29/06/2017

:00:00. > :00:00.amendment G in the name of the honourable member of Streatham and

:00:00. > :00:09.others. I hope that is helpful to the House. Business question. Could

:00:10. > :00:19.the Leader of the House please give us the forthcoming business? The

:00:20. > :00:23.business for next week will be Monday the 3rd of July to reading of

:00:24. > :00:28.the air travel organisers licensing Bill, Tuesday the 4th of July the

:00:29. > :00:30.second reading of the European Union approval is built, followed by

:00:31. > :00:36.motion relating to the allocation of select committees, followed then by

:00:37. > :00:42.a general debate on the Chris Gibb reports, improvements to southern

:00:43. > :00:46.railway. At 7pm the House will be asked to agree all outstanding

:00:47. > :00:50.estimates. On Wednesday 5th of July proceedings on the supply and

:00:51. > :00:55.appropriation Main Estimates Bill followed by a motion to approve the

:00:56. > :00:58.Justice on security Northern Ireland act of 2007, extension of

:00:59. > :01:05.generational nonjury trial provisions order 2017, followed by a

:01:06. > :01:10.general debate on Israel and Palestinian talks. Thursday 6th of

:01:11. > :01:15.July, a general debate on exiting the European Union and global trade.

:01:16. > :01:18.On Friday 7th of July, the House will not be sitting. I would also

:01:19. > :01:23.like to inform the House the business in Westminster Hall for the

:01:24. > :01:28.6th of July will be on Thursday the sixth debate on global education

:01:29. > :01:34.before the G20 Summit followed by a debate on seasonal agricultural

:01:35. > :01:37.workers scheme. Thank you. Can I thank the Leader of the House for

:01:38. > :01:41.the business but I'm not sure she's aware that allocated a debate on the

:01:42. > :01:47.tube report on Tuesday but there's also a Westminster Hall debate on

:01:48. > :01:52.Wednesday at 9:30am on the same report. I'm not sure if that is a

:01:53. > :01:56.typo or if she wants to punish the backbenchers. Can I start by sending

:01:57. > :02:00.Her Majesty 's opposition condolences to all the honourable

:02:01. > :02:06.members for the SNP on the death of their former leader, Gordon Wilson,

:02:07. > :02:12.the leader from 1979-1990 and was an MP for Dundee East from 1974-1987.

:02:13. > :02:20.We send our condolences to his family and friends. It was a great

:02:21. > :02:28.get-together in the chamber on Saturday as Jo's family and friends

:02:29. > :02:32.unveiled that beautiful black. I thank your office for making this

:02:33. > :02:38.such a memorable day, and to all members from all sides who turned

:02:39. > :02:42.up, and thank you to the member of Wirral South who organised it.

:02:43. > :02:46.Brendan was right when he said it is noisy at PMQs and when there are

:02:47. > :02:51.children in the chamber. The males of the Parliamentary digital service

:02:52. > :02:55.who staved off the cyber attack over the weekend but could the Leader of

:02:56. > :02:58.the House tell the House what the position is on restoration and

:02:59. > :03:03.renewal if there is time for debate, and also if the tube report will be

:03:04. > :03:07.debated on two separate days, could she allocate a date of the

:03:08. > :03:14.opposition on the Tuesday? Mr Speaker, the Secretary of State said

:03:15. > :03:19.he hoped we would not be a single opposition support him but I say it

:03:20. > :03:23.is not the job of Her Majesty 's opposition to Sellotape a minority

:03:24. > :03:27.government. Erskine May has helpfully pointed out the

:03:28. > :03:33.opposition's task is to direct criticism of the Government's policy

:03:34. > :03:37.and Administration and to outline alternative policies. It is this

:03:38. > :03:48.Government that is unpatriotic and who have caused uncertainty.

:03:49. > :03:52.Letters remember the Prime Minister resigned and walked away, the

:03:53. > :03:58.current Prime Minister wanted a majority and now has a smaller

:03:59. > :04:03.Government. They said that they would lift the cap on public sector

:04:04. > :04:08.service pay, and number ten refutes that. The Chancellor has to set out

:04:09. > :04:12.his position because it is opposite to the Foreign Secretary. But we on

:04:13. > :04:16.this side have an alternative. We will take the country's result and

:04:17. > :04:27.turn it into a new relationship with the new -- EU which puts opportunity

:04:28. > :04:31.for our citizens at its core. That is Europe, but what about here?

:04:32. > :04:34.Local Government finance faces uncertainty, the revenue support

:04:35. > :04:39.grant will be phased out in 2020, but the consultation on business

:04:40. > :04:43.rates ended on the 3rd of May 2017, and given the next Queen's Speech is

:04:44. > :04:50.in 2019, could the Leader of the House say how we will find out what

:04:51. > :04:52.the policy is and when we will scrutinise local government finance?

:04:53. > :04:58.Local government needs to but the tea. Then there are two judgments in

:04:59. > :05:02.the High Court. The High Court has ruled that the benefit cap was

:05:03. > :05:07.unlawful. Mr Justice Collins said it was causing extreme hardship. 20,000

:05:08. > :05:13.children and many single parents have been hardest hit by this

:05:14. > :05:16.heartless policy. Irrespective of whether the Government is going to

:05:17. > :05:20.appeal or not, could we have an urgent debate on the judgment? And

:05:21. > :05:25.when will the Government report back on the quick and review on the state

:05:26. > :05:29.pension age? The Government Osman plans also does not meet the court

:05:30. > :05:34.order to cut air pollution in the shortest possible time. 40,000

:05:35. > :05:37.people die prematurely from air pollution. Don't we deserve time for

:05:38. > :05:42.this debate on this failure of Government policy? And Mr Speaker,

:05:43. > :05:47.there is nothing about fair funding for schools or how much would be

:05:48. > :05:51.available. A school governor told me during the election they managed to

:05:52. > :05:54.stave off making a school teacher redundant, making a teacher

:05:55. > :05:59.redundant, that is for this year. What will happen next year? And the

:06:00. > :06:04.heads told me that she needs extra funds to make way for young people

:06:05. > :06:09.to go to their school even though they actually live in the same

:06:10. > :06:12.street as the school. When will the Government bring forward new

:06:13. > :06:20.proposals on the discredited funding formula? Mr Speaker, that is why

:06:21. > :06:23.this minority government has become a minority government, because it is

:06:24. > :06:29.so far removed from the reality of people's lives. Finally, Mr Speaker,

:06:30. > :06:34.I know you will be busy next week because it is Wimbledon fortnight.

:06:35. > :06:45.You must be pleased you have got your deputies elected! It is the

:06:46. > :06:51.20th anniversary of the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter And The

:06:52. > :06:58.Philosopher's Stone, but I don't know if you know there is a new book

:06:59. > :07:07.out, Harry Potter And The Magic Money Tree! That was a Tordo falls

:07:08. > :07:14.across a whole range of areas, I thank the lady for that. I had a

:07:15. > :07:21.note from my honourable friend the member Bexhill only this morning

:07:22. > :07:26.saying that at last week's business questions he asked for time to

:07:27. > :07:29.discuss the Gibb reports, and many colleagues have raised this with us,

:07:30. > :07:32.so I understand he will be withdrawing his request for time in

:07:33. > :07:35.West Mr Hall, so that is a happy outcome for all colleagues who want

:07:36. > :07:42.to discuss the severe problems that many rail commuters have had in

:07:43. > :07:46.Southern and across other areas, too. I join the lady in sending

:07:47. > :07:50.commiserations to the Scottish on this and all of those friends and

:07:51. > :07:55.family of Gordon Wilson, a man who really did serve his country well.

:07:56. > :08:04.Likewise on the subject of the unveiling of the plaque for Jo Cox,

:08:05. > :08:06.I would like to add my thanks for the wonderful opportunity to be in

:08:07. > :08:11.the state apartments yesterday on the Jo Cox loneliness commission. I

:08:12. > :08:15.have a project in my own constituency to bring communities

:08:16. > :08:23.together in coffee mornings to try and stem the tide of low --

:08:24. > :08:27.loneliness, and I'm delighted that in her memory we are renewing our

:08:28. > :08:31.efforts to tackle it. I would also like to add my congratulations to

:08:32. > :08:40.the Parliamentary digital service. They really did work 20 -- 24 /7

:08:41. > :08:44.over the weekend, and I understand they did about six months of IT

:08:45. > :08:48.development work in about three days, so they have put us in a

:08:49. > :08:51.stronger position than we were before, and I know all colleagues

:08:52. > :08:58.will want to send their thank yous for the way in which they prevented

:08:59. > :09:00.a serious harm being done. On the restoration and reveal, has

:09:01. > :09:06.commissions are looking at those proposals and what is to be done,

:09:07. > :09:09.and we hope to make announcements in new course. Then the honourable lady

:09:10. > :09:15.came onto her opposition to this Government and her sense that it is

:09:16. > :09:19.not a legitimate Government. I would just like to point out that the

:09:20. > :09:26.Conservatives won the general election. It is not only our right

:09:27. > :09:30.but it is our constitutional duty in the interests of the country to

:09:31. > :09:39.bring forward a strong Government with support from colleagues in the

:09:40. > :09:51.DUP, and this Government has a very strong programme, not only...

