16/03/2017 Business Questions

but have not yet done so. Business question. Could I ask the Leader of

the House to give the House the forthcoming business. The business

for next week will be as follows. Monday the 20th of March, second

reading of the prisons and courts bill. 21st of March, remaining

status of the intellectual property unjustified threats bill. Followed

by a general debate on fuel poverty. 22nd of March, remaining stages of

the pension schemes bill, Lords, followed by a debate on exiting the

European Union and global trade. Thursday 23rd March, debate on a

motion of compensation for Equitable Life policy holders. Followed by a

debate on the motion of the social mobility and state of the nation

report. Both subjects determined by the backbench business committee.

24th of March, private members bills. The week commencing the 27th

of March, remaining stages of the bus services bill. I would also like

to inform the House the business in Westminster hall for the 27th and

30th March will be Monday 27th of March, debate on a petition relation

to badger culling. 30th of March, a debate relating to the future of

local and regional news providers. : I thank the Leader of the House for

giving us the business and could the confirm the rumours circulating that

the Queen 's Speech will be on the 17th May. Can I wish everyone a

happy St Patrick's Day for tomorrow. It is an interruption of the Lent

and fasting process. Salt and vinegar crisps all round to cheer up

the troops? This has been a week of delay, incompetence and confusion.

Starting with energy companies. The big six have raised their prices and

consumers have been overpaid. In response to the member for

Hartlepool yesterday, that prices had been raised by 14% and SSE also.

It has been reported by Ofgem that there is no need to increase prices.

The time is up for these companies. Instead of acting, the Minister

problems she was a green paper. The Minister must now take a leaf out of

the 2015 Labour manifesto and put a cap on prices. Instead of being

obsessed by the way someone eats bacon sandwich, it was a popular and

costed policy so could we have a debate on what the powers the

Government will use to protect consumers immediately. Speaking of

manifestos, it's because the Government has got away with it

before, they said no more top-down reorganisation for the NHS and they

did it. They said in Coalition, no increased tuition fees and then they

did it so they thought they could do it again. There is a real piece of

wood to be done on National Insurance contributions. Bizarrely,

they instigated the Taylor review, due to be reporting in June and yet

they put their policy through. They should have given time for

businesses to plan those increases. It's really hard for small

businesses to suddenly find that extra money. Instead of coming to

the chamber to explain it, the Prime Minister took to the podium in

Brussels and announced a deferred policy and then Chancellor comes on

Wednesday. The Chancellor seems to have fallen down his own black hole.

Tell that to Stephen Hawking. What the confusion and chaos that is

Brexit? More and more select committees are published. Could we

have a timetable of when and how these will be debated? The

Government seems fixated on an unamended bill going through

Parliament rather than preparing the country for what is to follow. The

affairs Select Committee said the Government refused to give evidence

saying it will be nothing more than an exercise in guesswork. The

committee found the consequences of failure are far from an exercise in

guesswork, they are in scope and if not in detail, largely predictable

and have been predicted in evidence. The report recommended each

department should produce a new deal plan. Setting out proposals to

mitigate these risks. Could the Leader of the House indicate whether

this will be implemented, a plan from each other departments will be

implemented and reported to the House? The report on Brexit trade in

goods from the other place, reminded us on page 97, the EU is by a

significant margin the UK's biggest trading partner and many UK

businesses cannot easily substitute imports from EU with products from

the UK. Could the Leader of the House say what support businesses

will get to support these new suppliers or is the Government

abandoning small businesses? I'd like to raise the West Midlands

leaflet. The candidate Sean Simon apparently in the leaflet by another

candidate from his party suggested he didn't have any experience. Sean

Simon was an ex-MP, a Minister and a member of the European Parliament so

he's well experienced to take the West Midlands forward after Brexit.

