Jim Shannon MP: speeches

Speeches

• 25 Mar 2026 · Proposed Visitor Levy · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Efford. I thank the right hon. Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) for leading the debate. Tourist infrastructure is an incredibly important issue in my constituency; I know the motion is about the visitor levy in England, but I want to reflect my constituency and the concerns there. I think the right hon. Gentleman and other hon. Members have set the scene incredibly well. I may have a slightly different opinion from others in the Chamber—I apologise for not always thinking alike—but I have to reflect the opinions of my constituents. I hear the concerns in relation to tourism levies, which could harm areas that rely on tourism and burden them with additional charges. For context, I represent a beautiful constituency, which is as equally coastal as it is rural. I am aware of numerous Airbnbs along our peninsula, which hundreds of people come to stay in each year. I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that to keep our tourism sites alive we must keep the price down. What is being proposed will have a clear impact on the tourism opportunities on the mainland. For us back home, it sends a cloud over tourism that a levy may, at some point, come our way. I, like everybody else, understand that the value of money in my hand is important. I am, after all, an Ulster Scot and for us, every pound is a prisoner. That is a fact of life, and I always want to see value for money. I am also inclined to go for what I would refer to as affordable options. I believe that, in today’s age, many people are like me and the price of staycations and holidays is already, in some cases, extortionate. It may be a small fee, but people do not want to be asked to pay more just to stay in a certain area. There is an even bigger issue back home when we look at the comparison between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, because any levies would have an impact on both sides of the border. Adding a levy back home would make Northern Ireland relatively more expensive and push visitors to stay in the south. The potential impact of a levy on us in Northern Ireland would be the same as what the right hon. Gentleman has referred to here. If something of this nature were ever to be introduced, clarity would be needed about where the money would be used. That question has been raised in almost every contribution. Local councils and authorities must provide clear road maps, and if people staying are asked to pay an additional fee, it should go towards the tourism sector in that specific area, not to other council services that do not benefit the industry. The levy would not impact large chain hotels, but I worry about the family B&Bs. The right hon. Gentleman, when he set the scene, specifically pushed that issue hard. Nobody can deny that the levy would have a detrimental effect. Those B&Bs might not want to pass the additional fee on to their consumer, but they might find that they cannot sustain their business because people do not want to stay somewhere where they have to pay more. I recognise the potential benefits that a visitor levy could bring in supporting local services and infrastructure, but we must proceed with caution. We need caution, we need a review and we need understanding before we go anywhere.

• 25 Mar 2026 · Waste Crime: Knowsley · Hansard source

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  I have a quick question. Does that apply to the obfuscation of the vehicles and vans used? If it does, that will also hurt them.

• 25 Mar 2026 · Waste Crime: Knowsley · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Lady for bringing this forward—I spoke to her beforehand as well. She has outlined a serious waste-crime issue specific to her area. She is probably fortunate to have a Minister who will respond in a positive way, and I look forward to that response. However, it is not just an issue in Knowsley; it is an issue everywhere, including in my constituency. Does the hon. Lady share my concern that, for rural communities, part of the problem with challenging those committing waste crime is the isolation of the countryside? When it comes to the Minister’s response on how to address that, there must be other ways, such as extra policing or CCTV, to catch those doing this.

