Commons
Westminster Hall
30 June 2026
High Street Regeneration and Unlawful Storefronts
Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the closure order powers that we have in this country are not fit for purpose? Until local authorities have the power to act swiftly and decisively, organised criminals will continue to exploit our high streets with impunity.
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
22 June 2026
2 contributions
SEND: Improvement
16. What steps her Department is taking to improve the SEND system.
Like local authorities across the country, Buckinghamshire council submitted its SEND improvement plan on 19 June, but it will not receive a decision on deficit relief until 21 September, after the school year has started. With a cumulative deficit of over £45 million already on the books, it is bei…
Commons
Oral Questions
Culture, Media and Sport
18 June 2026
2 contributions
Support for Creative Industries
5. What steps she is taking to help support creative industries.
The Secretary of State will know that nearly a third of those who work in the creative industries are self-employed. I have been contacted by creative freelancers in my area who feel that their voice is not always heard. One of them is a licensed chaperone, responsible for safeguarding those under 1…
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
3 June 2026
Engagements
Q8. Yesterday, at an event here in Parliament, I spoke to women whose children suffered avoidable harm after they continued taking the epilepsy drug sodium valproate during pregnancy. Doctors knew the risks and patients were not informed, and that has had devastating consequences. I am sure that the…
Commons
Oral Questions
Energy Security and Net Zero
2 June 2026
2 contributions
Cost of Energy: Support for Businesses
20. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of providing further support to businesses with the cost of energy.
Not only are small businesses facing increasing energy bills, but they are dealing with prohibitive costs in connecting to the grid when they want to expand. These businesses want to grow, invest and create jobs, and we should be helping them, so what is the Department doing to bring down the cost o…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
19 May 2026
High Speed 2 Reset
My constituents did not want HS2, and they have been putting up with the disruption of construction for years. Some of them warned that this would be a colossal waste of money, and they were right. This railway is costing nearly a billion pounds a mile. Every pound of cost overrun is a pound not spe…
Commons
Debate
23 April 2026
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
I welcome today’s debate and congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Vikki Slade) on securing it.
I too wish to focus on the experience of those navigating the medical licence renewal process, but I begin by acknowledging that the DVLA is aware of its shortcomings in …
Commons
Oral Questions
Housing, Communities and Local Government
23 February 2026
2 contributions
Housing Developments: Access to Infrastructure
15. What steps he plans to take to ensure that new housing developments have adequate access to infrastructure.
I am keen to hear what work the Department has under way to ensure that necessary infrastructure is in place. The cumulative effect of lots of smaller developments on the sewerage system and GP provision is the same as the effect of one large development. That is a live issue in Buckinghamshire, whe…
Commons
Oral Questions
Transport
12 February 2026
2 contributions
Rail Fare Affordability
5. What steps she is taking to help improve the affordability of rail fares for passengers.
A parent has been in touch with me about the rising cost of rail travel for her daughter. Despite holding a railcard, the cost of her weekly travel to college increased overnight from £27.80 to over £40. She is worried that this will affect her daughter’s ability to attend college, as she may no lon…
Commons
Westminster Hall
11 February 2026
5 contributions
Hughes Report: Second Anniversary
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the second anniversary of the Hughes Report.
Although it is a pleasure to open this debate under your chairship, Dr Allin-Khan, I do so with a sense of déjà vu, because we have been here before, on the anniversary last year and in debates on the Cumber…
The emotional toll is significant. It is a daily struggle for some of those affected, and they are battling a system.
Right at the start of her report, the Patient Safety Commissioner was clear that she should not be asked to look into the options for redress for those harmed by valproate and mesh …
+3 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
19 January 2026
Topical Questions
The guidance for complaints in children’s social care was issued 20 years ago and has not been updated since. Those who work in the system say that it is out of date, and the ombudsman echoes their concerns. Will the Minister outline what steps the Department is taking to ensure that the guidance is…
Commons
Oral Questions
Housing, Communities and Local Government
12 January 2026
Leasehold Reform
Residents of a retirement village in my constituency are concerned that existing legislation removes normal leasehold protections for those living in retirement communities, leaving residents with weak, unenforceable operator promises. Can the Minister clarify what protection upcoming leasehold refo…
Commons
Westminster Hall
7 January 2026
UK Town of Culture
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Furniss. I must say how good it is to stand up in Westminster Hall to speak enthusiastically about an initiative like this one. I thank the hon. Member for Halesowen (Alex Ballinger) for securing today’s debate, because investment is often focused o…
