0:00:00 > 0:00:05brackets 2018. Space industry Act 2018. City of London Corporation
0:00:05 > 0:00:14(Open Spaces) Act 2018. Order, business question.Could the Leader
0:00:14 > 0:00:19of the House please update the House on forthcoming business?Leader of
0:00:19 > 0:00:25the House, Andrea Leadsom.The business for the week commencing the
0:00:25 > 0:00:2919th of March, Monday the 19th of March, second reading of the secure
0:00:29 > 0:00:34tenancies victims of domestic abuse Bill laws, followed by a general
0:00:34 > 0:00:39debate on Welsh affairs. Tuesday the 20th of March, consideration of the
0:00:39 > 0:00:43business of a House motion followed by proceedings on the Northern
0:00:43 > 0:00:48Ireland Budget, anticipation and adjustments Bill. Wednesday the 21st
0:00:48 > 0:00:51of March, consideration of a business of the House motion,
0:00:51 > 0:00:54followed by the seedings on the Northern Ireland Assembly members'
0:00:54 > 0:00:59regional rates and energy Bill. Thursday the 22nd of March, a
0:00:59 > 0:01:03general debate on the economy. Friday the 23rd of March, the House
0:01:03 > 0:01:07will not be sitting. Business for the week commencing the 26th of
0:01:07 > 0:01:13March includes on Monday the 26th of March, second reading of the misuse
0:01:13 > 0:01:22Bill, loans. -- Lords. On Wednesday, the Cabinet Office will be launching
0:01:22 > 0:01:28a campaign pack for parliamentarians to use as we visit schools in our
0:01:28 > 0:01:32constituency to talk about the amazing achievements of suffragettes
0:01:32 > 0:01:38in the fight for equality. Also, this week as Shakespeare week, and
0:01:38 > 0:01:42he has a solid message for us in this House as we seek to stamp out
0:01:42 > 0:01:47bullying and harassment. Think now that duty will have strength to
0:01:47 > 0:01:51speak when power to flattery bowels. Let's hope that all is well that
0:01:51 > 0:02:00ends well. -- flattery bows. I am a huge fan of England rugby, and we
0:02:00 > 0:02:04face a great challenge against Ireland on Saint Patrick's Day on
0:02:04 > 0:02:08Saturday. I am proud of our strong United Kingdom. I would like to wish
0:02:08 > 0:02:14both teams a secure match, and to wish everyone a very happy Saint
0:02:14 > 0:02:19Patrick's Day.I thank the Leader of the House for the business next
0:02:19 > 0:02:26week. I think it is an interesting programme, and the Bill next week
0:02:26 > 0:02:31consists of two clauses, the long title and then the main clause. But
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Kyrgios have the list of ministerial responsibilities which I think not
0:02:34 > 0:02:38been published yet, and could I ask the reader when the debate on
0:02:38 > 0:02:42restoration and renewal will finally be scheduled? The withdrawal Bill is
0:02:42 > 0:02:48still in the other place and is not due to come back until possibly May.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51The Shadow Secretary of State for Education media point of order on
0:02:51 > 0:02:57Tuesday after debate that the Government will not press ahead on
0:02:57 > 0:03:02childcare vouchers for the next six months. We have now got these two
0:03:02 > 0:03:07time-limit, 12 weeks and six months. Could we have some clarity for our
0:03:07 > 0:03:11constituents? And given there is nothing scheduled after the 26th of
0:03:11 > 0:03:15May, could the Leader of the House please schedule and opposition Day
0:03:15 > 0:03:21debate? Perhaps a debate on early day motion 937, which I have asked
0:03:21 > 0:03:27for before, which deals with abolishing bursar list' choice
0:03:27 > 0:03:31nursing statements? We thought the Chancellor would make an
0:03:31 > 0:03:33announcement in the Spring Statement. The Chancellor now
0:03:33 > 0:03:45describes himself as Tigger-ish, and if he leads the tweets of some of
0:03:45 > 0:03:52his members, that he will know that they are asking him to bounce out of
0:03:52 > 0:03:57the slowest of all T20 countries, and so when he goes to plan a Saros,
0:03:57 > 0:04:06he will be lost in the queue. -- Buenos Aires. And that is before we
0:04:06 > 0:04:10left the EU. The President of Luxembourg said, we had a special
0:04:10 > 0:04:15relationship with the EU. Before they were out with a loss of opt
0:04:15 > 0:04:20outs, now they are out, they want a lot of opt ins. I think that sums up
0:04:20 > 0:04:23exactly where we are. I did not quite going from the Secretary of
0:04:23 > 0:04:29State for leaving the European Union if he has actually visited Brussels,
0:04:29 > 0:04:34so could I ask when was in fact the last time he visited? He did not
0:04:34 > 0:04:37actually say that he had visited the Northern Ireland border within this
0:04:37 > 0:04:41millennium, so could I ask to urge him to do so, and could she say
0:04:41 > 0:04:44whether the Prime Minister has actually visited the Northern
0:04:44 > 0:04:49Ireland border? Following the statement yesterday on the Green
0:04:49 > 0:04:54paper on the integration strategy, Walsall was mentioned, and I have to
0:04:54 > 0:04:59say I was a bit upset the Secretary of State to not alert me to the fact
0:04:59 > 0:05:03that he was going to mention Walsall as one of the key areas. The ball in
0:05:03 > 0:05:07my constituency have already contacted me, and resent the fact
0:05:07 > 0:05:14that Walsall is seen as a place that is not integrated. I heard this
0:05:14 > 0:05:16morning at 10.00 that the Secretary of State was visiting my
0:05:16 > 0:05:20constituency, it would have been helpful if he had told me
0:05:20 > 0:05:25beforehand, because I could have shown decent areas. The fact is, in
0:05:25 > 0:05:29July 2015, I in this chamber at business questions, when I was
0:05:29 > 0:05:34sitting back there, the cut in funding from the Walsall adult
0:05:34 > 0:05:37community college, and we had to fight to get it back. My constituent
0:05:37 > 0:05:43is now offering training courses for women in childcare levels one, two,
0:05:43 > 0:05:47three in the new Morrissey and literacy. He struggles to get a
0:05:47 > 0:05:51place to hold these training courses, because when he tried to
0:05:51 > 0:06:08get the library, it has been closed. 500 playgrounds have been
0:06:08 > 0:06:12outsourced. Those are the places for social cohesion. Could we have a
0:06:12 > 0:06:16debate on the report found councils are spending less on services, more
0:06:16 > 0:06:20on social care, and that Government funding has fallen by 49.1% in real
0:06:20 > 0:06:26terms? 15 councils will be at risk following Northamptonshire County
0:06:26 > 0:06:31Council imposing emergency controls. It is the funding of the
0:06:31 > 0:06:35infrastructure of local Government that helps with social cohesion. It
0:06:35 > 0:06:39is austerity that fuels division, as people think there is not enough
0:06:39 > 0:06:42resources to go around, and blame other people who seemed to be taking
0:06:42 > 0:06:47the resources. Could we have a debate on the National union of
0:06:47 > 0:06:53teachers running a trust report on visible and invisible barriers? All
0:06:53 > 0:06:58an urgent statement on the young black boy who was tied to a tree in
0:06:58 > 0:07:03Bath and hit by white boys as he was called names? There is no Government
0:07:03 > 0:07:09strategy to cover that. Sadly, I do not really wants to end on a sad
0:07:09 > 0:07:13note, but I'm afraid I do have to. I want to finally acknowledge the
0:07:13 > 0:07:17passing of some very eminent people who have made a major contribution
0:07:17 > 0:07:22to our country. Brenda Dean was the first female secretary of the trade
0:07:22 > 0:07:26union. She joined a trade union when she was a teenager. Professor
0:07:26 > 0:07:42Stephen Hawking, a fellow for 22 years. I have read A Brief History
0:07:42 > 0:07:52Of Time, but I will have to read it again. In his memory, we must ensure
0:07:52 > 0:07:57that the UK continues the fantastic collaboration in science with the
0:07:57 > 0:08:04rest of Europe. He said that a publicly provided NHS, publicly
0:08:04 > 0:08:08provided run system was the most efficient, and those who say we
0:08:08 > 0:08:14cannot afford the NHS are wrong. We cannot afford not to have an NHS.
