Contributions
991 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Storm BertStorm Bert affected many parts of my constituency in the Scottish Borders, and I pay tribute to the volunteers and emergency services who kept local residents safe. Many farmers…25 Nov 2024HANSARD Business of the HouseThe money was there.14 Nov 2024HANSARD Business of the HouseI have long campaigned for the Borders railway to be extended from Tweedbank to Hawick, Newcastleton and on to Carlisle. The last Conservative Government, with the SNP…14 Nov 2024HANSARD National Insurance Contributions: HealthcareDoctors from Duns, Galashiels, Selkirk, Kelso and across the Scottish Borders have contacted me about the impact that this national insurance hike will have on their practices.…14 Nov 2024HANSARDBudget: Impact on Farming CommunitiesThis week, the president of the National Farmers Union of Scotland, Martin Kennedy, said: “The new UK Government’s first budget…hammered hard-working family farms and crofts with…14 Nov 2024HANSARDBudget: Impact on Farming Communities1. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the autumn Budget 2024 on farming communities.14 Nov 2024HANSARDRural AffairsIt is a privilege to follow the maiden speech of the new hon. Member for Stirling and Strathallan (Chris Kane). I am sure he will make a significant contribution to this place,…11 Nov 2024HANSARDCouncil of Nations and RegionsThe trade union Unite has issued a joint letter from political leaders across the United Kingdom’s nations and regions opposing Labour’s cut to the winter fuel payment. That…30 Oct 2024HANSARDEconomic Growth: ScotlandThe Secretary of State said at the weekend that the Labour Budget “will herald an era of growth for Scotland”, but what is going to grow? Is it the tax burden on hard-working…30 Oct 2024HANSARDEconomic Growth: ScotlandThere were no answers in that response. Not so long ago, the Secretary of State said that a national insurance rise would have “an enormous impact” on businesses. He also said…30 Oct 2024HANSARDDraft Scotland Act 1998 (Specification of Devolved Tax) (Building Safety) Order 2024It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Dr Huq. I am happy to confirm that the Conservatives support this order. As we heard from the Minister, this order originates in a…30 Oct 2024HANSARDVisitor Levies1. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of visitor levies in Scotland and Wales on inbound UK tourism.17 Oct 2024HANSARDVisitor LeviesImposing taxes on tourists will only discourage people from enjoying the best of what the Scottish Borders and Scotland have to offer. Many small, rural businesses are struggling…17 Oct 2024HANSARDScotland’s EconomyThe hon. Gentleman makes an important point about Scotland’s universities and the role that they play, particularly regarding investment in our universities. So does he agree that…15 Oct 2024HANSARDScotland’s EconomyI will make some progress, if I may, as I have taken a number of interventions. Our workers and businesses have been poorly served by a nationalist Government who have too often…15 Oct 2024HANSARDScotland’s EconomyIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Dowd. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Glasgow East (John Grady) for bringing forward this important debate on the state…15 Oct 2024HANSARDScotland’s EconomyI totally agree. We need to invest in the skills we have; otherwise they will be lost, particularly for more traditional industries. If the skills are lost there, they might never…15 Oct 2024HANSARDScotland’s EconomyI will push back slightly on the narrative that, up until the election of the new Government, the Scottish Government and the UK Government had not been working together on the…15 Oct 2024HANSARDScotland’s EconomyI am grateful for that intervention. I did not quite catch the first point, but the previous Government had a proud record of improving the lives of people across the length and…15 Oct 2024HANSARDPoints of OrderFurther to those points of order, Mr Speaker. On behalf of the Opposition, I would also like to pay my tribute to the right honourable Alex Salmond. As others have said, despite…14 Oct 2024