Commons Chamber House of Commons Tuesday 17 December 2019 The House met at half-past Two o’clock The House met on the first day of this Parliament, pursuant to Proclamation. John Benger, Clerk of the House of Commons, Sarah Davies, Clerk Assistant, and Colin Lee, Principal Clerk of the Table Office, attended in the House, and the other Clerks attended, according to their duty. Sir Richard Heaton, Deputy Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great Britain, delivered to the said John Benger a book containing a list of the Members returned to serve in this Parliament. Sir Peter Bottomley, the Member for Worthing West, took the Chair (Standing Order No. 1). Message to attend the Lords Commissioners Message to attend the Lords Commissioners delivered by the Lady Usher of the Black Rod. The House went up to hear the Commission for opening and holding the Parliament, and the Lords Commissioners directed the House to proceed to the Election of a Speaker and to present the Speaker-Elect in the House of Peers for the Royal Approbation. The House returned. Election of Speaker Sir Peter Bottomley (in the Chair) Under the provisions of Standing Order No. 1A, I am now required to ascertain whether Sir Lindsay Hoyle is willing to be chosen as Speaker. 14:48:00 Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley) (Ind) First, I would like to thank the constituents of Chorley for allowing me to put myself forward as Speaker, and I would also like to welcome all the new Members to the House. May I offer many congratulations to you on your new role as Father of the House, Sir Peter? Of course, this is nothing new to your family; as you know, you have great history in this Room. You have served this place and your constituents for 44 and a half years—it just goes to show all the newcomers that this really can be a job for life—[Laughter.] And I do not think this is the end just yet. It has been an absolute privilege to serve as a Deputy Speaker for the past nine years and as Speaker for a full two days; I have to say that that made the election pretty easy. Of course, Parliament was dissolved last month and it would be an honour to serve again in this Parliament—I hope that this time it would be for a little longer. As I have said before, a Speaker has to be trusted, and I believe I was trusted as Deputy Speaker. I have a proven track record of being impartial, independent and fair, allowing Members to exercise their right to speak regardless of the length of their service. [Interruption.] I would have thought the new MPs would have given me a bit of a boost on that—do not let those who have been here a lot longer start dictating already! Having served on the Back Benches for 13 years myself, I understand how important it is for Back Benchers to be able to hold the Government to account and to promote the causes that are dear to them. On that basis, I submit myself to the House as your Speaker and your champion. I will ensure that my office is open to all. 14:50:00 Lisa Nandy (Wigan) (Lab) I beg to move, That Sir Lindsay Hoyle do take the Chair of this House as Speaker. I am delighted to propose someone who has been a great friend, not just to me but for many of us from all parts of the House. When I arrived in this place nearly 10 years ago as a newly elected MP, it was a daunting experience. For those of us who have not spent most of our lives in buildings like these, it can be incredibly overwhelming. As the former Member for North West Durham, Laura Pidcock, said when she arrived, this place reeks of privilege. Finding our confidence and our voice for our constituents takes practice and time, but it also takes friendship and support from other people. It should be of comfort to all new Members of this House to know that they will find a great friend in our Speaker. With his typical Lancashire warmth, Members will always find his door open for a mug of Yorkshire tea—[Interruption]—and, of course, a Hobnob. A few years ago I was told the story of when Lindsay arrived unannounced, as he often does, in another MP’s office. He sat down and said, “Right, put the kettle on then.” “Yorkshire tea?” said the MP. “Absolutely,” said Lindsay, with enthusiasm, adding, “There are only two good things about Yorkshire: the tea and the M62 taking you back to Lancashire.” [Laughter.] If any Yorkshire MPs would like to change their minds, now is the time, but I am sure they will not, because above all else Lindsay has always been a fair and non-partisan Deputy Speaker, even to those who hail from God’s own country. He knows that to privilege some voices over others is to silence people in our communities up and down the country. Lindsay can take his lack of partisanship a little bit too far. In 2017, he asked me to come and launch his general election campaign in what was then his marginal constituency of Chorley. It is one junction on the motorway from Wigan to Chorley. I was driving down the motorway and I started to see these enormous billboards looming up out of the distance: great big blue billboards saying, “For a strong and stable Chorley”. I started to panic and thought, “My God, they are targeting this place. Lindsay hasn’t got a hope. I have to get there, motivate his supporters and get people out.” Then, I looked closer, and on these billboards was Lindsay’s face: “Vote Lindsay Hoyle for a strong and stable Chorley”. I think the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) will be pleased to have inspired such mischief. That slogan may not have worked out so well for the other side, but it certainly worked out well for Lindsay, who was returned to this place and became Deputy Speaker again. Lindsay has always made the effort to work with people and respect people from all sides of the House. Many of us on the Opposition Benches are deeply saddened by the loss from this place of our friend, the former MP for Bolsover, but it is a comfort to know that Lindsay has a cat named Dennis Skinner. The