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House
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To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UCAS applications had been submitted by residents in (a) Middlesbrough constituency, (b) Middlesbrough borough, (c) the Tees Valley and (d) the North East in the 2011-12 admissions cycle by 19 December 2011; and how many such applications...
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UCAS applications had been submitted by residents in (a) Middlesbrough constituency, (b) Middlesbrough borough, (c) the Tees Valley and (d) the North East in the 2011-12 admissions cycle by 19 December 2011; and how many such applications...
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Willetts
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
11 January 2012
For answer on
16 January 2012
Answered on
16 January 2012
The latest information is in the following table and has been provided by the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).UCAS have stated that year-on-year changes for all courses at this early stage in the cycle are often different from the position later in the cycle, and that it is too early in the cycle to extrapolate applicant volumes forward. The second table includes only those applicants who applied to courses with a deadline of 15 October. The main deadline for the majority of UCAS courses is 15 January.
| All applicants to UCAS as at 19 December by parliamentary constituency/region | ||
|---|---|---|
| Application cycle | ||
| Area of domicile | 2010-11¹ | 2011-12² |
| Middlesbrough constituency | 332 | 300 |
| The borough of Middlesbrough³ | 332 | 300 |
| The Tees Valley | 3,205 | 2,772 |
| The North East | 11,284 | 10,103 |
| ¹ Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2011, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2012. ² Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2012, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2013. ³ The borough of Middlesbrough has been defined as Middlesbrough constituency. |
| On time applicants to courses with a 15 October deadline¹ by parliamentary constituency/region | ||
|---|---|---|
| Application cycle | ||
| Area of domicile | 2010-11² | 2011-12³ |
| Middlesbrough constituency | 23 | 18 |
| The borough of Middlesbrough4 | 23 | 18 |
| The Tees Valley5 | 240 | 217 |
| The North East | 1,131 | 1,073 |
| ¹ These are courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, and courses at Oxbridge. ² Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2011, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2012. ³ Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2012, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2013. 4 The borough of Middlesbrough has been defined as Middlesbrough constituency. 5 Revised figures. These correct the figures provided in PQs 84160 and 84356 (254 for 2010-11 and 227 for 2011-120). The figures for the Tees Valley include the constituencies of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Stockton North, Stockton South, Darlington, and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland. |
Subjects
Higher education; North East
Date
16 January 2012
Reference
89889; 538 c567-8W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to Cleveland police authority between 1 May 2010 and 25 August 2011 was of the initial enquiries into the affairs of Cleveland Constabulary authorised by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary to be made by the North Yorkshire Constabulary;...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to Cleveland police authority between 1 May 2010 and 25 August 2011 was of the initial enquiries into the affairs of Cleveland Constabulary authorised by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary to be made by the North Yorkshire Constabulary;...
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Herbert of South Downs
(Conservative)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 November 2011
For answer on
24 November 2011
Answered on
29 November 2011
The Home Office does not hold this information.
Subjects
Cleveland Police
Date
29 November 2011
Reference
83188; 536 c796W
House
House of Commons
(3) what the cost to the Cleveland police authority has been of the investigation into the affairs of Cleveland Constabulary between May 2010 and 1 November 2011; and if she will make a statement.
(3) what the cost to the Cleveland police authority has been of the investigation into the affairs of Cleveland Constabulary between May 2010 and 1 November 2011; and if she will make a statement.
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Herbert of South Downs
(Conservative)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 November 2011
For answer on
25 November 2011
Answered on
28 November 2011
[holding answer 25 November 2011]: Cleveland police have indicated that they plan to apply for special grant support for the costs associated with the investigation involving their former chief constable and deputy chief constable. We have not yet received a formal application, but understand that they expect costs of between £2 million and £3 million. Once received, we will properly assess any formal application for funding against the special grant criteria and consider the appropriate level of Government support.
Subjects
Cleveland Police
Date
28 November 2011
Reference
83253; 536 c723W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who the Senior Investigating Officer was appointed to oversee the initial enquiries into the affairs of Cleveland constabulary authorised by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who the Senior Investigating Officer was appointed to oversee the initial enquiries into the affairs of Cleveland constabulary authorised by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary; and if she will make a statement.
