Houses
of Parliament visits
I am always pleased to welcome constituents
and local schools and groups to Westminster.
Many constituents, school groups and community
organisations have visited The Houses of
Parliament since I was elected in 2005.
The
Palace of Westminster is a truly stunning
building with a very rich history. Official
parliamentary tours offer an enjoyable and
highly informative way to see this wonderful
building.
If
you are a constituent, a school in my constituency
or a local community organisation and would
like to arrange a visit to The Houses of
Parliament please contact my office.
The paragraph listed contains the introductory text to the speech.
For the full text, plus the context in which the speech was
made, simply follow the link at the end of the paragraph..
July
21 2008
Written
Answers - Culture Media and Sport: Arts: Leicester Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Culture, Media and Sport how many projects and organisations
in Leicester have received Arts Council funding in the last
12 months. More...
July
21 2008
Oral
Answers to Questions - Defence: Troops (Telephone Packages) Peter Soulsby: What recent changes have been
made to the telephone package offered to troops serving overseas.
More...There
is one other speech in the same debate:
Business
of the House Peter Soulsby: I welcome the announcement by
the Leader of the House that she intends to publish a Command
Paper next Monday responding speedily to the Modernisation Committee's
report on regional accountability. More...
July
14 2008
Oral
Answers to Questions - Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
Non-native Species Peter Soulsby: What steps his Department
is taking against non-native invasive species. More...There
is one other speech in the same debate:
Written
Answers - Health: Smoking Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Health what steps he has taken to reduce smoking rates in
the (a) adult and (b) child population in each of the last five
years, broken down by (i) socio-economic and (ii) ethnic group...
More...
July
14 2008
Oral
Answers to Questions - Home Department: House of Lords Reform Peter Soulsby: I very much welcome the statement
and the White Paper. Does the Secretary of State agree, however,
that alongside discussion of the issues in the White Paper it
is important that we discuss the mechanisms that the political
parties will adopt to select candidates... More...
July
10 2008
Written
Answers - Health: Lung Cancer: Health Services Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Health what comparative assessment he has made of (a) outcomes
from and (b) expenditure on lung cancer services in (i) other
EU countries and (ii) OECD countries; More...
July
9 2008
Written
Answers - Justice: Television: Licensing Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Justice how many people were found guilty of television
licence evasion in Leicester in 2007. More...
July
9 2008
Oral
Answers to Questions - Prime Minister: Communities in Control
Peter Soulsby: I congratulate the Secretary
of State on her statement and on the White Paper, because the
measures in it are probably the most important steps towards
strengthening local democracy and communities for a considerable
period. More...
July
8 2008
Oral Answers to Questions - Transport: Rail Network Peter Soulsby: Does my right hon. Friend agree
that one of the most effective ways of increasing the number
of miles available for the passenger network is reopening existing
freight lines for passenger transport? More...
July
8 2008
Written
Answers - Innovation, Universities and Skills: Lung Cancer:
Research Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Innovation, Universities and Skills what funding the Medical
Research Council has provided for research into lung cancer
in each financial year since 1997-98; what research has been
funded by such expenditure; and if he will make a statement.
More...There
are two other speeches in the same debate:
Written
Answers - Health: Lung Cancer Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Health what representations his Department has received
from the UK Lung Cancer Coalition in the last 12 months; what
response has been made to such representations; and if he
will make a statement. More...
There is one other speech in the same debate:
Oral
Answers to Questions - Work and Pensions: Bovine TB Peter Soulsby: I welcome the Secretary of State's
measured statement. It is clear that he has considered the overwhelming
scientific advice and the conclusions of the Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs Committee report.
More...
July
2 2008
Written
Answers - Children, Schools and Families: Pupils: Health Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Children, Schools and Families how many children of school
age have a long-term medical condition in (a) primary and (b)
secondary schools. More...
June
26 2008
Innovation,
Universities and Skills: Further Education: Community Relations Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has
made of the contribution further education colleges make to
the promotion of community cohesion. More...