House should be reassured that he never picks sides: he also has a parrot called Boris. There is a more serious point to make. When we chose Lindsay Hoyle to be our Speaker, someone back home said to me, “I can’t believe that he was allowed to do it.” Wigan and Chorley are right next door to each other, and they are towns where people have felt for a very long time that things are not working for them. Just let that sink in for a moment: “I can’t believe that he was allowed to do it.” What does it say about how people feel in those communities—communities that have just sent shock waves through the political system, many changing hands for the first time in 100 years? What does it say that they see Parliament as a whole as a bastion of privilege, where ordinary people like them cannot wield power? All of us in the House, whether we have won or lost, have done this place a service by electing to be our face and our voice someone who people many miles distant from here see as one of their own. Many of us in this place have known for some time that the system is not working. I have had those conversations in the Division Lobby and behind closed doors with Members of Parliament from all political parties. We can feel the ground crumbling beneath our feet. We have seen it and we have felt it, and we must give voice to it. That is why I am relieved, proud and honoured to propose that Sir Lindsay Hoyle takes the Chair today. Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 1A), That Sir Lindsay Hoyle do take the Chair of this House as Speaker. Question put and agreed to. Sir Peter Bottomley left the Chair, and Sir Lindsay Hoyle was conducted to the Chair by Lisa Nandy and Mr Nigel Evans. Mr Speaker-Elect (standing on the upper step): Before I take the Chair as Speaker-Elect, I wish first to thank the House for the honour that it has again bestowed upon me. I am aware that it is the greatest honour it can give to any of its Members. I pray that I shall justify its continuing confidence and I propose to do all within my power to preserve and to cherish its best traditions. The Speaker-Elect sat down in the Chair and the Mace was placed upon the Table. Mr Speaker-Elect Before I call the Prime Minister, I just say that we have a very busy day ahead of us, with further ceremony in the House of Lords and most returning hon. Members having to be sworn in. I therefore encourage short speeches from party leaders and discourage other Members from seeking to catch my eye. As much as I would like to bask, it is more important to get Members sworn in. That is my commitment to the House. 14:57:00 The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson) Mr Speaker-Elect, I am sure that the whole House will join me in sending condolences to the families and friends of Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones, who were murdered in the terrorist attack near London Bridge during the election campaign. We pay tribute once again to the emergency services and to members of the public for the bravery they showed. Mr Speaker-Elect, I congratulate you on your office, and the hon. Member for Wigan (Lisa Nandy) who has just spoken. I do not know about you, Mr Speaker-Elect, as you survey the House from your eminence, with the characteristic beam that has brought you such deserved popularity, but I mean no disrespect to those who are no longer with us when I say that I think this Parliament is a vast improvement on its predecessor. Indeed, I would say it is one of the best Parliaments that this country has ever produced, with more female Members than ever before and more black and minority ethnic Members than ever before. It is also, incarnated in your person, Mr Speaker-Elect, a vastly more democratic Parliament, because it will not waste the nation’s time in deadlock, division and delay. On Friday, this Parliament will put the withdrawal agreement in the popty ping, as we say in Wales. Then this new democratic Parliament—this people’s Parliament—is going to do something. I wonder, Mr Speaker-Elect, if you can guess what it is. What is this Parliament going to do? We are going to get Brexit done. [Hon. Members: “Get Brexit done.”] Even your parrot would be able to recite that one by now. We are going to get on with delivering the priorities of the British people—transforming the NHS; investing massively in education and the police; and uniting and levelling up across the whole UK. It is my belief that most hon. Members in this House believe we should resist the calls of those who would break up the United Kingdom. As the Parliament of the United Kingdom, we should politely and respectfully defend that partnership and the Union. I can tell the House that, after three and a half years of wrangling and division, the Government will do whatever we can to reach out across the House to find common ground, to heal the divisions of our country and to find a new and generous spirit in which we conduct all our political dealings with one another that will last beyond the immediate season of Christmas goodwill. In that spirit, Mr Speaker-Elect, I congratulate you once again on your election and I look forward to the months and years ahead under your guidance. 