Contributions
956 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSale of FireworksMy hon. Friend mentioned drones, which I know can provide really spectacular sound and light shows, but I would be slightly nervous about endorsing the use of drones instead of…19 Jan 2026HANSARDChildren’s Care Home Providers: Financial OversightLast Friday, the Public Accounts Committee, of which I am a member, published its report into the financial sustainability of children’s homes. The report highlights that there is…19 Jan 2026HANSARD Covid-19: Financial SupportThank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I wanted to reflect the value of the self-employed to our economy, and to reflect on how, as we learn the lessons from covid, that group of…15 Jan 2026HANSARD Covid-19: Financial SupportI thank my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Manuela Perteghella) for securing this debate and for her excellent opening speech, and I thank the Backbench Business…15 Jan 2026HANSARD Airport Drop-off ChargesThe hon. Lady is making an excellent speech; I am grateful that she has secured this debate. Airports are imposing drop-off charges primarily to increase profits, despite their…13 Jan 2026HANSARDFinance (No. 2) BillI want to speak to amendments 42 to 47. The Bill fails to recognise the specific way in which family businesses are different from businesses whose shares can be traded. The tax…12 Jan 2026HANSARDEngagementsQ2. The period after Christmas can be a challenging time for many people, and consequently the month of January consistently sees higher rates of suicide than other times of the…07 Jan 2026HANSARD Therapeutic Play and Children’s HealthcareI thank the hon. Member for securing this important debate. Last year, two important reports were produced: “Mental health inpatient settings: overarching report of investigations…06 Jan 2026HANSARD Future of Thames WaterMy hon. Friend is giving an excellent speech on a topic that is very close to every Liberal Democrat heart. Thames Water is in £17 billion of debt, yet the company continues to…06 Jan 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsOn a point of order, Mr Speaker. I asked the Secretary of State a direct question about his former statements and how they conflict with current Government policy. Would you agree…06 Jan 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsMr Speaker, “We owe it to future generations not just to have good environmental principles but to act on them. That is why I will be voting against the third runway at Heathrow”—…06 Jan 2026HANSARDLocal Government FinanceI am really concerned that the Government’s fair funding formula sells many London councils short, such as Richmond and Kingston in the area that I represent. The majority of…17 Dec 2025HANSARD INEOS Chemicals: GrangemouthI thank the Minister for advance sight of the statement. I welcome the Government’s announcement that they are stepping in to offer support and protect jobs in this vital…17 Dec 2025HANSARD Employment Rights BillOn a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I think that is disgraceful. The hon. Gentleman is literally implying corruption. I made it very clear in my speech what the basis of…15 Dec 2025HANSARD Employment Rights BillToday we are debating the fourth round of consideration of Lords amendments to this Bill, and this long and protracted process says a lot about the way the Government have…15 Dec 2025HANSARD Employment Rights BillI am glad that the hon. Member has raised that. I was coming to that in my speech. Perhaps he could listen with a little more attention. Employers have finally been given the…15 Dec 2025HANSARD Employment Rights BillIt is so revealing of Conservative Members’ mindset that they cannot believe what I am actually saying is the reason for our change, and that they assume instead that we must have…15 Dec 2025HANSARDEconomic GrowthThank you, Mr Speaker—I appreciate you giving me the time. I listened carefully to the Minister’s response to my hon. Friend the Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse). Some £90 billion…11 Dec 2025HANSARDEnergy CostsI wish to come in after question 6, Mr Speaker—apologies.11 Dec 2025HANSARDSmall and Medium-sized BusinessesThe Government have repeatedly said that they would introduce permanently lower business rates. We were pleased to hear the Chancellor announce lower multipliers in the Budget,…11 Dec 2025