Contributions
212 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Road Safety and Active Travel to SchoolThe hon. Member is giving an interesting speech and making important points, but distances in some rural areas mean that walking, and often cycling, are not feasible. Does he…22 Apr 2025HANSARDDraft Agriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2025I thank my hon. Friend for that excellent intervention. It is an attack on family farmers, rural communities and all the businesses that rely on those farmers to keep our rural…26 Mar 2025HANSARDDraft Agriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2025On the Minister’s point about the SFI—“When it’s spent, it’s spent”—when did he know that the SFI budget had been spent in full? How long did he know it before he made the…26 Mar 2025HANSARDDraft Agriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2025I rise to speak on yet another attack by this Government on our farming community. The decision to punish and penalise farmers by reducing the delinked payments they receive from…26 Mar 2025HANSARDDraft Agriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2025What is my hon. Friend’s view on the fact that this dramatic reduction in delinked payments does not seem to align with the Government’s claim that food security is national…26 Mar 2025HANSARDFishing Quota Negotiations: Impact on UK FleetGiven the debate we are having and the risk that our fishing communities could be used as a bargaining chip, does the hon. Member agree that, as the Government have said, food…26 Mar 2025HANSARDAccess to NHS Dental ServicesThe north-west has some of the worst levels of children’s oral health in England, with Cheshire and Merseyside falling below the national average. In rural villages in my…25 Mar 2025HANSARD Business of the HouseI add my condolences to the shadow Leader of the House. As of today, while ultrafast broadband is available in Chester, only 19% of premises have access. Villages in my…20 Mar 2025HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillThe hon. Member makes an important point. It does not matter whether we are talking about a rural or an urban community, these young people often have to travel large distances,…19 Mar 2025HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillI draw attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. The Bill is yet another example of legislation from this Government that breaks their manifesto…19 Mar 2025HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillI completely agree with that excellent intervention. The frustration that hospices have is that in order to recruit staff, they need to pay wages comparable to what NHS staff…19 Mar 2025HANSARDEmployment Rights BillLet me begin by drawing attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. As other Conservative Members have already pointed out, the flaws in this Bill are…11 Mar 2025HANSARDInternational Women’s DayThere is a saying that has always resonated with me: “When you get to the top, send the lift back down”, and those of us privileged to sit on these Green Benches bear a…06 Mar 2025HANSARDForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeLet me begin by saying that the decision by the Government to increase defence spending, funded in the short term by a cut in the ODA budget, is the right one given the current…05 Mar 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: VAT and Business Rates ReliefThe UK is now the only country in Europe to tax education. Does the hon. Member recognise that this policy is about Labour’s ideology and not about improving education for all…03 Mar 2025HANSARD St David’s Day and Welsh AffairsMy hon. Friend makes a critical point. All parts of our Union are important. Our relationship with Wales is one of shared history, shared prosperity and, occasionally, friendly…27 Feb 2025HANSARD St David’s Day and Welsh AffairsIt is a pleasure to contribute to this debate marking St David’s Day, and to celebrate the rich culture, history and contribution of Wales to our shared Union. My constituency of…27 Feb 2025HANSARDFamily BusinessesFor some family businesses like those in my constituency, their main competitors are international companies. Does my hon. Friend agree that the Government have not considered how…26 Feb 2025HANSARD Employer National Insurance Contributions: Police ForcesI thank my right hon. Friend for giving way and for securing this debate. She is making an excellent speech, as always. She and I are both Cheshire MPs, and we are fortunate to…11 Feb 2025HANSARDInheritance Tax Relief: FarmsIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Murrison. The petition that we debate has been signed by 494 of my constituents. Many of those signatories will be farmers…10 Feb 2025