01/03/2018 Business Questions

Business statement, the Leader of

the House. The Leader of the House.

Andrea Leadsom. Thank you Mr

Speaker. The business for the week

renting the 5th of March will be one

Monday the 5th of March two reading

of the data protection Bill. Tuesday

the 6th of March, the second reading

of the act trick gas and tariff cap

bill. Opposition Day on Wednesday

the sixth. There will be a debate in

the name of various parties. Then on

national women's Day. And then a

month mark the house will not sit.

The business for the week of 12th of

March includes on the 12th, the

remaining stages of the financial

guidance and claims will. Mr Speaker

can I wish all members happy Davids

Day. I am told that as happy Saint

Davids Day for all non-Welsh

speakers amongst us. I am think I am

sure but somebody will know about me

right if I am wrong this house has a

great and talented Welsh MPs and I

wish they may happy St David's Day,

I can see plenty of daffodil pins in

the chamber representing today in a

valleys David's Day but also married

to rebut great daffodil appeal and

so Speaker as ovarian cancer

awareness month begins we are all

incredibly gatefold to the work of

palliative care nurses doing such

good work to support people.

To improve early diagnosis and this

awareness month will support that.

And lastly, Mr Speaker, today is

world book Day. Much like in the

Chronicles of Narnia, members will

be aware that today is very much

winter outside but not Christmas. So

from Alice in Wonderland to the

Tiger to count tea, long may we long

share our love of reading and

continue to encourage children of

all ages to share their pleasures in

a good book. Thank you.

Thank you,

Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I am really

worried about parliamentary

sovereignty. I note that leader has

not announced business beyond the

12th of March but let me help her

and the government because I

understand that the spring statement

will be on the 13th of March and

that was announced by the Treasury

in a very fancy infographics. So I'm

sorry that the Leader of the House

could not even announced the spring

statement. And no announcement of

Wendy Brown Minister is coming to

the House to make a statement to the

House -- of when the Prime Minister

is coming to the House. Can the

Leader of the House confirmed that

the Prime Minister will be making

her speech here and could she

confirm if it is going to be in

Aberdeen or somewhere else? Mr

Speaker, I see the government may

have a new policy called pure

illusion. It sounds like an new

perfume. The European Council

president Donald Tusk knows about it

but that is even before we have

debated it. And while we welcome him

to the UK and sure he will want to

welcome -- remind ligament again

that is a cherry blossom time not

cherry picking. And what... It was

whispered yesterday, is someone,

anyone, come into the House to

explain it so that we can ask

questions about it? Mr Speaker, a

written statement was made yesterday

by our friend the member of

Carshalton. He said that the sponsor

body and the dedicated body need

primary legislation to be set up.

Could the Leader of the House say

when that is likely to come to the

House, next year or the year after?

And Austria... On the eligibility of

free school meals and abolishing

nursing bursaries. We are now

rapidly eating into the 40 days.

Could the Leader of the House please

make time for them to be debated

because they Shadow Education

Secretary... 120, 146 on childcare

vouchers and early childcare

regulations of 2018 on the national

funding formula. And what about our

next opposition day, Mr Speaker? We

haven't had a of that and no one

seems to be talking to is about when

that is likely to be. What is the

government scared of? This same with

the... I know members of this House

are so keen to debate clause five

because the country wants to know

what the position is on jobs and

living standards. As the Speaker,

there goes our sovereignty in

Parliament tossed aside again. The

same day that Ministers were in

Chequers, the Right Honourable

member for Wantage said that

discipline has completely broken

down in the parliamentary party so

no one tells anybody off, I'm

surprised some people at the back,

because there is no power anywhere.

