The week kicked off on Tuesday, with a Westminster Hall debate on Motorway Litter. I made three interventions here. Firstly, to highlight the health and safety concerns of highways workers who are tasked with cleaning up litter on busy motorways. Then to raise concerns about the dangers posed by germs and diseases carried by animals killed after being attracted by discarded food waste. And finally, to ask if more signage warning of the consequences of littering would deter those who would discard rubbish on motorways. You can watch the entire debate here on ParliamentTv.
On Wednesday I took part in another Westminster Hall debate, this time on Anti-Social Behaviour in Town Centres. I made two interventions here, firstly to talk about an issue impacting a pub in my constituency which is being subjected to ongoing anti-social behaviour by local youths and to ask if a cross agency approach is needed to tackle this. Then to raise the matter of sectarian graffiti in my constituency and how this can often be a generational problem. You can read transcripts of my interventions here and here in Hansard or watch them here and here on ParliamentTv.
Thursday was a busy day, beginning with questions to the department for Culture, Media and Sport. I asked the Minister if his department planned to encourage more sporting bodies to introduce inclusive policies, following the Rugby Football Unions announcement on pregnancy, maternity and adoption policy. You can read a transcript of my question here in Hansard or watch it here on ParliamentTv.
This was followed by an Urgent Question to the Defence department on the war in Ukraine. I asked the Minister how Britain might help to provide prosthetic limbs to Ukraine, given the increasing need in the country and the ability of the UK to produce high quality products. You can read a transcript of my question here in Hansard or watch it here on ParliamentTv.
After this there was a Ministerial Statement on the Gambling Act Review White Paper. I highlighted the need for a more intersectional approach to treatment programmes following the opening of the UK’s first women only residential treatment for gambling addiction. You can read a transcript of my question here in Hansard or watch it here on ParliamentTv.
Business Questions came next. I raised concerns with the Leader of the House about the difficulties that my office had been having with arranging a meeting with the relevant department to discuss the impact of the HELMS Green Deal scam. You can read a transcript of my question here in Hansard or watch it here on ParliamentTv.
In the afternoon there was a Ministerial Statement on the situation in Sudan. I highlighted the dangers posed by individuals impersonating key players in this conflict in order to spread misinformation, putting lives and operations in jeopardy. You can read a transcript of my contribution in Hansard or watch it here on ParliamentTv.