Commons
Debate
1 June 2026
Health Bill
The Secretary of State has not talked about the role of the governors of hospital trusts, which also appear to be abolished by the Bill. With the creation of mega-ICBs, the removal of healthwatch, and the removal of governors, I am worried that the voice of the local community is reducing rather tha…
Commons
Oral Questions
Justice
19 May 2026
Criminal Justice System: Support for Men and Boys
An often under-appreciated element of the criminal justice system is the impact that it has on fathers’ ability to stay part of their family. My hon. Friend the Member for Henley and Thame (Freddie van Mierlo) shared research conducted by the University of Plymouth about fathers separated from their…
Commons
Petition
19 May 2026
Antisocial Behaviour in Holton Heath
I rise to present a petition about antisocial behaviour on behalf of the residents of Holton Heath Park in my constituency. The petitioners and I ask the Government to note that those residents have been experiencing an unacceptable level from antisocial driving, joyriding, racing, and excessive spe…
Commons
Westminster Hall
28 April 2026
2 contributions
Fire and Rescue Services: Funding
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has a similar deficit of £1.5 million. I do not think this is about party politics, because a fire authority can only work with what it has got. Does the hon. Member agree that we need to work across parties to encourage the Government to properly fund al…
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s core spending power is going up over the three years only because of the increase in local taxpayers. The actual amount being provided is going down, not just in real terms but in actual cash terms. We simply do not have enough money to keep our fire st…
Commons
Debate
27 April 2026
3 contributions
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
I am really pleased to follow the speech of the hon. Member for Sunderland Central (Lewis Atkinson) with my own story of an early venue. In 2007, I remember visiting the Stage Door in Southampton—a venue above a pub—for one of the very first, intimate gigs of Scouting for Girls. They are now interna…
Can I just clarify the use of the word “should” rather than the word “must”? Where these bodies exist, they must have a right to be included; this is not just a “should”. I worry that the word “should” will allow a mayor or a larger authority to have the power over what is, as my hon. Friend the Mem…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
27 April 2026
2 contributions
Departmental Response Times
2. What steps he is taking to improve his Department’s response times.
I am glad that the call answering has speeded up, but, like those of many other Members, my office is constantly dealing with very long delays on the part of the DWP. Back in September 2024, my constituent Jackie appealed against a personal independence payment assessment for her husband, who died a…
Commons
Debate
23 April 2026
6 contributions
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
I beg to move,
That this House has considered reform of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
I am grateful to the Backbench Business Committee for granting time for a debate on a topic that, as I can see from the number of Members present, regularly fills the inboxes of right hon. and hon. Mem…
I will come to some of those specific issues shortly. Our teams are incredible and work really hard, both here in Westminster and down in our constituencies, but that should not be necessary. People should not only get the help they need when their MP steps in.
+4 more contributions in this session
Commons
Proceedings
23 April 2026
Allied Health Professionals
I congratulate the hon. Member for Dudley (Sonia Kumar) on securing this important debate and the hon. Member for Thurrock (Jen Craft) for introducing it.
