Contributions
210 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Banking HubsThat gets to the heart of the matter. There is not an understanding by either the regulators or the banks themselves of the impacts that those closures have on communities that…20 May 2026HANSARD Banking HubsThe hon. Gentleman makes a fantastic point and I will come on to that later in my remarks.20 May 2026HANSARD Banking HubsAbsolutely. Again, that goes back to the point I made about people needing a business service and basic business advice without having to travel dozens of miles to access that.…20 May 2026HANSARD Banking HubsAbsolutely. I would consider those to be basic services that people should be able to access as close to their own community as they possibly can. I was perplexed to read, in…20 May 2026HANSARD Banking HubsAbsolutely. That consistency is vital, but flexibility within the criteria is also vital. I will come on to that as well. It is frankly hard to stomach that the big high street…20 May 2026HANSARD Banking HubsAbsolutely. I am about to talk about the critical services offered by banks through banking hubs, which addresses the hon. Gentleman’s point. Community bankers located within…20 May 2026HANSARDCost of Heating OilIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Allin-Khan. I congratulate the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Steff Aquarone) on securing this important debate. In his…15 Apr 2026HANSARDCost of Heating OilI will come on to the energy powers that should be devolved, but it is currently the UK Government’s responsibility. Over the years, Scotland has sent over £350 billion to the…15 Apr 2026HANSARDEconomic GrowthIn a Westminster Hall debate on heating oil support this morning, the hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Torcuil Crichton) suggested that the Scottish Government should be…15 Apr 2026HANSARDStrategic Defence Review: FundingSuccessive UK Governments have spent years cutting defence spending, reducing the size of our armed forces to record lows, dismantling our Navy, slashing Scottish regiments and…15 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastThe impact of this conflict is horrific for those in the line of fire. It is also causing significant financial distress for residents and businesses right across these isles. The…13 Apr 2026HANSARD North Atlantic Submarine ActivityFirst, I pay tribute to the dedication and bravery of our armed forces, and in particular to the many members of our armed forces involved in this operation who are based at RAF…13 Apr 2026HANSARDOil and GasI think I am here to scrutinise what your Government are doing—that is the job of MPs in the House of Commons. I would also say that Conservative Members are no better on this.…24 Mar 2026HANSARDOil and GasCurrent SNP policy on oil and gas is that there should be a proper assessment of each individual application. That is the normal licensing process. I would think most Members of…24 Mar 2026HANSARDOil and GasI will start with some facts: energy security is national security, global instability is rife, and our closest ally is now, at best, hugely unpredictable, and it is questionable…24 Mar 2026HANSARDOil and GasNo, I will not give way again because I do not have much time. There are many reasons why we need to support oil and gas, not least protecting the workforce and not losing the…24 Mar 2026HANSARDHeating Oil: Rural HomesIn Aviemore it will be snowing tomorrow—in fact, in quite a lot of north Scotland it will be snowing to a pretty low level. People in those areas are suffering hugely from massive…24 Mar 2026HANSARDOil and GasI supported the coalition at the time because we were gaining plenty of other benefits from it, but I concede that I was not 100% supportive of its position on oil and gas. I…24 Mar 2026HANSARDFuel DutyI have always believed that the tax we pay is part of a contract with the state, and that we should consider whether it is reasonable to pay that price for the services we get…18 Mar 2026HANSARDFuel Dutyrose —18 Mar 2026