:00:02. > :00:08.right a range as to be made in event of those scenarios he talked
:00:08. > :00:14.about. I thank the Minister and colleagues, urgent question, Mr
:00:14. > :00:24.Andy Burnham. -- the Secretary of State for Education to make a
:00:24. > :00:25.
:00:25. > :00:30.statement on funding for the academy programme. The errors
:00:30. > :00:34.reported in the Financial Times today relate to mistakes made by
:00:34. > :00:40.local authorities in their returns to the department. It relies on
:00:40. > :00:42.local authorities to provide accurate information about their
:00:42. > :00:47.spending and occasionally individual local authorities make
:00:47. > :00:53.errors which can lead to academies getting too much or indeed to
:00:53. > :00:59.little funding. The system for funding academies set up by the
:00:59. > :01:03.previous Government is unclear, unwieldy and in our view and fair.
:01:03. > :01:08.It is no surprise therefore that some errors do occur. This is why
:01:08. > :01:12.we are proposing changes to the school funding system to ensure all
:01:12. > :01:17.schools and academies are fully funded and three system without the
:01:17. > :01:21.complexities that lead to these types of problems. It is brought up
:01:21. > :01:25.of the right honourable gentleman to ask these questions and
:01:25. > :01:29.attacking us for failing for the system created by the previous
:01:29. > :01:37.Labour Government of which he was a part. We are the ones sorting it
:01:37. > :01:42.out just as we are sorting out the historic budget for deficit. Does
:01:42. > :01:48.he agree we should raise the bar on secondary schools from 35%
:01:48. > :01:52.achieving five good GCSEs and English and maths to 40% next year
:01:52. > :01:57.and does he agree that we should further raise it to 50% by the end
:01:57. > :02:01.of this Parliament. Does he agree with our announcement today... I do
:02:01. > :02:07.not why the opposition do not want to hear this, does he agree with
:02:07. > :02:12.our announcement today to extend the Academy's programme to
:02:12. > :02:15.underperforming Paris schools and in particular to the 200 worst
:02:15. > :02:24.performing primary schools many of which were in that state for a
:02:24. > :02:28.decade while his party was in When will they learn that they can
:02:28. > :02:34.never backed away the question and always blame at something --
:02:34. > :02:38.somebody else? Today's Financial Times says that his department has
:02:38. > :02:43.given a large number of academies in England more money than they are
:02:43. > :02:48.entitled to. This comes days after the Secretary of State caved in to
:02:48. > :02:52.a legal claim that too much money had been taken from councils to pay
:02:52. > :02:58.for academies. Does the Secretary of State and the Minister have a
:02:58. > :03:03.grip on the budget? Wary is the Secretary of State? This is a day
:03:03. > :03:06.on which serious questions are being asked about the rapid
:03:06. > :03:14.expansion of his Academy's programme and whether it is backed
:03:14. > :03:19.up with a serious plan. Why is he not here making that statement to
:03:19. > :03:25.the House of Commons? Shouldn't he be here to reassure members that he
:03:25. > :03:29.can proceed with his programme fairly and efficiently without
:03:29. > :03:33.penalising other schools? Will the Minister tell the House how many
:03:33. > :03:38.schools have been over funded and what is the total amount paid in
:03:38. > :03:45.error? Will this money now be clawed back from schools? It is not
:03:45. > :03:48.good enough to blame everybody else. When will he take responsibility
:03:48. > :03:53.for the budget of his own department? If they had not spotted
:03:53. > :03:58.this mistake before the F T reported it, why not? Under threat
:03:58. > :04:03.of legal action, the government has announced a U-turn on Academy
:04:03. > :04:07.funding. Can the Minister set out the details for that review and
:04:07. > :04:11.does he accept the need for urgency? Is indeed the case that
:04:11. > :04:18.the Secretary of State repeatedly finds himself in these situations
:04:18. > :04:24.because he fails to consult people? -- isn't it the case. The only way
:04:24. > :04:29.that people can make you listen to them is to launch her legal action.
:04:29. > :04:35.That is no way to run a department. We hear that he will pay the
:04:35. > :04:43.councils' legal costs. He has paid more money on solicitors' fees than
:04:43. > :04:53.Ryan Giggs and Fred Goodwin tomorrow. -- together. Isn't this a
:04:53. > :04:55.
:04:55. > :05:00.scandalous waste when money is needed for children's education? He
:05:00. > :05:04.has been converted to Labour policies. We support raising
:05:04. > :05:11.standards in schools. It is the standards of the Secretary of State
:05:11. > :05:16.we are worried about. Maybe the plan necessary today was for poorly
:05:16. > :05:18.run government departments to be taken over by successful ones.
:05:18. > :05:24.Today the Secretary of State pathetically tried to blame Labour
:05:24. > :05:32.for his latest blunder. Isn't it time he took responsibility for his
:05:32. > :05:39.serial incompetence? Who yet again the honourable gentleman overstates
:05:39. > :05:44.his case. The Secretary of State is speaking in Birmingham to the
:05:44. > :05:48.national college as school leadership. I am sure his
:05:48. > :05:57.predecessors spoke to them every year. We are taking action to
:05:57. > :06:01.tackle these problems. They occur every year and they did so every
:06:01. > :06:05.year under the last Labour government. The difference is that
:06:05. > :06:10.we are taking action to sort out this problem and that is why we
:06:10. > :06:14.announced a fundamental review of the school funding system. We are
:06:14. > :06:20.making further announcements on the details of that review later this
:06:20. > :06:24.year. He also raised the issue of double funding, where central
:06:24. > :06:27.government is funding both the local authority and the Academy for
:06:28. > :06:37.the same services. This is something that occurred under the
:06:37. > :06:42.last Labour government and we are sorting it out. That is why the D C
:06:42. > :06:50.L G sliced money off the funding of local government to deal with that
:06:50. > :06:56.funding. We are looking about again. -- looking at that again. I would
:06:56. > :07:05.like to know whether the right honourable gentleman supports us in
:07:05. > :07:09.supporting a clearer and simpler system. We want a system that has a
:07:09. > :07:15.per pupil funding system that everybody can understand and that
:07:15. > :07:22.is fair. Rather than the system that his government had, where
:07:23. > :07:32.schools were receiving thousands of pounds more per pupil a than
:07:32. > :07:39.another school in a similar situation. Isn't it the case that
:07:39. > :07:44.the question is a smokescreen for those who opposed academies? We
:07:45. > :07:50.created more in 12 months than they created in 12 years. The last
:07:50. > :07:59.government left half-a-million children illiterate. They want to
:07:59. > :08:02.wallow in mediocrity rather than pursue excellent. -- excellence.
