Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Rob Roberts

Thursday 15th June 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

The Clerk of the House is in tears; he’s a Manchester United fan.

[Mr Rob Roberts (Delyn) (Ind)]

T2. In 2020, 30,126 complaints were made to the Independent Press Standards Organisation. Only 496 were investigated, and only 79 out of more than 30,000 complaints were upheld. When are we going to stop talking about the freedom of the press, and recognise that with that freedom comes responsibility? We cannot let them keep marking their own homework and giving themselves a clean bill of health.

Points of Order

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Rob Roberts

Tuesday 22nd February 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

As the hon. Gentleman knows, I am not responsible for the answers given by Ministers. Those sitting on the Government Front Bench have heard his point of order. If a correction is necessary, I am sure that it will be forthcoming, ASAP.

[Rob Roberts (Delyn) (Ind)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. On 11 February, the hon. Member for Cardiff Central (Jo Stevens) paid a visit to my constituency. Try as I might, I looked for notification but received none. I wonder whether you might be able to give some guidance on the appropriate protocol for such occasions. It is worth pointing out that, in the last couple of moments, I have just received an email from the hon. Lady to apologise for the administrative error. I wonder whether hon. Members might benefit from a reiteration of the proper protocol.

[Mr Speaker]

I think the problem has been sorted, for once, which makes my life so much easier. What I will say to hon. Members is that if you visit another Member’s constituency, please inform them of your visit.

Bill Presented

House of Lords (Retirement Age) Bill

Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Jerome Mayhew presented a Bill to introduce a retirement age of 75 for members of the House of Lords; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 18 March, and to be printed (Bill 256).

Sue Gray Report

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Rob Roberts

Monday 31st January 2022 Commons Chamber

[Rob Roberts (Delyn) (Ind)]

Delivery is key. The Prime Minister delivers. He delivered on Brexit. He delivered with furlough and with the self-employment income support scheme, which ensured that businesses were able to survive. [Interruption.] The Opposition shout it down because they do not like it; that is fine. He delivered one of the best vaccination programmes in the world. He delivered a country that is coming out of a pandemic and an economy that is thriving, with people who sadly lost their jobs in the last two years having more vacancies than ever to choose from. Nobody talks about those things, however, because all—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I think the Prime Minister has a grip of what the hon. Gentleman is saying.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Rob Roberts

Thursday 11th March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Let us go to Christian Matheson—[Interruption.] We will come back to him.

[Rob Roberts (Delyn) (Con)]

With the impending cutting-out of petrol and diesel cars from production in the near future, will my right hon. Friend indicate what discussions he has had with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to ensure that cars can be more affordable on a mass production basis?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Rob Roberts

Wednesday 10th March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Rob Roberts]

As connectivity and transport infrastructure are of vital importance not only for business but for the UK’s tourism industry, does my right hon. Friend agree that taking steps such as electrifying the north Wales coast line and improving links with north-west England will not only enable my constituents in Delyn to enjoy the delights of Scotland more easily but allow our Scottish cousins to have greater access to the beauties and wonders of our fantastic north Wales area?

[Mr Speaker]

That’s imagination for you!

Point of Order

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Rob Roberts

Thursday 25th February 2021 Commons Chamber

[Rob Roberts (Delyn) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Paragraph 19.21 of “Erskine May” states that ministerial statements are undesirable on Opposition days. Opposition days happen 20 times in a regular parliamentary Session, but today we have the general debate on Welsh affairs, which happens only once a year and is actually not a full day but only half a day. I would be interested, Mr Speaker, in your judgment on whether it is appropriate for three statements to happen on Welsh affairs day, meaning that our debate on all things Wales is going to be shoehorned into 90 minutes at the end of today’s session.

[Mr Speaker]

I thank the hon. Member for giving me notice of his point of order. He is right that “Erskine May” refers to a preference to avoid ministerial statements on Opposition days. There will be times when it is necessary to make statements on Backbench Business days. However, I do think it is unfortunate that the Government have decided to make two statements today when many Members wish to speak in the Welsh affairs debate in particular; it is an important occasion for many of our colleagues.

I am sure that the Leader of the House will reflect on that. I also know that the Backbench Business Committee will want to be mindful of potential pressures on debates. It has a difficult role in trying to ensure that colleagues’ requests for debates are met. I know that it will consider whether, on some occasions, a single debate may be preferable. I do not know whether the Leader of the House wishes to add anything.