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UK PARLIAMENT · SITTING

Jessica Morden

MP for Newport East · Labour · United Kingdom

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

I acknowledge and thank the Secretary of State for the substantial support given to the steel industry, which, as my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Sarah Champion) said, is in direct contrast to the Conservatives, who did very little when they were in government.

SPECIALITY STEEL UK · 2026-09-14 · READ IN HANSARD

Like everyone else, I acknowledge the tremendous work that my hon. Friend does on this issue; it is inspirational. Since she mentions families, I want to take the opportunity to thank my constituent Emma Webb, who tragically lost her daughter, Brodie, aged just 16. My hon.

WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY · 2026-09-08 · READ IN HANSARD

The Prime Minister has promised to do all he can to end rough sleeping by offering everyone who needs it in England a route off the streets by Christmas. In Newport we have excellent charities such as Eden Gate, which I visited recently, working with the council’s outreach services, but they need more support.

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY · 2026-09-02 · READ IN HANSARD

I thank the Prime Minister for visiting Port Talbot steelworks last week, and for highlighting the importance of securing and protecting our sovereign steel industry, which I know he will do in his role.

DIRECTION OF GOVERNMENT · 2026-09-01 · READ IN HANSARD

I too thank my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham and Chislehurst (Clive Efford) for his excellent and assiduous work on the APPG. The right hon. Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) is right that it is a very different APPG, and my hon. Friend does a fantastic job with it. I also my hon.

INFECTED BLOOD COMPENSATION SCHEME · 2026-06-18 · READ IN HANSARD

For them, this fight has been about justice and has never been about the money, but the Smiths, like so many others—I understand that there are about 92 estates in Wales—have not been invited to apply for compensation yet, even though we have the scheme and the money to pay the claims.

INFECTED BLOOD COMPENSATION SCHEME · 2026-06-18 · READ IN HANSARD

The complete record

Every one of 600 lines we hold for Jessica Morden, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 12.

  1. Grassroots venues in Newport such as The Cab and Le Pub, where the fan-led review was launched recently, are a vital part of our city’s creative industry, drawing thousands of people into our city centre each month. The ticket levy announced by the Government could help such venues to manage rising costs and develop talent. Larger events were encouraged to participate voluntarily in the scheme, so could we have a bit of a progress report and an idea of next steps?

    SUPPORT FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRIES · 2026-06-18 · READ IN HANSARD

  2. As a former history teacher, the Leader of the House will know that Newport was the site of the UK’s last armed insurrection. Every year in Newport, we honour and commemorate the Chartists’ sacrifice at the annual Newport Rising festival, and I am delighted to say that the torchlit march is being considered for the UNESCO inventory of living heritage in Wales. Does the Leader of the House agree that we should take every opportunity in this House to debate and recognise the sacrifice of people’s movements that helped to shape our democracy in this House, especially at a time when our democracy is under threat?

    BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE · 2026-06-18 · READ IN HANSARD

  3. Those affected want the chance to move on from this painful chapter, and the many bereaved parents want the chance to live their remaining years with a sense of closure after what, for them, has been more than 40 years of struggle. These families deserve the closure before it is too late, and we have it in our gift to make that happen. Please can we increase the pace and bring this long injustice to an end? I support all the asks made by my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham and Chislehurst. My final plea to the Government is: please continue to listen to the community.

    INFECTED BLOOD COMPENSATION SCHEME · 2026-06-18 · READ IN HANSARD

  4. On behalf of the families, the Hepatitis Trust and the Haemophilia Society, I urge the Minister to look at what we can do to increase the speed of the scheme’s delivery and about people waiting to be invited. These people have fought long enough. Crucially, as my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham and Chislehurst said, it is important that we continue to listen to the community, and prioritise the elderly and the terminally ill. As the right hon. Member for East Hampshire said, the community are getting older, and it has now been more than two years since Sir Brian Langstaff delivered his recommendations and around 20 months since the Chancellor set out the £11.8 billion required to settle all the claims.

    INFECTED BLOOD COMPENSATION SCHEME · 2026-06-18 · READ IN HANSARD

  5. For them, this fight has been about justice and has never been about the money, but the Smiths, like so many others—I understand that there are about 92 estates in Wales—have not been invited to apply for compensation yet, even though we have the scheme and the money to pay the claims. They registered their intent to claim and pre-qualified for interim payments, but are still waiting to be invited. All these families just need to know what the hold-up is. The authorities have done the checks and have the information—the system appears to be doubling up. It would be helpful to know why people cannot just apply and why they have to wait to be invited to. We need to move much faster than we are now. The current pace of delivery is just adding to the stress that these people have already endured for decades.

