Dan Norris MP: speeches

Speeches

• 1 Apr 2025 · Trail Hunting · Hansard source

  More

  I should declare an interest as chair of the League Against Cruel Sports. Drag hunting was invented 200 years ago. It is a peaceful activity. Trail hunting is not. It is designed to get around the current legislation. Why does my hon. Friend think that centuries of tradition are being ignored by the pro-hunting fraternity?

• 11 Mar 2025 · Local Government: Nolan Principles · Hansard source

  More

  The Nolan principles also apply to officers working in the public sector. I am a regional mayor, as well as a Member. I am aware that a regional mayor in the east of England is currently talking with a chief constable about officers under the previous mayor making decisions that should have been made by politicians—in other words, the normal rules and policies seemingly being circumvented. It troubles me that the interim officers who work for local authorities or regional authorities move on quite quickly. They do not stay very long, and if something questionable is subsequently found, they are not bound to take part in any inquiry. That means that the Nolan principles can be completely circumvented; it drives a coach and horses through the good principles. I agree with everything that the hon. Member has said so far, but does he think there should there be a special circumstance or a modification to the rules to allow those officers, who keep moving around and carry on working in local government, to be held to account? I also ask the Minister what the Government will do to make sure, where questionable things have happened, that the local authorities to which those interim officers go are alerted about that. Those local authorities should know that irregularities have taken place.

• 11 Mar 2025 · Local Government: Nolan Principles · Hansard source

  More

  Will the Minister address my point about interim officers, or perhaps write to me if there is not time today?

• 4 Dec 2024 · Farming and Inheritance Tax · Hansard source

  More

  I cannot believe what I am hearing. I am a four-time Member of Parliament for a semi-rural seat, having first been elected in 1997. The hon. Member is just talking nonsense. I have never heard anything like it.

• 28 Nov 2024 · Fishing Industry · Hansard source

  More

  What will the Government do to assist with training for the fishing fleets, not least in landlocked areas? In the west of England, we are very keen to promote training for things that are not necessarily associated only with our area. Are the Government having any discussions with metro mayors and others with large budgets for training and skills?

• 28 Nov 2024 · Creative Industries · Hansard source

  More

  “Vengeance Most Fowl” is not just what the public inflicted on the Conservative party at the general election. It is also the name of the Aardman Animations Wallace and Gromit film coming out soon, which will be shown on the BBC on Christmas day and on Netflix around the world. What are the Secretary of State and her wonderful team doing to promote animation not just across the west of England and in my constituency, but across the UK, so that it can get to even better and greater heights in the future?

• 28 Nov 2024 · Creative Industries · Hansard source

  More

  14. What steps her Department is taking to help support the creative industries.

• 27 Nov 2024 · Violence against Women and Girls · Hansard source

  More

  Many social workers and police officers have kind hearts and great practice. How will the Government reach out to encourage their best practice while at the same time dealing with the bad practice?

• 26 Nov 2024 · Online Safety: Children and Young People · Hansard source

  More

  I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this important debate. Could she comment on the use of artificial intelligence to create child sexual abuse materials? That is a key issue now. Many years ago, I trained with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children as a child protection officer, and what I learned back then is that we have to get ahead of all the technologies in order to deal with the challenges effectively. Does she have any thoughts on that point? She may be coming to it in her own remarks.

• 18 Nov 2024 · Primary School Breakfast Clubs · Hansard source

  More

  Does my hon. Friend share my dismay that the Opposition Benches are empty, although this is such an important issue for rural communities such as the one I represent, where the geography makes social isolation a big issue? Breakfast clubs are very important in dealing with that isolation, and I am amazed that there are not more, or indeed any, Members on the Opposition Benches.

• 18 Nov 2024 · Primary School Breakfast Clubs · Hansard source

  More

  rose —