0:08:14 > 0:08:20And finally, Sir Ken Dodd. I did actually see him at the Palladium
0:08:20 > 0:08:27when I was younger, a long time ago. We hope to see him, we will not only
0:08:27 > 0:08:31Mrs jokes, his songs, but actually the image of a man wielding a
0:08:31 > 0:08:45feather duster.I completely shut out with the honourable Lady's
0:08:45 > 0:08:48tributes to Brenda Dean, Professor Stephen Hawking and of course Sir
0:08:48 > 0:08:55Ken Dodd. What is untested and humourless man he was. -- a
0:08:55 > 0:09:01fantastic. I also share our commitment to a health service that
0:09:01 > 0:09:07is free at the point of delivery. That will always be the case under
0:09:07 > 0:09:13this Government. She raises a number of issues. Ministerial
0:09:13 > 0:09:17responsibilities, she and I have had this discussion a number of times. I
0:09:17 > 0:09:21have chased this, and I am told that that will be published in the next
0:09:21 > 0:09:25quarterly transparency around next Friday, so let's hope. I am an aside
0:09:25 > 0:09:30on this. When we bring forward the restoration and renewal debate,
0:09:30 > 0:09:36something I shall be updating the House commission on Monday. I have
0:09:36 > 0:09:39spoken to Parliamentary council about the drafting of that Bill. We
0:09:39 > 0:09:43need to get that ready and bring it forward as soon as possible. Again,
0:09:43 > 0:09:48think she and I agree on that. I hope the rubble already will be
0:09:48 > 0:09:56pleased, as I was, that we had the days debate. I was tolerated, as no
0:09:56 > 0:10:01doubt she wasn't, that the Government managed to win, with
0:10:01 > 0:10:04recent majorities, each of those, which are very important for young
0:10:04 > 0:10:14people. To expand the number of young people free school lunches by
0:10:14 > 0:10:20more than 50,000. We had an opposition Day debate for Plaid
0:10:20 > 0:10:25Cymru and for the DUP, others will be brought forward through the usual
0:10:25 > 0:10:32channels. She talks about our new Tigger-ish Chancellor. I was
0:10:32 > 0:10:36delighted to see this new Disney reference, and long may that class.
0:10:36 > 0:10:41I would like to point out to the Honourable Lady, she says that it is
0:10:41 > 0:10:46misplaced, but manufacturing output has now grown for nine consecutive
0:10:46 > 0:10:53months for the first time since records began in 1968. We have had
0:10:53 > 0:10:55the best two quarters of productivity growth in the financial
0:10:55 > 0:11:02crisis. The lowest year-to-year net borrowing since 1998. The number of
0:11:02 > 0:11:06first-time buyers is that an 11 year high, and employment is near a
0:11:06 > 0:11:12record high. These are reasons to be optimistic and believe in our
0:11:12 > 0:11:18fantastic economy. I am delighted the Honourable Lady has such faith
0:11:18 > 0:11:23in my ability to determine whether the Prime Minister should go, I
0:11:23 > 0:11:29think it is very flattering she thinks I should determine their
0:11:29 > 0:11:32travel arrangements. She mentions the excellent work on the racial
0:11:32 > 0:11:35disparity audit and the determination of this Government to
0:11:35 > 0:11:38ensure that where there is inequality, we take very strong
0:11:38 > 0:11:44measures to try to remove any barriers to the success of all parts
0:11:44 > 0:11:47of all races, all ethnic backgrounds, all religions in this
0:11:47 > 0:11:53country to be able to progress. She mentions that Walsall, her own area,
0:11:53 > 0:11:57will be part of that initial pilot scheme. I welcome that, and I hope
0:11:57 > 0:12:02she does. She also mentions the horrifying story of a young black
0:12:02 > 0:12:08boy being tied to a tree. I think we all share absolute disgust and
0:12:08 > 0:12:12horror at that inappropriate, utterly awful experience, and I hope
0:12:12 > 0:12:17that we in this House are always at all times United in stamping out any
0:12:17 > 0:12:33behaviour of that sought wherever we see it.
0:12:33 > 0:12:39It is the 346th anniversary of the declaration of indulgence and I beg
0:12:39 > 0:12:47your indulgence in that... Freedom of religion in this country,
0:12:47 > 0:12:56something that we all cherish. The backbench ministers committee now
0:12:56 > 0:13:02has eight and allocated debates that need time in this chamber and now
0:13:02 > 0:13:07that the government has taken today and next Thursday, we will therefore
0:13:07 > 0:13:16be losing the opportunity to debate autism and victims of autism and
0:13:16 > 0:13:19victims of surgical mesh, which are subject members across the House are
0:13:19 > 0:13:25very keen to debate. Could I ask the Leader of the House to ensure that
0:13:25 > 0:13:30we get backbench business times as soon as possible? And on my behalf,
0:13:30 > 0:13:36Mr Speaker, can I ask for a debate on both child six abuse and grooming
0:13:36 > 0:13:43of young children? Particularly those in care. I have sat on the
0:13:43 > 0:13:47communities and local government Select Committee for a long time
0:13:47 > 0:13:51now, seven years, and we went through the Rotherham case in very
0:13:51 > 0:13:55great detail, and now we are hearing cases across the country. I think it
0:13:55 > 0:13:59is time we had a debate in government time on this very
0:13:59 > 0:14:02important issue so all members can voice their views and we can hear
0:14:02 > 0:14:07what the government is going to do about it.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11I am grateful to my honourable friend for stunning in for the
0:14:11 > 0:14:16chairman of the backbench business committee. I absolutely hear his
0:14:16 > 0:14:20request for backbench business days. I hope he will welcome the
0:14:20 > 0:14:23government's determination to provide government time for the
0:14:23 > 0:14:28debate on international women's date on such an important year, which in
0:14:28 > 0:14:32previous years has fallen to the backbench business committee to
0:14:32 > 0:14:36table, and also on Welsh affairs, which unfortunately was a backbench
0:14:36 > 0:14:41day which was cancelled, in effect, due to the appalling weather. We
0:14:41 > 0:14:46also have a government debate on the economy, which I know something the
0:14:46 > 0:14:58backbench business committee was keen to have. We are not ignoring
0:14:58 > 0:15:06the House. However, I do here is specific mention of debates on
0:15:06 > 0:15:10autism and surgical mesh. I have constituents of my home who suffered
0:15:10 > 0:15:15very profoundly from obligations relating to surgical mesh and all
0:15:15 > 0:15:21members will want to do everything we can for people who suffer from
0:15:21 > 0:15:25autism. We will be bringing forward backbench days as soon as business
0:15:25 > 0:15:32allows. He also raises the question of child six abuse, which is beyond
0:15:32 > 0:15:36appalling, and we heard this week about the appalling situation in
0:15:36 > 0:15:41Telford. I will make representations on his behalf.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45Can I thank the Leader of the House for announcing the business for next
0:15:45 > 0:15:51week and also, in tribute to the three names mentioned, I think the
0:15:51 > 0:15:58best thing we can help do is address the cause of independence for nutty
0:15:58 > 0:16:07ASH. And can we also welcome National Shakespeare Week. Surely it
0:16:07 > 0:16:11could only be a comedy of errors or is that a power grab I see before
0:16:11 > 0:16:17me? I am surprised the leader has not announced any debate on Russian
0:16:17 > 0:16:21relations. We have had to debates which have been heavily subscribed
0:16:21 > 0:16:26this week. There is a great deal of interest might across this House.
