Commons
Oral Questions
Northern Ireland
11 February 2026
2 contributions
Defence Industrial Strategy 2025
3. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the defence industrial strategy 2025 on Northern Ireland.
In Northern Ireland the defence sector offers many opportunities to apprentices, as it does across the rest of the country: I met two apprentices from MSI Defence Systems in my constituency yesterday. Will the Minister join me in celebrating apprentices throughout our United Kingdom, and will he exp…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
10 February 2026
Local Power Plan
I welcome the local power plan, which builds on much clean energy investment in Norfolk, including backing for the Vanguard wind project and £17 million for warm homes in Norwich. I urge the Government to keep backing the east of England as a hub for clean energy. Will the Secretary of State outline…
Commons
Debate
28 January 2026
Youth Unemployment
It is a pleasure to speak in this debate on such an important subject.
When I think of youth unemployment, what immediately comes to mind is the young woman I met on the doorstep during the election campaign who told me how she had been looking for work for a long time and just did not know how she…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
22 January 2026
Business of the House
Last week I visited the YMCA centre on Aylsham Road in Norwich, which is doing incredibly work to address youth homelessness. Will the Leader of the House join me in celebrating 170 years of YMCA Norfolk this year, and make time for a debate on how best to support vulnerable young people to access s…
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
21 January 2026
Engagements
Q15. Norfolk is a dental desert, which is causing real suffering for my constituents. I welcome Government action so far, including 21,000 extra urgent emergency appointments, but we are the only region without a dental school. The University of East Anglia is ready to open one. Can the Prime Minist…
Commons
Westminster Hall
19 January 2026
Sale of Fireworks
I, too, pay tribute to Redwings Horse Sanctuary, which is headquartered in Norfolk. Norwich North was among the top five constituencies for the number of signatories to the petition. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that, as Redwings has pointed out, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 does not provide suffici…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
14 January 2026
Offshore Wind
I welcome the investment for the Norfolk Vanguard project, which will play an enormous role after being awarded over a third of total capacity under these contracts. The Secretary of State has spoken about the benefits for jobs. Can he speak specifically about how we will ensure young people now at …
Commons
Debate
5 January 2026
8 contributions
Rights of Women and Girls: Afghanistan
I am pleased to bring forward this debate on Government support for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan because, put simply, the situation for women and girls there is catastrophic. As Human Rights Watch has said, it is
“the most serious women’s rights crisis in the world.”
Since coming t…
I thank the hon. Member for that important point. He is right. The Government have set out new proposals on immigration that have a focus on safe routes, and it is important that we stand with female human rights defenders from Afghanistan. Many of them came over here before there were those routes.…
+6 more contributions in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
16 December 2025
Planning Reform
I welcome the Minister’s commitment to tackling the housing crisis that we inherited. I have had many emails from people in Norwich about the need to build much-needed homes but also to protect our natural environment. As he probably knows, Norfolk is home to 10% of England’s chalk streams. He has t…
Commons
Debate
15 December 2025
Sudan: Humanitarian Situation
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned recently of escalating drone strikes across Darfur and Kordofan and, as the Minister said, six peacekeepers lost their lives in a drone attack on Saturday. It is of course the humans controlling the weapons who must stop, but there is a …
Commons
Debate
15 December 2025
Violence against Women and Girls Strategy
Male violence against women and girls touches every corner of our country and every constituency. In my area, Broadland district council has done great work, including getting gold accreditation on housing and developing a women’s safety strategy. I welcome the funding already announced for local au…
Commons
Debate
9 December 2025
Railways Bill
I welcome the fact that Greater Anglia was one of the first companies to move into public ownership, and the freeze in rail fares. On devolution, many of us in the east would like to see East West Rail—which will have a huge impact—extended to Norwich, so that we can maximise our economic growth. Wi…
Commons
Proceedings
4 December 2025
Business of the House
