Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Monday 26th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Ind)]

14. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the size of the Royal Navy surface fleet.

[Mr Speaker]

I suggest the hon. Member for Gloucester (Richard Graham) seeks to piggy-back on this question, as that will aid the efficiency of our proceedings.

Monarch Airlines

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Monday 9th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

As the MP for Luton North, I represent many of those who have lost their jobs, and I have to say that, had the company been in public ownership—with proper transparency and accountability to Parliament—I suspect that this would not have happened. [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order.

[Kelvin Hopkins]

My concern is that, when the company collapsed, the assets had almost all disappeared, so there was very little financial value in the assets of the company. Was this to benefit shareholders and owners, and how much money has the state effectively paid out that the owners and shareholders should have been accountable for?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Thursday 14th September 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Stella Creasy? Not here. I call Kelvin Hopkins.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

6. What recent discussions her Department has had with the National Trust on its stewardship of places of cultural value and heritage.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Tuesday 18th July 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

There was I thinking that the hon. Member for North East Somerset (Mr Rees-Mogg) was taking an interest in energy saving because he has six children. Apparently not.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

Have not the Government actually cut support for solar because, together with new storage technologies, it threatens to become so successful that it would kill off any case for horrendously expensive nuclear?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Tuesday 25th April 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Well done!

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

21. What steps she is taking to review mental health provision in prisons.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Monday 6th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

3. What assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of current legislation on controlling and coercive behaviour; and if she will make a statement.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Minister Newton.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Monday 6th February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

One last question—the voice of Luton North, Mr Kelvin Hopkins.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

14. What comparative assessment she has made of the sixth-form education system in England and education systems in other countries.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Tuesday 1st November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I say very gently to the hon. Member for Dumfries and Galloway (Richard Arkless) that I am sure his constituency has many magnificent merits but it is a long way from Chelmsford.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

4. What steps she is taking to assess the effect of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 on access to justice.

[The Minister for Courts and Justice (Sir Oliver Heald)]

The coalition Government promised to review parts 1 and 2 of the Act and we remain committed to undertaking that review.

Parliamentary Sovereignty and EU Renegotiations

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Thursday 4th February 2016 Commons Chamber

[Kate Hoey]

I am saying that my hon. Friend provides a reason why the trade union movement and trade unionists across the country are catching on to this more and more. Is this not why trade unionists are speaking out and beginning to join and get involved in the campaign to leave?

[Kelvin Hopkins]

Yes.

[Mr Speaker]

Excellent. I was about to say that a single -sentence answer would suffice, but the hon. Gentleman has provided a one-word sentence—magnificent!

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Thursday 26th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Last but not least, I call Kelvin Hopkins.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

12. What assessment he has made of the effect on the balance of trade of depreciation of the euro.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Monday 9th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

Would the Secretary of State like to thank the former Labour Government—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Mr Hopkins is on his feet, seeking to ask a question in his normally robust but courteous manner, and being shouted down by a Member on his own Benches. That is not satisfactory. I want to hear Mr Hopkins; the people of Luton North want to hear Mr Hopkins, the nation wants to hear Mr Hopkins.

[Kelvin Hopkins]

I am most grateful to you, Mr Speaker, for that help. Would the Secretary of State like to thank the former Labour Government for keeping Britain out of the euro, which is the principal cause of the devastation of the southern European members of the eurozone?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Thursday 5th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I confess that I have several ideas on that front. I will send the hon. Member for Daventry (Chris Heaton-Harris) a copy of my lecture to the Hansard Society of last Monday. If he fancies a cup of tea with me at any time I am happy to encourage him.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

I speak as a member both of the Public Administration Committee and of the European Scrutiny Committee. Does the Leader of the House accept that the effectiveness of such Committees depends more on the Government responding to their conclusions and recommendations than on what the Select Committees do?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Tuesday 16th December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I think that the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) regards “faffing around” to be a technical expression.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

The Ministry of Justice has massively upgraded its prediction for the prison population, which could be up to 100,000 by 2020. Does that suggest a total failure by the Government to take seriously the reduction of reoffending, and was privatising the probation service precisely the wrong policy?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Monday 7th July 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Last but not least, I call Kelvin Hopkins.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

Alcohol continues to be implicated in a high proportion of crime, especially crimes of violence. When will the Government take effective steps to reduce levels of alcohol abuse and the associated crime?

