Commons
Proceedings
8 December 2025
Restriction of Jury Trials
I am pleased, if not a little surprised, to see how keen the Conservatives have been to talk about issues of criminal justice in recent weeks, considering they showed next to no interest when they were in government and I was working in the prison system. I believe that the last Government stated th…
Commons
Oral Questions
Work and Pensions
8 December 2025
Topical Questions
T6. I welcome the Government’s commitment to tackling the NEETs crisis in this country. Will the Secretary of State work on that with the Department for Education? Doncaster university technical college has been incredibly good at linking industry and education. I hope that, in the near future, the …
Commons
Oral Questions
25 November 2025
2 contributions
Doncaster Royal Infirmary
6. What steps he is taking to help reduce the repair backlog at Doncaster Royal infirmary.
As the Minister outlined, Doncaster was badly let down under the previous Administration, when after much fanfare and promise we were left off the new hospital programme. Since then, the trust has been working on revised capital projects to keep it going in the interim period, including a much-neede…
Commons
Oral Questions
13 November 2025
2 contributions
Water Sector Reform
6. What steps she is taking to reform the water sector.
My constituents know the trouble the water industry is in. I have previously raised in this House the matter of bonuses of being given to Yorkshire Water executives in exchange for poor service. What will the Government do to fix the broken regulatory system so that the failures of the past do not h…
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
12 November 2025
Engagements
Q2. I, too, associate myself with the remarks of the Prime Minister.The Prime Minister will be aware of the campaign being run by the trustees of the British Coal staff superannuation scheme to return the £2.3 billion investment reserve back to its members, 700 of whom are in Doncaster Central. The …
Commons
Oral Questions
4 November 2025
2 contributions
Remote Betting and Gaming Duty: Horseracing
9. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of implementing a flat rate of remote betting and gaming duty on the horseracing industry.
In Doncaster we have historic links to the horseracing industry, and we know at first hand the economic value it brings to our community and the country. Will the Minister agree to meet the British Horseracing Authority to discuss the potential impact on harmonisation and the impact that an increase…
Commons
Debate
3 November 2025
11 contributions
Care Leavers
Today marks the first sitting day of National Care Leavers Month, and what a way to begin. I am grateful for the opportunity to come to the Chamber and talk about the challenges facing young people once they have left children’s social care, and I very much hope that this month Members from across t…
I completely agree. As we move through this debate today, I think a theme that will shine through is the need to get rid of what is often a postcode lottery for care leavers.
I want to recognise some of the good work that the Government have already done in this area. The Children’s Wellbeing and S…
+9 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
3 November 2025
2 contributions
Defence Sector: Economic Growth
10. What steps he is taking to help ensure that the defence sector supports economic growth.
How can the defence sector make better use of underutilised MOD land and assets to contribute to innovative models of business such as the community energy projects that, alongside initiatives such as the South Yorkshire growth deal, can contribute to local SMEs and energy security?
Commons
Oral Questions
Business and Trade
30 October 2025
2 contributions
Small and Medium-sized Businesses
6. What steps he is taking to help support business growth through his Department’s plan for small and medium-sized businesses.
For British Beauty Week last week, I visited the award-winning Doncaster salon Beauty Lounge in Armthorpe. The British beauty industry is a massive success story for business. What will the Minister do in his new role to support the industry and salons across the country?
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
28 October 2025
Topical Questions
T2. I welcome the Government sanctioning two Russian oil majors around a fortnight ago, but does the Foreign Secretary agree that it is only by increasing the economic pressure on Putin that we will force him to the negotiating table and finally bring an end to Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine?
Commons
Debate
21 October 2025
2 contributions
Sentencing Bill
The right hon. Lady suggests that the Bill will bring law and order into question, but as a former prison officer I would say it was the previous Government running our prison system to a boiling point that nearly brought law and order crashing down, with fewer than 100 bed spaces available last sum…
I just want to highlight the fact that it is possible to believe that offenders need to be punished, as I do—when I was an officer, I was part of delivering that punishment—and simultaneously that rehabilitation should be a part of the prison system. While I agree with the hon. Member for Bexhill an…
Commons
Debate
16 September 2025
Sentencing Bill
I declare the interest that, as a former prison officer, I am still a member of the Prison Officers’ Association. Having served as a Justice Parliamentary Private Secretary until only last week, this is the first time I have been able to speak on these departmental matters in the Chamber since I was…
