02/11/2017 House of Commons

constitution, the Spanish government

itself exploiting its rule of law.

We do not hide behind the rule of

law, we abide by it, as should

everyone in this House.

Order,

business question, Valerie Vaz.

Could the Leader of the House give

us the forthcoming business?

Thank

you. The business for the week

commencing the 6th of November, will

include, on Monday, debate on motion

on British membership of the

European Economic Area, followed by

a debate on transport in the North.

The subjects that these debates were

determined by the backbench business

committee. Tuesday, debate on a

motion on temporary accommodation

followed by a debate on matters to

be considered before the forthcoming

adjournment. The subject again

chosen by the backbench business

committee. The week commencing the

13th of November will include,

Monday, proceedings on legislation

relating to Northern Ireland,

Tuesday, committee of the whole

House of the European Union

Withdrawal Bill Day one. Wednesday

the 15th, committee of the whole

House of the European Union

Withdrawal Bill day two, Thursday

16th of November, debate on a motion

of the roll-out of Universal Credit,

followed by a general debate on

defence aerospace industrial

strategy. The subjects for the

debates were selected by the

backbench business committee. Friday

the 17th of November, the House will

not be sitting. I would also like to

inform the House that the business

in Westminster Hall for the 13th and

16th November will be on Monday the

13th, debate on a petition relating

to referendum on Scottish

independence, and on Thursday the

16th of November, a general debate

on world antibiotics awareness week,

followed by a debate on the

Department for Work and Pensions

support for care leavers. This has

been a difficult week for

parliament. But it has been even

harder for those who have come

forward to report their experiences

of inappropriate behaviour,

harassment or abuse. Their

experiences are why we need to

change. As I said on Monday, it is

your right, not a privilege, to work

in a safe and respectable

environment. The Prime Minister has

written to all party leaders who

have agreed to meet to discuss a

common, transparent and independent

grievance procedure.

I have met with representatives of

all political parties myself and can

tell the House I am confident that

all sides will want to resolve this

together. A cross-party solution is

the only solution and they want to

thank everyone I have met for

showing commitment to that problem

solution. I have also had further

meetings on these issues including

with the clerk of the House and a

discussion with the Commissioner for

standards. I told the House that

action would be taken in days not

weeks and that is exactly what is

happening. I would like to also

remind the House at parliament week

takes place across the country the

week after recess. Next Friday we

will kick-start those events and I

am looking to welcoming the youth

Parliament into this chamber as I

know you are yourself Mr Speaker. At

a time when Parliament is so

critical to our future outside the

EU I am determined to get more

people especially young people

involved and what goes on in this

place. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Can I

thank the Leader of the House for

the forthcoming business which takes

up to the 17th of November and I

think most people know the budget is

on the 22nd. I'm not really does's

statement on the sexual harassment

allegations and there is a

commitment -- I note the statement.

To deal with theses issues that also

retains the right of MPs as

employers of their own staff. I note

you reminded people in your e-mail

yesterday that there is this

confidential and anonymous hot

helpline for all staff on the estate

24 hours a day run by an

organisation which is nothing to do

with political parties of the House

authorities. It gives advice on a

free confidential basis and

signposts people to other agencies.

Mr Speaker, any new process must put

the complainants at the heart of it

and that is why it is important that

the House not invent or impose a

process, just put it on the table

but does not have the confidence of

components of the ability to deal

with the issues that arise. In 2016

that about 163 calls and I believe

it is important to analyse the types

of calls and see if those who made

them feel that their concerns have

been addressed. Perhaps an anonymous

survey of that and could I extend

that to a staff survey or survey of

every single person in this House so

we actually know what the issues are

and people do not feel they have to

stand back and not deal with it. I

would suggest co-opting someone who

bravely spoke out this week. You

asked past is to publish their

processes and I can confirm that a

Labour parties will be sending your

policies today. There will be a

House process, a party process and

if necessary MPs as employers can

have the grievance procedure as part

of their contracts so I think we

need to look at it as the different

routes to get to the bottom of this.