    INFECTED BLOOD COMPENSATION SCHEME · 2026-06-18 · READ IN HANSARD

  6. We appreciate that he is doing a very difficult job—I want him to know that. I also pay tribute to all those who have brought us to this stage, especially the victims and the families who have campaigned absolutely tirelessly and provided us with the vital evidence over the years. I pay particular tribute to Colin and Janet Smith and their family, who have lived with this nightmare since 1983 when their toddler son Colin was given infected blood sourced from a prison in Arkansas. I am going to remember Colin again in this Chamber now—he died aged just seven; it is really important that we remember today the people we are here for. The Smiths are some of the strongest and most dignified people I have ever met. It is an immense privilege to have them as my constituents—and I really mean that.

    INFECTED BLOOD COMPENSATION SCHEME · 2026-06-18 · READ IN HANSARD

  7. I too thank my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham and Chislehurst (Clive Efford) for his excellent and assiduous work on the APPG. The right hon. Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) is right that it is a very different APPG, and my hon. Friend does a fantastic job with it. I also my hon. Friend for articulating so well the asks of the community; mine is a general plea, but it is keenly felt by my constituents, and I fully support all his asks and look forward to the Minister’s response. Over the last 15 years in this Chamber, I have raised the cases of the Newport East families impacted by the contaminated blood scandal over 20 times. I really hope that we are closer to the point where I do not have to raise them again, as we now have the compensation scheme and the money, and I thank the Minister for that.

    INFECTED BLOOD COMPENSATION SCHEME · 2026-06-18 · READ IN HANSARD

  8. As the Minister knows, I represent Llanwern, which produces galvanised steel. I repeat my ask to the Minister to be mindful of the impact of the scale of the allocations for non-EU countries on Llanwern. Will he continue to liaise directly with Tata and the unions on this issue?

    STEEL TARIFFS · 2026-06-17 · READ IN HANSARD

  9. T6. On top of its efforts to interfere in Armenian democracy, Russia is now using economic pressure through arbitrary trade restrictions in an effort to undermine Armenia’s strengthening ties with the UK and Europe. What more can we do on a practical level, through our strategic partnership and alongside EU allies, to support Armenia as it continues to pursue European integration?

    TOPICAL QUESTIONS · 2026-06-16 · READ IN HANSARD

  10. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Two thirds of businesses in Newport city centre are independent businesses, and it has been brilliant to see businesses such as Kingsway Market, Rock and Scallop and Banc open in recent weeks. However, this is undermined by shops selling illegal cigarettes, illegal vapes and counterfeit goods. What more can Ministers do, working with Home Office colleagues, to help trading standards—which does an excellent job in Newport; it shut two shops last week—tackle the issue of shops opening up again after being shut?

    HIGH STREETS · 2026-06-15 · READ IN HANSARD

  11. Further to the last question, my constituent Emma Webb’s 16-year-old daughter Brodie tragically took her own life in 2020. Since then, Emma has worked tirelessly to raise thousands of pounds for charity, raising awareness of suicide prevention and launching DoItForBrodie, a project that aims to break down barriers. Can I invite the Minister to pay tribute to the work that Emma is doing, and to say more about suicide prevention among young people and children?

    SUICIDE PREVENTION STRATEGY · 2026-06-09 · READ IN HANSARD

  12. Although Plaid Cymru Members are not present, another Welsh Member is. With the Minister mentioning the available funding, I will take the opportunity to raise a topical matter with him, which is the catastrophic fire that took place on the pickle line last week in Port Talbot. I want to put on the record our thanks to the emergency services and the steelworkers who worked so hard to contain it, as I know from my hon. Friend the Member for Aberafan Maesteg (Stephen Kinnock). The work is now being transferred to Llanwern, but it is a worrying time for those at Port Talbot. Does the Minister agree that, alongside the Bill, we must protect the jobs in the south Wales steel industry and ensure that they are fully equipped to support the expansion of sovereign steel that we all want to see as we go forward?

