03/07/2017 House of Commons


03/07/2017

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are no further points of order, if members have been satisfied at least

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without I suggest that the club will now proceed to read the orders of

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the day. I called the Minister of State to

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move the second reading of this bill and I warn new members and large

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members of new members are seeking to make their maiden speeches, that

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of course they must remain for the opening speeches and remaining for

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the speech of the Minister of State means that they will be about to

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learn a lot about air travel organisation and licensing, but

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probably will benefit from a fair number of philosophical references

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in the course of the oration of the Minister of State. I speak with some

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experience for the Minister of State John Hayes. I'm very grateful to

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you. I beg to move that the bill be read a second time. It is, as you

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will gladly acknowledge, both fitting and humbling that I should

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have been chosen to introduce the first piece of legislation of this

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new parliament. Fitting because of my status of popularity and humbling

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because it doesn't pay to draw attention to it either. Honourable

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members will recognise in taking a look at this bill, that it reflects

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that this government like others before it, recognise the value of

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providing UK businesses with the best possible opportunities to grow

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but also making sure that consumers are protected when and how they need

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to be in respect, in this case, of how and when they purchase their

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holiday. So, I introduce this bill on air, travel, licensing bill, so

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that we can make sure that protection of consumers can keep

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pace with changes in the travel market. This bill has a long genesis

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in two ways, firstly it builds on long established good practice. This

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arrangement of course is born of the arrangements that began in the

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1970s, that of a similar kind to protect the interests of travellers,

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and secondly agenesis because we have debated these issues already at

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some length. We had an earlier bill which I will refer to later, in

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which these measures were included. We were able to read that the second

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time and go to committee and debate it in some detail. And I have to say

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that was done with a convivial and consensual way. And I will refer to

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that later. There was a recommendation that the consumer

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protection measures in terms of holidays and holiday-makers need to

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keep pace with changing circumstances and conditions in the

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travel market. Now there may be in this chamber as I speak, there may

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be those who affected by the pernicious appeal of liberalism,

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because it doesn't appeal -- does appeal to some people who may

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believe that the free market can sort these things out for itself.

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That is not a view that I hold and I know there will be Wise heads across

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this chamber who recognise the role of government in intervening where

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the market files. It doesn't happen regularly in respect of holiday

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company stash market fails. Anyone who has looked at the area of this

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history of the government's work, it has been rare that the fund has been

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called upon, but nevertheless it is an important fund and an important

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protection and it provides assurance and confidence to holiday-makers as

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they go about their lawful and regular business. I'm sorry that I'm

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not able to continue to enjoy the retreat of the right honourable

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gentleman, but that particular pleasure is now to be enjoy it by

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the first-ever chairman of ways and Means -- to enjoy the oratory. New

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members are probably somewhat but for blood by this state of affairs

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-- somewhat confused by this state of affairs, but I think we can call

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him a one-off. Minister of State. I was about to move to John Ruskin,

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actually. As the speaker leaves the chamber. John Ruskin said that the

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first test of a truly great man is his humility and we move this

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legislation in the humble spirit, recognising that this is a changing

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market, that government must act to reflect that change but also

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recognising it will continue to change. And any government that

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believes this is the end of the story, I think would be disregarding

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the likely further changes that are likely to arise on technology, the

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way the internet operates and the way that technology will change the

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way we go about our business and there will be need for further

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provision at some point. But this is an important step at this stage to

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bring that up to date and up to speed. I happily give way. To a man

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who played a useful role in the committee which I referred to.

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I thank the Minister for giving way. The minister is aware that this

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legislation was part of the aviation technology bill. Can he explain what

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is going to happen with the other measures that were in the aviation

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technology Bill, particularly regarding fences and the use of

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lasers that affect pylons? I would not want to test your patience or

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indeed your largess in ranges widely across the provisions of those other

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aspects of that deal, but the honourable gentleman is right to

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point out these particular measures, as I said earlier, he had the

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Genesis in that bill and we will be bringing further measures to the

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house. The Queen 's speech makes it clear for example that we will

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address the issues of autonomous and electric vehicles which he debated

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alongside the honourable gentleman who speaks funny opposition and

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others on the committee that I mentioned. Further measures will be

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brought forward, I think not wishing to test your generosity any further

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I will leave it at that. In this new parliament many of the measures that

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I described as essential will be brought forward, as the ATOL measure

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is one of them. I hope the debate we have today will match that convivial

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spirit of the discussions on the bill committee to which the

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honourable gentleman referred, we did make progress there I think

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across the house and I hope that continues. I think it is courtesy

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those discussions demonstrated there is no difference in principle

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between the government and opposition on this matter. I use the

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words of the member from Northfield who also served and played a useful

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rule on that committee. I will give way. Thank you. And I say aye very

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much agree with his earlier philosophical point about the

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appropriateness of government regulation in such matters. There

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are many holiday-makers who will feel more secure, I am sure, when

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this bill is passed. Can I ask the Minister if he has consulted closely

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with the airlines? Particularly those airlines that fly from London

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Luton Airport with holiday packages. I will come to that in my remarks,

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actually, because the honourable gentleman is right to draw attention

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to the role of the airlines in all of this. He will know they are

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covered by other licensing arrangements, but I will address the

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specific point he has made had as ever he makes the case for his Luton

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constituents and particularly Luton airport which a noise in his in his

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constituency. -- which I know is in his constituency. The Cardiff

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International Airport is owed by the Welsh people through the government,

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what discussions has the honourable member had about this airport and

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operators working in Cardiff? We had discussions with devolved

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governments about its character and content, and I think there is wide

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agreement across the kingdom of the necessity of these measures. I

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always enjoy my discussions with the devolved governments, and will

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continue to do so in my role as Minister of State. He is right to

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say that this affects all the part of our kingdom not least because of

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the trouble -- the travelling that takes place to and from part of the

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kingdom by air and we will certainly want to continue to receive the

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representations as these matters roll out. Let me just before I go

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any further say something I should have said at the outset, there has

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been some debate in recent days in this chamber about sartorial

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standards as you go more. I ought to see as a matter of courtesy I will

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not be taking interventions by anyone who is not wearing at high.

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-- who is not wearing a high. No matter what side of the house they

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sit. As well as courtesy I believe in generosity and anyone that is

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sartorially challenged or inadequate, I will provide a tie

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for. I do have a tie here, which I have prepared to... And of course I

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excluded from that lady members of the house. I would hardly expect to

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dress in either my time, one of their own or anyone else's. Let's

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move to the origins of the UK holiday market. This week will see

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one of the UK and Wales leading travel brand celebrate hundreds and

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five years of leading travel. It was on the 5th of July 1841 that Thomas

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Cook arranged his first excursion. This was a one-day train journey

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from Leicester to a temperance meeting in Loughborough. The train

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carried out 500 passengers a distance of 12 miles and back for

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one shilling. Contrary to popular belief, I was not a transport

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minister at that time, and I certainly was not one of the

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passengers but these early excursions were significant. They

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help form the foundations of the travel to this sector in the UK, and

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it meant for the first time affordable travel could be combined

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with leisure activities and accommodation and offered to a

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growing population of consumers. Of course today's holidays, today's

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excursions, are quite different to those first once. Society has

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changed with the promise of Sun and sea and sand and holidays are more

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likely to be driven by temperature and temperance. I personally choose

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to have my holidays on the east coast of England, very largely going

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from Broadstairs Northumberland and those places in between. Not

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everyone does and those who want to travel further afield and those who

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wish to use technology to make those choices will want to know that they

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are protected in doing so. The advancement of technology as

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challenges continue to face the travel and hospitality sector.

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Aeroplanes or people to travel further and from longer. The growth

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of Internet and mobile phone technologies have revolutionised the

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way people can book holidays, breaking greater opportunities for

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consumers and businesses. In this respect as we discussed when we

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debated the issues on the committee to which the honourable gentleman

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referred a moment tackle it was clear to us then and I think clear

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to the whole house that the UK has continued to lead the way. We have

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one of the most innovative and advanced leisure travel sectors in

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the world and one of the biggest markets in Europe. Tourism

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contributes close to 121 billion to our economy annually, with outbound

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tourism contributing around 30 billion. The need for strong

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consumer protection is vital to underpin confidence in this

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important sector. By its very nature of number of risks in the holiday

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market which have existed ever since those first excursions. It is common

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for consumers to pay up front on the promise of a holiday, which may be

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many weeks or even months away. There can be a lack of awareness and

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financial stability in holiday providers, particularly as the

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services are often provided by third parties. In the rare event of a

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company failure, as I mentioned at the outset that it is a rare thing,

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consumers may experience financial loss from a cancelled holiday or

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significant difficulties from being stranded abroad. It was against that

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backdrop that the air travel organisers licence scheme, the ATOL

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scheme was first introduced in the 1970s for UK holiday-makers flying

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overseas. I will not target -- tire the house with a long and exhaustive

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history of the ATOL scheme but I see that is disappointing you Madam

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Deputy Speaker and is disappointing others but I will give all matters

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-- all members as much opportunity is possible to contribute to this

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debate but suffice to say the ATOL scheme has protected consumers of

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the travel company fails and it does so in two ways. Firstly, travel

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firms sell five packages in the UK, they must hold a ATOL licence issued

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by the Civil Aviation Authority. This helps regulate entry into the

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market and filter out companies that are not financially robust. The

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scheme also acts as a front -- at a fund to compensate consumers who may

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be caught up in a failure. The ATOL licence company must pay a small

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levy of ?2 50 per person protected by ATOL, this money is then held in

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the air travel trust fund and used by the CAA to ensure consumers are

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returned home refunded when a company fails. I will give way. The

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minister was delighted to be able to give me on that point I'm sure.

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First a correction, Luton airport is in the constituency of Luton South,

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and the member from the member for Luton North and I have many a

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competitive conversation about it. What the point of the ?2.5 charge,

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there is a significant surplus and that funds now, is the confident

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where in the new regions where a light meal and European member

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states the best regime in which to pay into that the 2.50 pounds figure

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is the right thing to charge? I first apologise for a scraping Luton

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airport to his constituency neighbour but not them, as you will

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know in my previous ministerial job I was able to visit Luton South and

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enjoy his hospitality alongside the local authority. Luton is playing a

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bigger part in this debate that we may have expected, given that both

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members have contributed to it. The fund as he will now is administered

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by the CAA with trustees appointed by the Secretary of State. It builds

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up over time and is invested accordingly, there are around

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hash-mac There is about 140 million in the fund as we speak and clearly

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if a major holiday company did collapse it would be essential with

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sufficient monies in that fund to cover any such collapse because it

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is not conceivable that could happen more than once in a short period of

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time. So the critical thing is that the fund is never short of money.

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The guarantee if you like is that we will protect consumers and get

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people home safely from perhaps far-flung destinations and that they

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will not lose out as a result of things that they could not have

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anticipated or have affected. So that is how the fund sets. But if it

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is helpful Madam Deputy Speaker I am more than happy to provide the whole

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house with a further note on how the fund has changed and grown over

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time. I mention how it is comprised, and it would be helpful for me to

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make available to the library and therefore to the house more details

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of the kind the honourable Dutchman has asked for as he moved from the

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second reading onwards. More than happy to do that of course. I will

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give way. I thank the Minister, and he is right to say that this

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cross-party support for greater protection of consumers but he also

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mentioned safety and I wonder if he would take this opportunity to tell

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us whether the transport ministers intend to bring forward legislation

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not just to deal with the dangers posed by laser pens but also as we

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have had again today, the dangers posed by drones. The honourable lady

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will know that that too has been raised in the course of discussions

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about what was originally known as the transport Bill or apocryphal

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lake known as such but then became the technology and aviation

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hash-mac Technology and aviation Bill. She will also know due to a

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keen interest in transport matters and enthusiasm to take those matters

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further with an election that I will not mention more than just to refer

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to it obliquely in the way I just have. We are currently consulting on

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just those matters, the consultation is finished and we will be bringing

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our conclusions to the house and elsewhere very shortly. She is right

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however to say and they have is on record, this is a matter of some

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concern, there is a system legislation which provide some

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protection, so for example from drones interfering with military

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aircraft and secure sites and so on and so forth, it is covered to some

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degree in that legislation but there is a case to do more which is widely

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consulted on the matter and I know that she will give the results of

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the consultation and her response to it are very close attention in the

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way she always does. Let me move on if I might, Madam Deputy Speaker, as

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I said I do not want to prolong this exciting speech too much. The scheme

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as I said also acts to save consumers who may be caught up in a

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failure, I have talked about the fund which is administered by the

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CAA to ensure consumers are returned home and since the 1990s the ATOL

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scheme has been the primary method by which the UK travel sector

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provided protection under the UK and Europe travel regimes. Today the

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scheme,... I will in a second I will finish this sentence. Today the

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scheme protects 20 million people per year, giving peace of mind to

:20:36.:20:38.

holiday-makers in Luton and elsewhere. I will give way. I thank

:20:39.:20:44.

him in his generosity. It is reported in the notes that between

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1998 and 2009 those covered by ATOL fell from 90% of leisure flights to

:20:53.:20:59.

50%. This is a substantial drop in 11 years. Could he see whether

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passengers, some passengers were affected by the not covered in that

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period? The purpose of this legislation as I

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said is to make sure that ATOL remains fit for purpose and he is

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right in saying that the way people travel and the means by which they

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book their holidays and the organisations they use, are

:21:24.:21:29.

changing, and that it is wide it is necessary to look again at ATOL, not

:21:30.:21:35.

because it hasn't worked and the principles are right, but it needs

:21:36.:21:41.

to reflect those changes. And so will we have before us is the first

:21:42.:21:47.

step in doing so and anticipating if I'm at, and I don't wish to do so

:21:48.:21:53.

impertinently, what the shadow Secretary of State may ask me, it is

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also true to say that this is just that, a first step, creating a

:21:57.:22:01.

framework which will allow us to update ATOL and there will be

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further steps required which might come through regulation and might

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come through further review. Of the appropriate aspects. That is

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something he raised when we debated these matters briefly before and

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I've no doubt he will want to press beyond this again but there is an

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Adonis note -- acknowledgement that this is a rapidly moving marketplace

:22:29.:22:32.

which will require rapidity in our response. Yes, of course. I'm very

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grateful. There's a sense of deja vu after also serving on the vehicle

:22:43.:22:46.

technology and aviation Bill committee. I agree with the general

:22:47.:22:52.

nature of the measures he wishes to introduce and he's right in saying a

:22:53.:22:57.

fast moving market. There's also some concern in industry which plans

:22:58.:23:03.

typically 12-18 months ahead that they will need the detailed the

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secondary legislation as soon as possible to allow them to prepare

:23:08.:23:12.

effectively for it. Yes, that's a point which you may have raised in

:23:13.:23:17.

that committee. My memory is good but not encyclopaedic. I do seems a

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call that this is a point that he has made previously and he is both

:23:23.:23:27.

authoritative when it comes to matter regarding transport having

:23:28.:23:32.

served on the select committee but also consistent. In his line of

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argument. That is a perfectly fair question. That is what the

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opposition would expect and what the house would expect, the more

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information we can provide about what further steps we might take in

:23:47.:23:51.

terms of regulation we will provide. There's nothing to be hidden. There

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is no unnecessary contention are associated with this and no desire

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to not get this right and the best way of getting it right is to listen

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and learn as is so often the case in politics, in government and in life.

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I've spoken about the diversification of the market and

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the growth of the internet smart technologies, that is not a bad

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thing, consumers have many options at their fingertips to buy holidays.

:24:17.:24:24.

Indeed a survey estimated 75% of UK consumers now booked their holidays

:24:25.:24:28.

over the internet. And as methods for selling holidays modernise, we

:24:29.:24:33.

must adapt the schemes and regulations that protect them.

:24:34.:24:39.

Quality is never an accident and is always the result of intelligent

:24:40.:24:44.

effort as John Ruskin also said. That is why we took steps in 2012 to

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update the ATOL scheme which introduced the certificate

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confirming the protection offered and broadening the scope of

:24:54.:24:55.

protection to include flight plus holidays. These interventions have

:24:56.:25:03.

had a positive impact, extending consumer protection and improving

:25:04.:25:07.

clarity for everyone. I think the key is that consumers know when and

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how they are protected, so making sure the system is comprehensible as

:25:13.:25:16.

well as comprehensive as possible, that seems to me the most important

:25:17.:25:24.

aim and we now need to build on the changes we made and make sure that

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ATOL keeps pace. In particular the new EU package travel directive was

:25:31.:25:37.

agreed in 2015 to bring similar but further reaching improvements to

:25:38.:25:40.

consumer protection across the whole of Europe, and I said earlier that

:25:41.:25:48.

the UK has led the way in this field. It is not unreasonable to say

:25:49.:25:53.

that Europe is now saying they want similar provisions across other

:25:54.:25:58.

countries to the ones we have had here for some time. So that travel

:25:59.:26:04.

directive I think is both reflective of and perhaps even inspired by the

:26:05.:26:13.

success of our arrangements. This will need to be implemented into the

:26:14.:26:17.

UK package travel regulations by the 1st of January, 2018. The government

:26:18.:26:28.

has supported this. It will help to harmonise across Europe and this

:26:29.:26:32.

will mean that protection across Europe is closer to the protection

:26:33.:26:37.

we have enjoyed from the beginning but most especially since the

:26:38.:26:42.

changes we put into place in 2012. To make sure the consistent approach

:26:43.:26:46.

to protection... I will give way. Thank you. This is a very

:26:47.:26:51.

interesting and full exploration. Can he clarify, at the moment it

:26:52.:27:01.

applies to the first leg if that is from the UK, but in the future the

:27:02.:27:07.

intention will be that if the UK team-1-macro regulated -- ATOL

:27:08.:27:15.

regulator sold a holiday anywhere, that would be covered by the

:27:16.:27:19.

potential levy? That is part of what we aim to do cover the aim is to

:27:20.:27:22.

make sure that if a holiday is bought here, where ever you go, you

:27:23.:27:29.

are protected inexact either way you describe -- in exactly the way. Part

:27:30.:27:35.

of the changes to the way people book and make their holiday plans,

:27:36.:27:38.

part of that is how you travel. The package holidays that people first

:27:39.:27:45.

enjoyed in the 1960s and 70s are less routine now and they are not

:27:46.:27:50.

the routine kind of way that people travel to the continent and further

:27:51.:27:56.

afield. ATOL was born of that period when things were simpler. Thus my

:27:57.:28:00.

point about the need for it to be keeping pace with those changes.

:28:01.:28:07.

That consistent protection for holidays across Europe will make

:28:08.:28:13.

sure that informal package holidays booked online will get the same

:28:14.:28:18.

protection as traditional package for those booked on the high street

:28:19.:28:23.

of the kind that have their beginnings very largely the most

:28:24.:28:28.

people at least in the 60s and 70s -- that had. There will also be

:28:29.:28:34.

protection to a new concept of linked travel arrangements. This is

:28:35.:28:40.

maybe what the gentleman meant. This concept is designed to bring

:28:41.:28:44.

protection to business models which are not packages which often compete

:28:45.:28:49.

closely with packages, and overall the directive can provide a greater

:28:50.:28:52.

level of protection to the UK consumer when they purchase from a

:28:53.:28:56.

company established in the UK or overseas and will also help to level

:28:57.:28:59.

the playing field for companies who are in the UK or overseas and

:29:00.:29:03.

whether they operate in the high street or online. That point

:29:04.:29:07.

matters, this is about protecting consumers and the clarity and

:29:08.:29:12.

comprehensibility that I described, and it's also important for those in

:29:13.:29:17.

the travel sector in the industry to know where they stand, we are

:29:18.:29:22.

creating a greater degree of consistency which matters for them,

:29:23.:29:26.

too, especially for the smaller businesses which need to know as

:29:27.:29:29.

well as to feel that the regulations apply across the board in a

:29:30.:29:34.

consistent and fair and reasonable and implementable way. In order to

:29:35.:29:40.

bring the new directive into force by July next year, the clauses allow

:29:41.:29:47.

for the ATOL scheme to be aligned will stop the clauses with

:29:48.:29:53.

established companies and they will enable to protect these are the days

:29:54.:29:57.

through ATOL and they don't need to apply for different schemes in each

:29:58.:30:00.

country, that is the essence of what we are trying to achieve today. The

:30:01.:30:10.

wood will also extend the aviation powers -- bill. Finally the bill

:30:11.:30:16.

will allow the scheme or able to adapt more effectively to changes in

:30:17.:30:21.

the travel market and I said I anticipated further change as time

:30:22.:30:26.

goes on, and the bill paves the way for that further change. Overall the

:30:27.:30:36.

updates will make to ATOL extended regulations and this will bring

:30:37.:30:40.

protection is provided traditional and online package holidays and it

:30:41.:30:47.

will also look at the way of travel which has been out of scope. We need

:30:48.:30:50.

to be mindful that the landscape needs to be able to adapt to future

:30:51.:30:55.

changes with our relationship with the European Union, and the changes

:30:56.:30:58.

are in keeping with this principle and they will help consumers is,

:30:59.:31:04.

businesses and regulators with minimal impact. They will also

:31:05.:31:11.

retain flexibility in the regulations of ATOL to adapt to

:31:12.:31:14.

future changes in our relationship with the European Union, make sure

:31:15.:31:17.

we have strong protections in place as we leave the EU. I hope that that

:31:18.:31:31.

has given a clear but reasonably concise picture of the bill we are

:31:32.:31:39.

introducing and why. As I said, UK has also been a lead in this field,

:31:40.:31:43.

and as we led in so many ways and in so many other areas. When it comes

:31:44.:31:49.

to providing protection for holiday-makers, this bill will make

:31:50.:31:54.

sure that the UK continues to lead whether we are inside or outside the

:31:55.:31:59.

EU, providing UK businesses with the opportunity to expand and grow and a

:32:00.:32:03.

framework for which ATOL is able to cope with future trends. This bill

:32:04.:32:08.

is indicative of a government willing to act to protect and

:32:09.:32:14.

preserve the interest of the people and I stand here as a minister ready

:32:15.:32:23.

to do so. A bill for the people and for the people. -- and a covenant

:32:24.:32:32.

for the people. -- government. Mr Andy McDonald. It was all going so

:32:33.:32:40.

well until that last comment, but I think the minister has it right,

:32:41.:32:46.

that this is a bill to be welcomed. The events are fairly rare but it is

:32:47.:32:51.

imperative that this market develop and the response to it developed so

:32:52.:32:55.

that those people who have those rare failures have recourse and he

:32:56.:33:01.

will find a great deal of support on this side of the house for what he

:33:02.:33:05.

says and for this bill. So I want to thank him for his summary and his

:33:06.:33:12.

account. He's quite right, the matters to date in the related bill

:33:13.:33:16.

were conducted with a great deal of conviviality and courtesy and indeed

:33:17.:33:22.

humility. And he is to be credited with making sure that that was so.

:33:23.:33:27.

But as has been said, it is with a certain sense of deja vu that we are

:33:28.:33:33.

here again debating the issue of changes to the air travel organisers

:33:34.:33:38.

licensing system. It is only four months since these very selfsame

:33:39.:33:43.

clauses received their second reading when they were made of part

:33:44.:33:52.

of the technology and aviation Bill, -- made a part of the technology and

:33:53.:34:00.

aviation Bill. The decision of the Prime Minister to call the early

:34:01.:34:06.

election meant that Bill and other legislation had to be dropped, and

:34:07.:34:09.

having wasted a great dinner Parliamentary time and effort it was

:34:10.:34:16.

then a surprise to see that there was no reference to it in the

:34:17.:34:19.

Queen's Speech, and instead the government has decided to fragment

:34:20.:34:25.

the legislation spitting it between this bill we are debating here

:34:26.:34:32.

today, and the automated and electric vehicles bill which will be

:34:33.:34:36.

debated later in the Parliament. 50% of the legislative programme

:34:37.:34:42.

relating to transport for the next two years of this parliament will

:34:43.:34:44.

merely be clauses that have been copied and pasted from the bill

:34:45.:34:48.

which should already have been passed into law. And this surely

:34:49.:34:53.

highlights how this minority government is out of ideas and has

:34:54.:34:58.

very little new to offer the country as it focuses its attention on a

:34:59.:35:02.

desperate attempt to cling on to power.

:35:03.:35:11.

I think with the greatest respect the honourable gentleman is

:35:12.:35:16.

underselling himself, the progress we made on that committee in that

:35:17.:35:22.

consideration meant that when the government came to look at the model

:35:23.:35:29.

of what good legislation looks like they look no further than the work

:35:30.:35:33.

that he and I did. I take most of the credit but he should take some,

:35:34.:35:37.

too. As ever the Minister is extremely generous in his praise but

:35:38.:35:44.

he is right, we did make a lot of progress. I just hope we don't have

:35:45.:35:47.

to do it all over again and that is the point, the government does not

:35:48.:35:53.

have a plan to bring forward the tab in its entirety and it should have

:35:54.:35:56.

been taken through but Madam Deputy Speaker you could be forgiven for

:35:57.:36:02.

asking why this government does not dare to pass legislation that has

:36:03.:36:05.

already passed through this place already and received support from

:36:06.:36:10.

both sides of the house. It is of some considerable concern that a

:36:11.:36:14.

number of very important clauses from the tab appear to have been

:36:15.:36:20.

left out of the forthcoming programme, namely clauses in part

:36:21.:36:22.

four of the bill that related to vehicle testing, the shining of

:36:23.:36:27.

lasers that the honourable member raised earlier and diversely driving

:36:28.:36:34.

courses but also those clauses in part three relating to air traffic

:36:35.:36:41.

services appear to have been axed. Perhaps the Minister can offer some

:36:42.:36:44.

explanation as to why they were deemed necessary to be the subject

:36:45.:36:48.

of legislation but they have not been brought forward now and

:36:49.:36:52.

moreover during the progression of that bill we on this side of the

:36:53.:36:57.

house raised concerns over the absence of legislation that would

:36:58.:36:59.

create a regular Tory framework to deal with drones with the

:37:00.:37:05.

proliferation of drones in recent years we have also seen a sharp

:37:06.:37:09.

increase in the number of near misses with planes, the latest

:37:10.:37:13.

figures showing there were 33 such incidents confirmed in the first

:37:14.:37:19.

five months of this year and 70 last year, whereas there are only 29 in

:37:20.:37:25.

2015 and just ten in the five years before. Those in the aviation

:37:26.:37:28.

industry have expressed their concern over the government's

:37:29.:37:32.

failure to bring in legislation to tackle this worrying trend and... I

:37:33.:37:40.

will. I am grateful to him for giving way and I enjoy the exchanges

:37:41.:37:44.

in committee. I may be wrong but given the intervention I made

:37:45.:37:50.

earlier, it is important to get this legislation on the statute book as

:37:51.:37:53.

early as possible so the subsequent row -- subsequent legislation can

:37:54.:37:58.

come into effect for an industry that has to plan 12-18 months ahead.

:37:59.:38:05.

The answer measures an important but they can be put into a different

:38:06.:38:08.

bill. Perhaps that is the reason. It is a reasonable point the honourable

:38:09.:38:12.

gentleman raises but I think this was raised last time as being an

:38:13.:38:20.

important part, as with this bill, the atoll bill was as well and tries

:38:21.:38:24.

to come this far and not deal with such an important matter I think is

:38:25.:38:28.

a gross omission and certainly had the roles been reversed we would be

:38:29.:38:35.

wanting to bring in legislation before one of these near misses

:38:36.:38:37.

turns into a catastrophic incident that could be avoided. We had in the

:38:38.:38:43.

last 24 hours did we not about the incident at Catterick airport and

:38:44.:38:47.

this should concern everyone in this house and I do make the offer to the

:38:48.:38:54.

Minister quite genuinely, that we on this side of the house will be

:38:55.:38:59.

nothing other than of the government wishes to bring forward legislation

:39:00.:39:05.

and regulations so that we can better protect our airports and

:39:06.:39:10.

other places of great sensitivity. This is a huge issue and the drone

:39:11.:39:15.

industry and others who are supportive think that the freedom

:39:16.:39:21.

for people to engage and indulge in this activity comes ahead of safety

:39:22.:39:25.

and I was just gently put it to colleagues that we should really be

:39:26.:39:33.

looking at this very closely. The honourable member does the house a

:39:34.:39:37.

service in raising this for, the honourable lady from Gosford both

:39:38.:39:40.

challenged merely and I made it clear that we have consulted and he

:39:41.:39:46.

will be familiar with the consultation exercise, because we

:39:47.:39:50.

agree that this is a matter that requires further consideration. I am

:39:51.:39:53.

very happy to engage directly in discussions with him so that we can

:39:54.:40:00.

find a way forward on drones, he is right that this is a changing and

:40:01.:40:06.

potentially difficult and challenging matter. We need to work

:40:07.:40:12.

as a government but also as a parliament to address it. Very happy

:40:13.:40:16.

to take up his offer of those discussions on the back of the

:40:17.:40:20.

consultation. I am very grateful again to the Minister. Again for his

:40:21.:40:28.

consistent collegiate attitude and cooperation in this area. And to

:40:29.:40:35.

this particular bill itself, he has approached it in exactly the same

:40:36.:40:38.

approach and that should be acknowledged. We certainly share his

:40:39.:40:46.

objective of making this bill and the forthcoming transport bills

:40:47.:40:51.

relating to automated and electric vehicles and also the space industry

:40:52.:40:54.

the best possible pieces of legislation as they passed the

:40:55.:40:58.

house. We only wish that the government was prepared to respond

:40:59.:41:01.

to the rapid technological advancements we have seen in recent

:41:02.:41:05.

years and bring forward legislation in those areas that have been

:41:06.:41:11.

previously outlined and touched upon, which are in urgent and

:41:12.:41:14.

vitally very regular Tory framework that has become quite clear in

:41:15.:41:17.

recent weeks. In action can risk lives. -- regular Tory framework.

:41:18.:41:29.

The broad substance of these changes to ATOL are necessary and are for

:41:30.:41:34.

the most part welcomed, the changes will harmonise UK law with the

:41:35.:41:40.

latest EU package travel directive, they will have many benefits for UK

:41:41.:41:47.

consumers and UK travel operators and a wide range of operators

:41:48.:41:51.

including more dynamic package providers will be likely covered

:41:52.:41:56.

under these changes. This will bring protection to many more UK

:41:57.:42:00.

holiday-makers not covered under existing ATOL provisions. The

:42:01.:42:06.

requirement for travel companies to be in line with standards at

:42:07.:42:11.

establishments instead of place at sale will now mean that UK companies

:42:12.:42:17.

can sell far more seamlessly across Europe by the -- by simply adhering

:42:18.:42:25.

to the widely respected ATOL flag. However, these changes at EU level

:42:26.:42:32.

to bring about one issue that could have adverse effects is in UK

:42:33.:42:36.

consumers purchasing from EU -based travel companies. The changes made

:42:37.:42:40.

to the directive will now mean that those EU -based company selling in

:42:41.:42:47.

the UK only have two at here to a ATOL equivalent insolvency

:42:48.:42:50.

protection laid out in the member state where that business is based.

:42:51.:42:55.

In practice, this could have unintended consequences and more

:42:56.:43:00.

significantly, costs for the UK consumers. Processes and timescales

:43:01.:43:08.

for recompense maybe this thing with different to what many travellers

:43:09.:43:12.

would expect under the gold standard of ATOL. The impact assessment

:43:13.:43:17.

warrants that if consumers purchase a trip from a business established

:43:18.:43:21.

elsewhere in the EU and the company becomes insolvent, there may be some

:43:22.:43:28.

cost to the consumer of processing a claim with a known the UK insolvency

:43:29.:43:34.

protector. Based on the latest civil aviation figures, this is not just a

:43:35.:43:40.

matter that will impact on a relatively small moment of

:43:41.:43:45.

holiday-makers but would currently compromise over 500,000 passengers.

:43:46.:43:49.