:09:52. > :09:55.SHOUTING It has a strong programme for a

:09:56. > :10:00.successful Brexit that will create job opportunity and be a global

:10:01. > :10:06.force for free trade. But we also have measures that we intend to

:10:07. > :10:09.bring forward to improved and restore mental health in this

:10:10. > :10:15.country and to protect people from domestic violence and to protect

:10:16. > :10:21.people from stalkers, very important social legislation. Some of the

:10:22. > :10:25.industries of tomorrow to make this country a world leader in electric

:10:26. > :10:29.vehicle technology, in autonomous vehicles and of course in space

:10:30. > :10:33.flight, something that for many in the devolved administrations,

:10:34. > :10:38.building spaceport and being at the heart of new satellite technology,

:10:39. > :10:42.absolutely vital, and then finally, on the subject of security, keeping

:10:43. > :10:47.people safe, the first Yuji of Government will be bringing forward

:10:48. > :10:52.more measures to stamp out extremism, and to enhance global

:10:53. > :10:54.working on counterterrorism. Very many good and worthwhile pieces of

:10:55. > :11:02.legislation that I hope all colleagues will be able to support.

:11:03. > :11:08.Can we have time for a debate on accident and emergency services,

:11:09. > :11:15.specifically the service in Southend, and assure constituents

:11:16. > :11:21.that any decision will be clinically led? Ayanna boyfriend is quite right

:11:22. > :11:30.to raise the issue of accident and emergency services. He will know

:11:31. > :11:36.that the decisions about A are clinically led. -- my honourable

:11:37. > :11:43.friend is quite right to raise the issue. I thank the Leader of the

:11:44. > :11:48.House, and I am grateful on these benches for the very kind words

:11:49. > :11:52.expressed about Gordon Wilson. He is somebody who love this place and the

:11:53. > :11:58.words expressed here will be comfort of his family and friends. Scanning

:11:59. > :12:01.the business, it looks as though there will be no votes at all this

:12:02. > :12:10.week, and given that the Government only secured a majority small

:12:11. > :12:17.majority, we can see why they don't want to test it too often. This is

:12:18. > :12:21.already a zombie government. And there is much to debate, but

:12:22. > :12:24.primarily and particularly the grubby deal that has been stitched

:12:25. > :12:34.up with the Democratic Unionist Party, which demonstrates the worst

:12:35. > :12:39.excesses of pork barrel politics. You decided that I couldn't secure

:12:40. > :12:43.an emergency debate, but you would think the Government would be

:12:44. > :12:47.rushing to the House to debate this particular deal, and members must be

:12:48. > :12:52.able to scrutinise, to ask questions, to debate what is going

:12:53. > :12:56.on. It is a deal that turns the normal funding arrangements totally

:12:57. > :12:59.on their head. It is unbelievable that a deal of such significance and

:13:00. > :13:04.importance could be passed through this House without any debate and

:13:05. > :13:08.scrutiny, and we urgently need a debate about the role of the

:13:09. > :13:13.Scotland Office in all of this. This is now run by the Secretary of State

:13:14. > :13:16.without any shred of credibility who has failed to stand up for vital

:13:17. > :13:21.Scottish interests, who says one thing about the funding arrangement

:13:22. > :13:39.on the Barnett Formula wonder and is contradicted the next, someone who

:13:40. > :13:47.is as much use as a Emu without what Hull.

:13:48. > :13:57.Where to start, Mr Speaker? First of all, Under-Secretary of State for

:13:58. > :14:04.Scotland, he is a legend advocate for Scotland. He speaks up for

:14:05. > :14:07.Scotland in every Cabinet meeting. He is the strongest advocate for the

:14:08. > :14:13.Barnett Formula. He called for transparency, as have the Scottish

:14:14. > :14:17.Nationalists on the deal with the DUP, and let's just be clear about

:14:18. > :14:22.this, the honourable gentleman in his desire to see Scotland walk away

:14:23. > :14:28.from the United Kingdom wishes to walk away from the Barnett Formula,

:14:29. > :14:32.so it is extraordinary that he is now calling for the arrangements

:14:33. > :14:36.with the DUP to be treated the same way. The Scottish national Swann to

:14:37. > :14:42.walk away from it, that is not in the interests of Scotland at all,

:14:43. > :14:44.and unfortunately the Scottish Government appear to spend all its

:14:45. > :14:48.time talking about the breakaway rather than getting on with the job

:14:49. > :14:54.that they have been asked to do by the Scottish people. And turning to

:14:55. > :14:59.the issue of money for Scotland, he will be very much aware that the

:15:00. > :15:02.Barnett Formula supports funding for the devolved administrations, it is

:15:03. > :15:10.by no means everything. The UK Government has invested in city

:15:11. > :15:14.deals, 500 million in Glasgow, 125cc in Aberdeen, 53 million in

:15:15. > :15:22.Inverness, 5 million to the Victoria and Albert in Dundee, the list goes

:15:23. > :15:28.on, they really do need to be clear. Are they only interested in

:15:29. > :15:30.Independence, are they interested in governing Scotland properly and

:15:31. > :15:44.contributing to the United Kingdom? There is no evidence of the latter.

:15:45. > :15:47.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can we have a statement from the Secretary of

:15:48. > :15:50.State for Education for school funding in Cheshire? There is a

:15:51. > :15:55.great deal of concern at the moment amongst parents, governors and

:15:56. > :15:57.teachers on funding in their schools, and hopefully a statement

:15:58. > :16:05.will provide them and me with the reassurances we seek. Can I first

:16:06. > :16:10.really welcome my honourable friend back to her place, it is fantastic

:16:11. > :16:14.to see her back here, and we look forward to talking with her across

:16:15. > :16:20.the House in the future. She raises a very important point, and I'm sure

:16:21. > :16:25.that the Secretary of State for Education will have heard that and

:16:26. > :16:30.will be keen to come to this House. Nevertheless, in terms of fairer

:16:31. > :16:33.funding for education, it is vital and carries the support of many

:16:34. > :16:39.across the education sector that we do look at fair funding so that all

:16:40. > :16:51.pupils have the same level of funding, that a is absolutely key.

:16:52. > :16:57.Mr Speaker, I thank the Leader of the House for the letter she sent me

:16:58. > :17:04.in the correspondence from my post as chair of the backbench business

:17:05. > :17:06.committee in the last Parliament. I do express some concern about a

:17:07. > :17:10.particular line. We were looking to see how the arrangements for

:17:11. > :17:14.backbench time would be allocated given that it is a two-year

:17:15. > :17:18.Parliament on the standing orders guarantee us 35 days, 27 of which

:17:19. > :17:20.should be in this chamber within a session, but because it is a

:17:21. > :17:27.two-year session, that wouldn't work. And there is a line in her

:17:28. > :17:29.letter that says, in the first instance, discussions about how this

:17:30. > :17:33.town will be allocated will take place through discussions in the

:17:34. > :17:36.usual channels. I'm afraid to say that concerns me. The backbench

:17:37. > :17:42.business committee was established to circumvent the usual channels,

:17:43. > :17:45.Leader of the House, and therefore I would ask that the discussions would

:17:46. > :17:49.take place with the committee once it is established. But I also thank

:17:50. > :17:54.her for allocating time for the residual back into committee debate

:17:55. > :18:02.from the last Parliament on Israel and Palestine. Thank you.

:18:03. > :18:08.I thank the honourable gentleman, he raises an important point and what I

:18:09. > :18:12.tried to make clear in my letter is that we are very sympathetic to his

:18:13. > :18:15.request that we bring forward debates held over in the last

:18:16. > :18:20.session into this session. He will be aware that standing orders set

:18:21. > :18:23.out the amount of time allocated to different types of debates including

:18:24. > :18:30.backbench debates but we are sympathetic to that and we will be

:18:31. > :18:39.discussing that and I am personally very sympathetic to his request.

:18:40. > :18:43.When will the Government be making a statement on access to abortion in

:18:44. > :18:47.Northern Ireland? It's wrong that women in Northern Ireland don't have

:18:48. > :18:52.the same access to abortion as women in England, Wales and Scotland and

:18:53. > :18:55.the High Court has ruled this contravenes human rights law which

:18:56. > :19:02.is the responsibility of the UK Government and not devolved matter.

:19:03. > :19:08.When will the Government be issuing a statement? This is an incredibly

:19:09. > :19:12.sensitive and important issue, and it is my personal view that every

:19:13. > :19:19.woman should have the right to decide what happens to her own body.

