Shailesh Vara: I thought that I was very clear, but obviously I was not. For the record, let me say that I was very pleased with the contribution that the Conservative party had made to the draft legislative programme, but disappointed with all the rest, which was simply rehashed policies or efforts to make good the damage of the past 11 years.
Shailesh Vara: Given that the hon. Lady is trying to pick up on what she says were contradictions in what I said, let me make the position absolutely clear. My first comment on crime and prison was simply that when somebody is sentenced to prison, they should serve their sentence in prison, not outside as part of the early release programme. My second comment was about the Government's proposal to have a...
Shailesh Vara: rose—
Shailesh Vara: There is one further point. I asked the Leader of the House to be gracious enough to acknowledge the contribution of Her Majesty's Opposition to the draft legislative programme. I am gracious in thinking that her failure to do so was an oversight on her part, so I invite the Deputy Leader of the House to give due credit to the Conservative party for the policies that Labour has adopted from...
Shailesh Vara: What a performance to have to follow! This is an important and necessary debate, particularly in the context of the vote of 3 July. I appreciate the strength of feeling that has been expressed on both sides of the House, and the fact that there was passion on both sides of the argument clearly demonstrates the need to have this debate again. It is regrettable that the debate has regularly...
Shailesh Vara: I should like to make some progress. [Interruption.] I shall be more than happy to give way later, but I am under a time constraint and I should like to make progress. I wish to make it absolutely clear that this issue is seen by the public outside as a House issue that affects all Members. That Members here have used it as an opportunity for cheap political point scoring demeans us all. We...
Shailesh Vara: What I do will be published later today. [Interruption.] I am mindful of the time constraint and the fact that— [Interruption.]
Shailesh Vara: The fact that the hon. Gentleman, along with the rest of the nation, will be able to see how I spend my money speaks for itself. I am not going to waste the House's time.
Shailesh Vara: I will not; the hon. Gentleman has spoken. What is required in the House is leadership. We had the opportunity for leadership to be exercised by the Prime Minister on 3 July. His response was not to turn up to vote. When my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition asked him earlier why he did not vote then, the Prime Minister ducked the issue. When asked by a journalist why he did not...
Shailesh Vara: The hon. Lady proves my point that this is an issue of the House, and she demeans herself more than anyone else. In the absence of leadership from the Government, it is right that there should be leadership on the Conservative side: later today, we will publish the right-to-know form in respect of all our Front Benchers.
Shailesh Vara: I will not, because I am under a time constraint. Frankly, the public deserve better than the partisan contributions from the Labour side. The right-to-know form will itemise expenditure, and I hope that the Government will follow suit. As parliamentarians, we speak of transparency, openness and accountability from individuals, organisations and corporate Britain; it is only right and proper...
Shailesh Vara: The hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey (Simon Hughes) made a typical contribution in which he was critical of the 21 Conservative Members who voted for the amendment that was carried on 3 July. However, had 28 of his Liberal Democrat colleagues, including his leader, bothered to turn up and vote, the amendment would not have been carried. Believe me, one does not have to be a...
Shailesh Vara: I reiterate that this is a House issue that concerns all Members, and it must be treated as such.
Shailesh Vara: Perhaps the hon. Gentleman should ask his own Chief Whip about that. We will deal with our matters as we wish; the hon. Gentleman should deal with his own matters. Time is pressing. All that I would say— [ Interruption . ]
Shailesh Vara: This matter needs to be resolved, and I very much hope that positive action will be taken today to ensure that we move forward. As my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Atkinson) said, we cannot be ostrich-like about it. Unless it is dealt with, we will all be treated with derision by the public, and rightly so. Frankly, Government Back Benchers have done no credit to themselves or to...
Shailesh Vara: My party supports the statutory instrument, which affects not only Members in this House, but those in another place, as well as those in the Welsh Assembly. I join the Leader of the House in complimenting my hon. Friend the Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) for all the effort that he has put into ensuring that we have reached this stage to make this change to the Freedom of...
Shailesh Vara: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and may I also thank all the—
Shailesh Vara: Thank you again, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and may I take this opportunity to thank everyone who was able to contribute to this end-of-term debate? As always, a number of issues were covered, ranging from the local to the international. The hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Jim Dowd) made a very conscientious speech, and not for the first time he spoke about the local transport situation affecting...
Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of anti-social behaviour orders.
Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to prevent crimes involving (a) internet fraud and (b) identity theft; and if she will make a statement.