Commons
Oral Questions
29 June 2026
2 contributions
Universal Credit: Care Leavers
10. Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring that all care leavers are entitled to the same standard universal credit allowance.
This Government are rightly committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, but care leavers still face disproportionate challenges as they move into independent adulthood. Will the Minister commit to reviewing the universal credit age-related rates for care leavers, with a view to ensuring that…
Commons
Oral Questions
Culture, Media and Sport
18 June 2026
2 contributions
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
3. What steps her Department is taking to increase funding for UNESCO world heritage sites.
Cromford Mills in Derbyshire Dales was the world’s first water-powered cotton spinning mill and the birthplace of mass production. In recent decades the Arkwright Society has transformed this UNESCO world heritage site into the much-loved tourist attraction it is today. However, the renewal of the s…
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
17 June 2026
Engagements
Q6. A film called the “People’s Emergency Briefing” is being shown in communities up and down the country. I recently attended a screening in Wirksworth, and there is another one next week in Bakewell. The film educates us and reminds us of the climate emergency that we all face. Yet, inexplicably, …
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
16 June 2026
2 contributions
Topical Questions
T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.
At COP29, an agreement was reached to provide $300 billion of international climate finance annually to developing countries by 2035 to help them pursue green growth pathways, access clean energy, reduce deforestation and so on. What steps is the Department taking to ensure that this commitment is d…
Commons
Proceedings
15 June 2026
Defence Investment Plan
There has been a lot of talk for a very long time about additional money being needed for defence. What would the Minister do with more money that he cannot do now?
Commons
Proceedings
15 June 2026
Carbon Capture Pipeline Projects: Cheshire
The hon. Lady asks what is in it for the residents of Cheshire. The scheme—if it goes ahead, of course—will capture 3 million tonnes of carbon every year. That is the equivalent of a quarter of all the emissions from the counties of Derbyshire and Staffordshire every year, so that is a benefit for t…
Commons
Oral Questions
Solicitor General
4 June 2026
2 contributions
Victims: Right to Review
3. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the victims’ right to review scheme pilot on victims of rape and other serious sexual offences.
I welcome the steps that the Government have taken to improve the conviction rates for rape and other serious sexual offences, including announcing a new independent legal advice service for rape victims, changes to stamp out rape myths in court, and expanding the victims’ right to review scheme, wh…
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
1 June 2026
Topical Questions
T9. I welcome the fact that since this Government took office, defence funding has increased by more than 7.5%. Ukraine maintaining its sovereignty against Russia is vital for European, and therefore British, security. Are the Government committed to increasing the proportion of defence spending goi…
Commons
Oral Questions
Justice
19 May 2026
2 contributions
Criminalisation of Children in Care
11. What steps his Department is taking to help prevent the criminalisation of children while in care.
I refer to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. Children in care have often faced significant trauma, instability, neglect or abuse. As a result, many of them end up in the criminal justice system, and care leavers are 10 times more likely to end up in prison. Counselling has be…
Commons
Debate
21 April 2026
Middle East: Economic Update
According to modelling from the National Energy System Operator, gas will still set the price of electricity 30% of the time by 2030, despite most of the energy being produced from renewables. Solar and wind are far cheaper than other forms of energy, and it is right that households across the UK, a…
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 April 2026
2 contributions
Housing Needs: Young People
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Butler. I thank the hon. Member for Mid Dunbartonshire (Susan Murray) for securing this important debate. Young people face challenges with housing in every part of the country, and in rural communities such as Derbyshire Dales there are compounding…
I would be more than happy with local authorities having the capacity to limit holiday lets and so on—that is not a bad idea at all.
It should not be too much to ask that a young person can live in the community that they grew up in.
Commons
Debate
15 April 2026
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
I strongly welcome the Government’s amendments and support the live consultation on these matters. Social media has unfortunately become central to childhood, and the negatives are massively outweighing any positives.
