Commons
Debate
28 January 2026
Youth Unemployment
As my previous career was in advising businesses up and down the country, I take some issue with the hon. Lady’s point that there is no experience among Labour Members. She says that taxes, particularly the rise in national insurance, are causing the rise in youth unemployment, but does she know at …
Commons
Oral Questions
13 January 2026
Topical Questions
Last Friday, I went on a visit to my fantastic local GP service, Hadwen Health. The team there are already using technology and AI to make sure patients get the right care that they need, but they told me that there is currently no technological solution that allows patients to both be triaged and d…
Commons
Debate
5 January 2026
HMP Leyhill: Offender Abscondments
I must have a bit of amnesia in the new year, because I cannot seem to recall any circumstances in which the shadow Secretary of State raised in the House the 143 abscondments that happened on his Government’s watch—perhaps it is only when a leadership bid is in the offing that he cares about this i…
Commons
Oral Questions
Home Department
5 January 2026
Asylum Hotels
A happy new year to you and your team, Mr Speaker. I welcome the Minister’s commitment to closing the Tory asylum hotel in Gloucester by the end of this Parliament. I have raised with him in the past the plight of families who live next door to that hotel, who are having to deal with an increase in …
Commons
Oral Questions
16 December 2025
Mandatory Mediation
Before entering the House, I was an employment solicitor, and I saw the impact that judicial mediation had in our employment tribunals. Will the Minister agree to meet me to discuss the role that expanding judicial mediation could have in bringing down the backlog in our employment tribunals?
Commons
Debate
15 December 2025
NHS: Winter Preparedness
I thank the Secretary of State for his statement. Gloucester residents are rightly worried about the rising flu levels. I was struck down a few weeks ago and can attest to how tough the current strain is. Does he agree that in this context it is reckless of the BMA to be taking its members out on st…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
10 December 2025
Resident Doctors: Industrial Action
I thank the Secretary of State for his statement. My residents in Gloucester are rightly worried about strike action in the run-up to Christmas, and the impact that it will have on waiting lists in my patch in Gloucester. I am not surprised that there is no one here from the Reform party to hear abo…
Commons
Debate
11 November 2025
Prisoner Releases in Error
The shadow Secretary of State seems to have kicked off panto season. His comments reminded me of my favourite character, Buttons, who longs to be Prince Charming. If only his colleagues would write into the 1922 committee so that he can formally start his leadership bid. In the spirit of panto seaso…
Commons
Oral Questions
11 November 2025
Environmental Crime: Victim Support
Environmental crimes such as fly-tipping blight cities such as Gloucester, leaving victims across my city unable to enjoy the place they love. Will the Minister confirm what discussions she has had with colleagues in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government about how we can give loc…
Commons
Westminster Hall
27 October 2025
2 contributions
Statutory Maternity and Paternity Pay
There is a certain irony in the fact that last year I was given a minute in this Chamber to speak about the inadequacy of paternity leave, and this year I have been given 90 seconds.
Two years ago today, I was beginning my journey as a first-time parent. That means that it is about two years since …
As the hon. Lady is so proudly championing her party’s record, will she stand by the comments by the Leader of the Opposition, who said that maternity pay is “excessive”, and by a donor to the Leader of the Opposition, Luke Johnson, who told the Employment Rights Bill Committee that the worst thing …
Commons
Westminster Hall
22 October 2025
Korean War: 75th Commemoration
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg. I thank the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith) for securing the debate and for recognising the contribution of our Glorious Glosters.
On 1 October 1950, 890 men from the Gloucestershire Regiment lef…
Commons
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister
15 October 2025
Engagements
Q6. Next year marks the 75th anniversary of the battle of the Imjin river, where the 29th Infantry Brigade’s last stand prevented the capture of Seoul during the Korean war. That hill is now called Gloster Hill as a proud testament to the incredible bravery of one of those battalions, our glorious G…
Commons
Oral Questions
Home Department
15 September 2025
2 contributions
Antisocial Behaviour
20. What recent progress her Department has made on tackling antisocial behaviour.
In Gloucester, thanks to the Government investing £1 million in neighbourhood policing and a further £1 million in its safer streets initiative, we have seen more police on our streets this summer, leading to an increase in arrests and seizures of illegal e-bikes and vapes. Some of that funding is t…
Commons
Westminster Hall
15 September 2025
Children with SEND: Assessments and Support
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Allin-Khan. I thank the 393 Gloucester constituents who signed the petition and all those who have contacted me over the past year about SEND provision in our city.
