Commons
Oral Questions
House of Commons Commission
15 January 2026
2 contributions
British Manufacturers
9. What steps the Commission is taking to increase the proportion of House of Commons purchasing from British manufacturers.
I thank my hon. Friend for his continued engagement with me on this important matter. The ceramic commemorative tankard on sale in the gift shop over Christmas was marked up as being decorated in Stoke-on-Trent, but what that means is that it was formed and fired overseas, imported into the UK, deco…
Commons
Debate
13 January 2026
8 contributions
Finance (No. 2) Bill
The Minister has said that the tax change will disincentive the most harmful form of gambling, but can she cite any evidence that will demonstrate that? I have no problem with taxing a profitable industry to pay for the wonderful policies that we announced for the sector, but the report from the Off…
He just read my notes!
+6 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
12 January 2026
2 contributions
Finance (No. 2) Bill
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
No, that was not what I was going to ask, but I am glad that the hon. Gentleman got to the “It was all covid’s fault” argument so early in the debate. I was going to ask whether he has an in-principle objection to freezing the rate, or whether he objects to it because he thinks it is somehow a breac…
Commons
Oral Questions
Housing, Communities and Local Government
12 January 2026
2 contributions
House Building: Stoke-on-Trent
16. What steps his Department is taking to help support house building in Stoke-on-Trent.
I thank the Minister for that answer. Stoke-on-Trent has benefited from money from the brownfield regeneration fund. However, there are many brownfield sites across the city that could be used for local planning development, but the owners are simply not engaging with the process. Given that we are …
Commons
Oral Questions
17 December 2025
Digital ID System
When the Minister rolls out digital ID, will he give serious thought to engaging organisations like conformity assessment bodies and the public libraries network so that those who need the ID can get help at the point of application?
Commons
Debate
16 December 2025
Finance (No. 2) Bill
The Minister will be aware that those rate changes will have a consequential impact on jobs, particularly in places such as Stoke-on-Trent, where thousands of people are employed by gambling companies. The rights and wrongs of gambling aside, there will be an impact on jobs. Is he willing to look at…
Commons
Debate
15 December 2025
3 contributions
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill
Will the Minister give way?
It’s nice to be loved, isn’t it, Madam Deputy Speaker? I congratulate the Minister on bringing forward the Bill. On exports, the world-leading ceramics industry in Stoke-on-Trent tells me that there used to be a fund that allowed companies to get help with the cost of going to trade expositions or b…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
15 December 2025
2 contributions
Defence Spending: Economic Growth
6. What steps he is taking through defence spending to help increase economic growth.
When the previous Government slashed defence spending by £12 billion in their first five years, it left the defence of our nation hollowed out and underfunded. Now, Stoke-on-Trent and our world-leading ceramics sector, which makes vital components for aircraft, submarines and ships, stand ready to h…
Commons
Oral Questions
Business and Trade
11 December 2025
Energy Costs
The UK ceramics sector is one of the most gas and electricity-intensive industries in the UK, so I make my usual plea to the Minister to consider changes to the supercharger scheme ahead of the British industrial competitiveness scheme coming online. Will he also give some thought to the electrifica…
Commons
Debate
10 December 2025
6 contributions
Conduct of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
I congratulate the shadow Chancellor on finally working out what apologies are; I know he is demanding them from this side of the House. Before he carries on, will he apologise for the 15% spike in interest rates under Liz Truss, the thousands of pounds that were put on mortgages under Liz Truss, th…
On the right hon. Gentleman’s new-found concern for pensioners in poverty, the one time that the triple lock was suspended was under the Conservatives in 2021. I believe that he is on record as saying that it was unsustainable and should be replaced with a double lock. Is that still his position or …
+4 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
10 December 2025
3 contributions
Seasonal Work
I have some affection for the hon. Gentleman, and he has a lovely smile. Can he tell me how many members of the shadow Cabinet—or Conservative Members who serve on the Opposition Front Bench—have ever had to sustain a long-term position on low-paid, insecure work while raising a family? Those voices…
Under a Conservative council and a Conservative Government, Stoke-on-Trent had one of highest levels—if not the highest level—of NEETs anywhere in the country. The number is now coming down, but what does the hon. Member think was the reason why my city had to endure that under his Government and hi…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
10 December 2025
4 contributions
Kashmir: Self-determination
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Roger. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford East (Imran Hussain) on his continuing leadership on this issue, not just in this House but around the country.
It is quite disappointing. The last time we debated this subject in Wes…
No, I will not.
