Results 1-20 of 449 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 Hunter

[David Taylor in the Chair] — Biofuels (27 Oct 2009)

Mark Hunter: I would like to take a slightly different tack. The Minister has spent the past few minutes talking optimistically about the future for biofuels, which is good to hear. The whole debate has been conducted in a non-partisan manner, and I am particularly grateful that he accepted my earlier point about the 20p duty differential. However, despite his generous offer to forward that to the...

[David Taylor in the Chair] — Biofuels (27 Oct 2009)

Mark Hunter: Does the Minister understand that most producers of biodiesel from waste products produce between 2,000 and 20,000 litres a day and that the UK's biodiesel production is heavily reliant on that 20p reduction in duty?

[David Taylor in the Chair] — Biofuels (27 Oct 2009)

Mark Hunter: Let me say what a pleasure it is to have the opportunity of contributing to the debate under your chairmanship, Mr. Taylor. I also want to compliment the hon. Member for St. Albans (Anne Main) on securing this important debate. This is not the first time that the House has addressed these issues, and I dare say it will not be the last. In June last year, I contributed to a debate in...

[David Taylor in the Chair] — Biofuels (27 Oct 2009)

Mark Hunter: The hon. Lady makes a fair point. When I introduced the distinction between first and second-generation biofuels, I said that I do not think that it is widely understood by the great public out there, who have many other concerns to occupy them. It is an important distinction, and I think that more could be done. I look not only to the Government, but to industry and to all of us. We share...

Opposition Day — [19th allotted day]: Equitable Life (21 Oct 2009) has video

Mark Hunter: rose—

Opposition Day — [19th allotted day]: Equitable Life (21 Oct 2009) has video

Mark Hunter: I am grateful to the Minister for giving way; he has been generous in doing so. All who are concerned on behalf of their constituents about the issue will not be surprised at what I suspect will be the fury of the many thousands of people who will have looked in on this debate and, frankly, expected and hoped—despite all the odds—for a little better from the Government. Has the...

Opposition Day — [19th allotted day]: Equitable Life (21 Oct 2009) has video

Mark Hunter: I am happy to, because the point was made before: the question is not about having to review 30 million individual cases, but about reviewing policyholders' different levels of policy. With respect, the Minister is making a fatuous claim.

Opposition Day — [19th allotted day]: Equitable Life (21 Oct 2009) has video

Mark Hunter: rose—

Business of the House (15 Oct 2009) has video

Mark Hunter: Notwithstanding the progress of the Autism Bill, which is, of course, a hugely important step forward, the National Autistic Society has launched its "Don't write me off" campaign, which seeks to raise issues to do with making the system fairer for people with autism. Given that only 15 per cent. of adults with autism have full-time jobs and nearly 80 per cent. of those who are on incapacity...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (14 Oct 2009) has video

Mark Hunter: The RAF has identified the need for three further aircraft to replace Nimrod R1 spy planes. New Nimrods, built in my constituency in Woodford, in which the Government have already invested £3.6 billion, are ideal for the task. Will the Prime Minister therefore explain why his Government have chosen instead to buy 40-year-old American aircraft and how that ties in with his commitment to...

Business of the House (9 Jul 2009) has video

Mark Hunter: At the time of the most recent Health questions, there had been only one fatality from swine flu. Now, there have been seven deaths and thousands more cases have been brought to light. Given the dramatic escalation in the number of cases, and with the parliamentary recess almost upon us, will the Leader of the House agree to press the Secretary of State for Health on the need for a further...

[Mr. Jim Hood in the Chair] — Railways (North of England) (1 Jul 2009)

Mark Hunter: The increasing frequency of inter-city services is a double-sided coin. As hon. Members said, it has had a negative impact on local commuter services in and out of cities such as Manchester, because the same services criss-cross the same track. Three trains an hour between Manchester and London is great, but does the Minister recognise that has had a negative impact on our local commuter...

[Mr. Jim Hood in the Chair] — Railways (North of England) (1 Jul 2009)

Mark Hunter: It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to contribute under your chairmanship, Mr. Hood. I congratulate the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Ms Smith) on obtaining this timely debate. As I failed to catch Mr. Speaker's eye at Transport questions last week, let me also take this opportunity to welcome the Minister to his post. I want to start my remarks with today's news. I...

[Mr. Jim Hood in the Chair] — Railways (North of England) (1 Jul 2009)

Mark Hunter: I shall come to the hon. Gentleman's point about older carriages in a moment. The number of rail commuters on local services has increased at more than twice the London rate; 60 per cent. of all peak-time trains in Leeds, and more than 50 per cent. in Manchester, have space for standing only. Do the Government have any evidence to suggest that the carriages are no longer needed, and will the...

Oral Answers to Questions — Health: Influenza Pandemic (Cheadle) (23 Jun 2009) has video

Mark Hunter: What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of implementation of the pandemic influenza response strategy in Cheadle constituency.

Oral Answers to Questions — Health: Influenza Pandemic (Cheadle) (23 Jun 2009) has video

Mark Hunter: I am grateful for the Minister's answer. The Secretary of State confirmed earlier that the national flu hotline is in fact running six months behind schedule and will not now be available until October. In the circumstances, can the Minister reassure my constituents about the interim arrangements, and say whether the system will be able to cope satisfactorily with the expected influx of new...

Oral Answers to Questions — Health: Topical Questions (23 Jun 2009) has video

Mark Hunter: The Minister said that he will accept in principle the recommendations of the independent review of NHS dentistry, published yesterday. However, will he make a further firm commitment to implement the detail of the proposals put forward in that review, including reform of the system of payment so that income for dentists is determined by the number of NHS patients registered and the quality...

Point of Order (16 Jun 2009) has video

Mark Hunter: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I should advise the House that I have notified the hon. Member to whom my point of order refers. I know that you take a dim view of the practice of one MP visiting another MP's constituency without the courtesy of giving advance notification, Mr. Speaker, so you can imagine my surprise on opening the Stockport Express recently to discover that the hon....

[Mr. Joe Benton in the Chair] — Road Safety (4 Jun 2009)

Mark Hunter: Will the Minister give way?

[Mr. Joe Benton in the Chair] — Road Safety (4 Jun 2009)

Mark Hunter: I am grateful to the Minister for his thoughtful responses to our questions. One concern about the limits is enforcement—I hope he will forgive me if he was about to come to that. In my constituency and the Greater Manchester conurbation, local police divisions no longer have their own separate traffic police as they have all been centralised in Manchester, which means that we see far...