After the Christmas break, a busy week kicked off on Monday with Oral questions to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Here I had the opportunity to ask about how the most recent round of support from the Levelling Up fund might help to support wage growth across the UK during the ongoing cost of living crisis. You can read a transcript of my contribution here in Hansard or watch it here on ParliamentTv
During topicals, I asked what recent discussions Ministers have had with the Scottish Government about funding for the ongoing remediation of unsafe cladding. You can read a transcript of my contribution here in Hansard. Or watch it here on ParliamentTv.
Shortly after this there was an Urgent Question to the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport regarding the future of Channel 4. Following the positive news that the channel will no longer be privatised, I asked about the agreement that Channel 4 would create more jobs outside of London and how that might impact Glasgow specifically. You can read a transcript of my contribution here in Hansard, or watch it here on ParliamentTV.
In the afternoon, I took part in two Westminster Hall debates. The first in response to an online petition regarding road traffic collisions involving cats. Here I made two interventions, firstly to highlight the Government’s previous commitment to introduce legislation to make microchipping of cats compulsory by the end of last year, and the fact that this is yet to happen. Then, to raise concerns that budgetary constraints and staffing shortages could prevent local authorities from scanning cats for microchips after an accident. You can read a transcript of my contributions here and here in Hansard. Or watch the whole debate here on ParliamentTv
The second Westminster Hall debate was also in response to another petition, this time regarding the use of snares. Here I made a speech to raise concerns about the cruelty involved in the use of such traps, the difficulties around regulating the use of snares under current legislation and the argument for a complete ban of their application. You can read a transcript of my contribution here in Hansard or watch it here on ParliamentTv.
Tuesday began with a Westminster Hall debate about Lifeboat Services: Search and Rescue. Here I made one intervention, to highlight the National Independent Lifeboat Association and the representation that they provide for smaller lifeboat operators. You can read a transcript of my contribution here in Hansard, or watch it here on ParliamentTv.
In the afternoon, I took part in a second Westminster Hall debate on potential reforms to the House of Lords. I made two interventions here, firstly to ask how such reforms might impact the retention of expertise across many different areas, which is crucial for proper legislative scrutiny. Then to ask if reducing the current number of peers could be a first step towards reform. You can read a transcript of both of my interventions here and here in Hansard or watch the whole debate here on ParliamentTv.
After this, I participated in a third Westminster Hall debate, this time on the Future of the Postal Service. Here I mentioned how well Royal Mail perform in certain areas in comparison to their competition and that many of these rival companies, like Evri, should be held to account for their consistently poor service. You can read a transcript of my contribution here in Hansard, or watch it here on ParliamentTv.
During Oral Questions to the Scotland Office on Wednesday, I took the chance to highlight the issue of Green Deal Miss-selling and the impact that this is having on energy bills, as well as the lack of support for customers from their energy providers. You can read a transcript of my question here in Hansard and watch it here on ParliamentTv.
This was followed in the afternoon by a Westminster Hall debate regarding British Council Contractors in Afghanistan. Here I raised the issue of British contractors and their families remaining in Afghanistan, despite qualifying for relevant asylum schemes and called for the Home Office to look into rectifying this as quickly as possible. You can read a transcript of my contribution here in Hansard, or watch it here on ParliamentTv.
Thursday was another busy day, beginning with Oral Questions to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. I asked what consideration there had been around the regulation of foreign plant species in order to protect our biodiversity and food production. You can read a transcript of my contribution here in Hansard or watch it here on ParliamentTv.
Business Questions followed this and here I encouraged colleagues to attend the British Liver Trust Fibroscan Event in Parliament, in my capacity as co vice chair of the APPG on Liver Disease and Liver Cancer. You can read a transcript of my contribution here in Hansard, or watch it here on ParliamentTv.
Next, in the Chamber, I intervened during a debate on the current situation in Iran. Firstly, to highlight the hundreds of individuals killed by live fire used by the Iranian regime and to stress the importance of the UN carrying out fact finding missions in the region. Then to stress the importance of the UK Government applying pressure to the Iranian authorities to ensure that minorities in the country are not oppressed further. You can read a transcript of both of my interventions here and here in Hansard or watch them here and here on ParliamentTv.
Later that afternoon, I participated in a Westminster Hall debate on skills and labour shortages. Here I made two interventions, to question the efficacy of visa programs and how the Home Office could be approaching this issue and to raise the benefits of investing in the younger generation and encouraging them to pursue work that they enjoy, as a way to reduce labour shortages and the skills gap. You can read a transcript of my contributions here and here in Hansard or watch here and here on ParliamentTv.