:08:02. > :08:07.is clear where the opposition stands in relation to free schools,
:08:07. > :08:10.for example. Since the election the right honourable gentleman has said
:08:10. > :08:17.he opposes the establishment of free schools but since the news
:08:17. > :08:24.broke that one of Tony Blair's closest aides is setting up his new
:08:24. > :08:27.school he has now said that he supports them. Does he support the
:08:27. > :08:34.academies programme or would he closed down those schools if he
:08:34. > :08:39.came to power? When I published the original policy paper 10 years ago
:08:39. > :08:43.on academies it was never intended that they should be overpaid and
:08:43. > :08:51.local authorities under paid for doing the job of supporting pupils.
:08:51. > :08:56.Can the Minister confirm that the 2.25 % that has been withdrawn from
:08:56. > :09:00.school funding general and the overspend on academies has denied
:09:00. > :09:07.other children the key services they need to raise standards and
:09:07. > :09:10.give them a life chance that all of us should want for every child?
:09:10. > :09:14.think it is a rich when former Education Secretary is attack us
:09:14. > :09:20.for this policy because this is a system that this government
:09:20. > :09:25.inherited from the previous government. We will look at every
:09:25. > :09:29.case of either under or over funding. We want to reach a
:09:29. > :09:35.position where all schools and academies in this country are
:09:35. > :09:41.funded on a fair and simple and transparent process. Whilst we can
:09:41. > :09:45.all accept that the problems that have occurred are the fault of the
:09:45. > :09:52.regime in place under the last Labour government, can I get an
:09:52. > :09:59.assurance from the Minister that he will have in place a replacement
:09:59. > :10:08.system so that the next tranche of academies will not have the same in
:10:08. > :10:12.constituencies -- inconsistencies? I am grateful for embracing those
:10:12. > :10:17.issues. That is precisely what we intend to introduce and that is
:10:17. > :10:21.what the current review into school funding is seeking to deliver. The
:10:21. > :10:27.review is taking place now and later on the year we intend to
:10:27. > :10:32.announce a further consultation on the details of that review. Is the
:10:32. > :10:36.Minister aware that he is in danger of alienating those on these
:10:36. > :10:41.benches who believe in the Academy programme and welcome announcements
:10:41. > :10:46.made by this House - back to this House, but the question made by
:10:46. > :10:51.Sarah Montego -- Montagu this morning has to be answered. Is the
:10:52. > :10:59.end -- the incompetence we are talking about emanating from local
:10:59. > :11:07.authorities, as he said, all from the Department? This is an error in
:11:07. > :11:13.the figures quoted to does Palmer. -- to the Department. We are
:11:13. > :11:20.determined to simplify the system. It is the complexity of the system
:11:20. > :11:30.that was a local authorities. The only way to tackle it is to
:11:30. > :11:30.
:11:30. > :11:34.simplify the system. Would the Minister agree that PMQs was an
:11:35. > :11:41.extraordinary own goal? The party opposite either knew about the
:11:41. > :11:49.problem and did nothing about it or else had no idea at all? Which does
:11:49. > :11:53.the Minister think is worse? honourable friend does raise an
:11:53. > :11:58.important point. It goes to how you handle opposition. I think that is
:11:58. > :12:02.why I asked the questions to the honourable gentleman because it is
:12:02. > :12:07.not about jumping on the latest bandwagon in a Financial Times
:12:07. > :12:12.report. It is about working out where the opposition stands on
:12:12. > :12:17.questions like raising the bar at secondary schools and how you
:12:18. > :12:21.tackle the 200 worst performing primary schools. Since the
:12:21. > :12:26.beginning of this year, at the request of parents in my
:12:26. > :12:30.constituency, as I have been trying to find out the funding basis of
:12:30. > :12:35.the several free schools due to open there. I have correspondent
:12:35. > :12:45.from his department with every possible excuse for not giving that
:12:45. > :12:45.
:12:45. > :12:51.information. Will he address my appeal against the refusal under
:12:51. > :13:00.the Freedom of Information Act? Is it because they do not know it
:13:00. > :13:02.because they are incompetent or is free schools are being given
:13:02. > :13:06.preferential treatment? Details of free schools will be published once
:13:06. > :13:10.they are open. The honourable gentleman will be able to see all
:13:10. > :13:14.of that information. What we are concerned about is disclosing
:13:14. > :13:18.details of proposals for free schools where they have been turned
:13:18. > :13:23.down because that can cause embarrassment to those individuals
:13:23. > :13:30.who have put forward a proposal which has turned down, and
:13:30. > :13:33.sometimes they are put forward by teachers with existing jobs. Any
:13:33. > :13:42.free school that opens, all of those details will be made
:13:42. > :13:47.available when it opens. I welcome the statement by honourable -- my
:13:47. > :13:51.honourable friend about simplifying the system because I hope he agrees
:13:52. > :14:01.that it is only fair that students about as -- those schools get the
:14:02. > :14:02.
:14:02. > :14:05.same funding. She raises a good point about how the system is
:14:05. > :14:09.supposed to work. Academies are funded on the same basis as
:14:09. > :14:14.maintained schools but they have more control over that element of
:14:14. > :14:18.funding which is at the moment spent by the local authority on the
:14:18. > :14:24.central services provided by the Academy. That is all that is going
:14:24. > :14:27.to happen in the funding system. It is the complexity arising from that
:14:27. > :14:34.that has led to some of these problems but this is an issue that
:14:34. > :14:41.we are tackling and sorting out. Even though the Secretary of State
:14:41. > :14:44.is in Birmingham, just in case he does not get a chance to talk to
:14:44. > :14:51.councillors, the Birmingham Post recently complained bitterly that
:14:51. > :15:01.there are significant hidden costs in the Academy's programme that
:15:01. > :15:06.leaves the local authority out of pocket. We talked to Les Lawrence
:15:06. > :15:10.on many occasions. He raises an important point. When the top
:15:10. > :15:16.sliced funding for the local authority central services was
:15:16. > :15:20.taken away from local authorities, there is an issue about how you
:15:21. > :15:24.allocate those savings across local authorities. That is the issue that
:15:24. > :15:28.is being corresponded over with those local authorities and we are
:15:28. > :15:32.reviewing the position to ensure that we do not leave them in a
:15:32. > :15:39.position where they can't find the central services that they continue
:15:39. > :15:46.to provide to maintain schools and indeed to pupils attending
:15:46. > :15:50.academies as well. I would like to agree with my honourable friend
:15:50. > :15:57.that the party opposite does not like to listen to the success story
:15:57. > :16:07.of the Academy's programme. Can I ask the Minister why he thinks that
:16:07. > :16:09.
