There is no disputing the fact that proceedings on the Bill have been a long haul. As the Minister pointed out, it received its First Reading in this House as long ago as 25 November 2004. What a difference 19 months makes! After one election, two Conservative party leaders and three Home Secretarie...

I guess it really is a little early in the year to be talking about pantomime characters. But arts and cultural services are understandably the Cinderella area of local government activity. It is perhaps a temptation on the part of most parliamentary speakers at LGA conferences to focus exclusivel...

Mr. Mark Field: The hon. Gentleman will be glad that I am here to protect the honour of my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron). The hon. Gentleman has rightly quoted the transcript, but my right hon. Friend continued his remarks to Mr. Naughtie on the "Today" programme by...

Mr. Mark Field (Cities of London and Westminster) (Con): I shall speak briefly, Mr. O'Hara. First, I congratulate the hon. Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Meg Hillier) on having secured this important debate. I know that she has been trying to do so for some weeks and that one opportunity ...

I shall not attempt to give any more than the briefest history of this wretched legislation, partly because of the time, but also, Mr. Taylor, because I do not wish to try your patience. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Peter Luff) on introducing the debate. As he r...