Cat Eccles

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

The complete record

248 held · 225 searchable for Cat Eccles. The searchable lines are below in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 5.

This is not an official version of UK Parliament proceedings. It reproduces the published record and links to it; the official version is the one UK Parliament publishes.

1. “Punitive sickness policies meant I was soon being managed out of the job I loved so much by human resources, which refused to acknowledge the recommendations of occupational health. I was in receipt of universal credit for about a year, receiving £690 a month, but that did not even cover my rent and bills, and I was at risk of losing my rented home. Thankfully, I had friends and family to support me, but not everyone is that fortunate. My confidence plummeted, and the feelings of failure, rejection and uselessness at not being able to sustain myself were all-consuming. Nobody chooses this life. In fact, just yesterday the United Nations wrote to the Government stating that the rhetoric, language and false statements used when discussing welfare is damaging, as well as raising concerns about human rights violations.”

   House of Commons9 July 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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2. “I rise to speak in favour of a variety of amendments, which I will mention as I go. In the life of an MP, not a day goes by without hearing from a constituent with an issue relating to benefits or health. We can all think of the people we have met who have suffered badly after 14 years of austerity imposed by the Conservative party. Our sick, disabled and vulnerable were left trapped in a doom loop, living hand to mouth and battling worsening mental health, while fighting a broken system that fails far too many. I doubt many hon. Members in this Chamber have personal experience of the cruel welfare system. I do. I first became ill at work with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which is a heart condition. Not long after, I suffered a pulmonary embolism and almost lost my life. That was followed by a total mental breakdown.”

   House of Commons9 July 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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3. “The hon. Gentleman is making a really impassioned speech. In some ways, I agree with elements of what he is saying; I was involved in extensive discussion with the humanists recently about exactly this issue. A gentleman was prosecuted for burning a Koran, and he just wanted to express his displeasure to the Turkish Government. Does the hon. Gentleman not think it would be preferable to ensure that the law is being adhered to correctly by those who administer it in the courts, rather than trying to bring in an additional law that could damage religious relations in some way?”

   House of Commons18 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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4. “If those people lose their payments, they will not be able to afford to pay their bills, and they could lose their jobs and their homes. How are we to get people into work when we are pushing others out of it? PIP has never worked for disabled people and the Government should work with the disabled to design a positive vision for PIP. The Green Paper is not a meaningful reform; it is tweaking the same bad policies.”

   House of Commons17 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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5. “It is a pleasure to see you in the chair, Ms Jardine. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Poole (Neil Duncan-Jordan) for securing this timely and important debate. More than 6,000 people in my constituency claim personal independence payments. Hundreds of them have written to me and I have met many of them and their families at listening events I have held across the constituency. One clear thing they all say to me is that being disabled is already a full-time job. Of the 6,000 people who claim PIP in my constituency, 40% will never work; 30% are in work; and approximately 30% are awaiting some form of treatment. I have been seeking assurances from Ministers on behalf of those constituents who are in work thanks to their PIP, and the answer I keep getting is that they may score differently next time around.”

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6. “As an operating department practitioner with more than 20 years of experience, I emphasise that controlling and administering drugs is already a key part of every healthcare professional’s practice. Medicines management is at the front and centre of everything we do when handling drugs. Does my hon. Friend agree that the safeguards added to this Bill, along with the existing frameworks, are more than adequate to deal with this?”

   House of Commons13 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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7. “Finally, she considers the desirability—or otherwise—of piecemeal reform, and any added complexity that might arise in the law, but she thinks that this concern is insignificant when set against the context of people being denied their human rights. Melanie also notes that the supposed solution to this issue, the Law Commission reforms, have been criticised by religious groups and others, including for devaluing marriage in a way that means they do not in fact appear to be a simple solution. She also notes that the previous Government pursued many piecemeal marriage reforms while saying that they were against such measures. In conclusion, the humanist marriage order is not complex. It is a simple, cost-neutral change. It just recreates for humanists the legal provisions that already exist for Quakers.”

   House of Commons12 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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8. “Civil marriages also started happening outdoors in 2021. Secondly, she considers the concern that it would be unfair to allow humanist marriages on approved premises when religious groups cannot have them. She thinks it would be lawful because humanists may have intrinsic belief-based reasons to want their marriages on approved premises. Thirdly, Melanie considers concerns that there may be other belief groups who could try to gain legal recognition, but no such other groups exist or have been identified. Fourthly, she refers to the supposed risk of commercialisation. Again, no evidence is offered that that would happen, and, as we have heard, in Scotland and Northern Ireland there are laws prohibiting profit and gain by religious or humanist celebrants.”