    STEEL INDUSTRY (NATIONALISATION) BILL · 2026-06-09 · READ IN HANSARD

  13. A number of constituents continue to really struggle as a result of Capita’s delays in processing their civil service pensions. Many of them have been retired for months without income. I know the Paymaster General has been holding Capita to account in various ways, but with it continuing to miss its own deadlines, can we have an update from the Paymaster General?

    BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE · 2026-05-21 · READ IN HANSARD

  14. Friend the Member for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North (Liam Byrne) said, we are doing great work on procurement, and it is a big part of the steel strategy, but I am aware from 7 Steel, which has proved over and over again that it can supply high-quality products for High Speed 2, that some contracts are still being made for foreign-made steel. Will the Minister please check that and raise it with HS2? Energy is always an issue, and our underlying costs are still far greater than those of our European rivals, so I join others in asking the Minister to look further at more targeted support. Those are a few of my asks, but I very much welcome the Bill and the Government’s clear direction of travel on steel. I will end by acknowledging the deep industry expertise and knowledge that the steel Minister brings to the job.

    STEEL INDUSTRY (NATIONALISATION) BILL · 2026-05-21 · READ IN HANSARD

  15. However, as others have mentioned, there are concerns at downstream plants that the import quotas for galvanised steel and hollow sections allow too much leniency for highly subsidised products from non-EU countries to come into the UK market and undercut manufacturers at sites such as Llanwern. Will the Minister look at that? Ministers will be aware of the industry’s concern about the timing and design of the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism. I am keen to hear more about that. As my right hon.

    STEEL INDUSTRY (NATIONALISATION) BILL · 2026-05-21 · READ IN HANSARD

  16. It is also important that Ministers urge Tata to follow through on the future investments that it has talked about previously, including in Llanwern. I really welcome the steel strategy; it is the first time we have had one. The Conservative party had 14 years to set one up and did not. We had a revolving door of steel Ministers, and I am afraid that the Conservatives’ woeful approach continues with their reasoned amendment today. Our approach is a real road map for the future. I welcome the new import quota and tariff levels to cut the amount of foreign-made steel that comes in, and to protect us from global oversupply.

    STEEL INDUSTRY (NATIONALISATION) BILL · 2026-05-21 · READ IN HANSARD

  17. I know that the steel Minister—the Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade, the hon. Member for Stockton North (Chris McDonald)—met representatives from Llanwern this week. I also pay tribute to the steel unions —in particular, Community and GMB, which I am a member of—and Reg Gutteridge, the newly elected national chair of Community union, who I know will be an excellent advocate. I completely understand that significant funding was necessary to help keep British Steel in Scunthorpe open, but it is really important that producers and steelworkers in Wales, at sites such as Llanwern, get their share of the Government’s billions of pounds of investment through the National Wealth Fund.

    STEEL INDUSTRY (NATIONALISATION) BILL · 2026-05-21 · READ IN HANSARD

  18. I very much welcome the Bill, which gives the Government new powers to intervene in the steel industry when doing so is in the public interest. I do so because I, alongside many other steel MPs over many years, have relentlessly made the point that the steel industry is of the utmost strategic importance to the country’s economy and security, and that we must do all that we can to protect and cherish it. While the focus of the legislation is the future of British Steel—I very much pay tribute to the efforts and fantastic advocacy of my hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe (Sir Nicholas Dakin)—the Bill also sends a clear signal about the Government’s commitment to the industry and workers more widely. As Ministers know, steel is important to my constituency, both at Tata’s Llanwern works and at 7 Steel.

    STEEL INDUSTRY (NATIONALISATION) BILL · 2026-05-21 · READ IN HANSARD

  19. This is indeed a welcome and bold steel strategy, and it stands in direct contrast with what happened under the Conservative party, which never had one. I thank all the Ministers involved, the industry and the unions. I declare an interest as a member of Community and GMB. As I am sure Minister will agree, this is a good start, but we should always aspire to be as ambitious as possible for our UK steel industry, our security and our infrastructure, as well as for the dedicated young workforce at Llanwern steelworks and 7 Steel UK. Will the Secretary of State work with industry to incentivise investments in projects that we do not currently make, so that we can reduce even further our reliance on imported steel?

    UK STEEL STRATEGY · 2026-03-19 · READ IN HANSARD

  20. This Government are making a record investment in defence, and steelworkers in my constituency will want to be assured that we are committed to using as much UK steel as possible as we invest. Will the Secretary of State commit to that?

