Commons
Debate
7 July 2025
Government Performance against Fiscal Rules
It is extraordinary that the Tories have recovered so quickly from their economic mismanagement that they feel able to stop apologising, and even to offer advice—if only the economic wellbeing of my constituents had recovered as quickly. Does the Chief Secretary to the Treasury agree with me that th…
Commons
Debate
2 July 2025
Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism
I often show visitors the statue of Viscount Falkland and its missing spur, removed when a suffragette chained herself to it. I was here when protesters superglued their buttocks to the glass panel above us, causing some scandal and damage. Will the Minister confirm that criminal damage, no matter h…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
2 July 2025
Heathrow Substation Outage: NESO Review
Speaking as a chartered electrical engineer and as the Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, I am absolutely amazed that such an important and large part of our critical national infrastructure in the National Grid was not properly maintained for seven years and that Heathrow—th…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
30 June 2025
Welfare Reform
The north-east has the highest rate of disability in the country—31%—and more than a quarter of those of working age live in poverty, so the Secretary of State is absolutely right to say that welfare reform is hard, essential and must reflect Labour values and disabled voices. Will she set out how t…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
26 June 2025
G7 and NATO Summits
Last week, as part of the armed forces parliamentary scheme, I visited NATO headquarters in the UK, where I met fantastic young men and women who are learning great skills as they prepare to defend Britain abroad. However, my constituents, when they see cuts of such great amounts—for example, as pro…
Commons
Oral Questions
Science, Innovation and Technology
25 June 2025
Artificial Intelligence: Schools
AI is already prevalent in the workplace and in the education system, and we need to equip the next generation to be able to use AI tools productively and securely while also delivering on their unique potential as human beings. How is the Minister working with the Department for Education to ensure…
Commons
Westminster Hall
25 June 2025
Armed Forces Recruitment: North-east England
I thank my hon. Friend for giving way, for securing this debate in Armed Forces Week and for the fantastic speech that he is making. Proportionally, the north-east sends more of our young people into the armed forces than any other region in the country. I am proud of that contribution, yet relative…
Commons
Oral Questions
24 June 2025
Topical Questions
The all-party parliamentary group for Africa, which I chair, recently published its report on Africa’s just energy transition to accessible and renewable clean energy. What assessment has the Minister made of the report’s nine recommendations, including the recommendation on reforming carbon markets…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
23 June 2025
UK Modern Industrial Strategy
As Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee,, I really welcome this modern industrial strategy because it delivers on the promise Labour made in opposition to put science, innovation and technology and the skills they require at the heart of the drive for growth and industrialisatio…
Commons
Debate
20 June 2025
2 contributions
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
In general, this debate has shown Parliament at its best: informed, considered and passionate. I have not spoken in it before; I have listened, reflected, read, and sought to understand the intention and the impact of the Bill, particularly on the most vulnerable. I will now take five minutes to say…
No, I will not take any interventions, thank you.
I particularly fear the impact on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged—those without the social capital of so many arguing for the Bill. There seems to be an assumption that those who have been most unequal in life will suddenly be rendered equal i…
Commons
Debate
10 June 2025
2 contributions
Data (Use and Access) Bill [Lords]
Will the Minister give way?
I apologise for not being here earlier. I commend the Government for engaging in a cross-party discussion about AI, which is what the country needs to do, but the key issue is ensuring from the beginning that the tech companies understand that transparency in copyright and AI is not a “nice to have”…
Commons
Debate
2 June 2025
Strategic Defence Review
There is much in this strategic defence review that will be of interest to my Committee. I welcome the report and in particular the recognition that science, innovation and technology are an opportunity as well as a threat. Can he confirm that the numerous references to AI in the report are to a sov…
Commons
Oral Questions
Home Department
2 June 2025
Topical Questions
T5. On Saturday, residents in Westerhope told me how nuisance vehicles, illegal and modified e-bikes, off-road bikes and speeding cars are making their lives an absolute misery, and I have had similar complaints from residents in Slatyford and Newbiggin. The chief constable of Northumbria tells me t…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
20 May 2025
UK-EU Summit
A trade deal with the world’s fastest-growing economy, which the Tories failed to achieve; a trade deal with the world’s richest economy, which they also failed to achieve; and a trade deal with the world’s biggest trading bloc, which the Tories and Reform would tear up, despite the enormous benefit…
Commons
Oral Questions
Science, Innovation and Technology
14 May 2025
UK-US Trade Agreement: Digital Services Regulation
I really welcome the US-UK trade deal and the fact that the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister kept their commitment not to put online safety on the table in those negotiations. My Committee’s inquiry into social media misinformation and algorithms has heard evidence that the algorithms in so…
Commons
Proceedings
13 May 2025
Mansion House Accord
The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee inquiry into the innovation and growth of the regions has repeatedly heard evidence that the lack of access to investment, particularly outside London and the south-east, is a barrier to scaling up our fantastic science and tech start-ups, so I welcom…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
12 May 2025
Immigration System
The Tories promised net migration in the tens of thousands and left it at about 1 million. Reform’s predecessor, the UK Independence party, promised that Brexit would fix immigration—that didn’t work out, did it? The Home Secretary is therefore absolutely right to take a reasoned, evidence-based app…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
8 May 2025
Trade Negotiations
May I congratulate my right hon. Friend and his team on the second major trade deal in a matter of days? Our agricultural sector, our automotive sector and our steel sector will all be grateful. I have learned to be wary of enthusiastic posts from President Trump on the subject of trade, but this re…
Commons
Debate
7 May 2025
3 contributions
Data (Use and Access) Bill [Lords]
I would like to thank colleagues in the other place and in this House who have worked so hard to improve the Bill. By modernising data infrastructure and governance, this Bill seeks to unlock the secure, efficient use of data while promoting innovation across sectors. As a tech evangelist, as well a…
I thank the right hon. Member for that intervention. I will leave it to the Minister to address his point.
The concern that is probably of most interest to my constituents is reflected in the recent report by The Sunday Times that Chelsea football club claims research and development tax credits. W…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
6 May 2025
Trade Negotiations
I congratulate the Minister on securing the UK’s largest trade deal with the G20’s fastest growing economy. The Indian high commission recently appointed Newcastle’s very first honorary consul general, and we will have much to discuss when we meet, because there is so much in this deal to look at an…
Commons
Debate
30 April 2025
5 contributions
Occupied Palestinian Territories
It is a great privilege to have secured this Adjournment debate on Government support for the people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, but I regret immensely the need to do so. I, like most of the world, was horrified by Hamas’s attack on Israel and Hamas’s killing and kidnapping of Israeli c…
I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. I am pleased, though not surprised, to hear that the people of Wolverhampton West and the people of Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West, as well as people across our country, have a similar response to the horrific acts and suffering they are seeing. As …
+3 more contributions in this session