Contributions
219 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskI should remind the House of my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. For 30 years, I have been a member of the GMB trade union, where I was greatly supported as…15 Jul 2026HANSARDCoastal Communities: Isolation and Hidden DeprivationIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Alec. There is a version of coastal communities that we like to tell ourselves, of chocolate-box fishing villages and…14 Jul 2026HANSARDCoastal Communities: Isolation and Hidden DeprivationI hear what the Minister says; as a lifelong Liberal, I personally found those years extremely difficult. That said, rurality is not taken into account when the Government give…14 Jul 2026HANSARD Extreme Heat: PreparednessIt is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Sir Christopher. I thank the hon. Member for Waveney Valley (Adrian Ramsay) for introducing this important debate. The reports this week…14 Jul 2026HANSARD Coastguard Volunteers: Remuneration and HMRC GuidanceWe are a proud seafaring nation—as John Evelyn put it, the “sea is England’s element”—and the coastguard stands as the nation’s eyes and ears along our shore. The west Somerset…01 Jul 2026HANSARD Farming: Financial SustainabilityIt is always a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. I rarely miss an opportunity to speak about farming in this place. It was a privilege last October to be…24 Jun 2026HANSARDUK-EU Economic Co-operation13. If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing levels of economic co-operation with the EU.23 Jun 2026HANSARDUK-EU Economic Co-operationToday does indeed mark 10 years since Britain voted to leave the European Union. One of the consequences of Brexit has been to bury my constituents in red tape. My farmers cannot…23 Jun 2026HANSARDSchool Rebuilding ProgrammeTiverton high school has been on various lists for a rebuild since 1999. I am genuinely grateful to the Department for Education for the work that has gone on behind closed doors…22 Jun 2026HANSARD Business of the HouseMy constituent Marika built Fortitude gym in Williton from scratch at just 27 years old after selling her own house mid-covid. It has grown into a community wellbeing hub with…18 Jun 2026HANSARDInfected Blood Compensation SchemeI am going to try to make my intervention without crying. I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his impassioned speech. I am a member of the Public Accounts Committee, and this…18 Jun 2026HANSARD Rural Pubs: Fiscal SupportI congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing this debate. As everybody knows, I represent the most beautiful constituency in the United Kingdom. As he says, pubs are not just…17 Jun 2026HANSARDDraft Digital Waste Tracking (England) Regulations 2026I rise to speak on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, who broadly support the establishment of a digital system to track the movement of controlled waste. We have long campaigned—as…16 Jun 2026HANSARDCommunity HospitalsI thank my hon. Friend the Member for South Cotswolds (Dr Savage) for giving us all the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the challenges facing community hospitals, particularly…16 Jun 2026HANSARDMass Transit SystemsAs the Secretary of State knows, the closure of the B3191 at Cleeve Hill in my constituency remains a major problem for the town of Watchet and has left it effectively dependent…11 Jun 2026HANSARD Business of the HouseI have a constituent whose 15-year-old daughter is living with acute functional neurological disorder, a too often misunderstood condition that has profoundly diminished her…11 Jun 2026HANSARD Legacy of Jo CoxI never met the hon. Lady’s sister, but I absolutely remember when she was taken from us. I admired her hugely, and I still do. The fact that there are so many new Members of…11 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanAs somebody who represents Devon as well as Somerset, may I share the Minister’s sentiments about the very tragic loss of lives in west Devon last week? I am glad that the…10 Jun 2026HANSARD High Street Businesses: Government SupportIt is a pleasure to see you in the chair this afternoon. Ms Lewell. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Didcot and Wantage (Olly Glover) for giving us the opportunity to speak…04 Jun 2026HANSARDHome-to-School TransportI serve on the Public Accounts Committee, and I was the spokesperson for that report when it went to the media. The report dealt specifically with the education of those with…04 Jun 2026