Oral Answers to Questions

Fiona O'Donnell Excerpts

Wednesday 16th July 2014 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

It is good that a debate is being held. I am sure it will be worth while reading the report of the debate that will take place on Friday in the other place. I am very happy for a debate to be held here, and there are opportunities for Back Benchers to secure debates in the Chamber. I am sure that the new Leader of the House of Commons—I am sure we all want to welcome him to his place—will be listening carefully to that request. I myself am not convinced that further steps need to be taken. I worry about legalising euthanasia because people might be pushed into things that they do not actually want for themselves, but by all means let us have the debate.

[Fiona O'Donnell (East Lothian) (Lab)]

Returning to the issue of taxes and the wealthy, when will the Prime Minister keep his promise and publish his tax return?

[The Prime Minister]

On the subject of taxes and middle-income people, when will we get an answer from Labour about what the deputy Leader of the party meant when she said—let me repeat it again for the record:

“I think people on middle incomes should contribute more through their taxes”?

As we go into the summer, there is one party in this House with a big tax problem, and I am looking at it.

Oral Answers to Questions

Fiona O'Donnell Excerpts

Wednesday 26th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Pat Glass (North West Durham) (Lab)]

3. What steps she is taking to ensure a positive outcome from the Haass talks; and if she will make a statement.

[Fiona O'Donnell (East Lothian) (Lab)]

8. What recent progress has been made on the Haass talks.

[Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East) (Lab)]

10. What steps she is taking to ensure a positive outcome from the Haass talks; and if she will make a statement.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mrs Villiers]

Both the Irish and the UK Governments are strongly supportive of the efforts made by the Northern Ireland parties to reach agreement on those three matters, including the past. I cannot anticipate exactly what will be in the communiqué, but I am sure that the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach will continue to express their support for the process, and the Tanaiste, Eamon Gilmore, continues to be in close touch with me on these matters.

[Fiona O'Donnell]

Does the Secretary of State agree with Amnesty International that any mechanism for dealing with the past has to be fully human rights compliant, not a patchwork? What legislation and resources does she think will be required to achieve that?

[Mrs Villiers]

Of course, any new structures would have to be compliant with the UK’s obligations under the Human Rights Act. As for resources, as I have said on a number of occasions, the UK Government would primarily expect the block grant given to the Northern Ireland Executive to be the source of funding for new arrangements on the past. If there is a proposal for additional funding, that would be considered seriously.

Oral Answers to Questions

Fiona O'Donnell Excerpts

Wednesday 4th July 2012 Commons Chamber

The Prime Minister was asked—

[Fiona O'Donnell (East Lothian) (Lab)]

Q1. If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 4 July.

[The Prime Minister (Mr David Cameron)]

I am sure that the whole House will wish to join me in paying tribute to the three British servicemen who were killed in Afghanistan in the appalling incident on Sunday, Guardsman Apete Tuisovurua and Guardsman Craig Roderick of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards and Warrant Officer Class 2 Leonard Thomas of the Royal Corps of Signals. We send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the servicemen who were killed in that tragic incident. They will never be forgotten by our nation.

This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall have further such meetings later today.

[Fiona O'Donnell]

I am sure that the whole House will want to associate itself with the Prime Minister’s remarks and to send our deepest condolences to the families of the crew from RAF Lossiemouth who were lost earlier this week.

Food prices rose by 4.6% between March last year and this year. I understand why, so will the Prime Minister spare me the lecture and tell the House what he is doing about food inflation?