It is therefore important that the government takes appropriate steps

:43:50.:43:52.

to anticipate and prepare for any negative impacts this change could

:43:53.:43:58.

make. As was suggested by the side of the house and the committee stage

:43:59.:44:01.

of the vehicle technology and aviation Bill making it a

:44:02.:44:06.

requirement that the government monitor the impact for UK consumers

:44:07.:44:12.

using EU -based companies would help inform the UK Government whether it

:44:13.:44:17.

would further bash back as to whether it should consider further

:44:18.:44:20.

guidance or cooperation with consumers and EU member states to

:44:21.:44:24.

ensure that the protections in place adequate. Moving to the second

:44:25.:44:34.

clause of the Bill... Happily. The honourable member will know that

:44:35.:44:38.

under existing legislation there is an obligation to review this

:44:39.:44:44.

legislation after five years. But I know the argument that he makes is

:44:45.:44:48.

one that he has made previously, and it seems to me to have some weight.

:44:49.:44:54.

I am open-minded about the way in which we consider these things and I

:44:55.:44:57.

will certainly reflect on the point he has made about our need to

:44:58.:45:03.

consider the impact of the changes he has inscribed. I would be more

:45:04.:45:07.

than happy to include that in the discussions about drones. I am

:45:08.:45:11.

grateful to the Minister for clarification. Moving on, to the

:45:12.:45:16.

second clause of the Bill, which is not directly relevant to harmonising

:45:17.:45:22.

the UK with EU regulation, the cause is a dormant power that the

:45:23.:45:26.

government will retain, enabling it to make considerable changes to ATOL

:45:27.:45:32.

with regard to the travel trust. During the winter session at the

:45:33.:45:38.

committee stage of VTAB we heard from Richard Moriarty of the Civil

:45:39.:45:41.

Aviation Authority and a trustee of the current air travel trust, who

:45:42.:45:45.

recognised the possible merits of separating the trust to reflect the

:45:46.:45:50.

variation of products in the market. However, he explained that we are

:45:51.:45:56.

simply not there yet and it would be wrong for the government to use the

:45:57.:45:59.

Bill as a means of making wholesale changes without due consultation.

:46:00.:46:04.

The Minister of State has previously made it clear in a letter to me that

:46:05.:46:08.

changes would only be made through affirmative resolution if the bill

:46:09.:46:13.

does not account for any further consultation as part of this

:46:14.:46:19.

measure. So Labour will therefore be again seeking a commitment from the

:46:20.:46:26.

Right Honourable member from the south that he the committee stage of

:46:27.:46:31.

VTAB that the government will conduct a thorough impact assessment

:46:32.:46:34.

and consultation before in promoting the power. To quote Mr Moriarty at

:46:35.:46:40.

the CAA the evidence session, I hope that the government will follow the

:46:41.:46:44.

practice that the forward through the VTAB and consult with

:46:45.:46:49.

regulators, consult with industry, do the impact assessment and so on.

:46:50.:46:53.

Accordingly if the government would undertake a full impact assessment

:46:54.:46:59.

and consultation before bringing forward regulations to create any

:47:00.:47:03.

new air travel trust through an affirmative resolution, this would

:47:04.:47:08.

be fair, reasonable and guarantee scrutiny of any further changes to

:47:09.:47:12.

ATOL. To conclude, Madam Deputy Speaker, while we are frustrated

:47:13.:47:18.

that the general election meant that the VTAB was dropped and moreover we

:47:19.:47:25.

are concerned with the government decision to omit a large proportion

:47:26.:47:32.

of that legislation as it has been reintroduced in this Parliament,

:47:33.:47:34.

Labour is nonetheless broadly supportive of this bill. We welcome

:47:35.:47:39.

the changes that will harmonise UK law with the latest EU package

:47:40.:47:43.

travel directive, which will have many benefits for UK consumers and

:47:44.:47:50.

UK travel operators. But we have concerns about the levels of

:47:51.:47:53.

protection given by EU -based companies selling in the UK and

:47:54.:47:59.

whether UK consumers could lose out by this change. We will be pressing

:48:00.:48:03.

ministers for reassurances on this during the passage of the bill. As

:48:04.:48:09.

we did with the vehicle technology and aviation Bill, this side of the

:48:10.:48:11.

house will seek further details on the ministers on the assimilation of

:48:12.:48:18.

the directive, the impact of Brexit and government accountability as

:48:19.:48:20.

this bill progresses through this house. Thank you. Robert courts.

:48:21.:48:29.

Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker and may I say at the outset what or it

:48:30.:48:33.

is be called in this first piece of the patent legislation in this

:48:34.:48:37.

Parliament and indeed as the first backbencher to be able to speak in

:48:38.:48:41.

that debate. This bill in fact brings back some traces of memory

:48:42.:48:47.

lane for me, too, I declare that interest at the outset in the fact

:48:48.:48:50.

that the former election to Parliament I practised at the

:48:51.:48:55.

independent bar at one of the areas I practised in was that of consumer

:48:56.:49:02.

protection. And indeed I did do some lecturing, in some cases around this

:49:03.:49:05.

very area. Mother Debbie Speaker recall that rather I call that

:49:06.:49:10.

somewhat optimistically holiday law which makes it sound like rather

:49:11.:49:16.

good fun as I can hear one of my colleagues are saying. And I think

:49:17.:49:21.

really Madam Deputy Speaker that is what my thinking was, that having

:49:22.:49:25.

spent years prosecuting trading standards legislation and defending

:49:26.:49:28.

criminal law as well as working within the personal injury sphere, I

:49:29.:49:35.

must be in my way back from holiday and was looking for a new area to

:49:36.:49:39.

branch into and an opportunity came up and I decided that if I could not

:49:40.:49:43.

be on holiday then I may as well at least talk about being on holiday.

:49:44.:49:50.

And so I produced a lecture which I covered with lots of rather

:49:51.:49:53.

attractive pictures of happy people on holiday, of sun-dappled beaches,

:49:54.:49:59.

palm trees, but of course that rather missed the point because when

:50:00.:50:03.

one goes to see a lawyer one does not go to see a lawyer because they

:50:04.:50:08.

want to tell them how the holiday has been but rather because

:50:09.:50:10.

something has gone wrong and that is the important point that I was

:50:11.:50:15.

addressing within my career and of course that the government is

:50:16.:50:17.

seeking to address in the course of this bill. Of course Madam Deputy

:50:18.:50:22.

Speaker on many occasions some things do go terribly wrong while

:50:23.:50:26.

PayPal on holiday and it can certainly from the experience I have

:50:27.:50:30.

seen at the bar be anything from simply put quality through to

:50:31.:50:37.

catastrophic failure of holiday, or injury and in some cases even death

:50:38.:50:41.

and it is this of course that we are seeking to address in the course of

:50:42.:50:45.

this bill and hacked. I started off that lecture at the bar with the

:50:46.:50:52.

same study the Minister used, of the Templars campaign which was one of

:50:53.:50:55.

those anecdotes you throw away at the beginning of what can sometimes

:50:56.:50:58.

be quite detailed lectures and I thought for one moment that I was

:50:59.:51:01.

about you might my own lecture repeated back at me from the

:51:02.:51:04.

minister but I am very glad of course that he went on to the more

:51:05.:51:11.

substantive matters. I have in my constituency not only a great many

:51:12.:51:15.

places that people come to visit, and I will refer to some of those in

:51:16.:51:19.

a moment if I may, but of course many people as we all do look for

:51:20.:51:24.

places that they can go on tours abroad and of course it is for the

:51:25.:51:27.

constituents of Whitney and West Oxfordshire attire most strongly

:51:28.:51:31.

desire to see this legislation in due course brought into law.

:51:32.:51:41.

I would like to express my support for this bill at the outset.

:51:42.:51:48.

Protection is a critical part of the protection we can rely upon when we

:51:49.:51:52.

book a tour. It is only right we seek to extend this to a broader

:51:53.:51:56.

range of holidays. This is welcome and necessary. As members will

:51:57.:52:11.

realise, Atol protection started in 1973, a different world than we have

:52:12.:52:16.

now. There were very few airlines. There was British Caledonian and

:52:17.:52:21.

nationalised airlines. British European Airways and British

:52:22.:52:25.

overseas Airways Corporation. One would say it was an Iraq before the

:52:26.:52:33.

benefits -- and error -- and error before modern avionics. But back in

:52:34.:52:47.

1973, that was the days before the Internet. A day where going abroad

:52:48.:52:52.

was full of uncertainty. And sometimes even danger. It was into

:52:53.:52:58.

that world that the package tour regulations came into being and

:52:59.:53:03.

rightly so. I thank him for giving way. At that time it would have been

:53:04.:53:11.

unimaginable you could sit on your phone and book your holiday with an

:53:12.:53:15.

operator in other parts of Europe rather than walking into a travel

:53:16.:53:21.

agent on the high street? I am grateful indeed, he makes an

:53:22.:53:24.

absolutely outstanding point. We could sit here now in the chamber,

:53:25.:53:30.

if we weren't paying attention to the vote and the car sells -- book

:53:31.:53:40.

ourselves a holiday, that was something not envisaged. What we did

:53:41.:53:45.

have them, the advent of the package tour, British Airtours was a

:53:46.:53:48.

subsidiary of British airways, one of the leaders of this. This was a

:53:49.:53:54.

major innovation. The ability to have your package holiday protected

:53:55.:54:00.

via did you had a flight was a major innovation. That is something we

:54:01.:54:05.

have now lost. I can say that from personal looks periods. Having

:54:06.:54:09.

worked within this industry, I can give the House first-hand knowledge

:54:10.:54:13.

of how the package industry now works. We not only have dynamic

:54:14.:54:21.

packaging, members of the public with a vast choice available to them

:54:22.:54:26.

in terms of providers and destinations and activities. They

:54:27.:54:31.

can look and Taylor this book packages to themselves. We not only

:54:32.:54:36.

have that but we have the fact that those selling holidays can seek to

:54:37.:54:42.

step round some of the legislation. You might visit a website which

:54:43.:54:46.

purports to be offering a package but when one actually looks, it

:54:47.:54:51.

turns out the flight is offered by a subsidiary and the accommodation is

:54:52.:54:57.

offered by another company and other packages and excursions are dealt

:54:58.:55:00.

with by someone else. It is quite easy in this day and age to step

:55:01.:55:07.

around the regulations. It is for that reason that this bill is

:55:08.:55:12.

necessary. What we have seen in recent years is the travel market is

:55:13.:55:16.

significantly changing. Those days, the Romantic error -- romantic

:55:17.:55:28.

the honourable gentleman talked about the changing character of the

:55:29.:55:37.

regulations and reflecting on the remarks for the member who speaks

:55:38.:55:42.

for the opposition, let me reaffirm my commitment to consult further

:55:43.:55:48.

before any regulations are brought before us and draw his attention to

:55:49.:55:55.

section 71 B of the civil aviation 's act which already contains

:55:56.:56:03.

provision for the likes of the CAA. I am grateful to the Minister for

:56:04.:56:09.

making that point clear. The prospect of that amendment has been

:56:10.:56:12.

ongoing for some time and I am done lighted we are addressing it in the

:56:13.:56:17.

House today. That image we have all the high Street and flicking through

:56:18.:56:23.

a brochure and speaking to someone behind a tale, which still takes

:56:24.:56:31.

place and many people do avail themselves of the excellent services

:56:32.:56:35.

that exist in that regard. There are excellent travel agencies in my

:56:36.:56:39.

constituency but many people don't do that because it is so easy now to

:56:40.:56:43.

get on the Internet and choose a package here and to put together a

:56:44.:56:48.

perspective package for yourself. It is one of those areas where we have

:56:49.:56:55.

become our own travel agencies in a sense. But this brings some

:56:56.:57:01.

challenges as well as opportunities. We deal with a new generation of

:57:02.:57:07.

travellers. Those in the House embrace the opportunities that

:57:08.:57:11.

brought along with those challenges. I would go as far as to say that

:57:12.:57:20.

what we have seen in travel agencies and the expansion of providers and

:57:21.:57:24.

destinations and activities, we have seen the free market in action. We

:57:25.:57:29.

have seen so many advantages that a free market can bring in the

:57:30.:57:34.

interest of consumers. The online travel market has led to reduced

:57:35.:57:42.

costs and to increased choice for other day makers. We have to

:57:43.:57:46.

reinforce the protection at the same time as we reassess and benefit from

:57:47.:57:52.

those changes. The mix and match of lower prices and wider opportunities

:57:53.:57:56.

has to be put alongside the protection. Many holidays now fall

:57:57.:58:05.

outside the scope of Atol, the scope of 1973. If we look at 1998, 90% of

:58:06.:58:11.

all leisure flights were covered by the Atol and I understand today that

:58:12.:58:17.

the number has fallen to under 50% in recent years. I welcome the

:58:18.:58:22.

Minister's comment at the start of his speech that there are times,

:58:23.:58:27.

where as much as I have praised the free market and the benefits it can

:58:28.:58:34.

bring in terms of opportunities and choice and cost. We also have to

:58:35.:58:37.

understand there is a role for government. This is a case where

:58:38.:58:44.

consumer regulation, there is an appropriate role for government to

:58:45.:58:48.

step in and ensure the protection of consumers in this field. That is why

:58:49.:58:52.

Madam Deputy Speaker I welcome the measures in this bill that address

:58:53.:58:57.

these changes. This bill is one that will ensure the Atol scheme keeps

:58:58.:59:04.

pace with the innovations of the online travel market. Ensuring had

:59:05.:59:08.

the same time that your protections are in place regardless of whether

:59:09.:59:12.

you book online or on the high Street. We would ensure therefore

:59:13.:59:17.

that the over 20 million holiday-makers each year are

:59:18.:59:21.

protected and continue to be protected. I thank him for giving

:59:22.:59:30.

way, given the comments he has made, would he like to expand his thoughts

:59:31.:59:34.

on clause one that extends the provisions of Atol to sales made in

:59:35.:59:41.

the EEA, is that a worthwhile provision? And grateful for that

:59:42.:59:45.

intervention has I had turned from one page of my notes to the next

:59:46.:59:49.

page that dealt with that same clause one. Clause one at present,

:59:50.:59:59.

the Atol legislation deals only where the relevant flight bookings,

:00:00.:00:04.

the first leg departs from a UK airport. What the new directive

:00:05.:00:11.

looks to deal with is to introduce a single market approach to

:00:12.:00:16.

insolvency. Whereby EU established companies will be required solely

:00:17.:00:21.

with the insolvency protection rules of the state in which they are

:00:22.:00:25.

established as opposed to the place of sale which is the position at the

:00:26.:00:32.

moment. It is much wider and the company only now has to be

:00:33.:00:38.

established, assuming this bill is passed. Will he agree with me and

:00:39.:00:45.

several consumer groups that ?2 50 is a very low price to pay in the

:00:46.:00:50.

four Atol protection. Compared to standard travel insurance and in the

:00:51.:00:55.

longer term, we may see a decline in the cost of travel insurance as more

:00:56.:01:02.

holidays are covered by this enhanced Atol protection? I am

:01:03.:01:06.

grateful to him from a king that excellent point. He is quite right

:01:07.:01:12.

that the Atol scheme is funded by a levy which costs approximately ?2 50

:01:13.:01:18.

as a contribution per protected passenger. He is absolutely right it

:01:19.:01:22.

would be unwise of any holiday-maker to go abroad without adequate travel

:01:23.:01:30.

insurance. I would encourage everyone to do so. That can

:01:31.:01:35.

sometimes be pricey. Particular when one is protecting oneself against

:01:36.:01:39.

one than the more routine failures that are easily covered within the

:01:40.:01:43.

Atol scheme. There are other more serious misfortunes that can occur

:01:44.:01:48.

when one is on holiday for which travel insurance is still advisable.

:01:49.:01:56.

The cost may indeed, come down over the course of time with this

:01:57.:02:03.

enhanced package. Returning to clause one, it would allow travel

:02:04.:02:07.

companies that are established in the UK and selling flight inclusive

:02:08.:02:12.

packages to use their Atol membership and protection to cover

:02:13.:02:17.

all EU wide sales without needing to comply with the insolvency

:02:18.:02:20.

protection and rules of any other member state. I will turn to clause

:02:21.:02:28.

to briefly if I may before I look through the rest of the regulations

:02:29.:02:33.

and make some concluding remarks if I may Madam Deputy Speaker. Clause

:02:34.:02:38.

two deals with funding. Qualifying trusts within the Atol trust

:02:39.:02:44.

management structure. The Department for Transport is a mind, because we

:02:45.:02:50.

have seen significant changes in the travel industry since 1973 but even

:02:51.:02:58.

since 2004 and more recent years, it may be necessary to enter into

:02:59.:03:03.

separate trust arrangements for the greater business model. Such is

:03:04.:03:08.

linked travel arrangements giving greater transparency to businesses

:03:09.:03:13.

and consumers. It may be necessary to introduce a new form of

:03:14.:03:17.

qualifying trust to ensure the Atol trust will still protect consumers

:03:18.:03:24.

in the all-important areas of flight accommodation. That it allows

:03:25.:03:27.

flexibility under trust arrangements for us to increase the funding

:03:28.:03:33.

arrangements and ensure that Atol is adequately funded as time goes on.

:03:34.:03:38.

Clause three addresses a slightly different point. This is where the

:03:39.:03:44.

Civil Aviation Authority, as the House will realise they are

:03:45.:03:49.

responsible for running the Atol scheme. It is able to require and

:03:50.:03:55.

request information from airlines selling Atol registered products

:03:56.:04:03.

within the UK and wider. Under this new bill, an important change would

:04:04.:04:08.

apply to European airlines that have an air service operation license

:04:09.:04:13.

from another EU member state and would therefore not need any of the

:04:14.:04:17.

licences that are granted by the civil aviation act. The House will

:04:18.:04:21.

be delighted that this is a short bill. It only has four clauses and I

:04:22.:04:27.

think I only need to deal with three in the way that I have so I don't

:04:28.:04:31.

need to go through any others, I am sure everyone will be delighted.

:04:32.:04:38.

Short in terms of clauses as the House realises. I thank him for

:04:39.:04:42.

giving way. He has referred to clause three but the fact those who

:04:43.:04:46.

have the license from other countries when the CAA license is

:04:47.:04:51.

something that will give consumers for protection? I am satisfied this

:04:52.:04:59.

will give full consumer protection. I say so because the government has

:05:00.:05:04.

consulted widely. And the honourable member has with extra impressions on

:05:05.:05:07.

his part has managed again to prompt me to move onto the next age of my

:05:08.:05:11.

speech which may have been the intention in fact. The government

:05:12.:05:17.

has consulted widely and the industry's response has been

:05:18.:05:25.

favourable. We have received broad support from the majority of

:05:26.:05:29.

respondents to the proposals to harmonise Atol, the scope of the EU

:05:30.:05:31.

package regulations. During the VTAB build the evidence

:05:32.:05:42.

given by the directors of consumers and markets of the CAA noted there

:05:43.:05:46.

were a number of important and welcome development from this bill

:05:47.:05:51.

that would be good for UK consumers. Firstly, it makes it much clearer

:05:52.:05:55.

what the definition of package is, and I hope the house will forget by

:05:56.:05:59.

mentioning that in detail but I do see it simply because I urge my

:06:00.:06:03.

experience of having argued the concept of what a package is in the

:06:04.:06:08.

course of this country throughout the course of my career at the bar.

:06:09.:06:15.

This is a case where the bill has something that has wide support in

:06:16.:06:18.

the industry. I will make one more point Madam Deputy Speaker if I may

:06:19.:06:23.

before I wind up in that assembly to note the effect if I may to this in

:06:24.:06:27.

the educating effect that to his hands. We are of course and I will

:06:28.:06:34.

not enter into more detailed comments, leaving the European Union

:06:35.:06:38.

but we're not turning our back on Europe, we are not ceasing to be a

:06:39.:06:42.

huge appeal country. Of course as all members I am sure will

:06:43.:06:46.

appreciate, travelling to a new country and appreciating a new

:06:47.:06:49.

culture is one of the most educating and enlightening things that can,

:06:50.:06:55.

that an individual can undertake and we will wish people from this

:06:56.:06:59.

country to be able to expand the rise and is throughout the European

:07:00.:07:04.

Union as indeed well we want European Union people, for Europeans

:07:05.:07:10.

to be able to come here. And I of course within West Oxfordshire have

:07:11.:07:15.

a plethora of tourist attractions such as Blenheim Palace, the great

:07:16.:07:19.

stately house, Cotswold wildlife Park, crocodiles of the world, which

:07:20.:07:25.

is an excellent attraction that I invite all honourable members to

:07:26.:07:30.

come to. I have been and it is excellent and many picturesque

:07:31.:07:34.

villages throughout West Oxfordshire including Bampton, which is very

:07:35.:07:39.

famous, of Denton happy fame. I have gone on at some length in the house

:07:40.:07:44.

will probably realise by now that this bill has my full support and I

:07:45.:07:49.

acknowledged to the house to vote and have its second reading at this

:07:50.:07:55.

stage. Patricia Gibson. I wish to take this opportunity to welcome you

:07:56.:07:59.

to your place my Deputy Speaker. And I want to thank the Minister for the

:08:00.:08:07.

summit of the provisions of the bill. The decision to update the air

:08:08.:08:11.

travel organising licensing scheme to provide more protection and align

:08:12.:08:21.

it with enhancements to EU package legislations do give them protection

:08:22.:08:25.

booking holidays in Internet is to be welcomed. We must ensure the

:08:26.:08:28.

public are protected by updating the UK's financial protection scheme for

:08:29.:08:31.

holiday-makers and it is important to keep pace with the innovation and

:08:32.:08:36.

online travel market, and that appropriate protection is in place

:08:37.:08:38.

regardless of whether producers choose to book online or on the high

:08:39.:08:44.

Street when choosing a holiday. And of course we want to make it easier

:08:45.:08:47.

for UK companies when selling holidays across Europe as it will be

:08:48.:08:52.

able to trade under the UK's air travel organising licensing scheme.

:08:53.:08:58.

As opposed to regimes in the countries they sell dear. The

:08:59.:09:02.

measures of this bill unimportant as we need the air travel organising

:09:03.:09:07.

licensing Bill to cover new digital business models and modern consuming

:09:08.:09:12.

purchasing models. We know that more than three quarters of consumers

:09:13.:09:17.

book the holidays last year online, the EU package travel directive of

:09:18.:09:24.

2015 applicable from the 1st of January 2018 extends the protections

:09:25.:09:28.

beyond traditional package holidays organist -- organised by tour

:09:29.:09:32.

operators and offers clear protections to 120 million consumers

:09:33.:09:36.

across the EU who broke other forms of combined travel. This directive

:09:37.:09:42.

is expected to reduce debt is to consumers by about 430 million euros

:09:43.:09:47.

per year, across the EU, and registered ministries of costs and

:09:48.:09:52.

burdens on business. Passengers rights have been enshrined in EU law

:09:53.:09:56.

and consumers and businesses deserve to know, they need to know in fact,

:09:57.:10:01.

the keen to know how Brexit will affect them. What is sought are

:10:02.:10:08.

cast-iron assurances that the rights and protections of travellers will

:10:09.:10:11.

not be diminished after the UK leave the EU and I know that he Minister

:10:12.:10:17.

understands that. Current EU directives mean that current UK

:10:18.:10:21.

passengers are entitled to a number of benefits is a journey is

:10:22.:10:24.

cancelled or delayed, which gives protections and it has to be said

:10:25.:10:28.

some peace of mind to consumers when the booking travel. And since the EU

:10:29.:10:32.

legislated to provide a comrade subsystem of the passenger rights in

:10:33.:10:38.

2004, increased awareness of these rights and the ability to complain

:10:39.:10:42.

and appeal has led to a significant increase in the number of people

:10:43.:10:46.

doing so. And that is a good thing, because it democratises the market

:10:47.:10:52.

and gives consumers proper writs of redress. As the Minister has already

:10:53.:10:56.

said today, the importance of intervening when the market has

:10:57.:11:02.

failed, it should also be noted that there has been examples of court

:11:03.:11:06.

cases which have ruled on the circumstances in which airlines must

:11:07.:11:08.

pay compensation and appeals against some of those judgments have

:11:09.:11:12.

demonstrated that some airlines have shown him a lot and to pay out

:11:13.:11:16.

compensation unless the legal position is made absolutely clear.

:11:17.:11:21.

The rights of passengers must be clear and upheld, otherwise this

:11:22.:11:25.

will have a detrimental impact on passenger numbers and ultimately put

:11:26.:11:32.

jobs at risk. Clearly, Brexit poses challenges with regards to passenger

:11:33.:11:37.

rights, and it is essential that the UK develops its own system of

:11:38.:11:40.

passenger rights and compensation in the aviation sector and there must

:11:41.:11:44.

be clarity around how this will impact upon non-UK airlines and

:11:45.:11:51.

passengers. We have such a system in the UK post Brexit? -- will we have

:11:52.:11:57.

such a system in the UK post Brexit? This'll be required but passengers

:11:58.:12:00.

need to know how similar the system will be to current arrangements.

:12:01.:12:05.

What is to becoming the post Brexit world of all the EU protections in

:12:06.:12:11.

place? Will they continue as protections under the UK Government?

:12:12.:12:17.

And what we assurances can be give to UK passengers? The minister today

:12:18.:12:21.

has spoken of minimal impact on consumers and business post Brexit,

:12:22.:12:24.

but obviously more detail is needed and more detail is keenly awaited.

:12:25.:12:32.

The collapse of low-cost holidays is a stark reminder that more than ever

:12:33.:12:35.

the importance of the EU package travel directive which offers

:12:36.:12:39.

consumers protection in case of insolvency must be remembered. And I

:12:40.:12:44.

ask the Minister to give due consideration to these points and

:12:45.:12:48.

update the house is on as it is practical to do so. He spoke of the

:12:49.:12:52.

need to revisit consumer protection in this area as technology advances,

:12:53.:12:57.

but of course the question at the forefront of everybody's mind is

:12:58.:13:03.

what will happen post Brexit? What we need... The honourable lady

:13:04.:13:11.

invited me, and I welcome -- madden equity bigger can I welcome you to

:13:12.:13:14.

the chair? The honourable lady invited me to respond as quickly as

:13:15.:13:20.

possible so I will respond now. The reform we making of ATOL at the

:13:21.:13:25.

package directive will bring the arrangements across Europe more into

:13:26.:13:30.

line that has ever been before. It is imperative that we protect to

:13:31.:13:34.

regulation consumers in the way that I have described. It is

:13:35.:13:39.

inconceivable therefore post Brexit that we will not want to reflect

:13:40.:13:43.

protections that exist already here and increasingly abroad. I thank the

:13:44.:13:52.

Minister for that response. The clear guarantees that business and

:13:53.:13:57.

consumers are looking for must not be eroded after Brexit. As long as

:13:58.:14:03.

we have guarantees and as long as the ministers can give us further

:14:04.:14:08.

detail of these guarantees then this will reassure both passengers and

:14:09.:14:14.

businesses. Close to in the Bill gives the Secretary of State the

:14:15.:14:17.

power to reform the air travel organisers licensing and air travel

:14:18.:14:22.

trust fund was only an affirmative resolution in each house of

:14:23.:14:26.

parliament. However we believe that any changes the Secretary of State

:14:27.:14:29.

wishes to introduce to the scheme is be preceded by a full consultation

:14:30.:14:33.

and an impact assessment that allows for proper scrutiny of these

:14:34.:14:38.

proposals. While we absolutely welcomed the move to update the

:14:39.:14:43.

travel organisers licenses to ensure that a maximum number of travellers

:14:44.:14:45.

are protected when they go on holiday and to align it to the EU

:14:46.:14:50.

travel directive 2015, passenger rights have been enshrined in EU law

:14:51.:14:55.

and consumers and businesses deserve to have that reassurance and clarity

:14:56.:15:01.

about how the exit will affect them. And the government needs to give us

:15:02.:15:04.

more flesh on the bones of absolutely how this will be written

:15:05.:15:10.

into law. The updating of the scheme is to be welcomed, but post Brexit

:15:11.:15:17.

poses a whole range of challenges which consumers an airline

:15:18.:15:20.

businesses require clarity upon and I look forward to more detail from

:15:21.:15:23.

the Secretary of State in due course. Maiden speech, Rachel

:15:24.:15:32.

Maclean. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. And it is a great pleasure

:15:33.:15:39.

to follow the honourable lady. It is a great privilege to make my maiden

:15:40.:15:42.

speech representing the constituency of Redditch County in this debate.

:15:43.:15:47.

Improving the rights of consumers is a priority for this government, as

:15:48.:15:51.

this bill is needed in response to the change in the way that people

:15:52.:15:54.

broke the holidays as one more people are using the flexibility of

:15:55.:15:59.

the Internet to book the brakes. And in hard-working people in Redditch

:16:00.:16:04.

will welcome the protections as they book the well aerosol holidays. --

:16:05.:16:10.

there are well errant summer holidays. The constituency I

:16:11.:16:17.

represent with a proud history of returning willing MPs to this place.

:16:18.:16:20.

Is there is one woman I was the greatest debt to it is my own

:16:21.:16:28.

daughter, Ruth. At the age of 40 she said to me why aren't there more

:16:29.:16:34.

women MPs? You ought to stand. I replied I will try to find a few

:16:35.:16:38.

moments between running my own business, taking three brothers to

:16:39.:16:41.

football and Scouts, washing your school uniform and supervising a

:16:42.:16:47.

hallmark. Nine years later, I am honoured to have been elected by the

:16:48.:16:51.

people of Redditch. Read it is a new town, originally built to

:16:52.:16:55.

accommodate people from a rapidly expanding Birmingham. So as another

:16:56.:17:00.

Brummie newcomer to read it I am following in the footsteps. Other

:17:01.:17:05.

honourable members have extolled the virtues of the wonderful

:17:06.:17:08.

constituencies, the natural wonders up and down the country, and I only

:17:09.:17:14.

wish I had time to visit them all. However, most people in our nation

:17:15.:17:18.

within towns, and we must remember that people need beauty analyse,

:17:19.:17:23.

whether they live in the countryside or in towns. So I am proud that in

:17:24.:17:29.

Redditch any student of town planning would find the best example

:17:30.:17:33.

in the country of a well laid out modern urban landscape, developments

:17:34.:17:40.

such as Churchill, much better, when Yates, Lodge Park and Woodrow are

:17:41.:17:43.

all designed to allow maximum amounts of green space, quiet

:17:44.:17:48.

streets and traffic free highways and at the heart of the town, you

:17:49.:17:53.

will find a lovely natural always this, the Arrow Valley Lake and

:17:54.:17:57.

country park comprising 900 acres of green space, packed with wildlife

:17:58.:18:04.

and unfortunately no crocodiles. Well a fluid -- rarely seen in an

:18:05.:18:09.

urban setting as well as providing a focal point for community events. To

:18:10.:18:13.

the West a modern shopping centre and the historical centre exist

:18:14.:18:16.

harmoniously and so you will understand why so any people wanted

:18:17.:18:20.

to move to Redditch to live work and bring up their families. And despite

:18:21.:18:24.

our excellence in town planning we are not without their own natural

:18:25.:18:29.

beauty, too. The constituency also include some beautiful areas of

:18:30.:18:35.

Brora Worcestershire, such as the villages of second, a barrel, and we

:18:36.:18:40.

and villages. Andrew Church as I visited this weekend with a local

:18:41.:18:44.

group and my dog is set to beware the bells of the archers radio show

:18:45.:18:50.

are wrong. So I am therefore mindful of the diverse challenges that face

:18:51.:18:56.

me in representing the issues across this whole constituency. Including a

:18:57.:18:59.

brown field first policy for new development, broadband provision and

:19:00.:19:05.

farming. Redditch is also a great centre of enterprise and business,

:19:06.:19:09.

with a wealth of manufacturing companies. The particularly famous

:19:10.:19:14.

for its needles. At one point Redditch made 90% of the world

:19:15.:19:19.

needles. The deal-making still occurs in Redditch today. Indeed in

:19:20.:19:23.

preparing for this speech I read the play this house that members may

:19:24.:19:27.

have seen in which my predecessor how Miller features. In one scene he

:19:28.:19:33.

complains that despite envisaging his seat to be one of medals,

:19:34.:19:38.

steeples, farmyards and haystacks, upon election he found a somewhat

:19:39.:19:43.

different reality. Angrily declaring to the whips that you can't find a

:19:44.:19:47.

haystack in Redditch because of all the needles. In fact, Redditch has

:19:48.:19:55.

been fortunate to have had a number of formidable MPs as its previous

:19:56.:20:00.

champion, first I pay tribute to my bread etc Karen Lumley. She sadly

:20:01.:20:06.

retired due to ill-health after several years of dedicated service.

