Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Monday 29th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Sajid Javid]

It is right, of course, that this Government do more to welcome all communities and help them to integrate. That is why the Government published—I published it when I was Communities Secretary—an integration Green Paper, which we will build on. It is also worth commending the work that World Jewish Relief does to help all communities to integrate.

[Mr Speaker]

In the light of the terrible tragedy in Leicester, it is with particular feeling that I call Mr Keith Vaz.

[Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab)]

I thank the Home Secretary for the comments that he made following the death of Khun Vichai and four others in the helicopter in Leicester. Khun Vichai was an amazing man—someone who spent so much time in Leicester and did so much for the club—and he was adored by the people of Leicester. He will be greatly missed, and it is kind of the Home Secretary to mention him today.

On the substance of the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Southall (Mr Sharma), the issue is not just English language lessons but the right to work, which goes hand in hand with being able to speak English. Will the Home Secretary look again at the rules to make sure that those who are waiting can get their right to work quicker and asylum seekers can be fully integrated in our society?

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[Stephen Pound (Ealing North) (Lab)]

The fact remains that the system simply is not working. This lawlessness is having a corrosive effect on local communities, and there have been catastrophic consequences for local government finance. Will the Home Secretary please listen to the suggestion that I have made many times before? We should use the number plates of these gleaming, glistening chariots that invade our open spaces and prosecute these malefactors through the identification of their vehicles.

[Mr Speaker]

Will the Home Secretary heed Pound?

[Sajid Javid]

I dare not heed Pound, but the hon. Gentleman makes an important point. The consultation’s purpose is to look not just at what is happening at the moment, but at what new powers and sensible policies should follow to deal with this issue.

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[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am afraid there is strong pressure on time today.

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[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Mr Speaker]

A sentence perhaps; Lloyd Russell-Moyle.

[Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Brighton, Kemptown) (Lab/Co-op)]

23. Organised crime often leads to bad drugs on our streets, and one way to stop that is through drug testing in festivals. The Minister agreed that he would write to police forces about the legality of that. What is the response?

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[Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) (Con)]

In the light of the horrors of Pittsburgh, will the Government provide assurance—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. This really is a matter of the utmost sensitivity, and the right hon. Lady’s question must be heard with solemnity and respect.

[Theresa Villiers]

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

In the light of the horrors of Pittsburgh, can the Home Secretary provide the reassurance that both the Government and the police will always take very, very seriously the security of the Jewish community and other minorities who may be subjected to hate crimes and violence?

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[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Victoria Atkins)]

I am delighted to be visiting my hon. Friend on Friday to see for myself the hard work that she does in taking care of her constituents, working alongside her local police force. This Government support greater collaboration and have placed a statutory duty on police, fire and ambulance services to keep collaborative opportunities under review and enter into them in the interests of efficiency or effectiveness.

[Mr Speaker]

A single sentence of Hobhousian liberalism—Wera Hobhouse.

[Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)]

T6. Small and medium-sized businesses are the lifeblood of most of our economy, including in my Bath constituency. However, they face many challenges in recruiting the talent they need, so will the Minister consider reforming the tier 2 visa system to make it easier and remove the prohibitive costs for smaller employers to recruit highly skilled overseas graduates from UK universities?

[Mr Speaker]

I think that sentence contained quite a lot of semi-colons.

[Caroline Nokes]

I share the hon. Lady’s admiration for small and medium-sized businesses the country over. The immigration system already facilitates recruitment of foreign graduates of UK universities by waiving many of the usual requirements. We will shortly be setting out our plans for the future immigration system, following the recent report by the Migration Advisory Committee.

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[Kirstene Hair (Angus) (Con)]

The seasonal agricultural workers pilot scheme was warmly welcomed both by farmers and by agricultural bodies across the United Kingdom. [Interruption.] Will the Minister update farmers in my constituency on when further detail will be released? [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I hope the Minister heard her hon. Friend.

[Caroline Nokes]

indicated assent.

[Mr Speaker]

She did. Otherwise we would have to have a reprise.

[Caroline Nokes]

I thank my hon. Friend for her question. I was delighted to go to her constituency over the summer to meet soft fruit farmers who made a compelling case for a seasonal workers scheme. She will no doubt be delighted that the Government are having a pilot in the horticultural sector to make sure that it can access the labour that it needs.

[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Mr Speaker]

Where is that new young Member, John Spellar? Ah, there he is. Let’s hear the fella.