People in Norwich and Norfolk care deeply about their local environment. Last Friday, I met local leaders at a roundtable hosted by Nelsonspirit, a fantastic social impact business, and we discussed sustainability and how to protect our environment. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking l…
Commons
Proceedings
4 December 2025
Local Elections
All Labour Members agree that we want power brought closer to our communities, and I have been clear in backing proper devolution in Norfolk and effective local government reorganisation—and the proposal for three unitaries. However, now that the mayoral elections have been postponed, can the Minist…
Commons
Proceedings
27 November 2025
Budget Resolutions
The Budget that the Chancellor delivered yesterday set the course for a fairer Britain, founded on a stronger, more resilient economy. It will make a real difference to people in my constituency. It tackles head-on the cost of living crisis, which has had such a terrible impact on so many. The origi…
Commons
Westminster Hall
24 November 2025
2 contributions
Gaza: Humanitarian Obligations
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Butler. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Irene Campbell) for leading this debate, and the people who signed the petition, of which there were 285 from Norwich North. As many Members have said, this is an important and …
I thank the Minister for giving way and for the speech he is making. It was announced today that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is ceasing operations. It was said that the GHF has shared lessons with the CMCC. Does the Minister think that it is important that we learn what not to do in delivering …
Commons
Oral Questions
Home Department
17 November 2025
2 contributions
Neighbourhood Police Officers
20. What steps her Department is taking to introduce more neighbourhood police officers.
Recently, I visited Mile Cross with local councillors and members of Mile Cross Litterbusters, a local voluntary group that does excellent work to clean up the area, but they really should not have to. Fly-tipping is a real challenge in this area and in other parts of Norwich, so I welcome the pledg…
Commons
Debate
11 November 2025
Prisoner Releases in Error
I am sure that as the Lord Chancellor made his statement, victims were at the forefront of his mind. We can all only imagine the fear and distress felt by victims when someone who has caused them so much harm is released in error. Will he give us more detail and assure us that, in those circumstance…
Commons
Proceedings
5 November 2025
Conflict in Sudan
As I have said before, this is a war on women, but women are also fighting hard as human rights defenders in the diaspora and in Sudan, whether they are running emergency response rooms or advocating for change. Can the Minister say more about how we are ensuring that our aid is going to grassroots,…
Commons
Debate
4 November 2025
Fertility Treatment (Right to Time Off)
I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision for a right to paid time off work for fertility treatment; and for connected purposes.
Deciding to start or grow our family should be a time of joy and happiness, and of making plans for the future. Every year in the UK, hundr…
Commons
Proceedings
30 October 2025
Business of the House
Ruby Bishop is an incredible wheelchair tennis player from Norwich, who proudly represents Great Britain internationally. Despite her success, she faced many barriers at school to accessing sport. She is now campaigning to change things for other children and young people. Will the Leader of the Hou…
Commons
Proceedings
30 October 2025
Sudan: Protection of Civilians
It is undeniable that what is happening in Sudan is a war on women, with the use of rape and brutal sexual violence. November marks the 25th anniversary of UN resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, through which member states committed to protect women from conflict-related violence. Can the …
Commons
Debate
27 October 2025
North Sea Oil and Gas Industry
I recently visited the Bacton gas terminal in the constituency of the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Steff Aquarone), which is on the North sea coast. It already provides up to one third of our nation’s gas supply, and is ideally placed to be a carbon capture and hydrogen hub. The Minister has just …
Commons
Westminster Hall
21 October 2025
Co-operative Sector: Government Support
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Turner. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton (Jim McMahon) for securing this important debate. Like him, I am proud to be a Labour MP and equally proud to be a Co-operative MP. I also thank Joe Fortune, the party’…
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
20 October 2025
2 contributions
Childcare: Affordability
17. What steps she is taking to help increase the affordability of childcare.
As the Minister has said, nurseries are an important part of the childcare picture. Last month, I visited Mousehold infant and nursery school, which—thanks to the funding it has received from this Government—has been able to double the number of places it offers to families in Norwich North. The tea…