Contributions
1,309 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Children’s Wellbeing and Schools BillThere are unanswered questions about definitions, what should be in and what should be out, and exactly where the boundary lines are. Parents sometimes talk about social media in…15 Apr 2026HANSARD Children’s Wellbeing and Schools BillWill the Minister give way?15 Apr 2026HANSARD Children’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI think I just heard the Minister say, “We have already solved this problem.” I do not know if any other colleagues heard that. She said that she has written to every headteacher…15 Apr 2026HANSARD Proposed Visitor LevyI certainly do. On the issue of incrementality—I suspect other colleagues will make this point during the debate—there is only one way to guarantee that the money will truly be…25 Mar 2026HANSARD Proposed Visitor LevyMr Efford, that really was my next sentence, because there are questions about short-term lets, and about second homes in Cornwall and so on. On the short lets issue—whether rents…25 Mar 2026HANSARD Proposed Visitor LevyThey are focus articles.25 Mar 2026HANSARD Proposed Visitor LevyI do agree. My right hon. Friend and I have been in multiple debates in the main Chamber talking about exactly those issues, both for tourism and for the wider hospitality sector.…25 Mar 2026HANSARD Proposed Visitor LevyThat was my next sentence!25 Mar 2026HANSARD Proposed Visitor LevyThank you very much, Mr Efford, for presiding over proceedings. I thank everybody who has taken part in what I think has been a very good discussion in this two-part debate, and I…25 Mar 2026HANSARD Proposed Visitor LevyThe hon. Gentleman knows the answer!25 Mar 2026HANSARD Proposed Visitor LevyI do not know if the hon. Gentleman heard the earlier intervention by the hon. Member for Torbay (Steve Darling), who made the point—quite rightly—that we cannot look at a single…25 Mar 2026HANSARD Proposed Visitor LevyThat is one of a number of worries I have about this proposal; I am grateful to the hon. Member for putting it in such a rational and straightforward way. I was coming on to say…25 Mar 2026HANSARD Proposed Visitor LevyI do agree; the hon. Member makes some very good points about national insurance contributions, which I will go on to talk about further. He also makes some very good points about…25 Mar 2026HANSARD Proposed Visitor LevyThe hon. Gentleman is a wise man, and he anticipates a point I will come to very shortly. Under the previous Government, candidly, there were increases to air passenger duty,…25 Mar 2026HANSARD Proposed Visitor LevyI beg to move, That this House has considered the proposed visitor levy in England. It is a great pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mr Efford. It is also great to see the Minister…25 Mar 2026HANSARDStudent LoansI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his intervention, but we need quality apprenticeships. That is why I regret the fact that the independent Institute for Apprenticeships is…18 Mar 2026HANSARDStudent LoansI will, but I will start by telling my hon. Friend about the lack of quality in some previous apprenticeships. I draw the House’s attention to the 2012 National Audit Office…18 Mar 2026HANSARDStudent LoansIt is an honour to be the final Back-Bench speaker in this debate. I do not feel like I am at the back of the queue; I am just not at the front. It is good to see some Liberal…18 Mar 2026HANSARDHeating Oil SupportThousands of households in East Hampshire are off grid. They face much bigger swings in energy prices, and of course when their tank happens to run out is a matter of chance. For…16 Mar 2026HANSARD Local Government Reorganisation: South-eastI meant reorganisation costs.10 Mar 2026