Madeleine Moon MP
Madeleine Moon MP - Working hard for Bridgend
Madeleine Moon MP - Working hard for Bridgend
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This Week in Westminster - December 6th - 10th
This week in Westminster has seen the Police Minister catch the BBC spoonerism virus, Tory ringers spoil a debate on defence spending in Wales, a debate on how much time should be allowed for the debate on higher education funding and of course the main event yesterday, marked by fractious exchanges. David Cameron left after the opening statement. I was able to raise mortgage interest relief, tuition fees and support for SMEs in Wales. The format has been tweaked following feedback last week. The links at the end of each time will take you to the full Hansard so that you can read more if you want to. All comments are welcome. Support for Mortgage Interest Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) (Lab): Is the Minister aware of the impact on constituents of mine in Bridgend of the lowering of mortgage interest relief for those on benefits from the previous rate of 6.8% to 3.67%? A constituent of mine who has a mortgage at a rate of 5.85% has a shortfall of £236 a month, which is getting him increasingly into debt and he faces losing his property. What help can be offered to people such as my constituent?
Higher Education The first salvo in the debate on fees took place on Wednesday evening. The debate was focussed on how much time would be allowed for the main event. Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) (Lab): Perhaps one reason why there is no objection to Welsh and Scottish Back Benchers debating the issue is that we in Wales, through the Assembly Government, have not only ensured that students do not suffer the draconian decrease in university course funding, but very importantly decided to cut the teaching grant not by 80%, but by only a very small 38%, improving Welsh universities and providing opportunities at them for higher degrees and research. Rushanara Ali (Bethnal Green and Bow) (Lab): Despite this talk of supporting people on low incomes, I find it quite hard to stomach what I am hearing, because in my constituency, for example, the vast majority of young people come from low-income backgrounds, yet they will be losing support through the education maintenance allowance, from which 88% of Bangladeshi children across England benefit. That one ethnic minority group, along with white working-class children, will be prevented from going on to higher education. Coupled with that are the cuts in the future jobs fund-£1 billion, and we are still waiting to hear-so please think again. Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen) (Lab): I note that the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister have already walked out of the debate. It is a shame that the two architects of this policy do not have the courtesy to stay and listen to both sides of the debate. I fear I may have to lower Opposition Members' expectations. Those of my hon. Friends who have come here expecting some good party political knockabout-U-turns, broken promises and fees policies described by the Deputy Prime Minister as a "disaster" that he now claims to believe in-need to know that I am not going to do that speech. So much of the media coverage of this issue has been dominated by Liberal Democrat splits that we could be forgiven for thinking that today's vote is about the future of the Liberal Democrats. It is not about the future of the Liberal Democrats; it is about something much more important than that. There are millions of parents and millions of current and future students who do not care about the Liberal Democrats, but who do care about the huge fee increase that we are being asked to decide today. Today's decision must be taken on the facts and on the merits. If this Tory measure goes through with the support or abstention of Liberal Democrats, that party will forfeit the right to call itself a progressive political party. Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD): I rise to speak in a debate in which I do not want to speak. I do not believe that this debate should be happening today, and I do not believe that it should be happening in the way that it is. It is only seven months since the general election and the Government were formed; it is less than two months since we saw the Browne report for the first time, and it is a month-a month-since the Government announced their proposals on higher education. Yet, today, we are being forced to hold the significant vote, without considering the other proposals, with a mere five-hour debate. Yvonne Fovargue: In my constituency, a traditional working-class community, debt is regarded as a bad thing, and parents do not encourage their children to take on levels of debt on this scale. For me, education has always been a partnership between the individual and the state. It involves an investment on both sides. However, this rise in tuition fees, coupled with the cuts to the university teaching budget, has shifted that. The loss of funding for many courses, particularly in the arts, humanities and social sciences, has transferred the funding solely to the students of those subjects. Tory ringers spoil debate On Wednesday, there was a debate on defence spending in Wales in Westminster Hall. To the frustration and annoyance of Welsh MPs, several Tory MPs with no Welsh links turned up and wasted valuable time with long, largely irrelevant contributions. The tactic of mentioning ‘Wales’ or ‘Welsh’ helped them avoid sanction. In his summing up, the Minister used his own family tree to fill in time. Mr Robathan: The hon. Gentleman is always full of hot air. If he could listen for a bit, he will hear what I have to say about some of the comments that have been made. I also had a great-uncle in the Welch Regiment who was killed at Gallipoli. I would rather not be accused of being anti-Welsh. I can promise that I have spent more time on the Brecon Beacons in the driving rain and snow and in Sennybridge than most people in this Chamber, possibly with the exception of you, Mr Gray, and my hon. Friend the Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (Simon Hart). I have also climbed from Capel Curig adventure training camp. Those are all the military assets in Wales that I have used in my life. I would rather not hear the suggestion that we are anti-Welsh. This is the first Welsh debate in which I have taken part, because I am not representing Wales. BBC Spoonerism virus
After the slip by James Naughtie on Radio 4 was caught by Police Minister, Nick Herbert. Hansard thoughtfully covered up the slip, but it did not escape the attention of the House. Mrs Hodgson: As the Minister is no doubt aware, Northumbria police force, which covers my constituency, has recently confirmed that it is to make 450 civilian staff redundant immediately and it is imposing a recruitment freeze on all front-line posts, all because of the cuts made by the Home Secretary. Does the Minister think that those cuts to front-line policing will make my constituents safer? Nick Herbert: I do not accept that those are cuts- Hon. Members: What was that? Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab): On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Will you investigate whether there is some extraordinary pact or audacious dare between Ministers and broadcasters to insert a particularly unsavoury word into their performances-before this virus is allowed to spread any further?
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