Contributions
566 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUK-US Bilateral RelationshipIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir John. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries and Galloway (John Cooper) on securing the debate at this…04 Feb 2025HANSARDPensions Regulator: Economic Growth6. If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Pensions Regulator on economic growth.03 Feb 2025HANSARDPensions Regulator: Economic GrowthThe then pensions Minister, Guy Opperman, said that green-lighting defined benefit pension superfunds was his greatest achievement of lockdown. The unelected Governor of the Bank…03 Feb 2025HANSARDNHS ReformThe Labour party has been running the NHS for 25 years in Wales, where waiting lists are through the roof, compared with those in England. Does the Secretary of State agree with…29 Jan 2025HANSARDNHS Reform4. What recent discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on NHS reform in Wales.29 Jan 2025HANSARD Fiscal Policy: Defence SpendingI have a simple question: would it be compatible with the military covenant to make compensation payments to former members of the IRA?27 Jan 2025HANSARDSpecialist Teachers: Disabled ChildrenOn Friday, I had the opportunity to visit Manor Mead special school, where 60 members of staff look after the 92 pupils, many of whom have the most severe learning disabilities…27 Jan 2025HANSARD Business of the HouseMy train got cancelled on my commute home last night from Waterloo to Sunbury, but that gave me the wonderful opportunity to catch up on one of my favourite radio programmes—that…23 Jan 2025HANSARD Agricultural and Business Property Reliefs: OBR CostingThey say that one ought to build one’s enemy a golden bridge. I think the compromise and pause proposed by the National Farmers Union is an elegant solution. That golden bridge is…23 Jan 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence said recently that he would reduce the number of permanent civil servants at the MOD by 10% by the end of this Parliament. Will…23 Jan 2025HANSARDListed Places of Worship SchemeI congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove (Bradley Thomas) on securing this debate. I am time constrained, but I want to mention St Mary’s in Stanwell, a grade I…22 Jan 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillI rise to speak primarily in support of amendment 8, but I will also give some broader reflections on the Bill. We all need to be very clear that the welfare of service personnel…21 Jan 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillI do acknowledge that important difference. I think that amendment 8 seeks to enhance and strengthen the independence of the Armed Forces Commissioner from the chain of command,…21 Jan 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillI think the hon. Member will recall from his time on the Bill Committee that the Front-Bench spokesman, my hon. Friend the Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge), referred to…21 Jan 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillI offer these comments as a critical friend. I think it important for people listening to this debate and referring to our proceedings at a later time to realise that, utterly…21 Jan 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillThe hon. and gallant Member referred to the armed forces complaints ombudsman giving evidence to the Defence Committee last week. Her report from 2023 detailed that three…21 Jan 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillThe hon. Member describes morale as being at an all-time low. Last week, along with a number of colleagues from the Defence Committee, we both had the opportunity to visit RAF…21 Jan 2025HANSARD New Hospital Programme ReviewI will say it, because no one else has: many happy returns for tomorrow. I genuinely thought that you were in your mid-30s—that the Secretary of State was in his mid-30s.20 Jan 2025HANSARD New Hospital Programme ReviewI also congratulate the Secretary of State on coming to the Chamber with such a massive capital expenditure announcement and eliciting a saving with his answer to the first…20 Jan 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsT8. Tower Hamlets planning officers have rejected China’s application to build a super-embassy there, but rather than put this through the appeals process that anyone else would…14 Jan 2025