Any questions for Alan Duncan?

Alan Duncan has been the Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry since December 2005. He was first elected as MP for Rutland and Melton in 1992 and served as PPS to the then Party Chairman Brian Mawhinney in his first term. In Opposition he has held a number of frontbench positions including as Shadow Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Shadow International Development Secretary.

Before entering Parliament Alan worked for Shell International Petroleum, and subsequently for an independent commodity company as a trader of crude oil and refined products. He lived in Singapore from 1984-1986 and, since 1989, has owned his own oil broking and advisory company. He has travelled extensively, especially in the Middle East and South-East Asia.

You can leave your questions for Alan Duncan in the thread below of email them here.

Comments

[Mark Wadsworth]

Do you still stand by your comment of a couple of years ago that if the electricty generators were left to their own devices (without subsidies or penalties or other government interference) then they would probably go for gas or coal rather than nuclear or wind-power?

If you had a couple of billion in the bank and wanted to go in electricity generation, what would you choose?

[Nick]

Our recent local election showing in one of our top target constituencies - Tynemouth - was less than great. There was essentially no change, and in some areas the Labour vote went up.

As Shadow Minister for Tyneside, which issues do you feel appeal to people in the North?

To put it another way, are the politically correct, enviro-luvvy ideals of Islington and Notting Hill the right line to be taking to win on Tyneside?

[Stephen Warrick]

Given that in Newcastle and throughout Tyneside the Conservatives have again recently scored the political equivalent of a Eurovision "Null Points" do you think it is time for the Conservative Party to assert a more ambitious policy programme for the North East?

I have long advocated a 'Regional Trade Zone' which would be similar in effect and ambition to the original Special Economic Zones in Shenzen / Guangdong, China.

I.E. an attempt to create a regional Global Trading Zone deploying the key economic advantages of some of our poorest regions (eg a trade zone encompassing parts of Teeside, Tyneside, Northumberland, Cumbria AND the Borders) such as (in UK terms) more competitive wage rates, pools of unskilled labour, large lower cost land areas (eg for expansion).

Proposing such a trade zone with say, a 25 year moartorium on employer NIC's and business rate relief would be an eye-catching proposal to voters in 'The North' as our party still refers people.

At a swoop, it would offer an ambitious, market-based economic stimulus to parts of the UK reagrded as a Labour tribal territory.

I note that Simon Heffer in the Telegraph, ahs recently mooted this too, but I am sure the copyright holder remains a one Mr. S. Warrick of Newcastle Conservative Fedn.

As a Geordie myself, I am damn sure that my fellow North Easterners would react positively to being reminded of our great trading / industrial history as one of the cradles of the insustrial revolution.

If Germany can increase its Manufacturing output, GDP and Exports as it has recently, sure this proves that it is not a foregone conclusion to write off manufacturing in advanced economies such as the UK?

[Lee Martin]

Nick, surely it is up to us in the North to tell Mr Duncan what policies the Party needs to adopt to appeal to voters in the North.

Perhaps it's also time for a Centre Right Northern Think Tank to emerge.

[Teesbridge]

If an incoming Brown administration decided to abolish or substantially gut the DTI, would Mr Duncan oppose?

Secondly, given his oil industry background, does Mr Duncan favour the return of a separate Department of Energy?

And thirdly, how does Mr Duncan divide his efforts between the departmental brief and his regional brief - fifty/fifty, ninety/ten?

[Lucy]

How tall are you?

[Simon Chapman]

Do energy security considerations dictate that Britain should make a strategic commitment to nuclear power as one element in our mix of energy sources, as well as to green renewables?

[Andrew Lilico]

You are well known for your interest in Arab affairs. Ought a Conservative government seek to re-build Britain's reputation amongst Arab nations, and, if so, how?

[Watchdog]

Why did you publicly support Democrat John Kerry for President of the United States? What qualities do you think he had, that the U.S. voters subsequently failed to recognise? Go on tell.

[Justin Hinchcliffe]

Who do you think will make the best American President (of all the declared candidates) and why?

[Joshua, Guildford.]

Do you think it was wrong to hang Saddam Hussein?

[Jonathan Powell]

I read somewhere that you had a picture of Yasser Arafat in your office. Is this true, and if so why? I assume it's not because of his good looks, so what do you most admire about the lying, Jew-hating, mass murdering, totalitarian, terrorist lunatic?

[Brian Jenner]

I was thinking the other day, which of the members of the Shadow Cabinet, if they organised a party, would you think it would be interesting to go along to?

Your name was the only one I could think of. Why do you think that the Conservative Party has lost all its appeal as a social organisation?

[Daisy, Windermere]

Have you ever bought a quad bike using your parliamentary (public money) expenses?

