Contributions
439 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Parliamentary Constituencies BillI must confess that when I heard the Labour Front-Bench spokesman begin her remarks my heart soared. It sounded as though there had been an outbreak of agreement and peace across…02 Jun 2020HANSARD Parliamentary Constituencies BillIs this not an example of the prayer of St Augustine—grant me chastity and continence, but just not yet? If we are going to do this, let us do it right and let us do it now. The…02 Jun 2020HANSARD Finance BillWe have already heard how the coronavirus crisis has fundamentally changed our economy and is in the process of changing our society too. We have also heard how the Bill makes…27 Apr 2020HANSARD Social MobilityMy right hon. Friend is setting out his case eloquently and beautifully. May I push him a little on his point about some people not being advised to aim high or encouraged to be…12 Feb 2020HANSARDDraft Public Bodies (Abolition of Public Works Loan Commissioners) Order 2019Since the Minister kindly makes that offer, the Treasury has raised the interest by what must be roughly 35%, from 1.8% to 2.8%. Surely that must have an impact on the amount of…03 Feb 2020HANSARDDraft Public Bodies (Abolition of Public Works Loan Commissioners) Order 2019Could I press the Minister a little more on his answer about the interest rate rise? Since there is concern in the Treasury and elsewhere in Government about borrowing to invest…03 Feb 2020HANSARD Global BritainIt is good to hear such a doughty defence and exposition of some classical and enduring truths about the importance of free trade, not just to this country and everybody in it but…30 Jan 2020HANSARDSoutheasternAngry and frustrated passengers in the south-east and elsewhere will have been delighted to hear the Secretary of State say that rail franchising is not working anymore, but will…30 Jan 2020HANSARDDraft Historical Abuse Bill (Northern Ireland)I understand the concern around this matter. Given the need to move this process at speed, we have mainly been focusing on getting the commissioner and the redress scheme outline…24 Jul 2019HANSARDDraft Historical Abuse Bill (Northern Ireland)The historical institutional abuse inquiry looked into the abuse of children under 18 who lived in institutions in Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1995. The Hart report was…24 Jul 2019HANSARDDraft Historical Abuse Bill (Northern Ireland)I join the hon. Gentleman in his tribute to Sir Anthony Hart. In the past couple of weeks, during the passage of the Bill that he mentioned, tributes were paid to Sir Anthony for…24 Jul 2019HANSARDDraft Historical Abuse Bill (Northern Ireland)The draft legislation that has been sent to us does not go into that level of detail about what might be pursued. What is clear is that in order to ensure that financial probity…24 Jul 2019HANSARDDraft Historical Abuse Bill (Northern Ireland)I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his kind comments about the Secretary of State and me, but also for the further evidence of the cross-party support and the shared…24 Jul 2019HANSARDDraft Historical Abuse Bill (Northern Ireland)I am the Minister of State.24 Jul 2019HANSARDDraft Historical Abuse Bill (Northern Ireland)Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I will briefly respond to my hon. Friend by saying that I think she is tempting me into what is probably a constitutional impropriety by trying to…24 Jul 2019HANSARDDraft Historical Abuse Bill (Northern Ireland)The hon. Lady is rightly giving vent to people’s frustrations. She and many people on both sides of the House, including me, feel exactly the same way, as do many of the victims’…24 Jul 2019HANSARDDraft Historical Abuse Bill (Northern Ireland)I am afraid I cannot give my hon. Friend a precise date. The Bill will have to make its way through Parliament—through this Chamber and the one at the other end of the…24 Jul 2019HANSARDDraft Historical Abuse Bill (Northern Ireland)I would love to be able to make the commitments exactly as the hon. Gentleman asks, but I am afraid that I cannot, simply because—as I said in response to earlier questions about…24 Jul 2019HANSARDDraft Historical Abuse Bill (Northern Ireland)I devoutly hope so. The talks have been ongoing—until last night—and I devoutly hope that they will continue. There is a sense of commitment and determination, but there is still…24 Jul 2019HANSARDDraft Historical Abuse Bill (Northern Ireland)Let me take that second and crucial point first. The draft Bill, as it has been sent to us, does allow for people who have already received initial compensation payments from…24 Jul 2019