Speeches by Thomas.

“Economic resilience is a key part of our national resilience. One of the strongest ways in which the Government can have it is to support the delivery of goods and services via British companies in the first instance. Does the Minister agree? Can he update the House on what steps the Government are taking to bolster pr…”

“I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in this debate. I thank the hon. Member for Horsham (John Milne) for securing it, and for his comprehensive introduction. I would like to talk about this issue in the context of rural constituencies such as mine, as many other hon. Members have this afternoon. First, farmland …”

“In a society where collective trust is depleting, does my hon. Friend agree that the presence of face-to-face banking services and banking customers being able to have a direct in-person relationship with real people is one step that we can all take to help rebuild collective trust in the institutions that underpin soc…”

“I congratulate the hon. Member for Blyth and Ashington (Ian Lavery) on securing this important debate. In a world dominated by contactless payments and banking apps, it is very easy for some people to live cash-free and seldom visit a bank, but we must not overlook the 3 million to 5 million people who still rely on ca…”

“Mobile phone signal across Bromsgrove and the villages is wholly inadequate. It regularly drops out, and that is if we are lucky enough to get a signal. Things are getting worse, particularly following the rolling switch-off of 3G signals across the country. A recent real-world study in Worcestershire demonstrated that…”

“My application is quite straightforward. I wish to host a Backbench Business debate calling on the Government to introduce or improve regulations for non-surgical aesthetic and cosmetic treatments. In recent years, we have seen a real uptick in the normalisation of non-surgical treatments. They often take place in high…”

“I think they ran out of time.”

“That is great. Thank you, Chair. Matt Western made representations.”

“I would be happy with a Westminster Hall debate. It is important, and I think we have prevaricated on this as a country for too long, so the sooner we can have the debate, the better. If that means Westminster Hall, then great.”

“Congestion on the A38 in Bromsgrove is making it nearly impossible for residents to get around easily—yet, despite current investment, there is widespread scepticism that the Bromsgrove route enhancement plan, known locally as BREP, will improve the situation. Does the Minister agree that investment in transport must d…”

“The first duty of government is to keep the public safe. I recently met a constituent whose convicted ex-husband is serving a prison sentence, having raped her twice. Despite being in prison, he continues to have indirect access to their children. My constituent thinks that is wrong, and I agree. Does the Minister agre…”

“Estate management monopolies are blighting the lives of homeowners across the country, including residents of Cofton Hackett in my constituency. The most egregious examples by companies including FirstPort—of which I know many colleagues are aware—represent at best carelessness and at worst a lack of moral ethics. Does…”

“Does my hon. Friend agree that we face a perfect storm of conditions? There is not just a widespread societal push towards net zero, but, with changes to agricultural property relief, a real risk that solar will become the new cash crop, at the expense of valuable food production, which is as essential as energy securi…”

“Does the shadow Minister agree that if we continue to permit applications for solar farms in the countryside, including those at Weatheroak and Hunnington in my constituency, we erode our agricultural self-sufficiency, and that it is important that this Government do not betray the countryside any more than they alread…”

“The hon. Member refers to industrial activity. Does she agree that the predominant industrial activity that solar supports is far-eastern manufacturing of solar PV? What would she say in response to Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, who said in January that by pursuing this route we are in effect ceding con…”

“On 19 March, the Scottish Affairs Committee held a session on energy and net zero transition. They met various union leaders from GMB, Prospect and Unite. Those union leaders were quite concerned about the running of wind farms being much less labour-intensive than oil and gas, and they felt that there was an enviable …”

“For somewhere like Aberdeen where there is currently a large cluster of energy-based jobs, are you confident that, on a like-for-like basis, Aberdeen would be able to retain a similar number of clean energy-related jobs as it has today to support fossil fuels?”

“Would you expect those to be based in Aberdeen?”

“Do you believe that the current timeframe to make the power grid 95% carbon neutral by 2030 is encouraging the Government to import more tech, including from China? And do you think a slowing of that pace would be beneficial for us in the long term, not just in upskilling our own workforce but in bolstering our domesti…”

“So many disabled members of society are unable to demonstrate the minimum academic requirements to get on to many courses, or to secure employment. What steps are the Government taking to support those people, so that they can demonstrate vocational and non-academic competencies, and get the jobs that they deserve?”