Commons
Debate
10 September 2026
Water Management
My hon. Friend is showing his usual erudition on these topics. He mentions SUDS—sustainable drainage systems—which can be an important part of the solutions he outlines. However, many homeowners in my constituency find that those sustainable drainage systems do not work as intended because they are …
Commons
Debate
8 September 2026
Retirement Property Management Companies: Regulation
The hon. Gentleman is setting out a compelling case for how providers of retirement homes and accommodation are letting people down, and the absence of redress that a lot of residents have. Does he agree that this is an area in which we desperately need more regulation and oversight, and that the Go…
Commons
Oral Questions
Housing, Communities and Local Government
7 September 2026
2 contributions
Topical Questions
T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.
Some constituents are facing exorbitant service charges for retirement properties inherited from a family member that are proving impossible to sell. One of my constituents is paying £770 a month in service charges for an empty one-bedroom flat, after inheriting the home from their late mother. What…
Commons
Oral Questions
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
3 September 2026
Topical Questions
T2. In my Oxfordshire constituency, Challow and Childrey cricket club’s partnership with local state school King Alfred’s Academy is providing cricket opportunities to students who may not otherwise have access to the sport. However, affordability and perceptions of cricket mean that a participation…
Commons
Westminster Hall
3 September 2026
Vaccination Rates: England
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Barker, on the second consecutive day.
I thank the hon. Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Danny Beales), who set out his case so well that I fear my contribution will add very little to his. Nevertheless, I want to add my voice in support of …
Commons
Oral Questions
Transport
16 July 2026
Aviation Sector
The Civil Aviation Authority has reported that in 2024-25, 81% of passenger complaints that were initially rejected by airlines were upheld when independently reviewed, leading to £11 million of delayed compensation payments. Does the Minister support the idea of an air passengers’ charter, backed b…
Commons
Oral Questions
Transport
16 July 2026
EU Entry-Exit System: Transport Delays
I apologise in advance for a lack of theatre or football analogies, Mr Speaker. The Secretary of State’s announcement on Tuesday went into some detail on the arrangements for the UK and French borders, but it was somewhat lighter on the detail of the outcome of her discussions with the European Comm…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
16 July 2026
Local Government Reorganisation
I thank the Secretary of State for advance sight of his statement. I recognise that a lot of work has gone into the proposals by a lot of people, but many of the details add to an existing impression of chaos. We are finally getting sight of the detail just 9.5 months before many affected areas have…
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 July 2026
National Planning Policy Framework
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Desmond. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Wells and Mendip Hills (Tessa Munt) for securing a debate on this important topic very much in the spirit of end-of-term relaxation.
I want to start with some of the positives of the new draft NPPF. M…
Commons
Debate
13 July 2026
Embodied Carbon: Buildings
The hon. Lady is making a very compelling speech about the importance of thinking on a whole-life basis about the carbon in buildings. Does she agree that we should think about the whole-life carbon impact of new buildings, and does her argument support the view that we have an opportunity to design…
Commons
Oral Questions
Science, Innovation and Technology
1 July 2026
2 contributions
Astronomy and Space Science: Funding
5. What steps her Department is taking to maintain levels of funding for astronomy and space science.
I thank the Minister for his answer. My Oxfordshire constituency is home to Harwell campus, the UK’s largest concentration of space and science organisations. Despite what the Minister said about the budget, the need for £162 million of savings by 2030 that was imposed on the Science and Technology …
Commons
Westminster Hall
25 June 2026
National Lung Cancer Screening Programme
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Alec. I commend my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Clive Jones) on securing this debate, and on his tireless campaigning both on lung cancer and on cancer more widely. I also thank the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for his passiona…
Commons
Westminster Hall
24 June 2026
Farming: Financial Sustainability
Thank you, Mr Turner—I am in a state of astonishment at being called first. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship once again. I thank the hon. Member for North Northumberland (David Smith) for his articulate opening speech. Most of what I am going to say follows a recent farm visit and farm…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
22 June 2026
East Midland Railway Collision
May I start by thanking the Secretary of State for advance sight of her statement? I wholly associate myself with her remarks. Our thoughts have to be with the driver who lost his life and the many passengers who were injured, particularly those still in hospital, and all their families. From my pas…
