Speeches by Dyke.

“Veterans play an important role in my Glastonbury and Somerton constituency, where 11% of households include at least one veteran. However, female veterans are more than 10% less likely to be employed than male veterans. Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that we must put more support into helping female veterans find…”

“June is Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month, celebrating the colourful histories and contributions of those communities. People are drawn to Glastonbury and Somerton as a place of pilgrimage, because of its unique spiritual heritage. After the Conservative cuts, we have no sites across Somerset for our Gypsy, Roma,…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Western. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North Norfolk (Steff Aquarone) for securing this important debate and for his excellent speech. Small rural businesses are the heartbeat of the economy in Glastonbury and Somerton, but many are in crisis. The Government’s …”

“On that basis, do you think that there is an argument for reshaping the water companies on those geographical administrative boundaries?”

“I was really interested in your recommendation to look at how local stakeholders and local authorities can be more involved. In Somerset, we have the Somerset Rivers Authority that was established in 2015 in response to the 2013 and 2014 floods. That is a partnership with the Environment Agency, IDBs, local councils an…”

“You mentioned milestones not being hit and that closer monitoring. Just going back to the question, what do you think are the mechanisms that we need to put in place to resolve that lack of scrutiny?”

“Morning, Sir Jon. You have criticised the large number of strategies and initiatives relating to the water sector. Indeed, the interim report states that there have been a large number of strategies, as you have just alluded to, to take some background. They fail to prioritise action or provide accountability or mechan…”

“That leads me very nicely on to my final question around the interim report drawing on the conclusions about how investment in the water sector in England and Wales should be planned. Why should these water resources in these two nations be governed differently?”

“Just building on that, it is really concerning for me and, I know, for many of my constituents that, when we talk about water companies and holding them to account, we continue to allow them to accumulate these really high debt levels where money is wasted on fines and interest repayments, etc, rather than the money go…”

“I spoke to Jacqueline from Street, who is unable to work and is absolutely desperate. Heartbreakingly, she told me that if her PIP is removed, she is prepared to take her own life. Does my hon. Friend recognise that the vital support that PIP payments provide to the most vulnerable in society is not a luxury, but a lif…”

“My constituent in Langport, Samantha, is a recipient of personal independence payment. She had treatment for endometritis and is struggling with cancer. Her PIP review was submitted in 2024. It comprised 100 pages of evidence—an onerous process that took six weeks to complete—and she is still awaiting a decision. Does …”

“It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mr Mundell. I thank the hon. Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Irene Campbell) for leading this important debate, and I thank the 322 petitioners in Glastonbury and Somerton. As a nation, we value high animal welfare standards. The public care about animal welfare—84%…”

“April’s retail, hospitality and leisure relief reduction left Samantha, a shopkeeper from Langport in my constituency, with a £2,000 business rates bill, on top of a £5,000 bill, despite the fact that she was potentially eligible for exemption. She consequently faces losing her shop. When I spoke to her recently, she t…”

“As my hon. Friend alluded to, the previous Conservative administration in Somerset was a disaster; indeed, it oversaw an irresponsible record six-year freeze on council tax. Does he agree that the Liberal Democrats in Somerset are now delivering a successfully run administration after a very difficult run of Conservati…”

“Q13. Glastonbury is experiencing a notable increase in antisocial behaviour. St John’s church was recently forced to close its doors after gravestones were reportedly used as counters for drug transactions. Constituents Peter and Melanie told me that people have been targeted with demands for money when collecting thei…”

“May I raise the issue of maternity services at Musgrove Park hospital, which will be taking on a number of patients? An upgrade that was due has now been pushed back to the mid-2030s. At present, maternity services are provided in a 1940s dormitory-style building. Does that really show mothers-to-be that their needs ar…”

“Will the Minister give way?”

“It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair today, Sir John. I congratulate the hon. Member for Waveney Valley (Adrian Ramsay) on securing this important debate. It is also a pleasure to speak on behalf of the Liberal Democrats. Glastonbury and Somerton is synonymous with farming. I have spoken many times about how…”

“The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that the impact is not just within the county, but causes a huge knock-on effect on wider services. The decision is a damning indictment of how our health services have been treated, and how they have been run into the ground following the Conservatives’ regular cuts. Residents in…”

“I thank the Minister and my hon. Friend the Member for Yeovil (Adam Dance) for allowing me to speak, and I thank my hon. Friend for securing this important debate. The closure of Yeovil special baby unit and maternity unit has shocked many of my residents across Glastonbury and Somerton, as it did my hon. Friend. After…”