Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Davis and Lindsay Hoyle
Monday 19th May 2025

(2 days, 4 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Davis Portrait David Davis (Goole and Pocklington) (Con)
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On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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Well, as there is no question from Jim Shannon.

David Davis Portrait David Davis
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I do apologise to the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon). I am glad that the Secretary of State is here. As we have heard today, a very successful parliamentary petition was put up by a member of the public just over a week ago, and was supported by a large number of regimental associations. In the middle of last week, an email was sent from the Directorate of Infantry to regimental headquarters. It said:

“With immediate effect”—

that bit is highlighted in red—

“please ensure that all of your communication channels (including Twitter/X etc) remove any feeds related to the Northern Ireland Troubles Act announcement and any associated petitions.”

Regimental associations are there to defend and look after the interests of, and to support, veterans. It is not for the MOD hierarchy to dictate what they can or cannot promote, particularly through legitimate parliamentary engagement. Veterans’ voices must not be silenced by bureaucratic interference. Is it appropriate, Mr Speaker, to pressurise regimental associations to remove content that supports democratic participation?

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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Perhaps someone on the Front Bench would like to answer.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Davis and Lindsay Hoyle
Thursday 27th March 2025

(1 month, 3 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Davis Portrait David Davis
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It actually follows rather well, because—

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. The Minister has to answer the question first.

Lilian Greenwood Portrait Lilian Greenwood
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It is lovely that people are so keen.

Charge point availability is increasing everywhere. As of 1 March, there were over 75,000 UK public charging devices, with one added to the network every 29 minutes, but we recognise that there are still regional disparities. The local EV infrastructure fund will deliver a further 100,000 charge points right across England.

Business of the House

Debate between David Davis and Lindsay Hoyle
Thursday 31st October 2024

(6 months, 3 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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I call Sir David Davis—and congratulations on your knighthood.

David Davis Portrait David Davis (Goole and Pocklington) (Con)
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, this question may be of interest to you. The Leader of the House has ministerial responsibilities, but she is also the nearest thing this House has to a shop steward in the Cabinet, and it is in that context I ask her this question.

A month ago, I wrote to the Chancellor about her cancellation of the investment opportunity fund, a decision that has put at risk an investment of hundreds of millions of pounds in a new factory in Goole in my constituency, and with it hundreds of jobs. Two weeks ago, I chased up that letter and was told I was going to get a reply; I was even given a reference number. Yesterday, at 1 o’clock on the dot, I got a timed email telling me that the Treasury was not going to answer my question and was handing it off to somebody else. This was a dishonest piece of obfuscation to avoid accountability before the Budget debate. I hope it is not a harbinger of things to come, but will the Leader of the House remind her colleagues in Cabinet of their direct responsibility to us, for our constituencies, to answer such a question and treat it properly in future?

Point of Order

Debate between David Davis and Lindsay Hoyle
Thursday 12th September 2024

(8 months, 1 week ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Davis Portrait Sir David Davis (Goole and Pocklington) (Con)
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On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Transparency of justice is vital. To that end, Members of this House should be freely able to see exactly what happens at any trial in this country. Yet when I tried to obtain a transcript of the Lucy Letby trial from Manchester Crown court, I was told it would cost me £100,000. That number eventually reduced to £9,000. In any event, that is more than any of us in this House can afford. It is critical that parliamentarians have free access to that kind of data. Will the House authorities talk to the relevant Government Department to ensure that transcripts of all trials are freely available to Members of this House?

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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This is not a matter for the Chair, but I know that the right hon. Gentleman is not the only Member with concerns about the cost of such transcripts. I will ask the House authorities to look into the matter, because such costs inhibit Members. The outrageous amount of £100,000 prohibits Members of Parliament from carrying out their duty on behalf of their constituents. The Solicitor General is in the Chamber, so I hope that she will take these comments on board and let us speak to the company concerned. I will also take the matter up with the Clerks of the House. Does the Solicitor General wish to make a comment? If not, let us proceed.