June
25 2008
Written
Answers - Culture Media and Sport: Digital Broadcasting Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on
digital switchover; and if he will make a statement. More...
June
19 2008
Written
Answers - Communities and Local Government: Rented Housing:
Community Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Communities and Local Government (1) whether she has assessed
the effect of the increase in privately rented accommodation
on (a) community relations and (b) neighbour disputes; (2) what
recent representations she has received on the responsibilities
of private landlords... More...
June
19 2008
Topical
Debate: Eco-towns Peter Soulsby: It is a pleasure to follow my
neighbour, the hon. and learned Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier),
many of whose concerns I share. Before I mention those concerns,
however, I wish to say a few words of welcome for the concept
of eco-towns. More...
June
11 2008
Written
Answers - Children, Schools and Families: Academies Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Children, Schools and Families how many city academies
he plans to establish in each of the next five years. More...
There is one other speech in the same debate:
Written
Answers - Work and Pensions: Children: Maintenance Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Work and Pensions (1)
how many cases involving equal shared care the Child Support
Agency is dealing with; and in how many of those cases the
father is the parent with care; (2) how many cases involving
shared residence orders the Child Support Agency is dealing
with... More... There
is one other speech in the same debate:
Written
Answers - Children, Schools and Families: Leicester Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Children, Schools and Families on how many occasions the
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools and Learners
has (a) visited schools and colleges in Leicester and (b) met
teachers and local education officials from Leicester since
May 2005. More...
June
3 2008
Written
Answers - Defence: Military Bases: Cash Dispensing Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Defence if he will hold discussions with automated teller
machine (ATM) operators on removing ATMs which charge for cash
withdrawals from UK military bases. More...
May
22 2008
Written
Answers - Health: Dental Services: Fees and Charges Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Health what the average payment was to orthodontists supplying
dental braces to those under the age of 18 years by the NHS
in the latest period for which figures are available; and what
comparison he has made with the average payment for such private
work. More...
May
21 2008
Written
Answers - Home Department: Driving Offences Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for the Home Department what discussions she and Ministers
in her Department have had with the police and the Association
of Chief Police Officers on proposals for a new offence of
aggravated failure to stop for the police. More...
May
19 2008
Written
Answers - Children, Schools and Families: Schools: Carbon Emissions Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Children, Schools and Families what steps he plans to take
to ensure that all new school buildings are zero-carbon by 2016.
More...
May
16 2008
Written
Answers - Health: Dental Services: Young People Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Health how many dental braces were provided for those under
the age of 18 years in each of the last five years; and what
proportion of the associated costs were funded by the NHS. More...
May
15 2008
Innovation,
Universities and Skills: Further and Higher Education Peter Soulsby: Last week, I met the principal
of the excellent Leicester college and was again reminded
of the work that the Government have done to make available
allowances and grants to enable students to participate in
further and higher education. More... Speech on the same
topic
Written
Answers - Home Department: Driving Offences Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for the Home Department how many times drivers failed to stop
for the police in each of the last five years; and how many
of these incidents resulted in (a) accidents involving other
vehicles, (b) accidents involving police vehicles and (c)
fatal accidents in each of those years. More...
May
6 2008
Written
Answers - Culture Media and Sport: Lacrosse: Finance Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Youth Sports Trust
spent on the development of lacrosse in the last 12 months.
More... Several other speeches
on the same topic:
Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs: Renewable Electricity Generation Peter Soulsby: I suspect that the Secretary
of State may share the disappointment felt by hon. Members
on both sides of the House that the Government felt it necessary
yesterday to vote against new clause 4 of the Energy Bill,
which would have paved the way for the introduction of renewable
energy tariffs. More...There
is one other speech in the same debate:
Written
Answers - Health: NHS: Fees and Charges Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Health (1) what the estimated value is of HC2 and HC3
certificates issued between 2000-01 and 2006-07 to (a) students
and (b) people aged under 25 years; (2) how many people who
applied for health cost exemptions with an HC1 form who received
neither an HC2 or HC3 certificate between 2000-01 and 2006-07
were (a) students and (b) people aged under 25 years. More...There
is one other speech in the same debate
Written
Answers - Innovation, Universities and Skills: Astronomy: Finance Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will place in
the Library the documents his Department holds relating to the
withdrawal of funding for all ground-based solar terrestrial
physics facilities in the UK; and on what date the withdrawal
of this funding was announced publicly. More...
