Written Answers - International Development: Rakhine State: Burma
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Rakhine state, Burma. More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Work and Pensions: Work Programme
Jonathan Ashworth: What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Work programme in reducing long-term youth unemployment in (a) Leicester and (b) the UK. More...

Backbench Business: Ugandan Asians
Jonathan Ashworth: I pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman for securing this debate. He mentioned Leicester, so I thought I ought to spring to my feet. It should be remembered that not all councillors on Leicester city council in the '70s agreed with the council's decision. In fact, the current Mayor of Leicester, Sir Peter Soulsby, as a young councillor, voted against it. It should be said that... More...

Business of the House : Benefits Uprating
Jonathan Ashworth: Will the Minister confirm, despite the Chancellor's rhetoric yesterday about those who go to work and those who stay in bed, that of those affected by the 1% uprating, 60% are in working households? The increase in personal allowance will be outweighed by the losses to their tax credits and benefits. Is that correct? Yes or no. More...

Written Answers - Education: Free Schools
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that the teaching of evolution is taught in free schools. More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Topical Questions
Jonathan Ashworth: Ministers have been careful not to accuse the Burmese Government of orchestrating the violence towards the Rohingya. Last night, al-Jazeera released new evidence to suggest that the Burmese authorities, the military, the security services and local government officials have been involved in that sectarian violence towards the Rohingya...More...

Written Answers - Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Burma
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had on the need for international observers to be deployed in Rakhine state. More...

Business of the House
Jonathan Ashworth: I am pleased that the Leader of the House has found time to reschedule the debate on the expulsion of Ugandan Asians, which many of my constituents will follow with great interest. Will the Leader of the House find time for a debate on investment in the east midlands regional economy? Recent figures show that we are apparently bottom of the list for regional growth fund allocations, while... More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Transport: Cities Fit for Cycling
Jonathan Ashworth: What progress he has made on implementing the recommendations of Cities Fit for Cycling. More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Prime Minister: Palestinian Resolution
Jonathan Ashworth: It would be churlish not to recognise that the Foreign Secretary has shifted his position to an extent, but I am sorry to say that I feel that, as my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr Straw) said, this manoeuvre is too clever by half. More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Prime Minister: Engagements
Jonathan Ashworth: The Prime Minister must have studied his Government's own report that shows that the future jobs fund had a net benefit to participants, employers and society. Given that report, and that youth unemployment is now higher in Leicester than it was at the general election, why did he tell me in questions a year ago that the future jobs fund... More...

Written Answers - Home Department: Press: Subscriptions
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which magazines, journals and newspapers her Department subscribes. More...

Written Answers - Prime Minister: Cabinet: Bristol
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to which magazines, journals and newspapers his Department subscribes. More...

Women and Equalities: Women Bishops
Jonathan Ashworth: I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman's remarks and many people will appreciate the way in which he has put them. It is clearly unsustainable for us to have an all-male episcopate. Does he agree that the decision sadly risks damaging the reputation of the Church in the eyes of many of our constituents? Will he consider working with the business managers to find a way for this House... More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Attorney-General: Middle East
Jonathan Ashworth: The Foreign Secretary said that he did not want to get into a debate about disproportionate or proportionate, but while it is right that we condemn militant rocket attacks, should we not also condemn the loss of innocent lives and particularly children? Regarding the vote at the UN, is he wholly convinced that the UK Government, by taking the stance they have taken, do not risk undermining... More...

Petition - Nippers Nursery, Leicester
Jonathan Ashworth: I want to present a petition on behalf of almost 300 residents of the Leicester city area. The petition states: The Petition of staff and parents of Nippers Nursery, Saxon House, Leicester, Declares that on 30 November Nippers Nursery will be closed by HMRC and that the reason given is that there is a declining number of children attending; further that the Petitioners believe that this is... More...

Written Answers - Prime Minister: Cabinet: Bristol
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what criteria were used to determine the venue for the Cabinet meeting which took place in Bristol on 12 November 2012; (2) from which budgets expenses for travel for (a) himself and (b) each other member of Cabinet to attend the Cabinet meeting in Bristol on 12 November 2012 were drawn; (3) whether he (a) sought and (b) received advice from the Cabinet... More...

Written Answers - Deputy Prime Minister: Individual Electoral Registration
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on individual electoral registration; and if he will make a statement. More...

