Commons
Westminster Hall
14 July 2026
Extreme Heat: Preparedness
The hon. Member is giving a very powerful speech. Water shortage is a very big issue for our farmers as well. At the moment, it is extremely difficult for a farmer to get planning permission for a small on-farm reservoir. It is a big investment for the farmer, so it is a big deal that it takes so lo…
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 July 2026
Employees Travelling Outside the UK: Expenses Rate
I represent Horsham, an adjacent constituency, and very much experience the same problems, so the issue is not rare. I have many cabin crew in my area who say the same thing. One of the people affected is trying to get leave to remain, but the visa application is made extremely complicated by going …
Commons
Oral Questions
Home Department
13 July 2026
Domestic Abuse: Police Response
One of my Horsham constituents, a victim of abuse, has seen her abuser let off with a suspended sentence after the case took too long to go to trial. She now has to live with a debilitating illness caused by her abuse, while her abuser gets to carry on with his life. Court delays are bad in any case…
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 July 2026
3 contributions
Lobular Breast Cancer: Moon Shot Project
I beg to move,
That this House has considered Government support for the Lobular Moon Shot Project.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse. MPs from across the House are here today to mark the anniversary of the death of my constituent Dr Susan Michaelis, founder of the Lobul…
I thank the hon. Member for his contribution and I very much agree. I also note that the right hon. Member for Makerfield (Andy Burnham), who is potentially our next Prime Minister, comes from Manchester, has visited the clinic and is already familiar with the campaign, so I am hopeful.
As I was sa…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Energy Security and Net Zero
7 July 2026
2 contributions
Essential Energy Guarantee
10. Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an essential energy guarantee.
The Liberal Democrat essential energy plan is an immediate way to address electricity affordability, but in the long term the solution must lie in more renewables, as I think the Secretary of State agrees. However, the Government’s failure to make the case effectively is now becoming a serious probl…
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
6 July 2026
Operation Valour
Our military personnel risk life and limb every day to keep the country safe, and they deserve the best support that we can give them, so it is shocking that for many of our veterans, military compensation received counts as income when local means-tested benefits are assessed. Will the Minister com…
Commons
Debate
30 June 2026
Child Savings Accounts (Mental Capacity and Disability)
I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision about access to matured child savings accounts in the name of a young person who lacks capacity; to require the Secretary of State to review savings provision for children and young people with disabilities including those who …
Commons
Debate
30 June 2026
Department for Work and Pensions
Right now, it is hard to get through a day without someone, somewhere, saying that welfare spending is ballooning out of control. For example, the Conservatives’ alternative King’s Speech tells us:
“For the first time ever, the total welfare bill is now higher than total receipts from income tax.”
…
Commons
Oral Questions
29 June 2026
2 contributions
Identifying Local Vulnerability
7. What progress his Department has made on the “identifying local vulnerability” project.
As the Minister knows all too well, the DWP’s shortcomings can end in tragedy. Errol Graham was a benefits claimant who starved to death without heating, electricity or adequate food. His local council, his housing association, his GP and the DWP all held information highlighting risk, and if only t…
Commons
Statutory Instrument
24 June 2026
3 contributions
Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Decisions and Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No.457)
We hear lots of talk in politics and the media right now about the need to cut benefits. Of course, control of spending is always a priority, but the first question that we should ask about any benefit is whether it is doing the job it is supposed to. A PIP is a lifeline, not a luxury. It is designe…
I agree with the hon. Member and entirely accept that the issue is not of this Government’s making, although as ever it is this Government’s obligation to sort it out. The regulations are a positive move in the right direction, but I am lamenting the state of affairs in general, not necessarily blam…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Treasury
23 June 2026
Green Book Wellbeing Guidance
In my constituency, Chess Dynamics, part of Cohort, is a world-leading developer of counter-drone and air defence technology, yet like much of the defence sector, it has been left waiting for clarity on future investment. Given the recent turmoil at the top of the Labour party, can the Minister assu…
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 June 2026
Community Hospitals
I recently met the chief executive officer of the newly combined Surrey and Sussex integrated care board, and urged her to consider the potential for expanding Horsham community hospital on Hurst Road into a neighbourhood hub, including a women’s health unit, to mitigate the lack of a general hospit…
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 June 2026
Access to Dental Services: West Sussex
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Desmond. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Chichester (Jess Brown-Fuller) for shining a light on this important subject, which causes such distress for residents of West Sussex.
