Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Thursday 23rd May 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Very briefly, the remaining questions.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

6. What steps the CPS is taking to support parliamentarians in responding to intimidating behaviour and harassment.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Thursday 11th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

And, of course, Judy Murray, to her huge credit is promoting the Park of Keir project, which I, for one, and many others, enthusiastically support.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

I support anything to do with tennis, Mr Speaker, as you know.

I was heartened to hear the Secretary of State’s comments just now about mobile roaming. A recent survey highlighted that a third of all rural buildings have either no mobile coverage or poor coverage. At a time when we are trying to get more small and medium-sized enterprises in rural areas, when we have an increasingly elderly population and when tourism is so important, is it not a disgrace that we should have such a divide between urban and rural? I am sure the Secretary of State understands that we must address that.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Monday 8th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Last time I looked, Taunton Deane was a considerable distance away from the midlands, but I am in a generous mood, so we must hear the hon. Lady.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Thursday 28th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

One sentence of fewer than 20 words—Rebecca Pow.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

I was going to ask, Mr Speaker—I am going to extend it—whether you are a gardener. If you are, you will understand the value of healthy soil. Does the Secretary of State agree that soil is so important for delivering flooding control and healthy food, and for holding carbon, that we should give it top priority in the Agriculture Bill, call it a public good and pay farmers to deliver it?

[Mr Speaker]

The crops have had plenty of time to grow.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Wednesday 6th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Calm! [Interruption.] Difference of opinion is the essence of politics. There is an elaborate combination of finger wagging and head shaking going on, which may be personally therapeutic but is institutionally disadvantageous. In any case, we owe the hon. Member for Taunton Deane (Rebecca Pow) a decent hearing. I call Rebecca Pow.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

Mr Speaker, I am not sure who is in charge of the washing machine in your house, but were you aware that every time you, I or anyone else puts a load of washing on, 700,000 tiny microfibres get washed down the drain and into the marine environment, causing untold damage?

[Mr Speaker]

It is a shared responsibility.

[Rebecca Pow]

The 68 million loads of washing done in the UK every week contribute a staggering 9.4 trillion microfibres to the environment. As many colleagues, including me, try to reduce their plastics use for Lent, in a campaign masterminded by my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Vicky Ford), will the Prime Minister agree that this is a great time to address the issue and carry on this Government’s great record on the environment?

[Mr Speaker]

I think that by now the wash would have been completed. [Laughter.]

Points of Order

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Thursday 14th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I seek your guidance on a certain matter. You know how much I respect your running of the Chamber, so I wanted to ask you this question. What recourse does a Member have when a colleague uses business questions to make serious, damaging and unfounded allegations about another Member’s constituency that cause real distress outside this House?

[Mr Speaker]

I am very grateful to the hon. Lady for her characteristic courtesy in giving me advance notice of her intention to raise this matter, which could affect any right hon. or hon. Member here present. She asks very specifically what recourse she, or any Member, has when a colleague makes damaging and unfounded allegations about her constituency. She knows how seriously I take this issue, which we have discussed.

I expect an hon. Member to give notice to the colleague whose constituency he proposes to refer to, to give notice to my office and to ensure that he is properly careful in what he says. Members take responsibility for what they say in the House and for its impact outside this House. The privilege of free speech must be used maturely and with sensitivity. It is no part of a right hon. or hon. Member’s role to be merely abusive or insulting. I hope that an hon. Member causing offence in this way will reflect very carefully on such conduct. This matter, as I said, has been discussed by the hon. Lady and me, and it has been the subject of wider discussion—including, from time to time, with the Leader of the House, who referred very sensitively to it earlier in our proceedings.

Let me just say tactfully, but in terms that are not ambiguous, that I hope that I do not have to return to this issue again. The message should be clear, and the hon. Lady’s concern, which is very real and, I think, widely shared, should be respected. We will leave it there for now, and I hope it will be able to be left there.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Tuesday 29th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We are running out of time, so we need one-sentence questions.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

Deal or no deal, one deal that is really working is the nuclear sector deal. Does my right hon. Friend agree that that is a hugely important venture in the south-west and that we should support and encourage it? So far, it has put £900 million into the south-west economy.