Mr Speaker, when they do have power

they don't want to use it and they

don't want to use it against money

launderers because a point of order

that was made yesterday by my

honourable friend for Bishop

Auckland, she asked for guidance on

the handling the anti-laundering

bill. The subcommittee said they

wanted to take clause one after

clause 18 but when they got to

clause 18, the debate. Immediately

after 25 minutes. Cut the Leader of

the House please ensure that there

will be adequate time to debate the

40 amendments and clause one, which

is the clause... And actually

strengthens our regime. There is no

date for the committee stage on my

honourable friend for Westminster

North's homes fitness capitation

bill. The stalking protection Bill

the organ donation Bill all

supported by the admin. No date for

committee. Today the independent

enquirer child sexual abuse, very

important matter, publishes its

first report into serious child

abuse. Thousands of British

government were deported by their

own government and the other side of

the world and they suffered horrific

sexual abuse. The enquiry are not

holding a press conference on their

findings but are publishing a

significant report online. There is

a written report today. And the hurt

suffered by so many. Will the

government commit to making time to

have a statement at the earliest

opportunity? And Mr Speaker, at

Prime Minister 's Mac questions last

week, and honourable member who

voted to cut police budgets... He

said 10 million was being spent on

back-office staff. The West Midlands

Police and crime commission has

confirmed to me that the staff were

in fact police support staff and

they're quite upset by that

pejorative term that they use. This

is what they do, they answer

emergency 909 calls, investigate

child abuse cases and carry-out

forensics. I hope that an apology

will be made by the Honourable

member and perhaps schedule a debate

on what police support staff

actually do. Mr Speaker, we welcome

back the Right Honourable member for

old Bexley and sick up. He and the

Prime Minister both agreed that --

Bexley and Sidcup. So the shadow

Secretary of State made a point of

order yesterday, could we have an

urgent statement on my GPs are being

paid not to make referrals. The

Health Secretary needs to explain

this policy and stop this alarming

practice immediately. And I joined

the Leader of the House in saying

that this is the 21st world book

Day. We have lost three libraries.

And please that we can all go at

three and read a book or recite a

poem. I too want to try my Welsh and

apologies to everyone person here. A

happy Saint David's day.

Excellent,

but the Honourable Lady and I are

both determined to practice our

world today. My honourable friend

who sat next to me is a Welsh

speaker and he says we both did OK.

Thank you for that. So the

Honourable lady mentions

Parliamentary sovereignty and

genuinely as I have always made

clear in business question has

leader of the comments, I am

absolutely fully respectful of the

sovereignty of Parliament. My role

is as government spokesman here in

the chamber and does Parliament

spokesman in government and I always

take very seriously the questions

and requests that are made by the

honourable lady on behalf of

opposition parties. I must say to

her however that it has been made

very clear that we are moving to a

situation where we will have one

budget each year and this statement

that is coming up is a spring

statement, so it is a statement, it

is not a budget, it is not a debate.

And therefore statements are

announcing the usual way, not

announced during business question

with the future business of the

House. Likewise, she asked whether

the PM will make a statement and

again those business measures are

announcing the usual way. She asks

about an opposition day. I have just

announced opposition days play for

the DUP. Is the honourable lady

really saying that their opportunity

to put forward matters that are of

interest to the DUP Clyde are not

valid? The honourable lady does need

to recognise that there are

different aspects around this

chamber, all of whom have very valid

input to make and we want to share

out with fairness the opportunities

to put forward new measures. She

asks about the customs bill and I

can tell her that as with the EU

withdrawal bill, as with the Human

Rights Act and many constitutional

bills in the past, there can be

periods of time between different

second reading on a committee stage,

and the honourable lady will

recognise that these are not delays,

there are opportunities to consider

amendments, consider government

policy, improve legislation, these

are not delays. And the honourable

lady is just wrong to portray it as

a delay. And each of those bills

will come forward in good time and I

am absolutely committed with my role

of seeing through legislation to

ensure that all about Brexit

legislation comes in good time. She

specifically mentions the honourable

ladypoint of order and what I can

say to her as my right honourable

friend said in committee, the motion

was brought forward an agreed by the

committee to adjourn so that they

committee could debate a very

significant amendment in a full

session. And I can talk the

honourable lady that the committee

meeting started ten minutes ago and

they are indeed taking forward that

very detailed amendment right now.

So I think she should be reassured

by that. And finally she talks about

private members bills. There are a

number of opposition and government

private member's bills that have

been brought forward by members of

the opposition and members of this

side of the House. We are delighted

to be sporting them, there are no

delays, they're not stacking up.

They're going through their

committee stages. When they receive

the support of the House in the

usual way. So I am afraid I just do

not accept what the legislation and

all the consideration of opposition

days in the usual way.

Will my right

honourable friend find time for

debate on the removal of diesel

particulate filters from vehicles

without replacing them? It does

appear that there is a legal

loophole whereby vehicles can be

modified to improve their

performance whilst there is

absolutely no regard for the damage

done to people's health?

My

honourable friend raises an

incredibly important point. The

quality of care and people's health

impacted by diesel particulates is

absolutely vital and we are

determined to improve air quality.

