Immigration Bill

Debate between Helen Grant and John Bercow

Monday 25th April 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Helen Grant]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I would like to declare an interest as a trustee of the Human Trafficking Foundation, which I should have done prior to my earlier intervention. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to make that clear now.

[Mr Speaker]

I am extremely grateful to the hon. Lady for her characteristic grace and courtesy in raising that point of order. Her interest, of course, is a non-pecuniary one. Nevertheless, it is most prudent to declare it. I am sure that the House will appreciate the fact that she has now done so.

Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83H), That a Committee be appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their amendments 59, 60 and 87;

That James Brokenshire, Charlie Elphicke, Rebecca Harris, Sue Hayman, Stuart C. McDonald, Keir Starmer and Craig Whittaker be members of the Committee;

That James Brokenshire be the Chair of the Committee;

That three be the quorum of the Committee;

That the Committee do withdraw immediately.—(Charlie Elphicke.)

Question agreed to.

Committee to withdraw immediately; reasons to be reported and communicated to the Lords.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Helen Grant and John Bercow

Thursday 26th February 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Grant]

The Government have recently announced £10 million of funding for tourism in the north of England, which is very good news for my hon. Friend’s constituency, the wider north-west and tourism across the north of England. We hope that the agreed project will commence this April.

[Mr Speaker]

I do not know why that question was not grouped with Questions 12 and 13—these people are sometimes a law unto themselves—but if the Members who tabled those questions wish to come in, they are welcome to do so.

[Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con)]

12. Today the civic buildings and street lamps across Rugby are festooned with dressing for the rugby world cup, which will be held later this year, celebrating Rugby’s status as the home of the game. During the tournament, visitors will be able to visit a fan zone and see where it all started back in 1823. Does the Minister agree that people coming to this, the third largest sporting event, provides a valuable economic opportunity not only to Rugby, but to venues across the UK?

--- Later in debate ---

[Mrs Grant]

It will be a marvellous event, and I know that my hon. Friend has been fully involved in the programme, which will be fabulous for tourism. I am pleased to announce today additional funding of £35,000 for the city’s Mayflower museum, which will help to ensure a strong legacy for the celebrations. [Interruption.] We hope to be able to offer further support for the programme in due course.

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Member for Colchester (Sir Bob Russell) is chuntering from a sedentary position, to no obvious benefit or purpose, but no doubt we will be enlightened later.

[Mr Mark Williams (Ceredigion) (LD)]

What assessment has the Minister made of the much greater contribution tourism could make to the economy were VAT on tourism to be reduced, which is something that all but three countries in the EU have been able to deliver?

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

I think that question was rhetorical, but if the Minister particularly wishes to respond she may.

[Mrs Grant]

That was a very interesting observation, and I am very happy to support the campaign.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Helen Grant and John Bercow

Thursday 16th October 2014 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mrs Helen Grant)]

I am aware of those concerns, but I am very confident, having met Ticketmaster and seen its 10-point plan, that the tickets will get into the hands of rugby fans. I am sure that the event will be a great success and I ask the hon. Gentleman to take note of the fact that successive Governments and Select Committees have said that regulation should be a last resort.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Miss Anne McIntosh—not here.

[David Mowat (Warrington South) (Con)]

T3. There are manifest and clear benefits from the game of chess as an educational and sporting tool, but while other countries continue to develop the game, in the UK participation is collapsing, particularly in the state primary school sector. Will the Minister meet me and other members of the newly formed all-party parliamentary group on chess to discuss substantive and low-cost changes that we could make to help the sport?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Helen Grant and John Bercow

Thursday 3rd July 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Grant]

I think that the Tour de France Grand Départ will be a tremendous success. All plans are on track, and I join the hon. Gentleman in thanking all those involved in the preparations—the teams in Yorkshire, Essex, London and Cambridge. It will be an amazing highlight for the year and one we will never forget. I am happy to have a chat with him about his suggestion. Thank you.

[Mr Speaker]

We are uncharacteristically ahead of schedule today, but as all the principals are present we should now proceed straight away to topical questions.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Helen Grant and John Bercow

Thursday 30th January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Cunningham]

I am sure the Minister knows about the dispute between Coventry city council and Coventry football club, since I and my colleagues have made representations to her Department in the past. The Culture, Media and Sport Committee report on football governance from July 2011 found the Football Association in need of urgent reform and called on the Government to introduce legislation if drastic changes were not made. In April 2013, the then sports Minister stated that he agreed with the Committee and that his officials had started working up a draft Bill. Where is the Bill? Let us have some action.

