Mr Terry Patchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received in the last six months in respect of his Department's empty housing stock. [25102]
Mr Terry Patchett: Does the Minister agree that it is simply outrageous that so many houses should remain vacant while so many people are homeless? Why cannot the Government get their act together and provide proper housing for our armed forces and use any excess housing for the homeless of this country?
Mr Terry Patchett: Is the Minister aware of the valiant effort and the financial resources that Barnsley football club have put into complying with the Taylor report? Even given the dramatic unemployment situation in our area, Barnsley football club has received a great deal of support and has made a staunch effort to comply with the Taylor report. So far, I have heard the Minister blandly comment on seating...
Mr Terry Patchett: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what recent discussions he has had with the ITV Association over proposals to move the timing of "News at Ten".
Mr Terry Patchett: Does the Minister recall the Government's stated commitment in the Broadcasting Act 1990 to the importance of national and world news? Will he now make it clear that he backs the Prime Minister in objecting to plans to move "News at Ten" to a much earlier time slot?
Mr Terry Patchett: Rubbish.
Mr Terry Patchett: I am grateful for having caught your eye, Mr. Deputy Speaker, because of the 31 collieries that the Secretary of State has doomed to closure, two—Houghton Main and Grimethorpe—are in my area. Indeed, I worked at Houghton Main for 26 years, and I know what reserves will be wasted. It appears that the Government's objective in the debate 12 months ago was to play for time cynically in...
Mr Terry Patchett: Given that the Prime Minister has informed us of his official engagements for today, can he inform the House of his plans for tomorrow?
Mr Terry Patchett: I am grateful to be called in the debate, and I have promised my colleagues that I shall be brief. I was anxious to speak in the debate as two of the 10 collieries that are to close are in my constituency: Houghton Main and Grimethorpe. I worked at Houghton Main for 26 years and I am familiar with its reserves. Those two collieries are linked, and many is the time that I have walked the two...
Mr Terry Patchett: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 10 March.
Mr Terry Patchett: Given the proposed increase in pensions, does the Prime Minister honestly feel that it is sufficient—yes or no?
Mr Terry Patchett: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 18 February.
Mr Terry Patchett: The Government have increased prescription charges 14 times, and they did so just this week by twice the rate of inflation. Will the Prime Minister intervene to stop this disgraceful taxation of the sick—yes or no?
Mr Terry Patchett: Does the Minister agree with me that there is nothing like the prospect of a general election to make a Minister address his mind to his own faults?
Mr Terry Patchett: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 19 December.
Mr Terry Patchett: What single word would the Prime Minister use to describe his Chancellor of the Exchequer?
Mr Terry Patchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet representatives of the European Commission to discuss regional policy.
Mr Terry Patchett: Will the Minister act immediately to unblock the RECHAR money for Britain's coalfield areas such as South Yorkshire? Does he realise that France and Germany are already benefiting from the scheme, but that we are denied it because of the Government's obstinacy?
Mr Terry Patchett: How does my hon. Friend interpret the figures of the water authority in the area that he represents relative to those of other water authorities?
Mr Terry Patchett: Several times this afternoon the Chancellor used the term "targeted increases". Would he use the same terminology to describe the present unemployment figures?
