DOCSLIB.ORG

Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) Monday Volume 677 15 June 2020 No. 69 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday 15 June 2020 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2020 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 503 15 JUNE 2020 504 who are desperate to let their friends and family know House of Commons whether their weddings can go ahead this summer. Can my right hon. Friend say when a date will be announced Monday 15 June 2020 for summer weddings? Robert Jenrick: I fully appreciate the concerns that The House met at half-past Two o’clock my hon. Friend raises. I know how important weddings are for venues and, of course, how many people’s plans PRAYERS have been disrupted. I can tell her that there is a significant effort across Government to allow people to hold weddings—in particular,small ones with appropriate [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] social distancing—as soon as we can, but this must be Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Order, done safely. My right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor 4 June). and I are working with faith leaders on this issue, and in the meantime, venues such as Wasing Park can avail [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] themselves of the job retention scheme, the business rates holiday and the small business grants to help them get through the coming weeks. Oral Answers to Questions Chris Green: Does my right hon. Friend agree that reopening churches and other places of worship is an incredibly important step in the right direction for our HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL spiritual welfare across the country and symbolises the GOVERNMENT direction of travel, with the country returning to normality? The Secretary of State was asked— Robert Jenrick: I fully agree with my hon. Friend. People of faith have shown enormous patience and forbearance in recent weeks, unable to mark Easter, Weddings Sector: Covid-19 Passover, Vaisakhi and Ramadan with their family, friends and community in the traditional way. As we Laura Farris (Newbury) (Con): What steps he is control the virus, we are able to move forward, and as taking with Cabinet colleagues to support the wedding we reopen our economy, it is right that the importance sector during the covid-19 outbreak. [903164] of faith and places of worship is recognised. Chris Green (Bolton West) (Con): What plans he has Tim Loughton: I had an interesting Zoom call with to reopen places of worship as the covid-19 restrictions my constituency clergy last week, and they are confused. are eased. [903177] One vicar said to me, “So is it right that I can invite five members of my congregation to the church grounds for Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con): a barbecue and some beers, but if we start saying What plans he has to reopen places of worship as the prayers, we’ll get busted?” I suggested that he could covid-19 restrictions are eased. [903185] advertise his services as a barbecue with a very long grace. We need much clearer guidance if we are to get The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and our churches properly and fully back into use as soon as Local Government (Robert Jenrick): May I begin by possible. Frankly, they should never have been put out sending my best wishes and those of the Government to of use in the first place. our colleague, the hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire (Amy Callaghan)? Robert Jenrick: I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s As Communities Secretary, ensuring that places of important question. We published guidance last week worship can open has been one of my priorities. Their for places of worship before they reopened for individual contribution to the common good of our country as prayer. I am grateful to all the volunteers across the places of solace, inspiration and provision for the most country who have worked hard to clean and prepare vulnerable in our society is clear. I am pleased that they those places of worship over the last few days. The can now open for individual prayer. I have worked with guidance was worked through by faith leaders in our faith leaders and representatives to ensure that this can taskforce. Places of worship can open for funerals, and be done safely, including publishing guidance last week Public Health England has previously published guidance and working with the places of worship taskforce, which on how to manage funerals safely. As I said, I very I established last month. I am told that the Archbishop much hope that we can set a date for weddings soon. of Canterbury and Cardinal Nichols went this morning to Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral Janet Daby (Lewisham East) (Lab) [V]: The Secretary respectively, and I look forward to working with them of State has announced the reopening of places of and others to ensure a broader reopening of places of worship for individual prayer despite some faiths only worship. practising communal prayer in their place of worship. This separation has caused confusion, which turned to Laura Farris: I represent some of Berkshire’s best chaos when the Government only published the nine-page wedding venues, such as Wasing Park. We welcome the guidance on Friday.Why did the Government not provide Government’s proposal to set up a taskforce looking at clear and timely guidance to all places of worship, safe weddings, but there are couples in my constituency regardless of their method of prayer? 