Contributions
1,226 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Youth Mobility Scheme: EUI do not share the hon. Member’s downbeat assessment, and neither does the European Union. Maroš Šefčovič himself said last week that our relationship with the EU is definitely in…29 Jan 2025HANSARD Youth Mobility Scheme: EUMy hon. Friend makes a really powerful point. It was a particularly low moment for the country when one of its Prime Ministers could not answer a question as to whether the French…29 Jan 2025HANSARD Youth Mobility Scheme: EUWhat a pleasure it is to serve under your chairmanship for the first time, Sir Jeremy. I congratulate the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Sarah Olney) on two counts: first, on…29 Jan 2025HANSARD Youth Mobility Scheme: EUI disagree with the hon. Lady’s descriptions of PEM as a customs agreement—that is not quite how it operates, or is meant to operate. Secondly, I observe that on the various…29 Jan 2025HANSARD Youth Mobility Scheme: EUI will just say, first, that when the hon. Lady talks about a “comprehensive programme of engagement”, that is precisely what the Government have been engaging in. The hon. Lady…29 Jan 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords ReformAs the Member of Parliament for the seat where I grew up, I share my hon. Friend’s passion for representing my area. He will be aware of the Government’s manifesto commitment to…23 Jan 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords ReformMy hon. Friend is absolutely right, and we want to see this Bill on the statute book by the end of this Session. The role of hereditary peers is completely indefensible in this…23 Jan 2025HANSARDRelations with the EUThe Prime Minister and the President of the European Commission have agreed to strengthen the relationship between the EU and the UK, putting it on a more solid, stable footing. I…23 Jan 2025HANSARDInfected Blood Compensation Scheme: PaymentsThe Infected Blood Compensation Authority has made the first compensation offers to 11 people, with a total value of more than £13 million. The Government have also paid over £1…23 Jan 2025HANSARDInfected Blood Compensation Scheme: PaymentsIn October, applications opened for eligible estates to claim interim compensation payments of £100,000. So far, more than 230 estates have received payments. I hope those…23 Jan 2025HANSARDInfected Blood Compensation Scheme: PaymentsYes, the right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. I look forward to the former Paymaster General’s reflections after his visit next week. I was delighted yesterday to meet the…23 Jan 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI will be carrying out another round of engagement with victims next week. As I said in answer to the former Paymaster General, the right hon. Member for Salisbury (John Glen),…23 Jan 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question. We have arrangements with France to make school trips easier. I think we agree across the House that school trips are an…23 Jan 2025HANSARDEU Trade and Co-operation Agreement: FishingI engage with a range of stakeholders relevant to our relationship with the EU, for example through the UK-EU trade and co- operation agreement’s domestic advisory group, which I…23 Jan 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsIBCA is operationally independent, but I expect the first payments for the affected to be made before the end of this year. I am restless for progress and will do all I can as a…23 Jan 2025HANSARDEU Trade and Co-operation Agreement: FishingI understand and recognise the strong interest in what happens in 2026 when the arrangements that were negotiated by the previous Government end. I say to the right hon. Gentleman…23 Jan 2025HANSARDInfected Blood Compensation Scheme: PaymentsI am restless for progress on the speed of payments, and I will do everything in my gift as a Minister to lay the regulations before this House speedily. IBCA is obviously…23 Jan 2025HANSARDInfected Blood Compensation Scheme: PaymentsThe whole House will be moved by the story of my hon. Friend’s constituent. It is a story from this appalling scandal that many of us across the House will be hearing from our…23 Jan 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords ReformI do not think the hon. Gentleman can seriously compare the appointments we have put forward with what happened under the Conservative party. We have already set out that each and…23 Jan 2025HANSARDRelations with the EUMy hon. Friend makes a good point, and I can confirm that our priority remains ensuring that UK artists can continue to perform and promote themselves around the world. That is…23 Jan 2025