Results 1-20 of 1,730 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Mark Oaten

Royal Assent (21 Jul 2009)

Mark Oaten: I want to raise three issues and will do so as quickly as I can. The first concerns a children's hospice in my constituency called Naomi House. It does amazing work for children, as I am sure hon. Members know all hospices do, and not just in Hampshire but in a much wider area. Unfortunately, Naomi House was involved in the Icelandic bank affair and has consequently lost £6 million of...

Opposition Day — [9th Allotted Day]: Business Rates and the Recession (25 Mar 2009) has video

Mark Oaten: Will my hon. Friend also consider the possibility of the Government trying to simplify the procurement system so that small businesses can apply for and win contracts much more easily than through the current process, which requires endless forms and delays? Is not that another initiative that needs to be speeded up?

Supplementary Estimates 2008-09 — Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform: Economic Situation (9 Mar 2009) has video

Mark Oaten: I congratulate the Chairman of the Business and Enterprise Committee, the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Peter Luff), on introducing today's estimates debate so competently and on his neat summary of the work in which the Committee has been involved. It has been a privilege to serve on the Committee and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on how he has chaired it...

Supplementary Estimates 2008-09 — Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform: Economic Situation (9 Mar 2009) has video

Mark Oaten: My hon. Friend the Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) says that he remembers that occasion; I do not. I do not really give a damn about whether there is a precedent or not. The point is that it is a good idea now, and we should adopt it now. Whether there is a precedent or not is irrelevant. If we are not prepared to do that, however, we might consider that there is a precedent for...

Naomi House Children's Hospice (4 Dec 2008) has video

Mark Oaten: I understand the difficulty that the Minister faces, and I myself am also struggling to find a way around it. Setting aside the arguments that are being put forward, might the Minister be flexible on this issue? If we discover that the primary care trusts are struggling significantly in respect of funding to fill the gap that is now created because of the Naomi House situation, will those...

Naomi House Children's Hospice (4 Dec 2008) has video

Mark Oaten: There was indeed a meeting on Monday, and I do not know whether the Minister has heard the feedback, but it was pretty grim news for the charities attending because the creditors made it clear that the charities were very much at the back end of the queue, so it is very unlikely that Naomi House will have its money returned under that process.

Naomi House Children's Hospice (4 Dec 2008) has video

Mark Oaten: Given that we have slightly longer for the Adjournment debate, I would like to make a few remarks to support the speech made by the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mrs. Miller), but I do not want to detain the House long. Naomi House is in my constituency, and during the 12 years that I have been a Member of Parliament, it has been a jewel in the crown of the Winchester area. It does not serve...

Naomi House Children's Hospice (4 Dec 2008) has video

Mark Oaten: The right hon. Gentleman is right. It has always been very peculiar that children's hospices have been treated in that way, but that is what has happened, and charities such as Naomi House have had to take on a responsibility that should be taken on by the Government. It is a responsibility that does not relate just to the work that takes place in the buildings of Naomi House, but to the...

Naomi House Children's Hospice (4 Dec 2008) has video

Mark Oaten: My hon. Friend makes a good point. If the service disappears, Government money will have to be found to meet the demand because, sadly, children with diseases and illnesses will not disappear. I hope that the Exchequer Secretary sets out Government thinking for dealing with such a unique situation. It will be disappointing if she responds in general terms and talks about the Government's...

M3 (14 Oct 2008)

Mark Oaten: I entirely support the hon. Lady's comments. My constituency borders hers, and many of her comments about the M3 apply in Winchester.

Points of Order: Promoting Democracy and Human Rights (13 Oct 2008)

Mark Oaten: On that point, would not an important step and at least the minimum we should expect from whoever becomes the next President of the USA be that that country signs up to the International Criminal Court?

Points of Order: Promoting Democracy and Human Rights (13 Oct 2008)

Mark Oaten: The right hon. Gentleman lists organisations that are doing great work in promoting democracy. Perhaps he will say a word about the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, two organisations that do a great deal to try to help in this context.

Opposition Day: [Un-allotted Half Day] — Cost of Living (9 Jul 2008) has video

Mark Oaten: I am not sure that I can agree with the final comment made by the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone). In many ways, I do not believe that the cost of living should be such a party political issue because, as the Minister and others have said, there are many matters that are out of the control of Westminster politicians. A lot has been said about the problems of poverty connected to...

Opposition Day: [Un-allotted Half Day] — Cost of Living (9 Jul 2008) has video

Mark Oaten: The Committee has looked into the issue, but I shall not bore hon. Members with that. Anyway, the report is coming out soon, so I probably should not talk about it. However, there are several, complex issues behind the difference between the markets. What disappointed me as a member of the Select Committee was not being able to find two or three simple solutions to the problem. It is...

Opposition Day: [Un-allotted Half Day] — Cost of Living (9 Jul 2008) has video

Mark Oaten: I am grateful to the Minister for giving way so quickly. On the point that she has just made, is it not the case that although many of the pressures are global, some of the energy prices are still much higher in this country than on mainland Europe, which is still exposed to the same global pressures?

Opposition Day: [Un-allotted Half Day] — Cost of Living (9 Jul 2008) has video

Mark Oaten: Given the attempts and efforts that the Financial Secretary describes, is she concerned that so many individual banks are not passing on changes in interest rates to their customers? Indeed, the rate that is advertised and offered to new borrowers on most new mortgage products has increased. That applies especially to those transferring from previous fixed rate deals.

Opposition Day: [Un-allotted Half Day] — Cost of Living (9 Jul 2008) has video

Mark Oaten: Before the hon. Gentleman comes to what he would like the Government to do to address those circumstances, does he have any comments on what the energy companies could be doing to help with the problem?

[Dr. William McCrea in the Chair] — Specialist Trauma Response Teams (11 Jun 2008)

Mark Oaten: The Army point is interesting. I am not an expert, but my understanding is that NHS consultants who work in accident and emergency departments often work in Afghanistan or Iraq. Perhaps one of the reasons for the improvements relates to the lesson about BASICS. It may be not the trained paramedics, but the consultants working in the field who are making the difference.

[Dr. William McCrea in the Chair] — Specialist Trauma Response Teams (11 Jun 2008)

Mark Oaten: I am happy to set an example and say that I am comfortable with making the case to my constituents in Winchester that some things should happen not at Winchester hospital but in Southampton. If I had an accident, I would much rather go to Southampton. Surely the point is that if I am going to a specialist centre, I want to get there quickly. I am all for specialist centres, but only if people...

[Dr. William McCrea in the Chair] — Specialist Trauma Response Teams (11 Jun 2008)

Mark Oaten: I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. I hear what he has said on the evidence in respect of how things are working. However, what about this statistic? There were 1,200 requests for individuals to come out, but not all those requests were meet. The evidence shows that individuals were not able to go out on 450 occasions last year. Surely, the Minister acknowledges that there is a gap...