Commons
Debate
4 November 2025
Welfare Spending
The Minister is a good man, and I mean that sincerely. I think he understands and shares the faith that I have when it comes to looking after those who are less well off. Every day in my office I meet constituents who have disabilities or complex health needs, anxiety and depression or severe mobili…
Commons
Debate
4 November 2025
Supporting High Streets
I thank the shadow Secretary of State for bringing this debate forward, and I welcome it. I am always constructive and encouraging, so let me say that Ards and North Down borough council, my local council back home, has a scheme for a new, thriving high street. A council grant enables shop owners to…
Commons
Westminster Hall
4 November 2025
Houses in Multiple Occupation: Planning Consent
I commend the hon. Gentleman for securing this debate. In September, it was alleged that more than 20 HMOs in Northern Ireland did not have appropriate consent. Does he agree that, whether the HMOs are student accommodation, private housing or Home Office housing, there must be planning consent, and…
Commons
Westminster Hall
4 November 2025
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
I am very much informed by my constituents in Strangford, where local church groups undertake fantastic work to support those in other countries plagued with the likes of malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS. I think specifically of the Ards Elim church in Newtownards in Strangford, which sends groups out…
Commons
Westminster Hall
4 November 2025
Cross-border Healthcare
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Dowd, as always. On behalf of us all, I look forward to your deliberations. I thank the hon. Member for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe (David Chadwick)—I think I pronounced that right—for securing this debate. [ Interruption. ] Did I get it wrong?…
Commons
Westminster Hall
4 November 2025
Royal Mail: Universal Service Obligation
I commend the hon. Gentleman for securing this debate. I also respect the men and women of Royal Mail but, in my office, one major issue has been delay. For those who are elderly, with sometimes complex and severe health problems, the mail is not arriving in time. They miss their appointments and th…
Commons
Westminster Hall
4 November 2025
Official Development Assistance Reductions
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Desmond. I thank the hon. Member for West Dorset (Edward Morello) for setting the scene so incredibly well. International development aid has been significant in helping at-risk individuals and groups around the globe. As chair of the all-party par…
Commons
Debate
3 November 2025
Care Leavers
I commend the hon. Lady for bringing this debate forward; I spoke to her beforehand. Does she agree that those leaving care may not have had the financial advice and instruction that they should have had and that many of us take for granted? It is imperative that they are taught how to be self-relia…
Commons
Debate
3 November 2025
2 contributions
Public Office (Accountability) Bill
Will the Prime Minister give way?
I commend the Prime Minister and the Government for bringing this Bill forward. I think it heartens us all to see its contents. Does the Prime Minister not agree that, with the rise of social media, there is more public scrutiny than ever before and less trust in our institutions? As he has outlined…
Commons
Proceedings
3 November 2025
2 contributions
Points of Order
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker.
You will tell me whether it is or not, Madam Deputy Speaker. In my constituency, a young man was killed in Portavogie today in a knife attack. I think it would be in order to mention that there and perhaps the House would join me in prayers—
Commons
Debate
3 November 2025
“Soldier F” Trial Verdict
I will first declare an interest: I served in the Ulster Defence Regiment and the Ulster Royal Artillery for some 14 and a half years.
This ruling was expected, as there was no additional evidence and it was twice held to be not fit for prosecution, as others have mentioned. It is hard to understan…
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
3 November 2025
Ukraine: Military Support
I thank the Secretary of State for his answers. Reports in the newspapers indicate that 150,000 new Russian soldiers are being prepared for an onslaught in eastern Ukraine. I do not doubt for one second that the Secretary of State, the Labour Government and this Parliament are committed to doing som…
Commons
Debate
30 October 2025
GP Services: Melton and Syston
I find in my constituency, and I think the right hon. Gentleman will find the same, that the extra responsibility of filling in forms, such as for personal independence payments, universal credit, employment and support allowance and disability living allowance, falls on the GP. Has he found that pr…
Commons
Proceedings
30 October 2025
5 contributions
Ageing and End-of-life Care
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the ageing community and end of life care.