:20:07.:20:13.

She fought on behalf of constituents for the Alex Hospital, for

:20:14.:20:17.

apprenticeships offer mental health and fairer funding in schools. And

:20:18.:20:20.

people will remember her not only for this but also with great

:20:21.:20:26.

affection for her ability to bring additional colour to these benches

:20:27.:20:28.

with her varied energy choices of hair colour. And one promise I make

:20:29.:20:33.

to members is that the next time you see me I will still at the same

:20:34.:20:38.

colour hair. And we could not say that about Karen. I would also like

:20:39.:20:43.

to recognise Jacqui Smith of the other side of the house, the member

:20:44.:20:47.

for Redditch before Karen, for her great service to this country. She

:20:48.:20:51.

was in a country's first female Home Secretary. One issue dominated my

:20:52.:20:59.

general election campaign. That of a local hospital, the Alexandra

:21:00.:21:03.

Hospital known as the Alex. I want to reassure my constituents that the

:21:04.:21:08.

Alex and its service to patients and their families is my number one

:21:09.:21:12.

priority as your member of Parliament.

:21:13.:21:23.

I will continue again and again to fight to protect and to strengthen

:21:24.:21:34.

local health services. So when I reflect on the challenges facing the

:21:35.:21:39.

Alex, it reminds me of why I tried to enter parliament for some years

:21:40.:21:44.

now. The Alex Hospital, like other public services, depends on a strong

:21:45.:21:48.

economy. It relies on the taxes ordinary people pay. We should never

:21:49.:21:54.

forget that. Or where those taxes come from. Because they come, Madam

:21:55.:22:00.

Deputy Speaker, from the wages earned by people in jobs created by

:22:01.:22:05.

their employers. The small business owners who have created 2.5 million

:22:06.:22:12.

jobs since 2010. And for the very first time in my life, my wages are

:22:13.:22:20.

paid for by the taxpayer. I do not take this lightly. I know the

:22:21.:22:23.

sacrifice that goes into creating this money. Before I entered

:22:24.:22:29.

Parliament, I spent my career in teams starting up and growing small

:22:30.:22:34.

businesses in the digital technology sector as a owner and employer. One

:22:35.:22:39.

of these businesses started small and is now medium-sized and is in

:22:40.:22:45.

fact Britain's leading publisher of technology content. Over the years I

:22:46.:22:49.

have created many jobs for people which enabled them to fulfil their

:22:50.:22:52.

potential and build a secure future for them and their families. And it

:22:53.:22:59.

has not been easy. I have been through the devastating failures

:23:00.:23:03.

that many entrepreneurs face. Losing my home and livelihood before

:23:04.:23:05.

picking myself up and starting again. And anyone who builds a

:23:06.:23:10.

business will recognise this journey. My four children learned at

:23:11.:23:15.

an early age not to ask their mum for pocket money. They learned we

:23:16.:23:19.

were not able to go on holiday and that their clothes came from charity

:23:20.:23:24.

shops and they couldn't have new toys, phones or trainers. And that

:23:25.:23:28.

mum and dad didn't sleep at night because they were worried how to pay

:23:29.:23:34.

the wages of their staff. Because businesses are not some abstract

:23:35.:23:39.

concept. Businesses are built by people. People from all walks of

:23:40.:23:45.

life up and down this great nation of ours. People who differ in many

:23:46.:23:49.

ways but have one thing in common. And that is the desire to work hard,

:23:50.:23:55.

take a risk and create a better life for their children than the one they

:23:56.:24:02.

had. And I want everyone in Redditch to have that opportunity. There are

:24:03.:24:07.

people who feel overlooked and left behind. Where deprivation and

:24:08.:24:13.

poverty exist and where communities struggle with issues of physical and

:24:14.:24:17.

mental health. I therefore welcome the commitment in the gracious

:24:18.:24:21.

speech to mental health to investment in our NHS and affordable

:24:22.:24:27.

housing. I look forward to working across our local community in

:24:28.:24:30.

Redditch to tackle mental health proactively and make sure the health

:24:31.:24:34.

on the ground is there where it is aided. I will work with

:24:35.:24:38.

organisations like the Sandy Cross centre who offer a wide range of

:24:39.:24:42.

services to help vulnerable families and many others in the town. Our

:24:43.:24:48.

Prime Minister said in this place that not every problem in society

:24:49.:24:51.

can be solved by an act of Parliament. Madam Deputy Speaker I

:24:52.:24:59.

agree. Many problems are solved by the diligent and commitment and

:25:00.:25:03.

sacrifice of ordinary citizens like the people behind the 275 new

:25:04.:25:08.

businesses that started in Redditch since 2010. It is our job in this

:25:09.:25:15.

place to provide a solid economic foundation so those people can do

:25:16.:25:19.

what they do best. Building businesses and creating jobs and

:25:20.:25:26.

changing our country. Thank you so much for the opportunity to make my

:25:27.:25:32.

maiden speech in this debate, I look forward greatly to supporting the

:25:33.:25:36.

second reading of this bill and other important pieces of

:25:37.:25:39.

legislation in the coming months. I will never forget the privilege of

:25:40.:25:43.

speaking up for the wonderful people of Redditch in this place. I am

:25:44.:25:52.

truly grateful and may I begin by commending the new honourable member

:25:53.:25:57.

for Redditch on what was an erudite and very passionate speech about the

:25:58.:26:03.

place which she now represents. I feel certain that if she finds her

:26:04.:26:08.

way to bring that passion to every issue we debate in this House,

:26:09.:26:13.

keeping in mind her constituents that she clearly cares about a great

:26:14.:26:18.

deal, that she will make a really quite impressive impact on this

:26:19.:26:25.

Parliament. I also noted the news about her predecessor Karen Lumley.

:26:26.:26:29.

Having known Karen from when she first came to Parliament at the same

:26:30.:26:33.

time I did, I am certain the Best wishes of the whole House will be

:26:34.:26:39.

with her at this time. And if she carries on in the vein of her

:26:40.:26:45.

immediate predecessor and her predecessor before, Jacqui Smith,

:26:46.:26:48.

she will achieve great success in this House as well. I served in the

:26:49.:26:53.

last Parliament as a member of the women and equality is select

:26:54.:26:56.

committee, a fantastic institution that I note we are going to put on a

:26:57.:27:02.

statutory basis tomorrow. She may want to turn her attention to our

:27:03.:27:06.

most recent report, women in the Houses of Parliament after the 2020

:27:07.:27:11.

general election. Which I hope was not entirely redundant given the

:27:12.:27:20.

actions in 2017. Madam Deputy Speaker, if it is in order and I

:27:21.:27:24.

look forward to your guidance, I might also welcome you to your

:27:25.:27:28.

position in the chair. Those of us on these benches have benefited

:27:29.:27:33.

greatly from your wisdom, a friendly arm around the shoulder and

:27:34.:27:37.

occasional quite straightforward direction in your previous role as

:27:38.:27:43.

Chief Whip. And I note from those discussions that your leather whip

:27:44.:27:46.

has not made it into the chamber today as it did in the whip's

:27:47.:27:52.

office. I will be checking the chair to see if a new place has been

:27:53.:27:56.

installed for that but I wish you all of the success as well that I

:27:57.:28:01.

know you will bring to your new role. Madam Deputy Speaker, we are

:28:02.:28:06.

here to debate the regulations brought forward by the minister

:28:07.:28:12.

today. These changes are of course welcome. Even the rioting of

:28:13.:28:16.

different models for selling flights and other package holidays, the

:28:17.:28:23.

divergence the Internet has brought along and the new innovations in the

:28:24.:28:26.

market, it is right we should seek to comply with those changes and to

:28:27.:28:30.

bring about better consumer protections. The irony which we

:28:31.:28:38.

debated in the last Parliament is not something I would want to

:28:39.:28:41.

reflect on at length but there is a further great irony, as a member of

:28:42.:28:48.

Parliament who represents to FTSE 100 companies in direct relation to

:28:49.:28:53.

be travel and tourism industry, easyJet and also Luton airport in my

:28:54.:29:00.

constituency. It could easily be misunderstood as the legislation

:29:01.:29:04.

related to the future relationship under Brexit but it is giving

:29:05.:29:10.

ministers greater flexibility to handle that. But its genesis is a

:29:11.:29:15.

piece of legislation that seeks to comply with the EU directive. Namely

:29:16.:29:21.

that on the package travel objective, to give great consumer

:29:22.:29:26.

protections to the 5 million people who are brought up within the single

:29:27.:29:33.

market. This compliance is a welcome measure and I think it is right to

:29:34.:29:40.

make parliamentary time for. It must be complied by the 1st of January 20

:29:41.:29:47.

18. It will apply by the 1st of July 2018, the one the date not spoken

:29:48.:29:50.

about in this chamber which is the most important is the 31st of March

:29:51.:29:56.

2019. Just 15 months later because that is the date we will be leaving

:29:57.:30:02.

the European Union. And the minister, the Department and the

:30:03.:30:06.

government, at this date, despite their best intentions, cannot tell

:30:07.:30:11.

us the framework for this. From that date. Everything we debate today is

:30:12.:30:16.

essentially on a temporary footing. I have raised my concerns about this

:30:17.:30:21.

directly in the last Parliament. I was fortunate to be granted the

:30:22.:30:26.

adjournment debate put on record in Hansard the concerns of the whole

:30:27.:30:30.

industry in regards to aviation and leaving the European Union within

:30:31.:30:36.

the last year. The need to get a conference of air services agreement

:30:37.:30:40.

which allows for consumer protections and the most basic

:30:41.:30:43.

starting point for the industry in the first place which is an

:30:44.:30:45.

agreement which allows us to take off in one place and land in

:30:46.:30:51.

another. Not just within the EU but in our relationships with the United

:30:52.:30:55.

States is governed through the European Union. This is a

:30:56.:30:58.

significant piece of work. Written is leaving the EU and it is

:30:59.:31:04.

incumbent to bring forward a Brexit deal for approval in this House, I

:31:05.:31:10.

did believe -- I don't believe people voted to add complexity or to

:31:11.:31:15.

find themselves in a situation where they cannot get the flights they

:31:16.:31:19.

wished for. There are significant advantages to aviation and UK

:31:20.:31:24.

consumers from this directive and acted today. I very much hope we

:31:25.:31:29.

will take that spirit forward in seeking a conference of air services

:31:30.:31:31.

agreement that includes the messages in the package travel directive.

:31:32.:31:38.

There are other advantages that have been seen through this through our

:31:39.:31:43.

member ship in the European Union, including the most recent changes in

:31:44.:31:47.

the ability to roam with the mobile phone which will make a significant

:31:48.:31:52.

difference to many travellers over this summer period. The alternative

:31:53.:31:57.

of course is laid out for airlines and travel agents inside the single

:31:58.:32:04.

market. Businesses outside the EU, under this directive being enacted,

:32:05.:32:08.

will be required to comply with different rules of each member state

:32:09.:32:15.

in regard to which they sell. Our current situation recognises the

:32:16.:32:20.

jurisdiction of the others issued in this directive which reduces risk,

:32:21.:32:27.

complexity and costs. I ask the Minister to lay out the government's

:32:28.:32:33.

intentions in regard to the things the union enacted today. It would be

:32:34.:32:38.

a great disservice to UK operators if they were bound by all of these

:32:39.:32:43.

different regimes across 27 member states having only just bent 15

:32:44.:32:46.

months covered by the protections within the provisions of this bill.

:32:47.:32:52.

The Minister, in answer to the member for North Ayrshire, said it

:32:53.:32:56.

was inconceivable we would not want to uphold these consumer guarantees.

:32:57.:33:01.

But with respect, the reciprocal is not within our gift, any

:33:02.:33:04.

negotiations which go forward must try and seek this newly enacted

:33:05.:33:11.

settlement in what they do. Allow me to raise one further issue in this

:33:12.:33:20.

bill. Will we transpose the promises of EU 261 as they currently stand?

:33:21.:33:30.

Which provides compensation when flights are significantly delayed or

:33:31.:33:33.

cancelled. On the issue I started with on the conference of air

:33:34.:33:36.

services agreement, does he agree that as little change as possible is

:33:37.:33:42.

the most important thing to try and achieve given there are flights

:33:43.:33:45.

being planned and blocked at this stage by UK airlines that will take

:33:46.:33:51.

off or not take off dependent on this deal, to other European member

:33:52.:33:54.

states after the 31st of March 2000 19. We should be seeking to try and

:33:55.:34:01.

get as much stability into this industry as possible. I am grateful

:34:02.:34:07.

to him for giving way, he is making an extra from a powerful point about

:34:08.:34:11.

aviation and the importance to the economy. I represent Manchester

:34:12.:34:19.

Airport, does he agree with me that aviation is unique in that it does

:34:20.:34:22.

not have World Trade Organisation rules to fall back on and it is

:34:23.:34:28.

imperative government reaches a conclusion quickly. He pre-empts my

:34:29.:34:31.

point because I think we are working from the same page here. Because it

:34:32.:34:37.

is not covered by WTO rules, we would have a separate stand-alone

:34:38.:34:42.

air services agreement with the European Union and it is my view we

:34:43.:34:47.

should seek to bring that about now before the meat of the major deal to

:34:48.:34:51.

come. Not least because it is governed in a different way but it

:34:52.:34:55.

is viewed as a prerequisite to any future trade deal that you have

:34:56.:34:59.

those links established in the first place. In conclusion, let me say

:35:00.:35:04.

this, this is a very welcome bill that brings forward provisions we

:35:05.:35:08.

want for all of our constituents and consumers. But there must be more

:35:09.:35:11.

done and more said on this issue in this coming Parliament. The Minister

:35:12.:35:16.

will be acutely aware that he would be judged by the passage of this

:35:17.:35:19.

bill at the content of any future deal that covers these issues in the

:35:20.:35:27.

future. Thank you very much, it is a great pleasure to follow the member

:35:28.:35:31.

for Luton, who cares very passionately about Luton airport in

:35:32.:35:36.

his constituency but also what a great pleasure to follow the member

:35:37.:35:40.

for Redditch who has given an outstanding maiden speech. Thank you

:35:41.:35:48.

so much. In a modern outward looking Britain, it is very significant that

:35:49.:35:52.

the first piece of legislation this new House is going to look at is a

:35:53.:35:57.

piece of legislation making it easier for our consumers, our

:35:58.:36:03.

constituents, to travel overseas and for people from other countries to

:36:04.:36:05.

come and travel to Britain. It is also very significant that the

:36:06.:36:17.

first debate is about consumer protection because this is a

:36:18.:36:19.

government that believes we should put people first. The ATOL system

:36:20.:36:25.

offers protection to holiday-makers if the tour operator goes bust, and

:36:26.:36:30.

the UK is very proud having had the system in place since the 1970s.

:36:31.:36:35.

It's robust consumer protection gives confidence to people looking

:36:36.:36:41.

the holidays and therefore contributes to the very vibrant

:36:42.:36:45.

travel markets that we have. This supports the economy not just on the

:36:46.:36:50.

destinations to which people go but also our local tourist industry, and

:36:51.:36:54.

in particular I am thinking right now about the 800 residents of

:36:55.:36:59.

Chelmsford, who will go to work at Stansted Airport. It is important

:37:00.:37:02.

for the jobs that we continue to have a vibrant holiday market. But

:37:03.:37:08.

while holidays are always meant to be the happiest time of year if

:37:09.:37:14.

there is a problem with future operator that happiness so quickly

:37:15.:37:21.

turns into a nightmare. And last summer 27,000 British tour

:37:22.:37:26.

operators, British travellers, found themselves overseas when the company

:37:27.:37:31.

known as low-cost holidays collapsed. Another hundred and

:37:32.:37:38.

10,000 British consumers had booked the holidays through that operator

:37:39.:37:42.

did not know what the future would be. Low-cost holidays had of course

:37:43.:37:47.

moved its location from Britain to Spain and so was no longer ATOL

:37:48.:37:53.

protected. This reminds us just exactly how important it is that we

:37:54.:37:57.

look at the consumer protection that we offer for people buying from

:37:58.:38:02.

British-based companies but also for British consumers when they are

:38:03.:38:07.

buying from companies based in other countries. This is why in 2015 EU

:38:08.:38:12.

countries agreed new changes to the package travel directive. So that

:38:13.:38:19.

all European countries would require ATOL type of protection and the bit

:38:20.:38:22.

of all we are doing today is implemented in that decision. In the

:38:23.:38:28.

European Parliament the committee that looks at these issues is the

:38:29.:38:31.

committee of internal market and consumer protection. Because we

:38:32.:38:37.

believe that consumers are at the heart of the market, and as the

:38:38.:38:43.

person who chaired the committee I actually chaired the negotiations on

:38:44.:38:48.

the package travel directive. So it is important that when this is

:38:49.:38:53.

unfermented we make sure that it is permitted equally across all of

:38:54.:38:57.

Europe, otherwise we could find that some countries do go in -- to bring

:38:58.:39:01.

in a different system and there is an important difference that now the

:39:02.:39:06.

ATOL members will be based on whether or not you have your company

:39:07.:39:11.

based in Britain as opposed to if you were just selling into Britain.

:39:12.:39:15.

So we need to look at how this is a permitted in other countries as

:39:16.:39:19.

well. But a more important part of this legislation was as colleagues

:39:20.:39:25.

have said updating the guarantee system to be fit for purpose in the

:39:26.:39:29.

digital age because if today you go to buy your flight from the

:39:30.:39:32.

wonderful Stansted Airport you probably click on the airline

:39:33.:39:37.

operator and then you click through from the airline operator's sale and

:39:38.:39:41.

then to buy the hotel and then to buy your conscience. That would feel

:39:42.:39:49.

like buying a package but it was not covered under the old rules on

:39:50.:39:52.

package holidays directive, so the modernisation which I welcome the

:39:53.:39:57.

would-be ministers are doing on this, the modernisation ministers

:39:58.:40:01.

will make sure the clicks as are covered by the ATOL protection.

:40:02.:40:07.

There are many other discussions we had in the detailed negotiations,

:40:08.:40:10.

for example, should business travellers also get the same

:40:11.:40:16.

protection as consumer travellers? And this is where we tended to have

:40:17.:40:20.

a bit of a difference between those of us on the side of the house as

:40:21.:40:23.

opposed to those on the other side of the house. The excellent member

:40:24.:40:28.

from Redditch has just explained about challenges for small

:40:29.:40:33.

businesses when they put in place their own businesses and adding an

:40:34.:40:36.

extra cost burden onto this small type of business made at the

:40:37.:40:42.

unaffordable, so we were very concerned that they should not

:40:43.:40:46.

automatically have to pay the extra cost of the ATOL protection. This is

:40:47.:40:52.

the sort of discussion that I hope we will be able to look at in more

:40:53.:40:54.

detail. There were also discussions about whether or not the package

:40:55.:41:00.

should cover add-ons, so for example if you get to your holiday

:41:01.:41:04.

destination and decide to buy excursions or if you had bought

:41:05.:41:07.

those excursions before you go, should they be included in the

:41:08.:41:10.

package? We had a lot of representations from small

:41:11.:41:13.

businesses to say, please don't put these in the package, because if we

:41:14.:41:17.

do that it will add additional bureaucracy and it will reduce

:41:18.:41:24.

consumer choice. So while I am absolutely passionate about the need

:41:25.:41:30.

to provide consumer protection, we also need to from time to time take

:41:31.:41:34.

a step back and say on the side as well of consumer choice and not

:41:35.:41:38.

adding additional unnecessary cost to businesses. In a post-Brexit

:41:39.:41:43.

Britain I believe that consumers will still want to publish --

:41:44.:41:47.

purchase goods and services from those in other countries and it will

:41:48.:41:51.

be very important to continue to engage with other countries

:41:52.:41:56.

especially those across Europe who are our nearest neighbours, on

:41:57.:41:59.

issues such as consumer protection. It is important in the Brexit

:42:00.:42:03.

negotiations that we focus on getting a deal which works for

:42:04.:42:09.

consumers as well as businesses. Because a vast range of consumer

:42:10.:42:14.

rights are embedded in EU law. Not only on issues to do with

:42:15.:42:19.

holiday-makers, but issues like misleading advertising, unfair

:42:20.:42:25.

contract terms, right to seek redress and crucially important

:42:26.:42:28.

legislation about safety and quality for standards for food etc. The

:42:29.:42:36.

tragic fire at Grenfell Tower appears may have started from an

:42:37.:42:41.

electrical fault from a domestic good. It is a very brutal reminder

:42:42.:42:51.

of how important it is that we maintain high standards for consumer

:42:52.:42:56.

products. Today's consumer is however are changing, they embrace

:42:57.:43:02.

innovation, markets are evolving, we are constantly getting new products

:43:03.:43:08.

and standards and we need to constantly be working on making sure

:43:09.:43:11.

that the consumer protection and consumer laws and consumer standards

:43:12.:43:16.

are set for purpose. The excellent consumer organisation which has sent

:43:17.:43:21.

us all a briefing on what they would like for the Brexit negotiations,

:43:22.:43:26.

and they make a strong case that the UK should continue to work with our

:43:27.:43:30.

European neighbours on cooperating on consumer standards and other

:43:31.:43:35.

measures to counter fraud and to work to develop and share best

:43:36.:43:38.

practice. In particular they recommend that we should act in

:43:39.:43:42.

hilly stage reach agreement on continued cooperation with such

:43:43.:43:49.

agencies as the European food safety agency, European chemicals agency

:43:50.:43:51.

and the European aviation safety authority. I do think we should

:43:52.:43:57.

listen very carefully to what our consumer organisations are saying.

:43:58.:44:03.

There are as the member for Luton just mentioned, other issues which

:44:04.:44:08.

also affect holiday-makers such as the need to negotiate landing

:44:09.:44:12.

rights, there is an issue on making sure that any deals on how we use

:44:13.:44:19.

our mobile phones overseas will be covered. The UK was a great champion

:44:20.:44:26.

of removing that very, very expensive mobile phone roaming

:44:27.:44:31.

charge which outputs -- which put such a huge burden on consumers in

:44:32.:44:34.

the past but there are other issues like the motivations directive which

:44:35.:44:39.

have not been perfect for the UK and indeed the current situation with

:44:40.:44:43.

the motivations directive regarding how it affects watersports is

:44:44.:44:49.

causing great, great uncertainty in the motorsport industry in the UK,

:44:50.:44:53.

so we will need to continue to engage on that. I was very pleased

:44:54.:44:58.

to hear the Prime Minister and she was talking about our offer an EU

:44:59.:45:03.

citizens offering that we should keep the EP card, the card which

:45:04.:45:08.

makes it easier for people to go and get medical care when they travel

:45:09.:45:12.

across Europe. It seems to me that this is a very, very generous offer

:45:13.:45:17.

from the UK to the rest of Europe and we should welcome it. Just to

:45:18.:45:24.

wrap up, maintaining consumer confidence is key to a modern

:45:25.:45:31.

dynamic economy. As we seek to leave the EU and create a new deep

:45:32.:45:33.

economic partnership with those across the Channel it is important

:45:34.:45:42.

that we continue to stand on the side of consumers and find new ways

:45:43.:45:47.

to cooperate with our neighbours and those across the world who seek to

:45:48.:45:57.

make sure consumers are protected. Maiden speech Laura Smith. Thank you

:45:58.:46:02.

Matt and Deputy speaker, and may I offer my congratulations to you in

:46:03.:46:06.

your new role. I would like to acknowledge my immediate

:46:07.:46:10.

predecessor, Edward Timpson, it serves the previous government as

:46:11.:46:13.

Minister of State for Children and Families Bill. Edward was known for

:46:14.:46:17.

his desire to improve the care system for vulnerable children. I

:46:18.:46:21.

would also like to pay tribute to the late MP Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody who

:46:22.:46:29.

was and is to this day regarded as one of the greatest Palminteri and

:46:30.:46:36.

still sat in this house. I intend to serve the direct communities in my

:46:37.:46:39.

constituency with the same level of unwavering tenacity as Gwyneth did

:46:40.:46:44.

during her 25 year service. It is a source of great pride for me to have

:46:45.:46:48.

been elected to represent the constituency where I was born and

:46:49.:46:52.

raised and continue to live with my family today. As the granddaughter

:46:53.:46:58.

of the Scottish miner I was brought up on a diet of working-class

:46:59.:47:02.

values. During my childhood our family had real signs of struggle,

:47:03.:47:07.

but that have resilience and determination ingrained in my roots

:47:08.:47:12.

have always given us forward. I know what it is like to grow up within

:47:13.:47:16.

with loved ones who were plagued by mental illness. And I also know what

:47:17.:47:20.

it is like to be a single mother with a modest income struggling to

:47:21.:47:27.

make ends meet. I can promise today that I will never, ever forget when

:47:28.:47:32.

I have come from. As a teacher and updated my love for education will

:47:33.:47:37.

not come as a surprise. Before my journey into politics I was known

:47:38.:47:43.

for leading the fairer funding campaign in Nantwich which I'm still

:47:44.:47:48.

committed to, and I stand here today for the children are my constituency

:47:49.:47:53.

and I will continue to prioritise them and their education, my

:47:54.:47:57.

children's education, the future of this country's education for as long

:47:58.:48:02.

as I am in the house. Nantwich is a picturesque market town, home to the

:48:03.:48:07.

world's biggest cheese awards, and we will in fact be celebrating the

:48:08.:48:10.

best of cheese later this month. We are proud of annual jazz and blues

:48:11.:48:16.

Festival which attracts more than 40,000 revellers to the town. The

:48:17.:48:20.

little introduction, crew is anonymous with railways. At its

:48:21.:48:27.

height, crew works employs 20,000 workers but that number has now

:48:28.:48:32.

fallen to fewer than 1000. Crew deserves investment and I welcome

:48:33.:48:35.

the commitment and Queen's Speech to bring forward legislation to deliver

:48:36.:48:40.

the next phase of HS2. This will undoubtedly benefit crew. The

:48:41.:48:46.

surrounding areas of Crewe and Nantwich are scattered with

:48:47.:48:50.

villagers steeped in local tradition and it is important that the people

:48:51.:48:53.

of Sherrington, Williston, Westerton, Wembley and Haslingden

:48:54.:48:58.

now that I will work hard to support their communities. These places are

:48:59.:49:02.

all united by the hard-working community spirited salt of the earth

:49:03.:49:07.

proud of our fault that live and work there. It is the nature of my

:49:08.:49:13.

hard-working constituency that I want to focus on in this my first

:49:14.:49:17.

speech. I want to pay tribute to the British workforce. Every single one

:49:18.:49:23.

of Britain's's 31 million workers ought to be recognised and

:49:24.:49:27.

celebrated as the real wealth creators in this country. Without

:49:28.:49:32.

them this country would grind to a halt. Unemployment levels in Crewe

:49:33.:49:40.

and Nantwich are lower than average for the Northwest more than the UK

:49:41.:49:45.

average and yet food bags in my constituency provided more than

:49:46.:49:50.

50,000 meals last year and almost 4000 children are living in poverty.

:49:51.:49:56.

These are not mere statistics to me for me to be concerned about, but

:49:57.:50:00.

each and everyone is nothing less a travesty. This reflects the changing

:50:01.:50:07.

nature of poverty in the UK, there are no more people in working

:50:08.:50:11.

poverty than in out of poverty. It would seem that in 21st-century

:50:12.:50:17.

Britain works simply does not pay in many cases. Just a few more facts

:50:18.:50:23.

for you, more than one in five workers earn less than a living wage

:50:24.:50:28.

and more than half of working households have seen no improvement

:50:29.:50:31.

in their disposable income in more than a decade. Under 25 so not even

:50:32.:50:38.

entitled to the government's national living wage which is in

:50:39.:50:41.

itself inadequate and falls short of a real living wage. Full-time

:50:42.:50:46.

working lone parents are often the worst affected, having been a single

:50:47.:50:52.

mother myself I know how tough and isolating it can be.

:50:53.:51:03.

47 years after the equality pay act, the gender pay gap is still a huge

:51:04.:51:18.

problem. Instead of addressing this, the previous Chancellor prioritised

:51:19.:51:22.

changes to the state pension that have shattered the retirement plans

:51:23.:51:27.

of women born in the 1950s with devastating consequences. I stand

:51:28.:51:31.

with those women, fighting against this injustice. We should also

:51:32.:51:36.

celebrate the fact there are now a record number of female MPs in

:51:37.:51:41.

Parliament by acting to finally eradicate gender inequality in the

:51:42.:51:48.

workplace. We have a duty to address all forms of poverty as a priority.

:51:49.:51:54.

The fact that we have in work poverty in the fifth richest country

:51:55.:51:59.

in the world is shameful. It is a sad indictment of our economic

:52:00.:52:04.

policy. Work should be an escape route from poverty and it is wrong

:52:05.:52:09.

to claim we are all this -- in this together. CEOs can turn into and a

:52:10.:52:13.

half days what it takes the average worker and entire year to earn. I

:52:14.:52:21.

also can't help but wonder whether action on poverty pay might be

:52:22.:52:26.

addressed more urgently if we in this House had to do our jobs on a

:52:27.:52:32.

workers wage. Is it any wonder that so many people are infuriated by the

:52:33.:52:38.

hypocrisy of MPs receiving inflation busting pay rises themselves while

:52:39.:52:44.

voting to cap the pay of dedicated professionals who work in our public

:52:45.:52:49.

services. If this government wants to show the UK workforce that it

:52:50.:52:53.

values them, it can. It can start by giving them the pay rise and

:52:54.:52:59.

financial security they deserve. Actions speak louder than words and

:53:00.:53:02.

I will continue to hold the government to account on this issue.

:53:03.:53:09.

In the words of Nelson Mandela "As long as poverty, injustice and gross

:53:10.:53:12.

inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest. " And

:53:13.:53:18.

fellow members, I have no intention of resting. Maiden speech, Paul

:53:19.:53:28.

Masterton. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker for giving me the

:53:29.:53:32.

opportunity to speak in this debate. It is a pleasure to follow the

:53:33.:53:36.

member for Crewe and Nantwich after her powerful speech. A plane ride

:53:37.:53:44.

with a family trip is terrifying so it maybe a little while before I am

:53:45.:53:49.

in a position to benefit from the protections this bill will bring

:53:50.:53:54.

into force. Madam Deputy Speaker, it is an honour and a privilege to be

:53:55.:53:59.

standing here as the member for East Renfrewshire. I committed the

:54:00.:54:02.

ultimate sin as a successful candidate at the cab, I forgot to

:54:03.:54:07.

thank my wife who was standing a mere six feet away. If I may endorse

:54:08.:54:11.

myself, I would like to but on record for evermore, my thanks and

:54:12.:54:17.

love to my wife Heather. I would also pay tribute to my predecessor,

:54:18.:54:23.

Kerstin Oswalt, a diligent and conscientious MP who did superb work

:54:24.:54:29.

as parties representative for veterans. I wish her and her

:54:30.:54:33.

beautiful family well for the future. I would also like to give

:54:34.:54:37.

special mention to the last Conservative member for the steed,

:54:38.:54:41.

balanced do it, who passed away in December. I know how much it would

:54:42.:54:46.

have meant that -- Medway and for his seat to turn blue again. Despite

:54:47.:54:53.

what other members may have led you to believe, it is East Renfrewshire

:54:54.:54:57.

that is the most beautiful constituency. Not only with its

:54:58.:55:03.

famous green spaces but its people. It is home to Scotland's largest

:55:04.:55:07.

Jewish community, a large Muslim community, a strong Christian

:55:08.:55:11.

committee and seek community and people of all faiths and none. The

:55:12.:55:14.

key thing is that none of that matters. The constituency is a fine

:55:15.:55:21.

example of everything that a modern, multicultural and tolerant Britain

:55:22.:55:25.

should see. A testament to that diversity is that the constituent

:55:26.:55:28.

will soon be home to the world's first-ever joint Catholic and Jewish

:55:29.:55:36.

school. There is an entrepreneurial spirit, from Busby to Clarkson, home

:55:37.:55:40.

businesses are thriving. Family businesses like an ice cream parlour

:55:41.:55:44.

and a plumpness in a street sit at the heart of the local community.

:55:45.:55:49.

