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May I agree with my right hon. Friend that it is a tribute to the people of these islands that such a high volume of Fairtrade products are now going through our major retailers, including the supermarkets? Will he take this opportunity to pay tribute to the pioneers, who are still needed in the independent third-sector outlets, who keep the flame burning and who keep pushing forward the case for Fairtrade in this country?
May I agree with my right hon. Friend that it is a tribute to the people of these islands that such a high volume of Fairtrade products are now going through our major retailers, including the supermarkets? Will he take this opportunity to pay tribute to the pioneers, who are still needed in the independent third-sector outlets, who keep the flame burning and who keep pushing forward the case for Fairtrade in this country?
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
3 March 2010
Of course, I am happy to do so. I am something of a long marcher when it comes to Fairtrade produce—I remember when Campaign Coffee tasted nothing like coffee. In that sense, the success of the pioneers is now being seen in major multiples across the country. Were it not for the powerful voice of campaigners, advocates and consumers, we would not have seen the shift in recent years by the major supermarkets, so I am happy to pay tribute to those people.
Subjects
Fairtrade initiative
Date
3 March 2010
Reference
506 c931
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Does my hon. Friend agree that there are three components of fuel poverty: dwelling energy efficiency, fuel prices, and household income? Should not Opposition Members recognise that, although things are harder because of fuel prices, a lot more people would be living in fuel poverty if it were not for the increases in child benefit, the working tax credit and the winter fuel allowance?
Does my hon. Friend agree that there are three components of fuel poverty: dwelling energy efficiency, fuel prices, and household income? Should not Opposition Members recognise that, although things are harder because of fuel prices, a lot more people would be living in fuel poverty if it were not for the increases in child benefit, the working tax credit and the winter fuel allowance?
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Energy and Climate Change
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
25 February 2010
My right hon. Friend is right about those three issues, and this Government have been determined, even during the worst global recession of my lifetime, to maintain spending on measures such as the winter fuel payment and child tax credits. Such payments have helped vulnerable consumers to pay their bills.
Subjects
Fuel poverty
Date
25 February 2010
Reference
506 c429
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I accept that the report is just out, but does my right hon. Friend agree that forestry has the potential to make a highly significant contribution to our emissions reduction targets? Indeed, with an increase of 4 per cent. in woodland cover over the next 40 years, we could, by the 2050s, achieve a reduction equivalent to 10 per cent. of greenhouse gas emissions.
I accept that the report is just out, but does my right hon. Friend agree that forestry has the potential to make a highly significant contribution to our emissions reduction targets? Indeed, with an increase of 4 per cent. in woodland cover over the next 40 years, we could, by the 2050s, achieve a reduction equivalent to 10 per cent. of greenhouse gas emissions.
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
10 December 2009
I do indeed agree with my right hon. Friend. Trees are wonderful carbon-eating machines.
Subjects
Climate change; Forests
Date
10 December 2009
Reference
502 c485
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The House will, of course, welcome my right hon. Friend's assurance that his Department is working with the military. It is right to focus on the military intervention, not least because of the announcements by the President of the United States and the British Prime Minister this week. I think my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State would accept that it is our military personnel who are at the sharp end. These are the people who ultimately have to help us win the argument on the farms and in the villages and towns hundreds of miles from Kabul. Will he assure us that he and his entire Department will be working to achieve this, because at the end of the day we have to win hearts and minds if we are going to make the progress that we all want.
The House will, of course, welcome my right hon. Friend's assurance that his Department is working with the military. It is right to focus on the military intervention, not least because of the announcements by the President of the United States and the British Prime Minister this week. I think my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State would accept that it is our military personnel who are at the sharp end. These are the people who ultimately have to help us win the argument on the farms and in the villages and towns hundreds of miles from Kabul. Will he assure us that he and his entire Department will be working to achieve this, because at the end of the day we have to win hearts and minds if we are going to make the progress that we all want.
