Contributions
450 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationIf we had to have change, I thank the Secretary of State for listening to the vast majority of people Gloucestershire and coming up with the best proposal that was on the table.…16 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Audit OfficeI thank the Prime Minister very much for making this appointment. As Chair of the Public Accounts Committee and the appointments panel, I warmly welcome the motion to appoint…02 Jul 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanIt would appear that this defence investment plan is unaffordable, but the Public Accounts Committee will be examining that. Deep in the plan is an old accountant’s trick: a vast…30 Jun 2026HANSARD Department for Work and PensionsWill my hon. Friend give way?30 Jun 2026HANSARDHome Office and Ministry of JusticeI thank the Backbench Business Committee, Mr Speaker, and yourself, Madam Deputy Speaker, for granting the debate, and the Minister for being here—I hope she will find it useful.…29 Jun 2026HANSARDHome Office and Ministry of JusticeThe hon. Member makes an interesting point, and the Government must consider in the round how they can give people useful training, work and leisure in prison, so that they come…29 Jun 2026HANSARDHome Office and Ministry of JusticeAs my hon. Friend and the House will know, the reoffending rate is around 50%. Given the numbers he has just announced, it is inevitable that serious crimes will be committed. If…29 Jun 2026HANSARDHome Office and Ministry of JusticeThe Minister is absolutely right: it is necessary to have confidence in our criminal justice system. Will she therefore answer the question from my hon. Friend the Member for…29 Jun 2026HANSARDHome Office and Ministry of JusticeThis has been a constructive debate, and everybody has aired the themes that I raised throughout the debate. The Minister has outlined one or two areas where things are going a…29 Jun 2026HANSARD Farming Road Map and Profitability ReviewI think I am right in saying that the document, which is 70 pages long, mentions profitability just twice. Without profitability, which involves a hard-hearted look at…24 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanThe House will be aware that we spend £333 billion a year on the Department for Work and Pensions. We spend less than a fifth of that on defence, at £62 billion. In his speech…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanThe Minister will be aware that on Sunday we published a report—I have it here—that is highly critical of the delay in the defence investment plan. The most important duty of a…10 Jun 2026HANSARDDebate on the AddressI do not think I could design a tax increase that was a bigger tax on jobs than the hike in national insurance. I totally agree with the hon. Lady, and I think it is tragic in…13 May 2026HANSARDDebate on the AddressMadam Deputy Speaker, I am grateful to catch your eye in this important King’s Speech debate. I follow other colleagues in congratulating the hon. Members for Bradford West (Naz…13 May 2026HANSARDDebate on the AddressIf the hon. Gentleman is just a little patient, he will find that, two or three paragraphs down, I will address precisely that point. Currently, the defence budget for 2025-26 is…13 May 2026HANSARDDebate on the AddressI welcome the hon. Gentleman’s intervention. As someone who worked under my right hon. Friend for Sutton Coldfield (Sir Andrew Mitchell) as a junior Opposition defence spokesman,…13 May 2026HANSARDDebate on the AddressIt may be pretty obvious to some, but it is not so obvious to others. To govern is to make difficult choices. In short, the Government are spending more than the country can…13 May 2026HANSARD Pension SchemesI thank the Minister for his statement, and for meeting me to discuss this issue. As he is aware, the Public Accounts Committee has held multiple sessions with Capita on the…22 Apr 2026HANSARD Crime and Policing BillLords amendment 11 relates to the police powers to crush vehicles, which are rarely used for fly-tipping. I remind my hon. Friend and the House that similar powers exist for hare…20 Apr 2026HANSARDHeating Oil SupportAlthough I thank the Minister for the limited amount of support that he has announced today, may I represent to him two of the most vulnerable groups in this regard: the very old…16 Mar 2026