Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick Hurd and John Bercow

Tuesday 14th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Dr Monaghan]

Given that Scotland’s renewable energy will be cheaper than that produced at Hinkley by the time it is complete and that Brexit is already pushing up the build costs of these reactors in an environment where the UK Government have unilaterally decided to abandon the protection of Euratom, will you scrap the costly and inefficient nuclear obsession in favour of a low-carbon future?

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Gentleman invests me with powers that I do not possess; that is very good of him.

[Mr Hurd]

Frankly, previous Governments neglected their responsibility to this country to invest in upgrading its power infrastructure, but this Government are grasping that challenge. As I have said, few countries have done more to make the transition to cleaner energy, with a trebling of capacity in renewable electricity, and the commitment to Hinkley offers us the potential for 7% of the country’s electricity—low-carbon based power.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick Hurd and John Bercow

Tuesday 13th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I promise not to buy my dictionary from where the hon. Gentleman got his.

[Mr Hurd]

As was said the other day, never trust Labour Members when they say they are going to be brief.

The hon. Gentleman raises an extremely important point about LEPs. This is taxpayers’ money and, as he would expect, we take extremely seriously any allegations about it being spent inappropriately, particularly when there are allegations of conflicts of interest. We are reassured by the prompt and robust response of LEPs to the individual allegations, including the one in Bristol, but we continue to press and make the point very strongly that we expect full compliance with the requirements of the strengthened national assurance framework.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick Hurd and John Bercow

Tuesday 8th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hurd]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his persistence in pressing this point. I have nothing to add to the bureaucratic prose that the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, my hon. Friend the Member for Hereford and South Herefordshire (Jesse Norman), has placed so elegantly on the record. We will look at the matter seriously.

[Mr Speaker]

The Chair of the Select Committee, no less: Mr Iain Wright.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick Hurd and John Bercow

Tuesday 13th September 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hurd]

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his ingenuity in asking a question that he was frustrated about not getting answered previously. I reject absolutely any suggestion that the Government have lost any commitment to the northern powerhouse. As for the specifics of speaking engagements, if he would like to speak to me afterwards, I can try to throw some light on the matter.

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr Sheerman) is a well-known exponent of what I might call the shoehorning technique. Whatever he wants to raise, he shoehorns it into a question somehow. He could probably write a book on the subject—and probably will.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Let me say in all kindness and charity to the hon. Gentleman that he was at his best at the end of the first sentence. A blue pencil should thereafter have been applied.

[Mr Hurd]

I think the hon. Gentleman is a former treasurer of the Scottish National party, so he knows a bit about the challenge of cost control. He knows that in the context of these changes, our overriding priority is to provide better value for the taxpayer.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Hurd]

If the hon. Gentleman wishes to raise a specific constituency case with me, I am happy to meet him.

[Mr Speaker]

The Minister is very good for colleagues’ knee muscles—or not, as the case may be.

Sellafield

Debate between Nick Hurd and John Bercow

Tuesday 6th September 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hurd]

In principle, yes.

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am grateful to the Minister and to colleagues.



Bill Presented

Savings (Government Contributions) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, supported by the Prime Minister, Mr David Gauke, Jane Ellison, Gavin Barwell, Simon Kirby, Richard Harrington and Mr Rob Wilson, presented a Bill to make provision for, and in connection with, government bonuses in respect of additions to savings accounts and other investment plans.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 59) with explanatory notes (Bill 59-EN).

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick Hurd and John Bercow

Wednesday 16th December 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hurd]

Yes.

[Mr Speaker]

I am deeply grateful.

[Patrick Grady (Glasgow North) (SNP)]

My party also welcomes the new Minister to his post. He has said that he will ensure that small local enterprises can flourish in developing countries, but what reassurances can he give us that funds intended for those purposes do not make their way into the hands of larger conglomerates or multinational companies when it comes to, for example, the building of schools or the provision of education?