Private Rented Sector
Debate between Frank Dobson and John Bercow(10 years, 5 months ago)
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Frank Dobson (Holborn and St Pancras) (Lab)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Could you ask the hon. Gentleman to tell us whether he warned my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield South East (Mr Betts) that he would be mentioned in this debate?
Mr Speaker
It is the normal courtesy so to notify. A simple nod of the head will suffice if the Minister did notify the hon. Gentleman.
Private Rented Sector
Debate between Frank Dobson and John Bercow
Mr Speaker
Order. I thought he was talking about antisocial tenants a moment ago.
Annual Energy Statement
Debate between Frank Dobson and John Bercow
Mr Speaker
Order. May I remind the House that Members who entered the Chamber after the start of the statement should not expect to be called?
Frank Dobson (Holborn and St Pancras) (Lab)
Surely the Secretary of State understands that the public believe that the energy companies are giving Ministers, civil servants and Ofgem the runaround. Would it not be better if the public and pressure groups had access to the figures that clearly mesmerise officialdom and we applied freedom of information to the energy companies?
Point of Order
Debate between Frank Dobson and John Bercow
Frank Dobson (Holborn and St Pancras) (Lab)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Has the Secretary of State for Transport indicated that he intends to make a statement to the House on the fourth revised version of the justification for High Speed 2? I heard him say on the television this morning that the £50 billion was perfectly justified and that he was producing a report for Parliament. However, as far as I can make out, there has been no report to Parliament.
Mr Speaker
I have received no indication that the Secretary of State intends to make a statement to the House on that matter. However, the House will be treating of these issues on Thursday. I expect that a significant number of Members will wish to contribute to that debate and I fancy that the right hon. Gentleman might be among them.
Mr Speaker
I am not sure that there is anything further, but the right hon. Gentleman is an immensely senior Member and I must give him the benefit of the doubt.
Frank Dobson
The proceedings on Report are likely to be fairly specific to the amendments that are tabled, whereas what needs to be discussed is the new financial justification for the scheme. I suspect that it will be rather difficult to discuss that and to remain in order on Thursday.
Mr Speaker
I note the point that the right hon. Gentleman makes. I am advised that there is a written ministerial statement, although I readily recognise that that will not satisfy him because it does not afford an opportunity for oral questioning. I have got the point that he wishes to hear a spoken justification from a Minister, however senior, and to have the opportunity to question them on the matter. If the right hon. Gentleman is in his place and seeks to catch my eye, he might find favour. I hope that that satisfies him for now.
Pensions Bill (Programme) (No. 2)
Ordered,
That the Order of 17 June 2013 (Pensions Bill (Programme)) be varied as follows:
(1) Paragraphs (4) and (5) of the Order shall be omitted.
(2) Proceedings on Consideration shall be taken in the order shown in the first column of the following Table.
(3) The proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at today’s sitting at the times specified in the second column of the Table.
LIBOR (FSA Investigation)
Debate between Frank Dobson and John Bercow(12 years, 4 months ago)
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Mr Speaker
Order. There is a lot of interest but not much time. I am keen to accommodate as many as possible, but extreme brevity is required. So questions, please, without preamble.
Frank Dobson (Holborn and St Pancras) (Lab)
Would the Chancellor of the Exchequer authorise Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to examine the personal taxation position of all the people involved in this scandal, because if they are willing to swindle everybody, the chances are that they are trying to swindle the Revenue?
Welfare Reform Bill
Debate between Frank Dobson and John Bercow(13 years, 5 months ago)
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Frank Dobson (Holborn and St Pancras) (Lab)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. To remain in order on Third Reading, is it not necessary to talk only about the content of the Bill, not things external to it?
Mr Speaker
That is correct. On Third Reading, all speakers must focus on what is in the Bill, not what is excluded from or outside it.
NHS Future Forum
Debate between Frank Dobson and John Bercow(13 years, 5 months ago)
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Mr Speaker
Order. The Opposition Front-Bench team should not be yelling at the Secretary of State when he is answering. [Interruption.] Order. On both sides of the House, right hon. and hon. Members, whatever the passions they feel, need to simmer down just a little. A fine example of that calm and stoicism can now be provided by the right hon. Member for Holborn and St Pancras (Frank Dobson).
Frank Dobson (Holborn and St Pancras) (Lab)
Does the Secretary of State recognise that forcing the national health service to start implementing his changes before the law had been changed has resulted in vast expense to the NHS, in chaos to services and in the diversion of NHS staff from the treatment of patients? Does he also recognise that just cobbling together a few amendments to the Bill will not make things better but worse? Will he not recognise—[Interruption.]
Mr Speaker
Order. I ask the right hon. Gentleman to finish his sentence. We must press on.
Mr Speaker
Order. I will have the question finished. I do not require any help from any Member.
Frank Dobson
Does the Secretary of State not recognise that pretending to produce a collaborative silk purse from a competitive pig’s ear will not work?