
:03:26. > :03:27.businesses to plan those increases. It's really hard for small
:03:28. > :03:31.businesses to suddenly find that extra money. Instead of coming to
:03:32. > :03:35.the chamber to explain it, the Prime Minister took to the podium in
:03:36. > :03:38.Brussels and announced a deferred policy and then Chancellor comes on
:03:39. > :03:45.Wednesday. The Chancellor seems to have fallen down his own black hole.
:03:46. > :03:49.Tell that to Stephen Hawking. What the confusion and chaos that is
:03:50. > :03:53.Brexit? More and more select committees are published. Could we
:03:54. > :03:56.have a timetable of when and how these will be debated? The
:03:57. > :03:59.Government seems fixated on an unamended bill going through
:04:00. > :04:04.Parliament rather than preparing the country for what is to follow. The
:04:05. > :04:09.affairs Select Committee said the Government refused to give evidence
:04:10. > :04:14.saying it will be nothing more than an exercise in guesswork. The
:04:15. > :04:19.committee found the consequences of failure are far from an exercise in
:04:20. > :04:23.guesswork, they are in scope and if not in detail, largely predictable
:04:24. > :04:27.and have been predicted in evidence. The report recommended each
:04:28. > :04:30.department should produce a new deal plan. Setting out proposals to
:04:31. > :04:36.mitigate these risks. Could the Leader of the House indicate whether
:04:37. > :04:40.this will be implemented, a plan from each other departments will be
:04:41. > :04:46.implemented and reported to the House? The report on Brexit trade in
:04:47. > :04:51.goods from the other place, reminded us on page 97, the EU is by a
:04:52. > :04:54.significant margin the UK's biggest trading partner and many UK
:04:55. > :05:00.businesses cannot easily substitute imports from EU with products from
:05:01. > :05:04.the UK. Could the Leader of the House say what support businesses
:05:05. > :05:08.will get to support these new suppliers or is the Government
:05:09. > :05:14.abandoning small businesses? I'd like to raise the West Midlands
:05:15. > :05:18.leaflet. The candidate Sean Simon apparently in the leaflet by another
:05:19. > :05:23.candidate from his party suggested he didn't have any experience. Sean
:05:24. > :05:27.Simon was an ex-MP, a Minister and a member of the European Parliament so
:05:28. > :05:35.he's well experienced to take the West Midlands forward after Brexit.
:05:36. > :05:40.Women are not just for International Women's Day but for life and this
:05:41. > :05:49.month, we celebrate women's history month. As we continue to tell her
:05:50. > :05:52.story. Next week there will be a lecture on Constance Markovic, the
:05:53. > :05:57.first woman elected to Parliament but didn't take his seat. On the
:05:58. > :06:00.same day, international anti-discrimination day. Good leader
:06:01. > :06:04.say if they will find time to debate the McGregor Smith review to race in
:06:05. > :06:08.the workplace with the sacking staff in the equalities and human rights
:06:09. > :06:13.commission, it is that organisation that should be taking these
:06:14. > :06:17.recommendations forward. The found that if talent is fully utilised,
:06:18. > :06:22.the economy would receive a ?24 billion boost. That would fill that
:06:23. > :06:26.?2 billion hole in the budget. Not only is this good for the economy,
:06:27. > :06:36.to use all talents, but it is the right thing to do for the common
:06:37. > :06:42.good in a good society. Can I first of all join with the honourable lady
:06:43. > :06:46.in wishing everybody a particularly our colleagues from Northern Ireland
:06:47. > :06:50.and colleagues with Irish ancestry a happy St Patrick's Day. It is one of
:06:51. > :06:52.those occasions that whatever divisions in Northern Ireland, does
:06:53. > :07:00.tend to bring all sides together in a common celebration. She asked me
:07:01. > :07:03.whether I can confirm or deny a possible date for the Queen 's
:07:04. > :07:10.Speech and I'm afraid the answer is no. The Government has made it clear
:07:11. > :07:15.we are pressing ahead with the Taylor review which will be a very
:07:16. > :07:22.important study and report upon the way in which digital technology is
:07:23. > :07:29.changing our notions of employment and I'm sure Matthew Taylor will
:07:30. > :07:31.come forward with a number of very specific challenging recommendations
:07:32. > :07:35.at the end of that process that the Government will want to take
:07:36. > :07:42.seriously. She also asked about EU exit. There are provisions in our
:07:43. > :07:47.arrangements for debates on Select Committee reports which from time to
:07:48. > :07:52.time are chosen by either the backbench business committee or by
:07:53. > :07:57.the liaison committee, in time, they have allotted to them. I really
:07:58. > :08:02.don't think she can fault the willingness of ministers, in
:08:03. > :08:05.particular the willingness of the Secretary of State for Exiting the
:08:06. > :08:09.European Union, to appear before this House and to appear before
:08:10. > :08:13.select committees in order to answer the questions honourable members
:08:14. > :08:19.have. There is detailed work going on not just in my right honourable
:08:20. > :08:23.friend's department but across Whitehall upon the impact of various
:08:24. > :08:27.possible outcomes to the negotiations, upon the different
:08:28. > :08:32.sectors of our economy. It's obviously sensible for us to consult
:08:33. > :08:38.closely with those sectors of the economy about those scenarios. She
:08:39. > :08:43.asked me about women's history month, I am very happy to join her
:08:44. > :08:49.in celebrating that and I hope that as well as achievements of people
:08:50. > :08:54.like Constance Markovic and Nancy Astor, there will be a proper salute
:08:55. > :09:01.to the two women Prime Ministers of this country. I agreed with her
:09:02. > :09:08.completely about the importance of harnessing all the talent and energy
:09:09. > :09:12.of our fellow citizens from the black and minority ethnic
:09:13. > :09:17.communities. While this is yes, in part, down to having the right sort
:09:18. > :09:23.of equalities and anti-discrimination legislation, I
:09:24. > :09:28.hope the House will also acknowledge that getting this right needs also
:09:29. > :09:32.encouraging people from those communities to believe that
:09:33. > :09:38.everything is possible for them in our country. I am heartened in my
:09:39. > :09:42.own constituency and nationally by having seen in the time I've been in
:09:43. > :09:47.this place, more and more men and women from our black and other
:09:48. > :09:51.minority communities playing a leading role in the mainstream of
:09:52. > :09:57.life in our country, whether that is in business or in the media, the
:09:58. > :09:58.arts or in the professions or in politics of local and national
:09:59. > :10:07.level. I don't blame the Lady for wanting
:10:08. > :10:12.to find something nice to say about the Labour candidate for the West
:10:13. > :10:16.Midlands mayoral election but I am the first to acknowledge the hard
:10:17. > :10:21.work and dedication of people who serve in the European Parliament.
