Commons
Debate
20 May 2025
3 contributions
Victims and Courts Bill
I thank the Minister for bringing forward the Bill; what she has outlined is exactly what we wanted to hear. My constituent has asked me this question. During the restoration of justice, the victim often feels isolated from the process. Does the Minister believe that if the Bill is to be effective, …
Will the Minister give way again?
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
20 May 2025
UK-EU Summit
I support the fishing sector in Portavogie in my constituency, and the Northern Ireland Fish Producers’ Organisation there speaks on behalf of those in Ardglass and Kilkeel as well. As the Member for South Down (Chris Hazzard) does not bother attending the House, we have to speak for all those fishi…
Commons
Oral Questions
Treasury
20 May 2025
Pension Savings: Investment Returns
I want to ask about 18-year-olds, who are just starting off, being encouraged to take out a pension. Whenever I was 18, my mother took me down to see John Thompson, the pensions man in Ballywalter, and he said, “You’re going to take a pension.” I asked, “What for, Mum?” She said, “You’re taking a pe…
Commons
Westminster Hall
20 May 2025
Government Travel Advice: Laos
I commend the hon. Member for securing this debate. I do not think anyone was not shocked and moved to hear what can happen, especially to young people, who go for one of those adventure holidays where they look forward to the excitement they will have together. Does he agree that although it is ost…
Commons
Westminster Hall
20 May 2025
2 contributions
Adoption and Kinship Placements
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Harris. I thank the hon. Member for South West Devon (Rebecca Smith) for leading the debate. The crowd that is present indicates how important the issue is. Adoptive and kinship care is a wonderful thing to offer children a safe and caring environm…
The hon. Lady is absolutely right. It is frustrating to have a legalistic system that seems to try to hold up the process, when people are looking for a good way forward for the child.
In October 2024, the Government announced that it would provide some £40 million to trial a new kinship allowance …
Commons
Westminster Hall
20 May 2025
3 contributions
GP Services: Christchurch
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
20 May 2025
3 contributions
Pensions: Expatriates
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Dowd. I thank the hon. Member for Farnham and Bordon (Gregory Stafford) for introducing this debate and for putting his case so well on a subject that has been brought to the House’s attention on numerous occasions, both in Westminster Hall and in t…
I gave the example—others will have similar examples—of a constituent who had moved to Canada. She phoned the DWP to ascertain her pension obligations and responsibilities, and was assured that her pension would follow her, but quite clearly it did not. The Minister outlined a system whereby it shou…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Proceedings
19 May 2025
Pubs and Community Funding
I commend the hon. Lady, who is quickly making a reputation for herself in the House as an assiduous MP, whether it be in Westminster Hall, Adjournment debates or last Friday—well done to her. Every one of her constituents should be proud of all her industrious work here.
Strangford and Ards have s…
Commons
Debate
19 May 2025
2 contributions
Mental Health Bill [Lords]
I commend the Secretary of State for bringing this Bill before the House. On all occasions when I have inquired of him, he has been keen to share ideas and thoughts on legislation in relation to Northern Ireland. On mental ill health, deprivation and poverty, the figures for Northern Ireland are som…
It is a real pleasure to speak in this debate, Madam Deputy Speaker. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to make a contribution. I shall begin by saying that it is essential that we get this right. In his introduction, the Secretary of State outlined his case very well, and I welcome his polic…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
19 May 2025
Legal Aid Agency: Cyber-security Incident
I thank the Minister for her detailed answers and reassurances. The legal aid system is an imperative cog in the wheels of justice, and this attack on it must be seen as an attack on justice as well. Can the Minister say whether the attack encompasses legal aid details from the entirety of the Unite…
Commons
Debate
19 May 2025
National Security Act 2023: Charges
I thank the Secretary of State for her strong and determined words and actions—we appreciate them. I offer my thanks to the counter-terrorism unit for its work on the case. I know that this is the tip of the iceberg of the work being carried out unseen to keep us all safe across this great United Ki…
Commons
Proceedings
19 May 2025
NHS and Care Volunteer Responders Service
I thank the Minister for her answers. The importance of the work of the voluntary sector in the NHS cannot ever be overstated, whether it is those who volunteer to help people find their way around the hospital maze, those who provide vital phone support and work within communities or the volunteers…
Commons