• 25 Mar 2026 · Voluntary Groups and Community Centres · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention; it summed up the point I was trying to make about my constituency of Strangford, which is also true of my hon. Friend’s constituency of East Londonderry and all of Northern Ireland, where the community spirit lives and thrives. In 2024-25, just under 46% of adults in Northern Ireland volunteered formally or informally. If those figures do not tell us about the people of Northern Ireland, nothing will. Those who formally volunteer in Northern Ireland frequently offer high levels of commitment, with 23% volunteering for eight to 16 hours in a four-week period. The average church volunteer in Northern Ireland contributes approximately 13 hours a month. Church and faith-based organisations are the most common type of volunteering in the region, with some 39% of all volunteers identifying that as their primary sector. For a medium-sized church with roughly 120 adults, for example, the annual value of volunteer time is estimated at just under £250,000. I know that Northern Ireland is very much a faith-based country. We attend our churches and we worship our God in the way He indicates us to do. Through faith-based voluntary groups, the savings for the community, Government, councils and the Northern Ireland Assembly are significant. I look at the churches that put on the Boys’ Brigade, the Brownies and the Campaigners, and see the sheer volume of volunteer hours in place to provide children with a safe place to learn new skills and share in the love of God. None of those community groups or churches is looking for a pat on the back. They are offering a service; they are doing something above and beyond what people need them to do—but they do it. They are not seeking any form of recognition for giving up their weekends to provide children and teenagers with somewhere safe to meet their friends and hang out. They do, however, need some support to keep the lights on. I said I was pleased to see the Minister in her place; I know she has absolutely no responsibility for Northern Ireland, so I do not expect her to say what is going to happen there. I just ask that we try to work together across the United Kingdom to help each other. That is what I look for from most debates. We have things back home—our volunteer spirit is one example, with 46% of adults doing volunteer work—that I believe come off the back of our faith. I am coming to an end, because I am conscious of others who want to speak. With the cost of energy rising, even those groups that are blessed to have their own facilities need more support to provide, not an all-singing, all-dancing programme—although I know they would like to—but warmth, light and insurance. That is where Government need to step in in a helpful way. The hoops that volunteers and churches have to jump through to receive a small amount of funding are sometimes off-putting. Those processes must be simplified and made easier to access. In this energy crisis, we look to the Minister to consider provision of additional support for the voluntary sector to keep the lights on, keep the elderly and our kids safe, and keep the community knitted together. All that money—every penny—will be well spent.

• 25 Mar 2026 · Voluntary Groups and Community Centres · Hansard source

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  And meet his mother!

• 25 Mar 2026 · Voluntary Groups and Community Centres · Hansard source

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  It is always a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms McVey. I thank the hon. Member for Chelsea and Fulham (Ben Coleman) for the opportunity to raise the invaluable work carried out by the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland and my constituency. I have a question not related to the debate: as the MP for Chelsea and Fulham, which team does he support? I am thrilled to see the Minister in her place, as we all are. We always look forward to her helpful answers, and we thank her in advance. I also welcome the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (Mr French), and say well done to the Lib Dem spokesperson, the hon. Member for Frome and East Somerset (Anna Sabine), who led the debate at 4.30 pm yesterday and is back this morning at 9.30 am. I always maintain that the people of Northern Ireland are the most charitable, not just in financial giving per capita, but in giving their time and love. I say that honestly and sincerely, having lived in the Ards for all but four years of my life, which gives me a fair notion of how the people are. There is a reason we have the highest number of kinship placements in the UK and why we are world-renowned for our big heart. I think about some of the things that have shaped us. We do not look back with fondness at the troubles of 30-plus years, but they shaped us in the way we look forward. Having been shaped by our past makes us think of the future we would like to see. That has given us the compassionate spirit to pull together as a community in difficult times. When I see people borrowing church halls to provide Christmas dinners on Christmas day, for example, hear of community volunteers handing out hygiene packs to elderly people in the pandemic, or see children enjoying free classes in local community groups, I know that the community is alive and well in the Ards and Strangford.

• 25 Mar 2026 · NHS Continuing Healthcare · Hansard source

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  I commend the hon. Gentleman for bringing this debate forward. I spoke to him beforehand, as I always try to be helpful in my contributions. He may only now be aware that in 2023, the High Court in Northern Ireland determined that the previous Northern Ireland continuing healthcare policy breached obligations regarding equality for older people—some of the very things that he is referring to. As a result, the Department of Health in Northern Ireland is in the process of reviewing and developing new, fairer guidance. Does he agree that, UK-wide, this must be tailored care, with an understanding that one size simply cannot fit all?

• 24 Mar 2026 · Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood · Hansard source

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  indicated assent.

