Live Business Statement House of Commons

their heads in shame. But we are now

fixing the problems they created.

Business question, Valerie Vaz.

Could the Leader of the House please

give us the forthcoming business?

Thank you. The business for next

week will include Monday 26

February, estimates Day, first

allotted day. Debate on Ministry of

Defence estimates, followed by a

debate on the estimates of the

Department for exiting the European

Union. Tuesday 27 February, debate

on the Housing and local government

estimates regarding homelessness.

Followed by the Department for

Transport's estimates. At 7pm, the

House will be asked to agree all

outstanding estimates. Wednesday 28

Ledbury, a debate on a motion by the

independent complete and grievance

policy, followed by the chairman of

ways and Means naming opposed

Private business for consideration.

Thursday, backbench debate, subject

to be confirmed. Followed by a

general debate on St David's Day.

The House will not sit on Friday

second March. Monday 5th of March,

second reading of the data

protection Bill, Lords. Colleagues

will also wish to know that subject

to the progress of business, the

House will rise at the end of

business on Tuesday 24 July and

return on Tuesday for September. For

the conference recess, the host will

rise at the close of business on

Thursday 13 September and return on

Tuesday nine October. House will

rise at the close on Tuesday six

November and return on 12 November.

For the Christmas recess, the House

will rise at the conclusion of

business on Thursday 20 December and

return on Monday seven January 2019.

This week, the very best of British

has surely been on display. The

BAFTA awards on Sunday went to a

number of Brits, including Best

cinematographer, rising star and

Gary Oldman playing Winston

Churchill. We've all been glued to

our televisions, watching our best

ever Winter Olympics performance.

Winning three medals in one day,

with Lizzy Yarnold successfully

defending her gold in the skeleton.

Sports and the arts or of huge value

to our economy and this week has

showcased them superbly. It is a

week are very important firsts for

women. Congratulations to the First

Lady after of the Black Rod, as she

takes up her role. And two minute

batters, the first female president

of the National Farmers Union.

Finally, Her Majesty is still

achieving firsts, as she appeared on

the front row of London Fashion Week

and presented an inaugural award in

her name. Thank you.

Can I thank the

Leader of the House for the business

for next week and say I want to

repeat that it is the 21st century

and yet we are still celebrating

firsts for women. That must change.

It is helpful to have the business

for next week and also dates for

recess. I note that business stops

on the 5th of March. What will

happen after that? If the government

is looking for some time to fill,

could I ask the Leader of the House

to provide us with another

opposition day. The last one

allocated was 24 January. At this

time, there are two statutory

instruments that have been prayed

against the Member for Ashton

underlying. One is regarding

Universal Credit and free school

meals. The other is regarding

abolishing nursing bursaries for

postgraduate students. Will there be

time to debate those on the floor of

the House? That is before the 40

days expire. What news of the trade

bill and cross-border taxation

bills? And to the government will

want to squash rumours they are

being pushed away. I want to of the

House for her letter that I received

yesterday, but it is a bit like the

Morecambe and Wise joke. I am

playing all the notes but not

necessarily in the right order. The

letter is a bit like that. She's not

answering the questions I asked. I

asked her about East Coast realign.

I asked her to write to me regarding

what were the costs associated with

the privatisation and taking back.

She didn't mention the inspector

looking at Northamptonshire County

Council. I asked her to let you know

how long the inspection would take

place and what are the terms of

reference? We know Buckinghamshire

may also be of interest to you, Mr

Speaker, setting an illegal budget.

They have lost government support.

The leader needs to respond to that.

She has a very able civil service

staff. I meet them on occasions.

Could I ask her to sign letters of

slightly earlier, perhaps on a

Tuesday? The government had two

advises -- advisers. It seems only

have both lost their jobs, the

government seems to be reading the

Labour manifesto. You're having a

review of tuition fees. It is

irrelevant whether more young people

are going to university or not. All

students don't want to start off in

life with a debt of 56,000. We know

because they are getting invoices

yearly. The issue of the high pay

rise of vice chancellors was raised

at the education select committee

hearing. MPs told a panel of vice

chancellors that the high rate of

pay enjoyed by some university

leaders is immoral. Given taxpayer

subsidies and rising levels of debt.

