Results 1-20 of 2,318 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Lembit Öpik

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

Lembit Öpik: I agree that targets should not be enshrined in legislation. Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that a classic case in point is the mandate from the Government to the banks to lend more? Despite all that enormous pressure, the banks still are not lending enough to small businesses. Changing the law will not change that attitude.

Onshore Wind Turbines (Proximity of Habitation): Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill (Programme) (No. 2) (3 Nov 2009) has video

Lembit Öpik: I have no doubt that there has been extensive consultation up to this point, but, having engaged in a large amount of constitutional debate concerning Wales and, indeed, Northern Ireland, I have observed that sometimes it is only when legislation has been implemented that we perceive deficiencies, weaknesses and aspects that we might wish to improve. Has the Lord Chancellor considered...

[Robert Key in the Chair] — Affordable Housing (Rural Areas) (3 Nov 2009)

Lembit Öpik: Regarding employment, I was able to attract a company called Regal Fayre, which is a burger manufacturer, to my area. The problem, however, was that the bank was resistant to lending money to the company. Therefore, does the hon. Gentleman agree that there is an opportunity for a proactive strategy, to get companies that might assume that they should be in an urban environment to invest in a...

[Robert Key in the Chair] — Affordable Housing (Rural Areas) (3 Nov 2009)

Lembit Öpik: I congratulate my hon. Friend on his erudite and insightful speech. Does he agree that the issues that he raises are common to areas such as mid-Wales and Montgomeryshire? On house building, has he investigated the work of certain companies, including J-Ross Developments in my vicinity, which have introduced the impressive concept of modular house building? That means that we can have very...

[Robert Key in the Chair] — Affordable Housing (Rural Areas) (3 Nov 2009)

Lembit Öpik: Just to reassure my hon. Friend, the modular constructions that I have in mind are of high quality, and are attractive, too. Perhaps at some point outside the debate, I can introduce him to those ideas, because they may go some way towards providing a solution to his problem.

Oral Answers to Questions — Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Light Pollution (29 Oct 2009) has video

Lembit Öpik: What recent representations he has received on regulation of light pollution; and if he will make a statement.

Oral Answers to Questions — Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Light Pollution (29 Oct 2009) has video

Lembit Öpik: Despite responding positively to the Science and Technology Committee's 2003 report, the Minister's Department and the Department of Communities and Local Government have yet to provide a draft annexe to planning policy statement 23 to make local planning authorities take light pollution as seriously as other types of pollution. When will guidance be published so that all local authorities...

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

Lembit Öpik: Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the key issue is that the Government, rather than feeling remorse or a sense of error in what they have done, have retreated due to political pressure? Does he agree that, as he rightly points out, the strategic imperative to invest in the Army is clear-cut, but the Government seem to be trying to make savings on a tactical basis and that that means there is...

[Miss Anne Begg in the Chair] — Licensing Act (22 Oct 2009)

Lembit Öpik: I am grateful to you, Miss Begg, and to others for allowing me to speak in the debate. I apologise once again to the Minister and others, because I have to address a meeting at Birmingham university this evening. I realise, though, that under the current regime, were I to play a musical instrument in that venue I could be arrested, so I declare an interest in advance of my arrival in...

[Miss Anne Begg in the Chair] — Licensing Act (22 Oct 2009)

Lembit Öpik: I see the Minister nodding, and I am encouraged that at least in sentiment he probably supports the spirit of the debate so far, but I am also going to ask him for action on support, so that places like The Grapes, a pub in Newtown where we have an informal music night, or The Red Lion in the small town of Castle Caereinion are not technically breaking the law if they happen to have a...

[Miss Anne Begg in the Chair] — Licensing Act (22 Oct 2009)

Lembit Öpik: I support what the hon. Gentleman is saying. Does he agree that, especially in rural areas such as Montgomeryshire, where live music is part of the tradition of the county, many places that did not regard themselves as formal venues but nevertheless provided a starting point for many new musicians simply will not bother with the bureaucracy? Effectively, this legislation has kicked four or...

Opposition Day — [19th allotted day]: Climate Change (Political Response) (21 Oct 2009) has video

Lembit Öpik: Is my hon. Friend saying that the strength of the motion and the narrative that he is putting forward is that they seek to involve not only corporations but individuals, and that, as the Centre for Alternative Technology has pointed out, we can achieve this only by working together to create attitudinal and practical change in the way that we, as individuals, live? If we can do that, we can...

Opposition Day — [19th allotted day]: Equitable Life (21 Oct 2009) has video

Lembit Öpik: Does my hon. Friend agree that the general public, including the 1,000 or so people in Montgomeryshire who lost money through Equitable Life, simply do not understand how this Government can resist what seems like an act of natural justice, namely following the guidance of the ombudsman? My constituents do not follow Parliament closely, but they feel that they are being treated unjustly on a...

New Member: Schedule 6 — Repeals and revocations (12 Oct 2009) has video

Lembit Öpik: On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I have waited until now to draw your attention to the fact that there was no call for a vote on my amendment—amendment 16—and, indeed, I was not called to speak to it. I seek your guidance on whether there is anything I can do to raise my concerns, given that the amendment represented the only compromise option on the table in terms of...

New Member: New Clause 1 — Purchase of tobacco on behalf of children (12 Oct 2009) has video

Lembit Öpik: The Minister says that she has consulted the National Federation of Retail Newsagents. She will know, therefore, that its national president, Suleman Khonat, has said that many international cases show that removal has no effect. He also said that it will have a damaging effect on business. Has she considered the proposals in amendment 16? It seeks a compromise of a maximum surface area of...

New Member: New Clause 1 — Purchase of tobacco on behalf of children (12 Oct 2009) has video

Lembit Öpik: Adding to that observant point, does the hon. Gentleman agree that, as the large retailers can afford to change their displays and small retailers cannot, those who are addicted to tobacco will be driven to larger shops not just for their cigarettes but for other things as well, therefore achieving exactly the opposite of the intention of the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras...

New Member: New Clause 1 — Purchase of tobacco on behalf of children (12 Oct 2009) has video

Lembit Öpik: I am grateful for my hon. Friend's provisional support for the amendment. Does she agree that it resolves the issue raised earlier about "power walls"? If the allocation is 1.5 square metres and that is it, the power wall argument is dissolved, with no loss of the civil liberties and the economic potential that newsagents are still worried about losing.

New Member: New Clause 1 — Purchase of tobacco on behalf of children (12 Oct 2009) has video

Lembit Öpik: Does the hon. Gentleman find it astounding that the Minister thinks that publishing the regulations this afternoon is acceptable when, as the hon. Member for South-West Norfolk (Christopher Fraser) rightly observed, the retailers are going to suffer? They needed to see the regulations before we started the debate, but they were published merely hours before it began.

Bill Presented — Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill: Political Parties and Elections Bill (20 Jul 2009) has video

Lembit Öpik: The debates about representation and taxation have been well rehearsed, so I wish to make a single point that I sought to make in intervention on the Minister. My hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (David Howarth) has exactly underlined the key issue. To those people who agree with the spirit of what is being attempted by this legislation it seems obvious that there is an opportunity to...