Results 1-20 of 1,004 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Tony Wright

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: MPs' Expenses and Allowances (4 Nov 2009) has video

Tony Wright: We have all made a speech saying that we want nothing to do with the setting of our own pay and allowances, and that we would like those things to be determined by an independent body. When that independent body comes along and determines them, we will logically have no alternative but to accept that. If we do so, that and the other changes that we are making will finally give us a realistic...

Onshore Wind Turbines (Proximity of Habitation): Clause 8 — Special Advisers code (3 Nov 2009) has video

Tony Wright: I shall be extremely brief. It is unfortunate—in fact, that is hardly the word—that we have reached a part of the Bill that has some real meat in it and there is simply no time to discuss it. I hope that the Government will say how we can deal with the rest of the Bill, because at the moment the Committee will be unable to do so. Over the years, we have had endless arguments about...

Onshore Wind Turbines (Proximity of Habitation): Clause 7 — Minimum requirements for civil service and diplomatic service codes (3 Nov 2009) has video

Tony Wright: This Bill has been through so many previous incarnations that it is sometimes difficult to keep up with it. In one of its incarnations, there was a list of various duties that civil servants would be obliged to perform, including the duty "to discharge public functions reasonably and according to law" and another duty to do with standards of administration. It seems to me that there are two...

Onshore Wind Turbines (Proximity of Habitation): Schedule 1 — The Civil Service Commission (3 Nov 2009) has video

Tony Wright: In the spirit of not only co-operation and not being difficult, but total mystery, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Question proposed, That the schedule be the First schedule to the Bill.

Onshore Wind Turbines (Proximity of Habitation): Schedule 1 — The Civil Service Commission (3 Nov 2009) has video

Tony Wright: I beg to move amendment 55, page 33, line 22, leave out ', in exceptional cases,'. Following the tortuous nature of the previous discussion, I offer brevity and simplicity. I also rise to press the merits of an amendment that I assume the Government will have no difficulty in accepting. I simply want to remove the single phrase "in exceptional cases" from the reporting requirements being laid...

Onshore Wind Turbines (Proximity of Habitation): Schedule 1 — The Civil Service Commission (3 Nov 2009) has video

Tony Wright: It is really very difficult to keep a straight face, Sir Nicholas. What is really disappointing is that when the process of this Bill began, all the Front Benchers were saying, "Of course we will be open to amendments. This Bill is not fixed in stone, and we will bring it forward in a spirit of taking sensible amendments." Indeed, when the Cabinet Secretary was in front of our Committee just...

Onshore Wind Turbines (Proximity of Habitation): [Sir Alan Haselhurst in the Chair] (3 Nov 2009) has video

Tony Wright: I have some sympathy with what has been said, but as someone who has sat through countless discussions of this issue over the years I have to say that the conclusion the Government have arrived at is the conclusion most people have arrived at: that this is the only simple way to deal with the matter.

Onshore Wind Turbines (Proximity of Habitation): [Sir Alan Haselhurst in the Chair] (3 Nov 2009) has video

Tony Wright: I want briefly to add my questions to those that have been asked. I have not heard an explanation as to why GCHQ was to be included in these provisions back in 2004 and why it is now excluded; I do not know what thought process or consultation has produced that change. I do not know why it would be thought appropriate that promotion on merit would not apply to the employees of GCHQ. I do not...

Onshore Wind Turbines (Proximity of Habitation): [Sir Alan Haselhurst in the Chair] (3 Nov 2009) has video

Tony Wright: I was not giving way to the hon. Gentleman; in fact, I had concluded my remarks. However, I think that we are all asking more or less the same questions and looking forward to the same answers.

Oral Answers to Questions — Treasury: Higher Education (3 Nov 2009) has video

Tony Wright: My right hon. Friend mentions the role of the Quality Assurance Agency. Some time ago, I received a communication from it which said: "HE serves students best when it progressively and incrementally weans them off direct teaching". On this view, presumably the most effective university is the one that teaches least or indeed not at all. If that is the official view, is it surprising that...