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Herbert of South Downs
(Conservative)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 November 2011
For answer on
24 November 2011
Answered on
28 November 2011
Keith Bristow, as chief constable of Warwickshire police, was appointed by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) to oversee the investigation by North Yorkshire police in relation to current and past members and officers of the Cleveland Police Authority and Cleveland police; he remains in charge of that investigation. Until September this year the senior investigating officer for this investigation was a member of North Yorkshire police. The current senior investigating officer is a member of Warwickshire police.
Subjects
Cleveland Police
Date
28 November 2011
Reference
83189; 536 c724W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the expected cost to Cleveland police authority is of the ongoing investigation into the affairs of Cleveland Constabulary in each month from November 2011 to March 2012; and if she will make a statement;
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the expected cost to Cleveland police authority is of the ongoing investigation into the affairs of Cleveland Constabulary in each month from November 2011 to March 2012; and if she will make a statement;
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Herbert of South Downs
(Conservative)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 November 2011
For answer on
25 November 2011
Answered on
28 November 2011
[holding answer 25 November 2011]: Cleveland police have indicated that they plan to apply for special grant support for the costs associated with the investigation involving their former chief constable and deputy chief constable. We have not yet received a formal application, but understand that they expect costs of between £2 million and £3 million. Once received, we will properly assess any formal application for funding against the special grant criteria and consider the appropriate level of Government support.
Subjects
Cleveland Police
Date
28 November 2011
Reference
83255; 536 c723W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which officer is presently appointed as senior investigating officer into the investigation of the affairs of Cleveland Constabulary; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which officer is presently appointed as senior investigating officer into the investigation of the affairs of Cleveland Constabulary; and if she will make a statement.
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Herbert of South Downs
(Conservative)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 November 2011
For answer on
25 November 2011
Answered on
28 November 2011
[holding answer 25 November 2011]: Keith Bristow was appointed by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) to oversee the investigation by North Yorkshire police in relation to current and past members and officers of the Cleveland police authority and Cleveland police; he remains in charge of the investigation. Until September this year, the senior investigating officer for this investigation was a member of the North Yorkshire police. The current senior investigating officer for the investigation is a member of Warwickshire police.
Subjects
Cleveland Police
Date
28 November 2011
Reference
83257; 536 c723-4W
House
House of Commons
(2) what proportion of the likely costs of investigations into the affairs of Cleveland Constabulary from 1 May 2010 to 31 March 2012 are to be borne by her Department; and if she will make a statement;
(2) what proportion of the likely costs of investigations into the affairs of Cleveland Constabulary from 1 May 2010 to 31 March 2012 are to be borne by her Department; and if she will make a statement;
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Herbert of South Downs
(Conservative)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 November 2011
For answer on
25 November 2011
Answered on
28 November 2011
[holding answer 25 November 2011]: Cleveland police have indicated that they plan to apply for special grant support for the costs associated with the investigation involving their former chief constable and deputy chief constable. We have not yet received a formal application, but understand that they expect costs of between £2 million and £3 million. Once received, we will properly assess any formal application for funding against the special grant criteria and consider the appropriate level of Government support.
Subjects
Cleveland Police
Date
28 November 2011
Reference
83256; 536 c723W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers and staff from the North Yorkshire Constabulary have been involved in the investigation into the affairs of Cleveland Constabulary from the time the terms of reference for a full investigation were agreed with Cleveland police authority on...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers and staff from the North Yorkshire Constabulary have been involved in the investigation into the affairs of Cleveland Constabulary from the time the terms of reference for a full investigation were agreed with Cleveland police authority on...
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Herbert of South Downs
(Conservative)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 November 2011
For answer on
25 November 2011
Answered on
28 November 2011
[holding answer 25 November 2011]: The Home Office does not hold this information centrally.