505 Oral Answers 15 JUNE 2020 Oral Answers 506 Robert Jenrick: I will explain the process that we have Robert Jenrick: My hon. Friend is right to highlight been through. We have worked for several weeks with the £27 billion the Government have provided to leaders across all the faiths on our taskforce to produce communities to ensure that they have the resources they guidance that is applicable to all faiths and then to need as they get through the pandemic. Both Rutland support individual faiths in translating that into the and Melton will also receive funding from the £50 million particular practices of their faith. I appreciate and am reopening high streets safely fund as they welcome the conscious of the fact that the first step in this process— return of high street activity in the great towns she individual prayer—is much less relevant to some faith represents, such as Melton, Uppingham and Oakham than others. In particular, it has limited applicability to Muslims and Jews in our communities, but I hope that Mark Jenkinson: My constituency is the beneficiary they will see this as the logical first step towards a much of stronger towns funding for Workington, and the future broader reopening soon. high streets fund for Maryport. Across Cumbria we have nine such allocations, which I am sure my right hon. Friend agrees has the potential to change Cumbria significantly. Towns Fund Does he therefore have a plan to join up the teams leading these bids to ensure that Workington, Maryport Jacob Young (Redcar) (Con): What recent progress and Cumbria more widely get the maximum benefit? he has made on the Towns Fund; and if he will make a Robert Jenrick: I know how closely my hon. Friend statement. [903165] has been involved in some of those town deals. We want to ensure we get the maximum economic benefit from Alicia Kearns (Rutland and Melton) (Con): What this investment, and so my officials are encouraging recent progress he has made on the Towns Fund; and if communities that benefit from multiple town and high he will make a statement. [903167] street deals to work together to create a convincing and ambitious plan for the future. Mark Jenkinson (Workington) (Con): What recent progress he has made on the Towns Fund; and if he will David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP): I thank the make a statement. [903182] Secretary of State for his warm words about my hon. Friend the Member for East Dunbartonshire (Amy Callaghan) The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and earlier. All of us in the SNP family, and I am sure in this Local Government (Robert Jenrick): Our £3.6 billion wider House, want to see Amy get back to full health. towns fund will play a vital role in supporting our She is not just a colleague of mine here; she is one of my country’s economic recovery, investing in housings, skills, closest friends here, and I look forward to her coming technology, culture and town centres, as we move beyond back and resuming her duties and rightful place. the immediate covid-19 response. I am pleased that Last year, among the backslapping and hoorah from in the majority of cases work has been able to continue Scottish Tory MPs, the Secretary of State’s predecessor despite the challenges posed by covid-19, and later came to the Dispatch Box and announced millions today my hon. Friend the Minister for local growth will of pounds of stronger towns funding, complete with publish towns fund guidance, setting out the steps by assurances that this money would be Barnettised. Over which Redcar and all the 100 towns with which we have a year later, the Scottish Government are yet to hear agreed these historic deals can proceed. any more about this. Will he confirm that his predecessor’s announcement is still valid and what the timescale is to Jacob Young: I thank my right hon. Friend for his deliver this overdue and promised funding? ongoing commitment to the towns fund, specifically in Robert Jenrick: I hope that the hon.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • View Early Day Motions PDF File 0.08 MB
    Published: Friday 23 July 2021 Early Day Motions tabled on Thursday 22 July 2021 Early Day Motions (EDMs) are motions for which no days have been fixed. The number of signatories includes all members who have added their names in support of the Early Day Motion (EDM), including the Member in charge of the Motion. EDMs and added names are also published on the EDM database at www.parliament.uk/edm [R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared. New EDMs 362 Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s report on women's state pension age Tabled: 22/07/21 Signatories: 1 Liz Saville Roberts That this House welcomes the publication of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s report titled Women’s State Pension age: our findings on the Department for Work and Pensions' communication of changes; is concerned by the report’s findings of maladministration and failure by DWP to appropriately inform women of changes to their State Pension Allowance; and calls upon the UK Government to fully engage with the Ombudsman's findings and meet with campaigners to come to an equitable solution to address the injustice of state pension inequality, a problem which affects 3.7 million women in the UK, including 194,000 in Wales. 363 Rise in antisemitic hate crime Tabled: 22/07/21 Signatories: 1 Layla Moran That this House condemns the appalling rise in antisemitism in the weeks during and after the devastating escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine; notes with concern that the Community Security Trust (CST) recorded 628 antisemitic