Women are not just for International Women's Day but for life and this

month, we celebrate women's history month. As we continue to tell her

story. Next week there will be a lecture on Constance Markovic, the

first woman elected to Parliament but didn't take his seat. On the

same day, international anti-discrimination day. Good leader

say if they will find time to debate the McGregor Smith review to race in

the workplace with the sacking staff in the equalities and human rights

commission, it is that organisation that should be taking these

recommendations forward. The found that if talent is fully utilised,

the economy would receive a ?24 billion boost. That would fill that

?2 billion hole in the budget. Not only is this good for the economy,

to use all talents, but it is the right thing to do for the common

good in a good society. Can I first of all join with the honourable lady

in wishing everybody a particularly our colleagues from Northern Ireland

and colleagues with Irish ancestry a happy St Patrick's Day. It is one of

those occasions that whatever divisions in Northern Ireland, does

tend to bring all sides together in a common celebration. She asked me

whether I can confirm or deny a possible date for the Queen 's

Speech and I'm afraid the answer is no. The Government has made it clear

we are pressing ahead with the Taylor review which will be a very

important study and report upon the way in which digital technology is

changing our notions of employment and I'm sure Matthew Taylor will

come forward with a number of very specific challenging recommendations

at the end of that process that the Government will want to take

seriously. She also asked about EU exit. There are provisions in our

arrangements for debates on Select Committee reports which from time to

time are chosen by either the backbench business committee or by

the liaison committee, in time, they have allotted to them. I really

don't think she can fault the willingness of ministers, in

particular the willingness of the Secretary of State for Exiting the

European Union, to appear before this House and to appear before

select committees in order to answer the questions honourable members

have. There is detailed work going on not just in my right honourable

friend's department but across Whitehall upon the impact of various

possible outcomes to the negotiations, upon the different

sectors of our economy. It's obviously sensible for us to consult

closely with those sectors of the economy about those scenarios. She

asked me about women's history month, I am very happy to join her

in celebrating that and I hope that as well as achievements of people

like Constance Markovic and Nancy Astor, there will be a proper salute

to the two women Prime Ministers of this country. I agreed with her

completely about the importance of harnessing all the talent and energy

of our fellow citizens from the black and minority ethnic

communities. While this is yes, in part, down to having the right sort

of equalities and anti-discrimination legislation, I

hope the House will also acknowledge that getting this right needs also

encouraging people from those communities to believe that

everything is possible for them in our country. I am heartened in my

own constituency and nationally by having seen in the time I've been in

this place, more and more men and women from our black and other

minority communities playing a leading role in the mainstream of

life in our country, whether that is in business or in the media, the

arts or in the professions or in politics of local and national

level. I don't blame the Lady for wanting

to find something nice to say about the Labour candidate for the West

Midlands mayoral election but I am the first to acknowledge the hard

work and dedication of people who serve in the European Parliament.

Having executive authority for the Midlands' engine, one of the

heartlands of our national economic life, the commercial experience of

Andy Street puts him head and shoulders above this competition.

Just before we proceed with the business question, I had to notify

the House. Her Majesty has signified her royal assent of the following

acts. Supply and Appropriation Bill, European Union notification of

withdrawal axed 2017. The chairman of the backbench business committee

is not able to be with us once again. Can I remind my right

honourable friend on the front bench we have an ever-growing queue of

applications the debates and I wonder if he could consider allowing

protected time, particularly on Thursdays, the backbench business

debates which will mean the House will sit later but we could get at

least two Micro debates in and clear the decks. The Mayor of London is

not only called in planning applications in Harrow, which

comprises of two tower blocks extorted two story housing. The

planning committee of Harrow Council rejected this an acceptable

application. The Mayor of London has directed approval against the wishes

of Harrow Council, the residence and it is hideous. Can we have a debate

on planning? It was good to see the chairman of the backbench business

committee in his place and I hope it won't be long until he is playing

regular part. I could see in the meantime that we do always take

seriously the backbench committee's request the time. The reality is

there is pressure. The committee make for protected

time on specific Thursdays and I would be reluctant to agree to a

general rule for all Thursdays because sometimes backbench debates

themselves to Peter out before the a lot of time has been completed. It

doesn't occasionally happen. We have in the past tried where we know

there are statements coming to protect the backbench business

agenda. On his point about Harrow, he has always spoken strongly on

behalf of his constituents and I'm sure he will try and catch your --

catch your attention for an adjournment debate. I want to wish

everybody a happy Saint Patrick's Day. It is difficult to know where

to start. How about we start with an urgent statement on the Electoral

Commission's fine for breaching electron law. We need to hear this

Government are taking these allegations seriously and not

hitting out like some members have this morning at the electrical --

electoral commission. It is important to protect our democracy

and the Conservative Party will be investigating. ?70,000 is peanuts to

the Conservative Party, so will the lead of the House say they will

fully comply and take part in every single one of these police

investigations? This could be the cash for honours of this Parliament.

