Andrew MacKay: Does my hon. Friend accept that the Electoral Commission is right to refocus in that way? Like most Members, I regularly visit schools in my constituency and hold question-and-answer sessions with fifth and sixth formers. They are very interested in a number of subjects, but none of them is the slightest bit interested in having the vote at 16.
Andrew MacKay: As the pension uprating is always based on the September inflation figures, and given that, as the Secretary of State will be aware, most economists believe that there will be negative inflation by this September, what will happen to pensions?
Andrew MacKay: Does the Secretary of State share my concern that it was not necessarily always a good idea to merge education and social services departments, and that it is not always a good idea to split up child services from adult services? Does he agree that giving local authorities the flexibility to decide how such services can be most effective is the right way forward?
Andrew MacKay: As the Leader of the House rather skilfully avoided answering a specific question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Alan Duncan), may I try again? Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer respond to the Opposition's Supply day debate next week on the economy? While we are about it, following what the Prime Minister said during Question Time yesterday, can we assume that...
Andrew MacKay: May I return the Financial Secretary to his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening)? Surely he is not really saying—notwithstanding the independence of the Bank of England—that the House should not discuss, debate and question quantitative easing when it has led to the biggest printing of money in our lifetime. Will he give an assurance that that will happen?
Andrew MacKay: While noting that the reaction in Northern Ireland over the past 36 hours and reaction here today at Westminster makes it absolutely clear that the objectives of these callous murderers have totally failed and that the peace process will continue, I ask the Secretary of State to clarify one very small point. He referred several times to the "self-styled" Real IRA. Is he implying that this is...
Andrew MacKay: Let us get back to the behaviour of the Treasury Minister, Lord Myners, who is totally unaccountable to this House, and specifically to the issue of Sir Fred Goodwin's pension. It is now clear from the new chief executive of RBS that the Government were consulted on the pension. Lord Myners was the Minister and it is now clear that he receives a substantial pension from RBS. Is it not...
Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of current levels of activity of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland.
Andrew MacKay: I warmly support the bid. Does the Secretary of State agree that in this very deep world recession the strongest case that we have to put at the next meeting with FIFA representatives is that we already have the infrastructure and ability to take on the games? In the present financial circumstances, FIFA would be ill advised to take a chance on a country that does not have the facilities...
Andrew MacKay: Staying with Sir Fred's grotesque pension, why does the Chancellor think that the new chief executive of RBS stated clearly on the "Today" programme this morning that his predecessor's leaving arrangements were fixed between the old board and the Government? Was he deliberately misleading listeners or was he pointing out that the Chancellor was responsible for this grotesque pension and knew...
Andrew MacKay: How many prosecutions have been brought under the Fraud Act 2006.
Andrew MacKay: We supported the 2006 Act because the Government suggested that the consolidation of fraud legislation would dramatically increase prosecutions for fraud. Is the Solicitor-General satisfied that that is happening and that the Act is being used properly, correctly and to successful effect by our prosecutors?
Andrew MacKay: When the House returns after our short recess, the new transitional Government in Zimbabwe will, we hope, be doing their work, and I am sure that I speak on behalf of Members of all parties when I wish Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai well in the task ahead. Will the Leader of the House ensure that the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for International Development make a statement...
Andrew MacKay: Returning to Mr. Glen Moreno, does the Chancellor of the Exchequer not understand that it was a gross error of judgment to appoint that Liechtenstein-based banker, who specialises in tax avoidance, to look after taxpayers' interests in our banks?
Andrew MacKay: Gagged.
Andrew MacKay: May we have an early debate on the regulation of wheel clampers, particularly bearing in mind the case of my constituent, Tara Dougall, a health care professional whose car was clamped in deep snow this week? The cost of getting it back was £345, paid to a company called Park Direct.
Andrew MacKay: Will the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland make a statement next week on the proposal to compensate the families of terrorists? That is causing great distress in Northern Ireland and affecting the peace process. The sooner that the Secretary of State comes to the Dispatch Box and knocks that crazy idea on the head, the better for all concerned.
Andrew MacKay: May I gently put it to the Minister that it was not synthetic anger that he heard from this side of the House, but deep, deep concern that this Government have dithered while car sales have dived, and that they have done nothing for three months? Does he not realise that the only way we will increase car sales in the longer term is by reducing production in the short term, which will improve...
Andrew MacKay: Can I put it to the Leader of the House that it is very important to have further urgent debates on the banking crisis? They should be led by the Prime Minister, not least because he has been criticising certain erstwhile bankers, particularly Fred Goodwin. That would give us an opportunity to ask the Prime Minister whether that is the same Fred Goodwin whom he knighted, lunched at Chequers...
Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of political developments in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.