[TaxCutter]

What's the best way of driving forward a free trade agenda to benefit the UK and indeed also our trading partners?

[Jamie, Manchester.]

Worldwide climate change is a serious issue. Environmental degradation is a serious issue. Energy independence is a serious issue. And when it comes to global security concerns, all these issues come together in very serious ways. You're a so-called 'nuTory'. How serious are you on these issues? Seriously.

[Helen, Pitlochry.]

A journalist once wrote that you were like a 'Bonsai Heseltine'. Given the enormous damage that Heseltine did to the Conservative Party, are you insulted by the sobriquet?

[Jared]

You're actually cute, why are u still single...there are plenty of good looking Tory men who would jump at the chance....

[1AM]

1) Given that much of your plans towards the Post Office are extending the freedoms of sub-Postmasters, why not privatise the Royal Mail and give a proportionate subsidy to all rural post offices (e.g. 50% top-up of their takings)?

2) Why not allow parish councils and other local organisations to subsidise local post offices rather than central government?

3) Do you agree with the point that councils will either provide services through Post Offices if it cuts costs for councils or won't if it doesn't and if not why not? If councils do provide services which raises their cost to councils it is just a hidden local subsidy - which you might as well admit?

4) What plans do you have to cut the £6 billion DTI budget, where and why? (And if not, why not?)

[James Turner]

Your colleagues do not hold you in high regard. Why?

[Anne Brigstock]

Is disobedience ever justifiable?

[Ray, Poole.]

Do you think Francis Maude should be sacked as Chairman of the Conservative Party?

[Michael Huntsman]

The policy of the conservative party on Europe appears presently to be limited to seeking to repatriate sovereignty concerning judicial, fisheries and agriculture powers. If, as is frankly inevitable, the EU says 'NO' to this, what is Plan 'B'? Remember that throwing up your hands and saying 'Oh dear! What a shame!' is not an option.

[Delores Behan-Ingland (Mrs)]

Should England have its own parliament?

[Floating voter]

You voted for the war in Iraq. Why?

[James]

(I see someone with the same name as me has posted a very, well, direct question refering to Alan's colleagues!)

Anyway, on with my question - why do you think that certain gay men on the Conservative benches, or in very senior offices outside the Commons, continue to remain in the closet (including those whose sexuality is, as the media always puts it "widely known") given the openness shown by people such as yourself, Nick Herbert, Iain Dale, Margot James and so on? And did coming out make your life easier?

[Yvonne, Sussex]

Do you wonder if Ken Livingston’s obsession with the congestion charge and filling London with tall buildings and stupidly long buses might be a result of some feeling of intimate personal inadequacy on his part?

[Jason, Oakham]

Do you believe that the Conservative Party can restore the full authority of Westminster? Where the MPs we elect defend our interests, rather than accept rule from Brussels by bureaucrats we neither vote in nor have power to dismiss.

[Teddy Ashton, Leeds]

Mr Cameron was elected on the promise he would withdraw the Conservative Party from the EPP-ED group. Why has he now broken that promise?

[simon]

Alan- you come across as a thoughtful chap. How would you instill confidence in the political process as a whole? Isn't the main problem with the 'perception' of the entire process of government is that politicians ,of all colours, have bu**ered up most previously valued state institutions ( education/ dentistry/housing/ local healthcare)? A heck of a mountain to climb!

[Member of the public.]

If you ask me Mr Duncan there have been some shameful days at Westminster. But none more so than the one in which saw MPs exempt themselves from freedom of information laws.

Led by your colleague David Maclean, (who'll be ever remembered) as the Tory who bought a £3,300 quad bike on parliamentary expenses, I think the Bill's 96 supporters simply hid behind the electorate in a vain bid to justify their own actions. They claimed it will protect the confidentiality of correspondence between constituents and MPs. What tommy-rot!! In reality it's designed to block embarrassing disclosures about MPs' expenses and allowances isn't it.?

I think this Bill sends out entirely the wrong message to the country. It says that there is one rule for us and another for those who represent us. And it confirms in many eyes the long-held suspicion that MPs are in it for themselves and not what they can do for their country.

Members of the public deserve access to this information for the simple reason that it is our money MPs are spending on their lifestyles. We want to know what you're up to in Westminster - are you value for money or not? I believe the claims that it was motivated by concerns over privacy are nothing but a smokescreen.

Quite simply this smells of shameful self-interest. And it's a stink that's not going to go away soon. What do you think the Conservative Party should do about it now? Or are you just going to present David Maclean with a bigger shovel?

[Associate Editor]

Thank you for your questions. A selection have been sent to Alan Duncan and we will post his replies when we receive them.