• 24 Mar 2026 · Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood · Hansard source

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  On research, I will make a plea for Queen’s University Belfast, as I always do in such debates, because it does incredible work. It is not the only university that does so; many universities across this United Kingdom do so as well. Will the Minister engage with Queen’s University Belfast and other universities to ensure that the necessary research can be achieved and thereby save lives?

• 24 Mar 2026 · Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir John. I thank the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Andy MacNae) for raising this issue and pay tribute to him for his bravery in exposing his own devastating grief at the loss of his precious daughter to try to bring about the change in research and support that is so desperately needed. This is an incredibly difficult subject; indeed, it is often whispered about, if it is spoken of at all. SUDC is a tragedy that strikes without warning, leaving families across our communities in a state of profound, unanswered grief. Over the years, I have met too many families whose joy has gone, and my heart aches for them as well. In Northern Ireland, we pride ourselves on our close-knit communities, our resilience and our ability to respond to things in a family way. However, when a family faces SUDC, that resilience is tested by the unique pain caused by having no answers. Unlike sudden infant death syndrome, which affects babies under one year old, SUDC claims the lives of children aged from one to 18. I will look at the reality at home and, as I always do, give a Northern Ireland perspective. According to recent data from the Lullaby Trust, although the number of children who die is small, the impact is immeasurable and is felt not only by the parents and siblings but by the extended family, in schools and churches, and throughout the community. When that stone hits the water, the ripples go far. In 2023, 16 unexpected deaths of babies and young children were recorded in Northern Ireland. While thorough investigations may eventually find explanations for many of those, those that remain unexplained leave a permanent void. Northern Ireland has historically seen the highest infant mortality rate in the United Kingdom, and it is currently at 4.2 deaths per 1,000 live births. The trends are quite worrying. Although SUDC is distinct from infant mortality, those figures highlight the broader, urgent need to prioritise child health and research in Northern Ireland. For children aged one to four, SUDC is one of the leading causes of death across the United Kingdom, often ranking higher than traffic accidents or fire, yet it remains one of the most under-recognised medical tragedies of our time. When we ask the Minister for help, that is what we are asking about.

• 24 Mar 2026 · Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood · Hansard source

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  I will do that. Let us work together to make sure every child has the chance to grow up, and every family has the answers they deserve. While we do not mourn as those do who have no hope, I always treasure the fact that Jesus wept with Mary in her grief, even though he had a plan. God has a plan; sometimes we do not understand what it is, but we have to trust. So we weep together and we hold on to the hope we have. Today, we express our determination to do more for those grieving in our families, in our towns and in our great nation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

• 24 Mar 2026 · Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend is absolutely right. She and I, and probably everyone else in the Chamber, would recognise the importance of parents having someone there to comfort them when such an awful tragedy takes place, and it is vital that my hon. Friend underlined that. One of my three asks of the Minister—which I will come to shortly—will be for research, and Queen’s University is to the fore on that. For a child aged one to four, SUDC is one of the leading causes of death across the United Kingdom, yet it remains one of the most under-recognised medical tragedies. That is really the point I want to make: this is a medical tragedy and we are not doing enough, so we need to do more, as I think everybody has said. The unexplained nature of these deaths is perhaps the cruellest part. Families go to wake their child for school or for a day of play, only to find the unthinkable. The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency continues to track these tragedies, noting that they can affect any family, regardless of background. But we are not here today simply to acknowledge or indeed to remember; we are here to advocate for change. When he set the scene, the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen was very clear about what he wanted, which is probably what we all want. First, we need more research, and that is one of my three asks of the Minister. I am very pleased to see her in her place; it has been a pleasure to work alongside her on many subjects over the years we have been here, and I wish her well—I wished her well last time and I wish her well again—in the role she plays. We need more research in order to move beyond the unexplained and find the “why” of the problem. Secondly, we need better support for families navigating the complex joint agency response that follows a sudden death. Thirdly, we need something that today’s debate will help to raise: awareness. