Contributions
377 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSummer JobsDoes my hon. Friend agree that is perhaps the most corrosive consequence of all? Businesses have all the pressure that is bearing down on them, and so many are telling me that it…07 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseThe House will be delighted to learn that 17-year-old Leo, whom I have mentioned previously in the Chamber, is now cancer-free after being matched with a stem cell donor. This is…02 Jul 2026HANSARD Historical Forced AdoptionThis is long overdue, and so I congratulate the Prime Minister on bringing this forward and for the tone in which he has delivered it. I would like to raise the case of Jenny and…02 Jul 2026HANSARDAccess to Further EducationI congratulate the hon. Member for Runcorn and Helsby (Sarah Pochin) on securing this debate. Whatever our political differences, I welcome the opportunity to discuss an issue…02 Jul 2026HANSARDHigh Street Regeneration and Unlawful StorefrontsI congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing a debate later today. He is absolutely right: the pressure and stress that high streets are under mean that, on the current path,…30 Jun 2026HANSARDHigh Street Regeneration and Unlawful StorefrontsThe hon. Lady is absolutely right, and that links perfectly to my next point, which is on enforcement and the awareness of the state. Members all have examples of such incidents…30 Jun 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsT8. Magistrates are the backbone of the justice system, yet magistrates in Worcestershire increasingly talk to me about the pressures on their workload and the difficulty of…30 Jun 2026HANSARDHigh Street Regeneration and Unlawful StorefrontsI beg to move, That this House has considered Government support for regenerating local high streets and removing unlawful storefronts. It is a pleasure to serve under your…30 Jun 2026HANSARDHigh Street Regeneration and Unlawful StorefrontsThe hon. Member is correct: without doubt, a strong regulatory failure over the past decade has contributed to the problem. I will address some of her points later in my remarks.…30 Jun 2026HANSARDHigh Street Regeneration and Unlawful StorefrontsThe hon. Member is correct. At the centre of a Venn diagram of regulatory and reporting blackspots, there is a sweet spot where it is difficult to identify those who are…30 Jun 2026HANSARDHigh Street Regeneration and Unlawful StorefrontsThe hon. Member is correct that the issue is acutely felt in rural areas. I am delighted that the Conservative party has put forward a plan to abolish business rates for thousands…30 Jun 2026HANSARDHigh Street Regeneration and Unlawful StorefrontsThe hon. Member is an ardent champion of her constituency. It is reassuring to hear that her area has a strong and thriving independent sector, but she is right that the first…30 Jun 2026HANSARDHigh Street Regeneration and Unlawful StorefrontsThe hon. Lady is correct: the tools at the disposal of the state are not used often enough, there are not enough deterrents and there is not enough strong and visible action to…30 Jun 2026HANSARDHigh Street Regeneration and Unlawful StorefrontsI will make a tad of progress, if I can. The Office for National Statistics has reported that in 2025 there were 530,000 shoplifting offences, an increase of 20% on the previous…30 Jun 2026HANSARDHigh Street Regeneration and Unlawful StorefrontsI am genuinely interested in hearing what fellow Members have to say, so before I continue I will give way to my right hon. Friend.30 Jun 2026HANSARDHigh Street Regeneration and Unlawful StorefrontsMy right hon. Friend is absolutely correct. Much greater focus on tackling these issues is needed from all arms of the state, national and local, including arm’s length bodies,…30 Jun 2026HANSARDHigh Street Regeneration and Unlawful StorefrontsThat is fantastic, and I am delighted to hear it. I know that many areas do that well, but we have to get the very basics at the bottom of the question right. I believe in design…30 Jun 2026HANSARDHigh Street Regeneration and Unlawful StorefrontsI do agree. Dudley is next door to my constituency, so I will actively encourage Bromsgrove district council to have a conversation with Dudley council, because it sounds as…30 Jun 2026HANSARDHigh Street Regeneration and Unlawful StorefrontsThe hon. Lady is absolutely correct. Those factors contribute to a healthy and thriving community, and it is really important that all local authorities do what they can to…30 Jun 2026HANSARDHigh Street Regeneration and Unlawful StorefrontsI thank the Minister for her speech. Will she implore her colleagues to restore beauty to the centre of the NPPF, and consider mandating design codes to local authorities, so that…30 Jun 2026