Gregory Stafford MP: speeches

Speeches

• 1 Jul 2025 · Hospitality Sector · Hansard source

  More

  In Farnham, the Nelson Arms pub uses zero-hours contracts, and it needs them. I spoke to a staff member who said that the reason he was so keen on them is that he is actually a paramedic, and between his shifts he worked at the pub. That worked for him and the pub, because it gave them both flexibility.

• 9 Jun 2025 · New Unitary Authorities · Hansard source

  More

  1. What steps her Department is taking to help prevent new unitary authorities from requiring exceptional financial support.

• 5 Jun 2025 · Bank Closures and Banking Hubs · Hansard source

  More

  I entirely agree with my hon. Friend; he makes a very convincing point. When we are dealing with something as vital as personal finances, it should not be too much to demand to see a person face to face. The legislation we rely on to manage access to banking, including the Financial Services and Markets Act, remains focused almost exclusively on access to cash, not access to banking services. That distinction matters. Depositing takings, seeking support with financial abuse and getting advice are all services that cannot be delivered by a machine. Even when residents are confident and willing to bank online, they are often held back by something much simpler: their connection. In many parts of my constituency, mobile coverage and broadband access are so poor that digital banking is unreliable, if not impossible. The digital divide is no longer just a social challenge but a financial one too. Older people, disabled people, rural residents and small businesses all deserve access to a banking system that works for them, not just for those who are already digitally fluent or living in better-connected areas. That means that physical services, in-person advice and real access to cash must remain part of the infrastructure of modern life. Will the Minister work with Link, Cash Access UK and local authorities to accelerate the roll-out of banking hubs? Will she expand the remit of the Financial Services and Markets Act to protect access to full banking services, not just to cash? Finally, will she meet me to discuss how we can support the roll-out of permanent, accessible banking hubs in Liphook and Farnham? No one should be excluded from essential financial services because of their postcode, their age, or the strength of their wi-fi signal.

• 3 Jun 2025 · Dementia Care · Hansard source

  More

  The hon. Gentleman’s story of his saving his local centre rings a bell with me. The Hunter Centre in Haslemere, which had been run by the Alzheimer’s Society, looked like it was going to close in 2017, but because of some great work by Anne Downing, it was saved and is now thriving—in fact, I am a patron—so I am sure that this can be done not just in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency and in mine, but across the country.

• 3 Jun 2025 · Dementia Care · Hansard source

  More

  The hon. Member is making a powerful speech, especially with that last point. Is he, like me, concerned that ICBs will have their funding cut by 50%? Dementia will be one of the many conditions that will suffer because of that.

• 14 May 2025 · Infected Blood Inquiry: Government Response · Hansard source

  More

  On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker.

• 14 May 2025 · Infected Blood Inquiry: Government Response · Hansard source

  More

  The partner of Helen, my constituent from Farnham, died in 1994 from infected blood. Unfortunately, Helen now has stage 4B ovarian cancer, so she is not in a great state. She wrote to the Chief Secretary in August and, despite chasing this up numerous times, it took months for a rather unsympathetic response from the Chief Secretary to come back. I know that the Paymaster General is keen to speed this up for those infected, but there are also plenty of people who were affected and whose time is short, so can he commit to speeding up the process for them, too?

• 13 May 2025 · Churches and Religious Buildings: Communities · Hansard source

  More

  The hon. Lady and I have had a number of exchanges in the Chamber on this issue. In her role as a Church Commissioner, given the concerns she has raised about projects failing and craftsmen being put out of work, has she had any reassurance from the Government that schemes already started, even if above the £25,000 cap, will be allowed to progress so that the projects can continue?

• 1 May 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

  More

  To bring the Secretary of State to Hampshire and Surrey, there are major regeneration schemes under way in my constituency at Farnham, in Brightwells, and the new town centre in Bordon. Both will ultimately depend on attracting physical businesses, be it retail, hospitality or otherwise, for their long-term success. Does the Secretary of State agree that the Government should actively support prospective businesses in those areas, and does he not recognise that new taxes such as the national insurance contribution increases that his Government have imposed on businesses will cause businesses in my constituency to falter before they have even taken off?

• 1 May 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

  More

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

• 22 Apr 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

  More

  T2. If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.

• 26 Mar 2025 · UK-China Relations · Hansard source

  More

  I will come on to slave labour almost immediately, but to answer the hon. Member directly, I think the security concerns are too great. I welcome safeguards to remove slave labour, but there are still concerns beyond that that we should be looking at.

• 26 Mar 2025 · UK-China Relations · Hansard source

  More

  I entirely agree with my right hon. Friend. I will make similar remarks later in my speech, but that is key. Not only is it the use of slave labour, which should be enough to get the Government to start thinking seriously, but it is a complete undercutting of our market.

• 26 Mar 2025 · UK-China Relations · Hansard source

  More

  Yes, but then I will make some progress.

• 26 Mar 2025 · UK-China Relations · Hansard source

  More

  I am fascinated by the argument the hon. Member is developing. Could he point to anything significant that China is doing to reduce its footprint?

• 26 Mar 2025 · UK-China Relations · Hansard source

  More

  I fear that the hon. Member is dancing on the head of a pin there. To be frank, I do not agree with him on that. I think the Government should be really clear about what they are actually going to do to—

• 19 Mar 2025 · Winter Fuel Payment · Hansard source

  More

  Will the hon. Lady give way?

• 19 Mar 2025 · Winter Fuel Payment · Hansard source

  More

  rose—

• 19 Mar 2025 · Winter Fuel Payment · Hansard source

  More

  I entirely agree with everything the hon. Gentleman has just said, but I am sure that, like me, he has received hundreds, if not thousands, of messages from pensioners saying that they are suffering and cannot heat their homes. If his point is one of principle, then clearly he must vote to overturn this policy so that the people who I am sure are contacting him as well as me will be able to heat their homes next winter, as they were unable to do this time round.

• 19 Mar 2025 · Winter Fuel Payment · Hansard source

  More

  rose—

• 18 Mar 2025 · Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill · Hansard source

  More

  I will finish my analogy. It is not Jeff Goldblum who is going to be savaged by the dinosaurs; it is our children.

• 6 Mar 2025 · Ministerial Appointments · Hansard source

  More

  15. Whether the Cabinet Secretary has issued guidance on ministerial appointments.

• 26 Feb 2025 · Family Businesses · Hansard source

  More

  Kilnside farm in my constituency, run by Bob Milton, is only 36 acres in total. It is a tiny farm, yet it will be subject to the new taxes. How can the Minister say that only 4% will be affected? Even the smallest farmers in my constituency will be hit.

• 26 Feb 2025 · Family Businesses · Hansard source

  More

  Will the hon. Lady give way?

• 24 Feb 2025 · Phone Theft · Hansard source

  More

  13. What steps she is taking to tackle phone theft.