A change of culture could take

longer and that must be done by

education and training. Every member

and employee should go on an

equality training course for new MPs

that could be part of the induction

process. Existing members of staff

should also undergo this. They are

outside organisations who do this so

will the Leader of the House please

confirm there will be additional

resources for the House and in

particular ensure that the qualities

and Schumann rights commission have

the resources to support this

education and training. We know what

to do when there was a fire, we

should know what to do on other

issues. Ending the week when 95 cc

will have lost to the church they

have finally hammered the 58 58

sectors sectors within settle for

giving impact assessments for the

committee on exiting the EU. But

that has not been done. A select

committee cannot produce a report

unless they have all the information

before them. Members have a late on

behalf of the whole country to have

that information to make sense of

ants collect some of the

misinformation that came out Judy

and referendum. It associates, the

sectors make up 80% of our economy

and respect the requests the

Government only has 80 sector Lisk

on the 30th of October two days

before the opposition debate and the

Government has refused to vote

either in favour or against the

motion and they have not even

enacted the motion. The minister

yesterday said that members of the

Government are first informant

parliamentarians but do not want to

listen to Parliament. He said he

will revisit exactly what was said

in Hansard and the cool light of

tomorrow. And the cool light of

today the minister said this morning

in due course. Can you Leader of the

House please explain what the table

and it four in due course? It cannot

possibly be the 12 weeks she

suggested for either backbench

debates or even opposition dates. I

know when I was a member of the

health select committee we had

powerful testimony from young people

about their experiences of mental

health services. An private but that

was used to inform our report. Could

I ask the leader for a debate on the

CPC report on the review of children

and young people's mental health. EC

QC found that mental health is what

by organisations that do not work

together and are joined away and the

system is complex and fragmented. I

hope the Government will support the

bill which will be debated tomorrow.

The aim of the Bill is to prevent

the disproportionate use of force

against mental health patients.

Young people should be provided with

proportionate mental health care, it

is not a matter for the police.

Mental health was a topic for debate

last year, the 18th year and I'm

sure they will be keen for us to

vote two for the bill tomorrow and

for 16-year-olds as that was also on

the list of debates. I will have to

explain what resolution is, when is

a resolution not a resolution

Kvitova isn't binding or effective,

is that a resolution on the humble

address, as at a backbench

resolution, I am going to have to

explain that and I cannot. I am

having difficulty. Finally we have

lost two of our colleagues, Candy

Atherton and Frank Doran. I first

met 1987 and we send our love to

Joan Ruddock who is also a member in

this House. Like played a big part

and it was a shock to is all. We

should also remember the people who

died in 2017. Keith Palmer, the

people who died in London Bridge and

the 22 young people who died in the

Manchester attack and we of course

stand with New York. We will

remember them, we will remember

them.

I would like to thank her for

the considered remarks today and we

all absolutely sheer power

commitment who that he will remember

those who have been so brutally

murdered and had their lives cut

short by appalling acts of

terrorism. We also owe a huge debt

of gratitude to all of those public

sector emergency workers and

volunteers who have missed their own

lives and safety in protecting us

and we are very grateful to them. I

also share her commiserations to the

friends and family of those Labour,

ex-Labour MPs who have sadly died in

recent days and we do commemorate

them and to thank them again for the

service. She talks about the need

for a common process for us to

resolve the issues of harassment and

bullying and intimidation and I

absolutely share her determination.

She mentioned your letter Mr Speaker

reminding all parliamentary

householders of the availability of

a confidential helpline through

which they can report concerns that

they have and I do again as she has

urged all those with concerns to

call that helpline. You yourself

have reminded colleagues of the

phone number for it. I have just

written a letter which is now placed

in the library in response to a

question last week about how many

calls had been made to that helpline

and again that reiterates what the

number is so I do urge all

colleagues to either use that ought

indeed to speak to me or to my

opposite numbers that they have

particular concerns they would like

to raise with us. I would also like

to commend the suggestions and she

will be aware that a number of

people have talked about the need

for better training, more induction

and better understanding of the

qualities and the need for the

higher standards of behaviour in

this place and I absolutely agree

with how that that will be a part of

this urgent review and it will be

the case that more training will be

provided in future. She then came on

to ask about the humble address

yesterday and the earlier remarks by

the Secretary of State and she has

assured the House that he is already

in discussion with the chairman of

the select committee for leaving the

EU and it is absolutely accepted

that the motion passed by the House

yesterday as binding and that the

information will be forthcoming but

as I think it has been made very

clear it is the case that it is

difficult to balance the conflicting

obligation to protect the public

interest through not disclosing

information that could harm the

national interest and the public

interest whilst at the same time

ensuring that the resolution of the

House passed yesterday as it used to

and and I will certainly be

contacting later today to understand

the progress on that point. She also

raises the mental health report by

the CQC. I show her concern, it

cannot be right that young people

with mental health problems are over

finding themselves in police custody

and the Government has taken steps

to insure that cannot happen in

future. I commend her for raising

this matter and it is certainly

something that will come under

increasing Government scrutiny. She

mentions votes for 16-year-olds and

I would give a little anecdote of

his school and make constituency

that had a lengthy debate on the

issue of votes for 16-year-olds,

between 16 and 18-year-olds. And at

the end of the debate it was quite

overwhelming that the vote was that

it should not be to lower the age of

14. The overwhelming -- the age of

voting. When you are 16 you tend to

go along with your peers but by the

time you are eating you know the

talk a lot of rubbish so you are a

little more independent in your

thinking. I think this discussion

will continue to run and I am

certainly quite open to the

suggestion either of lowering the

age or keeping it with it is, there

are arguments on both sides.