:10:22. > :10:26.Having executive authority for the Midlands' engine, one of the
:10:27. > :10:31.heartlands of our national economic life, the commercial experience of
:10:32. > :10:37.Andy Street puts him head and shoulders above this competition.
:10:38. > :10:43.Just before we proceed with the business question, I had to notify
:10:44. > :10:51.the House. Her Majesty has signified her royal assent of the following
:10:52. > :11:02.acts. Supply and Appropriation Bill, European Union notification of
:11:03. > :11:05.withdrawal axed 2017. The chairman of the backbench business committee
:11:06. > :11:09.is not able to be with us once again. Can I remind my right
:11:10. > :11:14.honourable friend on the front bench we have an ever-growing queue of
:11:15. > :11:19.applications the debates and I wonder if he could consider allowing
:11:20. > :11:23.protected time, particularly on Thursdays, the backbench business
:11:24. > :11:28.debates which will mean the House will sit later but we could get at
:11:29. > :11:36.least two Micro debates in and clear the decks. The Mayor of London is
:11:37. > :11:44.not only called in planning applications in Harrow, which
:11:45. > :11:49.comprises of two tower blocks extorted two story housing. The
:11:50. > :11:55.planning committee of Harrow Council rejected this an acceptable
:11:56. > :12:00.application. The Mayor of London has directed approval against the wishes
:12:01. > :12:09.of Harrow Council, the residence and it is hideous. Can we have a debate
:12:10. > :12:12.on planning? It was good to see the chairman of the backbench business
:12:13. > :12:19.committee in his place and I hope it won't be long until he is playing
:12:20. > :12:23.regular part. I could see in the meantime that we do always take
:12:24. > :12:24.seriously the backbench committee's request the time. The reality is
:12:25. > :12:45.there is pressure. The committee make for protected
:12:46. > :12:51.time on specific Thursdays and I would be reluctant to agree to a
:12:52. > :12:54.general rule for all Thursdays because sometimes backbench debates
:12:55. > :13:00.themselves to Peter out before the a lot of time has been completed. It
:13:01. > :13:03.doesn't occasionally happen. We have in the past tried where we know
:13:04. > :13:08.there are statements coming to protect the backbench business
:13:09. > :13:14.agenda. On his point about Harrow, he has always spoken strongly on
:13:15. > :13:17.behalf of his constituents and I'm sure he will try and catch your --
:13:18. > :13:25.catch your attention for an adjournment debate. I want to wish
:13:26. > :13:30.everybody a happy Saint Patrick's Day. It is difficult to know where
:13:31. > :13:35.to start. How about we start with an urgent statement on the Electoral
:13:36. > :13:39.Commission's fine for breaching electron law. We need to hear this
:13:40. > :13:43.Government are taking these allegations seriously and not
:13:44. > :13:50.hitting out like some members have this morning at the electrical --
:13:51. > :13:53.electoral commission. It is important to protect our democracy
:13:54. > :14:02.and the Conservative Party will be investigating. ?70,000 is peanuts to
:14:03. > :14:06.the Conservative Party, so will the lead of the House say they will
:14:07. > :14:09.fully comply and take part in every single one of these police
:14:10. > :14:14.investigations? This could be the cash for honours of this Parliament.
:14:15. > :14:20.Can we have a debate on automotive manoeuvres because the screeching of
:14:21. > :14:24.yesterday's MIC U-turn is still ringing in our ears with a skid
:14:25. > :14:29.marks all the way up to the doors. I don't think we have seen a budget so
:14:30. > :14:34.dramatically unravelled as the one we saw last week. Maybe we should
:14:35. > :14:41.have that budget manifesto proved will get Laura conspired to deliver
:14:42. > :14:47.it it. We'll be a statement from the Government approving a section
:14:48. > :14:51.ordered to have a referendum as it votes to request one next week.
