Julian Sturdy: I start by paying tribute to the hon. Member for Wirral South (Alison McGovern) for her excellent contribution, and to my hon. Friends the Members Brighton, Kemptown (Simon Kirby) and for Wyre Forest (Mark Garnier) for their excellent maiden speeches. I am grateful to you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to take part in today's debate, as I stand here making my maiden...
Julian Sturdy: What steps he plans to take to establish fixed-term Parliaments.
Julian Sturdy: I am grateful for that response, but does the Minister agree that it is vital to bring forward legislation as quickly as possible, if this new Parliament is indeed serious about restoring public trust and confidence in the House?
Julian Sturdy: Will the Minister give the House an update on the health of bees in this country and on what future measures are planned to help the current situation?
Julian Sturdy: I am sure that the Secretary of State will remember visiting my constituency earlier in the year and listening to constituents' concerns about the withdrawal of spinal injections on the NHS. Given that the PCT's decision is set to become another example of the postcode lottery in the health service, will his Department consider the ongoing debate about spinal injections in York and support...
Julian Sturdy: Following last week's much welcomed Budget announcement, does the Prime Minister agree that correcting our deeply unbalanced economy will require fresh investment and enterprise in many northern cities, such as my own of York, which for so long was neglected by the Labour Government? What assurances can he give to me and my constituents that the coalition will do all it can to encourage the...
Julian Sturdy: Can the Prime Minister reassure concerned Equitable Life victims in my constituency that the Government remain committed to ensuring justice for policyholders?
Julian Sturdy: I shall try to be brief, as I have been told, and I will certainly keep my comments shorter than some of the contributions made last night. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this debate on support for the numerous measures already taken by the new Government to assist the unemployed and encourage the creation of new jobs, particularly in the private sector. Let us be clear:...
Julian Sturdy: If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.
Julian Sturdy: The Yorkshire region has long been known for its expertise in agricultural matters, and given that part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is already based in York I am keen to put forward a proposal to make York into a centre of excellence for agriculture matters, following the example of Montpellier in France. Will the Secretary of State agree to meet me to discuss...
Julian Sturdy: I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to today's debate, as political and constitutional reform remains a key objective for this new Parliament. I shall, however, try to be brief as I am conscious of the fact that time is limited. It is of the utmost importance that Members on both sides of the House consider the current state of our politics when addressing this Bill. It is...
Julian Sturdy: No, my point is that political uncertainty in the process that we have had-and that we had in 2007-can cause economic uncertainty. That is obviously bad news for our economy. Putting the election on a firm footing through fixed term Parliaments benefits our business colleagues and our economy as well as Parliament.
Julian Sturdy: I do not believe that at all. This is part of a constitutional reform that must bring back trust to our politics. That is why I am supporting it: we need to bring the public back in line with this House. This is not the full picture, but it is part of that process. That is why I will support the Bill this evening. Parliament will be strengthened by the Bill. It will produce a stable...
Julian Sturdy: Thank you for calling me, Mr Deputy Speaker. I will try to be brief. The sorry tale of the Equitable Life debacle has been raised on the Floor of the House on countless occasions over the past decade, and impressive words have been spoken, but it is real action that policyholders seek. In my view, the last Administration's failure to deal with Equitable Life was one of their most inexcusable...
Julian Sturdy: What progress he has made on bringing forward proposals for reform of energy markets to improve security of supply.
Julian Sturdy: I thank the Minister for his response. Given Yorkshire's close proximity to the North sea and the vast amount of existing energy infrastructure across the region, are the Minister or Secretary of State pursuing any plans to develop a carbon capture scheme to prolong the life of coal-fired power stations in our area?
Julian Sturdy: If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
Julian Sturdy: Can the Minister outline the powers invested in local authorities to restrict the spread of houses in multiple occupation in areas where large numbers of such houses are causing concern to local communities?
Julian Sturdy: I thank the Secretary of State for the improvement that he has made to fairer transport funding for my region, Yorkshire and Humber. May I ask him about the time scales for best and final funding bids for the schemes in the development pool? Will he look closely at the Access York park and ride bid, which will be crucial to the local economy?
Julian Sturdy: Before us today is a truly national piece of legislation. Our postal service is a cornerstone of British life. It is a frequent source of frustration for many, alongside the weather and-particularly on this side of the House-the BBC, but it is also a traditional source of reassurance. Remarkably, a postal service was first made available to the general public back in 1635 when Charles I was...