Contributions
545 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget (No. 2) BillAnd in its absence?10 Jul 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget (No. 2) BillMay I begin by expressing my personal disappointment that once again we are here passing measures that should rightly be passed in Stormont? I will add a significant caveat: I had…10 Jul 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget (No. 2) BillI am grateful for that clarification, but however good the intentions are, it seems to fall short of full compliance with what is expected under the section 75 procedure. Could…10 Jul 2023HANSARD Business of the HouseI thank the Leader for giving us the business and, again, endorse the remarks that the shadow Leader has made about standards. I wish to add my own remarks about the 35th…06 Jul 2023HANSARDDigital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (Twelfth sitting)With regret, I am not minded to withdraw amendment 67. I hear what the Minister says about how the Government may wish to go beyond existing levels of consumer protection. That is…04 Jul 2023HANSARDDigital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (Thirteenth sitting)I beg to move amendment 117, in schedule 19, page 349, line 39, at end insert— “Non-commercial society lotteries 13 (1) A contract under which a lottery ticket or tickets are…04 Jul 2023HANSARDDigital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (Twelfth sitting)As the explanatory statement sets out, amendment 67 seeks to ensure that the consumer rights to redress introduced through secondary legislation by Ministers cannot offer less…04 Jul 2023HANSARDDigital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (Twelfth sitting)Thank you for your guidance, Mr McCabe. I have not yet spoken in Committee, and the reason for that is simple. As I said on Second Reading, from a Scottish National party…04 Jul 2023HANSARDDigital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (Twelfth sitting)I am sorry to disappoint the Minister, but this is an issue of fundamental importance, and if I withdrew the amendment, it would be an opportunity missed. Of course, we could go…04 Jul 2023HANSARDDigital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (Twelfth sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr McCabe. With your indulgence, if it is appropriate, I will also speak to amendment 69 and am happy to speak to amendments 115…04 Jul 2023HANSARDDigital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (Twelfth sitting)I beg to move amendment 68, in schedule 18, page 343, line 2, at end insert— “32 Making claims about— (a) the environmental benefits, or (b) the sustainability (as defined by…04 Jul 2023HANSARDDigital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (Thirteenth sitting)If the Minister can assure me that we will have that open dialogue, and that the Government will share the outcomes of their deliberations, at this stage I am content to withdraw…04 Jul 2023HANSARDDigital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (Twelfth sitting)I thank the Minister for that sideswipe, but it would be a great deal easier for the Scottish Government to comply with an English-designed scheme if that scheme was actually in…04 Jul 2023HANSARDDigital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (Twelfth sitting)I beg to move amendment 67, in clause 225, page 152, line 30, at end insert— “(4A) The Secretary of State must by regulations make any further provision necessary to ensure that…04 Jul 2023HANSARDDigital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (Twelfth sitting)I very much support amendment 116, to the extent that I withdrew my attempt at an amendment that would have countered fake reviews. It is clear that fake reviews are a matter of…04 Jul 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsThis week, the European Council adopted the EU’s free trade agreement with New Zealand, which includes dedicated sustainable food systems chapters, a dedicated trade and gender…29 Jun 2023HANSARD Business of the HouseI thank the Leader of the House for the business and I endorse everything that the shadow Leader of the House said in relation to standards. I would like to begin by paying…29 Jun 2023HANSARDScottish Trade and CultureThe Scottish seafood industry has been hit with an estimated 50% increase in the cost of packaging owing to the requirement—thanks to the form of Brexit chosen by this…29 Jun 2023HANSARDPublic Services: BudgetBeyond the cost of living crisis, there is a crisis facing public services across Northern Ireland. To give one very pertinent example, the chief constable of the Police Service…21 Jun 2023HANSARDCost of LivingThe former US Treasury chief said earlier this month that Brexit was a “historic economic error”, and described the UK Government’s economic policy as having been “substantially…20 Jun 2023