15:01:00 Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) (Lab) May I join the Prime Minister in remembering the horror of what happened at London Bridge just three weeks ago? It is the third time in the last two general election campaigns that we have witnessed appalling and depraved terrorist attacks on our communities. Our hearts must go out to the families of Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt. When the Prime Minister and I attended a memorial event at the Guildhall, I had the honour of meeting many of the students who had been at college with Jack, and they were just devastated. In his memory, they wanted his work and his message to carry on. We should also remember the very good words of his father David about how proud he was of his son on that day. That attack was an attempt to damage our democracy, to halt the process. It did not succeed and it never should succeed, because we have to make sure that our democracy is fully intact. I would like to offer my congratulations to the Prime Minister on winning the election and being returned to office, and I want to pay tribute to those Members, from my party particularly, who sadly lost their seats in the election and therefore will not be here. In particular, although many will be remembered, obviously Dennis Skinner is somebody who comes very much to mind on this occasion. In the campaign, the Prime Minister made many promises and therefore has tremendous responsibilities to live up to. He will be judged on whether he keeps those promises by the communities that he has made them to. Our job in the Labour party will be to hold the Government to account and stand up for the communities we represent and for the more than 10 million people who voted for our party in the general election. Because that is what parliamentary democracy is about—holding the Government to account and representing the people who sent us here on their behalf. I also offer my congratulations to the hon. Member for Worthing West (Sir Peter Bottomley) on taking up his position as Father of the House. I first encountered him at the Woolwich West by-election in 1975. I was a trade union organiser at the time, and I made a very strong recommendation to all the members of my union that they should vote for the Labour candidate, not him. Some of them went to see him, came back and said—it was quite embarrassing—“He seems such a very nice man. We might well vote for him.” I do not want to tarnish his reputation further, but whenever I was trying in the past to get an all-party consensus together on an early-day motion—sometimes a difficult task—he would often give it a Conservative character by supporting such moves. I thank him for that and wish him well as Father of the House. May I take this opportunity to welcome all newly elected Members to the House? It is a very daunting day for them—their first day here after being elected to this place on behalf of their constituents, with all the responsibility that goes with that. There is no greater honour than to be elected to this House to represent our constituents, and one of the greatest strengths of our political system is that every one of us represents a community and every one of us has a constituency. We are here to represent the homeless and the desperate as well as those who are better off and lead more comfortable existences. We are here to represent all of them, and that surely ought to be the watchword of our House and our democracy. This is the first time that a majority of Labour MPs are women, and I congratulate them all on being elected. Twenty of the 26 newly elected Labour MPs are women, which compares rather favourably with the Conservative party’s performance in that regard. This is also the most diverse Parliament in history, and I am proud that 41 of the 65 black and minority ethnic MPs are on the Labour Benches. I know they will do a fantastic job representing their constituencies and wider community interests. Finally, Mr Speaker-Elect, I offer my warmest congratulations to you as you resume your place in the Speaker’s Chair. It is great to see you back. Your role goes beyond the pomp and ceremony, as you well understand. I am keen to work with you, as many others are, on all the issues facing this House. This House cannot function without Members’ staff and House staff—security, administration, caterers, cleaners and officials—who do so much good work here; they all make a contribution to ensure that our democracy functions properly. But there is also enormous pressure on MPs, staff and many others, and I know that you take very seriously the mental health and wellbeing of us all. I hope that we in this House ensure that that is taken seriously. Mr Speaker-Elect, there are portraits of all your predecessors in Speaker’s House. One of the most famous, of course, is Speaker Lenthall, who resisted the autocracy of Charles I in support of the freedoms of Parliament. Our democracy needs you as a Speaker who will stand firm against abuses of power by the Executive or anybody else. In doing so, you are defending the rights not just of this House, but of millions of people who put their faith in a democratic system to elect a Parliament, and therefore a Government, who are answerable to them. Our rights and freedoms are always precious, but also often precarious. Democracy is not a given. It is something that we have to extend and defend. I am sure that you, in your role as Speaker-Elect—and hopefully Speaker very soon—will do exactly that. I congratulate you on your election and look forward to working with you. 15:07:00 Sir Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) (Con) The whole House will want to join in the expression of the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister about the tragedy at Fishmongers’ Hall and London Bridge. Let me tell the Leader of the Opposition that he only heard half the Woolwich West story, since I was a member of the 1/128 branch of the Transport and General Workers’ Union in Transport House and knew quite a lot about what was going on. For instance, I knew which MPs were not standing again—such as Peter Shore—because they had not applied for re-sponsorship and the like. It was a marvellous experience for me. Let me also say to the Leader of the Opposition that none of us is always right and none of us is always wrong; and on the issues where he and I have agreed, I think we have been right. Mr Speaker-Elect, the advice that you might give in private—but which I will give in public—to those joining us for the first or even the second time is that they should listen to their Whips, obey the Chair, think of the interests of their constituency and the nation, and do what they think is right. I