Phil Willis MP - Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough

Phil Willis MP questions Prime Minister on cuts in local stroke services.

Phil Willis MP and Claire Kelley, Liberal Democrat PPC for Harrogate & Knaresborough, have been shocked to learn that North Yorkshire County Council is to cut the funding for the Stroke Association's Family and Carer Support Service in Harrogate and Craven. At the same time, the County Council is commissioning similar services in the other parts of North Yorkshire.

Phil Willis asked the Prime Minister today:

Phil Willis, the MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has gone ‘back to the floor’ to experience life as an apprentice in support of a national campaign aimed at encouraging more employers to provide Apprenticeships in the region.

The ‘back to the floor’ initiative devised by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) to support National Apprenticeship Week 2010, saw Phil Willis MP roll up his sleeves to tackle life as an apprentice in the hospitality industry.

Speech at the Westminster Education Forum – 04/02/2010

‘Spend, spend, spend - the mismanagement of the Learning and Skills Council's capital programme in further education colleges’

The Building Colleges for the Future programme was a launched in a blaze of glory in 2008 as a flagship endeavour for the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (as it was then) and the Learning and Skills Council.

For FE this was the biggest investment EVER made in the sector.

Adjournment Debate - 03/02/2010 - Available to watch at: http://is.gd/7CAol

Allocation of places at Universities in England

Mr Deputy Speaker – I begin this short debate by putting on record my belief that we have a higher education system in the UK that is truly world class.

A system that over decades – since the Robbins Report in 1963 – has expanded from a small relatively elite one serving some 8% of young people to a mass, semi market driven system serving in England alone 42% of today’s school leavers.

Harrogate & Knaresborough MP Phil Willis has hit out at North Yorkshire County Council’s plans to add what has been dubbed a ‘snow levy’ on council tax payers.

“People in Harrogate and Knaresborough were trapped in their homes for weeks because pavements and minor roads were blocked. Businesses lost millions in sales. Now local residents are expected to pay an increase in tax to pay for road repairs.” said Phil Willis.

Speech to The Liberal Democrat Christian Forum – 01/02/10

Faith, Science and Politics

May I first of all thank you for the honour of allowing me to give the Annual Gladstone Lecture this evening and trust that we can create a hearty discussion on what is without doubt a hugely topical area of discussion - Faith, Science and Politics .

I feel hopelessly inadequate in making this presentation, given the illustrious parliamentarians and others you have invited so hopefully you will forgive me if I raise more questions than I give answers.