Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Ian Mearns Excerpts
Thursday 21st January 2016

(8 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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I understand the concern, which was raised recently by my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Oliver Colvile) with regard to his own campaign, and I know that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has considered it carefully. We always wish for local authorities to provide a balance between the necessary development to provide housing for the people of this country and wildlife protection.

Ian Mearns Portrait Ian Mearns (Gateshead) (Lab)
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I am grateful to the Leader of the House for advance notice of the Back-Bench business debates on Thursday 4 February, but I note also that we have time allocated on Monday 25 January and Monday 1 February after Government business. Will he again consider protecting time for those debates so that we have at least three hours? I also point out to right hon. and hon. Members that the Backbench Business Committee is very much open for business.

Lord Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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That latter point is important because we want the Committee to have a good range of debates to consider. As I said last week, I will give careful consideration to the hon. Gentleman’s point about time.