Contributions
435 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD ECO4 and Insulation SchemesI thank the Minister for her statement, in which she confirmed that the 39 suspended companies are suspended from providing new solid wall insulation under the scheme. Are they…23 Jan 2025HANSARD Attorney General’s Office: Conflicts of InterestDoes the Minister accept that the Law Officers’ convention does not extend to questions of recusal or conflicts of interest, and that the House and the British people have the…23 Jan 2025HANSARD Agricultural and Business Property Reliefs: OBR CostingIn the light of the uncertainty in the OBR’s report; the fact that the policy will hit elderly farmers the hardest and put food security at risk; and the fact that rural…23 Jan 2025HANSARDFoot and Mouth DiseaseI welcome the Government’s efforts in bringing us up to speed today, but also in imposing the import ban. I recognise that the ban applies to products from Germany, but does it…15 Jan 2025HANSARD UK-China Economic and Financial DialogueThe Chancellor referred in her statement to safeguarding national security, which I welcome, but this must include energy security. Yet her changes to the energy profits levy,…14 Jan 2025HANSARD Agricultural and Business Property ReliefI thank my right hon. Friend for bringing forward this debate, which is so important. Just this morning, I was at the meeting on food security, speaking to poultry farmers there,…14 Jan 2025HANSARD Agricultural and Business Property ReliefAt the Oxford farming conference, the Secretary of State suggested that farms should diversify to be more profitable, but diversification has become a lot less incentivised…14 Jan 2025HANSARDGas Storage LevelsLast week was the coldest week of the winter. Also last week, 41.9% of our energy mix was gas and just about 25% was wind. We have heard about issues with gas storage, and the…13 Jan 2025HANSARD Public Finances: Borrowing CostsNext has said that it will increase prices by 1%, directly because of the increases to national insurance contributions, and has warned of slowing growth. With business confidence…09 Jan 2025HANSARD Budget: ScotlandAs I said, the Government can give with one hand and take with the other, which is what is happening with NICs; they are taking that money out of councils, so the increase is…07 Jan 2025HANSARD Budget: ScotlandI congratulate the hon. Member for Livingston (Gregor Poynton) on securing this debate, although I find it odd that Scottish MPs have been celebrating the Budget, as if it was the…07 Jan 2025HANSARD Budget: ScotlandThat means, therefore, that 60% went to everyone else—that 60% of farms in this country rely on APR to pass their farms down to the next generation. They rely on BPR as well. This…07 Jan 2025HANSARD Budget: ScotlandWill the Minister give way?07 Jan 2025HANSARD Road SafetyI thank the hon. Member for securing this important debate. In my constituency, the A96, which goes from Aberdeen to Huntly and up to Inverness, and the A90 north of Ellon are…07 Jan 2025HANSARD Budget: ScotlandThe changes to national insurance contributions mean that Aberdeenshire council has to find an extra £13 million in its budget this year. How will that help with education…07 Jan 2025HANSARDFloodingIt is widely known that the more impermeable the land—pavements, roads and housing developments, for example—the more likely we are to see flooding. With this in mind, and also…06 Jan 2025HANSARDWarm Homes PlanThe Secretary of State, the Minister for Energy and the Minister for Consumers have all said in this House that the National Energy System Operator’s report shows that the…17 Dec 2024HANSARDNon-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you all for coming. I will aim my question at Mr Alton, but everyone can probably have a go. Mr Alton, you mentioned 15,000 potential closures, and Mr Lord just said 9,000…11 Dec 2024HANSARDNon-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill (First sitting)Q Good morning, Mr Watson. What impact do you see the changes to the multipliers having on the number of appeals that are coming through the business rate system? Do you think the…11 Dec 2024HANSARDNon-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill (Second sitting)Q I think my question is about the broader principle of whether it is also value for money. If you are giving tax relief somewhere, you would want to know what the impact of that…11 Dec 2024