think that is the kind of thing that Speakers would remind us to do. May I conclude by saying that there are many good things to say about many of your predecessors, but I do not think that any of them have been such a welcome choice as Speaker, and Speaker again, as you? 15:08:00 Ian Blackford (Ross, Skye and Lochaber) (SNP) May I associate myself with the remarks of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition about the absolutely dreadful attacks at Fishmongers’ Hall and London Bridge? We must all stand together against terrorism and stand up together for democracy. Mr Speaker-Elect, the expanded SNP Westminster group welcomes you to your new role. In the previous Parliament, I appreciated the fair and balanced approach taken by the last Speaker, and I have no doubt that you will conduct proceedings with the same vigour and transparency. These are uncertain and challenging times. The public are now looking to this place for leadership. We owe it to all those who put their trust in us to conduct debate here with respect and to treat each other with dignity. I give you, Mr Speaker-Elect, the best wishes from the Scottish National party, and I look forward to taking on the case for Scotland in this new Parliament with integrity and with dignity. All the very best to you, Mr Speaker-Elect. 15:10:00 Sir Edward Davey (Kingston and Surbiton) (LD) May I, Mr Speaker-Elect, give you heartfelt congratulations from those on the Liberal Democrat Benches and wish you the very best as you manage the proceedings of this House? In your election in the last Parliament, you struck a chord with many Members when you spoke about improving the security of Members, staff and our families. It is sad to say that you were right to lead on this, not least as we remember the two young victims of the terrorist attack on London Bridge—Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt, two young people dedicated to helping others to whom we should pay tribute today as this House returns. Mr Speaker-Elect, I was delighted that in your acceptance speech before the election you spoke eloquently and positively about the speaking rights of smaller parties. I can assure you, Sir, that Liberal Democrat Members want to make their voices heard, not least on behalf of the 3.7 million people who voted for us last Thursday. Under proportional voting, we would now easily be the third largest party in this House with 70 MPs—a fact that I know, Sir, you will take account of. You will appreciate, Mr Speaker-Elect, that the past few days have been difficult for my colleagues and I, having seen our friend Jo Swinson lose her seat. Jo consistently said during the election that there is an issue even bigger than Brexit—namely, the climate emergency. On these Benches, we will be seeking your help as we raise this issue and argue for the radical climate change policies that Jo advocated. Thank you, Mr Speaker-Elect. 15:12:00 Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley) (DUP) On behalf of the Democratic Unionist party, Mr Speaker-Elect, I want to associate ourselves with the remarks of the Prime Minister. Coming from Northern Ireland, we know all too well the impact that terrorism can have and the devastation it wreaks on families, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of that atrocity. I congratulate you, Mr Speaker-Elect, on your re-election as Speaker. We regard you as someone who is fair and upholds the rights of all Members in this House, and we look forward to working with you. I also congratulate the Prime Minister and the Conservative party on their victory in the election. We look forward to working with them going forward, particularly in relation to the matters that the Prime Minister spoke of—the Union of our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. As the Prime Minister takes forward his proposals on Brexit, we want to ensure that Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom is secured and that the economic, political and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom is respected. May I, Mr Speaker-Elect, pay tribute to my colleagues the former Members for Belfast North, Nigel Dodds, and for Belfast South, Emma Little-Pengelly, who are not with us but who made a massive contribution to the work of this House in the last Parliament—and indeed, in the case of Nigel, over many years? I welcome my hon. Friend the Member for Upper Bann (Carla Lockhart) to our ranks, but also the other Members from Northern Ireland who are today taking their seats for the first time in this House. We welcome the fact that they are here and take their seats—unlike others—and will no doubt make a contribution to this House and to the democratic process. So, Mr Speaker-Elect, we wish you and all colleagues well in this Parliament. We look forward to outlining the voice of Northern Ireland along with our colleagues and ensuring that our place in this Union is secure. 15:14:00 Liz Saville Roberts (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC) Diolch yn fawr, Mr Darpar-Lefarydd, a llongyfarchiadau i chi yn eich parchus, arswydus swydd newydd. Thank you, Mr Speaker-Elect, and congratulations to you on your respected, sublime new role. I and many people here were present on 22 March 2017, and there is no doubt in my mind that the leadership and care that you showed us on that day have inevitably given us the faith to return you with pleasure today. Of course, we sympathise with all the victims of terrorist attacks in the intervening time. Let me take the opportunity to call on you, Mr Speaker-Elect, to work with the Llywydd in our Senedd in Wales, the Presiding Officer in the Scottish Parliament and the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly in the spirit of equality and mutual respect. I call on you also to continue to develop the principles of equality, including equality of voice and equality of opportunity, much of which was upheld in the Speaker’s intern scheme, an excellent scheme that has brought people into this place who would not otherwise have had the opportunity. I close by saying that all Members here were returned in exactly the same way: by their—our—constituents. Those constituents all stand equal, regardless of whether their MP is a member of the Government or the Opposition; of a large party or a small party; or, indeed, the single representative here. All those constituents are equal and they deserve respect. I have every confidence, Mr Speaker-Elect, that you will ensure that their representatives here will have that equality of voice so that they can best represent their constituents. 