And if they are not going to put

that, could we have a debate on the

possibility of further regulation of

vice chancellors pay? Or will it be

part for another year? It's almost a

year since Article 50 was triggered

and we may know at the end of this

weekend exactly the government

position. I don't know if you have a

copy of this letter marked private

and confidential to the Prime

Minister but is teams everybody has

had it now. If you haven't got it,

I'm happy to give it to you. It's

actually quite disrespectful to the

Prime Minister, it is sent to the

House of Commons and not Downing

Street. I'm not going to go into the

grammar or anything else, but I want

to highlight one thing, leaving the

customs union, they say leaving it

at the single market isn't a

question of ideology but

practicality. So no mention of

what's in the best interests of the

citizens of this country or in

Northern Ireland. It's quite right

the member for love her brother --

for Loughborough says it reads like

a ransom note, it might as well have

had a bullet at the end of the night

saying do this all else. Signed by

62 members, well over the magic

number of 40. It's a world thinking

day on international friendship and

we want to stand by our

international friends, the young

people in Florida who want to

remember the 17 people murdered last

week. We they wanted change and

watched the state capital. We were

not at the Brit awards yesterday but

I am sure we will echo the words of

the young man who changed the

industry, encouraging everyone to

vote, pray and speak out about

mental health issues. And he won

many awards. Stormzy,

congratulations.

The leader of the

House.

Thank you, I would like to

share the honour of the Ladies

tributes to those tragically

murdered in their prime, not even

reaching their prime, in the

appalling killings in Florida. I

think we were all beyond shocked and

in a slight despair of the fact it

happens time and time again and we

desperately hope action will now be

taken to fulfil the wishes of those

young people, that they grow up in

peace and security. I also always am

very happy to pay tribute to people

who speak out about the importance

of resolving the mental health of

the nation. I had the great pleasure

to speak and an event run by MG, a

charity looking into research into

mental health on Tuesday evening --

M June. They are doing everything

they can to promote good mental

health and I am proud of the

governments achievements in that

area. Returning to some of her

points. I'm sorry she is grumpy

about my letter to her, I do my

absolute best to be nothing but

courteous to the Right Honourable

Lady who I respect enormously and

have the greatest regard for. I

share her tribute to my civil

service teams but she will recognise

is there is only a handful of them

and some require answers from

departments. With regards to her

detailed questions about a

Department for Transport matter, she

will know there are very often

Department for Transport questions

in this Chamber and is also at

liberty to ask the Secretary of

State for Transport herself with a

detailed questions rather than to be

slightly churlish towards my team

who are doing their very best on her

behalf. May I again say thank you to

my own team for the excellent rate

of turnaround of letters for a very

tiny department that we have. She

talks about some things I didn't

include in my response to her. She

talks about the Inspectorate

Northamptonshire County Council, his

report due by March the 16th. I'm

sorry if that was omitted from my

letter. She talks about a number of

things, and I see her friend sat

next to her has also gone on Twitter

with a letter to me criticising

things I failed to say in the very

courteous and timely response I gave

to her. Mr Speaker, perhaps you

might give your thoughts on how

appropriate it is when one tries to

be courteous to colleagues and they

simply go on Twitter accusing you of

not saying things they would have

liked U2. So, it is a little

discourteous -- that they would have

liked you to say. The Lady talks

about tuition fees and the

government is taking a leaf out of

Labour's manifesto. I don't think we

would ever is said we would scrap

tuition fees because of the

appalling impact even the Opposition

agreed would have on our economy.

