Contributions
269 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Rural TransportI was clearly far too nice to you, Mr Speaker. Let us start with the fact that 21.3% of the English population live in a predominately rural area. That is 12 million people who…08 Jan 2024HANSARD Rural TransportI should be delighted. I could do with a breather.08 Jan 2024HANSARD Rural TransportHow nice it is to see you come back to the Chair, Mr Speaker, when your instincts must have suggested that you go elsewhere. I want to raise with the House a bizarre issue. For…08 Jan 2024HANSARD Rural TransportI will, before I steam on to trains.08 Jan 2024HANSARD Rural TransportThe Government are being very generous—the hon. Lady may have forgotten to mention that—but the important point is that buses are not the success story that I wish they were. I am…08 Jan 2024HANSARD Rural TransportI entirely agree with my right hon. Friend—a friend, neighbour, and brilliant Chairman of the Environmental Audit Committee. Not only is he right, but that is particularly true in…08 Jan 2024HANSARD Rural TransportI will come to buses in a moment. I am not convinced that the very fat buses that we have nowadays that hardly fit down rural lanes and are usually empty are necessarily the best…08 Jan 2024HANSARD Rural TransportAnd Gloucestershire.08 Jan 2024HANSARD Rural TransportI am delighted, and all I can say is that the people of Blyth Valley are lucky to have such a marvellous MP, such a marvellous rail service and such a positive step forward, and,…08 Jan 2024HANSARD Rural TransportThe Heads of the Valleys road is indeed south Wales.08 Jan 2024HANSARD Rural TransportI do not agree with my hon. Friend that the roads in Wales are worse—in fact, I will talk about that in a moment—but I do agree about the 20 mph speed limit. The people of north…08 Jan 2024HANSARD Rural TransportI absolutely agree with my hon. Friend: he is quite right. People do “wise up” to inefficient public services—and there is no better example than the train service.08 Jan 2024HANSARDUK-Rwanda PartnershipLike the Home Secretary, my constituents want to welcome genuine asylum seekers such as the Ukrainians and the Afghans who now live in my constituency. He will have detected some…06 Dec 2023HANSARDWar in UkraineIt cannot be extraordinary that on the same day the Russians assaulted Avdiivka, Iranian-backed Hamas decided to commit their murderous assault on Israel. We cannot fight Hamas,…24 Oct 2023HANSARDStorm Babet: FloodingOne of the victims was apparently from Far Forest, which used to be in my constituency, and obviously our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this moment. This is going to…23 Oct 2023HANSARDBusiness without DebateI know you have been thoroughly looking forward to this major event, Mr Deputy Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to say that the Committee of Selection has deliberated and to…18 Sept 2023HANSARD Liaison CommitteeThe House will know that I am second to none in my admiration for my hon. Friend, but I actually am a member of the Liaison Committee, and I think that—in drawing his comments to…17 Jul 2023HANSARDHigher Education ReformDoes my right hon. Friend agree that the shadow Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South (Bridget Phillipson), missed the opportunity to condemn the…17 Jul 2023HANSARDWomen and Equalities CommitteeI beg to move, That Dr Jamie Wallis be discharged from the Women and Equalities Committee and Lia Nici be added. I believe that I have until 7 o’clock this evening, so I have a…04 Jul 2023HANSARDMortgage CharterMy right hon. Friend will know that increasing liquidity in the housing market will give homeowners more options and choices. Will he look at reducing the burden of stamp duty to…26 Jun 2023