Contributions
312 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSupporting High StreetsI will return the compliment to my right hon. Friend before I disagree with him. This is the problem; there is a certain cheek to the Conservative party leaving us a burning…04 Nov 2025HANSARDSupporting High StreetsIn a moment, I will come to our plans to reduce the mountain of red tape that the right hon. Member’s Government left us with, and to reduce the cost of that red tape.…04 Nov 2025HANSARD Royal Mail: Universal Service ObligationIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Desmond. I congratulate the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Sir Ashley Fox) on securing this important debate on Royal Mail and…04 Nov 2025HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesThe Government have launched our small business plan, which my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow West (Gareth Thomas), did so much great work on. “Backing your…30 Oct 2025HANSARDIndustrial StrategyWe are fast approaching the time of year when I have to tell my children that they will have to wait until Christmas to find out what their presents are. The hon. Gentleman knows…30 Oct 2025HANSARDIndustrial StrategyThe whole of Government are focused on delivering the industrial strategy, and significant progress has already been made. This month, we published our new quarterly update, which…30 Oct 2025HANSARDIndustrial StrategyMy hon. Friend has been a constant advocate for the energy potential of Pembrokeshire. That is why the industrial strategy supported south-west Wales’s clean energy potential…30 Oct 2025HANSARDIndustrial StrategyI know from holidaying in my hon. Friend’s constituency that it is a place of incredible beauty, but I know from his constant advocacy that it is also a place of huge industrial…30 Oct 2025HANSARDIndustrial StrategyI share my hon. Friend’s frustration at the lack of an industrial strategy from the SNP Government in Edinburgh. It has meant that workers at Alexander Dennis in his constituency…30 Oct 2025HANSARDIndustrial StrategyI can absolutely give the hon. Member that reassurance. I have already met with my opposite number in the Northern Ireland Executive. The hon. Member mentions defence industries…30 Oct 2025HANSARDIndustrial StrategyTo stand up and raise uncertainty, and then complain about it, is quite something. The shadow Minister said that we are slowing growth; we were the fastest-growing economy in the…30 Oct 2025HANSARDIndustrial StrategyAs I said to the hon. Member for South Antrim (Robin Swann) a moment ago, we have already met with the Northern Ireland Executive on these issues. Skills are an essential part of…30 Oct 2025HANSARDIndustrial StrategyThank you, Mr Speaker. I am glad that those on the Opposition Benches recognise excellence when they see it.30 Oct 2025HANSARDIndustrial StrategyI thank the hon. Lady for her kind words on my new appointment. I will not get ahead of announcements on that, but given the importance of skills to the industrial strategy, we…30 Oct 2025HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesAs ever, my hon. Friend is a great advocate for all things Doncaster. The beauty sector is a vital driver of innovation, sustainability and wellbeing across the economy, but also…30 Oct 2025HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesI know my hon. Friend is a great believer in Leigh and Atherton’s untapped potential, and so are we. We have launched the small business strategy, with action on late payments,…30 Oct 2025HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesI gently say to the hon. Member that he did not do that in 14 years in government. Indeed, the Conservatives were set to remove the reliefs on small businesses. Rather than…30 Oct 2025HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his constructive question; I am very happy to pursue that within Government. The wider point is that both the small business strategy and the…30 Oct 2025HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesI thank the shadow Minister for her welcome. She is absolutely right about the anchoring effect of post offices on high streets all over the country. We know not just that, as we…30 Oct 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is a dynamic advocate for a dynamic part of the country in the Thames valley. The industrial strategy and its sector plans highlight the strengths in his area,…30 Oct 2025