0:16:26 > 0:16:31Before Easter, can we ensure we get a debate on Russia? Tomorrow is a
0:16:31 > 0:16:36first. We have got two consecutive Scottish National Party members
0:16:36 > 0:16:43private member 's' Bill. Particularly good and worthy Private
0:16:43 > 0:16:47Members' Bills on uniting refugee families and ending the practice of
0:16:47 > 0:16:53unpaid internships. Can she do all she can to make sure there is none
0:16:53 > 0:16:56of the usual, awful, disruptive parliamentary practices that
0:16:56 > 0:17:01characterised so much of Private member days. This is stuff our
0:17:01 > 0:17:04constituents absolutely loathe and they want to see these bills
0:17:04 > 0:17:07progress. And can we have a proper debate about English votes for
0:17:07 > 0:17:14English laws. Everybody in this House knows this is an appalling,
0:17:14 > 0:17:18divisive measure that socially organises this House based on
0:17:18 > 0:17:21nationality. I think there are still people in the House was still
0:17:21 > 0:17:27confused about how it applies to them. My Scottish Conservative
0:17:27 > 0:17:30friends determined to exercise their prime function as unquestioning
0:17:30 > 0:17:34lobby fodder rushed through those lobbies on Tuesday to vote to take
0:17:34 > 0:17:40free meals out of the mouths of a million English only to discover
0:17:40 > 0:17:45that their votes didn't count because of the English veto in the
0:17:45 > 0:17:48double majority vote. The Scottish Tory draftees turned up to have
0:17:48 > 0:17:54their votes discounted in person. The Scottish Tories do nothing but
0:17:54 > 0:17:59as questions of a parliament 400 miles away that they can't answer
0:17:59 > 0:18:05these questions, infuriating their constituents. It is primarily
0:18:05 > 0:18:07responsible for their plummeting relations.
0:18:14 > 0:18:19Well, thank you, Mr Speaker. I am struggling to find something to
0:18:19 > 0:18:24agree with the honourable gentleman on her. Perhaps on the independence
0:18:24 > 0:18:28of knotty ASH would be the safest place to go. He calls for a debate
0:18:28 > 0:18:31on Russia and the government was extremely grateful yesterday for the
0:18:31 > 0:18:37very calm and supportive response of his party leader. The government
0:18:37 > 0:18:45very much appreciated that sensible and very measured response and I
0:18:45 > 0:18:48will certainly make representations and I'm sure there will be
0:18:48 > 0:18:50opportunities to refer the discussion on this very serious
0:18:50 > 0:18:56subject. He talks about Private Members' Bills. He will be aware
0:18:56 > 0:19:00this is by definition Private member 's bills. The government does not
0:19:00 > 0:19:05seek to interfere in the passage of legislation in the debate on Private
0:19:05 > 0:19:11Members' Bills. And he mentions two very important bills led by Scottish
0:19:11 > 0:19:17members. One on the reunion of refugee families and the other on
0:19:17 > 0:19:22banning unpaid internships. Both of those proposals have a good deal of
0:19:22 > 0:19:26merit. The government have strong policies in each area. There was a
0:19:26 > 0:19:31good discussion this morning on the radio about the merits of on the one
0:19:31 > 0:19:35hand abusive people who are trying to apply for a job versus the merits
0:19:35 > 0:19:38for small businesses being able to check out in practical reality the
0:19:38 > 0:19:44skills that individuals claim to have. I think that debate will be
0:19:44 > 0:19:48very useful tomorrow. He also talks about English votes for English laws
0:19:48 > 0:19:53and I would just like to put on record that it is absolutely not the
0:19:53 > 0:20:01case that free school dinners are being taken away from children. I
0:20:01 > 0:20:03deeply regret that honourable members on the opposition have
0:20:03 > 0:20:10deliberately sought to mislead and to make vulnerable people feel yet
0:20:10 > 0:20:17more vulnerable. It is quite clear that there will be 50,000 more
0:20:17 > 0:20:24children than today eligible for free school meals by the time
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Universal Credit is rolled out and that is a great regret to the
0:20:27 > 0:20:30government that anyone should seek to misrepresent that.
0:20:30 > 0:20:35I just very gently say on advice to the Leader of the House that she
0:20:35 > 0:20:38would not seek to accuse members of deliberately misleading the House
0:20:38 > 0:20:45because that would be an accusation that would touch upon somebody's
0:20:45 > 0:20:48integrity and that is not orderly. I'm sure she will want to withdraw
0:20:48 > 0:20:54that. It is not negotiable, it just has to be withdrawn.
0:20:54 > 0:21:01I will withdraw. Could my right honourable friend
0:21:01 > 0:21:07find time for a debate on food labelling? I have been contacted by
0:21:07 > 0:21:12Diabetes UK who feel very strongly that food labelling should be much
0:21:12 > 0:21:15clearer so that customers, when they buy food and drink, can understand
0:21:15 > 0:21:21the effects it has on the health and how farm animals are treated.
0:21:21 > 0:21:26My honourable friend raises a very important issue, not just, as he
0:21:26 > 0:21:29says, for those with health problems but also so that people who care
0:21:29 > 0:21:34about the welfare of animals can see precisely how the food they are
0:21:34 > 0:21:39eating has been treated during its lifetime and of course in the way
0:21:39 > 0:21:44that it has been slaughtered. What I can say to him is that when we leave
0:21:44 > 0:21:47the European Union, we will no longer be subject to EU food
0:21:47 > 0:21:51labelling regulations and we will be able to look at this as a
0:21:51 > 0:21:57Independent United Kingdom. Last Friday night I stayed up all
0:21:57 > 0:22:05night sleeping rough at Huddersfield town football stadium to raise money
0:22:05 > 0:22:10for local homeless charities. We raised over 40,000 type -- £40,000
0:22:10 > 0:22:15that night. Would the leader agree with me that we should encourage
0:22:15 > 0:22:18other football clubs, including, perhaps you could influence the
0:22:18 > 0:22:22mighty gunners, to do the same to raise money locally, but can we also
0:22:22 > 0:22:25have a statement on how the government plans are going to
0:22:25 > 0:22:30eradicate homelessness? Can I congratulate the honourable
0:22:30 > 0:22:35lady. That is an amazing thing to do. In my own home town of
0:22:35 > 0:22:39Northampton, there is a fantastic homelessness centre that every year
0:22:39 > 0:22:42there's a sleeper and I am fully determined to do that myself one
0:22:42 > 0:22:48year as well. Can I also congratulate her on the amazing
0:22:48 > 0:22:53fundraising effort. That is really amazing news. And to everyone
0:22:53 > 0:22:56involved with that. It is an absolute priority of the government
0:22:56 > 0:23:00to make sure that we tackle this huge problem of homelessness and
0:23:00 > 0:23:05rough sleeping. We have pleasure in our manifesto to eliminate it by
0:23:05 > 0:23:112027, halving it by 2022. These are very difficult issues and we have
0:23:11 > 0:23:14committed £1 billion to tackling rough sleeping and homelessness. But
0:23:14 > 0:23:18it is not just about money, we are changing how councils approach the
0:23:18 > 0:23:26issue. We are implementing the Homelessness Reduction Act. And we
0:23:26 > 0:23:30are also very working very closely with councils to look at what more
0:23:30 > 0:23:34can be done in targeted ways to tackle the problems that result in
0:23:34 > 0:23:39homelessness and rough sleeping. I joined the leader in
0:23:39 > 0:23:42congratulating the honourable lady and her message to colleagues will
0:23:42 > 0:23:47have been heard and digestive. Can my right honourable friend see
0:23:47 > 0:23:53two ins a sense of urgency into government departments, perhaps
0:23:53 > 0:23:56starting with the Department for Transport, because once again due to
0:23:56 > 0:24:01heavy rainfall, the line from London to Plymouth is cut off due to
0:24:01 > 0:24:05flooding in the Exeter region. There is a plan to fix it but it is taking
0:24:05 > 0:24:10far too long and my constituents are fed up about it and so am I. Can she
0:24:10 > 0:24:15please help? My honourable friend is a huge
0:24:15 > 0:24:19champion for his constituency and he is quite right to raise it. I
0:24:19 > 0:24:21absolutely understand his frustration and that of his
0:24:21 > 0:24:25constituents. If he would like to write to me I would be very happy to
0:24:25 > 0:24:29fire a small rocket towards the Department of Transport on his
0:24:29 > 0:24:36behalf. I have got constituents who bought a
0:24:36 > 0:24:42new biomass boiler hoping to offset some of the costs. After legal
0:24:42 > 0:24:47action, they have got it removed and now they have got a replacement
0:24:47 > 0:24:52boiler but have been told they are no longer allowed to access HIV. To
0:24:52 > 0:25:00rub salt in the wounds, they have now been demanded to pay money back.