Written Answers - Justice: Richard III
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Burnley Central of 25 October 2012, Official Report, column 997W, on Richard III, whether it is still the intention that should DNA show that the remains found in Leicester are that of Richard III, that they will be reinterred at Leicester Cathedral. More...

Written Answers - Defence: Press: Subscriptions
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which magazines, journals and newspapers his Department subscribes. More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Communities and Local Government: Topical Questions
Jonathan Ashworth: If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. More...

Business of the House
Jonathan Ashworth: May I reinforce the point made by the hon. Member for Hendon (Dr Offord) on the Rohingya community in Burma? A few weeks ago, we had a Westminster Hall debate on this to which many Members came along. Horrific sectarian violence has unfolded again in recent days. We would welcome a statement from the International Development Secretary to update us on what her Department is doing to provide... More...

Business of the House
Jonathan Ashworth: May we have a statement from the appropriate Minister on Government endeavours to help get back from the US the UK citizens who are stranded there because of the hurricane? I am particularly concerned about a party of 38 school girls from Leicester high school who are stranded in New York. They have been offered a flight on Tuesday, but the problem is that many of them have exams next week... More...

Written Answers - Scotland: Press: Subscriptions
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to which magazines, journals and newspapers his Department subscribes. More...

Points of Order
Jonathan Ashworth: On a point of order, Mr Speaker. In response to a written question from my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley Central (Dan Jarvis) on the burial of what we hope turns out to be Richard III, the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, the hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Mrs Grant), wrote on Friday that “the current plan is for them to be reinterred in Leicester... More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Burma
Jonathan Ashworth: What discussions he has had with his international counterparts on sectarian violence in Rakhine state in Burma. More...

Written Answers - Wales: Press: Subscriptions
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales to which magazines, journals and newspapers his Department subscribes. More...

Written Answers - Home Department: Immigration: Leicester
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in Leicester given leave to remain in the UK had to wait longer than the 28 day transition period to receive their benefits and other entitlements in each of the last 12 months. More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Church Commissioners: Richard III
Jonathan Ashworth: What discussions the Church Commissioners have had on laying to rest the remains of King Richard III at Leicester Cathedral. More...

Written Answers - Education: Free Schools
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that the enrolling of students and hiring of staff to free schools is not dictated by religion. More...

Opposition Day : Policing
Jonathan Ashworth: Not only is the Minister cutting more than 300 police officers from the Leicestershire force by 2015; he is also cutting back-room staff, which will force more officers into the back room. The Minister is a reasonable man, so will he give me a prediction? By 2015, will crime go up or down in Leicester? More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Health: Bovine TB and Badger Control
Jonathan Ashworth: Many of my constituents have been in touch with me in recent days. I am sure they will have followed the Secretary of State's albeit temporary U-turn with great interest, but there is also interest in how much money has been spent on preparations. The Secretary of State referred to the amount as a round of drinks within the wider context-I am not sure what clubs he drinks in. More...

Jon Ashworth MP speaks in Parliament about the decision to end Glenfield's children's heart services

A debate was held in Westminster Hall today as a result of more than 100,000 people signing a petition which urged the government to reconsider its decision to end children's heart services in Glenfield and move the ECMO service to Birmingham. The campaign has been spearheaded by Liz Kendall MP for Leicester West, Jon and other Leicestershire MPs and has received huge support from local supporters.

Speaking in the debate, Jon stated: “This issue has caused considerable concern, not only in my Leicester South constituency but across the East Midlands region. It is no surprise to those of us who have been involved in the campaign that the e-petition has hit 100,000 signatures.”

Commons debate : Police and Crime Commissioner Elections
Jonathan Ashworth: My hon. Friend is speaking extremely well. There is very little awareness of the elections in my patch of the city of Leicester, although the excellent Labour candidate, Sarah Russell, is reminding voters that the Government are cutting 200 police officers from the Leicestershire force. There is a great deal of awareness about that; it is extremely unpopular. More...

Her Majesty'S Revenue and Customs (Nurseries)
Jonathan Ashworth: Many Members have raised sports-related issues with the Leader of the House today. Will he consider having a general debate on sports matters, so that we can talk about Wonga sponsoring football stadiums? I am concerned that future sporting events, such as the rugby world cup in 2015, should be a great success. Does he agree that it is ridiculous that Leicester Tigers' Welford Road...More...

