21/12/2017 Business Questions

urgently as possible. We need as

many measures as possible to make it

as difficult as possible for

youngsters to carry lethal weapons.

THE SPEAKER: Business questions.

Thank you, can the leader of the

House update the House on the

forthcoming business.

Thank you Mr Speaker. The business

for the week commencing 8th January

2018 will include, Monday 8th

January, second reading of the

taxation cross border trade bill.

Tuesday, 9th January, second reading

of the trade bill. Wednesday, 10th

January, opposition day, 7th

allotted day. There'll be a debate

on an opposition motion. Subject to

be announced. Thursday 11th January,

debate on a motion relating to

defence. The subject of this debate

was determined by the Backbench

Business Committee. Friday 12th

January t House will not be sitting.

The provisional business for the

week commencing 15th January, 2018,

will include, Monday #159 January,

second reading of the space industry

bill at Lord's. Tuesday 16th

January, remaining stages of the

European Union Withdrawal Bill day

one. Wednesday 17th January,

conclusion of remaining stages of

the European Union Withdrawal Bill.

Thursday 18th January, debate on a

motion on treatment of SMEs by RBS

Global restructuring group. A debate

on Holocaust Memorial Day 2018. The

subjects were determined by the

Backbench Business Committee. Friday

19th, Private Member's Bills. Mr

Speaker, this morning our thoughts

and prayers are the people of mole

borne as the troubling situation

there -- Melbourne as the troubling

situation there continues to

develop.

May I congratulate the people of the

West Midlands and we wish them every

success. Finally, at the end of a

business term, can I take this

opportunity to wish you and all

colleagues on all sides of the

House, all our staff and staff of

the House a very relaxing Christmas

and a happy and healthy New Year.

And Mr Speaker, I am sure we are all

looking forward to hearing Big Ben's

chimes once again, as it rings in

2018.

THE SPEAKER: Thank you.

Can I thank

the leader of the House for the

future business. I am pleased too

about Birmingham getting the

Commonwealth Games. I've got my

running shoes on already. Mr

Speaker, I note there's no date for

the restoration and renewal debate.

I know the leader of the House has

listened to members across the House

that Thursday is not an appropriate

day because maybe people have

different things to do. As the EU

bill goes through to the other

place, could she say whether it's

likely that the debate will take

place we need to act sooner rather

than later. There are already people

on the Select Committee who have

been on the report, worked on the

report, it's taken a long time to

get that debate going. Mr Speaker,

Prime Minister questions are

becoming more like Prime Minister's

slogans. We have heard fit for the

future and, if this is a way of

stopping her, the Prime Minister, we

say, fit for the future with Labour.

But someone needs to update the

Prime Minister. She mentioned

sustainable and transformational

partnerships in relation to an

integrated health and social care.

She said Labour was supposed to. Of

course we are. It is another

reorganise liegs the disastrous

social care act which cost the

country £3 billion. What she didn't

mention was the atable care

organisation. Accountable to who? I

asked the leader last week when the

Government was intended to lay the

regulations before the House. She

didn't give me an answer. Will there

be adequate time to lay those and if

there'll be time for a vote? Another

week, another U-turn or two. On

Tuesday, we found out that plans to

end the revenue support grant and

allow councils to keep all of the

business rates would be put on hold.

Not everyone has Oxford Street in

their constituency! It will

hopefully end the bizarre policy of

councils buying shopping malls and I

don't know what the whip is doing

there sitting chuntering. You say

none of that - if he could listen

that would be very, very helpful.

The Government is consulting on a

fair funding review and the

consultation closes on 12th March.

Could the lead erase with the

Community Secretary the extension of

that consultation until the end of

March to give people time to

respond? The other U-turn on

Wednesday, the member for Wigan led

a Westminster Hall debate on the

extension for foster carers being

able to claim free childcare for

their foster children. The minister

ended that exclusion. The minister

should be congratulated on that,

closing that gap in policy. That is

what we would like to see in

opposition days. We want to work

constructively with the Government

where there are gaps in policy. I

ask the leader of the House about

the committee - and she indicated

when the EU bill has received Royal

Assent she will proceeding orders.

