Results 1-20 of 2,926 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates') speaker:James Plaskitt

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (17 Mar 2010)

James Plaskitt: The nine Sure Start children's centres in my constituency are doing an exceptional job. One head teacher, whose school has a centre attached to it, has told me that it would be a massive backward step to restrict access to that centre in any way, so can my right hon. Friend assure him and me that we will not do that?

Opposition Day — [6(th) Allotted Day]: Higher Education (16 Mar 2010)

James Plaskitt: As you rightly said, Mr. Deputy Speaker, this is a very important debate. I know that young people will be following our proceedings, and I am pleased to make a contribution, not only because of that, and not only because I am a recovering academic. I taught in the university system in the mid-1980s, and I recall what it was like at that time-the inadequate facilities that we were trying to...

Opposition Day — [6(th) Allotted Day]: Higher Education (16 Mar 2010)

James Plaskitt: The hon. Gentleman clearly hopes that students will be interested in his proposition that the Liberal Democrats will abolish tuition fees, but they will also be interested in a question that flows from that. If the fees were abolished under his scheme and those students were at university, how would he replace the revenue that universities would have lost? Would he shrink the numbers of...

Opposition Day — [6(th) Allotted Day]: Higher Education (16 Mar 2010)

James Plaskitt: rose-

Business of the House: High Speed Rail (11 Mar 2010)

James Plaskitt: Can my right hon. Friend tell me more about his Department's analysis of the interaction between this proposal and the Department's aviation strategy? The proposal to have a link at Birmingham International could significantly transform the way in which people think about the use of Birmingham airport. That link could also provide a fast link into London. Is he absolutely sure that these...

Oral Answers to Questions — Children, Schools and Families: Topical Questions (8 Mar 2010)

James Plaskitt: I welcome the recent reduction in the number of young people not in education, employment or training. However, if access to education maintenance allowance were to be restricted, would that help or hinder making further progress in reducing the number of NEETs?

Student Finance (12 Jan 2010) has video

James Plaskitt: I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Mrs. Dean) on raising this issue and I thank her for allowing me an opportunity to make a brief speech. I appreciate the fact that she has persevered and persisted with the issue-she has spoken eloquently about it on a number of occasions, including tonight. I also acknowledge the contribution of Ian Leech, who has campaigned admirably and...

Opposition Day — [1st allotted day]: Local Government Finances (8 Dec 2009) has video

James Plaskitt: The hon. Gentleman talks about efficiencies without damage to front-line services. May I refer him to Conservative-controlled Warwickshire county council, which is currently advocating the closure of seven fire stations and the sacking of 100 firefighters? Does he see that as an example of Conservative efficiency without damaging front-line services?

Oral Answers to Questions — Children, Schools and Families: Afghanistan and Pakistan (30 Nov 2009) has video

James Plaskitt: When I was in Helmand this summer, I was able to see for myself the excellent medical facilities that we have at Camp Bastion; the soldiers there were also hugely impressed by them. With the increase in the number of troops being deployed, will the Prime Minister ensure there is a commensurate increase in the in-theatre medical services and the aftercare services back here in the UK?

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

James Plaskitt: I welcome my right hon. Friend's statement and particularly the progress that we have been able to make as a result of the 2003-04 changes in respect of widening access. In the forthcoming review of fees, will there be a presumption against a completely unrestricted fees market, which would make it impossible to maintain that progress on widening access?

Oral Answers to Questions — Communities and Local Government: Regional Spatial Strategy (27 Oct 2009) has video

James Plaskitt: Warwick district council has just finished its consultation period on its options within the RSS, which are being clearly rejected by the community. I believe that the council needs to reconsider and return with alternative proposals. Will my right hon. Friend support my suggestion to the regional Government office that the council be given some extra time to work on that without jeopardising...

Fostering Services (Ofsted Supervision) (21 Oct 2009)

James Plaskitt: Before my hon. Friend moves on-has he moved on from the cleansing of the records?-I will return to the subject. From what he has said, it remains the case that documentation is being accessed by local authorities that are considering fostering placements that refers to my constituent, and it contains statements and comments about her that are untrue and unfounded and are clearly contradicted...

Fostering Services (Ofsted Supervision) (21 Oct 2009)

James Plaskitt: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for indulging me. Ofsted may not have the power to instruct local authorities, but how would my hon. Friend feel about writing to local authorities requesting that they take a look at their records on this case?

Fostering Services (Ofsted Supervision) (21 Oct 2009)

James Plaskitt: I am grateful to have the opportunity, granted by Mr. Speaker, to raise this matter, which is important to my constituent and to me. At issue, in essence, is the conduct of successive regulatory bodies in respect of fostering and the fact that, early on in this case, as I will explain in a moment, regulators seemed to get off on the wrong track and have simply not been able, for various...

Bills Presented: Afghanistan and Pakistan (16 Jul 2009) has video

James Plaskitt: I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this debate, having spent last week in Helmand with British forces at Camp Bastion and in Kandahar. I should like to put on record my thanks to our Ministry of Defence staff who facilitate such visits for Members of Parliament and to all those involved in theatre who make time to brief us, which they do very extensively. Such visits are...

Oral Answers to Questions — Treasury: Savings (9 Jun 2009) has video

James Plaskitt: I welcome my hon. Friend back to the Treasury; it is nice to see her in the team again. As my hon. Friend will know, the savings ratio tends to be geared to what is happening to house prices, so it is no surprise that now that we are seeing a house price deflation there is a recovery in household savings. At a time of low inflation, savers will be looking for good deals, and I welcome the...

Developing Country Debt (Restriction of Recovery): Finance Bill (6 May 2009) has video

James Plaskitt: The hon. Gentleman has referred several times to what he describes as the difficult fiscal circumstances. Given that that is how he sees them, why do the first votes cast by his party and by him in Divisions on the Budget add £6 billion to the projected Budget deficit?

Oral Answers to Questions — Treasury: Credit Unions (28 Apr 2009) has video

James Plaskitt: The extra financial help from the growth fund is extremely welcome and will be of great assistance to many credit unions, but they sometimes need help that does not have a price tag. In some instances, they simply need a place in which to deliver their services in the community. Through the ministerial work that my hon. Friend does with other Departments, will he look into the possibility of...

Council Tax Rebate: The Economy (31 Mar 2009) has video

James Plaskitt: I want to return to the daunting agenda in front of the G20 and in particular—this will come as no surprise to my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary—to focus on finding a way forward for the future regulation of the global banking system, coming away from the problem we have at the moment, which is a Balkanised regulatory system trying to deal with global institutions. As...

Council Tax Rebate: The Economy (31 Mar 2009) has video

James Plaskitt: Does the hon. Gentleman not recall what his party's then Front-Bench spokesperson said in the debate on the Financial Services and Markets Bill, which introduced the Financial Services Authority? He said: "we believe that regulation should be minimal".—[ Official Report, 28 June 1999; Vol. 334, c. 43.]