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…
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
3 July 2025
Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme
I thank the hon. Lady for her answers. Like other Members, I will ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether there will be more money for churches, given that the Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism says that funding is now available. Churches are more than just b…
Commons
Oral Questions
3 July 2025
Children’s Access to Theatre
The Secretary of State is getting a liking for visiting Northern Ireland. With that in mind, what discussions has she had with her counterparts in Northern Ireland on the importance of further engagement between local theatres and schools across Northern Ireland—the very thing the hon. Member for We…
Commons
Debate
2 July 2025
Corporate Businesses and Franchisees: Regulatory Environment
I commend the right hon. Gentleman. He is a friend to us all in this Chamber and we all love him because of the wisdom he brings to it. He is also a good friend to Northern Ireland. I say that because he will be very pleased when he hears about what we are doing in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ire…
Commons
Debate
2 July 2025
Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism
I thank the Minister for bringing forward this motion. If it comes to a vote, as some have indicated they wish it to do, my party will support the Government. I come from Northern Ireland, and we understand what it means to have security. It is important to have Government, Ministers, the police, th…
Commons
Debate
2 July 2025
Armed Forces Commissioner Bill
I commend the Minister and the Government for bringing this Bill forward, and I understand the issue—I spoke to the Minister just beforehand. Lords amendment 2 deals with whistleblowers and protections for family members, which are necessary. I have a complaint ready to hand to the Minister that was…
Commons
Oral Questions
Northern Ireland
2 July 2025
Spending Review: Northern Ireland Executive
What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of Barnett funding on health in Northern Ireland, given that the Northern Ireland Department of Health’s financial bid falls below requested and required levels each year? It is important that we have funding for health, so will the Secretary of St…
Commons
Westminster Hall
2 July 2025
West Bank: Forced Displacement
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Turner. I commend the hon. Member for Glasgow North (Martin Rhodes) for securing the debate.
I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to speak about the struggles faced by many, and the responsibility, which we all share, to respond with co…
Commons
Westminster Hall
2 July 2025
Whistleblowers
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. I thank the hon. Member for South Dorset (Lloyd Hatton) for setting the scene so well, as he often does on these issues. I have spoken in previous debates on this topic, and it is an important issue for me.
The Minister and I were talkin…
Commons
Westminster Hall
2 July 2025
ECO4 Scheme Redress
I commend the hon. Lady for securing this debate. She always brings applicable issues to Westminster Hall, and today is as an example of that, with the horrific example of the almost inconceivable standard of work done to her constituent’s house.
The ECO4 scheme does not apply in Northern Ireland, …
Commons
Westminster Hall
2 July 2025
Spending Review 2025: Scotland
I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on all he does in this place; he is making an excellent name for himself when it comes to working for his constituents. Although the new growth fund that will invest in deprived communities across the United Kingdom is welcome, the Scottish funding from it will be t…
Commons
Debate
1 July 2025
Infant Feeding
I commend the hon. Lady; I spoke to her before the debate. In the last Parliament, one of the Scots Nats MPs was chair of the APPG. I was supportive of that as a man, as I thought that was important. My wife was an example of where breastfeeding is so important. Is the hon. Lady aware that Northern …
Commons
Debate
1 July 2025
2 contributions
Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill
Will the Minister give way?
I have been asked by representatives of people with Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis to put this question to the Secretary of State, and I hope she will give me the answer. They are worried that people with these fluctuating conditions will be locked out of qualifying for the higher rate of the UC…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
1 July 2025
Parental Leave Review
Today’s statement is positive and I thank the Minister for it. The fact that parents cannot share leave leaves a sense of there being one primary caregiver, which is not an accurate picture of most households in this day and age. Indeed, more than 50% of households in Northern Ireland are dual incom…
Commons
Oral Questions
Treasury
1 July 2025
2 contributions
Winter Fuel Payment: Northern Ireland
7. Whether she plans to provide additional Barnett consequential funding to the Northern Ireland Executive for the winter fuel payment.
I thank the Minister for that very positive answer. What assessment has been made of the impact of increasing the winter fuel payment in line with inflation? Given the increase in the cost of living, does he believe that current winter fuel payments are up to the standard in terms of how far they wi…