Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Tuesday 5th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

The Member for Shipley will not stop going on about it until he gets it; I think of that we can be absolutely certain.

[Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) (Lab)]

7. What steps his Department has taken to mitigate the potential effect on the economic sustainability of the manufacturing sector of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

[Mr Sharma]

I thank the Minister for that response. Last month, I surveyed businesses in my constituency and they overwhelmingly said that they wanted Brexit cancelled. Will the Chancellor stand up for British businesses, end the uncertainty and use his immense personal prestige in the Cabinet and with the Prime Minister to stop Brexit once and for all?

[Mr Speaker]

I hope the Chancellor heard the bit about his prestige.

[Mel Stride]

It is just little old me, I am afraid, but I have to say that I believe we should respect the result of the June 2016 referendum, a democratic exercise that saw a higher turnout than for any other democratic event in the history of our country. The important thing now is that we get the right deal for us to leave, which we are working on. When it comes back to Parliament, I hope that the hon. Gentleman will support it.

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[John Glen]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. This Government’s strategy is to relentlessly pursue growth in the economy and opportunities for all. We have seen 18.3% growth since 2010, and a record 32.6 million people in work. We will continue to prioritise interventions around technical education, cuts in business taxes and support for new technologies to recognise the new jobs that need to be provided for.

[Mr Speaker]

Well done.

[Neil Coyle (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) (Lab)]

13. What assessment he has made of the effect of the freeze on benefits on the level of personal debt of benefit recipients.

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[Mel Stride]

We have taken action against enablers and promoters, and the cumulative amount of time in prison that has resulted from those particular actions is in excess of 100 years.

[Mr Speaker]

Well done.

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[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We are running late, so if the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) can manage to ask a one-sentence question with a question mark at the end of it, I will call him; if he cannot, I will not. It is a deal. [Interruption.] No, not one and a half sentence—one sentence. Mr Shannon, get in there.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

Can the Minister further outline whether there will be tax benefits available for small businesses that may not be able to sustain this level of wage increase? That was one sentence.

[Elizabeth Truss]

We need to ensure that all businesses succeed. In the spending review, we will be ensuring that business support is just as supportive of new entrants and start-ups.

[Mr Speaker]

This one-sentence model could catch on; that would be splendid. I call Stephen Kinnock.

[Wes Streeting (Ilford North) (Lab)]

No chance.

[Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon) (Lab)]

No pressure there at all. Question 23, Mr Speaker.

[Mr Speaker]

Don’t look quite so surprised, man—it’s your question.

[Stephen Kinnock]

But may I blend it with topical question 1?

[Mr Speaker]

No, but you can blurt it out on the question with which we were dealing, if you want. Unburden yourself, man.

[Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon) (Lab)]

23. Thank you for setting the stage for me so well, Mr Speaker. I am proud to chair the all-party parliamentary group for post-Brexit funding for nations, regions and local areas. It is vital that we have a fair settlement for the regions that need it most as we transition from EU funding to post-Brexit funding. Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer or the Minister responsible meet the APPG to discuss this vital issue?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I would be delighted to meet the hon. Gentleman and colleagues to discuss this important issue.

[Mr Speaker]

Oh, I see what the hon. Gentleman was driving at in relation to topical questions. Jolly well done; what a prescient fellow. We now come to topical questions. I call Stephen Kinnock.

[Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon) (Lab)]

I cannot think of another question to ask, as my question has been responded to.

[Mr Speaker]

I know that the hon. Gentleman does not believe in the hereditary principle, but I do not think that those words would ever have come out of the mouth of his dad. I think he should have a go. Just say “Topical 1”, young man.

[Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon) (Lab)]

T1. Topical 1.

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[Mr Hammond]

HMRC does take action against errant employers. It is always pleased to receive information on suspected non-compliance and will investigate any such cases. I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman had difficulty thinking of a question. Anticipating this situation, I have at least four or five potential questions that he could have asked me, and I am happy to show them to him afterwards.

[Mr Speaker]

Colleagues, on a discretionary basis I am changing the order, but, believe me, I know why I am changing the order and there is a compelling reason in this instance for doing so.

[Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con)]

T8. In yesterday’s education debate in Westminster Hall, we heard about a national emergency in school funding based on the National Audit Office’s predictions of £3 billion of savings being required in the next year—and I have often gone on about the £2 billion shortfall in children’s social care. Will schools and children’s social care be at the top of the Chancellor’s priority list in the forthcoming comprehensive spending review?

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[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. As is normally the case, demand exceeds supply. I am sorry to disappoint remaining colleagues, but we are well out of time and we must now move on.