Henry Bellingham: Is my right hon. Friend aware that I spent all yesterday with true Loyalists in my constituency? Is he aware that, during that time, many of them expressed their profound dismay and disgust at the way in which other so-called Loyalists were behaving?
Henry Bellingham: Does my hon. Friend agree that the best way forward for the job market in Northern Ireland is for all firms to continue working as normal? Does he agree that it would be a tragedy and a disgrace if jobs and orders were put at risk by political strikes?
Henry Bellingham: I am glad that I have been called on the Bill. I support the electrification of the east coast main line. I support the other clauses in the Bill and, if necessary, I shall vote for them tonight. I wish to discuss other issues which involve the electrification of railway lines. The first matter concerns Stansted airport. British Rail is anxious to build a new line from Stansted station...
Henry Bellingham: Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that it is imperative that the unions support the YTS? Is he aware that there are 50 youngsters engaged in YTS in Norfolk county council whose second year is being threatened by the National and Local Government Officers Association? Will my right hon. and learned Friend have a word with NALGO and give it a prod?
Henry Bellingham: asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 13 February.
Henry Bellingham: Has my right hon. Friend had a chance to see today's reports, which say that the urban aid programme has been underspent by more than £100 million during the past three years? Is it any wonder that the prudent low-spending authorities feel aggrieved by the recent rate support grant settlement, which shifts money from them to the inner cities?
Henry Bellingham: Has my right hon. Friend heard that, when a constituent of mine travelled by train from Kings Lynn to London last week, the train broke down eight times and arrived almost an hour late? Furthermore, her breakfast was on the wrong side of a locked door and the toilets in the carriage were filthy. In the light of that disgraceful incident, can my right hon. Friend hold out any prospect of an...
Henry Bellingham: In considering the future of agriculture, will my right hon. Friend look carefully at the agricultural advisory services and try to diversify them so that they help farmers to set up small businesses and other on-farm enterprises? Does my right hon. Friend agree that the funds saved from cutting back on agricultural support should not go to the Treasury, but should be used to promote this...
Henry Bellingham: What does the Assembly cost? Does my hon. Friend agree that, at this time of uncertainty, it is far better to have a forum in which views can be expressed than to have no forum at all?
Henry Bellingham: Is my hon. Friend aware that we have been setting up an enterprise agency in King's Lynn? Will he tell the House what he plans to do about seconding more civil servants to local enterprise agencies? Does he agree that a spell at the sharp end of the private sector would do their career development much good?
Henry Bellingham: Is my hon. Friend aware that, as a result of several commitments made by the Secretary of State during the past two years, I have been campaigning for improvements in the education service in my constituency and for the retention of several primary schools? How can I support the Government tonight and still face the county education officer, the divisional surveyor and the county surveyor?
Henry Bellingham: Does my right hon. Friend agree that the agreement will have the best chance of succeeding if he tells the truth, speaks in accordance with his conscience and is not hide-bound by public opinion in either the South or the North?
Henry Bellingham: Is my hon. Friend aware that I have helped to set up a local enterprise agency in north-west Norfolk which, with the backing of local business and the borough council, should be a great success? I hope that it is as successful as the agency in Medway. Does my hon. Friend agree that one way of increasing the effectiveness and job-creating potential of local enterprise agencies is to...
Henry Bellingham: It is a pleasure to take up the remarks of my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Blackpool, North (Mr. Miscampbell), not least because the debate has gained a great deal from the objective opinions that he has contributed to it. Some will be asking themselves why a Norfolk Member should be participating in the debate. I am doing so in part because I was a member of the Joint Select...
Henry Bellingham: I welcome my right hon. and learned Friend's statement and in particular that part of it dealing with local enterprise agencies and enterprise allowance schemes. Will he agree that we have the best ever climate for small businesses and the most comprehensible package to help those businesses? However, will he urge the Secretary of State for Defence to introduce a scheme of voluntary service...
Henry Bellingham: As my hon. Friend is anxious to encourage unemployed people to set up businesses on their own account, will he inform the House of the success of the enterprise allowance scheme? Why do the Opposition rubbish a good scheme and fail to recognise one when they see it?
Henry Bellingham: When my right hon. Friend came to Norfolk earlier this year he was given a hard time due to intense ill-feeling in Norfolk because the county council's target for this financial year was so many million pounds below its GRE, which was having a severe effect on essential services. Today's announcement about the abolition of penalties and targets will therefore come as an enormous relief to the...
Henry Bellingham: Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that because of the Government's enthusiasm to tackle the informal economy many reputable small firms are being unfairly victimised? Is he not aware that those people are the real wealth creators? Will he ensure that before their accounts are investigated someone very senior satisfies himself that there are reasonable grounds for suspicion?
Henry Bellingham: Is my hon. Friend aware that many small businesses and entrepreneurs in west Norfolk will welcome these proposals? Obviously judgment cannot be passed until action is taken, and I urge the Government to get on and take that action. Is it not time that the small firm was totally exempted from the requirements of the annual audit?
Henry Bellingham: Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the biggest problems facing small businesses is the attitude of Government officials? In America, officials will go into a small firm with the sole aim of trying to help the entrepreneur, but here officials are far too often unsympathetic and at times antagonistic.