Contributions
291 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEngagementsHaving sat on the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill Committee for 15 months, I was a sceptic as to the economic benefits of the project for the north-east, but HS2 is…10 Feb 2021HANSARD Business of the HouseI thank the Leader of the House for the business programme. It is obviously regrettable, from the Backbench Business Committee’s perspective, that we have lost the previously…04 Feb 2021HANSARDBusiness of the HouseAs always, Mr Speaker, I am very grateful to you for calling me. I understand that the award of the Backbench Business time on Thursday 11 February may have been regarded as…28 Jan 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateI should declare an interest, as I am a chair of school governors and trustee of a joint schools board. In my youth, I was a Scout, and our motto was “Be prepared.” I congratulate…27 Jan 2021HANSARDEducational Settings: ReopeningThe Minister is insistent that there is a clear plan for reopening schools. Schools are largely open for those important children with additional needs and the children of key…26 Jan 2021HANSARD Vaccine Roll-outOn Tuesday, the Education Committee heard from the deputy chief medical officer that schools were as safe for pupils and staff as anywhere else, but it now seems that this…21 Jan 2021HANSARD Business of the HouseI thank the Leader of the House for the business statement and for announcing the Backbench Business debates next week and the week after. May I ask him again, though, whether on…21 Jan 2021HANSARD Business of the HouseI thank the Leader of the House for the business statement and say that I very much welcome the return to a two-week statement, which really does assist with planning. I also…14 Jan 2021HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI thank the Leader of the House for the business statement and for his stated intention, with the rescheduling, to move our first Backbench day from 7 January to 14 January. I…30 Dec 2020HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI thank the Leader of the House for the business statement. The Backbench Business Committee will meet this afternoon for the second time this week to determine what will fill the…17 Dec 2020HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI thank the Leader of the House for the business statement. I note that the debate on matters to be raised before the forthcoming Adjournment next Thursday will be held in…10 Dec 2020HANSARD Business of the HouseI am afraid to say that I am very disappointed that the Backbench Business Committee has no time allocated for debates next week. We had a tasty morsel or two lined up. We have…03 Dec 2020HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI thank the Leader of the House for his statement, and also for writing to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on my behalf and on behalf of my…26 Nov 2020HANSARD Business of the HouseI am not sure where the Leader of the House would put his six children in a Formula One car. Next Thursday, we have two debates suggested by the Liaison Committee, and the Leader…19 Nov 2020HANSARDBusiness of the HouseMay I say what a pleasure it was to see the hon. Member for Chatham and Aylesford (Tracey Crouch) from her home? It was really good to see her up and active—it is fantastic.…12 Nov 2020HANSARDBusiness of the HouseOf course, the hon. Member for Amber Valley (Nigel Mills) is a member of the Backbench Business Committee, so he would be asking himself for a debate. I thank the Leader of the…05 Nov 2020HANSARD Lockdown: Economic SupportPrior to this lockdown announcement, we had had almost universal calls for an extension to the full furlough scheme in areas with tighter restrictions, which Ministers had…03 Nov 2020HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI thank the Leader of the House for his statement and for guaranteeing time for Tuesday’s very timely and successful debate on Black History Month. Our Committee has been able to…22 Oct 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateI thank the Secretary of State for the meeting he had with north-east MPs on Friday. I can tell him that, if the data is accurate, the signs over the weekend are that we are…19 Oct 2020HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI thank the Leader of the House for the business statement and for the protected time—as I understand it—for the Backbench Business Committee debate on Black History Month on…15 Oct 2020