Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Tuesday 22nd October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con)]

May I urge the Minister to ignore the siren voice opposite? Most people in the north accept that HS2 is a catastrophic waste of money— a huge white elephant that is destroying the environment and the countryside and will chiefly benefit London, hence why it started out in London in the first place. May I therefore urge him to tell the Secretary of State for Transport to scrap HS2 and crack on with the thing that will really benefit the northern economy—Northern Powerhouse Rail or HS3—connecting the north, which is what we need to benefit the north’s economy.

[Mr Speaker]

I do wish the hon. Gentleman would overcome his natural shyness.

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I do not think there is any danger of that, Mr Speaker.

My hon. Friend raises an important point, which is why the Prime Minister has pledged to fund the Leeds to Manchester route and has accelerated those plans with a deal in the autumn of 2019, with billions of pounds going into Northern Powerhouse Rail, and has of course set up Transport for the North.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Monday 24th June 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I thank the right hon. Gentleman very warmly for what he has said.

[Nadhim Zahawi]

May I add my congratulations, Mr Speaker, on your 10 years in the Chair?

The consultation will be published very, very shortly.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Monday 29th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I certainly agree with all that. I will certainly support the fair that the hon. Lady plans in her area, and I am sure that my colleagues would join me in visiting it.

[Mr Speaker]

That sounds very exciting, I must say. I have been to the hon. Lady’s constituency a number of times, but I have merely spoken. The notion that I might create a robot has never been put to me—thankfully.

[Tracy Brabin (Batley and Spen) (Lab/Co-op)]

The Minister may be aware of the recent “Sounds of Intent” report, which showed that targeted music lessons for under-fives helps close the gap, particularly in deprived areas and for children with complex needs. Can the Minister tell us whether he believes that every child should have access to music while at nursery? If so, what audit is he doing on quality? He may agree that putting a CD on at Christmas is very different from having a professional come in on a weekly basis. If he believes that quality is important, what is he doing to ensure that music has a greater role in the early years foundation stage?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Monday 17th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I attended the conference that the Parents and Carers Network held in Coventry. It is important to listen to the sector. Many local authorities are co-creating their SEND provision with parents, and it is important that we listen and deliver the £250 million additional funding announced yesterday, and of course the £100 million in capital funding as well, taking the funding to over £6 billion per annum on SEND students. I know you take a great interest in this matter, Mr Speaker, as well.

[Mr Speaker]

Thank you; that is very much appreciated.

[Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con)]

18. Brooke School in Rugby caters for children with autism, physical disabilities, medical needs and learning difficulties, and it has recently opened a shop in Rugby town centre where pupils learn to produce products from recycled materials and sell them to the public. Does the Minister agree that that is an excellent opportunity to learn workplace skills? Will he join me in commending the inspirational head teacher, Chris Pollitt, for this initiative?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Monday 12th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Minister Zahawi.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Nadhim Zahawi)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker—I will clear my throat. Maintained nursery schools support some of our most disadvantaged children, and they do experience higher costs than other providers. We will therefore be providing local authorities with supplementary funding of about £60 million a year up to 2020.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Monday 25th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I spoke at the launch of the—

[Mr Speaker]

Ten years on.

[Nadhim Zahawi]

Ten years on from the Bercow review; I am grateful to you, Mr Speaker. We are looking very carefully at the recommendations of that report. One thing we are already doing is working with Public Health England to ensure that the health workers who go to see parents at that crucial young stage are trained in speech and language therapy.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Monday 14th May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi]

This year, we will be enhancing our annual survey of childcare and early years providers with more detailed research on provider finances and childcare costs. This will provide us with robust, up-to-date evidence on childcare costs. I remind the hon. Lady that funding to local authorities for three and four-year-olds, delivered through the early years national funding formula, has increased from £4.56 to £4.94. As of April 2017, our funding rate to deliver the entitlement for two-year-olds increased by 7% in every local authority.