    [Show full text]
  • View Early Day Motions PDF File 0.12 MB
    Published: Friday 18 September 2020 Early Day Motions tabled on Thursday 17 September 2020 Early Day Motions (EDMs) are motions for which no days have been fixed. The number of signatories includes all members who have added their names in support of the Early Day Motion (EDM), including the Member in charge of the Motion. EDMs and added names are also published on the EDM database at www.parliament.uk/edm [R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared. New EDMs 895 Extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Tabled: 17/09/20 Signatories: 1 John Nicolson That this House recognises the importance of retaining jobs in industries still affected by the ongoing covid-19 pandemic; further recognises that the cliff-edge October cut-off date of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is set to result in hundreds of thousands of avoidable redundancies; notes research from the Trussell Trust that the end of coronavirus job and income support is expected to spark a 61 per cent rise in food bank use this winter, plunging families across Scotland and the rest of the UK into poverty; and calls on the Government to act in line with other countries such as France, Ireland and Germany by extending the Job Retention Scheme into 2021. 896 Teaching of British Sign Language in schools Tabled: 17/09/20 Signatories: 6 Bell Ribeiro-Addy Rosie Cooper Zarah Sultana Ms Diane Abbott Apsana Begum Claudia Webbe That this House recognises the importance of ensuring that all members of society are able to communicate effectively and clearly; notes that this includes ensuring that people who are deaf or hard of hearing are able to communicate effectively and clearly; recognises that 11 million people in the UK are deaf or hard of hearing, highlighting the need to teach British Sign Language more widely; calls on this Government to introduce British Sign Language classes beginning at Key Stage 2 Friday 18 September 2020 EARLY DAY MOTIONS 1 through to Key Stage 3; and further calls on this Government to introduce a British Sign Language GCSE course.
    [Show full text]
  • View Early Day Motions PDF File 0.12 MB
    Published: Friday 29 January 2021 Early Day Motions tabled on Thursday 28 January 2021 Early Day Motions (EDMs) are motions for which no days have been fixed. The number of signatories includes all members who have added their names in support of the Early Day Motion (EDM), including the Member in charge of the Motion. EDMs and added names are also published on the EDM database at www.parliament.uk/edm [R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared. New EDMs 1418 Recognising the need to abolish VAT on energy bills Tabled: 28/01/21 Signatories: 1 Robert Halfon That this House recognises the need to take back control of the UK's taxes following the UK's departure from the EU and abolish VAT on energy bills; notes that cutting VAT on energy bills to zero could save households up to £65 on their energy bills; further notes that during the 2016 EU referendum campaign both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster stressed that energy bills would be lower after Brexit; and calls on the Government to abolish VAT on energy bills and cut the cost of living for hard-pressed families across the UK. 1419 Horse tethering Tabled: 28/01/21 Signatories: 1 Robert Halfon That this House notes the cruel treatment of horses, ponies and donkeys left tethered by roadsides or in dangerous locations around towns often without food or water; recognises the severity of this issue in the Harlow constituency; understands the distress that the practice causes to the animals; notes the need to protect these gentle sensitive creatures;
    [Show full text]
  • Urgent Open Letter to the Chancellor Calling for a Delay to the Loan
    Urgent Open Letter to The Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for an immediate delay to the Loan Charge from 30th September 2020 to 31st January 2021 18th September 2020 Dear Chancellor, We are writing to implore you to delay the date for reporting the Loan Charge and concluding settlement agreements from 30th September 2020 to 31st January 2021. This is essential, to allow all those who wish to do so adequate time to settle and also due to the unforeseen impacts of the Covid-19 crisis. To date the response has talked about the previous change of date resulting from the Morse Review. However, that decision was made before the Covid-19 crisis. A further delay is now imperative as the pandemic has led to a situation where HMRC cannot properly conclude settlements by the specified deadline. The pandemic has also led to a change in financial circumstances for many, with some people losing their income or jobs and many small businesses being affected. It is clear from the evidence that HMRC simply cannot conclude settlements by 30th September, with them admitting there are 6000 cases in this position. Every taxpayer engaged in the settlement process has the right to have their settlement fully and properly conducted before being hit by the Loan Charge. It is clear from many cases being shared, that pre-Loan Charge settlements are not possible in the current timeframe and people are being pressured to sign a contract with unreasonable terms and interest charges, as well as penalties which vary from case to case and have not been explained Without a further delay, through no fault of their own, people will be denied the opportunity to settle in a reasonable timescale or potentially at all.
