Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
3 November 2025
Topical Questions
T7. Last month, the SNP Government in Edinburgh released their latest independence propaganda paper. Unbelievably, it said that nuclear weapons would have no place in an independent Scotland. Does the Minister agree that Scottish independence would be a gift to Britain’s enemies and would put at ris…
Commons
Proceedings
30 October 2025
Sudan: Protection of Civilians
There are many displaced people in other countries in the region as a consequence of the violence in Sudan. What additional support are the UK Government giving to those countries to support those displaced people?
Commons
Debate
27 October 2025
North Sea Oil and Gas Industry
Anyone who has met businesses in Aberdeen will know that they rely on the oil and gas sector. This Labour Government’s “net zero at all costs” policy is a disaster for high-quality skills and jobs in the north-east and across Scotland. What urgent action will the Government take to restore confidenc…
Commons
Proceedings
23 October 2025
Business of the House
Many of my constituents in Berwickshire would prefer to use NHS services in Northumberland, which are much closer to them—indeed, Northumbria healthcare NHS foundation trust has said it would welcome those patients—but the SNP Government do everything to stop them, meaning that elderly and sick pati…
Commons
Debate
22 October 2025
2 contributions
Devolution in Scotland
The hon. Member is making a very good speech. As a fellow Member of the Scottish Parliament for 10 years, I concur completely with his comments regarding the Committee structure. There are many faults about the other place, but it is significantly better at scrutinising Government, holding Governmen…
I think the recollection that the hon. Lady and I will have of our time in the Scottish Parliament was of voting physically, albeit electronically, together in the Scottish Parliament Chamber. The difference now, of course, is that some Members of the Scottish Parliament are voting in the Chamber, w…
Commons
Westminster Hall
21 October 2025
9 contributions
Electricity Infrastructure: Rural Communities
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the impact of electricity infrastructure on rural communities.
It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mr Efford. I am delighted to have secured this important debate, as it is an issue that affects many communities across our United Kingdom. …
I will take interventions, but I will make a little more progress. Patience, colleagues!
It means giant mega-pylons running through communities and landscapes across the Scottish Borders. We all understand the need for a modern, resilient electricity network, but there must be a balance. It must be…
+7 more contributions in this session
Commons
Proceedings
16 October 2025
3 contributions
Business of the House
Will the Leader of the House give us the forthcoming business?
I thank the Leader of the House for the forthcoming business. I want to start by paying tribute to Lord Ming Campbell, a former Member of this place and former leader of the Liberal Democrats. He was a hugely respected parliamentarian, and I know he will be much missed. I would also like to express …
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Northern Ireland
15 October 2025
2 contributions
Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Replacement
5. What steps he is taking to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.
Yesterday the Secretary of State announced this Labour Government’s new Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. Despite all the justifications for the Bill, it still means one thing: veterans, many of whom are elderly, being dragged back through the courts. Does the Secretary of State think that is an accep…
Commons
Oral Questions
13 October 2025
2 contributions
Private Rented Sector: People Granted Asylum
2. What information his Department holds on the proportion of people granted asylum status living in the private rented sector.
It is extraordinary that the Minister does not have that answer. Too many asylum seekers are arriving in our communities far too quickly because the Government have failed on their promise to smash their gangs. People have had enough, and this Labour Government do not seem to have any answers. What …
Commons
Proceedings
11 September 2025
UK Ambassador to the US: Appointment Process
The Minister claims that new information has come to light, which has resulted in the ambassador being sacked. Can he confirm that this is the only new information, and that all the other information was in the Prime Minister’s knowledge?
Commons
Oral Questions
11 September 2025
Passenger Rail Performance
Last week, London North Eastern Railway announced huge cuts to rail services from Berwick-upon-Tweed station, which serves not only the town of Berwick but my constituents in the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland. The Government promised more trains, but this is the opposite. LNER is now own…
Commons
Oral Questions
4 September 2025
Water Company Executives: Accountability
State-owned Scottish Water is responsible for the water supply across Scotland. Last week, thousands of residents in the Scottish Borders were left without water for days, and terrible communication by Scottish Water made matters worse. We were facing a public health crisis, as well as an animal wel…
Commons
Westminster Hall
4 September 2025
Future of Terrestrial Television
My right hon. Friend is making an excellent speech. I know he is acutely aware that many communities that he and I represent in the Scottish borders rely on that television service. At the same time, they do not have access to a high-speed, high quality broadband connection unless they pay significa…
Commons
Debate
3 September 2025
7 contributions
Hospitality Sector
Is the hon. Lady aware of the comments in the Scottish Parliament yesterday by the chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance? He said that
“the first half of this year was brutal”,
and that the increase in employer’s national insurance contributions has resulted in a “loss of jobs”. Is he w…
My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech about the importance of these businesses to her constituency. Does she agree that those businesses are often the very heart of local communities, and that if residents lose them, they lose a vital part of their community?
