HMRC Impact Analysis: Customs

Debate between Michael Tomlinson and John Bercow

Tuesday 8th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

If the appetite of the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Jonathan Edwards) remains unsatisfied by that ministerial reply, my counsel is that he should read the biography of Edmund Burke that the Minister penned, which is, at any rate, a stimulating read.

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

How many businesses would be affected if we left the EU without a deal—a deal that some Opposition Members seem to be opposing?

No-deal Brexit: Short Positions against the Pound

Debate between Michael Tomlinson and John Bercow

Monday 30th September 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I gently remind the House that the thrust of the urgent question relates to short positions being taken against the pound. This is not a general, Second Reading-style debate on the merits or demerits of a no-deal Brexit, of which the House has treated before and doubtless will do so again. It is on the specific matter to which I have just referred, and I feel sure that our hon. Friend from the west country is a noted authority on this matter, on which he is about to expatiate.

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

Thank you Mr Speaker, you are very kind. It is wonderful to see the Minister in his place, oozing calm and authority, in sharp contrast to the stoking of fears and division on the Opposition Benches. We have just heard about the risk to the economy, but the real risk to the economy is not Brexit nor yet a no-deal Brexit. The real risk is letting the shadow Chancellor anywhere near No. 11 or the Treasury.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Tomlinson and John Bercow

Monday 18th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We want to enjoy the benefits of the Minister’s mellifluous tones. That was my only exhortation. It is quite understandable that a Minister looks back at a Member, but the rest of the House wants to savour the experience of hearing him.

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

14. What recent assessment he has made of the importance of NATO to UK national security.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Tomlinson and John Bercow

Tuesday 17th April 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Michael Tomlinson) can very easily shoehorn in his own inquiry on this question. Question 14 is not dissimilar to 13—have a go on 13, man.

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Well done.

[Michael Tomlinson]

14. That is very kind of you, Mr Speaker. Is it not vital that we reduce our national debt, stop wasting taxpayers’ money on debt interest repayment, and spend it on our public services instead?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Tomlinson and John Bercow

Monday 5th February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

I am going back and forth, so the hon. Gentleman can have another go. In fairness to colleagues who have not asked questions, a short sentence—one, that is—will suffice.

[Michael Tomlinson]

What benefit has auto-enrolment provided for my constituents?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Tomlinson and John Bercow

Thursday 21st December 2017 Commons Chamber

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

Mr Speaker, I am sorry that my tie has not caught your eye as well as the tie of my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr Hollobone), did but I will try harder in 2018.

Does the Minister agree that all libraries can play a part in social mobility? Will he join me in thanking the volunteers of Colehill community library in my constituency for all their hard work? It is not just a traditional library; there is a jigsaw library and there are one-to-one computer sessions, and I have even held my surgery there.

[Mr Speaker]

It sounds very exciting.

European Union (Approvals) Bill

Debate between Michael Tomlinson and John Bercow

2nd reading: House of Commons
Tuesday 4th July 2017 Commons Chamber

[Michael Tomlinson]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way, but I fear that he may be being a little bit churlish. He has the opportunity now to set out the Labour party’s position in relation to the Bill. He is, of course entitled to go on speculating about what might or could not or should have been debated at this time—as long as you allow him to do so, Mr Speaker—but he has the opportunity to debate this subject now. What does he have to say about it?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his inquiry. I could not know what the hon. Member for Sefton Central (Bill Esterson) would say until he had said it, but now that he has said it, I can tell him that he should not have said it.

It would be advisable now for the hon. Gentleman to return to the subject of the European Union (Approvals) Bill. I very gently remind the hon. Gentleman, who is quite a seasoned parliamentarian, that it consists of two clauses, of which—and I say this not least for the benefit of those who are attending to our proceedings elsewhere—the second is “Extent, commencement and short title”. The only substantive clause is clause 1. The question of the pay cap is a matter of enormous interest, but it is wholly irrelevant to the question of clause 1 and consideration of the Republic of Albania, the Republic of Serbia, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, and the relationship between the European Union and the Government of Canada in respect of competition law.

