In Parliament

I recently spoke in support of the Building Safety Bill, a significant milestone in improving the safety of homes and ending the anxiety for many constituents who are private leaseholders.

This week I had the pleasure of speaking in the second reading of the Nationality and Borders Bill where I called for a compassionate immigration system that is humane, efficient and well-resourced.

All too often it feels as though children’s policy is fragmented across Whitehall. To take a few examples; MHCLG leads on councils, who have the legal responsibility and run some services such as libraries, parks, playgrounds.

The Armed Forces Bill is an important piece of legislation which will do a lot to improve access to justice and welfare for our service personnel and their families. In particular, it puts the Armed Forces Covenant on a statutory footing.

For those who choose to go to University, being exposed to new opinions and having your world view challenged is an important part of academic development. While this may have the potential to make some people feel uncomfortable, freedom of speech is vital to university.

At DCMS Questions this morning, I was pleased to receive an update from the Minister about investment being made in facilities that will benefit young people both in my constituency and across the country. You can read the full exchange below: 

David Simmonds  

As the EU settlement deadlines passes, I asked the Minister for Immigration what more can be done to encourage public bodies to refer EU citizens to support services, ensuring they are signposted to the EUSS scheme. You can read my full contribution below: 

David Simmonds 

As we recover from the pandemic it is important that we recognise the unique circumstances that young people face as they enter the working world.

As part of the ongoing conversations to look again at our national planning system, I joined colleagues earlier this week to debate how we can better protect our most precious habitats.

I took part in the Westminster Hall Debate on Grouse Shooting this afternoon. You can read my full contribution below: