Commons
Debate
2 February 2026
US Department of Justice Release of Files
With the cash for questions scandal or the recent sexual harassment cases in Westminster, the police were called by the Government, proactively. Why, in this case, are the Government conducting an inquiry without informing the Met police? If they are not conducting their own inquiry, will they get o…
Commons
Proceedings
13 January 2026
Chinese Embassy
The Minister talks about this being a planning decision, but essentially it is a political judgment. Many right hon. and hon. Members want to make strong representations to the Government and the National Security Adviser about the judgment call on getting a closer relationship with China and this e…
Commons
Debate
7 January 2026
Rural Communities
Madam Deputy Speaker, as a Bradford MP you know how sparse North Yorkshire is. It has the largest rural road network in England, and it has historically had special funding for rural schools. Almost all employment comes from small businesses and hospitality.
Huge efforts were made by the last Gover…
Commons
Oral Questions
Northern Ireland
7 January 2026
Public Services
Can I press the Minister on the discussions he is having with the Executive on digital services? Dublin has just produced a very innovative digital services plan for public services. I urge the Government to talk closely with the Executive to ensure that Northern Ireland keeps pace with Dublin in th…
Commons
Debate
5 January 2026
Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief
This policy has caused huge stress for rural communities across North Yorkshire. What discussions is the Minister having inside government about other policies, such as the policy on rates for public houses in rural areas, to ensure that this error is not made again?
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
17 December 2025
Engagements
Q8. May I compliment the Prime Minister on the work that he has done on Ukraine, and wish him well over Christmas on that topic? Pubs are at the centre of rural communities in areas such as North Yorkshire, but they are under more pressure than ever before. May I urge the Prime Minister and the Gove…
Commons
Oral Questions
16 December 2025
2 contributions
Mandatory Mediation
5. Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of the further use of mandatory mediation in civil law.
Time pressure is one of the best routes to encourage alternative dispute resolution, as the Minister knows, but in the commercial court in 2024 the median time to judgment was 786 days. The UK law sector is up against huge pressures from Singapore and the middle east, which are offering six months t…
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
15 December 2025
2 contributions
Topical Questions
T2. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
I associate myself with the Secretary of State’s remarks about our armed forces having a fantastic Christmas, wherever they are. The strategic defence review talked about the need for a “national conversation” on defence. What steps are the Government taking to support that national conversation, pa…
Commons
Oral Questions
9 December 2025
2 contributions
Hospitality Sector and SMEs
6. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to business rates on the hospitality sector.
Last week, Skipton was voted the happiest town in Britain to live in. One of the reasons for that—[Hon. Members: “Is you!”]—is its hospitality sector. Through covid, energy cost rises, national insurance rises and other challenges, that hospitality sector is facing massive challenges. I urge the Gov…
Commons
Oral Questions
20 November 2025
2 contributions
A59 Kex Gill Bypass
2. What discussions she has had with North Yorkshire council on the progress of the development of the A59 Kex Gill bypass.
This link is vital for east-west transport. I urge Ministers to talk more frequently with the council, because the cost overruns are now becoming quite a challenge for it, and it is vital that we get the project completed.
Commons
Debate
18 November 2025
Northern Ireland Troubles Bill
I want to thank all the military servicemen and women who served on Operation Banner. It was not just the military. On every visit to a police station in Northern Ireland, I saw the long lists of officers who were lost. I pay tribute to members and family members of the RUC and to our security servi…
Commons
Debate
11 November 2025
BBC Leadership
I welcome the tone of the statement, but this is not just about editorial challenges for the BBC; there has been a total lack of deftness in dealing with talent-related issues and other scandals over the past few years. There are also governance issues with BBC Studios—a commercial organisation with…
Commons
Oral Questions
11 November 2025
2 contributions
Litigation Funding Agreements
16. Whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on litigation funding agreements.
I thank the Minister for that answer and for the constructive debate a week or so ago. May I press her on timing—as she said, this is important for consumers, businesses and the legal sector—and test her on the opportunities for early dispute resolution, which were mentioned in the CJC report and wh…
Commons
Westminster Hall
11 November 2025
Autistic Adults: Employment
It is great to hear of these commercial companies doing so much good work. I think of FinTrU in Derry, which is actively recruiting autistic people because of the skills and values they have. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that we have to much more effectively match those companies with people with a…
Commons
Debate
3 November 2025
Huntingdon Train Attack
I echo tributes to the train staff and emergency services, and to the Home Secretary and her team, who I am sure were working flat out all weekend. The case is being investigated, but given the events of Saturday and in the run-up to Saturday night, can I urge her to bring together police chiefs to …
Commons
Westminster Hall
29 October 2025
3 contributions
Civil Justice Council Review of Litigation Funding
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the Civil Justice Council’s review of litigation funding.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Harris. I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests—until the summer, I was voluntary chair of the Centre …
I agree with the hon. Member; the Vodafone case, which involved franchisees across the UK, is another example of how litigation funding can help.
The Supreme Court’s judgment in the PACCAR case in July 2023, which involved a claim against truck manufacturers for anti-competitive behaviour, rendered…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
28 October 2025
2 contributions
BBC World Service
10. What steps her Department is taking to provide sustainable funding for the BBC World Service.
The Institute for Global Prosperity and CreativePower have produced an excellent report on the sheer impact of the World Service, which reaches 320 million people globally and is trusted by 75%. In a key market for the Government—India—75 million people listen to or watch the BBC. How will the Gover…
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
15 October 2025
Engagements
Q2. Those on family farms in North Yorkshire and across the UK are increasingly worried about the tax changes coming up next year. We really need the next generation of family farms to keep farming for our national food security. The Centre for the Analysis of Taxation has produced an excellent, det…
Commons
Oral Questions
Northern Ireland
15 October 2025
Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023
Many families are desperate for answers about what happened to their loved ones. That is often not about wanting to take legal action; they just want to know. Under this new Bill, how quickly will that be delivered for those families? How quickly will they get the information that they have waited d…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
14 October 2025
Northern Ireland Troubles
It is worth remembering that most victims are not in a group, are not in the media and are not taking action; they just want to know what happened to their loved ones. As we debate the forthcoming legislation, I hope we can all collectively remember that, because investigations are key to delivering…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
14 October 2025
Middle East
It is fitting that this statement is followed by one on Northern Ireland. The UK has world-leading experience in sustaining peace, whether it is security, intelligence or military, and whether it is decommissioning, policing or political institutions. Could I urge the Prime Minister to do an audit o…
Commons
Oral Questions
13 October 2025
Devolution: Impact on Economic Growth
Devolution is starting off well in North Yorkshire, but North Yorkshire council is really concerned about the upcoming local government settlement, which will obviously be challenging for all councils. May I urge the Secretary of State in his new role to look carefully at the most rural county in En…
Commons
Proceedings
10 September 2025
Qatar: Israeli Strike
It is not only on this issue, but on many other issues that Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other middle east nations have developed a real niche and leadership in mediation and conflict resolution. Will the Minister look at our own conflict resolution unit and its resources and spend, and double down on ho…
Commons
Oral Questions
Women and Equalities
3 September 2025
Violence against Women and Girls
The Parole Board is extremely concerned about the impact on domestic abuse victims of the Sentencing Bill that is now before the House. I urge her to keep in close discussion with members of the Parole Board and with the Justice Secretary as the Bill progresses.
Commons
Ministerial Statement
2 September 2025
Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
At the start of the summer, there were some horrendous reports about rapes and assaults committed by South Yorkshire police. I welcome the decision to involve the National Crime Agency and strip responsibility for those investigations from the force, but can the Minister confirm that the national in…