Commons
Westminster Hall
14 July 2026
Support for Pig Farmers
As the hon. Member knows, small abattoirs are at breaking point in almost every imaginable way. One big issue is contradicting and inconsistent inspections. Does he agree that the Government urgently need to set out a clearer plan to streamline the regulation system?
Commons
Westminster Hall
8 July 2026
Defibrillators in Police Vehicles
My hon. Friend is making a fantastic speech. Does he agree that as well as defibrillators, there should be bleed kits in the back of police cars? Yeovil town council has introduced bleed kits across the town, as well as defibrillators. Does he agree that we need both in police vehicles?
Commons
Proceedings
8 July 2026
2 contributions
NHS Corridor Care
One of my relatives went into hospital to get intravenous antibiotics but later died in that hospital due to being stuck there. She was ready to move on to a community hospital, but she gave up because she was scared in the hospital—they did not keep an eye on her, she fell out of bed and cracked he…
The hon. Member is making a fantastic speech. On the topic of staff, one of the biggest problems in Yeovil hospital is bullying culture, as we saw in the Baroness Amos report in relation to maternity. Does the hon. Member believe that staff should be free to speak up without the worry of losing thei…
Commons
Westminster Hall
8 July 2026
2 contributions
Government Support for Bus Services: West Dorset
My constituency neighbour will know that in Somerset and Dorset, we get older models of buses no longer used elsewhere. At the same time, rural bus depots, such as the one in Yeovil, are closing. If a bus breaks down from Ilchester on the way to Dorchester, passengers have to wait over an hour for a…
My biggest concern is that we have no electric buses in Yeovil. There is nowhere to charge them because other depots have been shut down. How will we cope with an electric future if First Bus is closing depots?
Commons
Petition
8 July 2026
Hundredstone Post Office
After amazing campaigners secured more than 900 signatures, I present this petition on the closure of the Hundredstone post office in Yeovil, which will leave locals with no in-person post office and banking services.
The petitioners therefore request
“that the House of Commons urges the Governmen…
Commons
Westminster Hall
7 July 2026
3 contributions
Fraud Strategy 2026-29
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the potential merits of increasing fraud protections and the Fraud Strategy 2026 to 2029.
It is a pleasure to lead this debate with you in the Chair, Mrs Harris, and I thank the Minister for being here.
Fraud has been spreading like the plague for yea…
They are good things and I will come on to them later, but we do need more support for vulnerable adults and young people—something I will also come on to.
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
1 July 2026
Flood Insurance: Reform of Flood Re
Ilminster residents, like Krystal, who have houses on floodplains tell me that they cannot obtain insurance, although people living up the road can. The Minister has confirmed that the eligibility criteria remain under review. Will she commit to reviewing the exclusion of homes built after 2009, and…
Commons
Westminster Hall
30 June 2026
High Street Regeneration and Unlawful Storefronts
Does the hon. Member agree that in rural areas we need a lot more banking hubs, because the banks are going, and that we should scrap business rates for start-ups and independent businesses? Rural communities are losing shops big time.
Commons
Proceedings
29 June 2026
Prisoner Early Release
My constituent was recently told that the person who was found guilty of grooming his child on social media could be released as part of the early release scheme. Does the Minister recognise the distress that that sort of news causes victims? Will he also tell the Yeovil constituency what progress t…
Commons
Westminster Hall
24 June 2026
Farming: Financial Sustainability
I will be honest: I had quite a different speech prepared for today, but I have scrapped a lot of it following today’s statement.
When it comes to farming, we have heard all sorts of fantastic slogans, promises and tributes but, when I meet farmers or hold my farming forum in Yeovil, it is clear to…
Commons
Westminster Hall
17 June 2026
Rural Pubs: Fiscal Support
The concerns about taxes that the hon. Member is raising have really affected Jack, the owner of the Ye Olde Poppe Inn in Tatworth, and Buddy, the owner of the Flying Fish. Does the hon. Member agree that we need to lower VAT for pubs?
Commons
Westminster Hall
17 June 2026
2 contributions
Mental Health: Parity of Esteem
Tragically, my constituent’s husband, John, took his own life in 2021 after a mental health crisis while in the care of NHS mental health services. Does the hon. Member agree that we need more Government support and funding for access to quality mental health services in rural areas? If we were losi…
Some residents in rural Somerset have said to me that they are waiting 18 months to receive talking therapies. That is just not good enough.