Commons
Oral Questions
16 December 2025
2 contributions
Family Court: Reform
3. What steps he is taking to reform the family court.
The Minister clearly knows that the backlog in the family court is causing real distress. I have one family who have waited over a year for a court hearing. A year is a long time for a child, and we know that others are waiting even longer. Will the Minister share what specific measures she is takin…
Commons
Oral Questions
2 December 2025
2 contributions
Ukraine
7. What diplomatic steps her Department is taking to support Ukraine.
Point 24 of Russia’s peace plan proposes to establish a humanitarian committee to resolve outstanding issues, such as prisoner exchanges on an “all for all” basis and the return of civilian detainees and hostages, including children. That approach conflates prisoners of war with stolen children, who…
Commons
Westminster Hall
26 November 2025
Driving Test Availability: South-east
I recognise what my hon. Friend is describing. Last week, I received an email from a constituent who travelled 200 miles from Amersham to Rochdale for the same reason. She felt she had been
“penalised for following the rules”
because she was forced to go down that route. Does my hon. Friend agree …
Commons
Debate
13 November 2025
Planning and Infrastructure Bill
The right hon. Member will know from his own constituency that there are some fantastic campaigners trying to protect chalk streams. In my patch, I have the River Chess Association, the Mend the Misbourne project, and the Chiltern Society. Does he agree that it should not be down to committed campai…
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
20 October 2025
Children with SEND: Mainstream Schools
On Friday, I met primary schools in my constituency that are accommodating in their classrooms children who they are not set up for. One school had to convert its library for two children for whom the main classroom setting is overwhelming, and a second had to do the same for its IT department. What…
Commons
Oral Questions
14 October 2025
2 contributions
Energy Infrastructure Applications: Land Use Changes
2. What plans he has to assess land use changes in applications for new energy infrastructure.
Residents in my constituency are concerned about a proposed site for a battery energy storage system on agricultural land in the green belt. With tales of similar storage systems catching fire, there is understandable fear in the community. Would the Minister meet me to discuss making local fire ser…
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
2 September 2025
2 contributions
Gaza: Humanitarian Aid
10. What diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure humanitarian aid can reach people in Gaza.
The Minister will know that Médecins Sans Frontières has referred to the locations used by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as sites of “orchestrated killing”. What pressure are the Government bringing to bear on both the Israeli and US Governments to stop using the foundation and reinstate the Unit…
Commons
Westminster Hall
2 September 2025
3 contributions
Pony and Trap Racing: Regulation
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the regulation of pony and trap racing on public roads.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stringer. The debate is about the regulation of pony and trap racing on public roads but, to be more specific, there is no regulation and it is s…
I agree. These races happen in my constituency on a fairly regular basis and I have similar stories to share. One such race took place this weekend. Residents of Chalfont St Peter and Gerrards Cross have their weekends disrupted by pony and trap racing events, also known as sulky racing, far too oft…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Work and Pensions
23 June 2025
2 contributions
Child Maintenance System: Economic Abuse
7. What steps her Department is taking to help prevent the use of the child maintenance system to facilitate economic abuse.
I have too many constituents whose financial abuse is effectively being perpetuated and facilitated by the Child Maintenance Service. I have secured a meeting with the relevant Minister in the other place, but it has been postponed. Could the Minister help me to secure a date for that meeting? I am …
Commons
Debate
20 June 2025
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
I rise to speak in favour of this Bill. First, though, I thank the hon. Member for Spen Valley (Kim Leadbeater) for the way in which she has approached the Bill, and for having engaged with Members across the House on both sides of the argument on their various amendments. I voted in favour of the B…
Commons
Oral Questions
Energy Security and Net Zero
10 June 2025
2 contributions
Grid Capacity
4. What steps he is taking to increase grid capacity.
I thank the Minister for his response. He will know that some projects are waiting up to 15 years to connect to the grid, and the Secretary of State earlier referred to the zombie waiting list. Could I push him further and ask precisely what concrete steps the Department is taking to drastically cut…
Commons
Debate
5 June 2025
Bank Closures and Banking Hubs
In the last five years, 11 bank branches have closed in my constituency, leaving most towns without traditional banking facilities. For example, two years ago the closure of Barclays in Chalfont St Peter triggered the assessment for a formal banking hub. While I recognise that alternative provision …