What we are seeking to do is

seriously look at what is the best

combination for delivering

excellence in post-18 education at

an affordable price. The Lady raises

the issue of a letter from a number

of Conservative MPs and as the Prime

Minister 's spokesman made clear,

all contributions from all members

across the House to our position on

Brexit are very welcome and all are

taken into account.

Sir David Amess.

Well my friend finds time for a

debate for support for women with

endometriosis? An inspirational

constituents of mine suffers from

this crippling condition and is

leading a local and national

campaign to raise awareness which I

hope the House will support.

My

friend raises a very serious matter

and I certainly congratulate his

constituent for her campaign.

Statistics suggest that

endometriosis is the second most

common gynaecological condition in

the United Kingdom affecting one in

ten women and I would certainly

encourage him to apply for an

adjournment debates to raise

awareness of this condition further.

And I thank the House for announcing

this is for next week. I'm not sure

whether the leader is going to this

Brexit bonding or war session this

afternoon but can we have a debate

on what other dystopian nightmares

Brexit is not going to be quite

alike. Apocalypse now, in a couple

of years, children of men? My

favourite would have to be the

matrix where we have a bunch of

clueless fantasists living in an

alternative world believing they can

impose their version of reality on

anyone else. It couldn't be more

out. Talking of alternative

realities, we had English votes for

English laws in all its ad server

glory yesterday. Both go on, off,

maize goes on and up, and nothing

ever happens. There's no debate,

consideration of all these English

only issues. Nothing goes on at all.

This is now becoming profoundly

embarrassing for this House. It only

seems to be designed to get in the

wake of the workings and procedures

of this House and is a psychological

barrier to the unity of membership

of this House based on nationality

and geography. For goodness' sake,

get shot of this absurd system we

have in place. Lastly, I have the

good fortune of being and the Brits

last night to see the cream of

British musical talent on show.

Before you ask, MP4 were passed

again for Parliamentary Rock band of

the year. It's taken musicians to

remind Parliament to do the right

thing. Stormzy asked where the money

was for Grenfell Tower? You thought

we were going to forget but we are

not and it's great artist and young

people are reminding this

governments to do the right thing.

Well, to deal with the matter of

Grenfell Tower, the Gentleman and

all members across the House will

know that resolving the appalling

tragedy to enable people to carry on

with their lives, to turn around the

appalling physical and mental scars

from that awful night is an absolute

priority for the government and it

will remain so. I'm very glad that

he was able to enjoy the Brits, the

best of British, very important for

someone such as himself. And I'm

sure MP4 will have their day, I'm

sure they will. He talks about

English votes for English laws. He

will appreciate that under the

devolution settlement, it is

important that those who are

directly affected should be able to

hold the majority on a vote so where

they are only affecting English or

English and Welsh situations. And

finally, he talks about our life

outside the EU. In my own opinion,

it's a much less Mad Max and far

more Love, Actually.

Mr Speaker, I'm not even going to

try and follow that one! I just

received a report from data

diligence which the Lady will know

because they pointed out the wrong

doings of Northamptonshire Council.

They sent me a report to prove that

the council has been hiding money

for years in financial Miss

Prudence. Can we please have a

debate on this matter? It is

importance and shows local

government is sometimes not worthy

of the trust we put in it.

The

Gentleman has referred on this

occasion to the council. Can I ask

him has he notified the honourable

member for Taunton that he intends

to raise this matter?

I wrote to her

as in your guidance in the letter,

thank you very much for it and

follow it to the letter.

Yes... This

is becoming rather tiresome, to be

honest. I did try gently to exhort

the honourable Gentleman to pursue

other lines of enquiry but I've

permitted it is today but my

patience is not unlimited. The

leader?

My friend will be away

business questions are about the

business of this House and he would

be advised to speak to the local

government departments directly with

his concerns.

Very grateful, Mr

Speaker. If I can help the leader of

the House, it's been determined this

morning the other item of business

on Thursday the first will be a

motion on a seasonal migrant

workers. That has been settled this

morning. Can I ask the House leader,

the Department for digital culture

media and sport are backing the

exhibition of the novel which is

being hosted in Gateshead and

Newcastle from June to September. --

exhibition of the North. Could we

have time to promote the exhibition?

