Contributions
565 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDReported TheftsI thank the Minister for his response. In 2022, the cost of rural theft in the south-west rose by 16.6% from the year before. Has the Minister made an assessment of the success of…15 Jan 2024HANSARDReported Thefts4. What the average length of time was between (a) thefts being reported and (b) first contact with the police in the last 12 months.15 Jan 2024HANSARD Free School Meals: Children with SENDIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Huq. I thank the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Ian Byrne) for securing this debate. Mainstream and special schools…10 Jan 2024HANSARDNHS DentistryThe British Dental Association recently said that NHS dentistry is facing access problems “on an unprecedented scale”. Those of us who live in rural areas such as Somerton and…09 Jan 2024HANSARDWomen in the Defence SectorHappy new year to you, Mr Speaker, and to the House. I thank the Minister for his response. Many of my constituents work in the defence sector, whether at RNAS Yeovilton, Leonardo…08 Jan 2024HANSARDStorm HenkSomerset is once again experiencing the effects of climate change at first hand, and Storm Henk was the latest catastrophic event to result in flooding across my constituency.…08 Jan 2024HANSARD Rural TransportWill the hon. Member give way?08 Jan 2024HANSARD Rural TransportI congratulate the hon. Member on securing this important debate. In my constituency, I have been campaigning to keep vital rural bus routes in service for those who cannot or do…08 Jan 2024HANSARDWomen in the Defence Sector4. What recent assessment he has made of trends in the number of women employed in the defence sector.08 Jan 2024HANSARD Sustainable Farming InitiativeI congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this important debate. Recent figures show a remarkably low uptake of the sustainable farming incentive. Does my hon. Friend agree that…19 Dec 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsT6. Mr Speaker, I wish you, those across the House and my constituents a very merry Christmas. People in rural areas suffer more than their urban counterparts because of the rural…19 Dec 2023HANSARD Sustainable Farming InitiativeMy hon. Friend is making a very good point. Does he agree that financially aware farms help make financially secure farms, which build food security for the country?19 Dec 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsT4. Many people took the decision to pay for pension top-ups in 2020 and 2021, but in numerous instances this has not led to any increase in their state pension; nor have they…18 Dec 2023HANSARD Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) BillI will not at this stage—I will carry on with what I am saying—but of course lots of funding has been cut. In 2021, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution’s big farming…18 Dec 2023HANSARD Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) BillAlthough I very much welcome the return of this Bill, I wish it had not been an afterthought. I wish this was not another U-turn, albeit a partial U-turn, designed to paper over…18 Dec 2023HANSARD Broadband: Rural CommunitiesClearly, given many of the comments heard today, I would agree with the hon. Gentleman. We need to put more focus on the very hard-to-reach places, particularly in rural areas, to…13 Dec 2023HANSARD Broadband: Rural CommunitiesIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Dowd, and to speak in this vital debate; I congratulate the hon. Member for West Dorset (Chris Loder) on securing it. In the…13 Dec 2023HANSARD Public Sector Food ProcurementIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Christopher. I thank the hon. Member for Totnes (Anthony Mangnall) for securing this important debate. Food must form an…12 Dec 2023HANSARD Water Companies: Executive BonusesYesterday in Somerset, 67 millimetres of rain fell in 24 hours and 10 flood warnings have been issued at the time of speaking. This is not a one-off event. Flash floods in May…05 Dec 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsFarmers face many serious mental health challenges, including the financial precipice that this Government have led them to. According to the Farm Safety Foundation, 95% of young…05 Dec 2023