Questions to the Prime Minister, Dennis Skinner.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I know that members across the House will have been appalled by last night's cowardly terrorist attack in New York.

Our thoughts are with all those affected and we stand united with the people

of New York. Mr. Speaker, members on both sides of the House have been deeply concerned

about allegations of harassment and mistreatment here in Westminster. This demands a response

and that is why my right honourable friend, the leader of the House, has been meeting with

her counterparts and we are hopeful that all sides can work together quickly to resolve this.

And I've written to all party leaders, inviting them to a meeting early next week so we

can discuss a common, transparent, independent grievance procedure for all those working

in Parliament.

We have a duty to ensure that everyone coming here to contribute to public life is treated with respect.

Mr Speaker, this morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others.

In addition to my duties in this House, I shall have further such meetings later today.

Dennis Skinner, is the year Prime Minister aware there has been some very powerful research done on the question

of high speed rail? What it says is that in the leafy suburbs of the south the first 140

miles, 30% of it has been dedicated to tunneling to avoid knocking houses down.

Yet in the north, we are now told that the percentage is only 2% for the whole of the north.

Why? Because HS2 says it's too costly, knock the houses down.

Will she arrange for a meeting with people from my area in order to avoid another 30 houses

being knocked down in Newton, part of Bolzover?

And isn't it high time that this government stop treating our people like second-class

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