Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Suella Braverman and John Bercow

Thursday 25th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Suella Braverman]

Looking after the future of this nation means respecting the democratic voice of this nation. Yes, 700,000 people marched on Saturday, but 17.4 million people voted to leave, and we do not simply ignore their voices just because we do not like what they said. I ask the hon. Gentleman, who obviously supports a second referendum and, worse still, one that would have remain as an option, to take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask himself whether he can truly call himself a democrat.

[Mr Speaker]

I should say to the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr Sheerman) that I was speaking at a theatre in Colchester last night and I referenced him in the course of my remarks. Knowing that he is not altogether averse to a focus upon himself from time to time, I think he would have enjoyed my observations.

[Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton) (Lab)]

Does the Minister agree that, if the 2016 referendum is not honoured, a second referendum would have no credibility whatsoever?

[Suella Braverman]

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. This is not the best of three. It is not about, “You keep trying until you get the result you want.” This was a historic vote, when millions of people put their faith in democracy. To do anything other than revere that vote would undermine democracy and cause a collapse in that faith.

[Mr Speaker]

I am relieved to see that the hon. Member for Redditch (Rachel Maclean), who is a most assiduous attender in the Chamber, has beetled into the Chamber just in time. This is very good news.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Suella Braverman and John Bercow

Thursday 19th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Very creative.

[Suella Braverman]

I know how experienced the hon. Lady is in the arts sector. The White Paper proposes new arrangements for services and for the creative and digital sectors, recognising that the UK and the EU will not have the current levels of access to each other’s markets. The EU and the UK included broadcasting in the joint list of topics for discussion in the future framework, which reflects our shared understanding of the importance of the sector as a whole. Obviously, it is the responsible duty of the Government to prepare for all outcomes.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Suella Braverman and John Bercow

Thursday 14th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Suella Braverman]

Yes. Remaining in a customs union or the customs union with the EU would not be compatible with having a meaningful, independent trade policy. It would mean that we would have less control than we have now over our trading relationships with other countries. Neither leave nor remain voters would want that.

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Lady has given an extremely clear and helpful answer, but the problem is that we have a lot of questions to get through and I want to accommodate colleagues. If all Ministers could be brief, that would be great.

[Phil Wilson (Sedgefield) (Lab)]

Car manufacturing in this country is world leading, but the president of the CBI has said that if we leave the customs union it would become extinct. What contingencies do the Government have to replace the 800,000 jobs affected, including the 30,000 jobs in the north-east of England?

--- Later in debate ---

[Suella Braverman]

Well, let us look at the facts. As I said, CBI data shows an increase in output generally, the OECD revised its forecasts upwards for this year and next, and there is record low unemployment throughout the country. Those are signs of an economy that is confident and optimistic about the future, not one such as the hon. Gentleman describes.

[Mr Speaker]

May I gently say that with ingenuity, the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (David Duguid) could shoehorn in his question about fisheries policy, which is a matter of significant interest to the international business community? He is not obliged to do so, but we can happily give him a go.

[David Duguid (Banff and Buchan) (Con)]

18. Thank you for that, Mr Speaker. I understand that the Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr Baker), met the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations yesterday. Can he confirm today that he shares the ambition of the NFFO and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation that when we leave the EU, we will have actual, as well as legal, authority over all fishing activities in UK waters, out to 200 nautical miles?

--- Later in debate ---

[Luke Pollard]

Plymouth City Council’s new Labour council has established a Brexit scrutiny committee to look at the impacts of Brexit on vital public services. What conversations is your Department having directly with local authority leaders to help it to understand the impacts on the vital public services that many millions of people rely on?

[Mr Speaker]

I do not have a Department, but the Minister, fortunately, does.

[Suella Braverman]

Both the Secretary of State and I have met many local authority leaders around the country. We are keen to engage with them so that we understand their concerns about EU exit. Importantly, the UK will continue to participate in the 2014 to 2020 EU programmes until they close, and, thereafter, EU structural funding will be transferred through a UK shared prosperity fund. Comments from local authorities will be very well received.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Suella Braverman and John Bercow

Thursday 3rd May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Suella Braverman]

My right hon. Friend sets the bar very high. I thank him for his question, for his stellar contributions and his work with the space sector, and particularly for his work on the Space Industry Act, which, as I said, has paved the way for our domestic policy. His reference to my goddess-like status is slightly exaggerated, but I would expect nothing less of him. Even in this space age, it takes a brave woman to follow tradition and change her name following marriage. He is right to suggest that the UK’s historic strength in the space sector will be secured as we leave the European Union and develop our own new partnership with our allies across the channel. It is in that spirit, boldly going where no woman has gone before, that I can tell the House from the Dispatch Box that, as of today, I am pleased to be known as Suella Braverman.

