David Lepper: I welcome what my hon. Friend the Minister said about the agreement that has been reached. However, will she agree to monitor the provision of legal advice, particularly on immigration and family law issues, under the new financial arrangements, because there is a fear in my constituency that there will be an increasing shortage of that provision?
David Lepper: I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate. I agree with what she said about the use of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 in relation to lap dancing clubs. I would welcome the Minister's comments on the fact that, in my local authority, we have controlled the number of sex shops by using that Act. The type of entertainment about which my hon. Friend has been...
David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Government of Israel about the demolition of Palestinian homes in the village of Hadidiya in the Jordan Valley by the Israeli army on 6 February.
David Lepper: Constituents of mine who visited the west bank recently raised with me the role of the Jewish National Fund in acquiring and developing land in the west bank. I believe that the company is registered in the UK. Has the hon. Gentleman formed a view of its activities, and does he believe that it would be appropriate for the Government to look into them, as the company is registered in this country?
David Lepper: Further to the assurances that the Deputy Leader of the House has just given to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, West (Martin Salter) on legislation to deal with violent internet pornography, she will be aware that the need for such legislation was highlighted by the brutal murder some five years ago of my constituent, Jane Longhurst, a respected teacher. Assurances have been given in...
David Lepper: In relation to the scheme in England, I welcome the recognition that the funding has given to areas such as Brighton and Hove, which have done much to increase bus use and the take-up of passes over the past 12 years. Will the Minister liaise with colleagues in the Department for Communities and Local Government, however, to consider the representations that my local authority—Brighton and...
David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli government about its description of Gaza as a hostile entity in September 2007 and the resulting boycott on supplies to Palestinians in Gaza.
David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure that the EU Trade Association Agreement with Israel is properly implemented in relation to its human rights clauses.
David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli government about the release of imprisoned, democratically elected Palestinian representatives.
David Lepper: On petitions, does my hon. Friend share my concern, which I hope the Minister also shares, about the impression given at a public meeting in my constituency by Gary Herbert of the national consultation team of Post Office Ltd that however many signatures it bears, a petition against the closure of a post office might count as only one objection? I find that an insult to the people who have...
David Lepper: I present the third petition in one week against the proposed closure of another post office in my constituency. The petition is in the name of Mr. Keith Day and is signed by 1,556 residents and people working in businesses in the area. The petition states: The Petition of those affected by the closure of the Elm Grove Post Office in Brighton, Declares that they believe that the Post Office...
David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that appropriate resources are available for NHS multi-disciplinary services for myalgic encephalopathy and chronic fatigue syndrome following the recommendations of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence including on (a) provision of diagnostic and therapeutic options, (b) domiciliary services and...
David Lepper: I wish to present a petition opposing the proposed closure of the post office at 13, Preston road, Brighton. The petition is in the name of Nancy Platts, and is signed by 644 residents and people who work in the area where the post office is situated. The petition says: The petitioners declare that they believe that local Post Offices play a vital role in community life and value the service...
David Lepper: I present a petition against the proposed closure of a post office at 221 Preston road in my constituency. The petition is in the name of Linda Baguley and is signed by 895 residents and people working in the area, including 37 members of staff of Brighton and Hove city council's children's services department. The petition declares: The Petition of those affected by the closure of the...
David Lepper: I apologise to you, Sir John, and other hon. Members, because I have an event in my constituency at 5 pm and will not be here to hear the concluding part of the debate. May I offer the hon. Gentleman another example along the same lines? The Trafalgar street post office has the highest number of customers of any sub-post office in my constituency, yet is one of the four selected for closure....
David Lepper: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
David Lepper: I welcome the Minister's comments on the engagement of the industry in addressing cyberbullying. However, does he not share my concern that instances of bullying are sometimes posted on websites that originate outside this country, and that there is therefore an international dimension that probably requires the involvement of not only his Department, but others as well, in trying to get an...
David Lepper: Does the Secretary of State share the concern felt by many people in the Republic of Cyprus about the fact that the new Turkish Government have still not kept to their undertaking that once they had secured the opening of EU accession negotiations, they would lift their embargo on ships from Cyprus entering Turkish ports?
David Lepper: I shall be brief, Madam Deputy Speaker. I wish to confine my remarks to clauses 64 to 66 in part 6, which deal with extreme pornographic material. Jane Longhurst, my constituent, was a respected and dedicated teacher at a school for children with learning difficulties in my constituency. It happens to be the last school where I taught before I retired from teaching, but we did not work there...
David Lepper: I welcome my hon. Friend's intervention and agree with the points that he makes. I also welcome the commitment of Members on the Opposition Front Bench to support at least this part of the Bill, if not other aspects of it. Building on what my hon. Friend said, the explanatory notes that are available to us all make it clear that the intention of these clauses is not to restrict makers of...
