Commons
Ministerial Statement
14 April 2026
Infected Blood Compensation Scheme
I, too, acknowledge the work the Minister has done on this issue. Last year, I asked him about a constituent who fell under the special category mechanism, so it is welcome news that there will be an additional award for that group, but those affected are frustrated that it has taken this long to ge…
Commons
Oral Questions
14 April 2026
2 contributions
NHS Dental Services
6. How many urgent dental appointments have been provided since 1 April 2025.
I have been contacted by dentists from across my constituency who want to expand access but are constrained by the current funding model. One NHS practice tells me that it has the physical space ready for a dentist to start working, but it cannot get them in because of the current funding model, for…
Commons
Oral Questions
26 March 2026
Topical Questions
The Labour Mayor of York and North Yorkshire is tinkering with the Department for Transport’s highways funding ratio, reallocating about £4 million from North Yorkshire to the city of York. When North Yorkshire council has already lost the rural services delivery grant, how can the Minister think th…
Commons
Westminster Hall
25 March 2026
4 contributions
Proposed Visitor Levy
It is an honour to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Efford. I congratulate the right hon. Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) on securing the debate.
As Liberals, we strongly believe that power should be handed down to the lowest level and that we should give local areas the tools and ability…
They may well be focus articles too. The local community champions that we have on the ground are making the point that if money is raised locally, it should be shaped locally, spent locally and seen locally. That applies across England.
Councillor Hannah Kitching in Barnsley put it to me very clea…
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Proceedings
18 March 2026
Student Loans
Will the Minister give way?
Commons
Debate
16 March 2026
Heating Oil Support
It is estimated that over 20,000 homes in North Yorkshire rely upon heating oil, including constituents in the rural part of my constituency in villages outside Occaney, Copgrove, Farnham, Flaxby and others. They already face what is known as a rural premium, with households paying more for everyday…
Commons
Oral Questions
16 March 2026
GP Contract
I recently visited the Spa surgery in Harrogate and spent half a day with practice managers, GPs, partners, receptionists and nurses, and I am grateful to them for that opportunity. The Minister said earlier that he trusts GPs to make decisions, and just a moment ago he said that the Government shou…
Commons
Oral Questions
Work and Pensions
9 March 2026
Support for NEET Young People
I recently visited Ventrolla, a specialist heritage window manufacturer in my constituency. It was concerned by the recent announcements of apprenticeship reform and the impact that will have on its apprentices. It has signed a cross-party and cross-organisation letter from industry leaders and expe…
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 March 2026
4 contributions
Type 1 Diabetes: Infant Testing
It is an honour to serve under your chairship, Sir Alec. I welcome the Minister to her place; the all-party parliamentary group for diabetes had a positive and constructive relationship with her predecessor, the hon. Member for West Lancashire (Ashley Dalton), and I hope that that will continue.
I …
My hon. Friend is a passionate advocate of diabetes awareness. I completely agree that we need to do more to raise those symptoms with the general public. Everyone knows the key signs of some health conditions—heart attacks or strokes, perhaps—but sadly, type 1 diabetes is not one of those. We can d…
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
5 March 2026
Consular Assistance
I thank the Minister, Government officials and all our casework teams dealing with our constituents on this matter. Many of my constituents have been affected, and I too have encouraged them to register for the scheme. I am particularly concerned about vulnerable people with health conditions. I und…
Commons
Westminster Hall
5 March 2026
Local Museums
It is an honour to serve under your chairship, Ms Lewell. I congratulate the hon. Member for Thurrock (Jen Craft) on securing this debate.
North Yorkshire is blessed to have some of the UK’s finest and quirkiest small museums, from the Richmondshire Museum and the Green Howards Museum, and the Work…
Commons
Debate
3 February 2026
2 contributions
Fish and Chip Sector
The hon. Gentleman is outlining some of the economic challenges that the sector is facing. One of my constituents is heavily involved in the National Federation of Fish Friers. He told me that he often feels that the Government are very good at listening to UK hospitality and other big sectors, but …
I will not make any fish puns; it is not my plaice to do so. We have fantastic fish-and-chipperies in Harrogate and Knaresborough, including Oatlands Mount. Local chippy owners tell me that a cut in VAT for hospitality and restaurants would deliver a meaningful boost for them. Will the Minister pass…
Commons
Westminster Hall
21 January 2026
3 contributions
Local Government Reorganisation: Referendums
I completely agree with the principle of what the hon. Gentleman is saying, but we did not have that opportunity under the last Government when the Conservatives imposed local government reorganisation on places like North Yorkshire. Does he think that his party’s Government should have done the sam…
The hon. Gentleman says that the electorate endorsed that at the ballot box. I wonder if he might show a little contrition in acknowledging that Labour got less than 50% of the vote, so trying to make out that that general election was a glowing endorsement of this Government and this manifesto comm…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
20 January 2026
12 contributions
Water (Special Measures) Act 2025: Enforcement
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the enforcement of the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025.