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9. “Obviously, that is first and foremost the fault of the previous Government, but the upshot, Melanie thinks, is that it is possible that the Court would now reach a different conclusion should a further case be brought, and that the case for removing the discrimination against humanists by making an order under the power in the marriage Act, even if done as an interim measure pending wider reform, therefore seems overwhelming. Melanie considers various concerns raised against that course of action, mainly in a 2014 consultation run by the Conservatives. I will run through them briefly. First, a concern was expressed that the change would lead to inconsistencies with outdoor marriages. Those inconsistencies already exist, as we have heard, with some religious groups already able to hold outdoor marriages.”

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10. “In Melanie’s briefing, she considers the 2020 High Court judgment. As we have heard, the judge ruled that “there is a continuing discriminatory impact upon those who seek to manifest their humanist beliefs through marriage”, but that it could be justified, “at this time”, by the then ongoing Law Commission review. Melanie says that this may now be different. Five years have passed since that judgment and three since the review concluded, and no action has since occurred.”

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11. “As humanists, we believe in compassion, reason and ethical approaches to human life, giving people the right and responsibility to give meaning to shape their own lives, which makes the denial of humanist marriage even more ironic. In opening the debate, my hon. Friend the Member for Tamworth (Sarah Edwards) referred to a new briefing from Melanie Field about why the Government should legally recognise humanist marriages. If anyone is an expert on this matter, it is Melanie. She literally led for the civil service on the Marriage Act and our Equality Act 2010. Her time at the EHRC further demonstrates her human rights expertise and no one else has been as intimately involved in both bits of legislation, so when she says that the case for making a humanist marriage order is overwhelming, that should surely carry some authority.”

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12. “My husband and I chose to marry at the Thomas Robinson building in Stourbridge, which is a beautiful old chapel converted to a register office. We asked about having a humanist celebrant lead the proceedings but were told that would not be possible. We would have needed a separate ceremony, which would have meant not only an additional cost to our budget and organising another event, but that our legally recognised marriage would not have been meaningful to our beliefs. The registrar offered us a choice of wording for the ceremony from extremely religious to completely neutral. The neutral wording suited us best, but it stripped away all meaning and sentiment along with the religious references.”

    House of Commons12 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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13. “It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain. I also declare an interest as a member of the all-party parliamentary humanist group. I rise to speak about the arguments advanced in the past against legal recognition of humanist marriages and why I do not think they hold much weight. However, I will start with my personal situation. I got married last year. My husband and I would have loved to have had a legally recognised humanist marriage, but because of the previous Government’s endless delays, we were denied that chance. A couple of years ago, I wrote to my MP—not me, but the former Conservative Member for Stourbridge—asking that the matter be resolved following the High Court ruling. The response I got was positive, saying that there was an ambition to remedy the situation, but clearly they were not ambitious enough.”

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14. “I, too, thank my hon. Friend for securing this important debate. I met a family in my constituency whose son is suffering with Duchenne. He is at that key stage right now where he still has his mobility, but he is starting to lose it. Does my hon. Friend agree that, as the campaign says, time is muscle? If we act now, we can prevent further deterioration of his mobility.”

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15. “I refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I recently visited Israel and Palestine on a delegation and met Opposition leaders, and their top ask of the UK—what they said would be helpful for them—was strong sanctions, so I welcome the Minister’s statement today, but does he not agree that we should be placing strong sanctions on all Ministers in the Israeli Government? This is not just about rhetoric; it is about actions. With thousands of deaths in Gaza, we need to see stronger sanctions on all Ministers in the Israeli Government.”

    House of Commons10 June 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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16. “Q13. The dementia gateway in my constituency was recently at risk of closure following £42 million-worth of budget cuts by the Conservative-run Dudley council. The gateway is a vital service for dementia patients and their carers, providing daytime activities and advice and support from trained advisers. Following a well-fought campaign with cross-party support, the dementia gateway has been saved. In this Dementia Action Week, will the Prime Minister join me in congratulating Lisa and the campaigners? Does he agree that such services are essential and that they support the Government’s mission to provide quality care in our communities close to home?”