April
1 2008
Orders
of the Day: Counter-Terrorism Bill Peter Soulsby: My hon. Friend has referred
to the overwhelming evidence given to the Home Affairs Committee
and others. As a member of that Committee, can he confirm that
its fundamental conclusion was that no case had been made that
28 days was inadequate More...
April
1 2008
Oral
Answers to Questions - Communities & Local Government: Eco-towns
Peter Soulsby: Will the Minister give an assurance
that in the next phase to which she has just referred there
will be an adequate opportunity for neighbouring local authorities
to express their very real concerns about the potential effect
of eco-towns on transport and regeneration? More...
March
19 2008
Deferred
Division: Post Office Closures Peter Soulsby: It may be that the Conservative
motion is opportunistic and cynical, but I happen to agree
with every word of it. In my constituency, the consultation
on the closure of two post offices in Walnut street and Francis
street. More...
March
11 2008
Westminster
Hall debates - East Midlands Trains Peter Soulsby: I congratulate the right hon.
Gentleman on securing a debate that is important to those
of us who live along the main line. In his concluding remarks,
would he welcome the moves that EMT is making to bring about
joint control of the track with Network Rail? More... There
is one other speech in the same debate:
Westminster
Hall debates - Governance of Britain Peter Soulsby: I congratulate my hon. Friend
on securing this important and timely debate on issues that
he feels powerfully about and on which he is speaking again
today persuasively, as he has spoken and written in the past.
More...
March
3 2008
Written
Answers - Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform: Post Offices:
Closures Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions
have taken place between his Department and Post Office Ltd.
and (a) the Equality and Human Rights Commission and (b) disability
rights organisations on the impact of local post office closures
on people with disabilities.More...
February
28 2008
Written
Answers - Health: NHS Foundation Trusts Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Health which organisations have been (a) commissioned
and (b) contracted to manage NHS foundation trust ballots.
More...
February
28 2008
Oral
Answers to Questions - Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform:
Postal Services Peter Soulsby: Will the Secretary of State
acknowledge that Postwatch is seen as totally ineffective in
representing the needs of residential and commercial customers
of the Post Office, as it was in my constituency in the closure
of Francis street and Walnut street post offices? More...
February
27 2008
Written
Answers - Communities and Local Government: Housing:Leicester Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Communities and Local Government what her target is for
the number of new (a) houses and (b) family-sized houses to
be built in Leicester in the next 25 years.
More...
February
18 2008
Written
Answers - Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform: Post
Offices: Closures Peter Soulsby:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and
Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the quality
of the Post Office's consultation process for proposed branch
closures. Read
more...Several
other speeches in the same debate:
Oral
Answers to Questions - Prime Minister: Earned Citizenship Peter Soulsby: I very much welcome the recognition
again today by the Home Secretary of the enormous benefit that
Britain as a whole and constituencies such as mine have gained
from those who have chosen in recent decades to make their home
in this country... More...
February
7 2008
Written
Answers - Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform: Postwatch:
Finance Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much Postwatch
received from public funds in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08. More...
February
7 2008
Written
Answers - Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform: Post
Offices Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on how many
occasions in the last six months Postwatch met Post Office
Ltd to discuss proposed post office closures in Leicester;
and who attended these meetings. More...
February
7 2008
Written
Answers - Home Department: Human Trafficking Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for the Home Department how many people have been (a) arrested
and (b) convicted for offences relating to human trafficking
in (i) Leicester and (ii) the East Midlands in the last four
years. More...
February
7 2008
Business
of the House Peter Soulsby: In response to an earlier question
the Leader of the House referred to the Select Committee inquiry
into the post office closure programme. Given the concern about
that programme in all parts of the House... More...