[Mr Speaker]

That was absolutely hopelessly long.

European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Tuesday 29th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

[Mr Speaker]

I hope it is a genuine point of order.

[Rebecca Pow]

It is actually an observation really—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Resume your seat. [Interruption.] With no disrespect to the hon. Lady, I am not interested in observations. [Interruption.] Order. I am not debating it. I am telling you what the situation is. [Interruption.] It is no good laughing, chuckling away as though it is a matter of great amusement. It is a matter of fact: points of order, yes; observations, no. [Interruption.] No, the hon. Lady has helpfully explained that she had an observation to make. We are very grateful.

Points of Order

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Monday 14th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

The Standing Orders are perfectly clear. The hon. Gentleman need not ask me, either on his own initiative or at somebody else’s urging, a question to which the answer is readily available if he bothers to read the relevant material; it is pretty clear.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

This is a brave moment for me because I have never before made a point of order. I seek just a little bit of clarification regarding these so-called devices that have been much mentioned in the press over the weekend and that might give over control of the Order Paper—something that I would find deeply concerning. I would be very grateful if you gave some indication as to which other Members of Parliament you have had discussions with about these devices and their use. Is this normal procedure or am I just worrying about nothing?

[Mr Speaker]

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear; people do seem a bit confused, but I will certainly try to help the hon. Lady. First, to the best of my knowledge and recollection I have not had any meetings or, as she puts it, discussions about such matters. I see a certain amount of speculation in the press but I am not aware of, or in any way party to or involved with, any such proposals. Secondly—I would have thought that the hon. Lady would know this after nearly four years in the House but perhaps she is not aware of it—more generally I regularly see Members from across the House upon a range of matters if they ask to see me. There is nothing odd or unusual about that; there is nothing without precedent. On the first point that she raised, the fact that there might be speculation about matters that causes perplexity or befuddles some people may be a concern for them, but it is not the responsibility of the Chair. I hope that I have given her a clear and explicit answer which brooks of no misunderstanding.

Modernising Defence Programme

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Tuesday 18th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

A single sentence, Mr Shannon.

--- Later in debate ---

[Rebecca Pow]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

The same challenge.

[Rebecca Pow]

Can the Secretary of State confirm that no cuts will be made to the Marines, and may I reiterate my invitation to him to visit 40 Commando in Taunton to see how effective it is and how much money it has invested recently, and how consolidating its position in Taunton would help the defence capability of the nation?

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Lady can now breathe.

Local Government Funding Settlement

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Thursday 13th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

In a similarly festive spirit, I can tell the hon. Member for Bristol South (Karin Smyth) that she has brought back fond memories for me, because in 1992 I fought the Bristol South constituency. Unfortunately for me, and probably for the benefit of the nation, the Bristol South constituency fought back.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

You might have been my neighbour, Mr Speaker.

I very much welcome the increase in core spending for Somerset of 3.7% and, in particular, our inclusion in the 75% business rate retention pilot areas, which I and three colleagues from Somerset have worked hard on. I have just had a text from the leader of Somerset County Council saying, “This is excellent news and thank you.” Does this not demonstrate that our Ministers are listening, especially the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Rishi Sunak), and that they have at last realised that rural areas really do need some special attention?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Tuesday 4th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Jeremy Hunt)]

Given the stresses and strains in British politics at the moment, I thought I might share with the House some good news: we will open a new British embassy in the Maldives. That small country has made important strides towards democracy with the recent elections and we wish to extend it every support possible, doubtless supported by several colleagues making fact-finding visits.

[Mr Speaker]

I wonder whether the Foreign Secretary is opening the said embassy, or whether he is generous enough to devolve that to his deputy.

[Rebecca Pow]

I will be first up for coming on the opening visit.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that through programmes including the prosperity fund, but particularly through working with MPs in Parliaments in developing countries, the UK could establish itself as a leader in accelerating renewable energy, electric cars and other business opportunities to promote sustainable development and climate action in developing countries?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Thursday 18th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

I commend the Government on banning microbeads, but may I urge them to now turn their attention to microfibres, Mr Speaker? I do not know whether Mrs Speaker does the washing, but every time we do a wash, 700,000 microfibres could go down the drain. I am joining the Women’s Institute to host an event on this in Parliament on 30 October; will the Minister join us?