:19:20. > :19:22.That is very clear. This question of women from Northern Ireland

:19:23. > :19:27.accessing abortions in England is not one of whether they should have

:19:28. > :19:31.that access, it is a question of devolution and the fact that help is

:19:32. > :19:36.devolved to Northern Ireland and are therefore it's the question of who

:19:37. > :19:41.should pay for it. What I can tell honourable members is the Department

:19:42. > :19:49.for equalities and the Department for health are discussing and

:19:50. > :19:54.looking closely at this issue today. This week it was announced that

:19:55. > :20:00.surgery for my constituents who smoke or who are overweight will be

:20:01. > :20:03.restricted for some for up to a year. Can we have a debate in

:20:04. > :20:08.Government time regarding the potential impact of this decision on

:20:09. > :20:14.my constituents' health, mental health, and the legacy of the NHS

:20:15. > :20:18.rationing such as this. The honourable lady raises a very

:20:19. > :20:22.important point and she may well want to apply for an adjournment

:20:23. > :20:27.debate to raise this issue which is very important. She will appreciate

:20:28. > :20:33.this is a commission led but I urge her to take that forward in an

:20:34. > :20:37.adjournment debate. In recent days there has been absolute misery for

:20:38. > :20:44.thousands of motorists in my constituency caused by work being

:20:45. > :20:48.carried out by highways England. I wrote to Mr Jim O'Sullivan, the

:20:49. > :20:52.chief executive of highways England for an explanation and it has taken

:20:53. > :20:53.a week to receive a standard acknowledgement letter saying that I

:20:54. > :21:04.by which time the works will be will get a substantive response in

:21:05. > :21:13.over. Mr Speaker, given that the decisions taken by highways England

:21:14. > :21:17.impact on millions of people... As to whether this couldn't care less

:21:18. > :21:27.attitude is an acceptable way to go forward? I can well imagine what an

:21:28. > :21:31.irritation this is for his constituents and I would not be

:21:32. > :21:36.happy with an acknowledgement and a pledge of a proper reply within two

:21:37. > :21:40.weeks. Many public sector organisations to respond quickly to

:21:41. > :21:45.request from members of Parliament and I hope highways England will

:21:46. > :21:52.have heard his remarks and give him a quick answer. Last week rumours

:21:53. > :21:57.circulated in Wallasey that the Kingsway Academy was going to be

:21:58. > :22:02.closed. We have now managed to establish that there are plans to

:22:03. > :22:09.close it, in some cases perhaps by the end of July, so this will throw

:22:10. > :22:15.the whole of our education system in Wallasey into disarray and there are

:22:16. > :22:19.400 pupils whose future is currently completely obtuse and we don't know

:22:20. > :22:23.where they will be. New parents don't know whether they can buy

:22:24. > :22:28.uniforms for the school. This is part of a multi-Academy trust who

:22:29. > :22:33.have just not communicated any of this at all so can we have a debate

:22:34. > :22:36.on public accountability amongst multi-Academy trusts? If this had

:22:37. > :22:40.been a local authority school there would have to have been a two year

:22:41. > :22:47.consultation period instead of this chaos. I'm quite sure the right

:22:48. > :22:52.honourable lady will have raised this very loudly in her own area,

:22:53. > :22:56.which is right that she should, and again in order to bring forward the

:22:57. > :23:01.question very quickly, I suggest that she should seek an adjournment

:23:02. > :23:06.debate. Can we have an early debate about the importance of police

:23:07. > :23:10.stations in local communities? They are place of security, safety and

:23:11. > :23:14.sanctuary for many people and the importance of being able to drop

:23:15. > :23:18.into the police stations is vitally important. In Lancashire there are

:23:19. > :23:23.proposals to close ten police stations including my own Clitheroe.

:23:24. > :23:30.Please can we have an early debate in order to say how important it is

:23:31. > :23:34.to keep these police stations open? My honourable friend raises another

:23:35. > :23:39.important point about what expectations are in local areas. I

:23:40. > :23:42.have certainly in my own area seen closures of police stations which

:23:43. > :23:46.the police have made a very strong case that people don't tend to drop

:23:47. > :23:51.into police stations very much and therefore they can use their time

:23:52. > :23:54.better by not having manned police stations, but I completely

:23:55. > :23:59.sympathise with the reaction of local people, it is never good, and

:24:00. > :24:03.I do encourage him to seek an early Westminster Hall or adjournment

:24:04. > :24:08.debate. In particular the ones to write to me I will pass on his

:24:09. > :24:11.concerns to the right department. To the apparent envy of some of his

:24:12. > :24:21.honourable friends, I call Mr Alan Brown. Thank you, Mr Speaker. In my

:24:22. > :24:26.short time in this place, so far I have seen the Secretary of State for

:24:27. > :24:32.Scotland failed to get money for opencast coal restoration. Now we

:24:33. > :24:36.have seen Scotland completely bypassed in a deal with the DUP. We

:24:37. > :24:46.think the Secretary of State for Scotland should resign, could she

:24:47. > :24:52.say why she thinks he should continue Secretary of State for

:24:53. > :24:57.Scotland? The Secretary of State for Scotland is a huge advocate for

:24:58. > :25:00.Scotland. Having myself being an energy minister, I can assure

:25:01. > :25:07.honourable members that he has spoken up for energy in Scotland, he

:25:08. > :25:12.was certainly very diligent in looking at measures for oil and gas

:25:13. > :25:17.sector, it was important in the city deals for Glasgow and Aberdeen, he's

:25:18. > :25:21.been an enormous advocate for the fisheries sector and that's just

:25:22. > :25:25.from my own personal experience. He's a superb advocate for that

:25:26. > :25:35.nation and they should be delighted have him. May we have consideration

:25:36. > :25:41.of a debate on the issue of toxic cabin air syndrome which has

:25:42. > :25:45.reportedly killed and caused serious illness to many crew on aircraft,

:25:46. > :25:52.both my constituents and others around the country? Yes, my

:25:53. > :25:55.honourable friend raises a point that I think we have all but about

:25:56. > :26:00.in the newspapers and that would certainly be worthy of debate and I

:26:01. > :26:07.encourage him to seek an adjournment debate, a backbench debate in the

:26:08. > :26:10.first instance would be very important. My postbag has been

:26:11. > :26:15.swollen this week by a large number of well written letters by the

:26:16. > :26:20.people's of a primary school in Shetland who have been studying the

:26:21. > :26:23.topic of slavery across the world. Given that general debates seem to

:26:24. > :26:33.be finding fashion with the business managers, can the leader make time

:26:34. > :26:37.available to say how we might be doing more to tackle this across the

:26:38. > :26:42.globe? Of course it is this Government that has introduced an

:26:43. > :26:47.act about human slavery that seeks to stamp this out and take a world

:26:48. > :26:52.leading role in stamping out modern slavery, and he's right to point out

:26:53. > :26:56.that we do commit to overseas development aid which again goes in

:26:57. > :27:01.great part to supporting efforts to stamp out human slavery. He raises

:27:02. > :27:06.an incredibly important point and I'm certainly sympathetic to that

:27:07. > :27:10.and will raise that with Chief Whip. There are many honourable and right

:27:11. > :27:16.honourable members on all sides of the House who await the Government's

:27:17. > :27:19.25 year plan for the environment. I know it's a matter of interest to my

:27:20. > :27:23.right honourable friend and I hope she will tell the House that it will

:27:24. > :27:30.be published under statement will be made in the House when it is

:27:31. > :27:33.published. I absolutely praise my honourable friend for his

:27:34. > :27:36.contribution to the whole area of protecting and enhancing our

:27:37. > :27:40.environment, and he will have seen that commitment of the 25 year plan

:27:41. > :27:48.for the environment is part of our manifesto. We remain fully committed

:27:49. > :27:52.to it. There is a clear through the Great Repeal Bill intention to bring

:27:53. > :27:58.all EU legislation that relates to the environment into UK law, from

:27:59. > :28:00.there we have the ambition to be the first generation leaves the

:28:01. > :28:10.environment in a better state than we found it, and I'm proud that we

:28:11. > :28:15.remain committed to that outcome. Today's Times says that thousands of

:28:16. > :28:19.people die each year breathing air that is officially considered safe.

