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BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
That, at the sitting on Wednesday 25th July—
(1) the Speaker shall put the Questions on:
(a) the Motion in the name of Ms Harriet Harman relating to Standing Orders Etc. Machinery of Government Changes); and
(b) the Motion in the name of Mr Nicholas Brown relating to the Modernisation of the House
not later than two hours after the commencement of proceedings on the first Motion; such Questions shall include the Questions on any Amendments selected by the Speaker which may then be moved, proceedings may continue, though opposed after the moment of interruption and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply; and
(2) proceedings on the Motion for the adjournment of the House in the name of the Prime Minister relating to the draft legislative programme may continue, though opposed, for three hours or until Seven o’clock, whichever is the later, and shall then lapse if not previously disposed of.—— —[Mr. Khan.]
Petitions
Inland Waterways
10.17 pm
Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): I have pleasure in presenting a petition on behalf of the constituents of Banbury and other users of Britain’s inland waterways. The petition, signed by well over 1,000 of my constituents, declares:
That our inland waterways are a unique national asset that provides an important contribution to the quality of life for millions of our citizens. We therefore are deeply concerned that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has seen fit to reduce British Waterways’ grant by some £60 million over the next five years and that of the Environment Agency by £25 million in this financial year. We believe that these cuts will have a devastating effect on the well-being of inland waterways.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons call upon the Government to introduce legislation to solve the immediate problems caused by these cuts to current budgets and to ensure that long-term funding is guaranteed to enable continued investment and restoration of the waterways.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
Derwent Valley
10.18 pm
Mr. David Anderson (Blaydon) (Lab): For the past three years, people in the north-east of England have faced yet another attempt by open-cast coal developers to exploit and rape the beautiful Derwent valley. Despite the opposition of the local authority and in defiance of the views of thousands of local people and a multitude of public and private bodies, the developers have gone to appeal. In that process, they have continually failed to disclose the appropriate information to all concerned, and persisted with a plan that has given the residents of the area grave cause for concern.
This petition, signed by more than 4,500 people, is a public declaration of their opposition to those plans, and I urge the Secretary of State to use all her powers to protect one of the last remaining green spaces in the Tyneside conurbation.
Inland Waterways
10.19 pm
Sir Peter Soulsby (Leicester, South) (Lab): I wish to present a petition with more than 600 signatures of constituents of Leicester, South and other users of Britain’s inland waterways. It expresses widespread concern about the future of those waterways—a concern that I share. I commend all involved in this campaign, particularly Mr. David Stevenson and, of course, the indefatigable Inland Waterways Association. The petitioners declare
That our inland waterways are a unique national asset that provides an important contribution to the quality of life for millions of our citizens. We therefore are deeply concerned that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has seen fit to reduce British Waterways’ grant by some £60 million
over the next 5 years and that of the Environment Agency is having its budget reduced by £25 million... We believe that these cuts will have a devastating effect upon the well-being of inland waterways.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons call upon the Government to introduce legislation to solve the immediate problems caused by these cuts to current budgets and to ensure that long-term funding is guaranteed to enable continued investment and restoration of the waterways.
And the petitioners remain etc.
Elvet Waterside
10.21 pm
Dr. Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab): This rather beautiful petition relates to the proposed development at Elvet waterside in Durham and expresses the opposition of local residents to the loss of green recreational space. Interestingly, it includes signatories from local schools whose children are very anxious that play facilities are retained. The land in question relates to green space east of the swimming bath car park’s wall, including the former bowling green on the old racecourse on the river bank in Durham city.
Mr. Jack Gill and 3,300 signatories are involved in the petition:
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Department for Communities and Local Government to do all to protect and retain this public space for the present citizens of the City of Durham, future residents and posterity and visitors.
And the petitioners remain, etc.
Prison Service (Staff Relocation)
10.22 pm
Mr. Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): The proposed closure of Her Majesty’s Prison Service office at Crown house in Corby and the relocation of its staff to Leicester have caused much consternation, anger and anxiety among staff and local residents. It is, in my view, discriminatory against the largely female and white work force. I have the honour to present this petition, signed by 3,560 people:
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.
The humble petition of Mrs.Vicki Tomlin and others of like disposition listed below
Sheweth
That the proposed relocation of Prison Service staff from Crown House, Corby to Leicester should be stopped.
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House calls upon Her Majesty’s Government to urge the Ministry of Justice to consider the plight of Mrs Vicki Tomlin and others who work at Crown House and stop the relocation.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray etc.
Pedestrian Crossing (Western Road)
10.23 pm
Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con): I rise to present a petition on behalf of my constituents in Romford, many of whom shop in the town centre. A number of constituents use the local Western road life skills centre and they need a pedestrian crossing—a safe way to cross the busy road to enable them to go to the town centre without fear of being run down. A petition has been collected signed by no fewer than 500 local people from Romford. The petition reads:
To the House of Commons,
The Petition of residents of the Borough of Havering and others
Declares the petitioners’ serious concerns over the refusal by both Havering Borough Council and Transport for London to take responsibility for the need to establish a pedestrian crossing on Western Road, an especially busy section of highway within the constituency of Romford. The petitioners are further concerned that the lack of a pedestrian crossing is having a huge impact on the surrounding community, with people of all ages and disabilities, who are experiencing great difficulty in crossing the road and negotiating the large amounts of traffic synonymous with this stretch of road.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Transport to use her powers to intervene and clarify which party is responsible for the establishment of a crossing on Western Road and then urge that party to install a crossing or other form of traffic calming measure, so as to allow people to cross freely and safely.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
Post Office Closures
10.25 pm
Andrew Rosindell: I rise again to present a petition of no fewer than 800 signatures collected by users of the Rush Green post office in my constituency of Romford. Those constituents, along with many others, are deeply concerned at the possibility of the closure of the post office and others in my constituency, including the Station Road post office, the Crowlands post office, North Street post office, Gobions post office, Victoria Road post office and the Brentwood Road post office. They are also concerned at the Government’s policy to end support for the Post Office card account and hope that that policy will be reversed and that the service will be saved.
