Business of the House

Debate between Chris Ruane and John Bercow

Thursday 17th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I am very sorry that the hon. Member for Livingston (Hannah Bardell) has had to raise this and that the Government Whips Office is blocking progress on this matter, but let us hope that some progress will be made before too long. [Interruption.] Well, that is the situation—that is the reality, and that is the evidence. It is very clear; there is no doubt about it.

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

Penblwydd hapus, Mr Speaker, as we say in Wales.

In 1991, 9 million prescriptions were written for antidepressants. By 2016, that figure had gone up to 65 million. In 2004, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommended and approved the science of mindfulness for the treatment of repeat episodes of depression. Can the Leader of the House guarantee a debate in Government time on why the use of antidepressants has shot up over that period, while mindfulness has just bubbled along?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Ruane and John Bercow

Wednesday 18th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

In calling the hon. Member for Vale of Clwyd (Chris Ruane), I congratulate him on what I understand is, unbelievably, his 60th birthday.

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

It’s a hard life!

The shadow Wales team recently met Farmers Union of Wales representatives, who are desperately worried about the future funding of Welsh agriculture post Brexit. If future farm funding is allocated using the Barnett formula, Welsh farmers will lose £133 million a year, taking £1 billion out of the Welsh economy. That would decimate rural communities and thousands of family-run farms. What steps is the Minister taking to guarantee Welsh agriculture the same level of funding post Brexit?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Ruane and John Bercow

Wednesday 13th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Alison Thewliss—not here. Tom Brake—

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

Not here!

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Mr Brake is here. He is always here. He stands every week and he is going to be heard.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Ruane and John Bercow

Monday 30th April 2018 Commons Chamber

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

The question was about Torbay, but as the Minister’s reply, perfectly properly, broadened the subject matter, it is legitimate to hear about the experience of the people of the Vale of Clwyd.

[Chris Ruane]

When the right hon. Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson) was London Mayor, he described Tory housing policy in poor areas as “social cleansing”. Many of the victims of that social cleansing have ended up on the streets of Torbay, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Blackpool and other seaside towns. What specific additional funds has the Department made available to those seaside towns to deal with that appalling legacy?

Elections for Positions in the House

Debate between Chris Ruane and John Bercow

Thursday 26th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I will come to other points of order, but first may I thank the hon. Lady for her courtesy in giving me notice of her intention to raise this point of order and for what she has said? I know she will not take it amiss if I say that although her point of order contained an inquiry as to how she could put the matter straight, I think that she has found her own salvation. What I do want to say is that it is one of the courtesies expected of hon. Members that they should give notice—I make this statement on advice; I do take advice on these matters, as the House would expect—to another Member if they intend to make personal criticism of them in the House. I listened carefully to what the hon. Lady said in her question to the Prime Minister yesterday. I took the view that it was not evidently out of order. Whether it was wise or appropriate to raise matters relating to the internal working of a Select Committee in Prime Minister’s questions is a different matter, on which Members will doubtless have different views. The hon. Lady says that she has not been referred for any investigation. In this respect, I understand that she is correct. The Health Committee has not, at this stage, made any report on the matter. She has put her view on the record.

I think we should leave this matter there. I would simply add my view that mutual trust between members of Select Committees and confidence that the confidentiality of private discussions in Committee will be respected are important to the effectiveness of Select Committees.

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. This is about more grubby business. On 4 November, I tabled a question asking how much money was spent on social housing in each of the past 15 years. It was answered today, nearly five months late, and the answer showed that there had been a 75% decrease in the spending on social housing over the past five years. Was this a good day to bury bad news? Can you investigate why it has taken five months to answer my question?

[Mr Speaker]

I am very taken aback by the idea that any question should be unanswered for so long. Members will have heard me many times say, on behalf of the House, that Ministers should answer questions speedily and as comprehensively as they can. The Leader of the House has noted that. Probably a nod of assent from the Government Chief Whip will suffice to acknowledge the point on his part.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Ruane and John Bercow

Tuesday 9th December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Formally the group of questions falls if the Member with the lead is absent but I dare say we can improvise.

[Chris Ruane]

Thousands of hard-working families in my constituency have been bit by tax credit cuts, a £300 increase in their energy bills, the bedroom tax and the increase in VAT. This Government offer tax cuts to millionaires and porridge and food banks to low-paid workers. When will the Government allow British workers to share in the wealth of this country?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Ruane and John Bercow

Monday 10th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Elizabeth Truss)]

The new national curriculum sets out high expectations of what teachers should teach, but gives them much more flexibility over how to do it. Teachers have the freedom to try new approaches and do things differently in a way that benefits students. A longer school day would also enable schools to build confidence and resilience, as well as the core academic skills vital to success.

