Contributions
169 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Israel: UNRWA BanI join the Government in condemning the decision by the Israeli Parliament. Does the Minister agree that cutting ties and undermining UNRWA leaves us aghast at a time when we need…29 Oct 2024HANSARDTaxes on Working People16. What steps she is taking to minimise taxes on working people.29 Oct 2024HANSARD Employment Rights BillI will start by offering some home truths to Opposition Members: someone can be both a member of a union and an employer. I am a proud member of GMB, which donated to my campaign,…21 Oct 2024HANSARD City and Town Centres: RegenerationIt is a pleasure to speak under your chairmanship, Mr Vickers. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Derby North (Catherine Atkinson) on securing such an important debate…16 Oct 2024HANSARD Access to Primary HealthcareMy colleague makes a valid point; I defer to her knowledge of the public health system. The distance of a mile or so has a huge impact for the men and women living in east Bury. I…16 Oct 2024HANSARD Access to Primary HealthcareSome of us newly elected or returning MPs have only just got our accommodation and offices sorted out, so I commend the Government on the speed with which they have got surgeons…16 Oct 2024HANSARD Business ConfidenceI am amazed to hear the hon. Gentleman’s tone the day after the business investment summit. Anyone would think that this debate is happening in a different world or galaxy. What…15 Oct 2024HANSARD Business ConfidenceThe Minister is making a powerful and clear argument for this Government’s commitment to a new partnership with business. Does he agree that although the sum of investment…15 Oct 2024HANSARDVAT: Independent SchoolsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. We are not anti. We are for the many and the few. Conservative Members want to remain in their comfort zone following their election defeat. We…08 Oct 2024HANSARDVAT: Independent SchoolsI refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I am pleased to speak in this debate. I am proud to do so for the first time since being put back in…08 Oct 2024HANSARD Hamas Attacks: First AnniversaryI thank my hon. Friend for securing this important debate on the anniversary of the attacks, and for delivering such an eloquent speech. As we mark a year since the appalling…07 Oct 2024HANSARDThe EconomyThis is a Government who are working for themselves and no one else. Their economy fails as many as they seek. Underemployment is rife and underfed families a way of life. Away…24 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsAt the heart of this is the question of destination: not an abstract of moving on today, but the impact of a deal on everyday life in towns like mine. The Government should stop…19 Oct 2019HANSARDPriorities for GovernmentSome 80% of children excluded from mainstream schools have special educational needs and disabilities. It is not enough simply to fund new specialist schools; we need mainstream…25 Jul 2019HANSARDCystic Fibrosis TreatmentSufferers of CF, as we have heard, are well used to the new hope of changes in the Government, but it soon becomes yet another false dawn: they are left drowning in their disease…23 Jul 2019HANSARDCystic Fibrosis Treatment18. Whether he plans to hold a further meeting with Vertex Pharmaceuticals to ensure that new drugs to treat cystic fibrosis can be approved.23 Jul 2019HANSARDMusic Education in EnglandI beg to move, That this House has considered music education in England. It is a great pleasure to speak under your chairmanship, Sir George, and to open this debate—the first…17 Jul 2019HANSARDMusic Education in EnglandMy hon. Friend makes a powerful suggestion. I will come to Ofsted’s role later in my speech, as I believe it can be a friend in this mission. Music output from the UK remains…17 Jul 2019HANSARDMusic Education in EnglandThe hon. Gentleman makes an important point, and I pay tribute to any organisation engaged in that endeavour. My argument is that we need a universal approach as opposed to an…17 Jul 2019HANSARDMusic Education in EnglandI find myself at risk of repeating earlier arguments—like when I was the singer in a band and we were invited to do an encore but had run out of songs. I thank the Minister for…17 Jul 2019