Results 1-20 of 435 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Lord Ashley of Stoke

Road Safety: Electric and Hybrid Vehicles — Question (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: Does my noble friend agree that this is a no-win situation, whichever way the Government turn? We cannot advocate noisy vehicles because of the environment and yet blind people and deaf people really are vulnerable to silent vehicles. The only realistic solution is to raise the awareness of the public and drivers.

Health: Side Effects of Medication — Question (3 Nov 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: My Lords, have the Government made their own special study of the effects of these tranquillisers? Are they able to impose their views on doctors and pharmaceutical companies? Does the Minister agree that pharmaceutical companies can be far more resistant to pressure from the Government than doctors and that it will require much stronger pressure on the companies than on the medical professions?

Families: Bullying — Question (26 Oct 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: My Lords, does my noble friend agree that despite all our laws, rules and regulations, bullying is still going on on a very large scale indeed, especially against disabled people? The reason for it is that many politicians, policemen and head teachers simply do not take bullying seriously enough, but they should do so. Can my noble friend say whether the Government are prepared to launch a...

Royal Mail: Industrial Dispute — Statement (20 Oct 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: My Lords, the incredible aspect of this situation is the failure of both sides to make a simultaneous declaration of, first, the strike being suspended and, secondly, the employers referring this to arbitration. Why cannot a simultaneous declaration be made by both sides?

Disabled People: Benefits — Question (13 Oct 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: To ask Her Majesty's Government which elements of disability benefit they are considering integrating into the wider social care budget in England.

Disabled People: Benefits — Question (13 Oct 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: I thank my noble friend for that reply. Is he aware that any attempt by the Government to withdraw these benefits, or any benefits at all, will be very strongly resisted by disabled people, by their organisations and by many Members of both Houses of Parliament?

Unemployment — Question (15 Jul 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: My Lords, does it not amaze my noble friend that every time the Opposition refer to unemployment, they take no notice of the world recession and act as if the recession was entirely the fault of the Labour Government? They must know as well as we do, but why does he think that they play these games with the House?

Disabled People: Independent Living — Question (7 Jul 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to bring forward proposals for independent living for disabled persons.

Disabled People: Independent Living — Question (7 Jul 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that very helpful reply, but would she agree that the Government and supporters of my independent living Bill may be in conflict, because the Government want to go slower and we want to go faster in our approach? Would my noble friend and the rest of the Government consider a compromise proposal, whereby the Government enact the Bill now but then take...

NHS: Incontinence Services — Question (30 Jun 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: My Lords, this is not an easy subject, but it is made more complex by the insistence of primary care trusts on adopting their own policies, thereby causing a great deal of confusion. That means that people are deprived of important medical facilities and treatments. The Government should intervene, regardless of their present stance.

Stem Cell Research — Question (22 Jun 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: My Lords, I am not quite clear from the Minister's answers whether we will have more money from the Government, or whether the Government will have a hands-off attitude? Which is it to be?

Disabled People: Violence — Question (3 Jun 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: To ask Her Majesty's Government what provision has been made to prevent violence against disabled people.

Disabled People: Violence — Question (3 Jun 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: My Lords, is my noble friend aware that I know that his department is trying very hard indeed, but the fact remains that nearly one-half of disabled people are subject to violence? We must be far more active in preventing that violence by working with them. Does he agree that many organisations representing disabled people in Britain have great skills, knowledge and information but their work...

Social Care — Question (29 Apr 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect the interests of people in need of social care.

Social Care — Question (29 Apr 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Nevertheless, would she not agree that there is ample evidence of neglect in all walks of life and of discrimination against disabled and old people, especially by some care companies? A recent "Panorama" programme revealed that there were thousands of complaints of neglect, including people being left naked in their beds at night, people...

Disabled Persons (Independent Living) Bill [HL] — Second Reading (13 Mar 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: My Lords, this is a difficult debate to respond to because a thousand points have been raised. They were diverse, but they had the same purpose: to support the Bill. I shall be brief. The politics of this debate stand out clearly. This is one subject on which we should never try to make party-political capital. That is important but, inevitably, whatever the Government in power, it is the...

Disabled Persons (Independent Living) Bill [HL] — Second Reading (13 Mar 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: My Lords, the Second Reading is an important stage of any Bill, but this is the third Second Reading that this Bill has been given. On the previous two occasions, the Government gave the Bill a warm welcome but then said, "Thanks, but no thanks". I hope that they will give a different response today. In preparing the Bill, I have been assisted by the Royal Association for Disability and...

Health: Thalidomide — Question (10 Mar 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will set up a state compensation scheme for victims of thalidomide.

Health: Thalidomide — Question (10 Mar 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that response, but is he aware that it is very disappointing? The settlement with Distillers to which he referred was regarded at the time as an accomplishment and was warmly welcomed, but with the aging process and increasing costs, it is now regarded as a very poor settlement indeed. We require the Government to step in and set up a compensation scheme...

Jobcentre Plus: Dyslexia — Question (14 Jan 2009)

Lord Ashley of Stoke: My Lords, is my noble friend aware that his answers are helpful, but not adequate, because the Question specifically asked for a trained, skilled person to be in every jobcentre? Having "access" to an adviser can mean anything, but what we really need is someone specialising in dyslexia to be able to give guidance immediately, rather than calling them in at some later date. Will the Minister...