:28:20. > :28:24.The BMA think we should have air pollution monitors at the roadside

:28:25. > :28:28.so can we have a debate on improving air quality standards please? The

:28:29. > :28:33.honourable gentleman is right to raise what is a very serious public

:28:34. > :28:36.health issue, and he will be aware that there is a consultation under

:28:37. > :28:43.way right now on measures to improve air quality, but of course that is

:28:44. > :28:50.to reach a certain level of air pollution. What this Government's

:28:51. > :28:54.longer term aims to have almost all vehicles zero carbon by 2050, that

:28:55. > :28:59.is a real solution and in the short and medium term we will be setting

:29:00. > :29:04.out measures to try to tackle the problem of air quality. Following on

:29:05. > :29:10.from the opposition leader's comments, I look forward to

:29:11. > :29:15.welcoming you to the best constituency in England in the next

:29:16. > :29:22.fortnight. Can the Secretary of State come to this House and make a

:29:23. > :29:28.statement on Crossrail 2? The constituents of Wimbledon and across

:29:29. > :29:33.London on clean to understand the commitment of this project. I will

:29:34. > :29:36.certainly be happy to write to my right honourable colleague on that

:29:37. > :29:41.subject on his behalf. I'm personally very interested to know

:29:42. > :29:46.if it is true that the strawberries for Wimbledon are being grown

:29:47. > :29:50.underground in Clapham. He's right that Crossrail 2 will be a very

:29:51. > :29:59.important measure to get people in London moving and I am personally

:30:00. > :30:03.supportive of it. I was shocked by was a complete lack of clarity from

:30:04. > :30:08.the Secretary of State for Education on schools funding on Tuesday and

:30:09. > :30:13.the Leader of the House's comments that the funding formula for schools

:30:14. > :30:16.simply won't ring true in my constituency, where schools have

:30:17. > :30:21.seen their budget squeeze year-on-year and our fantastic

:30:22. > :30:25.Forest Hills School has a deficit of 1.3 million. Can we please now have

:30:26. > :30:31.a proper statement and a debate before the summer recess on schools

:30:32. > :30:35.funding? Can I welcome the honourable lady to her place and

:30:36. > :30:40.wish her every success in her new role. Of course we are proud of the

:30:41. > :30:44.topline achievement that there are now 1.8 million more children in

:30:45. > :30:49.good and outstanding schools than there were in 2010 but she's right

:30:50. > :30:53.to point out there are pressures on school budgets. It is being closely

:30:54. > :30:56.looked at by my right honourable friend in the education Department

:30:57. > :31:04.and I will happily take up the issue she raises her. Given the Prime

:31:05. > :31:09.Minister's commitment to more capital spending in the NHS, can we

:31:10. > :31:16.have a statement on capital spending because whilst the Alexandra

:31:17. > :31:20.Hospital has excellent staff, we are in desperate need of a new hospital

:31:21. > :31:24.because of sewage coming into the operating theatres and a failure in

:31:25. > :31:29.infrastructure. My honourable friend is raising an important point in his

:31:30. > :31:32.constituency which I think would be worthy of raising in an adjournment

:31:33. > :31:43.debate but if he wants to write to me I would be happy to take it up

:31:44. > :31:50.with the Department of Health. When can we debate holiday in motion 85

:31:51. > :31:52.which congratulates the Scottish Government on introducing

:31:53. > :31:56.legislation so that Scotland can share the benefits that Wales have

:31:57. > :32:03.enjoyed in having presumed consent for organ donations. We are at the

:32:04. > :32:09.worst record in Europe on the number of consents in the UK. It's been a

:32:10. > :32:16.brilliant life-saving success in Wales, isn't it time England and

:32:17. > :32:21.Scotland enjoyed the benefits? Yes, this is a very sensitive and there

:32:22. > :32:25.are very strong views on all sides of this argument. I share the

:32:26. > :32:29.honourable gentleman's view that presumed consent would be life

:32:30. > :32:33.changing for many people waiting for organ donations. I will raise that

:32:34. > :32:37.issue but he could call a Westminster Hall debate which would

:32:38. > :32:42.highlight its and I'm sure that's will be in his mind. Can we have a

:32:43. > :32:51.debate on the need to restrict postal voting? Not only does it --

:32:52. > :32:55.not only has it helps people vote more than once in elections, it has

:32:56. > :32:59.also in certain parts of Bradford been known to be abused for a

:33:00. > :33:03.considerable amount of time, including I might add effectively

:33:04. > :33:07.depriving many women of the vote in those communities. It is very good

:33:08. > :33:12.how these people speak of women's rights are happy to be silent when

:33:13. > :33:16.it clashes with another politically correct shibboleth. These are issues

:33:17. > :33:18.people asked concerned about, can we have a debate about the abuse of

:33:19. > :33:30.postal voting in this country? My normal friend is exactly right to

:33:31. > :33:36.speak up for democracy in this country, and I hear members on the

:33:37. > :33:41.opposite benches pooh-poohing his comments, but it behoves us all to

:33:42. > :33:46.stand up to democracy. Nobody should want the availability of double

:33:47. > :33:49.voting or indeed for one person to vote on behalf of their entire

:33:50. > :33:53.family or on the half of people who are no longer with us. So I

:33:54. > :33:57.absolutely agree with my honourable friend that we should have a debate

:33:58. > :34:05.on this subject, we should take this forward and ensure that democracy

:34:06. > :34:14.continues to prevail. The M62 would be the great Northern Powerhouse

:34:15. > :34:17.project, connecting Lancashire and Yorkshire, so when the Government

:34:18. > :34:22.going to recognise the importance of this project and start talking about

:34:23. > :34:25.it and talking it up and talking the Northern Powerhouse Arp and funding

:34:26. > :34:31.it likes the Northern Ireland powerhouse that they seem to be

:34:32. > :34:35.funding? The honourable gentleman has raised the point loud and clear.

:34:36. > :34:38.You will know that it was this Government who created the term the

:34:39. > :34:42.Northern Powerhouse, but more importantly have funded it with

:34:43. > :34:46.hundreds of millions of pounds, and continue to support it, so his words

:34:47. > :35:18.are now on the record, and I'm sure that my right honourable friend will

:35:19. > :35:20.be interested to hear it. Yesterday at PMQs, the Member for South East

:35:21. > :35:22.Cornwall bravely raised the personal impact of both online abuse and the

:35:23. > :35:23.direct effect during her campaign and many other female candidates

:35:24. > :35:25.across the UK suffered. As the previous chair of the all-party

:35:26. > :35:27.women in Parliament group, could the leader make time for a debate on

:35:28. > :35:29.this issue so that this House can express its discussed at this kind

:35:30. > :35:33.of direct abuse, so that it does not put off the women leaders of the

:35:34. > :35:38.future coming to this House? I completely agree with my honourable

:35:39. > :35:42.friend. This matter was a total disgrace during the recent general

:35:43. > :35:47.election. The number of colleagues who were genuinely scared for their

:35:48. > :35:50.personal safety, and for the appalling, disgusting behaviour of

:35:51. > :35:56.defacement of offices, of posters, the constant tearing down in social

:35:57. > :36:04.media terms of the efforts of colleagues to try and get elected.

:36:05. > :36:07.It is an appalling indictment of our society that that has been allowed

:36:08. > :36:14.to happen, and I think that this House will want to take that matter

:36:15. > :36:19.further. Can the Leader of the House gives some Government time for the

:36:20. > :36:24.development and a statement on the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon? This was

:36:25. > :36:28.omitted from the Queen's Speech, and she knows about this project, and it

:36:29. > :36:35.is no use blaming previous energy or environment Ministers, for that what

:36:36. > :36:41.she. I will accept the involvement in the Hendry review, which was

:36:42. > :36:47.designed to make sure that Swansea Bay tidal lagoon gets a fair

:36:48. > :36:51.hearing. That report has made its findings clear, and the Government

:36:52. > :36:55.is looking at it carefully. He will be aware that it is a significant

:36:56. > :37:00.expense, it also has enormous potential and it is right that it

:37:01. > :37:03.should look at it carefully for value for taxpayers' money, and

:37:04. > :37:11.there will be a statement about it in due course. I gave notice to the

:37:12. > :37:14.Leader of the House and I hope she has done her homework on this

:37:15. > :37:18.question, but I'm not going to ask that question because something more

:37:19. > :37:22.important has come up. It has been brought to my attention that at the

:37:23. > :37:26.general election, people can be registered in two places to vote, I

:37:27. > :37:30.am registered in London and my constituency, but an social media, a

:37:31. > :37:33.number of students are bragging about the fact that they voted not

:37:34. > :37:40.only where they live but also where they go to university. That is an

:37:41. > :37:46.abuse of the situation, and could we have a statement next week at the

:37:47. > :37:49.Cabinet office on that matter? I am always delighted that my honourable

:37:50. > :37:54.friend likes to throw in a googly, so I thank him for that, but he

:37:55. > :37:58.raises what is again an incredibly important point for our democracy.

:37:59. > :38:03.We do need to get to the bottom of people deliberately voting twice,

:38:04. > :38:06.which I understand is in fact illegal, so we do need to

:38:07. > :38:11.investigate this, we do need to ensure the Parliamentary democracy

:38:12. > :38:16.that this country has been famous for and is the mother of all

:38:17. > :38:23.Parliaments, is absolutely upholding the rights of one person, one vote.