15:16:00 Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion) (Green) I join those who have paid tribute to the two young people who were tragically killed on London bridge. Mr Speaker-Elect, on behalf of an admittedly small party, but one with a lot of ambition, I should like to add my congratulations to you. I know from my own experience just how serious you are when you say that you will champion the interests of all of us from smaller parties. With our democracy being tested to its limits in recent months, I look forward to seeing your strong sense of fairness prevail, so that we can ensure that we hold the Executive to account, especially by continuing to uphold your long tradition of giving Back Benchers the opportunities to be heard and to play our part, no matter the size of the political party from which we hail. Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South) (Con) I have to signify to the House the pleasure of Her Majesty that the House should present their Speaker this day at 3.45 pm in the House of Peers for Her Majesty’s Royal Approbation. Mr Speaker-Elect The House is suspended until 3.45 pm. 15:17:00 Sitting suspended. 15:52:00 On resuming— MESSAGE TO ATTEND THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS Message to attend the Lords Commissioners delivered by the Lady Usher of the Black Rod. The Speaker-Elect, with the House, went up to be presented to the Lords Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Royal Approbation; and returned. Mr Speaker I have to report that this House has been in the House of Lords where Her Majesty has been pleased, by Her Majesty’s Commissioners, to approve the choice made of myself for the office of Speaker. My first duty to the House is to repeat my respectful acknowledgements and my grateful thanks for the great honour you have conferred on me in placing me in the Chair, and to renew the assurances of my entire devotion to the service of this House. Members Sworn Mr Speaker I must now call on the Members of the House, according to the usual custom, to take the Oath of Allegiance or to affirm at the Table of the House, first doing so myself. The Speaker first, alone, standing on the upper step of the Chair, took and subscribed the Oath required by law. Mr Speaker I should remind hon. Members that, until they take the Oath or affirm, they must not sit during any debate or vote in any Division of the House, and they will not receive any salary—a big temptation. The arrangements for swearing in are as set out in the Chamber information sheet and a guidance note is also available from the Table Office and the Vote Office. I propose to call first the Father of the House, then members of the Cabinet, then members of the shadow Cabinet, then all Privy Counsellors not included in those two groups, wherever they may be sitting, and then other Ministers. Thereafter, I shall call other hon. Members broadly according to the Parliament of their first entry, or, for those with broken service, that of their most recent entry. The first batch will be those who have been Members since before the 2010 election. Thereafter, I shall proceed to call Members by successive Parliaments. I do not expect to call new Members until tomorrow. I propose to remain in the Chair until 5.45 today and to return at 6.45, continuing until 8.45, with a later session if necessary. The House will sit again tomorrow at 11.30. I propose to be in the Chair for swearing in tomorrow from 11.30 until 1.30, to return at 2 until 4, and again from 4.30 until 5.45, with a later session if necessary. I hope that, by the end of tomorrow afternoon, we will have made sufficient progress to enable all Members to swear in who wish to do so. However, if required, we will sit for swearing in at 2 o’clock on Thursday before the opening of the debate on the Queen’s Speech. I remind Members that the swearing in, as a proceeding of the House, is recorded by television cameras: anything said or done by Members may appear on television or be picked up on microphones. It will assist the broadcasters if new Members state their name and constituency when they come to the Dispatch Box. Progress will depend, of course, on the number of Members wishing to swear in at any particular time. I advise Members to watch the annunciators to establish progress, and to speak to their Whips. The following Members took and subscribed the Oath, or made and subscribed the Affirmation required by law: Sir Peter James Bottomley, for Worthing West Right honourable Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, Uxbridge and South Ruislip Right honourable Priti Sushil Patel, Witham Right honourable Dominic Rennie Raab, Esher and Walton Right honourable and learned Robert James Buckland, South Swindon Right honourable Jacob William Rees-Mogg, North East Somerset Right honourable Sajid Javid, Bromsgrove Right honourable Michael Andrew Gove, Surrey Heath Right honourable Thérèse Anne Coffey, Suffolk Coastal Right honourable Mark Steven Spencer, Sherwood Right honourable Robert Edward Jenrick, Newark Right honourable Robert Ben Lobban Wallace, Wyre and Preston North Right honourable Alok Kumar Sharma, Reading West Right honourable Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom, South Northamptonshire Right honourable Brandon Kenneth Lewis, Great