Contributions
147 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSupport for Dyslexic PupilsIt is an incredibly important subject. I left school before I was 17, and that was the end of my education. I have had a fantastic business career, I have written lots of novels…11 Nov 2025HANSARD Royal Mail: Universal Service ObligationI wrote to the Post Office in July, three and a half months ago, and it emailed a response this week—I think three and a half months might be a record. The posties in the west…04 Nov 2025HANSARD Asylum Seekers: MOD Housing(Urgent Question): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make a statement on the planned use of MOD barracks to house asylum seekers.29 Oct 2025HANSARD Asylum Seekers: MOD HousingI thank the Minister for his answer, and the Speaker for allowing me to ask this urgent question. I got a call yesterday at 7.10 in the morning from the BBC, who asked, “What is…29 Oct 2025HANSARDNorth Sea Oil and Gas IndustryDoes the Minister really consider this a just transition? We have thousands of contractors arriving in the highlands. They stay in workers’ camps, and very few legacy houses are…27 Oct 2025HANSARDEnergy Prices4. What steps he is taking to help ensure that people do not pay disproportionately high energy prices in Scotland.22 Oct 2025HANSARDEnergy PricesWill the Minister acknowledge the unfairness that my constituents in Skye, and indeed people all across rural Scotland and rural Great Britain, are paying four times as much to…22 Oct 2025HANSARD Electricity Infrastructure: Rural CommunitiesWould the hon. Member agree that transmission line operators should consider the impact on local communities by leaving legacy housing, employing graduate apprentices from the…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Community Helipads: Rural AccessI thank my hon. Friend very much. I do not think that many people in urban Britain know how important the ambulance services are to remote and rural areas, so her point is…15 Oct 2025HANSARD Community Helipads: Rural AccessI thank my hon. Friend. That is a point I did not know, but I will certainly bring it up should I get a meeting. Rescue helicopters are vital for rural communities, as are…15 Oct 2025HANSARD Community Helipads: Rural AccessThe hon. Gentleman makes a very valid point. Safety is at the bottom of it all, but I will be talking about over-safety in one particular instance. I am always pleased to…15 Oct 2025HANSARD Community Helipads: Rural AccessThe hon. Gentleman has hit the nail on the head, as usual. I have met all the interested parties, apart from the Health and Safety Executive, which we will come back to. The CAA…15 Oct 2025HANSARD Community Helipads: Rural AccessI beg to move, That this House has considered access to community helipads in rural areas. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms McVey. I am delighted to be speaking…15 Oct 2025HANSARD Hospitality SectorWould the hon. Gentleman admit that what actually happened in the Budget was a transfer of 2% of GDP from the private sector to the public sector? That private sector is, to a…03 Sept 2025HANSARD Hospitality SectorWhen the hon. Gentleman prepares his agenda for the next small company roundtable, will he ask companies how they are getting on with the 8.7% national insurance increase, and the…03 Sept 2025HANSARD Hospitality SectorIt is difficult to get a word in. [Laughter.] I am married; I know about these things. I have 100 staff members in the hospitality industry in the highlands, and I can say that…03 Sept 2025HANSARD Hospitality SectorMay I intervene, please?03 Sept 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Veterans: ProsecutionMy son is a serving soldier, and he tells me that many are leaving the forces because of this issue. We are tens of thousands below our recruitment level. Does the hon. Member…14 Jul 2025HANSARDArtificial Intelligence: ScotlandThe transmission line from Skye to Fort Augustus has been approved. Due to a technicality, the people along the route will be deprived of £22 million. Will the Minister take this…09 Jul 2025HANSARD Hospitality SectorAt the start, I declare an interest, as my children and I own a cinema, restaurant and big visitor centre in Fort William, employing more than 100 people. I was brought up in a…01 Jul 2025