Her Majesty'S Revenue and Customs (Nurseries)
Jonathan Ashworth: I pay tribute to my hon. Friend's tenacity in pursuing this issue and I am, of course, delighted that the nurseries in East Kilbride and Cardiff will remain open. But the one in Leicester's Saxon house will not remain open, even though it is oversubscribed and there are 15 staff on maternity leave who will want to use the nursery when they return to work. Does he agree with the... More...

Business of the House
Jonathan Ashworth: Could we have a debate on tourism? Does the Leader of the House agree that the exciting discovery of what might be the remains of Richard III in a Leicester city car park has the potential to hugely benefit the city of Leicester in terms of tourism? Does he also agree that if those remains turn out to belong to Richard III, they should be laid to rest at Leicester cathedral? More...

Westminster Hall debates - Rohingya Communities
Jonathan Ashworth: It is a privilege to open this debate and to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Williams. This is an issue of human rights, justice and desperate humanitarian need, to which we must respond. It is also one that has caused considerable concern to many of my constituents in Leicester South in recent weeks. Indeed, we had a public meeting there on this issue just last Friday evening. More...

Written Answers - International Development: Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) whether she plans to increase the UK's commitment to the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria above its 2012-13 level; (2) if she will commit the UK to doubling its 2012-13 commitment to the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and if she will set a specific date on which she will make... More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Business, Innovation and Skills: Graduate Employment
Jonathan Ashworth: The Minister is well aware that going to university improves employability, but he will also be well aware that tuition fees are acting as a disincentive for many students. Specifically, I have been approached over the summer by Muslim students who are concerned about sharia-compliant financing for their tuition fees? I know that the Department is looking at this, so will he update us on... More...

Written Answers - Women and Equalities: Publications
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities pursuant to the answer of 2 July 2012, Official Report, column 567W, on publications, how much her Department has spent on (a) circulars, (b) publications and (c) consultation documents since May 2010. More...

Written Answers - Communities and Local Government: Publications
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answers of 13 June 2012, Official Report, columns 517-8W and 2 July 2012, Official Report, column 418W, on publications, how much his Department has spent on (a) circulars, (b) publications and (c) consultation documents and since May 2010. More...

Written Answers - Defence: Publications
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answers of 3 July 2012, Official Report, column 627W and 12 June 2012, Official Report, column 457W, on publications, how much his Department has spent on (a) publications, (b) circulars and (c) consultation documents since May 2010. More...

Jon Ashworth MP speaks in Parliament about the decision to end Glenfield's children's heart services

In the Commons debate, which was secured following pressure from Jon and other Leicestershire MPs including Liz Kendall, Jon asked: “Where do our constituents in the east of the country, between Newcastle and London, go?"

Oral Answers to Questions - Work and Pensions: G20 Summit
Jonathan Ashworth: Did not the G20 communiqué argue that advanced economies should pursue fiscal consolidation at a pace appropriate to support recovery? Why, then, is the Prime Minister pursuing fiscal consolidation at a pace that has contributed to a double-dip recession? More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Civil Service Reform
Jonathan Ashworth: I listened with great interest to what the Minister said about opening up policy development work. I note what he said about the Civil Service Commission, but I wonder whether he could expand on it. I am not making a partisan point, but he will recall answering questions recently about suggestions-allegations and so on-that, for example, Mr Peter Cruddas had influence over the No...More...

Commons Debates - Scrap Metal Theft
Jonathan Ashworth: My hon. Friend talks about thefts from the home, and he is, of course, concentrating on scrap metal theft. May I just tell the House that in Leicester the theft of gold is particularly affecting many Asian families and Asian businesses? I do not think that gold is covered by the legislation to which he just referred, so if the Minister is going to introduce proposals and take steps...More...

Commons Debates - Business of the House
Jonathan Ashworth: A few moments ago, when the Leader of the House cantered through his statistics on child poverty, he accidentally forgot to report to the House that today's figures show that the last Labour Government lifted more than 1 million children out of poverty. Given that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is today talking about shifting the goalposts-a change from the position... More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Defence: Family Migration
Jonathan Ashworth: I entirely reinforce the point that my parliamentary neighbour, my right hon. Friend the Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz), put to the Home Secretary. Even if the threshold has been suggested by the Migration Advisory Committee, surely she must recognise that it is entirely arbitrary and that many people in Leicester and other parts of the country are on earnings of nowhere near... More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Business, Innovation and Skills: Russell Group
Jonathan Ashworth: I want to reinforce the point that the right hon.Member for Ross, Skye and Lochaber (Mr Kennedy) just put to the Minister. The new visa regime is causing huge instability and sending a very discouraging signal internationally. Given how important the HE sector and the Russell group are to trade, and given that it is such an important exporter, will the Minister speak to the Immigration... More...

