Contributions
536 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Winter Fuel PaymentI greatly welcome this overdue U-turn, but if £35,000 is the correct cap, why did the Government impose misery on millions of pensioners last winter? Is not a basic part of…09 Jun 2025HANSARDProduct Regulation and Metrology Bill [Lords]I agree and endorse what the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent Central (Gareth Snell) said. He makes logical and coherent points, and the Bill could be used as a vehicle for his…04 Jun 2025HANSARDProduct Regulation and Metrology Bill [Lords]In lauding the Henry VIII powers in this Bill, as an elected Member of this House, is the hon. Gentleman at ease with the fact that the Bill could see criminal offences created…04 Jun 2025HANSARDProduct Regulation and Metrology Bill [Lords]Does the hon. Lady agree that it is quite astounding that among the criminal offences that are anticipated being made by the Minister without parliamentary scrutiny are indictable…04 Jun 2025HANSARDProduct Regulation and Metrology Bill [Lords]I agree, absolutely. No Member of this House should glibly pass over clause 2(7), because it expressly and emphatically sets out that regulations, which can be made without…04 Jun 2025HANSARDProduct Regulation and Metrology Bill [Lords]I agree, absolutely. The House of Lords has done some very informative and useful work on the Bill. I only hope that it is not wasted on this Government, but that is my fear.04 Jun 2025HANSARDProduct Regulation and Metrology Bill [Lords]Absolutely. The Government tell us, “When we make trade deals, we may be able to ensure the requisite alignment,” but this Bill provides for alignment only with the EU, which…04 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [Lords]This Bill does not apply to Northern Ireland, so some might wonder why I would bother to speak in the debate. The reason is very simple: the ramifications could be positive for…02 Jun 2025HANSARDStrategic Defence ReviewThe strapline on the front cover of the review says, “Making Britain Safer”. I trust the Secretary of State means “making the United Kingdom safer”. On page 87, it says that “The…02 Jun 2025HANSARD Government AnnouncementsGiven the essential lead-in time required for organising and protecting the Prime Minister’s visit to Glasgow, where he spoke extensively about these issues, is it not clear to…02 Jun 2025HANSARDStrengthening the Union: GB and NI8. What steps he has taken to strengthen the Union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.21 May 2025HANSARDStrengthening the Union: GB and NIIn referring to the deal with the EU, what the Secretary of State ignores, of course, is that Northern Ireland continues to be under a foreign customs code, which means that there…21 May 2025HANSARDEngagementsThe Government assure us that Northern Ireland is still in the United Kingdom’s customs union. If so, how is it that British steel can be sold to the United States tariff-free,…21 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitI note the careful wording of the Prime Minister’s statement—it talks about Britain being “back on the world stage”, and delivering for Britain. That is not the United Kingdom. I…20 May 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsFollowing the particularly adverse findings against the Special Air Service soldiers in the Clonoe inquest, will the Secretary of State reflect on the fact that better law…19 May 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillWith new clause 9, we are talking about the occasion when the final potion is delivered to the patient to kill them. We do not deprive people of their liberty without proving…16 May 2025HANSARD Ministerial Code: ComplianceIs the ministerial code binding, optional, or merely aspirational? Given the blatant disregard of what the code says about making statements, can the House have confidence that…14 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitThe hon. Member is right to say that there must be no further surrender to EU law, but, in the same vein, is there not a need to recover the territorial integrity of the United…13 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitIs not the hon. Member’s point put beyond all doubt by the wording of article 42 of the treaty of the EU, which expressly says that the purpose of co-operation is to arrive at…13 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitNo one representing Northern Ireland wishes more than I do for a proper reset of the relationship with Europe. To be a proper reset, however, it must acknowledge and respect the…13 May 2025