Results 1-20 of 2,912 for speaker:Michael Penning

Petition — Equitable Life (Hemel Hempstead) (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Penning: It is an honour and a privilege to stand before the House this evening to present a petition on behalf of those of my constituents who have had their lives so badly damaged by the Equitable Life debacle. The petitioners are residents of the Hemel Hempstead area, and the petition is a response to the Government's lack of response to the ombudsman's report on Equitable Life. The signatories are...

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

Michael Penning: Over the years, we have assumed that fast-food outlets are something new. Of course, the big chains are new, but I grew up in north London and the east end of London in socially deprived areas, which have always had pie and mash shops, jellied eel shops, bagel shops and salt beef. The crucial difference now is the amount of exercise that is being done after people eat an amount of fast food.

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

Michael Penning: Will the Minister give way?

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

Michael Penning: I wish to make two very quick points. First, I heard the Minister say earlier that she is in agreement with the Chairman of the Select Committee. It is interesting to note that the right hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Barron) is from the same party as her and that the Committee is Labour dominated. However, the point I really want to make is to ask whether she will address the issue of...

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

Michael Penning: The Minister has talked about the measures in the Health Bill banning the sale of tobacco from vending machines—I understand that the Bill might already have received Royal Assent. I have nothing but admiration for the Chair of the Select Committee, who has for years advocated such a ban and has been involved in that argument time and again. However, at no time during the Bill's passage...

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

Michael Penning: I have not finished. At the last minute, Ministers tore up their proposals and accepted proposals from Labour Back Benchers that have caused problems for the Bill, but have now been addressed. What made Ministers suddenly change their minds after the Bill had gone through Second Reading, Committee and Report? Why did they suddenly think, "Ah, we'll ban it today"?

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

Michael Penning: Will the Minister give way?

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

Michael Penning: Will the Minister give way?

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

Michael Penning: This is an important debate. I congratulate the Select Committee on Health, of which I have had the privilege of being a member for many years. When I first came to the House in 2005 and was asked what Committee I wanted to be on, there was only one answer: health. It took me a couple of months to convince the Whips, but I convinced them and joined the Committee. It is enormously important...

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

Michael Penning: That is absolutely right. I would have thought that anyone commenting on Conservative party policy would balance their arguments.

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

Michael Penning: Certainly.

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

Michael Penning: Absolutely, which is why my party, should we be lucky enough to be elected, will change the Department of Health to the Department of Public Health so that we can start locking other agencies into a better working environment. The report criticises the lack of joined-up government on such an important subject, so it agrees in many ways with me that we need to come together as a Government....

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

Michael Penning: I have met many manufacturers and producers over the years, as have the Minister and the Select Committee. It is claimed that Europe will not allow us to compel certain things. Apparently, the traffic light system is not legal. We should accept that. However, the GDA system is legal. All the manufacturers seem to have agreed about GDA so why can we not come to an agreement? It would be more...

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

Michael Penning: Absolutely. Rather than go to war, it would be better to find something that can be done within EU law and do it. There is a type of front-of-pack labelling that could be used. We called for it in 2004 and are still waiting in 2009. I would like to talk about the excellent report for longer, but I want to give the Minister longer than I have had so that she can respond to the questions of...

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

Michael Penning: I agree completely. It fascinates me that manufacturers get away with some of the comments they make about how healthy their products are—particularly in TV advertising—when they are certainly not healthy.

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

Michael Penning: We are continuing to look at the latter point and have not committed ourselves one way or the other on minimum pricing. As a Conservative, I find the whole concept of minimum pricing very difficult, but we will continue to consider the evidence. I am becoming increasingly convinced that alcohol products should provide an indication of calorie content, because the simple fact is that if any of...

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

Michael Penning: You are wrong.

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

Michael Penning: On a point of order, Mr. Bayley. Further to your comments, should the House prorogue, obviously no further comment will be allowed here, but the debate is on a very important report and the Government response to it needs a lot of debate. That is why the Government gave three hours for this debate. Should we not get three hours, is there any way in which this business could be brought back,...

Coroners and Justice Bill: Clause 27 — Increase in penalty for offence (12 Nov 2009)

Michael Penning: I agree with all that has been said by hon. Members on both sides of the House. Alcohol is a major problem in this country, particularly among our young people. Fifty per cent. of crime is linked to alcohol abuse. It also affects public health. We discussed that when we debated the Health Bill, and I have raised it in the House on several occasions. I am keen for the legislation to be beefed...

Coroners and Justice Bill: Clause 27 — Increase in penalty for offence (12 Nov 2009)

Michael Penning: I want to say something on behalf of those of us who have the honour and privilege of patrolling with the police, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. I have been with them when they have patrolled certain areas in my constituency where orders have been made, and we have picked up children of this age and taken them home. In some cases, the parents were appalled and very worried for...