Contributions
1,012 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (First sitting)Q Thank you and welcome, Professor Spowage. The Public Accounts Committee has expressed concerns that the allocation of levelling-up funds could be at risk of being mired in the…21 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (First sitting)Q To follow up on that, there are communities that would really benefit from levelling-up funding, and the indices of multiple deprivation to assess need are not being used here.…21 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (First sitting)Q You will be aware of the allegations—the suspicions in certain quarters—about how transparent and impartial the allocation of the towns fund awards were. Given that similar…21 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Second sitting)Q The Institute of Economic Affairs has described the missions in the Bill as being of “dubious quality”. Do you have any concerns about whether there are sufficient or robust…21 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (Second sitting)Q I noted your comments, Mr Bell, about the importance of team spirit in levelling up communities. Do you have any thoughts or comments about the fact that the Scottish Government…21 Jun 2022HANSARDLevelling-up and Regeneration Bill (First sitting)Q Do you think it would be helpful or desirable for an independent body to oversee and assess the UK Government’s progress on levelling up? Mairi Spowage: Through the Bill, my…21 Jun 2022HANSARDPassport Application Processing TimesCivil servants working in the Passport Office are under huge pressure, and staff morale is reported to be understandably at an all-time low, owing to a lack of Government…20 Jun 2022HANSARDPassport Application Processing Times17. How many and what proportion of passport applications that were received over 10 weeks ago have not yet been processed.20 Jun 2022HANSARDFarmed Animals: CagesI extend my thanks to the hon. Member for Stockton South (Matt Vickers) for the tone and content of how he opened the debate. The decision as to whether we permit farm animals to…20 Jun 2022HANSARDBusiness of the HouseBy way of preamble, Mr Speaker, I wish to congratulate you on the acquisition of your new cat, Clem, whom I had the great pleasure of meeting this morning. The Tories in Scotland…16 Jun 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsT4. According to the latest figures from the Food and Drink Federation, despite the Minister’s earlier remarks, UK food and drink exports to the EU in the first quarter of 2022…16 Jun 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsT7. On Friday, the cross-party Public Accounts Committee described the UK Government’s procurement of £4 billion of unusable PPE during the pandemic, which is now to be burned, as…14 Jun 2022HANSARDUK Gross Domestic ProductCuts to VAT on fuel duty are now beyond urgent. Some £46 of tax is paid on the average fuel tank, as fuel prices rocket to new highs. As households and businesses struggle, the…13 Jun 2022HANSARD Business of the HouseI, too, extend my birthday greetings to you, Mr Speaker. The recent support announced by the Chancellor to help with energy bills was welcome as far as it goes. However, I and my…09 Jun 2022HANSARD Levelling-up and Regeneration BillI wish I could say that I was optimistic about the impact of the Bill, but the fact is that this flagship Government agenda will not deliver what it purportedly sets out to do; it…08 Jun 2022HANSARDFootball Index CollapseI have a number of constituents in North Ayrshire and Arran who have lost significant sums of money as a result of the collapse of Football Index. Football Index customers were…07 Jun 2022HANSARDEconomy UpdateIt is right that those companies making billions in excess profits should contribute more tax in these difficult times, and the Chancellor recognised that today by announcing a…26 May 2022HANSARD Business of the HouseTomorrow, 27 May, is World Animal Free Research Day. The sentient rights of animals in the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 could, and should, have been strengthened to…26 May 2022HANSARDHuman Rights Framework ReformWill the Secretary of State follow last year’s recommendation of the Joint Committee on Human Rights and ensure that there are no changes to the Human Rights Act—the provisions of…24 May 2022HANSARDHuman Rights Framework Reform7. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on proposed reforms to the UK’s human rights framework.24 May 2022