Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Simon Clarke and Oliver Dowden

Wednesday 17th May 2023 Commons Chamber

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

It is quite extraordinary to take lectures from the Labour party about the railways when the head of the train drivers’ union sits on its national executive committee and was described by the right hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Angela Rayner) as “one of us”. No wonder Labour will not stand up to the militant rail unions; it literally lets them drive its policies.

[Mr Simon Clarke (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Con)]

Incredible regeneration work is taking place on Teesside, led by our Mayor, Ben Houchen. Sadly, we have seen a shameful attempt, led by the hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Andy McDonald), to whom I have given advance notice of this question, to smear the amazing Teesworks project. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that it was always an integral part of the business case that the private sector should co-invest alongside Government and that the Teesworks arrangements have been checked and approved by the Government? Will he reconfirm his full support for the Teesworks project, reassure investors and join me in calling for the Labour party to apologise for talking down Teesside?

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

My right hon. Friend is absolutely correct to raise this issue. This is the UK’s first freeport and it continues to attract billions of pounds of private sector investment, creating jobs and supporting the local economy. I think the whole House will see through the inexcusable attempts by the Labour party to talk down those successes on Teesside, where local leaders are working tirelessly to improve that region for the first time in a generation.

Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Debate between Simon Clarke and Oliver Dowden

Thursday 12th November 2020 Commons Chamber

[Oliver Dowden]

Of course, we are providing support for those hardest hit, although I shall not go through all the detail of that at the Dispatch Box now. I am of course mindful, and I know the royal household will be mindful, of ensuring that money is spent wisely through this process.

[Mr Simon Clarke (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Con)]

I dissociate myself from the rather ungracious remarks made by the hon. Member for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill (Steven Bonnar). I warmly welcome the platinum jubilee bank holiday and congratulate my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on his statement. Does he agree that these celebrations ought to be truly national, and will he join tens of thousands of people from Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland in expressing deep appreciation of Her Majesty’s unblemished and extraordinary record of public service?

[Oliver Dowden]

I am delighted to join the people of Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland in expressing that. This is the point about the jubilee: I hope that everyone across the nation will have their own way to show their thanks to Her Majesty, whether that is in street parties, celebrations or carnivals. Many ideas will come up through this process.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Simon Clarke and Oliver Dowden

Wednesday 12th September 2018 Commons Chamber

[Oliver Dowden]

Specifically on Verify, I would urge the hon. Lady not to read everything that is being speculated on in the newspapers. The Government are committed to ensuring secure online digital identities, and Verify has already delivered for 2.7 million people. More broadly, let us take the example of gov.uk, which has had 5.1 billion sessions and 15.2 billion page views. That did not happen when the Labour party was in power. Let us also take the example of Notify, which is used by hundreds of organisations. The Government Digital Service is a genuine innovation of this Government, and it is delivering seamless services across Government Departments.

[Mr Simon Clarke (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Con)]

5. What contingency plans his Department is making for no deal being reached on the UK leaving the EU.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Simon Clarke and Oliver Dowden

Wednesday 16th May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Oliver Dowden]

The hon. Gentleman’s profession should have been orator and statesmen; that would have been a better description. He is absolutely right that we should be working with the police, and that is why one of the measures in our strategy is to deter and disrupt our adversaries, which includes states, criminals and hacktivists.

[Mr Simon Clarke (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Con)]

6. What recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of intimidation faced by people in public life.