Business of the House: Whitsun Recess
Jonathan Ashworth: Is the Leader of the House as excited as I am about the prospects of Leicester's singing sensation, Engelbert Humperdinck, at this week's Eurovision song contest? Will he find time for a debate-or, perhaps, some other parliamentary procedure-so that Members who are fans of "the Hump" can express their support not only for his singing, but also for his... More...

Business of the House: Whitsun Recess
Jonathan Ashworth: The hon. Lady is speaking very well. I am an east midlands MP, as is she. She will recognise that a report published earlier this week suggested that the east midlands faces a potential housing crisis, and that in the next 20 years or so we will probably need 22,000 extra houses. I recognise her argument entirely, but those houses will have to go somewhere. More...

Written Answers - Home Department: Publications
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many publications have been issued by her Department since May 2010. More...

Written Answers - Transport: Midland Main Line
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to make a decision on the possible upgrade and electrification of the Midland Mainline. More...

Written Answers - Work and Pensions: Crisis Loans: Leicester
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many crisis loans were provided to people living in (a) Leicester South constituency and (b) Leicester in each of the last five years. More...

Written Answers - Business, Innovation and Skills: Overseas Trade: Turkey
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support his Department offers to small and medium-sized enterprises based in Leicester and the East Midlands to export to and establish trade links with Turkey. More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Home Department: Employment Law (Beecroft Report)
Jonathan Ashworth: Given the falls in consumption in the economy and given the chronic lack of business confidence, would it not be better for the Minister to come to the Dispatch Box to announce some workable schemes to support manufacturing investment and schemes to support business access to financial credit rather than making it easier to sack people? More...

Debate on the Address: Jobs and Growth

Answers to Questions - Defence: Rail Investment
Jonathan Ashworth: The Secretary of State will know that there has been a huge cross-party campaign for electrification of the midland main line, so I am delighted to welcome her announcement, including what she said about the upgrade of the Leicester junction. She will know that commuters want that work to start as quickly as possible, so will she undertake that it will start closer to 2014 than 2019? More...

Business of the House
Jonathan Ashworth: May I return to a theme that was raised extensively during last week's business questions, which is the review of children's heart services? The Leader of the House will recall that Members from both sides of the House raised that important issue with him. The decision to end services at Leicester's Glenfield hospital has been shattering news for families and patients in... More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Home Department: Policing
Jonathan Ashworth: The Leicestershire force is losing more than 200 front-line police officers and more than 150 support staff. Will crime rise or fall in the city of Leicester as a result? More...

Jon Ashworth speaks up for Leicester businesses hit by double dip recession at Prime Minster's Question Time

Speaking in the Commons today at PMQs Jon Ashworth said: “Leicester is bearing the brunt of the Prime Minister's double-dip recession, with the sad news today that yet another business is going under, resulting in the loss of local jobs.

Oral Answers to Questions - Prime Minister: Leveson Inquiry
Jonathan Ashworth: Who suggested to the permanent secretary that Mr Smith should have the role of the go-between between the Department and News Corporation? Presumably a submission went to the permanent secretary and to the Secretary of State. Will he put that submission in the Library? Did he have any conversations with the permanent secretary about the appropriateness of a politically appointed special... More...

Written Answers - Business, Innovation and Skills: Motor Vehicles
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the value of the automotive sector is to the economy; how many people are employed in the industry; what proportion of the industry operates in each region; and what the industry spent on its supply chains in the UK in 2011. More...

Written Answers - Treasury: Government: Ministerial Meetings
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will prepare and place in the Library a list of meetings between special advisers in his Department and external individuals, bodies and agencies since May 2010, with a description of the purpose of each meeting; (2) what discussions staff in his Department have had with Mr Peter Cruddas or his representatives since May 2010; who took part...More...