Can we have a debate on automotive manoeuvres because the screeching of

yesterday's MIC U-turn is still ringing in our ears with a skid

marks all the way up to the doors. I don't think we have seen a budget so

dramatically unravelled as the one we saw last week. Maybe we should

have that budget manifesto proved will get Laura conspired to deliver

it it. We'll be a statement from the Government approving a section

ordered to have a referendum as it votes to request one next week.

There can be no case for standing in the way of democracy and defying the

will of the democratically elected parliament in Scotland. Can I say to

the Leader of the House, it is the Leader of the House, it is

Government are thinking for one minute of standing in the way of

Scottish democracy, it will be the biggest recruiting Sergeant possible

for the cause of Scottish independence. The Government will

consider carefully recommendations from the electoral commission for a

change in regulatory powers. We are considering a number of possible

changes to electoral arrangements following the report of my right

honourable friend, the member ferment -- Brentwood, upon

electrical corruption. I do have to say to the honourable gentleman that

complaints from his party, of all parties about the use of battle

buses, are more than a little odd. It is not exactly a secret that at

2015 general election, the Scottish National Party flew Nicola Sturgeon

from constituency to constituency in support of their candidate which

suggests the complaints of his party both hypocritical. Order, their

leader mustn't use that last word. He is a versatile yellow and he will

news -- and he will use another word. I make no allegation against

an honourable member. I think the party in question has not displayed

consistency of approach when it comes to this matter. He asked me

about the referendum in Scotland. Obviously we will want to look at

whatever request might come from the Scottish parliament in due course

when they have debated whatever motion is put before them. But I

want to say this to the honourable gentleman. The Autumn Statement 's

and the spring budget together have given roughly ?1.25 billion of extra

spending to the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament. They could