Given there are many statutory

powers that the Government are

reserving to themselves, could she

confirm through the usual channels,

perhaps, fairly quickly, that the

chair of the committee will be from

the opposition? And could we have a

statement on why the Equalities and

Human Rights Commission is not

appointing people, because ministers

are vetoing appointments on

political grounds. The board at the

moment cannot function. The former

head of equalities and employment

rights of the TUC, despite being

supported by the chair, was not

reappointed. And she was told that

the decision not to reappoint was

because a political adviser at

number ten noticed a tweet

disapproving of some Government

policy. Can the leader of the House

confirm the Government is not

vetoing appointments on grounds of

dissent with the Government? Can the

Government look again at reappoints

her? She is a highly-qualified

person and supported be I the chair.

It's putting at risk fundamental

values expected of a democratic

state including judicial

independence, could the Leader of

the House confirm the Prime Minister

will be raising a rule of law with

the Polish government? Is this the

kind of government our government is

doing trade deals with? Our country

played a vital role in drafting the

European Convention on human rights

with the UK being the first country

to sign up to this. We promote the

rule of law throughout the world.

And finally, looking back on the

year, the Leader of the House

mentioned the events in Melbourne

from Westminster to Manchester, from

London Bridge to Finsbury Park.

Families will spend their first

Christmas grieving for their lost

loved ones including our own deputy

Speaker. Our prayers are with him

and his family at this difficult

time and I'm pleased that following

a statement by Mayor Burnham that

the Government were initially only

going to pay 12 million to public

services that the Government will

now pay the full 28

million as asked for. Yesterday was

human solidarity day, we always see

the country come together in

difficult times, we should strive to

do that when there are no disasters.

Finally I want to say thank you to

my opposition Chief Whip for the

support and help is given and my

staff and his staff and the Chief

Whip for his support last week. The

Leader of the House, the deputy

leader who has been so loyal

throughout the years with different

leaders, Mr Speaker your family and

office in particular, the House of

Commons library, official reporters,

catering, cleaning, security workers

and all right honourable members on

their family. I have to do this,

it's a joke from a Christmas

cracker, what do reindeer hang on

their Christmas trees? Hornaments.

May I wish everybody happy Christmas

and a peaceful New Year.

I'm sure

the joke will resound around many

Christmas table this year and may I

particularly join with her in

sending all of our sympathies to the

Deputy Speaker and his family. What

a terrible tragedy, we are all so

sorry about that. I also want to

share her remarks about human

solidarity. We've seen so many

examples of amazing solidarity and

yet very sadly also too many

examples of people allowing their

disagreements to splash into

violence, vitriol, hatred and so on,

and really we do want in this

Parliament to be able to share our

disagreements and then go out of

here and have a cup of tea together.

Any time, I'm always delighted to

share a cup of tea with the

honourable lady opposite and I wish

her and her family are very happy

Christmas. Mr Speaker, she asks

about when they are and our debate

will be scheduled and I can say to

her as I did last week -- the R&R

debate, I'm working to find a

suitable date for that. She asks

about accountable care

organisations, these are intended to

provide more joined up care, more

efficient care, greater

productivity, and they are something

that the NHS would value having us

on tool that their disposal and that

is the purpose of them. There's

nothing else but the intention to

make the NHS more effective and

productive. She asks about the

consultation on fair funding,

whether it could be ended at the end

of March rather than the 12th of

March. I will happily take that up

with DCLG. If there is no good

reason why it can't be, I'm sure

DCLG would be sympathetic. On the

childcare for foster children, I

think it is something the whole

House is delighted with progress in

this area and we should celebrate

that access being provided by the

Government. She asks about the

sifting committee, there are drafts

changes on the order paper for her

and colleagues to look up. The

decision about who will make up that

committee will be made in due course

through the usual channels. She also

asks about appointments to human

rights commission. These decisions

are taken in possession of all the

facts about who was the right

balance of experience, background

and so on. I can't comment on the

specifics of what she mentions but I

can ensure there is scrupulous

fairness in terms of the

appointments to commissions. She

asks about Poland, I can say to her

all and remain very strong allies of

the United Kingdom. Polish fighters

in world wars have been enormously

supportive to the interests of the

UK, we should never forget that.

