Results 1-20 of 715 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Gordon Marsden

Bill Presented: Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill (11 Nov 2009)

Gordon Marsden: In speaking about Lords amendments 31 and 158, I want to follow the spirit of the speech made by the hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr. Hayes), who expressed his concern about the implications of the lack of support for apprenticeships and other career routes in school, although I must tell him gently that I think that he is slightly missing the point. I welcome the...

Bill Presented: Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill (11 Nov 2009)

Gordon Marsden: I bow to your guidance, Madam Deputy Speaker, but I think that the hon. Gentleman is straying off the point. I think that the Minister gave a very full and robust response to that charge earlier. In conclusion, I very much welcome the amendments, but I hope that they will be the beginning of the journey and not the end. We must make it very clear that a 21st century structure for the...

Bill Presented: Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill (11 Nov 2009)

Gordon Marsden: The hon. Gentleman talked about a spirit of generosity. Will he therefore be a little more generous to the Government in the context of this amendment? The value and comprehensiveness of the advice that is given is dependent on the authority and wisdom of the provider, rather than on an amendment in Parliament.

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Skills for Growth (11 Nov 2009)

Gordon Marsden: Coming from Blackpool, where we have a fantastic FE college with a new HE centre, I was delighted to hear what the Minister had to say about skills needing to mesh with the university system. What he said about skills accounts and the apprentice UCAS tariff points should go some way towards achieving that, but what more can he do to nudge some of those recalcitrant university vice-chancellors...

Health Bill [ Lords] (Programme) (No. 2): Clause 22 — Power to prohibit or restrict sales from vending machines (10 Nov 2009) has video

Gordon Marsden: I want to probe my hon. Friend on the proposal made in the other place yesterday by our noble Friend Baroness Thornton. My constituency has one of the manufacturers, Duckworth Blackpool, that will be affected by the process. It employs 30 people. Our noble Friend was asked yesterday what proposals there might be for compensating those going out of business and for the jobs lost as a result....

Sustainable Housing (Blackpool) (4 Nov 2009)

Gordon Marsden: It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Cummings, and a pleasure to talk about the issues to do with Marton Moss and sustainable strategies in Blackpool. When I was a child growing up in Manchester and Stockport, one of the highlights of our annual visits to Blackpool, after we had done the golden mile and, hopefully, won something on the grab machines and gone on the beach was...

Sustainable Housing (Blackpool) (4 Nov 2009)

Gordon Marsden: My hon. Friend is right. I will illustrate some severe concerns about the sustainability of such a major development on Marton Moss, as is currently proposed. There are two separate developments at issue. First, the council's core strategy presently envisages nearly 3,000 houses being built in the Marton Moss area. Secondly, there are two specific planning applications from Kensington...

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

Gordon Marsden: Blackpool has above-average numbers of older people and care homes, and my constituents will be grateful for the breadth of vision and the sensitivity that my right hon. Friend has demonstrated today—compared with the rather sour waffle from the Opposition Benches, I am sorry to say. He has talked about the need to strengthen the role of social care staff. Will he tell us what...

Bill Presented: Marine and Coastal Access Bill [ Lords] (23 Jun 2009)

Gordon Marsden: On the specific point about part 9 and access to coastal paths and beaches, which I greatly welcome, may I ask my right hon. Friend for reassurance? My hon. Friend the Member for North-West Leicestershire (David Taylor) mentioned the interests of dog walkers, and several of my constituents are concerned that the Bill might enable local authorities to put additional controls on dog walking on...

Business of the House: Gurkhas (21 May 2009) has video

Gordon Marsden: My right hon. Friend will be aware that, as officers of the all-party group on veterans and members of the all-party group on Gurkhas, my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) and I have consistently supported the Gurkha campaign, including in the vote in the House. An enormous number of people in Blackpool have also supported the campaign, not least because...

Opposition Day — [11th Allotted Day]: Skills in the Recession (18 May 2009) has video

Gordon Marsden: Among the rather curious lacunae in the shadow Secretary of State's speech was any reference to the importance of higher education delivered via further education, yet we know that 12 per cent. is so delivered in this country, notably in my constituency at Blackpool and The Fylde college. Does my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State agree that if we were to take the previous Government's...

Opposition Day — [11th Allotted Day]: Skills in the Recession (18 May 2009) has video

Gordon Marsden: I thank my right hon. Friend for being so generous in giving way. Is he aware that the Conservatives recently produced a lengthy policy document on skills in which union learning reps were not mentioned once? Given their failure to make any commitment, is it not the case that we can have no trust or belief in their ability to support the programme if they ever came to office?

Opposition Day — [11th Allotted Day]: Skills in the Recession (18 May 2009) has video

Gordon Marsden: Does my right hon. Friend acknowledge that work-based learning is a key element and that in my county of Lancashire that grew by 30 to 35 per cent. between 2006 and 2007? Does he also agree that part of this is about using frameworks and structures in which employers and the general public can have confidence and that the Conservative party, by its failure to get wholeheartedly behind the...

Opposition Day — [11th Allotted Day]: Skills in the Recession (18 May 2009) has video

Gordon Marsden: rose—

Opposition Day — [11th Allotted Day]: Skills in the Recession (18 May 2009) has video

Gordon Marsden: rose—

Opposition Day — [11th Allotted Day]: Skills in the Recession (18 May 2009) has video

Gordon Marsden: The hon. Gentleman's litany of concern for colleges would have rather more force if the Government whom he supported in the 1990s had done anything about their funding. Does the shadow Secretary of State agree that his position is greatly undermined by the fact that last year the National Audit Office pointed out the appalling lack of investment from his Government before 1997?

Opposition Day — [11th Allotted Day]: Skills in the Recession (18 May 2009) has video

Gordon Marsden: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Sale of Mobile Homes (Interviews): New Clause 14 — Persons detained in youth accommodation: further provision (5 May 2009) has video

Gordon Marsden: I apologise for not joining the debate earlier, but I have been in a Select Committee meeting. I have taken some interest in new clause 14 as part of my overall interest in special educational needs. I congratulate Ministers on these amendments. This issue is very important. Last year, on the Second Reading of the Education and Skills Act 2008, I pointed out the importance of trying to ensure...

Sale of Mobile Homes (Interviews): New Clause 14 — Persons detained in youth accommodation: further provision (5 May 2009) has video

Gordon Marsden: I have nothing to add to that intervention and I shall continue my train of thought. These amendments have rightly been informed by the concerns that have been expressed on other occasions. I refer especially to the Westminster Hall debate on adults with learning difficulties that took place earlier this year and to the comments on that occasion made by my hon. Friends the Members for South...

[Mr. David Wilshire in the Chair] (5 May 2009)

Gordon Marsden: I agree entirely with what the Minister is saying about the work-based delivery of learning—the statistics that I quoted underline this point. However, does he agree that it is important that further education colleges find places in the local community—I pay tribute to my own FE college, which has done this—particularly for women with work-life balance issues, so that...