European Council

Debate between Michael Tomlinson and John Bercow

Monday 26th June 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We all warmly welcome the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr Russell-Moyle) to the Chamber and to our deliberations.

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

I have just returned from the Netherlands with a delegation from the Lords and Commons. On the Dutch Binnenhof tour, I had the opportunity, among other things, to speak to British nationals living and working in the Netherlands. What reassurance can the Prime Minister give to them and to other British nationals living and working across the EU that their rights will be protected, alongside EU rights for those living here?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Tomlinson and John Bercow

Wednesday 22nd February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We must get through Back Benchers’ questions and the Prime Minister’s answers to them. I call Mr Michael Tomlinson.

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

Q4. Brendan Cox will meet today with the Duchess of Cornwall to launch plans to bring communities together over the weekend of 17 and 18 June to mark the first anniversary of our colleague Jo’s death. The aim of this Great Get Together, as it has been called, is for more than 10 million people across the country to come together as communities and neighbours for events such as street parties, picnics and even bake offs. Will the Prime Minister join me in agreeing that such events and moments of national reflection and celebration in our communities will be a fitting tribute to Jo and will remind us all that, as she herself said, we have far more things in common than things that divide us?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Tomlinson and John Bercow

Thursday 1st December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We need to speed up, as progress is very slow. I want an extremely short, one-sentence question from Mr Michael Tomlinson.

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

On article 50, does the Secretary of State agree that it is right to appeal from the High Court, that it is inevitable that this would end up in the Supreme Court and that this constitutional point needs to be resolved?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Tomlinson and John Bercow

Monday 4th July 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Progress this afternoon is very slow. I will take a couple of supplementaries, but they must be very brief and so must the replies.

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

20. Will the Secretary of State, in reaffirming her commitment to fairer funding, set out the timetable for the consultation process and say when it will eventually be implemented?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Tomlinson and John Bercow

Wednesday 27th April 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The Government should have grouped this question with Question 4. For some reason, they did not do so, but I will take that question now.

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

4. I am very grateful. The Minister is right that NCS is proving invaluable for young people across the country. In Dorset, there was recently a successful scheme called “From yard to garden” about replanting trees. I would be grateful if the Minister gave advice and guidance to Members of all parties about how they can get more involved in that excellent programme.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Tomlinson and John Bercow

Monday 22nd February 2016 Commons Chamber

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

23. Further to the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Jeremy Lefroy), will my right hon. Friend set out in more detail the importance of the transparency in supply chains provision in the Modern Slavery Act, and how it will be monitored?

[Mr Speaker]

Yes, but not too much detail, given the time.

NHS (Charitable Trusts Etc) Bill

Debate between Michael Tomlinson and John Bercow

Friday 22nd January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

I beg to move amendment 4, page 1, line 15, after “may” insert “after appropriate public consultation”.

[Mr Speaker]

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following:

Amendment 1, page 1, line 17, at end insert—

“(2A) The Secretary of State may by order or regulations made by statutory instrument make such provision as the Secretary of State considers appropriate to re-establish the Secretary of State’s powers to appoint trustees in respect of—

(a) one,

(b) more than one,

(c) a type, class or category of, or

(d) every

(2B) A statutory instrument containing an order or regulations under subsection (2A) which amends or repeals primary legislation (whether alone or with other provision) may not be made unless—

(a) a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament, and

(b) a draft of the order or regulations was published three months before laying before Parliament.”

Amendment 3, page 1, line 21, at end insert—

“(bA) provision for one trustee to be appointed by the NHS institution, service or function for whose benefit the charitable trust exists,”.

Amendment 2, page 2, line 1, leave out “and” and insert—

“(cA) provision by which the Secretary of State may appoint one or more trustees where—

(i) the Secretary of State has satisfied himself that exceptional circumstances exist, or

“(ii) all the trustee positions in relation to a particular charitable trust have been vacant for a period exceeding three months, and”.