Subjects
Cleveland Police
Date
28 November 2011
Reference
83254; 536 c723W
House
House of Commons
Given that Italy is now on what the Prime Minister has described as a ““credible fiscal path””, will he help the Group of Twenty's Finance Ministers to meet and contribute to the creation of a European financial stability pact in a way that will assist the eurozone?
Given that Italy is now on what the Prime Minister has described as a ““credible fiscal path””, will he help the Group of Twenty's Finance Ministers to meet and contribute to the creation of a European financial stability pact in a way that will assist the eurozone?
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answering body
Prime Minister
Prime Minister's questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 November 2011
The hon. Gentleman has made an important point. However, the first responsibility for building the bail-out fund must lie with the eurozone members. As we said in the House on Monday, the problem at the G20 is that the G20, the International Monetary Fund and countries such as Britain cannot be asked to do things that the eurozone members are not themselves prepared to do.
We do stand ready to boost the IMF, we do want to help countries in distress, and we do not want to see our trading partners collapse. We understand that, even though we do not support membership of the euro, if countries fall out of the euro it could be very painful for our economy. However, it is for the eurozone countries to sort out the problems. It is their currency.
Subjects
Economic and monetary union; Young people; Unemployment
Date
9 November 2011
Reference
535 c286
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Is the Chancellor aware that, with the exception of Portugal, growth among member states of the eurozone is higher than ours? If fiscal union is to take place, and there is to be a common euro bond, in which order does he think they should come?
Is the Chancellor aware that, with the exception of Portugal, growth among member states of the eurozone is higher than ours? If fiscal union is to take place, and there is to be a common euro bond, in which order does he think they should come?
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answering body
Treasury
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
6 September 2011
As I have been saying in recent weeks, we need to follow the remorseless logic of monetary union. That was one of the reasons I was against Britain joining the euro—I thought it would lead to greater fiscal integration and common budget policies. There is obviously an active debate about what that might mean, and I would suggest that the first thing that the eurozone countries need to do is to implement the package agreed on 21 July.
May I correct the hon. Gentleman? It is not the case—sadly—that Britain has the slowest growth in Europe. Actually, the problem is that German growth in the last quarter was 0.1% and French growth for Q2 was zero. That is the challenge—a eurozone where growth is faltering, and the situation in the United States. We have to deal with these international problems as well as addressing the very serious problems that we inherited.
Subjects
Economic and monetary union
Date
6 September 2011
Reference
532 c157
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Mr Whittingdale: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission, which posts in the House of Commons Service entitle the holder to accommodation (a) in the gift of the House Service and (b) paid for from the public purse; and what the address is of...
Mr Whittingdale: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission, which posts in the House of Commons Service entitle the holder to accommodation (a) in the gift of the House Service and (b) paid for from the public purse; and what the address is of...
Member
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Department
House of Commons Commission
Type
Ministerial corrections
Subjects
Housing; House of Commons
Date
12 November 2010
Reference
518 c3MC
House
House of Commons
Mr Knight: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many staff in the House of Commons Service are provided with (a) overnight and (b) residential accommodation and facilities other than a worktime office; what positions are held by such persons; what accommodation is...
Mr Knight: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many staff in the House of Commons Service are provided with (a) overnight and (b) residential accommodation and facilities other than a worktime office; what positions are held by such persons; what accommodation is...
Member
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Department
House of Commons Commission
Type
Ministerial corrections
Subjects
Housing; House of Commons
Date
12 November 2010
Reference
518 c3-4mc
House
House of Commons
Can the Prime Minister confirm that, following Total SA's announcement that it is to develop the west of Shetland gasfields of Laggan and Tormore, involving development investment of £2.5 billion, it has placed an order with Corus Tubes to manufacture the gas pipelines at Hartlepool, involving an investment of £200 million? Is that not good news for Teesside and for the country?
Can the Prime Minister confirm that, following Total SA's announcement that it is to develop the west of Shetland gasfields of Laggan and Tormore, involving development investment of £2.5 billion, it has placed an order with Corus Tubes to manufacture the gas pipelines at Hartlepool, involving an investment of £200 million? Is that not good news for Teesside and for the country?
