Emma Lewell MP: speeches 2025

Speeches

• 15 Dec 2025 · NATO Defence Expenditure Target · Hansard source

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  Allies rightly agreed that up to 1.5% of GDP would go towards civil preparedness and resilience measures, but public support for our current commitments—let alone for mobilisation in a crisis—does not meet Government assumptions. Will my right hon. Friend say how he plans to address that, so that we fully meet our article 3 obligations?

• 27 Nov 2025 · Business and Trade Committee · Hansard source

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  Order. This is just a reminder that the debate must end at 10 minutes to 2.

• 27 Nov 2025 · Business and Trade Committee · Hansard source

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  We begin with the Select Committee statement. Liam Byrne will speak on the publication of the 11th report of the Business and Trade Committee, “Toward a new doctrine for economic security”, HC835, for up to 10 minutes, during which no interventions may be taken. At the conclusion of his statement, I will call Members to put questions on the subject of the statement and then call Liam Byrne to respond to those in turn. Questions should be brief and Members may ask only one question each.

• 27 Nov 2025 · Packaging: Extended Producer Responsibility · Hansard source

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  Order. If Members can keep their speeches to five minutes, everyone should get in. I call Will Forster.

• 27 Nov 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Since July, I have been assisting my constituent who is the victim of stalking by a foreign national. After correspondence, proposed legislative amendments and a ministerial meeting, we were promised some support. The situation has recently deteriorated, placing her in danger. Despite numerous attempts to seek help via the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office, nothing has changed. Will my right hon. Friend please use his good offices to intervene and help us?

• 24 Nov 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

• 24 Nov 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  The hospitality industry in South Shields has really struggled over the last year. There are now deep concerns, which I share, about the imposition of a tourism tax. Can my right hon. Friend explain what assessment he has made of such a tax’s impact on beautiful little coastal tourist towns, like mine?

• 24 Nov 2025 · Social and Affordable Housing: South Shields · Hansard source

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  After a long campaign from myself and constituents, South Tyneside council has eventually agreed to curtail any new houses in multiple occupation, but we remain saturated with them. My right hon. Friend knows that they are no substitute for good social housing, so does he have any plans to strengthen the licensing regime, to close down badly managed HMOs and to deliver better housing?

• 24 Nov 2025 · Social and Affordable Housing: South Shields · Hansard source

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  1. What steps he is taking to build more social and affordable homes in the South Shields constituency.

• 17 Nov 2025 · Parkinson’s Disease · Hansard source

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  Order. I call Gregory Stafford. My apologies; we were having issues with the clock. It should be okay now.

• 17 Nov 2025 · Parkinson’s Disease · Hansard source

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  I am terribly sorry; we are not able to take any more Back-Bench speeches. I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

• 17 Nov 2025 · Parkinson’s Disease · Hansard source

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  Order. I call Graeme Downie.

• 17 Nov 2025 · Parkinson’s Disease · Hansard source

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  I will need to put a two-minute time limit on Back-Bench speeches.

• 3 Nov 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  North-east industry has always supported our nation’s defence, yet we now have the lowest MOD spend out of every single region, leaving our potential untapped. Will my hon. Friend meet me and the North East Regional Defence and Security Cluster to redress that?

• 3 Nov 2025 · Regulation of houses in multiple occupation · Hansard source

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  I rise to present a petition on behalf of my constituents regarding the uncontrolled growth and lack of monitoring of houses in multiple occupation across South Shields. HMOs are having a detrimental impact on our community, increasing antisocial behaviour and contributing to the erosion of family housing. Everyone deserves to have a place to call home, and everyone deserves to feel safe in that home. HMOs should not be allowed to be used as a substitute for good-quality, affordable housing. The petitioners therefore request that: “the House of Commons urge the Government to introduce new legislation to regulate and lessen the proliferation of houses in multiple occupation; and to ask that each local authority publishes their strategy and policies on HMOs. And the petitioners remain, etc.” Following is the full text of the petition: [The petition of residents of the constituency of South Shields Declares that the uncontrolled growth of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) within the constituency is having a detrimental impact on communities, leading to overcrowding, crime, anti-social behaviour, parking pressures, and the erosion of family housing availability; notes that HMOs are subject to different licensing regimes under housing law, including mandatory licensing, additional licensing, and selective licensing; further declares that while these licensing schemes provide oversight of management and safety, the planning system remains the main safeguard against over-concentration; and further declares that without strengthened legislation, HMOs can proliferate unchecked. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to introduce new legislation to regulate and lessen the proliferation of houses in multiple occupation; and to ask that each local authority publishes their strategy and policies on HMOs. And the petitioners remain, etc.] [P003124]