DFT takes his particular point very

seriously and has published guidance

on modifying vehicles and mission

systems, modifying the vehicle in

the way he suggests is not in line

with current legislation and the

Department has recently instructed

officials to investigate creating a

specific offence for the removal of

particulate filters. Yet Mr Speaker,

can I thank the Leader of the House

for announcing the business of next

week. And here is my go. I hope I

can impress our honourable member. I

also note all the daffodils in the

chamber today and looking outside,

Mr Speaker, I think that is more the

hope over experience as we face one

of the worst snowstorms with half a

number of years. I suppose there are

only two items of business this week

and that the beast from the east and

the Foreign Secretary. One is a

white out delivering havoc and chaos

wherever it goes and the other is of

course the beast from the East. I

wonder I could help the Foreign

Secretary, we could maybe have

congestion charges and gently

explain to the Foreign Secretary how

congestion charge loans are just a

little bit different from

international borders and it's now

24 hours since the Foreign Secretary

said he would publish this letter on

an Irish hardboard. So when can we

expect to see it? Surely the office

should be liberated and continue to

confound baffle the country. The and

red warnings over almost all of

Scotland and large parts of the rest

of the UK and advice not to travel,

hence why we are in such numbers.

But I'm quite surprised that there

is no plan for statement planned by

the government is this nation clings

to partial halt. Particular we have

heard from the national grid saying

that there is a gas and deficit

warning over fears that supplies

could run out. So before we all

leave for today some of those leaves

today, could someone come from the

government give a statement just

about what provisions plans and

provisions are in place that Italy's

Wien encounter difficulties over the

weekend. And lastly, where

devolution settlement remains under

threat. Can we have a statement

about what progress has been made in

resolving these issues and

critically what is being done to

ensure that democracy is being

respected in every nation of this

United Kingdom?

Welcome Mr Speaker,

and love that the honourable

gentleman has clarified that the

reason for so many of his friends

being here today is because of

inclement weather because I thought

they were here to wind me up about

Calcutta Cup! But what I would like

to say... What I would like to say

through gritted teeth is that whilst

I have not seen Scotland play so

well frankly since the Hastings

brothers, which was a very long time

ago, they played superbly and I am

delighted that they are in part a

member of the home team being part

of the great United Kingdom so I'd

much rather see Scotland beat has

done France Peters, if I'm allowed

to say that in this place, Mr

Speaker.

I have a different perspective on

Boris. I think he often says things

as they are and who says things in

an amusing way. He also makes a very

good point that it is absolutely

clear that we will not have a hard

border in Northern Ireland. It is

absolutely the case. We are

committed to that. The Republic of

Ireland is committed to that and the

European Union is committed to that.

He talks about contingency plans for

severe weather, it is a very serious

issue. I hope I can reassure him,

obviously, we have just had

transport questions and this is just

come up from a number of honourable

members, transport departments,

school closures, the NHS, all have

very carefully laid severe weather

plans and I would just like to paid

tribute to those who are out there

in the terrible weather trying to do

people out of snow drifts and so on.

There are very good plans that are

available. If he has specific issues

about his constituency or any of his

honourable friend's constituencies I

will be very happy to raise them.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Could we have

a statement on the actions of the

West Essex... With a little

forewarning of the closure. It has

caused misery for nearly 3000

patients many of them elderly. Will

my honourable friend ask the health

minister to write to West Essex ECG

and get them to restore this for

residence.

The issues of surgeries

in our own constituencies is

absolutely vital. Having looked into

this, I am told that the Department

of Health and social care don't have

a record of my right honourable

friend's letter and they do

apologise if this is due to any

error on their part and they will

certainly write to him. We do

recognise the importance of primary

care, we are investing in it to

expand access and recruit an

additional 5000 GPs, as he knows, we

would expect consultation and

engagement if NHS England would

decide on services that would lead

to substantial reconfiguration.

I'm

afraid to say that the beast from

the East has taken a number of

victims and there are no trains

currently crossing the border on the

east coast or West Coast Main line

to Scotland's. But I am afraid to

say that when the beast from the

East meets storm Emma it will take

further victims and one of those

victims will be the business of this

House at the request of Welsh

members to settle a debate on Welsh

affairs has been cancelled so they

can travel home safely. I do

apologise to the right honourable

members from Wales. But that is

understandable given the conditions.