Business of the House
Jonathan Ashworth: The Leader of the House is very familiar with the review of children's cardiac services. I understand that a decision on the unit at Leicester's Glenfield hospital will be made on 4 July. Naturally, Members on both sides of the House have strong views on the review. Will he consider finding time for a debate before July in the next Session? The House last debated the matter last... More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Transport: Midland Main Line
Jonathan Ashworth: May I tell the Minister that this project also has huge support from the fine institution that is the Leicester Mercury? She has referred to the strength of feeling expressed in Monday evening's debate. This project has huge cross-party support and support in the business community, although there is concern in some quarters that, because of HS2, we will not get the money for it. More...

Commons Debate - Diabetes Prevention (Soft Drinks): New Clause 1 - Value Added Tax
Jonathan Ashworth: I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for giving way, and I suppose I should declare an interest as a patron of the St Peter's project in my constituency, where we are trying to raise funds to make much-needed alterations and renovations to St Peter's church in Highfields. There are already considerable pressures on the listed places of worship grant scheme, which is a very good...More...

Written Answers - Prime Minister: Peter Cruddas
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Prime Minister whether any officials or special advisers in 10 Downing Street have directed Ministers, officials or special advisers in government departments to meet (a) Peter Cruddas, (b) representatives of Peter Cruddas and (c) individuals suggested by Peter Cruddas. More...

Commons Debate - Midland Main Line

Written Answers - Home Department: Metals: Theft
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward the date for the completion of the review of the offence of buying scrap metal for cash. More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Defence: Party Funding
Jonathan Ashworth: The Paymaster General talks of transparency, yet casually dismisses out of hand the prospects of an independent inquiry. Given that we have heard some very serious allegations about donors' access to the No. 10 policy unit, which the Minister admitted a few moments ago is staffed by career civil servants, he is obviously confident as the Minister for the Cabinet Office that nothing... More...

Written Answers - Culture Media and Sport: Arts
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the value of the creative sector is to the economy; how many people are employed in the industry; what proportion of the industry operates in each region; and what the industry spent on its supply chains in the UK in 2011. More...

Written Answers - Culture Media and Sport: Arts
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to support the creative industries and their domestic supply chain. More...

Written Answers - Home Department: Metals: Theft
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which forms of scrap metal a ban on cash payments for scrap metal will apply. More...

Written Answers - Treasury: Departmental Official Hospitality
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what official (a) lunches, (b) dinners and (c) receptions he hosted in each of the last six months; and what the (i) location, (ii) cost to the public purse and (iii) purpose was of each such event; (2) what official (a) lunches, (b) dinners and (c) receptions he hosted in each of the last 12 months... More...

Written Answers - Health: Heart Diseases: Children
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget is for the safe and sustainable review of children's heart services in England which is being carried out by the National Specialised Commissioning Team; and how much has been spent on the review. More...

Written Answers - Communities and Local Government: Planning Permission: Sustainable Development
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he applied the definition of sustainable development recommended by the Communities and Local Government Select Committee when drafting the National Planning Policy Framework. More...

Written Answers - Treasury: Moody's Investor Services: Press Releases
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2012, Official Report, column 428W, on Moody's Investor Services, whether his Department requested changes to be made to the draft press release submitted to it by Moody's Investor Services on 13 February 2012; whether any such requested changes were incorporated by Moody's Investor Services into their final press... More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Prime Minister: Diamond Jubilee
Jonathan Ashworth: Jon spoke in the House of Commons during the debate on Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee and referred to the forthcoming visit to the City of Leicester. You can view the televised session by clicking on the Play button, and skip through to 13:04:58 for the start of Jon's speech, or click here to read.

Oral Answers to Questions - Work and Pensions: Student Support
Jonathan Ashworth: A constituent of mine, Mr Ollie Evans, had to interrupt his studies owing to a serious illness. He was unable to claim the various benefits that the Minister has outlined; at the same time, the Student Loans Company was clawing back all types of support that it had given him. More...

Business of the House
Jonathan Ashworth: The Leader of the House might recall that a few weeks ago, I raised with him the situation facing Leicester businesses that were damaged at the height of the summer disturbances. They are not getting any compensation, because the police authority does not designate the disturbances as a riot... More...

Written Answers - Treasury: Moody's Investors Service
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2012, Official Report, column 840W, on Moody's Investors Service, other than the requirement to submit a draft ratings assessment to his Department in advance of publication, what communications took place between his Department and Moody's Investors Service on (a) 12, (b) 13 and (c) 14 February 2012; who was...More...

