Former Labour MP for Darlington
On that point, I fully understand and welcome the fact that the various associations are campaigning and giving a profile to the issue, so as to encourage more truck drivers to wear belts when they are fitted. I want to ask the Minister two simple and specific things. First, alongside that campaign, may we have a small, specific campaign run by the Department for Transport, the two...
I am grateful to Mr. Speaker for the opportunity to have this debate on what may seem a small and somewhat arcane issue of fitting seat belts to heavy goods vehicles. However, on occasion small issues have large consequences and, in this case, it can be a matter of life or death. Normally, discussions about road safety and heavy goods vehicles focus on their role in accidents and fatalities...
It is always a great pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts). At some points in his speech, his insight and knowledge were in danger of creating a progressive consensus in the House; then, however, he lapsed into criticism rather deeper than I would have expected from him. It is also a great pleasure to follow the Minister, whom I congratulate on her appointment to an...
The hon. Gentleman is on to a very important point. One thing that I am absolutely convinced about, not just from anecdotal evidence but from academic evidence, is that the problem is not that young people do not have aspirations, it is that they are blocked in fulfilling them. It is not that the country does not have talent—to coin a phrase, Britain's got talent. It's got lots of talent....
When I compare my kids' experiences and life chances with those of my childhood, it shows that we are living in a different world. It is amazing, and something to cherish about modern society that, by and large, there are fantastic opportunities for more and more people. We live in a world of opportunity. Notwithstanding the problems of economic recession, we live in a world of greater plenty...
Oh happy days! Yes, I do, and I also well remember my hon. Friend's championing of Peninsula's cause. She knows that Sir John Tooke, who does a fantastic job at Peninsula, is one of the panel members. It is not only one of the most progressive but one of the best medical schools in the country—I should have said "and", not "but" in that sentence. It is one of the best because it is one of...
It is important in these debates to ensure that the emphasis is on all groups and not just on some. However, we also have to recognise that different people from different backgrounds have different starting points in life. There is no equality of life chances at the beginning of life, and public policy will quite rightly want to intervene to ensure that life chances are made available...
Yes, I have a feeling it will be coming my hon. Friend's way. I guess that we knew that, although it is just a guess. That is the point, I suppose. I guess that we had a hunch about it, and we have some rudimentary data, but they are pretty rudimentary. This is an issue of accountability for public sector bodies, including the BBC, to consider. They are funded from the public purse—from the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many houses have been insulated in (a) each region of England and (b) Darlington under Government schemes in each of the last five years.
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the number of people in Darlington constituency whose income rose following the introduction of the national minimum wage.
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils in (i) each region of England and (ii) Darlington are on gifted and talented programmes.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the number of households in (a) Darlington constituency, (b) County Durham and (c) England in which more than one individual receives the winter fuel allowance.
To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many new (a) apprenticeships and (b) training places are planned to be made available for people in Darlington constituency in the next 12 months.
To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people living in Darlington constituency have participated in the Train to Gain programme in each of the last three years.
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the average number of job vacancies was in (a) Darlington constituency, (b) County Durham and (c) England in each of the last three years.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what average payment has been made by parents into Child Trust Fund accounts in (a) Darlington constituency, (b) County Durham, (c) the North East and (d) England in each year since the scheme's inception.