The Department for Health, like many Government Departments, h…
Commons
Oral Questions
Housing, Communities and Local Government
15 June 2026
Road Adoption
In my constituency, we have to deal with increasing numbers of unadopted roads, either because the developer wants to leave the road with an estate manager, which means an annual charge, or because the road does not meet the construction standard to satisfy the local highways department. Both issues…
Commons
Oral Questions
Transport
11 June 2026
2 contributions
Summer Rail Travel
4. Whether she is taking steps to incentivise summer rail travel.
Train travel to the south coast increases significantly in the summer months, but Horsham sits on a line to the south that faces severe delays and cancellations. Govia Thameslink’s forecasts show demand continuing to rise sharply. Without a resolution to the notorious Croydon bottleneck, we risk und…
Commons
Westminster Hall
3 June 2026
Improving the UK Visa System
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stuart. I want to bring a case of injustice in the visa system to the attention of the Minister. It concerns two residents in my constituency, Mary and Geoff—not their real names. My office has tried every means of finding a solution through the …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
2 June 2026
Milburn Review: Interim Report
I welcome the Government’s youth guarantee scheme; something similar operates in a number of European countries. However, under the proposals, it will not kick in for 18 months. If someone is unemployed for 18 months, the damage is already done. Will the Government consider acting earlier?
Commons
Oral Questions
28 April 2026
2 contributions
Defence Industrial Strategy
4. What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the effectiveness of the defence industrial strategy.
In my constituency of Horsham, Chess Dynamics, which is part of Cohort, is a world-leading developer of counter-drone and air defence technology—exactly the capabilities that we need. Yet Chess, like much of the defence industry, has been kept on hold since last year, awaiting clarity on the defence…
Commons
Oral Questions
27 April 2026
Disabled People: Benefits Reassessments
My disabled constituent Joanne was holding down a good job, but delays in Access to Work resulted in her not receiving the necessary support to stay in it. The Government’s new “right to try” initiative is a positive move, but will the Minister commit to resourcing vital support services like Access…
Commons
Debate
20 April 2026
Security Vetting
There is a simple question to which we still do not have an answer. Did Peter Mandelson fail his vetting procedure because of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, or was there some other reason as yet undisclosed?
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
20 April 2026
Topical Questions
T2. There are some brilliant specialist SEND schools in my constituency, such as Muntham House and Aurora Vincent House. In the White Paper, there is currently no clear definition of a specialist school, and concerns remain that provision is being framed as something to be reduced, rather than plann…
Commons
Oral Questions
16 April 2026
Topical Questions
T4. At a time when our rivers and seas are not fit to swim in, the all-party parliamentary group on swimming reports that 1,200 pools have closed since 2010. In my constituency, a consultation by Horsham district council shows strong community support for more investment. Given that two thirds of po…
Commons
Debate
15 April 2026
Pension Schemes Bill
First, may I express my support for the words of the hon. Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth (Debbie Abrahams) with regard to pre-1997 pensions and that long-standing scandal? It is a great injustice and it feels like successive Governments—including this one, sadly—are just waiting for the prob…
Commons
Debate
14 April 2026
Crime and Policing Bill
I shall speak to Lords amendments 6 and 333, regarding fly-tipping and vape shop closures respectively. On the face of it, those are very different issues, but they share a common thread, which is that communities are being undermined by people who think that rules do not apply to them, and the vict…
Commons
Oral Questions
13 April 2026
Pride in Place: Community Spaces
There are real concerns that Pride in Place is just another example of this Government’s blind spot on rural areas. Groups such as the Rural Services Network and Plunkett UK warn that villages are being left behind. Key rural assets are disappearing fast, and Plunkett is calling for a targeted £10 m…