0:25:00 > 0:25:06Can we have a debate about the rules and customers trying to do the right
0:25:06 > 0:25:13thing in embracing green energy. The honourable gentleman has raised
0:25:13 > 0:25:18a very important point and we do want to encourage everybody to take
0:25:18 > 0:25:23every opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and to turn our economy
0:25:23 > 0:25:27green. I am delighted that in 2017 the UK enjoys the greenest year for
0:25:27 > 0:25:33an atrocity ever. He raises a very specific constituency point and I
0:25:33 > 0:25:40urge him to raise it at questions with the Department.
0:25:40 > 0:25:45Since last Tuesday's debate in this place on free school meals, I have
0:25:45 > 0:25:49received numerous e-mails attacking me for taking food out of the mouths
0:25:49 > 0:25:53of the poorest children in my constituency. Since I came into
0:25:53 > 0:25:57politics to improve the lives of my constituents, I find this abhorrent.
0:25:57 > 0:26:02It is also a waste of taxpayers money having to create these
0:26:02 > 0:26:05rebuttals. Honourable members know that no child will lose every school
0:26:05 > 0:26:09meal as a result of these policies. Can we please have a debate about
0:26:09 > 0:26:14the way in which statements which are made in this chamber that when
0:26:14 > 0:26:17lifted out of context can be unfortunately used on social media
0:26:17 > 0:26:25to manipulate public opinion by the party, which ends up harming our
0:26:25 > 0:26:30most vulnerable constituents and achieving the opposite effect?
0:26:30 > 0:26:34I completely agree with my honourable friend. She is absolutely
0:26:34 > 0:26:38right to raise this matter in the chamber. They will be no children
0:26:38 > 0:26:42who lose their free school dinners and in fact there will be a 50,000
0:26:42 > 0:26:47increase by the time Universal Credit is rolled out. As you have
0:26:47 > 0:26:51said, Mr Speaker, while the use of social media is broadly to be
0:26:51 > 0:26:55welcomed, members should take care to ensure that usage of selected
0:26:55 > 0:26:59clips of debates does not create a misleading impression of what has
0:26:59 > 0:27:03taken place. Unfortunately, your words were not heeded and a
0:27:03 > 0:27:09misleading impression has been created us and it is greatly to be
0:27:09 > 0:27:13regretted and I do believe that it does not help the integrity of this
0:27:13 > 0:27:15place when honourable members deliberately seek to put out
0:27:15 > 0:27:21information which is incorrect. Is that OK?
0:27:21 > 0:27:25I would not get drawn into arguments about policy. I absolutely stand by
0:27:25 > 0:27:32that statement in its entirety, but it is entirely compatible and
0:27:32 > 0:27:36consistent with saying that people cannot accuse other members of Miss
0:27:36 > 0:27:43leading the House. -- misleading the House. That first statement is
0:27:43 > 0:27:49absolutely correct, people should not use selective clips to give an
0:27:49 > 0:28:00incorrect, inaccurate, erroneous account of proceedings.
0:28:00 > 0:28:04In all this well that ends well may not be the case in relation to
0:28:04 > 0:28:08Northern Ireland, more a case of beware the Ides of March. Will the
0:28:08 > 0:28:11reader the time available for the debate on the subject of Northern
0:28:11 > 0:28:15Ireland and the Foreign Secretary's proposals for a minimal border
0:28:15 > 0:28:19controls and the impact that will have on border controls and security
0:28:19 > 0:28:27in Northern Ireland?The honourable gentleman will be aware that the
0:28:27 > 0:28:30Government policy is to ensure that there is no hard border between the
0:28:30 > 0:28:34Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, that when we leave the
0:28:34 > 0:28:38European Union, we have a deal that works all parts of the United
0:28:38 > 0:28:43Kingdom, and that does not seek to divide or undermine any part of the
0:28:43 > 0:28:47United Kingdom from any other part. He also might have hard when I read
0:28:47 > 0:28:51out the business for next week there will be two days of debates
0:28:51 > 0:28:55pertaining to Northern Ireland next week, he may well want to take the
0:28:55 > 0:29:02opportunity to speak on those.Can I just please refer back to this whole
0:29:02 > 0:29:05business of about statistics and the use of statistics? There is nothing
0:29:05 > 0:29:10wrong with a good, robust argument in this place. What I would ask the
0:29:10 > 0:29:15Leader of the House as this. If she or any other Government minister
0:29:15 > 0:29:20makes an assertion about facts, they can quite properly be challenged and
0:29:20 > 0:29:26brought back to this place, and made to give an account of any inaccuracy
0:29:26 > 0:29:30in the use of statistics as fact. But it is not the same for
0:29:30 > 0:29:34honourable and right honourable members in the opposition in
0:29:34 > 0:29:39particular, and I don't think it is enhancing political debate for
0:29:39 > 0:29:44people, and it is a growing problem, week after week, almost a day after
0:29:44 > 0:29:50day to assert facts but without any accountability in this House. Is
0:29:50 > 0:29:54there anything that the reader can do? Because we had to lie on Channel
0:29:54 > 0:30:014's fax checker on Tuesday. The library is an excellent source of
0:30:01 > 0:30:05information, but it is imperative that we all Act with the raster tea
0:30:05 > 0:30:13and integrity, and are held accountable when we make assertions.
0:30:13 > 0:30:17That is exactly right. Mr Speaker, you will recall I raised in this
0:30:17 > 0:30:21chamber the issue of a private response I gave to an honourable
0:30:21 > 0:30:24member opposite, in relation to a question they asked me privately,
0:30:24 > 0:30:28that they then treated, implying that I had answered something else,
0:30:28 > 0:30:34which I personally was extremely offended by. -- tweeted. My
0:30:34 > 0:30:38honourable friend is exactly right, social media clips that are
0:30:38 > 0:30:41deliberately misleading and ignore facts to make political points
0:30:41 > 0:30:44undermine our democracy and our Parliament, and it simply must not
0:30:44 > 0:30:50happen.Mr Speaker, you might like to know that I fully intend on
0:30:50 > 0:30:57spending the night with the honourable member at least alien of
0:30:57 > 0:31:08Huddersfield Premier League club. We are working on a cancer fundraiser
0:31:08 > 0:31:15last week, and I had to withdraw. I have a serious request, can we get a
0:31:15 > 0:31:20group of all parties for members of this House to be made available on a
0:31:20 > 0:31:26more transparent way? I have become very tired of hearing when someone
0:31:26 > 0:31:29stands up on this side of that and the mumble, can I refer to my
0:31:29 > 0:31:34interest in the register of interest? And that is all. And if
0:31:34 > 0:31:39you look at the richest of interest, some of these people have amazing
0:31:39 > 0:31:43business connections, large amounts of investments, and indeed some of
0:31:43 > 0:31:51them own half a county in agriculture? And all we get is a
0:31:51 > 0:31:54little aside, I think this House isn't transparent enough in terms of
0:31:54 > 0:32:01when you make a speech, you should fully say what your interests are.I
0:32:01 > 0:32:05am looking at you wondering whether this is more a matter for the chairs
0:32:05 > 0:32:08and it is for the Leader of the House. But I understand what the
0:32:08 > 0:32:14honourable members saying clearly. If you would like to write to me, I
0:32:14 > 0:32:16would certainly be happy to take it up with the procedure committee and
0:32:16 > 0:32:21see whether this is an error we need to review.The position is actually
0:32:21 > 0:32:25pretty clear. In a speech, a member should declare an interest that
0:32:25 > 0:32:29members of the House are aware of it. There is no requirement to do so
0:32:29 > 0:32:35in a question. But each member must take responsibility for his or her
0:32:35 > 0:32:39decision to decline. So I wouldn't want it to be thought that there is
0:32:39 > 0:32:44huge ambiguity about this. It may be that it takes time for some people
0:32:44 > 0:32:48to be fully conversant with the required procedure, although that
0:32:48 > 0:32:52isn't a problem that will afflict the honourable gentleman, as he is
0:32:52 > 0:32:55approaching his 39th year of consecutive service in the House of
0:32:55 > 0:32:59Commons. But I hope people will appreciate how to go about this
0:32:59 > 0:33:05matter, and it is certainly very important. John Lamont.This evening
0:33:05 > 0:33:09I have a great pleasure of attending the 90th birthday celebrations of
0:33:09 > 0:33:13the Coldstream branch of the woman's Institute. I'm sure my right
0:33:13 > 0:33:17honourable friend would be welcome to join me. And I wonder if we could
0:33:17 > 0:33:21have a debate to pay tribute to the great work that the woman's
0:33:21 > 0:33:25Institute does, not just in Scotland but across the whole of the United
0:33:25 > 0:33:30Kingdom are supporting not just women but also local charities?I am
0:33:30 > 0:33:34sure my honourable friend will be very warmly received by DWI, he is a