Commons
Oral Questions
Culture, Media and Sport
18 June 2026
2 contributions
BBC Funding
6. What steps she is taking to help ensure the sustainability of the BBC’s long-term funding.
Yesterday, as part of £500 million cuts, the BBC announced the scrapping of BBC Radio 4’s “The World Tonight” programme after 56 years, among others. It is very welcome to hear the Secretary of State’s support for the BBC, but can she say a little more about what she is going to do to protect the fu…
Commons
Oral Questions
Transport
11 June 2026
Topical Questions
The current cycling and walking investment strategy includes a target for 55% of trips to be walked, wheeled or cycled by 2035. Is the Secretary of State confident that there is a realistic plan with sufficient funding to achieve that target?
Commons
Oral Questions
Transport
11 June 2026
Passenger Rail Services
Young people in Oxford, Bicester, Winslow, Bletchley and Milton Keynes are sitting their exams, but they continue to not be able to use a train to get to school or for leisure, despite this phase of East West Rail opening 18 months ago. I have a little exam question for the Minister. What timescale …
Commons
Westminster Hall
4 June 2026
2 contributions
High Street Businesses: Government Support
I beg to move,
That this House has considered Government support for high street businesses.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Lewell. For decades, centuries and even millennia, towns and their high streets have been the focus of commercial and community activity—not just for the …
I agree that such a VAT cut would help, because it is not just business rates that small businesses on high streets are facing. On top of business rate increases and the burden of value-added tax, they are also paying for increased labour and payroll costs, including the higher national living wage …
Commons
Oral Questions
Energy Security and Net Zero
2 June 2026
2 contributions
Household Energy Bills
7. What steps he is taking to help reduce household energy bills.
The energy price cap increase is estimated to cost each household an extra £18 every month, which is the price of a regular essential food shop at a discount supermarket. I note the measures that the Minister says the Government are taking, but in addition will the Government urgently bring forward …
Commons
Oral Questions
Business and Trade
21 May 2026
Topical Questions
Small businesses in Didcot’s Broadway are struggling with energy and staff costs, business rates and a rising tax burden, and the older town centre would benefit from investment and rejuvenation. For areas, such as Didcot, that did not receive Pride in Place funding, what suggestions does the Secret…
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
20 May 2026
Engagements
Q5. This month’s local elections saw the biggest ever gap between votes and seats in England, with five parties estimated to have won more than 15% of the vote. It is increasingly clear that the public have had enough of Westminster business as usual. Does the Prime Minister still have full confiden…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
19 May 2026
High Speed 2 Reset
I thank the Secretary of State for her candour on the scale of the HS2 disaster and for the specificity of the range of dates she provided. The Liberal Democrats certainly agree with her intent: we need to make the most of this shambles, and it would be better to do something with what has been buil…
Commons
Statutory Instrument
19 May 2026
Draft Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Regulations 2026
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Desmond.
We Liberal Democrats also support this legislative tidying up. I hope the Minister is grateful for the opportunity to talk about what I know is his favourite mode of transport, ships, rather than dabbling in railway tedium. I have only on…
Commons
Statutory Instrument
19 May 2026
Delegated Legislation Committee
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Desmond.
We Liberal Democrats also support this legislative tidying up. I hope the Minister is grateful for the opportunity to talk about what I know is his favourite mode of transport, ships, rather than dabbling in railway tedium. I have only on…
Commons
Petition
18 May 2026
East Hagbourne Post Office
I present on behalf of 175 constituents a petition regarding the closure of East Hagbourne post office. This is in addition to a non-parliamentary petition signed by 1,100 members of the local community.
The petition states:
The petition of residents of East Hagbourne in the constituency of Didcot…