Current events in Ukraine and the continuing need for our country to persuade our allies in Europe to spend more on defence make me believe the Government should revisit the target they have set of a regular Army of 82,500. Has the Defence Committee looked at the feasibility of a...

Current events in Ukraine and the continuing need for our country to persuade our allies in Europe to spend more on defence make me believe the Government should revisit the target they have set of a regular Army of 82,500. Has the Defence Committee looked at the feasibility of a...

Like my hon. Friend, I represent a constituency that is at great risk of flooding. I know the human suffering when people lose personal possessions—photos of weddings and of deceased relatives—homes and businesses. Will he say a little bit about how people in his constituency are coping with those pressures?

Like my hon. Friend, I represent a constituency that is at great risk of flooding. I know the human suffering when people lose personal possessions—photos of weddings and of deceased relatives—homes and businesses. Will he say a little bit about how people in his constituency are coping with those pressures?

It is right to begin with the human cost of flooding. My constituency is no stranger to flooding, and the devastation to home owners and businesses is incredible, which is why we need a clear policy, supported and understood by Members on both sides of the House, whichever party is...

It is right to begin with the human cost of flooding. My constituency is no stranger to flooding, and the devastation to home owners and businesses is incredible, which is why we need a clear policy, supported and understood by Members on both sides of the House, whichever party is...

Well, he gave figures that are being contested by the independent UK Statistics Authority. I wish him a speedy recover—

Well, he gave figures that are being contested by the independent UK Statistics Authority. I wish him a speedy recover—

I just have found a different way of phrasing it.

I wish the Secretary of State a speedy recovery, but when he returns he should make a statement to the House to apologise for inadvertently misleading us and to confirm that figures issued on flood protection will in future be provided...

I just have found a different way of phrasing it.

I wish the Secretary of State a speedy recovery, but when he returns he should make a statement to the House to apologise for inadvertently misleading us and to confirm that figures issued on flood protection will in future be provided...

If it is right for the Government to cut the budget to below what it was when they came to office, why is it right for them to propose in two years’ time to increase the budget to more than it was when they came into office?

If it is right for the Government to cut the budget to below what it was when they came to office, why is it right for them to propose in two years’ time to increase the budget to more than it was when they came into office?

rose —

rose —

rose —

rose —

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many full-time equivalent staff are currently employed in the Environment Agency's offices in (a) York, (b) Leeds, (c) Rotherham and (d) Hull; how many posts will be declared redundant in each office as a result of his...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many full-time equivalent staff are currently employed in the Environment Agency's offices in (a) York, (b) Leeds, (c) Rotherham and (d) Hull; how many posts will be declared redundant in each office as a result of his...

Under the previous Conservative Government the North Yorkshire police received not one single additional police officer, and crime in our county almost trebled. Under the Labour Government there were dozens and dozens of additional police officers—more than 140—and crime started to come down. Now the police numbers are down by...

Under the previous Conservative Government the North Yorkshire police received not one single additional police officer, and crime in our county almost trebled. Under the Labour Government there were dozens and dozens of additional police officers—more than 140—and crime started to come down. Now the police numbers are down by...

A few minutes ago, the Minister said that the crime figures were not rising, but in York they are. According to an answer from his junior Minister, the figure for York in the last year of the previous Labour Government was 14,480; it rose in the first year of the...

A few minutes ago, the Minister said that the crime figures were not rising, but in York they are. According to an answer from his junior Minister, the figure for York in the last year of the previous Labour Government was 14,480; it rose in the first year of the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many (a) Yorkshire Regiment and (b) Gurkha (i) full-time soldiers and (ii) reservists were based in (A) Yorkshire and the Humber, (B) North Yorkshire and York and (C) City of York in (1) May 2010 and (2) December 2011; and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many (a) Yorkshire Regiment and (b) Gurkha (i) full-time soldiers and (ii) reservists were based in (A) Yorkshire and the Humber, (B) North Yorkshire and York and (C) City of York in (1) May 2010 and (2) December 2011; and...

(2) how many (a) Royal Navy, (b) Army and (c) RAF (i) full-time personnel and (ii) reservists were based in (A) Yorkshire and the Humber, (B) North Yorkshire and York and (C) City of York in (1) May 2010 and (2) December 2011; and how many such personnel he expects...

(2) how many (a) Royal Navy, (b) Army and (c) RAF (i) full-time personnel and (ii) reservists were based in (A) Yorkshire and the Humber, (B) North Yorkshire and York and (C) City of York in (1) May 2010 and (2) December 2011; and how many such personnel he expects...

On Tuesday the Secretary of State for Defence announced that 4,100 servicemen and women will be made redundant. Why was an oral statement not made to the House so that we could question him on the implications of the decision? Will the Leader of the House ask him to publish...

On Tuesday the Secretary of State for Defence announced that 4,100 servicemen and women will be made redundant. Why was an oral statement not made to the House so that we could question him on the implications of the decision? Will the Leader of the House ask him to publish...

What implication will the decision on the sacked RAF pilots in training have for the hundreds of jobs at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, outside York? Could some of those who are surplus to requirements as fast jet pilots be put on to helicopters instead, given the shortage of helicopter capacity that we...

What implication will the decision on the sacked RAF pilots in training have for the hundreds of jobs at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, outside York? Could some of those who are surplus to requirements as fast jet pilots be put on to helicopters instead, given the shortage of helicopter capacity that we...

I warmly congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Barking (Margaret Hodge) on her election as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee. May we have a debate soon, in Government time, about Network Rail's contracts for rail track renewal? The Leader of the House will be aware that the...

I warmly congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Barking (Margaret Hodge) on her election as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee. May we have a debate soon, in Government time, about Network Rail's contracts for rail track renewal? The Leader of the House will be aware that the...

The York-based company Jarvis made more than 1,000 track-renewal workers redundant last week. The skills of a work force are essential to the future of the railway. Network Rail is retendering the Jarvis work, and whoever wins it must re-employ the Jarvis workers. If my right hon. and learned Friend...

The York-based company Jarvis made more than 1,000 track-renewal workers redundant last week. The skills of a work force are essential to the future of the railway. Network Rail is retendering the Jarvis work, and whoever wins it must re-employ the Jarvis workers. If my right hon. and learned Friend...

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) probation staff and (b) trainee probation officers are expected to be made redundant in North Yorkshire Probation Area in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) probation staff and (b) trainee probation officers are expected to be made redundant in North Yorkshire Probation Area in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011-12.

I will not because we have limited time. I have spoken to local journalists in York and the regional management of Newsquest. Of course, there is no appetite for public subsidy, but the company would welcome more Government and local government advertising, as my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough,...

I will not because we have limited time. I have spoken to local journalists in York and the regional management of Newsquest. Of course, there is no appetite for public subsidy, but the company would welcome more Government and local government advertising, as my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough,...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland (Dr. Kumar) on securing this important and timely debate. Regional and local papers are facing exceptionally hard times. I intend to talk about York's local paper, The Press, but it is clear from other hon. Members' contributions...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland (Dr. Kumar) on securing this important and timely debate. Regional and local papers are facing exceptionally hard times. I intend to talk about York's local paper, The Press, but it is clear from other hon. Members' contributions...