Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Spellar and Lindsay Hoyle

Thursday 21st March 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Before we come to business questions, I have to inform the House that there is an error in the Future Business section of the Order Paper. The Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill, introduced by the right hon. Member for Warley (John Spellar), should appear as the first item of business tomorrow. It has been corrected in the online version, and will appear correctly on tomorrow’s Order Paper.

[John Spellar (Warley) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. May I thank you, and indeed the Clerks, for your speedy action in resolving this? The test of an organisation is not whether mistakes happen—they do— but how quickly they are corrected. I hope that your statement will also make clear to Members who were thinking of attending tomorrow that my Bill will be No. 1 on the Order Paper, and that they will be here to speed it on its way to the statute book.

[Mr Speaker]

I think we have just had the plug and the advertisement.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Spellar and Lindsay Hoyle

Thursday 2nd March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Minister, I think we have got the message. Can I just say to Members that this is about equality in going from one side to the other? I know it is important, and I am sure if you catch my eye during topicals you may have a chance of getting in then, but do not glare at me because I am trying to be politically right for both sides.

[John Spellar (Warley) (Lab)]

Keynes said, “When the facts change, I change my mind.” It is quite clear that patterns of business travel have changed dramatically post covid, yet when I asked the Minister this week about the balance between first class and standard class travel in the north and the midlands, not only did he not know, but he did not even seem to be interested. Will the Minister now, with these changing business patterns, re-examine the case for HS2, or is he just frightened of the answer?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Spellar and Lindsay Hoyle

Monday 13th June 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We come now to Question 6; I am intrigued as to why Question 13 is not grouped with it.

[John Spellar (Warley) (Lab)]

6. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Ajax vehicles programme.

Covid Vaccine Passports

Debate between Lord Spellar and Lindsay Hoyle

Wednesday 8th September 2021 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Can I just say that I will not be giving any incentives? When the hon. Lady said “you”, it meant me, and I definitely do not want to do that.

[John Spellar (Warley) (Lab)]

As the Minister has indicated, many countries are already introducing checks in hospitality and entertainment venues, and a large number of our own citizens are visiting them on holiday, showing vaccine passes issued free by Her Majesty’s Government and having already undergone checks at airports. I have been arguing since February for the introduction of vaccine passes in order to save venues and jobs. To ensure that they can stay open, will he now cut through the hysteria and get on with it?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Spellar and Lindsay Hoyle

Monday 26th April 2021 Commons Chamber

[John Spellar (Warley) (Lab)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Question No. 23.

[John Spellar (Warley) (Lab)]

What recent assessment his Department has made of the proportion of the population aged between 50 and 66 that have a university degree or two A-levels.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Spellar and Lindsay Hoyle

Wednesday 21st April 2021 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Let’s bring in the goalkeeper—John Spellar.

[John Spellar (Warley) (Lab)]

I shall decline that invitation, as a west midlands voter. The Prime Minister said earlier that he would use new freedoms to ensure that we buy British steel. Over the last year, the difficulties with PPE provision and vaccine production have demonstrated clearly the risks of neglecting British production capacity, let alone the impact on the prosperity and levelling-up agendas. So will the Prime Minister now instruct Government Ministers, civil servants and public bodies that when purchasing goods and services they must buy British first?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Spellar and Lindsay Hoyle

Monday 7th December 2020 Commons Chamber

[John Spellar]

The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions has argued forcefully for defence orders to be brought forward to help our industry through the economic crisis, especially in our regions and nations. The Navy carrier group needs the fleet solid support ships, and the Department has the specifications from the previous bidding round. It is a project that is really shovel or welding-ready, so when is the Secretary of State going to get off his backside and start ordering these ships? [Interruption.] He may even want to intervene and answer himself.

[Mr Speaker]

I think we will leave it to the Minister to answer.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Spellar and Lindsay Hoyle

Wednesday 26th February 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Secretary of State to reply to Question 7. [Interruption.]. Minister or Secretary of State? [Hon. Members: “Get on with it!”] Someone answer the question. It is Question 7 from John Spellar.

[John Spellar (Warley) (Lab)]

7. What steps his Department is taking to encourage public bodies in Wales to buy British goods, products and services.