use that money to reduce the tax hikes on middle income families in

Scotland and use it to improve failing schools in Scotland to help

struggling hospitals in Scotland. That would be a much better service

to the people of Scotland and posturing about a further

referendum. You took me by surprise. You were seeking to catch my eye. I

am only chairman of the procedure committee and these things are lost

on me. Can have an urgent debate on the enterprise partnership in

relation to its misuse of 6.5 million of public money to promote

and is a planning application but Mark I say to the Leader of the

House, the relationship with the relevant planning authority and over

of the contract is too close to carry the confidence of my

constituents. My honourable friend does make the point powerfully and I

do note that he has been successful in securing this and I hope to look

at these arguments soon. I would like to sign my question. Will the

Minister agree that the 18th of March marks the 40th anniversary

since the UK Government recognised the Tish sign language? Will the

Minister agree time to bring and give British sign language legal

status like other recognised languages? The honourable lady has

very eloquent -- eloquently reminded us of the importance of British sign

language to a number of our fellow citizens who live with deafness or

severe herring -- a hearing impairment. The Department for Work

and Pensions as underway a review of the provision of signing services in

this country. They've had several hundred submissions during the

course of that review and the Secretary of State will be bringing

forward conclusions in due course. I can also see to the House that the

Department for Education does now plan to accept British sign language

as an alternative qualification to functional skills in English within

apprenticeships and I hope that will be one step forward towards giving

opportunities to more people who live with deafness, to play a full

part in the labour market. Can he find time for a debate aimed at

promoting projects to deter young people from drinking to excess and

taking drugs? I recently saw it at a high school and a real heart of

message can make a real impact. I share my honourable friend's concern

about the devastating impact which drug and alcohol misuse can have on

the lives of too many young people but also upon their families from

distraught at what has happened to a loved son or daughter. The

Government takes a broad approach to prevention, sought -- supporting

investment in different programmes and we announced new funding for

mental UK to deliver a programme that includes a range of resources

to give people the tools and confidence they need to be able to

resist to drug misuse in the first place. When can we debate Billy

Datamation 1079 which deals with the abject failure this house and it

with the potentially corrupt revolving door between ministerial

office and outside jobs? The temptation is there. The former

ministers to use their insider knowledge and contacts for their

private gain. How was it right the committee that is responsible for

approving these appointments saw fit to give their blessing to a former

minister to receive ?30,000 a day in addition to his Parliamentary

salary? Won't this bring this house into deeper disrepute? I think it is

right, Mr Speaker, that we have a committee that is not part of the

Government and that is not a committee of this house or the other

place, to make these rulings on individual cases. It is important

that any former minister does stick to the proper procedures in seeking

clearance before taking on any new external appointment. Now the

Government has expressed his determination to honour both the

letter and spirit of manifesto commitments, can we have an urgent

debate on how the Secretary of State for communities and local

governments can be persuaded to honour the letter and spirit of the

commitment which was made by the Government to Parliament and to my

constituents on the 7th of December 2015, that it would not force

structural change on any local authority against its well? My

honourable friend, as previously speaks strongly on behalf of the

continued existence of Christchurch Borough Council, I'm sure he will

continue to press that strongly with ministers. His opportunity will

arise in an adjournment debate at some time. In response to the High

Court judgment, the Government has too produced new air quality plans

by next month. 50,000 people die a year and it rarely impacts on my

congested city of York. In Mikel gate, we have five air-quality

hotspots. Can we have a debate in Government time about the steps that

are needed ahead of the air quality plan being published so we can have

real input into the Government's plans around this issue? The

Government has given that very clear undertaking. There was a planning in

place that the courts deemed to be inadequate. The Government will

respond to a court judgment and I think probably the right occasion

the Parliament to consider this in greater detail will be when they

have that plan available for us. As the economy continues to thrive,

the claimant wrote in my constituency is just 40.9% but the

economy is dependent on European workers. Post Brexit, could we have

a debate how we could have a sensible work permit system that is

valuable to workers? You make important points and remind us that

we should not in debate on immigration policy, get trapped into

criticising people who come here from Europe or other countries, who

play an important part in our economy, paying their taxes on

working hard and contributing to society. The Government is committed

to trying to agree a reciprocal deal on the status of EU nationals here

and British nationals in the 27 other EU countries at the earliest

possible stage of negotiations. While subsequent Taarabt exit from

European Union, we will need a system of immigration controls, we

are sensitive to the continuing needs British industry to continue

to staff post that they have. Last week, the Leader of the House

assured me the Government was seeking urgent clarification from

the Australian authorities about this new law banning foreigners.

It's been a week of absolute silence in this issue by the Foreign Office

and on Monday, the chair of the Palestine solidarity, campaign was

the first system to be deported from Israel following the passing of the

law. Can we please have a statement to clarify how the application of

this law will affect UK passport holders and UK foreign policy? The

straight answer to Ko is that since she raised this with me last week,

we've not have the detailed plan from the Israeli Government we were

seeking. The -- we are raising this this week. Unemployment was at its

lowest rate of 4.7% this week. The lowest rate since the summer of

1975. It's always been a rule of thumb that every Labour Government

increases unemployment and the Conservative Government reduces it.

I'm sorry, I apologise to the other side of the House. Clearly, the link

is different. What happened in the summer of 75? That's when the

country decided to stay in the European economic community.