• 27 Oct 2025 · Holidays During School Term Time · Hansard source

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  Order. Will Members please keep their contributions to five minutes, so that everyone can get in? I the Chair of the Education Committee.

• 27 Oct 2025 · Employment: People with Health Conditions · Hansard source

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  23. What steps he is taking to support people with health conditions into work.

• 27 Oct 2025 · Employment: People with Health Conditions · Hansard source

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  The Motability scheme provides a lifeline to people with disabilities, allowing them to get to health appointments, study, maintain employment and so much more. Cuts to the scheme risk increased health needs and increased unemployment, which are likely to cost much more than any short-term savings. Does my right hon. Friend agree that before any proposed cuts are implemented, it is vital to carry out a proper impact assessment?

• 21 Oct 2025 · Sentencing Bill · Hansard source

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  I am going to make a short speech on new clause 27, tabled in my name and the name of other hon. Members. After a short relationship, my constituent Sophie Hall has suffered and continues to suffer from a prolonged and relentless stalking campaign from her ex-partner, who was residing illegally in the UK. In November last year, he was arrested for these offences, but was never spoken to about them, as no interpreter could be found. No risk assessment was done, and he was placed in temporary accommodation on bail, which he continued to breach. In February, Sophie’s ex-partner was convicted and sentenced under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and was subsequently deported to his home country of Brazil with a 10-year re-entry ban effective from March. He then made his way to Europe, travelling across several countries before ending up back in the UK. In May, he was arrested in Belfast boarding a flight to Inverness. His aim, as always, was to get to Sophie. The Crown Prosecution Service then charged him with stalking and breaches of restraining order and immigration offences and he was remanded in custody. After review, the CPS stated that no charges could be filed for stalking under the current law because the stalking had happened outside the UK, the perpetrator is not a UK citizen or resident, and the existing law does not give the UK courts jurisdiction over stalking offences committed from abroad under these circumstances. This is the crux of new clause 27.

• 21 Oct 2025 · Sentencing Bill · Hansard source

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  I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his intervention and support. Simply put, I want no one else to go through what Sophie is going through. She has to live her life in constant fear and has been through absolute hell. I hope that the Minister will give my new clause proper consideration.

• 15 Oct 2025 · Tree Maintenance: Guidance to Local Authorities · Hansard source

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  I will call Esther McVey to move the motion. I will then call the Minister to respond. I remind other Members that they may only make a speech with prior permission from the Member in charge of the debate and the Minister. There will not be an opportunity for the Member in charge to wind up, as is the convention for 30-minute debates.

• 15 Oct 2025 · Educational Assessment System Reform · Hansard source

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  Order. We will have to limit contributions to three and a half minutes.

• 16 Sept 2025 · Support for Witnesses · Hansard source

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  My constituent Billy Boyack saw his wife Angela and son Stephen killed in a head-on collision. The driver responsible initially showed no remorse and was already banned from the area under bail conditions. He received only a 13-year sentence. How does the Minister intend to redress the unfairness in our sentencing laws, with victims like Billy suffering such injustice?

• 11 Sept 2025 · Bus Services · Hansard source

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  5. What steps she is taking to help improve local bus services.

• 11 Sept 2025 · Bus Services · Hansard source

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  My constituents are sick of being ignored when it comes to vital bus routes being withdrawn. More than 600 of them recently signed a petition after the unexpected and rapid withdrawal of the well used No. 17. Giving more powers to local councils does not always equate to communities having more of a say. Can the Minister please explain what checks and balances are in place to ensure that, as we devolve powers, residents really are listened to?