As Chair of the Science and Technology Committee, I can confirm that it warmly welcomes the establishment of the centre. One of the issues the Government response to the consultation did not really cover was whether the centre’s remit will include the ability to advise on the need for clearer...

As Chair of the Science and Technology Committee, I can confirm that it warmly welcomes the establishment of the centre. One of the issues the Government response to the consultation did not really cover was whether the centre’s remit will include the ability to advise on the need for clearer...

To pick up on the point made by the hon. Member for Erewash (Liz Blackman) about flexible working for parents of teenage children, as the father of two teenagers I am acutely aware of the pressures of being a parent of children of that age. There is a strong case...

To pick up on the point made by the hon. Member for Erewash (Liz Blackman) about flexible working for parents of teenage children, as the father of two teenagers I am acutely aware of the pressures of being a parent of children of that age. There is a strong case...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. He reminded me of something with which I wanted to deal. Clearly, the Minister must respond as the two responses by the Secretary of State were inconsistent. The right hon. Gentleman said that everything was subject to the affirmative process....

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. He reminded me of something with which I wanted to deal. Clearly, the Minister must respond as the two responses by the Secretary of State were inconsistent. The right hon. Gentleman said that everything was subject to the affirmative process....

The Minister mentions regulations. I am sure that he is about to get to it, but will he confirm precisely which of the regulations will be subject to the affirmative process rather than the alternative?

The Minister mentions regulations. I am sure that he is about to get to it, but will he confirm precisely which of the regulations will be subject to the affirmative process rather than the alternative?

I agree with what the hon. Lady is saying about redressing the balance between men and women as women become increasingly unequal as a result of time off relating to childbirth. Does she recognise, however, that the Government estimate in their regulatory impact assessment that it is possible that as...

I agree with what the hon. Lady is saying about redressing the balance between men and women as women become increasingly unequal as a result of time off relating to childbirth. Does she recognise, however, that the Government estimate in their regulatory impact assessment that it is possible that as...

Perhaps I could give the Secretary of State an opportunity to intervene to clarify the matter. There seems to be complete confusion on the Government Benches. Labour Members seem remarkably reluctant to get to their feet. I am giving them the opportunity, here and now, to intervene. Let us hope...

Perhaps I could give the Secretary of State an opportunity to intervene to clarify the matter. There seems to be complete confusion on the Government Benches. Labour Members seem remarkably reluctant to get to their feet. I am giving them the opportunity, here and now, to intervene. Let us hope...

Indeed; it is to be hoped that that will be the case. Consultation can take place on the detail before a Bill is presented as well as before regulations. At this stage, while considering the Bill, we are not aware of much of the detail in the proposed legislation other...

Indeed; it is to be hoped that that will be the case. Consultation can take place on the detail before a Bill is presented as well as before regulations. At this stage, while considering the Bill, we are not aware of much of the detail in the proposed legislation other...

I entirely agree with that suggestion, which was well made. I hope that the Minister will respond positively to it. I am sure that he will.

I entirely agree with that suggestion, which was well made. I hope that the Minister will respond positively to it. I am sure that he will.

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. I was not aware of those figures, and I hope that in the wind up the Secretary of State or the Minister will confirm that that analysis will be shared with the Committee from the start, so that we can debate those issues properly....

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. I was not aware of those figures, and I hope that in the wind up the Secretary of State or the Minister will confirm that that analysis will be shared with the Committee from the start, so that we can debate those issues properly....

To return to the issue of flexible working and carers, the right hon. Gentleman’s response to an earlier intervention suggests that he is looking at a wide definition rather than one that applies to a narrow group of people, which would be of little value. Will he confirm that that...

To return to the issue of flexible working and carers, the right hon. Gentleman’s response to an earlier intervention suggests that he is looking at a wide definition rather than one that applies to a narrow group of people, which would be of little value. Will he confirm that that...

Will the Secretary of State give way?

Will the Secretary of State give way?

I am grateful to the Secretary of State for his generosity. On the point that he just made, the Confederation of British Industry has suggested that any increase in annual leave entitlement to deal with bank holidays should be phased in to allow businesses to adjust. Does he have in...

I am grateful to the Secretary of State for his generosity. On the point that he just made, the Confederation of British Industry has suggested that any increase in annual leave entitlement to deal with bank holidays should be phased in to allow businesses to adjust. Does he have in...

Will the Secretary of State give an idea of the current take-up of the entitlement to two weeks’ paternity pay? There is a great deal of concern that because the pay is quite low, and because of the straitjacket in terms of notice requirements and so on, the take-up is...

Will the Secretary of State give an idea of the current take-up of the entitlement to two weeks’ paternity pay? There is a great deal of concern that because the pay is quite low, and because of the straitjacket in terms of notice requirements and so on, the take-up is...

Will the Minister do more than look at the information that comes in, as he describes it, and commission more authoritative research?

Will the Minister do more than look at the information that comes in, as he describes it, and commission more authoritative research?

I rise briefly to say that I support the importance of the new clause. Unless consumers are able to understand such provisions, there is not financial inclusion but ignorance of the requirements imposed on them. It must be right that someone who perhaps cannot speak English or who is blind...

I rise briefly to say that I support the importance of the new clause. Unless consumers are able to understand such provisions, there is not financial inclusion but ignorance of the requirements imposed on them. It must be right that someone who perhaps cannot speak English or who is blind...

I hope that the hon. Gentleman will be able to clarify an aspect of particular concern. As amendment No. 4 is drafted, the whole section would have no effect if there was no prejudice to the borrower, but the question is what we mean by prejudice. I agree with him...

I hope that the hon. Gentleman will be able to clarify an aspect of particular concern. As amendment No. 4 is drafted, the whole section would have no effect if there was no prejudice to the borrower, but the question is what we mean by prejudice. I agree with him...

I absolutely understand the context and I am completely with the Minister in his aim of achieving transparency and responsible lending. I was talking about that earlier in relation to data sharing and it is absolutely the correct objective. That is why I generally support the test of unfairness. It...

I absolutely understand the context and I am completely with the Minister in his aim of achieving transparency and responsible lending. I was talking about that earlier in relation to data sharing and it is absolutely the correct objective. That is why I generally support the test of unfairness. It...

I am absolutely in agreement with the hon. Member for Wealden (Charles Hendry) in terms of the objectives of the new clause, but I am not entirely with him in terms of its content. I know where he is coming from, but I have concerns with subsection (3). There needs...

I am absolutely in agreement with the hon. Member for Wealden (Charles Hendry) in terms of the objectives of the new clause, but I am not entirely with him in terms of its content. I know where he is coming from, but I have concerns with subsection (3). There needs...

That is a fair point. I have often known occasions where a case is pending, either in the High Court, the Appeal Court or the House of Lords, and it creates uncertainty. I suspect that these provisions will be tested in the courts, whether or not there is a framework,...

That is a fair point. I have often known occasions where a case is pending, either in the High Court, the Appeal Court or the House of Lords, and it creates uncertainty. I suspect that these provisions will be tested in the courts, whether or not there is a framework,...