Early-day Motions
Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and Steve Baker(12 years, 5 months ago)
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Graham Evans
My hon. Friend raises the point that there are now other mechanisms. The Backbench Business Committee is one and Westminster Hall debates, in which Ministers are held to account and have to give answers, are another. There are new avenues for Back Benchers now.
It is this frustration that led me to table my own, admittedly tongue-in-cheek, early-day motion 432, calling for early-day motions to be reformed or abolished. I believe that the other 44 Members who have kindly signed my early-day motion share my frustration—
Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con)
If I signed early-day motions, I would have signed my hon. Friend’s early-day motion.
Graham Evans
I am grateful to my hon. Friend.
As I was saying, the signatories include Members from both sides of the House, with several senior Members and former Cabinet Ministers and, astoundingly, my hon. Friend the Member for Worthing West (Sir Peter Bottomley). When I first discovered he had signed my early-day motion, I wondered whether it was perhaps by accident—
High-speed Rail
Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and Steve Baker(13 years ago)
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Westminster Hall is an alternative Chamber for MPs to hold debates, named after the adjoining Westminster Hall.
Each debate is chaired by an MP from the Panel of Chairs, rather than the Speaker or Deputy Speaker. A Government Minister will give the final speech, and no votes may be called on the debate topic.
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Graham Evans
No, I need to finish.
More than 40,000 new jobs will be created, with an additional 30,000 jobs created at the ends of the line and around the new stations. The taxpayer will enjoy benefits worth more than double what the project will cost. However, hon. Members should not just take it from me or the Government that the business case is strong. Hundreds of leading businesses across the country back the plans, and Network Rail, having carefully examined all the different options, said that it
“found the business case for a new high speed network was robust.”
Graham Evans
No, I need to finish.
Hon. Members will forgive me if put more stock in the words of Network Rail and Britain’s business leaders than in those of, say, the South Northants Action Group Against HS2. High Speed 2 will help to deliver economic growth.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and Steve Baker(13 years, 2 months ago)
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Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con)
10. What recent assessment she has made of the future of the nuclear industry in Wales.
Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)
11. What recent assessment she has made of the future of the nuclear industry in Wales.