However she rightly points out the

UK upholds international law, we

have a commitment to the importance

of the rule of law and the Prime

Minister will be making her views on

that very clear when she is in

Poland. I would also like to share

her all-encompassing good wishes to

all of those who work for and in

this place, thank you.

As per usual

there is extensive interest in the

business question but I simply

advise the House there are two

statements to follow and that over

30 people are seeking to contribute

to the two debate to take place

under the auspices of the backbench

business committee so there is a

premium on brevity, now to be

inevitably demonstrated by Sir Peter

Bottomley.

The House will welcome

the statement by DCLG today on the

crackdown of unfair leasehold

practices. Would it be possible for

the Government to announce when

there will be a government debate on

the timetable so we can stamp out

the exploitation, the crockery and

heartlessness by some of the

freeholders who have been operating

on touched in this field for so

long? -- untouched.

I share the

concern about practices in this area

and I'm sure updates will be

provided as soon as possible.

I

thank the House for the answer, and

I wish all the members of the House

are very Merry Christmas and I won't

repeat the list, and it's panto

season and I'm sure every day is

like a pantomime in this House. But

this year we have our own version of

motherly to -- mother totally

goosed. No longer assisted by the

pantomime dame from Aladdin, our

hero climbs bravely into the Brexit

unknown. I'm sure we are all hoping

for a very peaceful election in the

New Year. Last time people were

assaulted by the state for simply

voting, it's almost impossible to

believe that in a modern European

democracy political leaders are

contesting this election from prison

for simply desiring a particular

political outcome for their country.

Can we have a debate about tax, to

try to better understand why England

is quickly becoming the highest

taxed part of the UK. Where in

Scotland 70% of taxpayers have had

their tax reduced, and in England

once their council tax is factored

in, taxpayers in a band E property

face a tax increase of over £100.

Perhaps the Scottish Government can

give them some advice and assistance

about how to try and design a fair

tax system based on the best

principles of redistribution.

Lastly, at this time of goodwill and

cheer, remember the Scottish Tory

members of Parliament are not just

for Christmas. You are stuck with

them, as they plummet in Scottish

Westminster opinion polls, those

cute doe eyed stoppers of a second

independence referendum could grow

up to be the unloved forgotten waste

of space with nothing better to do

than bark about our government, so

remember people of Scotland, if you

think about voting Tory in Scotland

look at what they grow up to when

they get down here.

I'm not entirely

sure what to make of that, Mr

Speaker, but taking his points in

the Christmas spirit which I think

is very important, he clearly feels

under threat by my honourable friend

's because of the excellent work

they do in holding the Scottish

Government to account also the

excellent work they do in

representing their own constituents

in Scotland. It's great for us on

this side of the House to see the

Conservatives at work supporting

Scottish constituents. He asks about

taxes and he will be aware we will

be very disappointed on this side of

the House and my honourable friend

the member is from Conservative

Scotland to seek taxes going up in

Scotland, particularly at a time

when the Chancellor in his budget

announced an extra £2 billion for

Scotland. He asks about Catalonia

and I certainly think the whole

House will join in hoping that

today's election in Catalonia will

be peaceful, respectful, and of

course Spain is a very key ally to

the UK. But as I've just said in

answer to the honourable lady

opposite, we absolutely uphold the

rule of law at all times. Finally he

asks about Brexit trade deals, the

Prime Minister has said on any

number of occasions as has the

Brexit Secretary that we are

determined to get the best possible

deal for the UK and for our European

Union friends and neighbours as we

leave the European Union and that

will be on March 29, 2019.

Will my

right honourable friend to find time

for general debate on new types of

crimes such as mopeds gangs and acid

attacks, with this depressing trend

it seems the law and sentencing

guidelines are not fit for purpose.

My honourable friend raises a very

concerning issue. We are determined

to put a stop to this type of new

kind. The Home Office has been

working closely with a number of

partners including the motorcycle

and insurance industry, and the

police, to develop an action plan

and will be reviewing progress early

in the New Year. On acid attacks,

the Government is consulting on

nukes legislation that would inhibit

the sale of corrosive substances to

under 18s and sulphuric acid will be

placed on the list. It is a big

challenge. I'm sure my honourable

friend, as I am, is pleased

traditional crimes are decreasing

thanks to the excellent efforts of

our law enforcers but we must and

will react to modern times quickly

and effectively.

