Commons
Westminster Hall
21 October 2025
Electricity Infrastructure: Rural Communities
The hon. Gentleman is right to mention resilience and modern technology. I declare an interest as a member of the Ulster Farmers Union. The National Farmers Union and the UFU have indicated that infrastructure needs to be upgraded to ensure that whenever storms come, there will not be loss of electr…
Commons
Debate
20 October 2025
2 contributions
A50/A500 Corridor
Will the hon. Member give way?
I congratulate the hon. Member on bringing this debate before the House. He is an assiduous Member, and he is doing extremely well in bringing forward his constituents’ issues. Does he agree that the Government must also look at the impact that long-term work will have on the motorists who rely on t…
Commons
Debate
20 October 2025
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill
Thank you for allowing me to speak on this issue once again, Ms Ghani. I will prefix my comments with this. It is always good to see the Ministers—the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the hon. Member for Cardiff South and Penarth (Stephen Doughty) and the Minister for…
Commons
Debate
20 October 2025
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC: Away Fans Ban
I welcome the Secretary of State and thank her very much for her statement. I was saddened to hear of this decision and, more importantly, the message it sends to our Jewish community. This is a dire situation, and we must make use of UK policing services to find a way for this sports event to take …
Commons
Proceedings
20 October 2025
Alleged Spying Case: Home Office Involvement
The Minister is striving incredibly hard to answer these questions; some would say—well, with respect, we will leave it at that.
The news of suspecting spying in Parliament is worrying —there is no that this poses a huge threat to this country and to us as MPs. Mr Speaker, we owe you a debt of grat…
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
20 October 2025
Free Schools: Application Decisions
I thank the Minister very much for his answers, and I thank the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr Brash) for setting the scene so very well. We in Northern Ireland are very keen to learn from the education system here. I believe that the Education Minister from the Northern Ireland Assembly—he is a col…
Commons
Debate
16 October 2025
Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill
I thank the Minister for introducing the Bill and for her deep interest in this subject. We are all very impressed by what the Minister does and we thank her for it. Further to intervention of the hon. Member for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry (Stephen Gethins)—he and I both represent coastal communiti…
Commons
Proceedings
16 October 2025
Business of the House
Once again, I welcome the Leader of the House to his new role, which he is clearly enjoying very much. I wish him well.
On Wednesday past, I met a deputation from Chin state in Burma. I am deeply concerned about increased reports of junta military attacks on the majority Christian community in Chin…
Commons
Proceedings
16 October 2025
Official Secrets Act Case: Witness Statements
Minister, what a baptism of fire. As an MP, I understand the beautiful picture that words can paint, but I also understand the damage of ugly words, and unfortunately, I see here the problems that playing with words is leading to. With great respect to the Minister, does he acknowledge that the play…
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
16 October 2025
Supporting Freedom of Religion or Belief Abroad
I thank the Second Church Estates Commissioner very much for all that she does personally—I know that she is committed to making lives better personally and as the Second Church Estates Commissioner. What discussions has she had with organisations such as Open Doors UK in relation to furthering step…
Commons
Oral Questions
16 October 2025
Youth Services: Local Authority Statutory Duties
I thank the Minister for her answers. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and we wish her well and thank her for all she does. The local Youth Justice Agency team in my constituency makes important rehabilitative interventions for young people. Has the Minister had an opportunity to discuss what is happen…
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 October 2025
Ada Lovelace Day
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Furniss. I want to say a big thank you to the hon. Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (Lizzi Collinge) for leading the debate. In the short time that she has been here, she has shown herself to be formidable, dedicated and committed. I want to …
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 October 2025
World Menopause Day
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Betts. I commend the hon. Member for Neath and Swansea East (Carolyn Harris) on setting the scene so well, as she always does. I have always been pleased to help and support her. She is dedicated to her causes—that is the way I would put it—and she …
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 October 2025
Health and Social Care Committee
I thank the hon. Member for Birmingham Erdington (Paulette Hamilton) and the Committee for what they have brought forward. We live in a society that is multicultural; every part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is multicultural. In my constituency we have people from Kenya…
Commons
Debate
15 October 2025
2 contributions
Work for Serving Prisoners
I commend the hon. Lady on bringing forward this debate. When I heard what she was going to speak about, I wanted to intervene: first, because it is an admirable subject, and secondly, because I fully support what she is trying to achieve. I hope that the Minister will come back to her along those l…
I was just thinking to myself that there probably are stats that show that many prisoners, with great respect—this is not meant to be judgmental—may not be able to read or write. When it comes to helping them find jobs, we have to create confidence in them, and enable them to say, “I can do that. I …
Commons
Debate
15 October 2025
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill
I commend the Minister, and wish him well in his new role and in all that he does. The legislation extends to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so what discussions have been taking place with the Northern Ireland Assembly to ensure that we can see its benefits—to both employment and the wider ec…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
15 October 2025
Ukraine
I welcome the right hon. Lady to her place. The experience that she brings from her previous role will benefit us all and I thank her for her answers. Putin will have watched the Israel-Gaza problem carefully, and he will know that all eyes are turning to Russia to end the unnecessary conflict in Uk…
Commons
Debate
15 October 2025
Jhoots Pharmacy
I thank the Minister very much for his strong answers to restore confidence. Will he acknowledge that pressure on the NHS, especially into the winter months, means that pharmacies will be playing a bigger role in providing basic help and advice, and that being unable to rely on a pharmacy cannot be …
Commons
Westminster Hall
15 October 2025
Healthcare: Bolton
I commend the hon. Member for Bolton North East (Kirith Entwistle) for securing the debate. Whether it be Bolton or Ballywalter, healthcare problems are the same for every one of us. The result of these issues is a lack of confidence in the system, which is harmful in itself. If someone says there i…
Commons
Westminster Hall
15 October 2025
Tree Maintenance: Guidance to Local Authorities
I commend the right hon. Lady. One thing that has always come to my attention—I am dealing with such a case in my office at the moment—is about finding out who actually owns a tree and who is responsible for it. We have found great difficulty, through the local council, in finding out who that would…
Commons
Westminster Hall
15 October 2025
Educational Assessment System Reform
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Lewell. I thank the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Josh Dean) for securing this debate and for the personal story he told. That always helps us to focus on where we are and where we need to be.
The issue of educational assessment affe…
Commons
Westminster Hall
15 October 2025
Community Helipads: Rural Access
I commend the hon. Gentleman for securing this debate. Representing a rural community, I, like him, understand how important this is. We are very blessed to have an air ambulance available for our communities in Strangford and Northern Ireland. It truly has been the difference between life and death…
Commons
Westminster Hall
15 October 2025
5 contributions
Knife Crime
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms McVey, and to give you the respect that you deserve for the position that you hold. May I say a big thank you to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Lee Anderson) for leading today’s debate on this very important issue? Knife crime is such a prevalen…
Absolutely; I will be happy to.
+3 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
14 October 2025
2 contributions
Energy Profits Levy: North-east Scotland
Will the hon. Lady give way?
Madam Deputy Speaker, I spoke to the hon. Lady beforehand to ensure that I was here to support her in what she is trying to achieve in north-east Scotland. It is very important that we add our support to her.
Does the hon. Lady agree that while investment in tidal energy has not produced the desire…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
14 October 2025
Northern Ireland Troubles
It is no secret that I have major concerns over the legacy Bill, not least that innocent victims were precluded from taking their path to justice. What seems to be before us now is carte blanche for political inquiries and yet no hope for the Kingsmill families. It instead highlights the role of the…