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answering body
Prime Minister
Prime Minister's questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
24 March 2010
That is indeed good news for the country; it is worth around 2,000 jobs in the country as a whole. It is because our recent tax changes have been able to support the development of remote deep-water fields that the project announced by Total can go forward. It has a development cost of £2.5 billion, and Total has awarded a contract worth £200 million to Corus Tubes to manufacture the gas pipelines in Hartlepool. That means jobs in Hartlepool, jobs in the north-east and jobs in Scotland. It means 2,000 jobs in the UK as a whole, and that is because a Government have been prepared to support with tax reliefs the development of North sea oil and gas.
Subjects
Offshore industry; Compensation; Equitable Life Assurance Society
Date
24 March 2010
Reference
508 c244
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
In the context of the Prime Minister's response to the parliamentary institution, is he aware that tomorrow Sir Thomas Legg will publish his full review of MPs' allowances? Building on the creation of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and the Kelly recommendations—all of them the initiatives of the Prime Minister—can we put the sad and sorry saga of MPs' expenses behind us, and rebuild this institution called the House of Commons?
In the context of the Prime Minister's response to the parliamentary institution, is he aware that tomorrow Sir Thomas Legg will publish his full review of MPs' allowances? Building on the creation of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and the Kelly recommendations—all of them the initiatives of the Prime Minister—can we put the sad and sorry saga of MPs' expenses behind us, and rebuild this institution called the House of Commons?
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answering body
Prime Minister
Prime Minister's questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
3 February 2010
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We must reform the system of expenses, and we must follow through with the Kelly and, now, the Kennedy reforms under IPSA. But I have to tell the House that we must do more than that. If I have a message for the whole country it is that it is not enough simply to change the expenses system; we must change the way in which we govern ourselves in this House of Commons and in the House of Lords.
I come back to the essential questions. If the Conservatives are not prepared to face up to major change in the constitution, the public will see that the Conservative party has not changed one bit.
Subjects
Allowances; Members; Public expenditure
Date
3 February 2010
Reference
505 c297
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what recent assessment he has made of the level of competition for contracts for the provision of advocacy services in the Crown Court Criminal Defence Service;
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what recent assessment he has made of the level of competition for contracts for the provision of advocacy services in the Crown Court Criminal Defence Service;
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answered by
Bridget Prentice
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Justice
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 December 2009
For answer on
14 December 2009
Answered on
14 December 2009
With the exception of some advocates on Very High Cost (Crime) Cases, the Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not directly contract with advocates for the provision of advocacy services in the Crown court. The LSC is currently consulting on changes to the way that it procures advocacy services for high cost criminal cases. Currently there are sufficient advocates of appropriate quality to meet the needs of the Criminal Defence Service.Solicitor advocates must pass through an appropriate accreditation scheme before they are able to appear in the Crown court. The aim of this is to ensure that they achieve an equivalent level of skills to barristers. It is also the case that solicitor advocates and barristers—whether employed or self-employed—are under a professional obligation only to take on cases for which they are suitably experienced and qualified.In commissioning defence and other services, the LSC needs to be able to rely on suitable standards and accreditation to provide assurance as to the quality and value for money of the services it is buying. MOJ and the LSC have spent three years working with the professional bodies, the senior judiciary and the Crown Prosecution Service to develop a quality assurance scheme for all advocates as recognition of the significant change in those now permitted to partake in advocacy. In the longer term, the Quality Assurance of Advocates scheme (QAA) which is currently being developed may become a contractual requirement for all advocates wishing to undertake publicly funded advocacy.Advocates, whether solicitor advocates or barristers, are not involved in advising clients during investigations prior to charge. If a litigator advises his client to remain silent during interview, then that is a matter of professional judgment at that time with no bearing on any decision to instruct an in-house advocate or independent counsel if the client is subsequently charged.
Subjects
Crown Court
Date
14 December 2009
Reference
502 c791-2W; 306377
House
House of Commons
(4) if he will make an assessment of the potential effects on standards of advice given to a client of the Criminal Defence Service of the appointment to the client's case of a solicitor and an advocate from the same firm, with particular reference to (a) advice on the right...
