Recently in Parliament Category

Martin Linton spoke twice in this commemorative debate. His second speech is particularly interesting as he talks about William Wilberforce's long association with Battersea.

Martin Linton asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will table a motion under Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter requiring Israel not to expand its settlements in the west bank.

Kim Howells replied agreeing that Israeli settlements should be frozen or even dismantled, but said that they had no plans to table such a resolution.

Martin Linton made a few party political points on the report on party funding, before being stopped by the speaker.

Martin Linton asked the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education if he will make a statement on the proposed changes to fee remission of English for speakers of other languages courses. Bill Rammell replied for the government.

Later in the debate, Martin Linton raised another question about fees.

Martin Linton tried (and failed) to get Simon Hughes to give way.

Martin tried (and failed) to get Andrew Lansley to give way.

Later, he had more success and brought up the case of Bolingbroke Hospital saying that Wandsworth council were saying that the services were being closed down when actually they were being moved to alternative sites.

Martin Linton raised the point that some Conservatives on the Greater London Authority are trying to withdraw the free bus concession for 17 and 18-year-olds.

Martin Linton congratulated Jack Straw on the proposals in this bill and invited him to take an easy swing at Conservative opposition to the voting system included in the bill.

Martin Linton asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the 10 most common reasons given for claiming incapacity benefit were in each London borough in the last 12 months.

Jim Murphy replied that data was not available in that format but that some data had been placed in the House of Commons library.

Martin Linton asked David Milliband (Secretary of State, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) if he will publish payments made under the common agricultural policy single payment scheme by constituency.

David Milliband replied that the 2005 figures have not yet been analysed and that once this work has been completed, they will decide on the appropriate level of detail to publish.

Martin Linton came back and said that as this costs £16 billion each year the payments should be identified, at least, by constituency.

David Milliband denied that the figure was as large as that and said that it was most important to ensure that the payments were correct before ensuring that the information about the payments was published.