Commons
Oral Questions
Housing, Communities and Local Government
12 January 2026
Social Housing: Damp and Mould
My constituents, three single mothers, have suffered at the hands of builders who built substandard homes without crucial damp-proof membrane and damp-proof courses. That meant that my constituents’ homes were riddled with damp and mould, and the house builders have not addressed this serious fault …
Commons
Proceedings
8 January 2026
Business of the House
Cancer patients are suffering due to variations in cancer care across the country. In particular, clinical nurse specialists—a key part of cancer care—are stretched very thinly and are unable meet patients’ needs in many regions. A Breast Cancer Now survey found that a quarter of respondents had not…
Commons
Westminster Hall
7 January 2026
Advanced Brain Cancer: Tissue Freezing
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Western. I thank the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Chris Evans) for securing this important debate, and all other hon. Members who have contributed. I would also like to highlight the incredible work done by the campaigners for Owain’s law—you are doi…
Commons
Westminster Hall
6 January 2026
Future of Thames Water
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Harris. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Layla Moran) for securing this important debate.
Thames Water’s assets are in urgent need of repair, and the company is swamped in over £17 billion of debt, which it cannot re…
Commons
Westminster Hall
6 January 2026
8 contributions
Less Survivable Cancers
I beg to move,
That this House has considered less survivable cancers.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Efford. I declare an interest as a governor of the Royal Berkshire hospital; also, a family member has shares in a medical company. I am grateful to the Backbench Business Comm…
I apologise.
+6 more contributions in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
17 December 2025
Local Government Finance
Wokingham is the lowest funded unitary authority in the UK and is struggling to find enough money for adult social care and children’s services. I have three quick questions for the Minister. First, has she protected tier 1 local authorities from real-terms cuts? Secondly, have the Government honour…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
17 December 2025
UK-EU Common Understanding Negotiations
This scheme will help countless young people from Wokingham to gain invaluable life experiences and it is to be welcomed. The Minister says that the Conservative Brexit deal was a bad deal. Will he therefore look to correct it and begin negotiations on a bespoke UK-EU customs union, which would cut …
Commons
Proceedings
11 December 2025
Business of the House
Loneliness and social isolation are sadly common problems among older people. In Wokingham, the Link Visiting Scheme has spent 27 years tackling this problem, matching volunteers with the elderly and running projects to build friendships. This year alone they have helped over 1,000 people. Will the …
Commons
Oral Questions
Business and Trade
11 December 2025
Energy Costs
In Wokingham we are lucky to have 119 great hospitality businesses. Those businesses are struggling under the burden of rising energy costs, increases in national insurance and business rates and many other cost increases. The Liberal Democrats called for a 5% cut in VAT to help the hospitality sect…
Commons
Debate
10 December 2025
Conduct of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
What with the Chancellor’s flip-flopping on the Budget, the various leaks and the misleading comments about the state of the public finances, Labour is beginning to look as incompetent as the Conservatives in its running of the economy and the Government. Does my hon. Friend agree that Labour has le…
Commons
Debate
4 December 2025
War in Ukraine
I thank the hon. Member for Harwich and North Essex (Sir Bernard Jenkin) for bringing this very important debate to us today. It is an opportunity for the House to condemn the evil actions of Putin in his illegal invasion of Ukraine and to assert our strong support for President Zelensky and the Ukr…
Commons
Proceedings
4 December 2025
Business of the House
In Wokingham, we are lucky to have CLASP—caring, listening and supporting partnership—which is a charity that gives wonderful support to adults with learning disabilities. It says that there is a serious lack of awareness about the issues faced by adults with learning difficulties and autism, notabl…
Commons
Debate
3 December 2025
2 contributions
Pension Schemes Bill
My constituent David worked for 3M for 31 years, 23 of them pre-1997. His pension payment for service prior to 1997 has not increased since 2008, since when it has lost 40% of its purchasing power. Other constituents have lost more. Another constituent worked for ExxonMobil, which he says gave him w…
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. There needs to be some sort of plan, and sooner rather than later.