During the Easter recess, I was invited to meet the Dorset Younger Onset Parkinson’s group in Wimborne. Two of the people I met, Simon and Julia…
Commons
Oral Questions
23 April 2026
Business of the House
Many across the House will have watched “Dirty Business” last month and been shocked not only by the behaviour of the water companies, but by the deliberate deregulation and defunding of the agencies that are there to protect our environment. When Storm Chandra devastated homes in my constituency, p…
Commons
Debate
21 April 2026
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
I am pleased that the Government support the principle of banning pavement parking and giving local authorities new powers, assuming that they come with new burdens funding. However, Lords amendment 40, which will give powers without a national framework, risks confusion, with inconsistent enforceme…
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
21 April 2026
Gulf Conflict
The difficulty of ships passing through the strait is leading to fears across all sectors and supply chains, including food production, so the price of food is at risk as well as the price of oil. Increasingly offensive and bizarre social media posts by President Trump are bound to be making diploma…
Commons
Petition
16 April 2026
Upton Heath
I rise to present a petition about Upton Heath in my constituency and note my personal interest as a regular user and contributor to the fundraiser. Alongside helping to raise almost £110,000 in two weeks via a crowdfunder, the 1,763 petitioners and I note the importance of Upton Heath as a natural …
Commons
Oral Questions
16 April 2026
Business of the House
A report by the charity MYTIME Young Carers, which is based in Broadstone but works across the country, found that young carers are twice as likely as their classmates to be persistently absent and, shockingly, more than twice as likely to face school suspensions. Young carers are now included in th…
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
16 April 2026
Places of Worship Renewal Fund
You will be aware, Mr Speaker, that Lib Dems are great at fixing the church roof. In Sturminster Marshall, the community is going further with Project Welcome, which will repair and modernise the space, creating a warm, safe and accessible church that is integral to the community. However, the closu…
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 April 2026
NHS Federated Data Platform
My hon. Friend’s expertise in this area is impressive. I recently spent a shift with the South Western ambulance service and saw how critical it was for that service to be able to access both GP and hospital data—we had a lady who had had a heart attack, and we did not know who she was. Does my hon.…
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
15 April 2026
Engagements
Q8. Will the Prime Minister join me in congratulating Dorset Wildlife Trust and the people of Dorset on their incredible efforts to secure Upton heath for nature, after part of this internationally designated site was put up for sale after decades-old planning consent was being used for mineral extr…
Commons
Westminster Hall
15 April 2026
2 contributions
Cost of Heating Oil
Will my hon. Friend give way?
I am so glad that he made it to the Chamber in time. Will he comment on the fact that families who live in very old properties—I have properties on Charborough Park and in Shapwick that are National Trust properties or belong to old estates—are already facing much higher costs to run their homes bec…
Commons
Debate
14 April 2026
Crime and Policing Bill
Does the hon. Member agree that the vague wording could lead a police force to ban, for example, a Pride protest three months after a farmers’ protest? There is no clarity as to whether a protest is damaging; it is just that the protest is cumulative.
Commons
Ministerial Statement
13 April 2026
North Atlantic Submarine Activity
It is clear that under the current leadership, the US is no longer a reliable ally, threatening European colleagues and Commonwealth nations and undermining the very purpose of NATO. As we face increasing threats from Russia, we are reliant on the US for our nuclear deterrent, for our kit and for te…
Commons
Proceedings
18 March 2026
Student Loans
My son is studying for a degree in musical theatre performance, and is due to graduate in a few weeks’ time. That may be something that the hon. Member thinks has no value. My son will probably spend a certain amount of time working tables and trying to make a living while he progresses in his caree…
Commons
Oral Questions
18 March 2026
Social Media: Children and Young People
I recently visited Lytchett Minster school and Queen Elizabeth’s school, and I held a session asking the young people about their views. Overwhelmingly, the children in sixth form supported a ban and the children in the younger part of the school did not. How will the Government tailor the questions…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
17 March 2026
Meningitis Outbreak
Meningitis is one of the worst nightmares that parents worry about, particularly when their teenagers leave home and are living away. My constituent Vicki Purdey from Corfe Mullen had her life changed by meningitis two years ago, and she is still unable to walk unaided. She is calling for meningitis…
Commons
Westminster Hall
17 March 2026
Child Maintenance Service
I congratulate the hon. Member for Bolton North East (Kirith Entwistle) on securing the debate, and I thank her and the Minister for allowing me time to speak. I will cut to the chase to make sure that the cases I want to reference are heard. I have raised this issue so many times in this House, and…
Commons
Oral Questions
16 March 2026
Strait of Hormuz
The US President has suggested that the future of NATO may depend on countries falling into line with him, and supporting him on reopening this shipping channel. Does the Minister believe that it is acceptable for that type of pressure to be applied to sovereign nations, when there is still no evide…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
12 March 2026
Business of the House
Despite relying on public money, the financial accountability and value for money of multi-academy trusts seemingly goes unchallenged, with many leaders earning more than the Prime Minister. Aspirations, which has a school in Poole, spent money on Teslas for its central staff and is now cutting the …