:38:24. > :38:26.Given there are no Welsh questions before recess, can we have an

:38:27. > :38:29.opportunity on the floor of the House to question the Secretary of

:38:30. > :38:32.State for Wales on what he has been doing since the Government's

:38:33. > :38:38.announcement of the deals and the DUP to ensure that Wales is not

:38:39. > :38:43.short-changed? The honourable lady will be aware that Wales has also

:38:44. > :38:47.benefited from a number of projects outside of the Barnett Formula, and

:38:48. > :38:51.I will certainly pass on her comments to my right honourable

:38:52. > :39:00.friend, and seek some sort of opportunity for her to do that. Mr

:39:01. > :39:02.Speaker, in recent years, my Cleethorpes constituency has

:39:03. > :39:08.benefited from government support, but as my right honourable friend

:39:09. > :39:10.will be aware, coastal communities continue to face particular

:39:11. > :39:13.challenges. Could we have a debate about those particular challenges at

:39:14. > :39:22.how the Government will continue support for coastal areas? He is

:39:23. > :39:25.exactly right that coastal areas do suffer some unique problems, and we

:39:26. > :39:29.have had in the past some very fruitful Westminster Hall debates on

:39:30. > :39:33.the particular issues facing coastal communities. I am delighted that

:39:34. > :39:38.they also have the advantage of fabulous fish and chips, which I was

:39:39. > :39:41.very pleased to come and enjoying Grimsby with him during the recent

:39:42. > :39:46.general election campaign. But he raises a good point, and I think he

:39:47. > :39:52.should certainly apply for a Westminster Hall debate to be able

:39:53. > :39:56.to raise those issues properly. Mr Speaker, for the third time in a

:39:57. > :40:00.fortnight, my constituents are having to put up with the noise and

:40:01. > :40:05.nuisance and litter and mess caused by illegal traveller camps on parks

:40:06. > :40:08.and public open spaces in Dudley, and this is completely unacceptable.

:40:09. > :40:11.When I talk to the council and police about it, they tell me they

:40:12. > :40:17.need more powers to deal with this. So can we have an urgent debate in

:40:18. > :40:20.government time so we can get to the bottom of this issue and provide

:40:21. > :40:26.local authorities with the position they need to provide provision so

:40:27. > :40:30.that local constituents and their children can start to use parks and

:40:31. > :40:34.play areas once again. The honourable gentleman might have

:40:35. > :40:38.raised this last week, it was raised very recently, and I think we all

:40:39. > :40:44.share the same concern about the impact on our own local areas of

:40:45. > :40:48.this particular problem. If he would like to write to me, I would be

:40:49. > :40:50.happy to take this forward, and I would be sympathetic to Beijing

:40:51. > :40:58.Government time or a Westminster Hall debate. Mr Speaker, following a

:40:59. > :41:01.meeting with the constituent, I have learned that the number of children

:41:02. > :41:05.home-schooled in workshop is more than doubled since 2012, and there

:41:06. > :41:08.is a consensus that this is on the rise across the country, leading to

:41:09. > :41:12.concerns that the checks on quality may not be as rigorous as they might

:41:13. > :41:16.be, and some children may not be getting the education they deserve.

:41:17. > :41:21.I wonder if we might have a debate on the future of home-schooling. Of

:41:22. > :41:26.course what this Government has sought to do is to provide in order

:41:27. > :41:29.to get standards up a wide range of schooling options, and I would like

:41:30. > :41:34.to pay tribute to the many families who do provide excellent

:41:35. > :41:36.home-schooling for their children, where there are particular issues

:41:37. > :41:41.perhaps around bullying or particular needs, but he is right to

:41:42. > :41:44.raise the fact that checks need to be carried out to ensure that

:41:45. > :41:49.children don't drop out of sight. Local authorities do have a

:41:50. > :41:52.statutory duty to check that all children are receiving a proper

:41:53. > :41:57.education, and they do have a course to the law if that is not found to

:41:58. > :41:59.be the case. But I certainly think my honourable friend could raise

:42:00. > :42:11.that in a Westminster Hall debates to good effect. On the 23rd of June,

:42:12. > :42:17.just last week, 84 people in Pakistan were killed, the third on

:42:18. > :42:20.this year, hundred and 15 people noted. Families remain in the

:42:21. > :42:29.streets with their deceased, unable to bury them. Another is that is a

:42:30. > :42:32.very real risk. Pakistan quite clearly are trying to restrict what

:42:33. > :42:36.is happening and not let the world outside no. Could I ask, could we

:42:37. > :42:40.have an urgent statement on this matter to see how we can help the

:42:41. > :42:46.people of the local area and give them the help that they need right

:42:47. > :42:52.now? He raises a very important issue that is affecting, as he says,

:42:53. > :42:57.three attacks in recent past. What I can tell him is that the UK and

:42:58. > :43:01.Pakistan have a shared interest in addressing and reducing the threat

:43:02. > :43:06.of terrorism. We are committed to working together to combat the

:43:07. > :43:13.terrorist threat and this is tree -- and the extremism that sustains it.

:43:14. > :43:16.I think if he would like to write to me on this point, I will certainly

:43:17. > :43:22.take it up with the relevant department. My right honourable

:43:23. > :43:27.friend is absolutely right widget talks about the portents of keeping

:43:28. > :43:34.people safe. Could we therefore have a statement regarding the threat to

:43:35. > :43:38.commercial and military aviation from use of drones by private

:43:39. > :43:44.individuals or commercial organisations? I think we have all

:43:45. > :43:46.seen recent press reports of close shaves, and it is certainly

:43:47. > :43:50.something that seems to be an increasing challenge. If my

:43:51. > :43:53.honourable friend would like to write me on that point, I will take

:43:54. > :43:59.it up with the Department of Transport. The National Audit Office

:44:00. > :44:02.says it will cost nearly ?7 billion to get existing school buildings up

:44:03. > :44:07.to scratch, yet the Government is spending money hand over fist to

:44:08. > :44:12.develop preschool site including four in London that have cost over

:44:13. > :44:15.?30 million each. Isn't it time that we had a debate in Government time

:44:16. > :44:20.about how to manage the capital budget for schools so that all our

:44:21. > :44:23.schools and pupils are in schools with decent sports facilities rather

:44:24. > :44:31.than old office blocks not fit for purpose? I would have to remind the

:44:32. > :44:36.honourable lady that since 2010 1.8 million more children are in good

:44:37. > :44:49.and outstanding schools than before 2010. Members offers it -- opposite

:44:50. > :44:55.tut, but her parents, a good education is very important, the

:44:56. > :44:59.fabric of building is important, but not as important as the quality of

:45:00. > :45:03.education the children are getting. I would be happy to take that point

:45:04. > :45:09.for her if she would like to write to me on it. I welcome the debate

:45:10. > :45:12.next week, can my right honourable friend try to secure a statement

:45:13. > :45:17.from the Secretary of State for Transport to ensure that my line

:45:18. > :45:23.that runs to my constituency and supports East Sussex and Kent is

:45:24. > :45:25.electrified and sure is that all of our network is up-to-date? I will

:45:26. > :45:31.happily take up that point with my right honourable friend. The debate

:45:32. > :45:35.next week will enable colleagues to make some very key points about the

:45:36. > :45:42.quality of rail transport, and I encourage her to attend that. Can we

:45:43. > :45:46.have a debate in Government time on the injustice of the mineworkers'

:45:47. > :45:56.pension scheme, which has seen Government offers swelled by

:45:57. > :46:00.billions of pounds due to the 50/50 unfairness? More money needs to go

:46:01. > :46:05.to miners and their widows. This has been debated a number of times in

:46:06. > :46:10.Parliament, and there was a long-standing agreement for the

:46:11. > :46:17.sharing of the surplus. If she would like to write to me, I will happily

:46:18. > :46:22.take it up again. Reversing the 20 13th downgrade of night-time A at

:46:23. > :46:25.Cheltenham General Hospital is something that I'm passionate about,

:46:26. > :46:29.but the trust makes clear that recruiting middle grade A doctors

:46:30. > :46:33.is difficult. Can we have a debate on improving incentives and

:46:34. > :46:40.conditions of such staff so that my constituents can have the hospital

:46:41. > :46:44.they deserve? My honourable friend raises another very important matter

:46:45. > :46:48.for his consistency, but of his A, and I do encourage him to apply for

:46:49. > :46:54.an adjournment abate to discuss the specifics there. Yesterday I asked

:46:55. > :46:58.the current Prime Minister to confirm that all services in

:46:59. > :47:01.Dewsbury and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary would remain open,

:47:02. > :47:10.including full aid e-services. She replied that it would stay open, but

:47:11. > :47:12.strangely ignored the significant downgrade and Huddersfield Royal

:47:13. > :47:15.Infirmary. Could she provide Government time for the Prime

:47:16. > :47:19.Minister to come to the House and reassure the local people services

:47:20. > :47:22.are safe, or apologise for her scaremongering comments when we just

:47:23. > :47:27.highlighted that services were under threat? I'm not sure I fully

:47:28. > :47:33.understand what the honourable lady is saying. She is saying that the

:47:34. > :47:37.Prime Minister gave reassurance to what... What I heard the Prime

:47:38. > :47:43.Minister say is that Dewsbury A was not under threat. So if the

:47:44. > :47:46.honourable lady would like to write to me on that point, I can try to

:47:47. > :47:51.understand exactly what she would like to happen, thank you.