I know the leader of the House

wouldn't normally ask this request

to go to the backbench business

committee but that would hardly seem

appropriate in my circumstances!

He

could always go and chat to himself

in the mirror but it might appear

odd to anyone watching. I absolutely

pay tribute to the great exhibition

of the North, hope it's a huge

success and I'm sure he will find as

he has, great ways to promoted.

Can

I perhaps to the chairman of the

backbench committee, there is a

famous scene of one film there is a

scene where one Minister persuades

himself. Can we talk about the

education funding agency, there is a

particular situation in one school

for boys of State is on the case but

an underlying picture of an

organisation whose procurement

processes are top heavy, slow,

hierarchical, process driven and are

sometimes resistance to advice from

external partners who often bring

greater local knowledge to their

procurement processes.

I must say to

him that I gather he was spotted in

a prominent place on the first night

of the said performance and we hope

that he richly enjoyed himself. The

leader?

My friend is a big champion

for his constituency and for

education, and I absolutely

encourage him to take this up

directly with ministers all through

adjournment debate.

Emma Hardy?

Trans Pennine express have recently

downgraded the vital rail link from

Hull to Leeds and Manchester to a

stopping service, means it now stops

an additional six places along the

way. While I think it's important to

have a stopping service to link

together smaller towns, I also think

it's important to have an express

service as well. Please could we

have a debate in government time

about a rail, activities for

northern cities?

I think the Lady

raises an important point and she'll

be aware there are transport

questions on Thursday the 1st of

March. She might want to raise that

directly with ministers of them.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The leader of

the House will be aware of Tesco's,

that great retail giant, hungrily

taking over the wholesale of Booker.

She will also be aware of the

concerns about that on the part of

farmers and growers and food

producers. It would create an

extraordinary distortion of the food

chain at the expense of all those

important people. Will she encourage

those in the government responsible

for agriculture and business to let

this House know what their feelings

are about that market distortion?

You will be a clear processes

surrounding takeovers and mergers

and whether they are in the public

interest. He might wish to seek an

adjournment debate to discuss this

particular issue for his

constituency and its heavy reliance

on the agricultural sector.

My

constituents have told me Universal

Credit claimants there are

instructed to attend meetings 12

miles away, instead of their nearest

centre which is three miles away.

Can we have a debate on how

claimants from rural and semi rural

areas are affected by Universal

Credit?

I think the honourable

gentleman raises an important point

and you will be aware of the

government is committed to the

roll-out of Universal Credit, which

is a good way to help more people

into work. With regards to the

specific point he raises about

access to job centres, for signing

up for Universal Credit, can I

suggest to him that if he wants to

write to me I can take it up with

the apartments directly on his

behalf.

Please can have a debate on

the responsibilities of highways

England? A key part of the A1

through my constituency was

announced in March. Bayfield to

speak to local businesses and

residents. The lack of communication

has been a real crisis for the area.

My honourable friend is right to

raise this. I think a number of

members have had problems about lack

of communication regarding

significant road closures. She might

want to take up this issue at

transport questions next Thursday.

When can we have an urgent debate

government time to talk about

potholes and the state of our roads?

Not just local roads, but also more

to raise.

He is right to raise the

issue of potholes. It is a big

frustration for all of us. There are

lots of complaints in constituency

surgeries. Have been improvements in

recent years. I suggest he might

like to talk to the Backbench

Business Committee so that members

can share particular frustrations.

My question follows my honourable

friend's about the work of highways

England. The main road into Grimsby

is undergoing unexpected roadworks

at the moment. In view of the

concern amongst other members,

perhaps we could find time for a

government debate on the issue?

I'm

glad he is speaking after his

constituency. He might want to raise

it at transport questions in the

first instance.

