Contributions
565 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesSomerset has the third highest rate of school exclusions and the second highest rate of suspensions in England for children with SEND. Does the Minister agree with today’s…24 Oct 2024HANSARDHorseracingIt is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Sir Edward. I congratulate the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Nick Timothy) on securing this important debate. Last week, I was…24 Oct 2024HANSARDCompanies in DistressAlmost 48,000 companies in the south-west are now classed as in significant economic distress, according to the latest Begbies Traynor’s “Red Flag Alert” report. That is visible…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Business of the HouseGlastonbury and Somerton is home to wonderful cider, with producers including Tricky Cider in Langport, Harry’s Cider in Long Sutton and Burrow Hill Cider near Kingsbury Episcopi.…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Water Companies: Regulation and Financial StabilityI congratulate my hon. Friend on his excellent speech. Data from Thames Water shows that Glastonbury and Somerton was the 16th worst constituency in England and Wales for sewage…23 Oct 2024HANSARD Water Companies: Regulation and Financial StabilityWill my hon. Friend give way?23 Oct 2024HANSARDLarge-scale Energy Projects and Food SecurityI will not, given the time. Poorer quality land can still be productive, as sheep can graze underneath the solar panels, while the solar array provides a diversification…22 Oct 2024HANSARDLarge-scale Energy Projects and Food SecurityIt is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Sir Mark. I congratulate the hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Llinos Medi) on securing this important debate. Farmers across the country…22 Oct 2024HANSARDNeighbourhood PolicingThe cost of rural crime shot up by 41% in the south-west between 2022 and 2023, while 86% of respondents to a recent National Farmers Union survey said that rural crime was…21 Oct 2024HANSARD Access to Primary HealthcareWe know that primary care has been struggling—struggling to meet targets, keep up with demand and help the population remain healthy. Those difficulties are particularly acute in…16 Oct 2024HANSARD Renewable Energy Projects: Community BenefitsIt is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Dr Huq. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire (Mr MacDonald) on securing this important…15 Oct 2024HANSARDUK DefencesMany of my constituents work in the defence sector, with RNAS Yeovilton based in Glastonbury and Somerton, Thales operating from Templecombe, and Leonardo based nearby. However,…14 Oct 2024HANSARDFunding for FarmingSomerset is home to 8,500 farmers and food producers, which is more than any other county in the UK. They are worried that the £130 million of support will be stripped from them…12 Sept 2024HANSARDViolence against Women and GirlsJust one in 83 rape offences recorded by Avon and Somerset Police last year resulted in a charge or court summons. Compared with other police forces in the south-west, that…12 Sept 2024HANSARD Rural Bus ServicesI could not agree more with the hon. Gentleman. Rural bus services need to be given proper funding. They are so crucial to our residents and must be aligned with those urban…11 Sept 2024HANSARDPlanning Policy: Traveller SitesI thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention; he misunderstands. I am fully aware that it is local authorities that provide Traveller sites, but the funding is not there for…11 Sept 2024HANSARD Rural Bus ServicesI beg to move, That this House has considered bus services in rural areas. It is an honour to serve with you in the Chair, Dame Siobhain. Bus services in rural areas provide a…11 Sept 2024HANSARD Rural Bus ServicesThat was the exact point of the Public Transport (Rural Areas) Bill: to make sure there is a service level agreement so people can travel where they need to go, particularly for…11 Sept 2024HANSARD Rural Bus ServicesI thank the hon. Member for his intervention. I absolutely agree that collaboration with contiguous authorities is crucial. We must also provide confidence in bus services to…11 Sept 2024HANSARD Rural Bus ServicesI thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. Once again, I will come to that a little later. I have spoken previously in this place about the rural premium that residents are…11 Sept 2024