:47:52. > :47:58.Could we have a debate in Government time on the disposal of local

:47:59. > :48:05.authority assets? Shortly after the election was called, it emerged that

:48:06. > :48:11.Harrow Council had sold the freehold of the hide to Barnet football club,

:48:12. > :48:20.Barnet football club ride roughshod over local people and nobody was

:48:21. > :48:23.consulted. Barnet football club is illegally -- illegally play their

:48:24. > :48:29.football matches at the hive and impose misery on match days. So

:48:30. > :48:38.could we have a debate in Government time on this issue? Sounds like he

:48:39. > :48:45.has had a pretty tough time with a local issue there which is ideal of

:48:46. > :48:53.course for an adjournment debate. On the 2nd of December 2015, the House

:48:54. > :48:58.passed a motion concerning air strikes in Syria which were

:48:59. > :49:02.specifically about targeting Daesh assets, it did not involve targeting

:49:03. > :49:05.any other actor in that region, so it was with some surprise that I

:49:06. > :49:11.heard the Defence Secretary this week claim his unwavering support

:49:12. > :49:15.for US air strikes to target the Syrian regime. The Foreign Secretary

:49:16. > :49:22.in April stated the assumption of Parliamentary approval needed to be

:49:23. > :49:24.tested. So can the Leader of the House provide us with an urgent

:49:25. > :49:29.statement on government thinking on changing the nature of this

:49:30. > :49:33.conflict, and can she also ensure that a debate and vote in this House

:49:34. > :49:42.happens before the mission creep sets in? The honourable gentleman

:49:43. > :49:46.has raised some important questions which are for the MOD, and I can

:49:47. > :49:52.draw his attention to the fact that we have oral questions for the

:49:53. > :49:55.defence on Monday the 10th of July. Following very welcome announcement

:49:56. > :50:00.from the Government that farm payments will continue until 2022,

:50:01. > :50:06.can we have a debate on how they will be allocated as many farmers in

:50:07. > :50:08.Brecon and Radnor share are concerned about the mechanism that

:50:09. > :50:16.will be put in place and whether the administration of the payment will

:50:17. > :50:19.ensure they are paid on time. Of course the farm payments are subject

:50:20. > :50:23.dear to my heart as an ex-Secretary of State and I worked closely with

:50:24. > :50:29.the honourable gentleman who was a great spokesman for the farmers in

:50:30. > :50:33.his constituency. I can tell him the importance of the continuation of

:50:34. > :50:38.the single farm payment is to ensure a smooth transition for farmers

:50:39. > :50:42.across the UK to a new agricultural policy when you leave the EU so the

:50:43. > :50:46.arrangements for that transition will be consulted on and discussed

:50:47. > :50:53.but I cannot give him the specific outcome as yet. Notwithstanding our

:50:54. > :51:00.view of the Government's relationship with the DUP, can the

:51:01. > :51:05.Leader of the House assure the House that next week, at the earliest

:51:06. > :51:07.opportunity, either the Prime Minister or Secretary of State for

:51:08. > :51:11.Northern Ireland will make a statement about the outcome of the

:51:12. > :51:16.talks taking place today in Northern Ireland which are of crucial

:51:17. > :51:20.importance to the whole of the UK, where if it fails we will see a

:51:21. > :51:24.restoration of direct rule and if they are restored, which we all hope

:51:25. > :51:29.they are, there will still be serious questions to be asked and

:51:30. > :51:34.this Parliament needs to discuss it as a matter of urgency. Yes, this is

:51:35. > :51:39.a key issue and as he points out, today is the deadline for new

:51:40. > :51:43.ministers to be appointed. The Secretary of State for Northern

:51:44. > :51:49.Ireland is flat-out working, trying to encourage along with Irish

:51:50. > :51:52.politicians and of course members of the Northern Ireland potential

:51:53. > :51:55.executive, so all parties in Northern Ireland are working very

:51:56. > :52:02.hard to try to ensure we get an arrangement signed today. The real

:52:03. > :52:07.impact of police cuts can be measured by the rise and tide of gun

:52:08. > :52:11.crime across Merseyside where we have had 100 shooting incidents in

:52:12. > :52:18.the last 18 months, ten this month alone, and the Chief Constable in

:52:19. > :52:21.Merseyside has said he's never known a situation where the police force

:52:22. > :52:29.are stretched to the limit they are today. Proper funding is needed for

:52:30. > :52:34.the police, and can I ask whether we can expect a statement for the Home

:52:35. > :52:39.Secretary or a debate to rid our streets of gun crime? He raises an

:52:40. > :52:44.incredibly important point about policing. As the Prime Minister said

:52:45. > :52:47.yesterday, police budgets have been protected and there has been a big

:52:48. > :52:52.increase in investment in intelligence and counterterrorism

:52:53. > :52:57.and attacking cyber crime and so on to try to ensure the police have all

:52:58. > :53:01.the tools they need to do the job. But of course the Home Office will

:53:02. > :53:05.be listening carefully to particular issues and it sounds as though in

:53:06. > :53:09.Merseyside there is a specific issue which you might want to raise with

:53:10. > :53:14.them at Department oral questions. After the former member for the

:53:15. > :53:22.brought before the House evidence of criminal behaviour in the

:53:23. > :53:24.contaminated blood scandal, can we have a statement from the Secretary

:53:25. > :53:28.of State for Health as to what action he will be taking now the

:53:29. > :53:37.evidence has come to light, and when a full inquiry will be set up? I

:53:38. > :53:42.think that sounds... Again, I am sorry to ask for further detail but

:53:43. > :53:45.I would be happy to take that up with the Department for health if

:53:46. > :53:49.the honourable lady would like to write to me about it. Like many

:53:50. > :53:57.members, I've had occasion to sign off referrals to the ombudsman

:53:58. > :54:00.service, and in most instances their determinations which can only be

:54:01. > :54:05.accepted or rejected are sufficient for the constituents but they cannot

:54:06. > :54:11.be appealed. Can we have a debate in Government time on the workings of

:54:12. > :54:16.the ombudsman service and in particular what recourse the

:54:17. > :54:21.constituent might have if they believe full or essential detail

:54:22. > :54:27.concerning the case was not fully taken into consideration when the

:54:28. > :54:31.determinations were reached? Yes, I have a lot of sympathy for what the

:54:32. > :54:34.honourable gentleman says, having come across cases myself where it

:54:35. > :54:41.seems an extraordinary outcome. It seems to me that that would be an

:54:42. > :54:45.ideal sort of inquiry for a select committee. It's the sort of thing

:54:46. > :54:50.where there really does need to be evidence provided. I'm also

:54:51. > :54:54.conscious there are different ombudsmans looking at different

:54:55. > :54:58.types of activity so it seems ideal for a select committee inquiry, but

:54:59. > :55:00.I am happy to talk separately with the honourable gentleman if he

:55:01. > :55:07.thinks another route would be better. Generally have a debate in

:55:08. > :55:13.Government time or a statement because residents certainly in the

:55:14. > :55:21.Coventry and Warwickshire area are concerned about building on the

:55:22. > :55:24.green belt. Can we find out what the Government's policy is and the

:55:25. > :55:31.planning regulations are in relation to the green belt because there is a

:55:32. > :55:34.blame game going on. One group blamed the local authority and the

:55:35. > :55:41.local authority blames central government. By the way I have

:55:42. > :55:44.applied for an adjournment debate. Excellent, I'm so glad the

:55:45. > :55:49.honourable gentleman has done that, it saves the laughter of the House

:55:50. > :55:53.if I were to suggest it. It is a very thorny issue because of course

:55:54. > :55:57.what we all want to see is more people able to live in and own their

:55:58. > :56:00.own homes and there is that balance between building and protecting the

:56:01. > :56:05.green belts but also making sure people have homes that are fit for

:56:06. > :56:09.purpose and can aspire to do that so this Government is committed to

:56:10. > :56:13.protecting the green belt and I'm glad he's arranging for an

:56:14. > :56:20.adjournment debate because I think that's the ideal venue to raise

:56:21. > :56:24.those issues. Trussell Trust research has indicated that mental

:56:25. > :56:30.health problems affect almost one third of households using food banks

:56:31. > :56:35.whilst 50% were classed as having a disability. May we have a debate on

:56:36. > :56:40.cuts to disability benefits and the terrible impact this is having,

:56:41. > :56:46.plunging our most vulnerable into extreme food poverty. I would like

:56:47. > :56:51.to start by saying I think we all applaud the work of food banks. I

:56:52. > :56:55.have a couple in my own constituency and they do a fantastic job with

:56:56. > :57:00.volunteers. The honourable ladies raising an important point, it would

:57:01. > :57:04.lend itself to a Westminster Hall debate on that very important topic.