It is a pleasure to serve with you in the chair, Dr Allin-Khan, and to open this debate on the enforcement of the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025.
Like many Members across this House, I welco…
I thank the hon. Member for his intervention. It is a pleasure to take an intervention from him, as always. I completely agree with what he has outlined and the characterisation of the way that the water sector is, frankly, morally bankrupt. There is no interest in the public good. That is why my pa…
+10 more contributions in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
19 January 2026
2 contributions
Sale of Fireworks
Will the hon. Member give way?
I completely agree with the hon. Member, and I appreciate the hundreds of people in my constituency who have signed the petitions. When we talk about Government action, does he agree that if we end up with a licence scheme, it must give local authorities the money to enforce these provisions? If not…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
15 January 2026
Business of the House
One of the greatest privileges I have had in this place so far was sitting on the assisted dying Bill Committee. We have seen in the press today rumours that No. 10 thinks the Bill will not return before the King’s Speech and subsequently would fall. Could the Leader of the House enlighten us on wha…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
14 January 2026
Northern Powerhouse Rail
I completely disagree with the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Broadland and Fakenham (Jerome Mayhew) in his comments about the betrayal of the north by this Labour Government. While this plan is not by any means perfect, it is a damn sight better than what we saw from the last Government. At l…
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 January 2026
UK-France Relations
The hon. Gentleman mentioned tourism. Does he have any thoughts about the fantastic work that organisations such as Harrogate International Partnerships do in town twinning—a lot of which was set up off the back of world war two—and about how the educational, cultural and tourism exchange that such …
Commons
Debate
12 January 2026
2 contributions
Social Media: Non-consensual Sexual Deepfakes
I welcome the statement by the Secretary of State. When she talks about a ban, one thing I am slightly concerned about, whether it is limited, short-term or long-term, is how it would be enforced. Is she confident that Ofcom could do so in response to X and what we have seen? How do we ensure that i…
It was about ensuring that the ban is enforceable.
Commons
Proceedings
8 January 2026
Business of the House
I join the Leader of the House in recognising people who were awarded honours in the new year’s list, including those who live and work in Harrogate and Knaresborough such as Simon Roberts, Jane Bayliss, Professor Piers Forster, Miriam and Terence Wilcox, and Master Ali, who was awarded an MBE for s…
Commons
Oral Questions
Transport
8 January 2026
Topical Questions
As a Yorkshireman, I love a bargain, so I welcome the great British rail sale, but members of the Young Liberals have told me that they cannot use their railcards when purchasing rail sale tickets. Can the Minister justify a rail sale that excludes young people, and will she look to fix it?
Commons
Oral Questions
Transport
8 January 2026
2 contributions
Rail Services: Harrogate and Knaresborough
8. What steps she is taking to help improve rail services in Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency.
Constituents of mine who rely on the Leeds to York via Harrogate line face regular disruption, because part of the route is single track. Given the indefinite pause of the York area capacity scheme, which means that the Harrogate to York trains still have to go on to the fast east coast main line, w…
Commons
Debate
7 January 2026
2 contributions
Jury Trials
Will the Minister give way?
The Minister talks about record demand and the pressure on court services. Is he able to outline what assessment has been made of the increase in pressure on the court system as a result of cracking down on the right to protest in legitimate cases?
Commons
Westminster Hall
5 January 2026
4 contributions
Free Bus Travel: Over-60s
It is an honour to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Mundell. I congratulate the hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Tony Vaughan) for putting the key points across so well when he opened the debate. I thank the 226 people in my constituency of Harrogate and Knaresborough who added the…
This is an issue where party politics can be left at the door. It is about ensuring that we have better bus routes and better access across the board. I absolutely want people to get around the table and work collaboratively where possible. I have worked with several colleagues, including the hon. M…
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Petition
17 December 2025
Knaresborough Castle
I am pleased to present this community petition on behalf of Kathy Allday. Alongside it, there were over 2,300 online signatures. It calls to save Knaresborough castle, which is in a poor state of repair but is vital to our town’s history and our thriving tourism industry. The petitioners therefore …