Ceasefire in Gaza

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Wednesday 21st February 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We now come to the Scottish National party motion on Gaza. I understand that the second motion on the Order Paper will not be moved today.

This is a highly sensitive subject, on which feelings are running high, in the House, in the nation and throughout the world. I think it is important on this occasion that the House is able to consider the widest possible range of options. I have therefore decided to select the amendments both in the name of the Prime Minister and in the name of the Leader of the Opposition.

Because the operation of Standing Order No. 31 would prevent another amendment from being moved after the Government have moved their amendment, I will, exceptionally, call the Opposition Front-Bench spokesperson to move their amendment at the beginning of the debate, once the SNP spokesperson has moved their motion. At the end of the debate, the House will have an opportunity to take a decision on the official Opposition amendment. If that is agreed to, there will be a final Question on the main motion, as amended.

If the official Opposition amendment is not agreed to, I will call the Minister to move the Government amendment formally. That will engage the—[Interruption.] Order. I am going to finish. That will engage the provisions of Standing Order No. 31, so the next vote will be on the original words in the SNP motion. If that is not agreed to, the House will have the opportunity to vote on the Government amendment. Proceeding in this way will allow a vote to take place, potentially, on the proposals from each of the three main parties.

I can inform the House—[Interruption.] Just let me finish. I can inform the House that there is a precedent for an official Opposition spokesperson being called second in the debate and moving an amendment before—[Interruption.] Order. Does somebody want to leave? I am determined to finish. I can inform the House that there is a precedent for an official Opposition spokesperson being called second in the debate and moving an amendment, before a Minister has been called to speak in the debate. In that circumstance, however, no Government amendment had been tabled.

I should also inform the House that the Clerk of the House will be placing in the Library a letter to me about today’s proceedings. I have asked for that letter to be made available in the Vote Office as soon as possible.

Finally, I should tell the House that in my opinion the operation of Standing Order No. 31, which governs the way amendments to Opposition day motions are dealt with, reflects an outdated approach—[Interruption.] Order. Members will be going and not be voting—

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Bring back Bercow!

[Mr Speaker]

That is the first one to leave, then.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

Bring back Bercow!

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Tuesday 21st November 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Here is a man who will go short: I call Sir Desmond Swayne.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

10. Whether he is taking steps to increase levels of public confidence in non-custodial sentences.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Tuesday 19th September 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

This will be helpful.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

Absolutely, Mr Speaker. There is a panic now in Germany as its premature ban on gas-fired boilers approaches. The Minister will want to avoid a similar panic as we approach our own premature ban on oil-fired boilers, won’t he?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Thursday 22nd June 2023 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Where is the surplus personal protective equipment being stored? What is it costing and what are the plans for its disposal?

[Mr Speaker]

Who wants that one?

Ukraine

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Thursday 27th April 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the right hon. and gallant Gentleman.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

What estimate has the Minister made of the continuing ability of Ukraine to deny air superiority to Russia?

[Dr Murrison]

Ukraine continues to prevail in all dimensions of this conflict. My right hon. Friend will be aware that we have been active, and the international fund that I just referred to is certainly active, in providing air defence. That is crucial in winning this for Ukraine, and we will continue to do so.

Governor of Xinjiang: UK Visit

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Thursday 9th February 2023 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for making it absolutely clear that this man is not getting in here, even if the Minister is going to give him space in the office. But I ask you this, Sir: is not the very fact that an announcement of his intention to travel has been made—in the language habitual to the Government of China—“a provocation”?

[Mr Speaker]

That is more for the Minister to answer, even though I am tempted.

Points of Order

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Tuesday 15th November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We are doing it again; the hon. Member will have to sit down. The answer is, “Thanks for that; it is a good clarification.” I am going to leave it at that; I am not going to continue the debate.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. In an answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Andrew Jones), the Chancellor promised a letter on arrangements to be made for park homes. Is there anything you can do, Mr Speaker, to ensure we return to what used to be the normal practice: that when correspondence is referred to, it is placed in the Library of the House? We all have skin in the game.

[Mr Speaker]

The right hon. Member has put that on the record, and I am sure everybody on the Front Bench will have heard, including those in the Treasury.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Tuesday 18th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

It was five, but don’t worry.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

6. What steps his Department is taking steps to reform the UK human rights framework.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Wednesday 7th September 2022 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

7. What steps his Department is taking to help restore devolved government in Northern Ireland.

[Mr Speaker]

I welcome the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to his new position.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Tuesday 24th May 2022 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

It is reported that the penalties can be discharged by working from home. Please tell me that is not true.

