Mr Gareth Thomas: I am grateful for that response. On the subject of insurance against flooding, I am sure that the Minister will be aware that many householders are now finding it difficult to obtain insurance cover. Does he think that the Government have a role—and if so, what role—in ensuring that the insurance industry, which is so keen to collect premiums from people in good times, provides affordable...
Mr Gareth Thomas: What steps he is taking to combat the funding of international terrorism.
Mr Gareth Thomas: I congratulate the Chancellor on his prominent role in co-ordinating a strong international response to combat particularly international terrorism. What progress has he made in attempting to agree international standards for combating the financing of terrorism? What help will he provide to poorer countries, particularly financial and technical help, to implement those standards?
Mr Gareth Thomas: What plans he has to reform the social fund.
Mr Gareth Thomas: I congratulate my hon. Friend on his appointment to a new and important Department. In view of the heatwave, today may not be the appropriate day to ask this, but will he reconsider the case for extending winter fuel payments to the disabled? Will he re-examine the claim by the predecessor Department that existing benefits adequately reflect fuel poverty among disabled pensioners, since that...
Mr Gareth Thomas: Given the effect that the foot and mouth crisis is having on Welsh tourism, can my right hon. Friend say what steps the Wales Office is taking to facilitate the reopening of footpaths?
Mr Gareth Thomas: What discussions he has had with the First Secretary about employment levels in north Wales. [151049]
Mr Gareth Thomas: I thank my hon. Friend for that encouraging response. Is he aware that unemployment in my constituency is at its lowest for many years, and that since—[Interruption.]
Mr Gareth Thomas: Is my hon. Friend also aware that, since 1997, an average of 500 new jobs have been created for each constituency in north Wales? Will he venture an opinion as to why that encouraging state of affairs exists?
Mr Gareth Thomas: The hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) has for once, with the greatest respect to him, done us a service by probing the important issue of privity of contract, in which I take an interest. I want to take a few minutes to explore the subject, in the expectation that my hon. Friend the Minister will elucidate matters a little. As a lawyer, I have had experience of dealing with what we...
Mr Gareth Thomas: I add my voice to those of other hon. Members who have welcomed the Bill. I share the dismay expressed by many Labour Members at the official Opposition's extraordinary ambivalence to the Bill, which is, from any viewpoint, a genuinely progressive social measure that all reasonable people should accept. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was entirely right to begin his speech by...
Mr Gareth Thomas: The right hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) has already referred to the need to guard against the dangerous belief that the commissioner will be a panacea for all ills. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that if the commissioner's role is to be as effective as the strategic role envisaged by Waterhouse, it must be more focused? Although we can accept the enthusiasm of non-governmental...
Mr Gareth Thomas: I rise because my name was mentioned by the hon. Member for Bath. To avoid doubt, I share the view of the majority of hon. Members that energy efficiency should be central. He should not read too much into the fact that I did not sign the early-day motion that he mentioned. I would be interested to learn what the Government think and, in particular, why it is not possible to put an energy...
Mr Gareth Thomas: I well understand why my hon. Friend does not wish to over-prescribe the contents of the seller's pack. Clause 7(5)(d) refers to the physical condition of the property (including any particular characteristics or features of the property). Would regulations made under that provision cover matters such as energy efficiency or susceptibility to flooding? If so, Parliament would be being...
Mr Gareth Thomas: I propose to make a more wide-ranging speech than those made by other hon. Members. I shall comment later on social security, as I am conscious that the Secretary of State for Social Security will wind up the debate. I welcome the Queen's Speech and the legislative proposals that it contains. However, it must be viewed in the context of the Government's long-term policies that have been in...
Mr Gareth Thomas: The hon. Gentleman makes a pertinent point. We must strike a balance between civil liberties, the need to encourage youngsters to take part in social activities that create a responsible society and the use of the proposed measures, which could be draconian in their effect. I hope that the Government will take that into account, as well as the need to ensure that the legislation conforms to...
Mr Gareth Thomas: The hon. Gentleman makes a good point, with which I agree wholeheartedly. I shall be interested in the Government's response. In my constituency, there is considerable interest in the Bill to ratify the treaty establishing the international criminal court. There is increasing interest in international issues arising out of the need to create a safer international community and to spread...
Mr Gareth Thomas: I hope that the Minister, who I am glad to see in his place, will agree that although the debate is unambiguously broad in scope, few subjects are more important to our constituents. The state of the economy in Wales has considerable impact on the livelihoods, prosperity, and life chances of the people whom we represent. Indeed, the strength of the economy conditions the amount of money that...
Mr Gareth Thomas: That is a pertinent point. It is even more pertinent that Tory candidates will have to explain to constituents throughout Wales how the cuts will be reflected in public services.
Mr Gareth Thomas: In a moment; I want to develop my point. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor is right to emphasise that we must turn our backs on the years of boom and bust. He is also right to emphasise the need to make tough choices to create economic stability in stark contrast to the years of boom and bust. In Wales, unemployment has fallen to record lows: 40,000 more people are in work than at the time...
