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1,365 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDGreat British EnergyWhen GB Energy was first proposed, we were told it would employ 1,000 people and create 650,000 jobs. Fast-forward to February this year and that number has been revised down to…29 Apr 2025HANSARDDevolution (Immigration) (Scotland) BillI am always delighted to give way to my constituency neighbour.25 Apr 2025HANSARDDevolution (Immigration) (Scotland) BillIt ill behoves me to correct the hon. Gentleman, but I was not talking down Scotland; I was talking down the Scottish National party’s record. I know the SNP thinks that it is…25 Apr 2025HANSARDDevolution (Immigration) (Scotland) BillI represent a part of the country that relies on tourism for its economic prosperity, and when I speak to the Scottish hospitality sector, it is not immigration that it raises as…25 Apr 2025HANSARDDevolution (Immigration) (Scotland) BillAs I often used to say when I was on the Government Benches, I will write to the hon. Gentleman with my answer—I am sure there is one. The idea that immigrants to a country as…25 Apr 2025HANSARDDevolution (Immigration) (Scotland) BillGoodness me—talk about taking responsibility! It was only a few weeks ago that the SNP’s Education Minister refused to take any responsibility for the situation facing higher…25 Apr 2025HANSARDDevolution (Immigration) (Scotland) BillIf the hon. Gentleman has some patience, I will come to that. I do not intend to detain the House for quite as long as he did in giving his remarks, but I will come to what the…25 Apr 2025HANSARDDevolution (Immigration) (Scotland) BillIt is a pleasure to speak in this debate, and I must thank the hon. Member for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry (Stephen Gethins) for introducing it. It is a shame that only six…25 Apr 2025HANSARDDevolution (Immigration) (Scotland) BillMichael Gove, soon to be Lord Gove of Torry, is answerable for his own opinions on whether immigration powers should be devolved to Scotland. I would not be in any way surprised…25 Apr 2025HANSARDDevolution (Immigration) (Scotland) BillIt is always a pleasure to give way to the hon. Gentleman.25 Apr 2025HANSARDDevolution (Immigration) (Scotland) BillI agree with the hon. Gentleman that we are far better when we work together on these islands than when we drive each other apart. The Scottish National party’s model for higher…25 Apr 2025HANSARDDevolution (Immigration) (Scotland) BillSo far there is very little in what the Secretary of State is saying that I can disagree with. If he does believe that the Bill is unnecessary, why are his Government adopting…25 Apr 2025HANSARDDevolution (Immigration) (Scotland) BillI am very happy to talk about our record on higher education and compare it with the Scottish National party’s. It is a fact that someone from a deprived background in England is…25 Apr 2025HANSARDNorth Sea Oil and Gas Licences: Economic GrowthI think we all heard that, and I am sure Anas Sarwar did. The Secretary of State was unable to agree with his own leader in Scotland, and is so in hock to the UK Labour party that…23 Apr 2025HANSARDNorth Sea Oil and Gas Licences: Economic GrowthDoes the Secretary of State agree with the Scottish Labour leader, who says there is no question but that there has to be new oil and gas, or does he agree with his colleague the…23 Apr 2025HANSARDNorth Sea Oil and Gas Workers: Transitional SupportOf course, the hon. Gentleman is right that it is a declining basin—everybody is aware of that—but we must be careful about the language we use about it. We should point out the…23 Apr 2025HANSARDNorth Sea Oil and Gas Workers: Transitional SupportI am conscious of time, but I will be delighted to give way.23 Apr 2025HANSARDNorth Sea Oil and Gas Workers: Transitional SupportYes, of course we believe in net zero, but not in setting arbitrary targets and dates that are unachievable without making this country poorer or more reliant on foreign imports…23 Apr 2025HANSARDHigher EducationI associate myself with the Secretary of State’s remarks about the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. I also wish all those not fortunate enough to have been born north of…23 Apr 2025HANSARDNorth Sea Oil and Gas Workers: Transitional SupportI am not in any way trying to talk down the North sea. What we need to do is talk up those companies—especially those in the supply chain—the technologies and the skilled…23 Apr 2025