Commons
Westminster Hall
17 June 2026
Abuse of Customer-facing Workers
The staff at St Michael’s Co-operative in Yeovil have reported to the police more than 100 incidents of shoplifting a week, but the police presence still is not forthcoming. Do you agree that rural police forces need a lot more funding?
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 June 2026
Community Hospitals
I have had loads of emails from staff who were worried that Crewkerne community hospital was shutting down, because the communication from local NHS leaders has not been good enough—a problem we also had with the maternity unit. Does my hon. Friend agree that communication from NHS leaders needs to …
Commons
Debate
15 June 2026
7 contributions
NHS Dentistry
I beg to move,
That this House is concerned about NHS dentistry; notes that over a quarter of a million people have signed a petition calling for urgent action to save NHS dentistry and make it fit for the 21st century; regrets that nearly 14 million people were unable to access NHS dentistry in En…
I agree with the hon. Member, and I will come on to that issue later. During covid, people missed appointments, and then got completely taken off the dental list.
One local working in dentistry summed it up perfectly when they told me that,
“NHS dentistry is in terminal decline.”
Patients have ha…
+5 more contributions in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 June 2026
Sir David Attenborough: Permanent National Monument
Does my hon. Friend agree that we need the international summit to crack down on fraudsters and scammers abroad? I have a constituent with disabilities who lost £70,000 to a romance fraud, with no checks having been done by the bank. Does the summit not also need to look at that issue?
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 June 2026
Summit on Illicit Finance
Does my hon. Friend agree that we need the international summit to crack down on fraudsters and scammers abroad? I have a constituent with disabilities who lost £70,000 to a romance fraud, with no checks having been done by the bank. Does the summit not also need to look at that issue?
Commons
Westminster Hall
3 June 2026
Small Towns: Transport Links
To end the exemption for old buses that are not fully accessible under the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 will mean that kids from rural constituencies will not be able to get a place on a bus to sixth form anymore, due to the limited bus stock and funding. Will the hon. Memb…
Commons
Westminster Hall
3 June 2026
Youth Mental Health Support
This is a very important subject. I have disability issues, and I tried to take my life when I was at school. My youth club saved my life. We really need more youth clubs, but in Somerset we now have none. Does the hon. Lady agree that we need better youth provision in our rural communities?
Commons
Westminster Hall
3 June 2026
Seasonal Hospitality Businesses in Coastal Areas
The hon. Member talks about the hospitality sector thriving. Does he share my concern that if the Government introduced a tourism tax, our areas could really suffer?
Commons
Westminster Hall
2 June 2026
Community Pharmacies
Pharmacists such as Max, who runs South Petherton pharmacy, are taking care of constituents from the other side of my constituency. Our pharmacies in rural areas are expected to do more and more with little extra help. Does my hon. Friend agree that alongside greater funding, we need to see the Gove…
Commons
Oral Questions
Energy Security and Net Zero
2 June 2026
2 contributions
Topical Questions
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
Red diesel costs have rocketed from 78p a litre on 26 February to around 98p a litre now. For Nick, who farms in South Petherton, price rises mean an extra £7,000 per week cost that he basically has to take on the chin. Can the Secretary of State tell Yeovil farmers what steps he is taking to suppor…
Commons
Westminster Hall
2 June 2026
Children: Development of Essential Skills
I thank the hon. Member for Bracknell (Peter Swallow) for securing this important debate. For years, we have had an education system that looks pretty good on league tables or spreadsheets but does not really help young people develop essential skills for dealing with this rapidly changing world. Ra…
Commons
Westminster Hall
1 June 2026
2 contributions
Child Sexual Offender Data
Will my hon. Friend give way?
Brave young constituents in Yeovil reported historical cases of sexual abuse, but workforce shortages in the police, terrible communication and other failings meant years of stress, delays and the Crown Prosecution Service ruling that it could not advance prosecution despite the evidence threshold b…
Commons
Oral Questions
Justice
19 May 2026
Topical Questions
Will the Secretary of State outline what steps he is taking through the criminal justice system to support victims of violence against women, particularly those who report historical cases of sexual violence? Several of my young constituents have faced terrible communication, years of delay, and ult…