Speeches by Chope.

“But instead of allowing the price mechanism, for example, to be used to prioritise applications for connections, you as a regulator are basically imposing your decisions. That is why I use the expression “rationing”. Essentially, you are taking the decisions as to who can get to the top of the queue, and you are doing …”

“Can I ask about connection reform? First, when we define connection reform, it is basically the rationing of access to the distribution network—is that really what it is? Kayte O’Neill: I would describe connections reform in two parts. One is ensuring that we have the right processes in place to be able to bring connec…”

“Does the hon. Gentleman accept that one consequence is that we have a United Kingdom in part of which people have a second-class citizenship compared with the rest of the United Kingdom? Does he have any solutions, other than the solution put forward by the hon. and learned Member for North Antrim (Jim Allister) in his…”

“I have a quick supplementary. Are the Government adamant that one day on Report is sufficient for this end of life Bill? Obviously after that one day on Report, if the proceedings are not concluded, it is most unlikely that there will be a further opportunity within the time allocated for private Members’ Bills to cons…”

“In the ’97 Parliament, we had the Tony Wright Committee, one of whose recommendations was carried forward and is still in place: the Backbench Business Committee. The other recommendation, which was more fundamental—and more troublesome, from the Government’s perspective—was a business of the House Committee so that Ba…”

“Lucy, thank you very much indeed for coming along and being so open and helpful. One of your first wins, as far as I was concerned, was announcing the recess dates for the whole year. I don’t understand why we have not been able to do that in the past.”

“That was going to be my very point. Can you reiterate that Members of Parliament should not have to make freedom-of-information requests, and that the Government should give written parliamentary answers priority over freedom-of-information requests?”

“Order. Before we finish this debate, I remind the Minister and Members of paragraph 19.45 of “Erskine May”, in which it says: “A half-hour adjournment debate is a personal debate between the Member who has secured the debate and the Minister who is to reply…Interventions from the Opposition frontbench are not allowed. …”

“The argument that the Secretary of State puts forward is essentially one for banning smoking altogether. What he said earlier was misleading; he suggested that people of a particular age group will not be able to smoke. They will not be able to buy cigarettes, but they can still smoke. They can cadge cigarettes off oth…”

“I thank the Minister for that courtesy. Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).”

“Order. Before the right hon. Gentleman responds to that intervention—he is being very generous in giving way—can I just say that we have to move on to the Front-Bench speakers at 10.30 am and there are many people who wish to participate? I have not imposed time limits; all I am saying is that there are 13 minutes left…”

“Order. This is an intervention, not another speech.”

“I call Emma Foody.”

“Order. I will have to call the Front Benchers at 5.10 pm, so I hope that the two Norfolk Members who are standing can share the remaining seven minutes between them.”

“Will the Minister include references to fraud in her White Paper? Action Fraud, which would be more accurately described as “Inaction Fraud,” is presiding over a complete failure to do anything, particularly about fraud against online retailers. Can we ensure that action is taken to help victims of fraud?”

“Before I call Jim Shannon, I will just say that there are five people wishing to speak and 20 minutes, so you can do your own calculations.”

“Order. I cannot order the hon. Lady to sit down, but we should comply with the convention for one-hour debates: Opposition spokesmen should have five minutes each and the Minister should have 10 minutes to respond.”

“I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for listening to the points that I have been making. They can be summed up as: smoking costs lives; vaping saves lives. Therefore, if we can encourage more people to vape rather than smoke, that is to the benefit of public health and the individuals affected, as well as assisting tho…”

“The information I have about the extent of illegal vapes in the marketplace comes from the Government. In their impact assessment for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will be debated in the next fortnight, the Government accept that about 30% of the market is illegal, and that is where I got my figures. My hon. Friend…”

“It is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham (Dr Johnson), who has brought a lot of knowledge to the debate. I want to begin by referring to the hon. Member for South Dorset (Lloyd Hatton). The last time I was this close to him was early in July, before polling day, when I was sta…”