Commons
Westminster Hall
2 September 2025
3 contributions
The Battle of Britain
The Dumfriesshire town of Moffat, which I have the privilege of representing and of living in, has a close association with a number of famous people. But few of our notable local sons or daughters had such a profound influence on the future of the United Kingdom as Hugh Dowding, who was born on 24 …
I absolutely agree with my right hon. Friend. Dowding was someone who valued the trained individual and who really stood up for his men.
From a number of excellent contributions we have heard Churchill’s assessment of the battle of Britain, in which he paid tribute to the courage of the RAF fighter…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Debate
1 September 2025
Lisbon Maru Memorial
I commend the hon. Lady for bringing forward the debate and the fact that we were able to have a debate in the House specifically about VJ Day. It is an issue that the events in the far east and some of the horrors that happened there are not known as well as they should be. I was not aware of this …
Commons
Petition
1 September 2025
Bank Facilities in Moffat
I rise to present a petition on behalf of constituents who are users of the Bank of Scotland Moffat branch.
Earlier this year, out of the blue, the Bank of Scotland announced the closure of all five of its branches in my constituency, along with many others across Scotland, leading, in my view, to …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
1 September 2025
Middle East
Will the Foreign Secretary confirm that he specifically raised delivery of aid in his discussions with his US counterparts? The United States is a hugely important actor in that regard: it has the potential to be positive in improving the existing arrangements, but it also has the potential to be a …
Commons
Debate
21 July 2025
2 contributions
Victory over Japan: 80th Anniversary
Last weekend I met my constituent Margaret Barbour, of Rosefield farm near Annan, to hear about the experience of her father, Sergeant Major Jock Wylie, and to look through the letters, paperwork and photographs that she has kept. A riding instructor in the Lanarkshire Yeomanry Territorials, Jock wa…
I absolutely agree, which is why this debate is so important. Many of those men did not feel able to speak about their experience, or found when they returned to the UK that the public wanted to move on, now that the war was over. It is incumbent on us to relay these experiences, which is why I want…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
21 July 2025
Infected Blood Inquiry: Additional Report
As co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on HIV, AIDS and sexual health, I very much welcome the removal of the 1982 start date. Coincidentally, today is Zero HIV Stigma Day, so it is important to recognise the stigma that many people suffered as a result of contracting HIV through infected …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
21 July 2025
Middle East
Everybody condemns the deaths as people queue for aid, but this aid system that was enforced is only possible because of the support of the United States in its delivery—so what is the Foreign Secretary doing to persuade the United States that this is not the way to deliver aid into Gaza?
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 July 2025
8 contributions
Northern Ireland Veterans: Prosecution
Before we begin the debate, I wish to make a statement about the House’s rule relating to matters sub judice. As the House will know, there are ongoing criminal cases involving the prosecution of British veterans who served in Northern Ireland during the troubles. And, while there are as yet no crim…
I remind Members that they should bob if they wish to be called in the debate.
+6 more contributions in this session
Commons
Proceedings
10 July 2025
Business of the House
I sincerely thank the Leader of the House for announcing that there will be a debate on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. It confirms how worth while it is to come to business questions and make the case for a debate.
I am sure the Leader of the House will join me in congratulating British players on…
Commons
Oral Questions
10 July 2025
Topical Questions
I was disappointed that the UK Government did not go ahead with proposals for a Glasgow campus for UK Government offices. One reason behind that proposal was upgrading the facilities available to Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office staff who are located at Abercrombie House in East Kilbride…
Commons
Oral Questions
10 July 2025
Devolved Governments: Co-operation
Are the Government still committed to one civil service across the United Kingdom? If so, what are they proactively doing to ensure that as part of their career development, UK Government civil servants can work within the devolved Administrations and that those within the devolved Administrations c…
Commons
Oral Questions
Scotland
9 July 2025
Spending Review 2025: Scottish Public Services
Does the Secretary of State share my view that, whatever the SNP Scottish Government’s budget, they have cynically and systematically deprived funding from areas that do not support independence, leaving councils such as Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders and their health boards struggling t…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
3 July 2025
Business of the House
Will the Leader of the House ensure that before the summer recess there is either a statement or a debate in Government time on Sudan? She will know that it is the worst humanitarian crisis ongoing in the world: tens of thousands of people killed, millions displaced and millions facing hunger every …
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
3 July 2025
People on Low Incomes in Rural Communities
With the closure of many churches in rural communities in England and in Scotland, too, are the commissioners concerned that people living in rural areas, particularly those on low incomes, might not be able to access worship within easy reach of their own communities?