:16:09. > :16:16.so many schools have already The reason is because of the
:16:16. > :16:19.autonomy academy status brings. By now, 700 and for academies have
:16:19. > :16:23.opened from 200 when this government came into office and
:16:23. > :16:28.they are delivering very high quality education and I hope the
:16:28. > :16:34.opposition will supporters, not only in our existing Academy
:16:34. > :16:37.programme, but in a proposal to extend the Academy programme to
:16:37. > :16:44.primary schools and particularly the worst performing primary
:16:44. > :16:51.schools. He has clearly been sent here as the fall-guy. Can I ask as
:16:51. > :16:53.a parent on behalf of the parents in my constituency, we have a
:16:53. > :16:59.Secretary of State who barged the building schools for future
:16:59. > :17:03.programme, who had to do a U-turn on schools for Sports partnerships,
:17:03. > :17:08.who cannot spot errors in the funding programmes of his own
:17:08. > :17:17.department. Why should any parent have confidence in him running the
:17:17. > :17:24.education system when he cannot even run his own department? I see
:17:24. > :17:29.the honourable lady is trying to create a theme here. There is no
:17:29. > :17:36.theme. This is a particular problem it reported in the F T today that
:17:36. > :17:46.occurs every year and it rises out of the complexity of the funding
:17:46. > :17:47.
:17:47. > :17:52.system and we will sort it out. I congratulate the Minister for
:17:52. > :17:59.moving the focus today on the 200 worst performing primaries schools
:17:59. > :18:02.and can I ask him if he agrees with a head of the PPI and Tony Blair's
:18:02. > :18:11.former policy adviser that this is something the previous government
:18:11. > :18:15.did not focus on. Yes, I agree. When we propose in opposition
:18:15. > :18:21.extending academy status to primary school, the schools minister at the
:18:21. > :18:24.time thought it was an appalling idea. Yet we have to do something
:18:24. > :18:28.about the 200 underperforming schools and all underperforming
:18:28. > :18:32.schools because this is where children learn the basics of
:18:32. > :18:37.reading and arithmetic and if you don't get it right in the early
:18:37. > :18:41.years, it can blight the life chances of all those children
:18:41. > :18:48.attending underperforming schools and we intend to sort the might.
:18:48. > :18:53.Speaker, the Secretary of State has made it plain that if schools do
:18:53. > :18:57.not buy a raffle ticket by going for academy status, they won't get
:18:58. > :19:01.involved in the raffle of getting capital out of future schools
:19:02. > :19:06.funding. The Secretary of State has admitted to the House that There
:19:06. > :19:12.are 100 staff in the department engaged in the expanse some --
:19:12. > :19:18.expansion of the free schools programme. How much is is costing
:19:18. > :19:24.the department? It is an important part of raising standards in our
:19:24. > :19:31.school system. It is a crucial element in raising standards. When
:19:31. > :19:36.9% of boys leave primary school basically unable to read, you
:19:36. > :19:41.cannot say that applying staff in the department to deliver the
:19:41. > :19:46.Academy's programme is a waste of taxpayers' money. It is good money
:19:46. > :19:52.diverted to a programme designed to raise standards in our least
:19:52. > :19:57.performing schools and I think it is a good use of taxpayers' money.
:19:57. > :20:03.Does my right honourable friend agree that it is extraordinary for
:20:03. > :20:07.the party opposite to quibble about accounting errors. Is it a
:20:07. > :20:09.smokescreen to detract from comments Tony Blair has made
:20:09. > :20:17.supporting this Government's policies on academies and primary
:20:17. > :20:20.schools. My honourable friend raises a point that I was too
:20:20. > :20:26.sensitive to raise with the opposition and that is that our
:20:26. > :20:31.policies have been endorsed in yesterday's newspaper by the former
:20:31. > :20:36.Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and a former schools minister voted for
:20:36. > :20:41.art academies Bill in the other place supporting our expansion of
:20:41. > :20:48.the Academy's programme. I wish the official opposition would now
:20:48. > :20:54.support that too. Is the Minister familiar with the maxim that a
:20:54. > :21:00.minister can delegate power but not responsibility? Just say sorry to
:21:00. > :21:06.parents and pupils. Well, I'm not denying responsibility. That is why
:21:06. > :21:11.we are taking action to simplify the over-complex funding system we
:21:12. > :21:18.inherited and which led to these problems in previous years.
:21:18. > :21:24.Great Yarmouth, we have seen the benefits of freedom and academies,
:21:24. > :21:30.does the Minister agree that it is these freedoms that is encouraging
:21:30. > :21:37.about one in 38 secondary schools to apply for academy status? -- one
:21:37. > :21:45.in three. Academies are improving at twice the pace of the rest of
:21:45. > :21:52.the school system and that is why we are so determined to expedite
:21:52. > :21:56.the conversion process to academy say -- status. Turning
:21:56. > :22:03.underperforming schools into academies in Bristol was for the
:22:03. > :22:06.most part a great success. Free schools when not wanted however.
:22:06. > :22:12.When will the government get his priorities right and address the
:22:12. > :22:16.real problems, the chronic under provision of primary school places.
:22:16. > :22:20.The honourable lady seems to contradict herself. There is a
:22:20. > :22:26.shortage of places and yet she said there is no need for the free
:22:26. > :22:31.school programme. That can be used to create or school places. We also
:22:31. > :22:40.want more high quality school places and that is what the free
:22:40. > :22:45.school programme, in particular, is designed to achieve. Schools in my
:22:45. > :22:50.constituency - two schools - are considering applying for academy
:22:50. > :22:54.status. Surely the fact these numbers have reached a high level
:22:54. > :23:00.is a ringing endorsement of the policy the Minister is introducing.
