Results 1-20 of 2,322 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 Smith

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

Andrew Smith: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

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

Andrew Smith: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way. In welcoming this opportunity to reaffirm our support for the 10:10 campaign, may I ask the hon. Gentleman why, in focusing his motion, he left out the groundbreaking Climate Change Act 2008, the importance of carbon budgeting and the contribution of local authorities? Surely all are vital to success in combating climate change.

Adults with Learning Difficulties (14 Jul 2009)

Andrew Smith: I certainly endorse empowerment, independent living and the support to which people with learning disabilities must be entitled. The Minister referred to the 96 per cent. increase in spending. I am not sure whether it is a coincidence, but between 1995-96 and 2003-04, local authority spending on services for people with learning disabilities increased by 96 per cent. That compares with a 72...

Adults with Learning Difficulties (14 Jul 2009)

Andrew Smith: Did I hear the Minister correctly? If 50 per cent. had confirmed by the end of June, 50 per cent. had not. Does he share my concern about that? When will the figure become 100 per cent?

Adults with Learning Difficulties (14 Jul 2009)

Andrew Smith: Can my hon. Friend give me an assurance that the position of authorities such as Oxfordshire that are on the revenue support grant settlement floor and therefore subject to that particular situation will be addressed specifically?

Adults with Learning Difficulties (14 Jul 2009)

Andrew Smith: I appreciate those commitments on consultation. Can my hon. Friend give any indication of the time scale in which the ultimate method for allocation for 2011-12 will be settled? Although 2011 seems a long way off in terms of planning local authority and central Government budgets, it is not. The firmer and earlier an indication is given, the better people will be able to plan.

Adults with Learning Difficulties (14 Jul 2009)

Andrew Smith: I want to raise some vital funding issues that could have a profound impact on the care and support of nearly 1 million of our fellow citizens who are learning disabled or who have significant learning difficulties. Many of them are in a vulnerable position. We have a particular duty to speak up for such people because, in many cases, they are not in a position to do so for themselves....

Oral Answers to Questions — Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Water Prices (2 Jul 2009) has video

Andrew Smith: Does my hon. Friend accept that a social tariff especially for large low-income households is essential if they are not to be clobbered by huge increases under water metering, and that Ofwat is unlikely to approve such tariffs without clear and firm guidance from the Government? Will the Government issue such guidance as a matter of urgency?

St. Helena (17 Jun 2009)

Andrew Smith: I congratulate the hon. Member for Congleton (Ann Winterton) on securing this important and timely debate. She is right to say that the House and the Government must listen to the views of, and address the needs of the people of, St. Helena. The arguments are simple, and she ably set out the relevant points. Like the hon. Lady, I was stimulated to take an interest in St. Helena by my...

Oral Answers to Questions — International Development: Zimbabwe (13 May 2009) has video

Andrew Smith: Will my hon. Friend join me in congratulating my constituent, Richard Pantlin, who recently cycled round Zimbabwe, raising funds for an orphanage there? Does he share my constituent's conclusion that we need to find ways of increasing humanitarian aid and support for the people of Zimbabwe, without strengthening ZANU-PF?

Extended School Programme (22 Apr 2009)

Andrew Smith: As an enthusiastic advocate for the programme, I agree with everything that my hon. Friend says about its advantages and the importance of ensuring that it reaches the most disadvantaged. Incidentally, I commend the excellent work being done in Oxfordshire. Does she agree that one of the problems is that too many parents themselves feel alienated from an educational environment, partly...

Building Colleges for the Future (25 Mar 2009)

Andrew Smith: I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on calling this very important debate. May I add Oxford and Cherwell Valley college and Ruskin college in my constituency to the list of those that want positive news as quickly as possible? To do the constructive things that he talked about—when he eventually got round to his constructive points—will it not be necessary to raise the overall...

Health Inequalities — [Mr. Martyn Jones in the Chair] (18 Mar 2009)

Andrew Smith: I congratulate my good friend, the hon. Member for Wigan (Mr. Turner), on his excellent, well-informed and powerful speech, as well as on securing this vital debate. I want to focus on two issues: the allocation of funds to GP practices that serve poorer communities, and GP practices with a high proportion of student patients. First, ensuring that poorer areas receive their fair share of...

Waste (Gloucestershire) (3 Mar 2009)

Andrew Smith: I congratulate my hon. Friend on raising this important issue, which affects one of our neighbouring counties and our hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew). Will he add to the issues that need to be raised the question of the safety or otherwise of incinerator bottom ash? I have asked a number of questions about that and it appears that the Environment Agency is now changing its...

[Mr. Edward O'Hara in the Chair] — Inbound Tourism (25 Feb 2009)

Andrew Smith: I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this important debate. Tourism is certainly as important in Oxford as it is in York. Does he agree that to enhance the experiences he has mentioned, there needs to be continual investment to upgrade facilities? According to the Federation of Small Businesses, both HSBC and Barclays are operating a blanket ban on loans for investment in the hospitality...

[Mr. Edward O'Hara in the Chair] — Inbound Tourism (25 Feb 2009)

Andrew Smith: In light of what the hon. Member for Cities of London and Westminster (Mr. Field) has said about different criteria being applied, which may be the case, let me give more detail about the source of my earlier comments. A banking consultant recently told a meeting of the Oxfordshire Economic Partnership that he had been with Barclays the previous day and had been told that, whatever the...

Garden Land Development (3 Feb 2009)

Andrew Smith: I congratulate the hon. Member for St. Ives (Andrew George) on securing this debate on a very important issue. I understand his concerns about garden-grabbing in Penzance. However, I take with a slight pinch of salt his claim that he did not want to spark a great party political dogfight in raising this issue. It seems to me that if he had wanted a party political dogfight, he could barely...

Garden Land Development (3 Feb 2009)

Andrew Smith: That is the point that I am making. These days, we all pretty much subscribe to the rhetoric of community empowerment; but if that rhetoric is to mean something on the issues that matter most to people, it must mean that they and their elected representatives should have more say on policies and planning decisions affecting their area, and that the inspectorate in Bristol, as an agent of the...

Garden Land Development (3 Feb 2009)

Andrew Smith: I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing the debate and I hope to contribute later. Does he accept that it is not just the exclusive areas of towns and cities that are under pressure, but all sorts of areas, and that they deserve equal protection?

Opposition Day — [3rd Allotted Day]: Parliamentary Standards (Constitutional Reform) (2 Feb 2009) has video

Andrew Smith: I agree with my hon. Friend about the value of reform, but I invite him not to take too much comfort from and not to be complacent about the spirit of the intervention that he just answered. As far as many of our constituents are concerned, the integrity of Parliament would be accorded much greater respect if the whole question of pay and allowances were taken totally out of the hands of MPs...