The petitioners have submitted the petition to me, which
Declares that the petitioners believe that the post office network provides a vital service to local communities in both urban and rural areas. The petitioners are concerned that the threatened withdrawal of services from local post offices, by the Government, will seriously affect the governance and more specifically, efficiency of the postal network, as well as damaging community cohesion around these post offices, which in many cases acts as a central and focal point for local community interaction.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform to reverse its announcement to end support for the Post Office Card Account 2010 thereby threatening the viability of thousands of post offices and further urges it to immediately halt its activities designed to kill off the account, and Post Office services in the Romford constituency,
And the Petitioners remain.
Inland Waterways
10.27 pm
David Taylor (North-West Leicestershire) (Lab/Co-op): The canals have long been a major player in regenerating local economies, restoring environments and sustaining the quality of community life, and nowhere more so than in north-west Leicestershire, where many are alarmed at the cuts in the British Waterways budget and their potential impact. I am very happy therefore to present this petition after a beautiful day in London, which stands in stark contrast to the wet miserable day in Leicester, with the rain slatting down on 4 March, when I helped to launch it with my neighbour, my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, South (Sir Peter Soulsby).
The petition signatories include David Stevenson, who has worked astonishingly hard with others to compile it, Janet Stevenson of 6 Heathfield, Thringstone Leicestershire LE67 8LU, and myself as the local Member of Parliament and a regular user of the facilities of the Ashby canal in my constituency.
To the House of Commons.
The Petition of 671 constituents of North West Leicestershire and other users of Britain's inland waterways
Declares that...
Our inland waterways are a unique national asset that provide an important contribution to the quality of life for millions of our citizens. We therefore are deeply concerned that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has seen fit to reduce British Waterways' grant by some £60 million over the next 5 years and that of the Environment Agency by £25 million in this financial year. We believe that these cuts will have a devastating effect upon the well-being of inland waterways.
The Petitioners therefore...
Request that the House of Commons call upon the Government to introduce legislation to solve the immediate problems caused by these cuts to current budgets and to ensure that long-term funding is guaranteed to enable continued investment and restoration of the waterways.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
Telephone Masts
10.28 pm
Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Con): A constituent of mine has compiled a petition against the erection of a new 40 ft high telephone mast with three antennae near homes and businesses. She wrote to me that local people feel strongly that 02 should cite the mast elsewhere and that she has used every ounce of her strength and determination to get the results she has achieved, with the interests of her precious only child and of her community at heart. She is a real star in working for her community, and I need do no more than urge local councillors to listen to her and ensure that the mast is sited in a more appropriate place.
The petition of Cheryl Oldroyd, residents of Canvey Island and others declares that the proposal submitted by 02 to erect a mobile telephone mast on the High Street, Canvey Island, is unacceptable due to the ill-considered suitability of a busy residential and business area for such a structure. The petitioners
emphasise the significant lack of understanding in respect of the longer term effects of such telephone masts on the health of those within the immediate vicinity and particularly on young children. Whilst the petitioners acknowledge the need to erect and maintain such structures in the interests of business, they submit that more suitable locations for this structure are available, of which the applicant is already aware and should consider.
The petitioners therefore request the House to urge the Government to encourage Castle Point Borough Councillors to reject the plans and seek an alternative, less densely populated area, in consideration of the wishes of residents.
Baby Changing Units
10.30 pm
Bob Spink: I hope that I am not considered greedy in presenting two petitions, like my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell), but each of my constituents is, as is each of his, worth any two from other constituencies.
Baby changing units was a new matter to me when this petition came before me, but on investigation I found that it raises serious and valid issues for my constituency. There is even a child safety issue, which I do not have time to go into tonight.
Each council must deliver statutory services, and additional facilities such as public conveniences and facilities for children and mothers. That is especially the case in respect of councils such as Castle Point which charges one of the highest council taxes in the country. Next to the Canvey Knightswick centre toilets, there is a room currently used for storing cleaning equipment that could be converted to a baby changing room, so making that small but important improvement would not be rocket science, and I hope that councillors will act on the petition.
The petition of Tracy Taplin, residents of Canvey Island and others, declares that the existing public facilities on Canvey Island are inadequate for the needs of those with small children, and notes that Castle Point Borough Council has a de facto duty to provide and maintain suitable public facilities, particularly in a busy shopping area, such as Canvey’s excellent shopping centre.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons entreats the Government to bring pressure to bear on Castle Point Borough Council to provide a baby changing unit at a suitable location in Canvey Island’s shopping centre.
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