Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robin Walker and John Bercow

Thursday 27th April 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op)]

Will the Minister stop reading his brief and speak from the heart? I have two sets of workers in Huddersfield. Many people work in financial services for Lloyds, and their jobs are in peril. I also have a large number of people who work in the national health service, and the Government are doing nothing to stop the cruel closure of the Huddersfield infirmary. Will the Minister do something about my financial sector workers and my health workers, with the EU catastrophe arriving soon?

[Mr Speaker]

My counsel would be to stick to the financial services industry.

[Mr Walker]

I will follow your guidance, Mr Speaker.

I am delighted that the Government are standing up for every sector of our economy, including the financial services sector. The hon. Gentleman neatly points out that the financial services sector matters not only in the City of London but throughout the country, in constituencies such as his. We will fight for those jobs; unfortunately, every Labour Government in history has destroyed jobs.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Walker]

The Government’s position has been very clear: we are a member of the European economic area as a consequence of our European Union membership, and we respect the position of European leaders that the four freedoms underpinning the European Union are inseparable. We are leaving the European Union, but we will seek to form a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement between the UK and the EU.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Sir Edward Leigh.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robin Walker and John Bercow

Thursday 26th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Walker]

I look forward to the lesson.

[Mr Speaker]

What a fortunate fellow the Minister is!

[Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central) (Lab)]

The Secretary of State provided some clarity on his priorities for access to the single market in response to questions on Tuesday’s statement. He told the right hon. Member for Broxtowe (Anna Soubry) that he was seeking

“a comprehensive free trade agreement and a comprehensive customs agreement that will deliver the exact same benefits as we have”. —[Official Report, 24 January 2017; Vol. 620, c. 169.]

He meant the “exact same benefits” as those of being inside the single market. Will the Minister confirm that that is his Department’s negotiating position so that we can measure the Department’s success against it?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robin Walker and John Bercow

Thursday 1st December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Robin Walker]

As the hon. Lady knows, the Treasury has already given strong assurances up to 2020, beyond the period of our exiting the EU. That is an important signal to SMEs, universities and others that they should continue bidding for the scheme. The current EU budget and the framework for Horizon 2020 runs only up to 2020.

[Mr Speaker]

On the principle of humanitarian assistance to the involuntarily delayed, I call Mr Henry Smith.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robin Walker and John Bercow

Wednesday 6th July 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Robin Walker (Worcester) (Con)]

Right from the start, this United Kingdom has been an outward looking international trading nation. I am glad to see that the Trade Minister, Lord Price—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The hon. Member for Worcester is entitled to be heard and his constituents are entitled to be represented.

[Mr Walker]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am glad to see the Minister for Trade and Investment out in Hong Kong today talking up the prospects for investment in the British economy, but what steps can the Prime Minister take to bolster the resources available to UK Trade & Investment and the Foreign Office to make sure we attract as much trade and investment in the wide world as possible?

Trade Union Bill (Discussions)

Debate between Robin Walker and John Bercow

Thursday 28th April 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

It is true that the noble Lord Cormack is a very special “parli-a-mentarian”.

[Mr Robin Walker (Worcester) (Con)]

As the grandson of a trade union shop steward who went on to become a Conservative activist and whose son made it to the other place, I can say to the Minister that he has had correspondence on this issue from Government Members raising the concerns of their constituents who also happen to be trade unionists. May I thank him for listening in relation to that correspondence and paying attention to it? It is a profoundly Conservative principle not just to get through the business in our manifesto, but to engage with the other place to improve it.

Right to Buy

Debate between Robin Walker and John Bercow

Monday 12th October 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Robin Walker (Worcester) (Con)]

Perhaps I should declare a family interest, as my late father was one of the authors of the original right to buy policy.

[Mr Speaker]

That is why I called the hon. Gentleman first.

[Mr Walker]

You are very kind, Mr Speaker.

I congratulate the Minister on his statement. Having raised the concerns of my constituents in housing association properties, I am delighted that this voluntary deal has been reached.

The Minister may be interested to know that Sanctuary Housing, which is the largest registered social landlord in the country and whose headquarters are in my constituency, has said not only that it thinks that the deal can be delivered with one-for-one replacement, but that it believes it can increase the supply of affordable housing over the next five years at almost twice the rate that it has been able to deliver over the last five years.