Charles Walker calls on the Government to ensure that taxpayer's money spent on European enlargement is spent effectively, especially at a time when the Government is breaking deals made with prison officers and police.

9.43 pm

Mr. Walker: I shall be very brief, as other Members want to speak.

The Government have an obligation to ensure that every red penny of taxpayers’ money is spent efficiently. That applies to the money that will be given over by the Government to fund enlargement. Fifteen years ago, I went to Mayo to go fishing, and I had the great pleasure of flying into Knock international airport. It is in the middle of an enormous great bog; it is a very beautiful bog, but a bog nevertheless, with an international airport in it. When one gets out of the plane to get a taxi, one is swept down an amazing highway—a dual carriageway with many beautiful blue signs saying “Made possible by the European Union”. After about 7 miles, one reaches nothing more than a cattle track. It would be argued in Ireland that that is effective spending of European money. On being asked why on earth there should be an international airport at Knock, the taxi driver said, “Because somebody had a vision that it needed to be here”. We observed rather dryly that it was probably the building contractor. Anyway, that demonstrates the sort of thing we need to guard against as we pass over this money to an expanding Europe.

The Government need to reassure the House over and over again—and prove over and over again—that every penny is being spent effectively. They need to do that because at this moment they are breaking deals with public servants left, right and centre. The Chief Secretary spoke of the importance of not breaking deals, but if somebody is a prison officer their deal has been broken, and if they are a police officer their deal has been broken. It is not impossible—I cannot believe that it is impossible—for the Government to find a few extra millions, £30 million to £60 million, to ensure that at least prison officers and police officers, who do the hardest job in the country, receive the money that they deserve.

9.45 pm

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CHARLES' OTHER INTERVENTIONS IN THE SAME DEBATE

Mr. Charles Walker (Broxbourne) (Con): The Chief Secretary is being most generous in giving way. Surely he is mistaken—the Prime Minister cannot negotiate a deal. He can make an agreement in principle, but it is not a deal until this sovereign House has voted on it. I shall tell the Chief Secretary what a deal is; a deal is to pay police officers a proper rate.

The First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means (Sylvia Heal): Order. The scope of this debate is not so wide as to take in police pay.

Andy Burnham: In all matters, the Government will take decisions that support economic competitiveness and strength. That applies to public sector pay as well as to matters relating to the European Commission, and that is the basis on which we move forward.

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