[Mr Speaker]

I always feel better informed, and almost improved as a human being, when I hear the hon. Lady offer her disquisitions on these important matters.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Tuesday 16th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Ah yes! The voice of Taunton Deane.

[Rebecca Pow]

Preliminary talks are under way in Taunton Deane on the establishment of a digital geospatial centre, to maximise the expertise of the UK Hydrographic Office, which makes the world’s shipping maps. Is not this exactly the kind of unique high-tech enterprise that will open up job opportunities, and exactly the kind of worldwide collaboration that we ought to be including in the industrial strategy?

[Mr Speaker]

Very exciting, I must say! Let’s hear from the Minister.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Wednesday 10th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Member for Taunton Deane (Rebecca Pow) has just won an award for her commendable work on speech and language services, so she should be a celebrated denizen of the House. I call Rebecca Pow.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

Thank you so much, Mr Speaker; I will save a question about that for later.

As the Prime Minister will know, the Agriculture Bill comes to the Chamber today, and it presents a great opportunity to rethink our land use policy and everything about the way we run our land. Does the Prime Minister agree that it demonstrates that this Government are leading the way in supporting a sustainable biodiverse environment and supporting our farmers and food producers and our rural communities—especially those in Taunton Deane?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Monday 16th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

A couple of months ago, I raised the issue of Raj Unalkat who was thrown out of Uganda and came to live in Taunton Deane for 40 years. As with the Windrush cases, he was welcomed to the UK but then told that he was going to be thrown out because he had no passport. Great news: today we have heard that he has got his passport. Will the Secretary of State join me in thanking everyone who helped and in praising our fast-track system, which is absolutely working? Will he work with me to try to get compensation for the work days Raj has missed?

[Mr Speaker]

Far too long!

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Thursday 5th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

One thing is clear to me: if the hon. Member for Blackley and Broughton (Graham Stringer) encounters road congestion, his antidote to it is to pursue what might be called an indirect route.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

One thing that would reduce road congestion is, of course, getting people out of their cars and on to their bikes. We very much welcome the upgrade of the A358 in Taunton, but does the Secretary of State agree that whatever route is chosen by Highways England, the provision of adequate cycling infrastructure should very much be part of upgrades?

Childhood Obesity Strategy: Chapter 2

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Monday 25th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

I, too, want to welcome the Daily Mile initiative. We should not be arguing about who was first to introduce it; I know we are competitive, but this is competitive for the schools. Does the Minister agree that any sporting activity in schools should be encouraged? Does he also agree that the social prescribing of sporting activities could also play its part in tackling this obesity crisis?

[Mr Speaker]

Any sport, of course, but particularly tennis, I suggest to the Minister.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Tuesday 1st May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Forgive me, but I want to get to other colleagues’ questions as well, so if it is a short sentence, I will take it, but if it is not, I will not. No? All right.

UK Relations: Saudi Arabia

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Wednesday 7th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am very keen to accommodate remaining colleagues, but there is another urgent question to follow. We are immensely appreciative of the fund of knowledge and wisdom that is regularly on display from the right hon. Gentleman, but perhaps I may be permitted gently to observe that there is also no procedural or Standing Order bar, where appropriate in the mind of the Minister, on single-sentence answers to questions.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

Does my right hon. Friend welcome the social reforms already undertaken by the Crown Prince, and can he confirm that the Government will be encouraging the Saudi authorities to go further in this regard, because the very best way to influence them is to keep the door open? Let me also say, out of interest, that 52% of all graduates in the Kingdom in 2017 were women. There are 30 women members of the Shura Council, which proportionately is more than in the Senate. Of particular interest to me is the fact that, in the transformation plan, there are some very, very positive moves on the environment, and these will have a far-reaching effect not just on the people of Saudi Arabia, but indeed globally.

[Mr Speaker]

No doubt in Taunton Deane.

--- Later in debate ---

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

[Mr Speaker]

I gather it relates to the exchanges that have just taken place.

[Rebecca Pow]

I would like to put it on record, for clarification, that I went on a delegation to Saudi Arabia. I want to be quite clear about that.

