Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Tuesday 25th June 2013 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

Yes, it certainly should, and I urge my hon. Friend to listen carefully to the Chancellor’s statement tomorrow.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Pamela Nash. Not here.

[Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)]

16. What progress he has made on his policy to withdraw child benefit payments from higher earners.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Osborne]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The Chancellor is not responsible for Labour policy. A very short one-sentence reply will suffice, then we must move on. Members must ask questions that are orderly, not disorderly.

[Mr Osborne]

My short answer is thank God I am not responsible for Opposition policy.

--- Later in debate ---

[Penny Mordaunt (Portsmouth North) (Con)]

This morning, it was Labour party policy to cut pensions to spend more on welfare. We have just heard that the party now supports the triple lock. Is the Chancellor optimistic that by tea time it might support our policy on controlled welfare spending? [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Lady was very difficult to hear because there was so much noise from the Opposition Benches, but fewer than 10 minutes ago I stressed that questions should be about the policies of the Government, not the Opposition. It is a pity to finish on a bad note, but Members really ought to establish the right habit early in their parliamentary careers. We will, I am afraid, have to leave it there. This is a box office occasion, and demand tends to exceed supply.