Can I

gently remind colleagues who came

into the chamber after questions

have suffered that it should not be

standing. They should not expect to

be called. Either Getty on time and

take part do not and you cannot. I

have tried to indicate to colleagues

at the O2 keep an eye on the time.

I

wonder if the Leader of the House

could arrange a debate on car parks

and their ownership particularly at

stations such as the station in my

constituency little Chalfont which

comes at the London underground so

that we could encourage the owners

of these car parks to rapidly

install the charging points for

electric vehicles saw two metres and

people who use the car parks could

take advantage of the new technology

which is coming on stream.

She

raises a very important point, we

are determined on the side of the

House to embrace new technology, we

have a commitment to getting much

greater use of electric vehicles to

reduce pollution and deal with the

problem operator quality. She raises

a really useful contribution and a

very good suggestion to that debate.

Can I apologise...

I have members

withering away on either side

because of concerns that want is

more important than anything else.

It is 50 years to the day from the

stunning victory any Hamilton

by-election which transformed

Scottish politics and has changed

Scotland forever. She said stop the

world, Scotland wants to get on and

we are closer than ever to achieving

that ambition thanks to the spot and

abetted by Winnie in that

by-election. Can I congratulate the

Leader of the House for her

leadership. We will work with the to

help craft this independent

grievance procedures are available

have a safe place to raise these

complaints. It is encouraging to see

people coming forward and former

decisive action in taking. The she

agree this is a deal opportunity to

effectively tackle the in-built

battery hackle Doi hierarchy of the

suggestion and unsavoury entitlement

culture pervades these corridors.

Last night's shenanigans were deeply

unsatisfactory and brought shame

upon this House once again. There is

no doubt whatsoever that this vote

as binding and I am grateful to see

the Leader of the House combining

that today so what we need today is

a clear and under vigorous statement

from the Government that accepts and

fool what was decided last night

without qualification or sense of

redactions, handy papers a lot to

the committee and that is what is

expected. If it does not do this,

the Government will be an content of

this House and if that happens we

will be bringing proceedings to hold

them to account on that very basis.

Yet another pitiful attempt last

week, this was brought forward by

the House of Lords, which is like

the vampire community organising the

local Blood Bank. Apparently the

ambition is to reduce the number two

600, which would only make at the

third-largest unaccountable

unelected chamber in the world. When

will she bring forward their plans

to get rid of this unelected

embarrassment?

I am always delighted

that the honourable gentleman never

holds back in speaking his mind.

Regarding the other place, he will

be aware that the reporters

recommended reducing the House of

Lords by a quarter, limiting terms

to 15 years. In this place, some of

us believe that the other place a

vital role for scrutinising this, so

we will consider recommendations

carefully, but I should encourage

him to appreciate a comprehensive

reform of the House of Lords

involving legislation is not a

priority, but we will make sure it

continues its constitutional role

which respects the privacy of the

House of Commons. As to his other

remarks, I would like to absolutely

reassure him that all parts of the

native kingdom enormously love and

respect Scotland as a part of the

United Kingdom for its contribution

and the amazing innovation and

skills, the fabulous scenery, the

wonderful food, it is a wonderful

part of the United Kingdom. I would

also like to add, I am personally

grateful to him for his constructive

contribution to the discussion of

how we take forward this very

concerning issue of harassment in

this place. He has been extremely

proactive in offering support from

the SNP. Finally, he also makes the

point that the vote of the House

yesterday is binding on the

government, and I encourage him to

understand that this will be met,

but it is a case of trying to

balance the public interest with the

binding nature of the vote.

Constituent came to see me on Friday

to describe how his 20-year-old son

has inherited an eye disease, a

condition which will cause him to go

blind and for which there is

currently no cure. Can we have a

debate on mental health support

networks available for young adults

who have been diagnosed with such

diseases who require specialist

support to overcome such issues as

suicidal tendencies, which are all

too often along with such a

diagnosis of a terrible condition?

I

am so sorry to hear about his

constituent. It really does sound

like a truly awful case, and as

constituency MPs, we all hear of

these sad, tragic cases, and I share

his concerns about the mental health

of young people who have to deal

with these diagnoses. He is right to

raise it. We know that people with

this type of long-term condition are

at higher risk of mental illness

such as depression, and I encourage

him to seek an adjournment debate on

the matter.

