Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
6 July 2026
2 contributions
Defence Investment Plan
6. What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of increasing funding for the defence investment plan.
I recently visited RNAS Yeovilton and saw the welcome improvements to single living accommodation for serving personnel at HMS Heron. However, funding to refurbish or replace 14,000 service homes across the country—such as those in nearby Ilchester—has now been pushed back to 2030-35 to help pay for…
Commons
Debate
6 July 2026
Environmental Protection
I thank the Minister for setting out this statutory instrument, which the Liberal Democrats support.
For too long, the system regulating who can transport and manage our waste has relied on a simple registration scheme, scarcely able to distinguish between reputable operators and rogue ones. That s…
Commons
Westminster Hall
30 June 2026
2 contributions
High Streets
We are talking about vacant shops, but there is also a lot of antisocial behaviour on our high streets, which in some cases is largely due to the existence of vacant shops. I was speaking to the headteacher of a school in Glastonbury that is based just off the high street. The children there are alr…
The Minister is talking about driving footfall, but driving footfall in rural areas is sometimes quite difficult because of the sparsity. Rural high streets face significant challenges—if car parking charges are forced on our local authorities, for example. Will the Minister outline what specific su…
Commons
Westminster Hall
24 June 2026
Farming: Financial Sustainability
It is an honour to serve with you in the Chair, Mr Turner. I congratulate the hon. Member for North Northumberland (David Smith) on securing this important debate.
Farmers are the foundation of communities across the country, but British farming is in crisis—not a crisis of effort or ambition, but …
Commons
Westminster Hall
23 June 2026
Fly-tipping: Residential Areas
It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mr Stringer. I thank the hon. Member for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes (Melanie Onn) for securing this important debate.
The Government estimate that there were 1.26 million fly-tipping incidents across England last year and that waste crime costs th…
Commons
Proceedings
23 June 2026
Defence Spending and Readiness
As chair of the all-party parliamentary group on women in defence, I know that women make up only 11% of the regular forces. We cannot talk about defence readiness while failing to recruit and retain half the population. Does my hon. Friend agree that the defence investment plan must include a concr…
Commons
Westminster Hall
23 June 2026
2 contributions
Environmental Sustainability: UK-Indonesia Collaboration
I thank the hon. Member for bringing forward this important debate. As she is setting out, peatlands store more carbon than all the world’s forests combined, whether that be on the Somerset levels in my constituency or in the rainforests of Borneo, and their destruction accelerates the climate crisi…
The Minister is clearly setting out how the Indonesian rainforests and peatlands deliver irreplaceable global climate benefits. We know that conservation efforts have been severely undermined because of the funding issue and she is setting out that new funding will be available. Will she also set ou…
Commons
Oral Questions
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
4 June 2026
Support for Farmers: Fuel Costs
May I start by saying how deeply saddened I was by the news that three Royal Navy personnel based out of Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in my constituency tragically lost their lives on a training exercise in Devon the night before last? My thoughts are with their families, friends and colleagues…
Commons
Debate
20 May 2026
2 contributions
Defence Readiness
I extend my condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan, who sadly died on Friday following an incident at the Royal Windsor horse show.
It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket (Peter Prinsley) and I thank him for his po…
I will not, I am afraid, due to time.
A good food Bill would also give our food system the long-term framework it badly needs. A national food strategy is needed now more than ever. Ignoring the largest British business sector is short-sighted—the rural economy cannot grow while its largest sector …
Commons
Petition
22 April 2026
River Brue and water regulation
I present this petition on the River Brue and water regulation, following 203 sewage dumping events last year, which lasted 2,716 hours. I also mention the work done by groups such as BrueCREW, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Somerset Eel Recovery Project, which have campaigned to improve the river’s he…
Commons
Petition
21 April 2026
Access to household waste recycling facilities in Sherborne
I present this petition on access to household waste recycling centres following significant local concern from residents in Milborne Port, Henstridge, Charlton Horethorne, Corton Denham, Templecombe and the surrounding areas over the decision to charge Somerset residents £8.50 to use facilities in …
Commons
Westminster Hall
21 April 2026
Wind Farms: Protected Peatland
It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Sir Alec. I congratulate the hon. Member for Keighley and Ilkley (Robbie Moore) on securing this important debate.