[Mr Speaker]

A yes or a no will do.

Covid-19 Update

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Wednesday 19th January 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Let us come to the most excited man: Sir Desmond Swayne.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

May I welcome wholeheartedly the announcements that have been made today? I would ask the Prime Minister to review again the need to sack unvaccinated domiciliary workers and NHS workers, and to examine the evidence that suggests that they pose a risk to their patients. Our belief is that they will not do so any more than the vaccinated.

Covid-19 Update

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Wednesday 5th January 2022 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Further to that point of order—

[Mr Speaker]

No, there is no “further” for a minute. Just let us hang on a moment. First of all, we are not going to continue the debate—

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Thursday 18th November 2021 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Can I have a meeting with the Minister of State to share my concerns about the telecommunications code?

[Mr Speaker]

I am sure it is a straightforward yes, and then we can move on.

Points of Order

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Wednesday 9th September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Had the Secretary of State for Health given notice of the Government’s intention to further restrict our liberty to meet with one another in his statement yesterday, at least some of us would have been able to question him about it. What remedy is there for those of us who enthusiastically support the Prime Minister, but nevertheless want to restrain the Government’s ability to govern by order without debate?

[Mr Speaker]

I thank the right hon. Member for giving me notice. I am very sympathetic to the main point he makes. I accept that decisions have been taken in a fast-moving situation, but timings for statements are known to Ministers. It is really not good enough for the Government to make decisions of this kind in a way that shows insufficient regard to the importance of major policy announcements being made first to this House and to Members of this House wherever possible. I have already sent a letter to the Secretary of State. I think the total disregard for this Chamber is not acceptable. I know that the Prime Minister is a Member of Parliament as well and that he will ensure that statements should be made here first, especially as this particular Secretary of State requests statements. To then ignore the major fact that he wanted to put to the country, and not put it before this House, is not acceptable and I hope he will apologise to Members.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Thursday 25th June 2020 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

I used to enjoy a hymn sandwich before this interdict, but I have broken the habit. How is my hon. Friend going to lure us back if we are not allowed to sing? May I suggest, as a minimum, shorter services, even shorter sermons, some comfortable words from the Book of Common Prayer and an end to prating prelates?

[Mr Speaker]

Well, Andrew Selous, sing to that one.

Covid-19 Response

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Monday 18th May 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We have a technical problem with Dr Philippa Whitford, whom we will return to shortly. We will go to Sir Desmond Swayne.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con) [V]]

The regional dental hubs offer little more than extractions —but I want to keep my teeth. When will dentists be able to treat their own patients?

[Matt Hancock]

My right hon. Friend rightly points out that we have urgent dental hubs, so anyone who needs urgent dentistry can get a dentist’s appointment through their GP. Many people have asked how, in an emergency, they can see a dentist. Dentistry is there and available—it is an important message for all our constituents. However, we are also working on the restart of dentistry more broadly. I understand the challenges, especially for those who want to see their own dentist and for dental practices. With NHS contracts, we continue to keep the funds flowing, but of course many dentists rely on their private income as well, and we support the mixed market in dentistry. What we need to do is get dentistry up and running when we can, but it has to be safe.

Local Government Finance

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Wednesday 5th February 2020 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

My right hon. Friend’s mandate extends to God’s own county of Hampshire, where we are very much looking forward to the fair funding review on the grounds that we get to spend £1,650 per person, but we look north to the local authorities that have been enumerated today that have an additional £500 per person. We spend—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Sir Desmond, you are usually very good and ask the shortest of questions and make the briefest of interventions. I do not know what has gone wrong but I am sure the Minister will have a grasp of what you were saying.

Points of Order

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Desmond Swayne

Wednesday 22nd January 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving me notice of this point of order. It is not an issue for the Chair, but I recognise his frustration and he obviously quite rightly wants to take up his constituent’s case and the issue of the child visa. I am sure that people will be listening to this and I hope his concern is now being heard by Ministers and will be acted on.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Do you remember that, when we were first elected, we were not allowed to read our questions? Is there not at least a possibility that were Members required to remember their questions, at least some of them would not bang on for so long, and all our time could be used more effectively?

[Mr Speaker]

When the right hon. Gentleman and I came in together in 1997, it was frowned upon to read a question; people had to do the question without help and assistance. We have a new Parliament with a lot of new Members learning the ropes, but hopefully people will get into the habit rather quickly of asking a question without aid.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. I hate to bang on, but it is the older ones who are the worst.

[Mr Speaker]

And there is your proof: just because somebody reads their question, that does not stop us taking a lot more time.