    House of Commons21 May 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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17. “The Bill is about choice and autonomy, and the amendment would undermine the freedom to make deeply personal decisions about one’s care. This is not a one-size-fits-all pathway, and there must always be a patient-centred approach.”

    House of Commons16 May 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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18. “Again, that is already covered in the Bill, with multiple checks on mental capacity and mental illness. Suicide risk is complex and fluid, and as I know from my own struggles, it is possible to feel suicidal but not want to die. This is another vague and unnecessary barrier without clear legal or clinical definition. New clauses 9 and 16 and amendment 5 all seek to undermine multiple layers of assessment, independent oversight and professional accountability, where safeguards are already strong and multifaceted. Amendment 38 calls for patients to qualify only if they have not refused further treatment or taken life-shortening steps. It is morally wrong to force anyone to accept medical treatment that they do not wish to have.”

    House of Commons16 May 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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19. “The safeguards in the Bill have been significantly strengthened in Committee, so amendments seeking further to delay the process are simply unnecessary. In the oral evidence given by multiple experts, including Professor Chris Whitty, it was argued that we must be mindful not to overcomplicate the process to the point that no one can access an assisted death. Amendment 80 seeks to impose an unnecessary restriction by requiring the terminal illness to cause “severe pain and discomfort that cannot be reasonably relieved” by palliative treatment. However, the Bill already requires that symptoms cannot be reasonably relieved, and it is important to remember that terminal illness is more than just pain alone. Amendment 102 states that “remediable suicide risk factors” must be addressed before any preliminary discussion.”

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20. “I rise to speak against amendments 102, 80, 5 and 38, and new clauses 16 and 9. In my varied NHS career, I have seen all aspects of death and disease. As healthcare professionals, we commit first to do no harm. As medicine advances at breakneck speed, we are able to preserve life far beyond what could have been thought possible in the past. However, there have been many times when I have felt that preserving life can be harmful. Life-prolonging treatments do not always improve quality of life, and patients suffer pain and discomfort, as well as mental distress. Friends and family have to watch their loved ones go through these difficult experiences, and I believe that patients should have a choice to end their life with dignity when faced with a terminal illness.”

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21. “I will keep going, because of time. Other countries that have implemented an assisted dying law have in turn increased funding and access to palliative care significantly, ensuring a fairer and more equitable range of options for patients. I believe that the safeguards in the Bill are more than adequate, and it is important to remember that doctors and healthcare professionals are constantly looking out for consent, competence and possible coercion in medical and social care settings.”

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22. “I am almost done, so I am going to keep going. Around 20 people per day die in excruciating pain and discomfort in spite of the very best palliative care, and we as lawmakers owe it to those people and their families, and to the thousands more who will die in the meantime, to continue the debate towards reform.”

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23. “I thank the hon. Member for bringing us the Bill. Does he agree that it is especially dangerous for cats in the last third of their gestation to travel when pregnant?”

    House of Commons14 May 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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24. “In my area, Conservative-run Dudley council has made more than £42 million-worth of cuts, which includes a loss of services for carers, for mental health, for domestic abuse and for dementia, as well as the slashing of funding to the charitable sector. Where are people supposed to turn for help? A narrative is being created of scroungers and cheats, when in reality, disabled people are fighting tooth and nail for every little scrap they can get. As one constituent told me, being disabled is a full-time job. The Green Paper suggests that disabled people will be supported to retrain or access voluntary opportunities. That is patronising; they have qualifications and careers. One in three of us will become disabled in our lifetime, and I will vote against these proposals.”

    House of Commons7 May 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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25. “It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Allin-Khan. I thank my right hon. Friend the Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) for securing this important debate. I wish to place on record my grave concerns about the Government’s proposals to change the eligibility criteria for PIP. When His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs has written off £27 billion of debts over the last five years, saying they are uncollectable, and the UK is still failing to act on UN tax avoidance guidance, losing us millions of pounds every year, it is impossible to accept that targeting disabled people is the answer. No consideration has been given to the knock-on effects to local government.”

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26. “I thank my hon. Friend for securing this important debate. This issue affects not just Dudley but the whole of Dudley borough, an area that covers the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Halesowen (Alex Ballinger) and my Stourbridge constituency. Fly-tipping is absolutely prolific in the Lye ward of my constituency, and the council is really struggling to enforce against much of it because a lot of it associated with organised crime. Does she agree that we need to support and resource councils to tackle this antisocial environmental crime in collaboration with stakeholders?”