Unemployment has gone up all the way while we've been in and now we're

coming out, it's coming down, could we have a debate on that? He's

already had the debate! I think the growth in employment and the fall in

unemployment is something that ought to be welcomed unreservedly on all

sides of the House. I think it's due to the hard work and enterprise of

British business in creating those jobs but also due to the fact that

Government has created an economic climate in which businesses want to

invest and they are willing to hire people. The fact we have

unemployment now at the lowest level we've seen since 1975, employment at

the highest level, it's ever been in the history of our country, I would

hope every member, whichever party, will welcome. As the Leader of the

House knows, next week marks the second anniversary of the conflict

in Yemen resulting in the death of 10,000 Yemeni people and brought

that country to the brink of famine. The Yemeni people now face the four

horsemen of the Apocalypse, Al-Qaeda, Daiya Seto -- day --

Daesh, famine... It's vital we are updated before this country slides

into the greatest catastrophe of this century. I think we would all

share the right honourable gentleman's sense of horror at what

has happened in Yemen and it would be foolish to pretend the British

Government, while we are extremely active in international work, has a

quick and easy solution to the conflict there. But we continue to

support the tireless efforts of the UN special envoy to try to broker an

agreement between the warring parties inside Yemen. We also

continue to commit large sums of our overseas aid budget to relieve

humanitarian suffering in Yemen. That political work and she

monetarily and work will both continue. -- that humanitarian work.

In the unlikely event the Scottish people were to follow the advice of

the Scottish National Party and vote for independence, Scottish people

would be very much poorer. Many of my constituents are already

concerned about the level of the foreign aid budget. Could we have a

debate on the aid budget so that the Government could make clear they

will not sanction an increase in order to bail the Scots? I think

this is really good news for Scotland. Since 2010, unemployment

in Scotland has gone up by 170 1000. There are 90,000 fewer Scots who are

out of work. -- employment in Scotland has gone up by 170,000.

Women's employment has gone up as well and we should be celebrating

that. Huddersfield people are disappointed the budget did so

little for the NHS and for the hospital and A that may be closed.

The people of Huddersfield wanted me to prioritise today that we must do

something to save the children starving in East Africa and we must

have a debate on it and raise consciousness. And get this country

to donate to save those children and families from starvation. The

honourable gentleman makes a very good point about the need to

remember that humanitarian crisis in East Africa, that is something new

Department for International Development is extremely focused on.

Anything that can be done to raise public consciousness about the need

for charitable donations to supplement what the Government is

doing is very much welcomed. Last Friday, I visited great Addington

primary school where I was asked difficult questions inspired by

their visit to Parliament last year. They asked me to convey to the House

they're very sincere appreciation for the excellent tour. I would ask

the Leader of the House in joining me to thank the staff for helping

with that. Could we have a debate about the important role this place

plays about educating young people about democracy? The pupils from

great Addington school, I am glad they enjoyed their visit and put the

lessons learned to good use in interrogating my honourable friend!

