Former Independent MS for Blaenau Gwent
Coming from south Wales, from a very depressed constituency, as I do, I ask the Secretary of State how he can justify these proposals. How can a Labour Government justify proposals that will put poor people further down in the poverty trap? That is a disgrace, and something that the Labour party will feel very ashamed of.
I am very grateful to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for calling me to make my maiden speech this afternoon. I apologise for the fact that I arrived somewhat late because of a hospital appointment and a train delay. It is a great honour for me to speak in this Chamber as the Member for Blaenau Gwent, and to be able to say that I am here as an independent Member but also as a socialist. I place on...
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how the proposals to deliver Government strategies to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change as set out in the United Kingdom Climate Change programme, Cm 6764, will be implemented in Wales.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average debt incurred by students on leaving university was in the last year for which figures are available; what the average time taken to pay off the debt has been to date; and what assessment she has made of the impact of the student loan scheme on the application for university places from children from working-class homes.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what input his Department had into the preparation of Cm 6764, "Climate Change: The UK Programme 2006" in respect of (a) aircraft passenger travel, (b) aircraft freight transport, (c) road passenger transport and (d) road freight transport.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation his Department had at the NATO forum on energy security technology held in Prague on 22 to 24 February; and if he will place in the Library copies of all presentations made which were relevant to United Kingdom energy security.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the impact of interest payable on unpaid student loans on the ability of graduates to repay loans.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the compatability with the Human Rights Act 1998 of the Health Bill with reference to its proposed prohibition of smoking in public places.
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the merits of the public funding of political parties.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the current complement of staff at the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) have a first degree or further qualification in (a) nuclear physics and (b) nuclear engineering; and what qualifications the OCNS (i) Director and (ii) Deputy Director holds.
