Contributions
1,183 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWomen’s Changed State Pension Age: CompensationIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer. I thank the hon. Member for South Cotswolds (Dr Savage), my Wiltshire near-neighbour, for her powerful speech…17 Mar 2025HANSARDPension Credit UptakeThat is 45,000 more awards than in the same period last year, but 880,000 people are eligible—that is a pathetic achievement, and the Government have spent millions of pounds on…17 Mar 2025HANSARD Victory in Europe and Japan: 80th AnniversariesI thank the Government for these excellent plans. The ghosts of men who went to liberate Europe and never came back are all over Wiltshire—the county that I represent part of.…13 Mar 2025HANSARDYoung Carers: Educational OpportunitiesIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Furniss. I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Harlow (Chris Vince) for securing the debate, for his very good speech and also…13 Mar 2025HANSARDYoung Carers: Educational OpportunitiesThe hon. Lady is absolutely right: it would be a helpful incentive to identify young carers among the school population. I will come in a moment to further support that schools…13 Mar 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Twenty-third sitting)Of course that is correct: a small number of amendments will be selected for debate and vote on Report, and if somebody wants to table an amendment on this issue it might indeed…12 Mar 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Twenty-third sitting)I do not think the hon. Lady can say she has done her job very, very well if, after presenting a Bill, and after months and months of work and debate, including many hours’ debate…12 Mar 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Twenty-third sitting)With great pleasure.12 Mar 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Twenty-third sitting)The hon. Lady must not apologise for intervening on me. I can hardly be one to object to people intervening. This is a very good forum for the kind of exchanges we are having, so…12 Mar 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Twenty-third sitting)The hon. Lady is absolutely right; I do apologise. There is indeed a doctor—a psychiatrist—but not a doctor specialising in their condition.12 Mar 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Twenty-third sitting)I am about to come to that. I am going to suggest how we could have done it better. I take the hon. Member’s point. I do need to answer that question.12 Mar 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Twenty-third sitting)Was there any evidence that changed my mind?12 Mar 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Twenty-third sitting)I am sorry; I did not intend to give that impression. That is not what I am suggesting. What I am saying is that we have seen the rejection of a series of amendments that would…12 Mar 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Twenty-third sitting)I am not suggesting bad faith here. I think there is a genuine view, and it might well come from the Government’s official advice, that the Bill, as drafted and as amended, will…12 Mar 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Twenty-third sitting)I am sorry to disappoint the hon. Member, but I am afraid I am going to have it both ways. I think the Bill is profoundly flawed, particularly if large numbers of people will be…12 Mar 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Twenty-third sitting)All right. I regret my failure to assuage the anxieties of the hon. Member. Let me explain why it was so important that we had a judicial stage. My complaints were never against…12 Mar 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Twenty-third sitting)I will be voting for clause 12 to stand part, because I think it is an essential safeguard, but it is not strong enough. There are all sorts of problems with it around capacity…12 Mar 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Twenty-third sitting)The hon. Gentleman does not seem impressed by my straight answer to his straight question. Yes, I do support clause 12. I think we should strengthen it, in the ways that I will…12 Mar 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Twenty-third sitting)No, I do not think it is necessary for the applicant to come to court and present their case—that might be completely impossible or inappropriate—but a case does need to be made…12 Mar 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Twenty-third sitting)No, we have had a couple of GPs. We have not had a doctor who is a specialist in their condition.12 Mar 2025