I was tempted to try my

Scottish accent, but thankfully I

decided not to. Can I say something

about this dialogue in the House

about standards? If we're going to

improve standards, we are a

community here, and I asked the

Leader of the House to involve the

journalists who are here, because I

know that there are some elements in

the media who treat women in not the

same way as they treat men, and they

should be involved in this

conversation. Can we also have an

early debate on the manufacturing

sector, much neglected, there is

great fear in the manufacturing

sector that going out of Europe is

going to be very damaging to their

future.

In response to his first

point, it is absolutely the case

that all aspects of those who work

and have close contact with people

in this place should be within scope

for considering how we address

issues of treating one another with

respect, so I assure him that will

be the case. As to his second point,

British manufacturing is doing

superbly well. We are now the eighth

largest manufacturing nation in the

world. He is right to raise the real

concerns of businesses with regard

to the future. The future is very

bright, there will be many

opportunities, and discussions after

recess to discuss opportunities for

leaving the EU for the manufacturing

sector.

One of the many issues on

the train line is fare dodging. Can

we have a debate on government came

about tougher penalties for third

June one trains?

I know my

honourable friend takes a close

interest in what happens on the

chase line, and I understand she has

helped staff personally from time to

time with ticket checking. I know

that she will find ways to raise

this matter and I encourage her to

do so.

The Leader of the House has

said this House can expect a

response to opposition motions

carried. And she confirmed in a

written answer this would apply

retrospectively. And she confirm

that we will therefore have an oral

statement in response to the

opposition motion on tuition fees,

and can she give us any indication

when that will be?

I can confirm

that there will be a response to the

opposition motion on tuition fees,

and as I set out in my statement

last week, it will be a maximum of

12 weeks from the time that that

opposition Day debate took place.

I

am currently working on research in

coalfield communities and trying to

do during the their economies and

infrastructure. They are among the

most deprived in the country. Could

the House debate and share

experiences of coalfield and

development and regeneration that

other members might have across the

House and share the best practice

across this policy area.

My

honourable friend has a strong voice

for his constituents and I assure

him the government recognises the

importance of regeneration in

coalfield communities, as in all

areas of the United Kingdom. He

indicates there is some useful

research and I agree should be

shared across all communities facing

the same challenge of regeneration,

and I encourage him to seek an

adjournment debate.

Can I thank the

leader for the business statement in

announcing the forthcoming backbench

business debates? Members across the

House will welcome there is a

general debate on matters to come

before the House, on any matters

members wish to raise. Can I also

point out that one of the debates on

Thursday the 16th of November on a

motion on the roll-out of Universal

Credit has been brought out by the

chair of the select committee, about

a select committee report on that

very issue. It was also remiss of me

last week not to mention that in the

previous week to that there was a

very heavily subscribed to debate on

the plight of the

Rohingya in Myanmar, but there was

no time. Can these things be put

into protected time?

I am happy to

discuss things being put into

protected time.

I am about to attend

the memorial service for that great

parliamentarian cam

DL -- Tam Dalyell, so we need

servers spread -- personnel

protected from legal persecution, so

if it is not ready by then, could we

have an announcement at the earliest

opportunity telling us what the

government intends to do about this

appalling persecution of our

veterans?

He was a great man, as the

right honourable man said, and an

outstanding parliamentarian.

Intelligent, Doughty, and utterly

fearless. A lot of members could

learn from him.

I absolutely share

your regard for Tam Dalyell and that

of my honourable friend. Is my

honourable friend is referring to

the statement that follows, that

will be dealing with matters

relating to Northern Ireland and

processes and procedures. So, it may

not cover the issue he is looking

for it to. I would like to set out

very clearly this government's high

regard, and that of the whole House,

for the amazing work done by Armed

Forces for sharing peace in Northern

Ireland, and we remain committed to

that continuing. My honourable

friend will, I am sure, find ways to

raise this issue directly.

I just

mentioned to colleagues, but in my

recollection, across three was

always here on time for any

statement in relation to which he

wished to pose a question, and if he

wasn't on time he would not be so

discourteous as to stand. I think

the point is blindingly obvious!

I

would also like to pay tribute to

Frank Doran, who was a friend of

mine, who served diligently on the

Culture, Media and Sport committee.

I do not know whether the leader

reads a skin may every night before

she goes

to bed, -- Erskine May. Maybe it is

worth putting it online.

I am

hearing colleagues saying it is

online. I absolutely agree with the

honourable gentleman, if it is not

online, it should be, and I will

take steps to check, and will put it

online if it is not already.

A very

diplomatic reply.

I was one of the

ones who was slightly late, and I do

apologise.

Order. Too much

information. If the honourable

gentleman was late, I am grateful to

him for his belated apology, but

what he should not do is apologise

then assume he can take part. We

will hear another time, he can wait

till next week!

As Isis is rolled

back in Syria and Iraq, it was

revealed that 80 British National is

have fought with that organisation,

and not one has been prosecuted who

have returned. Why are they not put

on trial for treason? What is the

government going to do, and can we

have a statement?

My honourable

friend raises a very important and

urgent point, and he will be aware

that the government is very

concerned about returning jihadist

fighters and is committed to

investigating each and every case,

and were possible preventing them

from returning to this country, and

when they do return, being clear

that if they are not safe to be

allowed within our society, then the

appropriate steps will be taken. I

think the government has shown a

total commitment to keeping our

country safe and taking all steps

that need to be taken to ensure

that.

Will the leader of the hosts along

with home Minister involve the trade

unions in any discussions because I

understand some do not have

negotiating rates but a lot of our

staff are actually members of the

trade unions so the Alp voice and

all the discussions.

He is right, we

do need to take advice and

understand the views on how we can

best resolve this issue from a

number of different parties

including trade unions and staff

associations and others who had

already coming forward with

suggestions which will be very

helpful. As we seek to very quickly

find a proper way forward that takes

into account views across all

political parties.

I am pleased to

have put my name to the ten minute

rule Bill soon to be brought for

what abolishing car parking charges

at hospitals. Once that Bill will

give a highlight to the issue, it is

a subject that causes great anger

and resentment amongst my

constituents and I am sure others.

Could we have a debate to give a

wider opportunity for members to

discuss this matter?

I'm fully aware

of the difficulty of car park

charges in hospitals and the

concerns that many MPs constituents

have about that matter and I

encourage my honourable friend to

seek a debate on it. He will be

available challenges for revenues of

reducing that source of revenue but

the result was a balance to be

struck and it is right that we

continue to debate it.

Will the

Leader of the House schedule

sometime for a debate on the need to

sell scheme in relation to the chest

to, and analysis of applications has

shown an unusually high refusal

rate. -- English and two HS two. HS2

are refusing to buy the last two of

ten House is being sold and I would

ask that time is scheduled before

the House.

I congratulate her for it

in standing up for her constituents

on this matter. As indeed I have had

to do for mine and Mr Speaker you

have had to do the same for your

constituents. I have a great deal of

sympathy with the issue she is

raising. There are many constituents

to face issues with HS2 and some of

those are still to be dissolved. I

strongly urge her to consider an

application for a Westminster Hall

debate on adjournment debate to

discuss this matter further.

She

might find an application is

successful.

Birds of prey have risen

in huge numbers to the detriment of

songbirds. Occasionally licenses

granted to cull birds of prey but

many country people and landowners

would wish to avail of these

licenses to achieve that balance in

the countryside. Only to find out

the processes of putting and

sometimes they cannot get the

license. With the Leader of the

House that a debate, too many birds

of prey, too few songbirds and

mammals. I think we need a debate on

a statement.

I know he shares with

me I love of nature and the wildlife

that we have seen a reduction in in

this country over many years and as

the Secretary of State for death has

said, it is vital that as we leave

the Secretary of State for DEFRA, he

is taking steps to ensure that is

the case and as we leave the EU

there will be further opportunities

to do that.

I made a ruling that

people who were late for business

questions should not be standing.

Order. I have told the Right

Honourable gentleman 40 situation

is. Every member is late that

members should not be standing at

business questions. I have the very

highest respect for him but I

order... I made a ruling on the

matter that if members are not on

time they should not seek to be

called. There will be other

opportunities for members to be

called. We have a heavier load of

business and somebody has to judge

whether the rule has been observed

or not and manifestly in several

cases it has not been and most

people who relate the Li aware of

late have accepted this should not

contribute to date. I can see what

is completed about it. -- I cannot

see what is completed.

You are a

supporter of volunteers across the

country and I wonder if the Leader

of the House will congratulate

joining universal from Elgin as

Barnardos volunteer of the year. In

recognition for tireless worker and

Elgin store. We are very proud of

how achievements and I wondered if

the Leader of the House will join me

in congratulating.

I am delighted to

join my friend in congratulating

Una. I have the stand he met Una

last year when he volunteered in the

Barnardos shop and it is incredible

that at the age of 79 Una is still

dedicating 20 to 30 hours a week and

rarely misses a day. I sincerely

hope she enjoys the award ceremony

in London at the end of the month.