Far too many children with SEND in my city did not start school with their peers la…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
1 September 2025
Borders and Asylum
Gloucester has a proud history as a welcoming and diverse city. Just last week, I was pleased to attend the Ukrainian independence day celebrations in my constituency with some of those who have sought refuge in our city. However, many constituents have written to me, particularly those who live nex…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
10 July 2025
Resident Doctors: Industrial Action
I am glad the Secretary of State has reminded Conservative Members that they have rather short-term memories. When I took my place in this House last year, thousands of my residents in Gloucester were on NHS waiting lists—many of them for longer than 18 months. Since this Labour Government took powe…
Commons
Oral Questions
10 July 2025
2 contributions
National Security
13. What recent progress his Department has made on strengthening national security.
Cyber-security is vital, not just to our national security but to safeguarding our public services, so I am delighted that the Government are investing in the sector through their cyber growth action plan. Some of that investment is going into my neighbouring town, Cheltenham, but there are so many …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
3 July 2025
NHS 10-Year Plan
When I knock on doors in my Gloucester constituency, I hear time and again about the importance of tackling the 8 am scramble for a GP appointment, and the difficulty many of my constituents faced under the Conservative Government getting the care they needed. Will my right hon. Friend explain how L…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
30 June 2025
Welfare Reform
Over recent months, I have consulted with constituents who have lived experience of disability and the welfare system and their representatives. I know that they will welcome the Secretary of State’s statement that protections for existing claimants will be protected, but one of the most heartbreaki…
Commons
Oral Questions
Work and Pensions
23 June 2025
2 contributions
Child Poverty
4. What steps she is taking to reduce the number of children in poverty in Gloucester.
The expansion of free school meals will massively help families in my constituency of Gloucester and take them out of poverty. Can the Secretary of State confirm how many more families in Gloucester will be eligible for free school meals under the Government’s expansion, and what steps is she taking…
Commons
Committee Stage
17 June 2025
Victims and Courts Bill (Second sitting)
Q Thank you, Minister, for your answers so far. We have had an awful lot of questions this afternoon from the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle about individuals who are avoiding judgment and avoiding taking responsibility for their actions. I am a new Member, but I understand that the measures in …
Commons
Debate
16 June 2025
Air India Plane Crash
I thank the Minister for his statement and for the support that he and his team have given my constituents and my team over the weekend. My city of Gloucester is in mourning for the loss of Akeel Nanabawa, Hannaa Vorajee and four-year-old Sara Nanabawa. I am sure the whole House will join us in send…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
12 June 2025
Spending Review: Health and Social Care
I welcome my hon. Friend’s statement about the record funding going into our NHS. We are already seeing the benefit in my constituency, with millions of pounds going into investment in our hospital; that is so desperately needed to get waiting lists down. People were left behind by the Conservative …
Commons
Oral Questions
3 June 2025
2 contributions
Reoffending: Young Offenders
5. What steps her Department is taking to help reduce reoffending by young offenders.
I thank the Minister for his response. It is so important that we break the cycle of reoffending, particularly for young offenders. In Gloucester, we are really lucky to have amazing organisations working with young offenders, including Young Gloucestershire and the Nelson Trust, which offers holist…
Commons
Debate
22 May 2025
3 contributions
Access to NHS Dentistry
I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes (Melanie Onn) for securing this important debate. I also thank the dentists, hygienists, dental nurses and practice staff in my constituency who do so much to look after my constituents.
The reality is that the dentistry system we …
Will the hon. Gentleman welcome the Government’s partnership with Colgate on tooth- brushing in schools so that we can tackle prevention with children and make sure they are not going into hospital with tooth decay because they are learning how to brush their teeth and doing so properly?
+1 more contribution in this session