[Mr. Edward O'Hara in the Chair] — Buncefield

Part of the debate – in Westminster Hall at 10:48 am on 9 January 2008.

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Photo of Mike Penning Mike Penning Shadow Minister (Health) 10:48, 9 January 2008

I thank the Minister for being so generous; I am conscious of the time. There is no criticism whatever from me or any other Opposition Member of the way in which Lord Newton of Braintree has handled the inquiry. He has done an absolutely fantastic job, but as I have said before publicly with him, his hands are tied behind his back by the remit that he has been given. The public inquiry on which the then Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Prescott, and I were negotiating was one similar to the Marchioness inquiry, which was very short, very robust and very quick. An inquiry like that would not have affected the prosecutions that this inquiry may involve.