May I concur with the remarks he

made about than DL. Tom Deal. He

made me a lovely gift of parchment

paper. Little did he know he's

attacked

I wonder if I could ask the Leader

of the House about the taxation of

airlines. I had cause to complain

about any line I was unable to take

on Everest chose told by the Chief

Executive officers that the time

taxation is not automatically funded

unless they ask for the money back

and that therefore doesn't either go

to the customer of the Treasury.

Could we have a debate statement on

the taxation of a lens and Tony

consumers could automatically be

refunded bowl I have to say I have

had personally different experience

to that.

But it seems this can be

quite easily resolve the

parliamentary written question but I

share his concern that if a

traveller does not travel then they

should not be subject to the tax but

perhaps a parliamentary question

would be the right way forward.

This

morning in the Scottish Government

has published a paper that sets a

range of possible future income tax

rates. This would mean a income tax

would rise north of the border.

Scotland is already the highest tax

part of the United Kingdom thanks to

the policies introduced by the SNP

Scottish Government. May I ask

whether we could have a statement on

the impact of higher taxes in

Scotland compared to the rest of the

later kingdom.

He is a tireless

supporter of his constituents

interests and as he is aware the

Scottish Government is now in

control of income tax rates and

retains around £12 billion of income

tax revenues. It is a concern that

the Scottish chamber has said that a

higher tax rate would drive

investment out of Scotland's Andy

IUD saving it impact is negative for

the Scottish economy. Analysts shows

Scots would pay £400 more than

income tax compared to the other

parts of the UK and I am sure he

will want to see a debate through an

adjournment or west Mr Hall debate

on this very worrying subject will

stop.

The conflict in Yemen has been

going on for over two years and many

medical staff have not been paid for

over one year due to the financial

situation at the country is in and

are struggling to treat people dying

of cholera. Can we have a debate on

the situation?

I absolutely share

her concern about the situation in

Yemen, it is true to say it is

creating terrible hardship for

innocent people and I share her

interest in it being further debated

and I encourage her to seek a debate

through the perhaps backbench

business committee of the other

members who would like to cover that

subject.

Whilst it is reassuring

that reviews are taking place, could

we have a debate on the size and

scope of Parliament, HR function and

as the Leader of the House agree

that any review should carefully

consider other registers of what she

HR processes and staff grievance

processes around the world are?

He

is raising a very interesting point

and of course as we look at how best

we can improve taxpayer' value for

money at the same time as using best

practice from around the world and

HR processes we will of course look

at other legislators and in

particular regard to resolving the

issue around keeping people safe at

work it would be essential that we

look at what is done elsewhere.

On

the issue of standards, I am deeply

concerned about the bullying culture

within Parliament, an issue that was

dismissed by Mr Speaker when I

previously have raised it with him.

Determining its to be a woman's'

issue. It clearly is not. It is

absolutely vital that in this

opportunity that we address the

issue of bullying and we bring for

what mandatory training for everyone

in this House.

I absolutely agree

with the idea and will happily work

with any colleagues that we seize

this opportunity to put things right

and get it right once and for all.

And that there is nobody left out of

that so all political parties, those

with a political party, all those

who work in this place and to come

here to help us as perhaps temporary

work placements, interns and so on

so that we get this right once and

for all.

Can we have a debate on

amending the process of registering

as when a father passes away before

the birth of the child? I have a

constituent who has a newborn baby

and are still coming to terms with

the unexpected loss of her partner.

The case is uncontentious and the

whole family is distressed about the

process which involves DNA tests,

applications to the court to seek

recognition of the deceased father.

Does the Minister not think the

process of registering a deceased

father should be simple fight

because not everyone can afford the

bureaucratic, costly and dramatic

process that currently exists.

I am

so sorry to hear about his

constituent case, that is a tragedy

and I am sure that all the House

would want to pass on our great

sympathy for that and I think he

makes an important point which I

judge and jury is at the next health

questions and I am sure ministers

will be interested and looking at

ways to try and improve and

streamline the process.

My

constituent Mrs MacDonald is a

veteran of the Falklands who has

served in the Territorial Army. His

father was a captain in the Navy but

because most the was born out of

Africa he does not have a passport,

sorry a birth certificate, he is not

deemed worthy of a passport so it is

half-full that the Government does

not think he is worthy of a passport

so footsteps can the Government take

to rectify this question mark.

The

gentleman raises very concerning

issues about specific constituents

and obviously I do not know the

specific circumstances of his

constituent but it sounds to me like

a very concerning case and I do in

courage to take it up directly with

Home Office ministers perhaps at

oral questions so they can see what

can be done for this particular

situation.

The Leader of the House will not

know I wrote to the North West

Ambulance Service in August,

pointing out that when the Rochdale

infirmary's accident and emergency

units closed, there was a commitment

that there would be paramedic cover

on the ambulance taking constituents

to hospital. I have not had a reply.