:23:00. > :23:05.It demonstrates the teaching profession values the autonomy and
:23:05. > :23:09.trust this government is putting in them. That is in enormous contrast
:23:09. > :23:12.to the top down and prescriptive approach taken by the previous
:23:12. > :23:17.government and that is why I believe our system will work in
:23:17. > :23:23.contrast to the way Labour did not manage to achieve a significant
:23:23. > :23:26.rise in standards in their 13 years in office. Can the Minister tell
:23:26. > :23:34.the House how many times the previous Labour government was
:23:34. > :23:40.taken to court over its education policies? Well, the Sharon shoes
:23:40. > :23:45.miss case springs to mind but I will write to the honourable lady
:23:45. > :23:50.and let her have those figures. Financial and accounting errors are
:23:50. > :23:55.a very serious matter and it is not surprising the shadow Secretary of
:23:56. > :23:59.State raised this issue given his direct experience in that
:23:59. > :24:03.catastrophic financial accounting areas -- errors of the last
:24:03. > :24:08.government. Does he not agree that on a day when this government has
:24:08. > :24:13.thrown a lifeline to children trapped in underperforming primary
:24:13. > :24:19.school, it is odd the party opposite turns again they're back
:24:19. > :24:24.on those children? I would have thought that, of all the issues to
:24:24. > :24:29.raise in the House of Commons today, the fact that the Secretary of
:24:29. > :24:33.State is announcing that we are taking urgent action to convert the
:24:33. > :24:39.200 least performing primary schools in our country to academy
:24:39. > :24:42.status, transforming them, giving the youngsters that attend those
:24:42. > :24:49.schools a significantly better start in their education, I would
:24:49. > :24:53.have thought that would be the issue raised today. Given its
:24:53. > :24:57.serial bungling, can the government and the Minister tell us how much
:24:57. > :25:04.has been spent by the Department on defending legal challenges in the
:25:04. > :25:09.last year? These issues face all governments and all departments,
:25:09. > :25:17.but I don't have those figures to hand. If I am able to get them I
:25:17. > :25:22.will write to the honourable gentleman. Three of the 700 and for
:25:22. > :25:27.a new academies in my constituency -- are in my constituency. We are
:25:27. > :25:33.seeing an education revolution. Why are we discussing the accounting
:25:33. > :25:37.areas -- errors? The simple answer is that the reason we are
:25:37. > :25:42.discussing this matter is that an urgent question application was
:25:42. > :25:51.submitted to me and granted by mi sono further discussion on that is
:25:51. > :25:57.required. Is it not the case that is edge in question has underlined
:25:57. > :26:06.the need for an inquiry into this discredited system because it is
:26:06. > :26:11.unfair and inefficient. Is it not ironic that this issue has been
:26:11. > :26:19.raised because schools want to actually have more autonomy and is
:26:19. > :26:23.it not also the case that we should support...? That is enough. The
:26:23. > :26:29.honourable gentleman has had a good outing. My honourable friend is
:26:29. > :26:34.right. It is an issue that many local authorities have been raising
:26:34. > :26:39.for many years. They have been campaigning and lobbying the
:26:39. > :26:44.previous government about the unfairness of if school funding
:26:44. > :26:50.system and that is what we are determined to sort out with the
:26:50. > :26:55.school funding review. I visited a special school in my constituency
:26:55. > :26:59.on Friday and learned how keen they are to obtain academy status. Could
:26:59. > :27:04.the Minister help other special schools like that in encouraging
:27:04. > :27:09.them to apply for the status of academies and were you assist my
:27:09. > :27:14.school in particular, please? grateful. That is one of the
:27:14. > :27:18.changes that is proposed in the Education Bill, to allow academy
:27:18. > :27:24.status to apply to special schools as well and I would be very happy
:27:24. > :27:29.to help my honourable friend. If she wants to have a meeting with
:27:29. > :27:34.their head teacher from that school, I will be delighted to arrange it.
:27:34. > :27:38.New academies in Kettering have been welcomed. Can the Minister
:27:38. > :27:46.confirm the proportion of education funding that goes into teaching
:27:46. > :27:53.pupils will go on under this government with less so bent as a
:27:53. > :27:57.proportion in local bureaucracy in town halls? That is an important
:27:57. > :28:02.point about bureaucracy in the system. We are devoting a huge
:28:02. > :28:09.amount of resources to clamping down on bureaucracy and removing
:28:09. > :28:16.bureaucratic burdens on schools. It involves rewriting reams of
:28:16. > :28:21.guidance. For example, the guidance on believing runs to up to 500
:28:21. > :28:26.pages which is rarely read in schools. We are streamlining it
:28:26. > :28:32.down to 25. We are doing that with all the guidance so that it is
:28:32. > :28:38.efficient and quick to read and schools can use it without having
:28:38. > :28:46.to read through reams of phials emanating from the Department.
:28:46. > :28:50.Business question. Mr Hilary Benn. Thank you. Can I asked the Leader
:28:50. > :28:56.of the House to give us the forthcoming business. George Young.
:28:56. > :29:01.The business for next week will be, Monday, second reading of the
:29:01. > :29:07.Pension Bill, Lords. Tuesday, a motion relating to the partial we
:29:07. > :29:12.committal of the Health and Social Care Bill. Remaining stages of the
:29:12. > :29:17.Scotland Bill. Wednesday, opposition day. There will be a
:29:17. > :29:21.debate on opposition motions - subject to be announced. Thursday,
:29:22. > :29:30.a motion relating to review of congenital cardiac services for
:29:30. > :29:35.children followed by emotion relating to circuses. The
:29:35. > :29:42.provisional Business for the week commencing June 27th will include,
:29:42. > :29:46.Monday, a debate on House of Lords reform. Tuesday, opposition day
:29:46. > :29:52.there will be a debate on opposition may to an -- motion,
:29:52. > :29:56.subject to be announced. A I'm grateful. A whole house will have
:29:56. > :30:00.welcomed this week's successful meeting of the global alliance on
:30:00. > :30:07.vaccines and immunisation because it showed up why the last
:30:07. > :30:13.government was right to prioritise vaccination of children on an aid
:30:13. > :30:17.budget. Can the right honourable gentleman confirm that the current
:30:17. > :30:22.session will end in March next year with the Queen's Speech before the
:30:22. > :30:28.end of that month so that it is all done before the Easter recess and
:30:29. > :30:33.pre-election purdah? On the Health and Social Care Bill week a little
:30:33. > :30:38.motion, can it be confirmed whether it will be debatable and for how
:30:38. > :30:42.long? The House must have the opportunity to discuss how the bill
:30:42. > :30:46.will be scrutinised by hard -- because the Health Secretary has
:30:46. > :30:50.said that only the relevant parts of the Bill are to be recommitted.
:30:50. > :30:54.This is completely unacceptable and will only make life more difficult
:30:54. > :30:58.for the government in the other place where it already has problems
:30:58. > :31:03.with time. In the case of the last two Bills to be recommitted, the
:31:03. > :31:13.whole bill was sent back. When will we see the draft amendment and what
:31:13. > :31:18.
:31:18. > :31:22.The reason this Bill is in chaos is because the Government must take up
:31:22. > :31:27.the first time around. It is essential for the House that we
:31:27. > :31:32.have the time and scope needed to look again in detail this time
:31:32. > :31:38.around. Can we also have a debate on why the Prime Minister got this
:31:38. > :31:43.so catastrophically wrong in the first place, with staff being
:31:43. > :31:46.sacked and rehired at critics Spence? As we saw yesterday, and it
:31:46. > :31:52.really was rather embarrassing, the Prime Minister does not do his
:31:52. > :31:56.homework and he does not even know what is in his own legislation.
:31:56. > :32:03.While nobody tries to take responsibility for the mess,
:32:03. > :32:08.everybody tries to take credit for the changes. The Lib Dems, the
:32:08. > :32:14.Prime Minister thinks he has saved the NHS from his health secretary.
