Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts
Wednesday 4th September 2013

(10 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Ah, a Northamptonshire choice. I call Mr Philip Hollobone.

Philip Hollobone Portrait Mr Hollobone
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What does the Minister expect the footprint of the Government estate to be by the end of the present Parliament compared with May 2010?

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Chloe Smith Portrait Miss Smith
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I understand the point that the hon. Gentleman is seeking to make. What we seek is best value for the British taxpayer and to use the British Government’s procurement spend to allow for growth as far as possible in this country. We are of course bound by certain EU procurement rules, with which I am sure he is very familiar. [Interruption.]

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. There are a lot of very noisy conversations taking place, including on the Opposition Benches, but I am sure that Members will wish to be quiet to hear Stella Creasy.

Stella Creasy Portrait Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) (Lab/Co-op)
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11. What steps he is taking to increase information-sharing between Government and businesses on cyber-attacks.

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Chloe Smith Portrait The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Miss Chloe Smith)
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The hon. Gentleman knows very well that we spent a significant amount of time on this in the House yesterday and that there is more opportunity to discuss it next week. He will also know that my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House and I met charity leaders on Monday and will continue to do so. [Interruption.]

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. There is still far too much noise in the Chamber. I understand the general excitement, which I am sure is in anticipation of the question from Mr Henry Smith.

Henry Smith Portrait Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)
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T3. I congratulate my right hon. Friend on the £10 billion- worth of efficiency savings that his Department has made on behalf of the taxpayer in the past year. What ambition does he have for the coming year?

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Lord Mann Portrait John Mann (Bassetlaw) (Lab)
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Q15. Is it not the case that—[Interruption.]

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. The hon. Gentleman is something of an exotic creature in the House and I think that that excites interest on Government Benches, but I do wish to hear what he has to say and he must be heard.

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Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton Portrait The Prime Minister
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I certainly congratulate businesses, large and small, in Burnley for the enterprise they have shown. The fact about this recovery is that it is a private sector-led recovery. That is what we needed after massive and excessive Government spending, and it has been very good that businesses up and down the country, including in Burnley, have done so much to take people on and to get our economy moving.

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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We will move in a moment to the urgent question from Yvette Cooper. Perhaps Members who are leaving the Chamber could do so quickly and quietly.