Results 1-20 of 1,892 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Charles Kennedy

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

Charles Kennedy: Following on from the hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Sir Stuart Bell) and his concluding remarks in particular, may I point out that many of us felt, long before the allowances issue or the expenses scandal-choose your terminology as you wish-earlier this year, that there was a distinct sense of drift about this Parliament? Curiously, that goes right back to the aftermath of the 2005 Labour...

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

Charles Kennedy: Yes. The Liberal Democrats have an awful lot to answer for in this Parliament, because, having been first out of the trap on that issue, we found enthusiasm for it. I had almost lost count of the number of leaders we went through before we reached this happy situation-where we are now and will, I hope, remain for many years to come. Other parties have followed suit, and I can only say that...

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

Charles Kennedy: I most certainly do. I suggest to the next House of Commons, and to whichever party or combination thereof forms the next Administration, that they look at the basis on which Parliament is structured, so that the relationship between this body, the legislative body, and the Executive is defined more rationally and reasonably. I hope that this side of Christmas we will see the publication of...

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

Charles Kennedy: My hon. Friend is absolutely correct. Two words that I am happy to re-record for the Official Report are "hydro board". Not only do I come from the home of Scottish Hydro Electric, which is in the highlands of Scotland, but my father's employment for many decades as draughtsman with the old Hydro-Electric Board brought in the money that put food on the table in our house, so it is very much...

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

Charles Kennedy: I completely endorse what my hon. Friend says. I have noted time and again in my constituency precisely the kind of anecdotal example to which he draws the House's attention. Indeed, if I have any sympathy at all, it is not for the Government, who are trying to deal with these problems, but for the Hansard Reporters during my short contribution. Given the many locations I have mentioned and...

Business, Innovation and Skills: Topical Questions (12 Nov 2009)

Charles Kennedy: Following on from the earlier exchanges on fair access to higher and tertiary education, do the Government accept that the cause of fairer access was hardly helped this autumn by the difficulties that the Student Loans Company ran into? Members from all parties in the House have been pressing for a proper inquiry arising there-from. Can the Minister say what steps will be taken to ensure that...

Oral Answers to Questions — International Development: Copenhagen Summit (21 Oct 2009) has video

Charles Kennedy: What recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the international development aspects of the forthcoming Copenhagen climate change summit; and if he will make a statement.

Oral Answers to Questions — International Development: Copenhagen Summit (21 Oct 2009) has video

Charles Kennedy: I thank the Secretary of State for that reply. Does he agree, however, that it is important that developed countries, including our European counterparts, show sensitivity to the developing world as regards climate change implications from the vantage point of the developed world? As such, will he stress to them his personal support—and, I hope, that of the Government more...

Oral Answers to Questions — Scotland: Torpedo Testing (14 Oct 2009) has video

Charles Kennedy: When he next plans to visit the torpedo testing range at the inner sound of Raasay.

Oral Answers to Questions — Scotland: Torpedo Testing (14 Oct 2009) has video

Charles Kennedy: I thank the Secretary of State for that reply. He is obviously aware of the concern about the future consultation planned on the maintenance of the Rona torpedo and submarine facilities, which have played such a huge role since the days of the Heath Government in underpinning that part of the Kyle and Applecross peninsula and Skye economy. Will he give us an assurance that what happened in...

Business, Innovation and Skills: Overseas Students (16 Jul 2009) has video

Charles Kennedy: What his latest estimate is of the number of overseas students in universities; and if he will make a statement.

Business, Innovation and Skills: Overseas Students (16 Jul 2009) has video

Charles Kennedy: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Gosh, we have reached question 10 and it is only just 11 o'clock! Given the additional administrative and legal requirements that the Government have placed on all universities for the handling of visa requirements for overseas students, does the Minister recognise that there is additional complexity and inconsistency in the way in which these applications are handled...

Industrial Carbon Emissions (Targets) Bill (3 Jul 2009) has video

Charles Kennedy: May I thank the Minister—

Industrial Carbon Emissions (Targets) Bill (3 Jul 2009) has video

Charles Kennedy: With the leave of the House, Mr. Deputy Speaker—I have now forgotten what I was going to say. I want to thank the Minister for his characteristically courteous and, on today's evidence, characteristically thorough reply to the debate. He has not quite matched the record that he set earlier this morning, but he is not far off. Although I have one hour left at my disposal, I can assure...

Industrial Carbon Emissions (Targets) Bill (3 Jul 2009) has video

Charles Kennedy: I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. I should like to add my congratulations to all those involved in the debate that we have just listened to and, in large measure, enjoyed. I congratulate the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth) on his success in getting his Bill this far. Let us hope that it is given a fair wind in the other place. I also thank him for his kind...

Industrial Carbon Emissions (Targets) Bill (3 Jul 2009) has video

Charles Kennedy: There are advantages to having a constituency that is an awfully long way away—it provides a very useful excuse at times. My Bill aims to help the United Kingdom to meet its targets under the Climate Change Act 2008, and to help to craft an adequate energy policy to ensure that the UK becomes a genuinely long-term low-carbon economy. Its main purpose is to require the Government to...

Industrial Carbon Emissions (Targets) Bill (3 Jul 2009) has video

Charles Kennedy: I thank my hon. Friend for that contribution; he has hit the nail on the head. The Bill aims to encourage much more specific definitions in these areas. The EU has set emission limits for other pollutants—sulphur dioxide, for example—so the concept behind the Bill is already well established. Perhaps the most well known example of an emissions performance standard for CO2 is the...

Industrial Carbon Emissions (Targets) Bill (3 Jul 2009) has video

Charles Kennedy: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that intervention. What he says about timing and readiness is very apposite; one of the reasons for introducing the Bill is that we are now at a key moment in deciding climate and energy policies for our country. Decisions made now will determine our success—or, for that matter, our failure—in becoming a low-carbon economy over the next few...

Industrial Carbon Emissions (Targets) Bill (3 Jul 2009) has video

Charles Kennedy: It is certainly no wish of mine to scaremonger, but in the context of what was said by the Committee on Climate Change, there are real worries ahead unless we move things further forward—which, obviously, is the aim of my Bill. The Government hope that the new plants will be fully fitted with CCS by 2025, but they do not propose a firm guarantee. If the technology is proven by 2020,...

Oral Answers to Questions — Innovation, Universities and Skills: University Access (12 Mar 2009) has video

Charles Kennedy: Although there is good practice and much is being learned at universities throughout Britain, the Department may be interested in a specific example arising from my involvement with the university of Glasgow. When people were encouraged to provide more scholarships, especially for disadvantaged students, it became clear that many of those who might be considered eligible to donate were put...