Can I thank the

Leader of the House for the business

statement advertising their wares of

the backbench business community in

the New Year, particularly the

six-hour intended debate on defence

which is sponsored by my right

honourable friend the Member for

Gedling. It is Christmas and I think

we should add to the extended list

we had from the shadow leader. A

time for forgiveness I think really

at Christmas so let's extend a warm

and Merry Christmas to ipsa.

Study

on! -- Steady on!

They are the

founders of our feast so let's

extend a Merry Christmas to them and

could I extend an invitation to you,

Mr Speaker, and the Leader of the

House between June and September,

Gateshead and Newcastle will be

hosting the great exhibition of the

north and I would be delighted to

invite you both to visit during that

period.

Thank you. Mr Speaker, I'm

sure you and I would be delighted to

do that. I've really enjoyed

previous trips in particular to

Gateshead, it's a fabulous vibrant

place with fabulous views, tall

buildings and enormous roof state

views, fabulous, so I will certainly

take the honourable gentleman up on

that. His right to raise an

important debate on the 11th of

January on defence, which will give

many members the chance to air their

views. I would also like to share in

his merry wishes to ipsa and may

they have a successful and happy

2018.

It's increasingly clear that

the health and social Claire needs

of rural communities diverged very

significantly from those in urban

communities -- social care,

therefore I wondered if the Leader

of the House would welcome the

creation of the National Centre for

global health and care and the

appointment of Richard Parish who

has vast international and local

experience. Could we therefore

perhaps have a debate in Government

time on the unique pressures that

rural health and social care

provided in recognition of the

changes we need in funding and

structure?

My honourable friend is

right to raise this important issue.

Rural areas face unique pressures.

Challenges raised aloft and around

barriers to access including rural

transport and urgent and emergency

care. She will be aware dwellers in

rural areas often enjoy better

health than urban areas and she may

wish to apply for an adjournment

debate to debate this very important

matter further.

Members across the House would have

been horrified to have seen the

extent of the amount of plastic in

our seas after watching Blue Planet

this year. Will the leader of the

House and you Mr Speaker make it

your New Years resolutions to make

Parliament plastic-free in 2018?

Well I agree with the honourable

lady. I was glued to blue planet and

the issues it raised. I was

delighted as Environment Secretary

myself to have been able to announce

the latest strategy looking at how

we can reduce the plastics in our

seas. The current Environment

Secretary has just now signed the

commitment to banning microbeads

from face washes and other products.

This Government has done more than

any other to try and clamp down on

waste plastics getting into our

marine areas and we will continue to

do everything possible.

One of the farcical stories of new

mark 2017 has been Network Rail's

failure to man the barriers at the

station. It is a good job that Santa

will arrive through the air on a

slay because otherwise he may not be

able to get into the town. The

latest instalment was the operatives

failed to recognise the barriers

should be closed from 10pm,

overnight and misread it as 10am,

closing the entire town off for

Saturday shopping at Christmas.

Could the Leader of the House pick

up the phone to the chief executive

of Network Rail and give him a good

telling off?

As ever, my friend

represents his constituents

extremely well. He may want to have

an adjournment debate to raise this

issue.

Happy St Thomas' day, Mr

Speaker, to be precise. I just want

to ask, I am delighted that the

leader of the House has said we are

moving the day for an R and R

because it is better the whole House

should come to a proper decision.

Can I just suggest to Hertha when we

have on the 15th January, I found

time... I am helping her. The second

read of the space industry bill took

less than two hours in the House of

Lords. I don't see why it should

take any more time here and we could

use the rest of the day then to do R

and R and come to a proper decision.

Ipsa have said if all members next

year want staff to be paid before

Christmas, if we all say aye today,

then they will all do it properly

next year.

Well, I am very grateful, as I am

sure is the Chief Whip and the

opposition Chief Whip on his advice

to how to schedule the business.

He'll appreciate that the space bill

is an important piece of legislation

that is going to create jobs for the

future. Highly skilled, huge

opportunity for the United Kingdom

and it needs to be given a proper

hearing in this place.