:57:05. > :57:09.Of course the issue of the use of food banks is a complex one, the

:57:10. > :57:14.reasons why people go to food banks, and it would be very important and I

:57:15. > :57:20.think valuable to get to the bottom of all of the factors that lead up

:57:21. > :57:27.to it so I encourage her to do that. The Government shook their magic

:57:28. > :57:31.money tree to find a ?1 billion on for Northern Ireland so can we have

:57:32. > :57:34.an urgent statement about when that money tree will blossom again so my

:57:35. > :57:41.constituents can benefit from the full funding of the Edinburgh city

:57:42. > :57:45.regional deal? It is this side of the House that have said there is no

:57:46. > :57:53.magic money tree, it is that side of the House that was expecting their

:57:54. > :58:02.crock of gold at the end of the rainbow, so what this Government is

:58:03. > :58:04.seeking to do... Gold. What this Government is seeking to do is

:58:05. > :58:10.create an economy that is booming, that takes us away from the problems

:58:11. > :58:16.we were left with by the profligate spending of the last Labour

:58:17. > :58:22.government followed by a financial global crisis that left this

:58:23. > :58:28.Government with the worst economic situation since the Second World

:58:29. > :58:33.War. And the reality is that we are making progress, but the job is not

:58:34. > :58:38.yet done. It is far from done. We can either choose to sort out the

:58:39. > :58:44.deficit and live within our means, or we can choose to leave the

:58:45. > :58:48.enormous debt that results from that deficit to our children and

:58:49. > :58:52.grandchildren. This Government chooses the sensible and fairness

:58:53. > :59:01.between the generations of dealing with our deficit and then tackling

:59:02. > :59:06.that mountain of debt in a fair way. This week is breast-feeding week and

:59:07. > :59:09.last week was breast-feeding in Scotland week, can have a debate on

:59:10. > :59:12.the societal barriers to breast-feeding and how the

:59:13. > :59:17.Government can better support and invest in support services for

:59:18. > :59:23.families so they can make informed feeding choices? It is a topic that

:59:24. > :59:28.I'm extremely sympathetic to. I think breast-feeding is

:59:29. > :59:33.unquestionably best for the baby. However it is equally important that

:59:34. > :59:38.all mothers have the opportunity to choose with informed decision-making

:59:39. > :59:42.and information given to them. I completely support the honourable

:59:43. > :59:45.lady's ambition to remove barriers to breast-feeding and I would

:59:46. > :59:51.certainly take it up with the chief but it is an ideal subject for a

:59:52. > :59:57.Westminster Hall debate too. I am somewhat concerned, Mr Speaker, that

:59:58. > :00:02.friends of the Leader of the House appear to have told business insider

:00:03. > :00:06.today that dozens of Conservative MPs are appealing to her to run for

:00:07. > :00:11.the Conservative leadership again. I hope this doesn't distract her from

:00:12. > :00:15.her duties as Leader of the House, including looking at how we can

:00:16. > :00:19.improve private member's bill procedures. I was once again

:00:20. > :00:23.unsuccessful in today's ballot for the 20 MPs who were, it is a

:00:24. > :00:27.importer may get a fair chance to air the issues without being

:00:28. > :00:33.subjected to the juvenile filibustering tactics of Tory

:00:34. > :00:38.backbenchers. In answer to her first point, it is absolutely right for

:00:39. > :00:43.this country and party that we get behind Theresa May, who is doing a

:00:44. > :00:50.great job as Prime Minister, and I am absolutely committed to her

:00:51. > :00:55.remaining as leader of our country for as long as she wishes to do so,

:00:56. > :01:00.so just to be very clear about that. As to her second point, as I

:01:01. > :01:05.mentioned to the previous leader of the backbench business committee,

:01:06. > :01:08.the standing orders set out the number of private member's bill in

:01:09. > :01:12.any session and then it is for the usual channels to discuss whether

:01:13. > :01:16.there is the possibility to flex that. I am sympathetic to her view

:01:17. > :01:22.that we should enable members to have a fair hearing. She will be

:01:23. > :01:25.pleased that there is a number of colleagues of hers but have got

:01:26. > :01:30.private member's bill to the top, we are looking forward to that, and I

:01:31. > :01:36.congratulate those members and look forward to working with them.

:01:37. > :01:40.Dunwoody has the busiest food bank in Scotland and we have seen almost

:01:41. > :01:45.10% increase in the use of food banks in Scotland last year alone.

:01:46. > :01:50.Even Tory MSP Brian Whittle last week admitted this Government's

:01:51. > :01:55.benefits rules are forcing families to turn to food banks. Please come

:01:56. > :01:58.have an urgent debate on the UK Government's cruel and callous

:01:59. > :02:05.security system which is pushing more families into ever more

:02:06. > :02:10.desperate situations? Again, I would like to thank all of those who work

:02:11. > :02:13.in food banks for what they do, it is important we recognise the amount

:02:14. > :02:19.of volunteering and the generosity of people who donate to food banks.

:02:20. > :02:22.I say again to the honourable gentleman, the reasons that push

:02:23. > :02:27.people to food banks are complicated. I think it would be a

:02:28. > :02:30.valuable debates to try and get some of the evidence around that and I

:02:31. > :02:36.would be very supportive of him seeking to hold such a debate.

:02:37. > :02:48.SPEAKER: Nic Dakin. North Lincolnshire and gall hospital trust

:02:49. > :02:54.is not receiving the support it needs to bring about the changes

:02:55. > :02:57.required. Can we have a statement about the performance of HSI about

:02:58. > :03:01.bringing about improvements in the health service? The honourable

:03:02. > :03:06.gentleman is raising another important point for his own local

:03:07. > :03:10.hospital service and I encourage him to seek an adjournment debate on

:03:11. > :03:14.that. As to the broader point about the performance of the inspectorate,

:03:15. > :03:20.if you would like to write to me I could raise that with the Department

:03:21. > :03:24.for health. Daniel Zeichner. The Speaker of the House has heard from

:03:25. > :03:28.both sides of the House on the need for the Secretary of State to come

:03:29. > :03:31.here and explain what she's doing on funding for schools. When that

:03:32. > :03:36.happens could you talk the accountability procedures for

:03:37. > :03:41.education, particularly the Regional Schools Commissioners? In a country

:03:42. > :03:44.where the government has abolished regional structures, this is an

:03:45. > :03:48.anomaly. He is right and a number of

:03:49. > :03:51.colleagues have raised concerns about education which the Secretary

:03:52. > :03:55.of State will have heard and I will certainly discuss this with her.

:03:56. > :03:58.She's looking very closely at some of these issues. This government is

:03:59. > :04:04.determined to ensure more children have the opportunity of a good

:04:05. > :04:08.school and decent education. She is looking very closely at the funding

:04:09. > :04:12.formula to make it fairer, but also to ease burdens on schools and I am

:04:13. > :04:18.sure she will be making statements or all of those issues in June

:04:19. > :04:19.course. Rachael Maskell. I thank my Right Honourable friend for giving

:04:20. > :04:28.way. It is being punished further by

:04:29. > :04:35.being put in the cap expenditure progress, meaning further cuts to

:04:36. > :04:40.services have to be made. Can we have more information about the cap

:04:41. > :04:43.expenditure process by the Secretary of State for Health? The Honourable

:04:44. > :04:49.Lady raises a very important local matter for her constituency, which

:04:50. > :04:52.if she applies for an adjournment debate she will have a health

:04:53. > :04:58.minister respond to that which should give her the answer she

:04:59. > :05:04.seeks. The members opposite have quite rightly been quick to praise

:05:05. > :05:07.the efforts it's dumb much of the emergency services responding to the

:05:08. > :05:11.Grenfell Tower disaster and terrible attacks across the country in the

:05:12. > :05:17.last few months. However, yesterday we saw a public sector pay Pokey

:05:18. > :05:20.Coakley in Downing Street and the Scottish Tory MPs giving the Prime

:05:21. > :05:27.Minister a majority to stop efforts to end the pay cap happening in

:05:28. > :05:35.Scotland. Can we have an urgent debate in government time on fairer

:05:36. > :05:41.public sector pay? The government has been consistent on this subject

:05:42. > :05:46.of public sector pay that the decisions on public sector pay will

:05:47. > :05:53.be taken in light of the recommendations from the independent

:05:54. > :06:00.pay bodies. SPEAKER: Martin Docherty-Hughes. Thank you, Mr

:06:01. > :06:04.Speaker. Nice to see you back in your position, congratulations on

:06:05. > :06:09.your election.. Times are usually accompanied by dark money. Will the

:06:10. > :06:11.Leader of the House agree it is time to shine a light on political

:06:12. > :06:15.funding by supporting the publication in full of all political

:06:16. > :06:17.donations made in Northern Ireland? If this is a union of equals it's

:06:18. > :06:38.time to publish or be damped. Damned. The Right Honourable

:06:39. > :06:45.gentleman is making some accusations there but I'm not absolutely sure

:06:46. > :06:49.what he is referring to. Will the Leader of the House ensure we have

:06:50. > :06:54.an urgent debate in government time on ensuring councils like Lewisham

:06:55. > :07:01.which receive adequate funding to cover the costs of appropriate fire

:07:02. > :07:05.safety checks, removal of cladding, installation of sprinkler systems

:07:06. > :07:11.and any other associated costs to ensure our residents remain safe?

