Commons
Debate
9 July 2025
2 contributions
Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill
I commend the hon. Lady for the proposals that she is bringing forward. This is the crux of the Bill. Does she accept that the reason why people get more money when they qualify for the health element of universal credit is that their illness means more expenditure—a certain diet, the need for a war…
One issue that I hear about—like other Members, I am sure—is the decisions made on PIP, universal credit and ESA applications. Constituents tell me continually that there is a harshness in how those decisions are made. Does the hon. Lady agree that those applications should be looked at by experts, …
Commons
Proceedings
9 July 2025
Trial by Jury: Proposed Restrictions
The Minister is held in the highest esteem by all of us in this Chamber—that is never in doubt. The British justice system is the envy of the world, and it probably set the example for justice systems everywhere. I pose my question with the utmost respect. The Minister will understand Members’ reluc…
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 July 2025
2 contributions
Glaucoma Awareness
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship for the second time today, Mr Pritchard—I am getting a liking for it. I thank the hon. Member for Leicester South (Shockat Adam) for securing the debate. As my party’s health spokesperson, issues such as glaucoma are of great importance to me—the statis…
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. To be fair, the hon. Member for Leicester South was clear that there is an opportunity to advance greatly under the 10-year NHS plan to solve the problems. There are better ways of doing things and reducing waiting times.
We are fortunate to have two hospital…
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 July 2025
LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme
I commend the hon. Lady for securing this debate. I spoke to her yesterday and am very conscious of the importance of it. Those people volunteered to serve in uniform. They protected this country and its people to the best of their ability, and the result was discrimination, abuse and the things tha…
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 July 2025
2 contributions
Early Years Providers: Government Support
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Pritchard. I thank the hon. Member for Sherwood Forest (Michelle Welsh) for highlighting this issue and setting the scene incredibly well. Early years are the foundational building blocks for our society. I read recently about the Shaping Us campaig…
I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention, and the words of a mother and the words on behalf of her constituents are well documented; we thank her for that. She has outlined the issues very clearly.
The tax-free childcare scheme will be extended from 1 September 2025 to include provision for sch…
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 July 2025
Sport England: Tackling Racism
I commend the hon. Lady; she has outlined a number of very serious issues and will deliberate upon them shortly. Does she agree that sports are a real equaliser and that we must use this tool effectively with our children to bring friendships and other bonds into a natural setting? It is not just ab…
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 July 2025
Neighbourhood Plans: Planning Decisions
I thank the hon. Gentleman for securing this debate. I told him beforehand that I am not speaking today and will only make an intervention because neighbourhood plans specifically apply to England. In Northern Ireland, community planning partnerships bring together public services, residents and bus…
Commons
Debate
8 July 2025
Combat Sports for Children: Safeguarding
I commend the hon. Gentleman; this is a very difficult subject and he is speaking with admirable compassion and understanding. I am sure the family appreciates that. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that while there is a moral duty and a legal obligation to protect children and young people in sport th…
Commons
Debate
8 July 2025
Government Resilience Action Plan
I thank the Minister very much for his answers and his statement this afternoon. The recent cyber-attack on M&S and others has shown the devastation that can be wrought by the might of a keyboard. With trusts in Northern Ireland using Encompass and those in England using the integrated care syst…
Commons
Oral Questions
8 July 2025
Probation Officers
I thank the Minister very much for that answer. I had the opportunity a few months ago to visit the probation office in Newtownards to get an idea of what it does. I was very impressed, first, by the quality of the staff; secondly, by the fact that they are involved in restorative justice issues rel…
Commons
Westminster Hall
8 July 2025
Down’s Syndrome Regression Disorder
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Jeremy. I thank the hon. Member for Thurrock (Jen Craft) for raising the issue, and for how she participates in all debates—with obvious knowledge, compassion and understanding. We thank her for that. Having this debate enables us to contribut…
Commons
Westminster Hall
8 July 2025
2 contributions
Military Helicopters: Blood Cancers
I commend the hon. Lady for introducing this debate. In the short time that she has been in the House, she has made a real name for herself as an assiduous MP, and I wish her well in her efforts. I concur with her comments. For us in Northern Ireland, helicopters were a part of life for getting troo…
If the Minister does not mind my saying so, does he, and the Government, not have an obligation to ensure that all those who suspect they have blood cancer, or are worried that they may have it, are notified so that they are aware? They could then go and check, if they had not already done so. That …
Commons
Westminster Hall
8 July 2025
2 contributions
Alcohol and Cancer
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stuart. I thank the hon. Member for Lancaster and Wyre (Cat Smith) for setting the scene expertly with all the detailed information we need. Before we started, she told me that this is our first debate together in Westminster Hall for some time…
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Those are, by and large, the factors that will indicate where someone goes in adult life and further afield. It is important to do that at an early stage, whether at school or in young adulthood.
