Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Richard Graham

Thursday 23rd May 2024 Commons Chamber

[Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)]

My hon. Friend will know that the diocese of Gloucester has been very supportive of those in need—whether asylum seekers, refugees or, indeed, the homeless and rough sleepers in our city of Gloucester. Will he therefore join me in congratulating it on the fact that the planning approval for its first modular housing in Gloucester—with six modular homes—should go through Gloucester City Council imminently, and that more will be coming soon to help people in need?

[Mr Speaker]

I think the question may also be about the help that Gloucester’s diocese has given to the people of Gaza.

Ukraine and Georgia

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Richard Graham

Wednesday 15th May 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

First, may I say that I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for informing me that he would raise this matter? As he knows, it is not a point of order for the Chair, but the House will understand why he wanted to put that point on record, and he has done so eloquently, as he has done in previous years.

[Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)]

Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. I thank my right hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Sir Mike Penning), who almost every year has visited the church of St Mary de Lode in Gloucester in order to pay tribute to and commemorate the work done by Captain Nairac, GC, whose memory is also celebrated there through a stained-glass window in his honour. I am very grateful to my right hon. Friend for continuing to raise this matter year after year.

[Mr Speaker]

Once again, that is also not a point of order, but it is certainly on the record.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Richard Graham

Tuesday 18th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)]

Whether it is the accession to the trans-Pacific partnership, the first free trade agreement with Malaysia and Brunei, our Foreign Secretary at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit or the joint economic trade committee with Indonesia on Thursday, the Government are rightly doing all they can to bring alive the benefits of our trans-Pacific and Indo-Pacific pivot. Does my right hon. Friend agree that we in this House should all do everything we can to bring alive the potential for businesses in our nation, whether in designing frigates, cyber, EdTech or anything else?

[Mr Speaker]

Mr Graham, do not push it too far. I am not being funny—it is totally unfair. Some Members are not going to get in now.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Richard Graham

Wednesday 17th May 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Mr Graham, I am sure that you must have had many conversations with the Scottish Government, so I look forward to the question.

[Richard Graham]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Of course, equally important to offshore wind and the expansion of renewable energy in Scotland is marine energy, particularly from tidal stream. The Minister will know the importance of the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney. Does he agree that the whole process, and the special pots arranged for marine energy under contracts for difference, could be improved if Marine Scotland increased the speed at which it approves sites for future tidal stream development?

[John Lamont]

My hon. Friend is very knowledgeable on such matters affecting Scotland. Scotland has indeed benefited significantly from the contracts for difference scheme, which is the Government’s flagship support scheme for large-scale renewable projects—some 27% of all CfD projects and around 23% of total CfD capacity. In relation to tidal, the contracts for difference round 4 awarded over 40 MW of new tidal stream power, and I think there are great opportunities going forward for Scotland to benefit further.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Richard Graham

Tuesday 2nd May 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I gently say to the Foreign Secretary that this is topical questions and we are meant to get through them. Colleagues really want to get a question in and I want to hear them. I call Richard Graham.

[Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)]

Mr Speaker, thank you. The Philippines is the third largest English-speaking country in the world and a growing trade partner, and we will welcome President Marcos to the coronation later this week. However, the Philippines continues to suffer from maritime incursions by the People’s Republic of China and the arbitration award under the United Nations convention on the law of the sea, or UNCLOS, in 2016 has never been implemented because China, like the United States, does not recognise its arbitration awards.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Minister.

[Richard Graham]

What can we do to help avoid unnecessary—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Mr Graham, I just said to the Foreign Secretary that these are topical questions and we need short answers and short questions. I need speed. If you do not want a colleague to get in, please pick which one.

State Pension Triple Lock

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Richard Graham

Tuesday 8th November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)]

The key point my right hon. Friend is stressing is that a huge amount has been done consistently by this Government to help pensioners since 2011—innovations that the Opposition opposed at the time or certainly did not come up with, including benefits for women who can claim pension years when they were bringing up children, and auto-enrolment with 20 million new people. I hope that the one-off payment my right hon. Friend just alluded to will be valid for a bit longer, and there is the increase of £3,200 per pensioner on the state pension alone. Does my right hon. Friend agree that today’s debate is largely designed for the Opposition, and about the shadow Minister who was behind the 1999 75p increase—[Interruption.]—trying to park his tanks—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Mr Graham, when I stand up I expect you to sit down and not carry on your speech. Do we understand each other about the rules of this House?

[Richard Graham]

We do.

[Mr Speaker]

Right. So in future please sit down.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Richard Graham

Tuesday 12th July 2022 Commons Chamber

[Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)]

9. What recent progress his Department has made on increasing the number of (a) satellite launches and (b) space-related exports. [R]

[Mr Speaker]

Who wants to take Question 9?

--- Later in debate ---

[Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Richard Graham, you have had a question.

[Richard Graham]

I’ve got another one.

[Mr Speaker]

You can’t have one! I hate to say it to you, but how long have you been here?

Points of Order

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Richard Graham

Wednesday 23rd February 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I think it has just been gold-plated. It has certainly been registered and you will be able to read it tomorrow.

[Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Earlier today, before PMQs, a joint written ministerial statement was published on the decision to waive the right to remain application costs for non-UK personnel of our armed forces who have served at least six years—a cause that was supported by 200 Members of the House in a letter to the Home Secretary some while ago. It provides a clear and affordable pathway to British citizenship for all those, of whatever nationality, who have been prepared to serve the United Kingdom. Could you help to secure time for a debate on that important measure?

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Member has been here long enough to know that business questions are tomorrow and he will be wanting to raise this. I will give him a pat on the back because he has done a great job.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Richard Graham

Tuesday 14th July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Richard Graham]

I support strongly what the Government are doing in funding law centres and providing much more information online for our constituents, but how does my hon. Friend think we can access the services where needed of an asylum lawyer at the Gloucester Law Centre? Also, will he ensure that the only magistrates court in our county—in his Cheltenham constituency—will be well funded, so that it can operate efficiently for years to come?

[Mr Speaker]

I think the answer will be yes.

Economic Outlook and Furlough Scheme Changes

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Richard Graham

Tuesday 16th June 2020 Commons Chamber

[Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)]

Getting skills is the key to employment opportunities for the young. Both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor have made encouraging noises about recognising the importance of apprenticeships. I propose that the Government shoulder the entire costs of the first year of all new apprenticeships awarded this autumn—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The two Members—the hon. Member for Monmouth (David T. C. Davies) and the hon. Member for Aldershot (Leo Docherty)—cannot stand together. Richard Graham, please start again.

[Richard Graham]

I will start again. Skills are the key to employment opportunities for the young. Both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor have made encouraging noises about recognising the role that apprenticeships can play in that. My proposal is that the Government shoulder the entire first-year costs of all new apprenticeships awarded this autumn. The key point is that further education colleges, other trainers and businesses need to be able to plan ahead so that they can market those apprenticeships. Will my right hon. Friend today give some reassurance and commitment on the support the Government might give apprentices, so that bounce-back Britain’s new apprentices know there are lots of opportunities ahead?