Contributions
191 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEngagementsQ11. One of the main concerns that North Durham residents raise with me is the vitality of local high streets, so I am delighted that in the last year, a series of new independent…22 Apr 2026HANSARDGibraltar: UK-EU TreatyI congratulate the Government on this significant announcement. Does the Minister agree with me that the agreement provides additional safeguards to Gibraltar’s sovereignty, while…21 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will accept that there is bipartisan support for extending cadet forces into the state sector, which was his first point. He mentioned cadet…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)indicated dissent .16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)The right hon. Gentleman is right to talk about the different pressures that cause people to leave. Will he join me in welcoming the fact that in the year to September 2025, there…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)Given that the hon. Member is outlining cases where a previous Government—in 2001, if I am right, that was a Labour Government—derogated from ECHR articles without being required…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)I am happy to clarify that I had no intention of hinting that the hon. Gentleman was in any way politically allied with Russia. Clearly, he is an ally of Ukraine, as we are on the…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)I think that everyone who cares about defence shares the right hon. Gentleman’s anxiety about wanting to see the defence investment plan published. Would he accept that we are…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)Does my hon. and gallant Friend agree that the problem is not just the legacy that his Department inherited, but the wider legacy of debt that our Government inherited, which…16 Apr 2026HANSARD Access to Work SchemeIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Harris. I wholeheartedly commend the hon. Member for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe (David Chadwick) for securing today’s debate,…15 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fourth sitting)Has the hon. Gentleman made any assessment of whether the capacity savings from serving officers not having to serve on the court—because under the amendment they would be…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fourth sitting)I feel that the hon. Member is perhaps trying to fix something that is not broken. In the evidence we heard about the service justice system, was there anything that implied that…14 Apr 2026HANSARD Disclosure and Safeguarding: At-risk ChildrenIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Mundell. I commend my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland Central (Lewis Atkinson) for introducing the debate, and my…13 Apr 2026HANSARDSocial Homes: Furnished TenanciesKarbon Homes, which is the dominant social landlord in North Durham, provides furnished tenancies to ensure that vulnerable low-income tenants can access essential furniture and…13 Apr 2026HANSARDSocial Homes: Furnished Tenancies16. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of furnished tenancies for social homes.13 Apr 2026HANSARDPre-1997 Pensions: Discretionary IncreasesI have had written communications and met with constituents who used to work alongside my hon. Friend’s constituents at Nissan. Sadly, in the case of Nissan and countless others,…19 Mar 2026HANSARDPre-1997 Pensions: Discretionary IncreasesI see that my hon. Friend and constituency neighbour wishes to intervene.19 Mar 2026HANSARDPre-1997 Pensions: Discretionary IncreasesI thank the right hon. Gentleman for drawing attention to that particular anomaly.19 Mar 2026HANSARDPre-1997 Pensions: Discretionary IncreasesI absolutely share that concern. My understanding from the constituent I met is that Nissan’s trustees include a majority of company appointees who outvote the trustees…19 Mar 2026HANSARDPre-1997 Pensions: Discretionary IncreasesI thank my hon. Friend for that very useful contribution. I was not aware of that, and I am shocked. It is a further injustice if pensioners in the UK are treated differently from…19 Mar 2026