Commons
Oral Questions
Northern Ireland
2 July 2025
Investment: Technology Businesses
Does the Minister accept, though, that poor road access from the north of the United Kingdom is one impediment to investment in Northern Ireland, and therefore another reason why we should see the A75 upgrading?
Commons
Debate
17 June 2025
2 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
I rise to support amendment 19, in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight East (Joe Robertson). I hope that the Minister listened to the compelling case that my hon. Friend made, and to the compelling case made by the hon. Member for Hitchin (Alistair Strathern) on the issue of spik…
Given the strictures on time, I had better not.
Previous Ministers said that there was no need for specific legislation on spiking, because it was already covered. Campaigning, including by your colleague, Madam Deputy Speaker, the First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means, the hon. Member for Bradfo…
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 June 2025
2 contributions
Farmed Animals: Cages and Crates
Order. I remind Members that they should bob if they wish to be called in the debate.
I call the Lib Dem spokesman.
Commons
Ministerial Statement
10 June 2025
Nuclear Power: Investment
As co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on nuclear energy, and having championed the nuclear industry for 20 years in this Parliament, even when it was not popular on either side of the House, I very much welcome today’s announcement, because I have seen over 60 years in my constituency the…
Commons
Westminster Hall
10 June 2025
2 contributions
USAID Funding Pause
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Hobhouse. I declare my interest as co-chair of both the APPG on nutrition for development and the APPG on HIV, AIDS and sexual health.
This is a period of great uncertainty, not just because of what has happened in the US, but because of what i…
I welcome the hon. Lady’s comments. It is very important we emphasise that it is women and girls who will be most affected by those cuts. It is not those stereotypes sometimes presented by some in the US who are affected; it is women and girls.
Commons
Debate
5 June 2025
Battery Energy Storage Sites: Safety Regulations
Does the hon. Gentleman share my concern that the location of many of these sites are in rural areas, which are often served primarily by retained firefighters? They are a long way from where specialist firefighting resources would come from, and that does not seem to be taken into account fully in …
Commons
Debate
5 June 2025
3 contributions
Bank Closures and Banking Hubs
I welcome the point that the hon. Gentleman is raising. There is also an issue with cash machines inside shops that may be open for longer, but they are stocked from the shop by the cash received in the premises. There can be cash machines in a shop that have no cash in them, but Link has to take th…
In that case, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will start with my ask of the Minister, which is that the criteria for assessing whether there should be a free-to-use cash machine in a community be reassessed. For example, in my constituency, the Bank of Scotland closed its branch in the community of Moffat o…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Proceedings
5 June 2025
Business of the House
Will the Leader of the House bring forward a specific debate that focuses on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day and the end of the war in the far east, so that the horrific conditions in which those, for example, in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers had to fight and the conditions that people faced as p…
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
19 May 2025
Topical Questions
Land at Eastriggs in my constituency, formerly part of MOD Eastriggs, was declared surplus, and 18 acres were successfully leased to a rail business that provided important jobs in the constituency. However, the plans for the remainder of the site seem to have got bogged down. I hope that Ministers …
Commons
Westminster Hall
19 May 2025
2 contributions
Gender Self-identification
I remind hon. Members that they should bob if they wish to be called. I will not set a time limit, but if hon. Members keep their speeches to around seven minutes, everyone will get to make a meaningful contribution.
I call Martin Rhodes, and I assure Dr Arthur that, after I leave the Chair, he will be called.