Contributions
5,553 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateI make no comment on the blessed amnesia that has descended on the First Minister of Wales, except to say that, actually, when we look at the facts and what the UK is doing…23 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateYes, indeed—although, as my hon. Friend already knows, we are doing a massive amount to support businesses of all kinds, particularly by getting rid of business rates for the…23 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateYes, it does mean that, but we are also committed, as my hon. Friend knows, to getting all our schools back in September. I do believe it that will be possible, if we stick to the…23 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateI will be calling on local representatives such as the hon. Gentleman to show some guts and determination, and to champion their communities as venues for people to return to and…23 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateI am grateful to my hon. Friend, who has his finger on the pulse. I was earlier informed that the First Minister of Scotland was about to make a statement uncannily similar to the…23 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateThe right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right, and I am aware of those risks. We are working with Mark Drakeford and the Welsh Government on those problems. As he knows, we are…23 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateI certainly encourage customers to go to the fantastic local retailers in Rugby, and I am delighted that these measures obviate the need for the cursed one-way system that my hon.…23 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateAs the hon. Lady knows, businesses have been eligible for £25,000 in grants. We have had 11 million people supported under the coronavirus job retention scheme and spent huge…23 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateMy right hon. Friend is a great champion of those industries and, as I have said to colleagues in the House already, we are doing a huge amount to engage with them and to support…23 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateThat is why we have set up the various taskforces that we have, to ensure that we work with everybody in the sectors to enable them to open as fast as possible in a…23 Jun 2020HANSARDEngagementsI congratulate my hon. Friend and the Friends of Chatterley Whitfield colliery on the ambition that he has just outlined for a heritage park. It is a proposal that he needs to…17 Jun 2020HANSARDEngagementsThis morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, and I shall have further such meetings later today.17 Jun 2020HANSARDEngagementsWe put £3.2 billion extra into local government to tackle coronavirus, but I must say that we did not hear an answer, did we Mr Speaker? How can the right hon. and learned…17 Jun 2020HANSARDEngagementsWe have not, because in addition to the £3.2 billion, we have already put in another £1.6 billion to support councils delivering frontline services, plus—from memory—another £600…17 Jun 2020HANSARDEngagementsWith great respect to the right hon. and learned Gentleman, I have outlined what we are doing to support local government, and I think this country can be very proud of the…17 Jun 2020HANSARDEngagementsNo, of course not. That is why we are investing massively in universal credit, employment and support allowance, and benefits across the board, to say nothing of the novel schemes…17 Jun 2020HANSARDEngagementsI have studied my hon. Friend’s proposals with interest. He is an expert in what he speaks of and we will certainly look at all kinds of imaginative ways in which we can stimulate…17 Jun 2020HANSARDEngagementsI am very grateful to the hon. Lady, because we take the issue of the UK steel industry very seriously. We are doing everything we can to maintain UK steel production. Clearly it…17 Jun 2020HANSARDEngagementsYes. My hon. Friend may not believe it, but when I was the Mayor of London we pioneered social impact bonds to tackle the most entrenched rough sleepers and to give value to…17 Jun 2020HANSARDEngagementsI am a huge admirer of Dr Munira Mirza, who is a brilliant thinker about these issues. We are certainly going to proceed with a new cross-governmental commission to look at racism…17 Jun 2020