Commons
Debate
13 October 2025
Digital ID
I respect the Secretary of State greatly, but honestly on this one I am afraid I just cannot support her whatsoever. I say that because the opposition to this ID in the United Kingdom is great, but in Northern Ireland, the Labour party, the Government and the Secretary of State in particular have ma…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
13 October 2025
Security Update: Official Secrets Act Case
I thank the Minister for coming forward. As he knows, this topical issue lies heavy in the hearts of many people in constituencies throughout the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as we consider whether national security has been at threat owing to the semantics of language, and t…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
13 October 2025
Manchester Terrorism Attack
I give my condolences to those who lost their lives as a result of the Manchester synagogue attack and to those who suffered the trauma of the loss of a family member. I thank the Home Secretary for her strong and emphatic statement. She speaks for everyone in this great United Kingdom of Great Brit…
Commons
Oral Questions
13 October 2025
3 contributions
Coalfields Regeneration Trust: Capital Funding Request
rose—
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for that answer. The fact is that there were coalfields in Northern Ireland. There has been an opportunity—
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Debate
16 September 2025
2 contributions
Police: Professional Standards
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
I was holding my breath on this one. I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing the debate. He has given three examples of things that have happened. Does he agree that in a world of grey, it is imperative that the conduct and professionalism of our police forces is black and white and that offic…
Commons
Debate
16 September 2025
Sentencing Bill
I commend the hon. Lady for her wisdom. There are many measures in the Bill that the DUP supports and sees as commendable, but I would respectfully say that we have some concerns about reducing the length of custody for offenders, and our concern is sufficiently grave that we, as a party, will be su…
Commons
Debate
16 September 2025
Ambassador to the United States
I commend the right hon. Gentleman on securing this debate. It unites the House with its purpose. It is clear within the rules that MPs are accountable for their staff and their conduct and that there will be repercussions. Does he agree that the Prime Minister is accountable for his appointment of …
Commons
Oral Questions
Justice
16 September 2025
Probation Service
I wish to pay tribute to the probation officers in Northern Ireland, who do an excellent job. I have met them many times, and they are magnificent. On many occasions they have to deal with young people who, due to peer pressure, find themselves influenced to do things that they normally would not do…
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 September 2025
Employment Rights: Impact on Businesses
It is an absolute pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Murrison. I thank the hon. and gallant Member for Spelthorne (Lincoln Jopp) for his passion on this topic, which he illustrated incredibly well in his contribution. The issues that he raised are the ones that were in my speaking notes to h…
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 September 2025
Religious Crematoriums
I commend the hon. Lady for securing this debate. As she knows, I chair the all-party parliamentary group for international freedom of religion or belief. We speak out for those of Christian faith, of other faiths and of no faith, because we believe that everyone should be treated equally. Does the …
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 September 2025
London Fashion Week: Cultural Contribution
I commend the hon. Lady for bringing this debate forward. Although I am not extremely up to date on fashion—I am probably not a “Dedicated Follower Of Fashion”, as the song goes; my wife knows that for definite—I can certainly appreciate the opportunities that it brings for young people across the U…
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 September 2025
Significant Energy Infrastructure Projects: Suffolk Coast
I commend the hon. Lady for introducing the debate. She is right to highlight the issues of coastal communities, where there are very many difficulties. My constituency suffers from coastal erosion, for example, which has been worked on, but there is also the potential to produce clean renewable ene…
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 September 2025
5 contributions
International Day of Democracy
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir John. I commend the hon. Member for Cities of London and Westminster (Rachel Blake) for securing this debate. It is an absolute pleasure to speak in this debate, as the importance of democracy lies in the protection of rights, the accountability of…
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Nothing grieved me as much, and probably grieved others in this House and further afield, as those awful remarks that were almost rejoicing in Charlie Kirk’s murder. I find it almost inconceivable to comprehend that, especially when a wife and children, and many o…
+3 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
15 September 2025
Provision of Council Housing
I commend the hon. Member for securing the debate. In my office, as I suspect in everybody else’s, benefits are the first issue of importance and housing is the second. One possible solution—I want to be constructive, and I showed him this suggestion—is to focus on building smaller social housing un…
Commons
Debate
15 September 2025
Employment Rights Bill
We welcome many aspects of the legislation, but I put this question on behalf of my small businesses. They say that sickness absence costs them £3,500 a year—it costs some £5 billion across all the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland—and they are worried that the legislation could d…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
15 September 2025
Official Secrets Act
The Minister is an honourable man, but our disquiet and our constituents’ concerns run very deep. While I welcome the improved legislation in place to deal with the issue, the fact of the matter is that once again—I say this with great respect—the Government are being seen nationally as weak on crim…
Commons
Oral Questions
Home Department
15 September 2025
Scientific Procedures: Use of Animals
I thank the Minister for his answer. It is quite clear that people have had their lives saved through scientific experiments with animals, and we thank the scientists for that. At the same time, a growing number of people have grave concerns, including my constituents and probably the Minister’s con…
Commons
Westminster Hall
15 September 2025
Children with SEND: Assessments and Support
Today, I attended the Adoption Barometer event, which many other hon. Members probably also attended. It showed that adopted and fostered children can have not only trauma and other medical issues but educational issues—it is a double whammy for those who look after those children. Does the hon. Gen…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
11 September 2025
Business of the House
I welcome the right hon. Member to his new role. There is less pressure as Leader of the House in contrast to the onerous duties of Chief Whip. He referred to the colour of his hair, but he still has his hair whereas mine has been disappearing for many years.
Concerning reports have emerged that th…
Commons
Debate
11 September 2025
Life Sciences Investment
I thank the Minister for his answers. I think we are all seeking reassurance in relation to the sector. The news that MSD has withdrawn its plan for a research centre in the United Kingdom, with the loss of 125 potential jobs and staff, is devastating for our science plans. It shows a lack of faith …
Commons
Proceedings
11 September 2025
UK Ambassador to the US: Appointment Process
On behalf of my party, may I convey my support to the hon. Member for Washington and Gateshead South (Mrs Hodgson)? I was in her company yesterday and she is very much in our thoughts. I also, on behalf of my party, express deep sadness at the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old conservativ…
Commons
Oral Questions
11 September 2025
Bus Sector Support
I thank the Minister for his answers. The Bus Services (No. 2) Bill passed yesterday, with many of the good things that we all wish to see happening here in the mainland, especially improving the frequency of bus services and addressing social inclusion for those who cannot get buses. Will the Minis…
Commons
Westminster Hall
11 September 2025
2 contributions
Non-surgical Aesthetic and Cosmetic Treatments
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Desmond. I am sure that when Jan Spivey went to see her MP, the hon. Member for Putney (Fleur Anderson), it was a meeting between two enthusiastic people—not just the one. It is lovely to see the hon. Lady here, having stepped away from the…
The hon. Lady has just reinforced the need for this debate that the hon. Member for Bromsgrove and others have put forward. These procedures need to be regulated and legislated for. Rules that people can rely on for coverage and security need to be formed and put in place.
As we know, the Governmen…
Commons
Westminster Hall
11 September 2025
Consumer Affairs
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain. It has been a while since you chaired Westminster Hall; it is always a pleasure to see you and I wish you well. I thank the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Matt Western) for leading the debate; he is right to highlight all t…
Commons
Debate
10 September 2025
Urgent Care Centres: Hillingdon
I commend the hon. Gentleman, to whom I spoke beforehand. The support for what he is proposing goes much further afield. We recently lost a minor injuries unit in a small town to a centralised urgent care A&E unit. Like him, I urge caution. I am informed that the merging of A&E and urgent ca…