Contributions
1,309 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Digital Landlines: Rural CommunitiesI beg to move, That this House has considered the impact of the switch to digital landlines on rural communities. It is good to see you in the chair, Mr Betts. You are correct…02 Apr 2025HANSARD Digital Landlines: Rural CommunitiesI am aware, and I do agree.02 Apr 2025HANSARD Digital Landlines: Rural CommunitiesI have heard that suggestion; it is interesting and something to be explored, but I do not think it is a substitute, particularly for elderly and infirm people who need that…02 Apr 2025HANSARD Digital Landlines: Rural CommunitiesI hear him. The hon. Gentleman is right—I cannot claim coastal for my area, by the way, but I can claim rural. Telephony is a fundamental service, most acutely for contacting…02 Apr 2025HANSARD Digital Landlines: Rural CommunitiesI do. It is a major infrastructure change and there are particular considerations around the elderly and the vulnerable. I have heard from many constituents who have shared their…02 Apr 2025HANSARD Digital Landlines: Rural CommunitiesThis may be the last thing in the debate, but it is important to say that in many of our constituencies, there are places where people cannot make a voice call on a mobile…02 Apr 2025HANSARD Foreign Influence Registration SchemeIt was good to hear the Minister confirm that the scheme will be kept under review. Two definitional matters will certainly need to be kept under review: first, what counts as…01 Apr 2025HANSARD Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [Lords]He is not, no; he is saying something different. Of course there is value in all sorts of training. In my working career, I did various stints of training but they were not called…31 Mar 2025HANSARD Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [Lords]My right hon. Friend makes a very important point, which stands on its own merits.31 Mar 2025HANSARD Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [Lords]I could not resist the hon. Gentleman.31 Mar 2025HANSARD Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [Lords]Would the hon. Gentleman extend that principle to the academic route? I have asked the Minister this question a number of times now. I do not think we would stand for anyone…31 Mar 2025HANSARD Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [Lords]The truth is that there is always a balance about apprenticeships. Of course, there can be abuses: in the past there were abuses of the apprenticeship system with the lower rate…31 Mar 2025HANSARD Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [Lords]I want to make a short contribution to this Report stage debate, particularly in favour of new clause 4 and amendment 6. On the train coming up to Westminster, I typed into my…31 Mar 2025HANSARD Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [Lords]Of course we should be listening to colleges such as Bournemouth and Poole college. We heard the Government announce earlier that thousands of people were going to go into…31 Mar 2025HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)Of course I do, Ms Furniss. The different parts of Government that the new body will deal with include the Migration Advisory Committee, which is a well-established part of the…20 Mar 2025HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)I am very grateful for your guidance, Ms Furniss, and of course I will ensure I do. In my defence —obviously I am not arguing with your judgment— I am trying to illustrate the…20 Mar 2025HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)That is not really the way we do it in Parliament. You respond for the Government.20 Mar 2025HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)It is good to see you in the Chair, Ms Furniss, for these proceedings today. I rise to speak against Government amendment 1 and, by extension, in defence of clause 12 as it came…20 Mar 2025HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)Go on then.20 Mar 2025HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)I rise to speak in favour of the new clause in the name of my hon. Friend the shadow Minister. He is right; of course, we have just voted on something quite similar, and that vote…20 Mar 2025