Death Penalty (India)

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Phil Wilson

Thursday 28th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Phil Wilson (Sedgefield) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Can you advise us whether you have received a request from the Secretary of State for Education to make a statement to the House to explain his outrageous comment about schools in east Durham made in a speech last night, that:

“when you go into those schools you can smell the sense of defeatism”?

That is a slur on the hard-working teachers, students and parents of the area. Why is he talking down our schools and young people? He should come to the House and apologise to the people of east Durham.

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

I can assure you that the Chair has not been notified by the Secretary of State that he is about to make a statement, but that is on the record and I am sure that it will have been noted.

Cost of Living

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Phil Wilson

Wednesday 16th May 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Deputy Speaker]

Order. I think the hon. Lady should give up now.

[Phil Wilson]

I thank my hon. Friend for clearing up some of the issues. There certainly are choices, but if grants and subsidies are being cut, the difficult decisions that have to be made are even harder. It is not just that the council has to take those difficult decisions, but that particular things have been thrust upon it.

The whole situation undermines the big society. There is a lot of hot air and a lot of big words, but what is actually happening is that people are suffering at the grass roots.

[Several hon. Members]

rose—