Results 1-20 of 3,757 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:David Blunkett

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (4 Nov 2009) has video

David Blunkett: Will the Prime Minister tell the House what he thinks of the credibility of a party leader who has spent so much time and energy attacking him over the Lisbon treaty, only to reveal now that his cast-iron guarantee has turned out to be made of plywood?

Oral Answers to Questions — Treasury: Higher Education (3 Nov 2009) has video

David Blunkett: I welcome the framework, but may I suggest to my right hon. Friend that in the forthcoming review, it will always be better to have people—students and providers—inside the tent than commenting from outside? In the lead-up to the review, will he, along with his right hon. and noble Friend Lord Mandelson, reconsider the notion of penalising universities that decide, at their own...

Nato: Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill (20 Oct 2009)

David Blunkett: The hon. and learned Gentleman is making an entertaining speech, but it is short on the substance of what the Opposition actually believe in. In regard to the civil service and the renewal of commitments in the Bill, are he and his party definitely committed to the neutrality of the civil service?

Nato: Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill (20 Oct 2009)

David Blunkett: Perhaps the hon. and learned Gentleman would reflect on the enthusiasm that the Opposition have for deliberate and, in some cases, encouraged leaks from the civil service.

Nato: Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill (20 Oct 2009)

David Blunkett: The hon. Gentleman has really started to dig himself a hole. Can he name one such occurrence while I was Home Secretary?

Nato: Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill (20 Oct 2009)

David Blunkett: The hon. Gentleman is right that that did happen in early 2004, and the Minister responsible resigned, even though the mistake was made by civil servants in the Department and another Department, not by her personally. He has underlined entirely the point that I was seeking to make. Ministers do not only take the rap, they take it for mistakes made by their own civil servants.

Oral Answers to Questions — Treasury: Care and Support (Reform) (14 Jul 2009)

David Blunkett: Does my right hon. Friend agree that the army of family and informal voluntary carers to whom he paid tribute at the beginning of his statement require not only support but an enhancement of the number of people encouraged to give time, energy and commitment, including in retirement, to keeping the glue of civil society together? Will he therefore consider issuing at the point of retirement a...

Oral Answers to Questions — Foreign and Commonwealth Office: 21st Century Schools (30 Jun 2009) has video

David Blunkett: I welcome the Secretary of State's reaffirmation of the central role of the literacy and numeracy strategy. In reaffirming that, and in devolving the substantial funding for support and advice, will he agree to kite-mark or accredit those organisations or bodies that will be providing support, in order not to drift back into the complete mess that we had before 1997?

Women and Equality: National Security Strategy (25 Jun 2009) has video

David Blunkett: Thank you, Mr. Speaker; I shall try a question. As my right hon. Friend will know, I raised the issue of cybercrime and attack when we updated our Contest strategy earlier this year. I am deeply concerned that we not only co-ordinate correctly the organisations that can make a difference, but resource them effectively. My right hon. Friend will know that it is crucial to put resources into...

Oral Answers to Questions — Justice: Digital Britain (16 Jun 2009) has video

David Blunkett: May I thank you personally, Mr. Speaker, for the courtesy and kindness that you have shown me over the years that you have occupied your post? I also congratulate my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on his new appointment. Does my right hon. Friend agree that for the digital highway, as for the physical highway, people need a vehicle, they need training, and they need to know the...

Oral Answers to Questions — Health: International Terrorism (24 Mar 2009) has video

David Blunkett: I thank my right hon. Friend and all those who have worked with her on updating the Contest strategy, which we first put together in 2003. While it is understandable that she will be concentrating on the immediate physical risk to life and limb, demonstrated so tragically on 7 July 2005, and the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threat that exists, will she consider adding a...

Food Labelling Regulations (Amendment): New Clause 4 — Disability living allowance for blind claimants (17 Mar 2009) has video

David Blunkett: First, I think that, mischievously, I should declare an interest because I am a vice-president of the RNIB. However, because a couple of people have appeared to stalk me and ring up newspapers in the past four years, I should also declare that I have an alternative method of funding transport. I shall not, at least for the moment, be a beneficiary of any change that the Government may or may...

Royal Assent: New Trains (Investment) (12 Feb 2009) has video

David Blunkett: I welcome my right hon. Friend's announcement and the investment that goes with it. May I suggest to him, as he knows the midland main line very well, that the welcome announcement about the completion of its electrification be accompanied by an announcement on the relevant rolling stock that he has announced for the east coast and Great Western main lines? The Meridian trains that are now...

Business of the House: Digital Britain (29 Jan 2009) has video

David Blunkett: I thank my right hon. Friend for the statement and the interim report. He and I share a long-standing concern about the digital divide, in terms of availability, connectivity and internet literacy, which he has mentioned. Will he comment on how we might, through the report, strengthen our hand when it comes to the other divide—the divide that means that there are people who are not...

Women and Equality: Welfare Reform Bill (27 Jan 2009) has video

David Blunkett: Will my right hon. Friend reassure those inside and outside the House who have been campaigning for a higher mobility component in the disability living allowance for those with little or no sight? As he said during his eloquent description of the young man in Barnsley, people must not be trapped in their homes but be enabled to prepare for work by engaging again with society, being able to...

Olympics: Policing and Crime Bill (19 Jan 2009) has video

David Blunkett: May I follow the hon. Gentleman's logic on the abolition of the ID card scheme to spend money on the police? Can he explain briefly how reducing the amount raised from the passport charge—to take account of the fact that there would no longer be a clean database and the additional charge associated with the passport would thus no longer be needed—would allow the service to raise...

Olympics: Policing and Crime Bill (19 Jan 2009) has video

David Blunkett: Can we clarify the difference between income and expenditure? I am talking about income raised for spending; if the income is reduced, there can be no expenditure.

Olympics: Policing and Crime Bill (19 Jan 2009) has video

David Blunkett: rose—