Wednesday Volume 666 16 October 2019 No. 3 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 16 October 2019 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2019 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 269 16 OCTOBER 2019 Point of Order 270 Mr Speaker, do you agree that it would be wrong for House of Commons the Government to abuse the procedures of this House, and that we need clarity now as to the Government’s Wednesday 16 October 2019 plans for any Saturday sitting, especially to ensure fair and democratic debate on any deal? Have you been given any notice of the Government’s intentions? The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock Mr Speaker: I appreciate the points that the right PRAYERS hon. Lady has raised. Indeed, they are very similar to those raised yesterday during exchanges on the business statement and by the right hon. Member for Leeds [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Central (Hilary Benn) in a later point of order. I should preface any substantive response by thanking the right Point of Order hon. Lady for her courtesy in giving me notice of her Anna Soubry (Broxtowe) (IGC): On a point of order, intention to raise a point of order on this broad theme. Mr Speaker. As you have often commented, we often have to rely on media reports and not statements in this As I said in reply to the point of order yesterday from place. That is how we first learned that the Government the right hon. Member for Leeds Central, there can be a intend for us to sit on Saturday from 9 o’clock in the Saturday sitting by a motion passed by this House, or, morning until 2.30 in the afternoon. Can you assist, under Standing Orders, by the recall procedure. The Mr Speaker,as to the very special emergency circumstances former, that is to say by a motion of this House, is that would require this place to sit on a Saturday? clearly preferable because it entails far more notice and, indeed, a decision of the House. I will not go into the I accept that, if the Government have secured a deal detail, and the right hon. Lady would not expect me to within the meaning and terms of both the Benn Act 2019 do so, of discussions that, necessarily, the Speaker has and the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, it with key players in the House,but the relevant representative would be perfectly proper for us to meet on Saturday, of the Government is well aware of my thinking on this but, as is now reported on Twitter, I accept that the matter. I said what I think is preferable. However, it is Government are going to have to seek an extension in for the Government to table such a motion, which they any event. must do before the House rises today if it is to be agreed I suggest that, in the absence of any deal as I have by the House tomorrow. I do not think it is productive described, there is no reason for this House to meet on for me to be drawn into a discussion about the criteria Saturday. It makes no difference to me, because I shall for recall when another, and better, avenue remains be here for the people’s vote march, but there are many available to the Government. I hope that that is helpful hon. and right hon. Members who need to make proper to the right hon. Lady and to the House, and I think it is arrangements for childcare. One hon. Member has just best if we leave it there. told me that she has already spent £200 because she thinks that she will have to have somebody looking after I now call on Priti Patel to open today’s debate on the her children on Saturday. Other hon. Members have Queen’s Speech. By the way, I know the difference constituents to see in surgeries, family events or other between the Home Secretary smiling and the Home engagements that they will now have to break, because Secretary laughing. I do not think any education is they do not know what is happening on Saturday. required on that matter and we look forward to hearing her. 271 16 OCTOBER 2019 Debate on the Address 272 Debate on the Address of the system. At the same time, it is important to ensure that victims of crime get justice and that the perpetrators of crime are given the appropriate sanctions. [3RD DAY] Debate resumed (Order, 14 October). Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con): I Question again proposed, welcome the Home Secretary’s no-nonsense approach. That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, as I sit on the Home Affairs Committee and I prosecuted follows: cases before I came into Parliament. I welcome the Most Gracious Sovereign, joined-up approach of having not only enough extra We, Your Majesty’smost dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons police officers, but an extra £85 million for the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Prosecution Service, so when individuals are brought to Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to account they can quickly go through the justice system, Your Majesty for the Gracious Speech which Your Majesty has which will ensure that those who should be acquitted addressed to both Houses of Parliament. are acquitted and that others are sentenced for their crime. Public Services Priti Patel: My hon. Friend is correct, because it is 11.38 am vital to have a criminal justice system and a Crown Prosecution Service that work to drive the right outcomes. The Secretary of State for the Home Department Resources do matter. (Priti Patel): It is an honour to open this Queen’s As we leave the EU, the public want to know that we Speech debate today on behalf of this Government, are enhancing our co-operation with international partners, who are driven by the people’s priorities. They are a particularly in bringing foreign criminals to justice, and Government who stand up for the brave men and that their Government, and no one else, have full control women of our police, our security services and all those over the borders of our nation. That will end the free who serve across our public services—from the frontline movement of people once and for all. of our emergency services to our schools and our NHS. These workers are the hard-working silent majority, In the three months since the Government came to selflessly serving our communities and our country. We power, we have begun urgent work, particularly on are the Government who are investing record amounts supporting the police. All hon. Members on this side of in our public services and backing the forces of law and the House agree that our police forces are the best in the order. world. Every day,we see examples of their professionalism, bravery and dedication. No matter how good they are, Since becoming Home Secretary, I have ensured that however, they can do their job only if they are supported. the fundamental principle of giving people the security Officers on the frontline need to know that they have a they need to live their lives freely has informed the Prime Minister, a Home Secretary and a Government Home Office’s work. As Her Majesty the Queen outlined who stand beside them, and that when they run towards in her Gracious Speech on Monday, that will also drive danger, they are not alone. This Prime Minister, and the Government’s wider legislative programme, because this Government, will always back the police. nothing is more important than keeping our people, our communities and our country safe. Thepeopleof ourUnitedKingdommusthaveconfidence Anna Soubry (Broxtowe) (IGC): Can the Home Secretary in the ability of our police and security services. They help me? In the nine years that I sat with her on those need to know that, day or night, no matter what the Benches, the Conservative party’s determined policy crime, the police and the security services have the was to reduce the prison population by the careful power and the resources they need to ensure that criminals introduction of all manner of sentences and by the are brought to justice. They want to be reassured that we support of suspended sentences, which have great power. are working to tackle the senseless and sickening violence Is not the real way to help our police to ensure that our that destroys lives on our streets and in people’s homes, criminal justice service is fit for purpose? It needs huge and that serious criminality will lead to tough sentences investment and for our courts to be able to hear trials and justice for the victims of crime. They should have quickly. At the moment, there are two years’ of delay in confidence that our prison system works to give victims most cases. justice and to keep the public safe from those who do harm to others, and that the justice system and our Priti Patel: The right hon. Lady will recognise that prisons support will reform offenders. the legislative programme of the Queen’s Speech makes greater investments in the justice system, which will Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con): I address the issue of the time it takes to prosecute cases welcome the Home Secretary’s refreshing approach.