May 2026

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to celebrate the rich heritage of the British Fijian community. I join her in recognising Girmit Day, which serves as a powerful reminder of the valuable contribution that British Fijians make to our communities.

The hon. Lady reaffirms the importance of local sports—particularly, in her part of the world, rugby—to communities. I congratulate her on managing to mention just about everybody in her local community in one question. Well done to the team.

My hon. Friend has been an assiduous campaigner on this matter, having raised this issue in previous business questions. I know how important it is for her constituents, so I will raise it with the relevant Minister and see if a meeting can be arranged.

The hon. Gentleman raises important matters. The Health Secretary is absolutely committed to making sure that the healthcare professionals that the NHS needs, going forward, are in place. I will raise the case that he mentions with the relevant Minister, and will ensure that he gets an update, or a meeting, if he would like one.

My hon. Friend raises an important point. We are committed to improving health outcomes across the UK, and to ensuring that the UK remains an outstanding place to start a company, scale and invest. We are actively discussing the matter that he raises with the industry, and I will make sure that he receives an update from the relevant Minister.

The hon. Member raises some very concerning matters. If she gives me the details of this case, I will ensure that it is raised with the relevant Minister, and that she gets the answers that she seeks.

As my hon. Friend says, Liverpool has been home to some of the most influential artists of the modern age, and we want to see that proud tradition live on. She is a strong advocate for the city she loves. Every pub and live music venue is receiving 15% off its business rates, and local authorities should be applying the guidance fairly. My hon. Friend may wish to raise these matters in the King’s Speech debate on Monday, when we discuss backing business to create economic growth, because the iss

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that the Government do not support the SNP’s position, and I join in what he says. As we set out yesterday, the King’s Speech is for the whole of the United Kingdom; it is about bringing prosperity to every part of our country, because the reality is that we are stronger together.

This is a case that my hon. Friend has raised with me before, and I pay tribute to him for the way that he has championed the rights of his constituents. As he will have heard in the King’s Speech yesterday, we are taking action in this area, and I encourage him to speak in debates as the relevant legislation passes through the House. I understand that, as he says, assurances have been received from the Solicitors Regulation Authority on this case, and that an investigation has been opened. I on

This is the second time this morning that proportional representation has been raised, and it is a good illustration of how, when the Lib Dems and Greens agree on an issue, they are invariably wrong. It will be possible for the hon. Lady’s party to raise and vote on the issue during the debate on the King’s Speech, and as she points out, there are Bills being considered that will allow her to raise the matter as well. However, I fear that when the House gives its verdict, it will not be the resu

I am sorry to hear of the case that my hon. Friend raises. The Government are committed to helping working people balance their jobs with their personal lives, including by managing their health conditions. I will ensure that the relevant Minister is made aware of this concerning case, but my hon. Friend may also want to take an opportunity to make those points during the debate on the King’s Speech, as this is an important part of ensuring that people can fully contribute to the economy, and to

I join the hon. Gentleman in thanking the Fishermen’s Mission for the work that it does, not least in North Shields, where it is led by the Rev. Peter Dade in an exemplary way, as I know it is in the hon. Gentleman’s area. The lost fishermen’s service is an important part of the annual diary for fishing communities. It is an important reminder of the tragedies that have too often taken place in those communities, and of the price that is paid for bringing fish back to our country.

I absolutely join my hon. Friend in congratulating Shed One Distillery and all the nominees for this year’s VisitEngland awards. She may have some competition for the most beautiful constituency, but I thank her for highlighting the vital contribution that tourism makes to our national economy. I too am happy and lucky to have a constituency that is a popular tourist destination, and I would be delighted to take up her offer of a visit, should my diary allow.

The hon. Gentleman raises a very important matter, and I pay tribute to the Dogs Trust and Trinity Winchester for their fantastic work. He is right to point out that there should be absolutely no barrier in the way of anyone fleeing domestic abuse, whether it be worry about a pet or anything else. The Government are absolutely committed to ensuring that victims in those circumstances get the support that they need, and that nothing stands in the way of their accessing that support.

I am saddened to hear of Bonnie Tyler’s situation. She is an inspirational voice for a generation. I send our best wishes to her family and her fans. I join my hon. Friend in wishing Bonnie Tyler the very best and a speedy recovery.

The hon. Gentleman raises an important matter, as ever. I do not know the answer to the question that he asks about progress on this matter, but I will raise it with the Department and get an answer from the Minister for him on where we are with this issue.

I thank my hon. Friend for his question, and I certainly will join him in congratulating Jim McNulty and the Dale team on their successful season. Our local football teams give us pride in local communities. That is why, in the last Session, we delivered the Football Governance Act 2025, which gives fans a greater say in how their beloved clubs are run. I am sure that if my hon. Friend wants to raise this matter, perhaps in a Westminster Hall debate, it would be an opportunity for colleagues fro

I am sincerely grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his comments. I do think it is important that we uphold standards wherever we can. As for his reference to not wishing the ultimate job on me, I suspect he has been talking to my wife in that regard, and I can assure him that it is clearly not going to happen, because apart from anything else there is no vacancy. On the issues the right hon. Gentleman raises, I think we made a good start on animal welfare in the first Session, and there wil

My hon. Friend is a doughty champion for her communities, and I once again pay tribute to her for that. We are committed to regenerating communities through our waste action plan and by investing in libraries, cultural venues and youth services, ensuring that communities across the country get the investment they need. She draws particular attention to Pride in Place, which is not just about investing in local neighbourhoods; it is also about putting people in charge of decisions about their loc

The King’s Speech made it clear, as has the Prime Minister, that the long-term national interest does require a closer relationship with our European allies—now more so than ever—because there are huge opportunities to strengthen our security and cut the cost of living. We have made progress with closer co-operation on agriculture, electricity, emissions trading and more, but I have to say that the previous Government’s Brexit deal did deep damage to the economy. We will not be joining the custo