Petitions

Baroness Laing of Elderslie Excerpts

Tuesday 1st December 2015 Commons Chamber

[David Mowat (Warrington South) (Con)]

I rise to present a petition on behalf of 2,916 constituents in Warrington South in the same terms as my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley and Holderness.

The Petition of the residents of Warrington South.

[P001569]

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing)]

I call Mr Christopher Chope. [Interruption.] Now that is very unusual: Mr Christopher Chope is not present.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

I rise to present a petition on behalf of my constituents in North West Leicestershire asking for fairer school funding. Leicestershire has for many years been the second-lowest funded of all areas in the UK, receiving some £500 per pupil less than pupils in Leicester and an amazing £1,000 per year per pupil less than pupils in Birmingham. The petition is signed by 664 of my constituents and is in the same terms as that presented by my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley and Holderness.

The Petition of the residents of North West Leicestershire.

[P001575]

--- Later in debate ---

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing)]

I have been given no notice that any further petitions are about to be presented.

[Kevin Hollinrake (Thirsk and Malton) (Con)]

rose—

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Sir!

[Kevin Hollinrake]

Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to present a petition on behalf of several hundred residents of the beautiful constituency of Thirsk and Malton, which is written in the same terms as that of my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley and Holderness.

The Petition of the residents of Thirsk and Malton.

[P001656]

[Stephen Pound (Ealing North) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I know my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Daniel Zeichner) was seeking to be present this evening for obvious reasons. Has the Deputy Speaker received any information regarding difficulties in accessing the estate due to the activities taking place outside?

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing)]

I have received information that there are a great many people outside and that it is possible that some people leaving this building—I have been particularly concerned about junior and female members of staff trying to get out of this building this evening—are having difficulty in doing so. I have heard that it could also be difficult to gain access to this building, which is a very great pity. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising that point of order because when assiduous Members of Parliament are not in their places when they are expected to be, there is usually a very good reason for it.

[Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)]

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. May I ask if during your time in this House there has ever been more mention of the hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness (Graham Stuart) and in more glorious a context?

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

I am very happy to tell the hon. Gentleman that I have never heard quite so much mention of the hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness, and I am sure he has done a sterling piece of work—and it is just as well that the injury to his leg healed so he could run here from far away.