From small enterprises like optimal physio and the enchanted Forest

:55:50.:55:53.

children's nursery and household names like Barrhead travel and

:55:54.:56:01.

aspiration, innovation and a desire to build a better future for those

:56:02.:56:06.

who follow the brand values that underpin that the people I

:56:07.:56:10.

represent. Today's entrepreneurs are following in a grand tradition. In

:56:11.:56:15.

1868, John Shanks opened a foundry, in the decades that followed, he

:56:16.:56:21.

developed the Bath and lavatory fittings for which he is famous.

:56:22.:56:34.

Nearby Milton was famous for cotton, textile mills dominated the area,

:56:35.:56:40.

powered by water, the mill reach the summit of Everest, used in the

:56:41.:56:45.

climbers of the boot of the expedition in 1975. We had one of

:56:46.:56:52.

the first smoke-free factories in the world, since replaced by a

:56:53.:56:56.

business park including a unit inhabited by two members of the

:56:57.:56:59.

Scottish parliament and now myself. I suspect there is far more hot air

:57:00.:57:05.

emanating from the site now than in previous years. East Renfrewshire's

:57:06.:57:09.

natural history is just a prevalent. We have a stunning landscape

:57:10.:57:15.

punctuated with hills amours and the community are rightly protective of

:57:16.:57:18.

this. It is little wonder the constituency boosted youth -- posted

:57:19.:57:27.

UK parts of the year. And the most desirable spots in the UK to live.

:57:28.:57:31.

It brings me back to this place, Gordon Brown was born in a maternity

:57:32.:57:36.

home near the site of the Orchard Park hotel and the former member for

:57:37.:57:40.

the constituency, Betty Harvey Anderson, the first Lady to sit on

:57:41.:57:46.

the Speaker 's chair as a deputy speaker was elected in 1959 along

:57:47.:57:54.

with another, Margaret Thatcher. For those who believe history repeated

:57:55.:58:00.

self, I am open to offers. Madam Deputy Speaker, while the result may

:58:01.:58:06.

not have been what these benches hoped, north of the board of the

:58:07.:58:07.

picture was brighter. Much I am proud to stand alongside

:58:08.:58:18.

Scottish Conservative faces, we will fight against the destructive

:58:19.:58:22.

politics of socialism and the divisive politics of nationalism. We

:58:23.:58:26.

will do so with an outstretched hand, not a clenched fist. When the

:58:27.:58:29.

UK Government and Scottish Government come together in common

:58:30.:58:34.

cause, that partnership is capable of truly transformational change.

:58:35.:58:36.

East Renfrewshire will receive 40 former limp ounce of investment in

:58:37.:58:45.

the Glasgow city deal. -- 40 ?4 million. I am not sure if wake

:58:46.:58:50.

boarding is high on your agenda but I will extend an invitation

:58:51.:58:57.

nonetheless. Turnout is a whiz amongst the highest in the UK in

:58:58.:59:00.

East Renfrewshire but after seven trip to the polls in just over three

:59:01.:59:04.

years, my constituents need stability and for their politicians

:59:05.:59:10.

to get on and do their jobs. It is the Scottish Government's inability

:59:11.:59:13.

to do that which is one of the reasons I stand here today. For my

:59:14.:59:19.

part, I will first and foremost dedicated myself to improve the

:59:20.:59:23.

lives of my constituents, when life gives them a difficult and when

:59:24.:59:28.

someone needs them to listen, the Leaf erectus and hides real pockets

:59:29.:59:31.

of deprivation and daily struggle. Those who feel left behind and

:59:32.:59:35.

forgotten. It is those people who do the -- who look to this place for

:59:36.:59:40.

the work we can do and we must not let them down. The Conservative

:59:41.:59:44.

Party must remember what it is for, extending the ladder of social

:59:45.:59:48.

mobility while providing a robust safety net for those struggling to

:59:49.:59:52.

make the climb. Just as we on these benches believe anyone from any

:59:53.:59:56.

background can reach as high and far as their talents would hurt them, we

:59:57.:00:00.

must acknowledge that anyone can fall on hard times. -- where it will

:00:01.:00:07.

take them. Teddy Taylor coined the phrase tenement Tories, it meant be

:00:08.:00:12.

at that conservatism must offer an aspirational vision to all and I am

:00:13.:00:17.

here to represent people who do not all live in big houses. The 2015

:00:18.:00:21.

general election was a point at which the Scottish National Party

:00:22.:00:25.

were at their peak, dominant and arrogant. They claimed ownership of

:00:26.:00:29.

my flag and my voice but they did not speak for me and they did not

:00:30.:00:34.

speak for Scotland. And so the day after that election, I joined the

:00:35.:00:38.

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. In doing so, I made a promise

:00:39.:00:42.

to myself I would do everything in my power to ensure my children would

:00:43.:00:45.

grow up in Scotland where their opportunities are unrestrained and

:00:46.:00:49.

the ambition never frowned upon where their talents and Brent Edgell

:00:50.:00:55.

-- and potential would not go unnoticed. And where they would

:00:56.:00:59.

remain part of our wonderful United Kingdom. Standing here today may

:01:00.:01:04.

only be the first step to keeping that promise to myself and my

:01:05.:01:08.

children and families and individuals across East Renfrewshire

:01:09.:01:11.

and Scotland but I assure the House that it is a promise I have no

:01:12.:01:20.

intention of breaking. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like

:01:21.:01:24.

to welcome you to the chair, it is a pleasure to follow the honourable

:01:25.:01:28.

member from East Renfrewshire, it was great to hear other maiden

:01:29.:01:33.

speeches. It has brought a diversity to a one-sided debate. I would say

:01:34.:01:39.

to the members for East Renfrewshire, he talks about the

:01:40.:01:45.

vices of nationalism, the irony has not been missed, intends of the

:01:46.:01:48.

government getting on with the day job, the reason we are here debating

:01:49.:01:51.

this is because the government in question did not get on with their

:01:52.:01:56.

day job and chose to call an early general election which was not

:01:57.:02:02.

needed. Anyway, Madam Deputy Speaker, speaking, one frustrating

:02:03.:02:11.

thing is that we often have to apply time limits to cut short speeches,

:02:12.:02:14.

tonight, I think we have found with some speakers that time limits would

:02:15.:02:19.

be useful because it is amazing how long some honourable members have

:02:20.:02:23.

been able to speak about the bill that is only for clauses long. I

:02:24.:02:29.

will try to be brief. This is a small piece of legislation but a

:02:30.:02:33.

welcome piece. I would also suggest it is indicative of the strength of

:02:34.:02:39.

this government, this was part of the wider vehicle and technology and

:02:40.:02:45.

aviation Bill and now this four clause bill is one of the big bills

:02:46.:02:49.

hailed in the Queen's speech. A Queen's speech that we all know

:02:50.:02:58.

lacked ambition. Atol is a scheme that has provided protection for

:02:59.:03:00.

many over the years and it has rescued people financially and got

:03:01.:03:06.

them to come home in times of need so it is a fantastic scheme. As

:03:07.:03:12.

other members have said, it has changed over the years, so it is

:03:13.:03:18.

appropriate that the protections move likewise. The government

:03:19.:03:21.

minister was keen to say the UK has led the way in Europe with Atol am I

:03:22.:03:28.

would not dispute that. The EU has also extended passenger rights and

:03:29.:03:34.

it is imperative these rights are not weakened after Brexit. We need

:03:35.:03:37.

to provide assurances that the rights and protections of travellers

:03:38.:03:41.

will not be diminished after Britain leaves the EU. We note that the

:03:42.:03:48.

troubled eye rake to applicable from 1st of January 2018, is the first

:03:49.:04:02.

legislation change. It is welcome, the protections will now extend

:04:03.:04:08.

beyond the traditional path and will apply to three different sorts of

:04:09.:04:18.

travel combination. I also welcome the clear protection provided to 120

:04:19.:04:22.

million consumers across the EU who booked other forms of combined

:04:23.:04:23.

travel. Among the advantages, there compliance costs are inspected to

:04:24.:04:45.

reduce from 8 euros per package -- 28 euros per package from 11 euros.

:04:46.:04:50.

So once again we are grateful to the EU for taking on big businesses and

:04:51.:04:55.

extending consumer rights to meet modern travel needs. Since the EU

:04:56.:05:00.

legislated to provide a conference of system of air passenger rights in

:05:01.:05:05.

2004 and increased awareness in these rights and the ability to

:05:06.:05:08.

complain and appeal has led to a significant increase in the number

:05:09.:05:12.

of people doing so. These have been supplemented by a number of court

:05:13.:05:18.

cases where airlines must have paid compensation. Appeals against the

:05:19.:05:21.

judgments have meant some airlines have been reluctant to pay out

:05:22.:05:24.

compensation until the legal position is clear. Therefore we know

:05:25.:05:29.

that there is still industry resistance to some of the

:05:30.:05:32.

compensation schemes. That is why it is vital the UK does not weaken any

:05:33.:05:38.

legislation in the future. I thank him for giving way, I welcome you

:05:39.:05:43.

Madam Deputy Speaker and congratulate the member for East

:05:44.:05:47.

Renfrewshire for a fluent maiden speech which I am sure will not be

:05:48.:05:49.

the last in this House. Does my honourable friend agree that

:05:50.:05:59.

this is why we need assurances from this government about the impact of

:06:00.:06:03.

Brexit? So many aspects of consumer protection for dear life on

:06:04.:06:06.

individuals and we would have those assurances and clarity this time

:06:07.:06:10.

last year, perhaps he would not be in the situation we currently find

:06:11.:06:15.

ourselves. I thank the honourable member for his intervention. I

:06:16.:06:20.

agree. There seems to be a great reticence from the UK Government to

:06:21.:06:23.

give the guarantees needed. One year down the line since the vote and

:06:24.:06:27.

we're no further forward in many cases, and too often we keep hearing

:06:28.:06:31.

how everything will be OK going forward, but we need to start seeing

:06:32.:06:37.

some fresh voices as it were. On that theme we still do not know when

:06:38.:06:42.

the UK is going to develop its own system of passenger rights and

:06:43.:06:46.

conversations in the aviation sector both Brexit, a similar will this be

:06:47.:06:51.

for the current arrangements and more importantly how will that

:06:52.:06:56.

affect non-E -- non-UK later passengers? It comes to the point

:06:57.:06:59.

that we need a fair guarantee from the UK Government. Madam Deputy

:07:00.:07:04.

Speaker a slightly different theme, Scotland has a large number of

:07:05.:07:06.

regional airports and many of these regional airports are completely

:07:07.:07:12.

reliant on low-cost airlines and to listen to survive and be an economic

:07:13.:07:15.

success. In a neighbouring constituency of mine we have pressed

:07:16.:07:20.

the airport and recent reports have stated by the airport is vulnerable

:07:21.:07:22.

to Brexit given the number of low-cost airlines and passenger

:07:23.:07:27.

traffic which is mainly outbound. In actual fact Ryanair has confirmed

:07:28.:07:30.

that despite the fact the Scottish Government has voted to reduce air

:07:31.:07:34.

passenger duty by 50% which they were hoping to use as a mechanism to

:07:35.:07:39.

grow the number of routes operating from Prestwick, the cost of

:07:40.:07:42.

uncertainty of Brexit and the open skies agreement, Ryanair will not

:07:43.:07:49.

expand further at Prestwick airport. That is a real concern for local

:07:50.:07:53.

jobs in my area. The international air transport Association predicts

:07:54.:07:57.

that a 12% reduction in sterling would result in a 5% decline in

:07:58.:08:01.

outbound travel and outbound travel from airports. And yet since the EU

:08:02.:08:07.

referendum sterling has dropped 25% so it is more vital for Prestwick

:08:08.:08:11.

airport that we do continue with the open skies agreement to maintain

:08:12.:08:14.

outbound passengers and it is incumbent upon the UK Government to

:08:15.:08:20.

give a guarantee that the UK will stay in the civil aviation market

:08:21.:08:24.

after we are taken out of the EU. Remaining in the open skies

:08:25.:08:28.

agreement, the single aviation market is vital to insure our

:08:29.:08:32.

airports remain economically viable and that the low-cost airlines are

:08:33.:08:34.

vital for these regional airports for commercial success. And yet easy

:08:35.:08:40.

Jet setting up a separate operation outwith the UK to ensure it can

:08:41.:08:45.

continue to fly without restriction after the UK leads the EU, which is

:08:46.:08:49.

in no small part due to lack of clarity over what aviation agreement

:08:50.:08:52.

the UK will eventually come up with. It is clear that the matter that

:08:53.:08:57.

everything will be OK or even better in the current arrangements I

:08:58.:09:01.

relieve the EU that risks are materialise in front of us, airlines

:09:02.:09:06.

finding other EU member states are more attractive proposition is

:09:07.:09:08.

clearly a worrying prospect. The UK Government needs to find out how it

:09:09.:09:12.

will counteract this issue for regional airports. The UK Government

:09:13.:09:17.

really must provide clarity sooner rather than later. Madam Deputy

:09:18.:09:24.

Speaker just to finish, close to in this bill gives the secretary of

:09:25.:09:28.

state power to form an air travel trust fund with only an affirmative

:09:29.:09:32.

resolution by each house of parliament, I suggest the UK

:09:33.:09:35.

Government also needs to provide assurances that any changes the

:09:36.:09:38.

Secretary of State for Transport makes to the ATOL scheme through

:09:39.:09:42.

secondary legislation must be preceded by a proper consultation of

:09:43.:09:47.

members within the industry and celebrates to perform an impact

:09:48.:09:51.

assessment associated with that, so these comments apart, we do welcome

:09:52.:09:54.

the legislation and as I noted at the start in a intervention with the

:09:55.:09:58.

Minister we are concerned with what is going to happen with the proposed

:09:59.:10:03.

legislation and the honourable member the Transport Secretary said

:10:04.:10:08.

as well and it is imperative that the government was quickly and

:10:09.:10:11.

provide you assurances in these matters as well. Thank you very much

:10:12.:10:18.

Madam Deputy Speaker and it is a pleasure to be called by you to

:10:19.:10:21.

speak in this debate in your first session in the chair and

:10:22.:10:25.

congratulate you on your new role. That is a pleasure to follow the

:10:26.:10:30.

honourable member from the SNP from, and to congratulate the many members

:10:31.:10:35.

have made the maiden speeches today, there have been some excellent

:10:36.:10:38.

maiden speeches. One of Cornwall 's earliest tourists was the spirited

:10:39.:10:45.

and adventurous Mary Kelly, a Cornish is wife who in 1851 travel

:10:46.:10:51.

to London to visit the great exhibition. It took longer than some

:10:52.:10:55.

sage should have done, but then again she didn't walk the 600 miles

:10:56.:10:59.

there and back as she was 84 years old. At the time there were not many

:11:00.:11:05.

other options for Cornish travellers, and there are some who

:11:06.:11:08.

would seek to give the impression that much has not changed in

:11:09.:11:13.

Cornwall today. For those seeking to travel and leave Cornwall. But that

:11:14.:11:15.

would be to give a very wrong impression. A wrong impression of

:11:16.:11:20.

what is currently taking place in Coral because we are seeing thanks

:11:21.:11:22.

to the support of this government record levels of investment in our

:11:23.:11:29.

transport infrastructure. If Mary had been around today she could have

:11:30.:11:34.

taken another alternative ways of travelling. She can travel by road

:11:35.:11:39.

and she would have travelled up the a circuit had seen recently

:11:40.:11:49.

completed upgrade of the a 30 which will be completed in a few weeks'

:11:50.:11:55.

time. And with the good minister in his place I would like to

:11:56.:11:59.

acknowledge and welcome the government's commitment for their

:12:00.:12:01.

support for the next phase of the upgrade for the vital if the team in

:12:02.:12:06.

road through Cornwall. All Mary could have travelled on one of the

:12:07.:12:10.

new great Western Railways billet style Hitachi trains, the first of

:12:11.:12:18.

which we saw in Cornwall just over a week ago, a ?146 million investment

:12:19.:12:20.

in our Railways which will be fully rolled out next year. All of course

:12:21.:12:26.

she could have taken one of the three times daily aeroplane

:12:27.:12:32.

travelling from Newquay to London today. I will give a will stop the

:12:33.:12:39.

Mac riveting though this is, it is not anything to do with the bill. We

:12:40.:12:44.

have lots of people wanting to speak and I wonder if you might get to the

:12:45.:12:50.

relevancy of the statement. I am not sure I thank the honourable death

:12:51.:12:52.

and for that intervention but I am about to come onto the point because

:12:53.:12:58.

the airport is booming, we're seeing passenger numbers increase

:12:59.:13:03.

year-on-year and by some measures it is now regarded as the

:13:04.:13:07.

fastest-growing regional airport in the country. Only recently the

:13:08.:13:11.

independent -- the Independence declared Newquay to be the best

:13:12.:13:14.

regional airport in the country. And not only can you get regular flights

:13:15.:13:21.

to UK destinations but there is sewing an increasing number of

:13:22.:13:25.

holiday destinations such as places in Portugal and Spain. And that is

:13:26.:13:29.

why I welcome the bill that is before the house today. The way in

:13:30.:13:36.

which two lists book the holidays is changing with fewer and fewer

:13:37.:13:39.

picking the traditional package holiday by popping down into the

:13:40.:13:44.

town centre to visit the cartilage and office. In 2016, of the 20

:13:45.:13:52.

million UK holiday-makers, 76% of them but the holidays or travel

:13:53.:14:01.

online, a staggering increase even when compared to changes in recent

:14:02.:14:07.

years. There was the partial reform of the regulation in 2012 but I'm

:14:08.:14:12.

pleased that the Department for Transport firmly believes that more

:14:13.:14:15.

needs to be done to protect consumers and that is why I welcome

:14:16.:14:24.

this bill before the house today. As holiday providers market options and

:14:25.:14:26.

even more varied flighty packages change, so comes confusion of not

:14:27.:14:32.

knowing if there is ATOL cover according to where the holiday or

:14:33.:14:37.

travel provider is based at what terms and conditions apply in the

:14:38.:14:41.

event of a business failure. This bill seeks to rectify that. The

:14:42.:14:48.

government has said that it will harmonise ATOL with the scope and

:14:49.:14:51.

definition of the EU package travel directive. It was widely agreed that

:14:52.:14:55.

this will bring greater clarity and protection for consumers and help

:14:56.:15:01.

level the playing field for businesses selling similar holidays.

:15:02.:15:04.

I welcome this key development and note that the bill will also seek to

:15:05.:15:10.

build in future proofing so to the packages on offer and where and how

:15:11.:15:15.

they are sold will come under the new legislation. The travel industry

:15:16.:15:21.

is one that has seen enormous change in just a few years, and this bill

:15:22.:15:27.

seeks to reflect that and serve travellers and the industry more

:15:28.:15:33.

effectively. Many if not all of the changes that have taken place in the

:15:34.:15:39.

travel industry have been for the better of consumers. Providing

:15:40.:15:43.

greater connotation, more choice and greater flexibility, but it is

:15:44.:15:47.

important that legislation and protection keeps pace with those

:15:48.:15:55.

changes. It is essential that flexes packages of all types are covered

:15:56.:15:59.

with ATOL protection and that travellers are clear and confident

:16:00.:16:01.

that at the time of purchase which may be many months prior to the

:16:02.:16:05.

departure date, but the cover is in place. This bill serves to ensure

:16:06.:16:11.

that very purpose. Future proofing the legislation around ATOL

:16:12.:16:18.

protection is as I have said a needed and broadly welcomed moves by

:16:19.:16:22.

all parties across the industry. But I feel I would like to push the

:16:23.:16:25.

Minister a bit on this Ujah proofing point. I'm sure the ministers in the

:16:26.:16:31.

department would be disappointed if I did not take the opportunity to

:16:32.:16:38.

refer to the potential of the spaceport coming to Cornwall Newquay

:16:39.:16:43.

airport. I was delighted to see the legislation to enable that was in

:16:44.:16:47.

the gracious speech just shortly delivered. While this will

:16:48.:16:52.

essentially be focused on commercial satellite launches, there is also no

:16:53.:16:56.

doubt of the future potential for space tourism. I know some will

:16:57.:17:02.

scoff, but do not underestimate the Cornish. We give the world up in the

:17:03.:17:09.

esteem and steely transformed mining safety. The Cornish have it in the

:17:10.:17:14.

psyche, in the history, in the blood, to be pioneers. Surely the

:17:15.:17:23.

day will come when Newquay welcomes her first space travellers, with

:17:24.:17:25.

correlation there to visit her being, beam me up Denzel is surely

:17:26.:17:31.

only just around the corner. So the question must be asked of the

:17:32.:17:35.

Minister, with tongue only slightly in cheek, is whether the ATOL

:17:36.:17:38.

protection covered in this bill will be able to be extended to space

:17:39.:17:44.

tourism when the time comes. I believe the additional protection

:17:45.:17:47.

this bill offers to the Cornish travellers and I believe that it

:17:48.:17:55.

will only enhance further the opportunities for smaller regional

:17:56.:17:58.

airports like Newquay to continue to grow and expand it tourist flights.

:17:59.:18:05.

Thank you very much. It is a privilege to follow my comrade from

:18:06.:18:11.

coral. Thank you for calling this debate. I find myself in an

:18:12.:18:17.

opposition, having worked for Thomas Cook in a previous role to be sat on

:18:18.:18:20.

the other side of the fence now looking at the ATOL regulations that

:18:21.:18:23.

I was myself arguing for another reviewable. It is great to see that

:18:24.:18:28.

we are back in again. I was hoping that the first bill that we would be

:18:29.:18:32.

addressing would be about food banks in Ukraine mine to the far

:18:33.:18:36.

south-west but is ATOL reform is as good a place to start as any. First

:18:37.:18:40.

of all can I say that I welcome this bill, it is long overdue in terms of

:18:41.:18:42.

updating our consumer protection for holiday-makers and it comes on the

:18:43.:18:48.

back of a number of improvements in recent years in the way that

:18:49.:18:52.

holidays have been sold unprotected. -- sold and protected. I spent many

:18:53.:18:59.

years in Brussels working with another of colleagues looking at how

:19:00.:19:01.

we can strengthen protection for people buying holidays because that

:19:02.:19:05.

has been discussed widely, and we holidays have been soul has changed

:19:06.:19:09.

considerably in recent years. The travel industry operates under

:19:10.:19:12.

legislation that has not kept pace both in the UK and throughout the EU

:19:13.:19:16.

with the way that travel has been sold, partly because of the

:19:17.:19:20.

inventiveness and ingenuity of the innovators and entrepreneurs in the

:19:21.:19:23.

travel industry. We are really fortunate that the UK sector is

:19:24.:19:28.

second to none in how entrepreneurial we actually are

:19:29.:19:30.

clear. But my starting point for looking at the Bill in particular is

:19:31.:19:34.

to ask whether this gives certainty and confidence to consumers. The

:19:35.:19:39.

ATOL certificates are prejudiced another of years ago by the

:19:40.:19:42.

Coalition government made a step forward, but that is more that can

:19:43.:19:47.

be done. In particular there is often a confusion between the

:19:48.:19:49.

protection given when someone buys a package and the protection given

:19:50.:19:53.

when someone buys a flight plus arrangement and the protection given

:19:54.:19:56.

when people buy separate arrangements all at the same time

:19:57.:20:02.

ready data is transferred or travel arrangements. This bill does not say

:20:03.:20:05.

much about what second any legislation will accompany this

:20:06.:20:08.

piece of work in the detail of that is essential that we get that right,

:20:09.:20:12.

because this bill is something that the industry and consumers have been

:20:13.:20:16.

waiting quite some time for. It is important that there is no further

:20:17.:20:20.

delay in doing this. I think having sat through the debate and having

:20:21.:20:23.

worked on travel for a number of years I think it is a portent that

:20:24.:20:26.

the list is as clear distinction in -- that there is a clear distinction

:20:27.:20:30.

that is understood in this house between the protection afforded by

:20:31.:20:33.

ATOL and package sales and those afforded by buying a decent holiday

:20:34.:20:38.

insurance that included particular the scheduled airline failure

:20:39.:20:41.

insurance as well. But as the honourable member from Milton Keynes

:20:42.:20:45.

South Mark and his intervention earlier, time is running out here.

:20:46.:20:49.

We are now six months away from legislation needing to be in place,

:20:50.:20:52.

12 months from compliance and foreign industry already selling

:20:53.:20:58.

holidays 12-18 months ahead, that creates a difficulty in terms of

:20:59.:21:00.

understanding what protections will be in place for those holidays after

:21:01.:21:06.

being sold now. And for consumers to be understanding what protection

:21:07.:21:07.

goes along with that. The package travel system, which I

:21:08.:21:19.

have learnt a love and hate at the same time, it gets even more

:21:20.:21:22.

complicated when you start looking through it. For travel businesses to

:21:23.:21:27.

have sufficient time to prepare for the effective date of the 1st of

:21:28.:21:32.

July and then planning sales beyond 2018, that is already at an advanced

:21:33.:21:37.

age, we need the public to publish those quickly so they can be

:21:38.:21:40.

properly consulted on and industry can take the necessary steps to

:21:41.:21:44.

adapt to it by thinking in particular about small businesses

:21:45.:21:46.

that may be captured for the first time in the scope of this. Because

:21:47.:21:51.

travel is a complex fast paced industry full of fantastic people,

:21:52.:21:56.

these technical updates need to be fully understood and implemented

:21:57.:21:59.

over time for a variety of great many different booking systems both

:22:00.:22:03.

in UK companies and those that operate internationally. That is why

:22:04.:22:07.

these draft regulations can't come a moment soon. This bill will help

:22:08.:22:11.

clear up confusion about what holidays are protected and what are

:22:12.:22:16.

not. There was an interim stage when flight plusses, when you buy a

:22:17.:22:20.

flight plus another element, like holiday accommodation or car hire,

:22:21.:22:22.

this has been a positive step forward. I think wrapping them

:22:23.:22:26.

altogether is a positive step forward but I would like to ask the

:22:27.:22:30.

Minister to look again at howling travel arrangements in particular

:22:31.:22:33.

are treated within this bill because the Minister previously mentioned to

:22:34.:22:40.

bring LTAs into the scope of the protection I would like to see more

:22:41.:22:43.

detail on that because out they are treated is especially important

:22:44.:22:46.

because if they are not treated in the right way then those

:22:47.:22:49.

transactions can fall outside the scope of the protections. Mr Deputy

:22:50.:22:56.

Speaker, it'll should not need to look into the small print of their

:22:57.:22:59.

contracts or regulation to work out if they are protected or not and at

:23:00.:23:02.

the moment there are still too much detail people need to understand to

:23:03.:23:06.

see if they are fully protected. Given my newness in the place and

:23:07.:23:10.

the fact this is the first bill, I wonder if the Minister could do me a

:23:11.:23:14.

favour and add a feuding is into his summing up, in particular I wonder

:23:15.:23:17.

whether the Minister could clarify whether the implementation date for

:23:18.:23:22.

all bookings is from the point of sale or the point of departure? That

:23:23.:23:26.

is run important in terms of understanding with a holiday is

:23:27.:23:29.

being sold now that may be captured by this after the plantation date me

:23:30.:23:37.

to have rep from respected -- needs to have -- after the implementation

:23:38.:23:41.

date need to have representation added to them. And if the Minister

:23:42.:23:45.

could reaffirm that the protections afforded not only by the package

:23:46.:23:49.

travel regulations but also by the air passage regulator will be

:23:50.:23:54.

carried through in the event when we leave the European Union. And in

:23:55.:23:59.

particular I would now like to spend a moment on the air trust fund. For

:24:00.:24:03.

those who have not spent time looking at how that operates, it is

:24:04.:24:06.

a fund that provides back-up support that in the event of a holiday

:24:07.:24:11.

company during down, there are sufficient resources to bring Google

:24:12.:24:18.

Home. Perhaps the Minister could provide an update on how that is

:24:19.:24:23.

going. Now that there is ?140 million in the fund and provisions

:24:24.:24:27.

in this bill to create what I suspect is protected cells within

:24:28.:24:31.

the air travel trust fund, something the government has shied away from

:24:32.:24:34.

doing, I wonder if he can clarify how that will work in practice.

:24:35.:24:39.

Should a new entrant Selby exhausted by failure of a company in that

:24:40.:24:43.

cell, will the air travel trust fund for the remainders of the holiday

:24:44.:24:47.

industry need to top it up and vice versa if the company goes covered,

:24:48.:24:54.

will those APC contributions, the ?2 50 you pay for your protection, the

:24:55.:25:01.

paid into the trust fund to ensure people are brought home? It has been

:25:02.:25:07.

exhausted in the past. These technical questions could provide

:25:08.:25:10.

reassurance for consumers to know it was be there. Finally, can I ask

:25:11.:25:15.

about enforcement of this bill? I note the CAA and trading standards

:25:16.:25:19.

will take a large role in this. The CAA has done a good job in enforcing

:25:20.:25:25.

the atoll regulations. But I am concerned trading standards are

:25:26.:25:29.

already under a huge amount of pressure and stress to deliver the

:25:30.:25:31.

workload they currently have this could further add to that difficulty

:25:32.:25:39.

and complexity. It is great that there are simply people

:25:40.:25:42.

familiarising themselves with the intricacies of atoll protection than

:25:43.:25:45.

I hoped or honourable and right honourable members do so throughout

:25:46.:25:48.

this. I hope it is also the start of a greater focus on tourism. In

:25:49.:25:55.

particular outbound tourism, the kind that atoll protects, has fallen

:25:56.:25:59.

behind a number of government stalls were too long. We have spit -- split

:26:00.:26:04.

response abilities. It seems that sometimes this is a hot potato no

:26:05.:26:08.

government minister wants to touch, so I am grateful for this bill being

:26:09.:26:11.

brought forward because I think it is time we look at whether there is

:26:12.:26:16.

a single regulator for the travel industry and whether there can be a

:26:17.:26:20.

clear department responsible for bringing together all the elements

:26:21.:26:25.

of outbound production The Open protection for holiday-makers. I

:26:26.:26:30.

noticed that nearly everyone who has spoken to date has praised their

:26:31.:26:35.

airports. Plymouth's airports closed in 2010 and I would implore the

:26:36.:26:41.

Minister to help us to reopen it, so I can join the cohort of members who

:26:42.:26:45.

have praised their own airport. At the moment by airport is growing

:26:46.:26:49.

grass on the runway but I wish it would reopen soon, because then

:26:50.:26:53.

holiday-makers in Plymouth can enjoy the same protection as ATOL affords

:26:54.:27:03.

others. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and for the opportunity to

:27:04.:27:07.

contribute for the first time in this place. It is an honour to

:27:08.:27:17.

follow the honourable member. I am also grateful for the opportunity to

:27:18.:27:21.

be to speak here and to be to speak in this bill, which I wholeheartedly

:27:22.:27:24.

support. It is another indication of when times change is a sometimes for

:27:25.:27:30.

regulation. Sometimes there is a need to know regulation but this

:27:31.:27:36.

time there is. I support that and look forward to the coming months in

:27:37.:27:40.

front of us. It is an honour and a privilege to represent the beautiful

:27:41.:27:45.

constituency of North East Derbyshire, a constituency of

:27:46.:27:52.

vibrant communities, rich ambition and proud, proud heritage. We sit

:27:53.:27:58.

nestled but two hours away from here between the steel city of Sheffield

:27:59.:28:02.

in the north, between the beauty of the Peak District in the West, and

:28:03.:28:07.

then in the east the market town of Chesterfield, which my constituency

:28:08.:28:11.

has been so happily and completely intertwined with 400s and hundreds

:28:12.:28:17.

of years. From that market town and rises the crooked spire, which some

:28:18.:28:21.

members may be aware of, a church which has been in place for over six

:28:22.:28:25.

centuries, and which is notable by its spire not quite being as

:28:26.:28:30.

straight as it should be, and which dominates the landscape of both

:28:31.:28:32.

