Robert Goodwill: Will the hon. Lady give way?
Robert Goodwill: I am pleased to follow the hon. Member for City of Chester (Christine Russell), who demonstrated her commitment to her community. She made a telling remark when she said that town hall does not always know best. In many cases individuals—a community group, a head teacher or, as she said, the fire brigade—make a difference. We are often critical of the Government for adopting the fire...
Robert Goodwill: The non-emergency number in north Yorkshire is 0800 606 0247. Is that not slightly more difficult to remember than the number that my hon. Friend suggests we should adopt?
Robert Goodwill: I am pleased to follow the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Wright). My mother's family hail from west Hartlepool and I have happy memories of visiting the town and being on the beach at Seaton Carew. As children, when we were not visiting the beach at Hartlepool, we would often visit the Yorkshire coast. From that experience, I know that antisocial behaviour is nothing new. Travelling down...
Robert Goodwill: I thank my hon. Friend for that. As he knows, I completed my 50th year during the Christmas break. It is downhill from now on: cronyism beckons. Before I end my speech, I must refer to the problem of mini-motos. They are a real bane for many communities, but we must think carefully before we regulate, because many people use motorcycles responsibly for recreation purposes. Some use them for...
Robert Goodwill: Is my hon. Friend aware that in many German hospitals once beds are vacated they are sent to a cleaning station in the basement, where they are cleaned and shrink-wrapped before being sent back to the ward? Would not such a practice address some of our hot-bedding problems in British hospitals?
Robert Goodwill: Surely the point is that while many children are taken to school by car, many more make their way home on foot, because the school day finishes before the working day. Increasing the daylight in the evening would reduce the number of children killed or injured walking home in the dark.
Robert Goodwill: Scarborough already has one brand new casino. A local family—the Shaw family—has shown tremendous confidence in the town by investing £7 million in the Opera House casino, which opened last year. Will the Secretary of State reassure me that it will be eligible to apply for the new licence?
Robert Goodwill: What assessment he has made of the implications of the recent European Court of Justice ruling for the Government's response to the parliamentary ombudsman's report "Trusting in the Pensions Promise".
Robert Goodwill: The Government have ignored both the parliamentary ombudsman and the House's Public Administration Committee. Now the European Court of Justice has ruled that the UK pension rules offer inadequate protection for workers such as those formerly employed by Scarborough coach builder Henlys. Could it be that the solution to the problem is being blocked by the Treasury until the new incumbent at...
Robert Goodwill: Does the hon. Gentleman agree that it is important for people to have better transport links to hospitals, as many people in Hartlepool are worried about the distance that they have to travel to access health care?
Robert Goodwill: When I was elected to Parliament, I was delighted to be asked to serve on the Transport Committee. I had heard much about the chairmanship of the formidable hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) and about the hard time she gave those giving evidence, even Ministers, when they refused to answer the question. I very much enjoyed the evidence sessions that we held when preparing...
Robert Goodwill: What recent assessment he has made of the case for a missile defence system for the UK.
Robert Goodwill: Many of my constituents work at RAF Fylingdales, which has played a vital role in the defence of our nation, particularly during the cold war. What role does the Secretary of State see RAF Fylingdales playing in the future defence of our country?
Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the decriminalisation of parking enforcement in Scarborough to be authorised.
Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered ways in which his Department can help combat fraud and identity theft by publicising measures that use thumbprints to verify transactions.
Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many successful prosecutions have been made under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.
Robert Goodwill: Does the Prime Minister agree that the effectiveness of the existing EU emissions trading scheme has been undermined by the over-generous allocation of carbon credits to certain member states?
Robert Goodwill: Belgium and the Netherlands have placed restrictions on marine aggregate dredging in their waters. We now export 30 per cent. of the sand and gravel that is dredged from our waters to those countries and to France. Does the Minister intend to take measures to restrict the damage caused to our marine environment as a result of measures taken by other countries to protect theirs?
Robert Goodwill: On delivery, much of the improvement that has taken place over the past 25 years is due to European legislation produced when the last Conservative Government were in power and supported by us. The delivery of clean beaches, cleaner seas and cleaner waters has largely been done on our watch.