Contributions
478 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Business of the HouseThe Sentencing Council has issued guidelines saying that a pre-sentence report will normally be considered before sentencing a criminal from an ethnic, cultural or faith minority,…06 Mar 2025HANSARDInternational Women’s DayMany women in my constituency are doing incredible things, and I am pleased to speak in this debate on International Women’s Day. Judith Ballard, Moira Allen, Molly and Rachel…06 Mar 2025HANSARDDepartment for Business and TradeMy hon. Friend refers to the increase in regulation. The Government’s Employment Rights Bill, which I have in my hand, is 192 pages long. Only this week, Government amendments…05 Mar 2025HANSARDDepartment for Business and TradeThe Government were elected eight months ago with a promise to go for growth, but so far most of their policies seem designed to make life more difficult for business. Their £25…05 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting DaysThe Lord Chancellor has been in office for eight months today. Although her announcement of additional sitting days is welcome, it is regrettable that she did not make this…05 Mar 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsT8. Bridgwater’s 77 pubs, including the Crossways Inn in West Huntspill, are at the heart of our local communities, yet the sector overpays £500 million in business rates relative…04 Mar 2025HANSARDFinance BillI am sure that there are one or two good parts to this Finance Bill, but the hon. Gentleman was elected on a manifesto pledge to increase spending by £11 billion, and that was…03 Mar 2025HANSARDFinance BillI invited the Minister to explain how the Budget would improve the lot of farmers. In particular, I gave the example of the £5 million family farm that would incur an inheritance…03 Mar 2025HANSARDFinance BillI am grateful for my hon. Friend’s intervention. Indeed, combined with the rise in the minimum wage and Labour’s Employment Rights Bill, the contents of this Finance Bill seem to…03 Mar 2025HANSARDFinance BillI am grateful for your guidance, Madam Deputy Speaker. People in the social care sector in Bridgwater were particularly concerned that the national insurance contributions rise…03 Mar 2025HANSARDFinance BillThis Finance Bill implements the 2024 autumn Budget. That was a bad budget and this is a bad Bill. It punishes businesses, discourages entrepreneurship and raises taxes on those…03 Mar 2025HANSARDFamily BusinessesMy hon. Friend is right: all Labour’s measures will increase unemployment. Although Labour will say it has reduced the multiplier of business rates, this does not fully…26 Feb 2025HANSARDFamily BusinessesI am pleased the Opposition are using our time today to debate the importance of businesses large and small. It is the private sector that creates the wealth on which our society…26 Feb 2025HANSARDFamily BusinessesThe hon. Gentleman would be correct if, in fact, there was a written contract that included a probationary period. What he forgets, however, is that many small businesses will…26 Feb 2025HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [Lords]The pandemic clearly had something to do with that reduction. I would not say the system is perfect, but I fear that replacing it with a committee of civil servants appointed by…25 Feb 2025HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [Lords]Would the Secretary of State agree that one of the difficulties is that employers cannot spend the money from the apprenticeship levy easily, and that too much of that money is…25 Feb 2025HANSARDInstitute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [Lords]This Bill is important for the future of technical education and apprenticeships in our country, and I accept that the Government’s intention is to streamline the governance and…25 Feb 2025HANSARDAntisocial BehaviourDoes the Home Secretary agree that it would be easier for the police to tackle antisocial behaviour if they had more support for special constables? The number of special…24 Feb 2025HANSARDRoad SafetyBridgwater railway station has a bus stop that has remained unusable since its construction due to road layout and safety issues. Despite this being a relatively small fix,…13 Feb 2025HANSARD Business of the HouseBen and Amy Branson are my constituents. Their daughter Bethany was 19 when she was killed by a drunk driver on 8 November 2022. The driver crashed his van into a car and fled the…13 Feb 2025