    House of Commons29 April 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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27. “Our legal frameworks for AI and copyright must support artists and creatives to facilitate the protection of their intellectual property. Rights holders must be able to make nuanced decisions about the potential use of their work through standardised systems and be fairly compensated for that use. It is the role of Government to ensure that copyright is protective and enforced, so let us do that.”

    House of Commons23 April 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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28. “Artists and creatives rightly have significant concerns about how AI could negatively impact their work, future opportunities and copyright. The breakneck speed at which AI is developing means that there is a widening skills gap, with people playing catch-up to ensure that their work remains relevant and current. The role of Government in this emerging sector is crucial. Consent, control and remuneration for intellectual property must be at the heart of how the Government manage AI development. To prevent exploitation, we must ensure that the onus of protecting rights and intellectual property is not placed on rights holders. There are huge growth opportunities across the creative industries, worth billions to our economy.”

    House of Commons23 April 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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29. “It is an honour to serve under your chairship, Ms McVey. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Bury North (Mr Frith) for securing this important debate. This is a subject of huge concern to anyone who works in the creative industries. I have been contacted by many people in my constituency who are concerned about how the future will impact them and their work. I am the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for visual arts and artists, and we are looking at this issue closely to ensure that artists’ copyright is fully protected. AI can provide many opportunities across many industries. Indeed, we have already seen AI images grace the cover of magazines and AI artwork sold at auction. However, it also comes with challenges, such as how we can ensure sustainable growth while safeguarding the value of people’s artistic work.”

    House of Commons23 April 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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30. “I have already written to the Treasury and the Department for Business and Trade to urge the Government to consider a targeted reduction in VAT for hair salons, bringing it down from 20% to 10%. Many salons are facing severe financial difficulties due to a combination of rising operational costs, reduced consumer spending and the long-term impacts of the covid-19 pandemic. The hair and beauty industry is a vital contributor to the UK economy, supporting over 250,000 jobs and generating billions in annual revenue. Let us back our hair and beauty industry, make sure revenue is not lost in self-employed models and keep the sector thriving.”

    House of Commons23 April 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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31. “Tim told me about salons forced into the self-employed model to reduce costs, which can have the unintended impact of forcing workers into accidental tax avoidance. It also reduces training opportunities for the next generation. Salons are already operating on slim profit margins, and the current VAT rate places an unsustainable burden on these labour-intensive businesses. Unlike other sectors that benefit from lower VAT rates or exemptions, hair salons must pass those costs on to customers, making services less affordable and reducing demand. A proposed reduction in VAT to 10% would provide immediate relief, allowing businesses to plan for the future and keep contributing towards our economy.”

    House of Commons23 April 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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32. “It is an honour to again serve under your chairship, Ms McVey. I thank the hon. Member for Hornchurch and Upminster (Julia Lopez) for securing this important debate. I was recently contacted by the owner of a local, international-award-winning hair salon in my constituency. Tim Scott-Wright runs a salon in the village of Wollaston and prides himself on training the next generation of hair stylists. Sadly, Tim does not think that he will be able to take on any apprentices this year due to the increased NICs and the increase to the national minimum wage. It is important to say that Tim and others are more than happy to contribute a bit more to get Britain’s economy growing. However, he did not realise that it would impact his business so drastically.”

    House of Commons23 April 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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33. “I also take this opportunity to welcome the fund made available by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker to help small businesses to make the transition to renewable energy. Small and medium-sized enterprises have been hit hard by energy price rises, and uncapped tariffs have caused bills to spiral to unsustainable levels. To drive growth, we need energy security to make bills affordable for residents and businesses alike. Breaking down the barriers to tackling climate change and the energy crisis will help us to meet the Government’s ambitious targets for energy storage and grid reinforcement, but we must move at pace to match the growth of renewable generation. Streamlining planning processes and investment in energy storage will help our country to transition to a low-cost, green and clean power grid by 2030.”

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34. “But we quickly realised the battery was not big enough to store all the energy we were producing, and despite being able to sell some of it back to the grid, it would have been better to be able to store more of it for a rainy—or rather, snowy and icy—day. Scale that up, and it is the same for the whole country. We need to harness that additional energy to help to reduce the need for fossil fuels. I hope this change will filter down into the house building industry. It has long been a bugbear of mine that developers are only required to install an electric vehicle charging point on new build homes. We need to mandate solar panels on every roof and proper insulation, so that heat does not escape through the walls, and ensure that homes across the UK are fit for the future.”