[Mr Speaker]

We move on to Topical questions. I give notice to the House that I would like to move on to tributes to Baroness Jowell at 3.30 pm, so it is important that colleagues are either characteristically or uncharacteristically, as the case may be, brief.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Monday 19th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Nadhim Zahawi)]

We have increased high needs funding, including by an additional £130 million this year. Local authorities are responsible for their high needs budgets. I have not heard wide concerns about funding not being used to support special educational needs, but I am of course happy to meet my right hon. Friend to discuss the matter further.

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Member for Hitchin and Harpenden (Bim Afolami) has just been elevated by the Minister to membership of the Privy Council. That makes him the first of his intake, and he must be deeply grateful.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Monday 29th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I have been to see both Hackney and Doncaster. In Hackney’s case, there was a turnaround in 2006; in Doncaster, it was over the last two years. It is about leadership, and a better-quality outcome depends not just on the leaders at the top, but on the social workers on the frontline being able to feel confident in the service that they provide. [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

The sedentary chuntering of the hon. Member for Ealing North (Stephen Pound) would constitute a book in itself, and it might sell rather well.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Wednesday 29th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

Does the First Secretary agree that we do not need to break into the computer or iPad of the right hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) to work out that the half a trillion pounds that he wants to borrow will attract £7.5 billion of interest payments every year?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The one difficulty with that otherwise ingenious question is that it bears no relation to Government policy, for which the First Secretary is responsible, and relates instead to the policies of the shadow Chancellor, for which he is not.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Tuesday 1st December 2015 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

T3. I recently attended the skills show in Birmingham, which was an incredible example of the opportunities on offer in Britain for young people, including jobs, training and apprenticeships. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the levy he announced in the autumn statement is an excellent further step to ensure that young people in the UK are earning and learning— or preferably both—as that is the route towards a more productive workforce that is ready for jobs in the 21st century?

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Gentleman is a celebrated denizen of the House and he should provide a better example to his new colleagues. Questions from both sides of the House are just too long—good, but too long.

Greece

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Monday 6th July 2015 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

Such external shocks do focus the mind. May I bring the Chancellor back closer to home? He has tough decisions to make on Wednesday. Has he had any representations from the Opposition Benches about where those cost savings should come, and support for the long-term economic plan?

[Mr Speaker]

That has very little to do with Greece. The hon. Gentleman has put his point on the record, but it is nothing to do with the statement today, to the details of which we ought to attend.

Point of Order

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Monday 15th December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. During the urgent question on Iraq, I asked a question of the Secretary of State but I did not declare my pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests, which I now put on record.

[Mr Speaker]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, who approached me about this matter. The House appreciates what he has just said.

business of the house (today)

Ordered,

That at today’s sitting the motion in the name of Edward Miliband relating to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (England) Regulations 2014 shall be proceeded with as if Standing Order No. 16 (Proceedings under an Act or on European Union documents) applied to it; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply to the motion.—(Dr Thérèse Coffey.)

Ukraine (Flight MH17) and Gaza

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Monday 21st July 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Somebody asked how long the statement would run, but I would just point out, if I may, that there is intense interest in it and that the frequency of the Prime Minister’s tennis playing on the one hand and his jogging regime on the other means that he is quite fit enough, I am sure.

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

On the murder of the passengers of MH17, may I commend my right hon. Friend on his swift action and the clarity with which he has stated his Government’s position to the British people? Has he seen the Bloomberg report today that the Russian business community—the billionaires around the Russian Government—is beginning to worry that the Russian Government’s actions will push the Russian economy into recession, and will he take that report with him when he negotiates with the Italians, the French and the Germans to push them for team action? I think this could really change the hearts of the Russian Government?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Tuesday 24th June 2014 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

The construction industry has benefited from the business-friendly policies of this Government. Does my hon. Friend agree with my constituent, the former Trade Minister, Lord Digby Jones, when he says that the Leader of the Opposition is the “least business-friendly” leader of any political party in years?

[Mr Speaker]

On the subject of private sector investment in the construction industry, rather than the characteristics of an individual, a brief reply, Minister Gauke. We are grateful.