[Mr Speaker]

I am most grateful to the hon. Lady for putting that on the record. The House will appreciate it.

UK/EU Future Economic Partnership

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Monday 5th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call Rebecca Pow.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I was just about to give up.

Much as I love gardening, I do not grow cherries, but if I did, I would want to pick them, and if I had a surplus I would want to trade them, openly and fairly. Does the Prime Minister agree that we need a balance, supporting a wider range of sectors than other free trade agreements? Does she agree that that is in both our interests and that we must have fair and open competition for everyone?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Monday 4th December 2017 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Two Members are standing and seeking to catch my eye who have not contributed. I will call each of them, but their questions must be extremely brief—a short sentence. If you cannot do it that way, I do not want to be unkind, but don’t bother.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

Thank you for that good example.

[Rebecca Pow]

I will talk very fast, Mr Speaker. May I say a big thank you to the Housing Minister for coming to Taunton Deane last week, where he met protestors at the Staplegrove development to see how important the road through the development was? Are the Government pursuing the right policy in putting more money into the housing infrastructure fund to guarantee that we get the roads that we need to make our houses work?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Tuesday 7th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

The other Conservative Members standing have been heard, but we have not heard from Ms Pow.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The House may be aware that 2017 is likely to be declared one of the top three warmest years on record. With that in mind, it is more important than ever to stick to our carbon commitments. Will the Minister kindly outline what objectives she has for the forthcoming UN climate change conference? Will consolidating our position as global leaders in this area be one of those objectives?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Monday 6th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

Last week, I met Cheryl Hadland, the managing director of Tops Day Nurseries, which includes the much-valued nursery at Musgrove Park Hospital, to discuss what the 30 hours of free childcare means for nurseries. The recruitment and retention of nursery workers is that organisation’s ongoing challenge, and staff account for 70% of its costs, which relate to the minimum wage and the living wage. I applaud this Government’s commitment to the 30 hours of free childcare, which has been welcomed by parents. However, will the Minister ensure that any increases in the living wage and the minimum wage are taken into account, so that nurseries can successfully deliver this service in Taunton Deane?

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Lady’s eloquence has ensured that Taunton Deane makes Wavertree look like a model of pithiness.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

I call Rebecca Pow—a second Pow.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

Contact with nature can provide tremendous spin-offs for schoolchildren’s mental and physical health. Will the Secretary of State indicate whether any formal assessment has been made of projects such as the Forest School project at King’s Hall in Taunton Deane? Might she be inclined to encourage green learning in schools?

Universal Credit Roll-out

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Tuesday 24th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

My hon. Friend is making an extremely passionate case. I want to mention an incident in my constituency of Taunton Deane. A vegetable farmer recently said that he could not get people to work for him, and has to use eastern Europeans. He knows that there are unemployed people, but because of the 16-hour rule they simply will not take the jobs.

[Mr Speaker]

Order. May I very gently point out that if Members who have arrived in the Chamber relatively recently intervene, they risk preventing colleagues who have been here for some hours from contributing? I know that the hon. Lady, who is a most courteous person, would not want that to happen.

Business of the House

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Thursday 12th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

The Leader of the House—and perhaps you, Mr Speaker—may not be aware that the Westminster dog of the year competition will be held in two weeks’ time. Although the event may seem somewhat frivolous, there is a serious point behind it: raising the subject of good animal care and welfare. The Government take these issues seriously, recently raising the sentences for animal cruelty to five years. Will the Leader of the House join me in welcoming that move by the Government and in wishing everyone good luck in Westminster dog of the year, which helps to promote animal welfare? If she has a spare moment on 26 October, I know that the Dogs Trust would welcome a late entry. Indeed, Mr Speaker, you might think about coming along as well.

[Mr Speaker]

I was not proposing to enter myself and I do not have a dog. We have a cat called Order and my son has a tortoise.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Thursday 13th July 2017 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

Can the Minister assure me that he is having regular discussions with the Department for Communities and Local Government about promoting cycling and walking networks in new developments? We have a massive opportunity in Taunton Deane now that we have garden town status. In particular, I know that constituents would love to link up Bishop’s Lydeard, Cotford St Luke and Norton Fitzwarren with a cycleway. Will the Minister agree to meet me to discuss providing help with some pots of money to unlock that?

