Louise Ellman: Will my hon. Friend back the channelling of support for small and medium enterprises through the regional development agencies so that regions such as the north-west, and particularly Merseyside within the north-west, can improve their rates of small and medium business formation and success?
Louise Ellman: Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Liverpool school of tropical medicine is already working to combat disease in Honduras and Nicaragua and received this morning a report directly from its associates in Honduras describing the devastation there and warning of fears of a cholera epidemic? Will she support all possible measures to enable the school to continue its excellent work in...
Louise Ellman: Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to explain to the House why his Government left a legacy allowing only one region in the country to achieve gross domestic product per head that was at or above the average achieved by European regions? Will he also explain why he opposes the establishment of regional development agencies whose remit is to work with the private sector to invest in...
Louise Ellman: What plans she has to support the work of the Liverpool school of tropical medicine in relation to international development. [57804]
Louise Ellman: The Liverpool school of tropical medicine, which is a source of great pride to Liverpool, celebrates its centenary at the end of the week. Can the Minister assure me that he will continue to explore ways of ensuring that the school is able to use its great expertise to fight disease and poverty and to contribute to the development of societies throughout the world?
Louise Ellman: Liverpool is a city of talent, and nowhere is that talent displayed more than in the arts. It is shown in Liverpool's fine theatres: the Everyman, the Playhouse, the Unity, the Royal Court, the Empire and the Neptune. It is shown in Liverpool's museums. Only a few months ago, Liverpool's conservation centre was declared the European museum of the year. It is shown in the city's unique...
Louise Ellman: Merseyside county council took responsibility for the arts. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic society has suffered budget cuts of more than £1.2 million in real terms over the past five years alone. I thank my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my hon. Friend the Minister for Arts and the Arts Council for the support that they have given to the orchestra,...
Louise Ellman: Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that, at the end of the 1980s, when North West Water said that it did not consider further treatment of sewage on the Fylde coast necessary, and said that it would simply build a longer outfall pipe to put still-polluted sewage into the sea, Lancashire county council fought a major campaign, supported by the European Commission? As a result, treatment is...
Louise Ellman: Over the past seven years, the public, private and voluntary sectors in the north-west have developed strategies on economic development, transport, training, innovation and the environment, working through the North-West Partnership and the North-West Regional Association. Now that the Government have appointed the regional development agency with executive authority to act, supported by the...
Louise Ellman: I am pleased to see increased investment in the port of Liverpool and the hard work being done there by all parties. I welcome that expansion. This initiative is an important part of developing trade and wealth in Liverpool while developing trade opportunities for businesses throughout the north-west. The sectors already identified for the expansion of trade generate wealth and jobs and...
Louise Ellman: The right hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Heseltine) made many promises, but delivered little. It is the hard work of the people of Liverpool and Merseyside, together with the investment that has been attracted, that is starting to turn the area round. We must not forget that Merseyside still has the lowest GDP per head in the whole of the United Kingdom, which signifies that we have a long way...
Louise Ellman: The hon. Gentleman is mistaken. He draws the wrong inference from my comments.
Louise Ellman: Both the motion and the Government amendment emphasise the importance of a comprehensive economic policy to support business and to develop and implement that policy as part of Europe. Currency and the euro are extremely important issues, but so are policies that relate to investment, focusing investment and the interests of the regions. One of the Tory Government's legacies when they left...
Louise Ellman: No. I am sorry, my time is limited. It was because of the initiatives that came from the north-west region, in working with other regions of Europe, that the PERIFRA and Konver funds were set up to support defence diversification. That initiative was able to assist so many jobs in the north-west. One of the new policies that the Government have implemented is the acceptance of regional...
Louise Ellman: What assessment he has made of the role primary health care plays in improving health service provision in Liverpool. [67171]
Louise Ellman: Does the Minister agree that in areas such as Liverpool, where many people suffer chronic ill health, it is absolutely essential that all parts of the health service work together effectively and co-operate with social services? How will his Department encourage the health authority in Liverpool to ensure that primary health care is used to its maximum, working together with community...
Louise Ellman: This very important debate is about the basic issues of government, accountability and representation. Over the past two days, the Opposition have painted a picture of confusion and disarray. Numerous Opposition Members have told us that they reject the principle that the rights of heredity are superior to those of democratic accountability, yet, in addressing that issue, they have described...
Louise Ellman: The constitution of the second Chamber, its membership, role and functions will be the subject of consideration by the royal commission that is being set up. I believe that part of the revised second Chamber should comprise elected representation. It is vital that the voice of the English regions should be heard in that Chamber, and regional chambers or assemblies, which are indirectly...
Louise Ellman: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
Louise Ellman: Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, including the increase in SSA for social services of 11.3 per cent., this settlement means that Liverpool city council could freeze council tax very shortly if it wished to do so? Does he intend to advise the Liberal Democrats currently running Liverpool to congratulate the Labour Government on this settlement and the opportunity that it affords them?