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Don Foster
Liberal Democrat MP for Bath
- Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, and Olympics (since 8 Jan 2009)
- Entered Parliament on 9 April 1992 — General election
- Majority: 4,638 votes. — 464th out of 643 MPs.
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- Voting record
- Committees and topics of interest
- Most recent appearances
- Numerology
- Register of Members’ Interests
- Expenses
Voting record (from PublicWhip)
How Don Foster voted on key issues since 2001:
- Voted moderately for a transparent Parliament. votes, speeches
- Voted moderately for introducing a smoking ban. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly against introducing ID cards. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly against introducing foundation hospitals. votes, speeches
- Voted strongly against introducing student top-up fees. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly against Labour's anti-terrorism laws. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly against the Iraq war. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly for an investigation into the Iraq war. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly against replacing Trident. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly for the hunting ban. votes, speeches
- Voted strongly for equal gay rights. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly for laws to stop climate change. votes, speeches
Read about how the voting record is decided.
More on well-known issues (from the Guardian) & their full record
- Hardly ever rebels against their party in this parliament.
Committees and topics of interest
Asks most questions about
- Departments: Culture Media and Sport, Transport, Transport, Local Government and the Regions, Home Department, Health
- Subjects (based on headings added by Hansard): Railways, Olympic Games, Olympic Games 2012, Rail Safety, Gambling
(based on written questions asked by Don Foster and answered by departments)
Public Bill Committees (sittings attended)
- Holocaust (Stolen Art) Restitution Bill Committee (0 out of n/a)
- Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Bill Committee (2 out of n/a)
- National Lottery Bill Committee (8 out of n/a)
- London Olympics Bill Committee (4 out of n/a)
- Gambling Bill Committee (2 out of n/a)
- Gambling Bill Committee (6 out of n/a)
- Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Bill Committee (5 out of n/a)
- Railways and Transport Safety Bill Committee (18 out of n/a)
- Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Bill Committee (2 out of n/a)
- Homelessness Bill Committee (3 out of n/a)
- Homes Bill Committee (12 out of n/a)
Most recent appearances
- Outlawries Bill: Debate on the Address — [1st Day] (18 Nov 2009)
“Does the Prime Minister believe that it is acceptable to take money from the BBC's licence fee to pay for some of these Government policies or does he share my view that doing so would undermine the independence from government of the BBC?”
More of Don Foster's recent appearances
Numerology
Please note that numbers do not measure quality. Also, representatives may do other things not currently covered by this site. (More about this)
- Has spoken in 23 debates in the last year — average amongst MPs.
- Has received answers to 316 written questions in the last year — well above average amongst MPs.
- Is a member of 0 select committees (0 as chair).
- Replied within 2 or 3 weeks to a medium number of messages sent via WriteToThem.com during 2008, according to constituents.
- Has voted in 75% of votes in parliament with this affiliation — above average amongst MPs. (From Public Whip)
- People have made 6 annotations on this MP’s speeches — average amongst MPs.
- This MP's speeches, in Hansard, are readable by an average 18–19 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
- 91 people are tracking whenever this MP speaks — email me whenever Don Foster speaks.
- Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") 716 times in debates — well above average amongst MPs. (Why is this here?)
Register of Members’ Interests
4. Sponsorship or financial or material support
Contribution to salary of a member of staff in my constituency office from Mr Paul Strasburger of Bath.
5. Gifts, benefits and hospitality (UK)
24-26 May 2008, accommodation and hospitality at Hay Literature Festival for myself and my wife courtesy of BSkyB. (Registered 30 June 2008)
Register last updated: 11 Nov 2009. More about the Register
View the history of this MP's entries in the Register
Expenses
Figures in brackets are ranks. Data from parliament.uk (source). Read 2004/05 – 2007/08 receipts.
| Type | 2007/08 (ranking out of 645) | 2006/07 (ranking out of 645) | 2005/06 | 2004/05 (ranking out of 659) | 2003/04 (ranking out of 658) | 2002/03 (ranking out of 657) | 2001/02 (ranking out of 657) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Costs Allowance | £22,754 (243rd) | £21,955 (268th) | £21,012 | £15,504 (472nd) | £16,134 (432nd) | £19,722 (joint 1st) | £15,903 (196th) |
| London Supplement | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Incidental Expenses Provision | £20,266 (225th) | £20,654 (266th) | £21,358 | £18,123 (347th) | £17,868 (474th) | £18,206 (joint 263rd) | £21,414 (126th) |
| Staffing Allowance | £93,729 (88th) | £88,978 (91st) | £75,750 | £69,875 (385th) | £68,022 (joint 300th) | £63,740 (360th) | £45,383 (352nd) |
| Communications Allowance | £9,196 (266th) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Members' Travel | £5,155 (456th)* | £6,100 (396th)** | £6,449 | £7,809 (433rd) | £8,369 (389th) | £7,567 (425th) | £6,449 (399th) |
| Members' Staff Travel | £0 | £0 | £0 | £77 (435th) | £252 (joint 346th) | £568 (joint 241st) | £197 (joint 358th) |
| Members' Spouse Travel | £542 (210th) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Members' Family Travel | £0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Centrally Purchased Stationery | £978 (234th) | £725 (406th) | £771 | £818 (354th) | £639 (441st) | £1,159 (270th) | £1,409 (joint 195th) |
| Stationery: Associated Postage Costs | £1,792 (415th) | £1,893 (joint 432nd) | £1,843 | £1,447 (500th) | £1,097 (joint 549th) | N/A | N/A |
| Centrally Provided Computer Equipment | £1,346 (joint 121st) | £1,142 (joint 175th) | £0 | £1,914 (joint 274th) | £1,914 (270th) | £1,914 (267th) | £1,914 (253rd) |
| Other Costs | £1,148 (72nd) | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Total | £156,906 (146th) | £141,447 (252nd) | £127,183 | £115,567 (483rd) | £114,295 (437th) | £112,876 (329th) | £92,669 (216th) |
* Regular journeys between home/constituency/Westminster: Mileage £3,528 (252nd). Rail £963 (440th). Other: Rail £95 (121st). European £569 (96th).