Me I mention the sad

death of the American Evangelist

Billy Graham yesterday? He was very

saddened by the killing of children

in schools in America, but he also

would be appalled by the appalling

deaths of children in Syria. Can we

have a debate on that awful tragedy?

I certainly share his tribute to

Billy Graham who really was quite a

life changing character for many

people during his long life. And

share his grave concern about Syria.

The government has condemned the

appalling loss of life. We will do

all we can to ensure there is a

ceasefire and we make progress in

finding resolution in Syria.

Last

week, we brought together leaders

from across my constituency from

business, and transport providers,

to discuss how to make Harrogate and

Knaresborough more accessible for

disabled people. Can we have a

debate to look at how we can make

the UK more disability friendly?

Can

I congratulate my honourable friend

for his huge efforts in this area?

And commend him for that meeting

that he has called together? He

might be aware of the Backbench

Business Committee taking place

later today on the role of disabled

people and economic growth.

Government spends over £50 billion

per year on benefits to support

disabled people and people with

health conditions. At £7 billion

since 2010. There are 3.5 million

disabled people in work, up by

600,000 in the last four years.

There is more to do and more which

can be done, but were good progress.

Last year, a 13-year-old boy with a

dairy allergy died after allegedly

having cheese forced on him in

school. Next month, children will

watch Peter Rabbit in the cinema

forcing a character to digests food

that he is allergic to. Food allergy

is no laughing matter. Can we have a

debate on the bullying of children

with allergies which is clearly not

being taken seriously enough?

She's

raising an incredibly important

point and she is absolutely right to

highlight the seriousness of food

allergies. We should do all we can

to raise the importance and the

awareness of the potential

life-threatening impact of food

allergies. She may well want to seek

an adjournment debate to talk to

ministers directly on that point.

With the lambing season now upon us

and domestic dog attacks on

livestock at an all-time high, can

we have a debate on what the

government can do to limit the

devastating effect irresponsible dog

owners have on rural communities and

rural economy?

My noble friend is

absolutely right to raise this. I

think we've all seen photographs of

the appalling effect of a dog attack

on a field of sheep. It's hugely

distressing for the animals and the

farmers who look after them. As well

as having serious financial

imprecations. Dog owners can be

fined up to £1000 for worrying

animals. Farmers are encouraged to

report incidents. The dog welfare

code highlights to dog owners the

importance of keeping their dogs on

Leeds when near livestock.

University lecturers and staff are

currently in the largest ever strike

in higher education due to changes

in terms and conditions and

pensions. Can we have a debate about

protecting terms and conditions?

I

must declare an interest since my

eldest son is about to study for his

finals and now has no lecturers. At

a personal level, I cannot say that

I support innocent students who have

worked hard and paid our fees being

punished. The Universities Minister

is engaging with unions to make

clear to all parties the need to

find a solution that avoids

disruption to students.

Under this

government, the UK's weeding

international efforts to tackle tax

avoidance. Can we have a debate on

the impact this has on vital public

services? And what more we can do to

ensure that everybody pays their

fair share?

My honourable friend

raises an important point. He will

be as pleased as I am the government

has a strong record of tackling tax

avoidance, aviation and

noncompliance. Since 2010, HMRC has

secured additional revenue. The tax

gap is now down to 6%, its lowest

level ever and one of the lowest in

the world.

We still await the

government response to an

independent review won't last year.

Could we please have an urgent

debate on the perilous position of

broadcasting in Wales and the merits

of devolving responsibility for it

to the National Assembly in Wales?

I

share his enthusiasm for the Welsh

broadcasting service and support for

it. He may well wish to seek an

adjournment debate to take up

specific concerns with ministers.

Can we have a debate on local news

sites? A website in my constituency

started in June 2013. It complements

local print media. Will my right

honourable friend is join me in

congratulating the editor in his

retirement and hope that someone

will take over this successful site?

