Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Thursday 5th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op)]

Many stations in Yorkshire and the north will be affected by HS2. Has the Minister seen the startling information blogged this morning by Tom Edwards, the BBC transport correspondent, that evidence to the HS2 Committee suggests that hidden costs will raise the overall cost of the HS2 project from £50 billion to £138 billion? Are the Government misleading this country about just how much this folly of HS2 is going to cost?

[Mr Speaker]

I am not sure that what the hon. Gentleman said is as closely related to the terms of the question as he would have wanted, but the Minister is a dexterous character.

[Claire Perry]

I did not see the information because I was on the phone to the chief executive of Network Rail. A budget is a budget. Unlike the hon. Gentleman’s Government, this Government have a track record of bringing in major infrastructure projects such as the Olympics on budget and on time.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Thursday 22nd January 2015 Commons Chamber

[Claire Perry]

Yes, of course.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Mr Simon Burns. [Interruption.] Mr Burns! [Laughter.]

[Mr Simon Burns (Chelmsford) (Con)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. On the question of infrastructure, will my hon. Friend impress on Network Rail the importance of building the loop line north of Witham during control period 6 to ensure and enhance capacity on rail services from Liverpool Street to Chelmsford, Ipswich and Norwich?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Thursday 23rd October 2014 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Claire Perry)]

I do not have those numbers directly to hand, but I am sure the hon. Lady will be reassured to know that under this Government the overall transport infrastructure spend outside London is higher than it was under the last Labour Government. I shall instruct my officials to see whether we can get the data on rolling stock, but I am sure that she, like me, will welcome the fact that the £40 billion we are spending across the country is benefiting all parts of the country. If I could just—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I want to hear from the hon. Member for Fylde (Mark Menzies).

Willenhall Crown Post Office

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Wednesday 26th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Before I put the Question on the Adjournment, the hon. Member for Devizes (Claire Perry) has a point of order relating to the Division at 3.23 pm, in respect of which she was a Teller.

[Claire Perry (Devizes) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. As one of the Tellers on the motion on the charter for budget responsibility earlier today, I have to report that the correct number of Noes was 23, not 22 as called—mea culpa.

[Mr Speaker]

I am extremely grateful to the hon. Lady for that helpful point of order, as will be the House.

Question put and agreed to.

Point of Order

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Thursday 14th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Claire Perry (Devizes) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. This morning, I had the great pleasure of appearing on a radio programme with the hon. Member for Newport West (Paul Flynn) to discuss the fact that his book is the most borrowed publication in the House of Commons Library. In preparing for that programme, I was minded to go back around the Library and it made me realise what an extraordinarily fantastically great asset we have in the Library and the Library staff. I would be grateful for your advice on how we as MPs might express our appreciation for the staff and management, who, I suspect, are not thanked often enough.

[Mr Speaker]

I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her point of order and my answer to her is twofold. First, she has already done so most eloquently on behalf of Members in all parts of the House. Secondly, she will be no stranger to the mechanism of an early-day motion. If she feels moved on the back of her point of order and the warm reception of it to table such a motion, she might well find a significant number of signatories. I note in passing that I, too, am familiar with the book entitled, “How to be a Backbencher”, penned by the hon. Member for Newport West (Paul Flynn), and it is a much-thumbed tome in the Bercow household.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Tuesday 12th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Let us just have a quick question and then we will move on.

[Claire Perry]

Will the Secretary of State help by telling me how we can communicate out this example so that other MPs can repeat this valuable exercise?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Wednesday 18th April 2012 Commons Chamber

[Claire Perry (Devizes) (Con)]

Today, a group of MPs—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Hon. Members should not be yelling at the hon. Lady. It is very discourteous. I want to hear what she has to say.

[Claire Perry]

Perhaps Members should listen before yelling. Today, a cross-party group of MPs from across the political spectrum published a report into a matter that is incredibly important to many of us: how we can keep our children safe online. We think that internet service providers should do more and that the Government should deliver a strong lead on this issue. Will the Prime Minister undertake to at least read the summary of the report—I know that he is busy—and perhaps to meet us to discuss our recommendations?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Thursday 9th February 2012 Commons Chamber

[Claire Perry (Devizes) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The hon. Member for Devizes (Claire Perry) has a topical question, so the time when we will hear from her will not be long delayed.

Welfare Reform Bill

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Wednesday 1st February 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. That is not acceptable. The hon. Member for Devizes (Claire Perry) should not shout across the Chamber, “My grandfather lived in a council house, you twit.” She should apologise. Frankly, she and other Members need to calm down. There is a decorum to this place. I know the hon. Lady. She would not behave like that across the dinner table, and she will not behave like that in this Chamber. That is the end of it. I hope we have an apology.

[Claire Perry]

I apologise profusely, Mr Speaker.

[Mr Speaker]

Thank you. I call Sir Bob Russell.

