Contributions
1,082 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillFirst, that is a matter for the Chair. Secondly, I presume that, if the amendment were not in order, it would not have been selected. This is not Treasury questions, so I do not…21 Jan 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillIn a moment—please do not interrupt the Royal British Legion. It says: “The Government needs to understand the impact of their policy on veterans in order to better support those…21 Jan 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillWhen I have finished this point, yes. The Forces Pension Society points out that the system is recoverable because the changes are subject to a consultation and are not currently…21 Jan 2025HANSARD Green Belt: Basildon and BillericayI am grateful to my parliamentary neighbour for giving way. One of the most worrying things about Labour-run Basildon council’s new local plan is that 17,000 of the 27,000…17 Jan 2025HANSARD Green Belt: Basildon and BillericayI understand the principle, but I have read the local plan. There is not one specific word in there about plans to expand Basildon. There is an associated infrastructure delivery…17 Jan 2025HANSARD Green Belt: Basildon and BillericayMid and South Essex hospitals trust, which runs Basildon hospital, reported that in the autumn, the hospital was running at between 98% and 99% of its bed capacity. In recent…17 Jan 2025HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationDespite what senior county councillors are telling Ministers, there is absolutely no clamour in Essex for devolution—quite the reverse. Nor do the public support the Government’s…15 Jan 2025HANSARD Women’s Changed State Pension Age: CompensationI can confirm that my right hon. Friend has campaigned on this issue for a number of years, and not just today. He will know that in July 2022, the Prime Minister—then the Leader…15 Jan 2025HANSARDGeneral ElectionWill the hon. Gentleman give way? This is supposed to be a debate. Will he give way?06 Jan 2025HANSARDGeneral ElectionAs Hansard will show, no one said that we would not have given public sector workers a pay rise. No one on these Benches uttered those words, but the £9 billion that Labour…06 Jan 2025HANSARDGeneral ElectionI am completely opposed to increasing VAT on school fees, but at least Labour did put that in its manifesto. Have my right hon. Friend’s constituents told him, as mine have told…06 Jan 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner: AppointmentDuring debates on the Bill in Committee I raised the worrying issue that under the Treasury’s proposed inheritance tax changes, service personnel who are unmarried but in a…06 Jan 2025HANSARDGeneral ElectionHappy new year to you, Mrs Harris, and to everyone else at this important debate, which was ably introduced by the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (Jamie…06 Jan 2025HANSARDDefence Industrial Strategy: SMEsOn defence industrial strategy, the new amphibious multi-role support ships are several years away—a point the Armed Forces Minister obviously appreciated when, in opposition last…06 Jan 2025HANSARD Service AccommodationFor the record, I declare an interest: I participated in the inquiry while serving on the Committee in the previous Parliament. I thank the Committee Chairman for kindly pointing…19 Dec 2024HANSARD UkraineI thank the Minister for providing advance sight of his statement, which we on this side of the House warmly welcome. As the Minister noted, last month marked the grim milestone…19 Dec 2024HANSARD English DevolutionTrying to create multiple unitary authorities in Essex will not work, will not have public support, will take the best part of a Parliament to implement and will not save money—in…16 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Fourth sitting)I take no umbrage at all at what the Minister said about Tuesday—Her late Majesty herself famously said that recollections may vary. I think the point has been made. Could he give…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Fourth sitting)I only have two points to make. First, if it reassures the hon. Lady, I did read into the record that she had a conflicting appointment downstairs in the main Chamber and that…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Fourth sitting)On the point about recruitment, I hope the Minister, who is fair-minded, would be prepared to attest that in the previous Government, when I was on the Back Benches, there was no…12 Dec 2024