Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Lazarowicz and John Bercow

Thursday 13th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I do not think the hon. Lady is the first person to wrap two questions into one, and I rather doubt that she will be the last.

[Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op)]

In 2011-12, Britain received co-funding from the European Commission on a project to research the health of bees. As the Minister is aware, there is a growing awareness of the importance of bee health in the UK and concern about the use of pesticides. Yet in 2012-13, the Government withdrew from the project and did not take the funding that was offered by the European Commission. Why was that?

Growth and Infrastructure Bill

Debate between Mark Lazarowicz and John Bercow

Tuesday 16th April 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman is interested in hearing a few seconds of reply. He is not obliged to be interested, but if he is, he will need to resume his seat.

[Mark Lazarowicz]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I shall end by saying that I hope the House will not support the Government’s proposals today.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Lazarowicz and John Bercow

Thursday 7th March 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We are much obliged to the Secretary of State.

[Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op)]

7. What recent discussions he has had with Ministers in the devolved Administrations on the adulteration of food in the UK.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Lazarowicz and John Bercow

Wednesday 30th January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We are immensely grateful to the Minister.

[Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op)]

Although every country has its particular circumstances, everyone knows that the underlying problems that have led to the situation in Mali could exist in many other countries in west Africa. Will the Government agree to make an international effort on a long-term basis to provide support and development for countries in west Africa a major focus of their G8 presidency, and particularly of the summit in Northern Ireland later this year?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Lazarowicz and John Bercow

Thursday 17th January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

May I suggest to the hon. Gentleman that his question should relate purely to the subject of London Midland trains? [Laughter.]

[Mark Lazarowicz]

If passengers are delayed on London Midland, and indeed on other lines—[Laughter]—they are entitled to compensation. However, when London Midland provides such compensation, it takes the form of paper vouchers, which, as a constituent of mine has pointed out, cannot be exchanged online. That is inconvenient, and it means that they cannot obtain the full benefit of lower fares. Will the Minister look into that when the Government review the fares system?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Lazarowicz and John Bercow

Thursday 5th July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I am immensely grateful to the right hon. Member.

[Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op)]

My right hon. Friend will be aware that the problem of inaccuracy in the register and, indeed, the lack of registration more generally is particularly serious in inner-city areas. Is it not right that the Electoral Commission should make particular efforts over the coming period to improve registration rates and accuracy in the inner-city areas of our country?

G20 Summit

Debate between Mark Lazarowicz and John Bercow

Monday 25th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op)]

On a more serious note—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. This outbreak of amity is very welcome, but I am sure that Members are united in wanting to hear Mr Mark Lazarowicz.

[Mark Lazarowicz]

On a more serious note about the euro, Greece now has a new Government, which indicates that it will accept the bail-out but wants some flexibility in how it is implemented. What will the G20 and other institutions do to meet that request? Of course Greece must accept its responsibilities, restructure its economy and all the rest of it, but at the same time is it not important that we show flexibility, so that we do not run the risk of the new Greek Government collapsing along with the deal and, as a result, bringing down not only Greece, but many others in the world community?

Amendment of the Law

Debate between Mark Lazarowicz and John Bercow

Thursday 22nd March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I am sure that that is what the hon. Gentleman meant. It would be good in future if that is what he said.

[Mark Lazarowicz]

Those points were covered earlier in the debate.

I want to highlight the problems for businesses in my constituency. I say again that a cut in VAT would certainly make a difference for businesses in my constituency that are on the brink. Such a reduction in VAT would increase business activity, increase sales, increase the taxation income of the Exchequer and decrease unemployment, with a consequent cut in spending on benefits. The boost for smaller retailers and smaller companies in the construction sector would have other beneficial effects. From my constituency office, which is in a street that is still relatively well occupied, I can see shops and businesses closing and the resulting cycle of deterioration not only in the local economy, but in the local environment. I can see that happening in my constituency. That is why I believe that the temporary reduction in VAT that we have called for would be a great boost not just for business, but for the wider economy.

There were some announcements in the Budget that will benefit my constituency. There was confirmation that Edinburgh will be one of the cities that will benefit from superfast broadband and the green investment bank was also mentioned. However, those two announcements have been made a number of times already. The announcement about superfast broadband for Edinburgh and a number of other cities was made at the end of last year. The fact that the Chancellor chose to highlight those innovations again only goes to show the lack of imagination in the Budget when it comes to growth. We could have had a Budget for jobs and growth. Instead, we had a Budget with very few specific policies. That is regrettable and it is bad for the country.

I hope that the Government will change course and reduce VAT, if not in this Budget, then at a later stage, to support smaller businesses in the construction sector, which would benefit greatly from such a change.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Lazarowicz and John Bercow

Thursday 19th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I am keen to maximise the number of contributors.

[Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op)]

I think this is the third month in a row in which the hon. Gentleman has had to answer questions relating to persecution or discrimination against Christians. Does he agree that the issue of persecution of Christians—or, indeed, of those of any faith—must now be taken much more seriously by international agencies, by this Government and by other bodies that can play a role?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Lazarowicz and John Bercow

Thursday 15th September 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. May I ask the Secretary of State to face the House, as he is addressing us?

[Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op)]

4. What assessment he has made of the potential road safety implications of increasing the maximum length of heavy goods vehicles.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Lazarowicz and John Bercow

Wednesday 16th February 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mark Lazarowicz]

We certainly welcome the fact that British aid is helping the poor and most vulnerable in Haiti. We support that, but unfortunately, it is a different story just 100 miles north of Haiti in the Turks and Caicos Islands, to which the Department for International Development has just agreed to write an unprecedented loan of £160 million, which is much greater than any previous support for a British overseas territory. Surely the priority for DFID in the Caribbean should be meeting the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable in places such as Haiti, so may I ask the Secretary of State—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The question must relate to Haiti and only to Haiti.

Points of Order

Debate between Mark Lazarowicz and John Bercow

Tuesday 29th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I thank the right hon. Lady for her point of order. I think that she is continuing a debate with some force, eloquence and insistence. She is an experienced Member and a distinguished former Minister, and the opportunity exists for her to table follow-up questions. I have a hunch that it will not be long before she avails herself of it.

[Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op)]

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

Very well. I will take the hon. Gentleman on trust.

[Mark Lazarowicz]

My right hon. Friend the Member for Stirling (Mrs McGuire) referred to the question on that subject that was tabled in my name. In fact, I have tabled a written question today asking the Chancellor to give the evidential basis for the statement that he made in the Budget last week. Could you urge him to give a speedy answer to that question, in order to reassure the House that his assertions in the Budget speech were based on fact?

[Mr Speaker]

I do not think that it would be right for the hon. Gentleman to seek to draw me into these interesting exchanges. He has tabled a question, and an answer might be forthcoming. I note his reference to the importance of evidence, and I simply note in passing that we would be establishing a new precedent in the House if we were to regard it as mandatory for a Minister to provide evidence for the arguments that he or she was making.