Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Watts and John Bercow
Mr Speaker
Excellent. We got through the lot. I am most grateful to colleagues for their succinctness. [Interruption.] It is well done to the House.
We come to topical questions. I call Mr Dave Watts.
Mr Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman is a figure of such distinction that he is ahead of himself. Question No. 1: that is all he has to say at this stage.
Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North) (Lab)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
Points of Order
Debate between Lord Watts and John Bercow(13 years, 8 months ago)
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Mr Speaker
I am most grateful to the Minister. Two sides of this have been heard, and I think we will leave it there for today.
Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North) (Lab)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. In relation to the urgent question, is it in order for Ministers to put up a spokesman who obviously does not know the answers to the questions that Members are putting to him when the Minister who does know the answers is sitting next to him?
Mr Speaker
Who the Government put up on a matter of this kind is a matter for them. As to the content of answers, whether they impress the hon. Gentleman or not and what their quality might be, that is very murky territory, certainly for the Speaker, so I shall keep away from it. I do not think the hon. Gentleman really expected an answer to his question; I think he simply wanted to give vent to his views—and that he has done.
Coastguard Modernisation
Debate between Lord Watts and John Bercow(13 years, 11 months ago)
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Mr Speaker
We are always interested to hear of the Minister’s holiday arrangements, as well as his fear of the death penalty.
Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North) (Lab)
The Minister assured the House that there would be some Liverpool-based facility. Will he clarify whether there will be any people in that facility who will be able to rescue anyone?
Points of Order
Debate between Lord Watts and John Bercow
Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North) (Lab)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Further to my earlier question, could you provide me with some advice? Is it in order for a Minister to ask his Department not to provide him with information to avoid having to pass that information on to an MP seeking to clarify something that affects his constituency?
Mr Speaker
The short answer is that Ministers are responsible both for how they provide information, and for what information is, or is not, available to them. However, the hon. Gentleman has registered his point forcefully on the record.
Off-quota University Places
Debate between Lord Watts and John BercowUrgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.
Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.
This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record
Mr Speaker
Order. I want to hear—and I am sure that the House wants to hear—Mr Dave Watts.
Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North) (Lab)
Will the Minister explain what is to stop a rich business man buying his son a place at university?
Business of the House
Debate between Lord Watts and John Bercow(14 years, 11 months ago)
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Mr Speaker
I have to tell the hon. Gentleman that points of order follow statements. We will hear from him later.
Points of Order
Debate between Lord Watts and John Bercow
Mr Speaker
All I can say to the hon. Gentleman is that discussion of public policy is an ongoing process. It takes place all the time and Ministers can discuss policy issues in a variety of ways, including in speeches and exchanges outside the House. The crucial point is this. When a new policy is to be announced, it must be announced here first. All that I can say is that I will keep a beady eye on this matter, not merely on a weekly basis but on a daily basis.
Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North) (Lab)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Now that the Deputy Leader of the House has agreed to arrange for a debate on the Government’s policy on fairness, how do I find out when that debate will take place?
Mr Speaker
I think the answer to the hon. Gentleman’s point of order is that that is a matter for the Leader of the House and, in his absence, the Deputy Leader of the House. It is quite possible that a cosy chat will shortly ensue between the hon. Member for St Helens North (Mr Watts) and the Deputy Leader of the House.