Mr James Lamond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be in a position to state his policy towards the transfer of the management of state-owned national nature reserves to voluntary bodies or the private sector.
Mr James Lamond: As the NCC is funded by the Secretary of State, through the Treasury, is it not more likely to bend to his will, even though no voluntary organisations could possibly buy land from it? Is the Secretary of State not concerned that, last year alone, over 200 privately owned sites of special scientific interest were destroyed? Why does the Secretary of State not drop the daftest idea that he has...
Mr James Lamond: Is the Minister aware that Oldham, a Labour council, was so fed up with trying to collect its arrears that it put the task out to private contractors on a commission basis? They soon gave up, because they could make no impression, either.
Mr James Lamond: When the Prime Minister was sitting in the middle of the night reflecting on the fact that she was being sworn at by Frenchmen and that the Common Market had interfered with almost everything in this country from cabotage to the size and shape of our passports, all at a cost of more than £10 per week for every family in the land, which is likely to increase in the next few years, did she not...
Mr James Lamond: I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on the Bill in the time that remains. When one draws No. 11 in the ballot one has to choose between a spectacularly controversial Bill that will be thrown out on Second Reading, or one that is rather more modest, has an opportunity to be discussed and might perhaps even reach Committee. My...
Mr James Lamond: Twice in his replies the Minister has drawn attention, correctly, to the fact that this is a decision by the hospital medical committee—all the senior doctors—and not an emotive or political decision of any kind. It is the more serious for that reason. This decision and the one which I mentioned to the Prime Minister earlier this week concerning Oldham have arisen because of the shortage...
Mr James Lamond: Is the Leader of the House aware that allegations are circulating in the north-west of England that the recent liberal agreement reached with Turkey to allow tremendous imports of acrylic yarn into this country was a quid pro quo by the Prime Minister so that when she visits Turkey shortly she will be able triumphantly to announce that we have obtained a large civil engineering contract?...
Mr James Lamond: There are a lot of accountants there.
Mr James Lamond: Does the Minister realise that the deficit will continue to grow as long as he presides over agreements such as that reached on the import of acrylic yarn from Turkey? Was he surprised that, when he answered my question last time and lost his temper, he received a great deal of angry correspondence from the manufacturing employers in the industry, who feel that he is prepared to sit and let...
Mr James Lamond: To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 9 February.
Mr James Lamond: As the Prime Minister has probably come armed with details of the new hospital to be built in my constituency, may I ask her to add one more detail to her file? The hospital medical committee, consisting of all the senior doctors in the hospital, wrote to me yesterday to say that unless there is an increase in the allocation for the running of the hospital when it opens they will be unable to...
Mr James Lamond: Will the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind the fact that he is the Leader of the whole House, including Back Benchers? Does he realise that, if he is to keep the kind regard that many hon. Members have for him, he must be careful to prevent incidents such as the recent placing of a two-line Whip on the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Bill, which was a private measure, and of a three-line Whip...
Mr James Lamond: To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 14 January.
Mr James Lamond: Is the right hon. Lady aware that the Manchester royal infirmary is facing its greatest crisis in 200 years? It is having to issue warnings to its employees that it may not be able to pay their wages. Why does she continue to suggest that the only solution to this problem lies in increasing income tax, when she knows very well that her right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has...
Mr James Lamond: Is the Minister aware that the textile industry's contribution to the balance of trade will be severely damaged by the recent very liberal agreement reached with Turkey on the import of yarns into this country, which appears to me to undermine the MFA of which he spoke so warmly a few minutes ago? Is his Department looking at that?
Mr James Lamond: The final document from Vienna has now been postponed for at least six months. Would progress there be much quicker if we were to recognise the spirit of Helsinki and realise that that conference consists of 35 nations of Europe and North America and not groups representing Eastern Europe, Western Europe and non-aligned countries? Should we not try to work together as countries of Europe and...
Mr James Lamond: Is the Secretary of State aware that representations are coming in practically every day — certainly in my constituency — including one this morning from the elected board of governors of Fitton Hill junior school, who are saying that the speed at which he is trying to implement so many drastic changes in education is likely to cause instability in the education service?
Mr James Lamond: Is the Minister really saying that, in the face of all the Chancellor's income tax cuts and all the boasting about how borrowing has been reduced almost to nothing, the only way that he can finance these welcome changes to primary care and preventive medicine is by attacking the services that are the backbone of preventive medicine? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, despite all the...
Mr James Lamond: Is the Minister aware that textile firms, such as Lees-Newsome Ltd. in my constituency, have been badly affected by the increase in electricity charges? The company has written to me, and perhaps to the Minister, claiming that its export potential will be diminished by that increase. Was there any consultation with the Department before these increased charges were allowed?
Mr James Lamond: Is the Minister aware that increased productivity and increased investment frequently lead to fewer jobs in industries such as the textile industry? If more jobs are to be created, which I assume we all desire, there has to be a buoyant market for the products, so that their improved competitiveness can result in increased sales. If the United States puts on an embargo on our goods, is it not...
