Speeches by Vaz.

“Will the Minister meet me to discuss the decisions of Walsall council, including the closure of the Walsall Leather Museum against the wishes of local people?”

“Here’s another one: what assessment has the Minister made of the impact on really small independent high street bookshops? This is the National Year of Reading; we want them to stay open, not closed.”

“Order. I ask the hon. Member to stick to the motion.”

“We now come to the winding-up speeches. The Front Benchers have 10 minutes each.”

“Order. The debate is about the International Day of Education.”

“Order. Could the hon. Member address the Chair, please?”

“I call the Opposition spokesperson, Lincoln Jopp—congratulations on your new post.”

“I have been advised that we have to stick to the motion, which is about the International Day of Education.”

“Bill Esterson, you have a few seconds to wind up.”

“Thank you. All colleagues got in. I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson, Adam Dance.”

“Getting in the two remaining speakers will squeeze the wind-ups. Mr Esterson, you had a fair bit to start with. Maybe the Front Benchers could not use their full time.”

“I thank Sir Nic Dakin for stepping in on behalf of the Minister.”

“Order. The Minister knows that he has two minutes.”

“I now have to impose a hard two-minute limit.”

“Order. We will suspend for a vote in the House.”

“Order. I am sorry, but time is up.”

“I ask hon. Members to remain standing. I will call the Front-Benchers at 5.23 pm. I am afraid I am going to impose a two-minute time limit, but you can do it as Olivia Dean says, by being “nice to each other”, or I can put impose a hard limit. We will start with the soft two-minute limit. I call Rachael Maskell.”

“I thank you again for stepping in, Sir Nic—what a talented person you are. Question put and agreed to.”

“Order. I am so sorry.”

“Order. I ask the hon. Lady to address the Chair.”