    [Show full text]
  • View Early Day Motions PDF File 0.08 MB
    Published: Friday 9 July 2021 Early Day Motions tabled on Thursday 8 July 2021 Early Day Motions (EDMs) are motions for which no days have been fixed. The number of signatories includes all members who have added their names in support of the Early Day Motion (EDM), including the Member in charge of the Motion. EDMs and added names are also published on the EDM database at www.parliament.uk/edm [R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared. New EDMs 294 Sheena Nelson and the Rotary International Champion of Change award Tabled: 8/07/21 Signatories: 1 Brendan O'Hara That this House congratulates Sheena Nelson from the Helensburgh Garelochside Rotary club on her Champion of Change award from the Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland; acknowledges that the award is in recognition of her voluntary work as the club’s Heartstart Volunteer Co-ordinator to train members of the public in the vital cardio-pulmonary resuscitation techniques to improve the chances of survival of those in cardiac arrest and heart attacks; commends Sheenah’s outstanding fundraising efforts which has seen 200 community defibrillators installed across Helensburgh, Lomond and West Dunbartonshire and is now focused on ensuring that there are no gaps in the defibrillator network; acknowledges that an estimate of 27 lives over recent years have been saved due to Sheenah tireless campaigning; and wishes Sheenah the very best in her continued work to educate the public on the use and benefits of community defibrillators. 295 Brynn Hauxwell, Young Fundraiser
    [Show full text]
  • Daily Report Friday, 12 June 2020 CONTENTS
    Daily Report Friday, 12 June 2020 This report shows written answers and statements provided on 12 June 2020 and the information is correct at the time of publication (03:35 P.M., 12 June 2020). For the latest information on written questions and answers, ministerial corrections, and written statements, please visit: http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/ CONTENTS ANSWERS 5 Debts 12 BUSINESS, ENERGY AND Debts: Young People 12 INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 5 Dominic Cummings 12 Department for Business, Elections: Voting Methods 12 Energy and Industrial Strategy: Buildings 5 Employment: Linlithgow and East Falkirk 13 Economic Situation 5 EU Nationals: Linlithgow and Local Enterprise Partnerships: East Falkirk 13 Coronavirus 6 Low Pay: Linlithgow and East Offshore Industry: Carbon Falkirk 13 Emissions 6 Newspaper Press: Advertising 13 Offshore Industry: North Sea 6 Prime Minister: Nurseries 14 Ofgem: Judicial Review 7 Registration of Births, Deaths, Public Houses and Social Marriages and Civil Clubs 8 Partnerships 14 Tourists: Coronavirus 8 Self-employed: Linlithgow and Unemployment: Coronavirus 8 East Falkirk 14 Waste Disposal: Applications 9 Working Hours 15 CABINET OFFICE 10 DEFENCE 15 Black Lives Matter: Publicity 10 Ministry of Defence: Buildings 15 Cabinet Office: Buildings 10 DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND Cabinet Office: ICT 10 SPORT 15 Capital Investment: Linlithgow Broadband: Voucher Schemes 15 and East Falkirk 11 Small Businesses: Cybercrime 16 Care Homes: Kingston upon EDUCATION 17 Hull 11 Children: Coronavirus 17 Coronavirus: Death 11 Children:
    [Show full text]
  • Whole Day Download the Hansard
    Monday Volume 687 18 January 2021 No. 161 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday 18 January 2021 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2021 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 601 18 JANUARY 2021 602 David Linden [V]: Under the Horizon 2020 programme, House of Commons the UK consistently received more money out than it put in. Under the terms of this agreement, the UK is set to receive no more than it contributes. While universities Monday 18 January 2021 in Scotland were relieved to see a commitment to Horizon Europe in the joint agreement, what additional funding The House met at half-past Two o’clock will the Secretary of State make available to ensure that our overall level of research funding is maintained? PRAYERS Gavin Williamson: As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, the Government have been very clear in our [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] commitment to research. The Prime Minister has stated Virtual participation in proceedings commenced time and time again that our investment in research is (Orders, 4 June and 30 December 2020). absolutely there, ensuring that we deliver Britain as a [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] global scientific superpower. That is why more money has been going into research, and universities will continue to play an incredibly important role in that, but as he Oral Answers to Questions will be aware, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy manages the research element that goes into the funding of universities.
