2016 January 06

On Wednesday 6 January 2016 there was an Opposition day debate on the recent flooding. The debate was moved by the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Kerry McCarthy. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rory Stewart, responded.

On Wednesday 6 January 2016 I met with Whitehall Nursery and Infant School in Westminster for a Tour of Parliament. Unfortunately, as Prime Minister’s Questions was taking place at the time of their visit, the children did not have the opportunity to see the Chamber of the House of Commons. I met with the school after Prime Minister’s Questions. I told the children about the story of Emily Wilding Davidson about her campaign for women’s votes. she also wanted women to be represented in Parliament. Emily hid herself in the cupboard near St Mary’s Undercroft Chapel off Westminster Hall where the children were sitting during the night of the 1911 census so she could say that her address was the House of Commons. It is thanks to all those women who took a stand so women could vote and I could sit in the House of Commons.

On Wednesday 6 January 2016 HM Opposition Labour Party called an opposition day debate on Universal Credit Work Allowances. The debate was moved by the Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Owen Smith. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mr Shailesh Vara, responded on behalf of the Government.