The Minister is a diligent man and takes these issues very seriously; will he outline what regular engagement there is between the Foreign Office and representatives of the Kashmiri diaspora in the UK? How are we making sure that the voices of people who have a deep and meaningful c…
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Proceedings
8 December 2025
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC: Away Fans Ban
When making these sorts of decisions, it is important to have several points of information. Can the Minister confirm whether UEFA was present at the safety advisory group meeting when the decision to ban Maccabi fans was taken, and, if so, what was its advice? More broadly, can she say what UEFA’s …
Commons
Oral Questions
Work and Pensions
8 December 2025
Skills England
Skills England has the potential to really make an impact in places like north Staffordshire, where there are skills that we need for the jobs of tomorrow. However, those programmes are too often piloted through mayoral combined authorities, and we are a long way from that in Staffordshire. How will…
Commons
Oral Questions
Wales
3 December 2025
2 contributions
Economic Growth
2. What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on increasing economic growth in Wales.
Because of decisions made by the UK Labour Government, the minimum wage and the living wage will increase, boosting wages for thousands of workers across this country, including 160,000 people in Wales. Could the Secretary of State set out what impact she thinks this critical announcement will have …
Commons
Westminster Hall
3 December 2025
3 contributions
Advanced Ceramics Industry: North Staffordshire
And Leicestershire.
The Minister mentioned electricity prices. I have repeatedly asked the Government to consider the expansion of the supercharger scheme for current industrial use by the ceramics sector. That would be a massive help before the British industrial competitiveness scheme comes online. I know the Ministe…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Proceedings
2 December 2025
2 contributions
Government Procurement
When I had the privilege of leading a council in north Staffordshire, we tried to invent a model that allowed us to use the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 in exactly the way that my hon. Friend describes, so that when we were working with a registered social landlord on house building, for …
To follow up on the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (John Slinger) about the great announcement that police forces will be able to buy things locally, when will the Minister extend that to ensure that British police services are buying British cars, that the Government car service …
Commons
Westminster Hall
2 December 2025
3 contributions
Gambling: Regulatory Reform
I will not need that long, Sir Desmond, don’t worry. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship. I congratulate the hon. Member for Witney (Charlie Maynard) on securing the debate. After the recent Budget, it is a timely moment to discuss how we regulate the gambling sector in this country, a…
I welcome the Minister to his new role. He is right that a number of sporting sectors derive a lot of sponsorship from the gambling sector, such as darts, the English Football League and horseracing. If, as a result of the tax changes announced last week, those companies withdraw their sponsorship, …
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
1 December 2025
2 contributions
Post-16 Vocational Qualifications
4. What steps her Department is taking to increase the number of vocational qualifications for post-16 learners.
I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests as a governor of the City of Stoke-on-Trent sixth-form college. The Minister will know that the further education sector welcomes V-levels to fill the gap between T-levels and A-levels, but he will also know tha…
Commons
Westminster Hall
26 November 2025
Young People not in Education, Employment or Training
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Dowd. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Amber Valley (Linsey Farnsworth) on securing this debate. I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests as a governor of Stoke-on-Trent sixth-form colle…
Commons
Westminster Hall
26 November 2025
2 contributions
Home Insulation
I thank my hon. Friend for securing this debate. While she is looking at good local organisations, let me say that National Energy Action has often said that Stoke-on-Trent ranks first in the country for fuel poverty, but we are very lucky to have Fiona Miller and her team at Beat the Cold, who for …
Stoke-on-Trent has some of the oldest housing stock in the country: brick-built terraces, single skinned and in some places still single glazed. A programme by the last Labour Government that made a real difference was the housing market renewal programme, which ran up until 2010 and then was uncere…
Commons
Westminster Hall
26 November 2025
Children of Alcoholics
Alcohol was a very prevalent part of my childhood. I was very fortunate to have grandparents who were able to step in when it was necessary, but I will never forget. It was the fear of knowing that the pubs had just closed and that my parent would be coming home in a horrible state to disrupt what w…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
24 November 2025
Critical Minerals Strategy
The Minister talks about things that are smelted, melted, forged and formed, and he will know that ceramics are crucial to those processes. He will also know that to deliver his ambitions for growth and recovery, and for virgin production, there will need to be an expansion of those processes. Is he…
Commons
Westminster Hall
19 November 2025
6 contributions
Specialist Manufacturing Sector: Regional Economies
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Harris. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Calder Valley (Josh Fenton-Glynn) on securing the debate. We do not talk nearly enough about manufacturing in this place—I am sure the Minister would agree with that, given his personal commit…
Very briefly, as long as the hon. Lady is going to admit that she is wrong.
+4 more contributions in this session