Parliamentary Constituencies (Amendment) Bill

Debate between Lord Beamish and Natascha Engel

2nd reading: House of Commons
Friday 18th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Kevan Jones]

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Mr Speaker made very clear that the right hon. Gentleman had asked to be called early because, as we have just heard from the hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Lochaber (Ian Blackford), he was suffering from a bad cold. Either that was not the case, or the right hon. Gentleman has discovered some miracle cure. If he has, could he share it with us?

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Again, that was not a point of order, but I thank the hon. Gentleman for what he has said.

Trade Union Bill

Debate between Lord Beamish and Natascha Engel

Ping Pong: House of Commons
Wednesday 27th April 2016 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Natascha Engel)]

I call Kevan Jones.

[Mr Kevan Jones]

Kevin Brennan.

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

I am sorry—Kevin Brennan.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Jones]

I agree. This shows my age, but the process used to have to be done manually, which meant that there was a cost. My hon. Friend is quite right that, with modern-day computer payroll systems, for example, the cost is very difficult to determine.

I, like my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff West, oppose the Bill as a whole, but given the compromise that we have got because of the EU referendum, we are in a good place. However, I would just issue a final warning. I hope Conservative Members will not, once the EU referendum is over, bring in legislation to fill in what has been left out of the Bill. That would not only be another attack on trade unions, which are among the most highly regulated sectors in our country, but would show the vindictiveness that still exists in a section of the Conservative party. I look forward to the introduction, not long after June, of a Bill exploring total transparency in party funding in this country. If trade unions can have openness in terms of their money, we should decide it is time for other donations to political parties to have the same type of scrutiny and transparency, so that people can make up their own minds when they go to the ballot box.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Natascha Engel)]

I apologise to Chris Stephens. I should have called him before the last speaker.

Steel Industry

Debate between Lord Beamish and Natascha Engel

Wednesday 28th October 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Kevan Jones]

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I thought we were having a debate on steel today, but what we have is a Minister just reading out a civil service brief to the House. It is an absolute insult that he will not take any interventions. I know that BIS is not his own Department, so he might not understand the subject but surely the Government should have sent somebody who knows something about the subject rather than someone who is simply reading out what the civil service has given him.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Natascha Engel)]

I think the hon. Member has put his point on the record. Let the Secretary of State continue.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Kevan Jones]

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I note that the Secretary of State has now left the Chamber. I might be an old-fashioned fuddy-duddy, but I thought there was a convention that a speaker should stay for at least the next two contributions before leaving the Chamber.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Natascha Engel)]

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right, but the Secretary of State has just told me that he has popped out to do some media and is coming straight back again. [Interruption.] As I said, the hon. Gentleman is correct, but the Secretary of State approached the Chair on this, and I said it was fine, and there is a Minister listening. At the end of the day, it is the Secretary of State’s choice.

[Mr Jones]

Further to that point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Is it now convention that a—

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Order. I think we have dealt with this. I call Hannah Bardell.