Could we have a debate on made in

Britain? Does the leader of the

House share my concern that the new

British passport from 2019, a black

passport, not purple, could be

design and printed in Germany, made

in Berlin, rather than made in

Britain?

What I can say to my

honourable friend is that I think we

all support the UK's stance as a

global free trading nation. At the

same time we recognise that Britain

has a huge amount to offer in terms

of our manufacturing, our food,

drink - all manner of services we

provide to the world. We can compete

on a level playing field.

Thank you,

Mr Speaker. As we come to the end of

Hull's first year as City of

Culture, can I just pay tribute to

rosy Millard and rosy Green who have

led the City of Culture and put on

wonderful events this year. We've

had three-and-a-half million

visitors to Hull. Can we have a

debate about the legacy coming out

of City of Culture for Hull and

particularly now Coventry are going

to be City of Culture 20211, making

sure -- 2021 and make sure we get

the funding and not have it

concentrated in London?

I

congratulate the honourable lady on

her support for Hull's superb time

as City of Culture and also for her

enthusiasm for Coventry. I recommend

she seeks a Westminster Hall debate

to focus on these important debates.

I am sure ministers will be very

interested to hear her views.

There's growing concern about

residents and business owners in

particularly in the St Peter's

avenue and high street areas of

Cleethorpes about the number of

vagrants in the area and that has

spilled over at a public meeting

last week. Could the leader find

timer a debate in Government time

when we could look at the response

of the various agencies, how they

can deal with the problem and

actually deal with those who are

genuinely homeless?

My honourable

friend raises an issue which is a

great concern to all of us. The

Government is committed to

eliminating rough sleeping and

investing over £1 billion to 2020 to

tackling homelessness and rough

sleeping. For example, we have a

homelessness reduction task force

and a rough sleeping advisory panel

to focus minds across Government on

what more we can do. We have £20

million on schemes supporting people

who homeless or at risk in order to

get them secure tenancies and £28

million for backing first pilots. It

is vital local authorities do take

advantage of the funding that is

available to them and that we all

focus on tackling homelessness and

rough sleeping.

Thank you Mr Speaker. I spend my

best Christmas wishes to all. But

Christmas can be a very tough time

of year for some people. At the

sister marry tan's reception held

here -- at the Samaristans. If

anybody did contact them in an

emotional crisis then that number

would be available. I wonder if you

would join me in asking MPs present

if they could do it? I have already

done it. Thank you.

Well, Mr

Speaker, I think that is a lovely

idea from the honourable lady I. I

certainly whether be delight to do

that myself and in fact have done a

short YouTube clip explaining to

people how to get hold of me if

there is no answer from the office.

Loneliness must be addressed and

never more so than at this time of

year when it can matter a great deal

to people. I commend her for her

suggestion.

. Thank you, Mr Speaker. This week,

the London Assembly has announced a

report which shows that in London

alone there are 9,000 sheds which

are accommodating people in people's

back gardens and other unsavoury

areas. That is council tax not

collected and landlords exploiting

people who have no-one to live.

Could we debate this nation-wide

problem, so we can crack down on

this disgraceful type of activity? I

think my honourable friend is

absolutely right to raise what is a

pretty shocking statistic.

He'll be aware that number of

statutory homeless people is lower

at any time than it was in 2010. But

nevertheless, there is a lot more to

be done and certainly clamping down

on rogue landlords and those who

seek to abuse people who don't have

access to safe rented accommodation

must be done. I would share in his

view that the Mayor of London should

be seeking to put a stop to this.

Thank you Mr Speaker. Will the

leader of the House please press for

Government time for us to debate

this the process of renovation

debate for how to make this House

and all Houses of Parliament truly

accessible to people with dacted?

Particularly for those one in 100 on

the autistic spectrum?

Well, I thank

the honourable lady for her

question. I would like to pay

tribute to you Mr Speaker for all

you have done for those with

disabilitied and -- disabilities and

to make Parliament more accessible.

The honourable lady is right to

raise the possibility that the House

will be able to get easier access

once we get into the R and R debate.

Last week in the Times and other

papers there was a good article by a

special adviser to David Cameron and

to George Osborne about corruption

in local Government. I asked for a

debate last week. I am asking again.