    DEFENCE INVESTMENT PLAN · 2026-03-16 · READ IN HANSARD

  21. The rail fare freeze benefits constituents who have seen rail fares rise by 60% since 2010. Also, the recent announcement of two new railway stations in Newport East is warmly welcomed. Can I encourage the Chancellor to continue to invest in Welsh transport infrastructure?

    SPRING FORECAST · 2026-03-03 · READ IN HANSARD

  22. After more than a decade of austerity, I am glad to see that the damage done by the Conservatives is beginning to be undone. The recent announcement that work will begin this year to build two new railway stations in Newport East has been warmly welcomed by businesses and residents alike.

    ST DAVID’S DAY AND WELSH AFFAIRS · 2026-02-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  23. From the depths of her grief, Emma has spent every day since campaigning to raise awareness of suicide prevention. She has walked hundreds of miles with a life-size model pony, raised thousands of pounds and worked relentlessly to save lives. I thank her from the bottom of my heart. I have also had the pleasure of welcoming 11-year-old Sophia from Newport East to Westminster this year. She lives with juvenile arthritis and uses her incredible energy and infectious positivity to raise awareness and improve support for children like her. She will clearly rule the world; she is a brilliant example to us all. The great privilege of this role is meeting and working with such remarkable people who show so much resilience. It is that resilience that has carried out city through challenging times.

    ST DAVID’S DAY AND WELSH AFFAIRS · 2026-02-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  24. In that vein, I want to begin by recognising some more extraordinary Newportonians who perform small, kind and positive acts that help make our community what it is. First, I pay tribute to my constituent Martyn Butler, who sadly passed away last weekend. Martyn was a co-founder of the Terrence Higgins trust, setting up one of the first AIDS helplines in 1983 using his home telephone. His tireless work, right up until his death, to raise awareness of HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis helped to contribute to the 20% fall in new HIV cases in Wales in 2024. More people than ever before are being tested. That legacy will be felt for generations. We send our love to his family—he was a lovely, lovely man. Emma Webb is a bereaved mother whose daughter took her own life in 2020 aged just 16.

    ST DAVID’S DAY AND WELSH AFFAIRS · 2026-02-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  25. I wish a happy early St David’s day to all. I congratulate my constituency neighbour, my hon. Friend the Member for Newport West and Islwyn (Ruth Jones), on an excellent opening contribution to the debate. We will all say it: “Be joyful, keep the faith and do the little things”. Those were the final words of our patron saint. The Prime Minister repeated them in his remarks at the St David’s day reception at No. 10 on Monday, which was an excellent event. It afforded us the opportunity to invite people who do extraordinary things in our constituencies. I brought along Mark Seymour, who, alongside his team in Newport, runs the Sanctuary project, which works with refugees and asylum seekers.

    ST DAVID’S DAY AND WELSH AFFAIRS · 2026-02-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  26. Its people, its geography, its grit and its determination set Newport apart from anywhere else, but it has something else: momentum. Under the inspired leadership of our council, and with support from the UK Government and the Welsh Government, we are seizing the opportunity of the moment. Newport is ready for this moment. Huge investments are coming, innovation is accelerating and the city’s strong communities are leading the way. We are not looking back. We are not about the politics of grievance and division; we are positive and ambitious for the future of Newport, and we will take every opportunity to build it.

    ST DAVID’S DAY AND WELSH AFFAIRS · 2026-02-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  27. Further investment in sites and jobs is really welcome, particularly given that we are the fastest growing and the youngest city in Wales, with the fastest growing population of under-16s. Sitting at the heart of cwm silicon, Newport is not just part of the new industrial revolution; it is driving it. With a strategic location, vital grid connections and a talented workforce, we have all the assets that modern industry is competing to secure. Of course, all this development and new infrastructure needs steel—I always have to mention steel—so I look forward to seeing the Government’s steel plan when it is published in the next few weeks. As always, I pay tribute to those who work in the steel industry in Newport East.

    ST DAVID’S DAY AND WELSH AFFAIRS · 2026-02-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  28. Friend and I hope to get there in time. I support Newport city council’s expression of interest for the town of culture competition, and particularly Caerleon’s bid. As one of the most significant and best understood Roman legionary sites in the former empire, with a strong community, it would be a really worthy winner, so let us hope that happens. [ Interruption. ] I hear a bit of competition there. Turning from Newport’s significant history to its really promising future, the UK Government’s announcement of the AI growth zone represents a really exciting prospect for our city that we want to grasp. As my hon. Friend the Member for Newport West and Islwyn said, we have globally significant tech companies already based in Newport, including KLA and Vishay, which were here yesterday for an event.

    ST DAVID’S DAY AND WELSH AFFAIRS · 2026-02-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  29. I commend that really good initiative. Gwent police has also confirmed that, by the end of March, every single neighbourhood policing team in Newport will be up to full establishment, delivering on a key and very important manifesto pledge, so I commend that. The news of £20 million of Pride in Place money for Newport has been warmly welcomed, allowing us to invest in regeneration of the city centre and surrounding areas. That complements the work already going on in the city centre around the leisure centre, which I think my hon. Friend the Member for Newport West and Islwyn would agree is going up at an alarming rate, and the ongoing restoration of our Newport transporter bridge, which benefited from a further £5 million of UK Government funding. It is the Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge annual general meeting tonight, and my hon.

    ST DAVID’S DAY AND WELSH AFFAIRS · 2026-02-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  30. Those are the kinds of priorities that residents tell us matter to them, and this action is due to the massive 6.1% funding increase from the Welsh Government, thanks to the Chancellor’s decisions flowing down to them. That partnership working is really important. Crime and antisocial behaviour in our city centre remains one of our top concerns, so I was really pleased to hear from Gwent police that reported crime has fallen over the past year, with shoplifting down 20% across our city and antisocial behaviour seeing a steep decline during November. That is due to increased investment from the UK Labour Government, the hard work of Gwent police and the extra measures it is deploying, including the new Project Vigilant scheme, which will help to protect women and girls who are out and about in the night-time economy in our city centre.

    ST DAVID’S DAY AND WELSH AFFAIRS · 2026-02-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  31. That is really important. Another example of that, due to a good settlement, is the fact that the Labour-run council in Newport, under the energetic and resourceful leadership of Dimitri Batrouni, has this week announced the biggest investment in roads, infrastructure and schools in living memory, with a £40 million commitment. That includes £15 million to repair and resurface our roads and pavements, all of which are showing the impact of 14 years of Tory austerity. There is also half a million pounds for our city centre’s invaluable grassroots sports clubs, match funding for teams like Newport County and the Dragons, more funding to tackle fly-tipping and much more.

    ST DAVID’S DAY AND WELSH AFFAIRS · 2026-02-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  32. I thank my hon. Friend for being so generous, and indeed for the work she has done to carry that on—she has been relentless in this Chamber, at every single opportunity—and the fantastic Magor Action Group on Rail, which it is a privilege to work with. Well done to them. I was also pleased to see the proposed Caerleon station included in the rail vision for Wales. My hon. Friend the Member for Newport West and Islwyn has been very supportive of that, as has our MS, Jayne Bryant. I commend the TRACS—Towards Restoring a Caerleon Station—group for its commitment to securing a station for the town, and I support it all the way. This investment of many millions of pounds—part of a £14 billion commitment to rail in Wales—is just one example of how the people in Newport East are feeling the benefit of two Governments working together.

    ST DAVID’S DAY AND WELSH AFFAIRS · 2026-02-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  33. T7. City centre safety is a top concern of residents in Newport East, so I was pleased to hear from Gwent police last Friday that crime is coming down thanks to extra measures and resources. I also draw the Minister’s attention to Gwent police’s new Project Vigilant scheme, which uses undercover officers to protect women and girls in the night-time economy. Alongside that, what more are the Government doing to make our city centres safer?

    TOPICAL QUESTIONS · 2026-02-09 · READ IN HANSARD

  34. She inspires me every week, as does former Welsh Guard Mike Hermanis, a Falklands veteran who is fighting to get to the truth of what happened when the Sir Galahad was attacked in 1982.

    CHRISTMAS ADJOURNMENT · 2025-12-18 · READ IN HANSARD

  35. The biggest ever settlement from the UK Labour Government to Wales means that the council is able to address the things that matter to people, such as getting streets resurfaced. Streets are cleaner, and the city centre is on the up with 85% retail occupancy rates, which is great. There is still work to do, but the growth in our policing settlement is really starting to help. Like all hon. Members, the great privilege of my job is working with constituents who do not just do it for the thanks—but I am going to thank them anyway. I particularly thank 11-year-old Sfiyah, who has juvenile arthritis and uses her incredible energy and infectious positivity to raise awareness, including coming to lobbies in this House.

