Lynda Waltho: I am slightly confused as to whether the hon. Lady is suggesting that flexible working should be available only for women. Would not many men also like to take care of their children and provide input into their lives?
Lynda Waltho: First, may I apologise for leaving during the speech of the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mrs. Laing)? That was no reflection on her speech, but I needed to attend a Committee sitting upstairs. Moreover, I apologise to hon. Members of all parties for missing what I am sure were important contributions. I am pleased to be called to speak on international women's day, especially as its theme...
Lynda Waltho: The Netherton tunnel will determine whether the Stourbridge arm of the canal stays open. I visited the canal yesterday and the two towpaths are still closed, although the tunnel has been reopened to boats. There is a real fear among boaters and other users of the paths that the whole thing will be closed down, which would cut off Stourbridge from the rest of the network. That would be sad,...
Lynda Waltho: I am concerned about a particular group of volunteers. The hon. Lady will know the Bonded Warehouse, which is part of the Stourbridge regeneration. It is staffed by volunteers who spend most of their days there and who have helped to regenerate a whole part of Stourbridge and the Stourbridge arm. I am very concerned about the effect that the cuts will have on them, their futures and the...
Lynda Waltho: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to increase employment.
Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many domestic violence offenders have completed community rehabilitation orders without having (a) started and (b) completed the Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme that was a condition of their sentence.
Lynda Waltho: Although I welcome my right hon. Friend's assurances so far about current budgets, I received over the Easter recess several lobbies from grass-roots sports clubs, so the message is not getting through—something encouraged in some cases by what one might call mischievous local election candidates. Will she consider giving a written assurance or a co-ordinating body an assurance, so that...
Lynda Waltho: I would like the hon. Gentleman to tell me whether he agrees with his colleague, the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson), who today on "The Daily Politics" show led people to believe that the Tory party would look at bringing back the dividend tax credit. What would the hon. Gentleman's party do?
Lynda Waltho: The Pensions Commission concluded that although employers should have been increasing contributions during the 1980s and 1990s, in fact they reduced them. Can the right hon. Gentleman explain that conclusion?
Lynda Waltho: I am pleased to contribute to tonight's debate, not least to put some facts and figures on the record that have been ignored so far. I am glad that my hon. Friend the Member for Caerphilly (Mr. David) mentioned some of the positive effects that the Government have had on the lives of pensioners since coming to power in 1997, but he missed out a few that deserve a mention—not least the fact...
Lynda Waltho: I do not share the hon. Lady's concerns because I believe that her analysis is incorrect. We cannot have it both ways. Either we analyse what happened in 1997 or compare it with how successful our economy is now. Pension fund assets rose by £270 billion between 1996 and 1999. Dividends, employer contributions, employees contributions and total income all rose in 1997 and all were higher in...
Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the public interest in ensuring plurality in (a) the broadcasting of sports rights and (b) the supply of digital multi-channel television.
Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to promote competition in the pay television market.
Lynda Waltho: And they are better paid.
Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on extending further education funding to support 17 to 19-year-olds.
Lynda Waltho: I understand what the right hon. Gentleman is saying about a body such as Business Link, but perhaps he or other members of the Public Bill Committee will be able to help me with something with which I am struggling. If the community in Stourbridge decided that the local Jobcentre Plus was not fulfilling its function, what safeguards would there be to prevent the local council from charging...
Lynda Waltho: Following that, what happens if the system goes wrong? That is my concern. Whose fault would it be, who would shoulder the blame, and where would we go from there?
Lynda Waltho: I accept what the hon. Lady has said about parish issues and constituency issues. On employment, however, Government targets and Government policy have meant the virtual eradication of long-term youth unemployment in Stourbridge. The targets in the Jobcentre Plus and new deal policies made that happen in my constituency. I am worried that such Government mechanisms, which are fed by...
Lynda Waltho: I am not suggesting that such action would be malicious. I am just going on my constituents' experience of Dudley council. The thought of Dudley council being in charge of anything to do with employment would fill my constituents with horror.
Lynda Waltho: I am sorry—I do not know the political make-up of the assembly that the hon. Gentleman is referring to, but surely his local council has elected representatives on it.