(4) if he will make an assessment of the potential effects on standards of advice given to a client of the Criminal Defence Service of the appointment to the client's case of a solicitor and an advocate from the same firm, with particular reference to (a) advice on the right...
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answered by
Bridget Prentice
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Justice
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 December 2009
For answer on
14 December 2009
Answered on
14 December 2009
With the exception of some advocates on Very High Cost (Crime) Cases, the Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not directly contract with advocates for the provision of advocacy services in the Crown court. The LSC is currently consulting on changes to the way that it procures advocacy services for high cost criminal cases. Currently there are sufficient advocates of appropriate quality to meet the needs of the Criminal Defence Service.Solicitor advocates must pass through an appropriate accreditation scheme before they are able to appear in the Crown court. The aim of this is to ensure that they achieve an equivalent level of skills to barristers. It is also the case that solicitor advocates and barristers—whether employed or self-employed—are under a professional obligation only to take on cases for which they are suitably experienced and qualified.In commissioning defence and other services, the LSC needs to be able to rely on suitable standards and accreditation to provide assurance as to the quality and value for money of the services it is buying. MOJ and the LSC have spent three years working with the professional bodies, the senior judiciary and the Crown Prosecution Service to develop a quality assurance scheme for all advocates as recognition of the significant change in those now permitted to partake in advocacy. In the longer term, the Quality Assurance of Advocates scheme (QAA) which is currently being developed may become a contractual requirement for all advocates wishing to undertake publicly funded advocacy.Advocates, whether solicitor advocates or barristers, are not involved in advising clients during investigations prior to charge. If a litigator advises his client to remain silent during interview, then that is a matter of professional judgment at that time with no bearing on any decision to instruct an in-house advocate or independent counsel if the client is subsequently charged.
Subjects
Crown Court
Date
14 December 2009
Reference
502 c791-2W; 306380
House
House of Commons
(2) what his policy is on the provision of criminal litigation support and advocacy services in respect of a case in the Crown Court by the same firm of solicitors; and what value for money assessment has been made of that practice;
(2) what his policy is on the provision of criminal litigation support and advocacy services in respect of a case in the Crown Court by the same firm of solicitors; and what value for money assessment has been made of that practice;
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answered by
Bridget Prentice
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Justice
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 December 2009
For answer on
14 December 2009
Answered on
14 December 2009
With the exception of some advocates on Very High Cost (Crime) Cases, the Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not directly contract with advocates for the provision of advocacy services in the Crown court. The LSC is currently consulting on changes to the way that it procures advocacy services for high cost criminal cases. Currently there are sufficient advocates of appropriate quality to meet the needs of the Criminal Defence Service.Solicitor advocates must pass through an appropriate accreditation scheme before they are able to appear in the Crown court. The aim of this is to ensure that they achieve an equivalent level of skills to barristers. It is also the case that solicitor advocates and barristers—whether employed or self-employed—are under a professional obligation only to take on cases for which they are suitably experienced and qualified.In commissioning defence and other services, the LSC needs to be able to rely on suitable standards and accreditation to provide assurance as to the quality and value for money of the services it is buying. MOJ and the LSC have spent three years working with the professional bodies, the senior judiciary and the Crown Prosecution Service to develop a quality assurance scheme for all advocates as recognition of the significant change in those now permitted to partake in advocacy. In the longer term, the Quality Assurance of Advocates scheme (QAA) which is currently being developed may become a contractual requirement for all advocates wishing to undertake publicly funded advocacy.Advocates, whether solicitor advocates or barristers, are not involved in advising clients during investigations prior to charge. If a litigator advises his client to remain silent during interview, then that is a matter of professional judgment at that time with no bearing on any decision to instruct an in-house advocate or independent counsel if the client is subsequently charged.
