Tuesday saw an Urgent Question granted on Ukraine, where the Defence Secretary provided an update on the situation on the ground and the UK’s involvement. I took the opportunity to ask what support the UK would be giving following reports that nuclear plant employee Valeriy Martynyuk had been kidnapped and was being held under threat of torture. You can read a transcript of my question here in Hansard or watch it here on ParliamentTv.
That afternoon I intervened during a Westminster Hall debate about the treatment and persecution of the Baha’i community in Iran. Here I had the chance to highlight that people of the Baha’i faith are barred from accessing higher education in Iran as a tactic to keep the youth isolated and powerless. You can read a transcript of my contribution here in Hansard or watch it here on ParliamentTv.
Later that evening, as vice chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Liver Cancer and Liver Disease, I secured a Westminster Hall debate in order to discuss the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and cancers effecting the liver. You can read a transcript of the debate, including my opening speech here in Hansard or watch it here on ParliamentTv.
Wednesday started with Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland. I took the opportunity to raise Investment Zones, a topic which many of my constituents have contacted me about. I asked about what discussion there had been around the impact such zones may have on the environment. You can read a transcript of my intervention here in Hansard or watch it here in ParliamentTv.
Following this, the House debated the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill. Here I made a short speech to stress the importance of ensuring the security of the bill before it finishes its passage through the Commons. You can read a transcript of my contribution here in Hansard or watch it here on ParliamentTV.
During Thursday’s Business Questions I raised the concerns of a local business, Equi’s Ice Cream, who have found themselves excluded from the business energy support scheme and asked the Leader of the House to follow up with the Chancellor on the response he had promised following the mini-Bud]get. You can read a transcript of my question here in Hansard or watch it here on ParliamentTv.
Later that afternoon, I took part in a debate about Voting by Proxy and gave a short speech supporting the motion, which would allow members kept away from the House by long illness to still represent their constituents. I also asked about the timescales of any fit notes provided and for the Minister to provide clarity around some of the terms of the pilot scheme due to take place next year. You can read a transcript of my contribution here in Hansard or watch it here on ParliamentTv.