Amendment 5, page 2, line 4, leave out “Subject to subsection (5)”.

Amendment 6, page 2, line 7, leave out subsections (5) and (6).

Amendment 7, clause 2, page 3, line 14, at end insert—

“(8A) A statutory instrument under subsection (8) may not be laid before either House of Parliament without an accompanying statement by the Comptroller and Auditor General that he is satisfied with the treatment of public assets and funds envisaged in the regulations contained within such an instrument.”

Amendment 8, page 3, line 13, leave out subsection (8) and insert—

“( ) A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (1) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.”

Amendment 9, schedule 1, page 9, line 9, at end add—

“(14) The Secretary of State may grant permission for—

(a) one;

(b) any number of, or

(c) a category or type of

charitable trust, established for the purposes of supporting an institution, service or function of the NHS, permission to use the NHS logo or NHS branding in their fund- raising and other communications.

(15) The Secretary of State may, having given 6 months’ notice, rescind a permission granted under paragraph 14 (the notice period may be reduced in exceptional circumstances).”

[Michael Tomlinson]

I want to focus on amendments 4, 5 and 6, which stand in my name and that of my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Maggie Throup). Amendment 4 deals with the need for a public consultation; amendments 5 and 6 remove the requirement for the draft to be laid before, and approved by, each House.

I shall turn first to amendment 4 and the principle behind it. It inserts

“after appropriate public consultation”

in clause 1, page 1, after “may” in line 15. It seeks to oblige the Secretary of State to carry out a public consultation that he considers appropriate before making regulations. The principle of a public consultation should be relatively uncontentious. After all, the origins of the Bill being ably presented to the House by my hon. Friend the Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Wendy Morton), which I fully support, were found in public consultation. The Department of Health conducted a review in 2011, and consulted publicly in 2012. The 2012 consultation set out the rationale for reform. As a result of that consultation and review the Government committed to move to a model of greater independence.

--- Later in debate ---

[Michael Tomlinson]

Again, with respect to my hon. Friend, may I say that she is repeating a point she made before? I did accept that this money would have to come out of the public purse, but I am seeking to persuade her and other hon. Members that the benefits of public consultation will outweigh the costs. I am giving a good example, or at least I hope I am, about fairer funding. I hope she will agree that having fought and campaigned for fairer funding for our schools, for example, those in Dorset and Poole, which are grossly underfunded, it is right that the public and the stakeholders are consulted. It is right that parents, local authorities, school governors and the general public are consulted, and I encourage everyone to respond to that consultation to ensure that we—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I gently exhort the hon. Gentleman to consider the merits of moving on to one or other of the two other amendments that he has for consideration. I would not want him to be led astray by someone, discontented with his previous answer, somehow feeling that he requires to attend to the point beyond what he has already done. The hon. Member for South East Cornwall (Mrs Murray) has made her point and he has made his, and I know that he would not want to engage in tedious repetition.

[Michael Tomlinson]

I am very grateful for that guidance, Mr Speaker.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

That would be entirely orderly and would involve no repetition. The hon. Member for North East Somerset (Mr Rees-Mogg) has done us a service in reminding us that his question has, thus far, been unanswered.

[Michael Tomlinson]

In which case, let me turn to that very point. As my hon. Friend rightly says, my amendment 4 contains the word “appropriate”. We can all envisage inappropriate public consultations. I again contend that this term should be relatively uncontroversial, because we all know what it means. An inappropriate consultation would be too short or would take place over a festive period such as Christmas, when either people would not have the opportunity to respond or an insufficient number would have the opportunity to do so. Although I welcome the opportunity to expand on the word “appropriate”, I believe it is pretty obvious what it means.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Tomlinson and John Bercow

Tuesday 30th June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I call Michael Tomlinson.

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

T8. I welcome the Government’s work to encourage businesses to take more people on by reducing the burden of employment law, helping more people in my constituency to get into work. What reassurance can the Secretary of State give me that he will further reduce the burden of regulation, thus helping businesses in Mid Dorset and North Poole and across the country?