Vote on Account 2012-13: Department for Transport - Transport and the Economy
Jonathan Ashworth: I start by paying tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mrs Ellman), who spoke with great eloquence and distinction. She spoke a lot of good sense on behalf of the Transport Committee and I agreed with every word that she said. She is quite right to draw the link between the wider impact on economic growth and investing in and building a modern transport... More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Health and Social Care Bill
Jonathan Ashworth: If I may say so, I think that the Secretary of State and the Government have been at sixes and sevens over this issue in recent weeks and they would be better off dropping this disastrous Bill. However, may I press the right hon. Gentleman on the answer he gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dunfermline and West Fife (Thomas Docherty)? If he now agrees that the amendments are significant,...More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Topical Questions
Jonathan Ashworth: Ministers will know that there is a sizeable Somali community in Leicester, many of whom followed the deliberations of the recent conference with great interest. I am keen to find out how Ministers plan to continue to engage with that community. In addition, to what extent was the role of children discussed at the conference? More...

Written Answers - Health: Hepatitis: Ethnic Groups
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision he plans to make in the forthcoming national liver disease strategy to improve awareness and diagnosis of hepatitis C within the South Asian population. More...

Written Answers - Health: Hepatitis: Ethnic Groups
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take as part of his proposals for NHS reform to improve the diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C in South Asian communities. More...

Written Answers - Treasury: Moody's Investors Service
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions staff in his Department had with representatives of Moody's on 12 and 13 February 2012; who took part in any discussions; and what their purpose was. More...

Written Answers - Transport: Railways: Finance
Jonathan Ashworth; To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the proposed transfer of assets and responsibilities of British Waterways to the Canal and River Trust and the reduced level of funding on regeneration around the Grand Union Canal Leicester Section. More...

Business of the House
Jonathan Ashworth: Will the Leader of the House guarantee that the Health Secretary leads for the Government in the Opposition day debate on the NHS risk register when we return? Does he agree that the handling of the Health and Social Care Bill has been an utter shambles from start to finish? Every day we see blue-on-blue briefing against the poor, downtrodden Health Secretary. Would it not better for all... More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Cabinet Office: Big Society
Jonathan Ashworth: The Minister is a keen follower of my website, so he will know that I support initiatives to build social capital in communities. When I visit voluntary groups, I am very struck by the extent to which they have benefited from the future jobs fund. From a big society point of view, was it not a mistake, therefore, to abolish that fund? More...

Written Answers - Defence: Freedom of Information
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department publishes on its website its response to each request it receives under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; whether the response is published in the same part of its website on each occasion; and what the average time taken is between responding to a request and the information being made available on the website. More...

Written Answers - Transport: Freedom of Information
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department publishes on its website its response to each request it receives under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; whether the response is published in the same part of its website on each occasion; and what the average time taken is between responding to a request and the information being made available on the website. More...

Written Answers - Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Freedom of Information
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department publishes on its website its response to each request it receives under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; whether the response is published in the same part of its website on each occasion; and what the average time taken is between responding to a request and the information being made available... More...

Written Answers - Transport: Freedom of Information
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department publishes on its website its response to each request it receives under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; whether the response is published in the same part of its website on each occasion; and what the average time taken is between responding to a request and the information being made available on the website. More...

Answers to Questions - Business, Innovation and Skills: Tax Avoidance (Public Servants)
Jonathan Ashworth: I welcome the review that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has announced, but why did it not occur to him to launch such a review when he was asked to sign off this deal? Secondly, he said that he was not aware of the tax benefits to the individual involved, yet a BIS spokesman said last night... More...

Answers to Questions - Justice: Informal European Council
Jonathan Ashworth: Will the Prime Minister explain how he will take action, as he says, if this non-EU treaty under which the 25 nations can take advantage of the full force of the EU institutions, encroached on our national interest and undermined the single market? More...

Written Answers - Culture Media and Sport: Freedom of Information
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department publishes on its website its response to each request it receives under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; whether the response is published in the same part of its website on each occasion; and what the average time taken is between responding to a request and the information being made available on... More...

Written Answers - Culture Media and Sport: Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department publishes a breakdown of the types of work for which claims are made under the Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme. More...

Written Answers - Culture Media and Sport: Freedom of Information
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department publishes on its website its response to each request it receives under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; whether the response is published in the same part of its website on each occasion; and what the average time taken is between responding to a request and the information being made available on... More...

