Contributions
57 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Youth ServicesI entirely agree with my hon. Friend, and I thank him for recognising Billy Bremner—a very good Stirling man. As I was saying, many projects rely on a patchwork of short-term…15 May 2025HANSARD Youth ServicesDoes my hon. Friend also recognise that there is also a funding crisis in Scotland, with the Scottish Government starving local authorities of the funding they need to provide…15 May 2025HANSARDBroadband: Rural CommunitiesIn my constituency, residents of the rurally isolated community of Balquhidder did not wait for a major provider; they dug and laid 34 km of fibre optic cable themselves using the…14 May 2025HANSARDFuture of Public LibrariesOn the location of libraries, certainly in Scotland, there is a statutory duty is to provide a library service. That means that only one library could be provided for my…14 May 2025HANSARDFuture of Public LibrariesI have said before in this place that libraries are the NHS for the soul. They are funded by our taxes, free at the point of use and there when we need them the most. Libraries…14 May 2025HANSARD Business of the HouseAs you know, Mr Speaker, the parliamentary archives are moving from Victoria tower to the National Archives. I was fortunate to be part of the final tour yesterday led by…01 May 2025HANSARDParkinson’s Awareness MonthI thank my hon. Friend the Member for Dunfermline and Dollar (Graeme Downie) for securing this important debate. Parkinson’s UK tells me that there are about 230 people living…01 May 2025HANSARDHospitality IndustryResidents in Buchlyvie in my constituency are losing their only pub, which is being turned into holiday lets. This comes despite the objections of local residents and Stirling…01 May 2025HANSARDPlant and Seed Nurseries: Northern IrelandScotland produces world-class potatoes, which are supplied to our iconic fish and chip shops, such as the Real Food Café and the Green Welly Stop in Tyndrum, Vincenzo’s Fish and…23 Apr 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsT6. Given the recent decline in the number of international students coming to the UK, what measures is the Minister taking, along with colleagues from other Departments, to…01 Apr 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsT8. The Minister may be aware that SSE is supporting more than 1,000 new homes in rural Scotland to aid energy infrastructure development. Does he agree that the SNP Scottish…18 Mar 2025HANSARDEngagementsTomorrow marks 29 years since 16 children and their teacher were murdered at Dunblane primary school. In recent weeks, my constituents have raised with me the alarming fact that…12 Mar 2025HANSARDData (Use and Access) Bill [Lords]It fair to say that if we do not work with data, we do not really think about it too much, but, when we do, we realise how much of it surrounds us in multiple forms. Every day in…12 Feb 2025HANSARD Creative IndustriesI have worked in the creative industries all my working life, from helping my father to sell radios and televisions when I was a teenager, to presenting radio shows on stations…27 Jan 2025HANSARDSupport for Women PensionersDoes the Minister agree that alongside the triple lock, the most important thing for women pensioners in Scotland is fixing our NHS, and that the SNP Government must act urgently…22 Jan 2025HANSARD Business of the HouseI wish you a merry Christmas, Mr Speaker, and a happy Hogmanay when it comes. My constituency is home to the rural community of Balquhidder, where, since 2018, community…19 Dec 2024HANSARDRural AffairsIt is a great honour to be called to make my first contribution in this place as the Member of Parliament for the new constituency of Stirling and Strathallan. My constituency is…11 Nov 2024