Local High Streets

James Gray Excerpts

Tuesday 21st December 2010 Westminster Hall

[Joseph Johnson (Orpington) (Con)]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing the debate. Does he agree that the Mayor of London’s Great Outdoors programme has been particularly successful? My constituency has been lucky enough to benefit from the programme; Orpington was beset by structural decline for many years, with Bluewater a few miles down the road on one side and a great shopping centre in Bromley on the other. In July this year, Orpington was lucky enough to benefit from a £2.2 million regeneration programme.

[Mr James Gray (in the Chair)]

Order. Will the hon. Gentleman be brief?

[Joseph Johnson]

The programme was one of 50 projects that the Great Outdoors programme has used to regenerate outdoor spaces and urban centres across the region.

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Mr James Gray (in the Chair)]

Order. Before I call the next speaker, let me make a couple of general points that might help hon. Members. First, it is helpful if those who intend to speak in Westminster Hall write to Mr Speaker. A number of you have done so, but others have not.

Secondly, I mean no disrespect to my old colleague, the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry), for whom I was a special adviser, but normally the order of dress in this Chamber is the same as in the main Chamber. It being Christmas, however, a degree of latitude is probably perfectly in order.

[Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con)]

It being Christmas, you might be more generous, Mr Gray.

[Mr James Gray (in the Chair)]

It is a very Christmassy outfit, if I may say so.

--- Later in debate ---

[John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley) (LD)]

I ask for your guidance, Mr Gray. Are we aiming for 10.30 am for the Front Benchers?

[Mr James Gray (in the Chair)]

I think 10.40 am, probably.

[John Hemming]

So there are 10 minutes each.

[Mr James Gray (in the Chair)]

I want as many hon. Members as possible to contribute.

[John Hemming]

We have four wanting to speak, so that would be about eight minutes.

[Mr James Gray (in the Chair)]

I am most grateful to the hon. Gentleman, but I think I can work that out for myself. Perhaps he would like to get on with his speech.