Mark in Parliament

08 February 2012

Oral Questions: Police

Will the Minister tell us why the Lancashire constabulary is losing 500 police officers?

08 February 2012

Parliamentary Question Written Answer

Home Department: Civil Disorder: Lancashire

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the cost of sending officers from Lancashire Constabulary to assist the Metropolitan Police with public disorder in London in August 2011; and how much financial assistance Lancashire Constabulary will receive from her Department towards these costs.

08 February 2012

Prime Ministers Questions

The people of Preston are furious that the Indian Government have selected a French company as their preferred bidder for the Indian air force jet contract. The Prime Minister repeatedly talks about rebalancing the British economy, but this is a major blow to manufacturing in this country. Other European leaders go to help their companies get major contracts. Why is this weak Prime Minister not doing that and why have we not got the contract with the Indian Government?

08 February 2012

Parliamentary Question Written Answer

Home Department: Police: Accountability

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the cost of holding elections for police commissioners in (a) Preston and (b) Lancashire in 2011; and what additional funding will be provided to (i) Preston city council and (ii) other local authorities in Lancashire in respect of such costs in 2012-13.

08 February 2012

Parlimentary Question Written Answer

Home Department: Police: Accountability

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the costs of elected police commissioners in financial year (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15; and from which budgets this funding will be drawn.

08 February 2012

Parliamentary Question Written Answer

Work and Pensions: Employment and Support Allowance: Preston

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many successful appeals there were against refusal to grant (a) employment and support allowance and (b) disability living allowance in Preston constituency in 2011.

08 February 2012

Parliamentary Question Written Answer

Work and Pensions: Universal Credit: Lancashire

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff employed by his Department in Lancashire will be made redundant as a result of the introduction of universal credit.

06 February 2012

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

Gift Aid: Schools

(1) What the value was of tax relief on gift aid donations to state schools in Lancashire in the last two tax years.

(2) What the value was of tax relief on gift aid income received by (a) Eton and (b) Winchester schools and the charities attached to them in the last two tax years.

06 February 2012

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

Local Government and Finance: Market Stalls 

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds in the amount of income local authorities in Lancashire derived from renting out market stalls in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011.

27 January 2012

Prime Ministers Questions

Why does the Prime Minister want NHS hospitals to hand over up to half their beds to private patients?

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15 December 2011 

Remploy

The factory in Preston recycles computer equipment—if any business is sustainable in the foreseeable future, it is the recycling of computer equipment. The factory is running at only half its actual capacity, which makes me think, as my right hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton South East (Mr McFadden) has said, that there is work out there, but the factory is just not receiving it. That fact of the matter is that, when I have spoken to the workers, they have said that they feel that they are being condemned to a life of unemployment. The chances of getting work are negligible, and this signals the death knell for what has been recognised as a very important company since the war.

 6 December 2011

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Preston

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had on the future of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency office in Preston; and whether the potential closure of the office or redundancies were raised.

5 December 2011

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

Prison Service: Convictions

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many employees of HM Prison Service have criminal convictions.

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

Prisons: Employment

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

Universal Credit

1st December 2011

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

Affordable Housing: Preston

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new units of social housing were built or acquired by social landlords in Preston constituency in each of the last five years.

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

Homophobia

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many homophobic incidents have been reported to the police (a) in Lancashire and (b) nationally in each year since 2005.

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

Hospital Beds: Lancashire

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were available for people with (a) mental health needs and (b) neurological conditions in Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust in (i) 2006 and (ii) the latest period for which figures are available.

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

Religiously Aggravated Offences

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of hate crime against Muslims have been reported to the police in (a) Lancashire and (b) nationally in each year since 2005.

30th November 2011

Prime Minister's Questions

May I ask the Prime Minister if he came into politics to sack three quarters of a million civil servants and public sector workers, most of whom are women and most of whom have families?

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

National Football Museum

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the cost to the public purse was of the closure of the National Football Museum in Preston.

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

Theft: Churches

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of theft or vandalism relating to churches were reported to the police in the last year for which figures are available.

29th November 2011

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

Business: Closures

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many businesses in (a) Preston constituency and (b) Lancashire have ceased trading since 1 June 2010.

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

Fuel Poverty: Preston

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in Preston constituency living in fuel poverty.

25th November 2011

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

Defence: Lancashire

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the prospect of future job losses at defence manufacturing sites in Lancashire.