Chesterfield and my constituency for miles around. I am a son of that

:28:33.:28:38.

crooked spire, and I was born only a few 100 metres away from where it

:28:39.:28:41.

has stood for those six and a half centuries. If honourable members

:28:42.:28:46.

will allow me, there is something unique about having the privilege to

:28:47.:28:49.

serve in this place, and I look forward in the coming months and

:28:50.:28:53.

years to doing so, but there is something particularly unique about

:28:54.:28:56.

having the opportunity to represent the place where you grew up, to be

:28:57.:28:59.

able to represent the people who gave you the very values that you

:29:00.:29:02.

will speak of in this place when you have the opportunity, and to be

:29:03.:29:06.

aborted talk about the area that made you, and I have that privilege,

:29:07.:29:11.

and it is something I am incredibly grateful for that opportunity to be

:29:12.:29:17.

to do that. Before I entered North East Derbyshire into the obligatory

:29:18.:29:22.

most beautiful constituency competition, which I should assure

:29:23.:29:25.

numbers of the house my constituency will win hands down, but before I do

:29:26.:29:28.

that I would like to spend a moment talking about my predecessors. I

:29:29.:29:32.

walk in huge and assured footsteps in my constituency, from the progeny

:29:33.:29:40.

of one of the founders of the Industrial Revolution, Francis

:29:41.:29:42.

Arkwright, the one of the people who opened up the Derbyshire coalfield,

:29:43.:29:46.

which my constituency has so much to thank and so much of its legacy

:29:47.:29:49.

recorded two, Alfred Barnes, and even to a Nobel peace prize winner,

:29:50.:29:54.

Arthur Henderson, the three-time leader of the party opposite, who

:29:55.:29:58.

did so much during the dark days of the 1930s of the courses of

:29:59.:30:04.

disarmament and peace. -- the causes. I would like to dwell on one

:30:05.:30:12.

particular who had, my immediate predecessor, Natasha angle. I have

:30:13.:30:16.

been here but a moment and I can receive the love and the respect

:30:17.:30:22.

that members across the house have for Natasha, and I am happy to

:30:23.:30:27.

report that love and respect is reciprocated in the constituency

:30:28.:30:32.

itself. In a time of fierce partisanship and in my view

:30:33.:30:35.

unnecessary rancour, I am happy to stand here despite having a

:30:36.:30:52.

different rosette to Natascha. I hope she returns to public life soon

:30:53.:30:56.

if she chooses to come out of this place. North East Derbyshire is a

:30:57.:31:01.

constituency of contrasts, from the beauty and the rich undulating hills

:31:02.:31:06.

of picture perfect postcard villages like ash over and the beauty of the

:31:07.:31:11.

Caldwell and the moss valleys in the north and the east to the fiercely

:31:12.:31:15.

independent market town of John Field, with its monument to Sir

:31:16.:31:18.

Robert Peel's repeal of the corn laws in the 1850s, an indication of

:31:19.:31:23.

my constituents to slack for unnecessary regulation. Something I

:31:24.:31:29.

will remember, which give way in the east to a landscape at once both

:31:30.:31:34.

scarred by the endeavours of man, and then rebuilt again over time as

:31:35.:31:39.

we return to our former glory in north-east are the show. My

:31:40.:31:44.

constituency came of age in service of its nation in the provision of

:31:45.:31:48.

energy, and at one point a century ago, a predecessor of mine stood in

:31:49.:31:54.

this place and talked of 40,000 men in my constituency that were mining

:31:55.:31:59.

under the ground every single day. Mining is in my constituency's

:32:00.:32:03.

blood, and like the honourable lady from Crewe and Nantwich, it is a

:32:04.:32:09.

trait I share in that both of my grandparents were minors, including

:32:10.:32:12.

one who mind for a time it was thought cholerae in the town which I

:32:13.:32:19.

now -- in a colliery in the town which I now represent. I am the son

:32:20.:32:23.

of a milkman who left school at 15 and went out to work every single

:32:24.:32:27.

day before dawn in order to provide for his children and his wife. I am

:32:28.:32:33.

the son of a lady who left school at 16, and through sheer force of will

:32:34.:32:36.

went back to university, actor school in her 30s, and whilst

:32:37.:32:41.

holding down a job, whilst ringing up two boisterous young boys, and

:32:42.:32:46.

ensured that she got 2 degrees so she could provide for her kids and

:32:47.:32:49.

make a life better. I am the great nephew of the lady who ran the post

:32:50.:32:55.

office in a constituency in my village, and I am the nephew of my

:32:56.:32:59.

aunt, who once went to work for the National union of Mineworkers during

:33:00.:33:04.

the minor stroke. North East Derbyshire -- the miner strike.

:33:05.:33:12.

It has changed, events that in the spirit of Parton 's own ship, nearly

:33:13.:33:19.

as fact. Cass partisanship. In the same way my constituency has

:33:20.:33:22.

changed, my family somehow reflect that change as well, from the

:33:23.:33:27.

descriptions that I have just given you, that I am stood here today a

:33:28.:33:31.

working-class boy, able to talk this place and represent the people I

:33:32.:33:35.

grew up from is something I will never forget, and I will always seek

:33:36.:33:38.

to do my best for my constituency as a result. But beautiful as my

:33:39.:33:43.

constituency is, and is honoured as it is to be the winner of that

:33:44.:33:47.

competition I have just spoken about, my constituency also suffers

:33:48.:33:51.

from unique challenges and from problems. We currently have the

:33:52.:33:54.

issue of inappropriate housing development and the beauties of the

:33:55.:33:57.

valleys that I have talked about, because the local council has not

:33:58.:34:00.

put in place the plans it should have done years ago in order to

:34:01.:34:04.

avoid that happening. We have a fracking proposal in the beautiful

:34:05.:34:07.

moss Valley, which my constituents neither want nor wish to see happen,

:34:08.:34:11.

in which I will support them in their opposition for as long as it

:34:12.:34:15.

is on the table. And we have the ever-growing burden of congestion

:34:16.:34:18.

across a constituency as disparate as mine, which stops people from

:34:19.:34:21.

getting around, stops businesses from doing their daily business, and

:34:22.:34:26.

which we have to tackle in these kinds of debates in these kind of

:34:27.:34:30.

places. But my constituency is more than just that and I pledge to them

:34:31.:34:36.

that for as long as I have the privilege, however long or short it

:34:37.:34:39.

is that I have the privilege of speaking in this place, I will work

:34:40.:34:42.

hard on their behalf and try my hardest every single day to make

:34:43.:34:46.

life better for them. Although I cannot guarantee I will solve the

:34:47.:34:48.

problems I have just described all the ones that will come in the

:34:49.:34:51.

future, I will try my hardest to mitigate the effects on them and try

:34:52.:34:55.

to resolve them where I can. But before I finish, if I have any time

:34:56.:35:00.

beyond that to dedicate beyond my constituents, I will seek to do so

:35:01.:35:03.

in this place. In trying to answer one of the questions and one of the

:35:04.:35:07.

big challenges of our time, a challenge which I, as someone new

:35:08.:35:11.

here, believes is growing and urgent and needs to be resolved, and that

:35:12.:35:14.

is the challenge at its most basic of providing healthy and happy and

:35:15.:35:19.

prosperous communities, which are bound together in tight union by

:35:20.:35:23.

energy, grit and determination. I was born in 1980, and according to

:35:24.:35:27.

some social commentators, I am in that ugly sense of the word, a

:35:28.:35:32.

millennial. And I sense something deeply amiss in my generation and

:35:33.:35:36.

the one that comes afterward, a grave uncertainty, not an

:35:37.:35:40.

uncertainty about the politics of today, or the policies which my

:35:41.:35:43.

government, which I wholeheartedly support are pushing forward,

:35:44.:35:47.

something that is more visceral, more structural, more underlying. I

:35:48.:35:52.

feel that my generation is unsure about its place in the world. I feel

:35:53.:35:57.

it is uncertain about where the world is going, hurtling, untethered

:35:58.:36:01.

into a place which is unknown, and has been the 20, 30 or 40 years. I

:36:02.:36:05.

fear that my generation believes that it may be the first generation

:36:06.:36:09.

to hand over the world in a worse state than it has found that,

:36:10.:36:12.

despite the best efforts of these benches and all benches in this

:36:13.:36:16.

place. And I think we have to consider that as parliamentarians.

:36:17.:36:20.

We have to realise that my generation and other generations are

:36:21.:36:21.

unsure, uncertain. I would also say to my generation,

:36:22.:36:33.

and frustrating as it is, the easy words, the anecdotes and emotions I

:36:34.:36:37.

have seen in recent months and years as a substitute to good governance

:36:38.:36:42.

is not. And whatever time I have in this place, I will stand up for cool

:36:43.:36:49.

thinking, for understanding, for articulating problems in a proper

:36:50.:36:53.

and clear way. But also I have to say that I will also stand up for

:36:54.:36:57.

the values that my constituency has. Values of compassion and emotion.

:36:58.:37:02.

But also those values of hard work, aspiration, ambition, that my

:37:03.:37:08.

constituency has given to me that I will seek for the time I have in

:37:09.:37:12.

place. But also I will stand up here for the creed of free markets,

:37:13.:37:15.

liberal economic, and of capitalist progress. Unfashionable may be in a

:37:16.:37:21.

field in Somerset, but the only engine in order that we can

:37:22.:37:25.

unshackle ourselves from the bonds of yesterday, that we can face the

:37:26.:37:29.

challenges of today, and we can look forward to the future of tomorrow.

:37:30.:37:34.

What I have the opportunity to serve here, there is a big things that I

:37:35.:37:38.

will put forward. Another maiden speech.

:37:39.:37:45.

Thank you, Deputy Speaker and congratulations on being elected.

:37:46.:37:51.

Very, very good choice. It's great to follow the honourable member

:37:52.:37:56.

opposite as well, and excellent maidens. As is customary in your

:37:57.:38:02.

maiden speech, firstly I want to acknowledge the work that my

:38:03.:38:06.

predecessor, Graham Evans, did for the constituents of Weaver Vale

:38:07.:38:12.

during his seven years in office. Graham's contribution to

:38:13.:38:14.

Parliamentary life was richly diverse. He both chaired the

:38:15.:38:19.

Parliamentary beer group and encouraged many honourable members

:38:20.:38:26.

to take up running. Although I'm short listed not involve running in

:38:27.:38:31.

the direction of the bar! Graham completed the London Marathon many

:38:32.:38:35.

times, raising a great deal of money for good causes, both local and

:38:36.:38:39.

national. And he encouraged many members from across this house, on

:38:40.:38:43.

all sides of this house, to do likewise. I wish Graham and his

:38:44.:38:49.

family well in the future. Mr Speaker, the House of Commons

:38:50.:38:52.

library and a plethora of MPs from all sides of the House advised me

:38:53.:38:57.

that it's important to research some notable historical facts and figures

:38:58.:39:01.

about the constituency. Its three major corporations of Northwich,

:39:02.:39:06.

Runcorn and fracture. Weaver Vale takes its way from the association

:39:07.:39:11.

with the river Weaver, in the heart of the Cheshire constituency. People

:39:12.:39:18.

and things of historical Association include Sir John Brennan, founding

:39:19.:39:25.

member of ICI and a former MP, like me, for the patch. Tim Burgess of

:39:26.:39:30.

the Charlatans. A band that is the favourite of mine and hails from

:39:31.:39:33.

Northridge. And the excellent commission John Bishop. He's a

:39:34.:39:37.

Runcorn and he has the early excellent political choices. -- a

:39:38.:39:43.

Runcorn lad. Weaver Vale is also a place where Daniel Craig served his

:39:44.:39:51.

James Bond apprenticeship, undoubtedly doing stunts across the

:39:52.:39:56.

pub bar. Deputy Speaker, another person of note associated with

:39:57.:40:02.

Runcorn is my wife, Amanda. Born in Runcorn, stuck with me through thick

:40:03.:40:05.

and thin. And I think it wise and necessary move to include Amanda in

:40:06.:40:14.

my maidens beach. -- my maiden speech. Members will know Britain is

:40:15.:40:18.

a diverse, rich and vibrant nation. Much of this can be said of my

:40:19.:40:23.

constituency. Weaver Vale has an array of industries and business

:40:24.:40:26.

sectors represented. With no one industry dominating the life of the

:40:27.:40:35.

entire constituency. Northridge, Weaver, Helmsley and the eastern

:40:36.:40:38.

part of Runcorn, comprise much of the urban life of the constituency.

:40:39.:40:46.

Woven around rural areas. Of course, I'm going to say it's one of the

:40:47.:40:49.

best places to live in the country, to visit and work. The thing that

:40:50.:40:56.

grabs me most about this diverse fabric of Weaver Vale is how it's

:40:57.:41:02.

changed over and decades. At Runcorn is Lawton Priory, the most excellent

:41:03.:41:09.

excavated monastic site. The remains of the 12th century abbey found

:41:10.:41:14.

alongside the urban estates from the 1970s, where I must now focus much

:41:15.:41:18.

of my attention assisting constituents. Weaver Vale has a

:41:19.:41:24.

proud industrial heritage spanning back to Roman Britain from the salt

:41:25.:41:29.

mines are Northridge, to its association with ICI. Historically

:41:30.:41:35.

employing thousands of workers to rock'n'roll Corner, Northwich, and

:41:36.:41:40.

surrounding areas. While many are still employed in the chemical

:41:41.:41:43.

industry, new high-tech industries have emerged and are thriving in the

:41:44.:41:50.

labs using nanotechnology and Robotics, providing high skilled,

:41:51.:41:54.

high knowledge jobs that our community and nation needs. During

:41:55.:42:03.

my tenure as a Labour MP for Weaver Vale, I will encourage new and

:42:04.:42:06.

emerging green industries to locate in my patch, and to my local people.

:42:07.:42:14.

I and these benches want an economy that works for everybody. A race to

:42:15.:42:19.

the top creative access to highly skilled, fulfilling and sustainable

:42:20.:42:23.

jobs will stop not a race to the bottom with insecure zero hours

:42:24.:42:28.

contracts, and fake self employment franchises. Like the nation else,

:42:29.:42:33.

Weaver Vale is a tale of two communities. It has some beautiful

:42:34.:42:37.

countryside, towns and villages. Just picture that rural idyll,

:42:38.:42:47.

thatched cottages and country pubs like the White Lie in which I

:42:48.:42:53.

visited only this Sunday. Some residents in my constituency

:42:54.:42:55.

fortunate enough to have incomes above the national average. At the

:42:56.:43:01.

same time, many of my constituents in places such as Palace Fields in

:43:02.:43:04.

Runcorn face real poverty in their daily lives. From childhood onwards.

:43:05.:43:09.

That is despite what the benches opposite claim, there is a real lack

:43:10.:43:17.

of work. Too much insecure part unemployment. A growth in zero hours

:43:18.:43:22.

contractss. And the welfare system that lacks compassion and common

:43:23.:43:26.

sense. One such person who experienced the shortcomings of our

:43:27.:43:31.

current welfare system is Sheila. Who very recently had an operation

:43:32.:43:36.

to remove a brain tumour. When I met Sheila, she could barely walk a

:43:37.:43:43.

metre across to the TV. This was the result of the operation, but also

:43:44.:43:47.

the side-effects of the steroid drugs she was taking to help prevent

:43:48.:43:52.

seizures. Sheila had worked hard. She played by the rules and she paid

:43:53.:43:57.

her taxes. But in her time of need when the welfare state should be

:43:58.:44:01.

there to care for her, instead she received a 1500 cut in her income,

:44:02.:44:08.

and was labelled a shirker by a system overseen by a callous, out of

:44:09.:44:16.

touch and now chaotic government. Deputy Speaker, the Prime Minister

:44:17.:44:20.

talked about a nation that works for everyone. It certainly isn't working

:44:21.:44:22.

for Sheila and many thousands like her is not let me also tell this

:44:23.:44:29.

chamber about another growth which is not a welcome sight in my

:44:30.:44:34.

constituency. The site of hard pressed residents and families

:44:35.:44:39.

having to use food banks. The use of food banks has gone up by 25% in the

:44:40.:44:45.

north which part of my constituency, alone, in the past year. And if you

:44:46.:44:49.

highlighted only recently by one of the local newspapers called the

:44:50.:44:53.

Northwich Guardian. It seems that those most in need in our society

:44:54.:44:59.

are paying the price for a sales austerity programme that is more to

:45:00.:45:04.

do with an ideological drive to strip the state, while living

:45:05.:45:08.

standards go in reverse gear stop -- drive to shrink the state. The

:45:09.:45:12.

national debt is now more than one point ?1 trillion. -- one 7p. This

:45:13.:45:22.

is not a society that works for a while. In conclusion, I wanted then

:45:23.:45:26.

be thousands of constituents need here, especially the young people

:45:27.:45:30.

who came up to vote for the first time, inspired by the politics of

:45:31.:45:34.

hope and opportunity. A manifesto that wants to put them first for

:45:35.:45:38.

investment, rather than cut. And a manifesto for the many, and not the

:45:39.:45:43.

few. This rather weak and unstable government needs to take note. I

:45:44.:45:47.

took my seat from one of the Roman because my constituents want more

:45:48.:45:53.

bobbies on the beat. -- from one of my own. They don't want to see

:45:54.:45:57.

individual school budgets cut by hundreds of thousands of pounds.

:45:58.:46:02.

They once all the class sizes. Teachers and support staff who are

:46:03.:46:05.

securing their jobs, and not fearful for the future. They also want to

:46:06.:46:10.

keep the local hospitals open. And yes, those with the broadest

:46:11.:46:13.

shoulders should pay their fair share in taxes and invest in our

:46:14.:46:22.

future. Deputy Speaker, as a lad born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, I

:46:23.:46:25.

never envisioned I would have the honour of sitting on these green

:46:26.:46:30.

benches to represent Weaver Vale. I was the first in my family to get a

:46:31.:46:34.

degree, and I gave back to society by becoming a careers adviser,

:46:35.:46:38.

helping young people get into work, training and employment. I was the

:46:39.:46:44.

first in my family to become a city councillor, serving the good people

:46:45.:46:47.

of Manchester for 11 years. And I am now the first Amesbury in my family

:46:48.:46:55.

to become an MP, a Labour MP. Unlike some in this house, I do not have a

:46:56.:46:59.

long line of ancestors who served this house and the other place next

:47:00.:47:05.

door. My family made me who I am. My dad, Barney, was a carpet fitter,

:47:06.:47:09.

then a publican. My late mother used to clean caravans and the school

:47:10.:47:14.

dinners. And my younger sister is a teaching assistant. Those are the

:47:15.:47:20.

people hit by the pay cap. All extraordinary people in their own

:47:21.:47:24.

right. Grafters, fighters and real people. I bring my real life the

:47:25.:47:30.

variances to this chamber as a check and balance on this government, as a

:47:31.:47:33.

champion for my constituents, as surely those most in need. To now

:47:34.:47:39.

represent the people of Weaver Vale is the greatest privilege of my

:47:40.:47:45.

life. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to

:47:46.:47:52.

introduce myself to this house. We have another maiden.

:47:53.:48:00.

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. It's a great honour to follow the

:48:01.:48:05.

honourable member for Weaver Vale, very impassioned speech there, and a

:48:06.:48:13.

great honour to find my honourable friend from Derbyshire who did it

:48:14.:48:17.

without notes. I intend to do no such thing. -- to follow my

:48:18.:48:24.

honourable friend from Derbyshire. Axel equals peace of mind. If it is

:48:25.:48:29.

protected by Apple, you are safe to go on holiday. -- Atol equals peace

:48:30.:48:37.

of mind. -- if you are protected by Atol. It is also an honour to be

:48:38.:48:44.

here at all. I stood for the by-election in Clacton in 2014. I

:48:45.:48:49.

was on tour with Jason Donovan in a production of Priscilla Queen Of The

:48:50.:48:54.

Desert. I played on many stages across the world in 45 years. But

:48:55.:49:02.

this has to be the finest. Thank you residents of Clacton, I will do my

:49:03.:49:07.

very best for you. Mr Deputy Speaker, I was honoured and humbled

:49:08.:49:10.

when the residents of club gave me the overwhelming what they did at

:49:11.:49:14.

the last election. -- residents of Clacton. But there is one other

:49:15.:49:20.

overwhelming sensation which I'm sure many others when they first

:49:21.:49:22.

take their seat in this house have. And that is, what on earth am I let

:49:23.:49:28.

myself in for? When I relayed my concerns to my wife, she gets a name

:49:29.:49:34.

check as well, she said, it's a stage and an audience. What could

:49:35.:49:38.

possibly go wrong? What a stage and what an audience. In preparation I

:49:39.:49:42.

looked up the advice on maiden speeches. It is instantly typical

:49:43.:49:48.

maiden speech is divided into three parts. Part one consists about being

:49:49.:49:53.

nice about the previous incumbent of the seats. I remind you that my seat

:49:54.:50:03.

is Clacton. Part two involves a glittering description of the

:50:04.:50:06.

constituency, outlining its fabulous acid and its wonderful potential. --

:50:07.:50:13.

fabulous assets. Part three, one is advised to lay out some of the plans

:50:14.:50:17.

one has is to enhance the wonderful area one that events. Left even more

:50:18.:50:21.

wonderful by the end of previous incumbent. So, to part one. My

:50:22.:50:27.

immediate predecessor was the notable Douglas Carswell. Against

:50:28.:50:32.

whom I fought two previous Parliamentary elections. It must be

:50:33.:50:35.

said that we didn't always see eye to eye, but I will read this.

:50:36.:50:40.

Douglas was an extremely good constituency MP. I was regularly

:50:41.:50:46.

contact with him as a district councillor, and I saw him first-hand

:50:47.:50:49.

in his competent dealings with his constituency. You send him a note,

:50:50.:50:54.

and he always gave you a considered reply. Even after she moved gently

:50:55.:51:00.

on from our party, he always behave like a gentleman and it's largely to

:51:01.:51:04.

his credit that we fought those two elections without any mudslinging.

:51:05.:51:13.

We fought on the issues and not on the personalities. I had respect for

:51:14.:51:19.

him holding his views, even if I didn't agree, and I frequently

:51:20.:51:23.

didn't. When I made my speech on being elected, I touched on the

:51:24.:51:28.

subject of respect. I paid tribute to my fellow candidates. I respect

:51:29.:51:31.

them for going on the sometimes gruelling journey that we all know

:51:32.:51:34.

about in this place, pacing the streets, taking some flak, but

:51:35.:51:40.

meeting some wonderful people. I may have stoutly disagreed with my

:51:41.:51:43.

fellow candidates on many issues, but I never once attacked them

:51:44.:51:47.

personally. You can check Facebook or Twitter or any of the other

:51:48.:51:51.

social media problems, and you will see I never didn't -- never

:51:52.:51:55.

denigrated them. It seems to me a pity that we have reached a Nadir

:51:56.:52:00.

Ciftci a social media where a loss of plain nasty and this is regular.

:52:01.:52:04.

If we all had a little more respect, the world would be a far happier

:52:05.:52:10.

place. Mr Deputy Speaker, to part two, over the last ten years I have

:52:11.:52:16.

been fortunate to represent my residents at Tendring District

:52:17.:52:18.

Council, my ward Frinton on Sea has aways been at the forefront of my

:52:19.:52:23.

mind when dealing at district level, and from now on Clacton, my

:52:24.:52:27.

constituency, and its views, and my residents's views will always be at

:52:28.:52:33.

the centre of all I do here. Now the Clacton constituency is roughly half

:52:34.:52:38.

of tendering district, a stunning peninsula with the cold to the

:52:39.:52:43.

south-west, the store to the north and the North Sea to the east. I

:52:44.:52:46.

think you can see where I am going with this. As a result, we have 36

:52:47.:52:52.

miles of the most stunning coastline pretty much anywhere in the country.

:52:53.:52:58.

We have the sandy beaches of Walton, Frinton, Clacton and probably the

:52:59.:53:02.

best beaches of a wall at Jaywick sounds. We have the Walton

:53:03.:53:07.

backwaters, a mysterious area of tidal creeks, mudflats, islands,

:53:08.:53:12.

salt marshes, Marsh grasslands, which in the late 30s gave Arthur

:53:13.:53:16.

Ransome the inspiration to write his book, secret water. It is called

:53:17.:53:19.

secret water because when you approach from the sea it is

:53:20.:53:22.

difficult to see that there is an entrance there. So we have the buzz

:53:23.:53:27.

of Clacton, the quieter Frinton, the rustic charm, the beautiful village

:53:28.:53:30.

and Priory at Joseph, and the bucolic hinterland of gorgeous

:53:31.:53:35.

villages and countryside. It is no wonder that we have a fast reviving

:53:36.:53:41.

tourist industry. We are the Sunshine Coast. Which brings me

:53:42.:53:48.

neatly to part three. I find it absolutely incomprehensible that

:53:49.:53:51.

this extraordinarily special place so dear to my heart, lying as it

:53:52.:53:57.

does a mere 70 miles from London, has historically been constantly

:53:58.:54:01.

overlooked. That 70 mile journey takes the best part of one hour 40

:54:02.:54:06.

minutes by train. Which, in my view, is simply not good enough. A journey

:54:07.:54:11.

by car is an adventure only for the very brave during peak times. The

:54:12.:54:17.

812 is known to be one of the worst roads in the country. It is often

:54:18.:54:23.

argued -- the A12. But there is the old adage, down good roads wealth

:54:24.:54:30.

flows. Imagine if we could bring that journey closer to an hour. 17

:54:31.:54:38.

miles in an hour, not unthinkable. Not even illegal. -- 70 miles in an

:54:39.:54:42.

hour. We would suddenly get the wealth of London on our doorstep and

:54:43.:54:47.

we would regenerate. Now, Clacton faces many challenges, most of which

:54:48.:54:51.

we have been tackling head-on at District Council and we have had

:54:52.:54:55.

some success. The long awaited regeneration of Jaywick has begun.

:54:56.:54:59.

It has new roads, new buildings and a great sense of community. It is on

:55:00.:55:04.

the up. Walton on the Naas, new development is, and quality shops

:55:05.:55:09.

arriving. It is on the up. In the last five years at District Council

:55:10.:55:13.

we have managed to obtain ?50 million worth of investment into the

:55:14.:55:21.

area, ?36 million of which spelt -- spent on Holland on Sea and Clacton.

:55:22.:55:28.

You have to go and see them. We are on the up. But we need that

:55:29.:55:34.

infrastructure, and that, Mr Deputy Speaker, is just one of my

:55:35.:55:39.

hierarchies for a much overlooked constituencies. I just want you to

:55:40.:55:44.

remind you that we do existing Clacton and we are happy to have you

:55:45.:55:48.

come and see us. I will take pleasure in taking you to the Naze

:55:49.:55:54.

Tower, a landmark for Mariners. It stands on the highest point in the

:55:55.:55:58.

constituency and gives breathtaking views across the Suffolk, over the

:55:59.:56:01.

beaches and looks down on those treasured backwaters. We are a jewel

:56:02.:56:07.

of a place with many facets. It is well worth that one hour 40 minute

:56:08.:56:14.

journey, do come, thank you. We now come to another maiden, Bob Seely.

:56:15.:56:22.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I wanted to say what a great privilege

:56:23.:56:27.

it is to follow the honourable member for Clacton, but such was the

:56:28.:56:30.

brilliance of his speech that frankly my heart rather sank. I also

:56:31.:56:34.

want to say actually that I am genuinely humbled by listening to

:56:35.:56:39.

some of the wonderful speeches, the lady from Crewe and Nantwich, from

:56:40.:56:43.

Ayrshire, from Redditch, perhaps most movingly from North East

:56:44.:56:46.

Derbyshire, who I really brought home why we are in this place, and

:56:47.:56:52.

our silence was actually listening, listening to you, so thank you. I

:56:53.:56:57.

think I am going to be supporting this bill, Mr Speaker. LAUGHTER

:56:58.:57:06.

Although, I have to say, any bill related to tourism, which encourages

:57:07.:57:10.

anyone to go anywhere apart from the Isle of Wight seems to suffer from

:57:11.:57:14.

what our philosophical front bench would call a Priory floor. My

:57:15.:57:20.

constituents are as generous as they are understanding and I am sure they

:57:21.:57:23.

will allow me to support this otherwise very sensible bill. Let me

:57:24.:57:28.

also paid tribute to my predecessor. Andrew Turner was a kind man, a good

:57:29.:57:32.

listener, a tentative to his constituents and held in very high

:57:33.:57:36.

regard by many of them. He worked hard for our island for 16 years and

:57:37.:57:41.

I wish him a long and contented and happy retirement. Representing the

:57:42.:57:48.

Isle of Wight, we call it the island, and I apologise if we refer

:57:49.:57:54.

to it as that, it is my patch of England, I have loved it ever since

:57:55.:57:57.

I was knee-high to a grasshopper, and it is close to my heart. Indeed

:57:58.:58:02.

Mr Speaker it is a special place in the nation's are as as a source of

:58:03.:58:09.

inspiration for islanders, visitors and for our nation's greatest

:58:10.:58:14.

artists. Turn's first great work for the Royal Academy was a fisherman in

:58:15.:58:18.

the Solent, with the needles on the back run. Alfred Lord Tennyson

:58:19.:58:22.

settled here, and you hear our sounds and understand our sense of

:58:23.:58:27.

place in his work. Listen to the sea water rushing off the stones at

:58:28.:58:29.

Allen Bailey and you will understand the line in Maud, now to the scream

:58:30.:58:34.

of a mad and beach dragged down by the way. Swinburn and Keats wrote

:58:35.:58:39.

here, a thing of beauty is a joy forever. One of Keith's greatest

:58:40.:58:45.

lines inspired by visits to Shanklin and Carisbrook, the wonderful

:58:46.:58:51.

eccentric Edward Leigh, the watercolourist, Julia Margaret

:58:52.:58:54.

Cameron, wonderful feminist who pioneered portrait photography, and

:58:55.:59:00.

the Pre-Raphaelites hung out in freshwater. Today we remain a home

:59:01.:59:04.

for many island artists as well as Cotterell and sporting events of

:59:05.:59:09.

world renown. We have a special place in science. We have the

:59:10.:59:14.

world's first telegraph station, the hovercraft and the seaplane built

:59:15.:59:19.

here, and the blue streak missile system, -- it was test fired from

:59:20.:59:31.

the needles. The honourable member for Spelthorne eloquently assured us

:59:32.:59:36.

a fortnight ago that he was still thrusting, I'm sure of it, but let

:59:37.:59:41.

me remind -- remind the house that our first to jet engine supercar

:59:42.:59:44.

built largely on the island one and tell the world land speed record for

:59:45.:59:50.

our nation for over a decade at some 633 mph, so on the Isle of Wight,

:59:51.:59:55.

even our thrusting is world-class. LAUGHTER

:59:56.:00:00.

From science to pseudoscience, Carl Marx was a regular visitor, a point

:00:01.:00:05.

I may have to make sure do the right honourable member for Islington

:00:06.:00:12.

North ever come to power, although if the victory last month was any

:00:13.:00:16.

harbinger of the future, let us wish the honourable friends opposite many

:00:17.:00:24.

more such victories to come. On a more serious note, I mention our

:00:25.:00:27.

arts and science not to provide a potted history lesson or trucks

:00:28.:00:30.

press my love for my constituency which I hope is self evident, but

:00:31.:00:33.

because that is what we need for our future. We need to brace art and

:00:34.:00:38.

science and innovation and technology to inspire and in rich

:00:39.:00:43.

and employee. Our island is special in many ways, but our wealth has not

:00:44.:00:49.

always been of a financial kind. And there is a perception that sometimes

:00:50.:00:54.

Whitehall overlooks us. In the 1990s, the government commerce to

:00:55.:00:57.

the Isle of Wight and to the Scilly Isles to study the extra cost of

:00:58.:01:01.

being an island. Sadly that promise came to nothing but those costs are

:01:02.:01:06.

recognised in Scotland, through the special islands needs allowance

:01:07.:01:09.

which provides an uplift in funding for some half a dozen councillors

:01:10.:01:13.

with Scottish island seats. Mr Speaker, I believe we need a better

:01:14.:01:17.

deal for our island, and it is not just a question of money, although

:01:18.:01:22.

every little helps, and I will fight for extra spending on health and

:01:23.:01:27.

education. But it is about islanders working with government to generate

:01:28.:01:30.

ideas for the public good and government working with us and being

:01:31.:01:33.

keen to listen, and I know there are good examples of when it is doing it

:01:34.:01:38.

and I wish to encourage more. We need to embrace the knowledge

:01:39.:01:41.

economy and higher education. I look forward to working with the DoE and

:01:42.:01:45.

universities to provide with opportunities for such engagement.

