Contributions
824 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDiscrimination in SportLet me begin by thanking the hon. Member for Tooting (Dr Allin-Khan) for tabling the motion and for the way in which she opened the debate. As she says, the motion should unite us…12 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sIf the hon. Gentleman is waiting for me to apologise for my advocacy for low taxes, he will wait a long time. I believe in low taxes, and it is important that we are a low tax…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sI think the hon. Gentleman is wrong, and if he was here earlier, he would have heard others quoting what the Conservative party leadership candidates have said specifically on…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sWhat I can say to the hon. Lady is that when the BBC decided to take on this responsibility, one would have thought that the bare minimum of what it expected to have to outlay…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sThe answer to the right hon. Gentleman’s question is that I discovered the BBC’s plans on Sunday, before the announcement on Monday. I have not had a discussion with Treasury…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sAs I have said, it is important that we continue to discuss with the BBC what more can be done for people like that. It is important, as I have said, to be clear about who will…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sI do not think it is possible to say I am happy. I think my disappointment has been made very clear, but it is, I am afraid, now for the Government to work with the BBC to see…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sI think I am up to about an hour and 10 minutes’-worth of explanation so far, and I think it is important, as I have said, that we communicate what is happening to older people…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sI think I have been clear about what I intend to do next. I am not seeking to dress anything up; I am expressing to the House what the current situation is, and the situation is…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sNo.11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sOf course the hon. Gentleman is right that Parliaments cannot bind their successors, and if the Government bring legislation forward Parliament will have to consider it. On the…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sIt would of course depend on that gentleman’s circumstances, but I hope the hon. Gentleman will be prepared to assist us and the BBC in making sure the right information is given…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sI gave the House the statistics some moments ago: the position is radically improved since 2010 for pensioners who rely on a state pension. That is what this Government have done…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sI am sure, Mr Speaker, that you will not want me to engage in that particular manifesto commitment, but let me deal with the other one. It is important, as I have said, that the…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sI think that the responsibility of the Government is to continue to discuss with the BBC how this can best be done. This is a BBC responsibility, and those are not weasel words.…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sMy hon. Friend will recognise that the delivery of many manifesto commitments requires the co-operation and assistance of others, and this is one of them. We made clear our…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sAs the right hon. Gentleman knows, the position is resolved in statute, and unless we choose to change that statutory position, this remains a BBC decision. As I have said,…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sI hope I have made it clear that I think the right thing to do is accept what the law requires as things stand but to work with the BBC to make sure that those in greatest need…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sI am grateful to my hon. Friend. He knows that that is exactly the sort of option that the BBC is considering, as indeed it should. He is also right to say that Tony Hall was…11 Jun 2019HANSARDFree TV Licences: Over-75sAs I said earlier, it is important to be accurate about what may or may not happen. The scenario that the hon. Lady has set out is not one that any of us wants to unfold, and one…11 Jun 2019