We will prepare him for his future ministerial career I am certain! I

know that enhancing the educational work of the House is something to

which you have given a high priority and it's an objective I certainly

share and in seeking to do a programme in my own future external

engagement and I hope all of us in our individual constituencies will

try to interest young men and women in the work that we do, because

capturing the imagination of boys and girls at a young age is the

surest way in which we can rebuild confidence and enthusiasm for our

democratic processes. The answer from the Leader of the House is very

interesting, and it might be interested to lots of young people

who are observing our proceedings from not very far away. Race hate

crime is up by 40% since Brexit. My constituents have always challenged

extremism and such groups are not welcome in South Shields. Yet the

processed has such margins, it is complex and arduous. Will you make a

statement as to what you are doing against this? I faced this challenge

in my own constituency as well with EDL marches. There is a balance that

has to be struck between the right of freedom of expression and freedom

to demonstrate, that we all cherish in the United Kingdom. That cannot

only be with the people with whom we agree. The importance of

demonstrating rejection of extremist groups. My view is that the best way

in which to respond to the EDL or similar groups is for the entire

community to speak and to show in their actions that they are utterly

reject and repelled by the venom and hatred which those groups seek to

sew in our society and for those of us in positions of leadership in

particular, to show solidarity with those minority groups who feel so

threatened. There are housing association tenants in my very

constituency who would like the opportunity to buy their property so

can we please have a statement on what progress is being made on

extending the right to buy to housing association tenants? In the

Autumn Statement last year, the Chancellor announced a large-scale

regional pilot that will enable more than 3000 homes in association

tenants to buy their own home. We are undertaking these pilots to make

sure we get this policy right. We will be testing the key features of

the policy and look at the evidence to decide how it can go forward. The

Brexit secretary admitted yesterday the Government has made no full

assessment of the potential impact on the EQ -- UK economy of leaving

the EU without a deal. Can we have a debate on this issue in Government

time so this House can hold the Government to account on this very

important matter? There will be an opportunity. I do want to correct

the honourable lady, what the Secretary of State said yesterday is

that the Government is looking across at the impact of leaving the

EU over various sectors of our economy. He was asked about an

overall economic assessment and he said his department and others in

Whitehall are carrying out a programme of rigorous and extensive

analytical work on a sector by sector basis and that is surely the

constructive way on which to base this? We all know the Government is

keen on manifestly and commitments and following through on them. I

think it would be a cross-party, across this House would welcome a

debate on what the Government means. We had a debate on elephants and

ivory trade before Christmas and we were told it would be coming out

shortly. In February, we were told it was coming out shortly. Could we

have a statement as to when we will know when we are going to follow

through on the manifesto to ban the trade in ivory? I know the Secretary

of State for environment plans to take the decision and announce their

proposals soon. If we could try to speed up, that would be good because

there is a statement to follow. The Leader of the House will be aware

that the Oscars of the FC sector occurred and an FC college in

Bridgend won the award. I think is right you reminders of the

importance of that sector and I want to congratulate Bridgend college on

its achievement. Medway hospital in my constituency has been in special

measures for nearly four years. The staff, leadership in partnership

with the Government has worked tirelessly to improve standards.

Will you join me in paying tribute to the excellent staff who have won

awards including excellence in maternity care? Can we have a

statement on the performance of the hospitals in special measures? It's

always tough when staff have to face up to criticism of their record and

see the institution placed in special measures and I'm delighted

to hear from a honourable friend that staff at Medway hospital have

responded so positively and I hope their efforts soon receive the

public attribution I know he hopes for.

Another GP surgery is closing in my constituency. The sixth in recent

times and the patients are being to spurts to surgeries around the. The

period people have to what weight -- to wait to get an appointment is

growing. Some have statement about the performance of NHS England

providing GP services because the situation in my constituency is

intolerable? We want to see GP practices open so people can benefit

from the excellent services they offer. 17 million patients benefited

from evening and weekend appointments. We have increased

investment in general practice by ?2.5 billion and there are 1100 more

GPs compared with 2010. I will draw to the Secretary of State's

attention, the difficulty in his constituency he has mentioned. Kammy

have a debate on the Northern Powerhouse School strategy. 80

organisations were involved coming together to improve the aspirations

and achievements of young children in Pendle. I want to know how we can

work together on this issue. It is important that we look to raise not

just the standards of achievement by children in school but raise their

aspirations and expectations about what is possible. The Northern

Powerhouse strategy AMs to do that and that is why the Government is

putting in ?70 million over the course of this Parliament and I hope

we will see a further announcement on that before very long. Given

there was no mention of health... Can have an opportunity to speak on

behalf of women including my constituent who was denied with

little notice the chance to retire when she planned and has found out

she is terminally ill. Her voice and others deserve to be heard.

Questions to the secretary of state on the 27th of March. The

equalisation of pension age was something which did have cross-party

support in this house when it was brought in. Millions of people

install cavity wall insulation successfully but there have been

many failures leading to fungal infection and structural

difficulties in people's homes. They are often elderly and disabled and

they thought they were participating in a Government scheme. The

industry's response has been defensive and evasive most of the

time and the Government seems to be hoping to keep out what will be

potentially a very expensive mess. Kammy have a debate on the CWI

scandal? -- can we have a debate. It has to be resolved in the normal

way. If you would like to write to me with details about his

experience, I will happily consider the case. And glad I'm not the only

member of the House to be disappointed the Chancellor made no

mention of extra police funding in his budget statement last week. Cuts

to front-line policing in Bradford South have been profound with a few

officers engaged in neighbourhood policing today than in 2012. But the

leader allocate time that a debate on this important issue? Be spending

totals for the police was announced at the time of the spending review.

Crime is traditionally measured by the independent crime survey have

fallen by a third since 2010 and are now at a record low. That shows the

police have been extremely professional in managing their

budgets to assure the public are protected and crime comes down.