Could I ask the Leader of the House,

currently the Backbench Business

committee has only six members we

are two down from the government's

side and given the fact that we have

a core of four it makes life

extremely difficult for us. Could we

ask that the government replaces its

members as soon as possible so we

can continue operating. Lastly, can

I thank and congratulate staff from

my own counsel, all staff are out

gritting and snow ploughing across

the borough in really adverse

conditions. So, put on record my

thanks to all of them?

First of all,

I'm sorry to hear that the

businesses afternoon will be

disturbed. My honourable friend is

slightly devastated because this was

his chance to shine as well.

Nevertheless, completely

understandable. It is very difficult

for people with their travel

arrangements. I do join him in

congratulating all those people who

are out there gritting and trying to

clear away smoke. Quite a number of

schoolchildren are out in villages

clearing people's steps for them

which is fantastic to say. From the

government's side I will certainly

see that we act on it so that the

committee has its members.

We have a

debate on the non-levy

apprenticeship tender.

Unfortunately, some very good

colleges such as Stafford,

Newcastle-under-Lyme and shoes

breach were not successful in this

tender and I have some very grave

concerns over its operation.

I'm

very sorry to hear that I encourage

you to seek an adjournment debate so

we can a point with ministers.

Mr

Speaker, I am not Welsh but I have

two children born in Wales. So happy

Saint Davids Day. Could I ask the

Members of the House and say in

passing, congratulate her on

mentioning cancer charities today. I

will be walking in a march, snow

permitting, on Sunday raising money

for a cancer hospital. Can we have

an early statement on visitors and

how we treat visitors to this House?

I think we are in danger of getting

to the stage that one well-connected

people can come here without a

member and book tables in our

restaurants. Yesterday, I had a

large party who struggled down on a

coach, campaigning to keep

Huddersfield Royal Infirmary open,

they had a blue Huddersfield colour

strip saying hands off HRA. They

were told by police here to take

them off or cover them because they

were party political before they

could go up to the party room area.

If there is one rule for ordinary

people and another for wealthy

people, we should look at is very

seriously the.

It's not for the

leader to decide what people should

wear in the House. I'm just being

advised by the clerk.

I don't know

where to go with this. If the

honourable gentleman would like to

write to me on this, I will

certainly take it up with the

administration committee but what I

would say is that there has been

great steps from the House

commission and the honourable lady

opposite might also recall that we

did discuss the need to speed up

shoes for people to get into this

place and so on. So there are some

lengths gone to to try and ensure

that people's ease of access to this

place is as good as it can be. On

the specific point about what they

were wearing, I was not aware of

that and I will look into it if you

write to me.

Last Monday the

government approved the go-ahead for

Christchurch Council to be

amalgamated with other Dorset

councils. There was a referendum.

I'm not getting that in my

constituency. My constituency wants

a referendum to decide the future of

its council. We are being ignored

and democracy is being ignored.

Could we have a debate about the

protection of democracy in local

councils?

My honourable friend

raises an important issue about

local democracy. I am not aware of

the specific concern that he has

about his local council but I am

sure that if he wanted to take it up

with ministers they would be able to

address it.

Country sports and

shooting sports are worth 114

million pounds in the United

Kingdom. There is a need to

introduce it to a wider circle.

Would the Leader of the House agree

that it is just as good a way to

deliver food?

I completely agree

with the honourable gentleman that

game is delicious and very good for

you and just as cheap. I do

encourage him to raise that on

Thursday the 8th of March where he

can ask ministers is arguable doing

to expand the retail use.

Very

shortly the government will be

announcing the recipients for the

Northern cultural regeneration fund,

perhaps the Leader of the House will

find time for a debate on this

subject so we can explain why the

Odeon in Bradford will be such a

worthy recipient which would do a

huge amount to regenerate the city

of Bradford. If there is no time for

debate, perhaps you just and told

the relevant Minister to give the

money to the Odeon in Bradford and

let's be done with it.

Well, Mr

Speaker, if only I had such

influence. My honourable friend is a

great champion for his area and I do

encourage him to seek an adjournment

debate so he can make his pitch

direct.

The President of the

European Council said in a speech

this morning that the government's

red lines that they set themselves

on Europe are incompatible with

frictionless trade and a borderless

islands. Can we have a debate in

this House which we have not had yet

on the consequence of the elements's

red lines on Brexit negotiations.

