Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 11 Jun 2014 Jobs and Work
"In the short time available to the hon. Gentleman, will he, as the chair of an all-party group that covers the textile industry, say what a great news story the renaissance in UK textiles is?..." David Ward - View Speech
"Does the hon. Lady agree that because of variations in unemployment rates and the composition of the housing stock, and because the characteristics of tenants vary between areas and the other considerations hon. Members have raised, this issue should be one of local discretion based on local conditions and phased …..." David Ward - View Speech
"This is not a difficult one for me. I believe that benefits are far too high—I think most people accept they are at an unsustainable level...." David Ward - View Speech
"Yes; as a nation, our payments on benefits are, without a doubt, far too high. However, what we face in this Bill seems to be a huge lack of confidence by the coalition in its own policies and programmes to deal with that situation.
"We all know that. We know about the multiplier effect on consumer demand. It is not a secret; it is well researched and we all understand it.
The third reason for the proposals that I have identified relates to fairness. A national debate about fairness is taking place at the …..." David Ward - View Speech
"I welcome the fact that you welcome a safety net. Do you not agree that unless you increase benefits by the rate of inflation, you are lowering that safety net?..." David Ward - View Speech
"The Minister has no doubt read today’s copy of Bradford’s The Telegraph and Argos and the letter from Mr Barry Thorne about his son. He felt compelled to write the letter following the comments from Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson. The fear is that those with clearly defined medical concerns, such as …..." David Ward - View Speech
"While we must all welcome the public acclaim given to the Olympians taking part in the Paralympics, does the Minister agree that those with learning difficulties who have their own special Olympics are seldom given the same level of acknowledgement for their skills and abilities?..." David Ward - View Speech
"Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the Government are failing to understand the sheer scale of this matter? The largest social landlord in Bradford has 3,800 under-occupied households, and it would take three years with no re-lets or new lets to house people there under the proposals...." David Ward - View Speech
"My parents, and I suspect the hon. Lady’s parents, had rationing after the war because the situation was so serious, and it was not good for many years after that...." David Ward - View Speech