0:33:34 > 0:33:39great champion of his constituency. And I do thank him for highlighting
0:33:39 > 0:33:44the incredible work of the WRI which has played a unique role as the
0:33:44 > 0:33:50largest woman's voluntary organisation in the country. The WI
0:33:50 > 0:33:55has dedicated its time to a wealth of worthy causes. I help all of
0:33:55 > 0:33:57those celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Coldstream branch
0:33:57 > 0:34:04have a very enjoyable evening with him. -- I hope.Anti-social
0:34:04 > 0:34:07behaviour is a growing concern across my constituency, people tell
0:34:07 > 0:34:11me that they feel intimidated and unsafe in their homes. Please can we
0:34:11 > 0:34:16have a debate on on the need for increased funding for our police and
0:34:16 > 0:34:20statutory youth provision to Act as both a deterrent and a solution to
0:34:20 > 0:34:27this problem of anti-social behaviour?I think the honourable
0:34:27 > 0:34:30lady is quite right to raise the real problem of anti-social
0:34:30 > 0:34:34behaviour, which whilst low-level, Kimberly wrecked people's lives and
0:34:34 > 0:34:47their enjoyment of their homes and so on. -- can really wreck. I will
0:34:47 > 0:34:49look into the possibility of a debate across the whole of the
0:34:49 > 0:34:55House.Each week across England and Wales, some 80 dogs are stolen from
0:34:55 > 0:34:59their owners, causing huge distress to both the owners themselves and of
0:34:59 > 0:35:04course the animals concerned. During this pet theft awareness week, could
0:35:04 > 0:35:09we have a debate on what is a growing and really nasty problem
0:35:09 > 0:35:16across this country?I know my honourable friend has done a great
0:35:16 > 0:35:21deal to raise awareness of the issue of dog theft. It is a terrible
0:35:21 > 0:35:26crime, and whilst any theft of property can be distressing for the
0:35:26 > 0:35:29victims, the suffering will be much greater when it is a family pet, and
0:35:29 > 0:35:33I commend him for raising this issue. The Government is very clear
0:35:33 > 0:35:37that when such a crime happens, it must be reported to the police
0:35:37 > 0:35:41whenever it happens, so that that crime can be investigated and the
0:35:41 > 0:35:45perpetrators brought to justice. He will know that the theft of a dog is
0:35:45 > 0:35:49a criminal offence under section one of the theft Act of 1968, and we are
0:35:49 > 0:35:56determined to see it enforced.Mr Speaker, my constituents in Bristol
0:35:56 > 0:36:01West are baffled at the way this Government keeps pulling business
0:36:01 > 0:36:05and not replacing it with time to solve the pressing issues of the
0:36:05 > 0:36:10day, almost as, lack of funding for schools, challenges to the NHS, so
0:36:10 > 0:36:16will the Leader of the House please ask the Government to provide
0:36:16 > 0:36:18further governments time or further opposition day time for us to debate
0:36:18 > 0:36:25and try to solve some of these pressing issues?As far as I'm
0:36:25 > 0:36:29aware, Mr Speaker, the only business that the Government has pulled as a
0:36:29 > 0:36:32response to a request from the opposition on Monday evening that,
0:36:32 > 0:36:37due to the unprecedented number of urgent questions and important
0:36:37 > 0:36:39statements around things like bullying and harassment and a
0:36:39 > 0:36:43response to the Salisbury attack, the opposition requested that the
0:36:43 > 0:36:47Government pulled the business that night. So I'm not entirely sure what
0:36:47 > 0:36:57the honourable lady is talking about.Last Saturday I joined the
0:36:57 > 0:37:01save our hospital campaign on a march to highlight the anxiety and
0:37:01 > 0:37:04stress in the local community presently feels as we await the
0:37:04 > 0:37:12outcome of the Department of Health independent review panel's review.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15The challenge of rural funding for health care means we are not
0:37:15 > 0:37:23investing fairly into England's most sparsely populated community. We
0:37:23 > 0:37:26need better palliative and convalescent care, and we need to
0:37:26 > 0:37:34give consideration to the challenges faced by rural hospitals. The
0:37:34 > 0:37:39Government allow a debate in governments time to debate how we
0:37:39 > 0:37:55all we can address these problems?I think you have highlighted
0:37:55 > 0:37:58beautifully what a fabulous champion for constituents my honourable
0:37:58 > 0:38:02friend is, and she has rights to raise the particular challenge of
0:38:02 > 0:38:05sparsely populated areas and her need for health care to be as good
0:38:05 > 0:38:10as anywhere else in the country. I myself have some challenges with a
0:38:10 > 0:38:14local health care provision in a less populated area, and I do
0:38:14 > 0:38:17appreciate fully what she is saying. I suggest to her that you might like
0:38:17 > 0:38:20to seek an adjournment debate specifically to deal with the issues
0:38:20 > 0:38:30in Northumberland.Last Friday, I was tossed out by the entire primary
0:38:30 > 0:38:36three class at Hanover Street primary School -- door stepped, who
0:38:36 > 0:38:42wanted to tell me that in three years the Parliament use of straws
0:38:42 > 0:38:45has doubled. They are concerned about this would like to know what
0:38:45 > 0:38:51the Government is doing to tackle this issue.Isn't that fantastic to
0:38:51 > 0:38:58hear of young students doorstepping the honourable lady? The Government
0:38:58 > 0:39:01is committed to tackling and reducing the use of plastics, and
0:39:01 > 0:39:11are all manner of efforts, such as the 5p levy on plastic bags, which
0:39:11 > 0:39:16is reduced usage by around 9 billion bags, an extraordinary number. There
0:39:16 > 0:39:24is also an effort on the blue belt to protect maritime environment. But
0:39:24 > 0:39:29closer to home, we know that a little and often ends up in our
0:39:29 > 0:39:37sees, and so we have a new strategy for England. But very specifically
0:39:37 > 0:39:41to the point of plastic straws and the use in this place, the
0:39:41 > 0:39:44administration committee have taken this up. They are committed to
0:39:44 > 0:39:49reducing the use of single use plastics, which includes plastic
0:39:49 > 0:39:53knives and forks as well as straws, and I can tell her that a number of
0:39:53 > 0:39:58honourable members across this place have committed to a plastic free
0:39:58 > 0:40:04Lent, she would be very welcome to join us should you wish to do so.I
0:40:04 > 0:40:07commend my honourable friend for the hard work and determination she has
0:40:07 > 0:40:11shown to deal with the issue of bullying and harassment of all kinds
0:40:11 > 0:40:14in Westminster. Could we please have a statement on the ballooning
0:40:14 > 0:40:18quietly she has proposed this week, and is she able to confirm that this
0:40:18 > 0:40:22enquiry will not look at individual cases but instead look at whether
0:40:22 > 0:40:30the respect policy as a whole is working for staff in this place?I
0:40:30 > 0:40:34am grateful for his question, and I can get some very specific
0:40:34 > 0:40:38reassurance. The enquiry into the bullying of House staff at I will be
0:40:38 > 0:40:43posing on the 19th of March will not be carrying out investigations into
0:40:43 > 0:40:47individual cases. That is exactly why I expected to attract the full
0:40:47 > 0:40:52support of the House commission. There are existing avenues open to
0:40:52 > 0:40:56anyone wishing to raise specific grievances, and those individuals
0:40:56 > 0:41:00coming forward will be in Courage to use those where they apply. But the
0:41:00 > 0:41:06enquiry will be looking at whether they are functioning properly. --
0:41:06 > 0:41:09will be encouraged. My aim is to stamp out bullying and harassment of
0:41:09 > 0:41:13any kind in this place, and I imagine every single person who will
0:41:13 > 0:41:21wish to support this.Can we have a statement or a debate on the dispute
0:41:21 > 0:41:24of universities at the moment? I have two universities in my
0:41:24 > 0:41:32constituency, and this debate has been dragging on for weeks,
0:41:32 > 0:41:35including lecturers' pensions. Can we have an update or on that? And
0:41:35 > 0:41:39before the Leader of the House gets up to answer me, I'm aware that
0:41:39 > 0:41:43there are educations on Monday, but I would like a proper statements to
0:41:43 > 0:41:47show me the matter is being taken seriously by the House. -- education
0:41:47 > 0:41:54questions.I'm certainly very personally aware of this, with my
0:41:54 > 0:41:58eldest son facing finals and having been denied the opportunity to even
0:41:58 > 0:42:01go to university because of the picket line to use the resources
0:42:01 > 0:42:05there, let alone have any of the face tuition that he was due to have
0:42:05 > 0:42:10and has paid for. -- face-to-face tuition. So I am personally
0:42:10 > 0:42:13extremely cross about the way that innocent students are being punished
0:42:13 > 0:42:18during this dispute. I urge all parties to get together and find a
0:42:18 > 0:42:20resolution so that a generation of graduates do not have to pay the
0:42:20 > 0:42:26price.
