Cable, Davey, and Lamb quiz Harman at PMQs

6.54.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 3rd Apr 2008

' . . Does the Leader of the House share my view that [the cancellation] demonstrates Her Majesty's unerring instinct for the public mood . . '

[Apr 02] Vincent Cable: rose-

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Michael Martin (Speaker): Order.

Vincent Cable: May I begin by adding my condolences over the soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq? It was reported earlier this week that Her Majesty the Queen had cancelled her diamond wedding celebrations because it was judged inappropriate to engage in extravagance at a time of economic gloom and recession. Does the Leader of the House share my view that that demonstrates Her Majesty's unerring instinct for the public mood, or do the Government think that she was overreacting?

Harriet Harman (Lord Privy Seal, House of Commons): rose-

Michael Martin (Speaker): Order. The hon. Gentleman should not discuss Her Majesty the Queen. Perhaps he could try asking another question. He has used one up, and he will not get another after that.

Vincent Cable: I am very happy for the Leader of the House to return to the issue of economic gloom and recession. Does she agree with that assessment?

Harriet Harman (Lord Privy Seal, House of Commons): As I told the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague), our concern is to ensure that people continue to have jobs. As the hon. Gentleman will know, the economy still contains 670,000 vacancies, and we want to ensure that it continues to grow as it has for some 62 consecutive quarters.

Vincent Cable: rose-

Michael Martin (Speaker): Order. The hon. Gentleman is out of order. I must move on.

. . Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton, Liberal Democrat): Can the Leader of the House explain to council tenants in my constituency why the Labour Government ask them to subsidise council tenants in other parts of the country? Why is it that for every pound that a council tenant pays in rent to Kingston council, the Government take away 31p to give to other councils? The Prime Minister told the House in July last year that he would reform this unfair system; why has nothing been done?

Harriet Harman (Lord Privy Seal, House of Commons): We are reviewing the way in which the housing revenue fund works, but I hope that the hon. Gentleman will join me in welcoming the fact that in all the council estates and blocks in his constituency there have been new roofs, new windows and new lifts, and that there has been major investment in council housing since this Government came into power.

. . Norman Lamb (North Norfolk, Liberal Democrat): Last week, people living in the broads area of Norfolk were confronted by a report by Natural England proposing the possible abandonment of six villages and 25 square miles of land to the sea. The Leader of the House will understand the potential implications of any report of that sort. The immediate implication is that it is proposed without any compensation to those affected. Can she offer any reassurance to those communities that the Government will defend this coastline?

Harriet Harman (Lord Privy Seal, House of Commons): I am aware of the issues raised by the hon. Gentleman. The question of sea defences in the part of the world that he represents is very important. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is working with the Environment Agency and will work with local authorities and Members of Parliament in the area to ensure that we take the right way forward.