:01:46.:01:48.

We need to continue to drive all education standards on the island

:01:49.:01:52.

and I will continue to fight for the future of the Sandown Bay school and

:01:53.:01:54.

I look forward to government's continuing support. Second, our

:01:55.:01:59.

cultural offer is getting stronger, we have the wonderful Isle of Wight

:02:00.:02:02.

Festival, I think it was Rod Stewart to top the bill this year, clearly

:02:03.:02:08.

in politics as well. A tartan revival. We have the literary

:02:09.:02:15.

festival as well, the cutting edge than enough fringe Festival, Lookout

:02:16.:02:24.

Edinburgh. -- Ventnor. I would work with cultural institutions to see

:02:25.:02:26.

how they can possibly attract a major gallery to the island to help

:02:27.:02:30.

with the year-round cultural tourism. I look to engaging with

:02:31.:02:35.

sport England, trade and investment departments to work with our

:02:36.:02:37.

high-tech sailing industry and sailing clubs of cows and others to

:02:38.:02:48.

ensure that the town of Cowes remains the sailing capital of the

:02:49.:02:56.

world and the disabled sailing captain of the world. I was proud to

:02:57.:03:00.

meet the captain of the National Blind sailing team and I wish Lucy

:03:01.:03:04.

and her inspiring team all the very best. Fourth, we need to work with

:03:05.:03:09.

the DWP, an organisation such as hope the aged and our wonderful

:03:10.:03:13.

Mountbatten Hospice for the island to become a national leader in

:03:14.:03:19.

ensuring quality-of-life of those in later life, combining health and

:03:20.:03:23.

social care, voluntary and state support, to enrich life. On

:03:24.:03:27.

transport, we need to ensure the future of the island railway line,

:03:28.:03:31.

to improve our cycling routes, making us Britain's leading cycling

:03:32.:03:34.

destination and to continue to engage with the ferry firms to

:03:35.:03:39.

provide a better ferry service, and let me be clear, while

:03:40.:03:42.

nationalisation did great good in the 80s and 90s nationally, the

:03:43.:03:47.

privatisation of our ferries was not such a success. I don't have all the

:03:48.:03:52.

answers, but I know that we should not have started from this point,

:03:53.:03:55.

and I am uncomfortable with the levels of debt that Red Funnel and

:03:56.:04:08.

Wightlink have, debt which islanders have to help subsidise in order to

:04:09.:04:12.

cross the Solent. Finally, I welcome this government's commitment to

:04:13.:04:16.

social housing and staffing housing from the bottom of my heart. I find

:04:17.:04:21.

it difficult to explain to my fellow islanders why rich property delivers

:04:22.:04:24.

were able to build houses that most of my constituents could not afford.

:04:25.:04:30.

We do not need large-scale projects which are hard to leader like --

:04:31.:04:35.

disliked by many islanders and which through cumulative effect do

:04:36.:04:38.

significant damage to our precious landscape, on which much of our

:04:39.:04:41.

tourism, which accounts for half of our economy, depend. We do need and

:04:42.:04:47.

we will absolutely support and work with government to build affordable,

:04:48.:04:50.

genuinely affordable projects to provide homes for islanders. Our

:04:51.:04:56.

island plan should reflect this. For my islanders, Mr Speaker, housing is

:04:57.:05:00.

home, especially for younger ones. Working with many others, our

:05:01.:05:05.

Chamber of Commerce, our council and excellent tourism team, we will

:05:06.:05:10.

present opportunities for a brighter idea for our island and nationally I

:05:11.:05:13.

want this government, with its laudable aims of social justice, of

:05:14.:05:18.

hope, of meritocracy, of opportunity for all, values which were inherent

:05:19.:05:23.

in our manifestos, and are absolutely inherent in our hearts,

:05:24.:05:27.

but we sadly failed to translate during the campaign. I want those

:05:28.:05:32.

principles and those aims and values, those aspirations, for my

:05:33.:05:37.

fellow islanders and for our nation, and let us deliver real change and

:05:38.:05:44.

real hope in the next few years, and set an example, whether economic or

:05:45.:05:46.

moral or political, that we are the natural party of government.

:05:47.:05:53.

I will finish very shortly and thank you for your patience. My fellow

:05:54.:05:59.

islanders deserve nothing but the best, and I will do my best to give

:06:00.:06:03.

them the voice that they deserve. Some people, like the member for

:06:04.:06:07.

North East Derbyshire, have explained far more eloquently than I

:06:08.:06:11.

do why we are here. But I will battle for my island. I can't

:06:12.:06:14.

promise to win every battle, but I will fight every battle on their

:06:15.:06:18.

behalf for as long as I have the honour of serving in our Parliament,

:06:19.:06:21.

what will this was called, that delightful island.

:06:22.:06:30.

Another maiden. To much acclaim from my honourable

:06:31.:06:39.

friend! Who I'm delighted to follow. Mr Deputy Speaker, thank you for

:06:40.:06:43.

calling on me to speak. Friends and family have asked me what it feels

:06:44.:06:48.

like to finally be here, and I simply say surreal. But in the best

:06:49.:06:52.

possible meaning of the word. I could add overwhelming, in that

:06:53.:06:57.

sense -- and that sense has multiplied today as I speak for the

:06:58.:07:00.

first time in the chamber as the new member. The length. -- as the new

:07:01.:07:06.

member for sterling. I am acutely aware that so many people have

:07:07.:07:11.

placed in me a sacred trust to serve all of the people of Stirling, and

:07:12.:07:15.

do what is right for my constituents in the national interest. Mr Deputy

:07:16.:07:20.

Speaker, I am proud to call Stirling my home. It is situated at the heart

:07:21.:07:26.

of Scotland and its story is long and dramatic. The famed legend of

:07:27.:07:31.

sterling's Vaulks comes from the ninth century. The Anglo-Saxon

:07:32.:07:36.

defenders of the cattle were roused from their sleep by the holding of a

:07:37.:07:42.

Wolves, warning them of an impending Viking attack. To this day, wolf is

:07:43.:07:50.

still celebrated. Stirling remains steadfast as the rock upon which its

:07:51.:07:54.

castle sits. I had the privilege last week of marching with the

:07:55.:07:58.

people on the annual march of the Gillies. An annual event to

:07:59.:08:07.

commemorate the battle of Bannockburn. The folk come over the

:08:08.:08:11.

hill making such a dim, causing the English to flee. -- causing such a

:08:12.:08:19.

din. We Scots have always had an eye for the! This March now focuses on

:08:20.:08:24.

saving this historic site from the threat of quarrying. The Stirling

:08:25.:08:32.

constituency is more than the city. Stretching from Strathblane in the

:08:33.:08:40.

west, to the east. From Tyndrum in the North, to the whims of Milton in

:08:41.:08:47.

the south. Stirling hosts through the good offices of our auction

:08:48.:08:50.

houses the Premier bull sales in Scotland. Dairy, meat, production

:08:51.:08:56.

and some of the best shortbread in the country are all mainstays of my

:08:57.:09:04.

constituency. Not to mention two whiskey distilleries, making great

:09:05.:09:07.

use of our prodigious rainfall and fertile soils. Our financial

:09:08.:09:12.

services sector, as well as high-tech businesses in the Digital

:09:13.:09:16.

economy, all make are diverse, high-value economy that contributes

:09:17.:09:22.

to the of Stirling, as well as the Scottish and UK economies. And I'm

:09:23.:09:27.

proud graduate of the University of Stirling, now in its 15th year with

:09:28.:09:31.

a reputation second to none in research and teaching. -- now in its

:09:32.:09:38.

50th year. Stirling pastes the oldest and second oldest charitable

:09:39.:09:46.

trusts in Scotland. -- Stirling now hosts the oldest of second oldest

:09:47.:09:51.

charitable trusts in Scotland, providing relief for the needy

:09:52.:09:54.

members of guilt and their relatives. Social enterprise is

:09:55.:09:58.

alive and well in Stirling, whether it be the encouragement given to

:09:59.:10:01.

local food and environmental initiatives, such as the fourth

:10:02.:10:09.

environment link, the work of Break in helping those with dementia, or

:10:10.:10:16.

the mobility group, ensuring those with disabilities can access our

:10:17.:10:21.

magnificent landscape from Calendar. Today we are debating the travel

:10:22.:10:26.

industry, and sterling has a unique connection to the things that make

:10:27.:10:29.

up the modern travel industry. Because Stirling proudly owns it's

:10:30.:10:36.

and say to the Wright brothers. Frank and Howard Barnwell,

:10:37.:10:45.

originally from Lewisham, came from a family business of shipbuilding.

:10:46.:10:49.

But they were great innovators, and they got their first full-sized

:10:50.:10:54.

biplane in 1908. Unfortunately it failed to take flight. But

:10:55.:11:00.

undeterred they produced a second design from their works. The

:11:01.:11:04.

Grampian motor and engineering company, under the shadows of the

:11:05.:11:09.

Wallace Monument in Causeway Head. And then on Wednesday 28th of July

:11:10.:11:14.

1909, they were responsible for the first powered flight in Scotland

:11:15.:11:18.

when their aircraft flew to an altitude of 13 feet, travelled for

:11:19.:11:26.

80 yards, before a somewhat abrupt crash landing. Mr Deputy Speaker, it

:11:27.:11:35.

is down to the great innovators like stairwell's own Barnwell brothers

:11:36.:11:40.

and the pioneering path they formed but today we have the aviation

:11:41.:11:45.

industry we have. -- Stirling's own Barnwell Brothers. Bank and Harold

:11:46.:11:50.

Barnwell represent the great thing is that Britain has achieved. Two

:11:51.:11:54.

English entrepreneurs moving their business to Scotland to create the

:11:55.:11:58.

inventions and businesses that have made the modern world. Mr Deputy

:11:59.:12:05.

Speaker, I said you innovators across the globe, Stirling is

:12:06.:12:10.

evidently be. Just as I say to all honourable and right Honourable

:12:11.:12:15.

members of this house, although Scotland, England and the other

:12:16.:12:19.

nations of the United Kingdom work together, they have achieved and can

:12:20.:12:23.

yet achieve remarkable things which in turn make this world a better

:12:24.:12:30.

race. Mr Deputy Speaker, -- a better place. Stirling's best days lie

:12:31.:12:40.

ahead. Her Majesty's expert support for the city region deal is most

:12:41.:12:45.

welcome and I will make it my top priority to work with my right

:12:46.:12:48.

honourable friend, the member for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and the

:12:49.:12:52.

Dell, to secure and delivered the Stirling city region deal. This bill

:12:53.:12:59.

that we are debating is especially important in the way that regulation

:13:00.:13:03.

works for innovative companies, who have revolutionised the travel

:13:04.:13:07.

industry in the digital space. The new digital district at the heart of

:13:08.:13:14.

the Stirling city region deal will encourage the birth, survival and

:13:15.:13:17.

success of many more such innovative digital companies. Mr Deputy

:13:18.:13:27.

Speaker, the pace of technological change is staggering. We want travel

:13:28.:13:29.

and transport in completely different ways to how we did it only

:13:30.:13:34.

a few years ago. Gone are the days of flicking through teletext to snap

:13:35.:13:40.

up package deals to the sun. The Internet revolution has empowered

:13:41.:13:48.

consumers and inspired new companies to turn market models inside out.

:13:49.:13:52.

The provisions of this bill is very important. It is for a consumer

:13:53.:13:57.

protection rights keep up with the pace of technological change. We

:13:58.:14:01.

must shape future measures in a way that adapts to the new market

:14:02.:14:04.

conditions being created by the entrepreneurial skills and talents

:14:05.:14:09.

of our Challenger digital businesses. And not stifle

:14:10.:14:14.

creativity by holding on to outdated and outmoded regulation. Mr Speaker,

:14:15.:14:19.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to play tribute to my

:14:20.:14:25.

predecessor, Stephen Patterson. His tenure was short and I can make no

:14:26.:14:29.

apology for that. That said, he was an honourable and worthy opponent,

:14:30.:14:34.

his passion for Stirling and Scotland cannot be doubted. And I

:14:35.:14:40.

wish him well for the future. His predecessor was Dame Ann Maguire.

:14:41.:14:44.

She was Stirling's member of Parliament for 18 years and her

:14:45.:14:49.

public service was especially remembered for her tireless work to

:14:50.:14:52.

promote and extend the rights of disabled people. Hers was a

:14:53.:14:55.

wonderful personal legacy and one in which we should all take pride. I

:14:56.:15:01.

pay tribute to her. And I should also like to make a special mention

:15:02.:15:08.

of my friend Lord Forsyth. The last Conservative member for Stirling.

:15:09.:15:12.

His record of service for this house on behalf of the people of Stirling,

:15:13.:15:16.

Scotland and the United Kingdom is remarkable. At his maiden speech in

:15:17.:15:22.

1983, he spoke of the problems facing global Stirling in the field

:15:23.:15:26.

of telecommunications. This, I am sad to report to the House, remains

:15:27.:15:33.

an issue. Although it is now broadband and mobile telephony,

:15:34.:15:36.

rather than phone connections. Digital connectivity is a subject I

:15:37.:15:42.

assure the House I will keep coming back to. Mr Deputy Speaker, public

:15:43.:15:48.

services often cited as a reason for members taking seats in this house.

:15:49.:15:53.

And I add myself to their number. A body politic that exists to serve

:15:54.:15:57.

its citizens is one worth aspiring to. I was raised on politics.

:15:58.:16:06.

Listening is a small boy as my grandfather held forth the merits of

:16:07.:16:08.

the then Prime Minister Harold Wilson. He wasn't a fan. But his

:16:09.:16:16.

trenchant view was always that the Government of the day should govern

:16:17.:16:21.

in the national interest. Henry Campbell Bannerman, a former member

:16:22.:16:25.

of Parliament for ten two and a former Prime Minister said good

:16:26.:16:30.

government could never be a substitute for government by the

:16:31.:16:37.

people themselves. This is also the perfect encapsulation of my personal

:16:38.:16:42.

political cradle. I believe in liberty, in freedom, and choice. I

:16:43.:16:49.

enlisted the moral argument for free enterprise and free trade is the

:16:50.:16:52.

most powerful means of lifting people, whole nations and regions,

:16:53.:16:57.

out of poverty. I believe in law and order. Equality for all before the

:16:58.:17:02.

law, and in the good that government can do. I believe the family in all

:17:03.:17:07.

its forms is the basic unit of society. Driving and successful

:17:08.:17:12.

families make for a thriving and successful society. And social

:17:13.:17:17.

policy is always best seen through the filter of what strengthens the

:17:18.:17:25.

family. I believe in fair dealing, competition which advantages

:17:26.:17:30.

consumers and justice in all its realms. And I believe in getting

:17:31.:17:35.

power to the people, and respecting local democracy. And in the

:17:36.:17:39.

constructive tension of public accountability and listening

:17:40.:17:41.

carefully to the voice of the people. Whether honourable and right

:17:42.:17:45.

honourable members reflect on these last words in the implementation of

:17:46.:17:52.

a Brexit sanctioned by the people, all on the results of the referendum

:17:53.:17:55.

in Scotland to confirm its place within the United Kingdom. Respect

:17:56.:18:03.

for the voice of the people and followed to the democratically

:18:04.:18:05.

delivered instruction is now the business of this house. And so it is

:18:06.:18:09.

that we must be ready to implement the will of the British people, and

:18:10.:18:16.

I make it my part to do so. The British people have spoken and we

:18:17.:18:19.

leave the European Union. Then much of the work of the Parliament is now

:18:20.:18:23.

focused on the job at hand. And much of our work as members must be

:18:24.:18:27.

focused on working together to get the best deal for our constituents

:18:28.:18:32.

and our country. May I just say in closing, in doing so I believe we

:18:33.:18:36.

have a duty as parliamentarians to personify civility. We should have

:18:37.:18:41.

resist trading and misrepresentations. We should

:18:42.:18:46.

demonstrate respect for all people. Become good listeners and shape,

:18:47.:18:50.

then for the sincere beliefs of others. Mr Deputy Speaker, I am here

:18:51.:18:59.

on a mission to restore civility in politics. A mission to represent and

:19:00.:19:06.

defend the interests of Stirling. A mission to promote and be an

:19:07.:19:09.

advocate for my home constituency. And above all to serve the people

:19:10.:19:11.

and national interests of this United Kingdom.

:19:12.:19:20.

Another maiden, Eddie Hughes. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. It is

:19:21.:19:26.

difficult to follow the honourable member. Stirling as I stumble my way

:19:27.:19:31.

through my maiden speech. The best thing is that he and I are going to

:19:32.:19:35.

be sharing an office for the next five years. So I will have the

:19:36.:19:39.

opportunity to polish their public speaking with the benefit of his

:19:40.:19:44.

advice. In getting to my feet this evening I just wanted to say

:19:45.:19:49.

interesting that this bill should be the first thing we discussed because

:19:50.:19:51.

people are talking about the problems that air travellers might

:19:52.:19:59.

have. In my constituency, according to the 2011 census information,

:20:00.:20:03.

nearly one in four of my constituents don't even own a

:20:04.:20:11.

passport. So it is clearly very important for those that do have a

:20:12.:20:14.

passport and do manage to take overseas travel that their money is

:20:15.:20:21.

protected. For some people, air travel is something that they do

:20:22.:20:24.

every week or every year. It represents one of opportunity, and

:20:25.:20:28.

clearly the worst thing that could happen to them would be that their

:20:29.:20:35.

phones were in any way threatened by companies going out of business. --

:20:36.:20:39.

that their plans were in any way threatened. I think this legislation

:20:40.:20:44.

is incredibly important. I would like to make one point - for those

:20:45.:20:47.

who weren't here when the minister was introducing this legislation, I

:20:48.:20:52.

firmly endorse his sartorial some point you not take interventions

:20:53.:20:55.

from male members who are not taking ties. -- not wearing ties. I bought

:20:56.:21:02.

this suitably we can specifically for making my first speech in this

:21:03.:21:09.

chamber. And although obviously I will be wearing exactly the same

:21:10.:21:13.

suit for the rest of the week, at least for today I will be looking my

:21:14.:21:20.

best. So, anyway, moving on. The good people, thank you for calling

:21:21.:21:23.

me today, because the good people of Walsall North have had to wait 41

:21:24.:21:32.

years to hear a maiden speech from their member of Parliament. So you

:21:33.:21:35.

can only imagine how disappointed they will be when they will see that

:21:36.:21:41.

the seven people who made speeches immediately before me were funny,

:21:42.:21:47.

erudite, clever, interesting, and then they think, what the hell did

:21:48.:21:48.

we wait for? LAUGHTER

:21:49.:21:59.

But there you go. Now, in making all in preparing for my maiden speech, I

:22:00.:22:05.

sought advice from experienced or raters on both sides of this

:22:06.:22:09.

chamber, but the best advice that I think I received came from Brendan

:22:10.:22:12.

Fisher, one of our ever present, ever helpful woman. Brendan 's --

:22:13.:22:21.

helpful doormen. I have made a parachute with my wife and two

:22:22.:22:25.

children, Brendan suggested that it was like doing a freefall parachute

:22:26.:22:30.

jump, there is the nervous anticipation as you board the plane

:22:31.:22:34.

and ascend to the required altitude before leaping screaming through the

:22:35.:22:39.

doors, only to find that the sensation of racing towards the

:22:40.:22:42.

ground at 100 mph is actually a pleasurable one. Something that you

:22:43.:22:48.

will want to repeat as soon as your feet hit the ground. And that the

:22:49.:22:54.

ground running was what I needed to do, in order to stand any chance of

:22:55.:22:59.

beating my entrenched predecessor, David Winick. Many in this chamber

:23:00.:23:06.

will be familiar with David as a tenacious parliamentarian. Indeed if

:23:07.:23:10.

I am remembering correctly it was David's amendment to legislation

:23:11.:23:14.

concerning the detention of terror suspects that led to the then Prime

:23:15.:23:19.

Minister Tony Blair losing his first whipped vote in this chamber in

:23:20.:23:25.

2005. So when I knocked doors during the campaign, I realise just how

:23:26.:23:29.

assiduously David had also worked on behalf of his constituents. I found

:23:30.:23:34.

many people who weren't minded to vote for the Labour Party, given

:23:35.:23:38.

their present leadership at least, but were prepared to vote for David

:23:39.:23:41.

because of good deeds he had done for either them or their friends or

:23:42.:23:48.

their family. It was David's 84th birthday last Monday, so I would

:23:49.:23:51.

like to extend my best wishes to him for his birthday and for his

:23:52.:23:57.

retirement. Although, for me, growing up in a house with six

:23:58.:24:03.

brothers, my dad was an Irish bus driver, we didn't have a lots of

:24:04.:24:07.

money to celebrate birthdays, so not much money for presents, but with

:24:08.:24:10.

six lads, quite a lot of fun and quite a lot of fighting. LAUGHTER

:24:11.:24:17.

My parents were, however, delighted and I guess relieved that I went to

:24:18.:24:21.

grammar school and then on to university, the first in my family

:24:22.:24:27.

to do so. And it was at university that I developed an interest in

:24:28.:24:30.

politics, so as soon as I graduated, I went back to night school to do

:24:31.:24:36.

A-levels in politics and economics to give me a bit of a basic

:24:37.:24:40.

grounding. And unfortunately, although I had voted Labour the

:24:41.:24:44.

first time I voted, I realised then... JEERING. I know, I know, I

:24:45.:24:55.

realise I was actually a closet Conservative, so it was then a quick

:24:56.:25:01.

journey to joining the party and standing the council and I have been

:25:02.:25:04.

a councillor on Walsall council for the past 18 years, but what a

:25:05.:25:10.

privilege now to be the MP for Walsall North, and I will be

:25:11.:25:15.

building on some busting work that is going on in my constituency

:25:16.:25:22.

already. So, for example, I recently met with Peter Shirley, the

:25:23.:25:28.

irrepressible Peter, who started the Midland food group in 1976 on his

:25:29.:25:32.

own and today that business turns over in excess of ?50 million a year

:25:33.:25:37.

and employs over 250 people. They source quality meats and cheeses

:25:38.:25:43.

locally and the export market includes the Falkland Islands.

:25:44.:25:47.

Similarly, Walsall Housing group where I am proud to be the chair of

:25:48.:25:50.

the board, have recently signed a deal for a joint venture to build

:25:51.:25:56.

400 new houses in the Guscott Lane corridor. According to the recent

:25:57.:26:01.

edition of inside Housing, within the next two years Warsaw housing

:26:02.:26:07.

will be completing just over 1100 new houses, that is what is going on

:26:08.:26:12.

under this government, creating high-quality affordable houses and

:26:13.:26:14.

the jobs that go with their construction. But in order to get a

:26:15.:26:21.

job, you need a good education, so what better place to start education

:26:22.:26:27.

than Beacon primary school. Two years ago, that school was rated by

:26:28.:26:33.

Ofsted as requiring improvement. Well, did that improvement come in

:26:34.:26:37.

the shape of Paul Drew, the innovative headmaster, who has

:26:38.:26:40.

raised standards not just for staff but the students, and now recently

:26:41.:26:44.

Ofsted have graded it is a good school. It doesn't take many to

:26:45.:26:51.

persuade the admin staff at the school that they should be trained

:26:52.:26:57.

to help children with reading practice, that just takes future

:26:58.:27:00.

thinking, forward-thinking, the type that we need to see. That education

:27:01.:27:07.

is not always about throwing money at it, it is about employing

:27:08.:27:15.

inspirational leaders. And so, Mr Tebbit is bigger, to my inevitable

:27:16.:27:21.

Brexit preparation. 68% of people in Walsall North who voted in the

:27:22.:27:27.

referendum voted to leave the EU. But they want, obviously, a good

:27:28.:27:31.

deal for them and for the country, but they don't want a deal that is

:27:32.:27:37.

just good for the 68%, they want a deal that is good for the 100%. They

:27:38.:27:42.

want to know they have local entrepreneurs that will create jobs,

:27:43.:27:48.

and find new and exciting export markets around the world, they want

:27:49.:27:51.

to control immigration, whilst ensuring that we have the skills to

:27:52.:27:59.

make sure we have a strong economy and public sector. They want

:28:00.:28:05.

low-cost housing, and they want inspirational teachers to give their

:28:06.:28:09.

children the best start in life. It is a privilege to speak this

:28:10.:28:12.

evening, and I hope you will call me many times in the future to advocate

:28:13.:28:17.

on behalf of my constituents. Thank you. CHEERING

:28:18.:28:28.

We have another maiden, Bill Grant. Thank you very much, Deputy Speaker.

:28:29.:28:32.

Can I complement the right honourable member for the Walsall

:28:33.:28:37.

North, both in his note free speech, I might add, and colleagues around

:28:38.:28:42.

the world will be admiring his choice of suit as well. Now I

:28:43.:28:48.

remember, the bill that was here today, is the ATOL for package

:28:49.:28:55.

holidays if you choose to go by air. Like my colleagues I am minded to

:28:56.:28:59.

support it for three reasons, it is modernising, harmonising and it is

:29:00.:29:02.

good consumer protection, so I welcome the bill. To my maiden

:29:03.:29:08.

speech, Mr Deputy Speaker. I am indeed honoured and humbled to be in

:29:09.:29:12.

this chamber today. Having been elected by the people of they're

:29:13.:29:19.

Carrick and come in, it is a privilege and a fact that they

:29:20.:29:24.

trusted me with their vote, and I value that and I will do all I can

:29:25.:29:31.

as a constituency. May I share with members of the house I live journey

:29:32.:29:36.

because it would be terribly boring if I gave it all. My ward was in the

:29:37.:29:42.

town of Ayr, on the coast, and many good things about Ayr, we have Ayr

:29:43.:29:50.

racecourse, one of the UK's premier racecourse is, you might even make

:29:51.:29:55.

money. Odds-on you maybe we'll loose money. In addition, we have hosted

:29:56.:30:00.

the Scottish International airshow for the last three years. For the

:30:01.:30:03.

moment it is a wonderful event, it is not for the moment a threat to to

:30:04.:30:08.

Farnborough, but in years to come you never know, you never know. The

:30:09.:30:15.

time in the council was preceded by 31 years in Strathclyde Fire and

:30:16.:30:19.

Rescue Service, having served throughout Ayrshire, through the

:30:20.:30:23.

central belt, based in headquarters for ten years, member of the

:30:24.:30:25.

technical support team for ten years and finally a senior officer

:30:26.:30:31.

covering Argyll and Bute, too many islands to name but a very complex

:30:32.:30:34.

and diverse Fire Service it was with the city of Glasgow sadly remembered

:30:35.:30:42.

for being a tinderbox city many years ago, so well aware. Given my

:30:43.:30:46.

background it is particularly poignant for me to be delivering my

:30:47.:30:50.

maiden speech so close in time to the tragic Grenfell incident.

:30:51.:30:56.

Members, which must surely have been hell on earth for all concerned. I

:30:57.:31:01.

will await with interest the outcome of what must be a thorough and

:31:02.:31:07.

effective public enquiry. Members, may I pay tribute to my predecessor,

:31:08.:31:13.

Corey Nelson, for the good work she did in this chamber and in the

:31:14.:31:18.

constituency during her period in office, and my thanks and may I wish

:31:19.:31:23.

Corey well for the future. Some further thank yous. Joanna Freeman

:31:24.:31:34.

who guided me as a lost soul is one of the new MPs to describe the

:31:35.:31:39.

wonders of Westminster. And my long-suffering wife, Agnes, and my

:31:40.:31:42.

two daughters and family, Angela and Karen. They have been helpful to me

:31:43.:31:49.

in this journey that gets me here to this chamber. Proceeding Cory Wilson

:31:50.:31:55.

as an MP, we had Sandra Osborne, Phil Ghali, George Younger, all

:31:56.:31:58.

excellent parliamentarians and they will be remembered by some in this

:31:59.:32:05.

house. But let me take you back to the dark days of the Second World

:32:06.:32:13.

War, 1939 to 1945, when the Labour MP for South Ayrshire was Alexander

:32:14.:32:17.

Slone, better known locally as Sani Slone, a former miner, he was a

:32:18.:32:23.

work' champion, served his community well, but regrettably, like so many

:32:24.:32:29.

miners, he was dogged by ill-health. He died in 1945. Soon after his

:32:30.:32:34.

second election victory to this house. Members, Deputy Speaker, the

:32:35.:32:39.

commonality is that we were both born to mining families and the

:32:40.:32:45.

small Ayrshire mining village of Frankenstein, albeit we were born

:32:46.:32:46.

some 72 years apart. Many proud British institutions but

:32:47.:32:55.

I will choose two. This parliament and the National Health Service. One

:32:56.:32:59.

wonders, and there I say it, members, if there was a referendum

:33:00.:33:03.

as to which one should be closed, what with the outcome be? I suspect

:33:04.:33:12.

this chamber would be empty. May I thank the National Health Service

:33:13.:33:16.

and the doctor and his team at the Golden Jubilee hospital Clydebank,

:33:17.:33:21.

near Glasgow, for the successful double bypass surgery I successfully

:33:22.:33:27.

underwent in 2014. Myself and my family are eternally grateful to

:33:28.:33:33.

them. However, members, I have two apologise to my constituents in a

:33:34.:33:41.

town just south of Ayr. Whilst I waited three months for my bypass,

:33:42.:33:45.

they have waited nearly 30 years for their bypass. LAUGHTER

:33:46.:33:58.

It is severed by the a 77, and excuse the pun, but the a 77 is

:33:59.:34:04.

indeed a main artery from the central belt of Scotland. To my

:34:05.:34:10.

colleagues in Dumfries and Galloway for the very important ferry ports

:34:11.:34:13.

that serve the ferry traffic from our neighbours in the Highlands, it

:34:14.:34:19.

is an economic driver and the a 77 is an essential link and the

:34:20.:34:22.

punishment with the 30-40 tonne trucks through the villages on that

:34:23.:34:26.

journey, it needs to be rectified. I am sure it will. Ayr, Carrick and

:34:27.:34:34.

come that is a rural community, the breadbasket of Britain, with

:34:35.:34:40.

potatoes, bread and cheese and not forgetting albeit smaller fishing

:34:41.:34:51.

communities along our coat -- coast. But the good food and a good

:34:52.:34:58.

eateries we have, considerably more reasonably priced than London, I

:34:59.:35:06.

might add. Having consumed the lovely food you may want to toasted

:35:07.:35:07.

with a fine whiskey, or a delicately distilled Hendrick's gin. And

:35:08.:35:31.

Grant's whiskey is global. President Eisenhower who was gifted the

:35:32.:35:42.

castle, and more recently another president, President Trump, known as

:35:43.:35:46.

Donald when he secured the hotel and golf course facilities and may I

:35:47.:35:49.

thank his son Eric for the investment in this world-class

:35:50.:35:55.

investment in this facility. And the associated employment.

:35:56.:36:06.

House in Ayr was more recently a children's hospital.

:36:07.:36:20.

The gantries at Harland and Wolff in Belfast, where the infamous, famous

:36:21.:36:30.

ship, the Titanic was built. And he was responsible for the construction

:36:31.:36:35.

of Tower Bridge in London. It would be remiss of me not to mention

:36:36.:36:43.

Scotland's bard, Robert Burns, whose fondness for women is renowned. The

:36:44.:36:49.

women who are far more fertile than the fields he ploughed! And produce

:36:50.:37:00.

numerous offspring. Whereby I'm sure he would have faced immense

:37:01.:37:03.

challenges from the Child support agency. But his passion went far

:37:04.:37:08.

beyond the fairer sex. He penned many poems and songs. From its

:37:09.:37:22.

source and the Ayr, the water winds its way violated Firth of Clyde. --

:37:23.:37:33.

finally to the Firth of Clyde. The water gently winds its way past

:37:34.:37:39.

Cumnock. Pause for a moment, to mention the local football team,

:37:40.:37:48.

better known as the Glens, who recently won the Scottish Junior cup

:37:49.:37:52.

by beating nearby rock wool Starbucks. Decked the team covers --

:37:53.:37:59.

detonating colours of red and white, virtually every home displayed them

:38:00.:38:03.

and adorned the House with bunting. It was a credit to the strength and

:38:04.:38:07.

community spirit of Cumnock. I commend them for that. As we move

:38:08.:38:19.

onwards towards Cumnock, it plays host to Emergency One UK. The spec

:38:20.:38:30.

folders -- bespoke builders for the emergency services. I would use the

:38:31.:38:34.

word export. The Xbox Cumnock in Scotland to all over the United

:38:35.:38:38.

