Callum Anderson MP: speeches

Speeches

• 24 Mar 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  T7. I recently visited the Gawcott Fields Community Solar project, which is a local solar farm that uses the income from the clean energy it produces to invest in energy saving and environmental projects, and it is anticipated that it will invest £2.8 million over 25 years. Can the Minister update the House on how the Government will use the local power plan to ensure that even more of my communities—particularly rural and low-income ones—can take control of their own energy?

• 19 Mar 2026 · Sustainable Farming Incentive · Hansard source

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  I was pleased to welcome my right hon. Friend to Adstockfields, a great small family farm in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency, for a rural summit. As she knows, the SFI came up frequently. Can she set out for the House the steps that she has taken to ensure that farmers with SFI 2023 and countryside stewardship mid-tier agreements that are expiring this year can move on to SFI 2026 agreements, without losing any support?

• 19 Mar 2026 · Sustainable Farming Incentive · Hansard source

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  5. What steps she is taking to reform the sustainable farming incentive.

• 3 Mar 2026 · Spring Forecast · Hansard source

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  The OECD and the International Monetary Fund have both recognised the importance of the Government’s fiscal discipline, which is important given the increasingly volatile global economic environment. Will the Chancellor set out more actions that she has taken with others across Government to control public spending, so that the Government can prioritise the long-term investments that boost our global competitiveness and dynamism, and fulfil our defence spending requirements?

• 21 Jan 2026 · Warm Homes Plan · Hansard source

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  I thank the Secretary of State for his statement. I particularly welcome the new requirements placed on private landlords, which will be a huge boost to tenants in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency. My question concerns rural communities, which often face high energy costs and other practical barriers, such as the limited availability of those who install things like heat pumps. Can he set out in a bit more detail how his Department will work with relevant local authorities and suppliers to ensure that rural communities, such as those in north Buckinghamshire, are not left behind?

• 15 Dec 2025 · NATO: European Security · Hansard source

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  Deterrence depends not only on military strength but on our economic resilience, from energy security to protecting our critical infrastructure and vital industries. Will the Minister provide more information on what conversations he has been having with our partners and NATO allies in Europe, to align our economic security measures with our broader defence strategy on our continent?

• 3 Dec 2025 · Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor · Hansard source

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  I have drawn the short straw here. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Daniel Zeichner) on securing this debate. I felt compelled to join the debate this afternoon because I wanted to underscore the point, which has been made by others, that if we want to make the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor a success, we cannot ignore the roles of the towns and cities that lie between them. My hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes North (Chris Curtis) articulately explained the vitality of the MK economy. All I will add to what he said is that I am particularly proud that Pulsar, Envisics and Starship Technologies call Bletchley home. I particularly welcome East West Rail, as Bletchley and Winslow will host East West Rail stations. I cannot wait for passenger services to start, hopefully as soon as possible. I intend to use the Bletchley investment taskforce that I set up in the spring to catalyse more investment, businesses, jobs and apprenticeships in our town, so that we can realise the full promise of the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor. I have little time remaining, but as the only Buckinghamshire MP able to participate in the debate, I want to shed light on Silverstone’s contribution to the east-west corridor, as articulated by my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge. My constituency is home to a high-performance technology cluster in Silverstone Park, which already has 60 advanced companies, including Mercedes, Aston Martin and Andretti. If we can get the proposed Silverstone incubator village over the line, we can further demonstrate the region’s expertise in net zero propulsion, aerodynamics, meteorology and lightweight materials. I echo the comments made by my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes North about the importance of coherent, strategic and joined-up leadership across the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor. I know that hon. Members from across the Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes region would value more conversations about that.

• 1 Dec 2025 · Budget Resolutions · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to contribute to this third day of the Budget debate, and a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge (Sir Gavin Williamson), and I associate myself with the speeches of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow West (Gareth Thomas). In the short time available, I wish to cover a few areas, the first of which is the fiscal stance of the Government in relation to the cost of living. Overall, I believe that the set of measures announced by the Chancellor last week will indeed cut the cost of living, tackle NHS waiting lists, and reduce the deficit and the debt, which is much needed. Having worked in financial services before entering this place, I have observed debates on fiscal probity and prudence with great interest, but I would like to remind Members—certainly those on the Government side of the House, but also those across the House—that fiscal responsibility or fiscal prudence is not just an end in itself; it is a means to an end. It delivers economic and financial stability, and ultimately lowers inflation. I welcome the fact that measures in the Budget will reduce inflation more than expected. By increasing the headroom, we are enabling the central bank to, in time, reduce interest rates at a faster rate, which will not only support mortgage holders but support businesses to expand their operations. In the long run, it will also help to reduce our national debt. Given that over a third of our national debt is held by overseas investors, it is incredibly important that we respect their wishes and be fiscally responsible. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero gave a tour de force on the various measures we are taking to reduce the cost of living, certainly with regard to energy bills and rail fares. My constituents in Buckingham and Bletchley will benefit from frozen fares, whether they travel from Bletchley or Milton Keynes to London Euston or to elsewhere in the country. When I was out knocking on doors with my right hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Emma Reynolds) on Saturday, people on the doorstep particularly welcome the frozen prescription charges, as well as the broader investment in the NHS. In Milton Keynes we have seen lots of investment over the past few years, enabled thanks to the fiscal responsibility of this Labour Government, such as the £500 million investment in the new hospital in Milton Keynes. Just last week the Milton Keynes University hospital confirmed the construction of two new operating theatres, beginning early next year, all thanks to a Labour Government. The final area I wish to cover is the pro-growth measures the Government are pursuing, some of which were announced last week. My hon. Friend the Member for Harrow West gave a very compelling argument for the need to increase the capabilities of our co-operatives and mutuals, which are an excellent feature of our economy. I want to highlight the role of UK listings relief, the expansion of the enterprise management incentives eligibility criteria, and the extension of the enterprise investment scheme and venture capital trusts. It is incredibly important, in the globally competitive economy in which the UK is operating, that Britain is the best place to start, scale and ultimately list a business, and I welcome the measures provided in the Budget. In conclusion, the Budget very much contributes to the financial prosperity of our economy, but we will need to go further, in the coming years and in the forthcoming parliamentary Session, on regulation, pro-growth tax reform and more inward investment—the Chancellor was in Wales today to bang the drum for more investment in the UK. As the Prime Minister said in his speech this morning, in the long run we also need to control benefit expenditure. The previous Government oversaw a ballooning of welfare and benefit expenditure. On the Labour Benches we believe in the virtue of work, but we must not use the failings of the previous Government to shirk the responsibilities of the future.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Flood Resilience: Buckingham and Bletchley · Hansard source

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  1. What steps she is taking to improve flood resilience in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

• 13 Nov 2025 · Flood Resilience: Buckingham and Bletchley · Hansard source

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  I thank the Minister for her response. Last winter’s floods exposed how years of under-investment by the previous Conservative Government had left Buckingham’s flood defences inadequate, which impacted many businesses and residents in our town. I have had the pleasure of working with the Flood Action 4 Buckingham group and others to ensure that local voices are heard and to identify ways we can act together to ensure we are resilient in the future. Can the Minister advise me and my constituents on how we can access our fair share of future flood resilience funding so that we are not in this position again?