Border Control Scheme

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Tuesday 15th November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Claire Perry (Devizes) (Con)]

As somebody who has spent their fair share of time with wailing infants in long immigration queues, I think that families across the country would welcome a more rational, risk-based approach to delivering results with scarce resources. Does the Minister agree that the fake outrage from the Labour party sits badly with its track record of 2.2 million people coming to this country, half a million asylum seeker claims and an open border—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We are grateful to the hon. Lady for getting her views on the record. Unfortunately for her, the Minister is not responsible for the record of the previous Government.

Business of the House

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Thursday 13th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. As usual, a great many right hon. and hon. Members are seeking to catch my eye. I remind the House that there is a statement by the Foreign Secretary to follow, as well as a series of heavily subscribed debates to take place under the auspices of the Backbench Business Committee. As a consequence, we need—from Back and Front Benches alike—brevity.

[Claire Perry (Devizes) (Con)]

The whole House is waiting with bated breath to hear details of a written statement later today on improved transitional arrangements relating to changes in the women’s state pension age. Government Members have fought very hard for that. Will the Leader of the House please give us some details of what he is expecting?

Public Confidence in the Media and Police

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Wednesday 20th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Claire Perry (Devizes) (Con)]

Today is the anniversary of the moon landing—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The hon. Lady must be heard. I do not why people are saying “Ooh” when I call the hon. Member for Devizes. It is an extraordinary choice of response. I want to hear the hon. Lady.

[Claire Perry]

I agree, Mr Speaker. Today, people will know, is the anniversary of the moon landing, around which conspiracy theorists like to cluster. May I urge the Prime Minister, rather than listening to the vapid conspiracy hackgate theorists, to focus on the facts? What is he doing to toughen up the rules around the use of Chequers, to ensure that it is never used for slumber parties for media tycoons again?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Tuesday 10th May 2011 Commons Chamber

[Claire Perry (Devizes) (Con)]

May I return to the topic of VAT on fuel? I have just come from a business session in my constituency of Devizes, where I know that despite the decrease, high fuel prices continue to be a real drag on growth for small businesses across the economy. I have a letter from the EU commissioner saying that the recent motion we debated—that a derogation should be made specifically for motoring fuel—is almost certainly illegal and definitely unworkable under EU legislation. May I ask Ministers what proposals we can suggest to help motorists in the real world now that the Labour party’s suggestion has been revealed as yet another—

[Mr Speaker]

We are grateful to the hon. Lady.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Tuesday 22nd March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Claire Perry (Devizes) (Con)]

Is the Minister aware of my freedom of information request from last September which found that the previous Government never carried out an equalities impact assessment—not in the March Budget, the December pre-Budget report or the March 2010 Budget? They never did it either.

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am sorry but I must repeat, and I hope that the message will be heeded, that questions must be about the policy of the current Government.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Wednesday 24th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Far too many private conversations are taking place in the Chamber. This is very discourteous and it should end.

[Claire Perry (Devizes) (Con)]

7. What recent progress he has made on his proposals for reform of the civil service compensation scheme.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Tuesday 9th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Claire Perry (Devizes) (Con)]

My constituency is home to many refugees from Zimbabwe, including 80-year-old Peter Seymour-Smith, who fled the country when his land and business were confiscated. He has said that he would go back if free and fair elections were held, which President Mugabe has intimated might be a possibility. What steps would the ministerial team take to ensure that if the elections were held, we would not see a repeat of 2008’s shameful practices and vote-rigging?

[Mr Speaker]

I am grateful to the hon. Lady. I hope that she will now take a breath.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Wednesday 21st July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call Claire Perry. [Interruption.] Order. I want to hear Claire Perry.

[Claire Perry (Devizes) (Con)]

On the issue of progress, will the Deputy Prime Minister—

--- Later in debate ---

[Claire Perry]

rose— [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The House really must start to behave itself. We have made slow progress—[Interruption.] Order. That progress must get faster from now on, with short questions and short answers. I call Claire Perry.

[Claire Perry]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Third time lucky.

Can the Deputy Prime Minister tell us what the coalition Government have done in 10 short weeks to preserve the civil liberties of the British people—liberties that have been so cruelly eroded by the Labour party over the past 13 years?

Schools Funding

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Wednesday 7th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Claire Perry (Devizes) (Con)]

Will the Secretary of State confirm that the other piece of important factual information he presented on Monday, the expansion of the Teach First programme, is in fact accurate, and that the numbers were presented—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am sorry; I respect the hon. Lady’s enthusiasm, but the short answer is that the Secretary of State cannot go into that, because it is way beyond the terms of the statement today. If I know the hon. Lady, she will save it up for another day, and we look forward to hearing it on a subsequent occasion.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Claire Perry and John Bercow

Thursday 10th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Claire Perry]

Will the Minister confirm that the plans we set out in our manifesto to make the funding formula more transparent—[Interruption.] Excuse me—I would like Opposition Members to listen. [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The hon. Lady is entitled to be heard, and I want to hear her.

[Claire Perry]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will start again.

Will the Minister confirm that the plans to make the funding formula more transparent and independently audited are still intact? That is a matter of great concern in my constituency of Devizes and all the Wiltshire constituencies, because we receive the lowest amount of funding from central Government of any unitary authority.