Results 1-20 of 944 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Mark Lancaster

Territorial Army (26 Oct 2009) has video

Mark Lancaster: The Minister just said that he will introduce one TA drill night for all TA personnel, so that includes specialist units as well, does it?

Territorial Army (26 Oct 2009) has video

Mark Lancaster: I would like to be able to say that it is a pleasure to have this Adjournment debate, but I cannot do so. The matter under discussion is very serious. [Interruption.] The Government have proposed cuts to the Territorial Army. That is of concern in all parts of the House, and I hope the Minister will note— [Interruption.]

Territorial Army (26 Oct 2009) has video

Mark Lancaster: I simply ask the Minister to take note of how many hon. Members have decided to remain for this Adjournment debate. I start by declaring my interest: I am a serving member of the Territorial Army. Indeed, I am very proud to have served in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan for this Government, and I would be delighted to do so again, but I ask, both for myself and other members of the Territorial...

Territorial Army (26 Oct 2009) has video

Mark Lancaster: The hon. Gentleman makes a valid point, and it is a subject that I will return to. Less than six months ago, we had the strategic review of reserves, which finally gave a clear direction on how the Territorial Army would support the regular Army on operations. This is a fundamental point that shows how short-sighted the Government's decision is. The Minister will argue that members of the TA...

Territorial Army (26 Oct 2009) has video

Mark Lancaster: I certainly hope that that is not the case, but perhaps the Minister will address that point when he winds up. Drill nights are absolutely vital for the reasons that I have stated, and unless we can get them back I fear for the TA, which cannot simply be mothballed and reopened in six months. Once we lose the culture of attending a drill night on a Tuesday or Wednesday, pretty soon that slot...

Territorial Army (26 Oct 2009) has video

Mark Lancaster: My hon. Friend makes a very important point, on a subject that I was going to discuss, the officer training corps at universities. One of the key shortages in the TA at the moment is of junior officers—there are simply not enough of them in units. One of the key sources of junior officers used to be the officer training corps, but they are now not going to receive any training at all....

Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department: Territorial Army (26 Oct 2009) has video

Mark Lancaster: I welcome the announcement that the Minister has made. It is a small step in the right direction—I hope that by the end of the evening a few more steps in the right direction will have been taken. No member of the TA is to be deployed unless they have passed through the reserves training and mobilisation centre at Chilwell. That is currently a testing organisation, but as a result of...

Business of the House (22 Oct 2009) has video

Mark Lancaster: May we have a debate on education and the impact of retrospective funding arrangements on areas of high growth, such as Milton Keynes? This year, record numbers of parents have contacted me about being unable to get their child into a local school. Is it right that children should have to travel across a whole city just to go school?

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

Mark Lancaster: As I am a member of the Territorial Army who has served in Afghanistan, the Prime Minister will understand my particular interest, and it is worth remembering that a large percentage of our forces in Afghanistan are members of the reserve. Indeed, as one of the EOD—explosive ordnance disposal—trained engineers to which the Prime Minister referred, it is likely that I may have to...

Oral Answers to Questions — International Development: Humanitarian Assistance (Pakistan) (24 Jun 2009) has video

Mark Lancaster: A few moments ago, the Minister acknowledged that British NGOs face a serious funding shortfall in Pakistan, but, with the monsoon season approaching, 45 per cent. of the money that his Department has announced remains unallocated to specific projects. Can he simply reassure the House that there is a plan and explain exactly where that money will be spent?

Business of the House (18 Jun 2009) has video

Mark Lancaster: May we have a debate on the proposed changes to how furnished lettings are treated for tax purposes? Many of my constituents rent out property, and for tax purposes they are considered to be trading. The proposed changes will alter that, at enormous cost to some people, especially farmers. As the recession continues to bite, is it right that the changes are being brought in now?

Business of the House (18 Jun 2009) has video

Mark Lancaster: Farmers are an example.

St. Helena (17 Jun 2009)

Mark Lancaster: What the Minister said is perfectly reasonable. I simply ask him to rule out the do-nothing option.

St. Helena (17 Jun 2009)

Mark Lancaster: The consultation ends on 31 July. When will the Government make a decision?

St. Helena (17 Jun 2009)

Mark Lancaster: Before we were interrupted, I was about to move on to the current access arrangements for the island—the Government-subsidised RMS St. Helena. Simply maintaining the current arrangements will limit the prospects for economic growth on the island. After my visit there, it is hard for me to disagree with the common view on the island that DFID is simply managing the island's decline. I am...

St. Helena (17 Jun 2009)

Mark Lancaster: If only I knew. That is a key question, which I, too, was going to ask the Minister. All I can say to my hon. Friend is that the excuse about the economic downturn has been dismissed by islanders, because the looming recession was already anticipated when the document was signed in October. It is an incredibly hollow argument that within that eight-week period, given that the agreement was...

St. Helena (17 Jun 2009)

Mark Lancaster: The hon. Lady makes a reasonable point. We seem to be doing nothing more than administering life support at the moment, which is why we have to do something, rather than kick this issue into the long grass. It is a key concern that infrastructure projects have been identified by a whole sequence of DFID representatives, but are rarely funded. Worse still, the pause that was introduced...

St. Helena (17 Jun 2009)

Mark Lancaster: That is exactly the point that I am trying to make when I say that investment in the airport is so much more than a matter of the airport itself. The airport is now on pause and, frankly, islanders simply do not know what to do because of the uncertainty and indecision. It has been repeated to me again and again that no decision is the worst decision, because of the inability to plan Before I...

St. Helena (17 Jun 2009)

Mark Lancaster: It is a pleasure to contribute to this timely debate, and I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Congleton (Ann Winterton) on securing it. Having listened to what she had to say, I am amazed that she has not been to the island, such was the informed level of her comments. She gave us a passionate speech, which outlined very well many of the concerns that I heard about when I was on the...

Oral Answers to Questions — Justice: Topical Questions (16 Jun 2009)

Mark Lancaster: The Justice Secretary's own budget proposes a £6.4 million cut in the Thames Valley probation service over the next three years, with a potential 140 job losses. Does he anticipate that reoffending rates will rise or fall in Milton Keynes over the next three years?