Cyn Llafur MP ar gyfer Sedgefield
First of all, I know that the whole House will want to join me in sending our deep condolences to the family and friends of Major Paul Harding of the 1st Battalion the Rifles, and Corporal John Rigby of the 4th Battalion the Rifles, both of whom died in Iraq; and Drummer Thomas Wright, of the 1st Battalion the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment. All three of them were outstanding...
Let me point out to the hon. Gentleman that, as he knows, the proposals for the hospitals in his constituency were reviewed by Sir George Alberti, who is someone who has spent a whole lifetime of service in the national health service. He said: "Put starkly, it is evident that high quality modern care cannot be provided for all specialties in all three acute hospitals in the area." He...
First, let me shock my hon. Friend by saying that the definition of socialism that he has just given—that it is for the many and not the few—is one that I wholeheartedly share. Secondly, let me say that it is absolutely right that we recognise that results are better not because of a downgrading of the exams, but because our pupils are performing better as a result of the investment and...
First, in respect of the flooding, as the right hon. Gentleman rightly says, it has meant that four lives have been lost. I think that we should all send our condolences and sympathy to the families of those who have lost their lives. In respect of what we now have to do, we have increased the amount of money for our coastal defence protection to something in the region of £600 million a...
We will, of course, keep that decision under review, and we will put in any further resources that are necessary. It is worth pointing out, and the right hon. Gentleman is right to do so, that not only have our armed forces—in this case the RAF—played a very important role, for which we thank them, but the emergency services as a whole have responded to the crisis in the most exemplary...
The absolute priority is to try to give effect to what is now the consensus across the international community: the only way of bringing stability and peace to the middle east is a two-state solution, which means a state of Israel that is secure and confident of its security, and a Palestinian state that is viable, not merely in terms of its territory, but in terms of its institutions and...
I should say in respect of Alan Johnston that we deeply regret the fact of his continued imprisonment, and we are working closely with the BBC and the Palestinian Authority to do everything that we can to secure his release. I am sure that the majority of Palestinian people want to see him released. It is worth simply pointing out that he was a journalist doing a job as a journalist. It is...
Let me thank the right hon. Gentleman for those very generous sentiments. For all the political disagreements between us, it is always important to be able to work with people on issues of national importance across the political divide, and I have always found him most proper, correct and courteous in his dealings with me, and I thank him for that. Although I cannot wish him well...
As has been the practice of successive Governments, and continued by the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC), nomination forms for peerages are confidential. HOLAC publishes a list of the individuals selected for appointment as non-party political peers on its website (www.lordsappointments.gov.uk).
The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.
I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 18 June 2007, Official Report, column 1428W.
Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library of the House. Information on the number of officials accompanying Ministers on overseas visits is included in the list. All Ministers' travel arrangements are in accordance with the...
I refer the hon. Member to the press notice issued by my Office on 15 December 2005. The press notice is available on the Number 10 website: http: //www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page8774.asp, and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
As far as I am aware, my Office had not received the letter at the time this question was tabled.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 19 June 2007, Official Report, column 1610W, by my hon. Friend the Minister for State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Dr. Howells).
I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General on 14 December 2006, Official Report, columns 1119-20, and to his response during the debate on 7 February 2007, Official Report, columns 875-76.
