Commons
Westminster Hall
14 July 2026
Coastal Communities: Isolation and Hidden Deprivation
In coastal communities such as mine in Scarborough and Whitby, we see persistently high levels of domestic abuse where victims and survivors are hidden and isolated. Scarborough has the highest rate of reported domestic abuse in North Yorkshire. A landmark report found that, on average, victims in r…
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 July 2026
Extreme Heat: Preparedness
At the moment, there are 19 live wildfires across England and Wales. Last year, a devastating wildfire on the North York moors raged for 40 days over 10 square miles. It was caused by a campfire. Does the hon. Member agree that it is time to ban the use of disposable barbeques in public areas?
Commons
Oral Questions
Home Department
13 July 2026
Topical Questions
The scampi catching sector in Northern Ireland is currently reliant on foreign seasonal workers. To stay afloat, the sector needs about 66 visas to be valid for just seven months of the year. Will the Minister consider extending the seasonal worker visa route to the nephrops industry to give the cat…
Commons
Oral Questions
Northern Ireland
8 July 2026
2 contributions
Seasonal Scampi Fishers
4. What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the potential merits of introducing bespoke fishing visas for seasonal scampi fishers in Northern Ireland.
Unfortunately, jobs at Whitby Seafoods, the country’s largest supplier of scampi to caterers, remain at risk. That is because, as the Minister knows, about 70% of crews operating out of Kilkeel who catch the nephrops, or scampi, are foreign workers who will no longer qualify under the new visa rules…
Commons
Proceedings
8 July 2026
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
I declare my interest as co-chair of the APPG for coastal communities. I recently met coastguard rescue officers from Ravenscar who are seriously concerned about the future of the service. These CROs bring decades-long experience and routinely respond to complex call-outs in my constituency of Scarb…
Commons
Oral Questions
24 June 2026
2 contributions
Violence against Women and Girls
11. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle violence against women and girls.
The hon. Member for Runcorn and Helsby (Sarah Pochin) embarrassed herself and this House when she said that the England football team needed to keep winning to keep women safe from domestic abuse. Does the Minister agree with me and with Refuge that linking domestic violence to football allows perpe…
Commons
Oral Questions
24 June 2026
2 contributions
Discrimination against Trans People
11. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle violence against women and girls.
The hon. Member for Runcorn and Helsby (Sarah Pochin) embarrassed herself and this House when she said that the England football team needed to keep winning to keep women safe from domestic abuse. Does the Minister agree with me and with Refuge that linking domestic violence to football allows perpe…
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
22 June 2026
SEND: Improvement
I am delighted that St Martin’s primary school in Scarborough is establishing a brand new targeted mainstream provision centre, backed by funding from this Labour Government. Does my hon. Friend agree that our plans to deliver more TMP places will mean that the many children in my constituency who a…
Commons
Oral Questions
Housing, Communities and Local Government
15 June 2026
2 contributions
Short-term Lets: Licensing
10. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the introduction of a licensing scheme for short-term lets.
In my constituency, Whitby is being hollowed out by short-term lets. Bordered by the sea and a national park, house building cannot solve the problem of a lack of affordable housing for residents. We must also release more existing homes for families in the town. Will the Minister commit to legislat…
Commons
Westminster Hall
15 June 2026
State Pensioners: Personal Allowance
I recently met a constituent on the basic state pension who told me that rising living costs were leaving him worse off in real terms. What consideration have the Government given to reviewing pension thresholds? In particular, is a phased increase over several years being explored?
Commons
Debate
15 June 2026
2 contributions
NHS Dentistry
Imagine being 81 years old, blind and waking up with a terrible toothache, and then imagine having no car and no local dentist to turn to. This was the reality for John, one of my constituents in Scarborough and Whitby. His story is unfolding at a time when we are seeing a much-needed and welcome sh…
My hon. Friend is right, and I hope that the Minister addresses the challenges faced by rural and coastal communities in his closing remarks.
The two constituents I mentioned were told that they could be put on a waiting list. Unfortunately, the waiting lists were 10 years long; aged 80 and 77, the…
Commons
Westminster Hall
10 June 2026
4 contributions
Child Contact Arrangements
I beg to move,
That this House has considered children in child contact arrangements.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Murrison, and to lead a debate on putting children first in child contact arrangements, an issue that is of great importance to me, to my constituents and to oth…
I completely agree that the child’s voice must be heard and is too often overlooked.