Peatlands such as the Avalon marshes and the Somerset levels and moors are globally rare ecosystems. They make up less than 3% of Earth…
Commons
Debate
15 April 2026
Strategic Defence Review: Funding
Thales employs over 800 people, including 66 apprentices, on its site in Templecombe in my constituency. There it develops world-leading sonar systems for the Royal Navy’s Astute and Dreadnought submarines, as well as delivering critical systems to enhance UK security and defence. Given the training…
Commons
Westminster Hall
15 April 2026
Cost of Heating Oil
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Allin-Khan. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North Norfolk (Steff Aquarone) for securing this important and timely debate.
The ongoing cost of oil is a symptom of Trump’s idiotic war in Iran. Volatility in global energy markets and the lack of…
Commons
Oral Questions
14 April 2026
2 contributions
NHS Dental Services
11. How many urgent dental appointments have been provided since 1 April 2025.
A constituent from Ilchester contacted me recently about their 14-year-old daughter, who is suffering from a painful dental abscess. Despite trying over several months to get treatment, she has been unable to access the treatment that she so desperately needs. Given that the Government have provided…
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 April 2026
Ground-mounted Solar Panels: Alternatives
Glastonbury and Somerton is home to more than 800 farms, many of which have appropriate buildings for housing rooftop solar panels, for example. That would meet some of our net zero targets and allow some of the fertile land, which she has already spoken about, to be prioritised, properly and rightl…
Commons
Oral Questions
13 April 2026
2 contributions
Topical Questions
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
The availability of affordable housing in Somerset has plummeted, demand has surged and rents have risen by six times as much as income. These challenges are highlighted in rural market towns such as Glastonbury, where hundreds of people live in vans and caravans lining the kerbsides. Many are there…
Commons
Westminster Hall
24 March 2026
Women’s Safety in Rural Areas
My hon. Friend talks about appropriate lighting. I am a keen cyclist, as are lots of women in rural areas, and 59% of women who cycle say they are really worried about their journeys and have huge safety concerns as a result. Last October, Langport cycling club took part in a glow ride to raise awar…
Commons
Debate
23 March 2026
Rail Connections to London: Rural Towns
My constituency contains the longest stretch of rail without a station anywhere in the country. In fact, there are only eight stations in Somerset. Langport and Somerton fall right in the middle of that isolated area, despite the Paddington to Taunton line running straight through the towns. A new s…
Commons
Oral Questions
23 March 2026
Topical Questions
T8. Criminal gangs are targeting isolated farmland and woodland, dumping lorry loads of illegal waste, which poses serious environmental risks. The Environment Agency reports that offenders are saving thousands of pounds in disposal costs while landowners face the financial responsibility of clearin…
Commons
Westminster Hall
12 March 2026
4 contributions
Carnivals
I beg to move,
That this House has considered Government support for carnivals.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Harris. I thank the Backbench Business Committee for scheduling this important debate.
Carnivals have been celebrated in Somerset for over 400 years and continue to …
I thank my hon. Friend for her contribution—it was not really a question. I wholeheartedly endorse her offer of a visit to carnival in Somerset; it is a spectacular sight, as she rightly points out. I will come on to her point about the importance of young people continuing to be a part of the tradi…
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
10 March 2026
Extreme Climate and Weather Events: National Resilience
I thank the hon. Member for securing this important debate. Storm Chandra hit the Somerset levels terribly badly. Water falling on already saturated land caused huge issues for many people. Farmers play a crucial role in managing our floodwaters. One farmer, Mike Curtis, who farms in Muchelney, took…
Commons
Westminster Hall
10 March 2026
2 contributions
English Rugby
I founded North Dorset women’s rugby club back in 1995 and I am very pleased to say that it is still going. There is now also a fantastic girls’ team, linked with Castle Cary rugby club in my constituency, for girls aged between 12 and 18. There has been some great work on facilities and there has b…
Holly Davidson made history in February when she took charge of the Ireland versus Italy Six Nations game in Dublin, becoming the first woman to referee a men’s game. Being a proud Scot, will he join me in congratulating her on that terrific move for women’s participation in rugby generally?
Commons
Westminster Hall
10 March 2026
Fur: Import and Sale
It is an honour to serve with you in the Chair this morning, Ms Jardine. I congratulate the hon. Member for Newport West and Islwyn (Ruth Jones) on securing this important debate, and I pay tribute to her tireless campaigning on animal rights.
It is a pleasure to speak on behalf of the Liberal Demo…
Commons
Debate
9 March 2026
Middle East: Economic Update
Since the outbreak of the conflict in the middle east, heating oil prices have increased by over 100%. That is a harsh reminder that relying on volatile fossil fuel markets leaves households financially vulnerable. Many rural households are off the gas grid, so constituents such as Julian from East …