Business of the house
Jonathan Ashworth: I thank the Leader of the House for scheduling a debate on the Somalia conference-a debate that I called for last week. May I ask him for an urgent statement on the businesses affected by the riots and disturbances last August? Leicester businesses have learnt that they are not eligible for any money from the policy authority, and we learnt from the Minister for Policing and Criminal... More... This quesion is also on the News page - click here to view

Commons debates - Energy and Climate Change: Wind Farms
Jonathan Ashworth: Given the importance we attach to National Grid maintaining balance in the system, will the Minister tell us what discussions he has had with National Grid on how it contracts with short-term operating reserve aggregators? There is concern that National Grid is paying for so-called phantom megawatts and the cost is being passed on to consumers. Does the Minister agree that we need an...More...

Written Answers - Energy and Climate Change: Electricity Generation
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has received from (a) industry and (b) the National Grid on the use of STOR aggregators. More...

Written Answers - Health: Hospitals: Electricity
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a list of all hospitals that are contracted to provide electricity on demand to STOR aggregators. More...

Written Answers - Energy and Climate Change: Electricity
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the use of short-term operating reserve aggregators; and if he will make a statement. More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Treasury: Topical Questions
Jonathan Ashworth: Can the Chief Secretary confirm, so that we are clear, that the Chancellor is set to borrow more and debt is set to be larger than it would have been, had the Government followed the path of my right hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh South West (Mr Darling)? More...

Written Answers - Transport: Departmental Consultants
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) pursuant to the answer of 23 November 2011, Official Report, columns 411-12W, on departmental consultants, how much (a) her Department and (b) franchised train operators have spent on each consultant or consultancy for the (i) Thameslink Programme, (ii) Thameslink Rolling Stock Procurement and (iii) Intercity Express Programme since the start... More...

Written Answers - Culture Media and Sport: Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many listed places of worship have participated in the grant scheme for repairs in (a) Leicester and (b) England in the last 12 months. More...

Written Answers - International Development: East Africa: Droughts
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the famine in Somalia; and if he will make a statement. More...

Written Answers - Treasury: Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to review the budget allocated to the Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme. More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Work and Pensions: Executive Pay
Jonathan Ashworth: A few moments ago, the Secretary of State told us that he would consider it desirable to see more employees represented on boards, but then he told us about what he considered to be insurmountable obstacles. If Germany, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark can do it, why cannot we? More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Church Commissioners: Cathedrals
Jonathan Ashworth: The hon. Gentleman will know that other cathedrals have also suffered from metal theft in recent days; there were reports in the newspapers this week of Manchester cathedral being hit. Given the impact of metal theft and further to the hon. Gentleman's earlier answer, will he tell us how many churches and cathedrals have applied for support from the listed places of worship grant scheme... More...

Business of the House
Jonathan Ashworth: Further to the exchanges that the Leader of the House had with the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Stephen Hammond) and my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Ms Eagle), may I join the calls for a debate on Somalia? There is a humanitarian crisis in that country, its political instability is well known and the conference that the Prime Minister is convening in February is potentially an...More...

Written Answers - Transport: Railways: Finance
Jonathan Ashworth; To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding has been allocated to the (a) Thameslink rolling stock and (b) Intercity Express programme; and if she will make a statement. More...

Women and Equalities: Tax Credits
Jonathan Ashworth; What assessment she has made of the effect of changes to tax credits on the income of women. More...

Written Answers - Business, Innovation and Skills: Apprentices: East Midlands
Jonathan Ashworth; To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many (a) men and (b) women enrolled on apprenticeships in (i) information and communication technology and (ii) engineering and manufacturing technology in (A) the East Midlands, (B) Leicester South constituency and (C) Leicester City constituency in the latest period for which figures are available; (2) how many... More...

Oral Answers to Questions - Health: High-speed Rail
Jonathan Ashworth: I welcome the Secretary of State's statement on high-speed rail. She will presumably agree-certainly with regard to phase 1-that commuters travelling from Leicester train station in my constituency will see no direct advantage, although I appreciate that phase 2 may be different. She will be aware that many of those commuters have been hoping for the electrification of the... More...

Written Answers - Culture Media and Sport: Sikhs
Jonathan Ashworth; To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will have discussions with the Sikh Council UK and Sikh Federation (UK) on policy matters relating to the Sikh community. More...

Written Answers - Treasury: Excise Duties: Tobacco
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to tackle the illicit trade in non-UK duty paid cigarettes. More...