Commons
Westminster Hall
14 July 2026
Coastal Communities: Isolation and Hidden Deprivation
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Alec. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight West (Richard Quigley) for securing the debate, because it is vital to consider the issue of hidden deprivation and isolation in coastal communities. In Methil and Buckhaven in my constit…
Commons
Oral Questions
Business and Trade
2 July 2026
2 contributions
Trade with Europe
5. What steps his Department is taking to increase trade with Europe.
The EU is a key trading partner for Scotland, accounting for almost 40% of Scotland’s international exports. Can the Minister reassure my constituents in Glenrothes and Mid Fife that while we wait for a new date for the EU summit, this Government will press ahead with plans to align with more areas …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
30 June 2026
Defence Investment Plan
Reindustrialisation and backing British are the hallmarks of this defence investment plan. Does the Secretary of State agree with me and with the GMB and Unite unions that we need to build not only ships in Britain but new floating docks for Faslane? Does he agree that Programme Euston should be bui…
Commons
Oral Questions
Scotland
10 June 2026
2 contributions
Scotland Defence Growth Deal
9. What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the Scotland defence growth deal on Scotland.
Yesterday, the Secretary of State for Defence set out at the GMB conference how this Government’s investment in defence is delivering for British workers. Can my right hon. Friend assure me that he will work with his Ministry of Defence colleagues to support Scottish yards, including Methil in my co…
Commons
Debate
20 May 2026
Defence Readiness
Earlier this month I joined the workers, apprentices and management at the Methil yard in my constituency, where they christened the Seahorse barge. At 85 metres long, 25 metres wide, weighing approximately 1,400 tonnes, Seahorse is an impressive achievement and will play a critical role in enabling…
Commons
Debate
15 April 2026
Strategic Defence Review: Funding
Will my hon. Friend assure me that this Government’s increased investment in our armed forces and the defence investment plan will offer huge opportunities for the defence sector in Scotland, not least at the Methil yard in my constituency, which was saved from closure by Labour Ministers? That will…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
19 March 2026
International Development
Later today I am meeting Inclusion International, which supports people with learning disabilities throughout the world. The focus on women and girls that my right hon. Friend referred to is welcome and important, but there is great concern among disability organisations over the impact of widesprea…
Commons
Westminster Hall
18 March 2026
2 contributions
Royal Mail: Performance
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Twigg. I congratulate the hon. Member for Exmouth and Exeter East (David Reed) on securing this vital debate. I want to make three points about Royal Mail performance that are of particular concern to my constituents in Glenrothes and Mid Fife, and …
My hon. Friend is completely correct, and as always makes the point eloquently. It is vital that Royal Mail management listen to her and CWU.
The hon. Member for Cheadle (Mr Morrison) was absolutely right about hospital appointments. Appointments letters arriving on the day of the appointment or af…
Commons
Debate
17 March 2026
Youth Unemployment
I warmly welcome the Secretary of State’s announcement. This is exactly the kind of initiative to tackle youth unemployment that employers in Glenrothes in my constituency asked me for just a couple of weeks ago. Can he assure me that he will work with Scottish agencies and the Scotland Office to en…
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
16 March 2026
Topical Questions
Following last week’s welcome announcement of defence investment in Scotland, will the Minister provide an update on the plan to take forward Programme Euston at Faslane? Does he agree that the skilled workforce at the Methil yard in my constituency, which was saved by this Government, will provide …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
12 March 2026
Defending Democracy Taskforce
I am pleased to hear about the Minister’s positive dialogue with Scottish Ministers ahead of the vital elections in May. On the collective responsibility of political parties to ensure fair and safe debate, does he agree that there should be no repeat of the racist advert published by Reform last ye…
Commons
Debate
2 March 2026
2 contributions
Representation of the People Bill
The hon. Lady is making an important point about the accessibility of elections for disabled candidates and voters. Disability charities have made the point that there is some way to go in ensuring that our elections are truly accessible for disabled people. Does she agree that it is important that …
That is an important point. In Scotland, education did not happen to the extent that it should have, and the Institute for Public Policy Research has made some recommendations. I therefore very much welcome what the Secretary of State said, but does my right hon. Friend agree that it is vital that c…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
2 March 2026
Middle East
The brutality of the Iranian regime is unquestionable, but does the Prime Minister agree with many of our constituents still in the region, who will be deeply concerned at the indication from the United States today that it will increase its airstrikes on Iran? Can he assure us that he will redouble…
Commons
Oral Questions
Scotland
25 February 2026
Energy Profits Levy: Gas Sector
I associate myself with the remarks about Jeane Freeman.
