James Plaskitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information the Care Quality Commission holds on the payment of compensation from public funds by health authorities and agencies to private companies and individuals; and if he will place a copy of that information in the Library.
James Plaskitt: The nine Sure Start children's centres in my constituency are doing an exceptional job. One head teacher, whose school has a centre attached to it, has told me that it would be a massive backward step to restrict access to that centre in any way, so can my right hon. Friend assure him and me that we will not do that?
James Plaskitt: As you rightly said, Mr. Deputy Speaker, this is a very important debate. I know that young people will be following our proceedings, and I am pleased to make a contribution, not only because of that, and not only because I am a recovering academic. I taught in the university system in the mid-1980s, and I recall what it was like at that time-the inadequate facilities that we were trying to...
James Plaskitt: The hon. Gentleman clearly hopes that students will be interested in his proposition that the Liberal Democrats will abolish tuition fees, but they will also be interested in a question that flows from that. If the fees were abolished under his scheme and those students were at university, how would he replace the revenue that universities would have lost? Would he shrink the numbers of...
James Plaskitt: rose-
James Plaskitt: Can my right hon. Friend tell me more about his Department's analysis of the interaction between this proposal and the Department's aviation strategy? The proposal to have a link at Birmingham International could significantly transform the way in which people think about the use of Birmingham airport. That link could also provide a fast link into London. Is he absolutely sure that these...
James Plaskitt: I welcome the recent reduction in the number of young people not in education, employment or training. However, if access to education maintenance allowance were to be restricted, would that help or hinder making further progress in reducing the number of NEETs?
James Plaskitt: I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Mrs. Dean) on raising this issue and I thank her for allowing me an opportunity to make a brief speech. I appreciate the fact that she has persevered and persisted with the issue-she has spoken eloquently about it on a number of occasions, including tonight. I also acknowledge the contribution of Ian Leech, who has campaigned admirably and...
James Plaskitt: The hon. Gentleman talks about efficiencies without damage to front-line services. May I refer him to Conservative-controlled Warwickshire county council, which is currently advocating the closure of seven fire stations and the sacking of 100 firefighters? Does he see that as an example of Conservative efficiency without damaging front-line services?
James Plaskitt: When I was in Helmand this summer, I was able to see for myself the excellent medical facilities that we have at Camp Bastion; the soldiers there were also hugely impressed by them. With the increase in the number of troops being deployed, will the Prime Minister ensure there is a commensurate increase in the in-theatre medical services and the aftercare services back here in the UK?
James Plaskitt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition of extremist is used in respect of compiling data on the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU); what forms of evidence gathered by forward intelligence teams are retained by the NPOIU; how many individuals are identifiable by spotter cards on the NPOIU database; and how many individual names are recorded on the...
James Plaskitt: I welcome my right hon. Friend's statement and particularly the progress that we have been able to make as a result of the 2003-04 changes in respect of widening access. In the forthcoming review of fees, will there be a presumption against a completely unrestricted fees market, which would make it impossible to maintain that progress on widening access?
James Plaskitt: Warwick district council has just finished its consultation period on its options within the RSS, which are being clearly rejected by the community. I believe that the council needs to reconsider and return with alternative proposals. Will my right hon. Friend support my suggestion to the regional Government office that the council be given some extra time to work on that without jeopardising...
James Plaskitt: Before my hon. Friend moves on-has he moved on from the cleansing of the records?-I will return to the subject. From what he has said, it remains the case that documentation is being accessed by local authorities that are considering fostering placements that refers to my constituent, and it contains statements and comments about her that are untrue and unfounded and are clearly contradicted...
James Plaskitt: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for indulging me. Ofsted may not have the power to instruct local authorities, but how would my hon. Friend feel about writing to local authorities requesting that they take a look at their records on this case?
James Plaskitt: I am grateful to have the opportunity, granted by Mr. Speaker, to raise this matter, which is important to my constituent and to me. At issue, in essence, is the conduct of successive regulatory bodies in respect of fostering and the fact that, early on in this case, as I will explain in a moment, regulators seemed to get off on the wrong track and have simply not been able, for various...
James Plaskitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the co-ordination of policy on the EU's economic recovery with other EU member states.
James Plaskitt: I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this debate, having spent last week in Helmand with British forces at Camp Bastion and in Kandahar. I should like to put on record my thanks to our Ministry of Defence staff who facilitate such visits for Members of Parliament and to all those involved in theatre who make time to brief us, which they do very extensively. Such visits are...
James Plaskitt: I welcome my hon. Friend back to the Treasury; it is nice to see her in the team again. As my hon. Friend will know, the savings ratio tends to be geared to what is happening to house prices, so it is no surprise that now that we are seeing a house price deflation there is a recovery in household savings. At a time of low inflation, savers will be looking for good deals, and I welcome the...
James Plaskitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will take steps to enable local authorities with retained housing stock to increase the supply of social housing: and if she will make a statement.
