Contributions
147 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillThe hon. Gentleman keeps talking about the largest businesses, but the Government are completely wiping out small and medium-sized businesses across the whole hospitality and…03 Dec 2024HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillDoes the hon. Gentleman not agree that the impact of this measure is hitting the most vulnerable businesses and the most vulnerable charities throughout the United Kingdom? Surely…03 Dec 2024HANSARD Rural BroadbandThe £500 million set aside for the shared rural network was instigated by the previous Government. In the highlands of Scotland, it is organised by land mass, rather than the…13 Nov 2024HANSARD Rural BroadbandWill the Minister give way?13 Nov 2024HANSARD Fuel PovertyWill the Minister allow humble servants such as myself to get involved in that? I have spent several years working with the Highland council and others on community benefits, and…06 Nov 2024HANSARD Fuel PovertyWhat is absolutely clear is that the electricity companies are not losing money. Their total profits add up to tens of billions of pounds, but the costs are being borne by the…06 Nov 2024HANSARD Fuel PovertyThat is also Liberal Democrat policy, so I am pleased to support that. Interestingly—I know you will find this interesting, Sir Roger—France, Italy, Ireland and others have an…06 Nov 2024HANSARD Fuel PovertyThank you very much, Sir Roger, for allowing me to contribute to the debate. I thank my right hon. Friend the Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael) for securing it. The…06 Nov 2024HANSARDIncome Tax (Charge)Palliative care charities are essential partners that deliver compassionate, dignified end-of-life care on behalf of, and much cheaper than, the NHS. Organisations that provide…05 Nov 2024HANSARDIncome Tax (Charge)It is appropriate that I am following the words of the hon. Member for Stafford (Leigh Ingham) about the palliative care sector. I am grateful for the substantial settlement for…05 Nov 2024HANSARDGreat British Energy BillI invite hon. Members to refer to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Pippa Heylings) for her…29 Oct 2024HANSARDGreat British Energy BillWill the hon. Gentleman explain why the SNP Government have left community benefit at the same £5,000 level it was in 2014, even though prices have gone through the roof? Their…29 Oct 2024HANSARD City and Town Centres: RegenerationWill the hon. Lady give her opinion on business improvement districts? Does she think they are valuable for rejuvenating the economies of market towns and small cities across…16 Oct 2024HANSARD Renewable Energy Projects: Community BenefitsI wholeheartedly agree. It should be the same for the transmission lines and the interceptors, for pumped storage and battery—really, the whole infra- structure of producing…15 Oct 2024HANSARD Renewable Energy Projects: Community BenefitsIt is fair to say that building a visitor centre was not one of my list of key things to do with the money, but I shall add it to my list at around No. 97 —there is a space there.…15 Oct 2024HANSARD Renewable Energy Projects: Community BenefitsI think my hon. Friend will be thrilled with the next part of my speech, which will answer that question. We have a huge financial need, and we have the renewables revenue, which…15 Oct 2024HANSARD Renewable Energy Projects: Community BenefitsSomebody whose opinion I respect greatly told me that undergrounding cables was no more expensive. I was very surprised at that, because I had understood from the transmission…15 Oct 2024HANSARD Renewable Energy Projects: Community BenefitsThere is a recent change to planning in Scotland—I am unsure whether it extends to England—called national planning framework 4, which makes the economic benefit to the community…15 Oct 2024HANSARD Renewable Energy Projects: Community BenefitsI absolutely love that—I am going to make the right hon. Lady a dame in my first honours list. It is an absolute disgrace that people in rural Britain pay a premium to get…15 Oct 2024HANSARD Renewable Energy Projects: Community BenefitsMicro-renewables are the way ahead, and the more micro the better. Whether that is a solar thing on a roof or hydro for a farm, I could not support it more. In 2023, as part of…15 Oct 2024