Contributions
991 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMinimum and Living WagesLast Friday, I spent the day visiting local shopkeepers in Kelso, many of whom employ their staff on the national minimum wage and the national living wage. Their biggest pressure…13 Mar 2025HANSARD Business of the HouseAs the Leader of the House knows, there is strong opposition among residents in the Scottish Borders to plans by ScottishPower Energy Networks to build massive pylons along a…13 Mar 2025HANSARDFarmingThe importance of farming cannot be overstated. It is vital not only for farmers, but for all our communities, our economy and our national security. Farming allows us to keep…13 Mar 2025HANSARDFarmingWill the hon. Lady give way?13 Mar 2025HANSARDFarmingWill the hon. Lady give way on that point?13 Mar 2025HANSARDFarmingThe hon. Lady is making an excellent speech. Throughout the debate, I have struggled to understand the point put forward by Labour Members that while they rightly acknowledge that…13 Mar 2025HANSARDFarmingThe hon. Gentleman is making an excellent speech, but does he agree as a fellow Scottish MP that our farmers are facing a double whammy? Not only do we have to deal with the…13 Mar 2025HANSARD Rural Communities: Government SupportThe hon. Lady is making an excellent speech about the challenges that her constituents in South Devon are facing. Many of those challenges are similar to those in my own…12 Mar 2025HANSARDDraft Industrial Training Levy (Construction Industry Training Board) Order 2025The draft order’s preamble mentions that the Government have consulted Scottish Ministers. Can the Minister say whether the Scottish Government support these proposals? Did they…11 Mar 2025HANSARD Business of the HouseMay we have a debate on access to banking services in small towns and rural communities? For years, big banks have treated loyal customers very badly—they have shut branches and…06 Mar 2025HANSARDEconomic GrowthThe SNP Government continue to be opposed to nuclear energy, despite the huge economic benefits it would bring to Scotland. We can see that in the jobs and investment that the…05 Mar 2025HANSARDChurch of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) BillI should declare an interest as a member of the Church of Scotland and an elder of the Kirk. I very much support the Bill, but the Minister will be aware that the Law Society of…04 Mar 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: VAT and Business Rates ReliefThe hon. Member is absolutely right, and that leads me neatly to my next point. Let us look at what else the Labour Government have claimed. They said: “Ending tax breaks for…03 Mar 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: VAT and Business Rates ReliefI would be amazed if the voters of Edinburgh endorse the policy in the way that the hon. Gentleman suggests. He should put that suggestion to some of the Facebook groups that…03 Mar 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: VAT and Business Rates ReliefIf the hon. Lady engages with the parents and schools affected, as I am sure she has, she will know that one of their criticisms is the haste with which the policy was introduced,…03 Mar 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: VAT and Business Rates ReliefThe last Government increased revenue expenditure in our schools during our time in office. If fewer pupils go into the independent sector, the Labour Government will have fewer…03 Mar 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: VAT and Business Rates ReliefThe hon. Lady makes an excellent point. Many young people, particularly in the city that she represents, go to schools in the independent sector, so the effect of this policy will…03 Mar 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: VAT and Business Rates ReliefI beg to move, That this House has considered e-petition 701268 relating to VAT on independent school fees and business rates relief for independent schools. It is a pleasure to…03 Mar 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: VAT and Business Rates ReliefI am conscious of the time and that the House of Commons is about to vote. I will not detain hon. Members much longer. I thank the petitioner for bringing forward this petition…03 Mar 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: VAT and Business Rates ReliefThe hon. Gentleman represents a part of Scotland where the proportion of young people going to independent schools is among the highest, if not the highest, in the country. I have…03 Mar 2025