Sarah McCarthy-Fry: That is an important point. One of the problems, particularly in the case of dangerous dogs, is that people take on dogs with absolutely no appreciation of the time and commitment that will be required, and of what it takes to own a dog. If breeders and anyone who sells a dog made that clear when the dog is sold, or given in the case of rescue dogs, it would make people understand what they...
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Exactly. It is also important to note that the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is not in favour of using electric shock devices to train dogs. There are numerous examples of dogs being trained in other ways to achieve the benefits that the hon. Lady has described. All animals, ourselves included, learn through experience. If an action brings a positive outcome it will be repeated, as it...
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I certainly do. The love that people have for their dogs comes through; genuine responsible dog owners are horrified by the thought that anyone would use these devices. I return to the newsletter of the UK Leonberger Association, which stated: "At a recent event one of the participants put an electric shock collar (anti-bark collar) on a dog to stop it barking. The dog screamed in agony and...
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Obviously my right hon. Friend cannot say exactly when the website will reopen, because of the rigorous checks that will be required, but can she reassure us that the delays will not jeopardise junior doctors' training?
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of an unemployed person returning to work under (a) the new deal self-employment programme and (b) other employment programmes; (2) what estimate he has made of the number of people likely to go through the new deal self-employment programme in 2007; and how many went through...
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Residents in Paulsgrove in my constituency have had one of their bus services—the 1C—withdrawn by First Bus, but following pressure from residents a partial service has been reinstated, which finishes at 5 o'clock. Many people consider the needs of elderly residents, and the partial service means that elderly residents cannot go out at night, but I was told of the case of a young lad of...
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the relationship between local authorities and the third sector.
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Langstone harbour in my constituency has a thriving commercial wharf that imports about 500,000 tonnes of recycled aggregate. There is a sewage treatment plant at the top of the harbour and a storm water outfall at its mouth. The harbour is an important breeding ground for gulls and terns, and has a thriving marine leisure industry. Does my hon. Friend accept that we will need a strong...
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I held an event at Highbury college in my constituency last year, which was attended by the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Skills, my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Phil Hope). We brought together employers, FE providers and young people, but there seemed to be something of a mismatch between what the college was providing and what the employers wanted. Highbury college is...
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I thank my right hon. Friend for giving way. I think we agree that raising aspiration is crucial. It is crucial in my constituency, which suffered 18 years of under-investment under a Conservative Government. I notice that the hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Johnson) is not in his place on the Opposition Front Bench. He recently paid a flying visit to my constituency, and said that it was a drab...
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: What plans her Department has to improve information on patient choice in England.
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I thank my right hon. Friend for her answer, but I hope that we have made improvements and alleviated some of the teething problems that were experienced last year. A constituent came to see me over choose and book. She was referred to a dermatology department, and when she rang to make the appointment she was asked which hospital she wanted. When she asked for her local hospital, she was...
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Portsmouth, North constituency, the effects of changes to departmental policy since 1997 on Portsmouth, North constituency.
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I welcome my right hon. Friend to his new position. We are doing a great deal of work to help those people who have only recently come on to incapacity benefit. What plans does my right hon. Friend have for people who have been on incapacity benefit for a great number of years, and who are not very confident about going back to work?
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I warmly welcome my right hon. Friend to his new role. He represents a Southampton constituency, but I am sure that my Portsmouth constituents will not hold that against him as they will greatly benefit from the proposals that he has announced. He mentioned mentors and role models. Will he ensure that they operate not only at secondary school level but also in primary schools? Research...
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on the work of the Respect Taskforce on reducing antisocial behaviour.
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: We in the House agree that these schemes are excellent and provide a good way forward for community cohesion. How should we expand them? What work is being done with employers to persuade them that the skills that volunteers learn as special constables are transferable to their place of work, and to encourage more of them to take up those schemes?
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Will the Minister give way?
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I am sorry; I did not mean to offend my hon. Friend. I just wanted to raise a point that she raised in her speech about the timing of the carrier vessel future decision, which the Minister did not respond to. I wondered if he would respond to it.
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I welcome my hon. Friend to her new position and acknowledge her remarks about irresponsible advertising. More particularly, is she concerned about celebrities who endorse products that are totally unsuitable for the people at whom the advertising is directed, and does she have any plans to tackle the problem?