Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ben Bradshaw and John Bercow

Thursday 12th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

The right hon. Gentleman may be looking forward to his visit to Lichfield cathedral, but I do not suppose he is looking forward to it as much as the people of Lichfield.

[Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab)]

7. What the Church Commissioners’ policy is on paying the living wage.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ben Bradshaw and John Bercow

Thursday 17th October 2013 Commons Chamber

[Gregory Barker]

We did not. [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I think I heard the right hon. Member for Exeter (Mr Bradshaw) make an allegation of dishonesty. I must ask him to withdraw that word. I think he used a three-letter word which implied direct dishonesty.

[Mr Bradshaw]

I apologise, Mr Speaker, but perhaps the Minister could clarify how Britain voted.

[Mr Speaker]

We cannot continue the debate in that way. Topical questions will continue the exchange, but I must ask the right hon. Gentleman to withdraw that word.

[Mr Bradshaw]

I happily withdraw it.

[Mr Speaker]

I am most grateful to the right hon. Gentleman. All these matters will be aired further, I am sure.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ben Bradshaw and John Bercow

Thursday 6th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Heath]

The right hon. Gentleman appears not to know the procedure of the House. He is asking a supplementary question. I cannot sit down and ask my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State to stand up in my place—[Interruption.] Mr Speaker, I am sure that you will be able to advise the right hon. Gentleman on the procedures of the House at some time. I can say to him that we take the matter seriously, and I am sure that the Under-Secretary of State is taking the appropriate measures—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. For the avoidance of doubt, although I am not privy to the details of the exchange, it is absolutely correct to say that only one Minister can answer the question. Whether or not people like the answer is another matter.

[Mr Bradshaw]

But he is responsible.

[Mr Speaker]

I note the point about responsibility. There are quite a lot of hand gestures going on, but we must now—[Interruption.] Order. The Minister of State must calm himself. We must move on.

[Mr Bradshaw]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

[Mr Speaker]

I will take a point of order at the end of questions.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

I do not want to intrude on any discussion about the hon. Gentleman and the hon. Member for South West Devon (Mr Streeter), but I think we can all agree that the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the hon. Member for Banbury (Sir Tony Baldry) is the representative of a rarefied breed.

[Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab)]

2. What plans the Church of England has to make the House of Laity more representative of members of the Church.

Regional Pay (NHS)

Debate between Ben Bradshaw and John Bercow

Wednesday 7th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. In the interests of trying to accommodate as many colleagues as possible, and many wish to speak in the debate, I have imposed an eight-minute limit on each Back-Bench contribution with immediate effect. I call Mr Ben Bradshaw.

[Mr Bradshaw]

indicated dissent.

[Mr Speaker]

The right hon. Gentleman had previously expressed an interest.

[Mr Bradshaw]

That is very kind of you, Mr Speaker, but I have had my Adjournment debate this morning and taken up enough time, so I want to let colleagues speak.

[Mr Speaker]

We are extremely grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his selfless sacrifice. I call Kerry McCarthy.

Food Labelling (Halal and Kosher Meat)

Debate between Ben Bradshaw and John Bercow

Tuesday 24th April 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I will take a very brief further point from the right hon. Member for Exeter (Mr Bradshaw), a former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and then respond to the point of order.

[Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab)]

Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. Given that on 20 July last year, the Culture Secretary himself said that any conversations that the Prime Minister had had with James Murdoch were irrelevant, specifically because he, the Culture Secretary, was taking the decision in a quasi-judicial way, is it not paramount that the Prime Minister also come to the House to correct the record at the earliest opportunity?

[Mr Speaker]

If a matter of privilege is being raised, hon. or right hon. Members should write to me about it. I feel, on the strength of what I have heard, that I am quite able to respond. I say to the shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport and to the right hon. Member for Exeter that I have received no indication from the Secretary of State that he intends to come to the House. The point that the right hon. and learned Lady and the right hon. Gentleman have made is clear, on the record and will have been widely heard.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ben Bradshaw and John Bercow

Tuesday 7th February 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab)]

When the Deputy Prime Minister talks to the bishops and the archbishops about their futures, will he gently remind them that the overwhelming majority in Parliament, in the country and in the Church of England want women to be able to become bishops, and that it might not be in the interests of the House of bishops to try to amend or water down the current measure before Synod this week?

[Mr Speaker]

I am sure that that question refers to membership of the upper House by women bishops. I am sure that that is what the right hon. Member meant.

Points of Order

Debate between Ben Bradshaw and John Bercow

Wednesday 20th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

What I would say to the hon. Gentleman—this is the first I have heard of this—is that witnesses before Select Committees should seek to be as helpful as possible to Committees, and they have a general obligation to furnish Committees with answers to the best of their ability. I hope that answer is helpful to him.

[Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister said earlier that The New York Times revelations contained no new information, but the police considered the information new enough to reopen their inquiries. Would he care to correct the record?

[Mr Speaker]

That, too, is a continuation of the debate, for which I remind the House there will be full opportunity in the debate that is about to follow.

Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation Bid for BSkyB

Debate between Ben Bradshaw and John Bercow

Wednesday 13th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Bradshaw]

To dispel any suspicion—[Hon. Members: “Give way!”] No, I will not give way. [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. If the right hon. Gentleman wants to give way, it is up to him.

[Mr Bradshaw]

I give way to the Secretary of State.

NHS Future Forum

Debate between Ben Bradshaw and John Bercow

Tuesday 14th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I want to say two things. First, questions and answers must focus on the policy of the Government. That is the parliamentary position, and Members know it. Secondly—[Interruption.] Order. Secondly, I want to accommodate the level of interest in this statement, but Members must help me to help them, by being brief.

[Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab)]

In fact, the last Labour Government left record low waiting times and record levels of public satisfaction with the NHS. I welcome the fact that Professor Steve Field has said what many of us in the Opposition have been saying for at least a year. How much has this year’s shambles cost the NHS, and how much has it damaged patient care?

Points of Order

Debate between Ben Bradshaw and John Bercow

Monday 6th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Well, I think that someone once said of the hon. Gentleman that his mind climbs mountains without any molehills. He is always thinking ahead of himself and I am not surprised, as he has a great elasticity of mind, but he is seeking to draw me into matters beyond where we have reached and he is absolutely right in his initial supposition that we do not discuss security matters on the Floor of the House. He has registered his concern that the Home Secretary should be ready to make a statement if the eventuality he fears could happen, but should not, actually happens. I have a strong feeling that her office reads Hansard. I think that will probably do for today.

[Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Will you investigate whether there is some extraordinary pact or audacious dare between Ministers and broadcasters to insert a particularly unsavoury word into their performances—before this virus is allowed to spread any further?

[Mr Speaker]

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman. That is not a point of order, but he has made the point with his characteristic subtlety.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ben Bradshaw and John Bercow

Monday 26th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vaizey]

We work very closely with our Liberal Democrat colleagues. As the shadow Secretary of State is aware, the economic state that the previous Government left us in has left us with some very tough decisions to make. I can assure him that the Secretary of State and I, and all colleagues in the Department, are making effective arguments. Since the right hon. Gentleman makes his point so effectively, could he now give a guarantee that the Opposition—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The Minister’s answer is always of interest to hear, but it is not for him to be posing questions to the shadow Secretary of State.

[Mr Bradshaw]

I note that there is not even a Lib Dem Front-Bench spokesman in the Chamber at the moment, although I am partially reassured by what the Minister has to say, because of course his Government have been described by senior Conservatives as the “Brokeback Mountain” coalition. That happens to be one of my favourite films, but as I am sure he is aware, it does not end well. One of the cowboys is killed in a homophobic attack by backwoodsmen, and the other lives out a sad, lonely life on a trailer park. Which is which in this coalition?

Points of Order

Debate between Ben Bradshaw and John Bercow

Thursday 8th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Gentleman is ingenious, but he knows very well that he is seeking to inveigle me into making what is essentially a political pronouncement, and I must not do that. He has made his point very clearly. How such matters are addressed is a matter for the House. In an earlier incarnation, I had views and expressed them on this matter; in my present role, I do not have views, and therefore will not express them. However, he has expressed his views very clearly, and I have a feeling that he might want to apprise his constituents of the fact of what he said.

[Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Numerous media reports today and yesterday have suggested that the Government intend to change the date for digital radio switchover, and that they will announce that in a speech being made this afternoon by the Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, the hon. Member for Wantage (Mr Vaizey). Have Ministers given any indication that they intend to pay Members of this House the courtesy of informing them of this significant change in policy, which will affect millions of people and businesses in Britain, or is this the latest example of the new Government treating Parliament with complete contempt?

[Mr Speaker]

Let me say to the right hon. Gentleman that I have certainly received no indication from a member of the Government that he or she intends to make a statement on this matter. The point of order that he raises will have been heard very clearly by those on the Treasury Bench. It is a matter into which I am very happy to inquire. The right hon. Gentleman, who is always keenly abreast of events, will know that I have made my views very clear about the requirement for policy statements by Ministers to be made first to this House and not—I repeat not, for the benefit of those listening on the Treasury Bench; if I could attract the attention of the Minister for Immigration, I should be grateful—outside this House.