Some of these so-called experts lack proper qualifications and are not regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council. Changes proposed in 2025 to address the issue of unregulated psychologists have been crit…
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
3 June 2026
Engagements
Despite the efforts of dedicated teachers in Scarborough and Whitby, only 36% of pupils achieve grade 5 and above in both English and maths GCSEs. Does the Prime Minister agree that Mission Coastal has the potential to deliver the same transformational impact for young people in deprived coastal com…
Commons
Westminster Hall
3 June 2026
Seasonal Hospitality Businesses in Coastal Areas
The hon. Member is talking about holidays. Our Chancellor has just announced the great British summer savings, which will see VAT slashed from 20% to 5% on activities, children’s meals and attractions. Does he welcome that move?
Commons
Westminster Hall
28 April 2026
Park Home Owners
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Alec. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (James Naish) on securing this timely debate. My constituency is known for its coastal beauty, and as such it is a hotspot for park homes. Of UK mobile home owners, 80% are aged 65 and a…
Commons
Oral Questions
23 April 2026
Business of the House
Last month, I was thrilled to see Scarborough rugby union football club crowned regional 2 north-east champions—the highest level in the club’s history. The club does brilliant work in the Scarborough community, with various teams for women and for rugby players of all levels. Will the Leader of the…
Commons
Westminster Hall
21 April 2026
Wheelchair Provision: Independent Review Body
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Murrison. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford (Daniel Francis) on securing this important debate, and on his excellent speech, which drew on his lived experience.
I contribute to this debate on behalf of the many c…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
13 April 2026
Middle East
I thank the Prime Minister for his statement and his positive efforts on the issue of the strait of Hormuz. Last week, I met with farmers in Whitby who are deeply concerned about the skyrocketing price of red diesel. In January, the fuel cost 64p per litre, and it has since doubled. With the busiest…
Commons
Oral Questions
Cabinet Office
22 January 2026
Topical Questions
T2. In Scarborough, British electric bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis employs more than 700 people and is vital to our local economy. Tax-funded bus procurement should support UK industry, rather than fund international competitors. However, with the social value requirement in public procurement s…
Commons
Westminster Hall
19 January 2026
2 contributions
Sale of Fireworks
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Pritchard. It seems to me that we have been discussing the possibility of restricting the use of fireworks to organised public events for many years and, while we talk, more people suffer life-changing injuries that could be avoided if we had tighte…
My hon. Friend makes an important point, as have others in the debate, that we have passed the point where we used to watch fireworks safely in our back gardens. Fireworks are being let off all the time, every day—all day, sometimes—and I too have seen the terrible effect on animals, particularly do…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
15 January 2026
Business of the House
Last summer, my constituency suffered the devastating Langdale moor wildfire. The local community, including farmers and businesses, stepped in to help firefighters battle the enormous blaze, which at its height covered 10 square miles. Unlike in the case of flooding, though, there is no clear route…
Commons
Debate
16 December 2025
2 contributions
Finance (No. 2) Bill
As an eight-year-old girl sheltering in the little library at my primary school, I was able to escape my bullies by using my imagination. Later, I harnessed my love of reading to build a successful career as a screenwriter, so I am delighted that the Finance Bill extends the Libraries for Primaries …
I will just make some progress, thank you.
I started my speech with children at the start of their lives, and I end it with people coming towards the end of their lives. I owe it to the farming families who I represent to raise my concerns about the anti-forestalling clause in the Bill. That measur…
Commons
Debate
15 December 2025
Violence against Women and Girls Strategy
I thank my hon. Friend for her answer and look forward to the release of the violence against women and girls strategy. A women’s refuge for Scarborough was approved three years ago, but the project has stalled. Will the Minister say whether the extra £19 million investment announced today can be us…
Commons
Debate
10 December 2025
3 contributions
Seasonal Work
My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech. An 18 to 20-year-old this Christmas who is serving a pint will be earning £1.40 an hour more. Does he agree that this demonstrates Labour’s commitment to young people?
I refer Members to my membership of Unison and the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain. In my constituency of Scarborough and Whitby there are thousands of seasonal job opportunities each year, and as well as an enlarged tourism sector during the summer months, there is regular seasonal employment for t…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
10 December 2025
5 contributions
Small-scale Fracking Ban
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the potential merits of banning small-scale fracking operation.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Roger. It is also a pleasure to lead a debate on banning small-scale fracking—an issue that I have campaigned on since I was elected MP …
I completely agree with my hon. Friend that Reform’s plans are a threat to our beautiful countryside, and our constituents do not want them.
Europa’s plans have been widely opposed by the local community. In response, campaigners launched a petition that has garnered more than 10,000 signatories ca…
+3 more contributions in this session