Kingdom. As we move on, I'm going to stop for a minute at Dumfries house.

:38:39.:38:42.

May I give immense thanks to his Royal Highness, Prince Charles, for

:38:43.:38:46.

his involvement and indeed his vision. Not only saving Dumfries

:38:47.:38:51.

House for the nation, but for securing job opportunities and

:38:52.:38:55.

catering and tourism within and indeed beyond the constituency.

:38:56.:39:00.

Members, Deputy Speaker, Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock has a proud past

:39:01.:39:06.

as a member of Parliament for my constituency I will endeavour to do

:39:07.:39:08.

my best to secure a promising future. Finally, members, an extract

:39:09.:39:17.

from Robert Burns' poem which may be reflected upon by many

:39:18.:39:21.

parliamentarians from all parties, whether from the past, present or

:39:22.:39:25.

future. It reads simply as follows. The best laid schemes of mice and

:39:26.:39:35.

men give promised joy. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

:39:36.:39:40.

Mr Deputy Speaker, it's a pleasure to follow the honourable member for

:39:41.:39:46.

Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock. I have to say that before we go, he promised

:39:47.:39:51.

me that he would make me look good by speaking so powerfully, so

:39:52.:39:56.

poetically and so brilliantly. I have to say you've already broken

:39:57.:39:59.

your first political promise. So thanks a bunch for that. It is

:40:00.:40:04.

pleasure to follow you. It's also a pleasure to follow my Sir Edward

:40:05.:40:10.

Garnier. He was a brilliant constituency MP for 25 years. He is

:40:11.:40:17.

independent minded, and he is brave. But above all, he is just an

:40:18.:40:22.

exceptionally nice man. You'll be missed on all sides of this house,

:40:23.:40:26.

and he will be massively missed in our constituency. It's an honour to

:40:27.:40:33.

represent the people of Harborough, Oadby and Wigston in this house. And

:40:34.:40:38.

I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart for sending me

:40:39.:40:43.

here. There are four really striking things about my constituency. The

:40:44.:40:48.

first is the staggering amount of community and voluntary work.

:40:49.:41:00.

Whether its local charities like Rainbows, Loros, Val, whether it's

:41:01.:41:04.

the award-winning work of Market Harborough in Bloom, which is

:41:05.:41:07.

visible all over the town makes it beautiful. Whether it's the strength

:41:08.:41:11.

of our local army, sea and Air Cadets, with whom I celebrated Armed

:41:12.:41:18.

Forces Week just the other day. Or whether its community campaigns,

:41:19.:41:23.

like that to Save the Children's heart unit at Glenfield Hospital,

:41:24.:41:27.

which I support. The strength of our civic life is visible from the

:41:28.:41:37.

Leicester Mercury, or tuning into a document he radio station,

:41:38.:41:41.

Harborough FM. A huge number of people in my constituency dedicate

:41:42.:41:44.

themselves to improving the lot of our fellow citizens. And it is

:41:45.:41:49.

absolutely inspiring. The second striking thing about the

:41:50.:41:52.

constituency is the strong culture of enterprise. There are now nearly

:41:53.:42:03.

4500 businesses in the constituency. A quarter more than in 2010. We

:42:04.:42:10.

nothing but the people in my constituency cannot do well. The

:42:11.:42:14.

Mill close to jet engines, we have made everything. Although we have

:42:15.:42:19.

heard about the invention of jet engines of Scotland, you will be

:42:20.:42:22.

relieved to hear that we never tried to combine a jet engine and milk

:42:23.:42:27.

float. I constituency is a famous country for farming and food. And

:42:28.:42:32.

also famous for textiles. One of its most famous family businesses,

:42:33.:42:34.

defining terms, managed to combine both of those things because one

:42:35.:42:40.

brother made soups which fat and muscle up. The other brother made

:42:41.:42:44.

corsets, with which to constrain our bulging waistline. You'll agree, Mr

:42:45.:42:48.

Speaker, that is a cunning business model. Given the culture of small

:42:49.:42:56.

business, given the habit of culture and the culture of enterprise, I

:42:57.:42:59.

will work to make sure that important initiatives by the

:43:00.:43:01.

Midlands engine and the new industrial strategy work for small

:43:02.:43:09.

business, as well as big. The third really important thing about my

:43:10.:43:12.

constituency is the open and welcoming nature of the people.

:43:13.:43:17.

Perhaps it's because we've plugged the global economy ever since the

:43:18.:43:21.

Romans came and built the road which now forms the eastern boundary of

:43:22.:43:26.

the constituency. Mr Speaker, I have to tell you that not all that road

:43:27.:43:31.

is now possible by car due to several centuries of disgraceful

:43:32.:43:35.

underinvestment by the Vikings, Normans and Saxons. But nonetheless,

:43:36.:43:39.

Mr Speaker, later on the canals came and they put the constituency back

:43:40.:43:45.

on the map. And the fantastic staircase of Foxton Lochs is a

:43:46.:43:51.

testament to the time when it was the spaghetti junction of the M1 of

:43:52.:43:56.

its day. In more recent decades, the constituency has welcomed people

:43:57.:43:59.

from all over the world. Sometimes they have come with absolutely

:44:00.:44:03.

nothing but the clothes on their backs. Particularly the Ugandan

:44:04.:44:06.

Asians who came and settled when they were fleeing from Idi Amin. But

:44:07.:44:12.

wherever they come from, often they have started brilliant businesses

:44:13.:44:15.

and powered our economy forwards. In our constituency we have very good

:44:16.:44:19.

relationships between all the different communities, and I will

:44:20.:44:25.

work to keep it that way. The fourth and final thing, and you will

:44:26.:44:29.

perhaps it was coming, is that my constituency is strikingly

:44:30.:44:33.

beautiful. And the well-kept gardens of Oadby, Wigston and Market

:44:34.:44:36.

Harborough, to be gently rolling countryside, it is a lovely place to

:44:37.:44:40.

be. When we are working near our home with me, my wife, Gemma, and

:44:41.:44:45.

our daughter Florence, tramping through the tall but the club is a

:44:46.:44:49.

nice pink clover flowers and the Leicestershire skies, I have to say

:44:50.:44:55.

that is about as close as it gets to heaven. -- through the tall

:44:56.:44:59.

buttercups. My constituency is a place of beauty, opportunity and a

:45:00.:45:05.

strong cumulative. I want to keep it that way. Anti-TB beautiful, we've

:45:06.:45:10.

got to stop by reforming our broken planning system. -- and to keep it

:45:11.:45:14.

beautiful. We've made progress and we must build more houses. But too

:45:15.:45:19.

often our planning system only builds resentment. It was

:45:20.:45:22.

development in the wrong places and doesn't match new houses with the

:45:23.:45:26.

infrastructure needed. Councils simply have too little power

:45:27.:45:32.

relative to development. To extend opportunity, we've now got to focus

:45:33.:45:38.

on education. I grew up in Huddersfield, I went to be

:45:39.:45:41.

comprehensive. I got to go to Oxford and I've ended up in this house. I

:45:42.:45:46.

want people in my constituency to have the same chances that I've had.

:45:47.:45:49.

It simply cannot be right that school pupils in Harborough, Oadby

:45:50.:45:54.

and Wigston gets a much less funding than children in identical

:45:55.:45:57.

circumstances in other areas. The new national funding formula will

:45:58.:46:01.

start to address this injustice and I hope that the Government will

:46:02.:46:05.

press on with it as soon as they possibly can. I also want to sue the

:46:06.:46:08.

forthcoming review of funding for councils address the wider

:46:09.:46:12.

underfunding of Leicestershire. To make the most of our community

:46:13.:46:17.

spirit, we've got to make sure that everyone in it is included. We are

:46:18.:46:22.

an ageing society, and one with more people living alone. So the problem

:46:23.:46:28.

of loneliness is a growing one. I would commend the work of the Jo Cox

:46:29.:46:31.

commission and loneliness will stop and also the fantastic work being

:46:32.:46:37.

done by many community groups to address loneliness. I will get right

:46:38.:46:43.

behind them. Mr Deputy Speaker, I am an optimist by nature. Yes, we are

:46:44.:46:49.

in a global economic race today. But we have better schools than we've

:46:50.:46:52.

ever had before, and a brilliant culture of enterprise in this

:46:53.:46:56.

country. Yes, we are an ageing society. But I believe with more

:46:57.:47:01.

people with time to volunteer we have the conditions today for a

:47:02.:47:06.

massive boom in our social and community life. So while this

:47:07.:47:12.

country faces charges, I believe that our best days still lie ahead.

:47:13.:47:20.

Alister Jack. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, the

:47:21.:47:24.

opportunity to speak in the second reading this important bill. I look

:47:25.:47:28.

forward to working colleagues across the House to improve the protection

:47:29.:47:30.

is available to British holiday-makers. I'd also like to

:47:31.:47:35.

congratulate my friends, the member for Harborough, on his excellent

:47:36.:47:41.

maiden Beech. I must also express my appreciation for the advice and

:47:42.:47:43.

guidance I've had from both honourable members and from officers

:47:44.:47:47.

of the House, as I take my first faltering steps in this place. Now I

:47:48.:47:54.

must pay tribute to my predecessor, Richard Harkness, who was elected in

:47:55.:47:58.

2015. Richard didn't have long in his role, but he did make a positive

:47:59.:48:04.

contribution in those two years and I'm wishing very well for the

:48:05.:48:09.

future. I'd also like to pay tribute to Russell Brand, his predecessor,

:48:10.:48:12.

who served our region with aplomb for 18 years until 2015. Russell

:48:13.:48:20.

defeated the Conservative candidate, riding on a Labour tidal wave. I was

:48:21.:48:27.

standing in Lauderdale. John Major was going out. Tony Blair was going

:48:28.:48:38.

in. This was a experience for me tonight. Russell came in and a

:48:39.:48:45.

Labour tidal wave only to go out to an SNP 's tsunami. We may not have

:48:46.:48:50.

seen anything as dramatic in the polls in Scotland this time, but the

:48:51.:48:53.

tide is rising for the Scottish negatives. I have the honour to

:48:54.:48:59.

represent the electors of Dumfries Galloway, which measuring over 2500

:49:00.:49:05.

square miles is the six largest constituency in the United Kingdom.

:49:06.:49:09.

From Dumfries, it's the combination of rolling farmland, clean waters

:49:10.:49:19.

and beautiful hills and forestss. It captures 2.5 counties, and also the

:49:20.:49:24.

hearts of those who live and visit. Historically Dumfries Galloway is

:49:25.:49:27.

the birthplace of John Paul Jones, the founding father of the American

:49:28.:49:32.

Navy. No presidents visited us to thank us for that. There is one of

:49:33.:49:37.

the moment with a golf course in the neighbouring North constituency. But

:49:38.:49:42.

we are not holding our breath. It's also the resting place of Scotland's

:49:43.:49:46.

national bard, Robert Burns will stop a fertile poet, -- national

:49:47.:49:54.

bird, Robert -- national bard, Robert Burns. A fertile poet, I will

:49:55.:49:59.

say no more on that subject. And thanks to Patrick Macmillan in 1840

:50:00.:50:03.

Dumfries Galloway gave the world the first bicycle. Something I see

:50:04.:50:11.

has really caught on in the city! Today our industry is centred on

:50:12.:50:14.

agriculture, tourism, forestry and food processing. The Tories and

:50:15.:50:19.

farming industries in particular of the bedrock of the local economy and

:50:20.:50:23.

are based around the small market town 's of Castle Douglas and Newton

:50:24.:50:28.

Stewart. My constituency is hosted some of the finest dairy herds in

:50:29.:50:33.

the United Kingdom. Some of the most expanding upland sheep farms in

:50:34.:50:36.

Scotland. And of course to the world-famous pedigree beef cow that

:50:37.:50:42.

is the belted Galloway. At as the market is important to our region

:50:43.:50:46.

and we look forward to welcoming old friends and new to treasures such as

:50:47.:50:50.

the Scottish national Wigtown with its excellent festival. Deport that

:50:51.:50:56.

Portpatrick. The latter, Kirkcudbright, also famous for its

:50:57.:51:03.

artists. And the rugged scenery of the hills. Small communities and in

:51:04.:51:07.

the fishing, Field sports and walking tourism. But there was

:51:08.:51:11.

dependent on faster wider broadband to develop home-grown businesses.

:51:12.:51:14.

That is something I seek to approve in my new role. I'm well aware of my

:51:15.:51:21.

obligation to play my part in sustaining those rural communities,

:51:22.:51:24.

but I must encourage economic development in the larger towns. I

:51:25.:51:30.

was born in Dumfries, so I know well its issues. However, I also want to

:51:31.:51:35.

make a positive impact which are seen as ferry terminal move five now

:51:36.:51:41.

is the net miles north in recent years. That has resulted in many

:51:42.:51:43.

less visitors to the town. However, they are a resilient lot in

:51:44.:51:52.

Stranraer and I intend to support them with their regeneration efforts

:51:53.:51:56.

in whatever way possible. The biggest win for them would be an

:51:57.:52:04.

upgrade of the a 75 route from the Stranraer, something I have been

:52:05.:52:07.

telling my neighbour the honourable member for East Antrim just across

:52:08.:52:10.

the water. Hopefully he has taken it on board. This important economic

:52:11.:52:17.

artery however has been ignored by Scotland's government for far too

:52:18.:52:22.

long. I would also like to take this opportunity to send another message

:52:23.:52:26.

to Scotland's government. In the 2014 independence referendum, my

:52:27.:52:31.

constituents voted overwhelmingly to remain in the United Kingdom, and

:52:32.:52:37.

the leadership of the SNP should respect that decision. As we prepare

:52:38.:52:44.

to leave the European Union, it is the task of all of us in this house

:52:45.:52:48.

and in all corners of our great country to ensure that as the United

:52:49.:52:54.

Kingdom goes forward, economically, socially and constitutionally, that

:52:55.:52:59.

it does so as one nation. And, to that end, I look forward to working

:53:00.:53:01.

with my neighbours on both sides of the border to bring forward the

:53:02.:53:07.

borderlands growth deal, which will be for the economic benefit of the

:53:08.:53:11.

whole of the North of England and the whole of the south of Scotland.

:53:12.:53:16.

So, in conclusion Mr Speaker, I thank the house for the

:53:17.:53:18.

consideration it has shown me this evening, and I would only add that I

:53:19.:53:24.

am proud to have been elected to represent Dumfries and Galloway,

:53:25.:53:28.

proud to be one of the baker's dozen of Scottish Conservatives returned

:53:29.:53:36.

to Westminster, and proud that we have turned the tables and imposed a

:53:37.:53:40.

Conservative government on the English. Order, two remaining

:53:41.:53:49.

speeches, the front bench windups pitches should and must begin at

:53:50.:53:54.

9:40pm. A pleasure to make a brief contribution to this debate. A great

:53:55.:54:02.

pleasure to follow my honourable friend from Dumfries and Galloway,

:54:03.:54:05.

colleagues from both sides of the house, who have made such wonderful

:54:06.:54:11.

maiden speeches today. I do wonder, Mr Speaker, if their eloquence in

:54:12.:54:17.

painting the treasures of their constituencies has actually made the

:54:18.:54:21.

bill we are discussing today irrelevant, because who would want

:54:22.:54:27.

to travel abroad when we have such a wonderful array of treasures in

:54:28.:54:30.

these isles? But in the inconceivable reason that some

:54:31.:54:34.

people will still wish the holiday overseas, this bill is incredibly

:54:35.:54:38.

important, because, as we have heard, the way people booked their

:54:39.:54:43.

travel, their holidays, has changed remarkably, from not that long ago

:54:44.:54:46.

when you would toddle off down to the travel agent's and book your

:54:47.:54:52.

fortnight in Lanzarote or wherever was your destination of choice, and

:54:53.:54:56.

you bought it as one package and that was it. People now mix and

:54:57.:55:01.

match, they use the internet to add on all sorts of different parts of

:55:02.:55:09.

their holiday. It is important we upgrade our regulation, the valuable

:55:10.:55:13.

ATOL scheme that has been in place for many years, to reflect those

:55:14.:55:17.

changes, and the market will continue to evolve, and that is why

:55:18.:55:21.

I think this bill is absolutely right in just setting the general

:55:22.:55:28.

framework for the new legislation that can be mentored by specific

:55:29.:55:32.

regulation as we go forward, that is absolutely right and it was a

:55:33.:55:36.

pleasure to serve with the minister, the honourable gentleman in the

:55:37.:55:41.

shadow secretary and other members in the last parliament. I am glad we

:55:42.:55:44.

are revisiting those provisions today. The only point I will just

:55:45.:55:49.

make very briefly before we reach the windups speeches is a point I

:55:50.:55:53.

made on an intervention on the Minister in his opening speech. It

:55:54.:56:00.

is important that we get the detailed regulations in as soon as

:56:01.:56:05.

possible. The Honourable gentleman from Plymouth, sudden and Davenport

:56:06.:56:09.

made an excellent speech and is very knowledgeable in these matters,

:56:10.:56:13.

echoed it. It is an industry that has the planned 12 to 18 months

:56:14.:56:17.

ahead, and they are anxious that we get that regulation in place as soon

:56:18.:56:20.

as possible, so that people booking holidays today for that period ahead

:56:21.:56:27.

can have the coverage and protection that this scheme should do, so I

:56:28.:56:31.

will certainly be supporting this legislation tonight, but I hope the

:56:32.:56:35.

Minister can address that point when we get into committee, that the

:56:36.:56:38.

regulation must be there as speedily as possible. Thank you. Mr Kevin

:56:39.:56:46.

Foster. Thank you, Mr Speaker, it is quite something to be the last

:56:47.:56:49.

backbencher called when we had nine maidens back-to-back. Now we are

:56:50.:56:53.

ending up with one of the old regulars speaking. One of the things

:56:54.:56:58.

I would say it to some of the new members as when I got here two years

:56:59.:57:03.

ago people said to me to find a nice quiet spot to speak from. You can

:57:04.:57:08.

see where I decided to pick, directly opposite the then 56

:57:09.:57:12.

Scottish National Party members, now slightly less. In terms of moving

:57:13.:57:19.

into this bill, representing Torbay, main tourism area, I would struggle

:57:20.:57:22.

to think why anyone would not like to come and be part of the history

:57:23.:57:26.

that is in Torbay, one of the most beautiful constituencies country.

:57:27.:57:30.

But it is right that if the photo go abroad that there are protections in

:57:31.:57:37.

place, which is what ATOL does. This is a market that has changed

:57:38.:57:41.

massively since the start of ATOL and is likely to change again, and

:57:42.:57:46.

it is important that our regulatory system is kept up-to-date, hence why

:57:47.:57:48.

I welcome this bill being brought in. Whilst a lot of people have been

:57:49.:57:53.

talking about their birthplace is, I quite enjoyed the speech from the

:57:54.:57:56.

Honourable member for my own worthless, the member of Plymouth,

:57:57.:58:01.

sudden and Davenport, I was born at Freedom Fields which has moved away,

:58:02.:58:05.

but from there. I was interested to hear his points. That is right that

:58:06.:58:10.

this is a changing market. A market where a travel agent with a whole

:58:11.:58:13.

selection of brochures has been replaced by a smartphone with an app

:58:14.:58:17.

that connects you immediately to that particular site that may sell

:58:18.:58:20.

you everything, but isn't necessarily selling you a package

:58:21.:58:23.

holiday and it is important we keep up-to-date. It is right that the

:58:24.:58:32.

changes are made. This started with a reference to package holidays

:58:33.:58:34.

being a trip to a temperance meeting. Sadly one of the earliest I

:58:35.:58:37.

had a Torbay was some entrepreneurs who decided to arrange a trip to the

:58:38.:58:43.

public hanging in Exeter with a trip to the races thrown in on the way

:58:44.:58:48.

back. However, the slight problem for them, the individual concerned

:58:49.:58:52.

got reprieved and spent 30 years in jail, rather ruining their plans. It

:58:53.:58:57.

is right to have talked about the importance and making sure that

:58:58.:59:00.

British travel agents can compete in a market place. I welcome the fact

:59:01.:59:05.

we are looking to change this in no way that means it is the place where

:59:06.:59:08.

you are established that governs what system you are related to,

:59:09.:59:13.

rather than where the first flight departs from, which is where the

:59:14.:59:21.

current can one regulations. Firms will want to sell different light

:59:22.:59:24.

and packages not be constrained to the point of origin and where you

:59:25.:59:33.

flew out. I also hope it means that UK and British-based travel agents

:59:34.:59:44.

will benefit. Normally I would not be rushing to favour someone

:59:45.:59:48.

extending taxation powers but it is appropriate that clause one gives

:59:49.:59:51.

the ability to extend tax-raising. As we come towards the time for the

:59:52.:00:02.

windupss, it has been a fascinating display, it has felt like I have

:00:03.:00:06.

been on a tour of various parts of the United Kingdom with the maiden

:00:07.:00:10.

speeches we had, in a debate about people taking a trip abroad to see

:00:11.:00:14.

what is on offer. I certainly think one thing that will come out of this

:00:15.:00:17.

bill, there are clear the points to go over in committee stage, but it

:00:18.:00:22.

is welcome to see this coming forward to ensure the protections

:00:23.:00:25.

are in place so that nobody faces the situation where they are stuck

:00:26.:00:27.

abroad without the ability to come back and it is right that it is the

:00:28.:00:31.

industry that should bear the cost of that, rather than just the UK

:00:32.:00:35.

taxpayer overall, which would be the case of we allow the system to

:00:36.:00:38.

continue and did not look to reform it in the way that is being

:00:39.:00:41.

suggested, that will make a real difference and I look forward to

:00:42.:00:43.

this bill going into its committee stage. The Shadow Minister for

:00:44.:00:49.

shipping, aviation and road safety, Mr Karl Turner. Thank you Mr

:00:50.:00:56.

Speaker, we have had 22 members speak in this debate and no less

:00:57.:01:06.

than 13 maiden speeches. Too many, Mr Speaker, to mention, but the

:01:07.:01:08.

contributions have been truly excellent in what has been a

:01:09.:01:12.

non-contentious debate, given that this side of the house agree with

:01:13.:01:19.

the government's position. Mr Speaker, as are Honourable friend

:01:20.:01:24.

stated at the outset, the opposition are not opposed to the bill, we are

:01:25.:01:28.

broadly very supportive of it. There are, however, some concerns about

:01:29.:01:32.

the impact of some parts of the bill, so we shall press the

:01:33.:01:37.

government on some issues. The bill will bring ATOL up-to-date, and in

:01:38.:01:42.

sure that it is harmonised with the local EU package travel directive,

:01:43.:01:46.

extending a wider range of holidays and protecting more consumers, as

:01:47.:01:49.

well as allowing UK travel companies to sell more seamlessly across

:01:50.:01:55.

Europe. Labour welcomes the extensions, which will ultimately

:01:56.:02:01.

help to protect more holiday-makers, but we want clarity on how UK

:02:02.:02:07.

consumers will be protected by EU -based companies, as they will no

:02:08.:02:12.

longer be subject towards Mac ATOL, but to member state equivalents. If

:02:13.:02:15.

he doesn't mind, I will not give way at this stage. I am hoping to

:02:16.:02:20.

mention some of the wonderful maiden speeches if I have time later on in

:02:21.:02:26.

my remarks. The applications of ATOL after Brexit are also a cause for

:02:27.:02:31.

concern. Hidden in the bill are proposals that the Secretary of

:02:32.:02:36.

State will require only affirmative resolution to significantly reform

:02:37.:02:40.

ATOL and the Bear Trap or trust fund. Labour recognises the merits

:02:41.:02:46.

of some reforms, but would believe that an impact assessment, full

:02:47.:02:53.

consultation and scrutiny will be required before any fundamental

:02:54.:02:58.

changes are made to this well respected consumer protection. These

:02:59.:03:03.

issues bring to the forefront uncertainties over the future of UK

:03:04.:03:09.

aviation following the decision to leave the European Union. And Labour

:03:10.:03:17.

has been clear that whichever framework is chosen, the government

:03:18.:03:23.

should prioritise retaining an essentially unchanged operating

:03:24.:03:30.

environment. Mr Speaker, in conclusion, the Labour Party broadly

:03:31.:03:36.

supports the bill, as it will extend protections to many more

:03:37.:03:40.

holiday-makers. However, we want clarity on how EU -based companies,

:03:41.:03:45.

which will no longer be subject to ATOL but rather the respective

:03:46.:03:48.

member states equivalents, will provide protections to UK consumers.

:03:49.:03:53.

We are committed to securing the best possible framework to ensure

:03:54.:03:58.

that the sector flourishes, but this means adequately preparing ourselves

:03:59.:04:01.

for the many impatience that Brexit will have four can one and our

:04:02.:04:11.

aviation -- Brexit will have for ATOL and our aviation sector as a

:04:12.:04:14.

whole. Even that I have a few minutes I want to mention some of

:04:15.:04:19.

the maiden speeches, kicking off with the honourable member for

:04:20.:04:22.

Redditch. She spoke very passionately about her constituency

:04:23.:04:25.

and the fact her daughter Ruth had encouraged her to following a long

:04:26.:04:29.

tradition of electing women and the parliament, and encouraged her to

:04:30.:04:32.

stand. I think that was an excellent move because her speech was

:04:33.:04:36.

extremely well received, and very good. She also mentioned warmly her

:04:37.:04:42.

immediate predecessor, Karen Lumley, who retired from this place through

:04:43.:04:47.

ill-health, and we on all sides of the house send our very well best

:04:48.:04:52.

wishes. She of course mentioned as well predecessor Jackie Smith, who

:04:53.:05:02.

was the first elected rather first woman Home Secretary from this

:05:03.:05:06.

place. The member for Chelmsford eloquently described the needs for

:05:07.:05:09.

consumer protection and spoke with great knowledge about the EU, and

:05:10.:05:14.

the importance of these consumer protections, given that we are

:05:15.:05:22.

leaving the EU. I understand she is Honourable member of Parliament.

:05:23.:05:30.

My honourable friend, the member for Crewe and Nantwich, spoke with great

:05:31.:05:36.

pride about representing the constituent she was raised in and

:05:37.:05:39.

she also spoke about the very important issue of the gender

:05:40.:05:43.

inequality pay gap, and what is the inequality pay gap, and what is the

:05:44.:05:53.

Waspy women. The Honourable member for East Renfrewshire rightly use

:05:54.:05:57.

this opportunity in his remarks to right the wrong of forgetting to

:05:58.:06:03.

mention his wife in his acceptance speech at the general election. The

:06:04.:06:07.

member for north-east dovish spoke with great passion -- north-east

:06:08.:06:13.

derby sure spoke with great passion about the constituency he grew up,

:06:14.:06:18.

and spoke very warmly about his predecessor, Natascha Engel, our

:06:19.:06:23.

very own Natascha Engel, who is missed from this place greatly.

:06:24.:06:30.

The member for Weaver Vale spoke with great passion about his

:06:31.:06:36.

constituency, and also very cleverly mentioned his wife in his remarks,

:06:37.:06:40.

referring to the fact that she was born and bred in his constituency

:06:41.:06:48.

Runcorn. The member for Clacton was very entertaining, I have to say. He

:06:49.:06:54.

was an actor, but he said this was probably a more interesting theatre.

:06:55.:06:58.

If I remember rightly, he appeared in a Bread. I remember watching it!

:06:59.:07:07.

That was the comedy series about a family in Liverpool who suffered the

:07:08.:07:12.

terrible time under the Thatcher government. Mr Speaker, the

:07:13.:07:18.

honourable member for the Isle of Wight bake with great passion about

:07:19.:07:27.

his. Great, too many to mention. But you also decried the privatisation

:07:28.:07:29.

of the federally services. Many members on this service of the House

:07:30.:07:35.

would probably agree with him. The member for sterling spoke with great

:07:36.:07:41.

passion again about his constituency, especially with

:07:42.:07:43.

reference to the wonderful shortbread and whiskey. The member

:07:44.:07:47.

for Walsall North spoke about this serious issue that one in four of

:07:48.:07:53.

his constituency don't actually own a passport. And how important this

:07:54.:08:00.

bill is to protect people who spend an awful lot of their hard earned

:08:01.:08:04.

money on holidays and expected to be protected in legislation. The member

:08:05.:08:13.

for air, Carrick Cumnock used his remarks to reference the terrible

:08:14.:08:20.

tragedy that is Grenfell Tower. He had a great deal of experience as a

:08:21.:08:26.

long-standing fire officer, and I'm sure this house will benefit from

:08:27.:08:31.

his expertise in that area, and other areas as well. The member for

:08:32.:08:40.

Harborough spoke about how innovative his constituents are,

:08:41.:08:44.

making everything from jet engines to milk floats. He also mentioned

:08:45.:08:48.

the Jo Cox Commission on loneliness and said that he would be supported

:08:49.:08:53.

on that. We would all sides of the House be grateful for the support.

:08:54.:09:00.

Last but not least, maiden speakers, the member for Dumfries and Galloway

:09:01.:09:06.

spoke about the innovations of his constituency, having created the

:09:07.:09:10.

first bicycle. It's not been a particularly contentious debate. The

:09:11.:09:16.

side of the House support the Government in its efforts to

:09:17.:09:19.

legislate this. I call the Parliamentary

:09:20.:09:26.

Under-Secretary of State for roads and transport.

:09:27.:09:31.

Thank you, very much indeed, Mr Speaker. It is an absolute honour

:09:32.:09:34.

for me to be able to close the debate on this bill. I must tell you

:09:35.:09:41.

that when I first looked at the order paper and saw that we had 6.5

:09:42.:09:45.

hours to debate a bill of four clauses, my heart slightly oiled for

:09:46.:09:50.

a second. But I would like to put it to the entire house that tonight has

:09:51.:09:57.

been an absolute triumph. When I heard the member for Ayr, Carrick

:09:58.:10:08.

and Cumnock stand up and quote the made in seducing Robbie Burns

:10:09.:10:15.

himself, not only that but mentioning his famous poem to a

:10:16.:10:21.

mouse, which begins, as we know, Carol Ring, timorous beasties, oh,

:10:22.:10:27.

what a panic in thy breast! -- cowering timorous beasties. I was

:10:28.:10:33.

tempted to think that none of the new members thinking could count as

:10:34.:10:38.

ABC, and the panic was likely to be in the Labour breast. -- count as a

:10:39.:10:46.

beastie. So, it has been a delight. As they lesser Parliamentary debate

:10:47.:10:49.

on an episode of Britain's Got talent. With dazzling speeches, new

:10:50.:10:56.

voices and a delight of Scottish voices. Certainly from my side of

:10:57.:11:05.

the House. I have a rare and delightful occurrence. We have lost

:11:06.:11:12.

great colleagues across the House, but this evening has brought home to

:11:13.:11:16.

us what absolute legends we have received instead. We had an

:11:17.:11:21.

extremely useful debate and I warmly thank all of those who part,

:11:22.:11:26.

including many members from across the House is made their maiden

:11:27.:11:30.

speeches, as I have mentioned. As the debate has made clear, this is

:11:31.:11:33.

not a bill that is politically charged or partisan. We are

:11:34.:11:38.

collectively seeking to act in the interests of UK businesses that sell

:11:39.:11:42.

holidays. And in particular in the interest of the travelling public

:11:43.:11:45.

but wish to enjoy those holidays free of care. Yes, this may not be

:11:46.:11:50.

the longest of bills were measured in terms of the number of its

:11:51.:11:54.

clauses. But this is a very large billing and even measured by the

:11:55.:11:57.

potential it has to bring peace of mind to people in every constituency

:11:58.:12:03.

across the United Kingdom. That reassurance is what the atoll scheme

:12:04.:12:10.

was originally created to provide when it was set up in 1973. Today

:12:11.:12:15.

not only does it help to prevent rogue traders from entering the

:12:16.:12:19.

market, it also provides important protection to consumers in the event

:12:20.:12:21.

that the travel organiser should fail. The scheme has provided

:12:22.:12:25.

effective protection to consumers for over 40 years, and it is well

:12:26.:12:31.

regarded, both by those who use it, and by the travel sector itself. Mr

:12:32.:12:37.