The government's red lines that we

are leaving the European union in

2019 in line with the referendum. It

means we are leaving the customs

union and is European market and are

taking back control of our borders.

Everything is in negotiation, the

government has been clear that we

want to seek low friction trade, we

want is zero tariff barriers and

zero nontariff barriers wherever

possible. The Prime Minister is

going to make a speech tomorrow on

exactly are negotiating position at

the honourable gentleman must

realise that there are not hard and

fast answers at the moment. This is

a negotiation and what somebody from

the European Commission might have

said someone from the European

Council might have said does not

make it the fact.

Thank you, Mr

Speaker. Last week saw yet another

abuse of leaseholders in my

constituency. This time some flat

owners received bills of up to

£8,000 in ground rents. Can we have

a statement on important government

work on leases which is short review

periods?

I can tell my honourable

friend that I met with the Secretary

of State on that subject just this

week with my role in looking at

policy. He raises a very serious

matter and these are the sorts of

abuses need to be stopped. We are

committed to doing through our

programme of leasehold reforms. To

prevent the sale of new build

leasehold houses except where

necessary. Making certain that

ground rents on new long leases for

both houses and flats are set at

zero financial value. Working with

the Law Commission to support

existing leaseholders. And working

on extending a lease much easier and

cheaper.

Mr Speaker, hopefully I can

indulge the House on a personal

story. Last year I received will

warning on my home in Scotland, it

turns out that someone with my name

in England skipped a us fair. That

Alan Brown did not respond to any

correspondence so an additional fine

was levied in his absence. It was

passed to a private collection

company who decided they were just

target random people called Alan

Brown and they served an audit

myself in Scotland. The company

would not budge but I managed to get

them to cancel proceedings. But just

last week I got another notification

of a warrant on a property. Can we

debate in this House the English

courts system presuming innocence

before guilt and why the English

courts system are using private

companies to extract money from

people?

Maybe we should have a

debate about why so many people are

called Alan Brown. That is the

fundamental issue here. He raises a

serious point about the way that

some collection companies will just

pursue random people but also eschew

people to the point of doing serious

harm. He raises a very serious point

and to seek an adjournment debate on

this particular issue.

I can tell

the honourable member there are

always good lawyers available, even

at short notice. Mr Speaker, much of

the debate so far about the European

Commission's draft text has centred

upon Northern Ireland but hidden

away in one of the footnotes to that

text is a regrettably restatements

that Spain would have a veto on the

application of the transition and

final agreements to the overseas

British territory of Gibraltar. Can

we have an early or immediate

statement from the Leader of the

House that Her Majesty's government

believes that such a scenario is

wholly unacceptable and Britain will

never agree to any arrangement that

excludes Gibraltar from being

treated exactly the same as the rest

of the UK

treated exactly the same as the rest

of the UK?

I hope I can give my

honourable friend the assurance that

Gibraltar's interest will be

protected as will every other part

of the United Kingdom. He raises an

important point. He will be aware

that the Prime Minister is making a

key speech tomorrow and I will

certainly make sure that I pass on

his comments.

Those well subscribed first debate I

keen that we progress. Questions are

long so it would be good if they

could be shorter.

Can I just start

by saying how pleased I was the

leader mentioned the trust and the

fact that this is the month of

ovarian cancer awareness. That's

very important that we mark that and

remember it. I wanted to raise with

the Leader of the House that there

is a broad consensus that faster

connectivity between East and West

is vital for the northern

powerhouse. However in May we have a

revised timetable trans-Pennine that

will result in slower journeys from

Hull. Whole and the Humber Chamber

of Commerce have tried to meet with

trans-Pennine to discuss this but

have not been able to get very far

and I'm sure the leader would say

that it is important that meeting

would go ahead but at the same time

could we have a debate in the House

of Commons about the fact it's not

just south north collectivity that

is important but East West

connectivity as well.

I certainly

agree with the honourable lady that

that East West connectivity is

vital. I hope she was able to attend

transport questions because this

would be a question very directly

answerable by Ministers there. We

are delivering unprecedented

investment in better transport

across the North. Over £13 billion

which is the largest in government

history. But as to the specific

point she raises, I do encourage her

to take that up directly with

transport Ministers.

Next week is

national apprenticeship week. Please

could we have a debate is the

highlight the opportunities

available for people starting an

apprenticeship. I'm aware that the

best advocates for an apprenticeship

are apprentices but if we can have a

debate and do our best to fill the

gap.

