Contributions
163 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Victory in Europe and Victory over Japan: 80th AnniversaryOn Thursday 6 March this year, I attended a poignant evening of commemoration in the Bathgate Regal theatre. I believe it was the first 80th anniversary of VE Day event in the UK,…06 May 2025HANSARD Poverty: Glasgow North EastDoes my hon. Friend agree that many of the essential services that families rely on are delivered by local authorities, and that local authorities have had their budgets slashed…06 May 2025HANSARDParkinson’s Awareness MonthI wish to thank my hon. Friend the Member for Dunfermline and Dollar (Graeme Downie) for securing this debate, which has been incredibly powerful and impactful. I also wish to…01 May 2025HANSARDExports: Small BusinessesI know from a recent business roundtable I hosted in my constituency of Bathgate and Linlithgow, and from many meetings with industry, that a common barrier to small business…01 May 2025HANSARD Business of the HouseLast Saturday, Blackburn United’s 2009 team played in the inspiresport Scottish Youth cup final against Dundee United’s 2009s at Falkirk stadium. The Blackburn team have gone from…01 May 2025HANSARDExports: Small Businesses1. What recent steps his Department has taken to encourage small businesses to export.01 May 2025HANSARDKashmir: Increasing TensionI share the horror at this despicable act of terrorism inflicted on 26 innocent people, many of whom were on holiday—one young man was on his honeymoon. My condolences are with…29 Apr 2025HANSARD Business of the HouseBeira’s Place is a sexual violence support service run by women, for women. It opened in 2022 in response to the need for single-sex counselling services for survivors of violence…24 Apr 2025HANSARD Road MaintenanceI thank the hon. Member for his intervention, but it will be no surprise to him that I cannot agree with him, given the years of massive underfunding that former Conservative…07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansI thank the Minister for his statement. I applaud the dignity with which my hon. Friends have responded, and the solidarity from many Members of different parties. I commend the…07 Apr 2025HANSARD Road MaintenanceI welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate, because the state of our roads is absolutely critical for safe travel, transportation and logistics, particularly in communities…07 Apr 2025HANSARD UK-US Trade and TariffsI thank my right hon. Friend for his statement and for his efforts and those of his team thus far. I also welcome the fact that there will be engagement with businesses on the…03 Apr 2025HANSARD Business of the HouseLast month, Whitburn Band, from a former mining town in my constituency, won the Scottish brass band championships for the third time in four years. The band will represent…03 Apr 2025HANSARD Product Regulation and Metrology Bill [Lords]My constituents would be forgiven for thinking that the clock had turned back, so I will focus on the issues that they have asked me to raise, which are not political in the…01 Apr 2025HANSARD Product Regulation and Metrology Bill [Lords]I am about to conclude. This Bill is a welcome step to alter the regulatory landscape. More importantly, it will ensure basic product safety and better oversight of products such…01 Apr 2025HANSARD Product Regulation and Metrology Bill [Lords]I do not think that we want to rerun the arguments relating to Brexit, which is what this debate has largely been about so far. The Bill has clearly been introduced to address…01 Apr 2025HANSARD Business of the HouseThe Boyle family run Boghall Butchers in Bathgate, and have served the community and my constituency with pride for 50 years. Just three weeks ago, the Boghall Butchers doner…27 Mar 2025HANSARD Resettlement of Ukrainians: CoatbridgeI thank my hon. Friend for bringing forward this important debate on this award-winning project. Does he agree that it is vital that we share best practice across the country with…26 Mar 2025HANSARD Planning and Infrastructure BillFor 14 long years, growth in the United Kingdom stagnated with houses that were not built, roads that were not constructed, train lines promised and not delivered, energy and…24 Mar 2025HANSARD Conflict in GazaI thank the Secretary of State for his statement, and for his relentless efforts to bring all parties back to the negotiating table. I think we have all been horrified by the…20 Mar 2025