Results 1-20 of 328 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Roberta Blackman-Woods

Nato: Afghanistan (20 Oct 2009)

Roberta Blackman-Woods: What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the co-ordination of policy with other EU member states on developments in Afghanistan affecting UK national security.

Nato: Afghanistan (20 Oct 2009)

Roberta Blackman-Woods: I thank my right hon. Friend for that response. Will he confirm that he will be working closely with his European partners over the next few weeks to ensure that the next round of voting in the Afghan presidential elections is both free and fair, so that those wishing to rebuild Afghanistan and make it more secure have the benefit of working with a credible Government there?

Free School Meals (20 Oct 2009)

Roberta Blackman-Woods: Would my hon. Friend find it helpful to visit my constituency, in particular some of the schools that have 100 per cent. take-up, to see how effective free school meals are locally?

Free School Meals (20 Oct 2009)

Roberta Blackman-Woods: Does my hon. Friend accept that one of the reasons why children do not take up free school meals is that they feel there is a stigma attached to them? Unfortunately, too many schools still single out in some way those who are having free school meals as different from the others. What is so important about the pilots is that free school meals are universal—everybody has them—and...

Free School Meals (20 Oct 2009)

Roberta Blackman-Woods: Does my hon. Friend accept that my local authority did an amazing job in getting a partnership together to put money into school kitchens? It was far-sighted of the authority to involve the primary care trust, the schools themselves and the diocese, because they all have an interest in children's health.

Free School Meals (20 Oct 2009)

Roberta Blackman-Woods: Would it make sense to complete the evaluation before the end of the two-year pilots? If local authorities are not given a signal early on about whether their scheme will continue, it could be put in jeopardy.

Free School Meals (20 Oct 2009)

Roberta Blackman-Woods: It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Illsley. I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak about this subject, which is very close to my heart. From the start, I want to pay tribute to the Minister, who has played an important part in the campaign to highlight the importance of universal free school meals. She hosted a visit to Hull so that we could learn more about...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Afghanistan and Pakistan (14 Oct 2009) has video

Roberta Blackman-Woods: In July, when I last visited Afghanistan, I saw for myself not only the tremendous job that our armed forces are doing there, but the growing use of the Afghan national army in front-line operations. However, I am less clear about how the Afghan Government are being encouraged to take responsibility for the overall security situation. Will the Prime Minister say something more about what...

Bills Presented: Afghanistan and Pakistan (16 Jul 2009) has video

Roberta Blackman-Woods: Will the hon. Lady give way?

Bills Presented: Afghanistan and Pakistan (16 Jul 2009) has video

Roberta Blackman-Woods: I returned this morning from Afghanistan, having in the past few days visited Camp Bastion, Kandahar, Lashkar Gah, Sangin, Kabul and a number of DFID-supported projects, and having met key politicians, including Governor Mangal in Helmand and the district governor in Sangin. In the short time available to me, I shall not be able to do justice to all the information that I gathered. I also had...

Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions: Building Britain's Future (29 Jun 2009) has video

Roberta Blackman-Woods: I welcome the statement today, but will my right hon. Friend say whether the Government are paying greater attention to aligning some of the programmes? For example, contracts for affordable housing could require the use of more renewable energy sources and provide opportunities for training and apprenticeships for our young people and those out of work.

Oral Answers to Questions — Communities and Local Government: Houses in Multiple Occupation (2 Jun 2009) has video

Roberta Blackman-Woods: What progress her Department has made towards implementing those proposals it accepted from the ECOTEC report on houses in multiple occupation.

Oral Answers to Questions — Communities and Local Government: Houses in Multiple Occupation (2 Jun 2009) has video

Roberta Blackman-Woods: I thank the Minister for that response and, indeed, for his interest in this subject. He will know that my constituents would like the local authority to have more tools to control the amount of private renting and HMOs in some areas. Will he tell us when proposals to license all private landlords and to alter use classes orders relating to HMOs will be put before the House?

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (20 May 2009) has video

Roberta Blackman-Woods: Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating Durham county council on its excellent and successful bid to be one of only two authorities to host the universal free school meals pilot for primary school children? Does he agree that such measures are necessary if we are to tackle childhood inequality effectively?

Commission for the Compact: Schedule 8 — Repeals and revocations (19 May 2009) has video

Roberta Blackman-Woods: Will my right hon. Friend say a little more about how the public might have a say on whether a temporary event notice is granted for a lap-dancing event? Will she consider enabling local people to have a say, not only through their councillors but perhaps, for example, a by means of a community call to action, to push the council in a particular direction?

Oral Answers to Questions — International Development: Afghanistan (13 May 2009) has video

Roberta Blackman-Woods: I welcome the Department's publication of the new country plan for Afghanistan, and the Government's ongoing commitment to providing aid to the Afghan people, but will my right hon. Friend say what his Department is doing to ensure greater co-ordination of the international aid effort in Afghanistan?

Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions: Equality Bill (11 May 2009)

Roberta Blackman-Woods: I, too, apologise for not being present at the beginning of the debate. That was because of difficulties that I encountered in travelling to the House today. I am delighted to have been able to catch your eye, Mr. Deputy Speaker. As my right hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, West (Ms Hewitt), who is not here at the moment, said in her excellent speech, hon. Members have received a number...

Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions: Equality Bill (11 May 2009)

Roberta Blackman-Woods: I can clarify that easily for my hon. Friend; when Durham City was in existence, for the last six years it was a Liberal Democrat council.

Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions: Equality Bill (11 May 2009)

Roberta Blackman-Woods: The hon. Lady can read that in Hansard tomorrow, but I would be very grateful if the question I have just asked is answered. The key point that I wish to make this evening is that it is very important that local government and other public sector bodies, such as primary care trusts, seek in their overall strategic frameworks to address inequality issues.