Economic Growth

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Wednesday 15th May 2013 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi]

You have to answer it!

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Mr Zahawi, you have already intervened with some gusto, but I would ask you to behave in a seemly manner, as the people of Stratford-on-Avon would expect and are themselves wont to do.

Industrial Strategy

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Monday 10th September 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I appeal for brief questions and brief answers, in order to maximise the number of contributors.

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

I applaud the Secretary of State for the work he has done with the automotive sector; we have seen the benefits in Stratford-on-Avon. He is rightly not going to be picking winners, but does he agree that what we should be doing is picking sectors where we can be world beaters, and improving and supporting those sectors?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Tuesday 12th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi]

The CCG covering my constituency is interested in improving patient care by looking at new methods of contracting and management, but it has been told that it must use a clinical support service set up by the primary care trust, staffed by ex-PCT staff and most likely based in Birmingham, rather than south Warwickshire, at a cost of £4 million a year. Could the Secretary of State—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Let us just have a question—not the preamble, but the question.

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I apologise, Mr Speaker. Will the Secretary of State confirm that there is no need for the CCG to use such an organisation and that it is free to form its own commissioning structure without incurring redundancy and wind-up costs from the PCT?

Leveson Inquiry

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Wednesday 25th April 2012 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi]

Get your hand out of your pocket!

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The trouble with the hon. Gentleman is that he is as excitable as he is good-natured. He is a very amiable fellow, but we do not need the hon. Gentleman’s advice on decorum. He should calm himself and take whatever tablets are required for the purpose.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Wednesday 7th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

Q5. On Friday—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I say to the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Simon Kirby) that he will stay silent. That sort of noise is not acceptable in this forum.

[Nadhim Zahawi]

On Friday, PC Trevor Hall and PCSO Claire Miller, two of the best from Warwickshire police, came to see me about the life-threatening effects of a new legal high called black mamba on the life of a 13-year-old in my constituency. I am informed that black mamba is the latest legal high being sold on our streets in the UK. Now that we have regulations that allow us to act swiftly to ban potentially dangerous legal highs, will my right hon. Friend act on this substance immediately and—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We are grateful to the hon. Gentleman, who should resume his seat. The question is too long.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Tuesday 24th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I think that the hon. Gentleman might have been groping his way towards order, but he had not quite arrived. We will have to leave it there for today. We are specifically talking about excessive executive pay.

[Nadhim Zahawi]

In the forthcoming Financial Services Bill, should we not introduce criminal sanctions for gross negligence at the helm of a systemically important bank, to ensure that no rewards for failure would be forthcoming for those who are masters of nothing?

Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation Bid for BSkyB

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Wednesday 13th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for giving way. It is nice to see him in the Chamber, Mr Speaker. I have listened carefully to him—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The hon. Gentleman must be heard.

[Nadhim Zahawi]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have listened carefully to the right hon. Gentleman as he has so eloquently outlined for us his bravery in standing up to Murdoch. Does he regret that the previous Government held a slumber party for Elisabeth Murdoch and Rebekah Wade, as she was known then, at Chequers?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Monday 27th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi]

Warwickshire police in my constituency are pushing forward with innovative changes to its policing model to allow more police to be out on the streets doing what they are supposed to be doing. It is also implementing new technology to allow officers to file paperwork without having to return to their desks. Could the Home Secretary or the Minister tell us what progress has been made in implementing similar changes in other—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We are grateful. We have got it.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Tuesday 21st June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

We are already spending £120 million a day on debt interest. What figure does the Minister think would be reached if we had not increased VAT?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We should be focusing on inflation. I call the Minister to answer, very briefly.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Thursday 12th May 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We are much better informed!

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. As well as being the final resting place of the great bard, William Shakespeare, Holy Trinity church in Stratford-on-Avon has 12 yew trees representing the 12 tribes of Israel and is home to a yew tree that is estimated to be several hundred years old. Does my hon. Friend agree that the protection of such trees is extremely important in maintaining the historic settings of our great churches?