24th November 2011

BAE Systems

I am well acquainted with Andrew Witty, having met him at GlaxoSmithKline’s research and development centre in China. It is now a global business that employs thousands of Chinese people, and although the company returns a lot to the UK, it also has major investments abroad in the same way BAE Systems will have when it is employing people in India

24th November 2011

Manufacturing

Coming back to the point about job losses, many manufacturing jobs were lost under the previous Government over the 13-year period, but some of them have moved, as the Minister said, to the far east and elsewhere. Many of these jobs were not particularly high-skilled, and modern technology and manufacturing has moved on. The problem was that those jobs were not replaced quickly enough by more modern, hi-tech skilled jobs. That is the challenge the Government must face for the future.

21st November 2011

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

Prisons: Employment

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many serving prisoners are working and earning a weekly wage of over (a) £100, (b) £150 and (c) £200.

7th November 2011

Illegal Immigration (Olympics)

What assessment she has made of the potential effects of the London 2012 Olympics on the level of illegal immigration?

The Government’s wait-and-see approach is dangerous. When Greece hosted the Olympics in 2004 and Germany held the World cup in 2006, the authorities adopted a forward-thinking strategy that included extra training for police to spot trafficking, and PR campaigns to raise awareness among the public. Will the Government consider adopting a more proactive strategy ahead of the games to ensure that human trafficking does not become part of the London 2012 legacy?
 

27 October 2011

BAE Systems (Lancashire)

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BAE Systems recently announced 1,423 job losses in Lancashire, including 822 at the Warton site in the constituency of the hon. Member for Fylde (Mark Menzies), 565 at the Samlesbury site in your Chorley constituency, Mr Deputy Speaker, and a further 136 elsewhere in Lancashire. Many of the highly skilled workers who will find themselves out of work live in Preston and the surrounding area of central Lancashire

27 October 2011

Topical Questions

The Secretary of State will be aware that Remploy businesses were set up across this country after the second world war to give work to disabled people returning from the war. Those businesses have gone on for decades and given great work to disabled people. Why are the Government going to axe the programme?

26th October 2011

Parliamentary Question for Written Answer

Revenue and Customs: Manpower

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to consult (a) staff and (b) union officials of the tax credit office in Preston prior to making any decision on staffing levels following the introduction of the universal credit; [76403]

(2) what recent assessment he has made of the effect on staffing levels at tax credit offices of the introduction of a universal tax credit. [76564]

14 October 2011

Business of the House

Is the Leader of the House aware of the 1,400 job losses that will occur at BAE Systems as a result of the Government’s cutting the defence budget too far and too fast? That is having a devastating effect on families across Lancashire and on the manufacturing base in this country. May we have a debate specifically on the future of manufacturing in this country?

14 October 2011

Middle East and North Africa

Would not a successful resolution on UN membership for Palestine strengthen the hand of Fatah, whereas at the moment, with the prisoner exchange, Hamas is looking as though it is more successful than Fatah?

14 September 2011

Prime Minister's Questions

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Contrary to the Prime Minister’s answer at the Dispatch Box last week, will he confirm that the winter fuel allowance this year will be £50 less for the over-60s and £100 less for the over-80s? Age UK has called that a cut. Does he agree?

19 July 2011

Foreign & Commonwealth Office - China

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What steps he is taking to maintain a close bilateral relationship with China.

As the Minister has just mentioned, £1.4 billion-worth of trade deals were signed between China and the UK. After his visit to the UK, Premier Wen went to Germany and signed deals worth £9 billion, which is six and a half times the value of the deals signed with the UK. There were 13 Chinese Ministers in Berlin signing deals with 10 German Ministers. The Economist described the UK visit as a “sideshow” compared with the German visit. What are the Government doing to make sure that the UK does not play second fiddle to the Germans when it comes to economic partnership with China?

19 July 2011

Adjournment Debate - Health Questions

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There is increasing evidence that the number of people taking part in shisha smoking is on the rise. Hookah pipes have become a regular sight on university campuses, and shisha cafés or bars are springing up across the country. I have seen evidence of this in my own constituency of Preston, and it is particularly true of young people from ethnic minority Asian communities, as shisha smoking is seen as a legitimate social activity compared with drinking alcohol. This is creating a number of issues for both the Government and local authorities. Chief among them is how best to educate smokers about the health risks associated with shisha.

First, what is shisha? To avoid confusion, let us be clear that shisha is the process of smoking tobacco through an ornate water pipe. Tobacco is mixed with fruit or syrup and then wrapped in aluminium foil before being heated by charcoal. The smoker then uses a pipe to breathe in, forcing the smoke through the water, producing bubbles, before it is inhaled. Shisha is also referred to as hookah, hubble-bubble, goza and narghile and is a common pastime in parts of Asia and Africa, where it dates back around four centuries.

