Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Oral Answers to Questions

David Ruffley Excerpts
Monday 12th March 2012

(12 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Pickles Portrait Mr Pickles
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The Rochdale pioneers were of course immensely important in retailing. If I may confide in the hon. Gentleman, I can tell him that Rochdale is the apple of my eye in the north-west. I hope, if only for the sake of romance, that it can put up a very good case. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to award the pilot scheme to Rochdale.

David Ruffley Portrait Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds) (Con)
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Residents of Westbury avenue in Bury St Edmunds want to hold a jubilee street party, but local council officers have told them that road signs will have to be erected in that very quiet suburban road at a cost of £396. Will the Secretary of State please assure me that he will do everything to slash such pointless pettifogging bureaucracy?

Lord Pickles Portrait Mr Pickles
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I can assure my hon. Friend that those regulations have gone. The bunting police have gone, and there is no need to put up expensive signs or do a traffic survey. Why to goodness cannot we simply get on with celebrating the Queen’s diamond jubilee and recognising that such roads can be closed with the minimum of disruption? Let us just enjoy the day.