Lynne Jones: Humankind is borrowing from the earth's capital at a rate that threatens the very viability of our planet. Although we do not yet have an agreed currency for the environmental deficit, does the Secretary of State agree that tackling that deficit is as vital as tackling the fiscal deficit? How are we doing in this country in meeting Lord Stern's recommendation that we should have a carbon...
Lynne Jones: The hon. Gentleman mentioned the slight increase in inequality, but that is largely due to the huge increases in the highest rates of pay. What would the next Conservative Government do, were they to be elected? Hopefully, they will not be elected. Would they support a high pay commission, for example?
Lynne Jones: The hon. Gentleman should not take great comfort from my remarks on Hall Green.
Lynne Jones: I am pleased to have the opportunity to raise this important issue because it is very dear to my heart. I am sure that this will be my last speech as a Member of this House, so I am fortunate in having secured the debate. This subject is so complex that I could speak for a very long time. During my speech, I shall draw on a number of important publications that I have recently read. The first...
Lynne Jones: I thank the hon. Gentleman for that, but I think I got there long before him, when I was writing pensions articles calling for the restoration of the earnings link and expressing great concern about the means-testing of people who did a little bit better for themselves than they would have by relying completely on the state. I urge whoever is in government not only to restore the link but to...
Lynne Jones: I am sorry, but I did not hear what the hon. Gentleman said. Did he mention class sizes?
Lynne Jones: I am sorry, but I am a little deaf. I do not see how the shadow Chancellor can rule out future tax rises. In some ways, I would prefer progressive tax rises to cuts in services that would affect the vulnerable. It is time that I began to wind up. I wish to mention a couple of other areas where Government intervention has been extremely successful. It may seem rather bizarre, but I start with...
Lynne Jones: Thank you, Mr. Weir. The candidate who most shares my values and whom I respect the most will be the one who I think will put up the greatest fight for a more equal society. That candidate will make a much better job of it than I have managed. During my time here I have fought hard for disadvantaged groups, starting in the 1992 to 1997 Parliament when I fought the dreadful discrimination...
Lynne Jones: To ask the Leader of the House what the total monetary value of employer contributions towards the pensions of staff of hon. Members was in the most recent financial year.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli authorities and his EU counterparts on the effects on the region of the blockade on Gaza.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2010, Official Report, columns 125-6W, on mental health services: advocacy, how frequently information on the availability and accessibility of independent mental health advocates in hospitals which detain patients under the Mental Health Act 1983 will be collected and published; and in which quarter he expects the...
Lynne Jones: According to the Government's excellent carers strategy, the provision of accurate and timely information is vital for carers, yet according to Rethink, the mental health charity, 33 per cent. of mental health carers do not receive basic information such as the diagnosis of the person they are caring for, and only 20 per cent. of trusts have information-sharing policies. What action will the...
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the (a) percentage and (b) cash change in level of local housing allowance in each area for (i) a bedsit, (ii) a one-bedroom property, (iii) a two-bedroom property, (iv) a three-bedroom property and (v) a four-bedroom property when the highest rents are excluded from the calculation.
Lynne Jones: Will the Secretary of State join me in applauding the trail-blazing work of the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme, whose methods for ensuring that business waste is used as a valued resource are now attracting attention from all over the world-and, indeed, exports? Will he ensure that the Treasury continues to enjoy the benefits of that input to the economy by not cutting that programme?
Lynne Jones: I have a leaflet here from the Conservative candidate for Birmingham, Hall Green. On one side it says "Only the Conservatives are promising cuts before the election", which is risky but honest. On the other side, however, it condemns cuts in the constituency budget. Although the budget is controlled by the Liberal Democrats, it comes from a council that is run by the Conservatives and the...
Lynne Jones: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
Lynne Jones: This may well be my last speech to the House, although there are a few days left of this Parliament. During my 18 years here I have spoken in a few Budget debates, and without exception the issue that I have always raised has been my concern about the lack of investment in our infrastructure in this country, including the research and development infrastructure. I echo the sentiments...
Lynne Jones: Indeed. The lack of investment in our transport infrastructure puts us to shame, compared with similar economies in Europe. I have been trying to reduce my air travel and have travelled a number of times, both on holiday and on Select Committee visits, by train in France, Germany and Spain. I have also visited continental countries where public transport is superb and where there is...
Lynne Jones: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am going somewhat off the subject.
Lynne Jones: I know of at least one other parliamentary colleague who is my constituent. It is a wonderfully diverse constituency as currently composed. To finish my contribution, the website I mentioned is important because it allows our constituents to see what we are doing generally and what we are talking about today as we debate the Budget. It was set up because much of what we say here is not...