Results 1-20 of 2,357 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Stuart Bell

Outlawries Bill: Debate on the Address — [1st Day] (18 Nov 2009)

Stuart Bell: I am grateful for the opportunity to follow the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (David Maclean), who made not only an eloquent speech on Copenhagen and deforestation, but a moving speech. I have always admired the way that he speaks and have always told him that privately, although I have always been a little bashful about following him. I should also say-he did not say this...

Outlawries Bill: Debate on the Address — [1st Day] (18 Nov 2009)

Stuart Bell: I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for his intervention. All opinion polls show that, when asked which issues concern them most, only 8 per cent. of people say that they are worried about the allowances of Members of Parliament. When they are asked about their specific Member of Parliament, only 4 per cent. disapprove of what he or she is doing. I concur entirely with my right hon. Friend...

Outlawries Bill: Debate on the Address — [1st Day] (18 Nov 2009)

Stuart Bell: Yes, and that reminds me of the statement by Maynard Keynes that in the long term we are all dead. Economic forecasters have lots of ways to explain and describe where we are, but none of it makes much difference in the real world. I return to the Gracious Speech, which gives the Government of the day an opportunity to set out their stall. What could be better than a stall that will ensure...

Outlawries Bill: Debate on the Address — [1st Day] (18 Nov 2009)

Stuart Bell: That is a very interesting question in the context of the global economy. Many countries in Asia were afflicted by the global downturn, as was Brazil in south America. We cannot compare such different economies with our own, which is an industrial economy-an advanced economy-within the European Union. I have heard comparisons made with the German economy, which, we are told, is pulling out of...

Outlawries Bill: Debate on the Address — [1st Day] (18 Nov 2009)

Stuart Bell: I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for answering the question much more eloquently than I did. He thinks on his feet more quickly.

Outlawries Bill: Debate on the Address — [1st Day] (18 Nov 2009)

Stuart Bell: I am happy to respond to that intervention. The hon. Gentleman makes a valid point about the debt ratio. We moved into a position-light-touch regulation has been mentioned-where debt became easy and available. The sub-prime mortgage market in the United States, which was the original cause of the economic downturn, enabled house ownership to increase from 55 to 65 per cent., and everyone...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: MPs' Expenses and Allowances (4 Nov 2009) has video

Stuart Bell: On a day when we mourn the loss of five of our servicemen, with many others seriously wounded, does that not put into perspective the question of allowances in our time? Is it not a fact that Sir Christopher Kelly is trying to end not just one year of frustration about allowances, but 30 years in which they have bedevilled the House? May I draw the Leader of the House's attention to Sir...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: European Council (2 Nov 2009) has video

Stuart Bell: The Prime Minister is right to emphasise the leadership given by the European Union over many years in confronting global warming and reducing emissions of carbon and other greenhouse gases. May I plead with him to continue his unremitting efforts to ensure that, after the Copenhagen conference on climate change, there will indeed be another protocol to follow the one from Kyoto?

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (28 Oct 2009) has video

Stuart Bell: Following the creation of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, and given the fact that Sir Thomas Legg is reviewing five years of our allowances, with the publication next week by Christopher Kelly of the overall review of MPs' allowances, can the Prime Minister tell the House what the next steps will be?

Oral Answers to Questions — Church Commissioners: St Margaret's Church, Westminster (15 Oct 2009) has video

Stuart Bell: Let me say to the hon. Gentleman, without discourtesy, that the answer is none. Let me add, however, that I have visited St. Margaret's and seen what urgent remedial work has to be done. I invite other Members also to visit the church.

Oral Answers to Questions — Church Commissioners: St Margaret's Church, Westminster (15 Oct 2009) has video

Stuart Bell: The hon. Gentleman is right to reflect on the £2 million that the appeal is intended to raise. He is also right to point out that in 1972 an Act of Parliament required Westminster abbey by law to keep St. Margaret's open for such use as Parliament required. In the usual fashion, however, it did not allow for funding from Parliament. We hope that Members will contribute generously to the...

Oral Answers to Questions — Church Commissioners: St Margaret's Church, Westminster (15 Oct 2009) has video

Stuart Bell: My hon. Friend has made a valid point. The church is always on its own when it comes to expenditure; it receives no support whatever from the Government. The Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret Westminster Act 1972 placed the church and churchyard of St. Margaret's once more under the governance of the dean and chapter of Westminster, with one of the canons, Mr. Speaker's chaplain, serving as...

Oral Answers to Questions — Church Commissioners: Parish Priests (15 Oct 2009) has video

Stuart Bell: Figures are published at the end of December. On 31 December 1997 there were 7,471 full-time parochial clergy of incumbent status, compared with 6,450 on 31 December 2007, the latest year for which figures are available.

Oral Answers to Questions — Church Commissioners: Parish Priests (15 Oct 2009) has video

Stuart Bell: I know that the hon. Lady has strong views about the adequacy of the stipend to attract priests, especially in rural parishes. The Church is keen for stipends to be flexible enough to allow it to put clergy where they can best be deployed, consistent with preventing their mobility from being impeded. As the hon. Lady has said, the number of ordinants has risen. In 2007, 552 new clergy were...

Oral Answers to Questions — Church Commissioners: Parish Priests (15 Oct 2009) has video

Stuart Bell: My hon. Friend makes a valid point. At the end of 1997, 6 per cent. of parochial-incumbent status clergy—or 426 overall—were women, whereas in 2007, 15 per cent., or 974, were women. I fully accept my hon. Friend's point about the work load of priests. During the recess I was up in Teesdale, where I visited many churches and was surprised to learn that one particular vicar covered...

Oral Answers to Questions — Church Commissioners: Sale of Redundant Churches (15 Oct 2009) has video

Stuart Bell: In 2008, net proceeds from the disposal of closed church buildings and sites were just under £4 million.

Oral Answers to Questions — Church Commissioners: Sale of Redundant Churches (15 Oct 2009) has video

Stuart Bell: We have very strict criteria on redundant churches and what uses they can be put to after sale. If my hon. Friend has a particular case he wishes to refer to me, I will be very interested to look at it. I am sure that he will understand and accept that the proceeds from the sale of closed churches are used to support dioceses in the work of the living Church. Since the Pastoral Measure came...

Oral Answers to Questions — Church Commissioners: Sale of Redundant Churches (15 Oct 2009) has video

Stuart Bell: I am grateful for the opportunity to repeat what I said a moment ago: the proceeds from the sale of closed churches are used in some measure to support the preservation efforts of the Churches Conservation Trust, which is co-funded by the Government. Therefore it is welcome that the 2008 sale proceeds were the highest for over a decade; that helps us help the Churches Conservation Trust. The...

Oral Answers to Questions — Church Commissioners: Sale of Redundant Churches (15 Oct 2009) has video

Stuart Bell: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for making that point. The purpose of the sales proceeds is essentially to support the dioceses in their work, which might, of course, include building a new church. We should not forget that thousands of churches up and down the land remain open. It is extremely important that people throughout the country have access to their churches when they wish, and...