Contributions
562 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCrime and Policing Bill (Second sitting)Q Solving a set of issues in a given day depends on well-worded law that is targeted at the problem it is trying to solve. Can you share your views on backing that up with the…27 Mar 2025HANSARDCrime and Policing Bill (Second sitting)Q I appreciate that this is not a debate between elected Members, but I am not entirely sure from that exchange with the Minister whether the witness got the idea that face…27 Mar 2025HANSARDCrime and Policing Bill (Second sitting)Can I reword that, to be helpful? In the Bill, there is a defence to allow people to wear a face covering. One of the examples is if it is for their health, so I imagine there…27 Mar 2025HANSARDCrime and Policing Bill (Second sitting)Q Just to clarify, I agree with you on that point. My problem is this idea that a summary-only offence is not really an offence at all so the police do not need to attend. I think…27 Mar 2025HANSARDCrime and Policing Bill (Second sitting)Q This is directed at any one of you on the panel. To take you back, an area where I think you all share the same opinion is that, under clause 16, theft from a shop should be…27 Mar 2025HANSARDCrime and Policing Bill (First sitting)Q Could there be something that might appear to have a more frivolous excuse—you talked about pranking—but that still needs to be captured by the Bill and may not be captured by…27 Mar 2025HANSARDCrime and Policing Bill (Second sitting)Q If I may say so, from the evidence we have heard today there appears to be a loophole on spiking, in that somebody has to intend to annoy, but we have heard there can be…27 Mar 2025HANSARDCrime and Policing Bill (First sitting)Q I will take the panel back briefly to the powers around face coverings in protests. Given that protests are often political in nature, does anyone on the panel see challenges…27 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentThe hon. Gentleman looks almost proud of the decision to withdraw winter fuel payments. He talks about taking tough decisions—can I offer him a really easy alternative? Scrap GB…19 Mar 2025HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillIt seems to me that the hon. Member’s issue is not with some of the amendments, but with all of them taken together. Why does not he not back some of the amendments?19 Mar 2025HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillWill the hon. Lady give way?19 Mar 2025HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillPerhaps I may suggest an easy decision, rather than a difficult one? The Government, instead of giving £9 billion away to Mauritius, should use some of that to support social care…19 Mar 2025HANSARD National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillMy hon. Friend talks passionately about hospices. Does she agree that taxing hospices but providing tax relief to hospitals through the relief to the NHS actually disincentivises…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentDoes the hon. Lady really think that going through Tony Blair’s greatest hits is any comfort to pensioners on £13,500 who lost their winter fuel payment in 2024?19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentIt is heartwarming to hear someone make a speech based on his principles, and the hon. Gentleman has made it clear that it is his principles that will inform his vote on this…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentWill the hon. Gentleman take my intervention?19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentI thank the hon. Member for finally giving way. He has won his campaign to remove the winter fuel payment from Sir Richard Branson, but if I take him back a little earlier in his…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentThe flavour and mood of this debate have been somewhat strange. I expected to be in a debate facing Members on the Government Benches who were at least showing humility, and who…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentI am grateful to the hon. Member for giving me the opportunity to talk about means-testing— I did not expect to have that Government argument made by a Liberal Democrat Member,…19 Mar 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentI thank the hon. Gentleman for drawing attention to his own Government’s promise to increase the take-up of pension credit. After the past winter, there are still 750,000…19 Mar 2025