I completely agree with my

honourable friend that apprentices

are a fantastic opportunity for

young people. I can say that in my

seven years as an MP I've had seven

apprentices from my own schools in

my constituency and I thoroughly

commend that to all members in this

place that it has been brilliant for

me and those individuals. A really

worthwhile experience. We now do

have more than 3 million apprentices

start since 2010. It is something

the government is committed to is a

very good choice for young people

and I encourage my honourable friend

to seek a backbench business debate

on this subject because I'm sure a

lot of members would want to talk

about their own experiences.

Given

employment law can I have a

statement on employment law... To

remain at work to come into work

when there is a red weather warning.

I read reports in Scotland of

employers refusing to release staff

went public transport is not

available. Does she give as

acceptable?

Clearly all employers,

public sector and private sector

should take very careful heed of

severe weather warnings and

particularly the red warnings that

we have seen across some parts of

the United Kingdom. I absolutely

encourage the honourable gentleman

to urge employers in his

constituency to listen to those

warnings and release people where

necessary.

Was reported in the local

press in the Scottish Borders that

transport transport Scotland

study... Was not going to be viable.

If this is the case it is going to

be bad news for my constituency and

indeed those in Cumbria. Given their

bringing the railway to Carlisle is

going to involve investment from the

UK Government can I ask for a debate

on the benefits of extending the

Borders railway to Carlisle?

My

honourable friend is a great

champion for his constituency and

what I can say to him is that the UK

Government is committed to working

with the Scottish Government to

drive forward the cross-border

borderland steel and we do hope to

agree a deal later this year which

will see significant investment to

transform the local economies within

the borderlands area and I know that

funding for a study for reopening

the line that he mentions is being

sought as part of this proposition.

It has been one hell of a week

particularly for my little sister. A

week last Saturday my sister broke

her neck. She was in Blackburn

Hospital for three days until was a

bad free for her at Preston Hospital

where they could operate. Thankfully

the operation went well. Me, my

sister and all of my family are so

grateful to all the hard-working

doctors, nurses and all of the staff

in the NHS. One thing that I noticed

is all the extra hours before and

after their shift that the doctors

and nurses were doing. Can we have a

debate on the extra hours done by

our public sector workers?

Can I say

first wishing her sister the very

best for a speedy recovery and that

must've been a real shock to all of

her family. So I think we'd all like

to pass on our very best wishes. I'd

also secondly a enormous gratitude

and respect to all those who work so

hard in the national Health Service.

It is amazing what they achieve and

the commitment that is shown by

workers in the national Health

Service. We do have many

opportunities for debate on the NHS

in this chamber and we have held

many such debates and what I can say

to the honourable lady is that there

is nearly 15,000 more doctors and

over 14,000 more nurses on our wards

since 2010. There is much more to

do. We are undertaking one of the

ever in the NHS to start training

more doctors and nurses. The biggest

training programme in our history.

We do want to alleviate some of the

pressures but I'd like to pay

tribute to the excellent work they

do.

Today is the commemoration of

celebration of the delivery of the

Jewish people from the evil Persian

king. It is also holding the first

day of spring celebrated by Hindus,

Sikhs, James and Buddhists

worldwide. Both these festivals

celebrate the triumph of good over

evil so will my right honourable

friend join me in wishing

everybody...

Well I'm grateful to my

honourable friend from raising both

of those celebrations am delighted

to join with him in congratulating

all those wishing a very happy

period of time.

Happy Saint Davids

Day. Congratulations to the leader

in the shadow leader and the SNP

Leader of the House for using the

Welsh language. Which we were

allowed historically to use recently

in the Welsh grand committee in this

House and I was pleased to make a

speech in the Welsh language. Has

the leader considered whether that

very welcome extension could be

extended into the chamber now that

technology makes it perfectly

possible to have a freewheeling

House of common style debate using

translation equipment?

The

honourable gentleman makes an

interesting suggestion and I'm happy

to discuss with him further.

I'm

very grateful because I've had

constituents in contact with me

overnight very concerned about the

fact that Northamptonshire County

Council seem to be closing libraries

apart from one day a week and this

has happened without any

consultation with the public and I

surprised because this is in this

year's budget, not in the budget

that's been so well talked about a

year ahead in the media. Could we

have an urgent statement on this

because people in Northamptonshire

are very concerned about what has

happened?

