Results 1-20 of 284 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Sharon Hodgson

Sittings of the House (14 Jul 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: I beg to move— [ Interruption. ]

Women and Equality: Flexible Working Arrangements (14 May 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: What recent discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues on awareness among parents and carers of disabled children and adults of their right to request flexible working arrangements.

Women and Equality: Flexible Working Arrangements (14 May 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: Flexible working is both family friendly and business friendly. Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that those requests should always fall on open ears?

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

Sharon Hodgson: To ensure that the House is aware of this, will my hon. Friend clarify that Durham City was a Liberal Democrat council?

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

Sharon Hodgson: I thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, for your understanding and grace in giving me time to leave the Chamber for an urgent matter. I appreciate it. I am delighted to speak in support of the Bill, which I believe to be a landmark piece of legislation that will help to improve the lives and life chances of millions of people across Britain. It is a great honour to follow the hon. Member for...

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

Sharon Hodgson: It may have been the making of my career, but I leave that to hon. Members to wonder at. At the time, I was a young personnel clerk and I had applied to be a training officer. I got down to the last two, but I did not get the job. During feedback, I was told that the reason—it was not the main reason; it was the only reason—I did not get the job was that my accent was thought to...

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

Sharon Hodgson: As ever, the hon. Gentleman makes a valid point. Indeed, I think that those on our Front Bench agreed with it too. Most of us are agreed that the number of women in this place needs to rise substantially over the years to come. I wholeheartedly support the measures in the Bill to extend permission for all-women shortlists to 2030. The discrepancies that we see between the numbers of men and...

Sale of Mobile Homes (Interviews): New Clause 21 — Further education corporations in England: co-operation and promotion of well-being (5 May 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: My comments on this cluster of amendments will focus primarily on the role and make-up of the local safeguarding children boards and the children's trust boards. In Committee, I mentioned one or two concerns specifically about consultation. I am not sure that I received any answers, so I hope that I will today. The Local Government Association has been keen to state the case for ongoing...

Sale of Mobile Homes (Interviews): New Clause 14 — Persons detained in youth accommodation: further provision (5 May 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: I agree. As hon. Members know, I introduced a private Member's Bill on special educational needs and the collection of information. The problem exists not only for children in custody, but for children as they move around the country, even when their parents are totally responsible for them. Often the information is not passed on from one local authority to another with regard to the specific...

Sale of Mobile Homes (Interviews): New Clause 14 — Persons detained in youth accommodation: further provision (5 May 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: As hon. Members will know, I spoke on Second Reading and served on the infamous Public Bill Committee. A lot of fun was had, and I enjoyed spending a great deal of time with Members from all parts of the House—probably more time than I would have liked at times. It was an occasion that I will not forget in a hurry, and it will give me many happy memories in the years to come. I wish to...

Oral Answers to Questions — Treasury: Credit Unions (28 Apr 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: What steps he is taking to assist credit unions during the economic downturn.

Oral Answers to Questions — Treasury: Credit Unions (28 Apr 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: The Minister will be aware that I have written to him about my local credit union, Wearside First, which helps thousands of people across Sunderland to save and to access affordable loans. Those people would otherwise, unfortunately, have to use illegal loan sharks, and we all know the road that that would take them down. However, that wonderful credit union is facing closure due to a lack of...

Oral Answers to Questions — Children, Schools and Families: Free School Meals (27 Apr 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: As the Minister will be aware, I am an evangelist for universal free school meals. In trials of universal free school meals in Hull and Scotland, educational attainment, attendance and behaviour all improved. At a recent conference of the Caterers Association, concern was expressed that the nutritional standards were too stringent. I do not know whether that is the case, but I have had...

Oral Answers to Questions — Communities and Local Government: House Building (21 Apr 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: What recent discussions she has had with representatives of the construction industry on the prospects for house building during the credit crunch.

Oral Answers to Questions — Communities and Local Government: House Building (21 Apr 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: Does my right hon. Friend agree that, in addition to the need to keep people in their jobs, it is essential that we maintain capacity in the construction industry, both in the north-east and across the country, so that when the upturn comes we can get straight down to building the quantity of quality new homes that this country will need?

Oral Answers to Questions — Duchy of Lancaster: Public Services (1 Apr 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: What steps he plans to take to maintain the public services for which his Department is responsible during the recession.

Oral Answers to Questions — Duchy of Lancaster: Public Services (1 Apr 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: Does my right hon. Friend share my belief that the public sector needs to be more creative, more ingenious and, most importantly, greener to help us to fight our way out of the recession? If he does agree, would he consider working with Smith Electric Vehicles in my constituency in order to achieve that?

Oral Answers to Questions — Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform: Topical Questions (19 Mar 2009) has video

Sharon Hodgson: I have received a number of complaints recently about mobile phone companies and cashback offers. Is the Minister aware of the problem? If so, is he planning on taking any action?

Industry and Exports (Financial Support) Bill: Use of the Chamber (United Kingdom Youth Parliament) (16 Mar 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: Does the hon. Gentleman agree that this Parliament is seen across the world, and especially in the Commonwealth, as the mother of all Parliaments? If he does, he would recognise that this, the mother of all Parliaments, should be used as an example. We should follow the example of some of our friends in Commonwealth countries, who are already beginning to let their Parliaments be used by...

Industry and Exports (Financial Support) Bill: Use of the Chamber (United Kingdom Youth Parliament) (16 Mar 2009)

Sharon Hodgson: If we do not allow young people to sit here and take part in a debate for a single day, what does that say about us? It is not a question of what it says about us if we do allow it; I am more concerned about what it says about us if we do not. Earlier, the hon. Gentleman mentioned contempt. I think that he has shown contempt for the UK Youth Parliament by suggesting that its members are no...