Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Lidington and Laura Smith

Wednesday 10th July 2019 Commons Chamber

[Laura Smith (Crewe and Nantwich) (Lab)]

T6. Can the Minister assure the House that the proportion of businesses certified for the Government’s cyber essentials standard is higher than the dismal 4% reported in 2018?

[Mr Lidington]

I am happy to write to the hon. Lady with the latest figures as we have them, but I can assure her that the work that has been put in place on achieving higher Government cyber-security standards and on outreach to the private and public sectors is having a demonstrable impact on improving our resilience.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Lidington and Laura Smith

Wednesday 11th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call Clive Lewis. [Interruption.] Well, that is a great self-denying ordinance on the part of the hon. Gentleman. He says that his question has been answered and that he is therefore satisfied. If that were a template for the House as a whole, just think of the possibilities!

[Laura Smith (Crewe and Nantwich) (Lab)]

Will the Minister explain what the Prime Minister’s Brexit proposals would mean for those working for two of the largest employers in my constituency, Bentley Motors and the NHS?

[Mr Lidington]

It would be very good news for both of them. In particular, the automotive industry has been arguing for months that we need a deal that ensures frictionless trade with the EU27, and that is what the model we are proposing will deliver.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Lidington and Laura Smith

Wednesday 21st February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lidington]

My right hon. Friend makes an interesting and valid point. I would add, of course, that we make specific protections in our law in respect of criminal justice and the asylum system, recognising that people under 18 need special protection.

[Laura Smith (Crewe and Nantwich) (Lab)]

During a debate in 2015, the hon. Member for Norwich North (Chloe Smith), said:

“I am one of those who believes that we should allow voting at 16”.—[Official Report, 17 November 2015; Vol. 602, c. 572.]

Since then, a range of senior Conservatives have outlined their support, including the former Chancellor, who said that the Conservative party risked

“being on the wrong side of history”

if it refused to back the measure. Does the Minister agree with his colleague and will does he support votes at 16?

[Mr Lidington]

I stand by the manifesto on which I stood in 2017, and, as has been made clear this morning, by the position that the Labour party took for the 13 years during which it was last in government.