2 Craig Whittaker debates involving the Scotland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Craig Whittaker Excerpts
Wednesday 23rd June 2021

(3 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Boris Johnson Portrait The Prime Minister
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

As I said to the right hon. and learned Gentleman—and I fought to have tougher action against rapists and sexual offenders throughout my time as Mayor of London; and, of course, to all the victims of rape and sexual violence, all the victims and survivors, of course I say sorry for the trauma that they have been through, the frustration that they go through because of the inadequacies of the criminal justice system. We are fixing that. We are fixing that by investing another £1 billion in clearing the court backlogs and ensuring that they have people that they can listen to and trust who will help them through the trials of the criminal justice experience. But above all, we are helping them by getting our courts moving again. The fastest, most efficient way to do that, as the right hon. and learned Gentleman knows, is to get our country moving again, which is what we are doing with the fastest vaccination roll-out anywhere in Europe. We are getting on with the job. They jabber, we jab. They dither, we deliver. They vacillate and we vaccinate.

Craig Whittaker Portrait Craig Whittaker (Calder Valley) (Con) [V]
- Hansard - -

The levelling-up fund is a superb opportunity for local areas like Calderdale Council to improve infrastructure and relieve the misery in local areas. With that aim, will my right hon. Friend take a serious look at Calderdale’s submission, which lacks support, has no consultation nor consensus with partners, and instead of relieving infrastructure problems, ploughs on with one of the council’s failed and doomed projects, which does nothing at all to level up and has no support locally?

Boris Johnson Portrait The Prime Minister
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. The levelling-up fund has the potential to do massive good for Calderdale, and indeed the whole country, and I hope that Calderdale Council has listened to his strictures this afternoon and will act.

Oral Answers to Questions

Craig Whittaker Excerpts
Wednesday 20th May 2020

(4 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
John Stevenson Portrait John Stevenson (Carlisle) (Con)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on co-ordinating a UK-wide response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Craig Whittaker Portrait Craig Whittaker (Calder Valley) (Con)
- Hansard - -

What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on co-ordinating a UK-wide response to the covid-19 outbreak.

--- Later in debate ---
Alister Jack Portrait Mr Jack
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Yes, absolutely.

Craig Whittaker Portrait Craig Whittaker [V]
- Hansard - -

As we know, different parts of the United Kingdom are experiencing this pandemic at different rates, so it is right to be flexible and to move at different speeds, as we have seen. But will my right hon. Friend confirm that he remains fully committed to working constructively with the Scottish Government, so that we can, as he says, get through this crisis together as one United Kingdom?

Alister Jack Portrait Mr Jack
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I can confirm to my hon. Friend that we are absolutely committed to working constructively with the Scottish Government on all fronts.