Results 1-20 of 2,027 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Alan Williams

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Clause 42 — Employment etc of a former Comptroller and Auditor General (4 Nov 2009) has video

Alan Williams: The proposal relating to the advisory committee is certainly what we originally recommended. I think it was then suggested that there might be a more appropriate body at the time, and that the arrangement should therefore be left open. It was not a case of precluding what had been proposed originally; it was merely a case of leaving things open so that a decision could be made at the time. We...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Clause 38 — Status of the Comptroller and Auditor General etc (4 Nov 2009) has video

Alan Williams: The hon. Gentleman is right in what he said about expenses. We virtually dealt with that by having the CAG look at the expenses proposals and come to see me about them. However, the problem of governance was not just about expenses—it was about the staff of the organisation, who, as the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee indicated, were dependent on the good will of the CAG for...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Clause 40 — Remuneration package of the Comptroller and Auditor General (4 Nov 2009) has video

Alan Williams: The CAG already submits his expenses to me as Chairman of the commission and publishes them on a six-monthly basis which, we are assured, goes further than for any other public servant. He is therefore already ahead of the game elsewhere in Whitehall.

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Clause 38 — Status of the Comptroller and Auditor General etc (4 Nov 2009) has video

Alan Williams: Under the Bill, the CAG retains his absolute discretion in relation to his statutory duties. It cannot endanger his statutory duties at all.

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Clause 38 — Status of the Comptroller and Auditor General etc (4 Nov 2009) has video

Alan Williams: May I clarify that it was in that very area of work, throughout the world and so on, that some of the trouble arose? It is non-statutory work. In that respect, it is true that the board can circumscribe the activities, because that is part of its role and duty; however, it must not and cannot interfere with the statutory duties.

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Clause 37 — The Comptroller and Auditor General (4 Nov 2009) has video

Alan Williams: To meet that situation, we built in a requirement that there should be a code to govern the relationship that they had to develop within the board and to govern the relationship between the CAG and the Chairman. That code has been agreed, as has a strategy, and both have already been approved by the commission.

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Clause 37 — The Comptroller and Auditor General (4 Nov 2009) has video

Alan Williams: Will the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee bear in mind that there is an important extra safeguard even there? If a vote of only this House were required, the Government could use their majority, which is why a vote of both Houses is required to dispose of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Clause 37 — The Comptroller and Auditor General (4 Nov 2009) has video

Alan Williams: Does the hon. Gentleman recollect that the one proposal that we turned down from Tiner was his suggestion that the chair should be selected by the Prime Minister and the chair of the Commission? We unanimously rejected that, because the chair of the Commission is chosen by the Prime Minister, or by the Government party, and is of the same party. For that reason, we insisted on reverting to...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Clause 37 — The Comptroller and Auditor General (4 Nov 2009) has video

Alan Williams: That is not the purpose of the Bill. The statutory powers are already in place, and the purpose of this part of the Bill is to bring better governance into the processes of the National Audit Office.

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Clause 37 — The Comptroller and Auditor General (4 Nov 2009) has video

Alan Williams: indicated dissent.

Election of Speaker (22 Jun 2009)

Alan Williams: This is the result of the third ballot. Five hundred and ninety-three ballots were cast. The number of votes cast for each candidate was as follows: John Bercow 322; Sir George Young 271. [Applause.] Order. Let us make sure that we sign it off properly. Mr. John Bercow has secured more than 50 per cent. of the ballots cast. Question put forthwith ( Standing Order No. 1B(10)), That John...

Election of Speaker (22 Jun 2009)

Alan Williams: Congratulations, Mr. Speaker Bercow. [Applause.] Mr. Alan Williams left the Chair, and John Bercow was taken out of his place and conducted to the Chair by Mr. Charles Walker and Sandra Gidley.

Election of Speaker (22 Jun 2009)

Alan Williams: The, hopefully, final ballot is now open. Sitting suspended. On resuming—

Election of Speaker (22 Jun 2009)

Alan Williams: Order. Margaret Beckett, Sir Alan Haselhurst and Sir Alan Beith have all withdrawn. The candidates for the next ballot are John Bercow and Sir George Young. It will be opened as soon as the ballot papers have been printed, checked and put in place, which is likely to be in about 20 minutes. I will have the bells rung as soon as the Lobbies are ready, and the ballot will then start. Members...

Election of Speaker (22 Jun 2009)

Alan Williams: Order. This is the result of the second ballot. Five hundred and ninety-nine ballots were cast. The numbers of votes cast for each candidate were as follows: Margaret Beckett, 70 votes; Sir Alan Beith, 46 votes; John Bercow, 221 votes; Sir Alan Haselhurst, 57 votes; Miss Ann Widdecombe, 30 votes; Sir George Young, 174 votes. One ballot was spoiled. [Laughter.] Well, at least one of you is...

Election of Speaker (22 Jun 2009)

Alan Williams: The ballot papers are now in the Lobbies. The second ballot is now open. Sitting suspended. On resuming—

Election of Speaker (22 Jun 2009)

Alan Williams: The candidates for the next ballot will be Margaret Beckett, Sir Alan Beith, John Bercow, Sir Alan Haselhurst, Miss Ann Widdecombe and Sir George Young. It will be opened as soon as the ballot papers have been printed, checked and put in place. This is likely to take about 20 minutes. I will have the bells rung as soon as the Lobbies are ready, and the ballot will then start. As before,...

Election of Speaker (22 Jun 2009)

Alan Williams: Order. This is the result of the first ballot. Five-hundred and ninety-four ballots were cast. The numbers of votes cast for each candidate were as follows: Margaret Beckett, 74 votes; Sir Alan Beith, 55 votes; John Bercow, 179 votes; Sir Patrick Cormack, 13 votes; Mr. Parmjit Dhanda, 26 votes; Sir Alan Haselhurst, 66 votes; Sir Michael Lord, 9 votes; Mr. Richard Shepherd, 15 votes; Miss Ann...

Election of Speaker (22 Jun 2009)

Alan Williams: All the candidates have now addressed the House, and may I thank them on behalf of the House? [Hon. Members: "Hear, hear!"] There are so many of them, but they spoke with such brevity. In a moment, I will declare the ballot open. When I do so, Members with surnames beginning with the letters A to K should vote in the Aye Lobby. Members with surnames beginning with the letters L to Z should...

Election of Speaker (22 Jun 2009) has video

Alan Williams: The House will now proceed to the election of a new Speaker in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No. 1B. A note for Members explaining the proceedings was published four weeks ago. In a moment, I will call the candidates to address the House in the order in which I drew their names by lot earlier this morning. The order of speaking was published earlier today. When all...