Kammy have debate and a statement on funding third sector organisations

to assist the long-term unemployed into work? It seeks to celebrate the

20th anniversary of a trusted my constituency which pertains skills

of woodwork and metalwork. Does he agree this sustainability and

finance of such organisations can help the long-term unemployed? I

don't know any more about it than the honourable gentleman as just

said to the House. I'm happy to salute the work that they do and the

work of many other such organisations in all parts of the UK

in trying to provide the mentoring and support that is often so

valuable to people who have been unemployed for very long in helping

them have the confidence and Basic skills to get back the marketplace.

Yesterday there were three separate groups of illegal traveller

encampments across my constituency. This problem plagued my constituents

last year and is taking up where it left off. I recognise travellers

have rights, as do my constituents, especially to enjoy the public parks

they pay for. It is right across the country and there is real confusion

about law and enforcement. Can we have a debating Government time when

ministers set out clearly the Government's expectations on how the

problem of illegal encampments should be tackled? This might be

good material as it affects a large number of constituencies. There are

sanctions and processes available to local authorities and to the police

to deal with the problem of illegal encampments and I completely agree

with him. What riles residents more than anything else is the sense that

they are expected to stick by the rules, by the law when it comes to

any kind of planning matter and when they see people getting away with it

scot-free, quite rightly they get angry about it. Constituents came to

see me about his zero hours contracts with Evans Paul shore. May

we have a debate on how we can strengthen the legless --

legislation in relation to this insecure employment? Conservative

led Government did outlaw exclusivity clauses in zero hours

contracts and while we do keep a close watch on this, it will be one

of the things Matthew Taylor's review will want to look at and it

remains the case that fewer than 3% of the workforce sees a zero hours

contract has been their main job will stop roughly 70% of those

people say they are happy with the number of hours that they work. The

Leader of the House is no Philistine so he will know that this year is

the bicentenary of the birth of the Scottish architect, Alexander Griggs

Thompson. Will he congratulate the Thomson Society for putting together

a whole year of events to remember this architect's work and can we

have debate on his contribution to Scottish built heritage? This is the

question the honourable gentleman would have asked if he was at DC MS

questions and he is therefore doing it now. I would like to make it

aware of the public information statement. I'm happy to make tribute

and perhaps the honourable gentleman will pen a brief note to all members

of the House so we know where we can go and see more of his work when we

come to Scotland. In recent weeks there has been a number of reports

of foxes being hunted by hounds in Cheshire. Graphic and disturbing

images have been passed all over the Internet. This barbaric practice is

illegal. Kammy have a debate on what more can be done to uphold the law?

