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…
Commons
Proceedings
14 May 2025
Gaza: UK Assessment
Some thanks should be given to the Minister for his temperament, his well-chosen words and his reaction to all the questions. He has shown incredible patience, and we all admire him for that. Undoubtedly, there are innocent people who are suffering and have been suffering since Hamas’s genocidal att…
Commons
Oral Questions
Science, Innovation and Technology
14 May 2025
Innovation: Hertfordshire
The Minister is right that such work is helping not just Hertfordshire but everywhere else. He has been a regular visitor to Northern Ireland and has taken a specific interest in cyber-security there. Has he had the opportunity to interact with companies in Northern Ireland to ensure that we can ben…
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 May 2025
Carer’s Leave
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stringer. I commend the hon. Member for North East Fife (Wendy Chamberlain) for leading the debate. It is a real pleasure to see her back in Westminster Hall leading a debate. Party Whips sometimes do not get an opportunity to do things, so well don…
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 May 2025
Glass Packaging: Extended Producer Responsibility
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stringer. I give a special thanks to the hon. Member for Rotherham (Sarah Champion) for setting the scene so well—Champion by name and champion by nature. Well done.
We are all aware of the need to be good stewards of this planet, and for that reas…
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 May 2025
Rebalancing Regional Economies
I commend the hon. Member for securing this debate. He is absolutely right about regional rebalancing of the economies. From a Northern Irish perspective, I can encourage him that Invest Northern Ireland has decided to relocate many of its upcoming businesses outside the Belfast metropolitan area, a…
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 May 2025
Future of Public Libraries
Thank you, Mr Dowd. I did not expect to be called this early, but it is always a pleasure to speak in a debate and to serve under your chairship.
I congratulate the hon. Member for Mid Derbyshire (Jonathan Davies) on setting the scene so well. Libraries are obviously vastly important to him, as the…
Commons
Proceedings
13 May 2025
Mansion House Accord
I thank the Minister for his positive answers to the questions that have been posed from all parts of the Chamber today. While it is encouraging to see 17 workplace pension providers investing 10% in private assets, it is disappointing that Scottish Widows, for example, is refusing to sign up. What …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
13 May 2025
Speaker’s Statement
Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. On behalf of the Democratic Unionist party, I want to convey to the family of Sir Roy Stone our deepest condolences at this time of tragedy and grief. To serve under a number of Prime Ministers and Chief Whips is no easy task, but he was always fair and im…
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
13 May 2025
Humanitarian Aid: Educational Programmes
In the past, the Minister has spoken very positively about education. What assessment has been made of the potential progress that could be made in reducing youth radicalisation by allocating aid to education programmes, as we have witnessed over the years a number of young people being brainwashed …
Commons
Westminster Hall
13 May 2025
Flooding: Planning and Developer Responsibilities
I commend the hon. Gentleman for securing this debate. He is absolutely right. One of the problems—if I can put forward the reasoning behind what he is referring to—is the old system of building houses, not just in Norfolk, but right across this whole United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ire…
Commons
Westminster Hall
13 May 2025
Defence Industries: North-East
I commend the hon. Gentleman for securing this debate. He is right to underline the importance of the defence sector right across this great United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Something that is also important and that he has rightly spoken about is the need for apprentices. The Go…
Commons
Westminster Hall
13 May 2025
2 contributions
Local Housing Need Assessment Reform
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse. I thank the hon. Member for Horsham (John Milne) for setting the scene so well. I always bring a Northern Ireland perspective to the debate.
It is good that we understand the importance of these issues. The Minister is a regular visitor to Northern Ireland and as he engages with relevant Ministers there, as he always does, he will be asking these questions and talking about the matter. I look forward to his response.
The hon. Member for…
Commons
Westminster Hall
13 May 2025
2 contributions
Churches and Religious Buildings: Communities
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Jeremy. I thank the right hon. Member for Salisbury (John Glen) and the hon. Member for Battersea (Marsha De Cordova) for leading today’s debate. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all who are gathered here today and, furthermore, to all who support t…
I wholeheartedly agree with my hon. Friend.
To put the situation in Egypt into perspective, each church, irrespective of denomination, has the police and army on guard 24 hours a day. In 2013, Christian churches were burned and Christians were murdered. Today, however, the opportunities have change…