Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
LabourMP for Washington and Gateshead South
“Today I am publishing the government's response to the consultation on banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children in England. The government has decided to introduce legislation to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drink…”
“The Government are committed to making this generation of children the healthiest ever, as set out in our 10-year health plan. That is why we are investing £200 million to strengthen healthy baby services through Best Start family hubs, exp…”
“The UK government has published our consultation “Tobacco and Vapes: packaging, appearance and display”, on behalf of all four nations of the UK. A copy will be deposited in the Libraries of the House.…”
“I am today announcing that the year-round Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programme will be extended to include more adults at risk of severe illness. From 1st September 2026, individuals aged 65 to 74 years with specific chro…”
“I thank the honourable Member for North East Fife (Wendy Chamberlain) and the Backbench Business Committee for bringing forward today’s debate. I think we can all agree that, although the number of attendees has been small, it has been migh…”
“Today, I am announcing a meningococcal group B (MenB) immunisation programme to protect those at highest immediate risk of MenB disease this autumn.…”
“Health visitors play a vital role in supporting babies, children and families. Under the previous Government, the number of health visitors fell significantly, which is why this Government have taken action. The upcoming professional strate…”
“I would like to inform the House that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has accepted the recommendation of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) to introduce England’s first targeted prostate cancer screening programm…”
“On 10 May, the UK Government safely returned all remaining British nationals on board the MV Hondius. With some passengers having returned to England earlier than this, and with the arrival for monitoring of a number of individuals from UK …”
“The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is receiving a supply of doses of the antiviral medicine favipiravir (FAVI) from the Government of Japan to support the United Kingdom’s preparedness and response to Hantavirus.…”
“I am updating the House on the outbreak of hantavirus onboard the Dutch cruise ship the MV Hondius, and the action the UK has taken to support British nationals and protect public health.…”
“I thank the honourable Member for Didcot and Wantage (Olly Glover) for securing this important debate. At the outset, I will say that I am happy to meet him to discuss all the action points he raised at the end of his speech—and as for wher…”
“I am updating the House on the recent cases of meningococcal disease in Dorset.…”
“I start by thanking my honourable Friend the Member for Edinburgh South West (Dr Arthur) for securing this important debate. I am not sure if he is aware, but we could actually go on until about 5.30 pm, so we have hours at our disposal if …”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. Embedding Healthy Babies services in a system that prioritises prevention is central to this Government’s ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever. We are starting by investing £200 million to main…”
“I thank my honourable Friend the Member for Mansfield (Steve Yemm) for securing this very important debate, which, as we heard, is taking place during Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month. I thank him for his very important work o…”
“I am today announcing the publication of the new Pandemic Preparedness Strategy, outlining the UK Government’s plans for improving our pandemic preparedness capabilities between now and 2030.…”
“Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I beg to move, That this House agrees with Lords amendment 1.…”
“Saturday marks the two-year anniversary of the publication of the Hughes report, which set out how the Government should offer financial compensation to those irreversibly and avoidably harmed by the mesh and valproate scandals. To not have…”
“I welcome this fantastic announcement, particularly regarding the Leamside line, which runs from Pelaw in Gateshead through my constituency in Washington and on to Ferryhill in County Durham, and it is the line that will finally bring the m…”
“5. What steps he is taking to improve access to tissue freezing for brain cancer patients in Washington and Gateshead South constituency.…”
“I pay tribute to the honourable Member for Harwich and North Essex (Sir Bernard Jenkin) for securing today’s very important debate, and to my honourable Friend the Member for Leeds Central and Headingley (Alex Sobel) for his leadership of t…”
“On the eighth day of the UN’s 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, I rise to present a petition on pornography on behalf of Washington and Gateshead South constituents. Pornography has never been more accessible than it is tod…”
“I am very glad to be able to take part in this very moving debate and to follow so many excellent speeches as we once again mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, not least on behalf of myself and my story, and that of my beautiful baby Lucy, who I…”
“In February, my constituent’s son, Paul Holborn, won the men’s section of the 777 world marathon challenge. That is seven marathons in seven continents in seven days. He topped that off by then running the north pole marathon in July, and a…”
“While I recognise that a lot of the seats have been bequeathed down through the generations, a lot of them are now sold on the open market for much more than what that £100 would fetch in today’s money, keeping pace with inflation. They are…”
“I rise to present this petition in the light of recent horrific attacks on prison officers by inmates. Debate about whether prison officers should all be provided with anti-stab and anti-slash gear has been brought to the forefront of polit…”
“I have chaired the all-party parliamentary group on school food since setting it up in 2010, so I know all too well the many benefits of free school meals, from the economic to health benefits—it is why I have campaigned for more than 18 ye…”
“Twenty years ago, when first standing for election, I was told to limit my ambitions with regard to campaigning to bring the Metro to Washington, but I persisted and now, thanks to this Labour Government and the new Mayor of the North East,…”
“Next week marks the beginning of Coeliac Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about coeliac disease, a serious autoimmune disease for which the only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet for life—it is not a fad. While co…”
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