Speeches by Powell.

“Hopefully, that is something you can look at as well. We currently have quite a bit of Chamber time allocated to the Backbench Business Committee. I am a supporter of that Committee as a vehicle for Back Benchers to initiate and bring forward debates, but that pattern is sort of continuing—they are not very well-attend…”

“We have been trying to do business a bit further in advance as well where possible—two or three weeks instead of just the one week.”

“There have been some things early on that we have made some progress on, and that I know you are going to look at in more detail as well. Proxy voting is an example. We brought in some changes recently, because they were very immediate and there were some gaps in the system around the current baby leave and baby loss p…”

“It’s a pleasure.”

“Absolutely. I really want to emphasise that I want us to take the House with us. I want this to be a House issue that the Government then bring forward. On some of these issues, we could have come in and just laid motions, changed the rules and done those things. In effect, we can put things on the Order Paper. We have…”

““Lucy”, please.”

“As much as you want, as many times as you want, I am here.”

“Good.”

“I am keen that we do that. Normally, how these things would have worked is that the Procedure Committee would produce a report, and then some time later—perhaps more time than it should have taken—the Government would produce a response to that report and decide which bits of it they did or did not like and whether to …”

“Thank you for having me at my first Select Committee hearing. It is a bit weird to be on the other side of these things, having spent many years as a member, and now as Chair of the Modernisation Committee. That is an important and good question. We had a manifesto commitment to set up the Modernisation Committee becau…”

“I am Lucy Powell. I am Leader of the House of Commons and MP for Manchester Central.”

“It will make interesting reading.”

“I join the right hon. Gentleman in celebrating the 10th anniversary of Annandale Distillery. I was not actually invited, but I do get invited to many places—I am a bit of a lightweight and whisky is not my tipple, but I am sure that if I am in the area I will pay it a visit. This Government are pleased to support the S…”

“I thank my hon. Friend for that refreshing question—normally as politicians we like to repeat questions that have come from others, so she has definitely got a gold star for that. As someone who spent many childhood holidays in Morecambe, I am very familiar with it, and I am delighted that the Eden Project, other progr…”

“The business for the week commencing 2 December includes: Monday 2 December—General debate on the Grenfell Tower inquiry phase 2 report. Tuesday 3 December—Second Reading of the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill. Wednesday 4 December—Opposition day (4th allotted day). Debate on a m…”

“I could not have said that better myself. The Hitachi train factory and others were left in the lurch by the previous Government. This Government are committed to supporting rail manufacturing in the UK. We are developing a long-term strategy, and working on our industry strategy, to ensure that this manufacturing can …”

“Halesowen in Bloom sounds like another great community group that plays a vital role in my hon. Friend’s area by bringing together people with green fingers, giving people purpose—not just the volunteers—and creating a lovely, floral community. I am sure that if he banded together with colleagues, he could get a Backbe…”

“My hon. Friend is right that Ofgem will be appointed the heat network regulator. Ofgem’s powers will include an ability to investigate unfair pricing and ensure that a consumer’s heat supply is maintained if their supplier goes out of business. I am sure that he will want to take the opportunity to raise this important…”

“If the House will indulge me, I congratulate the 1st Neilston boys brigade on its 70th birthday, and the 121st Glasgow scout group and the 3rd Barrhead scout group on their 100th birthdays. My hon. Friend highlights the vital role that uniformed youth organisations play in giving our young people purpose, experience, t…”

“My hon. Friend is right to say that the Scottish Government have huge additional funds as a result of last month’s Budget. They have the powers, so they have no excuse not to tackle issues faced by her constituents in Cowdenbeath. The Scottish Government can certainly learn lessons from this Government, particularly on…”