Even when social media is at its most benign, children are spending 40, 50 or may…
Commons
Oral Questions
14 April 2026
2 contributions
Healthy Babies Funding
9. What steps his Department is taking to increase the roll-out of Healthy Babies funding to local authorities.
Sure Start delivered long-term health benefits, with the Institute for Fiscal Studies finding that it reduced the number of hospitalisations of young people with mental health-related causes by 50%. It is therefore appropriate for the Department of Health and Social Care to support our Best Start fa…
Commons
Westminster Hall
25 March 2026
Public Baths and Lidos
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Efford. I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Andrew Pakes) for giving me the opportunity to talk about our public baths and lidos, and the positive effect they have on our local communities.
This year, the outdoor swimming p…
Commons
Debate
23 March 2026
Rail Connections to London: Rural Towns
Towns across Derbyshire Dales such as Bakewell lack any connection to the rail network, leaving the 13 million people who travel to the Peak district mainly reliant on cars. Reinstating the peaks and dales line would be more environmentally friendly, help young people to get to work and education, a…
Commons
Westminster Hall
17 March 2026
Productivity and Economic Growth: East Midlands
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Huq. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (James Naish) for securing the debate.
In Derbyshire Dales, we quarry the stone used to build new homes, produce the cement that keeps our buildings standing and have the outstanding natural lan…
Commons
Debate
16 March 2026
Heating Oil Support
I very much welcome the Government listening and acting so quickly on this subject. On 5 March, one of my constituents had an order of 500 litres of heating oil cancelled and was invited to remake the order, but he was then told that it would cost around twice as much as the previous order. Rob, who…
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
2 March 2026
2 contributions
Phone Use in Schools
4. What steps she is taking to help prevent the use of phones by children in schools.
What assessment has been made of the magnetic lockable pouches that are being used in some schools as a way of preventing any smartphone access during the entire school day, including lunch time and breaks? Could a national roll-out of those be considered?
Commons
Oral Questions
26 February 2026
Topical Questions
T4. A growing number of ex-footballers are suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a form of dementia caused by repeated heading of the ball. These ex-players feel let down by the Professional Footballers’ Association, which has only provided support for those suffering from CTE onc…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
10 February 2026
Local Power Plan
I have spoken to groups across my constituency such as Transition Crich and Derbyshire Dales Community Energy, which are working to create new community-owned energy projects in order to cut bills and drive down emissions. The £1 billion announced today will significantly help with their aims. Howev…
Commons
Oral Questions
5 February 2026
Topical Questions
T4. Tideswell brook was deemed to be the second most pharmaceutically polluted river in the UK, despite being a site of special scientific interest and in a national park. Concentrations of some chemicals are currently more than 2.8 times higher than annual average environmental standards. Will th…
Commons
Oral Questions
Defence
2 February 2026
2 contributions
Support for Veterans
16. What steps he is taking to improve support for veterans.
What assessment has the Minister made of the adequacy of housing provision for military veterans, particularly those with service-related injuries or disabilities, in rural areas such as Derbyshire Dales, where there is severe pressure on our affordable and supported housing stock?
Commons
Westminster Hall
28 January 2026
Local Authority Children’s Services
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Western. I thank the hon. Member for Woking (Mr Forster) for making a powerful speech.
As a foster carer, a member of an adoption panel and a former lead member of a tier 1 local authority, I have seen at first hand the damage that austerity has ca…
Commons
Oral Questions
Wales
21 January 2026
2 contributions
Wales-England Livestock Movements
3. What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on cross-border livestock movements.
Given the integrated nature of livestock markets across England and Wales, farmers in my constituency still face challenges from restrictions linked to bluetongue. What discussions have occurred with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Government about minimising dis…
Commons
Westminster Hall
21 January 2026
Animal Welfare Strategy for England
I thank my hon. Friend for securing the debate. Puppy farming is a cruel practice, with puppies taken early from their mothers, kept in poor conditions and sold through misleading adverts. It also creates distress for the families who unknowingly buy dogs raised like that. Will my hon. Friend join m…