We have firm evidence there are

problems and I would like a general

debate in this place if possible.

Well, my honourable friend raises an

issue which is of great concern to

him. I do encourage him to seek an

adjournment debate so he can raise

it specifically with ministers.

Two

young girls from my constituency are

coming to Parliament today to meet

the chair of the environment sub

committee. They are kids against

plastic. They are fantastic

campaigners, as young girls. I just

wonder whether, given the urgency of

this, and as my honourable friend

from Sheffield was saying, we have

all been moved by Blue Planet. They

want us to do even more. I wonder if

the leader could arrange for the

Environment Secretary to come to

Parliament and make a statement so

we can all contribute to do

something about this?

Can I

congratulate his constituents.

Importantly for young people to take

such an interest in their

environment. I can tell them that

through for example they are cutting

the use of plastic bags by 83%,

means there are nine billion fewer

plastic bags now being used. We've

doubled the maximum litter fines to

try and discourage litter on land

which so often ends up in our seas.

And we have just finished consulting

on proposals to reduce metal,

plastic and glass litter and reward

and return schemes for drinks

containers. All these things are

important. I encourage his

constituents to keep up their

campaigning work.

Can we have a statement to this

House on the recent HMCIS report

into the plans for the transport

police into Police Scotland. That

highlighted issues required to be

discussed sooner rather than later.

We 16 months away from full

integration. Does this show how

poorly the SNP have handle in this

and we may be better if they abandon

their plans all together?

My

honourable friend raises a very

important matter. He's right to be

holding the Scottish Government to

account. I do encourage him to seek

a Westminster Hall or an adjournment

debate so he can raise this with

ministers soond' what can be -- with

ministers and see what can be done.

My Easterhouse constituent submitted

an asylum claim and has not been

given a decision on that. May we

have a discussion on asylum claims?

The honourable gentleman raises a

very sig nificant constituency

issue. He's right to raise it. I

encourage him to take it up with

Home Office ministers who I am sure

will be keen to look at the specific

case.

Never forget that in the fight for

freedom and justice Poland lost a

quarter of their population in the

war. Closer to home, can we please

have this debate on restoration and

renewal on a substantive motion as

soon as possible? We do think we

should get on with this now. In a

building like this, fire is an

ever-present risk. The House needs

to come to a conclusion quickly and

get on with work, particularly with

fire doors.

Well, as I have

explained to members, we have taken

representations that the debate

shouldn't be on a Thursday and we

are seeking an alternative dated as

soon as possible.

Will the leader of the House make

time available for a Cabinet Office

debate on the selective application

of the Ministerial Code, so the

Cabinet Office can explain why the

Deputy Prime Minister had to go,

whereas the Foreign Secretary, who

according to my estimation has

breached 1.2, 7.1 and # 8.6, of the

ministerial code is still with us.

Can I wish her and others member

answered the speaker and everyone

who helps us in this House a merry

New Year and in the knew year an

exit from Brexit.

Well, I thank him for his good apart

from the last bit, which I don't

share that sentiment at all. He

makes some specific allegations

which he should raise with the

Cabinet Office directly.

Could we have an urgent debate on

net neutrality in the light of the

Federal Communications commission 's

recent decision in the United

States?

I'm pleased to say to my

honourable friend that I did manage

to catch the relevant minister on

this point just before coming into

the chamber, who confirmed that the

UK remains committed to the existing

laws around net neutrality and will

be upholding those laws, but he may

well wish to write a Parliamentary

question to have that confirmed to

him directly.

Merry Christmas to

you, Mr Speaker, and all who serve

in this House. Can I ask for an

urgent debate on the Government's

red lines with Brexit. We heard two

days ago that passporting financial

services is not possible. Tens of

thousands of jobs in Edinburgh rely

on it, can we have an urgent debate?

I think the honourable gentleman

will appreciate this is a

negotiation, he will be delighted

that we have made progress on

discussing the free-trade

arrangements that we want to have

between ourselves and the European

Union. These negotiations are under

way and the Government will update

Parliament and take in Parliament's

views at every opportunity.