:32:14. > :32:21.The people who really count, the public, think, you cannot trust the
:32:21. > :32:24.Tories on the NHS. Following the Sea Lord's comments this week about
:32:24. > :32:30.the Libyan effect on the Royal Navy, and that we could have saved time
:32:30. > :32:36.and money if we still had Ark Royal and its Harriers, when William --
:32:36. > :32:40.when will we have a statement from the Defence Secretary about the
:32:40. > :32:44.strategic defence review? It has left this country in the
:32:44. > :32:50.extraordinary position of being an island nation that cannot put an
:32:50. > :32:57.aircraft carrier to see. Having heard the Government's pathetic
:32:57. > :33:02.excuses for a refusing to bring in a band... Bauhaus was told this was
:33:02. > :33:07.because of a non-existent legal case. -- the House. As they
:33:07. > :33:17.Minister had legal indication from effort that they plan on docking
:33:17. > :33:23.the policy before next week's debate? Will he join me in voting
:33:23. > :33:28.to do the right thing? And finally, can we have a debate on weekly
:33:28. > :33:32.rubbish collections? Although it was the Secretary of State for the
:33:32. > :33:36.Environment to answer at Tuesday's urgent question, we really want to
:33:36. > :33:46.hear from the communities Secretary. It was his Pat -- pet project. He
:33:46. > :33:48.
:33:48. > :33:53.must be so disappointed. He had proclaimed that having the rubbish
:33:53. > :34:01.taken away every seven days was a basic right for every English man
:34:01. > :34:06.and woman. Shami Chakrabarti and Liberty please note. Jumping up of
:34:06. > :34:12.-- heroically on a passing bin Kuyt in, he planned to bring back weekly
:34:12. > :34:22.bin collections. He has been defeated by his own conservative
:34:22. > :34:25.collections -- councils. Conservatives like Andrew Nunn who
:34:25. > :34:31.said that Eric Pickles should spend less time reading the newspapers,
:34:31. > :34:34.that he had got it wrong. I agree, but with one exception. After all
:34:34. > :34:42.the policies that have had to be thrown away by the Government in
:34:42. > :34:51.recent weeks, there is one place that needs a weekly bin collection,
:34:52. > :34:55.10 Downing Street. Well, Mr Speaker. I thank the right honourable
:34:55. > :35:00.gentleman for that response. His performances at business questions
:35:00. > :35:06.are attracting the attention of powerful friends. Last week he was
:35:06. > :35:14.praised by the Daily Mail, who announced, Hilary Benn for Labour
:35:14. > :35:21.leader, the campaign starts here. After that intoxicating but
:35:21. > :35:26.unlikely endorsement, I looked up the odds. I was disappointed to see
:35:26. > :35:33.him some way behind the pack at 33- 1. If I was a betting man I would
:35:33. > :35:38.have said that was worth a pony. I welcome what he said about the
:35:38. > :35:42.conference on Monday. He will have noted the extra 800 million which
:35:42. > :35:45.the Government put in to vaccination. He would have heard
:35:45. > :35:52.the Secretary of State's statement on Wednesday about our overall
:35:52. > :35:55.policy on aid. The right honourable gentleman should not believe
:35:55. > :35:59.everything you read in the press. The end of the session will depend
:35:59. > :36:05.on the progress we make with legislation. They had just remind
:36:05. > :36:15.him that it was not the case that 10 months before March and 2009,
:36:15. > :36:19.
:36:19. > :36:23.the Government was telling us when the session was going to end. So
:36:23. > :36:30.far as the motion about recommit will is concerned, that motion to
:36:30. > :36:33.recommit would have been taken forthwith. We propose to make time
:36:33. > :36:37.that they have -- available to debate it. The proposition is that
:36:37. > :36:43.we should recommit those parts of the Bill that have been amended by
:36:43. > :36:52.the Government in its recent statement. That are proposed to be
:36:52. > :36:59.amended. The motion to recommit will be tabled in good time for the
:36:59. > :37:06.House to debate it on Tuesday. So far as the comments on the bill are
:37:06. > :37:11.concerned, I hope he read what Lord Darzi said about our policy. He did
:37:11. > :37:16.not see it as a U-turn, but as a continuum of reform that the health
:37:16. > :37:24.service has witnessed for the past decade under a Labour and is moving
:37:24. > :37:29.into the next decade in the same way. He hoped that you would be
:37:29. > :37:34.reiterated by opposition spokesman. So far as the Sea Lord is concerned,
:37:34. > :37:38.the Prime Minister dealt with that yesterday. He referred to the Chief
:37:38. > :37:46.of Defence Staff's statement. We have the resources to stay in Libya
:37:46. > :37:50.for as long as it takes. His party in Government deferred having a
:37:50. > :37:58.strategic defence and security review for a long period of time.
:37:58. > :38:02.We have carried one out. We have no plans to revisit it. I announced
:38:02. > :38:09.there would be a debate on the subject next Thursday in Government
:38:09. > :38:12.time. The Government will make its position clear. I would just remind
:38:12. > :38:17.the right honourable gentleman, this was yet another issue on which
:38:17. > :38:22.his Government failed to take any action at all, leaving us to sort
:38:23. > :38:28.it out. Finally, on bin collection, I was surprised he raised the
:38:28. > :38:33.subject. I remember is rather humiliating U-turn on waste when he
:38:33. > :38:39.was Environment Secretary only two years ago. He had to back down on
:38:39. > :38:44.his own proposals. We are backing those local authorities that want
:38:44. > :38:48.to increase the frequency of their bin collection. We have abandoned
:38:48. > :38:53.their guidance to the Audit Commission, penalising those which
:38:53. > :39:01.carried out weekly collections. When can we expect a statement and
:39:01. > :39:05.a debate on sentencing? New assault guidelines have been issued which
:39:05. > :39:09.say that the assault on a police officer where the Criminal attempts
:39:09. > :39:15.to evade arrest and has previous convictions for public order
:39:15. > :39:20.offences, can now only be punished by a fine. This soft, lily-livered
:39:20. > :39:26.approach to sentencing is driving my constituents mad. It is time the
:39:26. > :39:30.Government got a grip on it. I have some good news for my honourable
:39:30. > :39:34.friend and his constituents. The Government will be introducing the
:39:34. > :39:39.legal aid and sentencing Bill, which -- when he will have an
:39:39. > :39:47.opportunity to share his views at greater length. When the Leader of
:39:47. > :39:49.the House find time for an urgent to explain why this Government is
:39:49. > :39:54.refusing to sign a UN convention protecting the rights of domestic
:39:54. > :39:57.workers? Announcement was made on the same day the Secretary of State
:39:57. > :40:02.for Work and Pensions was supporting an inquiry into modern-
:40:02. > :40:07.day slavery. It is about time the Government got its act together.