Middle East and North Africa

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Tuesday 26th April 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. A very large number of colleagues are still seeking to catch my eye. As right hon. and hon. Members know, I always seek to accommodate as many as possible. I know that the Foreign Secretary regards occasions such as this as the political and intellectual equivalent of one of his judo routines, and I am sure he makes no objection, but I need a degree of economy if we are to accommodate the interest of colleagues.

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

At the end of February, I and a number of colleagues visited Syria. It was obvious to us then that that country was at a tipping point. Two things were obvious: first, young people wanted economic and social reform; and secondly, the reformers and the hard-liners were locked in battle inside the Government. We now have a report that Iran has been invited in to crush the reformers. What robust message can we send that aligning itself with Iran is in the long term a losing game for Syria?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Thursday 31st March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call Mr Zahawi, on the subject of the north-east from the vantage point of Stratford-on-Avon.

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

Like the North Eastern local enterprise partnership, Coventry and Warwickshire local enterprise partnership would very much like to talk to the Minister about our proposal for an enterprise zone—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. That was a nice try but the hon. Gentleman’s question must specifically relate to the north-east, about which I thought the hon. Gentleman probably had extensive knowledge.

Banking

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Wednesday 9th February 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. There is clearly a great deal of interest. May I gently remind the House that Members who came into the Chamber after the statement began should not expect to be called? The position on this is very clear and long established, and it must be adhered to.

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

“If the City is doing well, the country is doing well. When it prospers, we all prosper”.

They are not my words but those of the shadow Chancellor. Did my right hon. Friend take any advice from him?

Loans to Ireland Bill

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Wednesday 15th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We cannot have an intervention on an intervention. We will hear from the Chancellor.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

Indeed.

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I thank my right hon. Friend for giving way. Setting aside the technicalities of why we are debating this measure and how long we shall do so, and getting down to the substantive issue of the loan, can the Chancellor share with the House what the fees and the interest to the UK Government will be over the period of the loan if the Irish Government draw down the whole of the loan?

Business of the House (Thursday)

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Wednesday 8th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi]

Absolutely. [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I want to hear the thoughts of Mr Zahawi.

[Nadhim Zahawi]

The shadow Leader has just told the House that what we are debating tomorrow is of greater consequence than the reneged promise that his Government delivered upon, which abolished free education altogether. That is a wrong thing to tell the House. Will he explain himself?

Public Services (Social Enterprise and Social Value) Bill

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Friday 19th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Gentleman cannot raise that at this point. It should have come before, and it did not. What is required now is an indication of “now”.

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

Now.

Second Reading.

Comprehensive Spending Review

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Wednesday 20th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

The shadow Chancellor, although very good at the jokes, demonstrated in his response his confusion about the difference between fiscal and structural deficit. I wondered whether the Chancellor could help by explaining that difference to him.

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I do not think that we will go with that. With respect, Members must get into the habit of asking questions about the policy of the Government, not about advice to shadow Ministers. Let us get that straight.

PAYE Contributions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Wednesday 8th September 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I understand that the Minister is trying to help the House with informative replies, but I am afraid they are rather prolix and they need to get shorter.

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

Does my hon. Friend agree that the previous Government ignored not only the crippling budget deficit but the serious problem with PAYE? That is evidence as to why the coalition’s setting up of the Office of Tax Simplification is so important.

Equitable Life

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Thursday 22nd July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

We have heard a non-apology from the shadow Chief Secretary for the previous Government’s obfuscation. Will the Minister write to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to ask for a special communications allowance for Labour Members, so that they can write and apologise to the families of the 30,000 people who have died and the 1.5 million policyholders who have had to wait 10 years?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. That question may be amusing, but I am afraid that it is irrelevant to the Minister’s responsibilities, and he must not answer it.

European Council

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and John Bercow

Monday 21st June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Last but not least, I call Nadhim Zahawi.

[Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con)]

Will the Prime Minister tell the House the number of countries in Europe that have understood the difference between emergency financial help and structural change of their economy? The only party left to understand the difference is the Opposition.