Contributions
565 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD CarnivalsI beg to move, That this House has considered Government support for carnivals. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Harris. I thank the Backbench Business…12 Mar 2026HANSARDExtreme Climate and Weather Events: National ResilienceI thank the hon. Member for securing this important debate. Storm Chandra hit the Somerset levels terribly badly. Water falling on already saturated land caused huge issues for…10 Mar 2026HANSARDFur: Import and SaleIt is an honour to serve with you in the Chair this morning, Ms Jardine. I congratulate the hon. Member for Newport West and Islwyn (Ruth Jones) on securing this important debate,…10 Mar 2026HANSARD English RugbyI founded North Dorset women’s rugby club back in 1995 and I am very pleased to say that it is still going. There is now also a fantastic girls’ team, linked with Castle Cary…10 Mar 2026HANSARD English RugbyHolly Davidson made history in February when she took charge of the Ireland versus Italy Six Nations game in Dublin, becoming the first woman to referee a men’s game. Being a…10 Mar 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsSkills bootcamps in Somerset give businesses in Glastonbury and Somerton the opportunity to collaborate with training providers. This helps to address persistent skills shortages.…09 Mar 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsT1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.09 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle East: Economic UpdateSince the outbreak of the conflict in the middle east, heating oil prices have increased by over 100%. That is a harsh reminder that relying on volatile fossil fuel markets leaves…09 Mar 2026HANSARDFirearms LicensingIt is an honour to serve with you in the Chair, Mrs Barker. I thank the Petitions Committee, and I thank the hon. Member for South Norfolk (Ben Goldsborough) for introducing the…23 Feb 2026HANSARD Storm Chandra FloodingI am grateful for having secured this debate on the Government’s response to flooding as a result of Storm Chandra. Before I begin, I want to pay tribute to the hard work and…11 Feb 2026HANSARD Storm Chandra FloodingIn a previous life, before being elected to this House, I was the lead member for climate change and environment on Somerset council. Somerset has a lower-than-average tree canopy…11 Feb 2026HANSARD Storm Chandra FloodingI could not agree more. We need mitigation, resilience and protection, but we also need to support our communities through the aftermath. That is absolutely crucial. I thank my…11 Feb 2026HANSARD Storm Chandra FloodingI thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. I wholeheartedly agree. Every flooding incident is different and sometimes it is difficult to dictate where flooding incidents will…11 Feb 2026HANSARD Storm Chandra FloodingI thank the hon. Gentleman for his kind words and for his intervention. Indeed, nature-based solutions and natural flood defences are absolutely important—I know that the Minister…11 Feb 2026HANSARD Storm Chandra FloodingI am pleased that the consultation is open, and that will be good news for riparian owners across Somerset. Should the consultation come back saying that riparian owners need to…11 Feb 2026HANSARD Business of the HouseYesterday, I hosted the Farm Safety Foundation in Parliament to launch the ninth year of its Mind Your Head Week campaign. Although there has been progress in talking about mental…05 Feb 2026HANSARDFlood PreparednessLast week, 50 mm of intense rain fell across large parts of Somerset and exacerbated the already saturated ground, with a major incident declared on Tuesday. With more unsettled…05 Feb 2026HANSARDSustainable Drainage SystemsIt is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mrs Barker. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Newton Abbot (Martin Wrigley) on securing this debate and on his…05 Feb 2026HANSARD Postal Services: Rural AreasIn November last year, Henstridge post office closed, leaving a rural village without a vital service. Luckily, local resident Barry is working with the Post Office to reopen the…04 Feb 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsT2. The need for increased defence spending is clear, but the growing uncertainty over the future of the new medium helicopter contract has left Leonardo in the lurch, over a year…02 Feb 2026