Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andy McDonald and John Bercow

Thursday 26th February 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Gentleman has got mixed up: the previous question was about unemployment, but this one is about equal pay, so I shall take his question as rhetorical. We are grateful to him for getting his observations on the record.

[Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough) (Lab)]

4. What assessment she has made of the effects on employed women who are victims of domestic violence of means-testing when they attempt to access a refuge.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andy McDonald and John Bercow

Tuesday 16th December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I trust that the experience was even more unpleasant for the hon. Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant) than it was for the car.

[Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough) (Lab)]

Fraudulent whiplash claims are criminal activity, plain and simple, and everybody in the House would condemn them. Will the Minister also condemn those insurance companies that created third-party capture, massively contributing to the number of these claims in the first instance? While he is at it, does he have any evidence to suggest that medical practitioners are failing their obligations under civil procedure rules—CPR—35?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andy McDonald and John Bercow

Monday 20th January 2014 Commons Chamber

[The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Eric Pickles)]

I would like to make a very brief statement about a recent development regarding my Department and officials at the European Union. The previous Labour Government signed up to a petty EU regulation that forced my Department and other Departments to fly the European flag outside our buildings. I can announce today that we have renegotiated this, and the burdensome law on flying the EU flag has now gone. This small step shows that our nation can and should claim powers back from Brussels. I apologise to you, Mr Speaker, for not flying the flag of Buckingham yesterday to celebrate your birthday. I hope you had a good day.

[Mr Speaker]

The Secretary of State is forgiven.

[Andy McDonald]

Remembering how British troops fought for the world’s freedom in the first world war is a very good thing. However, why did a Minister in the Secretary of State’s Department give £120,000 to a company run by a friend of hers, who also happens to be a Tory candidate, to organise just 50 school visits? There was no tender and no competition. If the Secretary of State has nothing to hide, will he publish all the documents and civil service advice about this work?