February
6 2008
Electoral
Commission Committee: Democratic Process (Public Participation) Peter Soulsby: With respect to the hon. Gentleman,
I do not think that he replied adequately to the question of
my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mrs. Cryer). She made
the point that the extent of under-registration in several areas
can genuinely be addressed only by door-to-door canvassing...
More...
February
6 2008
Written
Answers - Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform: Post
Offices: Closures Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many submissions
were received by Post Office Ltd. to its consultation on proposed
post office closures in Leicester. More...
January
22 2008
Written
Answers - Health: Dental Services: Leicester Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Health what plans he has to increase the number of NHS dentists
in Leicester. More...
January
22 2008
Written
Answers - Communities and Local Government: Local Authorities:
Rodents Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Communities and Local Government what information her Department
holds on (a) the number of local authorities which charge for
treating mice infestations in residential properties and (b)
the average price charged by local authorities for such treatment.
More...
January
21 2008
Written
Answers - Communities and Local Government: Local Authorities:
Rodents Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department
has issued to local authorities and registered social landlords
on dealing with mice and rat infestations in residential properties.
More...
January
17 2008
Orders
of the Day: Clause 4-Power of Office of rail regulation to
charge fees Peter Soulsby: As the right hon. Member for
East Yorkshire (Mr. Knight) said, I have added my name to
amendment No. 9. I did so because, as he suggested in Committee...
More...
January
17 2008
Orders
of the Day: Clause 1 - Powers of Secretary of State Peter Soulsby:
The hon. Gentleman makes the use of those platforms-which
is, indeed, very desirable-sound very simple. Does he not
accept that it is a complicated issue that would involve alterations
not only to the station, but down the track, and particularly
at Clapham junction, as has been suggested? More...Several other speeches
in the same debate:
Written
Answers - Health: General Practitioners: Leicester Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Health how many GPs are practising in Leicester. More...
January
15 2008
Written
Answers - Communities and Local Government: Regional Planning
and Development: Planning Inspectorate Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department
issues to the Planning Inspectorate on the admission of oral
representations from hon. Members during examinations in public
of regional plans... More...
January
15 2008
Written
Answers - Communities and Local Government: Regional Planning
and Development: East Midlands Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Communities and Local Government which hon. and right
hon. Members made formal submissions to the public consultation
on the draft East Midlands Regional Plan. More...
January
15 2008
Westminster
Hall debates - Science and Technology Facilities Council Peter Soulsby: I congratulate the hon. Gentleman
on securing this important debate on what he rightly describes
as a crisis in the STFC's funding. Is he aware that the crisis
affects not only the organisations and institutions in his
constituency that he mentioned...
More... There
is one other speech in the same debate:
Orders
of the Day: Education and Skills Bill Peter Soulsby: Another teacher, I am afraid,
Mr. Deputy Speaker. Newly qualified, I started teaching in
the early 1970s at what was then the Crown Hills secondary
modern school in Leicester. I quickly learned my place in
the school hierarchy...
More... There
is one other speech in the same debate:
Commons
Debates - Opposition Day - [5th allotted day]: Network Rail Peter Soulsby: There is no doubt that the
rail industry in the UK is challenged by its own success.
The 40 per cent. increase in passenger numbers that we have
witnessed over the past 10 years and the projected continued
growth in numbers is something that the rail industry in general...
More...Several
other speeches in the same debate
Orders
of the Day: Clause 7 — Acquisition of land not subject
to the power under section 6(1) Peter Soulsby: I have looked closely at the
amendment. The hon. Gentleman talks about the easements expiring
no later than the day on which the first passenger train runs.
More... Other
speech in the same debate:
Orders
of the Day: Clause 23 — Overriding duty of Office of Rail
Regulation before Crossrail operational Peter Soulsby: I understand what the hon. Gentleman
seeks to achieve, which is the construction of the whole scheme,
and to have it open and carrying passengers. Does he not accept,
however, that setting such an artificial limit could have a
perverse effect? More...