Yarmouth Right honourable Grant Shapps, Welwyn Hatfield Right honourable Kwasi Alfred Addo Kwarteng, Spelthorne Right honourable Gavin Alexander Williamson, South Staffordshire Right honourable Elizabeth Mary Truss, South West Norfolk Right honourable Matthew John David Hancock, West Suffolk Right honourable and learned Charles Geoffrey Cox, Torridge and West Devon Right honourable Theresa Anne Villiers, Chipping Barnet Right honourable Rishi Sunak, Richmond (Yorks) Right honourable Oliver James Dowden, Hertsmere Right honourable Stephen Paul Barclay, North East Cambridgeshire Right honourable James Spencer Cleverly, Braintree Right honourable Jeremy Bernard Corbyn, Islington North Right honourable Nicholas Hugh Brown, Newcastle upon Tyne East Right honourable Valerie Carol Marian Vaz, Walsall South Right honourable Diane Julie Abbott, Hackney North and Stoke Newington Jonathan Michael Graham Ashworth, Leicester South Right honourable Emily Thornberry, Islington South and Finsbury Right honourable John Healey, Wentworth and Dearne Dawn Petula Butler, Brent Central Richard Burgon, Leeds East Catherine Jane Smith, Lancaster and Fleetwood Andrew John Gwynne, Denton and Reddish Peter Christopher Dowd, Bootle Nia Rhiannon Griffith, Llanelli Barry Strachan Gardiner, Brent North Andrew Joseph McDonald, Middlesbrough Right honourable Robert Henry Halfon, Harlow Ian Lavery, Wansbeck Afzal Mohammed Khan, Manchester, Gorton Anthony Joseph Lloyd, Rochdale Right honourable Theresa Mary May, Maidenhead Right honourable Dame Cheryl Elise Kendall Gillan, Chesham and Amersham Right honourable Margaret Mary Beckett, Derby South Right honourable and learned Sir Oliver Heald, North East Hertfordshire Right honourable Alexander Jesse Norman, Hereford and South Herefordshire Right honourable Edward Samuel Miliband, Doncaster North Right honourable Dame Rosalie Winterton, Doncaster Central Right honourable Ian Blackford, Ross, Skye and Lochaber Right honourable Hilary James Benn, Leeds Central Right honourable Sir David Anthony Evennett, Bexleyheath and Crayford Right honourable Mark Gino Francois, Rayleigh and Wickford Right honourable James Peter Brokenshire, Old Bexley and Sidcup Right honourable Christopher Stephen Grayling, Epsom and Ewell Right honourable David Michael Davis, Haltemprice and Howden Right honourable Sir Roger James Gale, North Thanet Right honourable Sir Edward Julian Egerton Leigh, Gainsborough Right honourable Sir Desmond Angus Swayne, New Forest West Right honourable Sir George Edward Howarth, Knowsley Right honourable Nicolas John Gibb, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton Barbara Mary Keeley, Worsley and Eccles South Right honourable Stephen Crabb, Preseli Pembrokeshire Right honourable and learned Jeremy Paul Wright, Kenilworth and Southam Right honourable Damian Howard Green, Ashford Right honourable Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes, Romsey and Southampton North Right honourable Julian Murray Lewis, New Forest East Right honourable Maria Frances Lewis Miller, Basingstoke Right honourable David Lindon Lammy, Tottenham Mary Josephine Robinson, Cheadle Right honourable Karen Anne Bradley, Staffordshire Moorlands Right honourable Andrew William Murrison, South West Wiltshire Right honourable Mark James Harper, Forest of Dean Right honourable Philip Martin Dunne, Ludlow Right honourable David Gordon Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale Right honourable David Ian Jones, Clwyd West Right honourable Christopher James Skidmore, Kingswood Right honourable Esther Louise McVey, Tatton Right honourable Sir Edward Jonathon Davey, Kingston and Surbiton Right honourable Alexander Morrison Carmichael, Orkney and Shetland Right honourable Gregory William Hands, Chelsea and Fulham Right honourable Gregory David Clark, Tunbridge Wells Right honourable and learned Harriet Ruth Harman, Camberwell and Peckham Right honourable Dame Margaret Eve Hodge, Barking Barry John Sheerman, Huddersfield Rosemary Elizabeth Cooper, West Lancashire Yasmin Qureshi, Bolton South East Virendra Kumar Sharma, Ealing, Southall Mohammad Yasin, Bedford Karen Patricia Buck, Westminster North Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch, Saffron Walden Julia Louise Lopez, Hornchurch and Upminster Nadine Vanessa Dorries, Mid Bedfordshire Right honourable Jeremy Richard Streynsham Hunt, South West Surrey Right honourable Liam Fox, North Somerset Right honourable Dame Eleanor Fulton Laing, Epping Forest Right honourable Mark Richard Tami, Alyn and Deeside Judith Mary Cummins, Bradford South Lyn Carol Brown, West Ham Jessica Elizabeth Morden, Newport East Shailesh Lakhman Vara, North West Cambridgeshire Stephen William Hammond, Wimbledon Right honourable Stephen Creswell Timms, East Ham Michael Lee Amesbury, Weaver Vale John Derek Twigg, Halton Right honourable George Iain Duncan Smith, Chingford and Woodford Green Iain Aitken Stewart, Milton Keynes South Sir Robert Andrew Raymond Syms, Poole Caroline Julia Dinenage, Gosport Justin Paul Tomlinson, North Swindon Right honourable Owen William Paterson, North Shropshire Right honourable Kevan David Jones, North Durham Right honourable Alan Campbell, Tynemouth Right honourable Penny Mary Mordaunt, Portsmouth North Right honourable and learned Michael Tyrone Ellis, Northampton North Graham Charles Stuart, Beverley and Holderness Right honourable Sir John Henry Hayes, South Holland and The Deepings Victoria Atkins, Louth and Horncastle Right honourable Robert Goodwill, Scarborough and Whitby James McMahon, Oldham West and Royton Stephen James Morgan, Portsmouth South Mark Robert Timothy Garnier, Wyre Forest Andrew James Bridgen, North West Leicestershire Right honourable Damian Patrick George Hinds, East Hampshire Right honourable Alec Shelbrooke, Elmet and Rothwell Wendy Morton, Aldridge-Brownhills Kevin John Foster, Torbay Johanna Peta Churchill, Bury St Edmunds Thomas Christopher John Pursglove, Corby Graham Eric Stringer, Blackley