:14:52. > :14:55.There can be no case for standing in the way of democracy and defying the
:14:56. > :14:59.will of the democratically elected parliament in Scotland. Can I say to
:15:00. > :15:02.the Leader of the House, it is the Leader of the House, it is
:15:03. > :15:07.Government are thinking for one minute of standing in the way of
:15:08. > :15:11.Scottish democracy, it will be the biggest recruiting Sergeant possible
:15:12. > :15:21.for the cause of Scottish independence. The Government will
:15:22. > :15:27.consider carefully recommendations from the electoral commission for a
:15:28. > :15:31.change in regulatory powers. We are considering a number of possible
:15:32. > :15:38.changes to electoral arrangements following the report of my right
:15:39. > :15:41.honourable friend, the member ferment -- Brentwood, upon
:15:42. > :15:48.electrical corruption. I do have to say to the honourable gentleman that
:15:49. > :15:53.complaints from his party, of all parties about the use of battle
:15:54. > :16:00.buses, are more than a little odd. It is not exactly a secret that at
:16:01. > :16:04.2015 general election, the Scottish National Party flew Nicola Sturgeon
:16:05. > :16:08.from constituency to constituency in support of their candidate which
:16:09. > :16:18.suggests the complaints of his party both hypocritical. Order, their
:16:19. > :16:23.leader mustn't use that last word. He is a versatile yellow and he will
:16:24. > :16:31.news -- and he will use another word. I make no allegation against
:16:32. > :16:35.an honourable member. I think the party in question has not displayed
:16:36. > :16:46.consistency of approach when it comes to this matter. He asked me
:16:47. > :16:52.about the referendum in Scotland. Obviously we will want to look at
:16:53. > :16:57.whatever request might come from the Scottish parliament in due course
:16:58. > :17:00.when they have debated whatever motion is put before them. But I
:17:01. > :17:09.want to say this to the honourable gentleman. The Autumn Statement 's
:17:10. > :17:18.and the spring budget together have given roughly ?1.25 billion of extra
:17:19. > :17:26.spending to the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament. They could
:17:27. > :17:29.use that money to reduce the tax hikes on middle income families in
:17:30. > :17:33.Scotland and use it to improve failing schools in Scotland to help
:17:34. > :17:38.struggling hospitals in Scotland. That would be a much better service
:17:39. > :17:49.to the people of Scotland and posturing about a further
:17:50. > :17:59.referendum. You took me by surprise. You were seeking to catch my eye. I
:18:00. > :18:04.am only chairman of the procedure committee and these things are lost
:18:05. > :18:07.on me. Can have an urgent debate on the enterprise partnership in
:18:08. > :18:12.relation to its misuse of 6.5 million of public money to promote
:18:13. > :18:19.and is a planning application but Mark I say to the Leader of the
:18:20. > :18:23.House, the relationship with the relevant planning authority and over
:18:24. > :18:31.of the contract is too close to carry the confidence of my
:18:32. > :18:46.constituents. My honourable friend does make the point powerfully and I
:18:47. > :18:52.do note that he has been successful in securing this and I hope to look
:18:53. > :19:04.at these arguments soon. I would like to sign my question. Will the
:19:05. > :19:10.Minister agree that the 18th of March marks the 40th anniversary
:19:11. > :19:16.since the UK Government recognised the Tish sign language? Will the
:19:17. > :19:26.Minister agree time to bring and give British sign language legal
:19:27. > :19:39.status like other recognised languages? The honourable lady has
:19:40. > :19:46.very eloquent -- eloquently reminded us of the importance of British sign
:19:47. > :19:51.language to a number of our fellow citizens who live with deafness or
:19:52. > :19:56.severe herring -- a hearing impairment. The Department for Work
:19:57. > :20:00.and Pensions as underway a review of the provision of signing services in
:20:01. > :20:05.this country. They've had several hundred submissions during the
:20:06. > :20:09.course of that review and the Secretary of State will be bringing
:20:10. > :20:16.forward conclusions in due course. I can also see to the House that the
:20:17. > :20:21.Department for Education does now plan to accept British sign language
:20:22. > :20:24.as an alternative qualification to functional skills in English within
:20:25. > :20:29.apprenticeships and I hope that will be one step forward towards giving
:20:30. > :20:38.opportunities to more people who live with deafness, to play a full
:20:39. > :20:42.part in the labour market. Can he find time for a debate aimed at
:20:43. > :20:49.promoting projects to deter young people from drinking to excess and
:20:50. > :20:57.taking drugs? I recently saw it at a high school and a real heart of
:20:58. > :21:02.message can make a real impact. I share my honourable friend's concern
:21:03. > :21:05.about the devastating impact which drug and alcohol misuse can have on
:21:06. > :21:11.the lives of too many young people but also upon their families from
:21:12. > :21:15.distraught at what has happened to a loved son or daughter. The
:21:16. > :21:19.Government takes a broad approach to prevention, sought -- supporting
:21:20. > :21:27.investment in different programmes and we announced new funding for
:21:28. > :21:31.mental UK to deliver a programme that includes a range of resources
:21:32. > :21:36.to give people the tools and confidence they need to be able to
:21:37. > :21:41.resist to drug misuse in the first place. When can we debate Billy
:21:42. > :21:45.Datamation 1079 which deals with the abject failure this house and it
:21:46. > :21:52.with the potentially corrupt revolving door between ministerial
:21:53. > :21:58.office and outside jobs? The temptation is there. The former
:21:59. > :22:04.ministers to use their insider knowledge and contacts for their
:22:05. > :22:08.private gain. How was it right the committee that is responsible for
:22:09. > :22:18.approving these appointments saw fit to give their blessing to a former
:22:19. > :22:21.minister to receive ?30,000 a day in addition to his Parliamentary
:22:22. > :22:30.salary? Won't this bring this house into deeper disrepute? I think it is
:22:31. > :22:34.right, Mr Speaker, that we have a committee that is not part of the
:22:35. > :22:38.Government and that is not a committee of this house or the other
:22:39. > :22:45.place, to make these rulings on individual cases. It is important
:22:46. > :22:49.that any former minister does stick to the proper procedures in seeking
:22:50. > :22:54.clearance before taking on any new external appointment. Now the
:22:55. > :22:58.Government has expressed his determination to honour both the
:22:59. > :23:06.letter and spirit of manifesto commitments, can we have an urgent
:23:07. > :23:08.debate on how the Secretary of State for communities and local