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
2 December 2009
Again, I hope I can give my right hon. Friend the assurance he seeks. It is right to recognise that we need a greater military effort from the international coalition in support of the Afghan Government, which is why we welcome the statement made overnight at West Point by President Obama, but we all recognise—not least our own military commanders—that ultimately there is no military-only solution to the challenges faced in Afghanistan, which is why it is necessary to complement the military surge with a political surge. That is the thinking underlying the Prime Minister's announcement at the weekend that there will be an international conference hosted here in London on 28 January, which I believe will provide a further opportunity to set out our genuinely comprehensive approach, incorporating not simply the military aspects of the campaign but its civilian aspects.
Subjects
Development aid; Afghanistan
Date
2 December 2009
Reference
501 c1093
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Is it not clear that public investment is vital to the Scottish economy, especially at a time of recession? Is not one of the strengths of the Calman commission report the fact that its recommendations will give the Scottish Government of the day greater scope and flexibility over public spending?
Is it not clear that public investment is vital to the Scottish economy, especially at a time of recession? Is not one of the strengths of the Calman commission report the fact that its recommendations will give the Scottish Government of the day greater scope and flexibility over public spending?
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Scotland Office
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
17 June 2009
The Calman commission report has been welcomed across Scotland, except by a small number on the Opposition Benches. The Calman commission is about a different type of devolution. It is about making decisions that affect the people of Scotland in Scotland, and it delivers a stronger Scotland inside a stronger United Kingdom. It also ensures that there is greater responsibility in the Scottish Parliament for the decisions that it makes on spending.
Subjects
Public expenditure; Scotland
Date
17 June 2009
Reference
494 c288
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of (a) liquid milk, (b) butter and (c) cheese was (i) produced in and (ii) consumed in the UK in each of the last 10 years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of (a) liquid milk, (b) butter and (c) cheese was (i) produced in and (ii) consumed in the UK in each of the last 10 years.
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answered by
Jim Fitzpatrick
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
20 May 2009
For answer on
9 June 2009
Answered on
12 June 2009
[holding answer 9 June 2009]: The volume of drinking milk, butter and cheese produced in the UK and the volume available for consumption in the UK is shown in the following table.
| Liquid drinking milk | Butter | Cheese | ||||
| Production (million litres) | Available for consumption (million litres) | Production (thousand tonnes) | Available for consumption (thousand tonnes) | Production (thousand tonnes) | Available for consumption (thousand tonnes) | |
| 1998 | 6,768 | 6,800 | 137 | 177 | 367 | 569 |
| 1999 | 6,889 | 6,820 | 141 | 192 | 370 | 586 |
| 2000 | 6,793 | 6,759 | 132 | 201 | 341 | 538 |
| 2001 | 6,748 | 6,775 | 126 | 200 | 395 | 601 |
| 2002 | 6,825 | 6,806 | 136 | 209 | 371 | 574 |
| 2003 | 6,753 | 6,597 | 131 | 207 | 351 | 577 |
| 2004 | 6,693 | 6,497 | 122 | 208 | 359 | 600 |
| 2005 | 6,652 | 6,213 | 130 | 219 | 391 | 648 |
| 2006 | 6,736 | 6,309 | 117 | 226 | 400 | 674 |
| 2007 | 6,724 | 6,388 | 120 | 195 | 378 | 684 |
| 2008 | 6,722 | 6,468 | 113 | 171 | 378 | 697 |
| Source: | ||||||
| Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2008, DEFRA. |
Subjects
Dairy products
Date
12 June 2009
Reference
493 c1056-8W; 277296
House
House of Commons
My right hon. Friend has always recognised the importance of Ministry of Defence expenditure to the economy in Scotland, and he is well aware of the centre of engineering excellence at SELEX in Edinburgh, which leads on the radar contract for the Typhoon. Given that it has now been reported in the industry that we have negotiated a good new deal on tranche 3, split into two and with the Saudi Arabia export planes counted, will he resume his discussions with colleagues in the Cabinet, such as the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Defence, with a view to ensuring that Britain stays fully behind this world-beating new plane?
