Contributions
536 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCrown Estate Bill [Lords]The point I am making is that the tension in the Bill between the environmental impacts and sustainable development—the codeword for offshore wind—is out of kilter. It is very…07 Jan 2025HANSARDCrown Estate Bill [Lords]I can well understand the need to update the Crown Estate Act, particularly in regard to the financial reach of the Crown Estate and the assistance that it may require. It is…07 Jan 2025HANSARDSupport for VeteransJust before Christmas, we had the welcome announcement of a new veterans commissioner in Northern Ireland, Mr David Johnstone. Although I am sure the Minister will join me in…06 Jan 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillWhen we talk about national insurance, it is easy to forget that it is only part of the tax burden placed upon employers. However, within the matrix of tax, the reach of national…17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportIs not the appalling message from the Government today that maladministration pays? If, as here, we have nationwide maladministration and no consequences, what other conclusion…17 Dec 2024HANSARDRoyal Mail TakeoverWhen I visited the two depots in my constituency last week—I join Members in thanking our posties—I noticed how run down and aged the van fleets are. Will there be an upgrade of…16 Dec 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White Paper: EmployersE-commerce is a growing part of our economy. Will the Minister spare a thought for small-scale employers in my constituency and throughout Northern Ireland, who. since Friday,…16 Dec 2024HANSARD Puberty-suppressing HormonesI certainly welcome the Secretary of State’s extension of the ban on the prescription of puberty blockers. I want to ask him whether he has more information for us on the criteria…11 Dec 2024HANSARD SyriaMay I bring the Foreign Secretary back to a point raised by the shadow Foreign Secretary, the right hon. Member for Witham (Priti Patel), which I do not think he fully addressed?…09 Dec 2024HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) BillMaybe the hon. Member could help me. What would he call taking a territory and subjecting it to someone else’s laws? What would he call it other than colonisation? Is that not the…06 Dec 2024HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) BillYes, that was the boast of Mr Barnier and his staff: that the price of Brexit would be Northern Ireland—and so it has proved to be. That may be something of indifference, or…06 Dec 2024HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) BillThe EU has behaved not as a friend to Northern Ireland. The EU has behaved as a sovereignty grabber in respect of Northern Ireland. That is where it caused, and continues to…06 Dec 2024HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) BillThe right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. Those of us who are looking for a solution are supporters of this Bill, because we cannot go on as we are. Those who think that it is…06 Dec 2024HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) BillThe whole purpose of this Bill is to restore equilibrium and to get us to a point at which we have a sensible relationship based upon mutual respect, not on the grabbing of the…06 Dec 2024HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) BillI have given way quite often, so I am going to make some progress. That is why what I regard as the two liberation clauses in my Bill, clauses five and two, exist. They are the…06 Dec 2024HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) BillThe hon. Member was the Health Minister in Northern Ireland and knows all about that, so I will gladly give way to him.06 Dec 2024HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) BillI will be absolutely honest with this Chamber, and to be absolutely honest with this Chamber, the hon. Lady is not addressing the issue as it emerges. I will deal with the impact…06 Dec 2024HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) BillThe core operating principle of the devolved institutions of Northern Ireland was that key issues have cross-community consent. That is what has been ripped out for Tuesday. I…06 Dec 2024HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) BillI can tell the hon. Member that it is exactly what businesses need. My constituency office is choked, from time to time, with businesses saying, “Why is it that I cannot get the…06 Dec 2024HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) BillThere are human medicines, and there are veterinary medicines. The vast swathe of veterinary medicines currently stand to be prohibited. As for human medicines, there are some for…06 Dec 2024