Commons
Ministerial Statement
14 October 2025
Middle East
We very much welcome the news that there is a ceasefire and that the hostages have finally been returned home after two long years in unimaginable conditions. The smiles on the faces of family members are a joy to behold. While President Trump deserves much credit for the peace deal, our Prime Minis…
Commons
Oral Questions
14 October 2025
Tackling Climate Change: International Co-operation
I thank the Secretary of State very much for his answers. The fact is that we are all in this together. We must understand that third-world countries have a role to play, just as the United Kingdom does, but we are the richer country. I am conscious that it may not always be financially possible for…
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 October 2025
COP30: Food System Transformation
I thank and commend the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Pippa Heylings) for setting out the debate so very well. This year’s COP30 will highlight the role of sustainable food systems in addressing environmental prosperity and climate change. That is something to which each nation can contribut…
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 October 2025
International Rail Services: Ashford
I commend the hon. Lady for bringing forward this debate and I wish her well in her campaign. Although this issue obviously does not affect my constituents in Strangford, I am here to offer my support to ensure that she achieves her goals, and I am sure the Minister is standing by to give her the gr…
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 October 2025
Postural Tachycardia Syndrome
I spoke to the hon. Lady beforehand, and she said that whenever I ask for an intervention, she will take it, so I thought I would get it done early. I commend her for her dedication and commitment, which I always admire, and I wish her well in this campaign. Does she agree that the nature of PoTS me…
Commons
Debate
13 October 2025
Heritage Sites: East of England
I commend the hon. Member for bringing forward this debate. I spoke to her beforehand. Does she agree that European heritage days are a supreme example of how to enjoy heritage sites, whether it be in the east of England or anywhere else in this great United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ire…
Commons
Debate
13 October 2025
Baby Loss
First, I commend all Members who have told their personal stories and shared with us how their life has been touched by what has happened to them, and how they have tried to move on. I think of my mother Mona, who is 94 years of age and has suffered many miscarriages. My speech writer Naomi—obviousl…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
13 October 2025
Glasgow Safer Drug Consumption Facility
I thank the Committee Chair for bringing this statement forward. I share the concerns in the questions asked earlier about the recommendations; I would be concerned about the addiction aspect as well. But I recognise that some of the problems in Belfast city, for instance, are the same as those at t…
Commons
Proceedings
13 October 2025
3 contributions
Points of Order
rose—
indicated assent.
+1 more contribution in this session
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…