My right hon. Friend has always recognised the importance of Ministry of Defence expenditure to the economy in Scotland, and he is well aware of the centre of engineering excellence at SELEX in Edinburgh, which leads on the radar contract for the Typhoon. Given that it has now been reported in the industry that we have negotiated a good new deal on tranche 3, split into two and with the Saudi Arabia export planes counted, will he resume his discussions with colleagues in the Cabinet, such as the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Defence, with a view to ensuring that Britain stays fully behind this world-beating new plane?
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Scotland Office
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
6 May 2009
My right hon. Friend raises an important point, and he has raised it many times before. I will of course look into the points that he raises, but the wider point that he makes is a fair one. MOD contracts are of great importance to Scotland and its economy, especially the new aircraft carrier orders. It is a fact that Royal Navy orders have ensured years of work in Scottish shipyards, which is of great importance to current workers and those on apprenticeships. It is a very welcome investment indeed.
Subjects
Economic situation; Scotland
Date
6 May 2009
Reference
492 c157-8
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Does my right hon. Friend agree that banks are the main source of credit to business? That is why he is right to remind hon. Members of the important intervention that the Government made to stabilise the banking system. Does he agree that all the banks, not least RBS and Lloyds-HBOS, now have an obligation to do all they can to support Scottish business and business generally throughout the UK?
Does my right hon. Friend agree that banks are the main source of credit to business? That is why he is right to remind hon. Members of the important intervention that the Government made to stabilise the banking system. Does he agree that all the banks, not least RBS and Lloyds-HBOS, now have an obligation to do all they can to support Scottish business and business generally throughout the UK?
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Scotland Office
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
18 March 2009
I agree with my right hon. Friend, and RBS and the Lloyds group have committed to lending more billions of pounds through the enterprise finance guarantee scheme. Legally binding—that is important—agreements have been made under the asset protection scheme for RBS to lend an additional £25 billion and for Lloyds to lend an additional £14 billion. As he said, it is important for the money to start to flow to Scottish businesses and Scottish mortgage holders so that we can have some return to stability. I think that he appreciates that it was important from October onwards to save the banks from collapse. Our action has helped to ensure that.
Subjects
Business; Government assistance; Scotland
Date
18 March 2009
Reference
489 c890
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I agree with my right hon. Friend. On the defence industrial strategy, will he take every opportunity to remind his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence of the huge Scottish and British asset right at the sharp end—the forefront—of manufacturing, namely Selex, owned by Finmeccanica? Aerospace and avionics are engineering sectors in which Britain still leads. Will he take every opportunity to remind his colleagues of the importance of that facility to our defence, our industry and all military procurement, including Eurofighter?
I agree with my right hon. Friend. On the defence industrial strategy, will he take every opportunity to remind his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence of the huge Scottish and British asset right at the sharp end—the forefront—of manufacturing, namely Selex, owned by Finmeccanica? Aerospace and avionics are engineering sectors in which Britain still leads. Will he take every opportunity to remind his colleagues of the importance of that facility to our defence, our industry and all military procurement, including Eurofighter?
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Scotland Office
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
4 February 2009
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. In Scotland, about 16,000 people are directly employed in the defence and aerospace industries, including in the areas to which he alluded. It is an enormous, important part of the Scottish economy, and it is a part of the Scottish economy that can continue to grow in the current economic downturn. It can fuel Scotland's continued success in future years.
Subjects
Defence; Scotland
Date
4 February 2009
Reference
487 c831;487 c829
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Does my right hon. Friend agree that, although sterling's depreciation against the euro in particular will result in an increase in some input costs, overall it should provide an environment for a substantial increase in agricultural production? That will result in increased investment in food processing and manufacturing, creating more jobs and displacing imports, which we will need in the next few years.
Does my right hon. Friend agree that, although sterling's depreciation against the euro in particular will result in an increase in some input costs, overall it should provide an environment for a substantial increase in agricultural production? That will result in increased investment in food processing and manufacturing, creating more jobs and displacing imports, which we will need in the next few years.
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Treasury
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
18 December 2008
My right hon. Friend is right that depreciation can help our exporters, but we must ensure as well that countries right across the world also take action to support their economies so that there are markets to sell into. That is why I welcome what France, Germany and other European Governments have done to support their economies, as their actions will create the right conditions to encourage and support our exporters.
