Results 1-20 of 5,784 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Alun Michael

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

Alun Michael: Will the Minister tell us what the Government are doing to help people who get into debt through overspending on credit and store cards? Will he also congratulate citizens advice bureaux and the Consumer Credit Counselling Service on the work that they do to help individuals who run into such problems?

Energy and Climate Change: Topical Questions (5 Nov 2009) has video

Alun Michael: It is clear that most people are much more positive and objective about wind energy if they own the project, whereas problems arise when they see outside companies coming in to do something to the local area. Will my right hon. Friend look again at the case that I outlined in Westminster Hall on 12 July 2006 and get his Department to act to promote community ownership of wind energy?

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

Alun Michael: Does my right hon. Friend the Chancellor agree that it is very unlikely that Northern Rock would have run into problems if it had remained a mutual? Is that not the best possible reason for him to look proactively for ways to return it to the mutual sector? Would not that be in the long-term national interest?

Oral Answers to Questions — Cabinet Office: Bogus Charitable Collections (28 Oct 2009) has video

Alun Michael: I think I am right in saying that a case of that sort was taken to court by the local authority in Cardiff recently, resulting in a fine of £750. Perhaps that ought to have been higher, but will my right hon. Friend encourage local authorities and magistrates to use their existing powers to the full to drive these cancerous companies out of business, and to allow the public confidence...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (28 Oct 2009) has video

Alun Michael: My right hon. Friend will be aware that during his period as Chancellor and Prime Minister, British canals have been turned around from being a drain on our nation's resources to being a national asset. Will he ensure that British Waterways is seen not as an asset to be sold off, but as an asset to be treasured—like our national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty—and...

Closed Circuit Television (Monitoring and Promotion): Schedule 22 — Repeals (27 Oct 2009) has video

Alun Michael: It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall) and to agree with his last point. I congratulate the Secretary of State and his Ministers on the Bill. I want to concentrate on the issue of coastal access. I cannot think of a better way of celebrating the 60th anniversary of the national parks than the designation of the south downs, which is now combined with the...

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

Alun Michael: What steps he is taking to assist economic, cultural and democratic development in the Republic of Moldova following the recent elections in that country.

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

Alun Michael: Moldova is the poorest country in Europe, very small and weighed down by the conflict in Transnistria, and it depends greatly on citizens working abroad, particularly in Europe. Will my hon. Friend ensure that now the election crisis has been resolved, we focus on enabling Moldova to prepare itself to join the European Union?

Oral Answers to Questions — Transport: Rail Services (London/South Wales) (25 Jun 2009) has video

Alun Michael: What steps he is taking to improve rail services between London and south Wales.

Oral Answers to Questions — Transport: Rail Services (London/South Wales) (25 Jun 2009) has video

Alun Michael: May I take this opportunity to welcome you, Mr. Speaker, to the Chair, and the Minister to his new responsibilities? When we travel by train to areas north of London, those of us who have constituencies in south Wales are quite jealous when we see the improvements that have been made on many services over the past 10 years. Will my right hon. Friend do all that he can to accelerate immediate...

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

Alun Michael: I would like to put on record my personal thanks to you, Mr. Speaker, for the generosity of spirit that you have shown while you have occupied that Chair. Does my right hon. Friend agree that in view of the internet's importance to everything that we will do in the future, and given its international ramifications, traditional legislation and bureaucratic institutions cannot meet the...

Oral Answers to Questions — Treasury: Reoffending (Access to Services) (9 Jun 2009) has video

Alun Michael: What discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues to ensure that methods of budgeting for health, education and skills enable quick and effective access to services required to reduce levels of reoffending.

Oral Answers to Questions — Treasury: Reoffending (Access to Services) (9 Jun 2009) has video

Alun Michael: I welcome my right hon. Friend to answering these questions. Does my right hon. Friend agree that spending on aspects such as drug treatment and public health can have an implication for reoffending? For instance, the engagement of young people in school and in having a future through education is also relevant to reducing reoffending. Will he come with me to look at the success of the...

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

Alun Michael: Given his immediate past responsibilities, I am sure the new Secretary of State will be aware of the benefits of audio description for elderly people and people with poor eyesight. Will he take the opportunity to build on the excellent work undertaken by his predecessor in promoting the availability of set-top boxes with one-button click to audio description for elderly people generally,...

Gangmasters (Construction Industry) (13 May 2009)

Alun Michael: I rise briefly in support of the arguments advanced by my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire, North (Jim Sheridan). I urge my hon. Friend the Minister to take on board the fact that although regulation exists in a variety of areas, the success of the GLA arises from the partnership of people who engaged in the industry to go beyond what top-down regulation can do, think...

Gangmasters (Construction Industry) (13 May 2009)

Alun Michael: I pay tribute to my hon. Friend's diligence in bringing forward the original gangmasters Bill. Does he agree that although that Bill was narrowly focused on agricultural activities, it enabled the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, which it established, to prove the value of an approach that engaged all the participants? I remember having discussions with my hon. Friend—along with Tim...

Gangmasters (Construction Industry) (13 May 2009)

Alun Michael: My hon. Friend is making a powerful point, concentrating on a single industry to ensure that it is dealt with. Does he agree that the lesson that we should learn from his private Member's legislation is to get everyone in the industry together? Does he hope, as I do, that the Minister will take the initiative to get all partners in the industry together to promote the right environment for...

Oral Answers to Questions — Children, Schools and Families: Prisons and Probation (27 Apr 2009) has video

Alun Michael: I know that the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith), as the Chairman of the Select Committee on Justice, would have liked to be here, were it physically possible, in order to respond to today's statement on behalf of the Committee. As a member of the Committee, may I welcome my right hon. Friend's decision not to proceed with Titan prisons? I also welcome his reference...

Bill Presented: Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions Bill (24 Apr 2009) has video

Alun Michael: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving way and for referring to that visit, which was undertaken with officials from the Treasury, who were looking at the potential benefit of co-operative models and governance to the wider public service and the wider economy. She has rightly mentioned the critical mass. Does she hope that the Bill will help the building in other parts of the country of...

Bill Presented: Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions Bill (24 Apr 2009) has video

Alun Michael: The way in which my right hon. Friend is tracing the renaissance of the traditional concept of fairness and mutual benefit is compelling. Does he agree that his Bill does more than merely bring a traditional model up to date? It makes that model an ideal option for the internet age and for the types of modern businesses and communications that are playing an increasing part in our society today.