High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill: Select Committee

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Tuesday 29th April 2014 Commons Chamber

[Kelvin Hopkins]

On that important point, if someone whose views are different from one’s own is abused, that is not the right way to approach politics. We should address the arguments and not commit sins by making ad hominem attacks, to use the Latin phrase. When people have serious concerns about their lives or the environment, they should not be abused. They should be listened to and perhaps if their arguments are wrong they can be countered, but they should not be abused.

[Mr Speaker]

It must be said that there is no better practitioner of that principle in this House than the hon. Gentleman. Whatever is said about anything else, I feel sure that his proposition will command universal assent.

Business of the House

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Thursday 12th December 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I remind the House that Members’ questions should bear some relation to next week’s business. That is the essence of business questions. I know we will be led along the path of virtue on that matter by Mr Kelvin Hopkins.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

Last week it was reported that one in five hospital admissions are a result of alcohol abuse, and thousands of babies are still born every year damaged by alcohol consumed during the mother’s pregnancy. May I ask the Leader of the House for a debate on the Floor of the House in Government time on our serious and growing alcohol problems, and what the Government propose to do about them?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Monday 9th September 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call Theresa Pearce. Not here.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

5. What his policy is on the use of unqualified teachers in schools.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Thursday 4th July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am keen to get through another half a dozen questions, if possible, so we need to speed up.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

Does the Secretary of State agree that the best possible reform of the CAP would be to return agricultural policy to member states? Will the issue of agriculture be on the table when the Prime Minister renegotiates our relationship with Europe?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Thursday 7th March 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We are all now better informed.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

The common fisheries policy was described recently by a continental EU politician as a “disaster”, so those of us in the UK who take that view are not alone. Is it not the case that monitoring fishing in EU waters, including discards, cannot be effective until those waters are returned to the historic boundaries of member states?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Tuesday 5th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I do not know whether the Minister wants an Adjournment debate on the subject, but I am sorry to tell him that that answer was far too long. We need to speed up.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

2. What assessment his Department has made of the effect of his proposals for the probation service on low and medium-risk offenders.

EU Criminal Policy

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Wednesday 25th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. This is a very simple point of order on the documentation for this debate. Page 2 refers to the Chairman of the European Select Committee. There is no such Committee; it is the European Scrutiny Committee. I think it is an important distinction.

[Mr Speaker]

It is an important distinction, and I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for drawing it. I suspect that the hon. Member for Stone (Mr Cash), who chairs the Committee, will be even more grateful to him.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Tuesday 1st November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call Kelvin Hopkins.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

Next question.

Global Economy

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Thursday 11th August 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I appeal to colleagues to ask single, short supplementary questions without preamble, so that we can maximise the number of contributors.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

The frightening instability of the world economy has arisen since, and as a result of, the abandoning of the post-war arrangements decided at Bretton Woods, and the liberalisation and globalisation of finance capital. Part of that arrangement was that each country had its own currency and managed its own economy within international rules. Would it not be sensible to move back in that direction by establishing national currencies within the eurozone and starting again where we left off?

Draft Financial Services Bill (Joint Committee)

Debate between John Bercow and Kelvin Hopkins

Monday 18th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[John Mann]

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for that helpful guidance.

The final point that I wish to make in relation to the amendment is that the randomness of selection of an individual member to remove can have many motives and be for many reasons. This important proposal by the Government is fundamentally flawed in its make-up, as I have outlined, being English only and male only, with the Committee meeting as a priority during the summer and being a Joint Committee with the House of Lords.

The weakness of the usual channels, inspired by Government and the Government’s timetabling, has meant that we have not been able to have this debate without amendment. I therefore urge that in future when such matters are before the House, they should not be tabled to be nodded through at 10 pm with no debate or require objections from individual Members or groups of Members in order to stop that process, requiring an amendment to allow a debate both on the amendment and on the issues underlying the make-up of the Committee and the flawed and biased decision of Government in that regard. That is the Government’s responsibility. We as a House have a responsibility to hold the Government to account and to ensure that they do not get away with such sloppiness in their programming of legislation that they put legislation—

[Kelvin Hopkins]

I am rather disappointed that my hon. Friend seems to be coming to the end of his speech, which I am enjoying so much. Does he agree that there are far too many tight programme motions in the Chamber and that we should have more thorough debates to make sure that every point can be thoroughly discussed, as my hon. Friend is doing?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. That is a most interesting intervention, but sadly it has absolutely nothing to do with the establishment, composition or remit of the Joint Committee on the Draft Financial Services Bill.