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35. “I understand concerns that our countryside and agricultural land could be at risk from the development of renewable power sources and upgrading the grid, but I am confident that this Government will ensure that infrastructure is always in the right place and done in the right way. Creating the infrastructure is not the end of the story. Due to the lack of energy storage and grid capacity, around 8.3 terawatt-hours—about 10% of the wind power—is effectively lost. Even though National Grid is working at speed to upgrade the networks to ensure that not a single watt-hour is lost, we need to do more. Two years ago, my husband and I retrofitted and upgraded our home by removing the gas, installing solar panels and an air-source heat pump, and fully insulating externally.”

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36. “Last year, the UK hit a historic milestone, with 42% of energy coming from renewable sources, including 31% being generated by wind power. As energy bills rise yet again, it is clear that we need to break the shackles that hold us hostage to energy companies charging extortionate rates just to keep the lights on. British people simply cannot afford for the status quo to continue, financially and environmentally. I am proud that this Government are leading the way by setting up Great British Energy to give us energy independence, security and longevity, but that needs to be backed up by planning infrastructure changes that support our aims.”

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37. “I thank the Minister for expediting this important legislation to transform the energy landscape in the UK. I have long campaigned for renewable energy measures to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and to produce green power of our own. The UK has suffered significantly, like many other countries, from the cost of oil and gas skyrocketing due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The Conservatives did nothing to help the situation. They abandoned much of the country’s energy storage, leaving us reliant on fossil fuels pumped in under the channel, and did not take energy security seriously. They further compounded the situation by scrapping their net zero targets and championing dirty, polluting gas and oil.”

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38. “Many organisations, including our own NHS, use punitive capability processes when scoring the illnesses of people who become sick while in work, which causes additional stress to those who need support the most. How will the Government help employers to ensure that their employees are supported properly when they experience ill health?”

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39. “I recently met my constituent, Becky, who is profoundly disabled after her mother was given Primodos, a hormone-based pregnancy test that was popular in the ’60s and ’70s and taken by roughly 1.5 million pregnant women. It was directly linked to miscarriages and severe birth defects in a study commissioned by the University of Oxford in 2018. Will my right hon. Friend make time for a full debate on this scandal, or join me in calling for a full public inquiry?”

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40. “Let me not forget Elsie Gayle, who is a driving force behind the all-party parliamentary group on Black maternal health and is fighting to improve maternal care in the UK. Another nominee, Emma Kilbride, is raising funds for Mary Stevens hospice through her Stourbridge jigsaw library. In just 15 months, she has raised more than £26,500. Anji Burford works at Atlantic House supporting local people in recovery from drugs and alcohol. Last but not least is Samantha Billingham, who I have mentioned in the Chamber before. She is a fierce campaigner for domestic abuse survivors—”

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41. “Judith Moreland is a leader in the arts, keeping her In Sound Company community choir alive since 2012, performing at prestigious events such as Community Spirit at Birmingham Symphony Hall and at the Commonwealth games. Her dedication has fostered growth, inclusivity and perseverance, and did so especially during lockdown. I will also be celebrating Rosemary Taylor, who is in her 80s but still goes out every day, in all weathers, with her little trolley, litter picking all around the area. Heather Cruickshanks turns 80 this year, but she still runs a Rainbow unit and helps the Guides and Trefoil Guild. She was described as an amazing woman by constituents, who are so grateful for her.”

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42. “I would like to tell the House about them. Chloe Cox is an English teacher at Ridgewood high school who bravely returned to the classroom after surviving a life-threatening brain tumour. Pupils and colleagues alike are so happy to see her back and her resilience is inspiring. Mandy Hobbis campaigns tirelessly for road safety laws to protect cats, ensuring they are treated with the same respect as dogs. As a champion for animals and the owner of three cats myself, I believe the work that Mandy is doing is important in helping to raise awareness and deliver parity for our pets. Kate Cooke overcame a stroke to become a human resources manager at one of our great local businesses in Brierley Hill, Emmiera, and has introduced programmes that support children and college students with opportunities for work experience and apprenticeships.”