If each

member could ask a short question of

one sentence, we could move on in

about ten minutes and that would be

helpful to subsequent debates.

Whether that will have any effect,

who knows, we will see.

This

morning, the Staffordshire Regiment

or association mascot... Is a

Staffordshire bull terrier so will

my right honourable friend join me

in congratulating him.

I'm delighted

to join in her enthusiasm, I gather

he also won the Westminster dog of

the year competition last year.

I

asked the Leader of the House on

November 16 for a statement on when

the results of the consultation on

penalties for causing death by

dangerous driving would come before

Parliament and be enshrined in law.

I wrote to her as she asked me to do

but since then I have heard nothing.

I will absolutely look into, if I

have missed something I am assiduous

on following up all pledges made in

this House so if it's the case I

have not followed up I sincerely

apologise and will do straight after

this.

In the recent experience of my

constituency, fracking has been

declared. Could we consider having a

debate in Government about whether

the planning system is working for

these kind of large applications.

My

honourable friend is a strong voice

for his constituents and is right to

raise this matter. An applicant for

planning permission can exercise

powers for the right of appeal to

the Secretary of State against a

decision to refuse consent or

non-determination and whether an

applicant wishes to exercise that

right of appeal is for them. He will

appreciate major shale planning

decisions will be the responsibility

of the National planning regime so

he could raise this with DCLG

ministers on the 22nd of January.

Three governments have failed to

reform the committee that is

supposed to prevent past ministers

from profiting financially from

their time in office. Isn't there a

danger that the country will look at

recent affairs and ask, as Chaucer

did, if gold does rust, what will

iron do?

If the honourable gentleman

has an EDM, that will be dealt with

in the usual manner.

Cut the lead a

fine time for a debate around the

apprenticeship levy? In my

constituency, blaze construction are

working hard to support this process

but have concerns about how it

affects their industry and efforts.

I know my honourable friend shares

the enthusiasm of the Government for

apprenticeships. There are more than

3 million of them now since 2010,

fantastic news for young people's

careers. I asked that she should

seek an adjournment debate so she

can raise that directly.

The

Christmas wish to the police that

keep us safe in this place. They get

overlooked sometimes. With the

Leader of the House, once you join

me, the heart-rending thing you read

after last Christmas when the little

girl can say Father Christmas forgot

to come to my house, that is a

terrible thing. The children's

commission said half a million

vulnerable children exist in our

country. Can we have a debate about

their reports on vulnerable

children?

I fully share his concern

about vulnerable children and we

would all like, particularly at

Christmas, to see everything done

possible to ensure children have the

chance to be with their families and

enjoy their Christmas. I encourage

the honourable gentleman to seek

debate on this so all members can

participate.

Would she join me in

thanking postal service workers over

this busy Christmas period, can we

have a statement on support post

offices can receive in the future,

especially rural ones?

I'm delighted

to share with her in thanking all

post office workers, they do a

fabulous job at this time of year.

It's an important issue, especially

to rural communities, so I'm pleased

the Government announced it is

committing new money in investment

in the new post office network for

the three years from April 2000 18.

What the Leader of the House agreed

to have a debate on a national Sikh

war memorial. More than 83,000 to --

Sikh soldiers laid down their lives

in the world was...

Far too long.

By

sharing his interest in a memorial

and he may well wish to seek an

adjournment debate so he can raise

it directly with ministers.

Will the

Leader of the House join me in

congratulating Martin Gladstone who

received a

reward, and whose son was killed in

a bus bomb.

His right to seek the

want of this House for his

constituents and I'm happy to give

it.

I hope Parliament will join me

in congratulating the UN and WFP in

declaring an international day of

sign language, and may we have a

debate on its recognition in UK

homes?

Congratulations to the

honourable lady for what I'm sure

was very accurate signing and I'm

sure honourable members would be

delighted if she were to seek a

backbench debate on this subject.

As

we approach Christmas, our thoughts

are often with those who we have

lost during the course of the year.

I'm sure the thoughts of many in the

House will therefore be with the

family of PC Keith Palmer who gave

up his life while protecting hours.

Seven months ago my honourable

friend the Member for Braintree

suggested a memorable plaque

existed. Can the Leader of the House

give an update on progress?