:40:07. > :40:15.There will be questions to the business Secretary on 14th July. I
:40:15. > :40:19.will draw his attention to it -- to his question. Could the Leader of
:40:19. > :40:25.the House find time for the Transport Secretary to explain the
:40:25. > :40:35.decision this morning to award the contract for Thames Line trains to
:40:35. > :40:35.
:40:35. > :40:39.Siemens, to be built in Germany, rather than in Derby. --? I believe
:40:39. > :40:43.I am right in saying that there was it written ministerial statement
:40:44. > :40:48.today by the Secretary of State for Transport on a two subject. One was
:40:48. > :40:52.on the award of this particular contract. Next Thursday my right
:40:52. > :40:57.honourable friend has questions at this despatch box where you have an
:40:57. > :41:07.opportunity to press him or more likely her on why this decision was
:41:07. > :41:20.
:41:20. > :41:28.taken. Earlier today,... Whether you're a supporter of co-operatives,
:41:28. > :41:32.the big society or just a football supporter, I believe that the
:41:32. > :41:42.excellent work footballers directs cannot be lost. -- football
:41:42. > :41:44.
:41:44. > :41:50.directors. He has supported Queen's Park Rangers for a very long time.
:41:50. > :41:53.And he welcomes its recent promotion. I understand that my
:41:53. > :41:58.honourable friend, the sports minister, was very supportive
:41:58. > :42:02.indeed to the proposition just put forward. I hope it is pursued
:42:02. > :42:08.further in Westminster Hall. I will ask the Sports Minister if he can
:42:08. > :42:12.add to what he said a few moments ago. Many of my constituents who
:42:12. > :42:16.are concerned about the disruption the industrial action by teachers
:42:16. > :42:21.will have on their children's education. Can we have a debate on
:42:21. > :42:27.this important issue? I understand my honourable friend's concern. I
:42:27. > :42:32.am sure it is shared on both sides of the House. It is regrettable
:42:32. > :42:36.that two teaching unions have decided to take industrial reaction.
:42:36. > :42:40.This would be bad news for the children and bad news for those
:42:40. > :42:44.parents who go out to work. Responsibility for a contingency
:42:44. > :42:49.planning rests with individual employers. At this stage the
:42:49. > :42:58.Government has no plans to change the legislation. I would bring her
:42:58. > :43:03.concern to the attention of the Education Secretary. Last night the
:43:03. > :43:08.Chancellor, in his Mansion House speech, as well as pre-empting the
:43:08. > :43:12.independent commission on the banking's final report, also
:43:12. > :43:16.announced the sale of Northern Rock to the highest bidder. I do not
:43:16. > :43:21.know if that is going to be considered as part of the following
:43:21. > :43:28.statement. If not, can I urge the Leader of the House to have a
:43:28. > :43:32.debate on this issue, or indeed a statement, sold the House can be
:43:32. > :43:39.aware of why the Government has chosen not to implement the
:43:39. > :43:43.Coalition agreement, which states, and I caught, to foster diversity
:43:43. > :43:49.and financial services and create a more competitive banking industry.
:43:49. > :43:54.Why has that not been followed in this case? In response to the
:43:54. > :43:59.direct question, whether a question on Northern Rock will be in order
:43:59. > :44:05.on the statement that follows, will be a matter for you, Mr Speaker. I
:44:05. > :44:09.can see that your reflecting on it as we speak! -- you are. It has
:44:09. > :44:11.always been the policy of the Government to return Northern Rock
:44:11. > :44:16.to the private sector. That announcement was made yesterday
:44:16. > :44:25.evening. The Olympic organising committee appears to believe that
:44:25. > :44:31.the London Olympic Games prevents other people even mentioning the
:44:31. > :44:41.date of next year. They say the term 2012 is now widely used in the
:44:41. > :44:46.UK as a reference to the Games. My constituents -- constituent, Julie
:44:46. > :44:49.Benton, is being threatened. My exhibition, she says, next year
:44:49. > :44:55.will promote the best of Great Britain to the rest of the world.
:44:55. > :45:02.It is not about a sporting event in London. Can the Leader of the House
:45:02. > :45:05.reassure me and hair, and printers of diaries and calendars everywhere,
:45:06. > :45:11.that the Act does not confer on the lump -- London Olympic Committee
:45:11. > :45:16.exclusive rights to any No. Or Date, and that honourable members will
:45:16. > :45:21.not have to rely on the privileges of members of this House to talk
:45:21. > :45:28.about it next year? Surely the Leader of the House will fashion a
:45:28. > :45:35.way to relate his answer to the business of next week! Or indeed
:45:35. > :45:43.next year! Can I say that I endorse the general proposition at the end,
:45:43. > :45:47.that there is no monopoly on 2012 and that... I would hesitate before
:45:47. > :45:57.engaging in what appears to be a legal dispute between two companies
:45:57. > :46:00.
:46:00. > :46:04.which I believe would be better Can we have a debate on the
:46:04. > :46:09.responsibility of members of boards of directors because US law makes
:46:09. > :46:16.it clear directors are bound to show due care and diligence in
:46:16. > :46:23.making sure Companies Act lawfully but this clearly has not occurred
:46:23. > :46:28.at news of the world. This leaves people like Andrew Knight, rod
:46:28. > :46:34.Eddington, Thomas Perkins and Stanley Schumann in real legal
:46:34. > :46:39.peril. Can we have a debate on this? I believe the member prefaced
:46:39. > :46:47.his question by a certain someone had acted unlawfully. If that is so,
:46:47. > :46:52.it is a matter for the police. we have a debate on the ownership
:46:53. > :47:01.and the effectiveness of local and regional newspapers including my
:47:01. > :47:07.own. A high proportion of editors up across the country feel they are
:47:07. > :47:11.unable to scrutinise local public bodies and whilst it is not our
:47:11. > :47:16.role to run newspapers, I believe the pressures on this industry
:47:16. > :47:22.means that we should debate the implications of this serious matter.
:47:22. > :47:26.I would welcome a debate in Westminster Hall initiated by the
:47:26. > :47:31.backbench business committee. It wasn't quite clear from the
:47:31. > :47:38.question why they were impeded from reporting on certain events but if
:47:38. > :47:45.you would like to right, I you will see what I can do. -- right to me.