Hormones are chemical messengers, and high levels of oestrogen and …
Commons
Westminster Hall
8 July 2025
Generative Artificial Intelligence: Schools
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Jeremy, and I thank the right hon. Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) for leading the debate.
I have to confess that I do not understand all about AI, but I do understand the need for it and that the technology is changing. Modern socie…
Commons
Debate
7 July 2025
SEND Provision: London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
I commend the hon. Lady for bringing this issue forward; she is right to do so. Does she agree that the progress on SEN action has shown how early intervention with a classroom assistant can make all the difference for many children, and that it is essential that the funding for teaching assistants …
Commons
Debate
7 July 2025
Pension Schemes Bill
It is a real pleasure to speak on this Bill. Pensions and the regulation of private pensions are increasingly of national interest. I believe that regulation is needed, so I welcome the Bill. Obviously the small print will become more apparent during its passage, but it is good that we are introduci…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
7 July 2025
Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life
I thank the Secretary of State for her statement, which contains really good news. I very much welcome the report she has released, which states:
“Postcodes shouldn’t dictate the support available, but one in four families with children under five cannot access local children’s centres or Family Hu…
Commons
Proceedings
7 July 2025
Actions of Iranian Regime: UK Response
The Minister will know that I support absolutely the decision to remove the nuclear arsenal from the hands of Iranian terrorists, who have pulled the trigger on various acts of terrorism against this nation and others. However, it is also clear that we are left with a difficult situation in Iran, an…
Commons
Debate
7 July 2025
Government Performance against Fiscal Rules
Although I very much welcome the Government’s decision last week to roll back on proposed welfare changes, it has undoubtedly put considerable pressure on the fiscal rules. I have the greatest concern for the middle class, who get little help to raise their children, pay for their education or feed …
Commons
Oral Questions
7 July 2025
Antisocial Behaviour
I thank the Minister very much for her answer. I know she is very aware of what we are doing in Northern Ireland, where community police officers are an important part of our policing. The relationships they build up over a period of 12 months, 18 months or two years mean that they become a part of …
Commons
Proceedings
3 July 2025
Phone Theft
I commend the hon. Lady on bringing forward the debate. She is absolutely right, but it is about even more than mobile phones. I am not technically minded—I own up to that; I am of a different generation—but today’s young person carries on their mobile phone bank details, family things and personal …
Commons
Debate
3 July 2025
3 contributions
Women’s State Pension Age: Financial Redress
rose—
There are 77,000 WASPI women in Northern Ireland, 7,000 of them in Strangford. Does the hon. Lady appreciate their palpable anger about how they have been mistreated and about the injustice that they wish to see addressed? On behalf of those 7,000 constituents of mine, I seek the same thing as the h…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
3 July 2025
British Film and High-end Television
I thank the hon. Lady and the Select Committee very much. We are quite excited about what we are doing in Northern Ireland, where the Assembly is promoting the film and TV sectors. They are all doing well, with jobs created and the economy boosted. On working together—we are not in competition with …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
3 July 2025
NHS 10-Year Plan
In a week that has been quite difficult, it is a real joy to have some good news in the Chamber in the 10-year plan. I thank the Secretary of State very much for that statement and for the positive fashion in which it was delivered. He says that it will deliver a health plan for all, but I have a qu…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
3 July 2025
Business of the House
I wish to raise the deeply concerning situation facing the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Pakistan, where violent attacks have intensified in recent weeks. I met some representatives last night. The destruction of places of worship, the desecration of graves and continued arrests under blasphemy laws…