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43. “I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Brent East (Dawn Butler) for securing this important debate and all hon. Members for their powerful contributions. My constituency has a proud history of electing only women since the seat was reintroduced in 1997, and I am honoured to continue that tradition today as the 680th female MP. Representation matters. Stourbridge is home to many incredible women who provide much for our constituency, but I worry that, in a society that can move so fast at times, we may forget to take the time to make our appreciation truly known to one another as often as we should. In my role, I am fortunate to interact with many amazing women in my constituency, and this year I launched the Sisters of Stourbridge Awards as a chance to shine a light on some of the incredible women making a difference every single day.”

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44. “It was disappointing to hear that the increased funding will come at the expense of ODA, and I am still not convinced it is the right thing to do. I understand that security at home is of vital importance, but should we as the Labour party really be cutting support to some of the world’s most vulnerable people? There is crucial work happening in developing countries in health, education and climate change, and abandoning that work leaves a void for Russia and China to fill. What does it leave for our support for Gaza, Sudan and beyond at a time when the US is pulling its aid? Investing in international development is an important contribution to security both at home and abroad.”

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45. “I met the strongest and most resilient people who were steadfast in their continued fight against Russian aggression, and Ukrainian MPs who are battling against Russian propaganda and misinformation on a new frontier of digital combat. I also met ordinary people helping one another rebuild their homes and villages, and doctors and nurses treating and rehabilitating the ever-growing number of casualties. On a visit with the mayor in Chernihiv, it was clear that funding to Ukraine is not always reaching the people who need it most—ordinary hard-working Ukrainians—and I urge FCDO Ministers to ensure that funds sent to Ukraine are fairly distributed across the country to the communities that need them most.”

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46. “It proudly employs over 40 local people and trains multiple apprentices each year. I was impressed to hear that it sources nearly all its materials from within a five-mile radius, and it is the leading supplier to the US navy and the US coastguard. Welin Lambie is keen to break into the UK defence market, but when under the previous Government it bid for Ministry of Defence contracts, it narrowly lost out to a Spanish firm. I also welcome the Government’s continued support for Ukraine. Last year, I had the opportunity to visit, and some of the things I saw and heard will never leave me. We visited a children’s hospital in Kyiv that had been bombed by Russia just a few weeks before, showing that, by targeting civic infrastructure, Russia is not even following the rules of war.”

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47. “In the uncertain global situation we currently live in, I welcome the announcement of increased defence spending. I am sure it will also be welcomed by 63 Military Intelligence Company in my constituency of Stourbridge. It is based at the Army reserve centre, with minimal permanent staff and more than 90 reservists from across the Black Country and beyond. It was great to see a female officer leading the Remembrance Day parade this year—a celebration of its diversity and strength. As part of the increased defence spend, we must harness the power and skill of British business. Last week, I visited Welin Lambie, the UK’s leading designer, manufacturer and service provider of davits, winches and lifting appliances for the global marine and offshore industry. Founded in 1901, the business found a home in Brierley Hill in 1989.”

    House of Commons5 March 2025Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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48. “Local authorities have a unique opportunity to showcase alternatives, such as drone displays, light shows and quieter fireworks, and can lead the way by setting an example for others to follow. That would help to increase the popularity of alternatives and encourage suppliers to stock them.”

    House of Commons9 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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49. “A licensing system would allow sales to continue without affecting the industry, and would eliminate concerns about black market sales. The introduction of licences would increase public education about firework safety and prevent impulse buying. I fully support the recommendations put forward by the RSPCA and the Social Market Foundation, and the licensing proposals put forward by the Firework Campaign UK, which include reducing the maximum decibel level, limiting the sale of category F1 and F2 fireworks, and designating firework-free zones in areas where fireworks are likely to have a greater impact on animals, the environment and vulnerable people.”

    House of Commons9 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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50. “The Scottish Government have introduced tighter regulation around the sale of fireworks. I believe that any change in the law in England and Wales should build on the Scottish example and aim to go further. The Petitions Committee carried out an extensive inquiry into fireworks in 2019, and concluded that it could not support an outright ban on the public use and buying of fireworks, but it stated: “Inconsiderate and irresponsible use of fireworks should be considered as socially unacceptable as drink driving.” The petitions call for users of fireworks in the UK to be required to obtain a licence, with the aims of reducing public noise and nuisance, preventing crime and disorder, improving public safety, and protecting people and animals from harm.”

    House of Commons9 December 2024Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗

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