There are a number of myths surrounding shisha, the most prevalent of which is the belief that it is either not a danger to your health, or much less serious than smoking cigarettes. This is simply not the case. There is of course variety in what is smoked, but in the majority of cases it is tobacco. The fact that it is flavoured or described as herbal hides the impact it can have. I stress this because reports have suggested that some people do not realise that tobacco is involved and many do not regard the activity to be the same as smoking cigarettes.

In addition, there is a belief that the process of passing the smoke through water filters out many of the harmful chemicals that are released by burning tobacco, but it does not. Shisha smokers expose themselves to nicotine, carbon monoxide, heavy metals and other cancer-causing chemicals, and they do so in much greater quantities than those smoking a cigarette. Research carried out by the World Health Organisation found that the average cigarette involves eight to 12 intakes and produces a total of between 0.5 and 0.6 litres of smoke over a five to seven-minute period. When looking at shisha, it was found that the average smoking session involves between 50 and 200 intakes, producing between 0.15 and 1 litre of smoke per intake, over a 20 to 80-minute period.

The health dangers associated with smoking tobacco are now well established. Shisha smokers expose themselves to the same risks as those who smoke cigarettes. Increased risks of heart disease, cancer and gum disease are all direct consequences of smoking tobacco. As I mentioned at the start of my speech, the increasing popularity of shisha smoking as a social activity is resulting in a number of challenges. How can we effectively regulate shisha cafes and bars to ensure that they comply with the Health Act 2006? How can we ensure that safety is maintained and risks minimised?

In short, Britain is witnessing the emergence of a shisha culture. Young people from a range of backgrounds, but especially those from ethnic minority communities are taking up shisha smoking. We need to do more to dispel the dangerous myths out their relating to shisha smoking. Today I call upon the Government to instigate a nation-wide campaign, similar to that instigated by the previous Labour Government, to talk about the dangers of this type of smoking.

 9 May 2011

Trafficking in Human Beings

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The details of this European directive are to be welcomed. They will strengthen Britain’s ability to prosecute those who carry out these horrendous crimes and ensure that adequate care is provided for victims of human trafficking. This debate is taking place close to the 224th anniversary of the first meeting of the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade. On 22 May 1787, 12 men, led by Thomas Clarkson, met in a printing shop in London and sparked a movement that led to the abolition of the slave trade within the British empire in just 20 years.

Human trafficking is a modern-day version of the slave trade. When people think of slavery, they think of 17th-century ships transporting Africans across the Atlantic. When children study slavery, they look at the role slaves played in the British empire or the impact slavery had on the American civil war. For many, the issue is resigned to the history books. However, the United Nations estimates that 12 million men, women and children are enslaved today. This is likely to be a conservative estimate, with the actual number closer to 30 million. In other words, slavery and human trafficking is very much a contemporary issue. The nature of slavery has changed dramatically, so it is important that we continue to review how we combat human trafficking.

The changing nature of slavery can be demonstrated by a study conducted on the retail cost of a slave. The study looked at slavery over the past 4,000 years and concluded that in the period up to the 20th century, the average cost of a slave was around £24,000 in today’s money. After advances in technology and the population explosion of the past 100 years, the cost of a slave today is estimated to be around £55.

Rather than being kidnapped, many of those enslaved today walk into it. They are searching for employment in order to improve their families’ lives. When a seemingly legitimate offer of moving away from home with the promise of a decent paid job is made, many take it. They give all their savings to groups or individuals who transport them thousands of miles away from home. However, they soon find that the job is not what they were promised, and when they try to leave, they are forced through violence, or the threat of violence, to stay. Given that they are often in a country illegally, with no documentation, they have no choice but to stay. Those who are most at risk from human trafficking are therefore among the world’s most vulnerable people. In addition to providing support and prosecuting those who commit criminal acts, we need to ensure that the root causes of why people become trafficked are addressed.

In conclusion, the measures in the EU directive will strengthen our ability both to prosecute criminals and to support victims. Britain has a long history of leading and shaping international responses to issues such as human trafficking, a crime that is transnational and in all our interests to eradicate. I hope that Britain will continue to do that under this Government, and that any latent Euroscepticism will not get in its way.

 3 May 2011 

Counter-terrorism

The Prime Minister spoke of the myths about bin Laden. Is he not concerned about the possibility that the swift burial of bin Laden will lead to conspiracy theories and further myths about whether he is still alive?

14 March 2011

Japan and the Middle East

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Further to the question from the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone), has the Prime Minister assessed—or is he aware of any such assessment—how soon a no-fly zone must be implemented for it not only to save civilians on the ground, but to change the course of events there?

