Results 1-20 of 2,180 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Sandra Gidley

Oral Answers to Questions — Cabinet Office: Charities (Recession) (28 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: What her most recent assessment is of the effects of the recession on charities.

Oral Answers to Questions — Cabinet Office: Charities (Recession) (28 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: Is the Minister aware that the number of main reporting charities registered with the Charity Commission has fallen by more than 12,000 over the past year? Although some of that can be attributed to administrative changes in the commission, is it not really a sign that the Government's third sector recession action plan is not working? How can she make it more effective?

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

Sandra Gidley: rose—

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

Sandra Gidley: I appreciate the complexity of the situation, but could the Chief Secretary confirm that Sir John Chadwick has had the resources that he needs to deal with it properly? Given that we get the impression that this problem is yet again being kicked into the long grass, could it be dealt with more quickly with more resources? Is Sir John dealing with it full time or part time?

Opposition Day — [17th Allotted Day]: NHS Dentistry (14 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: rose—

Opposition Day — [17th Allotted Day]: NHS Dentistry (14 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: Does the Minister accept that the system has been oversimplified, thus leading to cases such as that of a constituent of mine who was told she could choose which tooth to have repaired and would have to wait six months to have the next one done? Thankfully, that is being investigated. I would hope it is a rare case, but nevertheless some dentists do seem to be being forced down that path, as...

Opposition Day — [17th Allotted Day]: NHS Dentistry (14 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: rose—

Opposition Day — [17th Allotted Day]: NHS Dentistry (14 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: The Minister mentioned the commissioning report and he slightly cherry-picked the results, but he must have been disappointed to read that 60 per cent. of dental leads and 77 per cent. of local dental committee secretaries agreed or strongly agreed that the national contract did not allow as much innovation as they would have liked. What steps does he think need to be taken to address that...

Oral Answers to Questions — Health: Cancer Services (13 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: In 2007, the National Radiotherapy Advisory Group highlighted the 63 per cent. gap between current activity levels and optimal treatment levels. That position will worsen as cancer increases in an ageing population. The Secretary of State has mentioned the projected staff increases, but what will he do about the equipment, which, although it was replaced under this Government, is coming to...

New Member: Schedule 6 — Repeals and revocations (12 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: This is a bit of a mish-mash Bill, containing a lot of fairly worthy things. Most of today's discussion has been about tobacco, but we also heard detailed discussion of the NHS constitution and direct payments. I shall be particularly interested in the results of the pilots on that when they emerge, because this represents an interesting way forward in respect of people taking more control...

New Member: New Clause 1 — Purchase of tobacco on behalf of children (12 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: rose—

New Member: New Clause 1 — Purchase of tobacco on behalf of children (12 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: Is the Minister saying that the Government's legislation on alcohol proxy sales is ineffective? Perhaps she could tell us how many prosecutions there have been, to explain why, if it is such a failure, they cannot introduce similar mechanisms for tobacco?

New Member: New Clause 1 — Purchase of tobacco on behalf of children (12 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: The difference is that tobacco is an adult product, so there is no reason not to display it. I shall come on to that issue later. There would not necessarily have to be a display ban here, as the new clause might make the display much less attractive by making the package less attractive. There are examples of packages designed to attract women, who may like the package because it is sparkly...

New Member: New Clause 1 — Purchase of tobacco on behalf of children (12 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: I am going to carry on as I have almost concluded my remarks. The argument against plain packs is that they make it easier to counterfeit tobacco products, but it is difficult to distinguish between counterfeits and existing packs in any case, and there are covert markings on most packs, which could be incorporated into the plain type. The new clause is designed to ask the Government only to...

New Member: New Clause 1 — Purchase of tobacco on behalf of children (12 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: In some cases the costs are borne by the tobacco manufacturers. I think there is some evidence that the figures we were given originally showing the impact on small retailers were lower than the real figures. There is a fair amount of disinformation. Let me read out what the gentleman to whom I referred said. Members can make up their own minds about it, but I thought he made an interesting...

New Member: New Clause 1 — Purchase of tobacco on behalf of children (12 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: I agree. I felt that the amendment provided a very neat compromise. It would be interesting if we could put it to the vote, because it would potentially keep those on both sides of the argument happy.

New Member: New Clause 1 — Purchase of tobacco on behalf of children (12 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: Yes. I hope the House will excuse me if I say a little about vending machines. I have tried to be brief in dealing with matters raised in other amendments. A significant proportion of children buy their cigarettes from vending machines, and here the Government have again been very timid. No other age-related products can be sold in the same way. I shall leave it to those who tabled the...

New Member: New Clause 1 — Purchase of tobacco on behalf of children (12 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: The Liberal Democrats have tabled new clauses 4 and 7, but I want to start by talking about new clauses 1 and 4. Before I do, however, it might be worth clarifying one point. The Minister said that all Members of Parliament had been e-mailed the tobacco regulations. I have just checked my e-mail, and they were sent at 4.15 pm. Bearing it in mind that we all thought that the debate would start...

New Member: New Clause 1 — Purchase of tobacco on behalf of children (12 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: Thank you for that clarification, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I was just elaborating on the Minister's comments. New clauses 1 and 4 have the same ends—to bolster this rather feeble legislation and to make it into something a bit more meaningful. We are used to eye-catching initiatives from the Government, but the tobacco display ban is probably the first example of a non-eye-catching gimmick....

New Member: New Clause 14 — Payments in respect of costs of optical appliances (12 Oct 2009) has video

Sandra Gidley: I have little to add. I had spotted the flaw that neither Ministers nor the Opposition teams found. It made me wonder whether we had inadequate time for scrutiny. Bills are heavily timetabled in Committee nowadays and clauses often do not receive the attention that they perhaps would if we had a little more time. I am amazed that the mistake took three years to come to light. However, I have...