Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Monday 28th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I gently remind right hon. and hon. Members that they should not leave the Chamber until all the exchanges on the question to which they have contributed have been concluded. One fellow has just beetled out of the Chamber having popped his question, taking precisely zilch interest in anybody else’s. I am sure that the discourtesy was inadvertent, but it is in breach of a long-standing convention of this House, of which all Members ought to be aware. Modesty and kindness forbid me to mention the name of the offending individual on this occasion.

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

8. What recent discussions he has had with local authorities on support for community pubs.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Thursday 3rd November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Ah, yes. Marathon man—Mr Graham Evans.

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

When the Minister for Digital and Culture has finished hobnobbing with Her Majesty, will he agree to meet me and my residents to see if we can get Weaver Vale connected with 21st-century broadband speeds?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Thursday 15th October 2015 Commons Chamber

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

15. As the chairman of the all-party group for running and the father of a young daughter, I am very keen to encourage more girls to take up running, particularly through the excellent parkrun scheme. Mr Speaker, those runs are a great way to start a Saturday morning for those who, like yourself, have a young family. I recommend three miles around your local park. What is the impact of the Government’s investment in the school sports premium particularly on the take-up of sport by girls?

[Mr Speaker]

I am most grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his helpful public advice.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Thursday 9th July 2015 Commons Chamber

[Graham Evans]

The Prime Minister Harold Wilson was severely wounded in 1915 at the Battle of Loos, which I understand will be commemorated in Scotland in September. Can my right hon. Friend assure us that when it comes to the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, it will be commemorated in the great northern cities of Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield, recognising the contribution of the northern pals?

[Mr Speaker]

Did the hon. Gentleman mean Macmillan?

[Graham Evans]

I did mean Macmillan, sorry.

[Mr Speaker]

We are grateful to the hon. Gentleman—and the Macmillan family, in particular, will be very grateful.

Business of the House

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Thursday 2nd July 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I would like to accommodate colleagues, but I express the hope that the next statement will start at or very close to 11.30, so there is a premium on extreme brevity. Questions without preamble would be appreciated.

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

Will my right hon. Friend join me in paying tribute to Sir Nicholas Winton and the work that he did, saving hundreds of Jewish children’s lives? Will he remind the House of the role of this country in saving the lives of 10,000 Jewish children prior to world war two?

Business of the House

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Thursday 4th June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Let us see whether, with extreme self-discipline, we can accommodate everyone by 12.15, at which point I would like to be able to move on.

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

My right hon. Friend will be aware that the report on the failings at the Emstrey crematorium in Shrewsbury, where babies’ ashes were not returned to their bereaved parents, was published earlier this week. The report found that at least 60 families were believed to have been affected by these failings. May we have a debate on the failings at the Emstrey crematorium, and on the lessons that could be learned by local authorities to prevent such failings from happening again?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Wednesday 18th June 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call Mr David Hanson. He is not here.

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

T6. Will my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State update us on the welcome announcement that the green investment bank will now work with the International Climate Fund to bring expertise to developing countries, which will be an important target for export markets for UK plc?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Wednesday 14th May 2014 Commons Chamber

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

[Mr Speaker]

Points of order will follow the statement by the Secretary of State for International Development. If colleagues wish to wait, they can come in later. May I just appeal to colleagues to leave the Chamber quickly and quietly, so the House can hear the statement by the Secretary of State?

Points of Order

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Wednesday 14th May 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Let me say to the hon. Gentleman, who has been in the House for 35 years this month, that we simply do not discuss security matters on the Floor of the House. I say to him in all candour and amiability that if he wants to discuss such matters we can do so, but we do not do so on the Floor of the Chamber. Suffice it to say that I know about these matters and am very comfortable about the interests of the House, and I know that the Leader of the House and the shadow Leader of the House also know about these matters. We are all very sanguine. It would be irresponsible to get into a discussion of these matters on the Floor of the House and whatever sedulous temptations are lobbed my way I do not intend to do so. I am sorry, but we must leave it there.

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Further to the point of order raised earlier in the week by my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington South (David Mowat), I would like to raise the issue of Members visiting other constituencies on parliamentary or official business. I know that you have spoken in the past of this matter and of your disappointment that prior and timely notification is not always given by colleagues. In recent months, no fewer than five shadow Ministers have visited my constituency without giving notice. I have raised this issue on a case-by-case basis with them and, indeed, had a meeting with the shadow Chief Whip, but this discourtesy continues. I do not wish to name the Members involved, but in the interests of clarity I should be grateful if you reminded the Opposition that parliamentary convention dictates that prior and timely notification is required from all colleagues.