[Mr Speaker]

Possibly even on the prospective cycleway.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Thursday 29th June 2017 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Ah, another tennis enthusiast—Rebecca Pow.

[Rebecca Pow]

Thank you Mr Speaker. We share, as you mention, an interest in tennis. I am a great believer that playing tennis can set one up well for life, with all its skills—including rapid reaction skills, which we see demonstrated from the Speaker’s Chair every single day. In Taunton Deane, the Taunton tennis centre offers tennis to those of all ages and ability, with cardio classes and classes for wheelchair users, and holds up to grade 3 tournaments. Does the Minister agree that while it is important to grow the game at the top level, it is also really important to encourage people in at the grassroots level, not least for the health and wellbeing spin-offs for the whole nation?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Tuesday 27th June 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I am sure the hon. Lady’s ministerial peers in other countries—to whom I think she referred earlier—must have felt keenly conscious of their great privilege in meeting her.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

I would like to applaud this Government’s record on tackling carbon emissions. Our carbon reduction plan, alongside investment in new technologies and ratification of the Paris agreement, will make us world leaders in this field and create many more jobs—particularly, I hope, in Taunton Deane, with spin-offs from Hinkley Point, the lowest carbon energy development in Europe. Can the Minister give any further indications of how the Government are responding to the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris climate change agreement?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Wednesday 1st March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

Mr Speaker, perhaps you, like many other hon. Members here today, took a shower this morning—[Laughter.] I am sure you were very careful to check whether the shower gel contained microbeads. [Hon. Members: “Ah!”]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We must hear the thrust of this fascinating question. Mrs Pow, let’s hear it.

[Rebecca Pow]

Shower gel products containing microbeads can result in 100,000 microbeads or microplastics being washed down the drain every time we use them—into the water system, and then into the marine environment, damaging these precious habitats. Would the Prime Minister join me in welcoming the steps this Government are taking to introduce a ban on microbeads used in cosmetics and personal care products, with the consultation ending just a few days ago?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Thursday 19th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Ah yes, we can learn all about tree planting in Taunton Deane.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

Perhaps planting a birthday tree would be a good idea, Mr Speaker.

Does the Minister agree that planting trees is an important part of keeping the whole environment in balance, and that the environment should be made a cornerstone of our post-Brexit agenda? There are enormous opportunities to sell our technologies worldwide and to show that we are world leaders. At home, we should weave the environment into everything to do with our economy and our social aims so that we increase productivity and security, benefit everyone and leave the environment in a better state than it was in when we inherited it.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Thursday 12th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. This question is about the north-west of England. I am not a geographer, but I say to the hon. Lady that last time I looked, it seemed to me that Taunton Deane was rather a long way from the north-west of England.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Tuesday 10th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call Mr Virendra Sharma. Has the feller now manifested himself? No, sadly not. Never mind. He is not here, but Rebecca Pow is.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

T2. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Thursday 8th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

It is good of the Leader of the House to drop into his own questions session. We are immensely grateful.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

The floods of 2013 were devastating in Somerset, and my constituency covered half the flooded area. The Somerset Rivers Authority was established to deal with flood resilience, and the then Prime Minister, David Cameron, and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government gave assurances that the authority could be funded through a precept on our council tax bills. May I have an assurance that work on the framework for such an arrangement is under way?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. That is absolutely fascinating material, especially in Taunton Deane, but I question whether it has any particular relationship with the issue of Barnett consequentials. I am sure that that is a matter to which the hon. Lady will devote her grey cells in the hours that follow.

Business of the House

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Thursday 8th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for giving me two bites of the cherry, and apologies for standing at the wrong time earlier, which goes to show how confusing this place is. Thank you for being so generous.

The floods of 2013 were devastating in Somerset, and my constituency covers half the area affected. The Somerset Rivers Authority was established to deal with future flood resilience. The then Prime Minister, David Cameron, and the then Secretary of State for the Environment gave assurances that the authority would be funded by a precept on council tax bills. Can my right hon. Friend give me an assurance that the legal framework for that is being established?

[Mr Speaker]

I think the hon. Lady is requesting a statement on the matter.