0:42:26 > 0:42:32Two weeks ago I raise the question of non-levy apprenticeship funding
0:42:32 > 0:42:35for Newcastle, Stafford, Shrewsbury Town and other colleges. This is
0:42:35 > 0:42:39becoming a serious situation and I believe that our young people will
0:42:39 > 0:42:43be let down if we don't resolve it. Can I urge that we have a statement
0:42:43 > 0:42:48or a debate on this matter as soon as possible?
0:42:48 > 0:42:54I know my honourable friend is very supportive of the importance of
0:42:54 > 0:42:58apprenticeships so I thank him for his question. I can tell him that
0:42:58 > 0:43:02the contracts for the delivery of non-levy brandish ship training were
0:43:02 > 0:43:07awarded on the basis of an education and skills funding agency assessment
0:43:07 > 0:43:09of information that was supplied against clearly separate criteria.
0:43:09 > 0:43:16Ofsted's weighting of this was not considered as new entrants don't
0:43:16 > 0:43:21have an Ofsted rating so would have been disadvantaged. The government
0:43:21 > 0:43:27was awarded over 700 providers with contracts totalling £490 million to
0:43:27 > 0:43:32deliver apprenticeship training for non-levy payers. However, those who
0:43:32 > 0:43:35were not successful in the procurement can still provide
0:43:35 > 0:43:40apprenticeship training to levy payers directly.
0:43:40 > 0:43:44In the last week I have had three constituents contact me to express
0:43:44 > 0:43:48their frustration that they are unable to receive social security
0:43:48 > 0:43:54payments into Post Office accounts. With bank closures, including in my
0:43:54 > 0:43:58constituency, can we have a debate in government to the functions and
0:43:58 > 0:44:02work of the Post Office to make sure that we can resolve these issues to
0:44:02 > 0:44:05make sure that constituents can receive Social Security payments
0:44:05 > 0:44:10into those accounts? I think the honourable gentleman
0:44:10 > 0:44:15raises a really important point. I was delighted when city minister to
0:44:15 > 0:44:18sign the arrangement with. This is to provide basic banking services
0:44:18 > 0:44:28for all UK banks. So this, the issue that he raises, is news to me
0:44:28 > 0:44:31personally. If he would like to write to me about it, I will take it
0:44:31 > 0:44:38up with the Department. I thought yesterday the Prime
0:44:38 > 0:44:43Minister didn't only speak for the government but also the country over
0:44:43 > 0:44:45Russia. I thought the Leader of the Opposition was an apologist for
0:44:45 > 0:44:52Russia. The duty of every member in this House is to put country first
0:44:52 > 0:44:57and party second. I congratulate the 18 Labour members who have signed an
0:44:57 > 0:45:02early day motion 1071 supporting the government. On this occasion would
0:45:02 > 0:45:07it be possible for the Leader of the House to have this debated next
0:45:07 > 0:45:15week? I entirely agree and associate
0:45:15 > 0:45:20myself with the comments from my honourable friend and I think that I
0:45:20 > 0:45:26will certainly reflect his comments to the government but that it will
0:45:26 > 0:45:31not be possible as the business has already been arranged for next week.
0:45:31 > 0:45:44But I do encourage him to seek other means for this matter to be debated.
0:45:44 > 0:45:51Services eight and 19 will cease in 11 days' time resulting in villages
0:45:51 > 0:45:57no longer having a direct bus route. We are looking forward to be
0:45:57 > 0:46:01Scottish Government's transport Bill which will deal with many of these
0:46:01 > 0:46:09issues. Can we have a debate on the impact across the UK?
0:46:09 > 0:46:13I think the honourable gentleman raises what is clearly a very
0:46:13 > 0:46:17important point. Bus services are vital for many rural communities for
0:46:17 > 0:46:22people to get to work, education and to do the weekly shop. I am a huge
0:46:22 > 0:46:26fan of the bus sector and the importance of maintaining services.
0:46:26 > 0:46:30However, it is an entirely devolved matter and it would not be
0:46:30 > 0:46:42appropriate for me to comment further on specifics in his area.
0:46:49 > 0:46:53There has been minimal attention given to the events in Telford where
0:46:53 > 0:47:02hundreds of children have been abused and rates. Can we have --
0:47:02 > 0:47:13abused and raped.
0:47:13 > 0:47:19We have all been shocked by the reports from Telford and we should
0:47:19 > 0:47:23all be praising our honourable friend, the member for Telford, who
0:47:23 > 0:47:27has been totally right to speak out as she has. I am very pleased that
0:47:27 > 0:47:30the authorities are now going to conduct an enquiry and it is
0:47:30 > 0:47:34important this work gets under way as quickly as possible so we can get
0:47:34 > 0:47:38to the truth. My honourable friend raises an important point about the
0:47:38 > 0:47:42relative lack of reporting on this subject versus other perhaps more
0:47:42 > 0:47:48gossipy types of scandal. He is right to raise the concern about
0:47:48 > 0:47:57evenhanded reporting. The Leader of the House may have
0:47:57 > 0:48:01noticed that on several occasions I have asked for debates on youth
0:48:01 > 0:48:06violence and the root causes of youth violence. I have noted that we
0:48:06 > 0:48:10have not got these in terms of government time and quite often the
0:48:10 > 0:48:15Leader of the House gives creative suggestions for how we might go
0:48:15 > 0:48:21about having a debate on this. But one of those, I was thinking we
0:48:21 > 0:48:25could have opposition Day debates and maybe I could lobby our front
0:48:25 > 0:48:31bench to discuss the issue of youth violence within an opposition day
0:48:31 > 0:48:37debate. Can we have time for opposition day debates, please?
