Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Haselhurst and John Bercow
Wednesday 26th April 2017

(7 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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As he steps down after 44 years’ service in the House, I call Sir Alan Haselhurst.

Lord Haselhurst Portrait Sir Alan Haselhurst (Saffron Walden) (Con)
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Will my right hon. Friend assure me that her second Government will have high regard for matters of great concern to the Saffron Walden constituency, namely improved railways with extra track capacity, in line with the West Anglia and Great Eastern taskforce reports; the spread of fast broadband to rural communities; and an airspace regime that prioritises noise reduction?

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. Two points. First, Members who arrived after the start of the statement should not expect to be called. Secondly, there is extensive interest in this important statement—interest that I am keen to accommodate—but as I emphasised earlier there are to follow two heavily subscribed debates under the auspices of the Backbench Business Committee. Therefore, there is a premium upon brevity. We will be led in our brevity mission by one of the most senior and illustrious Members of the House, Sir Alan Haselhurst.

Lord Haselhurst Portrait Sir Alan Haselhurst (Saffron Walden) (Con)
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Does my hon. Friend the Minister acknowledge that the NHS has become such a part of the nation’s DNA that doctors’ surgeries are frequently overloaded, that absolutely the right way forward is to have a rational, well-spaced network of pharmacies and that that is of particular importance in rural areas?