Commons
Westminster Hall
10 March 2026
Fur: Import and Sale
I know that the hon. Member will agree that fur is not just a by-product, but a product that relies on animals being caged, confined and killed solely for their pelts, and that a ban on the import and sale of fur would be a proportionate measure, consistent with our ethics, and would end our complic…
Commons
Oral Questions
4 March 2026
Child Poverty
Does the Minister accept that if the Government were serious about reducing child poverty in Wales, and across the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, they would prioritise public spending on measures that directly reduce child poverty, in particular investment in social housing and childcar…
Commons
Westminster Hall
3 March 2026
2 contributions
Small Charity Sector
Will the right hon. Member give way?
Does the right hon. Member agree that the small charity sector, including community and faith-based groups, plays a vital role in reaching the hardest-to-reach communities—not only in my constituency of North Down, but across our United Kingdom? Does he agree that the sector should be commended on i…
Commons
Oral Questions
Scotland
25 February 2026
Defence Manufacturing Jobs
Does the Secretary of State agree that increased defence orders in Scotland have the potential to strengthen the defence industry and the industrial base across the whole of the United Kingdom, and will he make an assessment of the opportunities that that presents, in particular for Northern Ireland…
Commons
Debate
24 February 2026
Army Reservists: Employment Rights
There were more than 40,000 members of the Ulster Defence Regiment, half of whom—about 20,000—were part-time members. In the light of this ruling, does the right hon. Gentleman agree that they should be entitled to a pension as well?
Commons
Westminster Hall
24 February 2026
Foster Care: Recruitment and Retention
I thank the hon. Member for securing the debate. Does she agree that there should be greater recognition of foster carers as part of the professional team around the child, and that fully promoting a team-around-the-child model in which social workers, foster carers and therapists are regarded and t…
Commons
Oral Questions
Housing, Communities and Local Government
23 February 2026
Leasehold Reform
Have the Government made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a mandatory standard service charge statement for leaseholders to ensure a clearer breakdown of costs and improve transparency in the administration of service charges?
Commons
Oral Questions
Northern Ireland
11 February 2026
Defence Industrial Strategy 2025
Does the Minister agree that there is a clear need for a stronger role for Northern Ireland firms in the UK defence supply chain, and will he commit to encouraging far greater inclusion of Northern Ireland small and medium-sized enterprises in Ministry of Defence framework contracts and sub-contract…
Commons
Westminster Hall
10 February 2026
Place-based Employment Support Programmes
Does the hon. Gentleman agree that place-based employment schemes are a vital way of converting local strengths into local jobs, and that sector-specific initiatives can and should be tailored to the circumstances of individual constituencies? In North Down, there is particular potential in tourism,…
Commons
Proceedings
5 February 2026
6 contributions
NHS Dentists
I am grateful for the opportunity to draw the attention of the House to an issue that affects millions of British people and families right across our country: the current state of NHS dental services throughout the UK.
Our NHS dentistry, from which I and so many others in North Down have benefited…
That is certainly one of the major issues that needs to be addressed. Shockingly and frighteningly, people are resorting to DIY dentistry because their pain is so great and they simply cannot afford treatment. No MP can sleep easily in 2026 when British people are pulling out their own teeth at home…
+4 more contributions in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
3 February 2026
Animals in Science Regulation Unit: Annual Report 2024
Given the more than 2.6 million procedures and the small year-on-year decrease, does not progress on replacing the use of animals in science remain only incremental? What is needed is a truly transformational shift. Does the hon. Member accept that, unless urgent and ambitious progress is made, publ…
Commons
Westminster Hall
3 February 2026
Educational Outcomes: Disadvantaged Boys and Young Men
On average, disadvantaged boys are already behind in vocabulary and communication by the time they start school. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that there is an urgent need for a targeted, UK-wide speech, language and communication strategy focused on disadvantaged boys, not just in our constituencie…
Commons
Debate
21 January 2026
Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and Reconciliation
I rise as a proud Unionist from Northern Ireland, and as somebody who stands four-square with our veterans, innocent victims and their families. I have deep concerns about the remedial order and how this is going to operate. From the perspective of our veterans who served in Northern Ireland, the en…
Commons
Oral Questions
Wales
21 January 2026
Wales-England Livestock Movements
What assessment has the Minister made of the value of a single, UK-wide digital livestock traceability system, to support Welsh farmers and reduce welfare and compliance risks for Northern Ireland processors who rely on Welsh farmers?
Commons
Westminster Hall
20 January 2026
ADHD Diagnosis
Based on UK-wide estimates, about 83,000 people in Northern Ireland are likely to have ADHD, yet it is clear that many remain undiagnosed, particularly women and girls. Does the hon. Member agree that there is an urgent need for clear, consistent and properly resourced diagnostic pathways across all…
Commons
Debate
13 January 2026
Nigeria: Freedom of Religion or Belief
Given that reliable sources estimate that tens of thousands of Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 2009, largely in the north and middle belt, placing the country at the epicentre of global persecution of the Christian Church, does the hon. Member agree that every diplomatic and political l…
Commons
Westminster Hall
13 January 2026
Northern Ireland Political Institutions: Reform
What does the hon. Member think of the Alliance party’s suggestion that there could be three First Ministers? Would that not make things even worse?
Commons
Oral Questions
Northern Ireland
7 January 2026
European Convention on Human Rights: Belfast Agreement
Is it not the case, as a matter of international law, that the United Kingdom could withdraw from the ECHR while at the same time ensuring that equivalent rights and protections are preserved in our domestic law?
Commons
Westminster Hall
6 January 2026
Therapeutic Play and Children’s Healthcare
Does the hon. Member agree that therapeutic play is most effective when embedded within healthcare teams, rather than treated in isolation, and that we need a shift away from seeing it as something that happens only in the playroom towards fully integrating it into children’s daily care?
Commons
Proceedings
17 December 2025
2 contributions
Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and Reconciliation
Secretary of State, the official Opposition are saying to hold off the remedial order until the Supreme Court judgment. Have you sought any legal advice on that? Can you share it with the House?
I apologise. Has the Secretary of State sought any legal advice on the issue, and can he share it with the House? Will he also update us on making sure that the Irish Government produce all legal papers on their role, on the IRA and on the involvement of the Garda Síochána?
Commons
Oral Questions
17 December 2025
Torture of Animals: Online Content
Can the Government do more to ensure proactive detection of this vile material, such as by using artificial intelligence tools and human moderators with specialist training in animal cruelty, so that such content is swiftly identified and removed, and put robust measures in place to prevent it from …
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 December 2025
Budget 2025: Impact on Graduates
With research indicating that up to three quarters of higher education providers could be in deficit by 2025-26, and with plans being drawn up for course closures and staff cuts, does the hon. Member agree that there is an onus on the Government to act so that we secure a richly educated generation …
Commons
Oral Questions
Business and Trade
11 December 2025
e-Bike Batteries
Will the Minister consider introducing minimum design and safety standards for e-bike batteries to reduce the risk of overcharging, overheating and short-circuiting?
Commons
Oral Questions
Women and Equalities
10 December 2025
Women’s Economic Empowerment
Has the Minister considered using all the Government’s levers in female-dominated low-paid sectors, including uprating the minimum wage and strengthening fair work standards in social care, early years and the cleaning industry?
Commons
Debate
9 December 2025
Illegal Migrants: Unknown Whereabouts
Given that 53,000 illegal immigrants have absconded with no address, and 736 who have committed crimes have absconded, does the hon. Member agree that this Government have lost control of their borders and their immigration policies, and they have lost all credibility when it comes to immigration is…