Results 1-20 of 201 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Natascha Engel

Oral Answers to Questions — Justice: Topical Questions (10 Nov 2009) has video

Natascha Engel: Now that my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Ms Butler) has been made the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, with responsibility for youth citizenship, what does that mean for the Youth Citizenship Commission? More importantly, I desperately need to know who to lobby on the issue of reducing the voting age to 16.

Petitions: Waste Plant (North East Derbyshire) (4 Nov 2009) has video

Natascha Engel: I should like to present a petition on behalf of my constituents in Dronfield. The petition is supported by more than 700 individual letters. The petitioners request: that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to do all in his power to oppose the building of this hazardous waste gasification and incineration plant and ensure that this proposed...

Business of the House (29 Oct 2009) has video

Natascha Engel: Tomorrow is an historic day when you, Mr. Speaker, will preside over debate on these green Benches by the UK Youth Parliament. Will the Leader of the House grant us a statement or a debate when we can mark this historic occasion and perhaps discuss some of the lessons that we will learn?

Oral Answers to Questions — Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Farm-gate Milk Prices (29 Oct 2009) has video

Natascha Engel: What recent discussions he has had with dairy farmers on farm-gate prices for milk.

Oral Answers to Questions — Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Farm-gate Milk Prices (29 Oct 2009) has video

Natascha Engel: I thank my hon. Friend for that answer, but I would like to press him a little on the European emergency milk fund, which was mentioned earlier. If the problems that were mentioned are ironed out, would he in principle do something to support dairy farmers here, who are really struggling to survive?

Oral Answers to Questions — Transport: Topical Questions (22 Oct 2009) has video

Natascha Engel: Will the Minister let me know what practical steps his Department is taking to protect rural bus services—by practical steps, I obviously mean money?

Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions: Topical Questions (19 Oct 2009) has video

Natascha Engel: Will my right hon. Friend take steps to stop the benefits of pregnant women being sanctioned? She will be aware that employers are not exactly falling over themselves to employ pregnant women. That goes absolutely nowhere towards meeting our child poverty targets.

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

Natascha Engel: Who does my hon. Friend think is most likely to pay back that money early? What kind of person? Would he hazard a guess as to whether a richer or a poorer person would have that kind of money up front to pay back their loan more quickly?

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

Natascha Engel: It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Bristol, West (Stephen Williams), although I disagree profoundly with a couple of things that he said. I think that the whole House agrees with the first line of the Conservative motion: "That this House congratulates those who have secured a higher education place for 2009-10 and wishes them well in their studies". I shall ignore the rest of...

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

Natascha Engel: Is the hon. Gentleman applauding or does he want to intervene?

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

Natascha Engel: Ha-ha! But if the hon. Gentleman will wait, I shall provide my own statistics. In terms of wider participation and access for all, 2007-08 saw a rise of 20 per cent. since 1997 and an extra 2 million students in higher education. That is a massive number, although we have some way to go. However, I wanted to start with something positive and say that, without a doubt, we have widened...

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

Natascha Engel: I was about to come to full-time and part-time education. I am concerned about the 16-hour rule, which I have raised again and again.

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

Natascha Engel: Would the hon. Gentleman like to intervene, instead of shouting? I chair the youth affairs all-party group where the 16-hour rule is a particular issue. It is an issue particularly for younger people—19, 20 and 21-year-olds—who have had a bad time in the past. I am talking about ex-offenders, runaways and people who have been through the care system who are on benefits and...

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

Natascha Engel: I am a nice person, so I will give way, as long as the hon. Gentleman promises to listen to the rest of my speech.

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

Natascha Engel: I thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. The 16-hour rule needs to be looked at seriously, because it definitely discriminates against those who come from less privileged backgrounds. Those on jobseeker's allowance or housing benefits tend not to be those from the most privileged backgrounds in our society, so it is critical that we look into the 16-hour rule to help widen...

Oral Answers to Questions — Children, Schools and Families: Topical Questions (12 Oct 2009) has video

Natascha Engel: Chesterfield college in North-East Derbyshire has seen an increase of 10 per cent. in enrolment figures as a direct result of the recession. What extra financial support is the Department giving FE colleges around the country—Chesterfield college is not the only one—to make sure that young people throughout the country get access to the skills and training that they need to see...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Elderly People (Long-term Care) (8 Jul 2009) has video

Natascha Engel: Until very recently, I had the great honour of being a trustee of the much-respected UK Youth Parliament, which has been working hard on bringing together proposals for a consultation that will reach about 1 million young people aged between 11 and 18. The consultation will seek their views on politics and democracy. Will my right hon. and learned Friend help me to support the UK Youth...

Opposition Day — [15th Allotted Day]: Young People in the Recession (6 Jul 2009)

Natascha Engel: It is a real pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Bristol, West (Stephen Williams), and to take part in the debate. I have been the chair of the all-party youth affairs group for about a year, I am currently the honorary president of the British Youth Council and I have been a trustee of the UK Youth Parliament. Youth issues, and at the moment especially the plight of young people during...

Opposition Day — [15th Allotted Day]: Young People in the Recession (6 Jul 2009)

Natascha Engel: That is a good point. Young people from more disadvantaged backgrounds—for example, those from broken homes, those who have been homeless and are encouraged back into studying, those who have chaotic lives—benefit from the security and safe environment in which to learn that studying can provide. My hon. Friend mentioned people with learning difficulties and mental health...

Opposition Day — [15th Allotted Day]: Young People in the Recession (6 Jul 2009)

Natascha Engel: I apologise for it in advance, but I want to make a political gibe. When I worked in the union movement, I was involved with workplace learning, so I know how difficult it was after 1997 to rebuild the apprenticeship system that had been completely destroyed before 1997. Where we have got to now is an absolute miracle, given where we started from—as I say, after the complete destruction...