Ranil Jayawardena: What recent steps he has taken to promote Wales’s international trading opportunities.
Ranil Jayawardena: Given Wales’s connectivity on the M4 corridor, does my right hon. Friend agree that we can truly capitalise on trading opportunities internationally for Wales and, indeed, the Thames valley by improving the Reading to Gatwick road corridor?
Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the use of its tax powers.
Ranil Jayawardena: It is rare that a Bill receives almost universal support, so it is terrific that it has been supported by Members on both sides of the House, despite a few amendments. In the interests of time, let me cut to the crux of the matter: those awful, dangerous people who horrifically murder 20,000 or so elephants every year and are out of control. They will now see action being taken, with Britain...
Ranil Jayawardena: I was not on the Bill Committee, but I have been following the Bill closely, as have other members of the all-party group on endangered species. Can my hon. Friend confirm that the consultation would allow the Government to move further and faster than would have been possible under new clause 1?
Ranil Jayawardena: I am pleased that the Bill has made progress in Committee, building on the Government’s proactive work. As I have said before, I am pleased not only because of my interest in this area—that was why I founded the all-party group on endangered species with Members on both sides of the House—but because, like Opposition Members, many Conservative Members were elected on a...
Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what powers the police have to direct people to leave an unauthorised encampment where local authority managed caravan sites apply a charge for residing.
Ranil Jayawardena: I commend my hon. Friend and neighbour for securing this debate. Does he agree that ultimately there is a simple but important contract that must be honoured, which is that our servicemen and women, whether today or in years gone by, have served us and we should stand by them?
Ranil Jayawardena: I believe that the Government’s first duty is to keep us safe from those who would do us harm, whether here or abroad. Our fantastic servicemen and women sign up to do just that—to look after us—and in turn we ought to look after them. It therefore brings me no pleasure to present to the House this petition, which hundreds of people have signed, online and offline, in just...
Ranil Jayawardena: What assessment he has made of the effect of the free school and academy programmes on GCSE results.
Ranil Jayawardena: The Department for Education has identified target local authority areas for raising standards. Further to my right hon. Friend’s answer, does he agree that free schools that are accessible to anyone, wherever they might live in that area or beyond, will increase parental choice and improve standards?
Ranil Jayawardena: What recent assessment she has made of the security situation in Northern Ireland.
Ranil Jayawardena: I welcome what my right hon. Friend says, but how can it be right that loyal octogenarian veterans now have to look over their shoulders as a result of spurious and vexatious complaints in relation to allegations of which they have already been cleared? Is it not time for a statute of limitations to back our servicemen and women?
Ranil Jayawardena: What steps his Department plans to take to enable local authorities to prioritise brownfield regeneration.
Ranil Jayawardena: I thank my hon. Friend for that answer, but what progress has been made in giving Homes England the powers and resources it needs to acquire sites in fragmented ownership in order to deliver regeneration for our communities?
Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many responses have been submitted to his Department's consultation on unauthorised Traveller encampments to date.
Ranil Jayawardena: I am grateful to you, Mr Speaker, for allowing me to present a petition at such a late hour. [Interruption.]
Ranil Jayawardena: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am sure that that is the case. I also thank all those who signed, shared and promoted my petition. I believe that, given that the petition has received nearly 2,000 signatures, both online and offline, the Government must recognise the strength of feeling among the silent majority. It is great that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is...
Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure lessons are learned from the roll-out of the new Govia Thameslink Railway before South Western Railway's new timetable is implemented.
Ranil Jayawardena: I should declare an interest in relation to a visit I made to Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, much conservation work is done with Asian elephants. Currently, however, Sri Lanka is not eligible for aid funding. In line with what my hon. Friends the Members for Cheltenham (Alex Chalk) and for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith), among others, have said, will the Minister agree to look at how more aid...