[Mr Speaker]

We can now enjoy the full benefit of the hon. Gentleman’s mindfulness.

[Chris Ruane]

I would like—once again—to thank the Minister for meeting me and the hon. Member for Chatham and Aylesford (Tracey Crouch) last Monday to discuss mindfulness in education, and I would also like to pay tribute to the Prime Minister for the measurement of well-being, but what more can the Minister and her Department do to use mindfulness in education to raise educational attainment and improve student well-being?

Health Services (North-West)

Debate between Chris Ruane and John Bercow

Thursday 11th July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

It is quite simple.

[Mr Speaker]

It is quite simple. The short answer is that nothing disorderly has taken place. The Secretary of State is entitled to come to the House and make a statement at a time of his choosing. I have experienced a great many Ministers in my time in the House. Different Ministers adopt different approaches. In some cases Ministers have conversations with Members in advance—I know that the Secretary of State himself has done so on other occasions—and signal an intention to make a statement, or the possibility of a statement, at a particular time, but on other occasions they do not do so. On the strict question of whether it is in order, I can confirm that the Secretary of State’s conduct is not disorderly. Beyond that, it is for hon. and right hon. Members to make their own assessment of the handling of the matter. There is scope, as with so many matters, for different points of view. I think that is the fairest thing I can say.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Ruane and John Bercow

Wednesday 3rd July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. There are some very noisy private conversations taking place in the Chamber. Let us hear Mr Chris Ruane.

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

The legal aid cuts in my constituency will affect many of my constituents, who will also be affected by the closure of the Rhyl family court, the closure of the Rhyl Army recruitment centre, the closure of the Rhyl tax office and, on top of all that, the closure of the Crown post office. How will that help the regeneration of Rhyl?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Ruane and John Bercow

Tuesday 5th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am immensely grateful to the Minister. I am sorry to disappoint colleagues, but Chris Ruane will have to have the last question.

[Chris Ruane]

You have not disappointed me, Mr Speaker. The prisons Minister misunderstood the position of my hon. Friend the Member for Wrexham (Ian Lucas) on the issue of a prison for north Wales. Will he meet north Wales MPs of all parties to discuss this important issue, in the interests of clarity?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Ruane and John Bercow

Thursday 18th October 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I am sure the Minister was referring to the Secretary of State for Education.

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

3. What recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on the effects of tax and benefit changes on women and their families.

EU Council

Debate between Chris Ruane and John Bercow

Monday 12th December 2011 Commons Chamber

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

Où est Clegg?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I apologise for interrupting the Prime Minister. I hope that Members have now got it out of their system. The statement will be heard. Right hon. and hon. Members on both sides of the House will have ample opportunity to question the Prime Minister, but courtesy and parliamentary convention dictate that the statement will be heard.

Aid Reviews

Debate between Chris Ruane and John Bercow

Tuesday 1st March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. My exhortations to brevity have not been quite as faithfully heeded as I might have hoped, but I feel sure that we will return to the path of virtue with a question from Mr Chris Ruane.

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

Today is St David’s day, and Wales is twinned with Lesotho. Will the Secretary of State tell us why Lesotho has been victimised in these cuts, and whether he had any discussions with the Welsh Assembly Government about his decision?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Ruane and John Bercow

Wednesday 15th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

Q10. Is there any truth in the rumour that tomorrow the Liberal Democrats will move the writ for the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election for 13 January, thus denying the good people of Oldham a politician-free Christmas and new year? Is that unseemly haste over the festive season a cynical attempt by the Government to avoid the wrath of the public and especially students on tuition fees, school cuts and police cuts?

[Mr Speaker]

We have got the message. The Prime Minister can give an answer.

Autumn Forecast

Debate between Chris Ruane and John Bercow

Monday 29th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Was the hon. Gentleman present at the start of the statement?

[Chris Ruane]

I was.

[Mr Speaker]

He was uncharacteristically quiet throughout it.

[Chris Ruane]

I was right here at the back, Mr Speaker.

In my constituency, 46% of the workers are in the public sector. In one Edinburgh seat, the figure is 66%. Those are huge numbers of public sector workers and many of them will be laid off. What additional help can the Chancellor give to constituencies that contain large numbers of public sector workers?

Controlling Migration

Debate between Chris Ruane and John Bercow

Tuesday 23rd November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I must thank the Home Secretary and colleagues for their co-operation, as a result of which in 40 minutes of Back-Bench time we managed to get through 44 Back-Bench questions and answers. It shows what can be done when we put our minds to it.

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

Excellent chairing.

[Mr Speaker]

Well, I am always grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his unfailing support and I heard what he said.