Contributions
457 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD United Kingdom Internal Market BillAs a member of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, and someone with family roots in Ireland, I have taken a keen interest in the Government’s manoeuvrings over the Northern…29 Sept 2020HANSARD Covid-19I welcome the debate, as it allows me to raise a number of issues of concern relating to City of Durham, although I suspect that they are shared by constituencies across the…28 Sept 2020HANSARD Belarus: Presidential ElectionsSince 2010, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has seen resources dedicated to human rights cut, due in no small part to the Government’s short-sighted austerity programme. While…24 Sept 2020HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateDoes the Secretary of State think that a £10,000 fine will act as a disincentive to poorer people getting a test?21 Sept 2020HANSARDExtradition (Provisional Arrest) Bill [Lords]This is an important Bill. We need an extradition system that ensures that UK law enforcement agencies are supported in apprehending dangerous criminals in order to keep the…08 Sept 2020HANSARD Fire Safety BillOf course, those of us on the Opposition side welcome the Bill and support the clarification of fire safety law that it brings. In the wake of the terrible Grenfell Tower tragedy,…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Summer AdjournmentDuring this pandemic, much of the focus has been on public health, the safety of workers and our economy, and rightfully so. This virus has heightened concerns about our health…22 Jul 2020HANSARD Summer AdjournmentWhen I am back in September—let us see how good I am. Then there are the artists whose music has impacted on so many people during this crisis. In the north-east, we have Sam…22 Jul 2020HANSARD Trade BillThis Trade Bill is deeply flawed. I have been contacted by countless constituents and campaigns, each highlighting a different failing of the Bill. It seems that everyone is…20 Jul 2020HANSARD Coronavirus UpdateThe only way that directors of public health can properly tackle covid-19 is through an integrated approach to testing, tracing and outbreak management. Currently, the Government…14 Jul 2020HANSARDOfficial Development AssistanceWhen the Prime Minister announced his decision to scrap the Department for International Development, he explicitly told me from the Dispatch Box that “there has been a massive…09 Jul 2020HANSARD Arts, Culture and Heritage: Support PackageDespite this announcement, there is still a lot of uncertainty in the arts industry, most notably among freelancers. Even when productions can resume during the pandemic, this…07 Jul 2020HANSARD Education Settings: Autumn OpeningIn my constituency, Durham University is a major player and it contributes massively to the local economy, the culture of our city and the community. So far during this crisis,…02 Jul 2020HANSARDFinance BillI congratulate the hon. Member for Workington (Mark Jenkinson) on his maiden speech, and I hope that he—a newbie like me—enjoys his time in this place and is a strong voice for…02 Jul 2020HANSARD Finance BillWe are facing an employment crisis unlike anything we have seen in a decade. The impact of coronavirus will undoubtedly weaken much of our infrastructure, leaving many workers…01 Jul 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Court of Appeal JudgmentI would like to congratulate these four women on their victory for social justice. It is shameful that the Government have pursued this case to the Court of Appeal. These were…25 Jun 2020HANSARDWestferry Printworks DevelopmentThere seems to be to be a bit of a theme developing here. The Government seem to think that the rules that apply to everyone else do not apply to them. First, we had the Prime…24 Jun 2020HANSARDWestferry Printworks DevelopmentI thank my hon. Friend for that and totally agree with what she says. The fact that the Secretary of State knowingly made a decision that reduced affordable housing, and deprived…24 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Gender Pay Gap ReportingWhat assessment she has made of the potential effect on the gender pay gap of the suspension of gender pay gap reporting during the covid-19 outbreak.17 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Gender Pay Gap ReportingGender pay gap reporting was removed in March, yet even then, just two weeks before the deadline, only around half the businesses expected to report had done so. This cannot…17 Jun 2020