Business of the House

Peter Bone Excerpts

Thursday 29th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Andrea Leadsom]

I join the hon. Gentleman in paying tribute to the excellent service last week, which was a very fitting tribute to those who lost their lives. He is right that knife crime is a challenge and a real problem. The Home Office is looking at ways to tackle it and will be bringing forward its serious violence strategy soon. Operation Sceptre combines police forces to tackle the carrying and use of knives. I would certainly welcome a Backbench Business debate on knife crime, unless I can find Government time for a debate.

[Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con)]

May I thank you, Mr Speaker, for championing Back Benchers over a long period of time? In your rest over Easter, will you have the opportunity to read today’s excellent Daily Express, which has a wonderful front-page headline? Inside, the Foreign Secretary is quoted as saying:

“Like an unstoppable express, we are heading for Brexit and frankly my friends, we can’t arrive soon enough.”

Could the Leader of the House somehow manage, in the next few weeks and months, to arrange one or two debates on the European Union?

[Andrea Leadsom]

My hon. Friend will be aware that we have already had one or two debates on the European Union, including two days of debate in response to demands from right across the House. As he will appreciate, I am under some pressure not to allow general debates, as Labour Members seem not to appreciate them, but as ever I will try to balance the requirements of all Members.