My honourable friend

raises an issue that is a very

important to both his and my

constituencies and there are seven

members of Parliament in

Northamptonshire who are concerned

about cuts to services. I was not

aware of the particular closures

that he mentions that but I'm very

happy to take that up directly with

Ministers on his behalf.

Three weeks

today we will see the sad

anniversary of the tragic attack on

Westminster. Where five people were

killed on Westminster Bridge and

then of course the death of PC Keith

Palmer. With the leader please give

the House today some idea of what

plans there are to mark the

occasion? And would she indeed, I

regret that she could, support my

early day motion which is calling on

the renaming of carriage Gates and

new Palace Yard the Palmer Gates.

The honourable gentleman is quite

right to raise the upcoming

anniversary of those awful offence

on March the 22nd. I can tell him

that there will be commemorations in

this place and that House staff are

looking into the detail of that at

the moment and announcements will be

made as soon as possible. As to his

specific point about renaming

carriage Gates, he might like to

write to me or possibly to you, Mr

Speaker, to look into this further.

I welcome the leader's comments on

the Calcutta Cup. I thoroughly

enjoyed my day. Yesterday was rare

diseases date. Which stressed the

importance of research and finding a

cure for rare diseases of which they

were up to 7000. I've been working

with the Scottish Huntington's

Association and comes a constituent

who was diagnosed with the 216. We

have a debate to mark rare diseases

they on the importance of sustaining

research cooperation particularly

after Brexit?

He's absolutely right

to raise the importance of continued

investment in research into rare

diseases. Those who suffer from

them, part of their frustration I'm

sure it's because of the lack of

funding because they are rare. Try

doing courage to seek an adjournment

debate or a backbench debate. I

would however just like to say

whilst I congratulate Scotland for

winning the Calcutta Cup, it was

through gritted teeth!

Is to speak,

20 years ago building on the work

done by John Major, Tony Blair's

Labour government was involved in

intensive negotiations in Castle

buildings in Belfast and I was there

as the PBS in the Northern Ireland

Office. And that led to the Good

Friday Agreement the Good Friday

Agreement anniversary is

unfortunately during the recess so

can we have a long debate before the

House goes down for Easter, where we

can discuss the implications of the

threat to the Good Friday Agreement

from the DUP, who were demonstrating

outside when we got the agreement.

And E R G Brexit coalition which we

now have running this country?

Well,

I completely sure the honourable

gentleman that the government is

fully committed to the Good Friday

Agreement and there is nothing that

is in anyway considered that would

do any damage to the Good Friday

Agreement. But I would like to just

gently suggest that those who try to

suggest the government is in some

way not committed simply because we

are leaving the EU, that is entirely

untrue and dangerous talk.

And shove

them in Leader of the House will

agree with me it is time a debate

about our industrial shipping

heritage. In right icon such as the

Royal yacht Tanya and not import in

Berkshire and it is up to volunteers

who are remaking the ship that our

industrial shipping heritage once

again set sail on the loch. I'm sure

it is the leader will congratulate

them on the work.

He mentioned some

very famous ships and I'm sure I can

absolutely enjoyed congratulating

him on that fine heritage in his

constituency. And I do encourage him

to seek perhaps a backbench debate

for all those with shipping

interests in their constituencies to

come together and celebrate that

proud heritage.

Could in light of

the figures that we have today from

the fire Brigades union today, can

we have an urgent debate on the

funding of the Fire Service which

has lost hundreds of millions in

terms of grants. In my own

constituency in Nottinghamshire over

the next few years they will lose

15% of grants from 2.8 million. It

is not acceptable, not good enough

mini to have a debate about it.

I

would say the fire brigade do a

fantastic job, we have heard of some

horrendous fires in recent months

and of course the appalling Grunfeld

is asked the Fire Brigades really

came into their own did an

incredible job for us -- Grenfell

Tower disaster. Thankfully the

number of tax Willey fires reducing

the number of fire officers is

therefore changing and adapting and

I do encourage him to seek and a

debates we can talk about specific

issues for his constituency but

overall I think the Fire Brigades

deserve our respect and gratitude

but also recognition that their role

is changing.

Yesterday

Gloucestershire NHS Trust decided to

set up a subsidiary company, that

was confirmed today. I appreciate

there is a half-hour debate next

week on this subject but will the

leader push for a longer debate, a

debate that looks particularly at

public accountability given the

level of opposition to this decision

and the reason that even MPs were

cut out of any attempt to be able to

make representations? Will she

organises the back?