    [Show full text]
  • Election December 2019
    Head Office Address: 5th Floor 30 Market Street Huddersfield West Yorkshire HD1 2HG [email protected] www.sandringham.co.uk THE GENERAL ELECTION DECEMBER 2019 THE RESULT IS IN MARKET REACTION WHAT NOW? LIFE GOES ON THE BOTTOM LINE THE ELECTORATE HAS SPOKEN – CONSERVATIVES WIN A MAJORITY The General Election December 2019 THE RESULT IS IN Following six weeks of intense campaigning, the result is in. The electorate has delivered its verdict. In Britain’s first December general election in nearly 100 years, the Conservative Party has won a very comfortable majority, soaring past the magic 326 seat mark in the early hours of Friday morning. With the Conservatives now occupying 364 seats with just one left to declare at the time of writing, Boris Johnson’s gamble certainly appears to have paid off – it’s the party’s best election performance since the 1980s. The Prime Minister said the result marked a “new dawn” for the UK and that he would work “night and day” to repay the trust of the electorate. Despite the inclement December weather, millions of voters made their way to the polling stations on Thursday to have their say; even so, it was a disappointing night for some. Labour sustained huge losses in the party’s worst election performance since 1935, causing Jeremy Corbyn to announce that he will not be fighting another general election as Labour leader. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson resigned after losing her seat to the Scottish National Party’s Amy Callaghan – albeit by just 149 votes. In fact, it was a very good night for the SNP, which made significant gains across Scotland and won an additional 13 seats, bringing the party’s total to 48.
    [Show full text]
  • Conference Agenda Should Not Descend Into a Competition As to Who Has the Loudest Public Presence
    to giant leaps.to giant leaps. From baby steps steps baby baby From From 85th ANNUAL CONFERENCE HANDBOOK THE EVENT COMPLEX – ABERDEEN 13-15 OCTOBER 2019 EXPANDING HEATHROW IS HELPING SCOTLAND BOOST TOMATIN DISTILLERY, ONE OF THE MANY BUSINESSES ACROSS THE UK THAT SUPPORT HEATHROW EXPANSION With connections to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, Heathrow is the gateway to global markets for Scottish exports – like whisky from the Tomatin Distillery. Expansion would double our cargo capacity and create new domestic and international trading routes, helping businesses in Scotland boost their exports. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EXPANSION AND THE FACTS IN THIS ADVERT VISIT: www.heathrow.com/exports 10_07_19_tomatin_a4.indd 1 17/09/2019 17:45 03 Welcome 07 Agenda 27 Exhibitors 41 Fringe Programme 80 Guide to Voting 83 Regions 87 Nominations 96 Biographies 105 Reports 131 Standing Orders 139 Floor Maps 145 Essential Information 151 Useful Numbers 152 Newcomer Guide Contents Key for Fringe Programme Refreshments Food Alcohol provided provided available DISCLAIMER The Scottish National Party has provided assistance in arranging exhibitions and fringe meetings by various organisations at Conference. This assistance does not necessarily imply any support of that organisation. Fringe listings and selection of speakers are wholly a matter for the sponsors and organisers of fringe meetings, and as such the content of the listings and the meetings may not reflect the views of the SNP. Likewise, the SNP does not endorse the products advertised in this guide or recommend any of the services advertised. Promoted by Peter Murrell on behalf of the Scottish National Party, both at 3 Jackson’s Entry, Edinburgh EH8 8PJ.