    CHRISTMAS ADJOURNMENT · 2025-12-18 · READ IN HANSARD

  36. This is all supported by two active Governments at both ends of the M4, showing the benefits of two Labour Governments working together after years of Tory neglect. Our traditional industries remain strong, with tens of millions of pounds-worth of investment in Associated British Ports’s Newport port this year, and Tata’s steelworks—clearly, it is a difficult time for steel, but I thank our Ministers for an active industrial policy that is helping. Newport is the fastest growing city in Wales; jobs in new sectors are opening up many opportunities for the city’s young people. It is not just about our industries; it is about our people. I have been privileged this year to work with Newport council, led with great positivity and energy by Dimitri Batrouni, who has massive ambition for our city.

    CHRISTMAS ADJOURNMENT · 2025-12-18 · READ IN HANSARD

  37. Newport may have a rich Roman, Chartist—we are the city of democracy—and industrial heritage, but it also has a very bright future. Throughout its history, Newport has been prized for its location, with our unrivalled access to rail and sea links, and that plays a central role in the city’s economy today as we take steps into the new industrial revolution. This year has been a transformational one for Newport: there have been big investments in our exceptional semiconductor cluster; companies have moved their headquarters to the city; we have had new tech jobs; there is work under way on one of the UK’s biggest battery storage sites; we have strong local cyber-security expertise; and, thanks to the Government, Newport is a key player in the south Wales artificial intelligence growth zone.

    CHRISTMAS ADJOURNMENT · 2025-12-18 · READ IN HANSARD

  38. It is good to see the Leader of the House personally responding to this debate; it shows the respect that he has for the House, which is much appreciated. We were talking yesterday about the Chartist graffiti in the Cloisters, which lay hidden until a few years ago when it was uncovered. As the MP for Newport East, I can say that we are very proud of our Chartist history in Newport. I pay tribute to Newport Rising, which commemorates the Chartist uprising of 1839 every year; it was the last armed insurrection in this country. As my late constituency neighbour, Paul Flynn, used to say, we could do more in this House to recognise movements such as the Chartists that shape our democracy, particularly in times when our democracy is under threat.

    CHRISTMAS ADJOURNMENT · 2025-12-18 · READ IN HANSARD

  39. Q3. Ukraine is facing a fourth Christmas of war and loss. A Ukrainian family I met last week spoke movingly of the help and support they had received from our community in Newport, but also of the real pain of separation from loved ones who are still in Ukraine, serving near the frontline. Will the Prime Minister join me in paying tribute to the bravery of those families and those who support them, and for their sake, will he take this opportunity to give the House an update on what more we as a Government can do to support our Ukrainian friends?

    ENGAGEMENTS · 2025-12-17 · READ IN HANSARD

  40. Last week I met Community union representatives representing steelworkers across Wales, including in Llanwern— I draw attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. They support the welcome movement on energy costs, and they know that the Government are working on procurement and that there will be a steel strategy, but the most urgent ask is on the EU’s steel import quotas and tariffs. Can the Minister please give us an update on those?

    TOPICAL QUESTIONS · 2025-12-11 · READ IN HANSARD

  41. My constituent, Emma Webb’s, 16-year-old daughter, Brodie, tragically took her own life in 2020. Yesterday would have been her 22nd birthday. Since then, Emma has worked tirelessly to raise awareness for suicide prevention, raising money for charity and launching her campaign, #DoItForBrodie. Will the Leader of the House join me in commending Emma for her work and ensure that this House takes every opportunity next year to debate suicide prevention?

    BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE · 2025-12-11 · READ IN HANSARD

  42. We have seen a year of protests in Georgia against democratic backsliding and crackdowns on political opponents, which are deeply concerning, including for those in Newport with strong links to Kutaisi. What more can be done with allies to increase diplomatic pressure?

    TOPICAL QUESTIONS · 2025-12-02 · READ IN HANSARD

  43. Friend is liaising with the Prime Minister, Departments and the Welsh Government—this is a devolved issue and there will be many asks—but may I ask on her behalf that we continue to offer support in the many ways that will be needed in the period? I am also mindful of other areas impacted by flooding, including my own.

