Results 1-20 of 606 for speaker:Richard Taylor

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Richard Taylor: With regard to Sure Start and children's centres, is there any way that the Minister and the Department can monitor the uptake by the disadvantaged families that we are so keen to involve, rather than the better-off who do not actually need the services?

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Richard Taylor: I shall be brief. I have questions on four topics—the role of secondary care in prevention; tobacco smuggling; personal, social and health education; and children's services. Secondary care was mentioned by the right hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Barron), the Committee Chairman. I remember that on one of our visits to the States we met a physician in a hypertension clinic who was...

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Richard Taylor: I am coming on to that in a moment, because that is one of my concerns, too. The Sure Start centre that I mentioned is at the heart of a deprived community and is doing marvellously. Last week, I opened a children's centre in Kidderminster, which has absolutely superb facilities. Its catchment area is supposed to tackle some 988 children, and the children come from extremely mixed areas. The...

Written Answers — Work and Pensions: Members: Pensions (9 Nov 2009)

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Pension Protection Fund Levy has received contributions from the Parliamentary Pension Scheme since 2004.

[John Cummings in the Chair] — Thalidomide (4 Nov 2009)

Richard Taylor: I congratulate the hon. Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Charlotte Atkins) on securing this debate and on her excellent introduction. I will come at this issue from a different angle. Enough has been said about regulatory failure. I will discuss what we as a nation owe the thalidomiders. My qualification is unique in this place because I qualified as a doctor in 1959. I worked as a...

[John Cummings in the Chair] — Thalidomide (4 Nov 2009)

Richard Taylor: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention, but that point has already been made. I want to labour my point about the gratitude that we owe to thalidomiders. However, I agree about the failures of regulation. Amazingly, thalidomide is coming back into use for some uncommon and rare conditions. Under thalidomide, the "British National Formulary" states: "Teratogenic risk; effective...

Perpetuities and Accumulations Bill [ Lords]: Antisocial Behaviour (2 Nov 2009) has video

Richard Taylor: I was delighted this afternoon to hear the Minister, in his introduction, emphasise the right of everybody to enjoy their life in peace. The sentiment was echoed by the hon. Member for Bosworth (David Tredinnick). The other thing that has pleased me is that I do not think I have ever seen quite so much nodding from those on the Government Benches to contributions from Opposition Members, and...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (2 Nov 2009) has video

Richard Taylor: Is the Home Secretary satisfied that this episode does not risk putting off other experts from acting as independent Government advisers?

Written Answers — Health: National No Smoking Day (13 Oct 2009)

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to fund National No Smoking Day in 2010; and if he will make a statement.

New Member: Clause 2 — Duty to have regard to NHS Constitution (12 Oct 2009) has video

Richard Taylor: I wish just to point out a deficiency in the NHS constitution. A whole set of duties are expressed in section 3b, but the duty to warn the NHS when something is going wrong, as in Staffordshire, is not there. The NPSA drew attention last week to the number of errors that have caused death in the NHS. I would like the Secretary of State to consider reviewing the constitution very soon and...

Olympics: Swine Flu Update (20 Jul 2009) has video

Richard Taylor: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker—[Hon. Members: "Mr. Speaker."] I do apologise, Mr. Speaker, for whatever I said. Despite the Secretary of State's welcome assurances about keeping hon. Members in touch, does he agree that it is incomprehensible and further undermines the reputation of this House that, in the face of this and other crises, we break up tomorrow until 12 October, without any...

Opposition Day — [16th Allotted Day]: Caring for the Elderly (15 Jul 2009)

Richard Taylor: At the beginning of the debate, I was quite depressed by the partisan nature of the contributions, so I am delighted to speak towards the end and follow three or four excellent contributions that show the willingness of Members on both sides of the House to take this matter seriously. I welcome the debate as an attempt to look at the problems of long-term care realistically, sensibly and...

Opposition Day — [16th Allotted Day]: Caring for the Elderly (15 Jul 2009)

Richard Taylor: I thank the hon. Gentleman. I agree that the consultation is too late and has been a long time coming, but I still hope that it may lead to some movement forward. The Health Committee's recommendations in 2005 went on to urge "a single, universal set of national eligibility criteria for continuing care to end the inequities and inconsistencies that have developed as a result of the current...

Written Answers — Health: NHS: Disclosure of Information (15 Jul 2009)

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS whistle-blowing policy applies to foundation trusts.

Equitable Life (24 Jun 2009)

Richard Taylor: I am staggered but absolutely delighted to be called so early, Mr. Caton. As an independent, I have not had to choose where to go this afternoon, because other independents are speaking, I hope, in the debate in the main Chamber. I relish this opportunity and thank you for calling me. Like many hon. Members, I have a large number of constituents who have suffered from the situation under...

Equitable Life (24 Jun 2009)

Richard Taylor: I am grateful for that intervention, and that will be one of my main concluding points. Other letters that I have received emphasise how much and how many people had put all their savings into Equitable Life, because they were probably not brought up to know that one should not put all one's eggs in one basket. They put them all in one basket, and they have lost vast amounts. One investor...

Equitable Life (24 Jun 2009)

Richard Taylor: I thank the right hon. Gentleman. Such behaviour by the Government towards the ombudsman has occurred at a time when she is vital. I cannot resist returning to the subject of the NHS. Its complaints system has been dramatically changed because the Government have removed the second stage, which was the automatic independent review by the Healthcare Commission, so there is now no promised...

Oral Answers to Questions — Health: Working Time Directive (23 Jun 2009) has video

Richard Taylor: Two of the serious casualties of the shift system are continuity of care for patients and continuity of learning for junior doctors. How can these matters be specifically addressed within the 48-hour week?

Election of Speaker (22 Jun 2009)

Richard Taylor: As the senior independent Member, may I add my congratulations and welcome you sincerely, Mr. Speaker-Elect? Your changes of mind have demonstrated your independence and I hope that that independence will continue in this high post. Many congratulations to you, Sir.

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Tribute to Mr. Speaker (17 Jun 2009) has video

Richard Taylor: As the senior of the two elected independents, it is my absolute privilege to add some words to the tributes to you, Mr. Speaker. In particular, as others have said, I am most grateful for your detailed statement, which set the record straight. Thank you, Sir, for that. I should like to pick out three words and phrases mentioned in the tribute that the Prime Minister proposed, the first of...