    [Show full text]
  • OVID Health Analysis: New Kids on the Voting Bloc a Political Temperature Reading
    OVID Health Analysis: New kids on the voting bloc A political temperature reading What is the outlook for health? Last week, Boris Johnson led the Conservative Party to one of the most dramatic electoral wins the country has seen in decades. In the wake of Johnson’s landslide victory, his opposition suffered crushing defeats – Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn announced he would step down after a “process of reflection” and the Lib Dem’s Jo Swinson lost her seat as the Scottish National Party claimed victory in Scotland. New kids on the voting bloc The recent election has brought in a sizeable number of new MPs – 140 in total. That’s a bigger group of MPs than all of the representatives for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland combined. It’s fair to say this new host of political hopefuls will have a big influence on the Government. Boris Johnson’s allies have already suggested the Prime Minister is out to “northernise” the Cabinet – a verb we can expect to find in our dictionaries by the end of 2020. The man himself, speaking in Tony Blair’s old constituency of Sedgefield, promised to deliver a legislative agenda that would “repay” the first-time Tory voters who caused Labour’s Red Wall to crumble. Investing in the NHS and social care is one of the key promises Johnson hopes will secure their continued loyalty. British politics is changing, and we are seeing the new faces who will be changing it. OVID Health is a trading name of Ovid Consulting Ltd Registered in England, company number 11372061 Taking Parliament’s temperature As some stars rise, others must inevitably fall.
    [Show full text]
  • Open Letter to the Prime Minister and Chancellor on the Loan Charge
    Open Letter To The Prime Minister And Chancellor On The Loan Charge July 2021 Dear Prime Minister and Chancellor, We are writing, as Parliamentarians who remain very concerned about the Loan Charge and its inevitable devastating impact on thousands of UK families. If the Government does not act to instruct HMRC to change course, then we are fearful of what the consequences will be when HMRC enforce the Loan Charge. New information has come to light that further highlights the injustice people are facing that should lead to the Government accepting that further changes are needed, both to avoid the otherwise disastrous consequences of allowing HMRC to enforce the Loan Charge and to bring a fair and just resolution to what remains a deeply controversial policy. Three very significant things have been revealed by recent Freedom of Information requests: 1. That HMRC tried and failed to find legal precedent for them being permitted to pursue individuals, rather than employers First Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive of HMRC Jim Harra has admitted (in an internal email to senior colleagues) “In recent months I have repeatedly tried to obtain legal analysis to understand the strength of our claim with very little success”. • This undermines the claim that that the Loan Charge is based on the outcome of legal cases. The reality is that the Supreme Court judgment in the Glasgow Rangers’ case in 2017, often wrongly cited as legal precedent for the Loan Charge, deemed employers to be liable for any tax deemed to be avoided. This decision did not give HMRC the right to directly pursue individual contractors.
    [Show full text]
  • Whole Day Download the Hansard
    Thursday Volume 669 16 January 2020 No. 11 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 16 January 2020 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2020 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 1129 16 JANUARY 2020 1130 remains.The crucial issue is the universal service obligation, House of Commons of which she will be aware. Fifteen per cent. of her constituents get less than the 10 megabit limit. They will Thursday 16 January 2020 benefit from that later this year. Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab): The House met at half-past Nine o’clock This is my first questions session shadowing the Digital Minister,who, as a former tech journalist, knows something PRAYERS of his subject—and as a former telecoms engineer, so do I. We both know that in towns, villages and cities, everyone is suffering the consequences of a wasted [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] decade. Under Labour, we rolled out first-generation broadband to half of all homes within a decade. But today, full-fibre broadband only reaches a mere 10% of Oral Answers to Questions homes, and we languish at the bottom of all the international tables. The Prime Minister has promised full-fibre broadband for everybody in five years. Does the Minister have a plan for that? Who will be delivering DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT it? How much will it cost? Will it really be fibre or just gigabit capability—or are Big Ben’s bongs the only The Minister of State was asked— telecoms infrastructure that he can plan for? Full-fibre and Gigabit-capable Broadband Matt Warman: As an engineer, I think the hon.
    [Show full text]