Business of the House (Thursday)

David Winnick Excerpts

Wednesday 8th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Hilary Benn]

My right hon. Friend makes a powerful point, and I shall remind the House later in my speech about the time that it had on previous occasions to discuss legislation to do with student support.

[Mr David Winnick (Walsall North) (Lab)]

Is it not important that we have more time to illustrate the importance of the issue, support for which, as has already been pointed out, is not confined to students? We are proud of those students who are marching and demonstrating, but in tonight’s Evening Standard reference is made to a 105-year-old person who has sent a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister to say that she wants to march with her 72-year-old daughter but is unable to do so because she is blind. Does not that illustrate that up and down the country adults are supporting the students because they know that the students are right?

[Hilary Benn]

Indeed they are. I could not have put it more eloquently than my hon. Friend.