Subjects
Agriculture; Economic situation; Exchange rates
Date
18 December 2008
Reference
485 c1221-2
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Does my hon. Friend agree that although it is vital to secure in Brussels the best results in the fisheries negotiations on quotas, it is also important to secure an extension of local fisheries management schemes so that we can move away from the policy of discards that requires fishermen to throw fish out of quota back into the sea? We need to make real progress for our fishermen and real progress on conservation.
Does my hon. Friend agree that although it is vital to secure in Brussels the best results in the fisheries negotiations on quotas, it is also important to secure an extension of local fisheries management schemes so that we can move away from the policy of discards that requires fishermen to throw fish out of quota back into the sea? We need to make real progress for our fishermen and real progress on conservation.
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Scotland Office
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
10 December 2008
I thank my right hon. Friend for that question. I very much welcome the agreement that has just been reached between the EU and Norway, which will mean a significant reduction in discard in North sea fishing, while at the same time see 30 per cent. more fish from Scottish fleets delivered to Scotland. That represents the success and strength of a united approach to the discussions.
Subjects
Fisheries; Fishing catches; Scotland; Quotas
Date
10 December 2008
Reference
485 c525
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
May I thank my hon. Friend for his active involvement in the banking crisis? Does he agree that the futures of the Royal Bank of Scotland and Halifax Bank of Scotland are of huge significance to Edinburgh, the south-east of Scotland and to the Scottish economy as a whole? Will he continue to work with the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to support the banking system and above all to sustain as many financial sector jobs as possible in Scotland for the long term?
May I thank my hon. Friend for his active involvement in the banking crisis? Does he agree that the futures of the Royal Bank of Scotland and Halifax Bank of Scotland are of huge significance to Edinburgh, the south-east of Scotland and to the Scottish economy as a whole? Will he continue to work with the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to support the banking system and above all to sustain as many financial sector jobs as possible in Scotland for the long term?
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Scotland Office
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
29 October 2008
My right hon. Friend has a long history of campaigning on these issues, and he has taken a close interest in the current difficulties faced by Scottish banks and banks throughout the UK. I look forward to discussing these matters with him in further detail over the weeks ahead. Unfortunately, however, some people involved in international banking and banking institutions in the UK took reckless decisions that put at risk other people's savings and mortgages. While risk is an essential part of a market, taking irresponsible risks with other people's well-being must come to an end.
Subjects
Banks; Scotland
Date
29 October 2008
Reference
481 c880
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Now that the Government have brought forward such a bold scheme of support for the banks, does the country not have the right to expect the bankers to show a bit of courage and resume normal lending among themselves and to the wider community?
Now that the Government have brought forward such a bold scheme of support for the banks, does the country not have the right to expect the bankers to show a bit of courage and resume normal lending among themselves and to the wider community?
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Prime Minister
Prime Minister's questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
8 October 2008
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. What we are making possible to happen today is for that resumption of lending to take place. We are providing a guarantee for medium-term funding. I am thinking of the small business that is looking for funds for investment or the small firm with an overdraft that wants the help that a bank can usually give. I am thinking of the mortgage holder who wants to buy the next home or the first-time buyer. That is the cash that can be provided by a good banking system. To have it on a sound footing is an essential element of the programme, but to resume the medium-term funding is one of the least publicised elements of the programme that we have announced today. Not only will we do this in Britain—the £250 billion guarantee—but I have talked to my European colleagues over the past few days and I have hopes that this can become a wider scheme that other countries will take up. I hope that we will show that we have led the world in changing the terms and conditions on which we can help to renew the flow of money in the system.
Subjects
Banks; Finance; Loans
Date
8 October 2008
Reference
480 c270-1
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Given the importance of agriculture to the Scottish economy and the case that is being made for expanding Scottish agricultural production, is it not unacceptable that the SNP Administration are consulting on a proposal to abolish the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board? Surely our industry needs more skilled and motivated workers, and they certainly need protection at least as good as that which agricultural workers in England and Wales have.