and Broughton Pauline Elizabeth Latham, Mid Derbyshire Angela Eagle, Wallasey Alister William Jack, Dumfries and Galloway Right honourable Samuel Wilson, East Antrim Conor Patrick McGinn, St Helens North Gavin James Robinson, Belfast East Edward John Comport Argar, Charnwood Heather Kay Wheeler, South Derbyshire John David Penrose, Weston-super-Mare Margaret Olivia Hillier, Hackney South and Shoreditch Marie Elizabeth Rimmer, St Helens South and Whiston Catherine Malloy Hollern, Blackburn Right honourable Sir Jeffrey Mark Donaldson, Lagan Valley Richard Michael John Ogilvie Graham, Gloucester Andrew George Stephenson, Pendle Margaret Ann Throup, Erewash Yvonne Helen Fovargue, Makerfield Imran Hussain, Bradford East John Robert Lamont, Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk Douglas Gordon Ross, Moray Right honourable Sir John Alan Redwood, Wokingham James Whiteside Gray, North Wiltshire Sir Graham Stuart Brady, Altrincham and Sale West Robert James MacGillivray Neill, Bromley and Chislehurst Right honourable John Francis Spellar, Warley Maria Eagle, Garston and Halewood Anneliese Jane Dodds, Oxford East Daniel Owen Jarvis, Barnsley Central Right honourable John Martin McDonnell, Hayes and Harlington Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Slough Seema Malhotra, Feltham and Heston Timothy Paul Loughton, East Worthing and Shoreham Sir Charles Ashley Rupert Walker, Broxboume Shabana Mahmood, Birmingham, Ladywood Christina Elizabeth Rees, Neath Christopher John Bryant, Rhondda Alan Patrick Vincent Whitehead, Southampton, Test Christopher Philip James Elmore, Ogmore Carolyn Harris, Swansea East Gerald Jones, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Simon James Hoare, North Dorset Victoria Mary Boswell Prentis, Banbury Robin Caspar Walker, Worcester Craig Whittaker, Calder Valley Lilian Rachel Greenwood, Nottingham South Preet Kaur Gill, Birmingham, Edgbaston Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena, North East Hampshire Leo Docherty, Aldershot Gregory Lloyd Campbell, East Londonderry Right honourable Christopher John Pincher, Tamworth Right honourable Andrew John Bower Mitchell, Sutton Coldfield Catherine McKinnell, Newcastle upon Tyne North Anna Rhiannon McMorrin, Cardiff North Atta-Ur-Rehman Chishti, Gillingham and Rainham Catherine Elizabeth West, Hornsey and Wood Green Jonathan Simon Djanogly, Huntingdon Chinyelu Susan Onwurah, Newcastle upon Tyne Central Paul Stuart Scully, Sutton and Cheam Sir Alexander Paul Beresford, Mole Valley Sir Geoffrey Robert Clifton-Brown, The Cotswolds Right honourable John Flasby Lawrance Whittingdale, Maldon Royston Matthew Smith, Southampton, Itchen Stephen Anthony McPartland, Stevenage Nigel Martin Evans, Ribble Valley William James Quince, Colchester Marcus Charles Jones, Nuneaton Alberto Castrenze Costa, South Leicestershire Sheryll Murray, South East Cornwall Nusrat Munir Ghani, Wealden David Thomas Morris, Morecambe and Lunesdale Andrew Richard Rosindell, Romford Lucy Claire Frazer, South East Cambridgeshire Right honourable Alun Hugh Cairns, Vale of Glamorgan Sir David Anthony Andrew Amess, Southend West Alexander Cunningham, Stockton North Christian John Patrick Matheson, City of Chester Marsha Chantol De Cordova, Battersea Christopher Laurie Malthouse, North West Hampshire William David Wiggin, North Herefordshire Sir William Nigel Paul Cash, Stone 17:57:00 Sitting suspended. 18:47:00 On resuming— The following Members took and subscribed the Oath, or made and subscribed the Affirmation required by law: Nicklaus Thomas-Symonds, for Torfaen Joanna Meriel Stevens, Cardiff Central Michael Joseph Patrick Kane, Wythenshawe and Sale East James Morris, Halesowen and Rowley Regis Tracey Elizabeth Anne Crouch, Chatham and Aylesford Nadhim Zahawi, Stratford-on-Avon Matthew Robert Warman, Boston and Skegness Stephen Daniel Double, St Austell and Newquay Robert William Henry Seely, Isle of Wight Benjamin David Bradley, Mansfield Right honourable Conor Burns, Bournemouth West Laurence Anthony Robertson, Tewkesbury Robert Alexander Stewart, Beckenham Stewart Hosie, Dundee East Henry Edward Millar Smith, Crawley Paul Christopher Maynard, Blackpool North and Cleveleys Robert John Blackman, Harrow East John Philip Glen, Salisbury Richard Quentin Fuller, North East Bedfordshire Nigel Adams, Selby and Ainsty Karl MᶜCartney, Lincoln Sir Gary Nicholas Streeter, South West Devon Adam Afriyie, Windsor David Thomas Charles Davies, Monmouth Fabian Hamilton, Leeds North East Gillian Furniss, Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough Colleen Margaret Fletcher, Coventry North East Miriam Jane Alice Davies, Mid Sussex Timothy James Farron, Westmorland and Lonsdale Christopher Heaton-Harris, Daventry Daniel Robert Kawczynski, Shrewsbury and Atcham Rebecca Faye Pow, Taunton Deane James Stephen Heappey, Wells Right honourable Sir Gregory Knight, East Yorkshire Peter Wishart, Perth and North Perthshire Patrick John Grady, Glasgow North Carol Frances Monaghan, Glasgow North West James Ian Mearns, Gateshead Anthony James Holland Mangnall, Totnes James Philip Duddridge, Rochford and Southend East Victoria Grace Ford, Chelmsford Kelly Jane Tolhurst, Rochester and Strood Nicholas Desmond John Smith, Blaenau Gwent Philip Andrew Davies, Shipley Right honourable Damian Howard Green, Ashford Angus Brendan MacNeil, Na h-Eileanan an Iar Martin John Docherty-Hughes, West Dunbartonshire Alison Emily Thewliss, Glasgow Central Emma Louise Lewell-Buck, South Shields Gordon Leonard Henderson, Sittingbourne and Sheppey Kevin Denis Brennan, Cardiff West Jeremy Mark Quin, Horsham Simon Richard Clarke, Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Thangam Elizabeth Rachel Debbonaire, Bristol West Deborah Angela Elspeth Marie Abrahams, Oldham East and Saddleworth Maria Colette Caulfield, Lewes Fiona Claire Bruce, Congleton Karin Marguerite Smyth, Bristol South Crispin Jeremy Rupert Blunt, Reigate Michael Whitney Freer, Finchley and Golders