Results 1-20 of 481 for speaker:Lord Bilston

Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust Inquiry — Statement (26 March 2013)

Lord Bilston: The recent pronouncements of Monitor seem to ignore the vast majority of the people of Stafford, who, as my noble friend Lord Hunt indicated, require a range of safe, sustainable and comprehensive health services rather than the delegation of a range of services, including elective surgery, to other hospitals such as New Cross in Wolverhampton. That hospital is already under considerable...

Schools: Academies — Question (14 February 2013)

Lord Bilston: My Lords, will the Minister confirm that the coalition Government are currently planning to convert academies and to move them from the public sector to the private sector? If that is the case, will the Minister confirm-it is certainly our opinion-that that would be entirely the wrong policy?

Canterbury City Council Bill — Third Reading (3 December 2012)

Lord Bilston: My Lords, I sense that the House wishes my reply to be brief. I can be brief, in the sense that a great deal of the meat of this important question has been dealt with by the members of the committee. Every member of the committee made the point that I made at the outset: that it is due to the able chairmanship of the noble Baroness, Lady Knight, and the integrity and wisdom of the committee...

Canterbury City Council Bill — Third Reading (3 December 2012)

Lord Bilston: My Lords, I should first explain the three minor amendments to this Bill, which I shall move formally at a later point. All I can say about these amendments is that they are in the nature of tidying up. One of them alters an incorrect reference to the "Kent Valley Police Force", which appears to be something of a hybrid of Kent and Thames Valley, no doubt caused by the fact that Reading...

Welsh Government: Tax-varying Powers — Question (27 November 2012)

Lord Bilston: My Lords-

Welsh Government: Tax-varying Powers — Question (27 November 2012)

Lord Bilston: My Lords-

Club and Institute Union: 150th Anniversary — Question (10 July 2012)

Lord Bilston: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to mark the 150th anniversary of the Club and Institute Union.

Club and Institute Union: 150th Anniversary — Question (10 July 2012)

Lord Bilston: My Lords, I thank the Minister for that very positive reply. My heart fills with pride in appreciation of the vital and outstanding service that the Club and Institute Union has contributed to the cultural, social, educational and creative life of working class communities throughout the length and breadth of Great Britain over these past 150 years, which we are joyfully celebrating this...

Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2012 — Motion to Approve (6 February 2012)

Lord Bilston: Would the Minister allow me to ask a question about costs? We are all well aware of the problems that the majority of people in this country are facing at this moment. How do the Government reconcile the spending of £2.5 million on these referendums, £85 million on the AV referendum and £25 million on the referendum for police commissioners? How can we square this vast amount...

Written Answers — House of Lords: Bahrain (18 July 2011)

Lord Bilston: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the announcement by the King of Bahrain that an independent commission will be formed, in conjunction with the United Nations, which will inquire into the unrest in Bahrain in February and March 2011 and make recommendations for restoring harmony and good governance to the kingdom.

Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill: Report (5th Day) (14 July 2011)

Lord Bilston: My Lords, it gives me great pleasure to move Amendment 305A, in my name and that of other noble friends in many parts of the House. The purpose of the amendment is to extend the limits on temporary event notices under Section 107(4) of the Licensing Act 2003 from 12 to 15 events per annum. I readily concede that, within a Bill as controversial and weighty as this police reform and social...

Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill: Report (5th Day) (14 July 2011)

Lord Bilston: I thank the Minister for that reply, which is very positive. I naturally hoped that he might allow the amendment today, but on the basis of what he has said and the very helpful discussions that we had yesterday, I am very happy to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 305A withdrawn. Clause 127 : Late night levy requirement Amendment 305B Moved by Lord Clement-Jones 305B: Clause 127, page 88,...

Gibraltar — Question (14 June 2011)

Lord Bilston: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Spain regarding the action of the Spanish navy corvette "Atalaya" in British Gibraltar territorial waters on 3 May.

Gibraltar — Question (14 June 2011)

Lord Bilston: How long will the people of Gibraltar have to tolerate the harassment and intimidation of the Spanish authorities? We should bear in mind that the Government of Gibraltar do not consider that physical confrontation or gunboat diplomacy is the proper or sensible way forward. Can the Minister explain to the House why it took almost an hour for the gunboat HMS "Scimitar" to be deployed to deal...

Written Answers — House of Lords: Education: ESOL (6 April 2011)

Lord Bilston: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish the equality impact assessment of their proposed new approach to English for speakers of other languages. To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to consult groups including the Association of Colleges, College principals, the Refugee Council, the University and College Union, and the National Institute of Adult Continuing...

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill: Committee (12th Day) (24 January 2011)

Lord Bilston: My Lords, I do not intend to detain the House for long but I am anxious to give my support to the amendment moved by my noble friend Lord Snape. When we began the second part of this Bill, many Members of this House gave the benefit of their knowledge and valuable experience on many geographical areas the length and breadth of the British Isles and on the many constituencies that they have...

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill: Committee (5th Day) (15 December 2010)

Lord Bilston: My Lords, I, too, support my noble friend Lord Grocott's amendment. I hope that the noble Lord, Lord McNally, will accept it because, as has been pointed out, this is very much an issue for constituencies. I was privileged to represent my constituency for many years-for 14 elections. I lived and worked as the local representative for over 40 years. As an aside, let me say that not one person...