Last week started with Oral Questions to the ministerial team at the Department for Work and Pensions, where I took the opportunity to press the Secretary of State on media reports that morning, that the Department was cutting thousands of Jobcentre Work Coaches but keeping those at the lowest grade. You can read a transcript … Read more
Another busy week in Westminster, with the Foreign Secretary providing an update to the House on the situation in Ukraine, and her proposed sanctions on Russia. I asked her what impact she thinks an invasion would have on our food supply chains, as Ukraine has become one of the UK’s main suppliers of cereal and … Read more
This week started strong, with the Prime Minister attending the House to provide an update on the situation in Ukraine, where Russian troops are gathered on the border, and there are concerns of invasion. I was grateful for the opportunity to put a question to the PM, and I asked him what support the UK … Read more
This week started with a bang, with an announcement from the Culture Secretary about potential changes to the BBC’s funding structure. Like many of my colleagues, I believe the BBC is a national treasure, and it must be protected. I asked the Secretary of State whether her officials were considering allowing adverts to run on … Read more
On Tuesday 11th, the Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) secured a debate on eye health. Despite this being a devolved issue, there are calls for national oversight and strategy, as the current private-NHS hybrid model struggles to keep up. I made two interventions during this debate, to highlight the shortage of specialist ophthalmologists, and the … Read more
The last day before Parliament broke for recess was an incredibly busy one, with two Urgent Questions put to the Government by Members, and a lengthy general debate. At Transport questions, I again pressed the Government to provide greater support to the aviation industry, who have been hard-hit over the past 18-months. You can read … Read more