The Government appear to recognise the injustice and are proposing to use surplus funds in the PPF to provide inflation increases on some pre-1997 pensions. Why are we not seeking to resolve t…
Commons
Proceedings
1 December 2025
Budget Resolutions
After the Budget last Wednesday, it is clear that the Chancellor does not listen to good advice. The Liberal Democrats have given her so many opportunities of where she could raise extra money for the Treasury. We have called for a windfall tax on the big banks, which could raise £30 billion between…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
1 December 2025
Office for Budget Responsibility Forecasts
Under the last Conservative Government, we saw years of chaos, incompetence and mismanagement, and very often a lack of transparency and honesty with the British public. The Government promised change, and had a responsibility to deliver a clean break from the Conservatives’ approach to government. …
Commons
Oral Questions
1 December 2025
2 contributions
SEND: Funding
15. What steps she is taking to provide adequate funding for special educational needs provision.
In Wokingham there are not enough SEND places for pupils, which means that they have to travel outside the borough and sometimes a long way from their homes to go to school. In 2022, Wokingham bid for two SEND schools and were given those two schools, but nothing has happened since then; the Governm…
Commons
Oral Questions
25 November 2025
2 contributions
New Hospital Programme
22. What progress his Department has made on the implementation of the new hospital programme.
Frimley Park hospital is in wave 1 of the new hospital programme, with construction expected to start in 2028-29. Many of my constituents use the hospital, and they are rightly concerned about possible delays to its build, especially with the issue of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. Patients…
Commons
Westminster Hall
25 November 2025
Immigration Reforms: Humanitarian Visa Routes
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Edward. I thank the hon. Member for Rushcliffe (James Naish) for securing today’s debate. As I have said before, Wokingham is home to a strong Hong Kong community who have had a positive effect on the area. Many have written to me to express their …
Commons
Debate
20 November 2025
Injury in Service Award
I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr Morrison) on securing this debate. We all know how important emergency service personnel are to us. They often put their lives on the line to protect others. I have met many police officers, firefighters and paramedics in Wokingham, and have s…
Commons
Debate
20 November 2025
International Men’s Day
As we mark International Men’s Day, we have an opportunity to address the biggest inequality in men’s health: prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, yet it is the only major cancer without a screening programme. Hopefully, the Secretary of State will ensure that that changes in the nation…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
20 November 2025
Business of the House
Brain Tumour Research states that one in three people are likely to know someone with a brain tumour; they could be our friends, family or constituents. Brain tumours are a cruel disease, and yet drug development and research has stagnated, denying patients access to lifesaving treatment. Will the L…
Commons
Proceedings
20 November 2025
Ukraine: Forcible Removal of Children
In Wokingham there is a Ukrainian refugee community that has made a positive difference to the area. I have worked with local groups to help supply aid to civilians in Ukraine, and many have shared their concerns about the war and the safety of their relatives back home. I fully support the hon. Mem…
Commons
Oral Questions
20 November 2025
Topical Questions
T5. Hundreds of residents scramble to Twyford train station in my constituency every morning to get to work either in London or in other nearby towns. The village has become overwhelmed, with many struggling to find somewhere to park. Will the Minister meet me to update me on plans for improving loc…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
18 November 2025
China Espionage: Government Security Response
In Wokingham, we have a really strong Hong Kong community, and they tell me regularly how concerned they are about the growing threat of Chinese espionage and China’s influence in our politics. Many of them have bounties levied on their heads. What is the Minister doing to ease the concerns in our H…
Commons
Oral Questions
Home Department
17 November 2025
Topical Questions
T4. In Wokingham, many businesses have created their own text warning system to notify each other when known shoplifters are about in the town. Their priority should not be preventing crime; it should be selling their products. Will the Government commit to reversing Conservative cuts to police o…