Green Nigel Paul Huddleston, Mid Worcestershire Damien Moore, Southport Abimbola Afolami, Hitchin and Harpenden Jonathan Cruddas, Dagenham and Rainham Christopher James Evans, Islwyn Stuart James Andrew, Pudsey Luke Anthony Hall, Thornbury and Yate Christopher Lionel John Loder, West Dorset Neil Quentin Gordon Parish, Tiverton and Honiton Daniel Joseph Carden, Liverpool, Walton Neil Charles Gray, Airdrie and Shotts Andrew Hanson Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough Paul Bristow, Peterborough Greg Smith, Buckingham Craig Mackinlay, South Thanet Holly Jamie Lynch, Halifax Julie Elliott, Sunderland Central Mark Andrew Menzies, Fylde Giacomo Lopresti, Filton and Bradley Stoke Andrea Marie Jenkyns, Morley and Outwood Anne-Marie Belinda Trevelyan, Berwick-upon-Tweed Patricia Gibson, North Ayrshire and Arran David James Duguid, Banff and Buchan Jack Edgar Brereton, Stoke-on-Trent South Joanna Mary Gideon, Stoke-on-Trent Central Marco Longhi, Dudley North Alexander John Gervase Chalk, Cheltenham Robert Alexander Courts, Witney Andrew Iain Lewer, Northampton South Craig Paul Tracey, North Warwickshire Paul Christopher Blomfield, Sheffield Central Matthew Raymond Western, Warwick and Leamington Katherine Anne Green, Stretford and Urmston Steven John Baker, Wycombe Jacqueline Doyle-Price, Thurrock Simon Anthony Hart, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire David Henry Rutley, Macclesfield Stephen James McCabe, Birmingham, Selly Oak Michael Robert Hill, Hartlepool Michael Louis David Fabricant, Lichfield Guy Thomas Opperman, Hexham Daniel Stephen Zeichner, Cambridge Ian Murray, Edinburgh South Clive Stanley Efford, Eltham Michael James Tomlinson, Mid Dorset and North Poole Derek Gordon Thomas, St Ives Peter William Bone, Wellingborough Naseem Akhtar Shah, Bradford West Matthew Thomas Pennycook, Greenwich and Woolwich Amanda Jane Solloway, Derby North William Roffen Esterson, Sefton Central Stuart Campbell McDonald, Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East George William Freeman, Mid Norfolk Helen Olivia Bicknell Whately, Faversham and Mid Kent Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, North Antrim Julian Charles Sturdy, York Outer Mark Ian Jenkinson, Workington Bridget Maeve Phillipson, Houghton and Sunderland South Janet Jessica Daby, Lewisham East Ruth Lorraine Jones, Newport West Steven Mark Ward Reed, Croydon North Kirsten Frances Oswald, East Renfrewshire Stella Judith Creasy, Walthamstow Amanda Anne Milling, Cannock Chase Mark Julian Francis Pawsey, Rugby Robin John Millar, Aberconwy Philip Thomas Hollobone, Kettering Clive James Charles Betts, Sheffield South East Stephen John Doughty, Cardiff South and Penarth Peter James Guy Aldous, Waveney Tahir Ali, Birmingham, Hall Green John Eugene Joseph Dromey, Birmingham, Erdington Elizabeth Louise Kendall, Leicester West Rachel Jane Reeves, Leeds West Right honourable Patrick Bosco McFadden, Wolverhampton South East Kieran John Mullan, Crewe and Nantwich Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Brighton, Kemptown Thomas William Randall, Gedling James Nelson Grundy, Leigh Dean Russell, Watford Nicholas Anthony Fletcher, Don Valley Kate Ofunne Osamor, Edmonton Lisa Eva Nandy, Wigan Lucy Maria Powell, Manchester Central Stephen Nathan Kinnock, Aberavon William Paul Girvan, South Antrim Imran Nasir Ahmad-Khan, Wakefield Lisa Cameron, East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow Margaret Ferrier, Rutherglen and Hamilton West Ronald Jack Cowan, Inverclyde John Joseph Mc Nally, Falkirk Matthew Toby Perkins, Chesterfield Richard James Shannon, Strangford Robert Largan, High Peak Martyn Day, Linlithgow and East Falkirk Chris Ian Brian Mynott Philp, Croydon South Ruth Margaret Cadbury, Brentford and Isleworth Charalambos Charalambous, Enfield, Southgate Karl Turner, Kingston upon Hull East Victoria Jane Foxcroft, Lewisham, Deptford Tracy Lynn Brabin, Batley and Spen Jacob Young, Redcar Jason McCartney, Colne Valley Luke Pollard, Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport Sarah Ann Jones, Croydon Central Right honourable Liam Dominic Byrne, Birmingham, Hodge Hill Antonia Louise Antoniazzi, Gower Chloe Rebecca Smith, Norwich North Peter John Kyle, Hove Owen George Thompson, Midlothian Geraint Richard Davies, Swansea West Gareth Andrew Bacon, Orpington Ben Spencer, Runnymede and Weybridge Mark Peter Fletcher, Bolsover Emma Ann Hardy, Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle Margaret Greenwood, Wirral West Rebecca Long Bailey, Salford and Eccles Sir Mark Phillip Hendrick, Preston Fay Alicia Jones, Brecon and Radnorshire Simon Robert Maurice Baynes, Clwyd South Christopher Mark Clarkson, Heywood and Middleton Wayne David, Caerphilly Christian Wakeford, Bury South Paul John Holmes, Eastleigh Jonathan Edward Gullis, Stoke-on-Trent North Justin Piers Richard Madders, Ellesmere Port and Neston Sharon Hodgson, Washington and Sunderland West Rachael Helen Maskell, York Central Clive Anthony Lewis, Norwich South Siobhain Ann McDonagh, Mitcham and Morden Mary Elizabeth Twist, Blaydon 20:39:00 Sitting suspended. 21:13:00 On resuming— The following Members took and subscribed the Oath, or made and subscribed the Affirmation required by law: Right honourable Elizabeth Saville Roberts, for Dwyfor Meirionnydd Ben Morgan Lake, Ceredigion David Jonathan Edwards, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Hywel Williams, Arfon Mary Theresa Glindon, North Tyneside Feryal Demirci Clark, Enfield North Harriett Mary Morison Baldwin, West Worcestershire John Michael Howell, Henley Nicola Faye Richards, West Bromwich East Richard John Holden, North West Durham Peter Alexander Gibson, Darlington Jane Marion Hunt, Loughborough Aaron Stuart Bell, Newcastle-under-Lyme Dehenna Sheridan Fareham, Bishop Auckland Anne Marie Morris, Newton Abbot Paul Howell, Sedgefield Adjournment Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Nigel Huddleston.) 21:34:00 House adjourned.