Can we have a debate on the

Ambulance Service, which is not good

enough, nor are the officers up to

speed being accountable.

He is right

to raise this issue. We all have

challenges and concerns with the way

that services are delivered in our

constituencies, and this is the

right way to be raising it, and I

commend him for doing so. He may

want to seek an adjournment debates

of this situation can be closely

examined with the Minister present.

Following the response for the

opposition motion on tuition fees,

the motion was to revoke

regulations, and she said at the

time it would not be honoured

because it was outside the 40 day

limit regarding a statutory

instrument. Will she confirm the

government will respect any motion

that passes within the 40 days?

What

I can say to her about the tuition

fees opposition Day debate was that

it was outside the 40 day period

in a future scenario, where it to be

played against, the government would

follow parliamentary starting orders

and procedures, and ensure that was

addressed in the normal way.

Can we

have a statement in government time

or at a debate on the management and

funding of the equalities and human

rights commission? Does the Leader

of the House agree that it is

unacceptable to meet redundant when

that is a widespread this of agency

workers -- widespread use. Does the

government need to step in to deal

with this emerging crisis?

I was not

aware of that situation, but I

absolutely agree that it is

unacceptable to underutilised places

that then require agency staff

potentially with greater expense for

the taxpayer to be brought in

instead, and I encourage him to take

it up directly with ministers who

will be keen to hear from him.

Sorry, I misheard. I am very

grateful. Last Thursday the Prime

Minister spoke to a journalist at

the Eastern daily press and said the

Department of Health would no longer

be the sponsoring -- the sponsoring

body for contaminated blood and

quietly. We have not had a statement

confirming that. I wondered if there

was anything the government would

like to tell us this morning.

Again

I commend the honourable lady with

her work on this issue, we're there

have been so many people who have

suffered as a result of contaminated

blood tragedy. I will look into this

on the half of her. I do not have

the answer to her specific question

as I stand here.

I would like to

initially thank the Leader of the

House for her response last week. My

constituency case was followed up

swiftly by the Treasury Department.

This weekend I was distressed by the

question for the honourable member

from Wigan at prime ministers

questions, informing that a whip's

office had not dealt with abuse,

but...

What I can say to the honourable

lady is, as the Prime Minister has

said, all whip's offices, where

there is evidence or allegations of

criminal activity, should encourage

the individual to go directly to the

police. Having spoken to my own

Chief Whip of my own party, he has

assure me that any allegations of

potentially criminal activity, he

has always told the individual and

always would tell the individual to

go directly to the police. I think

there was a slight potential

misunderstanding in the question

from the honourable member for

Wigan, who as I understand it was,

she is not present, was referring to

activities that were apparently

alleged to be going on in the early

1970s, and I think possibly there

was a misunderstanding that she was

referring to current web offices,

but she is not here to confirm or

deny, but I believe it was referring

to a television programme about

activities in the whip's office in

the 1970s. I cannot speak for the

honourable member, but I understand

that was the genesis of question to

the Prime Minister.

Can I thank the

Leader of the House for her kind

words about Candy Atherton, who was

a true champion for Cornwall. On the

12th of the globe are the leader of

House said there were cross-party

concerns about scrapping amphibious

ships. Two take 23 frigates are also

facing the axe, can we have a

discussion on this?

We have

committed to meeting our Nato

pledge, and he will be aware that

there is a Whitehall department

review of all our defence spend to

ensure it is appropriate to meet the

needs of the 21st century. I

encourage him to raise his specific

questions and Ministry of Defence

question, because they are looking

into all of the individual points he

has raised rightly at business

questions, I can assure him the

Whitehall review will take into

account spending, which is going up

every year in line with our Nato

commitment, and the need to have a

21st century appropriate response

for all matters of defence.

To

celebrate Paisley winning the UK

city of culture, which I have no

doubt it will, we have a festival of

the Gaelic culture. Can I encourage

her to visit the Mod, and discuss

the economic role they play in

Scotland?

If enthusiasm for his

competitive entry was anything to go

on, I am sure he will be very

successful, and I do commend him for

standing up to his constituents --

for his constituents in this way. We

all wish the cities competing the

best of luck. I am sure there will

be many visits to his constituency

regardless of the outcome.

I am sure

the Leader of the House will join

with me in congratulating St Paul's

youth Forum in my constituency, in

one of the biggest areas of my

constituency, they are coming to

Parliament today to tour the

building ahead of other awards --

award ceremony tonight, awarding

people for citizenship skills, from

cycling repairers, two gardens, and

a local radio station. It is a great

charity that creates citizenship

skills that are so vital to the

future of success. Will the Leader

of the House call a debate on the

vital role the charitable sector

plays working with schools and

providers to make sure young people

are equipped for the future?

