Speeches by Baines.

“On Friday, I attended an event organised by Age UK Mid Mersey at the Mansion House in Windle in my constituency, taking questions from service users and volunteers. It was no surprise to me that crime and policing, and specifically the threat of antisocial behaviour, was raised by those present. Older people told me th…”

“Thanks so much for the answers you have given so far; this has been helpful. Is there anything you think we have not yet touched on—any ways that the procedures and conventions of the House affect independent MPs differently from those who are members of a political party, or anything we have not touched on that you wo…”

“Thank you both for your time and for coming. I really appreciate it and a lot of what you have said chimed with me, if that is any comfort. It is not just you—as a new Member I share your experiences in some sense. We want all Members to be treated with fairness and equally regardless of party or non-party affiliation.…”

“All Members can table oral and written parliamentary questions as well. How do you feel that experience has been? Have you needed support for doing that or have you been able to access that? What sort of answers have you been getting, and have you felt supported in your ability to scrutinise the Government on what is g…”

“Thanks so much for the answers you have given so far; this has been helpful. Is there anything you think we have not yet touched on—any ways that the procedures and conventions of the House affect independent MPs differently from those who are members of a political party, or anything we have not touched on that you wo…”

“Thank you both for your time and for coming. I really appreciate it and a lot of what you have said chimed with me, if that is any comfort. It is not just you—as a new Member I share your experiences in some sense. We want all Members to be treated with fairness and equally regardless of party or non-party affiliation.…”

“Do you feel you had support to make the application, help with that?”

“All Members can table oral and written parliamentary questions as well. How do you feel that experience has been? Have you needed support for doing that or have you been able to access that? What sort of answers have you been getting, and have you felt supported in your ability to scrutinise the Government on what is g…”

“Do you feel you had support to make the application, help with that?”

“I am delighted that three schools in my constituency—Ashurst primary, Garswood primary and PACE—are part of this initial roll-out, and I am delighted for them. I was also delighted to hear Carr Mill primary school in my constituency get a mention by the Secretary of State in her statement. I congratulate Mr Maley, the …”

“As chair of the all-party parliamentary group on rugby football league, I will start by thanking you, Mr Speaker, and congratulating you on your recent term as president of the Rugby Football League. You have always been a great champion of the greatest game, and I thank you for that. I am sure you are as excited as I …”

“The Minister just mentioned areas where schools already collaborate well with local authorities, and I am pleased to say that St Helens is one of those areas. From my experience as council leader before coming here, and since then as a Member of Parliament, I am aware that maintained schools and academies work together…”

“Will he give way? [Laughter.]”

“The right hon. Gentleman just said that the national curriculum is a set of core standards; why should that not apply for all schools?”

“rose—”

“The right hon. Gentleman would have made a good teacher, because he has a very engaging style—although I would have been grateful for a curriculum so I knew what he was covering in the classroom. Is the right hon. Gentleman in favour of a national curriculum? If he is not—I am really not sure—why did he not repeal it? …”

“Was.”

“In schools that follow the national curriculum, there is nothing stopping teachers from differentiating and offering support to children who are not up to the required standard in reading and writing when they go from year 2 to year 3, for example. That happens now in thousands of schools up and down the country withou…”

“In an ideal situation, of course I want whoever is teaching my children to be qualified, and I do not think that is an unfair expectation. Going back to a point that has been made, we have heard that that is already the situation in maintained schools. To bring what may be the conclusion of the debate back to its start…”

“I do not believe they are contradictory, because expecting an outstanding education involves expecting teachers to be qualified. The hon. Member’s colleagues have said that, and witnesses in oral sessions said the same. Of course qualified teachers are the ideal. I do not believe it is contradictory to say that I expec…”