Contributions
281 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD County Durham: Cultural OpportunitiesI am delighted that my hon. Friend mentioned where it started. In Shildon we recently unveiled a world origin site plaque, showing that the world’s first commercial railway…20 Jan 2026HANSARD County Durham: Cultural OpportunitiesI thank my hon. Friend for mentioning Bishop Auckland. On Friday, we are having a big meeting for people helping to launch our bid to be the town of culture. Does she agree that…20 Jan 2026HANSARDNew TownsThank you, Madam Deputy Speaker; I am often last with my contributions, but hopefully not least. I also thank my hon. Friend the Member for Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch (Katrina…15 Jan 2026HANSARD UK Town of CultureI thank my hon. Friend the Member for Halesowen (Alex Ballinger) for securing this debate, and warmly welcome the opportunity for Bishop Auckland to bid to become the UK’s town of…07 Jan 2026HANSARDFarming Profitability1. What steps she is taking to help increase the profitability of farming.18 Dec 2025HANSARDFarming ProfitabilityMerry Christmas, Mr Speaker. As we are all sleeping in or children are opening their stockings on this Christmas morning, farmers in Teesdale and Weardale will be up tending to…18 Dec 2025HANSARDChild Poverty StrategyI thank the Secretary of State for this strategy, which is what I came into politics for. I also thank her for the roll-out of Best Start family hubs. I appreciate that it is…08 Dec 2025HANSARD Budget ResolutionsWill the hon. Gentleman give way?26 Nov 2025HANSARD Critical Minerals StrategyI was delighted to see the prominence given to County Durham in the strategy, as Weardale, which I represent, has the highest density of lithium currently known in the UK. Will…24 Nov 2025HANSARDBus Services20. What steps she is taking to help improve local bus services.20 Nov 2025HANSARDBus ServicesI welcome the new powers relating to buses, and the new funding for them that the Government are giving, but the problem is that what this Labour Government are giving, our Reform…20 Nov 2025HANSARDInternational Men’s DayI thank my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock Chase (Josh Newbury) for leading this debate and for his powerful and courageous speech. We have come a long way in 12 months. Twelve…20 Nov 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 20234. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.19 Nov 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023I am proud to represent a community with a lot of veterans, many of whom served in Northern Ireland. Who is the Secretary of State engaging with to ensure that the protections for…19 Nov 2025HANSARDTaxesThe point I am making is that spending for spending’s sake is not what any responsible Government should do. We should spend every tax pound well. These examples of waste are not…12 Nov 2025HANSARDTaxesI voted against a motion saying that the payment should be a universal benefit, because I do not think that it should be universal, and I argued for where I thought it should be.…12 Nov 2025HANSARDTaxesThat is a fair question, and I will answer it. It is important that we do not return to the days when the Conservatives were in office and vanity projects wasted so much public…12 Nov 2025HANSARDTaxesI have never supported the two-child cap. The Conservatives introduced a two-tier benefit system that penalised younger families in a way that it does not penalise older families.…12 Nov 2025HANSARDTaxesThat is not a vote before the House right now, but I have been pretty clear in my answer. I never agreed with the cap when the Conservatives introduced it. They did terrible…12 Nov 2025HANSARDTaxesI was distracted by the chuntering of the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Mark Garnier) and thought that he may have wanted to make an intervention. I will finish as I started. For…12 Nov 2025