I

absolutely commend the charity he

mentions for the excellence work

they do, and also the many hundreds

of thousands volunteers who work for

charities across the United Kingdom,

delivering real value to

communities. I congratulate them, I

hope they enjoyed your trip and I

sincerely apologise for all the

scaffolding, we're not looking our

best. We are working very hard,

aren't we, Mr Deputy Speaker, to

ensure that in the fullness of time

we will once again be a very

beautiful place to visit, and we do

remain a fascinating place to visit,

and I absolutely encourage him to

seek a debate on the amazing work

done by the charity sector.

There is

real and growing concern among

residents of Didsbury, Bernard,

Charlton and elsewhere then my

constituency, about crime and

anti-social behaviour. I have met

senior officers and the deputy mayor

to voice those concerns. But it is

clearly really struggling as a

result of cuts and the 2000 officers

they have lost since 2010. Can we

have a debate on how to get extra

resources to Greater Manchester

Police in light of those concerns?

The honourable gentleman and others

will be pleased to know that crime

is traditionally measured by the

survey for England and Wales have

fallen by 9% over the past year,

which is a continuation of a

downward trend, which is an absolute

tribute to the excellent work done

by the police across the United

Kingdom. We have protected police

budgets in real terms, and I

absolutely understand he has

specific concerns about Manchester

police, which I urge him to take up

at Home Office questions.

Can we

have a debate on the inaccuracies...

One of my constituents who takes

morphine six times a day was

considered fit for work. Can we have

a debate on this assessment which

causes so much distress to

constituents?

He raises an important

constituency issue, and all those

listening to debate amongst the

general public will be pleased to

hear that as a result of the member

of Parliament intervention, many of

these issues will be dissolved, and

I commend him for that. There are

the policies which are, those which

I would absolutely defend, and those

which are not right, and I defend

the constituency cases to make sure

you receive what is right for them.

Before the recess the Secretary of

State announced transportation

between Cardiff and Swansea. Can she

now make a statement about the lost

infrastructure funding, that would

have come with the closure of

dangerous level crossings and new

highway widening that would have

come with electrification, because

that should be separate in my

opinion, and I hope she would agree

that things like dangerous level

crossings can still be closed, and

that comes from the UK Government.

He raises an important point about

the safety of level crossings, and

that is something I encourage him to

take up at transport for questions

-- transport questions. The

government invests a record level in

the railways, with £140 billion to

be spent between 2019 and 2024. In

many cases the issues around

upgrading infrastructure and ones of

technology, where it has been

possible to bring forward earlier

solutions, delivering better service

to customers and passengers in a

shorter space of time and with less

disruption. It is a win - win for

his constituents, but he raises an

important specific point in relation

to infrastructure which I urge him

to take up with the Department for

Transport.

Now, the Northwest

champion.

Saving the best till last!

There have been a number of planning

application submitted for fracking

in my constituency which caused much

consternation locally. That has not

been helped by a local political

group seeking to determine those

applications by way of a local

referendum. That would be deeply

irresponsible. Not only would such a

decision not only be effective, but

effectively -- ineffective, but

leave them open to consultation.

Could we discussed this?

I find

myself agreeing with the honourable

gentleman, that we need to find a

way forward to take into account the

very strong local views about

fracking, while at the same time

weighing up the benefits to our

economy that absolutely needs to

depend on oil and gas as we

transition to lower CO2 emitting

sources in the future. Since it is

available as a natural resource in

the United Kingdom through fracking,

with very strong regulation, there

is a strong economic and climate

change case for fracking, so the

balance between local views which

can be very negative, versus the

economic imperative for the nation

needs to be assessed. So, I

encourage him to seek perhaps a

backbench debates about others who

have the same dilemma can be heard

as well.

I'm going to use the

discretion of the chair.

Chris

Bryan. I am grateful. I wanted to do

this now because it relates to the

discussion earlier about Erskine

May. There was a difference of

opinion whether it was online or

not. It is available on the intranet

on a 1000 page PDF, which says it is

not to be used for the public. What

I am asking, and I hope the

commitment from the Leader of the

House is clear, we will be making it

available to the whole of the

country, because people are

demanding Erskine May be available

without them having a copy -- to buy

a copy of the book.

a the in the

petition and was she is able to show

100,000 signatures... I am joking,

everybody in the living room is

clamouring for their own online copy

of Erskine May. As I had said

earlier, I will look into it, it

should be available online and I

will see what can be done.

I think

he needs a new copy.