John Barrett: I start by adding my congratulations to the hon. Member for City of York (Hugh Bayley), not only on securing the debate but on presenting the background to the issue and the case for action so well. We have worked together on the International Development Committee for several years, and it is clear from the evidence that we have taken in our inquiries that there are few bigger issues and...
John Barrett: Will the Prime Minister tell my constituents how far he thinks it is reasonable for them to walk to their nearest post office?
John Barrett: On 22 July, the last day of Parliament before the summer recess, my constituency office in Edinburgh received a much anticipated package. After two years of waiting, Post Office management finally gave me their post office closure plans for the city of Edinburgh. That is a process that I, and others, have expected for some time. It is 23 months since the House voted for the urban...
John Barrett: I thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. I agree with much of what he says, in that if a proposal is made to close a post office, the alternative must be, as the Post Office said, bigger, brighter and better. However, that is clearly not the case, and minor improvements are not good enough for his constituents or mine. Equally, constituents using a post office such as Comely Bank, or...
John Barrett: If she will make a statement on the London bid to host the 2012 Olympic games.
John Barrett: One problem about the London bid identified by the International Olympic Committee is the lack of enthusiasm in the nations and regions about it. What will the Secretary of State do to ensure that the far-flung nations and regions do not suffer as parts of Greece suffered this year? It was a particularly bad tourist season because people believed that Athens was overbooked, overpriced and...
John Barrett: I begin by thanking the hon. Member for Cities of London and Westminster (Mr. Field), who is my MP when I stay in London. However, he may not get my vote at the next election. Life has moved on since Beveridge and the introduction of the welfare state. It is clear from today's debate that there are many different points of view around the House, but also that there is no consensus about what...
John Barrett: It is still a huge problem. Pensioners paid a staggering £770 million too much council tax in 2001–02. I am running out of time, but as I said earlier, it will be an improvement if the Secretary of State is prepared to give a fair deal to women who do not have a full contribution record. I also wish to mention the sometimes questionable behaviour by trustees of company pension funds, such...
John Barrett: In my three and a half years as a Member of Parliament, many issues have featured regularly at my weekly surgery, but one that causes misery to many constituents, mostly young mothers and their children, is the problem of dealing with the Child Support Agency. That is why I am delighted to have the chance to raise a number of concerns today. If there are any that the Minister cannot answer...
John Barrett: I thank the Minister for what she has said about enforcement. Will she detail what action can be taken quickly with regard to the non-resident parent when it is obvious that his lifestyle—the person involved usually is a man—cannot be sustained on the relatively minimal income that has been declared? Can the CSA move quickly so that the arrears, once assessed, do not build up to amounts...
John Barrett: I, too, congratulate the right hon. Member for Edinburgh, East and Musselburgh (Dr. Strang) on securing the debate. I could not disagree with anything he said. Neither could I disagree with anything said by the Chairman of the Select Committee on International Development, whom I congratulate on distributing the new international development magazine. I am sure that its next edition will...
John Barrett: Before the Under-Secretary concludes, will he touch on the issue of expanding the capacity of potential recipient countries, and on finding out whether there are other methods—particularly, perhaps, that of co-ordination between our medical systems—to increase our capacity? Perhaps our royal colleges could work together to help with training our physicians here and abroad, or with...
John Barrett: The first report of the Pensions Commission made stark reading for the Government and hon. Members. It set out clearly and fairly the tough choices that lie ahead in respect of pensions, and the even tougher consequences of any failure to act. One of the true measures of a decent, fair and free society is how it treats its older citizens. Surely one of the most important social issues facing...
John Barrett: Before the Minister finishes, will he address the issue of disabled pensioners?
John Barrett: The hon. Gentleman is detailing, in his usual eloquent fashion, the suffering that is happening in Burma as well as in a number of other countries. Does he agree that the impotence among the international community is now having a real effect at home, with more of our constituents asking us why there has been such a lack of action to deal with this endless suffering? It has lasted not just...
John Barrett: Does the hon. Gentleman agree that what matters is not just the overall percentage of land but the area that supplies water, which is a particularly vital commodity in that region? As a result of the wall's construction, a huge part of the Palestinians' water source has been taken away from them, which has stretched their tolerance even further.
John Barrett: If he will make a statement on the role of the Scottish regiments in Iraq.
John Barrett: I thank the Secretary of State for that answer, but given that the Scottish regiments deserve the same loyalty from the Government as they are showing on the front line, is it not crass insensitivity, at a time when our soldiers are risking their lives in Iraq, for the Government to sacrifice the heritage of Scottish or any other regiments?
John Barrett: Members on both sides of the House will hope that those who have been involved in the large-scale protest in Ukraine will show restraint, but does the Foreign Secretary have contingency plans in place to communicate with UK citizens and their families so that they are protected should the situation deteriorate, as it could quickly?
John Barrett: If he will make a statement on the peace process.