:47:45. > :47:50.Could we have an early debate on nannies. I think the Leader of the
:47:50. > :47:57.House is beyond the nanny using stage of his life and for many he
:47:57. > :48:01.is like a kind of generous now need too many of us. In Geneva, British
:48:01. > :48:07.representatives instructed by the Prime Minister are seeking to vote
:48:07. > :48:13.against a vital convention to protect domestic workers. We are
:48:13. > :48:18.the only democracy soap to do. This is a matter that goes to the heart
:48:18. > :48:23.of this government. It's contempt for international conventions which
:48:23. > :48:27.are there to protect the most weak and vulnerable. We signed up to the
:48:27. > :48:32.EU trafficking Convention and they think this question is the same as
:48:32. > :48:35.the one asked a few moments ago. I undertook to raise their concerns
:48:35. > :48:45.with my right honourable friend who has responsibility for these
:48:45. > :48:46.
:48:46. > :48:49.matters and I will include you in the response. I wonder if my right
:48:49. > :48:53.honourable friend would support me in getting ministers to ask
:48:53. > :48:59.questions of the dread -- dreadful can see -- treatment of my
:48:59. > :49:05.constituent, Julie Roberts. She has worked for the Royal Mail for 21
:49:05. > :49:10.years and recently had her mail van stolen. She jumped onto the bonnet
:49:10. > :49:16.of the male than and held on for one mile while the thief tried to
:49:16. > :49:21.make a getaway. She was able to get the van stopped and regain control
:49:21. > :49:27.of the vehicle. How do Royal Mail treat this lady? A suspend her and
:49:27. > :49:32.she is under threat of losing her job. People in South Staffordshire
:49:32. > :49:42.want her back in work and they want Royal Mail to show some common
:49:42. > :49:43.
:49:43. > :49:49.sense and common decency. Julie sounds a courageous lady who was
:49:49. > :49:53.doing her best to defend Royal Mail Property. I will certainly draw to
:49:53. > :49:59.the attention of the chairman of Royal Mail my remarks the
:49:59. > :50:04.honourable friend has just made and make sure the lady is recognised,
:50:05. > :50:11.if appropriate, rather than penalised. Ted used to be the case
:50:11. > :50:16.that after that G8 Summit we would get a report by the Prime Minister
:50:16. > :50:22.on what he did on the nation's behalf. We don't seem to have had
:50:22. > :50:29.one this year. Would the lead -- leader reinstate that practice, not
:50:29. > :50:32.just for the G8 but also other events like the G20 summit so we
:50:33. > :50:37.can probably hold the government to count what it does on our behalf in
:50:37. > :50:42.the international arena? The Prime Minister has made more statements
:50:42. > :50:46.at this dispatch box than his predecessor and his more than happy
:50:46. > :50:52.to hold himself to account and has reported after most major
:50:52. > :50:55.conferences. I will make some inquiries and my right honourable
:50:55. > :51:00.friend is more than prepared to come to the House after major
:51:00. > :51:05.international conferences. Could we have a statement on the continuing
:51:05. > :51:14.debt crisis in the eurozone and the effect it is having on our IMF
:51:15. > :51:19.contributions? Something that appeared in the sun this morning
:51:19. > :51:24.was a wholly misleading in that there is a resolution before the
:51:25. > :51:30.House which will go through and go upstairs to a committee which
:51:30. > :51:36.refers to our contribution to the IMF. The move to increase the IMS -
:51:36. > :51:40.- IMF resources were agreed to use go before any eurozone support and
:51:40. > :51:46.down saw the proposition will get the attention it deserves from the
:51:46. > :51:51.House. Further to the written statement that the government will
:51:51. > :51:56.extend buying standards for food and catering across Whitehall, can
:51:56. > :52:00.you give some indication on whether we can have a debate on regulation
:52:00. > :52:05.because it seems that we need a national framework that would apply
:52:05. > :52:10.to all public sector bodies. It seems wrong that hospitals will be
:52:10. > :52:16.excluded, particularly when we have made such progress in respect of
:52:16. > :52:20.the campaign one fish. I commend the campaign. A fortnight today
:52:20. > :52:24.there will be questions to DEFRA but in the meantime I will see if
:52:25. > :52:28.we can get an answer on the. The honourable lady has just made.
:52:28. > :52:34.Community groups play a vitally important role in helping to
:52:35. > :52:39.regenerate town centres by holding events such as a festival taking
:52:39. > :52:46.place this weekend. Would my right honourable friend consider holding
:52:46. > :52:49.a debate on the important role community grapes -- groups make in
:52:49. > :52:57.regenerating town centres and wishing the Barnaby festival every
:52:57. > :53:02.success this weekend? I'm sorry I cannot get to the festival. This is
:53:02. > :53:06.the big society in action and it is an opportunity for the community to
:53:06. > :53:11.celebrate its history and promote Barnaby as an appropriate
:53:11. > :53:18.destination. I hope it will make opportunities for further
:53:18. > :53:24.regeneration and renewal. I wish it every success. One health bill we
:53:24. > :53:28.committal, why shouldn't any member of this House from any party,
:53:28. > :53:32.whether a backbencher or a front Bencher, have an equal opportunity
:53:32. > :53:38.to put down amendments to the bill on any part of the bill that they
:53:38. > :53:45.choose? They will have exactly that opportunity when the built reach
:53:45. > :53:53.its its report stage. Any member will have the opportunity to do
:53:53. > :53:58.that. Saturday marks the 196 anniversary of the Battle of
:53:58. > :54:03.Waterloo. Could we have a stake and from the Leader of the House on
:54:03. > :54:07.what plans they are to mark the day when Britain, led by a a future
:54:07. > :54:11.Conservative prime minister, defeated the French and ended their
:54:11. > :54:21.domination of Europe? Is there any likelihood of history repeating
:54:21. > :54:23.
:54:23. > :54:28.itself? One of my ancestors, Admiral Sir George Young, was a
:54:28. > :54:33.contemporary of Nelson so I have a particular interest in -- interest
:54:33. > :54:37.in the question. I will refer the matter to the Secretary of Defence
:54:37. > :54:42.to see if there are any events to commemorate this important
:54:42. > :54:47.anniversary. What the Leader of the House is due consideration to a
:54:47. > :54:51.debate on the proposed sale of Northern Rock? I understand the
:54:51. > :54:56.Treasury has told reporters this morning that the Northern Rock
:54:56. > :55:00.Foundation which does important big society work in the north-east, is
:55:00. > :55:06.not going to be a condition of sale and that is a great deal of concern
:55:06. > :55:11.to many of my constituents. I have had a very quick conversation with
:55:11. > :55:21.my honourable friend sitting beside me and I understand he has some way
:55:21. > :55:21.
