Live Attorney General Questions House of Commons

it is often about adopting different approaches to husbandry to reduce

the reliance on antibiotics, but a lot of progress has been made, there

is more to do. Questions to the honourable member

for Houghton and Sunderland South and to the right honourable member

for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners. Question one, sir.

The commission has published two reports that includes assessment of

the rules of the referendum. None of which related to an unmissable

donations. It is continuing to consider issues and nine with

published and force policy. We publish all investigations on our

website once they are completed. Good my friend confirm or asked the

commission by that he has received allegations of illegal financial

funding from Russia to element of believed campaign? The commission is

aware of some media reports that led Russia involvement in the EU

referendum. These cover a wide range of activity that is beyond the remix

of the investigation. It will investigated within their policy,

but I'm sure officials will be more than happy to meet with my friend to

discuss this matter further. Does my honourable friend not think that not

only is it illegal funding wrong but also electoral fraud? And can I

invite to do a real enquiry into our national voters register to ensure

that people don't double and triple vote in general elections and other

elections? I am grateful to the honourable gentleman. It is not

currently possible to collectively interrogate and identify duplicate

entries in more than one area, and the commission will be happy to work

with the Government to consider essential solutions to reduce this

risk. The Electoral Commission continues to regulatory those on UK

finance and a way that is very an proportion of focusing on helping

people comply with the law. The commission has in calling for

changes to improve enforcement of political financials. It recommends

increasing the maximum penalty can cannibals and extending its

possibilities. There has been significant media

coverage of the 2015 general election expenses issue, with the

Tories been fined the maximum 70000. There is a risk that some political

parties may come to view the payment of these fines as a cost of doing

business. Might it be worth making finds proportionate to the number of

candidate standing at an election. The honourable gentleman is right to

make clear that the maximum fine of ?20,000 could well be seen as a cost

of doing business. We have called for an angry is of the maximum

penalty. It is of the view that penalty JB link to the income and

expenditure of large campaigners. The Electoral Commission has

recommended changes to the qualifying circumstances for

appointing emergency proxies. We recommend extending their proxies to

include those who have experienced the death of a close relative. And

it December 2016 response, the UK Government confirmed it had no plans

to expand qualifying Saracens as is for appointing an emergency proxies.

Thank you for your answer. My constituent was unable to vote at a

recent LA scene following a family bereavement, meaning she was

attending her grandmother's funeral instead. While the Oliver member

reassured me that she will continue to press for this change. I am very

sorry to hear of the circumstances that the honourable gentleman

describes. I can assure him that the Electoral Commission is that of the

view that there is a gap and remains concerned that the is a need to

increase the scope. Those aren't procedures on proxies are only good

if they are followed. What action is the Electoral Commission taking to

address the shambolic electrical's situation in Plymouth? The

commission is currently collecting information about the election. I'm

sure the commission would also welcome the views of my honourable

friend should he wish to share them in writing or if you would like to

meet with them. Bearing in mind the questionably massive amount of

property drugs used in some constituencies in Northern Ireland,

pseudomonas outline the steps being used to stop alleged abuse of this

mechanism. There are these the deaf in Northern Ireland around identity,

have ever after our concerns are run criminal activity that would be a

matter for police forces, and I would encourage the honourable

gentleman to make reports to the police force. This week we have

published a report on the general election, and it highlights that

online registration as resulted in a record electorate. The commission

report argues that by the action needs to be taking duties duplicate

registrations and two mentioned their process is more joined up. We

do not have a view on the constituency boundaries. 2.9 million

legal register to vote in this election, and there was a similar

spec last year before the referendum. Surely we should note if

the recommendation that these if you should take place after electoral

events and take these people and to account and make sure that next

election is not Fat on old information. The electrical

commission as previously recommended that we should consider whether it

should be more appropriate to use electrical data used for elections

instead of the one published on the 1st of December. It is reasonable

offer students and others to be registered in two places if they are

resident in both. Would she agree with me that one in 100 of late

registrations should be checked if they are double registered on that

there is voting. That will give us scope to see how much fraud there

was, or not, during the last election. I sure the Electoral

Commission will take heed of the honourable gentleman's suggestion.

We take very seriously the suggestion that anyone voted twice.

It is possible for someone to be locally registered to vote in more

than one place, including students and indeed members of Parliament. It

is a criminal offence to cast more than one vote and a general

election. One of the most efficient organisations in recruiting

organisation to the electrical register, is vital. This compares to

the Electoral Commission which costs 80 to ?90. What might -- well-nigh

and honourable friend light years with the commission and ask them to

adopt these new processes. The commission is correct to highlight

the discrepancy between the 1st of December assessment of the

electorate and the most losing elections. In my constituency, the

difference was 8000 in terms of the 2015 election, which is over 10%.

Would she welcome an investigation by the Public Administration and

Constitutional affairs committee into the ongoing way that we deal

that discrepancy? I'm sure it will be a matter for the committee and

its new members to consider the best way to look at the issues, but we

all want to make sure that registers are as complete as possible. When

boundary commission considers parliamentary constituency

boundaries, they need to do so on the best available information. July

one of take the opportunity to congratulate the honourable lady on

our appointment. I thought you get a very good job on and link the

questions. 75% of churches collect food, 38% provide volunteers, 29%

managed to manage a food bank. Charges work in partnership with

organisations like the citizens advice bureau and Christians against

poverty to tackle the underlying causes of food poverty. As you well

know, the Archbishop of Canterbury is the president of food in Britain.

