Commons
Debate
7 July 2025
Government Performance against Fiscal Rules
I thank the Chief Secretary for his statement. My thoughts today are with the family of Anne Moffat of Old Harlow, who lost her life 20 years ago in the 7/7 attacks.
Does the Chief Secretary agree that part of the reason we have been left with such a fiscal mess is the previous Government’s decisio…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
3 July 2025
NHS 10-Year Plan
I thank the Health Secretary for his statement, and I promise not to lobby him too much on the potential move of the UK Health Security Agency to Harlow, although perhaps I should also lobby for a neighbourhood health centre. Instead, can I ask him to set out how the 10-year plan will ensure a shift…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
3 July 2025
Business of the House
I was not expecting to be called quite so soon, Madam Deputy Speaker, as you can probably imagine.
Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Jo Doyle, the new headteacher of Sir Frederick Gibberd college in Harlow, on her recent appointment? As the Leader of the House knows, the school…
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
3 July 2025
2 contributions
People on Low Incomes in Rural Communities
2. What steps the Church of England is taking to support people on low incomes in rural communities.
In the local authority of Harlow, 30% of children are living in poverty, according to research by Loughborough University and the End Child Poverty coalition. Poverty also exists in rural areas of my constituency, such as Sheering and Nazeing. Many families turn to their local place of worship for s…
Commons
Debate
2 July 2025
2 contributions
Defence
On that point, will the right hon. Gentleman give way?
I thank the Minister for his statement. I appreciate him bringing the debate to the Floor of the House. It shows the importance of the issue and the importance that the Government place on our armed forces and, in particular, our armed forces personnel. I welcome the pay rise that this Government ar…
Commons
Committee Stage
2 July 2025
Secure 16 to 19 Academies Bill
I welcome the opportunity to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Mundell. Does my hon. Friend agree that this part of the Bill will help to ensure that these institutions are better integrated with local services? I am thinking particularly about my hon. Friend’s opening remarks about the importance o…
Commons
Debate
30 June 2025
3 contributions
Road Safety Powers: Parish and Town Councils
rose —
I thank my hon. Friend for taking my intervention so soon, and apologise to my hon. Friend the Member for City of Durham (Mary Kelly Foy). I pay tribute to Roydon and Hastingwood speed watch for the work it does. One issue I come across when people in my constituency talk to me about road safety is …
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
26 June 2025
G7 and NATO Summits
I thank the Prime Minister for his statement today. From a personal point of view, I thank him for his recent visit to Harlow and Downs primary school, which recently received an excellent Ofsted report.
Does the Prime Minister agree that to achieve the sustainable and long-term peace that we all s…
Commons
Oral Questions
Transport
26 June 2025
2 contributions
Local Bus Services
6. What steps she is taking to help improve local bus services.
After decades of failed bus deregulation under the Tories, I am pleased that this Labour Government truly understand the importance of delivering better bus services for millions of people. How will the Government support local leaders to take back control of their bus services, and how will that be…
Commons
Westminster Hall
26 June 2025
BBC World Service Funding
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Jeremy. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket (Peter Prinsley) for securing today’s vital debate. I will come on to the concerns and risks regarding the future of the BBC World Service, but I wanted to start by say…
Commons
Debate
25 June 2025
Department for Transport
My hon. Friend is making an important speech, and her passion for transport is clear for all to see. I welcome the additional funding for bus travel in Essex, but I am very aware that it is for Essex county council, which oversees bus travel there. Does she agree that this is not just about providin…
Commons
Debate
24 June 2025
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
This morning I met one of my constituents who is a care leaver, and she spoke of the huge challenges she faced in getting housing, partly because of the lack of affordable housing. Does my hon. Friend agree that supporting care leavers needs to be part of the housing strategy?
Commons
Debate
24 June 2025
Department for Education
My hon. Friend is giving a really important speech on a subject that is very dear to my heart, as everyone in the House knows. Will she add to her list the huge issues that we inherited with school buildings? As a former teacher—I have mentioned that a few times—I know that the learning environment …
Commons
Proceedings
24 June 2025
National Security Strategy
I thank the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for his statement, which is another firm example of this Government’s top priority of keeping residents safe. As the nature of warfare is changing, may I once again gently raise the importance of health security, and lobby for Harlow to be the new hom…
Commons
Oral Questions
Work and Pensions
23 June 2025
Personal Independence Payment
This morning, I had the pleasure of visiting PACT for Autism, a brilliant local charity in Harlow. It raised concerns about the accessibility of the PIP application process for those with autism. As the Department looks to reform the process, could that be considered?
Commons
Debate
19 June 2025
Incontinence
I commend my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley (Sonia Kumar) on securing this important debate. It is great to have her experience of having worked as an NHS physio in the Chamber and she brings a unique perspective to the issue. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton West (Warinder Jus…
Commons
Debate
19 June 2025
Licences and Licensing
As a Leeds United supporter, I felt the need to ask what a semi-final or a final was, but— [ Laughter . ] I welcome the order. Does my right hon. Friend recognise the benefits that the increased opening hours will bring to the pub and entertainment industry, and hopefully—if we get that far—the impa…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
19 June 2025
Warm Home Discount
I thank the Minister for her statement, which will help a quarter of a million households in the east of England. May I say, from a personal point of view, it is so encouraging to hear a Government focused on green energy solutions? Believe it or not, Madam Deputy Speaker, it is over 30 years since …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
19 June 2025
UK Infrastructure: 10-year Strategy
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I thank the Chief Secretary to the Treasury for his statement and in particular for the funding for the maintenance of hospitals. I will be lobbying the Health Secretary in due course, but first will my right hon. Friend let me once again advocate for Harlow in respe…
Commons
Proceedings
19 June 2025
Business of the House
I want to thank a teacher called Chris— [ Laughter. ] No, not this one! Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Chris Leeding of Newhall primary academy in Harlow on achieving a Pearson teacher of the year silver award for his clear dedication and passion for supporting children in Ha…
Commons
Debate
18 June 2025
Crime and Policing Bill
I have listened to the right hon. Gentleman’s speech with genuine interest. This is not a party political point at all. Is there perhaps work that could be done on a public information campaign to make people aware of these bikes? As he has just said, many people do not realise that they are illegal…
Commons
Oral Questions
Women and Equalities
18 June 2025
Digital Exclusion
Three weeks ago, I had an opportunity to visit Harlow jobcentre, meet the fantastic work coaches there, and see the important work that they are doing to help people in Harlow get back into employment. Digital inclusion was one of the issues that they raised. Does the Minister agree that we need to …
Commons
Debate
17 June 2025
3 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
Will the Minister join me in celebrating the five new neighbourhood police officers we have in Harlow? I cannot take all the credit for them, because I only taught one of them maths.
The Minister is being very generous in taking interventions. Having worked for a homelessness charity, I have seen this issue at first hand. Does she agree that when there is an organisation behind the begging, the person forced to beg is actually being exploited, so these laws will help to tackle a…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Debate
16 June 2025
2 contributions
Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme
I am looking through the document and the Opposition’s amendments. Two of the amendments that they have put forward talk about the size of the ICGS assurance board and, in particular, adding two members. Is it the feeling, from the evaluation of the independent process, that the board is actually th…
I am just trying to get my head around the amendments. Is the hon. Member suggesting that we avoid these amendments, because we want to ensure that there cannot be political influence over the decisions being made, such that, as she says, those who have committed these terrible acts somehow get away…