Loans to Ireland Bill (Allocation of Time)

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Clearly the issue at hand is not whether the Government will give £3.25 billion to Ireland. However, the Minister did not necessarily make it clear in his response to the hon. Member for Harwich and North Essex (Mr Jenkin) whether money would be going just to Ireland, or to Portugal or Spain in future too. Could the hon. Gentleman give us his views on that?

13 December 2010

Topical Questions

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The Secretary of State will be aware of the 1,400 job losses announced by BAE Systems as a result of Government cuts. That is a tremendous blow to the people of Preston, particularly those working at Samlesbury and Warton. Will he undertake to support tranche 3B of the Eurofighter Typhoon project, which they have not yet approved, and the joint strike fighter aircraft for the new two aircraft carriers?

9 December 2010

Higher Education Fees

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Many of my hon. Friend's constituents live fairly close to my constituency, which houses the university of Central Lancashire. Many of our constituents probably thought that £3,000 was quite a lot when the Labour Government originally voted to introduce tuition fees. In fact, we found that £3,000 fees did not close the market. The vice-chancellor of the university of Central Lancashire tells me, however, that fees of £9,000 will close the market, as they will frighten people off going to university.

8 December 2010

Mental Health Services (Lancashire)

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I rise to speak about acute mental health service provision in Lancashire. Since August it has become clear that the Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust has a clear strategy of closing adult in-patient care units for people with serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Initially, the plan was to be realised and carried out in secret, without the knowledge or consent of the democratically elected governors of the trust. However, once the staff at the Avondale unit of the Royal Preston

7 December 2010

European Union Bill 

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The right hon. Gentleman is making it plain in his remarks that the Bill is not aimed at the current Government; it is aimed at a possible future Labour Government. He says that he would not trust a future Labour Government, but does he trust his current partners? He has described the Liberal Democrats as wanting to go all the way towards a united states of Europe, so what is his position? Does he trust them, or does he trust us?

10 November 2010

European Union Economic Governance

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The information might be available elsewhere, but the Minister will know that, as a result of the proposed new regulation Com. (2010)526, there will be an obligation for the UK to provide far more information than it has done in the past. There may not be penalties involved, and we may well run up budget deficits or levels of debt that were unacceptable to the Commission-I am sure we can do that-but the point is that this country will be obliged to provide far more information formally to the Commission than it has in the past. In my view, that constitutes a degree of transfer of power to the Commission.

9 November 2010

Topical Questions

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The Foreign Secretary will be aware of the multilateral surveillance procedures for EU budgets, which apply to all member states, whether they are in the euro or not. Is he aware of Com. (2010)526, which makes it plain that we have to provide more financial information to the European Union, whether we are in the eurozone or not?

 3 November 2010

Higher Education Funding

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Prior to the general election, the Government parties rubbished Labour's proposals to get more than 50% of young people into higher education. Now they are talking about widening access. What effect does the Minister think that the abolition of the education maintenance allowance will have on wider access, and what effect will the £6,000 to £9,000 cap have? Is it not a huge disincentive?

 28 October 2010

Topical Questions

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The Chancellor announced with a fanfare in the comprehensive spending review the modernisation and
electrification of a number of lines up and down the country. Can the Secretary of State tell us when the electrification work on the Preston to Blackpool line will commence and when it will be completed?

 27 October 2010

Postal Services Bill

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me whether any thought has been given as to whether that would be a worker co-operative or a consumer co-operative?

 19 October 2010

Strategic Defence and Security Review

In his statement, the Prime Minister made quite clear his support for Eurofighter Typhoon and the joint strike fighter. Can he tell the House how many fighters of the tranche 3B type he will be ordering, and whether he will be ordering the joint strike fighter for the new aircraft carriers?

15 September 2010

Military Aviation Industry

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I congratulate my neighbour, the hon. Member for Fylde (Mark Menzies), on securing the debate. I reiterate his point that I am sure your fellow Deputy Speakers would have loved to speak in the debate, Madam Deputy Speaker. Indeed, I am sure that you would have been keen to take part as well, given the constituency interest.

Aerospace is an industry that touches every part of the UK economy, including the south-west, but nowhere more than the north-west. We in the north-west are extremely concerned about the job losses that will almost definitely occur there in the coming months, particularly at Samlesbury and Warton. We know that 149 jobs are

15 July 2010

Finance Bill

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The Exchequer Secretary says that the rise will not be a deterrent, but it will certainly provide an incentive to people who pass the tax on to the consumer to increase charges over and above the amount in question and then blame the Government for it, as we have seen with so many other taxes.