Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Lord Watts Excerpts
Thursday 7th July 2011

(12 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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My hon. Friend raises an important issue that I hope the Dilnot report will begin to address. At some point we need a serious discussion about how we will fund residential and social care in future, in order to avoid the sort of decisions to which he has just referred.

Lord Watts Portrait Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North) (Lab)
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May we have an urgent debate or statement from the Prime Minister on the phone hacking scandal, to give him the opportunity to say how he will remove himself from any inquiry, given his close relationship with the Murdoch corporation? Secondly, will the Leader of the House give an assurance that any investigation will be run by a judge and not by one of the Prime Minister’s cronies?

Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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On the second issue, as I said in response to the shadow Leader of the House, we are consulting Opposition party leaders and others about the precise terms of reference and composition of the inquiry. The hon. Gentleman asked for a statement by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was at the Dispatch Box yesterday, and he indeed made such a statement.