December
13 2007
Orders
of the Day: Clause 57 — Application of act to extensions Peter Soulsby: As one of those who did two
years of penal servitude on the Select Committee on the Bill,
I could speak at considerable length now that I am free....More... Several
other speeches in the same debate:
Written
Answers - Work and Pensions: Winter Fuel Payments: Leicester
Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Work and Pensions how many people in Leicester South received
the winter fuel payment in each of the last five years. More...
December
11 2007
Westminster
Hall debates : Canals Peter Soulsby: Does the hon. Gentleman agree
that if British Waterways sought to meet the deficit through
a massive increase in licence fees, it would be a major deterrent
to people who use the waterways-people who are often on comparatively
low incomes-and who ought to be encouraged further to do so,
in order to make them the lively and thriving places that
they deserve to be? More...Several
other speeches in the same debate:
Written
Answers - Home Department: 101 Calls: Leicester Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for the Home Department (1) what expenditure her Department
incurred in advertising, marketing and promoting the 101 telephone
line in Leicester... More...
December
5 2007
Treasury:
Death: Weather Peter Soulsby: To ask the Chancellor of the
Exchequer how many people in Leicester aged 65 years and over
died of cold related illnesses between 1 October and 1 March
in each of the last 10 years. More...
November
22 2007
Commons
debate - Business of the House Peter Soulsby: I was indeed, Mr. Speaker. The
Leader of the House will be aware, from Business, Enterprise
and Regulatory Reform questions, of the widespread concern about
the closure of post offices, not only in rural areas but in
urban areas such as my constituency. More...
November
20 2007
Orders
of the Day: Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Supplementary Provisions)
Bill Peter Soulsby: Does the Minister accept that
while there has been an understandable focus on the enormous
success of the passenger facilities that will be available
with the reopening of St. Pancras, there needs to be an equal
focus on the potential use of the rail link for freight..?
More...Several
other questions in the same debate:
Written
Answers - Health: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Health (1) how many GPs have received specialist training
on chronic fatigue syndrome; (2) what the average number of
GP visits made by patients was before being diagnosed with chronic
fatigue syndrome over the last five years... More...
October
25 2007
Points
of Order: Modernisation of the House of Commons Peter Soulsby:
In fact, induction was discussed earlier; several Members
referred to it. The point was made that induction should not
just be a one-off event when new Members are overwhelmed having
just arrived—there should be an ongoing process of enabling
Members to understand the business of the House and make best
use of its procedures.More... Several other speeches
in the same debate:
Commons
debates - Royal Assent: Crossrail Bill (Carry-over) Peter Soulsby: I support the carry-over motion.
It is no coincidence that, as Members reminded us, the Select
Committee on the Crossrail Bill submitted its report to the
House today. I am one of the 10 Members who served on that Committee
for the best part of two years. More...
Commons debates - Royal Assent: Crossrail Bill (Carry-over)
Peter Soulsby: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
I entirely accept your guidance on that matter. There will no
doubt be other occasions on which I shall be able to refer to
that strange and unsatisfactory part of the process. We as a
Committee were charged with a quasi-judicial role in relation
to the Bill. More...
October
19 2007
Written
answers - Health: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Health Services Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Health what plans his Department has to improve specialist
services for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.
More...
October
18 2007
House
of Commons debates - Business of the House Peter Soulsby: The Leader of the House will
be aware that the BBC's recent announcement about the future
of its news-gathering services comes hot on the heels of ITV's
proposals to slash its commitment to regional news, which includes
doing away with a dedicated news service in the east midlands.
More...
October
16 2007
Written
Answers - Health: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Health (1) what plans his Department has for further medical
and scientific research into the cause or causes of chronic
fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis... More...
November
13 2007
Written
Answers - Health: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State
for Health (1) how many GPs have received specialist training
on chronic fatigue syndrome; (2) what the average number of
GP visits made by patients was before being diagnosed with chronic
fatigue syndrome over the last five years... More...
