Results 61–80 of 2309 for speaker:Mr Trevor Skeet

Orders of the Day — Coal Industry Bill (18 Jan 1994)

Mr Trevor Skeet: This is a great opportunity to say one or two words on the mining industry. Looking back over the years, considering the Reid report and the Samuel report, I never envisaged that it would come to the stage when the mining industry of the United Kingdom would be so attenuated. I can remember when production was about 44 cwt of coal output per man shift and now it has exceeded £10 milion...

Orders of the Day — Coal Industry Bill (18 Jan 1994)

Mr Trevor Skeet: The hon. Gentleman will realise that the first step was the taking over of coal rights in 1938. It was not until 1947 that it was decided to nationalise the whole industry and to put it into Government hands. The state has controlled the industry for a long time. Instead of growing from strength to strength, the industry has dwindled because the market has reduced. That is not the miners'...

Orders of the Day — Coal Industry Bill (18 Jan 1994)

Mr Trevor Skeet: I appreciate that the hon. Gentleman likes rationalisation and that it should be done gradually. In the Rhondda valley, much investment was brought in from abroad. In that area, or fairly near to it, Japanese investment produced wirelesses and other electronic equipment. Over time, certain industries were developed because others were retired. That is the ideal way to do things, but if the...

Orders of the Day — Coal Industry Bill (18 Jan 1994)

Mr Trevor Skeet: The hon. Gentleman talks about subsidies. The industry has had enormous subsidies to the tune of £20 billion over the years. Those subsidies came from the taxpayer. The hon. Gentleman must take that point into account and be realistic. We do not like a local industry to be shut down or diminished, but that is sometimes inevitable because of the state of the market. However, the miners are...

Orders of the Day — Coal Industry Bill (18 Jan 1994)

Mr Trevor Skeet: The hon. Gentleman mentioned the nuclear levy. I was a member of the Committee which considered the electricity legislation. I argued strongly, with the support of the Labour party, that we should keep the nuclear industry in state hands because of the implications and repercussions that were likely to arise. It had to be made a viable industry. It was decided that the best way to do that...

Orders of the Day — Coal Industry Bill (18 Jan 1994)

Mr Trevor Skeet: I am obliged to the hon. Gentleman for making that point. Of course, the coal is readily recoverable—the overburden is removed and the coal is taken out when it is needed. My primary aim is to keep miners in jobs. I am sure that a change of ownership would be much more successful because it would make the industry more prosperous. I shall refer briefly to one or two points that I have in...

Prayers: Science, Engineering and Technology (18 Jun 1993)

Mr Trevor Skeet: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has an horrendous task before him. I have seen a DTI report, published in 1993, containing a list of international rankings of companies by expenditure on research and development. One of our leading companies—perhaps the most leading —is ICI, which comes out at No. 47. The list is roughly as follows: in the first 50 companies...

Prayers: Science, Engineering and Technology (18 Jun 1993)

Mr Trevor Skeet: I assure the hon. Gentleman that it can be vouchsafed that many good industries remain in the United Kingdom. No one country in the world can have all the blessings and all the stars. I have been examining the allocation of employees in the United Kingdom. It appears that more than 70 per cent. are employed in the service industries, and between 20 and 25 per cent. in manufacturing industry....

Prayers: Science, Engineering and Technology (18 Jun 1993)

Mr Trevor Skeet: The director-general is probably one of the most important personalities. Does my right hon. Friend have any idea who is likely to be appointed to that post and when he will be in place?

Crossrail Bill (By Order) ( 8 Jun 1993)

Mr Trevor Skeet: This extremely good scheme must be fostered because a private venture is an excellent idea. Assuming that it will be run on the basis of a 50:50 arrangement, and bearing in mind that we have a public sector borrowing requirement for next year of £50 billion, will the Government give a guarantee that they will come up with the money?

Crossrail Bill (By Order) ( 8 Jun 1993)

Mr Trevor Skeet: One is naturally concerned about the route in central London. The Harpur Trust has a big estate there, and I should be glad if my hon. Friend would say what route crossrail takes when it leaves Paddington station and comes to Bond street and Tottenham Court road. Does it follow Oxford street, New Oxford street and then up to Theobalds road—in other words, keep to the main arteries, so that...

Crossrail Bill (By Order) ( 8 Jun 1993)

Mr Trevor Skeet: I am very much obliged to my hon. Friend for that information, and I want to trespass on his time for one moment. The route goes very close to Holborn station. Will there be an interchange at Holborn as well, because this would be extremely convenient for the area concerned?

Science, Engineering and Technology (26 May 1993)

Mr Trevor Skeet: I congratulate my right hon. Friend on his good statement, and, indeed, on upgrading the engineer in the eyes of the United Kingdom. Can I ask him about biotechnology, which is divided between four departments at present and is to be transferred to the AFRC? Is it wise to take it away from the chemical funding that it has received in past years under SERC?

Clause 1: Treaty on European Union (30 Mar 1993)

Mr Trevor Skeet: We are constantly construing Acts of Parliament and treaties. There is a body, to which my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Burton (Sir I. Lawrence) recently referred, that will interpret all the words. It is a question of judgment. The Court of Justice will apply to articles L to S. If it applies to those articles, it applies to article N. If a contentious matter comes up which the...

Orders of the Day — Coal Industry (29 Mar 1993)

Mr Trevor Skeet: No, the 10-minute rule has finished.

Orders of the Day — Coal Industry (29 Mar 1993)

Mr Trevor Skeet: I listened to the right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn) with considerable interest, but it is my responsibility to put the White Paper in perspective. Perhaps the right hon. Member will listen. In western Europe, the Netherlands closed its coal mines several years ago, Belgium closed its mines in 1992, Germany's production was 72 million tonnes but will shortly be down to 38 million,...

Orders of the Day — Coal Industry (29 Mar 1993)

Mr Trevor Skeet: I am not suggesting a referendum. We are here to decide a certain matter, and we can decide it. If the industry becomes uncompetitive, it must be adjusted to the right size to meet the right requirements. I hope that the Opposition will recognise that what I have suggested is common sense. Many have a vested interest —of course they have—but surely common sense must prevail in the...

Orders of the Day — European Communities (Amendment) Bill: Treaty on European Union (25 Mar 1993)

Mr Trevor Skeet: I have listened to the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (Sir R. Johnston) at length. Perhaps he will excuse me if I do not pursue him. Having been up all night, one is wilting a bit at this stage, so I shall cover the main points that I have in mind. The most significant feature of last night's debate was that we covered three important groups of amendments on the banking...

Orders of the Day — European Communities (Amendment) Bill: Treaty on European Union (25 Mar 1993)

Mr Trevor Skeet: I am obliged for that clarification. If we decided to opt into stage 3, the protocol will begin to apply. Certain clauses will not apply to the United Kingdom. It is entirely different with regard to the ERM. The Minister has said that the Government would return the United Kingdom to the ERM when it was convenient to do so. However, that is conditional upon us returning at an early date.

Orders of the Day — European Communities (Amendment) Bill: Treaty on European Union (25 Mar 1993)

Mr Trevor Skeet: That is correct. On one occasion, I heard the Chancellor say that the ERM was the best thing that he had ever entered. At a later date, he decided that he would have to come out of it. The Prime Minister shared that view. It is a big man who can think again and decide that it is best to get out. However, we are caught by the treaty and our obligations. If the other member states feel that,...


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