Debate
16 May 2025
7 contributions
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
rose—
Mr Speaker, I will always be at the end of the list, so it is important for me to make an intervention. The hon. Member for Spen Valley (Kim Leadbeater) set the scene very well on Second Reading, but since then things have changed. For instance, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has voiced strong c…
+5 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
15 May 2025
3 contributions
Coroner Services: West Midlands
rose—
I spoke to the hon. Member for Birmingham Perry Barr (Ayoub Khan) before the debate, Madam Deputy Speaker; he and I were in a debate in Westminster Hall just this afternoon. Coroner services, whether it be in the west midlands or anywhere else in the United Kingdom, are an issue. I told the hon. Gen…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
15 May 2025
Sanctions Implementation and Enforcement
I thank the Minister for his answers and for returning to the Chamber within 24 hours of his comments about Russian sanctions yesterday. I read an interesting article on financial sanctions that highlighted the alleged loopholes that are enabling sales and transfers of funds through estate agents, p…
Commons
Proceedings
15 May 2025
Business of the House
I thank the Leader of the House for this opportunity to raise an important matter, as I try to do every week. Around the world, many Christian and other religious minority communities face persecution, displacement and violence. Non-governmental organisations and faith-based charities do vital work …
Commons
Proceedings
15 May 2025
Recalled Offenders: Sentencing Limits
The Minister is a very decent person, and he and I have been friends for many years, but I must ask this question, which I hope I can put in the way that I wish to. I really struggle to understand the rationale behind allowing a criminal to consider their options and work out whether what they inten…
Commons
Oral Questions
15 May 2025
2 contributions
Topical Questions
T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.
I thank the Secretary of State for setting out those positive opportunities for the future. Air passenger duty adversely impacts economic opportunity for companies in Northern Ireland. To continue the positivity from the Secretary of State, would she commit to asking Cabinet colleagues to adjust the…
Commons
Oral Questions
15 May 2025
Maritime Sector
In common with the hon. Member for Blackpool North and Fleetwood (Lorraine Beavers), I have concerns about the fishing sector. In terms of maritime needs and co-ordination with the drive towards net zero, and with the push towards marine-based renewable energy, what discussion has taken place with t…
Commons
Westminster Hall
15 May 2025
3 contributions
World Asthma Day
I beg to move,
That this House has considered World Asthma Day.
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Huq. We had a very productive parliamentary visit to Egypt to promote freedom of religious belief. I commend you for that publicly today in the Chamber.
I am grateful to the Bac…
I used to have close contact with a guy called Simon Hamilton, who was an MLA for the constituency that I represent. He had Crohn’s disease—my knowledge of it came through him—and he was caught short many a time, if that is the way to put it.
May I ask the Minister a wee question? I asked about CDC…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
15 May 2025
Gavi and the Global Fund
I commend the hon. Member for Milton Keynes Central (Emily Darlington) on setting the scene so well. It is an incredible debate, which is why Members are here to make a contribution.
Gavi has so far immunised 1.1 billion children, and it is estimated to have averted more than 18.8 million deaths gl…
Commons
Westminster Hall
15 May 2025
Accountability for Daesh Crimes
The violence against and the murder and rape of Yazidi women has been truly horrendous. Way back in 2010 or 2012, I had a chance to meet some of them. Yazidi women who survived have a story to tell against their Daesh perpetrators. Has every effort been made to collate the evidence and pursue the pe…
Commons
Debate
14 May 2025
Plastic Recycling in Leamington: Environmental Impact
I commend the hon. Gentleman for securing this debate on behalf of his constituents. I am almost flabbergasted that the local council has not taken action to address this issue. What has it done and what is it going to do to take away this enormous fly problem? The Book of Exodus does talk about the…
Commons
Debate
14 May 2025
Sanctions
First, I commend the Minister on bringing the measure forward. I do not think there is anybody in this House who would not be encouraged by what the Minister and Government are doing in bringing in the sanctions. The one thing that always concerns everybody—the Minister knows this—is the £22.7 billi…
Commons
Debate
14 May 2025
Great British Energy Bill
I reiterate and support what the hon. Lady and the shadow Minister have said. I understand that this Bill applies to all the regions, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. One concern raised with me by my colleagues in the Assembly is slave labour and what is happening to the Uyghur Muslim…