Contributions
1,278 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Nationality and Borders Bill: LGBTQ+ PeopleI am very conscious that we have a lot to get through; a lot of points have been raised in the debate, so I will make some progress. I am very mindful of the need to stop those…02 Feb 2022HANSARD Nationality and Borders Bill: LGBTQ+ PeopleI am afraid I have got a lot to get through. A lot of points have been raised, and I want to deal with one that was made by the hon. Member for Glasgow North East (Anne…02 Feb 2022HANSARDHumanist MarriagesI certainly take on board the hon. Lady’s point. Colleagues here this afternoon have made that argument in very strong terms, and it is one that I am mindful of. I also note the…27 Jan 2022HANSARDHumanist MarriagesIt is my understanding that humanists can get married by their chosen celebrant on approved premises, but that the superintendent registrar and registrar must be present. To allow…27 Jan 2022HANSARDHumanist MarriagesI hear what the hon. Gentleman suggests. If I may, I will continue to make my argument and pick up on some of those points as I progress. According to Humanists UK, 1,050…27 Jan 2022HANSARDHumanist MarriagesIt is fair to say that the Government certainly support the institution and the principle of marriage. I wanted to reflect my own personal sentiments in that regard, and to pick…27 Jan 2022HANSARDHumanist MarriagesIt is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Huq. I start by thanking my hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Crispin Blunt) for securing this debate, and for the…27 Jan 2022HANSARDHumanist MarriagesThe hon. Gentleman will know that I always try to set expectations in the House at a reasonable level. I do not think it is right to set unrealistic expectations about such…27 Jan 2022HANSARDRemoval of Failed Asylum SeekersOur new plan for immigration will overhaul our asylum system and speed up the removal of failed asylum seekers. The Bill will introduce new measures to prevent repeated…17 Jan 2022HANSARDRemoval of Failed Asylum SeekersI am grateful to the hon. Lady for her question. She will know that Ministers in the Home Office are always keen to try to assist in these matters wherever possible. If she could…17 Jan 2022HANSARDRemoval of Failed Asylum SeekersMy hon. Friend gets to the nub of the issue by saying that we must have a fair but firm system. Returns have undoubtedly been hard hit as a result of the pandemic, and we want to…17 Jan 2022HANSARDRemoval of Failed Asylum SeekersI am grateful to my hon. Friend, who raises an important point. It is fair to say that the Nationality and Borders Bill and the new plan for immigration focus very much on…17 Jan 2022HANSARDMarriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) BillIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir George. My hon. Friend the Member for Mid Derbyshire has, as ever, eloquently set out her case in support of the Bill, an…12 Jan 2022HANSARDOutdoor Marriages and Civil PartnershipsOn 20 December, the Government launched a public consultation on outdoor weddings and civil partnerships. This consultation sets out, and seeks views on, the Government’s…06 Jan 2022HANSARDAnimal TestingI thank the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West (Margaret Ferrier) for securing this important debate and for her kind festive wishes, which are very much reciprocated to…16 Dec 2021HANSARDAsylum Seeker Accommodation: RAF ManstonI thank my hon. Friend for his question. The point I make in response is that nobody should be getting in a small boat to find safety—nobody has any cause to do that. That is why…15 Dec 2021HANSARDAsylum Seeker Accommodation: RAF ManstonAs the House knows, there has been an unacceptable rise in the number of small boat crossings. It is absolutely right that the Government take all necessary steps in response to…15 Dec 2021HANSARDAsylum Seeker Accommodation: RAF ManstonI thank my right hon. Friend for his tone in raising this issue on behalf of his constituents, and I fully appreciate the sensitivities he has expressed. I know, not least because…15 Dec 2021HANSARDAsylum Seeker Accommodation: RAF ManstonI am very grateful to the shadow Minister for her various questions and of course the assiduous way in which she always goes about these matters. We spent quite a lot of time…15 Dec 2021HANSARDAsylum Seeker Accommodation: RAF ManstonI am very grateful to my right hon. Friend for his question. Of course, as is standard practice, budgets are agreed formally with the Treasury in the usual way. I think it is fair…15 Dec 2021