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 The news that MSD has withdrawn its plan for a research centre in the United Kingdom, with the loss of 125 potential jobs and staff, is devastating for our science plans.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…
Commons
Proceedings
10 September 2025
Russian Drones: Violation of Polish Airspace
I congratulate the hon. and gallant Minister on his elevation, which is well deserved, an on the comment he made about not be intimidated. He speaks for us all in that regard—indeed, I almost feel a poster campaign coming, about standing firm. The incursion of Russian drones into a NATO member natio…
Commons
Proceedings
10 September 2025
Qatar: Israeli Strike
I thank the Minister for his very confident replies to the questions, and wish him well in his role. These things are never easy, but the Minister has done quite well.
The loss of life is, of course, regrettable in all situations. This House must also condemn the callous murder of six innocent Isra…
Commons
Westminster Hall
10 September 2025
Stockton and Darlington Railway: 200th Anniversary Festival
I commend the hon. Gentleman for securing this debate. He is right to underline the heritage festival of the Stockton and Darlington railway. When he mentions what he is celebrating in his constituency, I think of my constituency, where we have a great culture and heritage that started in 1606 with …
Commons
Westminster Hall
10 September 2025
Playgrounds: Bournemouth East
In my time on the council in a previous life, we always encouraged playgrounds, and it was the same in the Assembly; now, we are here in Parliament. New playgrounds are really important, and they need to include wheelchair-accessible swings and roundabouts, sensory play areas, nature zones and famil…
Commons
Westminster Hall
10 September 2025
Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian Access
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stringer. I congratulate the hon. Member for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy (Melanie Ward) on the passion for humanitarian issues that she has shown in this Chamber and elsewhere in the House in the time that I have known her.
Samaritan’s Purse is an NG…
Commons
Westminster Hall
10 September 2025
Windsor Framework: Internal Market Guarantee
I commend the hon. and learned Gentleman on securing this debate. Of course, the issue goes further than that; it has escalated for businesses and delivery services in my constituency of Strangford and further afield in Northern Ireland because of so-called changes in the internal market, as there a…
Commons
Westminster Hall
10 September 2025
2 contributions
Equality Act 2010: Impact on British Society
It is a real pleasure to speak in this debate. I commend the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell)—he and I have been friends for many years. Like me and many others, he holds a love for Britain, so I look forward to working with him.
The hon. Member for Wolverhampton West (Warinder Juss) clea…
I am going to outline the society that I would like to see, and which I think everyone in this Chamber would probably want; it is not a perfect world, because the world is never perfect, but it is the society that I would like to see. My hon. Friend outlined how legislation can sometimes be used to …
Commons
Debate
9 September 2025
2 contributions
Accessibility of Railway Stations: Dulwich and West Norwood
rose—
The hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Helen Hayes) is right to bring this topic forward; I spoke to her beforehand. I believe that the Government need to provide what she is trying to achieve for her constituency in every constituency, as the chair of the all-party parliamentary group, the h…
Commons
Proceedings
9 September 2025
Jaguar Land Rover Cyber-attack
Always rear gunner. I am pleased to see the Minister in his position. It is well earned, and we are pleased to see him where he is. He will be aware that cyber-attacks on Marks & Spencer and Co-op have left many people concerned about the security of their information online. This attack on Jagu…
Commons
Oral Questions
Treasury
9 September 2025
Better Futures Fund
I thank the Minister for a very positive answer and for that commitment. What steps are being taken and what discussions have taken place to ensure that vulnerable young people in Northern Ireland can benefit fully from the better futures fund, particularly in the areas most affected by educational …
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 September 2025
Free-to-air Broadcasting: Cricket Participation
Again, it is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms McVey. This has been a special afternoon for me; I hope it has been special for you as well.
I commend the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Max Wilkinson) for setting the scene so incredibly well and so clearly outlining his love of cricket.…
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 September 2025
Housing: North Staffordshire
I spoke to the hon. Lady beforehand and I congratulate her on securing this debate. Does she agree that housing for over-55s, with smaller units, must also be a priority, in order to free up larger homes for younger families, and that every local authority should consider the inclusion of such units…
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 September 2025
2 contributions
Neurodivergent People: Employment
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms McVey. I commend the hon. Member for Ely and East Cambridgeshire (Charlotte Cane) for her passion in this matter. She has done this House credit today and she deserves many accolades for the way that she presented the case.
I wish, as always, to gi…
I thank the Minister for his response to all the requests we have made collectively and individually. I am very keen to show that we can have an exchange of views and share ideas. In particular, I want us to share some of those ideas with the relevant Minister in Northern Ireland, to ensure that the…
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 September 2025
National Trails
I congratulate the hon. Member on bringing this debate forward. I spoke to him beforehand. Northern Ireland stands apart from the rest of the United Kingdom in that it does not have a formal national trail system. What we do have is the Ulster Way, a 636-mile walk across the six counties of Northern…
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 September 2025
2 contributions
Hydrogen Supply Chains
As always, it is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship in Westminster Hall, Mr Betts. I thank the hon. Member for Worcester (Tom Collins) for leading the debate and for the many conversations in recent years surrounding the need for alternative methods to fossil fuels. There is no doubt what…
I asked a question about the opportunity for apprentices. I know that the Government are committed to that; I have never had any doubt about that, but I want us to show where the opportunities may be. I know that the Minister is also committed to ensuring that all parts of the United Kingdom of Grea…
Commons
Proceedings
8 September 2025
Remote Coastal Communities
I commend the hon. Gentleman for bringing forward the debate. As I said when I spoke to him earlier, there have been many debates on coastal erosion and remote coastal communities. In my constituency of Strangford, as in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency, the problem of coastal erosion was financed …