Petitions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Bercow

Tuesday 24th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

This is a petition to the House of Commons of the residents of Barnoldswick—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

There is no need to hurry the matter unduly. May I say what a pleasure it is to see the hon. Gentleman back in the Chamber and in very good voice? As I say, these matters do not need to be unduly hurried, but we all look forward to his petition.

[Andrew Stephenson]

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

The petition states:

The Petition of residents of Barnoldswick,

Declares that the Petitioners believe that St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, West Close Road, Barnoldswick is over-subscribed and wishes to expand to meet the needs of the local area, including a growing Catholic community.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to support the St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School’s proposed extension.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P001471]

Expansion of St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Barnoldswick

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Bercow

Tuesday 24th March 2015 Commons Chamber

Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)

- Hansard -

This is a petition to the House of Commons of the residents of Barnoldswick—[Interruption.]

Mr Speaker

- Hansard - - Excerpts

There is no need to hurry the matter unduly. May I say what a pleasure it is to see the hon. Gentleman back in the Chamber and in very good voice? As I say, these matters do not need to be unduly hurried, but we all look forward to his petition.

Andrew Stephenson

- Hansard -

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

The petition states:

The Petition of residents of Barnoldswick,

Declares that the Petitioners believe that St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, West Close Road, Barnoldswick is over-subscribed and wishes to expand to meet the needs of the local area, including a growing Catholic community.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to support the St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School’s proposed extension.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P001471]

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Bercow

Tuesday 3rd March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Foreign Office questions are a box office hit, and demand always exceeds supply. Last but not least, I call Mr Andrew Stephenson.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

Pendle is home to a number of Pakistani Christian families, whose concerns I raise in the House. Given our long-standing cultural and economic ties, and the support that we provide to Pakistan via the Department for International Development, what more can my ministerial colleagues do to ensure religious freedom and tolerance there?

NHS (Five Year Forward View)

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Bercow

Monday 1st December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Marcus Jones (Nuneaton) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Wow—what a choice! I call Mr Andrew Stephenson.

[Andrew Stephenson]

Thank you, Mr Speaker; I am honoured.

I very much welcome the £2 billion of additional funding announced today. This morning, I was at Airedale hospital for the preview of its new £6.3 million A and E department, which will open to the public this Wednesday. Will the Secretary of State join me in paying tribute to all the hospital’s NHS staff and management, and its patients, who have been involved from the start of the process in making sure that the new A and E department, which is more than double the size of the old one, is now a reality?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Bercow

Thursday 20th November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Chris White. Not here.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Bercow

Wednesday 16th July 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

The last question relates to the commemoration of the first world war, so I hope that there will be respectful attention.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

9. What role her Department is taking in commemorations to mark the centenary of the first world war.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Bercow

Thursday 10th October 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

No doubt we will hear about the dog enthusiasms of Mr Andrew Stephenson.

[Andrew Stephenson]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I congratulate the Minister on his new position. Unfortunately, I do not have a dog, so I cannot enter one into the competition.

As for dog attacks, my own mother was attacked in the run-up to local elections by a dog on private property. As the Minister will be aware, around 70% of dog attacks on postal workers occur on private property. What effect does the Minister think the extension of the criminal offence of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control on private property will have on all those whose jobs depend on visiting people’s homes?

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

Mr Kevan Jones—not here.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

8. What steps the Church Commissioners are taking to publicise the introduction of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act on 1 October 2013; and what steps churches are taking to protect themselves from lead theft.

Reserve Forces

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Bercow

Wednesday 3rd July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Member for Pendle (Andrew Stephenson) has beetled forward by two Benches from his normal position; I am grateful that I am nevertheless able to see and recognise him.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

There is a lot to welcome in today’s statement, particularly the incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises. Last Friday, I organised a jobs and apprenticeship fair at Colne municipal hall. More than 1,200 people attended and I am pleased to say that there was a great deal of interest in both the regular and reserve forces. What more does the Secretary of State believe right hon. and hon. Members across the House can do to help deliver the plans and ensure that we recruit more reserve forces in our local areas?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Bercow

Thursday 28th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I should inform the House that the present Clerk of the House presented me with a signed copy of the sixth edition of his well-thumbed tome upon my election to the Chair. I hope that the House will feel that I have gained greatly from reading it cover to cover.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

7. What progress the Commission has made on reducing the subsidy on food and drink served in the House. [Official Report, 9 May 2013, Vol. 563, c. 1-2MC.]

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Bercow

Thursday 10th November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman feels an Adjournment debate coming on. We shall no doubt discover whether that is the case.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

11. What steps her Department is taking to improve the punctuality of trains.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Bercow

Tuesday 22nd March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Eric Joyce is not here. I call Andrew Stephenson.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

7. What fiscal measures he has taken to support economic growth in the manufacturing sector.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Bercow

Tuesday 15th February 2011 Commons Chamber

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Kenneth Clarke)]

May I begin by making a topical statement, Mr Speaker?

Hon. Members will know that I am determined to deliver much overdue reform to the way in which the criminal justice system operates. Every year, 1.8 million criminal hearings and trials take place. The police, judiciary and others far too often find that the bureaucratic, inefficient system works against their best efforts, rather than for them. It is immensely frustrating that, for example, the key people in the system—the police, prosecutors and probation staff—are often unable to e-mail each other the crucial information they need to bring a prosecution; it all has to be done in hard copy. The average straightforward case heard in the magistrates courts takes 19 weeks from the offence being committed to the case concluding, and only four out of every 10 trials in the magistrates courts go ahead on the planned day. We cannot afford to maintain this sort of system that wastes the time of the police, victims and witnesses.

I am therefore working on radical plans to modernise and reform the criminal justice system and reduce these bureaucratic failings with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General, the judiciary, the criminal justice agencies and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice, who will take the lead role in co-ordinating our efforts. I look forward to receiving any representations on the subject and will report back to the House in the summer.

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I would be grateful if the Secretary of State did not also lay out the plans in the course of his answer.

[Andrew Stephenson]

I thank my right hon. and learned Friend for his very full answer. Many young offenders are drawn into a cycle of crime that sees them spend many years of their life in detention. What steps does he think will help young people to get a second chance?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Bercow

Wednesday 10th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

Q5. The Deputy Prime Minister might be aware that, in response to the comprehensive spending review, the three most senior officers of Pendle borough council have announced a wage cut of 27%. In contrast, the chief constable of Lancashire police, Steve Finnigan, has started a 90-day consultation on making all Lancashire’s police community support officers redundant. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the chief constable should think again and that he should support our PCSOs—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I want to hear the Deputy Prime Minister’s reply.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Bercow

Tuesday 26th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Opposition Back Benchers must calm down. I am very worried about you, Mr Gwynne. You just calm down. You have a fit of the giggles, but you will overcome it, do not worry.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

T1. If he will make a statement on his ministerial responsibilities.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Stephenson and John Bercow

Wednesday 15th September 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We also have to move on.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

4. What progress he has made in discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive and the Chancellor of the Exchequer on changes to corporation tax in Northern Ireland.