Well, as the

honourable gentleman pointer

himself, there is a debate on this

next Tuesday and I'm sure he will

want to take that up there. I think

what he's referring to is the

decision made by some trusts to

bring together different aspects of

care in order to give a better

service to patients and I think we

should all embrace the possibility

of better wraparound care but

nevertheless if he has specific

concerns you should raise

We all want to pay tribute to public

sector workers who have struggled

working in this severe weather to

keep vital services running. Can we

have a statement on our preparedness

for this weather? In all the years

that I have been alive I recall that

we have winter and we do have severe

episodes of winter. But countries

seem to cope with this that have

this sort of weather on a regular

basis, we seem to fall over quite

easily. Can we have a statement on

our resilience at this time? To

learn lessons about what has

happened this year to hope that we

can keep our trains running a bit

better as that people are not left

at cold stations had no information

about what is going on?

The

honourable gentleman raises an

important point. Obviously we want

to minimise disruption and it is

frustrating for people when trains

are cancelled or schools are closed

and so on. Equally, he will

recognise that there are some

exceptional weather events going on

at the moment. Whitehall's

department do have very clear plans

for destructive weather and we have

heard today some of the excellent

operations to try and dig people out

of snowdrifts and make sure trains

can run and someone. But events are

learned from each event and we will

try and do better.

Can we have a

statement from the Home Office

regarding resources for immigration

and the correspondence unit? All

parties in Scotland have certainly

found that recently the resources

are not there? We have some very

vulnerable constituents who fled

war, violence, who cannot get them.

The honourable gentleman often

raises issues around the Home Office

and he is absolutely right to do so.

There are member's helpline so that

there can be fast tracks concerns

raised by members of Parliament. If

he has a specific issues than I do

encourage him to write to the Home

Office ministers or if he wants to

write to me I will take it up on his

behalf.

My constituents are finding

it ever more difficult to have

access to local dentists. Can we

have a statement from the government

to access from the provision of

dentists to areas like Scunthorpe?

Of course, we know that the industry

is absolutely vital and we also know

that tooth decay is becoming an

increasing problem is unfortunately

there is too much sugar being

eating, let's be honest. So the

honourable gentleman is exactly

right to raise that but as far as

the specific situation in his

constituency, I recommend that he

seeks an adjournment debate.

The

Civil Nuclear Constabulary should be

able to retire with the rest of the

police force. My understanding is

that part of the government is in

agreement with this but part of it

is not. Can we have an urgent

statement about whether there is

going to be an equality in

retirement age?

Well, the honourable

gentleman raises a very important

point around equality of retirement

ages. As he will know, the

government has taken great steps to

try and ensure equality of

retirement and it continues to do so

right across the public sector

wherever we can. As to his specific

points, if he would wish to raise

that the ripple of ministers or

through my office, if you would like

to do so.

Mr Speaker, sorrowfully

inconsistent for blogging but it has

just been announced that the

Scottish Conservative conference

this weekend has been announced that

it is cancelled. Although many

people are going home and spending

their day at home lots of people are

continuing to go into work with very

difficult conditions. Will the

Leader of the House join me in

commending emergency service workers

right across the United Kingdom?

I'm

very happy to do that, Mr Speaker.

It is amazing is the efforts some

people go to to give others say. I

include the emergency services and

many councils but across the United

Kingdom who are out there gritting

and sweeping away Snow sooner we can

all get home.

I hope this is not

another sign of Russian interference

in Scottish politics with the beast

from the East! I wonder if the

Leader of the House can tell us when

a minister will next come to the

House to explain if anything what

the government is doing to support

the striking university lecturers.

Striking constituents in Glasgow

University want to see progress so

that they can get back to teaching

their students. What pressure will

the government make sure that

lecturer pensions are protected?

As

the honourable gentleman will know,

it is for universities to resolve

this crisis and ministers are

working hard to try and ensure that

all sides come to the table but I

have to say that having an eldest

child who is graduating this year,

who is at the brunt of having no

lecturers, no input and no tuition

and no face time, it is extremely

difficult for the students were done

nothing wrong and who are paid for

their education to be faced with

having no input in what is a crucial

time for many of them. I would

personally urge lecturers not to

punish students for this dispute.