Commons
Oral Questions
4 September 2025
2 contributions
Water Company Executives: Accountability
10. What steps he is taking to increase the accountability of water company executives.
This summer it was reported that the CEO of Yorkshire Water had received an extra payment from a parent company, in spite of recent admissions that it would not be appropriate to receive a bonus due to the company’s poor performance. Yorkshire Water has committed to improving transparency, but that …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
1 September 2025
Borders and Asylum
As many are aware, a number of well-known delivery companies and other companies are employing asylum seekers with no right to work, which is helping to incentivise the boat crossings and ultimately to undermine our national security. Will the Home Secretary liaise with the Treasury before the Budge…
Commons
Proceedings
21 July 2025
Asylum Hotels: Migrant Criminal Activity
I welcome the surge in returns that we have seen and the raids on companies with illegal working practices. As we have spoken about many times in this House, those companies are incentivising the boat crossings and ultimately undermining our national security. Can the Minister set out what further e…
Commons
Debate
14 July 2025
UK-France Migration: Co-operation
I welcome the work the Government and the Home Secretary have done to get this arrangement with France and on the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which introduces anti-terror-style powers to tackle the crossings. As the Home Secretary has outlined, it is critical that we deal with the …
Commons
Oral Questions
Housing, Communities and Local Government
14 July 2025
Topical Questions
In the light of the Government’s determination to bring prosperity to coalfield communities like Doncaster, does the Minister share my desire for the fast delivery of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust industrial project? It is also important to transfer any potential funds directly to the CRT, so as…
Commons
Debate
8 July 2025
Football Governance Bill [Lords]
It is a real pleasure to speak in support of the Bill. We stood on a manifesto that promised to establish an independent regulator to ensure financial sustainability for football clubs in England. Today we will be delivering on that promise for football fans across the country, regardless of the clu…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
3 July 2025
NHS 10-Year Plan
Will the Health Secretary outline how the 10-year plan will quickly deliver on the Government’s aim to go from an analogue to a digital service? That is important to Doncaster hospital, which is still on paper records. Will he also ensure that the deaf community is considered and that BSL and easy-r…
Commons
Oral Questions
Treasury
1 July 2025
2 contributions
Betting and Gaming Duty: Horseracing
8. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of implementing a flat rate of remote betting and gaming duty on the horseracing industry.
I refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. In Doncaster, we are incredibly proud of our historic racecourse, which is home to the iconic St Leger festival. As someone who has attended the racecourse for a number of events throughout my life, I can say that it is par…
Commons
Committee Stage
17 June 2025
Victims and Courts Bill (Second sitting)
Q I have already declared my interests but, for the purpose of the panel, I am a member of the Prison Officers’ Association and a former officer at rank of SO, and I am trained in all the relevant uses of force.
I want to come back to the point about compelling attendance at sentencing hearings. Th…
Commons
Committee Stage
17 June 2025
Victims and Courts Bill (First sitting)
Q Before I ask my question, I declare my interest as a member of the Prison Officers Association, a former POA branch chair, and a former prison officer at the rank of SO trained in control and restraint, PAVA and SPEAR.
I want to ask a specific question on the Opposition amendment on restraint and…
Commons
Debate
11 June 2025
2 contributions
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill
Since entering this place almost a year ago, I have been proud to be a part of the campaign led by my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme (Lee Pitcher) to reopen Doncaster Sheffield airport and unleash the economic potential of the surrounding land as a hub for sustaina…
I absolutely agree. The Bill is not just about the small, narrow element of sustainable aviation; it is about what every industry across the country can do in the shared endeavour to make our aviation sustainable.
If this Government’s growth agenda is to be a success, it must be felt in every corne…
Commons
Proceedings
9 June 2025
Breast Cancer Screening: Bassetlaw
Does my hon. Friend agree that is critical that we get data at that level, so that our Doncaster and Bassetlaw teaching hospitals NHS foundation trust can target the areas, and perhaps even the age groups, in which women’s take-up is lowest?
Commons
Proceedings
5 June 2025
Business of the House
I want to pay tribute to Doncaster boxing legend Terri Harper, who is a three-weight world champion and the first British woman to win titles in three weight divisions. She defended and retained her lightweight boxing title last month in Doncaster. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulat…