Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Tuesday 28th January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East) (Lab)]

Of course, 0.7% is lower than 0.8% in the previous quarter, but leaving that aside—[Interruption.] With construction—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge) should go and lie down in a dark room. Take a tablet and restore your health—I am very anxious about your condition, and I suspect that the House will be too.

[Sheila Gilmore]

Construction is down as well, but to return to the question—[Interruption.] Well, the Chancellor did not return to it. Support through tax credits and child care tax credits has been crucial for many women going into self-employment for the first time. Proposed universal credit rules will make it a lot more difficult for self-employed people. Will the Chancellor speak to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to help him to get this right for women entrepreneurs?

--- Later in debate ---

[Ed Balls (Morley and Outwood) (Lab/Co-op)]

After three damaging years of flatlining in our economy—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Some people are slow learners, so I will say it slowly: keep calm, be patient; Government Members, you have got the man at the Box for whom you were waiting, and now you should just listen. In tennis, new balls come after the first seven games of a match and subsequently after every nine, so patience is required.

[Ed Balls]

After three damaging years of flatlining, today’s growth figures are welcome, but everything we have seen today from the Chancellor shows he just does not understand that for working people facing a cost of living crisis, this is still no recovery at all. Last week, the Chancellor and the Prime Minister tried to use dodgy figures to tell people they had never had it so good. Why will he not today admit the truth: he has failed to get the deficit down, and since he came to office, working people have been not better off, but worse off?

--- Later in debate ---

[John Cryer (Leyton and Wanstead) (Lab)]

rose—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Mr Cryer will be heard. The House should hear him. His constituents should hear him. It is really just a matter of courtesy.

[John Cryer]

The Liberal Minister used to be a loyal servant of Britain in Europe. Does he still agree with its founding principles?