:23:09. > :23:12.governments can be persuaded to honour the letter and spirit of the
:23:13. > :23:17.commitment which was made by the Government to Parliament and to my
:23:18. > :23:22.constituents on the 7th of December 2015, that it would not force
:23:23. > :23:30.structural change on any local authority against its well? My
:23:31. > :23:35.honourable friend, as previously speaks strongly on behalf of the
:23:36. > :23:40.continued existence of Christchurch Borough Council, I'm sure he will
:23:41. > :23:43.continue to press that strongly with ministers. His opportunity will
:23:44. > :23:50.arise in an adjournment debate at some time. In response to the High
:23:51. > :23:55.Court judgment, the Government has too produced new air quality plans
:23:56. > :24:00.by next month. 50,000 people die a year and it rarely impacts on my
:24:01. > :24:04.congested city of York. In Mikel gate, we have five air-quality
:24:05. > :24:09.hotspots. Can we have a debate in Government time about the steps that
:24:10. > :24:13.are needed ahead of the air quality plan being published so we can have
:24:14. > :24:19.real input into the Government's plans around this issue? The
:24:20. > :24:25.Government has given that very clear undertaking. There was a planning in
:24:26. > :24:30.place that the courts deemed to be inadequate. The Government will
:24:31. > :24:33.respond to a court judgment and I think probably the right occasion
:24:34. > :24:34.the Parliament to consider this in greater detail will be when they
:24:35. > :24:43.have that plan available for us. As the economy continues to thrive,
:24:44. > :24:51.the claimant wrote in my constituency is just 40.9% but the
:24:52. > :24:55.economy is dependent on European workers. Post Brexit, could we have
:24:56. > :25:01.a debate how we could have a sensible work permit system that is
:25:02. > :25:10.valuable to workers? You make important points and remind us that
:25:11. > :25:14.we should not in debate on immigration policy, get trapped into
:25:15. > :25:19.criticising people who come here from Europe or other countries, who
:25:20. > :25:23.play an important part in our economy, paying their taxes on
:25:24. > :25:28.working hard and contributing to society. The Government is committed
:25:29. > :25:33.to trying to agree a reciprocal deal on the status of EU nationals here
:25:34. > :25:38.and British nationals in the 27 other EU countries at the earliest
:25:39. > :25:42.possible stage of negotiations. While subsequent Taarabt exit from
:25:43. > :25:48.European Union, we will need a system of immigration controls, we
:25:49. > :25:54.are sensitive to the continuing needs British industry to continue
:25:55. > :25:58.to staff post that they have. Last week, the Leader of the House
:25:59. > :26:00.assured me the Government was seeking urgent clarification from
:26:01. > :26:11.the Australian authorities about this new law banning foreigners.
:26:12. > :26:16.It's been a week of absolute silence in this issue by the Foreign Office
:26:17. > :26:23.and on Monday, the chair of the Palestine solidarity, campaign was
:26:24. > :26:28.the first system to be deported from Israel following the passing of the
:26:29. > :26:33.law. Can we please have a statement to clarify how the application of
:26:34. > :26:40.this law will affect UK passport holders and UK foreign policy? The
:26:41. > :26:46.straight answer to Ko is that since she raised this with me last week,
:26:47. > :26:54.we've not have the detailed plan from the Israeli Government we were
:26:55. > :27:09.seeking. The -- we are raising this this week. Unemployment was at its
:27:10. > :27:15.lowest rate of 4.7% this week. The lowest rate since the summer of
:27:16. > :27:19.1975. It's always been a rule of thumb that every Labour Government
:27:20. > :27:27.increases unemployment and the Conservative Government reduces it.
:27:28. > :27:32.I'm sorry, I apologise to the other side of the House. Clearly, the link
:27:33. > :27:38.is different. What happened in the summer of 75? That's when the
:27:39. > :27:43.country decided to stay in the European economic community.
:27:44. > :27:48.Unemployment has gone up all the way while we've been in and now we're
:27:49. > :27:59.coming out, it's coming down, could we have a debate on that? He's
:28:00. > :28:04.already had the debate! I think the growth in employment and the fall in
:28:05. > :28:09.unemployment is something that ought to be welcomed unreservedly on all
:28:10. > :28:14.sides of the House. I think it's due to the hard work and enterprise of
:28:15. > :28:20.British business in creating those jobs but also due to the fact that
:28:21. > :28:24.Government has created an economic climate in which businesses want to
:28:25. > :28:28.invest and they are willing to hire people. The fact we have
:28:29. > :28:34.unemployment now at the lowest level we've seen since 1975, employment at
:28:35. > :28:38.the highest level, it's ever been in the history of our country, I would
:28:39. > :28:46.hope every member, whichever party, will welcome. As the Leader of the
:28:47. > :28:51.House knows, next week marks the second anniversary of the conflict
:28:52. > :28:56.in Yemen resulting in the death of 10,000 Yemeni people and brought
:28:57. > :29:00.that country to the brink of famine. The Yemeni people now face the four
:29:01. > :29:14.horsemen of the Apocalypse, Al-Qaeda, Daiya Seto -- day --
:29:15. > :29:19.Daesh, famine... It's vital we are updated before this country slides
:29:20. > :29:32.into the greatest catastrophe of this century. I think we would all
:29:33. > :29:36.share the right honourable gentleman's sense of horror at what
:29:37. > :29:41.has happened in Yemen and it would be foolish to pretend the British
:29:42. > :29:45.Government, while we are extremely active in international work, has a
:29:46. > :29:51.quick and easy solution to the conflict there. But we continue to
:29:52. > :29:58.support the tireless efforts of the UN special envoy to try to broker an
:29:59. > :30:05.agreement between the warring parties inside Yemen. We also
:30:06. > :30:09.continue to commit large sums of our overseas aid budget to relieve
:30:10. > :30:12.humanitarian suffering in Yemen. That political work and she
:30:13. > :30:20.monetarily and work will both continue. -- that humanitarian work.
:30:21. > :30:25.In the unlikely event the Scottish people were to follow the advice of
:30:26. > :30:32.the Scottish National Party and vote for independence, Scottish people
:30:33. > :30:36.would be very much poorer. Many of my constituents are already
:30:37. > :30:42.concerned about the level of the foreign aid budget. Could we have a
:30:43. > :30:45.debate on the aid budget so that the Government could make clear they
:30:46. > :30:56.will not sanction an increase in order to bail the Scots? I think
:30:57. > :31:02.this is really good news for Scotland. Since 2010, unemployment
:31:03. > :31:08.in Scotland has gone up by 170 1000. There are 90,000 fewer Scots who are
:31:09. > :31:15.out of work. -- employment in Scotland has gone up by 170,000.