:55:21. > :55:26.in the red folder the answer to the question. Later this afternoon, in
:55:26. > :55:31.Ealing, they are unveiling a plaque commemorating Fred Perry he started
:55:31. > :55:35.his tennis career there. What the Leader of the House agree that, not
:55:35. > :55:42.only once - might do we want to see more tennis players get into the
:55:42. > :55:47.top rankings, would he also agree it might be helpful to debate this
:55:47. > :55:54.question in order to achieve that? I have heard Pete -- happy memories
:55:54. > :55:58.of that club which used to be in my constituency. I also have happy
:55:58. > :56:03.memories of the evening Lawn Tennis Club. I would welcome a debate on
:56:03. > :56:11.sport and how we might do more to encourage young people in all
:56:11. > :56:16.activities. A very much hope that in 2012, a profile might be
:56:16. > :56:22.provided to raise the profile of sport -- an opportunity. Can we
:56:22. > :56:29.please have a debate on the decision of the Transport Minister
:56:29. > :56:36.to increase the Humber Bridge tolls to �3 per car per crossing, the
:56:36. > :56:39.most expensive in Britain now? It was made without waiting for a
:56:39. > :56:44.review the Treasury is taking forward and what will it mean for
:56:44. > :56:50.the regeneration of the Humber Bridge area? The honourable lady
:56:50. > :56:56.will know that in a week's time the Minister will be at the dispatch
:56:56. > :57:04.box to answer questions on the top of the Humber Bridge. Can we have a
:57:04. > :57:07.growth? Jobs figures yesterday showed a in increase in private
:57:07. > :57:12.sector jobs growth in the last quarter which is of vital
:57:12. > :57:18.importance to the airier I represent where we need to get more
:57:18. > :57:23.sustainable private sector jobs. honourable friend reminds the House
:57:23. > :57:26.of the encouraging set of figures we saw yesterday with an extra half
:57:26. > :57:32.a million jobs in the private sector more than counterbalancing
:57:32. > :57:37.any decline in public sector jobs. The decline in youth unemployment
:57:37. > :57:45.was particularly good news and is lower than that of the previous
:57:45. > :57:52.government. Could we not have sittings in Westminster Hall on
:57:52. > :57:55.Monday afternoons and Thursday mornings? It is an ingenious --
:57:56. > :57:59.ingenious suggestion. That proposition is one that would be
:58:00. > :58:06.within the terms of reference and I'm sure my honourable friend has
:58:06. > :58:11.given evidence along those lines. The Chancellor's talk about the
:58:11. > :58:15.need for cultural change in banking regulation, bearing in mind the
:58:15. > :58:20.failing system that was set up and led by the last administration.
:58:20. > :58:25.What Howard -- plans has the Leader of the House got to debate this?
:58:25. > :58:31.The debate will be initiated in a few moments time by my honourable
:58:31. > :58:35.friend who will make a statement. We have to meet -- reform the
:58:35. > :58:39.regime for financial-services if the city is to continue to be a
:58:40. > :58:44.centre of wealth and enterprise. I hope my honourable friend will be
:58:44. > :58:52.in his place for a few minutes longer when you could get a more
:58:52. > :59:02.authoritative reply. Could we have a debate on the support for carers?
:59:02. > :59:05.
:59:05. > :59:08.I understand the chief executive of carers UK... We could also discuss
:59:08. > :59:14.the extensive additional support the government is putting into
:59:14. > :59:19.respite care for carers. This is terrace week and tomorrow I will be
:59:19. > :59:24.at the Princess Royal Trust for carers annual branch praising those
:59:24. > :59:28.carers who saved this country a huge sum of money. We have found
:59:28. > :59:34.additional resources for respite care for parents with disabled
:59:34. > :59:40.children and also for others in the NHS and we have ring-fenced the
:59:40. > :59:45.carer's allowance so it is not subsumed. Would the Leader of the
:59:45. > :59:51.House find time for a debate on harsh practice by the Royal Bank of
:59:52. > :59:57.Scotland? One constituent was treated very toughly by RBS with an
:59:57. > :00:01.unnecessary court case threat even though she has funds to pay for a
:00:01. > :00:05.reasonable settlement. Could my honourable friend speak to the
:00:06. > :00:10.chairman of RBS and see what can be done? I will convey what my
:00:10. > :00:16.honourable friend has just said. He will know that and a project Merlin
:00:16. > :00:20.there was a clear commitment to increase blank -- bank lending and
:00:20. > :00:26.whilst banks on-target, they are falling a bit behind on the SME
:00:26. > :00:32.side. We made it clear we -- kept the right to refer to this matter
:00:32. > :00:41.should it be necessary. I will pursue it and the Minister from the
:00:42. > :00:49.Treasury has also heard that Could we have a debate on energy
:00:49. > :00:55.policy and reforms? I am fed up to the back teeth, once the wholesale
:00:55. > :01:00.price of gas increases, so does the retail price. When the wholesale
:01:00. > :01:06.price comes down, the retail price never does. It is combating our
:01:06. > :01:13.inflation target. I understand his concern, that they increase faster
:01:13. > :01:17.than they come down. There will be an opportunity to question
:01:17. > :01:24.ministers on July 7th. I know it is one of concern to many members of
:01:24. > :01:33.the House as we read about fuel prices going up. The Green deal is
:01:33. > :01:41.currently going through the House. A miner's bright it is being held
:01:41. > :01:45.up by the siting of a communications mast. Will it the
:01:45. > :01:49.Leader of the House find time for it debate to discuss the power of
:01:49. > :01:54.communications companies to hold communities to ransom over
:01:54. > :01:59.companies such as this? Isle would be misleading my honourable friend
:01:59. > :02:03.if I could find time for a debate, if I said I could find time. I am
:02:03. > :02:11.sure there are other members of parliament with the same concerns.
:02:11. > :02:15.I would draw the attention of his concerns to the planning minister.
:02:15. > :02:18.Could we have a debate on the progress being made by the
:02:18. > :02:24.Government on the essential rebalancing and restoring the
:02:24. > :02:30.health to Almagro economy? And could he ensured that members have
:02:30. > :02:37.time in that debate to discuss the comment last night that the change
:02:37. > :02:44.in the next would make very little sense? I entirely endorse what was
:02:44. > :02:49.said. We heard a speech this morning demanding yet further tax
:02:49. > :02:54.cuts that are wholly owned fund it. We will the Leader of the House
:02:54. > :03:01.Grant was a debate on the independent commission of Banking
:03:01. > :03:05.Report? -- grande us. Healthy competition needs to be a powerful
:03:05. > :03:10.defender of consumer interest. said a few moments ago, there will
:03:10. > :03:13.be an opportunity after my honourable friend has made a
:03:13. > :03:18.statement for questions about our proposals to retain the City of
:03:18. > :03:22.London as the thriving centre of enterprise. There will be an
:03:22. > :03:28.opportunity to question my honourable friend on the
:03:28. > :03:33.independent commission of banking proposals. K and we find time for
:03:33. > :03:43.an urgent debate on trade union reform laws came at -- can we find
:03:43. > :03:48.