Contributions
152 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Business of the HouseCan my right hon. Friend turn her attention to fish—dead fish, hundreds of them, floating down the rivers of the Levels as a result of excessive pollution by Wessex Water. If that…03 Nov 2022HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI congratulate my right hon. Friend on her new job. She follows in illustrious footsteps: Sir Robert Walpole, both the Pitts—Elder and Younger—Disraeli, Gladstone and Churchill. I…08 Sept 2022HANSARD British Special Forces in Afghanistan: New AllegationsMy hon. Friend knows, because of his service in the armed forces, how morale can be affected by any form of investigation into units, and it reduces the effectiveness of any…14 Jul 2022HANSARD Business of the HouseAnother issue of confidence, on which we need an urgent debate, has come to my attention: Taunton station. The staff there are utterly lazy and incompetent. Those who are young,…14 Jul 2022HANSARD Business of the HouseSomerset County Council is about to spend £8 million on a computer system that will ultimately cost about £20 million. IT projects in this country have a pretty shabby history.…17 Mar 2022HANSARDCommonwealth DayI beg to move, That this House has considered Commonwealth Day. I am delighted to work under your chairmanship again, Mr Davies. We have, for many years, worked together on…15 Mar 2022HANSARDCommonwealth DayI gently say to the hon. Gentleman that I think there is a slight misunderstanding here. The Commonwealth does not deal with aid budgets; it does not deal with anything to do with…15 Mar 2022HANSARDCommonwealth DayI would like thank my hon. Friend on three counts: first, for his courtesy in intervening, as he raises a very important question; secondly, for all the work he has done on behalf…15 Mar 2022HANSARDCommonwealth DayI thank the Minister and all Members who have taken part in the debate. I am grateful for everybody’s insight and to the Minister for being able to take on the points that have…15 Mar 2022HANSARDCommonwealth DayI thank my hon. Friend again, because that is a very good intervention. He is absolutely right: this is a very young organisation. If we take India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and a lot…15 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraineFollowing on from the question of my hon. Friend the Member for Henley (John Howell), the Prime Minister is well aware that I am a group leader in the Council of Europe. Our group…22 Feb 2022HANSARD Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Status)I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide for corporate status of and for certain privileges and immunities to be accorded to the international…22 Feb 2022HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI hope I did not point my finger the wrong way just then, Madam Deputy Speaker. The Government did not listen to the referendum in Somerset over unitary, and they did not listen…02 Dec 2021HANSARD Cider Industry: Duty ChangesI declare my interest as the chairman of the all-party parliamentary cider group, and I support my hon. Friend in his argument. I know that the Minister takes a keen interest in…01 Dec 2021HANSARDBusiness of the HouseMy right hon. Friend and I are great advocates of the power of the people, because the voice of the people is the voice of God. I say to him—because we both come from the heart of…18 Nov 2021HANSARDBusiness of the HouseAs my right hon. Friend knows, there is one way into west Somerset and one way out. That road has been completely blocked for the past couple of weeks due to work that had to be…21 Oct 2021HANSARD Business of the HouseBritain’s greatest king is spinning in his grave at the moment due to the appalling abuse of democracy when the unitary announcement came. It has been an absolute bombshell in…16 Sept 2021HANSARDSomerset: Unitary Local GovernmentHow many people who responded to the Government’s consultation on unitary local government in Somerset supported (a) One Somerset and (b) Stronger Somerset.19 Jul 2021HANSARDSomerset: Unitary Local GovernmentThat is the most pathetic answer I think I have heard in 20 years. The Government’s consultation for the unitary was finished months ago. I have asked parliamentary questions and…19 Jul 2021HANSARDBusiness of the HouseMay I join my right hon. Friend in congratulating Somerset’s son, from the finest county in Britain, on making it to the English football team and doing quite so well? My right…15 Jul 2021