0:48:37 > 0:48:41Can I pay tribute to the honourable lady for her work in this area. I
0:48:41 > 0:48:45know she is supporting the government in looking into the issue
0:48:45 > 0:48:50of serious violence and she will be aware that government's new serious
0:48:50 > 0:48:53violence strategy is due to be published in the spring and it will
0:48:53 > 0:48:57look at ways to steer young people away from a life of crime while
0:48:57 > 0:49:02putting in place measures to prevent and reduce the effect on victims of
0:49:02 > 0:49:06serious crime. She asked for an opposition day and I can assure her,
0:49:06 > 0:49:10as I did to the honourable lady opposite, that opposition days will
0:49:10 > 0:49:13be forthcoming in the usual way and in accordance with the standing
0:49:13 > 0:49:20orders of this House. I'm sure the whole house will be
0:49:20 > 0:49:27delighted to hear that Wales' first zero waste shop opened its doors on
0:49:27 > 0:49:30the high street of Crickhowell in my constituency of Brecon and
0:49:30 > 0:49:34Radnorshire earlier this month. Can we therefore have a debate on what
0:49:34 > 0:49:37more the government can do to make sure that more shots follow their
0:49:37 > 0:49:43example and therefore help the unnecessary -- reduce the
0:49:43 > 0:49:49unnecessary plastic packaging that is doing harm to our environment?
0:49:49 > 0:49:51Firstly, can I congratulate his constituents for this great
0:49:51 > 0:49:55endeavour and wish them every success. The passion with which
0:49:55 > 0:49:58honourable members across the House put forward ideas for reducing
0:49:58 > 0:50:02plastic waste shows that is as consumers as well as our
0:50:02 > 0:50:07constituents will be very keen to support such measures I retailers.
0:50:07 > 0:50:11Obviously, he will be aware that the small retailers Association have
0:50:11 > 0:50:15committed themselves to joining in the 5p charge for plastic bags,
0:50:15 > 0:50:19which will all help, and I expect all members to support their
0:50:19 > 0:50:30retailers, who are doing so much. Can we have a debate in government
0:50:30 > 0:50:41time on the practice of housing developers.
0:50:43 > 0:50:49Can we have a debate to hold these developers to account?
0:50:49 > 0:50:54I think the honourable gentleman is right to raise those issues. We all
0:50:54 > 0:50:59have developments going on in our constituencies where we have lots of
0:50:59 > 0:51:02promises and then constituents are disappointed by the lack of action
0:51:02 > 0:51:07on those and I'm sure we all, as I do, right furious letters to
0:51:07 > 0:51:13developers asking them, we read this, where is that? . I do
0:51:13 > 0:51:16encourage the honourable gentleman to seek a debate to deal with the
0:51:16 > 0:51:24specific issues in his constituency, but I commend him for raising this.
0:51:24 > 0:51:28On Tuesday, amusement arcade operators in Cleethorpes were
0:51:28 > 0:51:32operating -- expressing their anger at the possible withdrawal of the 1p
0:51:32 > 0:51:41and 2p coins. They are now confused as to what the government's policy
0:51:41 > 0:51:46is. Could we have a statement to clarify whether the consultation is
0:51:46 > 0:51:50ongoing and whether or not it will include possible withdrawal of the
0:51:50 > 0:51:581p and 2p coins? The Prime Minister's spokesman has
0:51:58 > 0:52:03said there are no proposals to scrap 1p or 2p coins. The call was simply
0:52:03 > 0:52:07intended to help the government better understand the role of cash
0:52:07 > 0:52:10and digital payment. One of the elements is whether the
0:52:10 > 0:52:13denominational mix of coins meets the public need and from the early
0:52:13 > 0:52:18reaction it looks as if it does. I think it is safe to say that the
0:52:18 > 0:52:22penny has dropped, we have considered change, we know we like
0:52:22 > 0:52:28change, so we think we will probably keep change and have no change.
0:52:28 > 0:52:34Since raising the York housing crisis in the chamber, my inbox has
0:52:34 > 0:52:39been flooded with horrific stories of damp and mouldy housing in York,
0:52:39 > 0:52:44where landlords, whether council or private landlords, have completely
0:52:44 > 0:52:54fingered my constituents. -- completely failed my constituents.
0:52:54 > 0:52:57And we have a debate so that once and for all we stamp out doubt --
0:52:57 > 0:53:03stamp out damp. There is no doubt that the
0:53:03 > 0:53:06government is determined to take steps to help to ensure that all
0:53:06 > 0:53:11homes are meeting the right standards and that we do stamp out
0:53:11 > 0:53:17issues like damp and other problems that so many tenants have. She will
0:53:17 > 0:53:20know that the government is supporting the Private members Bill
0:53:20 > 0:53:24of her honourable friend on bringing homes to a decent standard. We are
0:53:24 > 0:53:27also committed to protecting the rights of tenants and giving them
0:53:27 > 0:53:31more security through our tenant fees Bill that is going to ban
0:53:31 > 0:53:36unfair letting feels and other ways -- letting fees and other ways in
0:53:36 > 0:53:39which tenants are mistreated. I'm sure there will be many
0:53:39 > 0:53:43opportunities to raise this in the coming months.
0:53:43 > 0:53:46When the results of the English votes for English laws were
0:53:46 > 0:53:49announced on Tuesday, the number of members from English constituencies
0:53:49 > 0:53:53had not been counted by tell us, they have been countered by an
0:53:53 > 0:53:58electronic devices in the lobbies. Is it not time to drag this place
0:53:58 > 0:54:00into the late 20th century and introduce electronic voting for all
0:54:00 > 0:54:06divisions? This is what I would say to the
0:54:06 > 0:54:10honourable gentleman is, for many of us, we find the lobby is a very
0:54:10 > 0:54:13useful place to discuss matters pertaining to our constituents and
0:54:13 > 0:54:18to policy and it is a great opportunity to meet with ministers.
0:54:18 > 0:54:22I do encourage the honourable gentleman to hang around a bit and
0:54:22 > 0:54:25raise some of the issues he often raises with me on a Thursday with
0:54:25 > 0:54:28the relevant minister rather than rushing through and electronically
0:54:28 > 0:54:35voting. I commend it to him. He will only be raising this matter
0:54:35 > 0:54:38with ministers in the lobby if he voted with them. I can't imagine
0:54:38 > 0:54:43that happening very often. The Leader of the House has made her
0:54:43 > 0:54:47position and other members of the House very clear.
0:54:47 > 0:54:51I'm sure I'm not alone in being less than impressed with the answers the
0:54:51 > 0:54:55Foreign Secretary gave this morning when he was quizzed on the Today
0:54:55 > 0:54:58programme when he was asked what action the government is taking to
0:54:58 > 0:55:07freeze the assets -- assets to those related to the Russian regime. I
0:55:07 > 0:55:11know the government can't give as a running commentary on what it is
0:55:11 > 0:55:15doing at this moment in time but in the near future this House will want
0:55:15 > 0:55:19an account of what action they took urgently to freeze those assets to
0:55:19 > 0:55:24stop them being moved. Will the Leader of the House convey that to
0:55:24 > 0:55:26the government and make arrangements for such a statement in the near
0:55:26 > 0:55:31future? This is a very serious matter and if
0:55:31 > 0:55:36I can just say, what the Foreign Secretary was making clear this
0:55:36 > 0:55:40morning, unlike others, this country abides by the rule of law, it is not
0:55:40 > 0:55:44for ministers to simply decide to freeze assets. We go by the law of
0:55:44 > 0:55:49the land and we are putting in place, as far as possible and within
0:55:49 > 0:55:53the law, a review of all of those who we suspect may have assets that
0:55:53 > 0:55:57we may wish to consider freezing. Of course ministers will come forward
0:55:57 > 0:56:00and report to the House exactly what is happening as soon as they are
0:56:00 > 0:56:03able to do so. Can the Leader of the House make
0:56:03 > 0:56:08sure that as Universal Credit is rolled out we have more regular
0:56:08 > 0:56:11opportunities to question ministers and tell them what is happening on
0:56:11 > 0:56:16the ground? In Newport, with the roll-out started in November, we
0:56:16 > 0:56:20have seen a threefold increase in food parcels and government
0:56:20 > 0:56:27ministers need to listen to that. Well, I do want to be clear that
0:56:27 > 0:56:34Universal Credit is designed to make work pay. There is evidence that
0:56:34 > 0:56:38that is working. It is encouraging more people to seek work and more
0:56:38 > 0:56:42people to get work. The idea is to reduce the capacity of the previous
0:56:42 > 0:56:46benefits system. The honourable ladies pigs as if somehow it is
0:56:46 > 0:56:50making people worse off. It is making people better off. The
0:56:50 > 0:56:52government has listened very carefully to the many
0:56:52 > 0:56:59representations right across the House -- the honourable lady
0:56:59 > 0:57:09opposite.