:31:16. > :31:23.Women's employment has gone up as well and we should be celebrating
:31:24. > :31:26.that. Huddersfield people are disappointed the budget did so
:31:27. > :31:31.little for the NHS and for the hospital and A that may be closed.
:31:32. > :31:37.The people of Huddersfield wanted me to prioritise today that we must do
:31:38. > :31:40.something to save the children starving in East Africa and we must
:31:41. > :31:46.have a debate on it and raise consciousness. And get this country
:31:47. > :31:51.to donate to save those children and families from starvation. The
:31:52. > :31:56.honourable gentleman makes a very good point about the need to
:31:57. > :32:02.remember that humanitarian crisis in East Africa, that is something new
:32:03. > :32:07.Department for International Development is extremely focused on.
:32:08. > :32:10.Anything that can be done to raise public consciousness about the need
:32:11. > :32:18.for charitable donations to supplement what the Government is
:32:19. > :32:20.doing is very much welcomed. Last Friday, I visited great Addington
:32:21. > :32:25.primary school where I was asked difficult questions inspired by
:32:26. > :32:31.their visit to Parliament last year. They asked me to convey to the House
:32:32. > :32:35.they're very sincere appreciation for the excellent tour. I would ask
:32:36. > :32:40.the Leader of the House in joining me to thank the staff for helping
:32:41. > :32:44.with that. Could we have a debate about the important role this place
:32:45. > :32:49.plays about educating young people about democracy? The pupils from
:32:50. > :32:54.great Addington school, I am glad they enjoyed their visit and put the
:32:55. > :32:58.lessons learned to good use in interrogating my honourable friend!
:32:59. > :33:07.We will prepare him for his future ministerial career I am certain! I
:33:08. > :33:12.know that enhancing the educational work of the House is something to
:33:13. > :33:18.which you have given a high priority and it's an objective I certainly
:33:19. > :33:24.share and in seeking to do a programme in my own future external
:33:25. > :33:29.engagement and I hope all of us in our individual constituencies will
:33:30. > :33:34.try to interest young men and women in the work that we do, because
:33:35. > :33:40.capturing the imagination of boys and girls at a young age is the
:33:41. > :33:45.surest way in which we can rebuild confidence and enthusiasm for our
:33:46. > :33:51.democratic processes. The answer from the Leader of the House is very
:33:52. > :33:54.interesting, and it might be interested to lots of young people
:33:55. > :34:14.who are observing our proceedings from not very far away. Race hate
:34:15. > :34:20.crime is up by 40% since Brexit. My constituents have always challenged
:34:21. > :34:27.extremism and such groups are not welcome in South Shields. Yet the
:34:28. > :34:31.processed has such margins, it is complex and arduous. Will you make a
:34:32. > :34:38.statement as to what you are doing against this? I faced this challenge
:34:39. > :34:46.in my own constituency as well with EDL marches. There is a balance that
:34:47. > :34:50.has to be struck between the right of freedom of expression and freedom
:34:51. > :34:55.to demonstrate, that we all cherish in the United Kingdom. That cannot
:34:56. > :35:03.only be with the people with whom we agree. The importance of
:35:04. > :35:08.demonstrating rejection of extremist groups. My view is that the best way
:35:09. > :35:15.in which to respond to the EDL or similar groups is for the entire
:35:16. > :35:23.community to speak and to show in their actions that they are utterly
:35:24. > :35:29.reject and repelled by the venom and hatred which those groups seek to
:35:30. > :35:32.sew in our society and for those of us in positions of leadership in
:35:33. > :35:41.particular, to show solidarity with those minority groups who feel so
:35:42. > :35:43.threatened. There are housing association tenants in my very
:35:44. > :35:50.constituency who would like the opportunity to buy their property so
:35:51. > :35:54.can we please have a statement on what progress is being made on
:35:55. > :35:59.extending the right to buy to housing association tenants? In the
:36:00. > :36:05.Autumn Statement last year, the Chancellor announced a large-scale
:36:06. > :36:08.regional pilot that will enable more than 3000 homes in association
:36:09. > :36:15.tenants to buy their own home. We are undertaking these pilots to make
:36:16. > :36:19.sure we get this policy right. We will be testing the key features of
:36:20. > :36:27.the policy and look at the evidence to decide how it can go forward. The
:36:28. > :36:30.Brexit secretary admitted yesterday the Government has made no full
:36:31. > :36:37.assessment of the potential impact on the EQ -- UK economy of leaving
:36:38. > :36:40.the EU without a deal. Can we have a debate on this issue in Government
:36:41. > :36:48.time so this House can hold the Government to account on this very
:36:49. > :36:56.important matter? There will be an opportunity. I do want to correct
:36:57. > :36:59.the honourable lady, what the Secretary of State said yesterday is
:37:00. > :37:05.that the Government is looking across at the impact of leaving the
:37:06. > :37:10.EU over various sectors of our economy. He was asked about an
:37:11. > :37:12.overall economic assessment and he said his department and others in
:37:13. > :37:17.Whitehall are carrying out a programme of rigorous and extensive
:37:18. > :37:20.analytical work on a sector by sector basis and that is surely the
:37:21. > :37:30.constructive way on which to base this? We all know the Government is
:37:31. > :37:37.keen on manifestly and commitments and following through on them. I
:37:38. > :37:43.think it would be a cross-party, across this House would welcome a
:37:44. > :37:48.debate on what the Government means. We had a debate on elephants and
:37:49. > :37:55.ivory trade before Christmas and we were told it would be coming out
:37:56. > :37:59.shortly. In February, we were told it was coming out shortly. Could we
:38:00. > :38:03.have a statement as to when we will know when we are going to follow
:38:04. > :38:09.through on the manifesto to ban the trade in ivory? I know the Secretary
:38:10. > :38:17.of State for environment plans to take the decision and announce their
:38:18. > :38:22.proposals soon. If we could try to speed up, that would be good because
:38:23. > :38:36.there is a statement to follow. The Leader of the House will be aware
:38:37. > :38:47.that the Oscars of the FC sector occurred and an FC college in
:38:48. > :38:50.Bridgend won the award. I think is right you reminders of the
:38:51. > :38:55.importance of that sector and I want to congratulate Bridgend college on
:38:56. > :39:00.its achievement. Medway hospital in my constituency has been in special
:39:01. > :39:04.measures for nearly four years. The staff, leadership in partnership
:39:05. > :39:07.with the Government has worked tirelessly to improve standards.