Speaker, consumer protection is an important pillar of the holiday

:12:38.:12:41.

sector due to the nature of the market will stop holidays are

:12:42.:12:44.

frequently booked and paid for many months in advance of travel. And the

:12:45.:12:49.

consumer may often be unaware of the financial stability or instability

:12:50.:12:55.

of their holiday providers. The impact from a failure of a travel

:12:56.:13:00.

company can be grievous indeed. Consumers may face a serious

:13:01.:13:04.

financial loss from not receiving a refund, or from the cost of having

:13:05.:13:07.

to make alternative arrangements just to get home. And worse, even,

:13:08.:13:12.

they may experience the trauma, heartache and sheer inconvenience of

:13:13.:13:17.

a cancelled holiday, or were being stranded abroad without

:13:18.:13:22.

accommodation or a ticket. I'd be delighted to give way. Thank you

:13:23.:13:26.

very much for your response to the issue that we have. You'll be aware

:13:27.:13:31.

of the issue for many holiday-makers and travellers. Delayed flights,

:13:32.:13:36.

flights are cancelled. Does the Minister's legislation addressed the

:13:37.:13:43.

issue for those people in a difficult position, domestic or in

:13:44.:13:48.

Europe or further afield? I'm not quite sure of taking the point the

:13:49.:13:52.

gentleman is amazing. If it's a point about Brexit, I'm not

:13:53.:13:58.

expecting this to change at all. I'm afraid I'll have to move on, I

:13:59.:14:04.

apologise for that. The Atol scheme provides important protection in

:14:05.:14:07.

situations which ensures that if they Atol holder fails, the

:14:08.:14:14.

customers are able to continue and return home, and not lose out on

:14:15.:14:19.

many if they are yet to travel. Unfortunately -- fortunately the

:14:20.:14:21.

failure of travel companies is relatively rare, but it does happen.

:14:22.:14:27.

Bastia 19 Atol holders collapsed. In each situation the Civil Aviation

:14:28.:14:32.

Authority had to step in to deliver appropriate protection to consumers

:14:33.:14:34.

through the scheme. Many colleagues will be aware of the recent failure

:14:35.:14:43.

of the Spanish online group Low-cost Holidays Group. It was reported last

:14:44.:14:47.

summer that there were over 27,000 customers on holiday and many more

:14:48.:14:53.

yet to travel. While many of these were from the UK, the company did

:14:54.:14:56.

not have Atol protection as they were regulated under the Spanish

:14:57.:14:59.

regime. The collapse of companies such as this is a important reminder

:15:00.:15:06.

of the need to ensure consumer protection keeps pace with the way

:15:07.:15:09.

people actually booked the holidays. The huge growth in online booking

:15:10.:15:12.

means customers have a much wider choice of providers, including those

:15:13.:15:18.

based overseas. Yet it is clear from the low-cost holidays situation that

:15:19.:15:21.

not every travel provider is covered by the same level of protection, and

:15:22.:15:25.

that inconsistencies apply across borders. That is why we have already

:15:26.:15:30.

begun to take steps to update the atoll scheme, and to bring it into

:15:31.:15:35.

line with modern trade practices. By right honourable friend the Minister

:15:36.:15:38.

of Stretford transport, legislation and Maritime has already mentioned

:15:39.:15:43.

in his opening remarks the legislating changes we may do Atol

:15:44.:15:47.

in 2012. This introduced the flight plus category two bring Atol

:15:48.:15:51.

protection to the many consumers who book mix-and-match holidays online,

:15:52.:15:55.

in addition to those who buy traditional package holidays on the

:15:56.:15:58.

high street. The then government also introduced the Atol

:15:59.:16:02.

certificate, so consumers could never that when they booked a Atol

:16:03.:16:05.

protective holiday, that is what they had and who to contact their

:16:06.:16:10.

travel provider fails. We believe these interventions have had a

:16:11.:16:13.

positive impact for consumers and many businesses. Not only have we

:16:14.:16:18.

seen an increase in the number of protected can, but those changes

:16:19.:16:20.

have helped to level the playing field between online and high-street

:16:21.:16:27.

businesses. For similar reasons, we have also been working with the

:16:28.:16:30.

European Commission and EU member states since 2012 to ensure that the

:16:31.:16:33.

European regulations also brought up-to-date. The original package

:16:34.:16:39.

travel directory was agreed in 1990 and its provisions were introduced

:16:40.:16:46.

into law through the regulations of 1992. As was said earlier, the Atol

:16:47.:16:50.

scheme is a crucial means by which UK businesses can meet the

:16:51.:16:53.

obligation to have protection under the EU directive. These package

:16:54.:17:00.

travel regulations, both of the EU and UK side, have contributed

:17:01.:17:02.

significantly to consumer protection of rights since their introduction.

:17:03.:17:10.

However, the regulations were designed for a world when people

:17:11.:17:12.

bought their preprepared package holidays through a high-street

:17:13.:17:17.

travel agent or tour operator. The regulations that predate the growth

:17:18.:17:21.

of the Internet, where people have been able to create their own

:17:22.:17:25.

informal packages online, as the House well knows. The Internet has

:17:26.:17:30.

become a vast travel marketplace providing opportunities for

:17:31.:17:33.

consumers and businesses alike. We heard at the start of the debate

:17:34.:17:38.

that around 75% of UK holidays now booked online. That being the case,

:17:39.:17:44.

it's important regulations and consumer protections are able to

:17:45.:17:47.

keep pace major changes in the marketplace will stop that is why a

:17:48.:17:52.

new package travel directory was finally agreed across Europe in

:17:53.:17:57.

December of 2015. The UK Government has supported the rationale for

:17:58.:18:01.

updating the directive in order to bring greater clarity on what

:18:02.:18:05.

constitutes a package holiday in today's marketplace, and to improve

:18:06.:18:07.

and harmonise protection across the continent. The updated package will

:18:08.:18:15.

do just that. It brings protection across Europe closer to the model

:18:16.:18:18.

which we have operated since we updated Atol in 2012. Once again the

:18:19.:18:23.

UK is leading in Europe. That is good news for consumers. Overall it

:18:24.:18:28.

will mean consumers can get sovereignty protection extended to

:18:29.:18:32.

cover a broader range of holidays. In particular it has updated the

:18:33.:18:35.

definition of a package holidays so that an informal package booked

:18:36.:18:38.

online will need to be protected in the same way as a traditional

:18:39.:18:41.

package holiday booked on the high street. It also brings a new concept

:18:42.:18:47.

which has been noted of links travel arrangements into the scope of

:18:48.:18:51.

protection. Like a package holiday, these involve a combination of at

:18:52.:18:55.

least two different types of travel services purchased together for the

:18:56.:19:01.

purposes other holiday. Those arrangements are looser, involving

:19:02.:19:04.

the separate payment of each travel service and separate contracts with

:19:05.:19:08.

each travel service provider. Links travel arrangements will not be

:19:09.:19:11.

protected to the same level as a package holiday. But under certain

:19:12.:19:15.

conditions a refund or repatriation will apply. There should also be

:19:16.:19:20.

benefits to businesses. A harmonised approach will help to level the

:19:21.:19:23.

playing field with the same rules applied to businesses selling

:19:24.:19:29.

similar products across the EU. The harmonised approach will also help

:19:30.:19:31.

to remove barriers for UK businesses who want to trade across borders. Mr

:19:32.:19:38.

Speaker, we've had concerns raised about ever passenger rights when the

:19:39.:19:42.

UK leads the EU. I can say that the Government has committed to

:19:43.:19:45.

delivering orderly withdrawal and preparing to introduce legislation

:19:46.:19:49.

which will preserve the EU domestically for the time being. The

:19:50.:19:55.

Government is also seeking to have UK consumers continue to enjoy the

:19:56.:19:57.

strong protections which they currently enjoy both inside and

:19:58.:20:05.

outside the EU. Today we are taking forward the Atol bill to harmonise

:20:06.:20:08.

our domestic regulations with the changes coming in across the EU in

:20:09.:20:14.

2018. As the House has heard from my right honourable friend, the bill

:20:15.:20:18.

will update the Atol powers to align them with the scope of the

:20:19.:20:21.

directive. It's a fine piece of work and I commend it to the House.

:20:22.:20:28.

The question is that the bill be now read a second time. As many of that

:20:29.:20:37.

opinion essay aye. To the contrary, no. The ayes habit, the ayes have

:20:38.:20:40.

it. We come now to the adjournment. Beg

:20:41.:20:53.

to move. I beg to me that this house tune adjourn. The question is that

:20:54.:20:55.

this house do now adjourned. I am grateful to you Mr Speaker for

:20:56.:21:07.

allowing me the other Tunisia to raise the issue of child safety in

:21:08.:21:12.

theme parks. We, in Leicester, were deeply affected with the death of

:21:13.:21:19.

one of our own, of Belgrave, at Drayton Manor Park in Staffordshire.

:21:20.:21:27.

On the morning of Tuesday 9th of May 2017, Eva woke up excited at the

:21:28.:21:38.

prospect of visiting Drayton Manor Park. She had been given ?10 by her

:21:39.:21:45.

family to spend at the park. Just four days before she celebrated her

:21:46.:21:52.

11th birthday. What Eva cosmic mother did not know this -- what Eva

:21:53.:22:00.

cosmic mother did not know that morning when she waved her off with

:22:01.:22:03.

that she would be seeing her for the very last time. Tonight, we need to

:22:04.:22:10.

begin the process of addressing some of the issues surrounding Eva cosmic

:22:11.:22:14.

death, and I am grateful to see the Minister here today. This is not

:22:15.:22:19.

just a family, or for the 1.5 million people who visit Drayton

:22:20.:22:26.

Manor, but for millions of theme park goers worldwide. I will give

:22:27.:22:33.

way. I sort permission from the right honourable member to have an

:22:34.:22:42.

intervention. As many in this house enjoy the theme park, when we

:22:43.:22:47.

attend, we know there is also a need for strict regulations. Does the

:22:48.:22:51.

right Honourable member feel when it comes to the regulations of work,

:22:52.:22:55.

perhaps the Americans and how they do it would be someone to get

:22:56.:23:00.

lessons from? I said to the Honourable gentleman this is

:23:01.:23:03.

certainly something I hope the government will look at once it has

:23:04.:23:06.

had an opportunity to see the reports being prepared by the police

:23:07.:23:12.

and Health and Safety Executive. On that tragic day, Evha got onto the

:23:13.:23:16.

splash Canon ride just after 2pm with her school friends. According

:23:17.:23:20.

to eyewitness accounts, as the splash Canon ride went around in

:23:21.:23:26.

circles, Evha fell into the water as the vessels bumped into one of the

:23:27.:23:31.

sides of the ride. Having fallen into the water, Evha began walking

:23:32.:23:35.

towards her friends, who were in the vessel, and as it was pulled away by

:23:36.:23:43.

the water current. A few minutes later, Evha followed the vessel,

:23:44.:23:50.

trying to get back to safety, a sickly to join the vessel again

:23:51.:23:53.

because her friends were still in it. Sadly at that stage she received

:23:54.:23:59.

no help, and was eventually sucked under the water. In his initial

:24:00.:24:05.

report, the coroner, Andrew Haigh, has suggested that Evha suffered

:24:06.:24:12.

blunt chest trauma, which led to her death. In his communications with

:24:13.:24:18.

the family, with me, and especially in allowing Evha's family to see the

:24:19.:24:24.

body for a second time, which was of particular benefit to Evha 's

:24:25.:24:32.

mother, Mr Hague has been exceptional. Issues of theme park

:24:33.:24:36.

safely are critical at all times but especially as we head towards the

:24:37.:24:43.

school summer holidays. These parks across the United Kingdom earn

:24:44.:24:46.

millions of pounds, and whether it is in Disney in the United States,

:24:47.:24:52.

or at Drayton Manor, adults and children must be safe when they

:24:53.:24:58.

visit them. Health and Safety Executive data reported that there

:24:59.:25:07.

were 420 non-fatal injuries at theme parks in 2015-2016, with 249 of them

:25:08.:25:14.

involving children under the age of 16. There have been three deaths

:25:15.:25:23.

since 2005, that is three too many. All theme park 's have television

:25:24.:25:29.

screens that are monitored by staff. The family want to know who was

:25:30.:25:34.

watching these screens and how Evha was left in the water for several

:25:35.:25:37.

minutes without anyone coming to rescue her? The house may recall the

:25:38.:25:47.

horrific accident that occurred in Alton Towers in June 2015 as

:25:48.:25:53.

passengers on a ride crashed into an empty carriage, and many suffered

:25:54.:26:00.

appalling injuries. That this tragedy could happen so soon

:26:01.:26:03.

afterwards means certain issues were not addressed, and it is in the

:26:04.:26:07.

public interest that they should be addressed immediately. Following the

:26:08.:26:14.

tragedy, a feature of this case has been the way in which the agencies

:26:15.:26:20.

involved have gone to great lengths tout the family. I would like to

:26:21.:26:24.

thank the Health and Safety Executive for the work they have

:26:25.:26:29.

done so far investigating the issue, in particular the work carried out

:26:30.:26:32.

by Catherine Cotton, under the leadership of Neil Craig, the head

:26:33.:26:39.

of operations. The vessels on the Splash Cannon ride have no seat

:26:40.:26:45.

belts, and a number of vessels have had there, and I quote, stay in your

:26:46.:26:52.

seat signs of skilled. This unfortunately was not the first time

:26:53.:26:56.

that somebody had fallen out of a vessel in Drayton Manor. Patrick

:26:57.:27:04.

treacle also fell off the Splash Cannon ride. In an interview with

:27:05.:27:14.

BBC's five live, Patrick's Vicky called for lapsed bands on the seats

:27:15.:27:17.

to ensure that children or adults do not stand up on the right. -- on the

:27:18.:27:27.

ride. Surely if there is a threat, certain safety procedures should be

:27:28.:27:34.

adopted. I fear this was not the case in Drayton Manor after Patrick

:27:35.:27:39.

treacle's incident, and it happened in Evha's case again. In the

:27:40.:27:46.

immediate aftermath of the incident, other major theme parks closed their

:27:47.:27:50.

water rights, and living Alton Towers, Legoland and thought park.

:27:51.:27:57.

However, these rides have since reopened, without waiting for the

:27:58.:28:05.

Health and Safety Executive report. The presence of lapsed bands that

:28:06.:28:11.

ensure participants stay in their seats but would not impede escape if

:28:12.:28:18.

it capsized must be seen as a potential solution, this would in my

:28:19.:28:21.

view not affect their enjoyment. It is also vital that there should be

:28:22.:28:26.

clear public about Spence regarding seating on rides at all parks.

:28:27.:28:37.

Informing them that they must remain in their seats, as well as they are

:28:38.:28:44.

of course being clear signage. The family feel that all this was

:28:45.:28:47.

lacking on that day at Drayton Manor. According to the children who

:28:48.:28:53.

were interviewed afterwards, they called out for help to the guards

:28:54.:28:57.

but nothing was done for them immediately, as they had asked.

:28:58.:29:02.

Making sure these rides are adequately staffed is a priority.

:29:03.:29:07.

Perhaps it would have been better if there were two members of staff at

:29:08.:29:11.

the start of the ride, assisting children to board the vessels. I

:29:12.:29:16.

accompanied the family, including Mohammed Islam, Evha's father, her

:29:17.:29:24.

brother Mohammed, and Evha's uncle Mohammed, to Drayton Manor where the

:29:25.:29:28.

ride was, and the circumstances of the ride was carefully explained to

:29:29.:29:33.

us by the police. On the half of the family, I would like to thank

:29:34.:29:37.

superintendent Steve Moray, DCI John Quilty and his colleagues for their

:29:38.:29:42.

work and for the relationship they have built up with the family. Of

:29:43.:29:46.

particular benefit was showing the family of the CCTV footage of Evha's

:29:47.:29:54.

last moments. The police investigation continues. Evha was

:29:55.:30:00.

only 11 years old, and got on the boat with five other children of the

:30:01.:30:06.

same age or younger. It should be the case that in future children

:30:07.:30:10.

under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times on these rides. I

:30:11.:30:18.

also want to raise in conclusion the issue of bereavement damages for the

:30:19.:30:23.

death of a child, which is currently capped at only ?15,000. This is a

:30:24.:30:30.

woefully low folk figure, and while of course no amount of money can

:30:31.:30:36.

compensate for the loss of a child, fair compensation for families is an

:30:37.:30:40.

issue that we must look at in the future. In the United States, there

:30:41.:30:46.

is no cap on such payments. Legislation should be introduced to

:30:47.:30:52.

remove the cap to allow for proper compensation to be given to

:30:53.:30:59.

families. The owners of Drayton Manor have been deeply affected by

:31:00.:31:02.

the tragedy, and William Bryant wrote to me, and said, "The whole

:31:03.:31:08.

Drayton Manor community remains deeply saddened and upset by the

:31:09.:31:14.

terrible incident last week. I cannot comprehend the pain and

:31:15.:31:18.

anguish that the family and the wider community feel right now." His

:31:19.:31:25.

letter was deeply appreciated. There are so many heroes and heroines who

:31:26.:31:29.

acted swiftly after Evha was discovered. I personally want to pay

:31:30.:31:35.

tribute to the air Ambulance Service for their reaction to the incident,

:31:36.:31:39.

and their efforts in trying to save the life of Evha, and for the staff,

:31:40.:31:43.

who must have been horrified by what they saw. Hundreds of people in

:31:44.:31:49.

Leicester attended the funeral, even though many of them, Mr Speaker, did

:31:50.:31:55.

not know Evha personally. The Darussalam mosque and its director

:31:56.:32:00.

have also been exceptional, and they have established a just giving page

:32:01.:32:07.

to support Evha's family. And Evha's school, particularly its

:32:08.:32:12.

headmistress, provided great comfort to the family after Evha's death.

:32:13.:32:19.

There are many legal issues that remain outstanding, and I have been

:32:20.:32:22.

careful not to cross into them while the inquest is pending. The family

:32:23.:32:29.

have appointed Hilary Meredith of Hilary Meredith solicitors and her

:32:30.:32:32.

legal team to deal with legal measures. They have taken up the

:32:33.:32:36.

challenge forcibly, and I thank them. The police and the Health and

:32:37.:32:44.

Safety Executive enquiries by themselves, even though I am sure

:32:45.:32:49.

they will be extremely thorough, will never bring Evha back. However,

:32:50.:32:53.

it is hoped that their recommendations will change how the

:32:54.:32:59.

system works, and the point made by the Honourable member from

:33:00.:33:01.

Strangford is absolutely right. There are other countries of course

:33:02.:33:06.

come theme parks do not just exist in the United Kingdom, they exist

:33:07.:33:10.

all over the world, and millions of children enjoy going to these theme

:33:11.:33:15.

parks. If there is an example of better practice, then I hope that we

:33:16.:33:18.

will be able to follow that better practice. Throughout May of this

:33:19.:33:25.

year, I spent a great deal of time with the family, who remain shocked,

:33:26.:33:32.

and in morning. Three macro's mother is still, as one can imagine,

:33:33.:33:39.

devastated -- in mourning. -- Evha's mother. Mohammed, Evha's brother,

:33:40.:33:49.

has handled himself in a way that most 18-year-olds could not or

:33:50.:33:52.

should not be asked to do. Mohammed and the family are concerned that

:33:53.:33:57.

potential negligence leading to his sister's death. To lose a child is

:33:58.:34:06.

horrific. But yet it to use that loss in a way that means there will

:34:07.:34:13.

be positive change, so that things can be improved for others, is, in

:34:14.:34:18.

my view, nothing short of heroic. Having spoken to Evha's father,

:34:19.:34:24.

Mohammed Islam, I know that he is set on ensuring that no other family

:34:25.:34:30.

is ever hit by a tragic event like this again. No other member of this

:34:31.:34:36.

house will want to be in a position in the future for calling for change

:34:37.:34:40.

after a tragedy of this sort, and that is why we need to make sure

:34:41.:34:47.

there is change. This house will inevitably move on to debate of the

:34:48.:34:53.

tragic events. Indeed, earlier today, we heard more about the

:34:54.:34:58.

situation surrounding Grenfell Tower. However, for this close-knit

:34:59.:35:08.

and loving family, no minute will go past, no day will go by, and no

:35:09.:35:15.

birthday will fail to the acknowledged without longing for

:35:16.:35:19.

their daughter, sister and niece. They will never hear little Evha

:35:20.:35:26.

chatting and laughing. They will never be able to see her lovely

:35:27.:35:32.

face. And that is why they want to get to the truth of what has

:35:33.:35:37.

happened, and, Mr Speaker, they deserve nothing less.

:35:38.:35:42.

I told the Minister of State for disabled people health and work at

:35:43.:35:47.

the Department for Work and Pensions.

:35:48.:35:54.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can I start by thanking the right honourable

:35:55.:35:58.

member for Leicester East in securing this debate and commend him

:35:59.:36:03.

for the advocacy he has shown to his constituents. I take the opportunity

:36:04.:36:10.

to extend my sincere sympathy to Evha's family and friends at their

:36:11.:36:14.

immense loss. And also to drain the right honourable gentleman in paying

:36:15.:36:22.

tribute to all those who helped on the tragic day and since. In

:36:23.:36:26.

particular I would thank him for mentioning the Health and Safety

:36:27.:36:30.

Executive, of which I am the minister Hugh has responsibility for

:36:31.:36:35.

that body. -- the minister who has responsibility. Their 50 strong

:36:36.:36:40.

fairground team, and in particular the two officers he mentions for

:36:41.:36:47.

that leadership in this instance. The right honourable gentleman will

:36:48.:36:49.

know that the Staffordshire Police with the Health and Safety Executive

:36:50.:36:54.

support are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Evha's

:36:55.:37:00.

death. Due to that investigation I'm constrained as to what I can say in

:37:01.:37:04.

particular about this incident. But I hope to afford him and his

:37:05.:37:08.

constituents some reassurance within those constraints. I can confirm a

:37:09.:37:14.

traitor manner's procedures for responding to emergencies at this

:37:15.:37:22.

ride, including identifying in rescuing anyone who falls into the

:37:23.:37:28.

water will be investigated as part of it. And that the ride remains

:37:29.:37:32.

closed was that investigation takes place. Immediately after the

:37:33.:37:38.

incident, the Health and Safety Executive contacted Merlin, who

:37:39.:37:46.

operates similar machines manufactured by Intamin at Alton

:37:47.:37:53.

Towers and Thorpe Park. Merlin had closed their rides so that they

:37:54.:37:59.

could conduct a check to ensure the machines were operating correctly.

:38:00.:38:02.

They agreed to keep the ride is closed until the health and safety

:38:03.:38:07.

executive could ensure there was nothing wrong with the Drayton Manor

:38:08.:38:12.

ride that would have been an increased risk to passengers on

:38:13.:38:16.

those rights. The Health and Safety Executive did this in the rides were

:38:17.:38:21.

closed for three days. Once they had completed their checks, Merlin

:38:22.:38:24.

confirms the Health and Safety Executive that they have reviewed

:38:25.:38:27.

all of the operating procedures to ensure that they were in line with

:38:28.:38:31.

the manufacturers two instructions, and that the operators were working

:38:32.:38:38.

in accordance with their training. -- Manufacturer's instructions. They

:38:39.:38:42.

reviewed supervision of the ride and riders, including those that only

:38:43.:38:47.

those who could be safely accommodated were allowed on the

:38:48.:38:51.

ride. And providing clear instructions to riders to remain in

:38:52.:38:54.

their seats was the ride was in operation. Not to stand, swap seats,

:38:55.:39:00.

lean out, and so forth. And to ensure the ride knew it was a

:39:01.:39:04.

vigorous ride and they would need to hold on as the boat moved down the

:39:05.:39:11.

right. -- down the ride. Having reviewed the rescue and response

:39:12.:39:14.

measures to ensure that they would know immediately that the person had

:39:15.:39:19.

fallen into the water, and that they could critically stop the flow of

:39:20.:39:24.

water with an emergency stop, and could swiftly get the person out of

:39:25.:39:28.

the water using appropriate techniques and equipment. On the

:39:29.:39:33.

information that they had provided, the Health and Safety Executive was

:39:34.:39:39.

satisfied with Merlin's review of those other rides. I think that's

:39:40.:39:43.

important to mention in the immediate aftermath on that tragic

:39:44.:39:47.

incident. Following the incident, the Health and Safety Executive also

:39:48.:39:53.

spent out an information note to the amusement devices safety council for

:39:54.:39:57.

onward transmission, reminding ride operators of the steps that they

:39:58.:40:02.

were required to take in order to ensure the safety of riders on water

:40:03.:40:06.

ride in particular. And those included some of the areas that I

:40:07.:40:11.

have just mentioned. Any specific learning that come out of the

:40:12.:40:15.

investigation at Drayton Manor will be shared with the industry said

:40:16.:40:18.

that they can insure that they're taken on board. The investigation

:40:19.:40:24.

into Drayton Manor is ongoing and the ride is shut down to allow that

:40:25.:40:30.

to proceed. The specific lines of enquiry being followed cannot be

:40:31.:40:34.

disclosed at present for reasons the right honourable gentleman will

:40:35.:40:37.

understand. But based on the emerging findings of the

:40:38.:40:42.

investigation, the Health and Safety Executive has no information that

:40:43.:40:47.

would suggest that those other rides are unsafe to operate. I would also

:40:48.:40:53.

mention as well that the investigation is looking at

:40:54.:40:59.

arrangements made by the school, and that after the incident the

:41:00.:41:03.

Department for Education produced a statement providing further advice,

:41:04.:41:11.

and it will provide again further guidance if it becomes necessary if

:41:12.:41:17.

the investigation identifies deficiencies in its own processes.

:41:18.:41:24.

Fortunately, serious incidents such as this are rare. At the right

:41:25.:41:28.

honourable gentleman is right to point out that even one is one too

:41:29.:41:34.

many. And this incident was the first drowning on a water ride in

:41:35.:41:41.

the UK. Following such an incident, the Health and Safety Executive

:41:42.:41:44.

carries out an in-depth investigation to establish the

:41:45.:41:49.

causes of the incident. And also to achieve justice for the victims and

:41:50.:41:54.

their families. Any lessons will be learned will be shared with the

:41:55.:41:57.

industry and they will be required to implement them. By way of an

:41:58.:42:03.

example, as I'm constrained to what I can say about Drayton Manor

:42:04.:42:07.

incident, I would just like to explain to the House what happened

:42:08.:42:11.

following the Alton Towers incident, which was a multi-car

:42:12.:42:17.

roller-coaster. The operators reviewed and tested their

:42:18.:42:21.

operational and administrative procedures for clearing the block

:42:22.:42:28.

stops on multi-car roller-coasters. Merlin reviewed their safety

:42:29.:42:35.

management arrangements at Alton Towers and. Alton Towers staff did a

:42:36.:42:41.

series of presentations explaining what went wrong and why. That's

:42:42.:42:46.

important to mention because quite rightly the honourable gentleman has

:42:47.:42:50.

flagged that we can learn from other nations, and other nations can learn

:42:51.:42:53.

from what has happened on our own theme parks. The Health and Safety

:42:54.:42:59.

Executive's national flag rounded action team's workplan for this year

:43:00.:43:04.

includes inspection a multi-car roller-coaster is at specific theme

:43:05.:43:09.

parks. They are working with theme park and the representative body,

:43:10.:43:14.

the British Association of leisure parks, peers and attractions, to

:43:15.:43:21.

improve their management for the control of risks associated with

:43:22.:43:24.

rides such as roller-coasters. There is no room for complacency and what

:43:25.:43:29.

lessons can be learnt from instance are certainly disseminated. Any new

:43:30.:43:38.

requirement are enforced. If the investigation into the recent

:43:39.:43:42.

incident involved any breaches of the law, appropriate action will be

:43:43.:43:45.

taken to hold those responsible to account. And if any shortcomings in

:43:46.:43:50.

the current regulatory regime are found, steps will be taken to

:43:51.:43:55.

address them. The Health and Safety Executive will act on information

:43:56.:43:57.

received about incident in other countries. Often that information is

:43:58.:44:03.

communicated to the executive through its contactss with the

:44:04.:44:09.

British Association of Leisure, Peers, and Attractions. The Health

:44:10.:44:17.

and Safety Executive publishes its safety alerts and bulletins on its

:44:18.:44:22.

websites, thus making them available to a worldwide audience. The

:44:23.:44:26.

Executive will engage where necessary with international

:44:27.:44:29.

colleagues to improve safety at Fairgrounds and theme parks

:44:30.:44:35.

worldwide. Thank you for giving way. In Florida, as an example, and I

:44:36.:44:40.

spoke to the right honourable gentleman before this, they have a

:44:41.:44:45.

safety belts which is on all water rides where ever they may be. Maybe

:44:46.:44:51.

a simple solution, but it may prevent it happening again. I thank

:44:52.:44:54.

the honourable gentleman for that intervention. Indeed, the right

:44:55.:44:59.

Honourable member for Leicester East also mentioned other potential

:45:00.:45:03.

interventions which might have helped in this particular incident,

:45:04.:45:13.

and might help with others. On hearing about this incident, I have

:45:14.:45:18.

formed my own layperson's review. One asks all sorts of questions

:45:19.:45:22.

about life jackets in certain circumstances, and all of those

:45:23.:45:28.

things. I am most grateful for the Minister for giving way. Can I thank

:45:29.:45:31.

her for the thoughtful and compassionate way in which she has

:45:32.:45:35.

answered the debate. Does she have any indication as to when the Health

:45:36.:45:39.

and Safety Executive might complete their report, because obviously the

:45:40.:45:44.

inquest cannot take place and saw that report is completed. Then we

:45:45.:45:48.

can have the opportunity of looking at changes which we may want to

:45:49.:45:54.

make. I am happy to keep the right honourable gentleman informed about

:45:55.:46:00.

that. I'm not able today to give him a timeline for the Health and Safety

:46:01.:46:04.

Executive's investigation. I have enquired about that. But it will be

:46:05.:46:10.

led by the evidence, so I can't give him an end date for that. What I do

:46:11.:46:14.

understand from what honourable members have said that they are keen

:46:15.:46:21.

that any safety measures which could be introduced now are. The process I

:46:22.:46:29.

have outlined that methodical review similar rise, different or similar

:46:30.:46:34.

rides, I hope will give an assurance on that front. The other thing that

:46:35.:46:41.

honourable members have mentioned which may strike us as laypeople as

:46:42.:46:49.

common-sense links to introduce, it is, as many situations are, a bit

:46:50.:46:53.

more complicated than that. We know for example that in other cases that

:46:54.:46:56.

have happened overseas where people have been more restricted into the

:46:57.:47:06.

boat that that has impeded escape in the event of an accident. So I think

:47:07.:47:12.

we need to wait, having assured ourselves that these immediate

:47:13.:47:15.

checks have been done of similar rides, wait for the Health and

:47:16.:47:20.

Safety Executive's report to be produced. And, as I have outlined,

:47:21.:47:29.

any recommendations that they will make to the industry will be

:47:30.:47:33.

disseminated widely. And I know that they are working as swiftly as they

:47:34.:47:38.

can to complete that reports and other parts of the investigation can

:47:39.:47:43.

move forward, which is incredibly important. I appreciate. I would

:47:44.:47:49.

also add that the Health and Safety Executive has commissioned an

:47:50.:47:54.

particular research into the risks presented by water rides of this

:47:55.:47:59.

nature. And the current philosophy regarding risk control and whether

:48:00.:48:03.

that needs to change. I can assure honourable members that the Health

:48:04.:48:08.

and Safety Executive will ensure that lessons are learned from this

:48:09.:48:14.

very tragic events, and are acted on by the industry. And that in the

:48:15.:48:21.

interim measures have been taken to ensure that other rides are

:48:22.:48:27.

operating safely. I would beg the right honourable gentleman for

:48:28.:48:31.

raising this debate today -- I would thank the right honourable

:48:32.:48:35.

gentleman. As matters progress, I stand ready, as does my department,

:48:36.:48:41.

to assist him and his constituents. Order. The question is that this

:48:42.:48:47.

house tune now adjourn. As many of that opinion say ten Rio. To the

:48:48.:48:55.

contrary, no. I think the ayes has it. Order, order.

:48:56.:48:59.

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