0:57:09 > 0:57:14Can we have a debate in government time on the responsibilities of the
0:57:14 > 0:57:19foreign and, wealth office. Three weeks ago today I raised the urgent
0:57:19 > 0:57:22case of Leo Colgan, the Inverness man who had gone missing in Hamburg,
0:57:22 > 0:57:28and despite taking the Leader of the House's advice in writing to
0:57:28 > 0:57:32ministers, three weeks later I have not had a response despite having
0:57:32 > 0:57:36chased and chased do to clearance and awaiting signature. The family
0:57:36 > 0:57:39is in trauma. Shouldn't ministers come to the House and explain this
0:57:39 > 0:57:44lack of urgency?
0:57:44 > 0:57:48I am sorry to hear that, and I do recall the honourable gentleman
0:57:48 > 0:57:52reason that case with me. I am happy to chase the Foreign & Commonwealth
0:57:52 > 0:57:59Office on his behalf.Two years ago, one of my constituents was attacked
0:57:59 > 0:58:04by her ex-partner and an accomplice. She was eight months pregnant and
0:58:04 > 0:58:08then flippantly targeted her stomach, stamping on her, which
0:58:08 > 0:58:13caused the loss of the child. She has launched a campaign this
0:58:13 > 0:58:19Mother's Day to get the 1929 infant preservation Act updated. All the
0:58:19 > 0:58:25Government provides time to debate this issue to ensure that people who
0:58:25 > 0:58:28deliberately caused the loss of a child are adequately prosecuted and
0:58:28 > 0:58:33given lengthy sentences?I think all honourable members will be appalled
0:58:33 > 0:58:38to hear of that situation, that is terrible and I am very sorry to hear
0:58:38 > 0:58:41it. The honourable gentleman will be aware that the Government has
0:58:41 > 0:58:46brought forward a draft domestic abuse Bill, this seems that it would
0:58:46 > 0:58:50be very appropriate for him to submit this particular case into
0:58:50 > 0:58:55that draft consultation so that it can be considered along with all of
0:58:55 > 0:59:00the other measures that show the Government's determination to stamp
0:59:00 > 0:59:07out domestic violence, which is so often directed towards women, and
0:59:07 > 0:59:12I'm afraid very often, towards pregnant women.The human rights
0:59:12 > 0:59:15commission released a damning report on the impact of tax and welfare
0:59:15 > 0:59:19reforms yesterday, which highlighted that three quarters of household
0:59:19 > 0:59:23with three children are losing out, and three quarters of Pakistani
0:59:23 > 0:59:26households are losing out as a result of welfare reforms, a huge
0:59:26 > 0:59:29concern for my constituents in Glasgow Central. Can we have a
0:59:29 > 0:59:34debate on Government time about the important need for equality impact
0:59:34 > 0:59:40assessment is to make sure the Government is not racist?I think
0:59:40 > 0:59:44the honourable lady should welcome the work of my right honourable
0:59:44 > 0:59:49friend on the racial disparity audit that is the first attempt by the
0:59:49 > 0:59:54Government, any Government, to try to measure whether there is
0:59:54 > 0:59:59disparity in the treatment of people according to race or ethnicity, or
0:59:59 > 1:00:03indeed religion, as absolutely vital. But what I would say to her
1:00:03 > 1:00:07is that we do have many more children, almost 600,000 fewer
1:00:07 > 1:00:12children, living in workless households. And 200,000 fewer
1:00:12 > 1:00:16children in absolute poverty. Income equality is now lower than it was in
1:00:16 > 1:00:21any year under the last Labour Government, so we are making
1:00:21 > 1:00:28progress. We are committed to doing more, this Government is showing
1:00:28 > 1:00:31determination to stamp out the kind of inequality she is talking about.
1:00:31 > 1:00:37I'm sure the Leader of the House will be interested to know that at
1:00:37 > 1:00:42Hull University today, they are releasing the preliminary evaluation
1:00:42 > 1:00:50of Hull City of Culture. £300 million to risk money into the city,
1:00:50 > 1:00:55more than nine out of ten households engaged in at least one cultural
1:00:55 > 1:00:58activity, and thousands of young people engaging with the arts, not
1:00:58 > 1:01:04to mention the acres of positive publicity for the city. Can we have
1:01:04 > 1:01:09a debate about the value in the public investment in culture, the
1:01:09 > 1:01:14success of Hull City of Culture, and the lessons that can be learned for
1:01:14 > 1:01:19Coventry when it takes up the battle of City of Culture in 2021? -- bat
1:01:19 > 1:01:26on.I am grateful to her, she is a huge champion of Hull City of
1:01:26 > 1:01:32Culture, and the statistics are hugely welcome because it
1:01:32 > 1:01:35demonstrates what a success it has been, and I think she is right to
1:01:35 > 1:01:39call for the debate on what the lessons can be for Coventry, so they
1:01:39 > 1:01:43can take advantage of the excellent experience she has had. I suggest
1:01:43 > 1:01:54she raises at next Thursday.Last Friday, we held our Nottingham North
1:01:54 > 1:01:58constituency jobs fair, and I'm pleased to say we have 956 local
1:01:58 > 1:02:02people come to that jobs. Of course we had hoped we would not needed
1:02:02 > 1:02:06jobs fair at all, but it is a real sign of the impact of that event and
1:02:06 > 1:02:09many people will get into work and training as a result. Will the
1:02:09 > 1:02:15Leader of the House gave me an opportunity to shout praise on
1:02:15 > 1:02:19Nottingham City Council, the local DWP, on the rebalancing foundation I
1:02:19 > 1:02:24am proud to check, and the many people who made such a success?I'm
1:02:24 > 1:02:31sure the honourable gentleman was also seeking a debate.Yes, I was.I
1:02:31 > 1:02:33congratulate the honourable gentleman for the enormous turnout
1:02:33 > 1:02:38he has had at his jobs fair, I think all honourable members have held
1:02:38 > 1:02:41jobs fairs have found likewise the enthusiasm from employers and from
1:02:41 > 1:02:44people looking for a job has been heart-warming. And of course, we
1:02:44 > 1:02:49have seen an extraordinary increase in employment so that now we are at
1:02:49 > 1:02:54near record highs for employment across the United Kingdom, including
1:02:54 > 1:02:59well over 30% increases in employment right across the UK,
1:02:59 > 1:03:06rising in the East Midlands to 42%, and the West Midlands 38%, and the
1:03:06 > 1:03:11south-east unemployment is down by 47%. So I think we have some amazing
1:03:11 > 1:03:14job statistics to look at as a result of the measures we have put
1:03:14 > 1:03:20in place to see a thriving economy with lower taxes for people, and
1:03:20 > 1:03:25more people with the security of a wage packet to take home.Last but
1:03:25 > 1:03:30not least, and never forgotten, Mr Peter Grant.I am eternally
1:03:30 > 1:03:33grateful. Can we have a statement from the Work and Pensions Secretary
1:03:33 > 1:03:40on the cold weather payments system? Most of my constituency were
1:03:40 > 1:03:43discovered to discover that it wasn't cold enough to trigger the
1:03:43 > 1:03:47payments during a week in which they were under two to three feet of
1:03:47 > 1:03:52snow, travel of any kind was impossible, and we were subject to
1:03:52 > 1:03:54Scotland's first-ever red alert due to the danger from snow and ice. The
1:03:54 > 1:03:58problem is that the DWP do not measure the temperature England
1:03:58 > 1:04:05office, they measure it at a coastal location 20 miles away. -- do not
1:04:05 > 1:04:12measure the temperature in Glenrothes. So can we have some
1:04:12 > 1:04:15assurance that next time this happens, the people of Glenrothes
1:04:15 > 1:04:26will have the payments they are untitled to? -- entitled to.The
1:04:26 > 1:04:29honourable gentleman will be made aware of the payments for people who
1:04:29 > 1:04:34struggles to meet their own energy bills. Monday the 26th