I thank the Backbench Business Committee for selecting this subject for debate. I declare an interest as the son of Mona Shannon, who is 94 years young and resides in a nursing home near Killyleagh in my const…
I thank the right hon. Member for his intervention and for the wisdom that he brings to all the debates he participates in. The Minister is listening, and he is a good Minister, so I know he will come back with the response we hope to have.
How often have we listened to family members who are past …
+3 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
30 October 2025
Property Service Charges
I commend the hon. Lady for securing this important debate—the fact that so many Members are present is an indication of its importance. In my constituency I have seen an increase in the number of people who bought their house or flat many years ago and are now facing difficulties with the level of …
Commons
Proceedings
30 October 2025
Israel-Palestine Conflict: Government Response
I thank the Chair and the Committee very much for their report, and I think what they are saying is positive. The United States of America, the United Kingdom, the EU and many Arab states have all pushed for peace. They state collectively that Hamas cannot have any part in the future of Palestine, t…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
30 October 2025
Infected Blood Compensation Scheme
I thank the Minister for his commitment to finding solutions, and for his incredibly compassionate demeanour in handling these issues. I think we all thank him for that. The streamlined scheme for compensation opened just three weeks ago; can the Minister confirm that it is indeed now easier for peo…
Commons
Proceedings
30 October 2025
Business of the House
Monday 27 October marked International Religious Freedom Day. In the UK, we are fortunate to enjoy the freedom to believe or not to believe without fear of persecution, but sadly in countries such as Nigeria and Sudan, which was mentioned this morning, many religious minorities continue to suffer ap…
Commons
Proceedings
30 October 2025
Sudan: Protection of Civilians
I thank the Minister very much for his well-chosen words. I thank the right hon. Member for Oxford East (Anneliese Dodds) for securing this urgent question. Other MPs and I have long been highlighting the atrocities taking place in Sudan, including stomach-churning terrorist attacks, and rapes and m…
Commons
Oral Questions
Business and Trade
30 October 2025
Industrial Strategy
I welcome the Minister and, indeed, the whole Front-Bench team to their places—well done!
On the industrial strategy, what steps have been taken to fund high-quality workforce apprenticeships in sectors such as technology, manufacturing and hospitality, to provide young people with opportunities fo…
Commons
Westminster Hall
30 October 2025
Moles: Histological Testing
I wanted to be here at the beginning, but unfortunately I could not because I had other things to do in the Chamber. I declare an interest—like the hon. Member for South Norfolk (Ben Goldsborough), I am going to get one of mine done very shortly, but in Northern Ireland the wait list is 56 weeks. If…
Commons
Debate
29 October 2025
3 contributions
Offshore Wind Supply Chain: Tyneside
Will the hon. Lady give way?
I spoke to the hon. Lady before the debate and explained the connection between her constituency and mine, and why it is so important. I also want to encourage the hon. Lady, who has been a great friend of mine in the House in all the time I have been here. We share many things, including an interes…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Debate
29 October 2025
Privileges
I thank everyone involved in producing the report and the Leader of the House for bringing it to the House for us to consider. I recall very well where I was on that fateful day when the news came through. It has always been very important to me, and indeed to everyone in this House, to ensure that …
Commons
Proceedings
29 October 2025
Asylum Seekers: MOD Housing
I thank the Minister for his answers and his dedication to finding the answers that we need. While it was good to hear that there is a plan to house asylum seekers more cost-effectively, the Government must ensure that those areas do not become states within this state. What steps have been taken to…
Commons
Proceedings
29 October 2025
Gaza and Hamas
I thank the Minister very much for his answers, his tone and his well-chosen words; we appreciate them. The moment that there were reports of shots fired at Israeli soldiers in Rafah and of an IDF soldier being murdered, my heart sank—as the hearts of many others probably did—because I knew that the…