Results 1-20 of 862 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Robert Syms

Bills Presented: Education and Health (19 Nov 2009)

Robert Syms: First, may I make something clear for the record? Earlier in the debate, the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman) seemed to think that my generally cheerful and happy demeanour meant that I disagreed with his points about child pornography and the internet. I wish to state that I felt he made some very sensible, solid and powerful points about the protection of children, with which I...

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

Robert Syms: A lot of Equitable Life policyholders are in great financial difficulty and quite frail. Is there a possibility of interim payments to assist them, or are they going to have to wait until the very end, when everything is done and dusted with the compensation scheme?

Bournemouth and Poole Fe College (14 Jul 2009)

Robert Syms: An apology is great, and the Minister has mentioned the good things that the college is doing, but it will not be able to continue doing them unless there is an offset to the costs that it has already committed. It may not be a 100 per cent. offset, but can he say a little more about what will happen?

Bournemouth and Poole Fe College (14 Jul 2009)

Robert Syms: The original proposal was for 80 per cent. funding, and I do not think that it would be unreasonable if there were now 80 per cent. funding of the up-front costs. I appreciate that the Minister may not be able to indicate that, but that is the sort of level that would be needed to help out Bournemouth and Poole college so that it can keep first-rate education.

Bournemouth and Poole Fe College (14 Jul 2009)

Robert Syms: It is my pleasure to have secured this debate on the future of Bournemouth and Poole further education college. First, may I welcome the Minister for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs to his new responsibilities? I have a feeling that he will attend many such debates about the future of further education colleges up and down the land. I thank my hon. Friend the...

Bournemouth and Poole Fe College (14 Jul 2009)

Robert Syms: The hon. Lady makes a very good point. Although approval has been given to 13 of the 144 colleges that bid, many that have not been given approval have incurred major expenditure, and there is a serious problem with trying to tide them over, so that in one, two or three years, work on some of them can go ahead. In the short term, however, the situation has given them major problems, and many...

Bournemouth and Poole Fe College (14 Jul 2009)

Robert Syms: My hon. Friend makes a very good point, and the fact that the LSC chief executive resigned, was pushed out or whatever, is a sign that it misjudged the whole process. Further education colleges have been massively under-invested in over the past 20 to 30 years; I do not think that any of us would underestimate that. The Government's intention to rebuild many colleges is worthy, but the...

Opposition Day — [12th Allotted Day]: Housing (9 Jun 2009) has video

Robert Syms: Housing is an important subject for many of our constituents, and I therefore welcome this opportunity to make a small contribution to the debate tonight. I have raised questions on a number of occasions about the housing revenue account and the negative subsidy. I do not pretend that there is an elegant or easy answer to this complex and difficult question, but many areas of the country are...

Opposition Day — [12th Allotted Day]: Housing (9 Jun 2009) has video

Robert Syms: The hon. Lady made a very good point about flats. Does she agree that one of the worst things about an overarching central planning system is that it gives us lots of flats that cannot be sold, when what we need are family homes? Many families are living in very overcrowded conditions, and flats are not the solution.

Opposition Day — [12th Allotted Day]: Housing (9 Jun 2009) has video

Robert Syms: The hon. Lady makes a good point. For all political parties, need has always been the basis of housing. If there is a debate about whether some areas should have resources and some should not, there has to be some kind of compromise. General taxation is one way of doing it, but at present the negative subsidy is rising so fast that in five years most councils will not have council housing...

Opposition Day — [12th Allotted Day]: Housing (9 Jun 2009) has video

Robert Syms: Council housing remains a very important part of the housing stock. The Minister will know the importance of reviewing negative subsidy on the housing revenue account. Can he give us some indication of when the review will report and we will know what the situation is? Poole has an arm's length management organisation that is very concerned about what its future will be unless the funding...

Opposition Day — [12th Allotted Day]: Housing (9 Jun 2009) has video

Robert Syms: Will the Minister give way?

Opposition Day — [12th Allotted Day]: Housing (9 Jun 2009) has video

Robert Syms: The Minister is being very generous in giving way. Of course, his Government are taking 20 per cent. of the rents off my tenants in Poole and whizzing it into central London to Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, Camden, Islington and the other authorities. If they are such lousy authorities in central London, why take £4 million from Poole?

Opposition Day — [11th Allotted Day]: Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (18 May 2009)

Robert Syms: As a member of the Select Committee on Health, I intend to make only a brief contribution. Like the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Dr. Taylor), who is also a member, I look forward to taking evidence and listening to what people have to say. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley). The subject is unusual for Opposition day debates, but the issues that it...

Opposition Day — [11th Allotted Day]: Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (18 May 2009)

Robert Syms: Mr. Deputy Speaker is reflecting on that. However, the community health trusts were the genuine voice of the patients. We have moved through various different models and, to be honest, there is not a big enough voice for patient organisations, which pick up what is being said at the grass roots. If the Government had not been so quick to get rid of the community health trusts, the warning...

Sri Lanka: Swine Flu (14 May 2009) has video

Robert Syms: I have not ploughed through the booklet, although I presume that my hon. Friend, as a health spokesman, has done so. I just think it would be useful if we had some information in our offices, particularly relating to our own area, so that we or our local authorities have the right phone numbers and know what the chain of command is.

Sri Lanka: Swine Flu (14 May 2009) has video

Robert Syms: I thank the Secretary of State for again updating the House on progress on this very serious matter. I am glad to note that when it comes to such matters the House can be constructive, we can make suggestions to the Government, and we can learn of preparations that I consider sensible. I think it is a case of "so far so good", but as we know, it is still early days. I pay tribute, as others...

Sri Lanka: Swine Flu (14 May 2009) has video

Robert Syms: That is a good point. I wonder whether there ought to be a chart setting out who is on top of the hierarchy and who takes decisions at various different stages. That would be particularly useful for Members, who could put it up on their wall, and there might also be relevant phone numbers for their area, so if a situation developed we would know who to talk to and who to refer people to. I...

Sri Lanka: Swine Flu (14 May 2009) has video

Robert Syms: The rate at which cabin air conditioning works is also an issue. When smoking was allowed on flights, the rate had to be very high, but it is turned down now that smoking is not allowed. Given the relationship between the air conditioning units and fuel, that means more germs can circulate. What advice are the Government giving to airlines?

Sri Lanka: Swine Flu (14 May 2009) has video

Robert Syms: I know that a lot of the technical staff in the NHS who work for pathology labs have, in the past, felt a little under-appreciated, in terms of pay and conditions. Given that they are doing an excellent job, it might in future be worth reflecting on the fact that when a doctor decides to do a test, it is actually somebody in a pathology lab who carries it out.