UK Parliament - Page 10

How did we get to a situation where a child pretends to eat out of an empty lunchbox because they did not qualify for free school meals and did not want their friends to know there was no food at home? Where

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics show that UK services export volumes have risen nine times faster than goods since 2010. The UK is already the second largest exporter of services in the world, after the USA, and has world

There is no doubt about the importance of the role that the under-10-metre fishing fleet plays nationally and locally. According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the fleet represents around 80% of the UK’s total fishing vessels and lands

The discovery and development of vaccinations is one of the most significant and impactful achievements in human history. Vaccines have proved to be one of the most successful public health measures to control, and in many cases eliminate entirely, deadly and infectious

“The role of the independent sector has been associated with significant challenges which pose an increasing risk to the sustainability of comprehensive eye care services in the NHS.” That is the view of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB); ministers

North Devon is blessed with a beautiful stretch of coastline, and people travel from across our United Kingdom to surf in our bathing waters. However, the risk of sewage is causing people to avoid the water entirely. This isn’t helped by unclear

A frequent complaint MPs hear from their constituents is that modern car headlights are far too bright, causing discomforting glare for motorists and potentially increasing accidents. While complaints are frequent, action by government has been sadly lacking, therefore, I decided to raise

Seven months on since the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7th the conflict between Israel and Gaza continues to dominate MPs’ mailbags and is a popular choice of topic that members of the public are raising e-petitions on. The most recent e-petition

Virtually every business, charity and public sector organisation is, in some way, digital. As high-profile incidents have shown, however, cyber-attacks exploiting this digitalisation have left citizens and businesses vulnerable and exposed to hostile actors as they move more and more of their

Transport is key to our local economy, to levelling up, and to people’s opportunity literally to get on their bikes and better themselves—something that we Conservatives believe in strongly, in line with our best traditions and values. Every time I am out

As Co-Chair of the APPG on Eye Health and Visual Impairment, I was pleased to lead the first debate in over 25 years on Glaucoma, highlighting issues that I have long campaigned on. The importance of good eye health cannot be overstated.

Imagine how hard life is if you cannot see. There are amazing people who are able to use a dog to help them go about their daily life. Dogs trained so skilfully that they can transform the opportunities for blind people. Almost

I write here today to delve into a matter of profound significance – the fortification of our strategic partnership with Morocco, and an appeal for recognition and deeper cooperation. Throughout my existence, Morocco has consistently manifested itself as a steadfast ally, demonstrating

We are coming up to halfway through 2024, the year this Tory Government promised to end rough sleeping, instead we have just seen statistics released by the Department for Levelling Up that show yet another increase in homelessness. The figures paint a

With the commencement of border checks on 30th April, much of the focus has been on the possible effects of food inflation, smuggling and road chaos. But the shockwaves have rippled into every sector of the economy and in North Shropshire the

The closure of Chatham Dockyard in 1984 had a profound impact on our community. The fallout from redundancies reverberated throughout the Medway towns, reshaping lives, and landscapes. Over a number of years, the Dockyard has been revitalised blending residential areas, offices and

Next month charities across the UK will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Volunteers’ Week. It’s an opportunity for charities and the wider public to recognise, celebrate and thank the UK’s incredible volunteers for all they contribute to our local communities, the

During a visit to Hitachi’s rail manufacturing plant in Newton Aycliffe, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has pledged to end the boom-and-bust cycle which is holding back Britain’s struggling rail manufacturing industry. On the visit, Keir Starmer and Shadow Transport Secretary Louise

Last week, I was privileged to lead a debate in Parliament on access to dentistry for cancer patients. I did this to highlight the phenomenal campaigning of my constituent, Michele. Michele is a cancer survivor who has spent years raising awareness of

The rapid growth of digital technologies is revolutionising the way that we live and work. These days most jobs have a digital element and we are now beginning to see new and exciting career opportunities across the digital economy. As Chair of

I have a blue laminated badge with the slogan “Free Nazanin” that peaks out at me from the corner of my living room mirror. It was given to me by Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband Richard the first time I met him, during his

The Government has confirmed it will not make arrangements for the Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, to appear for questioning by MPs in the House of Commons – despite a recommendation from the House’s Procedure Committee for exactly that to

Up until November last year, I had the privilege of serving as Minister of State in the Department of Health and Social Care, a Department where despite your best efforts, you spend a considerable amount of your time fire-fighting and dealing reactively

The publication of the Cass Report on the 10th April was a sobering event and put beyond question the harm that has been inflicted on many vulnerable children and young people because ideology was allowed to triumph over scientific rigour and clinical

It’s an ordinary weeknight. It’s past 11pm and, after a hard day at work, you are relaxing at home, or perhaps you’ve already gone to bed. Just as you are drifting off to sleep, the silence is broken by a barrage of