+5 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
2 September 2025
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
In Scotland, we have so-called devolution, but the reality on the ground is that the Scottish Government are centralising more and more power. Does my hon. Friend share my concern that the Bill creates the potential risk of that?
Commons
Ministerial Statement
2 September 2025
Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
I recently met Dr Joanna Kerr, an extremely brave survivor of child sexual exploitation and abuse in Scotland. As it stands, the national inquiry will not cover Scotland, and the Scottish National party Government will not launch their own. I ask the Minister again: will she commit herself to extend…
Commons
Oral Questions
1 September 2025
Topical Questions
T4. Cruel cuts to the winter fuel allowance by both this Labour Government and the SNP Government in Edinburgh left thousands of pensioners cold in their homes last winter. When will the Secretary of State apologise for the misery her Government have caused for vulnerable pensioners in the Scottish …
Commons
Oral Questions
1 September 2025
2 contributions
Health and Disability Benefits: Spending Estimate
4. What estimate she has made of the level of spending on health and disability benefits by 2030.
Just two months ago, the Secretary of State was left humiliated after being forced to significantly water down her botched welfare Bill. If the Government had pressed ahead with the Bill as originally drafted, how much less would taxpayers be spending on benefits by 2030?
Commons
Debate
22 July 2025
Sir David Amess Summer Adjournment
I am pleased to speak in the Sir David Amess Adjournment debate. One of the highlights of my year is my annual summer surgery tour; I hold over 75 surgeries in towns and villages across my constituency over 10 days. This is in addition to my usual monthly surgeries. The summer recess gives me the op…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
21 July 2025
Independent Water Commission
Between 2018 and 2022, untreated sewage was released just over 58,000 times from Scottish sewer overflows, and more than half of wild swimming spots in Scotland contain unsafe levels of sewage, so whatever model the Government decide to adopt for the regulation of the water industry in England, will…
Commons
Debate
17 July 2025
3 contributions
Global Plastics Treaty
The hon. Gentleman is making a very good speech, much of which I agree with. I am sure that he, like me, visits many schools. Does he agree that when he visits them and speaks to young people, they are very, very concerned about the environment, and in particular plastic pollution? In many ways, our…
The hon. Member is making a very good speech. I agree with him about the need to take the public and business with us. In Scotland we had a real challenge with the deposit return scheme that the Scottish Government tried to impose, because business was up in arms about it, and it was going to impact…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
17 July 2025
Ukraine
I fully support the work of the UK Government in providing military assistance to Ukraine.
Like so many voluntary groups across the United Kingdom, the Rotary club of Duns has been actively involved in supporting Ukraine during the war. It has delivered several pick-up trucks loaded with medical eq…
Commons
Proceedings
17 July 2025
Business of the House
The SNP Government’s fire and rescue service is consulting on plans to downgrade Hawick fire station from 24/7 cover to weekday daytime hours only. Thousands of people locally have signed a petition, with residents concerned that these proposals could put lives at risk. Will the Leader of the House …
Commons
Oral Questions
16 July 2025
2 contributions
Nuclear Power
1. What discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on the future of nuclear power in Wales.
I thank the Minister for that answer. Nuclear must be an important part of our energy security strategy. It is both clean and reliable, and creates good jobs for local communities. What more can the Secretary of State do to encourage and incentivise new nuclear power in Wales and across all parts of…
Commons
Oral Questions
Housing, Communities and Local Government
14 July 2025
Topical Questions
T2. Home ownership feels increasingly out of reach for many first-time buyers, particularly for young families who want to remain in the beautiful Scottish Borders. What can the Government do to ensure that house builders deliver more affordable family-sized homes in all parts of the United Kingdo…