Parliament

As a Member of Parliament I take part in debates in the House of Commons, table questions and sign Early Day Motions.

Adjournment Debates

From time to time I have been able to secure a debate in the House of Commons on an issue of local or national importance. These are known as "Adjournment Debates".  In an adjournment debate, an MP has 15 minutes to raise an issue, and a Government minister then has 15 minutes in which to respond. Click here to read my debates.

Work and Pensions Speeches

From 2009-10 I was the Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, speaking on issues relating to pensions, benefits, tax credits and the social security system, as well as representing the party line in legislation such as the Welfare Reform Bill and Child Poverty Bill.  I previously shadowed this department between 1999 and 2005.  Click here to see a selection of my speeches.

Early Day Motions

"Early Day Motion", or EDM, is the term used to describe notices of motions given by MPs that are not generally expected to be debated. It is a device to draw attention to an issue, and to elicit support for it by inviting other MPs to add their signatures. Click here to see a list of the EDMs I have supported. Please note that EDMs are only signed by MPs not serving in Government, and I have been unable to sign any since being a Minister.

Parliamentary Questions

Members of Parliament not serving in the Government have the opportunity to ask questions of Government Departments about topical issues relating to their constituencies or their portfolios. I have not been able to put forward questions since being made a Minister, but click here to read some of my questions from the end of the last Parliament and the answers received.

General Debates

I have sometimes had the opportunity to speak in debates and ask questions to the Prime Minister and other Ministers on a wide range of political issues in the House of Commons.  You can read these by clicking here.

Environment and Energy Speeches

In 2008 I shadowed the department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and then the newly created department for Energy and Climate Change, I spoke in the House of Commons on these areas, as well as representing the party during the passage of legislation such as the Energy Bill and Climate Change Bill. You can read my contributions here.

Health Speeches

As Liberal Democrat spokesman on Health between the summer of 2005 and December 2006, I spoke in the House of Commons on a range of issues such as cancelled operations, waiting times and NHS dentistry. I also represented the Lib Dems in debates on related legislation as it went through Parliament. Click here to see a selection of my speeches.