Contributions
426 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD PensionsI apologise for inadvertently using the word “you” the last time that I spoke, Mr Speaker. Clearly, the clock is ticking for WASPI women. There are 3.6 million WASPI women across…11 Nov 2025HANSARD Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) BillI thank the Government for the steps taken to improve the Bill since it was debated in Committee. We as Liberal Democrats still have grave concerns about elements of the Bill, but…05 Nov 2025HANSARD Welfare SpendingIt is important that the House, first of all, reflects on where the Conservatives left our community when they left power. We should reflect on the fact that the number of people…04 Nov 2025HANSARD Welfare SpendingI thank the hon. Member. I reflect on the savage cuts made to public health spending. I would particularly mention the number of people who sleep rough on our streets. I…04 Nov 2025HANSARD Infected Blood Compensation SchemeI congratulate the Minister on making real progress on this matter, after many years of delays. I recently met Jean Hill and her daughters. She has been campaigning on this issue…30 Oct 2025HANSARD Gaza and HamasThe Minister has already acknowledged that it is olive harvest season in the west bank—a harvest that supports approximately 100,000 farming Palestinians—yet we have seen more…29 Oct 2025HANSARD European Convention on Human Rights (Withdrawal)Putin’s patsy!29 Oct 2025HANSARDInternational Baccalaureate: Funding in State SchoolsIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Roger. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Didcot and Wantage (Olly Glover) on obtaining this debate. I myself…29 Oct 2025HANSARDInternational Baccalaureate: Funding in State SchoolsMy two sons both went to Torquay boys’ grammar school. One undertook the international baccalaureate. The other went down the A-level route and got three A*s. Universities do not…29 Oct 2025HANSARD World Stroke DayIn Torbay, in Devon, we have the third highest prevalence of strokes in the United Kingdom, and yet, within the last 12 months, we have seen cuts to support for the local stroke…28 Oct 2025HANSARDChild PovertyI note that last year the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions said that it is open to debate as to whether the two-child limit is harmful. I note also that this policy…27 Oct 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe Government have made a promise that those transferring from legacy benefits to universal credit will find themselves no worse off, yet Liberal Democrat colleagues from all…27 Oct 2025HANSARD Fishing and Coastal Growth FundBrixham has the highest-value catch in England, yet it is in Torbay, which is the most deprived local authority in the south-west of England. How will local levels of deprivation…23 Oct 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsT10. I have recently been contacted by International House Torquay, a language school, which has welcomed the opportunity for German foreign students to use ID cards to travel as…23 Oct 2025HANSARDNew Hospital Programme5. What progress his Department has made on the implementation of the new hospital programme.21 Oct 2025HANSARDEnding HomelessnessThank you for chairing this debate, Mr Efford, and I congratulate the hon. Members for Liverpool Wavertree (Paula Barker) and for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) on securing it.…21 Oct 2025HANSARDNew Hospital ProgrammeThe Conservatives still have not apologised for the appalling state that they left our NHS in. Torbay hospital is the third oldest hospital in the United Kingdom. It has a tower…21 Oct 2025HANSARDPost-16 Education and Skills StrategyTorquay Boys’ grammar school has long delivered the international baccalaureate. My own eldest son, George, has benefited from that and, under the scheme, has volunteered in a…20 Oct 2025HANSARD Pride in PlaceI congratulate the Minister on her appointment and welcome the core principle that she described: giving our communities the power to decide how to put money to best use. I am…15 Oct 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [Lords]On funding, the Devon partnership NHS trust looks after people with mental health challenges in the Torbay community, where levels of depths of despair are particularly high. The…14 Oct 2025