:39:08. > :39:12.Will you join me in paying tribute to the excellent staff who have won
:39:13. > :39:15.awards including excellence in maternity care? Can we have a
:39:16. > :39:21.statement on the performance of the hospitals in special measures? It's
:39:22. > :39:28.always tough when staff have to face up to criticism of their record and
:39:29. > :39:32.see the institution placed in special measures and I'm delighted
:39:33. > :39:35.to hear from a honourable friend that staff at Medway hospital have
:39:36. > :39:41.responded so positively and I hope their efforts soon receive the
:39:42. > :39:46.public attribution I know he hopes for.
:39:47. > :39:53.Another GP surgery is closing in my constituency. The sixth in recent
:39:54. > :39:59.times and the patients are being to spurts to surgeries around the. The
:40:00. > :40:04.period people have to what weight -- to wait to get an appointment is
:40:05. > :40:08.growing. Some have statement about the performance of NHS England
:40:09. > :40:16.providing GP services because the situation in my constituency is
:40:17. > :40:21.intolerable? We want to see GP practices open so people can benefit
:40:22. > :40:25.from the excellent services they offer. 17 million patients benefited
:40:26. > :40:32.from evening and weekend appointments. We have increased
:40:33. > :40:39.investment in general practice by ?2.5 billion and there are 1100 more
:40:40. > :40:45.GPs compared with 2010. I will draw to the Secretary of State's
:40:46. > :40:50.attention, the difficulty in his constituency he has mentioned. Kammy
:40:51. > :40:55.have a debate on the Northern Powerhouse School strategy. 80
:40:56. > :40:59.organisations were involved coming together to improve the aspirations
:41:00. > :41:05.and achievements of young children in Pendle. I want to know how we can
:41:06. > :41:11.work together on this issue. It is important that we look to raise not
:41:12. > :41:14.just the standards of achievement by children in school but raise their
:41:15. > :41:21.aspirations and expectations about what is possible. The Northern
:41:22. > :41:25.Powerhouse strategy AMs to do that and that is why the Government is
:41:26. > :41:28.putting in ?70 million over the course of this Parliament and I hope
:41:29. > :41:36.we will see a further announcement on that before very long. Given
:41:37. > :41:40.there was no mention of health... Can have an opportunity to speak on
:41:41. > :41:43.behalf of women including my constituent who was denied with
:41:44. > :41:48.little notice the chance to retire when she planned and has found out
:41:49. > :41:58.she is terminally ill. Her voice and others deserve to be heard.
:41:59. > :42:11.Questions to the secretary of state on the 27th of March. The
:42:12. > :42:14.equalisation of pension age was something which did have cross-party
:42:15. > :42:22.support in this house when it was brought in. Millions of people
:42:23. > :42:28.install cavity wall insulation successfully but there have been
:42:29. > :42:31.many failures leading to fungal infection and structural
:42:32. > :42:35.difficulties in people's homes. They are often elderly and disabled and
:42:36. > :42:40.they thought they were participating in a Government scheme. The
:42:41. > :42:46.industry's response has been defensive and evasive most of the
:42:47. > :42:50.time and the Government seems to be hoping to keep out what will be
:42:51. > :43:05.potentially a very expensive mess. Kammy have a debate on the CWI
:43:06. > :43:10.scandal? -- can we have a debate. It has to be resolved in the normal
:43:11. > :43:14.way. If you would like to write to me with details about his
:43:15. > :43:19.experience, I will happily consider the case. And glad I'm not the only
:43:20. > :43:23.member of the House to be disappointed the Chancellor made no
:43:24. > :43:28.mention of extra police funding in his budget statement last week. Cuts
:43:29. > :43:32.to front-line policing in Bradford South have been profound with a few
:43:33. > :43:37.officers engaged in neighbourhood policing today than in 2012. But the
:43:38. > :43:47.leader allocate time that a debate on this important issue? Be spending
:43:48. > :43:54.totals for the police was announced at the time of the spending review.
:43:55. > :43:59.Crime is traditionally measured by the independent crime survey have
:44:00. > :44:07.fallen by a third since 2010 and are now at a record low. That shows the
:44:08. > :44:11.police have been extremely professional in managing their
:44:12. > :44:19.budgets to assure the public are protected and crime comes down.
:44:20. > :44:22.Kammy have debate and a statement on funding third sector organisations
:44:23. > :44:33.to assist the long-term unemployed into work? It seeks to celebrate the
:44:34. > :44:38.20th anniversary of a trusted my constituency which pertains skills
:44:39. > :44:41.of woodwork and metalwork. Does he agree this sustainability and
:44:42. > :44:48.finance of such organisations can help the long-term unemployed? I
:44:49. > :44:52.don't know any more about it than the honourable gentleman as just
:44:53. > :44:57.said to the House. I'm happy to salute the work that they do and the
:44:58. > :45:02.work of many other such organisations in all parts of the UK
:45:03. > :45:05.in trying to provide the mentoring and support that is often so
:45:06. > :45:09.valuable to people who have been unemployed for very long in helping
:45:10. > :45:18.them have the confidence and Basic skills to get back the marketplace.
:45:19. > :45:22.Yesterday there were three separate groups of illegal traveller
:45:23. > :45:26.encampments across my constituency. This problem plagued my constituents
:45:27. > :45:33.last year and is taking up where it left off. I recognise travellers
:45:34. > :45:36.have rights, as do my constituents, especially to enjoy the public parks
:45:37. > :45:42.they pay for. It is right across the country and there is real confusion
:45:43. > :45:46.about law and enforcement. Can we have a debating Government time when
:45:47. > :45:50.ministers set out clearly the Government's expectations on how the
:45:51. > :45:58.problem of illegal encampments should be tackled? This might be
:45:59. > :46:03.good material as it affects a large number of constituencies. There are
:46:04. > :46:08.sanctions and processes available to local authorities and to the police
:46:09. > :46:12.to deal with the problem of illegal encampments and I completely agree
:46:13. > :46:18.with him. What riles residents more than anything else is the sense that
:46:19. > :46:21.they are expected to stick by the rules, by the law when it comes to
:46:22. > :46:26.any kind of planning matter and when they see people getting away with it
:46:27. > :46:35.scot-free, quite rightly they get angry about it. Constituents came to
:46:36. > :46:43.see me about his zero hours contracts with Evans Paul shore. May
:46:44. > :46:47.we have a debate on how we can strengthen the legless --
:46:48. > :46:54.legislation in relation to this insecure employment? Conservative
:46:55. > :46:59.led Government did outlaw exclusivity clauses in zero hours
:47:00. > :47:04.contracts and while we do keep a close watch on this, it will be one
:47:05. > :47:08.of the things Matthew Taylor's review will want to look at and it
:47:09. > :47:14.remains the case that fewer than 3% of the workforce sees a zero hours
:47:15. > :47:18.contract has been their main job will stop roughly 70% of those
:47:19. > :47:25.people say they are happy with the number of hours that they work. The
:47:26. > :47:29.Leader of the House is no Philistine so he will know that this year is
:47:30. > :47:37.the bicentenary of the birth of the Scottish architect, Alexander Griggs
:47:38. > :47:40.Thompson. Will he congratulate the Thomson Society for putting together
:47:41. > :47:44.a whole year of events to remember this architect's work and can we
:47:45. > :47:50.have debate on his contribution to Scottish built heritage? This is the
:47:51. > :47:54.question the honourable gentleman would have asked if he was at DC MS
:47:55. > :48:00.questions and he is therefore doing it now. I would like to make it
:48:01. > :48:07.aware of the public information statement. I'm happy to make tribute
:48:08. > :48:13.and perhaps the honourable gentleman will pen a brief note to all members
:48:14. > :48:19.of the House so we know where we can go and see more of his work when we
:48:20. > :48:24.come to Scotland. In recent weeks there has been a number of reports
:48:25. > :48:29.of foxes being hunted by hounds in Cheshire. Graphic and disturbing
:48:30. > :48:34.images have been passed all over the Internet. This barbaric practice is
:48:35. > :48:41.illegal. Kammy have a debate on what more can be done to uphold the law?
:48:42. > :48:45.The enforcement of the law is rightly a matter not the ministers
:48:46. > :48:51.buffer Independent police and prosecuting authorities. On Tuesday
:48:52. > :48:54.in this house, the premise to set at the recent European Council she was
:48:55. > :49:00.encouraging the EU to complete the single market and the digital single
:49:01. > :49:03.market. Come have debate on white is in the national interests that the
:49:04. > :49:10.EU to complete the markers but it is not in the UK's interest to be part
:49:11. > :49:14.of them? It is in the UK's interest that the European Union with which
:49:15. > :49:21.we are negotiating a new partnership as a system which is as friendly to
:49:22. > :49:24.open markets and free trade as possible because that will then
:49:25. > :49:29.enhance the opportunities for our companies and our citizens when it
:49:30. > :49:32.comes to that new relationship will stop I would have thought there was
:49:33. > :49:45.another job to the honourable gentleman would have supported. Can
:49:46. > :49:50.we have statement on defectors who cheat emission test. Volkswagen and
:49:51. > :49:52.Renault have questions to answer. If it is fraudulent behaviour, senior
:49:53. > :50:04.executives need to be held to account. I've seen the reports that
:50:05. > :50:09.have been made about alleged malpractice by Renault. I would hope
:50:10. > :50:11.any allegations are properly investigated and those responsible
:50:12. > :50:19.for any wrongdoing are held to account properly. Chester continues
:50:20. > :50:21.to be blighted by student developments by speculative
:50:22. > :50:24.developers. They are favoured because of their distortion of the
:50:25. > :50:29.council tax rules which mean they get a high investment and take up
:50:30. > :50:35.more land that should be used in the family accommodation. Can I call for
:50:36. > :50:43.a debate on planning law so we can tackle these issues? I suspect we
:50:44. > :50:49.will never get a system of planning law that satisfies everybody and
:50:50. > :50:53.every sector of the economy but I would encourage the honourable
:50:54. > :50:56.gentleman as I encourage my honourable friend to seek a
:50:57. > :51:07.backbench business debate on this matter. Today is this seven --
:51:08. > :51:10.708... I wonder if he could have a debate on Scotland's distinct
:51:11. > :51:16.parliamentary tradition given that is the story that is still being
:51:17. > :51:25.written. That might be a suitable subject for a supplied day on the
:51:26. > :51:30.Scottish National Party. And happy to salute Scotland's Parliamentary
:51:31. > :51:34.and constitutional tradition and I see the declaration of Arbroath and
:51:35. > :51:43.the Scottish Parliamentary tradition as one of those constitutional and
:51:44. > :51:51.democratic traditions in our national life that has helped enrich
:51:52. > :51:57.the UK as a whole. You may be aware I have campaigned on periods within
:51:58. > :52:02.that looking at period poverty. I spoke to BBC Radio Leeds who was
:52:03. > :52:05.highlighting that in the city. A significant number of goals up in
:52:06. > :52:10.trouble because they do not have any sanitary protection around the time
:52:11. > :52:13.of their period. One can imagine the indignity that courses. Come have a
:52:14. > :52:17.debating Government to talk about it there is anything we can do to
:52:18. > :52:24.provide sanitary protection for low income families and those who simply
:52:25. > :52:28.cannot afford it in these days of austerity? This is probably a matter
:52:29. > :52:33.initially to be raised via an adjournment debate but one of the
:52:34. > :52:39.things that we will be able to deal with when we have left the European
:52:40. > :52:44.Union, is to -- that the rates of value added tax that are obligatory
:52:45. > :52:48.under the fifth directive at the moment. She knows the tax on
:52:49. > :52:53.sanitary products is one of those things the Government is committed
:52:54. > :53:01.to examine. Recently I asked the Prime Minister if she would exempt
:53:02. > :53:04.older people on the housing allowance cap being introduced
:53:05. > :53:08.Purcell sink -- social housing tenants in 2019? The Prime Minister
:53:09. > :53:14.didn't seem to understand the question. To avoid causing undue
:53:15. > :53:17.hardship to thousands of people across the country, can we have a
:53:18. > :53:25.debate on the implications of these proposals as soon as possible? I am
:53:26. > :53:30.happy to referred the matter to the Department for Work and Pensions to
:53:31. > :53:32.have a look at the particular problem that the honourable
:53:33. > :53:37.gentleman identified in his question. If you'd like to let me
:53:38. > :53:43.have a few details, I think the principle of having the cap is the
:53:44. > :53:46.right one and there are funds available to local councils for
:53:47. > :53:51.discretionary use in cases of heart ship. If it thinks there is a
:53:52. > :53:58.particular case the reform to the regulations themselves, I will pass
:53:59. > :54:03.it to the Secretary of State. May we have a statement on the lack of
:54:04. > :54:09.changing places toilets across the UK? It can't be right that parents
:54:10. > :54:13.of disabled children are having to change their children on unhygienic
:54:14. > :54:16.toilet floors. This must be bought on a statutory footing and something
:54:17. > :54:23.done to bring us into the century that we should be in. That is an
:54:24. > :54:30.interesting point and I completely understand absolutely be very
:54:31. > :54:36.difficult position the parents who find themselves in such a situation.
:54:37. > :54:39.It is something I would suggest she might want to raise in an
:54:40. > :54:43.adjournment debate but I suggest she writes to the Minister for disabled
:54:44. > :54:52.people about this. I'm sure she will get a very reasonable hearing.
:54:53. > :54:57.A number of families travelled across the UK to attend a debate
:54:58. > :55:03.yesterday, also attended by six MPs from majority parties throughout
:55:04. > :55:06.this tax. We were looking at the injustice of police Widows pensions,
:55:07. > :55:15.the widows lose their pension, should they remarry or cohabit. It's
:55:16. > :55:19.basically a tax on love, Mr Speaker. The Minister for Great Yarmouth was
:55:20. > :55:24.only able to give seven minutes and that included taking an intervention
:55:25. > :55:29.to respond to the 15th in the 15 minutes he had. Could we now have a
:55:30. > :55:33.debate here in the main chamber so that a further and fully answer
:55:34. > :55:39.could be provided to those families who feel they are facing an
:55:40. > :55:47.injustice? I am sure honourable lady would acknowledge that the Minister
:55:48. > :55:49.only has such time is available from the 90 minutes or 60 minutes that
:55:50. > :55:56.has been allotted to that particular debate. But I'm sure if she seeks
:55:57. > :56:02.the opportunity to raise this question at Home Office questions,
:56:03. > :56:12.she will be able to wear these concerns further. A pleasure to give
:56:13. > :56:17.back my usual place in business questions. I'm not sure of the
:56:18. > :56:23.leader of the houses where the event held in Parliament on International
:56:24. > :56:30.Women's Day. People sit in Parliament to get a vision for
:56:31. > :56:42.Canada. It will hopefully inspire people to participate in these
:56:43. > :56:45.processes for years to come. The honourable gentleman can tell the
:56:46. > :56:56.people of his constituency that we keep the best till last. I think the
:56:57. > :57:03.way in which someone exchanges today have highlighted the need to engage
:57:04. > :57:08.better as institutions with young people under way in which we have
:57:09. > :57:11.addressed through these exchanges, the need to encourage greater
:57:12. > :57:16.opportunities for helps contribute to the objective the honourable
:57:17. > :57:24.gentleman is seeking. I hope he would also agree it's not just women
:57:25. > :57:28.we want to encourage young men particularly from working-class
:57:29. > :57:32.backgrounds who feel often very disaffected and alienated from
:57:33. > :57:34.mainstream democratic processes, people from black and minority
:57:35. > :57:40.ethnic communities to be involved more. All of us can do this through
:57:41. > :57:46.leadership in our own constituencies and by using the services of the
:57:47. > :57:49.parliamentary educational service that really does provide first class
:57:50. > :57:55.educational materials and will happily host visits by schools and
:57:56. > :58:02.colleges here. Statement the Secretary of State for culture,
:58:03. > :58:06.media and sport. Karen Bradley. I came to this House on March six to
:58:07. > :58:12.give an update on the proposed merger between 21st Century Fox and
:58:13. > :58:16.Sky. At that time, I said I was minded to issue a European it
:58:17. > :58:20.intervention notice on the basis that I believe there to be public
:58:21. > :58:24.interest considerations are set out in the enterprise act 2002 that may
:58:25. > :58:28.be relevant to this proposed merger and which warrant further
:58:29. > :58:33.investigation. The grounds on which I was minded to intervene where as
:58:34. > :58:36.explained at that time, media plurality and commitment to
:58:37. > :58:40.broadcasting standards. I also confirmed that in line with
:58:41. > :58:43.guidance, I would be inviting further representations in writing
:58:44. > :58:48.from the parties and gave them until last Wednesday to provide these.
:58:49. > :58:50.Having carefully considered