Commons
Proceedings
13 January 2026
Chinese Embassy
The Minister is very artfully avoiding answering the question that my constituents and Hongkongers, Chinese, Muslims and Tibetans all over this country want to know the answer to, and it is not about the planning process. They are concerned about their safety and security, and they are concerned tha…
Commons
Westminster Hall
13 January 2026
Airport Drop-off Charges
A lot has been made of transport links to airports. At Edinburgh airport, we have excellent links—it is the end of the tramline and there are special buses—but if people are being picked up or dropped off, they have to pay £6 for the first 10 minutes and £1 for every minute after that. That is diffi…
Commons
Oral Questions
Energy Security and Net Zero
6 January 2026
2 contributions
Renewable Energy Jobs
13. What steps he is taking to support job creation in the renewable energy sector.
I appreciate the Minister’s answer. Those 40,000 jobs are vital, but they are still outnumbered by the many thousands of jobs in the oil and gas sector. The rate of job losses there is accelerating, and people are increasingly going abroad, creating a concern that the skills necessary for the green …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
5 January 2026
Venezuela
I have to say that this is one of the most depressing days I have spent in this Chamber in the past few years, because while I welcome the Foreign Secretary’s commitment to democracy in Venezuela and her repeated commitment to the rules-based international system and our alliances, I cannot bring th…
Commons
Oral Questions
Home Department
5 January 2026
2 contributions
Hate Crime
14. What steps she is taking to tackle hate crime.
I welcome the Minister’s comments, as I welcome the Government’s violence against women and girls strategy, including the confirmation that the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023 will commence in April. We know, however, that misogyny runs deeper, and attitudes and actions throu…
Commons
Proceedings
17 December 2025
Puberty Suppressants Trial
I also welcome the tone and sensitivity that the right hon. Gentleman has taken on this issue—not just today, but throughout. We all recognise that we should be led by evidence, which is absolutely vital. The trans community is a reality. They feel very vulnerable and very attacked. People who have …
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 December 2025
Quarries: Planning Policy
The picture the hon. Gentleman paints is very familiar to me. There was recently an application on the edge of a village in my constituency. The heavy lorries would cause vibrations on the narrow roads. However, as well as the environmental impact, there is the economic impact on rural areas, where …
Commons
Debate
15 December 2025
Jimmy Lai Conviction
I associate myself with the comments about yesterday’s horror in Sydney. I, too, welcome the Foreign Secretary’s clear and unequivocal call for the release of Jimmy Lai, and her condemnation of a politically motivated act that, as others have said, can only cause great fear among the Hong Kong commu…
Commons
Proceedings
11 December 2025
3 contributions
St Andrew’s Day and Scottish Affairs
I thank the hon. Member for giving way, especially so early in his speech. He talks about Scotland as we were. Does he share my concern that too often our history has been oversimplified, over-romanticised and focused on William Wallace, Robert Bruce and this entanglement with England, and has not l…
The right hon. Member is giving an impressive speech and a very important speech for Scotland. Does he agree that in May next year, Scotland will stand at an important crossroads where our future may be decided on how we pursue that election and who wins it, and that the time has come for change to …
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Proceedings
11 December 2025
US National Security Strategy
Notwithstanding the Minister’s comments, there is profound shock and confusion not just in this place but among the public about what Trump’s statements mean for our future defence and the future defence of our democracy. We have parliamentary elections in Scotland next year. Is he going to be promo…
Commons
Oral Questions
Business and Trade
11 December 2025
Topical Questions
T9. Retail is Scotland’s largest private sector employer, but businesses do not receive the same sort of business rates relief as those in the rest of the UK, which puts them at a disadvantage. A group of Scottish retailers recently wrote to the Scottish Government asking for this relief in the Scot…
Commons
Oral Questions
Women and Equalities
10 December 2025
Transgender People: Safe Spaces
I appreciate the Minister’s clarification, but with organisations such as Girlguiding UK and the Women’s Institute saying that they have been forced to exclude the trans community against their will, how soon can we expect the guidance that the Secretary of State says is being considered?
Commons
Oral Questions
Work and Pensions
8 December 2025
Topical Questions
We all know that disabled people often face higher energy bills. In my constituency, that is exacerbated by higher standing charges. The Government have now abolished the energy company obligation. Can the Minister tell me what support with bills will be available for disabled people this winter?
Commons
Proceedings
1 December 2025
Budget Resolutions
It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Leeds East (Richard Burgon). He will forgive me for wondering whether some of his Scottish Labour colleagues perhaps believe that Christmas arrived early for them last week, given that much of the Red Book reads like the Christmas wish list of a potenti…
Commons
Proceedings
27 November 2025
Business of the House
A care provider in my constituency recently closed, leaving vulnerable patients without care, and leaving staff who fulfil roles in that vital sector, and who are there on sponsored visas, in limbo. We have people who need care, and we have people who can provide it but are not able to do so. Will a…
Commons
Westminster Hall
27 November 2025
2 contributions
Domestic Abuse: Children
Order. I am confident that we will get everybody in if speakers can keep themselves to five or six minutes.
I remind Members that if we are going to get everyone in, please keep to five minutes.
Commons
Oral Questions
Scotland
26 November 2025
Pride in Place Programme
Some 40% of children in Stenhouse in my constituency of Edinburgh West live in poverty. There are nine Pride in Place projects being considered across Edinburgh, but none include that area of deprivation. Are there plans to change the criteria so that such areas can be included, helping to attack pr…
Commons
Proceedings
24 November 2025
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC: Away Fans Ban
After the incident with Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam, the Government’s independent assessor on antisemitism, Lord Mann, visited the city, did a fact-finding mission and compiled a report. It was passed to the Government in January, and to the Government and the police again in June. Can the Mi…
Commons
Oral Questions
20 November 2025
Topical Questions
T6. The City of Edinburgh council’s consultation on a new tram route has just closed, but there are newspaper reports in the city that officials are now in discussion with Government advisers about potential funding options. Can the Minister clarify whether that is the case and, if so, ensure that t…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
18 November 2025
ExxonMobil: Mossmorran
The Minister referred earlier to the jobs that are coming in the renewables industry. That will be no consolation tonight to the 400 families who do not have that future within their sight. He also rhymed off the Government’s policies for supporting energy-intensive industries, but those policies di…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
18 November 2025
China Espionage: Government Security Response
I welcome the Minister’s comments and repeat the calls for China to be added to FIRS. I have specific concerns about Edinburgh and Scotland in general. One relates to our energy security given the continuing lack of clarity about what is to happen to Mingyang and whether, if it is to take part in th…
Commons
Oral Questions
18 November 2025
2 contributions
Energy Costs: Support for Businesses
7. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on support for businesses facing increased energy costs.
UKHospitality estimates that the industry contributes £8 billion a year to the Scottish economy. A major increase in standing charges would hit it hard. Many businesses in the sector are energy-hungry—for example, distilleries, pubs and restaurants—and across my constituency there is concern about t…
Commons
Debate
17 November 2025
Asylum Policy
I think there is general agreement that we have chaos in the immigration and asylum system, and that the Government should be looking for new ways to discourage people from crossing the channel in small boats. Given what the Home Secretary has said today, though, is there a danger that the people we…
Commons
Oral Questions
Home Department
17 November 2025
Topical Questions
T2. I have been contacted by constituents concerned that a group calling itself Justice for Innocent Men in Scotland is allegedly harassing victims of sexual violence by undermining their anonymity. Will the Minister tell me what the UK Government are going to do to protect women across the UK from …