Given the importance of agriculture to the Scottish economy and the case that is being made for expanding Scottish agricultural production, is it not unacceptable that the SNP Administration are consulting on a proposal to abolish the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board? Surely our industry needs more skilled and motivated workers, and they certainly need protection at least as good as that which agricultural workers in England and Wales have.
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Scotland Office
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 July 2008
My right hon. Friend is right about the importance of agriculture and the agricultural industry to the Scottish economy. Just as we introduced a minimum wage for all workers, agricultural workers deserve to be paid the minimum wage. Of course, the SNP has form on this, because when we voted to introduce the minimum wage, its Members did not even bother to turn up to vote.
Subjects
Agriculture; Pay; Minimum wage; Scotland
Date
9 July 2008
Reference
478 c1397
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Does my hon. Friend agree that a worrying aspect of the last closure programme was that, no doubt for business reasons, a disproportionate number of the closures were in working class areas, often in major cities and near former council schemes, some of which had a high proportion of elderly people? As the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (John Barrett) said, we do not have the Edinburgh proposals yet, but is there any prospect that that will not happen this time around? We had quite a hammering last time, not least in Edinburgh, East.
Does my hon. Friend agree that a worrying aspect of the last closure programme was that, no doubt for business reasons, a disproportionate number of the closures were in working class areas, often in major cities and near former council schemes, some of which had a high proportion of elderly people? As the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (John Barrett) said, we do not have the Edinburgh proposals yet, but is there any prospect that that will not happen this time around? We had quite a hammering last time, not least in Edinburgh, East.
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
3 July 2008
My right hon. Friend makes a fair point about the importance of the post office network to people on lower incomes, and that is why this Government have put so much public funding into supporting it. The network faces major changes in how people do business, but we are supporting it with up to £1.7 billion over the next few years. Without that public support and strong commitment from the Government, thousands more branches would be under threat. We have put that support in place precisely because we appreciate the value of the network to the constituents whom my right hon. Friend mentions.
Subjects
Closures; Expenditure; Post offices
Date
3 July 2008
Reference
478 c1008
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
We should certainly take our share of the credit for the Kyoto treaty, but does my right hon. Friend not agree that we must address the fact that greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation remain unregulated? I note what she said about a European carbon emissions trading scheme. Can she indicate what other steps the Government are taking to change this state of affairs?
We should certainly take our share of the credit for the Kyoto treaty, but does my right hon. Friend not agree that we must address the fact that greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation remain unregulated? I note what she said about a European carbon emissions trading scheme. Can she indicate what other steps the Government are taking to change this state of affairs?
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Transport
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
3 June 2008
Yes, it is right that not only do we push ahead with the European trading scheme—it will set an absolute cap on aviation emissions across Europe, counting not only emissions created within the eurozone, but all planes leaving from Europe and arriving in Europe, and will make a substantive contribution to climate change—but, importantly, that, within that, we think about how to create efficiency in aviation. That means encouraging future investment in technology and creating incentives to use airspace better, which is why we are working towards a single European sky and working with traffic control services to ensure the most efficient air traffic control in each country.
Subjects
Aviation; Environment protection; Exhaust emissions; Transport; Carbon emissions; Climate change
Date
3 June 2008
Reference
476 c628
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Whatever our overall view of the presence of British forces in Iraq, clearly their safety and well-being should be a paramount consideration of the House of Commons. Following on from my right hon. Friend's written statement to the House on Thursday, should we assume that the Government are planning on force levels of about 4,000 at least until the autumn?
Whatever our overall view of the presence of British forces in Iraq, clearly their safety and well-being should be a paramount consideration of the House of Commons. Following on from my right hon. Friend's written statement to the House on Thursday, should we assume that the Government are planning on force levels of about 4,000 at least until the autumn?
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
28 April 2008
My written statement was not intended to encourage the House to draw that inference. I have always made it clear that we keep our troop numbers under review. As I made clear when I made my oral statement, and it was reinforced in my written statement, we have decided to maintain our troop numbers in southern Iraq at about 4,000 while the Iraqi-led operations to enforce the rule of law in Basra continue. We are working with our coalition partners to define the support that the Iraqis will need over the coming months. It remains our clear intention to reduce troop numbers in Iraq as and when conditions allow, but while the situation on the ground continues to evolve rapidly, as it does, and while military commanders continue to assess that the changing environment in Iraq requires the prudent decision to take time to consider any further reductions, I will stick with that decision.