[Mr Speaker]

We are delighted for the hon. Lady, and we congratulate her on that. I would also say that, in the 25 years that I have known the right hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr Hayes), he has always inhabited his own galaxy and been the most shining star in it.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Suella Braverman and John Bercow

Tuesday 9th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Although it was a most ingenious attempt, I am afraid that the hon. Lady’s point is not merely tangential, but irrelevant to the substance of the question. She can have another go later, if she feels so inclined.

[Suella Fernandes (Fareham) (Con)]

3. What steps his Department is taking to promote the Commonwealth.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Suella Braverman and John Bercow

Thursday 27th April 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. As this is the last day and, other than points of order, we will be suspending, my instinct is to hear colleagues who want to ask questions, but I hope that they will not expect to be heard without limit. Therefore, if colleagues now want briefly to put their questions to the esteemed Secretary of State and his colleagues, I am open to that. I call Suella Fernandes, who will speak with great brevity, I am sure.

[Suella Fernandes (Fareham) (Con)]

Does my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State agree that financial services in London, Edinburgh and throughout the country will be able to benefit from principles of equivalence and mutual recognition as an alternative to passporting, to ensure that that sector remains open and thriving, as stated recently by Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Suella Braverman and John Bercow

Wednesday 27th April 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The House is excitable, but it must simmer down. We must hear the hon. Lady.

[Suella Fernandes (Fareham) (Con)]

Q7. Hatred and ignorance lie at the heart of anti-Semitism. When those in public life express such views they denigrate not only themselves but the institutions to which they belong. Will my right hon. Friend reassure the House of his commitment to fighting this vicious form of prejudice?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Suella Braverman and John Bercow

Wednesday 23rd March 2016 Commons Chamber

[Suella Fernandes (Fareham) (Con)]

My right hon. Friend will have seen the recent OECD report on literacy and numeracy in England. Based on data from 2012, it ranked our teenagers bottom out of 23 developed countries for basic maths and reading—a damning indictment of 13 years of Labour’s education policy—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The hon. Lady is entitled to ask her question, and the same goes for every other Member.

[Suella Fernandes]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Does that not show why a more rigorous curriculum and more autonomy for schools to succeed are vital to turn around the life chances of the next generation?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Suella Braverman and John Bercow

Wednesday 21st October 2015 Commons Chamber

[Suella Fernandes (Fareham) (Con)]

I recently visited the British Army training unit in Suffield in Canada, and I met—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Members of the Scottish National party must calm themselves. The hon. Lady is asking what I think is her first question to the Prime Minister, and that question will be heard in full.

[Suella Fernandes]

I recently visited the British Army training unit in Suffield in Canada, and I met many of our brave men and women who are undergoing advanced combat training, including my constituent, Major Iain Wallace of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Many of them support the Government’s commitment to spending the NATO target of 2% of our GDP on protecting Britain’s interests. Will my right hon. Friend explain how that commitment will go towards investment in technology and equipment, and enable people such as Major Iain Wallace to do his job properly?

Petition

Debate between Suella Braverman and John Bercow

Monday 20th July 2015 Commons Chamber

Suella Fernandes (Fareham) (Con)

- Hansard -

I rise to present a petition on behalf of residents of Gosport who believe there should be a bus stop near the Bridgemary Road walk through to Vian Close on Henry Cort Way. This is an issue that affects many people in the Gosport constituency, and there has been another petition locally, which was signed by 94 individuals.

The petition states:

The Petition of residents of Gosport,

Declares that there should be another bus stop near the Bridgemary Road walk through to Vian Close and further declares that a local petition on this matter was signed by 94 individuals.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to install a new bus stop near the Bridgemary Road walk through to Vian Close in Gosport.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

[P001534]

Mr Speaker

- Hansard - - Excerpts

An atmosphere of calm expectation has descended upon the House. I call Mr Keith Vaz.

Installation of Bus Stop on Henry Cort Way in Gosport

Debate between Suella Braverman and John Bercow

Monday 20th July 2015 Commons Chamber

[Suella Fernandes (Fareham) (Con)]

I rise to present a petition on behalf of residents of Gosport who believe there should be a bus stop near the Bridgemary Road walk through to Vian Close on Henry Cort Way. This is an issue that affects many people in the Gosport constituency, and there has been another petition locally, which was signed by 94 individuals.

The petition states:

The Petition of residents of Gosport,

Declares that there should be another bus stop near the Bridgemary Road walk through to Vian Close and further declares that a local petition on this matter was signed by 94 individuals.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to install a new bus stop near the Bridgemary Road walk through to Vian Close in Gosport.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

[P001534]

[Mr Speaker]

An atmosphere of calm expectation has descended upon the House. I call Mr Keith Vaz.