Contributions
440 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDefence 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 2026 · 5d agoHANSARDDefence 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 2026HANSARDForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeThe Minister may be aware that the Public Accounts Committee held a session on 8 January on the BBC World Service. At that session, we pushed for the BBC to be given a budget for…04 Mar 2026HANSARD Ministry of DefenceMadam Deputy Speaker, I am grateful to catch your eye to speak in this very important debate. I congratulate the Chair of the Defence Committee, the hon. Member for Slough (Mr…04 Mar 2026HANSARD Ministry of DefenceIt is shocking, as my hon. Friend says from the Front Bench. As the Chair of the Defence Committee said, not only is it terrible for defence companies wanting to be able to plan…04 Mar 2026HANSARD Ministry of DefenceThe hon. and gallant Member has great experience in these matters. I think he must have been reading my speech. If he is patient, I think he will get exactly what he wants. The…04 Mar 2026HANSARD Ministry of DefenceThe hon. Gentleman raises an important point. In the reorganisation of the MOD into the Quad that I have talked about, the critical person is the Chief of the Defence Staff,…04 Mar 2026HANSARD Education Funding: DistributionIs the hon. Lady aware of a device called the statutory override which allows local authorities not to declare a deficit in their accounts although they are still incurring a…28 Jan 2026HANSARD Education Funding: DistributionWe have already heard this evening about the difficulty of parents getting EHCPs. Even when they have got them—90% of parents who apply do eventually get them, despite the…28 Jan 2026HANSARD Firearms Licence Holders: Mandatory Medical MarkersI should perhaps clarify for the House that I chair the all-party parliamentary group on shooting and conservation. I congratulate the hon. Lady on securing this debate. Does she…28 Jan 2026HANSARD Firearms Licence Holders: Mandatory Medical MarkersThe hon. Member has prompted the second point that I want to make. Doctors and other medics are perfectly happy to do medical checks on people in relation to driving licences.…28 Jan 2026HANSARD Firearms Licence Holders: Mandatory Medical MarkersIt is a great pleasure to speak under your chairmanship, Ms McVey. I reiterate my congratulations to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Helen Maguire) on securing this important…28 Jan 2026