http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/speecharchive.php Recent Speeches from Bob Russell MP en-GB Bob Russell MP http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2008 Bob Russell MP 2008-08-28T10:17+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/speeches/000020/immigration_discharged_gurkhas_bill.html Mr Speaker, 2008-05-20T00:00+01:00 http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/speeches/000003/alderman_blaxill_school.html The issue of secondary education in Colchester has widened since I secured this debate, because on Friday, Essex county council published proposals to shut not only Alderman Blaxill school but a second school, the Thomas Lord Audley school and language college. The county want to build a 1,200 place academy on the site of the latter. That will result in a net reduction of 500 secondary school places in Colchester-one of the fastest growing towns in Britain-and in future years will cause a knock-on effect at all the other secondary schools as parents scramble for a place. 2007-10-22T21:46+01:00 http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/speeches/000018/local_government_referendums.html That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require a local authority to hold a referendum about a matter of major local importance for which it is responsible if one tenth of its electorate demand the holding of such a referendum; and for connected purposes. 2006-02-08T12:33+00:00 http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/speeches/000006/wild_flowers.html Where have all the flowers gone? In the case of Britain's wild flowers, one in five species is on the brink of extinction-345 out of a total of 1,756. That is an appalling indictment of those who have allowed this environmental doomsday to occur. The 20th century-the most destructive 100 years since man first walked on earth-was a disaster for our indigenous wild flowers, with more than 97 per cent. of the nation's wild flower meadows lost since 1945. As we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the second world war in Europe, let us reflect that today Britain's wild flower landscape from that time has changed beyond all recognition. There are several reasons for that: the continuing urbanisation of the countryside; changes in agricultural practices, not just the use of chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers, although those are major causes; contradictory farming policy directives from successive Governments and from the European Union; and climate change. 2005-05-18T18:15+01:00 http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/speeches/000005/mechanised_wheelchairs.html I welcome the Under-Secretary of State for Health, the hon. Member for South Thanet (Dr. Ladyman), who has responsibility for community care. He is a Minister for whom I have a lot of respect-but I believe that he is not the appropriate Minister to respond to the debate. His presence confirms the muddled situation in respect of mechanised wheelchairs and the urgent need for the Government to introduce joined-up thinking on a matter of considerable and growing concern as to who should have responsibility. 2005-03-02T19:26+00:00 http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/speeches/000011/school_meals_essex.html My debate is about the despicable and callous decision made just before Christmas by Conservative councillors on Essex county council to scrap, with little more than three months' notice, the county's school meals service from 1 April. This is a deplorable act against children, many of whom are from disadvantaged families. Even "milk-snatcher" Thatcher, infamous for doing away with school milk. Even Baroness Thatcher, the milk-snatcher, never attacked some of the most vulnerable people in our society, depriving children as young as four or five of wholesome, nutritional hot dinners which are so important for their development and well-being. 2004-03-01T22:22+00:00 http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/speeches/000019/first_aid_training_in_schools.html That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require first aid training to be given to children in schools as part of the National Curriculum. 2003-11-19T14:17+00:00 http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/speeches/000002/council_houses.html When social historians write the history of the 20th century, they will contrast the huge advances made in the living standards of the British people between 1900 and 1999. Even allowing for two bloody world wars and the years of economic depression, by the end of the century the quality of life had improved dramatically for the mass of the population, beyond the wildest dreams of those doughty pioneers of social change who sowed the seeds in Victorian Britain for better health, higher standards of education, longer life expectancy, improved working conditions, wider opportunities and vastly superior housing conditions for most people. 2003-06-11T00:00+01:00 http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/speeches/000012/public_highways.html Dick Turpin was an infamous villain of the 18th century, a ruthless highwayman and a nasty piece of work. For a time, he operated in Essex-at the London end of the county, I hasten to add. Today, I am going to tell the House a modern story of highway robbery, the value of which is considerably greater to the perpetrator, if he is allowed to get away with it, than the combined proceeds that Dick Turpin accumulated in a lifetime of crime. If this 21st century highway robbery is allowed to happen, the national precedent that it will set should sound alarm bells for all Members who represent urban constituencies that contain backland sites similar to those in my Colchester constituency. I am sure that the Minister can think of such an example in Plymouth. Nobody-including planning lawyers, highway experts and others with a wealth of experience in development matters-to whom I have related this story has ever come across anything like it. They are unanimous in not believing it. Worryingly, the public relations man for a national builder has already asked me to let him know what happens, because his client is interested. I bet he is! 2003-02-07T14:31+00:00 http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/speeches/000009/brain_injury_rehabilitation_services.html There is some justice in his misfortune, for such a clash would not have occurred under the previous sitting arrangements, which he campaigned to change. Next I must thank whoever it was in the Speaker's Office who drew my name to fill the vacated space. That was appreciated not only by me but by the all-party acquired brain injuries group, which I have the honour of chairing. 2003-01-21T14:00+00:00 http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/speeches/000013/noisy_neighbours.html I wish to dedicate this debate to the memory of the late Spike Milligan, who was the patron of the Right to Peace and Quiet Campaign, predecessor to the Noise Network and a great supporter of the UK Noise Association, which was formed in 1999 as the umbrella organisation for various groups involved in the battle to combat noise. Over the years, Spike attended many events in the Jubilee Room to meet Members of Parliament and highlight noise issues with them. I am told that he had a personal dislike for piped music and noisy neighbours. 2002-03-21T19:00+00:00 http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/speeches/000014/planning_historic_buildings.html Every week the Planning Inspectorate based in Bristol authorises the demolition or disfigurement of three listed buildings, contrary to the wishes of the local communities where those historic buildings are located. Sometimes those decisions, which are taken by a single inspector, are also against the recommendation of English Heritage, which is the official body appointed by the Government to safeguard our nation's historic built environment. 2002-02-14T19:00+00:00 http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/speeches/000010/colchester_sixth_form_college.html For a Government who claim that their priorities are "Education, education, education", Labour has been a huge disappointment for sixth form colleges. Although my debate this evening centres on the Colchester sixth form college, which is one of the top such colleges, the financial discrimination to which it is subject is experienced by every sixth form college in the country, of which there are just over 100. 2001-07-03T22:01+01:00 http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/speeches/000016/the_colchester_institute.html Instigating this debate gives me no pleasure. A little under 40 years ago, I was a student at the Colchester Institute when it was called the North-East Essex technical college and school of art. I am proud to include that in my curriculum vitae, and tonight I show my pride by wearing the institute's tie. What I hope will result from the debate is a pledge that the Department for Education and Employment will investigate the management and strategy of the Colchester Institute under its quango leadership. 2001-04-09T23:11+01:00 http://www.bobrussell.org.uk/speeches/000007/volunteers.html I have two objectives this afternoon. First, I wish is to place on record my appreciation of the nation's army of regular volunteers--perhaps as many as 3 million--who, in so many instances, are the unsung heroes of our nation. Secondly, I wish to encourage the Government to consider further ways to encourage the whole ethos of volunteering in today's society so that we can increase their number. After all, this is the international year of the volunteer. 2001-01-26T14:30+00:00