He is a real champion for all things

in Moray. Government is committed to

supporting an independent, vibrant

and plural press industry. Vital to

democracy. The website has published

thousands of stories in five years.

I am happy to congratulate him and

wish him a happy retirement.

Two

year six pupils in my constituency

wrote to me regarding the harm of

litter and plastics to our

environment. Will the leader

consider giving more time to a

debate on building an economy based

on clean energy?

I congratulate her

constituents. I'm sure she will be

delighted by the number of people

who have given up plastic for

alleged. The government has taken

great steps by reducing the number

of plastic bags by 9 billion. There

is a huge amount to do. We have

announced the intention to get call

of the system by 2025. There is more

to be done and the efforts of her

constituents are greatly

appreciated.

In the last two months

alone, 25 civilians and at least

seven service personnel have been

murdered by terrorists in Kashmir.

162 terrorist training bases have

been identified in Pakistan,

illegally occupied Kashmir. Could we

have a statement on what we can do

in this country to help and support

our great allies, India, in

combating this terrorism?

My

honourable friend raises an

incredibly serious point and he will

be aware that we work very closely

with all our allies to try and stamp

out terrorism and all terror

attacks. Evil, I'm sure, want to

raise this directly with Foreign

Office ministers or perhaps through

an adjournment debate, so he can get

specific detail on his particular

point.

One of my constituents was

the initial whistle-blower regarding

Barry Bennell. Can ask the Leader of

the House to make time available to

discuss this important issue?

He

raises an important issue. For the

many victims of that paedophile, I

think everyone in this House would

want to send their deepest

condolences and thoughts. It is

appalling some of the things that

happened to them. He may want to dig

it up in the first instance with the

Home Office at questions next

Monday.

According to a focus group,

attacks on Christians in India have

doubled in the last year to 736.

Attackers have been accusing

Christians of inciting attacks.

Could I ask the Leader of the House

for a debate on this issue?

He raises the issue of religious

freedom and he will be pleased to

know there is a backbench debate on

the 1st of March on freedom of

religion or belief, so he will have

the opportunity. It's his debate! He

has his debate, delighted on his

behalf and I'm sure it will be

successful.

After doing to know the

Gentleman is aware of the debates

taking place and it's his. Good

start!

I and a number of other

members have been raising with

government the 1984 camel layered

strike campaign, and will referred

to members of my registered interest

to the members sponsored. We have

been raising this for a number of

years, in April, October, injustice

questions, waiting for meetings that

have now been withdrawn. How can the

government be held to account when

they offer meetings and withdraw

them?

I'm sorry, I'm unaware of the

problem that the Gentleman is

raising with the Justice Department

if he wants to e-mail me, I can look

into it on his behalf.

Mr Speaker,

can we have an urgent debate on the

future of the children centre

network. This was one of the last

Labour government's proudest

achievements and has been cut back

drastically, on the basis there is

going to be a streamlining of the

service. If Gloucestershire is

anything to go by, we are now

potentially facing the closure of

the few remaining children centres.

Can we have a debate on this because

it is vital for the future of our

children we know what provision is

available.

I can say to whom I am an

enormous fan of children centres, I

think they were a fantastic

initiative and certainly provided

huge support for children. What he

will be aware of I'm sure is that

this government has invested

enormously in nurseries and

childcare, enabling many more

parents to be able to benefit by up

to £5,000 a year of tax-free

childcare and improvement in Morne

nursery care -- or nursery care and

qualified childcare, enabling more

families to have the assurance to be

able to go back to work knowing

their children are well cared for.

Mr Speaker, the leader of the House

will be well aware of legislation

passed last year to prevent the mass

farming of tickets by ticket touts,

but when we read that Hamilton now

sees tickets retailed at £6,000,

absolutely outrageous, isn't it time

we have a more comprehensive

legislation dealing with ticket

touting and an early statement from

the relevant department on this?