Business of the House

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Thursday 26th May 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. As the House will know, my normal practice is to seek to accommodate everyone who is interested in coming in on the business question. That is, of course, much more challenging today, given that there is a statement to follow and no fewer than 49 hon. and right hon. Members are seeking to catch my eye in the main debate. Therefore, there is a premium on single, short supplementary questions without preamble, the seminar on which will be led by Rebecca Pow.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

I am deeply honoured, Mr Speaker. Thank you. May we have a debate on microplastics? Evidence suggests that microplastics found in cosmetics and personal care products that we all use, such as shower gel, shampoo and even toothpaste, are getting into the watercourse and damaging marine life, and they are potentially a hazard to human health.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Tuesday 19th April 2016 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the Labour Government underfunded infrastructure projects in the south-west, resulting in lower productivity in the region and hence less of a contribution to the national economy than we should have had, but that it is this Government who are turning that around with their huge £7.6 billion commitment to infrastructure and connectivity?

[Mr Speaker]

Just as long as the Chief Secretary focuses on what this Government are doing. He does not need to burble on about the past.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Thursday 24th March 2016 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

I recently met a group of EU foresters—it was a very unusual meeting—at a symposium in Milverton in my constituency to discuss sustainable forestry. They expressed concerns that our growing biomass industry is putting pressure on many countries further afield to supply wood, possibly causing deforestation. Will the Minister assure us that sustainability is a key part of encouraging this exciting new biomass industry?

[Mr Speaker]

An exciting gig indeed!

Equal Pay and the Gender Pay Gap

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Wednesday 1st July 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Berwick-upon-Tweed) (Con)]

My hon. Friend’s comments bring me on to an issue that I want to raise. In my constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed—another B—we are all to a man very proud to support the Bronze family, who have spent years travelling hundreds of miles each week to help their daughter Lucy fulfil her passion for football. That young woman is now kicking winning goals for our England women’s team and hopefully will do so again tonight against Japan. I hope that Members will keep their fingers crossed. Does my hon. Friend agree that we should encourage the lottery sports fund to focus on investing in sports clubs and facilities that are committed to investing in girls’ sports such as cricket and football? I ask because the subject of bull semen leads us to the male sports, and in cricket and football we are seeing spectacular results from our female players—

[Mr Speaker]

We are extremely grateful to the hon. Lady.

[Rebecca Pow]

I thank my hon. Friend for her interesting intervention. I do not know whether she knows this, but my daughter played cricket for Somerset, so I am very keen to promote women’s sports. Indeed, during my campaign, I became very involved in promoting women’s sports down at the football ground with our Taunton football club. I urge the Government to do exactly as my hon. Friend suggests as much is to be gained from incentivising and encouraging women’s sports.

The women in that bull semen company, many of whom have children, work effectively, intensively and flexibly. Flexibility is the key for women in the working world, and we need to give them the tools to get the job done. I am pleased that a number of my hon. Friends mentioned flexibility earlier in the day and I am confident that the Government are supplying the tools in an increasingly thoughtful and practical way to enable that to happen.

Women, with their talent, are a key to driving this country’s economic success. Obviously, the more successful the economy, the more pay will rise and the more women will benefit. Of course, women’s pay must always be equal to that of men across the board, and our female children—to join the team, I have two girls aged 23 and 20—should never have to think about whether they might be paid less than men. We really do need to get those girls, who are so good at taking their exams, into science, engineering and even manufacturing—all areas that have been highlighted today.

I praise the Government’s recent moves to modernise the workplace by introducing rights to more flexible working for employees, which will increasingly help women, and I also very much welcome the 20% support for childcare costs for up to £10,000 a year for each child.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and John Bercow

Tuesday 30th June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

He can talk to himself.

[Rebecca Pow]

The second phase of the connecting Devon and Somerset superfast broadband programme has not been signed this week, and this could have an enormous negative impact on the economy of my constituency, Taunton Deane. For example, one business, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, has recently moved from Staple Fitzpaine, taking eight rural jobs with it because it had no broadband. Please will the Minister intervene urgently to ensure that this vital service is provided not just for Taunton Deane, but for the whole of Somerset?