The Economy

Baroness Primarolo Excerpts

Tuesday 11th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo)]

Order. I am sorry to interrupt the hon. Gentleman. We will not have shouting across the Chamber and we will not have wagging of fingers, even from a Whip. Have you finished, Mr Jackson?

[Mr Jackson]

I am sure that my right hon. Friend will agree with my analysis of PFI.

[Danny Alexander]

My hon. Friend adds another item to the long list of items for which the people of this country deserve an apology from the Labour party. We have had no such apology yet, but we live in hope. Perhaps the shadow Chief Secretary will begin her speech with an apology for the many and various mistakes. [Interruption.]

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Order. Let us try just once more. By Whips, I mean Government Whips as well as Opposition Whips. Government Whips are not to shout across the Chamber. Is that clear?

[Greg Hands (Chelsea and Fulham) (Con)]

indicated assent.

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Good.

[Danny Alexander]

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I hope this debate will be conducted in a calm manner as befits the seriousness of the issues we are discussing.

--- Later in debate ---

[Danny Alexander]

No, I cannot confirm that. I do not recognise those figures—[Interruption.] Labour Members are waving bits of paper—

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo)]

Order. The shadow Chancellor absolutely knows that he is not to throw papers across the Dispatch Box. It is no good him blaming his hon. Friend the Member for Leeds West (Rachel Reeves) for following his example. That will not happen again.

[Danny Alexander]

That is another way in which the shadow Chancellor is setting a bad example. Littering in the Chamber is not to be encouraged, and I am glad you, Madam Deputy Speaker, took a tough line on it.

The Government’s fuel duty measures will keep money in the pockets of millions of fathers on the school run or mothers driving to the office. As a highland MP, I know the burden that fuel costs can place on people in remote areas. That is why we are piloting the fuel rebate scheme for motorists on the Scottish islands and the Isles of Scilly. I am keen to push for EU approval for an extension of the scheme to other remote parts of the country that display similar characteristics. Of course, that will be a long and difficult job, but I am determined to gather evidence to support the case.

--- Later in debate ---

[Hon. Members]

Bye, bye!

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo)]

Order. Where is the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Kwasi Kwarteng) going? Excuse me. He has just intervened on a debate. Normally, one stays for a debate that one intervenes in.