[Mr Speaker]

I think some of these matters could be usefully pursued through Adjournment debates, and will probably have to be.

[Mrs Grant]

Football authorities introduced reforms in August last year, including smaller boards and a new licensing system to deal with ownership, financial matters and supporter liaison and engagement. A start has been made, but much more needs to be done. As I have stated, if more is not done there is always the option to legislate.

[Mr Speaker]

If I gently hint at shorter questions and answers; then we might make more progress.

[Damian Collins (Folkestone and Hythe) (Con)]

Further to the question asked by the hon. Member for Coventry South (Mr Cunningham), will the Minister consider publishing the draft Bill and supporting documentation referred to by the previous sports Minister and place them in the House of Commons Library?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Helen Grant and John Bercow

Thursday 12th December 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Grant]

I hear what the hon. Gentleman says, but the law is working. It is in place, and we have seen recent arrests and the good work of the National Crime Agency. We have criminal offences of bribery, corruption and fraud, and there is an offence under section 42 of the 2005 Act. The law is in place and it is being used. Of course, we must keep it under review, and I will do that.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Mark Menzies. Not here.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Helen Grant and John Bercow

Tuesday 18th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Grant]

Victims will certainly be part of the heart of the justice system. An announcement will be made imminently to confirm the name of the new victims commissioner and I look forward to working with her very closely indeed. [Hon. Members: “Her?”] A lot of work is being done to improve security and safety in courts in addition to what I and the victims commissioner will do. Work has been done to improve security, including improvements to buildings, improved ways of working and improved education and training. The provision for the presence of a court security officer and enhanced risk management have also been helpful additions. We will continue to make sure that security is a priority.

[Mr Speaker]

I look forward to hearing further details in due course, if we have not already heard all of them.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mrs Grant]

I look forward to announcing the name of the victims commissioner within the next few days.

[Mr Speaker]

We are now all agog.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme

Debate between Helen Grant and John Bercow

Wednesday 7th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, but I do not think that engages the Chair. The point has been put on the record, but the Minister will wish to continue her speech.

[Mrs Grant]

In the Delegated Legislation Committee last week, I said that, although we saw no merit in making further changes to the scheme, we were nevertheless persuaded that something ought to be done for certain low earners who were temporarily unable to work due to their injuries and who would no longer fall within the scheme. I announced a hardship fund that aims to meet a pressing need for people who might well find themselves in real financial difficulty.

Opposition members of the Committee were critical of the lack of detail I provided on that occasion. However, the Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice provided details today in his opening speech, and it is a great shame that the shadow Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent South (Robert Flello) and the hon. Member for Edinburgh East (Sheila Gilmore) seem unable to acknowledge the fairness and decency of the fund and recognise that it will help some of the very poorest people in our country.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Helen Grant and John Bercow

Thursday 18th October 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Grant]

My hon. Friend makes a good point. The one-size-fits-all approach to unemployment has clearly failed. We need local providers to deliver good, innovative local services. We should be pleased that, in 2010-11, the highest number of black and minority ethnic apprentices started their training. Michael Gove’s reforms will be key to that, and I very much look forward to seeing them coming to fruition.

[Mr Speaker]

I am sure the Minister was referring to the Secretary of State for Education.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Helen Grant and John Bercow

Monday 2nd July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Last but not least, I call Helen Grant.

[Mrs Helen Grant (Maidstone and The Weald) (Con)]

Are the Government’s excellent proposals for troubled families being embraced by local authorities throughout the country?

Nuclear-powered Submarines

Debate between Helen Grant and John Bercow

Monday 18th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

It is always fascinating to hear the views of the hon. Gentleman, but his point of order will have to wait. We are in the middle of a statement, which is more important than his point of order—[Interruption.] —difficult though it may be to persuade him of that important fact.

[Mrs Helen Grant (Maidstone and The Weald) (Con)]

Does the Secretary of State agree that this is great news for British defence generally?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Helen Grant and John Bercow

Wednesday 26th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. There are far too many noisy private conversations taking place. The House will want to hear Mrs Helen Grant.

[Mrs Helen Grant (Maidstone and The Weald) (Con)]

T4. What action is the Secretary of State taking to tackle forced marriage and early marriage in the developing world?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Helen Grant and John Bercow

Wednesday 14th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. May I just appeal to the right hon. Gentleman to face the House so that we can all enjoy his mellifluous tones?

[Mrs Grant]

What plans does my right hon. Friend have to extend longer-term funding to voluntary sector organisations so that they can do more?