Results 1-20 of 3,122 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:James Gray

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

James Gray: Those of us who represent the other side of Salisbury plain are immensely proud of the fact that our area contains the Wiltshire historical records centre in Chippenham. Does the Secretary of State agree that now is the right time for it to be balanced by a suitable museum and visitor centre south of the plain, covering the heritage of which we on the northern side are so proud?

Opposition Day — [20th Allotted Day]: Future of the Territorial Army (28 Oct 2009) has video

James Gray: I add my contribution, as the chairman of the all-party Army group, to the very many magnificent speeches that we have heard, from all parts of the House, praising the fantastic work that the Territorial Army has done and will do, not only on deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq but here at home. I pay particular tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (David T.C. Davies), who most...

Opposition Day — [20th Allotted Day]: Future of the Territorial Army (28 Oct 2009) has video

James Gray: The whole House will have the opportunity to thank the Territorial Army soldiers who are currently deployed in Afghanistan, when the all-party Army group next welcomes the brigade returning from that country. That is on Tuesday 18 November, at 3.30 pm, when soldiers will march once again through Carriage Gates, by kind permission of Mr. Speaker. I very much hope that hon. Members will join...

Opposition Day — [20th Allotted Day]: Future of the Territorial Army (28 Oct 2009) has video

James Gray: My own experience of the TA and the contacts I have with TA personnel very much confirm what my hon. Friend says. It is of course true that soldiers of all kinds, whether regular or territorial, would much prefer to be deployed with their mates—with their battalion or unit, or whatever it may be. However, most of the brigades currently deployed in Afghanistan are very mixed, hybrid...

Opposition Day — [20th Allotted Day]: Future of the Territorial Army (28 Oct 2009) has video

James Gray: My hon. Friend makes an extremely good point about topical debates. It is worth remembering that this debate was called by the Conservative Opposition—and also that we forced the Government to make their U-turn on the decision—in a week when the topical debate is on the safety of fireworks. That is what the Government believe to be important.

Swindon to Kemble Railway (27 Oct 2009)

James Gray: In the Minister's considerations, will he kindly bear it in mind that all the engineering work for the Kemble to Swindon redoubling would be done in my constituency in North Wiltshire? People in my constituency broadly welcome the move, and I very much support hon. Members who have spoken this morning, but will the Minister bear it in mind that the engineering work is in my patch and that...

Swindon to Kemble Railway (27 Oct 2009)

James Gray: I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing the debate. Nearly all the engineering work between Kemble and Swindon is in my constituency, although there are no stations in it. We are keen that a number of improvements be incorporated when the work is done. In particular, the culvert at Minety should be widened to reduce flooding and a high-speed train station could be built at Purton. Those...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (21 Oct 2009) has video

James Gray: The Prime Minister has often emphasised how important it is that all the participants in the forthcoming and vital Copenhagen talks should be ready to compromise in order to achieve consensus. Will he tell us on which British principle he is ready to compromise? How about the third runway at Heathrow?

Oral Answers to Questions — Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Tibet (20 Oct 2009)

James Gray: What the Government's policy is on the status of Tibet; and if he will make a statement.

Oral Answers to Questions — Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Tibet (20 Oct 2009)

James Gray: May I first call the House's attention to my entry in the Register of Members' Interests, where I record a recent visit to Tibet? During that visit I became increasingly convinced that the Government's change in stance on the status of Tibet was quite correct. Tibet needs to be an integral part of the greater People's Republic of China, albeit an entirely autonomous region. Does not the...

Defence Policy (15 Oct 2009) has video

James Gray: The Secretary of State is quite right about the superb job that Brigadier Radford has done. I am glad to be able to tell the Secretary of State that Brigadier Radford has accepted the invitation of the all-party group on the Army to come to a reception on the Terrace of the House of Commons on 30 November. I hope that hon. Members who are present in the Chamber will join me then to thank him...

Defence Policy (15 Oct 2009) has video

James Gray: rose—

Defence Policy (15 Oct 2009) has video

James Gray: No one would disagree with the Secretary of State about the main effort being centred on Afghanistan, but, to use an example of the situation that we face, I cite the Honourable Artillery Company, my regiment, which has 11 soldiers deployed in Afghanistan, has made regular contributions over the past eight years and, presumably, will wish to do so in the future. The company's commanding...

China and the West (13 Oct 2009)

James Gray: A point that I forgot to mention in my speech is that when the Government slipped through this place—incidentally, without any formal ministerial statement—a change in policy with regard to Tibet, saying that Tibet was now understood to be a fully integrated part of the People's Republic of China, some of us felt that the Government failed to use that sufficiently well as a lever...

China and the West (13 Oct 2009)

James Gray: I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Cities of London and Westminster (Mr. Field) for his initiative in calling this debate and congratulate him on the magnificent tour d'horizon that he gave just now, particularly in respect of economic relations between China and the west. It is perfectly reasonable that, as the Member who represents the City of London, he should do so. Looking forward...

China and the West (13 Oct 2009)

James Gray: Is Lord Mandelson in charge of everything? [Interruption.]

China and the West (13 Oct 2009)

James Gray: I beg your pardon, Mr. Taylor. I am being diverted from my subject. My point was that our parliamentary delegation and the one the previous week, which included the Minister of State, headed to Tibet and Beijing for high-level discussions, and those meetings were dominated not by the potential for trade with China, nor by its economic influence in the world, but by the issue of an aging,...

Oral Answers to Questions — Children, Schools and Families: Land Sales (Schools) (12 Oct 2009) has video

James Gray: Of the many thousands of playing fields being sold off by the Labour Government or Labour local authorities in direct contravention of repeated manifesto commitments, some 342 have been sold because apparently they were the wrong shape. Would the Minister care to tell the House what playing fields that were the correct shape before are now of such a strange shape as to have to be sold off...