David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances the Government would support the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement; and if he will make a statement.
David Lepper: One of the main issues raised with me at a meeting this weekend, organised by Brighton and Hove city council to mark the international year of the disabled, concerned problems of access to many of our older stations, such as Preston Park in my constituency, by people with disabilities. What discussions has the Department had with the train operating companies and others on the question of...
David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Iran regarding (a) the provisions of the 1991 Memorandum of the Supreme Revolutionary Council of Iran regarding expulsion of Baha'is from university and (b) access to education for Baha'is in Iran.
David Lepper: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who the members are of the Public Sector Leasehold Working Party; when it last met; when it is next scheduled to meet; if he will place in the Library and on his Department's website the minutes of its meetings; and what its programme of work is.
David Lepper: I rise to present a petition on behalf of residents of Brighton and Hove and others, signed by some 2,000 individuals. The petition Declares their objection to the presence of extreme internet sites promoting violence against women in the name of sexual gratification. The petitioners note the recent horrific murder of Brighton school teacher Jane Longhurst by a man who had become an avid user...
David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on proposals to review the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966; and what the arrangements are for public consultation on such a review.
David Lepper: In the interests of ongoing protection, will my right hon. Friend give careful consideration to the evidence of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the BioVeterinary Group and others about the health hazards of pet fairs, and be prepared to reconsider proposals in the Animal Welfare Bill for licensing pet fairs?
David Lepper: rose—
David Lepper: My hon. Friend indicated that it is clear that some LEAs are better than others. Does he agree that an underlying problem with the White Paper is the stigmatisation of all LEAs as failing to provide incentives for parental involvement, innovation, success and so on, which many of us witness every day in schools in our own communities?
David Lepper: On alcohol disorder zones being a last resort, does the Minister agree that in an area in which a problem clearly exists, local authorities should consider the power in the Local Government Act 2003 to introduce, with the consent of local businesses, business improvement districts, which would deal with many such problems at a much earlier stage?
David Lepper: I represent a constituency where there is a great deal of interest in renewable energy, but many of my constituents who are most interested in it live in conservation areas. My hon. Friend has talked about the importance of households and groups of households taking forward what is proposed. Does he agree that it is important that the Minister for Energy, who is on the Front Bench at the...
David Lepper: In the spirit of the comments made by the right hon. Member for West Dorset (Mr. Letwin), will my hon. Friend also pay tribute to the role of the Co-operative party, the co-operative movement and Labour/Co-operative MPs in supporting his Bill and the principles behind it?
David Lepper: On the question of missing persons, would the Minister agree that the Turkish army has an obligation to make available the full records of those who were arrested at the time of the occupation in 1974 to enable proper investigations to take place?
David Lepper: The hon. Lady mentioned the role of the UK Government in relation to rebuilding that trust. Does she agree that there is a twofold responsibility on the part of the UK Government? First, Cyprus is a member of the EU already, and Turkey is not. That gives the UK a particular role. Secondly, Cyprus is a member of the Commonwealth, which gives an additional responsibility to our Government in...
David Lepper: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
David Lepper: I, too, have to declare an interest. I visited Cyprus in early October as a guest of the municipality of Morphou. That is on the register. My hon. Friend has mentioned the building boom. Does he have a view about the purchase by UK citizens of properties in the north of Cyprus? In particular, what is his view of the advice given by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website to those...
David Lepper: In the light of what my hon. Friend has just said, I thank him for visiting the licensing unit of Brighton and Hove city council a few weeks ago to thank staff for their hard work—it really boosted morale. What will be the impact on those local government officers if the House agrees with the Opposition motion not to proceed with implementation on 24 November?
David Lepper: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
David Lepper: rose—
David Lepper: Does my hon. Friend agree that the sort of points that my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House and my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) made should be raised in Committee? Today, we are dealing with the broad principles of the measure. The detail can be debated in full in Committee. Perhaps some amendment will be needed to take account of the sort of objections that have...
