Results 1-20 of 3,603 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Don Foster

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

Don Foster: 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?

Oral Answers to Questions — Culture, Media and Sport: Competitive Sport (Schools) (9 Nov 2009) has video

Don Foster: Regarding the Minister's target for 16 to 19-year-olds, will he confirm that currently 63 per cent. of 16-year-olds and 81 per cent. of 19-year-olds are not meeting the target? With fewer than 1,000 days to go before the target is meant to be achieved, what new policies does he have? Will he at least look at young offender institutions, where the target is already being exceeded?

Taxation (Gambling) (5 Nov 2009) has video

Don Foster: Will the hon. Gentleman remind the House whether there was an opportunity in 2003 to investigate GPT for machines? At that time, the Government dropped the proposal and said that they would not look at it again until conditions in the industry stabilised. Does he believe those have stabilised, or have they got worse, as he is describing?

[Miss Anne Begg in the Chair] — Licensing Act (22 Oct 2009)

Don Foster: Yes.

[Miss Anne Begg in the Chair] — Licensing Act (22 Oct 2009)

Don Foster: Miss Begg, I have already apologised to you, the Minister and the excellent Chairman of the Select Committee because I am unable to stay for more than a couple more minutes. Since Lord Clement-Jones' Bill has been mentioned, and given the Minister's rather belated announcement that the Government will consult on the possibility of exempting venues of up to 100 from a requirement for a live...

Opposition Day — [19th allotted day]: Climate Change (Political Response) (21 Oct 2009) has video

Don Foster: rose—

Opposition Day — [19th allotted day]: Climate Change (Political Response) (21 Oct 2009) has video

Don Foster: I am grateful to the Minister for giving way, and may I add to the praise that has already been heaped on her for her personal contribution in this field? However, many of us are surprised that she has allowed her name to appear on this amendment in view of what she has just said. Can she explain why the amendment praises everybody else for signing up to the 10:10 campaign, and yet it refuses...

Oral Answers to Questions — Culture, Media and Sport: Sport (Young People) (20 Jul 2009) has video

Don Foster: The Minister has rightly said that increases in sports participation are a critical part of the legacy plan for 2012, but does he acknowledge that after a good early start there has been stagnation? Does he accept that the latest figures show that in six out of nine key sports there has been no increase in the past 12 months; that in three of those sports—rugby, football and...

Oral Answers to Questions — Culture, Media and Sport: Sport (Young People) (20 Jul 2009) has video

Don Foster: I have just given the Minister some ideas.

Local and Regional Newspapers (15 Jul 2009)

Don Foster: Well turned out as well?

Local and Regional Newspapers (15 Jul 2009)

Don Foster: I know that the hon. Gentleman wants to rush to his conclusion, but are we hearing today a complete reversal of the Conservative party position as expressed on 20 May. Then his party proposed to freeze the licence fee, which would effectively top-slice the amount of money that the BBC gets, but now it is saying that it would not. Back then, the Government said that they opposed top-slicing,...

Local and Regional Newspapers (15 Jul 2009)

Don Foster: I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Ceredigion (Mark Williams) not only on securing this debate but on his excellent and thought-provoking speech. Like many other Members, I feel passionate about the importance of local newspapers, something that was summed up extremely well by my hon. Friend the Member for Southport (Dr. Pugh) when he said that if local journalism goes,...

Care Homes (Domestic Pets): Clause 20 — Bingo duty (8 Jul 2009)

Don Foster: In many ways, this is an excellent continuation of the debate that we had on 13 May. Indeed, we have heard some of the old favourites—the excellent introduction by the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Stewart Hosie) and the passionate speech by the hon. Member for Barnsley, Central (Mr. Illsley). There has also been some welcome new blood in the debate—not least the right hon....

Care Homes (Domestic Pets): Clause 20 — Bingo duty (8 Jul 2009)

Don Foster: The hon. Gentleman is right to reflect on the debate that we had on 13 May. During that time we all kept quoting the figure of 22 per cent., as he just has. Is it not the case that the actual rate that the bingo clubs will be paying is 27 per cent. because the Government failed to take account of the effective rate, which includes the unrecoverable VAT, worth a further 5 per cent.?

Parliamentary Commissions of Inquiry: Clause 11 — Rates of alcoholic liquor duty (7 Jul 2009)

Don Foster: Just before the hon. Gentleman moves on, I note that he said that the hon. Member for Luton, North (Kelvin Hopkins) made a reasonable point. Surely, however, the key differential that influences the appalling behaviour on the streets of many of our towns and cities is that between the cost of beer in our pubs and the ridiculously cheap price of beer in our supermarkets. The same is true of...

Parliamentary Commissions of Inquiry: Clause 11 — Rates of alcoholic liquor duty (7 Jul 2009)

Don Foster: rose—

Parliamentary Commissions of Inquiry: Clause 11 — Rates of alcoholic liquor duty (7 Jul 2009)

Don Foster: Before my hon. Friend moves on, he should continue to list the benefits of pubs in our communities, because they are not just the hub. Surely they are also a place where people can drink much more responsibly than they often do when they have bought pocket-money-priced booze in our supermarkets and off licences. Therefore, will he suggest that instead of going ahead with this ridiculous beer...

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

Don Foster: Ensuring the success of our creative economies will be critical in rebuilding our economy, as the Secretary of State says. I hope that he will accept that we have a lot of ground to make up. His statement is a step in the right direction, but too many issues remain unresolved, such as the possible merger of Channel 4 and BBC Worldwide, and the inclusion of a return path in digital boxes. Why,...

Bill Presented: Standards and Privileges (8 Jun 2009) has video

Don Foster: I begin by commending my hon. Friend the Member for Torbay (Mr. Sanders) for the measured way he has responded to the report and for the apology that he has so willingly given the House. I agree with much of what the hon. Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay) has said, with one exception: he is wrong in the inferences he has drawn in respect of instructions having been given by any member...

Oral Answers to Questions — Culture, Media and Sport: "Digital Britain" (8 Jun 2009) has video

Don Foster: I, too, welcome the Secretary of State to his new post. Having already praised the BBC from the Dispatch Box, does he agree that "Digital Britain" provides a golden opportunity to sort out an anomaly in the regulation of the BBC's charter? Is it not ludicrous that the BBC Trust remains within the BBC, so that on the one hand it is a flag waver for the BBC on issues such as the licence fee and...