Last month, I wrote in my Thame Gazette article about my programme of 'Conversations in the street'. That is where I simply turn up and conduct what amount to street surgeries.
I congratulate the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Stephen Twigg), who brought forward this important debate. He will recall, as will the House, that over the past year I have asked various Ministers a lot of questions about Yemen.
The Government has announced the preferred corridor for the Oxford-Milton Keynes-Cambridge Expressway based on a recommendation from Highways England. The preferred route is known as Route B. The route is aligned with the East-West Rail route.
I have welcomed new figures showing that there are 47,330 fewer children in workless households in the South East since 2010. The number of children living in households with no one working is at a record low, meaning fewer children are living in families without the security of work.
I have welcomed research showing that superfast broadband has boosted the turnover of businesses across the UK by £9 billion. This boost to the UK economy has created 49,000 jobs, showing the clear benefits that superfast broadband provides.
Since the end of last year, constituents in Henley and the surrounding villages have contacted me about the situation at Townlands Memorial Hospital regarding parking.
A Hornchurch youngster has spent his summer as an intern at the Mother of Parliaments, thanks to a pioneering scheme run by a local charity. Ben Huseyin, who is autistic, has spent two fortnight long spells in my Westminster office.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Ryan. I congratulate the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley (Jess Phillips) on securing this important debate. I also pay my respects to organisations such as Women's Aid, which have raised many of the issues that have been discussed—specifically, judicial attitudes.
I beg to move, That this House has considered Russia and the Council of Europe. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Howarth. I thank the many members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe who have joined me to discuss this issue. It is a great pleasure to see them, and I am grateful to them for turning up to speak.
