Chiswickite - formerly The Croydonian

At the risk of being coarse, I nominate this for 'The Inaugural WTF O' The Day' Award:


From, who else, Andrew Rosindell:

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts on the involvement of young people in the UK in NATO activities.

What is a young person these days?  Anyone under 18?  If so, I believe the forces still recruit 16-18 year olds, so one might argue that dodging the Taliban in Helmand counts as getting involved "in NATO activities".  That notwithstanding,  my mind is still boggling.

Short and not very sweet:

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will bring forward proposals to hold a referendum on UK ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon; and if he will make a statement. 
Chris Bryant: No.

The Commons discusses Uganda.  Although with out much comedy, alas:

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of UK policy towards Uganda of any discovery of new oilfields in that country.
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Oil companies operating in Uganda have announced significant new discoveries this year in the Albertine Rift Valley region in Western Uganda. [etc]

Gerald Kaufman is made to l.ook foolish, always a happy thing:

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to reply to the letter dated 22 July 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton concerning Ms G. Hine. 
Mr. Bradshaw: A response was sent on 8 September 2009.

Of sleaze, troughing and the like:

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many hon. Members have returned monies to the House in respect of expenses claims; and how much has been repaid in each such case. [295069]  
Nick Harvey: From 1 April to 21 October 2009, 260 Members and former Members made repayments of sums received as allowances totalling some £637,000.

And the killer point:

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what estimate has been made of the cost to the public purse of Sir Thomas Legg’s analysis of hon. Members’ expenses claims.


Nick Harvey: The review is expected to cost approximately £1.1 million.

So after all that, we would have been better off, financially, if whistles had not been blown.   Great.
 

And another odd one:

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helplines his Department operates; and how much his Department has received from the operation of such helplines in each of the last three years. 

Mr. Kevan Jones: The provision of helplines is determined at local level in accordance with individual business requirements and obtained directly from the supplier. Records of such helplines are not held centrally and information relating to them, including any revenue accrued, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

I will imagine a conversation:

"Hello, Ministry of Defence"
"Erm, hello, I need defending.  Could you send an aircraft carrier to 22 Acacia Avenue, Sidcup, please?"
"It's on its way sir".

Labels: arms and the man, Parliament

This entry was posted on Friday, October 23, 2009 at 9:45 am. You can skip to the end and leave a response.