[Mr Speaker]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his point of order. For the avoidance of doubt, let me just say that this matter has regularly been raised by Members on both sides of the House, frequently referring to Members on the other side of the House. As Members would expect, I am being strictly and scrupulously impartial and this is not a question of one side needing to get the message rather than the other. The convention is, I think, clear. If an hon. Member is visiting the constituency of another hon. Member on parliamentary or official business, in which category I include party political business, there is an obligation to notify the Member whose constituency is to be visited and to do so in a timely way. I appeal to Members on both sides of the House faithfully to adhere to that convention and in that spirit I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising the point and for doing so in the way that he has.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Wednesday 29th January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

Holocaust memorial day took place on Monday. Would the Prime Minister join me—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The hon. Gentleman is talking about Holocaust memorial day. Please let us have some respect on both sides of the House.

[Graham Evans]

Holocaust memorial day took place on Monday. Would the Prime Minister join me in commending the work of the Holocaust Educational Trust in educating future generations about the holocaust? Would he comment on the Holocaust Commission that he formally launched this week?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Monday 1st July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

In the interests of time, Mr Speaker, I should say that I was about to ask that question.

[Mr Speaker]

Well, that is a first, not just from the hon. Gentleman but more generally.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Tuesday 11th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[Graham Evans]

I welcome the announcements in the autumn statement, particularly the announcement of an increase in the personal allowance, which will take 2.6 million people in the north-west of England out of income tax altogether. Will my right hon. Friend reassure us that he will continue to raise the allowance to ensure that it always pays to work?

[Mr Speaker]

In relation to the cost of living?

[Graham Evans]

Indeed, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Monday 11th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

That is a refreshing outbreak of splendid candour, on which we congratulate the Minister.

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

Stephen Lawrence

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Tuesday 24th April 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am keen to accommodate the interest of colleagues, but doing so requires brevity, both in questions and in answers.

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

Does my hon. Friend agree that it is vital for public confidence in the Metropolitan police that any instances of racist behaviour by individuals in the organisation should be dealt with and be seen to be dealt with?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Wednesday 29th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Prime Minister’s questions is principally for Back Benchers. I call Mr Graham Evans.

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

On 8 June 1944, a relative of mine, Sergeant Jack Chadwick, was shot down while dropping much-needed supplies to the French resistance. Today he lies in a Normandy churchyard, together with the seven-man crew of his Halifax bomber. Does my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister agree that it is right and proper that this nation should remember the sacrifice of the 55,000 members of Bomber Command who gave their lives to rid Europe of Nazi tyranny?

Higher Education White Paper

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Tuesday 28th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. As I said to the Justice Secretary the other day, Ministers at the Dispatch Box should not operate like rotating cruise ships, constantly turning round to their own side. It is entirely understandable, but we want to see the right hon. Gentleman.

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

I very much welcome the White Paper, particularly the provisions for part-time students. Will my right hon. Friend give me more details about his idea for student charters?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Monday 28th March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

How will my hon. Friend ensure that we harness the skills and expertise of business to help unemployed people get their own businesses up and running?

[Mr Speaker]

With reference to Merseyside.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Monday 7th February 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The Secretary of State will resume his seat. We are moving on to the next question.

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

4. What plans he has to improve vocational education; and if he will make a statement.

Funding and Schools Reform

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Wednesday 17th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Graham Evans]

My constituency is on the periphery of Merseyside and Cheshire. I want to address the needs of those in pockets of social deprivation, which you have just brushed aside. Those numbers add up. I appreciate, and have a lot of sympathy with, the issues that you have in Merseyside—indeed, I support your case—but you cannot ignore those numbers because when you put them into the comprehensive—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. First, the hon. Gentleman should not, by now, be using the word “you”. Secondly, interventions should be brief, not mini-speeches. Other Members are waiting to contribute to the debate.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and John Bercow

Wednesday 21st July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Graham Evans]

In Scotland, there are urban seats that have an electorate of between 50,000 and 80,000; that disparity cannot be justified by extreme geography. Does the Secretary of State agree that it is disappointing that the previous Government had so little regard for the fundamental principle that every vote should have equal value? [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. First, some questions are too long, and secondly, at this early stage, the atmosphere is far too raucous. Right hon. and hon. Members need to calm down.