Outcome of the EU Referendum

Debate between Michael Dugher and John Bercow

Monday 27th June 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

If everybody is to get in, the questions now need to be much shorter. Otherwise, I warn people, they will not get in, and then they will be upset.

[Michael Dugher (Barnsley East) (Lab)]

Does the Prime Minister agree that there are profound lessons to be learned at the Government Dispatch Box, and indeed at the Opposition Dispatch Box, about how we listen to and responsibly address the perfectly legitimate concerns that good, decent working-class people have about things like unskilled immigration, and the consequent self-evident alienation they feel from their current political leadership?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Dugher and John Bercow

Wednesday 30th April 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

No, there is nothing further to add. We are extremely grateful.

[Michael Dugher (Barnsley East) (Lab)]

Earlier this year, the Prime Minister boasted in a speech in Davos that under his Government

“there is a chance for Britain to become the ‘Re-Shore Nation’.”

However, the chief executive of Steria has said that offshoring jobs is “on the agenda” for outsourced civil servants working for Shared Services Connected Ltd, in which the Government retain a 25% stake. Does the Minister share my concern that up to 1,000 jobs might be offshored? Will the Government use their stake in the joint venture to argue that those jobs should be kept in the UK?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Dugher and John Bercow

Wednesday 11th December 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The Minister is providing serious answers to serious questions, but I am not sure that he is getting the serious attention that he and I would think those answers warrant. Perhaps we could have a bit of order.

[Michael Dugher (Barnsley East) (Lab)]

It was revealed in a leaked letter yesterday that the Minister for the Cabinet Office tried to use emergency powers to block a freedom of information request for the Government to publish the HS2 project assessment review from 2011, which he did because of “political and presentational difficulties”. Those who support HS2 in principle know that public confidence is vital. Concerns have already been expressed about accelerating costs because of the Government’s failure to get a grip on the project. Questions have been raised by the National Audit Office about the economic benefits. Will the Minister now publish that project assessment review?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Dugher and John Bercow

Wednesday 14th December 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. There are far too many noisy private conversations taking place in the Chamber. The House must come to order.

[Michael Dugher (Barnsley East) (Lab)]

According to figures published by the Cabinet Office last week, the Deputy Prime Minister has appointed four more special advisers at a cost to the taxpayer of at least £190,000. At a time when the average family is set to lose £320 a year as a result of tax credit changes and at a time when almost everyone is asking what exactly is the point of the Deputy Prime Minister, does the Minister think that this is a good use of public money?