Contributions
280 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPalestinian Authority’s School Curriculum6. What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the compliance of the Palestinian Authority’s school curriculum with the UK- Palestinian memorandum of understanding.03 Mar 2026HANSARDPalestinian Authority’s School CurriculumThe Palestinian Authority have given the British Government repeated assurances that textbooks are being reformed, which one would have thought would be a minimum requirement for…03 Mar 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsT4. It has been 31 days since I wrote to the Secretary of State calling on her to reimburse the royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for costs—some £350,000—incurred during…03 Mar 2026HANSARDStudent Loan SystemOn “Newsnight” on 23 February, the Minister for School Standards acknowledged that the student loan system is not perfect, but justified no change by saying the Government face…02 Mar 2026HANSARDNational Year of Reading: PhonicsWhen I visit primary and first schools, teachers tell me that when given a book, more and more children starting school are swiping it, rather than knowing how to turn the page.…02 Mar 2026HANSARDPhone Use in SchoolsThe Secretary of State has bent over backwards to avoid backing a ban on mobile phones in schools. Her Back Benchers are making their views clear, so can she confirm whether she…02 Mar 2026HANSARDStudent Loan Repayment PlansI will, but I am aware of time.25 Feb 2026HANSARDStudent Loan Repayment PlansIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Lewell. I thank the hon. Member for Ilford South (Jas Athwal) for securing this important debate and highlighting one of the…25 Feb 2026HANSARDStudent Loan Repayment PlansI do not want to talk about each plan individually, but this does need to be looked at in the round, as the hon. Lady is quite right to say. Returning to the hon. Member for…25 Feb 2026HANSARDStudent Loan Repayment PlansI agree, but would gently say that we want to ensure that people take the highest-quality creative courses imaginable, which we can honestly say will have economic benefits for…25 Feb 2026HANSARDStudent Loan Repayment PlansI am not sure that I recognise that statement. At the risk of pointing out the obvious, I was not born in the parliamentary seat of Windsor. I grew up in Ashton-under-Lyne and was…25 Feb 2026HANSARD Defence Industry: Environmental, Social and Governance RequirementsOf course the hon. Member is right. We have a collective responsibility to advocate for these businesses, as he just did, but as a nation we must also face down this pernicious…28 Jan 2026HANSARD Defence Industry: Environmental, Social and Governance RequirementsI beg to move, That this House has considered the impact of environmental, social and governance requirements on the defence industry. It is a pleasure to serve under your…28 Jan 2026HANSARD Defence Industry: Environmental, Social and Governance RequirementsThe hon. Gentleman makes a powerful point about Leonard, which builds helicopters in his constituency, and I am sure the Minister has heard his pointed remarks. Parties of both…28 Jan 2026HANSARD Defence Industry: Environmental, Social and Governance RequirementsI thank all hon. Members from across the Chamber for their considered contributions, and particularly the hon. Members for York Outer (Mr Charters), for Strangford (Jim Shannon)…28 Jan 2026HANSARDLocal Authority Children’s ServicesIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Western. I thank the hon. Member for Woking (Mr Forster) for securing this important debate, and for his powerful and…28 Jan 2026HANSARD Defence Industry: Environmental, Social and Governance RequirementsI am delighted to correct the record; it is good to see that parties of all colours are backing increased defence spending in a more uncertain world. The ESG system implies in…28 Jan 2026HANSARD Horse and Rider Road SafetyI thank the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr Dillon) for securing this important debate and for his wider efforts on this issue, including his private Member’s Bill and his early-day…14 Jan 2026HANSARD Budget 2025: Impact on GraduatesI am not sure that I agree 100% with the hon. Member. I suspect that, in this country, we are sending too many people to university, and we should have a higher focus on higher…16 Dec 2025HANSARD Budget 2025: Impact on GraduatesI intend to get to the implications of plan 2 loans—both the freeze in the threshold for repayment and the freezing of the interest rates in a falling-interest-rates environment.…16 Dec 2025