Speeches by Snell.

“My question was slightly different. I understand the manifesto commitment on which the Government were elected, and I understand the high-profile cases. I am not entirely sure of the rules about who we can and cannot mention from previous cases, but obviously the most famous one was Owen Paterson. Those cases exposed p…”

“The Modernisation Committee has had several discussions about interests and employment, and what that might look like in further tightening. I want to start this session by asking: why do the Government feel that further tightening of rules is necessary? What is the in-principle objection to MPs having outside interest…”

“You said that conflicts of interest could be perceived to arise if a Member has a media show or a contract of employment for media because Parliament is responsible for media policy. We are also responsible for regulating health policy; we are responsible for the law and for business regulation, so why did you draw the…”

“This is not about advocacy. You were talking about paid employment.”

“No, you didn’t say that; you mentioned doctors.”

“It follows on from Mark’s question. In the last code of conduct review, the Committee concluded against introducing restrictions around MPs’ second jobs—they used that term, although I do not like it—that would potentially require the Commissioner to make subjective judgments about how MPs should spend their time. Do y…”

“I understand that. The question that I was trying to get at—apologies, Chair, that I wasn’t clear in explaining it—is, even with a principles-based system, somebody has to be the arbiter of whether a principle has been breached. If part of the principle is about restoring faith and trust in politics—that is, politician…”

“I am interested in how you would define that, though, because we will have our own discussions—”

“Do you have any evidence that that relates to the changes that were made, not just economic circumstances or personal lifestyle changes? Is there anything that can link that reduction in activity to the rule changes?”

“For now.”

“Will the Leader of the House arrange for either a statement or a debate in Government time on the regulation of houses in multiple occupancy? Without an article 4 direction in Stoke-on-Trent, we are at the mercy of developers who buy family homes or terraced properties and then convert them, using permitted development…”

“Stoke-on-Trent is wonderfully served by the Dougie Mac and Donna Louise hospices. They are part of a healthcare system in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent that the Minister knows has a £90 million projected deficit. What oversight will there be to ensure that the money that goes to the ICBs reaches the hospices and tha…”

“Merry Christmas, Mr Speaker, and happy Hanukkah to those who are observing. What action are this Government taking to promote the purchasing of British-grown and seasonal produce through their public procurement framework?”

“I thank my hon. Friend for the work that he has done on the campaign across the midlands and across the country. I was very proud to support it when I was last in this place. The sheer volume of workers who are now protected is testament to my hon. Friend’s hard work and his ability to tell such a compelling story. Cou…”

“After eight years of Conservative rule in Stoke-on-Trent, the council was taken to the brink of bankruptcy, and the Minister will be well aware of the extraordinary financial support that we have received and about which we are having additional conversations. How will the recovery fund interact with authorities in rec…”

“I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to establish an independent Office of the Whistleblower to protect whistleblowers and whistleblowing; to make provision for the Office of the Whistleblower to set, monitor and enforce standards for the management of whistleblowing cases, to provide disclosure and ad…”

“Again, if my hon. Friend bears with me, I will get to that point, but I absolutely agree in principle that taxation in this country should fall on those most able to make that contribution. There is also a question about how we spend that money and use it in preventative services. Again, there is an argument to be had …”

“If the right hon. Gentleman hangs fire, he may be surprised by some of the things I will say as I try to progress my speech. Although, in that context, is it not laughable and ludicrous that some of the most important parts of our social care sector—our air ambulances and our hospices—are dependent upon charity; that t…”

“I often think that we do not hear enough from the right hon. Gentleman, so on this one occasion I will give way.”

“I wish to start by reflecting on something that the hon. Member for Grantham and Bourne (Gareth Davies) said in his opening speech. He talked about socialists thinking that taxes just flow in. Given that he was a member of a Government that raised taxes to their highest level in history, perhaps this season it is less …”