Contributions
232 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Rural Pubs: Fiscal SupportIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse. I thank the hon. Member for Meriden and Solihull East (Saqib Bhatti) for securing this important debate and I thank…17 Jun 2026 · 3d agoHANSARD Rural Pubs: Fiscal SupportAbsolutely. I will finish by saying that we need to look in the round at the massive cost pressures and changing consumer habits, from lower footfall to falling discretionary…17 Jun 2026 · 3d agoHANSARD Rural Pubs: Fiscal SupportWell, there you are. It is a wonderful pub, and we need to keep it open. This is all doubly tough for rural pubs. City pubs have a much larger catchment of potential customers who…17 Jun 2026 · 3d agoHANSARD Rural Pubs: Fiscal SupportI thank my hon. Friend for that point. Business rates feel so unjust—so arbitrary and out of control, and appeals are virtually impossible. We all beg the Minister to put doing…17 Jun 2026 · 3d agoHANSARD Rural Pubs: Fiscal SupportAs my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (James MacCleary) points out from a sedentary position, I am not suggesting that we rejoin the European Union. Employer national insurance…17 Jun 2026 · 3d agoHANSARDThames WaterIt is clear that the creditors’ consortium has material influence over Thames Water, as it is funding the company and bilaterally negotiating with the Government. Material…16 Jun 2026 · 4d agoHANSARDState Pensioners: Personal AllowanceIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Huq. The Liberal Democrats have said clearly that we think it is both wrong and unfair that the Government have implemented a…15 Jun 2026 · 5d agoHANSARD Brain CancerIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Barker. I thank the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Paul Davies) for speaking on behalf of the petitioners, and I thank the…15 Jun 2026 · 5d agoHANSARD Brain CancerWill the Minister give way?15 Jun 2026 · 5d agoHANSARD Brain CancerOn the fully accountable lead, there are two positions: one has £5,000 in funding and one is 0.1 of a full-time employee. Will the Minister commit to one person who is fully…15 Jun 2026 · 5d agoHANSARD Water CompaniesThames Water, which serves my constituency, embodies the systemic failures of the sector. The company is in breach of its licence conditions by not having held any investment…08 Jun 2026HANSARD Steel Industry (Nationalisation) BillOn 21 May, the Business and Trade Committee met representatives of more than 20 steel fabrication companies who were deeply worried about the potential loss of hundreds, or…08 Jun 2026HANSARD High Street Businesses: Government SupportIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Lewell. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Didcot and Wantage (Olly Glover) for the interest, passion, desire and ideas that…04 Jun 2026HANSARDBacking Business to Create Economic GrowthWe all agree that we urgently need to get the economy growing again. However, the Bills in the King’s Speech do not represent the big, bold economic change that the country needs.…18 May 2026HANSARDBacking Business to Create Economic GrowthFlashing back to the 1980s, would the right hon. Member like to remind us when the Conservatives last balanced a budget?18 May 2026HANSARD Pension SchemesI thank the Minister for his statement. We have learned today that this contract was awarded two and a half years ago. Capita had two and a half years to prepare for taking on the…22 Apr 2026HANSARDCost of Heating OilIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Allin-Khan. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North Norfolk (Steff Aquarone) for securing this important debate. We have all…15 Apr 2026HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) BillThe Liberal Democrats have been clear throughout the Bill’s stages that we think the Government would be misguided to make this change. While it may raise some tax revenue in the…23 Mar 2026HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) BillI completely agree. It sends the wrong message and puts in place the wrong incentives, and that is a real problem. Ministers will have seen the analysis produced by the Office for…23 Mar 2026HANSARDRoyal Mail: PerformanceIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Twigg, and I thank the hon. Member for Exmouth and Exeter East (David Reed) for securing this important debate. I also thank my…18 Mar 2026