The enforcement of the law is rightly a matter not the ministers

buffer Independent police and prosecuting authorities. On Tuesday

in this house, the premise to set at the recent European Council she was

encouraging the EU to complete the single market and the digital single

market. Come have debate on white is in the national interests that the

EU to complete the markers but it is not in the UK's interest to be part

of them? It is in the UK's interest that the European Union with which

we are negotiating a new partnership as a system which is as friendly to

open markets and free trade as possible because that will then

enhance the opportunities for our companies and our citizens when it

comes to that new relationship will stop I would have thought there was

another job to the honourable gentleman would have supported. Can

we have statement on defectors who cheat emission test. Volkswagen and

Renault have questions to answer. If it is fraudulent behaviour, senior

executives need to be held to account. I've seen the reports that

have been made about alleged malpractice by Renault. I would hope

any allegations are properly investigated and those responsible

for any wrongdoing are held to account properly. Chester continues

to be blighted by student developments by speculative

developers. They are favoured because of their distortion of the

council tax rules which mean they get a high investment and take up

more land that should be used in the family accommodation. Can I call for

a debate on planning law so we can tackle these issues? I suspect we

will never get a system of planning law that satisfies everybody and

every sector of the economy but I would encourage the honourable

gentleman as I encourage my honourable friend to seek a

backbench business debate on this matter. Today is this seven --

708... I wonder if he could have a debate on Scotland's distinct

parliamentary tradition given that is the story that is still being

written. That might be a suitable subject for a supplied day on the

Scottish National Party. And happy to salute Scotland's Parliamentary

and constitutional tradition and I see the declaration of Arbroath and

the Scottish Parliamentary tradition as one of those constitutional and

democratic traditions in our national life that has helped enrich

the UK as a whole. You may be aware I have campaigned on periods within

that looking at period poverty. I spoke to BBC Radio Leeds who was

highlighting that in the city. A significant number of goals up in

trouble because they do not have any sanitary protection around the time

of their period. One can imagine the indignity that courses. Come have a

debating Government to talk about it there is anything we can do to

provide sanitary protection for low income families and those who simply

cannot afford it in these days of austerity? This is probably a matter

initially to be raised via an adjournment debate but one of the

things that we will be able to deal with when we have left the European

Union, is to -- that the rates of value added tax that are obligatory

under the fifth directive at the moment. She knows the tax on

sanitary products is one of those things the Government is committed

to examine. Recently I asked the Prime Minister if she would exempt

older people on the housing allowance cap being introduced

Purcell sink -- social housing tenants in 2019? The Prime Minister

didn't seem to understand the question. To avoid causing undue

hardship to thousands of people across the country, can we have a

debate on the implications of these proposals as soon as possible? I am

happy to referred the matter to the Department for Work and Pensions to

have a look at the particular problem that the honourable

gentleman identified in his question. If you'd like to let me

have a few details, I think the principle of having the cap is the

right one and there are funds available to local councils for

discretionary use in cases of heart ship. If it thinks there is a

particular case the reform to the regulations themselves, I will pass

it to the Secretary of State. May we have a statement on the lack of

changing places toilets across the UK? It can't be right that parents

of disabled children are having to change their children on unhygienic

toilet floors. This must be bought on a statutory footing and something

done to bring us into the century that we should be in. That is an

interesting point and I completely understand absolutely be very

difficult position the parents who find themselves in such a situation.

It is something I would suggest she might want to raise in an

adjournment debate but I suggest she writes to the Minister for disabled

people about this. I'm sure she will get a very reasonable hearing.

A number of families travelled across the UK to attend a debate

yesterday, also attended by six MPs from majority parties throughout

this tax. We were looking at the injustice of police Widows pensions,

the widows lose their pension, should they remarry or cohabit. It's

basically a tax on love, Mr Speaker. The Minister for Great Yarmouth was

only able to give seven minutes and that included taking an intervention

to respond to the 15th in the 15 minutes he had. Could we now have a

debate here in the main chamber so that a further and fully answer

could be provided to those families who feel they are facing an

injustice? I am sure honourable lady would acknowledge that the Minister

only has such time is available from the 90 minutes or 60 minutes that

has been allotted to that particular debate. But I'm sure if she seeks

the opportunity to raise this question at Home Office questions,

she will be able to wear these concerns further. A pleasure to give

back my usual place in business questions. I'm not sure of the

leader of the houses where the event held in Parliament on International

Women's Day. People sit in Parliament to get a vision for

Canada. It will hopefully inspire people to participate in these

processes for years to come. The honourable gentleman can tell the

people of his constituency that we keep the best till last. I think the

way in which someone exchanges today have highlighted the need to engage

better as institutions with young people under way in which we have

addressed through these exchanges, the need to encourage greater

opportunities for helps contribute to the objective the honourable

gentleman is seeking. I hope he would also agree it's not just women

we want to encourage young men particularly from working-class

backgrounds who feel often very disaffected and alienated from

mainstream democratic processes, people from black and minority

ethnic communities to be involved more. All of us can do this through

leadership in our own constituencies and by using the services of the

parliamentary educational service that really does provide first class

educational materials and will happily host visits by schools and

colleges here. Statement the Secretary of State for culture,

media and sport. Karen Bradley. I came to this House on March six to

give an update on the proposed merger between 21st Century Fox and

Sky. At that time, I said I was minded to issue a European it

intervention notice on the basis that I believe there to be public

interest considerations are set out in the enterprise act 2002 that may

be relevant to this proposed merger and which warrant further

investigation. The grounds on which I was minded to intervene where as

explained at that time, media plurality and commitment to

broadcasting standards. I also confirmed that in line with

guidance, I would be inviting further representations in writing

from the parties and gave them until last Wednesday to provide these.

Having carefully considered