:07:12. > :07:14.The Honourable Lady raises the absolutely key priority for this

:07:15. > :07:20.government, which is of course at the moment to deal with the horrors

:07:21. > :07:24.that have ensued at Grenfell Tower, and to ensure that all residents who

:07:25. > :07:27.live in similar towers or other buildings that could suffer from the

:07:28. > :07:32.same problems with cladding are inspected and properly looked after.

:07:33. > :07:37.What we need to do is to allow the fire inspections officers to do

:07:38. > :07:42.their work, make recommendations on what is required for each building.

:07:43. > :07:46.It won't be a one size fits all but she can rest assured the government

:07:47. > :07:53.remains absolutely committed to keeping all residents in high-rise

:07:54. > :07:56.towers safe. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can we have a debate on the issue of

:07:57. > :08:04.anti-social behaviour related to off-road bikes and mopeds and quads,

:08:05. > :08:09.some of the states in Sheffield are like scenes from Mad Max with riders

:08:10. > :08:13.riding around masked and blighting the lives of locals. Can we have a

:08:14. > :08:19.debate on whether the police have the resources to tackle this issue?

:08:20. > :08:23.I am sympathetic to the local nuisance. I have experienced that in

:08:24. > :08:27.my own local area and have every sympathy for what the Honourable

:08:28. > :08:30.Lady says. It lends itself to a Westminster Hall or adjournment

:08:31. > :08:39.debate but she has raised it in this House and people will have heard her

:08:40. > :08:42.support for that. Chris Stephens. I would be successful in raising a

:08:43. > :08:48.Westminster Hall debate, can I ask for a statement or a debate on the

:08:49. > :08:52.future of Glasgow's job centres and across the UK. Given the public

:08:53. > :08:54.consultation has closed, does the Leader of the House agree we should

:08:55. > :09:01.end seven months of uncertainty for users of social security services?

:09:02. > :09:06.The honourable gentleman will be aware that in order to give a more

:09:07. > :09:10.efficient service and cost-effective service, that the issue of where job

:09:11. > :09:15.centres are located is being very carefully taken into account the

:09:16. > :09:18.travel needs of users but we are trying to review job centres.

:09:19. > :09:22.However, the honourable gentleman will know that he can apply for

:09:23. > :09:25.Westminster Hall and adjournment debates every week so he gets lots

:09:26. > :09:31.more opportunities to keep trying for such a debate. David Hanson.

:09:32. > :09:34.Next month sees the first parliamentary by-election of this

:09:35. > :09:41.Parliament, the tenth Earl of Walpole will be replaced. The

:09:42. > :09:45.electorate for the by-election is 31 people. Could we have an early

:09:46. > :09:54.debate on how to stop this nonsense? Will the government support the Bill

:09:55. > :09:58.to do just that? The House of Lords are looking at their own procedures

:09:59. > :10:01.and they have their own review into their own practices and I think we

:10:02. > :10:08.should allow them to continue with that. Matthew Pennycook. Years of

:10:09. > :10:14.destruction as a result of the London Bridge station rebuild.

:10:15. > :10:17.Figures published recently suggest my constituents will not see the

:10:18. > :10:22.service promised following completion. Can we have a debate

:10:23. > :10:27.about what is needed to give rail passengers in south-east London the

:10:28. > :10:32.service and franchise they deserve? The honourable gentleman raises yet

:10:33. > :10:37.another very good point about the service to rail passengers who do

:10:38. > :10:40.seem to have a very tough time. I am sure he will no doubt use the

:10:41. > :10:49.opportunity of a debate next week to raise that matter then. Can we have

:10:50. > :10:53.an urgent statement from the government on the National Audit

:10:54. > :10:58.Office report on Hinkley Point C nuclear power station development.

:10:59. > :11:03.The damning report says it is risky and expensive, not value for money,

:11:04. > :11:06.a cost to the consumer, taxpayer and other energy developments. Doesn't

:11:07. > :11:11.she agree it's time the public saw an end to this overcharging white

:11:12. > :11:16.elephant? I absolutely don't agree with the honourable gentleman. I

:11:17. > :11:20.think it's absolutely right we have transparent discussion in this place

:11:21. > :11:25.but he will be aware, as he knows quite a lot about energy matters,

:11:26. > :11:34.that around 20% of our electricity is always provided by old nuclear

:11:35. > :11:37.power stages, many of which use the Mac and their useful lives in the

:11:38. > :11:42.next ten years and it's important to have in place a new nuclear power

:11:43. > :11:44.station to replace that. Nevertheless, the honourable

:11:45. > :11:51.gentleman may well wish to raise that in a Westminster Hall debate.

:11:52. > :11:53.Chris Bryant. It's great what the Leader of the House said only about

:11:54. > :11:57.a Private Members Bill and as one who has a minor interest in this it

:11:58. > :12:00.would be good to know when we are going to start doing the Private

:12:01. > :12:03.Members Bills. Surely since the government has nothing in this

:12:04. > :12:07.programme and is allowing itself to years to do it, shouldn't we have

:12:08. > :12:12.double the number of days allowed for Private Members Bills in a

:12:13. > :12:17.single session. Would like 26 please in this session. The honourable

:12:18. > :12:21.gentleman knows far better than I do about the standing orders of this

:12:22. > :12:24.House so he would be aware that the standing orders set out the number

:12:25. > :12:27.of Private Members Bills. I'd like to congratulate him on drawing the

:12:28. > :12:31.number one spot and look forward to working with him on that. I would

:12:32. > :12:34.like to say, however, that this government, as I said in my opening

:12:35. > :12:41.replies to the Shadow Leader of the House, has a very full programme.

:12:42. > :12:45.Not just on Brexit but on social reform, on economic progress command

:12:46. > :12:52.prevention of extremism. So there is a lot of work to do. This government

:12:53. > :12:54.will remain focus on that but we are sympathetic to the requests of

:12:55. > :13:00.colleagues for further Private Members Bills time to be given. Mr

:13:01. > :13:04.Gavin Newlands. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Saturday marks a

:13:05. > :13:09.celebration of the town's radical past, particularly political

:13:10. > :13:14.battles, between its weavers and employers. The first festival will

:13:15. > :13:19.celebrate Paisley's distinct political and cultural entity. Can

:13:20. > :13:22.we have a debate on the UK City of Culture 2021 competition to learn

:13:23. > :13:29.more about why Paisley's bid should and will win? I think he has just

:13:30. > :13:32.helped his own bid, so I congratulate him for that. It lends

:13:33. > :13:43.itself to an adjournment debate or a Westminster Hall debate. My

:13:44. > :13:46.constituents came to the UK as a child refugee from Afghanistan, he

:13:47. > :13:50.saw his father murdered by the Taleb and. The Home Office tried to

:13:51. > :13:53.forcibly remove him back there last year and are attempting to do so

:13:54. > :13:58.again this year. Can we have a debate on the inhumane government

:13:59. > :14:06.policy on child refugees when they reach the age of 18? I'm sure the

:14:07. > :14:11.Honourable Lady will have raised this with the Home Office already. I

:14:12. > :14:16.encourage her to continue to do that. I completely understand

:14:17. > :14:21.support for child refugees is absolutely vital. This government

:14:22. > :14:24.has provided a home for many child refugees and will continue to do so

:14:25. > :14:30.but on the specific case she raises I liaise directly with the Home

:14:31. > :14:37.Office. In recent weeks I've been proud to become the President of my

:14:38. > :14:40.hometown football club. I have seen first-hand the word volunteers do,

:14:41. > :14:44.particularly with young people. Can we have a debate on the contribution

:14:45. > :14:51.that grass roots football makes to our communities? Congratulations to

:14:52. > :14:57.him for his elevation. I am sure that is great news. The Secretary of

:14:58. > :15:01.State is here and will have heard exactly what he had to say and I

:15:02. > :15:05.encourage him to seek adjournments or a Westminster Hall debate on the

:15:06. > :15:11.subject if he would like to progress the issue of grassroots sport, which

:15:12. > :15:15.is very important for all of us. On Friday I visited a very vulnerable

:15:16. > :15:19.constituent who, on the advice of the Home Office, the child benefit

:15:20. > :15:23.agency, removed their child benefit. The only way to get it back is to

:15:24. > :15:28.get her passports, which are being held by the Home Office. Can we have

:15:29. > :15:33.a debate in government time about the bureaucracy and lack of internal

:15:34. > :15:35.communication? The honourable gentleman is raising a very specific

:15:36. > :15:40.case which he needs to do with the Home Office and possibly with UK BA

:15:41. > :15:45.if there is an issue of where their passports are. We all deal with

:15:46. > :15:48.similar issues in our constituencies and I know that right across

:15:49. > :15:52.government officials and ministers are very sympathetic to these cases

:15:53. > :15:55.and do try to expedite them as quickly as possible.