Contributions
152 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTicket Tout BanI would also like to start by congratulating the England football team on their win yesterday. While fans are rightly excited to finally see England bring it home this summer,…18 Jun 2026 · 2d agoHANSARDCommunity HospitalsI thank my hon. Friend the Member for South Cotswolds (Dr Savage) for securing this debate. I will talk largely about Frome community hospital, but a lot of what she has said…16 Jun 2026 · 4d agoHANSARD Middle EastI was recently on a cross-party visit to Israel and Palestine. We met the Norwegian Refugee Council and talked about the issue of dual use items, where the Israeli Government do…09 Jun 2026HANSARDSmall Towns: Transport LinksI thank the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Andy MacNae) for securing this debate on one of my favourite topics. I represent the market towns of Frome, Midsomer Norton and…03 Jun 2026HANSARDEnergy SecurityOne of the many challenges facing rural constituencies such as mine is the rising cost of fuel. When the war in Iran pushed up prices, I had constituents telling me they could no…19 May 2026HANSARDWorld Cup: Support for FansThousands of people across the country—although possibly not the Arts Minister—are very excited for the world cup this summer, but that excitement is being ruined by the prospect…16 Apr 2026HANSARDBus Service Funding: Mayoral Strategic AuthoritiesPart of my constituency falls in the West of England mayoral combined authority, which oversees some local bus services. Although recent Government funding has been allocated to…26 Mar 2026HANSARDVoluntary Groups and Community CentresIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms McVey. I thank the hon. Member for Chelsea and Fulham (Ben Coleman) for securing this debate on a subject he is very…25 Mar 2026HANSARD Women’s Safety in Rural AreasThat sounds like an excellent scheme. We have a similar one in Frome that I commend to the House. In rural areas, most of the questions I just asked do not even apply. There may…24 Mar 2026HANSARD Women’s Safety in Rural AreasI beg to move, That this House has considered the impact of planning on women’s safety in rural areas. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Dowd. I secured this…24 Mar 2026HANSARD Women’s Safety in Rural AreasCertainly. That sounds excellent and I will come to lots of nerdy points about design guidance in due course. My constituency of Frome and East Somerset is, by any measure, a…24 Mar 2026HANSARD Women’s Safety in Rural AreasI absolutely agree with the hon. Member. I will talk about lighting in due course. In her book “Invisible Women”, Caroline Criado-Perez documents how the built environment has…24 Mar 2026HANSARD Women’s Safety in Rural AreasI absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. We need an infrastructure-first approach that also has women and girls’ safety in mind. I hope with all sincerity that the MHCLG’s official…24 Mar 2026HANSARD Women’s Safety in Rural AreasI thank the Minister for his constructive response. It always seems to me that the Government are blessed with many feisty and brilliant female politicians trying to make sure…24 Mar 2026HANSARD Rural RoadsAs the MP for Frome and East Somerset, I represent a semi-rural constituency and regularly drive around its more remote areas. Rural roads are often deprioritised because they…17 Mar 2026HANSARD Business of the HouseFor decades, local people in Frome have used Packsaddle fields as a valued space for walking, recreation and nature. Plans to build housing on the site were refused twice last…12 Mar 2026HANSARDAndrew Mountbatten-WindsorA lot has been said on the nature of being a trade envoy and the fact that a special trade envoy role was created for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The Minister quite rightly…24 Feb 2026HANSARDAndrew Mountbatten-WindsorI absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. I will come to another example of the way in which such sexism is embedded. I recently wrote to both the Minister for Housing and Planning…24 Feb 2026HANSARDAndrew Mountbatten-WindsorI totally agree—I could not have said it better. The people in those circles appoint, defend and rehabilitate one another. Sometimes they do so in ways in which many women looking…24 Feb 2026HANSARDAndrew Mountbatten-WindsorOn the point about structural sexism, it is not so much about the fact that people should be listened to, although that is absolutely right; it is more about the fact that we have…24 Feb 2026