Does my right hon. Friend agree that while oil and gas will play a vital role in the UK for decades to come, we have great opportunities for Scottish businesses in renewables, including at the Methil yard in my constituency, which is ideally …
Commons
Debate
2 February 2026
China and Japan
It was a privilege to serve with Jim Wallace in Holyrood, and I associate myself with the tributes to him.
We have had trade deals with Europe, China and India worth hundreds of millions of pounds to Scottish businesses, and defence contracts that secure thousands of jobs. Can the Prime Minister te…
Commons
Debate
15 January 2026
2 contributions
New Towns
The brilliant, transformative Labour Government of 1945 accepted and endorsed the idea of investing in the construction of new towns as a way of providing much improved living conditions for people throughout our nation. I am delighted that this Labour Government are doing that again today, and I am…
I could not agree more. In Scotland’s new towns, railway stations are either not there at all or are a great distance away from the town centre. We have to learn those lessons for the future.
On issues in town centres, the Kingdom shopping centre in Glenrothes is the centre and the high street of t…
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
15 January 2026
2 contributions
Safeguarding
11. What steps the Church of England is taking to establish an independent safeguarding system.
I thank my hon. Friend for that update. Does she agree that there should be no further delay in the Church adopting a fully independent model for safeguarding and that it is vital that Church authorities and our new Archbishop of Canterbury act to restore confidence in safeguarding in the Church?
Commons
Debate
14 January 2026
Ukraine
I had the privilege of joining a parliamentary delegation to the Yalta European Strategy conference in Kyiv in September. That conference came at the very moment of the incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace, reminding us that it is far from only the future of Ukraine that is at stake: the…
Commons
Proceedings
8 January 2026
Business of the House
Will the Leader of the House allocate time for a debate on tackling child poverty, and not only in the light of the Government’s decision to lift the two-child cap, but to recognise the vital work of the Multibank charity? That charity supports hundreds of children in my constituency, where the firs…
Commons
Westminster Hall
6 January 2026
BBC Charter Renewal
Does the right hon. Member appreciate the importance of the BBC’s investment in the devolved nations and regions, which is all the more important given the fact that private and independent media are withdrawing from some of that coverage and production? This year, the BBC will double spending to £1…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
17 December 2025
INEOS Chemicals: Grangemouth
After the Tories and the SNP did nothing for so many years to address the long-term future of Grangemouth, it is hugely welcome that Labour Ministers have made this announcement, which offers opportunities to workers in Fife affected by the closure of the ExxonMobil plant at Mossmorran. What further…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
17 December 2025
UK-EU Common Understanding Negotiations
Does my right hon. Friend expect the new agency with responsibility for Erasmus+ to work with the excellent Erasmus Student Network UK to promote these brilliant new opportunities for our young people, including in higher and further education institutions in Scotland?
Commons
Proceedings
11 December 2025
St Andrew’s Day and Scottish Affairs
I warmly congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Dunfermline and Dollar (Graeme Downie)—how appropriate that he should lead this debate given the history of Dunfermline not only as historical capital of Scotland, but as our capital in the great Kingdom of Fife. What a time to be a Scot with our t…
Commons
Proceedings
27 November 2025
Budget Resolutions
The Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered her Budget in the most challenging global economic circumstances; there is sluggish growth across the international economy, and we have an economic inheritance from the Conservative party of high public debt and low investment. Despite that, she delivered a…
Commons
Oral Questions
27 November 2025
2 contributions
Resale of Concert Tickets
8. What assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a cap on the resale of concert tickets.
This summer, thousands of music fans in Scotland were dismayed at having to pay hugely inflated prices to see their favourite bands, including Oasis, so my right hon. Friend’s announcement on capping the resale price of tickets will be welcome news for all those fans. Will she consider what further …