Pete

Palmer showed huge bravery and

courage when he sought to curb --

protect our community from a

terrorist attack. His now the

posthumous recipient of the George

Medal. The police Memorial trust are

working with Westminster City

Council to direct a memorial stone

outside carriage Gates which we will

all be pleased to see.

In terms of

the hard work of Scottish Tories,

I've submitted a question asking how

many meetings in terms of police

fire and police in Fire Services

VAT. I then asked when debate last

meet each one and got referred back

to the same answer. Will she make a

statement explaining how I can hold

the Government to account and how

she can get ministers to give

straight answers?

I think the

honourable gentleman will appreciate

that in the last few weeks the

Chancellor has seen many honourable

friends every night in the lobbies

and so it is really not a matter for

holding government to account asked

how often the Chancellor comes

across his colleagues.

But the

leader commit to an earlier

statement on the rather astonishing

threats by the United States

ambassador to the United Nations

that those countries like our own

which oppose the move of the Israeli

capital to Jerusalem, notes would be

taken and consequences...

Unacceptable. We are aware of Donald

Trump's comments. The UK s

long-standing position on Jerusalem

has not changed. The state of

Jerusalem should be determined

between a negotiated settlement

between Israelis and Palestinians

and ultimately should be the shared

capital of Israeli and Palestinian

states and that is the UK's

position.

Would the Leader of the

House join with me in celebrating

the volunteers

House join with me in celebrating

the volunteers.

The honourable

gentleman follows a line of members

who have sought further discussion

on the excellent work of volunteers

and I encourage him to seek a

backbench debate so all members can

pay tribute to those who work so

hard.

The great northern powerhouse

project is of course the central

Pennine corridor. When is the

Government going to facilitate a

debate on what it considers a

flagship project in Government time

in this place, then members of

Parliament can have a discussion

about the Northern powerhouse.

He

will appreciate the Government is

fully committed to the Northern

powerhouse. There is half £1

trillion of investment gone into

infrastructure since 2010. There is

a national productivity investment

funds which looks to improve

infrastructure across the UK but the

Northern powerhouse has been a big

recipient. I do encourage the

honourable gentleman to seek a

Westminster Hall debate so he can

put forward further ideas.

Can we

have a debate on the recruitment

policy of the Civil Aviation

Authority. Constituent approached me

who was prohibited from accessing

medical certificate simply on the

grounds he was HIV positive, for a

pilot 's licence. I have written to

the Transport Secretary, I have not

yet had an answer. Coming of a

debate on this issue?

I agree we are

against in this Government and I

encourage him to seek that so we can

get an answer to this point.

A

written statement on the remaining

months of Universal Credit, after an

incorrect written answer was given

to me on Monday and I've still not

had a response to my oral question

for DWP questions on Monday

afternoon.

What I can say to the

honourable gentleman is if he wants

to write to me on this point I can

take it up with the Department for

him.

The Bank of Scotland are

closing one third of branches in

Scotland, so can we have a statement

on their responsibility to the

taxpayers of Scotland?

That matter

has already been announced unless my

memory is incorrect.

Thank you,

there is a debate on RBS on the

restructuring group. His point about

closures, however, is a commercial

matter. We are very keen to promote

the excellent work of the post

office network to provide basic bank

account services but he certainly

will be aware there are protocols

around bank closures that every bank

must beat. You may wish to take that

up directly.

Similar note, 62

branches closing in Scotland

including my constituency. The

Government has refused to get

involved saying it's a commercial

decision, and unacceptable answer.

Can we have an urgent statement on

the bank closure programme in

Scotland and how it can be stopped?

The key point, as I just said to his

honourable friend, is decisions

around bank closures is a commercial

decision. Many people are turning to

mobile banking and away from branch

banking. There are protocols in

terms of consultation, looking at

footfall and so on that must be

undertaken by any bank before it

decides to close its doors but these

are ultimately commercial decisions.

Earlier this week, militants killed

nine people wounding dozens of

others, and suicide bombers tried to

get into the church. What the Leader

of the House agreed to a statement

or a debate on the escalating level

of violence in Pakistan and the

Middle East?

Mr Speaker, I think all

members would condemn the sort of

violence the honourable gentleman