Topical Questions

Question

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. Given that there have been recent developments in the discussions with the European Commission over the Northern Ireland protocol, does the Minister plan to update Parliament on these talks?

Question

I was contacted late last night by a businessman in my constituency who is reliant on imports from the continent. He cannot find a haulage firm willing to carriage on his behalf, due to the current delays at the ports. He is very concerned; unless this issue is resolved, his business will not survive into the new year. What is the Minister's advice to my constituent?

Question

The recent announcement by the Chancellor of a £220 million pilot scheme for the shared prosperity fund is a welcome step forward. However, there are some in Cornwall who claim that this is a sign that the Government will break their commitment to match the funding that places such as Cornwall received through the EU. Can my right hon. Friend confirm that the Government are committed to replacing EU funding, which amounted to £1.5 billion per year, in full, and that, as the Prime Minister has stated, Cornwall will receive its share in a dedicated pot?

Question

The UK's ports are our gateway to the world. Yesterday, the port infrastructure fund was finally announced. We found out that Dover did not get the £33 million that it asked for; instead, it got just £33,000. Portsmouth faces a shortfall of £8 million. The Minister recently visited that port, so he knows its huge importance. Why have the Government short-changed vital infrastructure critical to the everyday economy, while at the same time wasting millions of pounds on consultants and middlemen as part of Tory cronyism?

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I thank the Minister for that answer, but he needs to give greater assurances that there will not be the delays and disruption that we all fear. A letter from the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, the hon. Member for Hornchurch and Upminster (Julia Lopez), to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth South (Stephen Morgan) states: “Ministers…decided that all bids which are recommended to be supported will be funded to 66%”. Not 100%, but just 66%. What a false economy given the cost to British businesses and consumers of delays and disruption at the border. Will the Government publish the full rationale for each of their 53 port decisions, not least since some companies received next to nothing while one port company, which coincidentally pays a former Tory Cabinet Minister £100,000 a year, was awarded £26 million yesterday by this Government?

Question

The year 2021 will bring significant opportunities for coastal communities such as Lowestoft to drive forward the covid recovery in the energy, fishing, food and trade sectors. Will my right hon. Friend outline the steps he is taking to ensure that the promotion of investment in ports, manufacturing and processing infrastructure is fully and properly co-ordinated between his and other Departments, including the Departments for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for Transport and for International Trade?

Question

Happy Christmas, Mr Speaker. We will not be in the single market or customs union, but the deal offers free trade without tariffs and sovereignty to diverge if we undercut EU standards. Why then, on the last day of Parliament, is the Minister continuing to threaten UK business with no deal?

Question

I am sure you are aware that the world's finest ceramics come from Stoke-on-Trent. Will my right hon Friend confirm that Stoke-on-Trent companies will continue to remain world leaders in manufacturing and production whether we have a Canada or Australia deal?

Question

Under the coalition Government, great progress was made to improve Government procurement. Given the current national debt following the covid crisis, will my right hon Friend assure me that the Government will redouble their efforts to improve procurement going forward?

Question

In his previous response to me, the Minister talked about looking after nuclear test veterans. Since they have not received compensation for their exposure to ionising radiation, this is laughable. Is not the real reason these veterans have not received their medal that admitting harmful placement would be an admission?

Question

Yesterday, Emma McClarkin told the PACAC Committee about her industry's frustration at not having access to data or involvement in guidance drafting. Will my right hon Friend consider ways to involve the industry as early as possible and share more data for clear guidance?

Question

Derbyshire is great to live and work in. Will the Minister tell us what steps he is taking to increase the proportion of the civil service based outside London and when they will be coming to Derbyshire?

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Does the Minister agree that Dominic Cummings receiving a £40,000 pay increase while hundreds of thousands have lost their livelihoods is totally and utterly immoral? And does he recognise that good old British saying 'What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander'?

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Will the Minister assure me that no stone is being left unturned to negotiate a free trade agreement with Europe for businesses like Innocent Drinks?

Question

The Government's plans risk denying millions of people, especially already marginalized groups such as Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities, the right to vote. Despite their existing discrimination, neither the equalities impact assessment nor the Electoral Commission's evaluation mentions them. Will the Government scrap these plans?