Commons debates - 8th & 9th December 2008

Speaker’s Committee on the Search of Offices on the Parliamentary Estate (Business)

Bob Spink (Independent): I agree with the hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Mr. Shepherd) on the guillotine, and in the light of your statement, Mr. Speaker, I believe that the House needs to debate these matters fully. I would argue, however, that today is not the time. We have two privileges to uphold: one is the privilege of this House, but another important principle that is at stake is the independence of the police. It sometimes helps if we allow the police to do their job without interference, pressure, bullying or intimidation, particularly from this House when it is involved, and before the House pontificates at length on those matters. I hope that we will have a debate, but only after the police have done their work. That is an equally important principle, so I hope that everyone who speaks in the debate will not prejudice the police’s work.

Mr Dave Davies (Con) attempts to drag Bob by his arm down shouting loudly in an attempt to prevent Bob speaking…. The benches across the Commons almost explode with equal laughter and anger at this attempt and Bob keeps going. One MP shouts to Bob ‘do an Arsenal Penalty area dive!)

Mr. Brian Binley (Con): You should be ashamed of yourself.

Bob Spink: If the hon. Members for Northampton, South (Mr. Binley), and Dave Davies who are shouting from a sedentary position, want to intervene, I would delighted to give way to them— [Interruption.] It seems, Mr. Speaker, that the hon. Member has not got the ability to make any argument in support of his case— [Interruption.]Mr. Speaker: Order. I called the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) to speak and he must be allowed to be heard. [Interruption.] Order. Let me explain to the hon. Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Binley) that where the hon. Member for Castle Point wants to sit is his business and no one else’s.

Bob Spink: I am very grateful, Mr. Speaker, and I will bring my remarks to an end, as other Members want to speak.

We must consider both principles that I mentioned, and do so calmly and in a considered manner, in this House, but at the right time.

Bob was asked if he wished the serious and undignified attempts to stop him speaking in the House to be reported and dealt with by the House Privileges Committee but declined saying: “These are two decent MPs who just got a bit excited; they will learn from their subsequent embarrassment and listen to the arguments in future.”

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The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (David Miliband): I beg to move,

That this House has considered the matter of European affairs.

Let me start on the subject of the economic situation. Today perhaps more than ever, the prospects for the UK economy are affected by the policy choices being made in other countries.

Bob Spink (Independent): The Foreign Secretary failed to mention something in his review of the agenda, and is now going on to the subject of the UK economy. Can he tell the House a little about what might happen on 17 December to the EU opt-out on the working time directive? If that opt-out is removed, what will be the impact on British workers and the UK economy?

David Miliband: I am sorry to disappoint the hon. Gentleman, but the minutes of that decision have not yet been published on the Danish Parliament website. He will have to wait until the 17 December discussion in the European Parliament. However, the position of the UK Government is very clear: the Council compromise position should be defended, as that is very much in the interests of the British economy and British workers. I look forward to that happening.

The G20 meeting in Washington last month was an important step in securing a decisive and systematic international response to the economic crisis.

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Education and Research Debate:

Bob Spink (Independent): I apologise for being late for the debate, as I was attending a meeting. What is the Secretary of State doing to ensure that the education maintenance allowance goes to those young people who need it, to encourage them to take advantage of the greater participation that the Government have made available? (Local kids can not get the allowance).

Mr. Denham: That is an important point. The hon. Gentleman will know that we have had to change the contractor supplying that service, and it is working hard to clear up the backlog and ensure that those young people receive their EMA. The allowance has been a considerable success in encouraging young people to stay in further education and training. Again, in contrast to the Opposition, we are committed to that. I am sorry, this is becoming a little routine, but people who say that there is nothing to choose between the two parties need to pay slightly more attention to the differences between us in the areas that we are debating.

Bob Spink: Is the Opposition’s policy on universities to continue investment and support in large-scale, longer-term research projects such as the large hadron collider, particle physics research and, of course, cutting-edge medical research?

Mr. Willetts: It is. Like the Secretary of State, I had the excitement of being at the event in central London on the morning when the large hadron collider was turned on…… Unlike the intervention by the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink), this is not rocket science.

Bob Spink: I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way; he is one of the most respected Members in this House. Could I drag him away from the negative to the positive, because I was a member of the Conservative team that did the things he describes in education, and in science in particular? Would he share with the House his ideas for enthusing children and for encouraging youngsters to get more involved in science and the STEM subjects today?