Subjects
Armed forces; Deployment; Iraq; Peacekeeping operations
Date
28 April 2008
Reference
475 c6-7
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Having the privilege of representing the constituency that, sadly, had the highest number of spoilt ballot papers last May, can I urge my hon. Friend to continue working constructively on the follow-through to the Gould report? In particular, does he agree that it is vital to decouple the Scottish Parliament elections from the Scottish local government elections? That would completely eliminate the need for a joint ballot paper. Obviously these are matters for the Scottish Administration, too, but may I also suggest that he give careful consideration to the recommendation of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities that the Scottish local government elections be held a year after the Scottish Parliament elections?
Having the privilege of representing the constituency that, sadly, had the highest number of spoilt ballot papers last May, can I urge my hon. Friend to continue working constructively on the follow-through to the Gould report? In particular, does he agree that it is vital to decouple the Scottish Parliament elections from the Scottish local government elections? That would completely eliminate the need for a joint ballot paper. Obviously these are matters for the Scottish Administration, too, but may I also suggest that he give careful consideration to the recommendation of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities that the Scottish local government elections be held a year after the Scottish Parliament elections?
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Scotland Office
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
23 April 2008
As my right hon. Friend knows, that issue is currently out to consultation by the Administration in Scotland. Their preferred option would be to decouple the elections and to have the local council elections a year later, as he suggested, which is one of the options in the consultation. It is important to send the people of Scotland a clear signal today that what occurred on 3 May last year will not happen again, that we will not see a repeat of the confusion that led to the unacceptable number of spoilt papers again, and that steps have been taken by the Government and will be taken in due course by the Scottish Administration to restore people's confidence in the integrity of the electoral system.
Subjects
Elections; Scotland
Date
23 April 2008
Reference
474 c1297
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
As a former Transport Minister, I, too, pay tribute to Gwyneth Dunwoody. She was a great parliamentarian.
I congratulate my right hon. Friend and her colleagues on the introduction this month of the English national concessionary travel scheme. In Scotland, we have had such a scheme for some years, and it has given a tremendous boost to elderly people in particular. However, some elderly people living close to the English border with Wales and Scotland do not enjoy as much free travel as we should like. Is it possible that in due course concessionary travel can be extended throughout Great Britain?
As a former Transport Minister, I, too, pay tribute to Gwyneth Dunwoody. She was a great parliamentarian.
I congratulate my right hon. Friend and her colleagues on the introduction this month of the English national concessionary travel scheme. In Scotland, we have had such a scheme for some years, and it has given a tremendous boost to elderly people in particular. However, some elderly people living close to the English border with Wales and Scotland do not enjoy as much free travel as we should like. Is it possible that in due course concessionary travel can be extended throughout Great Britain?
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Transport
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
22 April 2008
It is refreshing to hear my right hon. Friend welcome and celebrate the proposals for older people, rather than adopting the mealy-mouthed approach of the Conservative party. As he might know, we have had some discussions about the issue of cross-border travel, and many services can already cross county borders. We want to ensure that the English scheme settles down before looking further, but although that has been a priority, it does not rule out further discussions in the future.
Subjects
Bus services; Concessions; Older people; Scotland; Wales; Disability
Date
22 April 2008
Reference
474 c1177
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of export credit outstanding at the end of financial year 2004-05 for Nigeria was for military goods.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of export credit outstanding at the end of financial year 2004-05 for Nigeria was for military goods.
Asked by
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
Answered by
Malcolm Wicks
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
16 January 2008
For answer on
28 January 2008
Answered on
29 January 2008
[holding answer 28 January 2008]: Information on ECGD business supported prior to 1991 is not held on a basis which enables defence to be identified separately from other sectors. ECGD has however supported no defence business on Nigeria since that date.
Subjects
Arms trade; Nigeria
Date
29 January 2008
Reference
471 c202W; 180895
House
House of Commons