I was pleased to launch the latest pilot in Bristol on Friday. I really

appreciate the work that churches are doing in providing food banks.

What more can needed to lobby the Government about the underlying

causes of food poverty which means that people have to resort to such

measures? As I mentioned, the organisation Church action on

poverty actually is proactive in trying to tackle underlying causes

such as free debt advice, financial education programmes and actually

that charity has just appointed a judge in my constituency to provide

these educational courses over quite it wide reaching, and I suggested

she might like to approach him about doing the same in Bristol. With my

friend join me and congratulating best of June Osborne there was

conjugated on Saturday, and becomes the second female bishop in the

charge of Wales? I am quite sure she will focus on the needs of people

hard sciences, but I would like to hard sciences, but I would like to

congratulate hard on her appointment. Very deft! You will be

pleased to hear that the food banks are run largely from churches and my

constituency, bet they are under huge pressure at the moment. The

number of volunteers, the amount of food they have to protect. Would she

have a word about the Government about one of the major causes of the

entries in Fairbanks, and that of course is the sanctions system. I

think it is important that we address the underlying causes. I had

a letter just last month that said that people may be reassured to know

that on average people and only revert to Fairbanks two times any 12

month period. The model is designed to help people in a crisis. Prior to

the general election, the commission produced detailed guidelines to

political parties. The commission also engaged by the number of

parties to discuss arrangements for compliance. It is well used

throughout the campaign. The commission will publish practice

pending returns in the general election as soon as practically

possible once the deadline has passed. My honourable friend should

be aware about serious allegations made about the use of a telephone

call centre in the general election campaign by the Conservative Party.

I would like to tell the House that I have had from the electrical

commission who has stated that this site was police are formally

considering allegations. I am grateful. He will know that

political parties and spend over ?250,000 in a general election has

six months to submit their spending programmes. It is a potential events

for there to be paid canvassing on behalf of the candidates, and any

allegations will be a matter for the local police to consider.

Rural parish funding is the responsibility of individual diocese

but there has been a level of national support under the strategic

fund and it has provided ?34.6 million worth of funding for 32

projects in 25 dioceses. As you know, I talk a lot about my worries

about recruitment of obstetricians in Banbury and I'm equally concerned

by recruitment to the rural Church. Could my right honourable friend

explain what more the Church can do to encourage the right sort of

ordnance to apply and what sort of training we can give them when they

do apply? The Church is committed to Dublin the number of people entering

training by 2020. And it has made good progress and since 2014, we

have seen an increase of 14% in the numbers training for priesthood, and

an above average number of women, 14%, and 25% are under the age of

32. Wood growth in the Church of England not be easier if it moved on

from its cruel and outdated approach to both its own clergy and laity in

same-sex relationships? And will he tell the bishops simply kicking this

issue in the long grass for another three years as the General Synod

agreed to last week is just not acceptable? It is important to see

the progress that has been made by the Church. And at the Synod,

important decisions were made. These included tackling the

anti-homophobic bullying in Church of England schools. And it is the

largest provider of education in this country. Steps to ban trans-and

conversion therapies. And the fact that the Church is making progress

in this area should hopefully be an indication of more to follow. Rural

parish growth has been handicapped by the fact the clergy are

responsible for six, eight or more parishes. What efforts have been

made to ensure that there are more recruited to the clergy and they are

directed towards rural parishes? As I said previously, the Church has

set itself a target. That is the important thing, to double the

number of people entering training by 2020. And it is making progress

by increasing the numbers coming into training. And it is perhaps

worth noting it has varied the ways by which people can train for the

priesthood. You can train by a presidential course as was

traditionally always the case, and you can also train on the job.

Making it generally easier for a much wider range of people to train

for the priesthood they feel called. Oh, very well! On the subject of

training, does she not also think training in HR and personnel is

important? The Dean Peter borrow, Charles Taylor, was sacked from that

cathedral and given 24 hours notice only to leave the deanery, does she

think that not only was that unprofessional, but very

unchristian? Mr Speaker, I have sympathy with anybody who loses

their job, but with the greatest respect the honourable gentleman,

those facts are not quite correct. On October two, the Dean announced

his retirement and he did not leave the deanery and he was not asked to

leave until the following February, giving him six months residence.

These are the facts I have been given, Mr Speaker. We should try and

leave this term on a happier note. So if I could conclude by wishing

all colleagues a very welcome recess. Well, I joined the right

honourable lady in that and she was honourable lady in that and she was

very gracious, typically gracious, in her comments about the honourable

member for Sunderland South, who I warmly welcome to her new

responsibilities. Which have been very effectively discharged today.

And I also thank the right honourable lady, who is always

courteous, fair and comprehensive in responding to enquiries. I hope that

both members can take a rest from their owner is duties, both

constituency and in respect of the other matters about which we have

heard this morning. Urgent question. Diana Johnson. Will the Secretary of

State for Health make a statement on the responsibility for establishing

the contaminated blood scandal? Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like

to begin by adding my own personal apology to those who have spoken in

this House on previous occasions about the tragedy of contaminated

blood and to reiterate the government recognises the terrible

impact it has had on many thousands of lives. The Government recognises

previous enquiries into the events that led to 1,000 people being