Contributions
156 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Construction Standards: New Build HomesIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Jardine. I congratulate the hon. Member for Sherwood Forest (Michelle Welsh) on securing this important debate and on her…25 Mar 2025HANSARD Construction Standards: New Build HomesI thank the hon. Member for his intervention, which gets to the heart of this debate. Whether it is building a damp-proof course correctly or installing cutting-edge climate…25 Mar 2025HANSARDEngagementsDespite Ukraine being the victim in Russia’s illegal aggression, President Zelensky has shown leadership to his people by committing to the US plans for a ceasefire. However, it…19 Mar 2025HANSARD Children’s Wellbeing and Schools BillAs the son of a lady from Limerick, may I offer my mum, my wider family and everybody in the House a happy St Patrick’s Day? I rise to speak in support of two new clauses. New…17 Mar 2025HANSARDCourt Backlogs18. What steps she is taking to tackle backlogs in the courts.11 Mar 2025HANSARDCourt BacklogsI agree with the Minister’s assessment of the previous Conservative Government. However, with more than 382,000 cases still in the backlog for magistrates, have the Government…11 Mar 2025HANSARD Plan for NeighbourhoodsThe plan for neighbour-hoods prospectus published on the website earlier today talks about ending the “Whitehall knows best” culture. With that in mind, would the Minister look at…04 Mar 2025HANSARDUkraineI, too, had the honour of being in Ukraine for the third anniversary and, as other hon. Members have said, whether it was from communities, military personnel or Ukrainian…03 Mar 2025HANSARDLeasehold CostsI welcome the Government’s announcement today of changes to leasehold and the introduction of commonhold, but thousands of leaseholders across the country are still crippled by…03 Mar 2025HANSARD Business of the HouseAs the Leader of the House will be aware, the community infrastructure levy is a requirement to make a contribution towards essential infrastructure. However, in West Berkshire,…06 Feb 2025HANSARD English Devolution and Local GovernmentI refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I welcome the Deputy Prime Minister’s statement today, but I want to pull out a few points of…05 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Government FinanceMy own council, West Berkshire, a small unitary authority, now has only 2% of its net revenue budget in reserves, and has written to the Government seeking £16 million of…05 Feb 2025HANSARDSocial Security BenefitsMy hon. Friend is making a powerful speech about those most in need of benefits and the difference they can make. He spoke about the WASPI women and about children in poverty, but…04 Feb 2025HANSARDSocial Security BenefitsThe hon. Gentleman talks about the importance of family and I could not agree more, but does he also agree that a family is a unit designed by that family and an arbitrary limit…04 Feb 2025HANSARDGaza: Humanitarian SituationIn following your request for brevity, Madam Deputy Speaker, may I ask the Minister when is the correct time to recognise Palestine as a state?28 Jan 2025HANSARD Gambling Act 2005 (Monetary Limits for Lotteries) BillMy hon. Friend talks about the financial pressures that charities face. Volunteer Centre West Berkshire has said that charities in West Berkshire will need to find an additional…24 Jan 2025HANSARDPublic Services ReformThe reform of public services and the reliance on artificial intelligence to deliver that led the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to pilot the Microsoft Copilot…23 Jan 2025HANSARD New Hospital Programme ReviewIn a few weeks’ time, I will celebrate my 42nd birthday. I was born at the Royal Berkshire hospital in Newbury, and given the Secretary of State’s announcement today, I will be…20 Jan 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsWill the Government look at redefining affordable housing in national policy so that it is pegged to average local income rather than at the whim of an overheated housing market?20 Jan 2025HANSARDObesity: Food and DietI congratulate the hon. Member for Stroud (Dr Opher) on securing this debate. I thank him for raising interesting aspects of which I was not aware, such as the 13 cancers. I also…20 Jan 2025