Results 1-20 of 2,226 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Andrew Robathan

Business of the House (19 Nov 2009)

Andrew Robathan: I am grateful-and surprised-to be called, Mr. Speaker.

Business of the House (19 Nov 2009)

Andrew Robathan: It is common currency that, regrettably, this Parliament is very discredited and has become irrelevant to too many of our constituents. We have the Select Committee on Reform of the House of Commons, IPSA and the flawed constitutional reform committee, and we are only a few months away from a general election, yet today only three Labour Back Benchers are bothering to ask the Leader of the...

Coroners and Justice Bill: Schedule 1 — Duty or power to suspend or resume investigations (12 Nov 2009)

Andrew Robathan: What? Pathetic.

Oral Answers to Questions — Justice: Drug Misuse (Prisons) (10 Nov 2009) has video

Andrew Robathan: What recent steps his Department has taken to prevent drug misuse in prisons.

Oral Answers to Questions — Justice: Drug Misuse (Prisons) (10 Nov 2009) has video

Andrew Robathan: In my naivety, I had imagined that prisons were disciplined and ordered places where prison staff and prison officers were able to enforce their authority and prevent drugs from getting in. I am interested in what the Justice Secretary has to say, but what penalties is he instituting for those who smuggle drugs into prison—be they visitors, people outside prison throwing drugs over the...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: European Council (2 Nov 2009) has video

Andrew Robathan: Does the Prime Minister think that people would be more likely to believe what he has to say about matters such as climate change if he had kept his promise to have a referendum on the EU constitution—now renamed the "Lisbon treaty"? Could he tell us what his moral compass tells him about that broken promise?

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Topical Questions (2 Nov 2009) has video

Andrew Robathan: On Afghanistan, the Secretary of State has spoken about the inadequacies of the Afghan National police, the corruption of the Government, the difficulties in Pakistan and equipment deficiencies. Although our strategy might be broadly correct, after eight years, does he think that it is working?

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

Andrew Robathan: As a farmer, I have dealings with the Rural Payments Agency, and I am well aware of its difficulties. May I take the Secretary of State back to the loss of data? He has honourably and quite properly accepted responsibility, yet he was not told about this matter—my right hon. Friend the Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) was told two days ago. What is the Secretary of State going to do to...

Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department: Territorial Army (26 Oct 2009) has video

Andrew Robathan: Members of the armed forces are aware that one does not blame one's subordinates for one's own mistakes. May I say to the Minister, who is a likeable cove, that it is unworthy of him to blame the Army and the Chief of the General Staff for the fact that he has had to come up with these cuts? Will he accept that the sole responsibility for these decisions lies with Ministers, who were...

Nato: Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill (20 Oct 2009)

Andrew Robathan: Go on!

Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions: Youth Unemployment (19 Oct 2009) has video

Andrew Robathan: How many young people between the ages of 18 and 24 were unemployed on (a) the latest date for which figures are available and (b) the equivalent date in 1997.

Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions: Youth Unemployment (19 Oct 2009) has video

Andrew Robathan: I am not entirely sure that the Secretary of State's figures add up. My memory is getting a bit hazy as I get older, but I seem to recall one of the Labour pledges in 1997 was to reduce youth unemployment through the new deal. That figure is now up to almost 1 million, which is the highest rate ever—the Secretary of State has failed to mention any numbers in that regard. In fact, youth...

Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions: Topical Questions (19 Oct 2009) has video

Andrew Robathan: Throughout Question Time, we have heard talk of billions of pounds invested in job creation and grandiose schemes, and constant attacks on the wicked Tories. I see Ministers in denial. Can the Secretary of State tell us simply whether youth unemployment has been rising since 2005 and is it now at a record level approaching 1 million?

Opposition Day — [17th Allotted Day]: Higher Education (14 Oct 2009) has video

Andrew Robathan: They never listen!

Royal Assent (21 Jul 2009)

Andrew Robathan: Not from this side.

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

Andrew Robathan: I am listening with great interest to what the hon. Gentleman is saying, but was there not someone who went to prison called Michael Brown—that might not be the right name—who gave a great deal of money to the Liberal Democrats, and was he not offshore somewhere and not paying tax in this country?

Bill Presented — Personal Responsibility: Protection of Elderly People (Unsolicited Mail) (15 Jul 2009)

Andrew Robathan: I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to prohibit the sending of unsolicited mail to elderly people; and for connected purposes. By chance, we have a debate later today on care for the elderly, so I am particularly pleased to introduce this ten-minute Bill. A Government Green Paper on paying for care for the elderly was also published yesterday. I want to consider another way...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: UK Low Carbon Transition Plan (15 Jul 2009)

Andrew Robathan: The Secretary of State may not know of my long-standing support for renewable energy, but he will know of the plethora of planning applications for onshore wind farms in the crowded east midlands. I shall not oppose those on the grounds that they are in my back yard, which they are, but my constituents are concerned about the proximity of some wind turbines to dwellings. Will he please look...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Equipment Renewal (13 Jul 2009) has video

Andrew Robathan: The Secretary of State said earlier that the strategy in Afghanistan was about building up Afghan capability to the point at which the Afghans could defend their own country. I am sure we would all agree with that. When I was there in February with the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott), the tactics seemed to involve deploying troops by day and withdrawing to...

Energy and Climate Change: Newspapers (Surveillance Methods) (9 Jul 2009) has video

Andrew Robathan: It seemed that the Minister was saying earlier that the Metropolitan police heard about these allegations only in the newspaper today. However, the Metropolitan police decided not to proceed. Who in the Metropolitan police decided not to take this matter further? Was it the last commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, or the deputy commissioner, or was the decision made lower down the food chain?