Subjects
Crown Court
Date
14 December 2009
Reference
502 c791-2W; 306378
House
House of Commons
(3) if he will make an assessment of the potential effects on standards of representation in the Crown Court provided by the Criminal Defence Service of the appointment by the solicitors' firms providing criminal litigation support of advocates from those firms;
(3) if he will make an assessment of the potential effects on standards of representation in the Crown Court provided by the Criminal Defence Service of the appointment by the solicitors' firms providing criminal litigation support of advocates from those firms;
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answered by
Bridget Prentice
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Justice
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 December 2009
For answer on
14 December 2009
Answered on
14 December 2009
With the exception of some advocates on Very High Cost (Crime) Cases, the Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not directly contract with advocates for the provision of advocacy services in the Crown court. The LSC is currently consulting on changes to the way that it procures advocacy services for high cost criminal cases. Currently there are sufficient advocates of appropriate quality to meet the needs of the Criminal Defence Service.Solicitor advocates must pass through an appropriate accreditation scheme before they are able to appear in the Crown court. The aim of this is to ensure that they achieve an equivalent level of skills to barristers. It is also the case that solicitor advocates and barristers—whether employed or self-employed—are under a professional obligation only to take on cases for which they are suitably experienced and qualified.In commissioning defence and other services, the LSC needs to be able to rely on suitable standards and accreditation to provide assurance as to the quality and value for money of the services it is buying. MOJ and the LSC have spent three years working with the professional bodies, the senior judiciary and the Crown Prosecution Service to develop a quality assurance scheme for all advocates as recognition of the significant change in those now permitted to partake in advocacy. In the longer term, the Quality Assurance of Advocates scheme (QAA) which is currently being developed may become a contractual requirement for all advocates wishing to undertake publicly funded advocacy.Advocates, whether solicitor advocates or barristers, are not involved in advising clients during investigations prior to charge. If a litigator advises his client to remain silent during interview, then that is a matter of professional judgment at that time with no bearing on any decision to instruct an in-house advocate or independent counsel if the client is subsequently charged.
Subjects
Crown Court
Date
14 December 2009
Reference
502 c791-2W; 306379
House
House of Commons
Following the creation of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, and given the fact that Sir Thomas Legg is reviewing five years of our allowances, with the publication next week by Christopher Kelly of the overall review of MPs' allowances, can the Prime Minister tell the House what the next steps will be?
Following the creation of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, and given the fact that Sir Thomas Legg is reviewing five years of our allowances, with the publication next week by Christopher Kelly of the overall review of MPs' allowances, can the Prime Minister tell the House what the next steps will be?
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answering body
Prime Minister
Prime Minister's questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
28 October 2009
I think that all Members of Parliament want to bring the old, discredited system of expenses to an end and to bring in as quickly as possible a new system for expenses. Sir Christopher Kelly will report next Wednesday, and that report will form the basis of a statement to the House. I then expect that IPSA will be given the power to implement it in detail, but that is a matter for the House and there will be a report to the House next Wednesday.
Subjects
Allowances; Members; Climate change; International cooperation
Date
28 October 2009
Reference
498 c285
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
It is a great pleasure and honour for us to have you here as Chairman, Mr. Cook, and to have this Grand Committee sitting in Middlesbrough. May I build on the questions from my hon. Friends the Members for Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland and for Stockton, South on the future of Corus? As the Minister knows from our 30 years of working together, we used to have a whole series of industries in the region: steel, chemicals and shipbuilding. We have seen them all diminish over the years. The steel industry is our area’s last major industry. I know that he has been working very closely with One NorthEast and the Corus response group to see what they can do. My hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland indicated that 1,920 staff might be made redundant if—and I do not believe it for a moment—the steel mill closed. Is the Minister aware that other members in the local community—ancillary workers—are also dependent on the continued production of steel? He did not mention that he is having talks with the noble Lord Mandelson, who has put forward a series of proposals to assist the automobile industry.
