Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Thursday 12th September 2013 Commons Chamber

[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Transport questions always tend to bust the box office, I am afraid: demand exceeds supply. The last ticket goes to Jake Berry.

[Jake Berry (Rossendale and Darwen) (Con)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Following on from the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Bury North (Mr Nuttall), will the Secretary of State confirm that he will continue to work with me and my hon. Friend for improvements on the M66, which is a key commuter route into Manchester for east Lancashire and Bury North, both of which have played their part, with their manufacturing-based economy, in reducing unemployment in our area?

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am not sure whether the hon. Member for Islington North (Jeremy Corbyn) is trying to contribute or to make a 100-metre sprint.

[Jeremy Corbyn]

(Islington North) (Lab): I will sprint later.

[Mr Speaker]

We are grateful. I call Angela Smith.

[Angela Smith (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Lab)]

There are rumours in this place that the Government intend to table a number of amendments to the lobbying Bill and to make a number of concessions. Given what the Deputy Leader of the House has just said, will he commit to ensuring that those amendments are tabled in this House and not in the House of Lords? Even better, why do they not just withdraw the Bill?