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An opportunity missed and other Parliamentary snippets

Why, oh why was it not Douglas Hogg asking this:

"Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department and its agencies have spent on the restoration of riverbeds in each of the last three years".

Meanwhile, Rosindell would appear to be a Unionist:

"Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage tourists to visit Scotland".

As I grew up in Essex, I am allowed to point out that even Rozza would not attempt to push Romford as a destination.

The Marquis of Lothian is on fire 'today':

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which potential aggressors he expects to be deterred by the Trident nuclear deterrent programme in 2024.

A good, if somewhat edgy question, and deserving of an answer, no matter who it would upset, yes?

No:
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The 2006 White Paper: The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent (Cmd 6994), section three, paragraphs 3-8 to 3-13, states that over the next 20 to 50 years we can foresee nuclear risks in three areas: Re-emergence of a major nuclear threat; emerging nuclear states and state-sponsored terrorism.

Ah well.


And there's more:

"Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the written ministerial statement of 24 November 2008, Official Report, columns 37-8W, on Tasers, how many Tasers each police force has; and how much expenditure her Department has incurred in supplying Tasers to each police force in the last 12 months".

And where do you stand the greatest chance of being zapped? The West Midlands, followed by Greater Manchester, followed by on a train, followed by Merseyside, followed by Lincolnshire. Yes, really. The boys and girls in blue in Lincolnshire have some 364 tasers for living out their Star Trek fantasies, compared to 150 for the Met. Honestly....

And now we know about the decor of Prescott Towers:

"Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster ...in what manner the sign of the Deputy Prime Minister's Office was disposed of".

Watson: "...The Department for Communities and Local Government have confirmed that the sign of the Deputy Prime Minister's Office was given to my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, East (Mr. Prescott) when he left office. The used value of the sign was minimal".

Wonder if it is mounted on the door of his shed.

And Maude is having more fun:

Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009, Official Report, columns 392-93W, on departmental mobile telephones, (1) whether any of the 14 damaged mobile telephones had been allocated to individuals who work in 10 Downing Street".

Mr. Watson: None of the 14 phones that were damaged had been issued to individuals who work in Downing street.

Oh aye.


And over at the other place, a late breaking contender for Man of the Year, who is - get this - a Socialist:

Lord Dubs: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will pay taxpayers the same rate of interest for repayment of overpaid tax as they charge them for late payment....Will my noble friend confirm that the position is that if any of us as taxpayers owes money, we are charged 2.5 per cent interest, but if the tax authorities owe us money, it is 0 per cent? Why?

He was fobbed off, naturally.





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Blogger Mr Eugenides said... 9:05 am

Quality stuff from Bob Ainsworth, there:

we can foresee nuclear risks in three areas: Re-emergence of a major nuclear threat; emerging nuclear states and state-sponsored terrorism.Or, more briefly: (a) Big countries with nukes, (b) small countries with nukes, and (c) nukes belonging to neither big nor small countries.

Brilliant.  



Blogger Croydonian said... 9:16 am

Neatly summarised Mr E.  



Blogger JuliaM said... 1:28 pm

"Wonder if it is mounted on the door of his shed."

More likely on the door to the littlest room in the house, as a trophy to go with his taxpayer-funded toilet seat(s).  



Blogger Croydonian said... 1:32 pm

Also a possibility, and shades of the Baftas, Oscars etc kept in loos, knowing full well that they will be seen...  



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