The Minister mentioned the parent company, and I invite him to make strenuous and direct efforts to talk with that company directly, because as we have seen on Teesside, the more remote the parent company becomes from the source of the work, the less easy it is for us to retain influence in its affairs. When British Midland operated out of Teesside airport, it was a local business and we could talk to Sir Michael Bishop, its owner, but as soon as it was bought by Lufthansa, we lost it and it disappeared from the airport. We fear that a remote parent company might not take fully into account the needs of our community and the desire to maintain steel industry production here. Mr. Cook, you will be aware of the efforts that are made by Members to keep the industry open—you, too, have made great efforts in that regard—and it remains primordial for this area that the steel mill at Redcar is made safe.
It is a great pleasure and honour for us to have you here as Chairman, Mr. Cook, and to have this Grand Committee sitting in Middlesbrough. May I build on the questions from my hon. Friends the Members for Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland and for Stockton, South on the future of Corus? As the Minister knows from our 30 years of working together, we used to have a whole series of industries in the region: steel, chemicals and shipbuilding. We have seen them all diminish over the years. The steel industry is our area’s last major industry. I know that he has been working very closely with One NorthEast and the Corus response group to see what they can do. My hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland indicated that 1,920 staff might be made redundant if—and I do not believe it for a moment—the steel mill closed. Is the Minister aware that other members in the local community—ancillary workers—are also dependent on the continued production of steel? He did not mention that he is having talks with the noble Lord Mandelson, who has put forward a series of proposals to assist the automobile industry.
The Minister mentioned the parent company, and I invite him to make strenuous and direct efforts to talk with that company directly, because as we have seen on Teesside, the more remote the parent company becomes from the source of the work, the less easy it is for us to retain influence in its affairs. When British Midland operated out of Teesside airport, it was a local business and we could talk to Sir Michael Bishop, its owner, but as soon as it was bought by Lufthansa, we lost it and it disappeared from the airport. We fear that a remote parent company might not take fully into account the needs of our community and the desire to maintain steel industry production here. Mr. Cook, you will be aware of the efforts that are made by Members to keep the industry open—you, too, have made great efforts in that regard—and it remains primordial for this area that the steel mill at Redcar is made safe.
Asked by
Stuart Bell
(Labour)
Answering body
North East Regional Grand Committee
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
25 September 2009
My hon. Friend and I entered Parliament together in 1983, as indeed did you, Mr. Cook, so it is a great pleasure after all these years to take part in a formal parliamentary occasion in his constituency. I thank him also for the welcome we had from the Mayor of Middlesbrough.
The situation at Corus is the largest single issue facing the region. My hon. Friend is absolutely right that the situation relates not only to the principal employment base, but to the supply chain that sits alongside the industry, not least at Tees port, as the steel works are the principal part of its work load.
In answer to my hon. Friend’s question, I am in touch with the company at every level, through officials—there are rules of propriety about these things, as he will know—and with the Departments that have an interest in the situation, such as the Department for Work and Pensions, which is looking at the impact on the labour market of any potential redundancy round, the Treasury and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The Government’s plan is essentially to try to get the company through the economic downturn until the world market price comes closer to the price of production at the plant. That way, it will have a fighting change for survival, and all our energies are focused on that.
I am open to any ideas that we have not yet thought of, but, believe me, absolutely everything that could have been thought of, including bringing forward public procurement that would involve steel, has been explored. The company has told me that the best thing I can do for it is to try to get the construction sector moving again in western Europe, particularly in the UK, so that demand for the product will increase, followed by the price, and it will be able to earn its way through the difficulties. My hon. Friend and I have known each other long enough, so if he has an idea that he thinks has not been explored, he should tell me what it is and I will ensure that it is taken forward within Government. Nobody misunderstands the seriousness of the situation on Teesside.
When I last met formally the leaders of the 12 local strategic authorities in our region, the leader of Redcar council raised the situation in formal representations to the Government, stressing its seriousness, and asked for the support of the other leaders. One really encouraging sign—this is not a party political point—is that the leaders of every local authority in the region readily agreed and were able to speak on behalf of the region with a united voice for local government, drawing the same support for Redcar and Corus and supporting the policy of trying to get the plant through these challenging times.
Subjects
Regional planning and development; North East; One NorthEast
Date
25 September 2009
Reference
NERGC c6-7
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
House
House of Commons