Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Edward Argar and Aaron Bell

Tuesday 19th October 2021 Commons Chamber

[Edward Argar]

Hang on, sir! I was about to say that I would be delighted to visit what is now the city of Southend. My only deep sadness is that our friend will not be there to meet me when I do so. He and his family are very much in our thoughts.

[Aaron Bell (Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Con)]

5. What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the (a) short-term and (b) long-term impact on public health of the ongoing odorous emissions from Walley’s Quarry in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Covid Contracts: Judicial Review

Debate between Edward Argar and Aaron Bell

Wednesday 24th February 2021 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I think we need to try to keep to the questions, not score points. Let us go to Aaron Bell, who will not want to score a point.

[Aaron Bell (Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Con) [V]]

As my hon. Friend just did, I note from the judgment that Mr Justice Chamberlain found that the three Members of Parliament who sought to join this case did not have standing. In paragraph 107, he stated:

“In a case where there is already a claimant with standing, the addition of politicians as claimants may leave the public with the impression that the proceedings are an attempt to advance a political cause”.

Does my hon. Friend agree that this recent practice of trying to extend politics through court cases is becoming quite damaging to our democracy as a whole, particularly when technical judgments are then deliberately misrepresented, as seems to have happened in this case?

[Edward Argar]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for what he has said. As a former Justice Minister, I have huge respect for the legal process and, indeed, for the judgment of the courts, but he is right to highlight once again the point that the judge made in his finding that the Members of this House who sought to bring this case had no standing in doing so and that it was the GLP that did. Although I appreciate that Members of this House feel strongly on this issue, and understandably so, I echo his point that I hope they do not seek to use the courts to make political points but rather to use them for what they are there for, which is to highlight legal issues.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Edward Argar and Aaron Bell

Tuesday 1st September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Edward Argar]

As my right hon. Friend highlights, the new modular 35-bed ward at Barnet Hospital will add to its capacity to cope with winter pressures. More broadly, we have invested £2.5 million in Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, of which Barnet is part. She is of course right to make the case for continued investment in longer term, with her typical effectiveness and commitment to her constituency, and I am always happy to discuss that further with her.

[Aaron Bell (Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to increase covid-19 testing capacity.