    FLOODING: MONMOUTHSHIRE · 2025-11-19 · READ IN HANSARD

  44. My constituency neighbour and very diligent representative, my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouthshire (Catherine Fookes), is as we speak in Abergavenny and will join the Secretary of State in Monmouth shortly, meeting and listening to those affected by the devastating floods which hit Monmouth, Abergavenny, Skenfrith and the villages. She has asked me to say a very big heartfelt thank you to the emergency services, all the authorities and all those who have helped for the incredible community effort and many kindnesses shown over the past few days, which have included offers of beds, homes, donations and more. Hundreds and hundreds of businesses and homes will be affected and it will take many months to clear up. I know that my hon.

    FLOODING: MONMOUTHSHIRE · 2025-11-19 · READ IN HANSARD

  45. I very much welcome the increased help the Government are giving to energy-intensive industries such as Tata’s Llanwern works in my constituency through the increase to the electricity network charges discount. However, given that they still face problems competing with other European steel producers, may I urge the Minister to keep discussing with ministerial colleagues and trade unions what further measures we could take to protect them and shield them, to the benefit of sites such as Llanwern?

    ENERGY COSTS: SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES · 2025-11-18 · READ IN HANSARD

  46. Newport council is prioritising tackling waste crime and fly-tipping, and we have seen a drop in incidents this year, as more fixed penalty notices are handed out. As others have said, much of the waste is dumped by rogue traders posing as legitimate businesses, often using false number plates. Can the Minister remind the House of some of the tools that the police and local authorities already have, and what more can the Welsh and UK Governments do, working together, to help Newport council?

    ILLEGAL WASTE: ORGANISED CRIME · 2025-11-17 · READ IN HANSARD

  47. It is the time of year when people are saving for Christmas, which is a reminder that, years ago, thousands of savers lost tens of millions of pounds when the Christmas savings scheme Farepak collapsed, highlighting a big gap in consumer protection. May we have an opportunity in this House to highlight how finally, under this Government, new regulations will come in from January 2026 due in no small part to my constituent, the former Farepak agent Deb Harvey, working with the former Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Ellesmere Port and Bromborough (Justin Madders)? They have been campaigning for years. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking them for helping to ensure that something like that does not happen again?

    BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE · 2025-11-13 · READ IN HANSARD

  48. Some of our conversations are more robust than others, but it is always good to hear their views and have their reflections, and I acknowledge that there is always more to do. As we mark Armistice Day, we should reflect on today’s unstable world. Old threats are resurfacing, fear and anxiety are common feelings, and there are new threats from emerging technologies. Trust, truth and values of honesty and reliability are under attack. Remembrance is about the loss of brave lives, but it is also a living example of our resistance and our determination to defend our values, to demand truth, and not to give in to hostile forces. In these difficult times, we thank all those who have served, and all those who serve today.

    REMEMBRANCE DAY: ARMED FORCES · 2025-11-11 · READ IN HANSARD

  49. Newport’s port was recognised as one of the most important in the UK, and during world war two, merchant ships sailing from Newport joined Atlantic and Arctic convoys. More than 430 seamen from Newport were lost in the war, including those on the SS Llanwern; just 11 of the 60-strong crew made it back. We also remember Raymond Steed, the second youngest to die, aged just 14, when the SS Empire Morn was blown up by a U-boat. Such sacrifices are not forgotten by our Doorkeeper Paul, whose uncle Jimmy Kehoe died in 1941 when his ship, too, was sunk by a U-boat. Finally, I thank all those who provide services for veterans in Newport. I regularly meet Newport veterans, and I thank them for their service in many conflicts.

    REMEMBRANCE DAY: ARMED FORCES · 2025-11-11 · READ IN HANSARD

  50. I press the Minister to agree to meet us urgently, so that we can finally resolve this, and so that veterans and their families can get to the truth and find the peace that they deserve. This weekend, our city will remember those who served in the merchant navy at a service organised by the Merchant Navy Association, which is ably chaired by my excellent constituent Allan Speight. The vital role of the merchant navy in conflict is sometimes a little overshadowed and under-appreciated. Over both world wars, more than 54,000 seafarers lost their life as they maintained vital supply lines, while under constant threat from enemy submarines and aircraft, and their sacrifice is never forgotten in Newport.

    REMEMBRANCE DAY: ARMED FORCES · 2025-11-11 · READ IN HANSARD