Dr Hywel Francis

MP for Aberavon

HYWEL IN PARLIAMENT

 

Debates

Welsh Affairs
St David’s Day Debate 2008

Dr. Hywel Francis (Aberavon) (Lab): May I first pay tribute to my right hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Hain), who was at one time my Member of Parliament? He has made, in the great tradition of this House, a fine speech, one that the people of Wales would be proud of, in the sense that he located Wales in a United Kingdom and an internationalist context. He has served Wales well as Secretary of State and has served democratic devolution well. I am sure that he will continue to do so in the future.
More...

Debate on Higher Education
8th January 2008

Dr. Hywel Francis (Aberavon) (Lab): As ever, it is a particular pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis). He has always been a champion of adult learners, and I welcome the inquiry that his Select Committee is conducting.
More...

National Carers Strategy
6th June 2007

Dr. Hywel Francis (Aberavon) (Lab): It is a pleasure to contribute to this important Adjournment debate under your wise and, dare I say it, progressive chairmanship, Mr. Bercow. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Worsley (Barbara Keeley) on securing the debate and on the tremendous work that she has done on behalf of carers both before entering the House and in the two years since. She is certainly a valued colleague on the all-party carers group.
More...

Debate of Higher Education
15th March 2007

Dr. Hywel Francis (Aberavon) (Lab): It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Bristol, West (Stephen Williams). I do not necessarily agree with all of his analysis, but I share his objectives for social justice.
More...

[Debates Archive]

 

ORAL Questions

Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales
2nd April 2008

Dr. Hywel Francis (Aberavon) (Lab): What recent assessment he has made of employment trends in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
More...

Question re Employment
27th February 2008

Dr. Hywel Francis (Aberavon) (Lab): May I, too, welcome my right hon. Friend back to his rightful place on the Front Bench? I also congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) on the sterling work that she has done over many years to attract business to the Cynon valley.
More...

Question re University Funding
16th January 2008

Dr. Hywel Francis (Aberavon) (Lab): The Secretary of State has long been a champion of higher education in Wales, particularly with regard to its support of the knowledge economy.
More...

Question on the Economy
21st November 2007

Dr. Hywel Francis (Aberavon) (Lab): What discussions he has had with the First Minister of the Welsh Assembly Government on recent developments in the Welsh economy.
More...

[Oral Questions Archive]

 

Written Questions

Middle East: Armed Conflict
13th March 2008

Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) the UK and (b) other countries through the UN have organised medical aid to assist the casualties in the recent Gaza-Israel conflict; and if he will make a statement.
More...

Iran: Trade Unions
13th March 2008

Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Iranian government in support of the rights of Iranian trade unionists; and if he will make a statement.
More...

Iran: Oppression
13th March 2008

Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Iranian government to encourage that government to lift the ban on democratic opposition organisations; and if he will make a statement.
More...

Cyprus
13th March 2008

Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Greek and Turkish governments to encourage reconciliation in Cyprus following the Cypriot presidential election.
More...

[Written Questions Archive]

 

Early Day Motions

Tommy Cooper (1921 TO 1984)
25th February 2008

That this House welcomes the recent unveiling of a statue in Caerphilly in memory of one of its most famous sons, Tommy Cooper; congratulates the Tommy Cooper Society on this important initiative in giving public recognition to one of the great comedians of the 20th century; praises Port Talbot-born Sir Anthony Hopkins for associating himself with this development by unveiling the statue; and calls on the Secretary of State for Wales to encourage the Welsh Assembly Government to support more public recognition of past and present Welsh achievements in the creative industries and performing arts.

Carers and the 2011 Census
18th February 2008

That this House recognises the recent increased priority given to supporting the UK's six million carers and the forthcoming Prime Minister's National Carers Strategy which will be published in the spring; notes the widespread use of data on carers gathered as a result of the 2001 census, in particular its use in research by Carers UK showing the negative impact that caring has on carers' ability to undertake paid work; notes that only the census can provide data on small groups such as carers from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and is the only reliable source of data on young carers; notes the difficulty that government, local authorities and health bodies will have in implementing the strategy without accurate data on the numbers, nature and location of carers; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure that the questions on carers are included in 2011 census.

Young Carers and Carers' Rights Day 2007
5th December 2007

That this House notes the cross-party welcome given to members of the Young Carers' Forum at the All-Party Parliament Carers' Group; congratulates the Forum on its work on behalf of young carers, in particular its involvement in the consultation events for the New Deal for Carers; and, as part of this year's Carers' Rights Day, endorses their call for care services for the whole family, the training of professionals who deal with young carers and ensuring that young carers have a chance of a normal childhood.

 

Please click here to see more Early Day Motions signed by Dr Francis.