Having tried to get Hamilton tickets

myself only recently, I completely

agree with him! He seems to offer me

some tickets from his inside pocket,

Mr Speaker! But he's absolutely

right, touting is an enormous

problem and I certainly encourage

him to seek and adjournment debate

to raise those concerns.

My

constituent has faced a ten years of

harassment and anti-social behaviour

due to their neighbours using CCTV

to track their movements in and out

of their home. It was raised with

police, concerns around the camera

code of practice. Can I ask the

secretary or a Home Office Minister

to make a statement on the code and

its success rate five years after

being published by the government?

He raises a very concerning issue

and that must be horrible for his

constituents, to have to be harassed

in that way. He'll be aware there

are Home Office questions on Monday

and I encourage him to raise its

directly with ministers.

NatWest

bank is 73% publicly owned and in my

constituency of Cardiff North, as in

other communities across this

country, NatWest is closing many of

its high-street banking facilities.

What responsibility does the

government accept for the damage

caused to these local communities,

and will they bring forward a debate

on this issue and the justification

for it?

I certainly agree with the

Right Honourable Lady that access to

banking is vital. She will be aware

that the banks decisions on whether

to close our commercial decisions

are made by them, there is an

agreement made by the banking

sector. This can only be taken place

where volumes can justify that

closure. She will also be aware the

government is hosted by the post

Office network which provides basic

banking services for something like

98% of all personal and business

customers to carry out basic banking

transactions within the Post Office

network.

Last year, the Supreme

Court ruled that employment tribunal

fees were unlawful and all claimants

should receive their fees as a

refund. Latest figures show only 6%

of people have received those

refunds and I'm at a loss to

understand why it's a low figure

given the service will have details

of every person who makes a claim.

Can we have a statement from the

relevant Minister that people get

back the money they are legally

entitled to?

The Gentleman raises an

important point and one for the

Justice Department. If he wants to

write to me, I can take up the

decision but I encourage him to take

it up with the Justice Minister at

the next Justice questions.

Can we

have a statement on the role and

responsibilities of the UK

Government in supporting families of

UK citizens missing abroad. Liam

Coogan from Inverness went missing

from Hamburg on February the 10th

and his family are worried he is

injured. They are concerned about

the help he is getting, desperate to

find him and want to bring him home.

I'm really sorry to hear about that,

it must be an incredibly worrying

time for his family and I'm quite

sure they are desperate to hear news

of him. I encourage the honourable

Gentleman to make contact directly

with ministers to make sure he can

seek their support.

Helen and

Douglas House Hospice in Oxford is

having to close one of its centre is

due to lack of funding meaning it

cannot provide end of life care to

18-35 -year-old. Under 47,000 people

have signed a petition asking the

government to intervene, could we

have a debate on hospice funding?

I

share the Lady 's gratitude to Helen

and Douglas House who deliver an

amazing end of life care, not just

her constituents but also to some of

mine and I'm a huge in these last

for the hospice movement. The Lady

will be aware that local NHS

commissioners determine the level of

NHS funded hospices in their area

but I would like to reassure her

that NHS England have awarded £11

million in 2017-18 to children's

hospices through the children's

Hospice grant. But she is right to

raise this and may want to seek an

adjournment debate to discuss what

more can be done.

Why is the government dodging the

timetabling of opposition database?

I just don't accept the government

is dodging anything. We've been

absolutely clear, ever since I've

been a Leader of the Commons since

the general election. We have been

providing exactly the right

appropriate level of opposition

days, in accordance with standing

orders and continue to do that and

will continue to abide by the

conventions and standing orders of

this House.

Many members will have

noted the recent case of the doctor

Who was struck off after being

convicted of gross negligence and

manslaughter, an evident case of

institutional failure in the NHS

which could impact any junior

doctor. This has resulted in a loss

of confidence amongst the medical

profession. Can governments be

improved in the GMC so people can

have restored confidence in it?

We

are concerned about that case, there

is a balance between transparency

and enabling learning lessons to be

taken from awful outcomes and

situations. He's a right to raise

that case.