Food is the thread that weaves together the fabric of our families, communities, and societies. It sustains life. In a world where technology often disconnects us, food has the power to bring us together. It is a remedy for loneliness. But with

This country’s peatlands contain more carbon than the forests of the UK, France and Germany combined. They are the UK’s largest carbon store. And they are home to some of our most iconic and rarest wildlife, such as the bittern, the swallowtail

Rather than unleashing Britain’s potential, the Tories have squandered it. And after this latest offering from Jeremy Hunt, I cannot help but consider the consequences of a government that is both out of touch and out of time. On their watch, debt

As a result of an Oral Question in the Lords, research by the RAC, input from optometrists and a petition on Parliament’s website, Ministers have agreed to launch a review into headlight glare where drivers are dazzled by on-coming cars. After I

There has been considerable disquiet across sports and the health service about the impact trans ideology is having on language, service provision, freedom of speech and on the rights of women and girls. Following press reports that the GMC’s staff maternity and

The avowed purpose of the Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme (VDPS) is to offer redress to those who suffered life-changing injuries or bereavement as a result of being vaccinated against Covid-19. They did the right thing by public policy but too many are

Few people on either side of politics would disagree with the premise that we need to continue to do as much as we can to protect the natural world. This Parliament has seen major steps forward in regulation. Our biggest focus in

As we approach a general election at some point this year, or maybe early next year, there’s no better time to assess the Government in relation to the conduct of elections. That is why I hosted a Westminster Hall Debate last week

Last week, I spoke in Westminster Hall about public access to defibrillators. Defibrillators are critical life-saving devices. Over 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests happen each year, and survival rates are persistently low – averaging around 8.5%. Without CPR or defibrillation, the

Last week I was delighted to lead a Westminster Hall debate on UK Food Security. The UK is facing a Food Security crisis as our farmers experience increasing uncertainty over the viability of their businesses, while our supermarkets continue to be flooded

In February this year, I visited Armenia for the first time. I was struck by the beauty of the landscape, the impressive architecture, and the ancient religious heritage sites. However, it was the meeting that I and my parliamentary colleagues held with

The critical 1001 days of human life, from pregnancy through to two, are the most important. This time is unique and represents a critical period for a child’s future learning and cognitive abilities, physical development, emotional regulation and well-being, and social skills.

Despite the remarkable efforts of our teachers and education leaders, who heroically adapted their lessons for online learning, we lost tens of millions of hours of valuable classroom time during the pandemic. And we know that disadvantaged children were most affected. Sir

The death of Terrance Radford in April 2019 was a tragedy, which should never have happened. His death reflects a point of failure within our prison system that was entirely preventable. Had his killer, Gavin Collins, remained in prison then Terrance would

At 47, I never thought I would be sharing the news that I had a heart attack. But that is what happened in August last year. I don’t often reveal personal details, but I felt it was important to share my personal

Labour has promised to take immediate steps in government to swiftly and efficiently remove those with no right to be in the UK as part of a major overhaul, to restore some grip and credibility to the asylum and immigration system that

This week, I led a Westminster Hall Debate on Social Housing Occupancy Levels, an issue I have been campaigning on since I become a Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green in 2015 and before that a London Council Leader. Each

The youth of today have grown up in a time like no other, their childhoods dominated by a pandemic, austerity, and an increasingly polarised world. And so it is no surprise that as of 2023, over half a million under 25s are

There is a profound energy crisis afflicting our constituents in the Highlands and Islands, one that has been ignored for too long by the UK Government, who have all the powers over energy policy reserved to them and their regulator OfGem. Simply

World Book Day is a celebration. It’s a day where everyone comes together to reflect on the importance of reading and literature for people of all ages, and encourage, especially the younger generations, to embrace the joy of reading. Created by UNESCO

t is impossible to look at the drugs trade in the United Kingdom or anywhere else without reference to organised crime. The two are inextricably linked, from the production to distribution and sale of illegal drugs. Combating their activities will have a

I recently had a meeting with the CEO of Majestic Wine, the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, which has more than 200 stores across the UK, including one in my constituency. The UK is a major global hub for wine and spirits

A core part of my role as a Member of Parliament is to advocate for the safety and protection of my constituents. Indeed, the principal role of Government is to ensure safety and security of all citizens. One such threat to citizens

The news that a reported 3000 people attended a protest meeting at Carmarthen Mart should send shock waves through the political establishment. Rural Wales is very angry, and the simple slogan of ‘Enough is Enough’ indicates that the farming community have had

After nearly 23 years as a Member of Parliament, and having never been drawn for a Private Member’s Bill, last year I was fortunate in being drawn fourth. This means that, if my Bill has widespread political support, it stands a reasonable