Contributions
1,353 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPolice Efficiency: TechnologyPolice efficiency is the argument being used to propose the merger of Lancashire and Cumbria police forces, something which I strongly oppose. Lancashire is a wonderful county,…23 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastAgainst the backdrop of this illegal, counterproductive and reckless war, next month, Palestinians in the west bank and in parts of Gaza will take part in municipal elections,…23 Mar 2026HANSARDPublicly Owned Markets: Food SecurityOnly 55% of Britain’s food is produced in Britain, so food security should be a much bigger priority for this Government. Donald Trump’s war in the middle east, Putin’s war on…19 Mar 2026HANSARDFuel DutyI thank the right hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay (Mr Holden) for bringing forward this debate. It is a really important one because the impact of fuel costs—both for…18 Mar 2026HANSARDFuel DutyMy hon. Friend makes an excellent point. That is a reminder that people’s experiences of increased prices are myriad in type. What those people have in common is a shared and…18 Mar 2026HANSARDFuel DutyThe hon. Gentleman makes a very good point. That will be the case across my communities, too; many people will drive to Penrith, Oxenholme, Grange-over-Sands or Windermere to park…18 Mar 2026HANSARDFuel DutyAny effort that the Government make in supporting people and businesses through this process will have a medium to long-term positive impact on the Treasury: if we can keep…18 Mar 2026HANSARDCrown Court FundingLast year, Carlisle Crown court saw a reduction of 71 sitting days. Add to that the fact that Westmorland, our neck of the woods, lost our magistrates court in Kendal 10 years…17 Mar 2026HANSARD Rural RoadsWestmorland and Furness council has seen its budget cut by 31%. We are England’s largest and most rural council. Yet the Government have decided to defund rural communities, which…17 Mar 2026HANSARD GP ContractThe beautiful and vibrant yet very isolated community of Coniston has had a GP practice for the last 200 years or so, but it runs the risk of losing it this year. Its GPs, who…16 Mar 2026HANSARD Environmental Protection and BiodiversityIt is an honour to serve under your guidance this afternoon, Sir Roger. I pay tribute to the hon. Member for North East Hertfordshire (Chris Hinchliff), who made a fantastic…03 Mar 2026HANSARDSpeech and Language TherapyOn the subject of the provision of speech and language therapy for students with special educational needs, Westmorland and Furness council, in my area, was not one of the…02 Mar 2026HANSARDMiddle EastA couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit the west bank and Israel, where these actions were being anticipated, largely with some dread. The great sense I got from…02 Mar 2026HANSARDAccess to RadiotherapyI welcome what the Minister has just said, but we start a long way behind. In OECD countries, the average proportion of people with cancer with access to radiotherapy is 53%. In…24 Feb 2026HANSARDIndependent Water Commission: Final ReportIt is a pleasure to serve under your guidance, Sir Jeremy. I thank everyone who has taken part in this debate so far, which has been interesting and thoughtful, but especially my…10 Feb 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsT6. Last week, I spent half an hour talking to a constituent in Windermere who owns a small hotel. Over the past four years, his energy bills have doubled. He does not draw any…10 Feb 2026HANSARDElectricity Distribution Network: ResilienceThere are two things that the Government could do to improve energy resilience, particularly in communities like mine in Cumbria. First, they could support Electricity North West…10 Feb 2026HANSARDLocal Authority Children’s ServicesI am grateful to my hon. Friend for making an important speech on behalf of his most vulnerable constituents. Does he agree that rural and sparsely populated authorities can…28 Jan 2026HANSARD Rural Broadband: InstallationThe hon. Member is making a really important speech, and I commend him for the survey he conducted. In Cumbria, many communities and homes that are within the scope of Project…27 Jan 2026HANSARDGovernment-backed Loans: SMEsHas the Minister assessed what proportion of British Business Bank grant funding goes to the smallest of businesses? One in four people in my constituency works for themselves or…27 Jan 2026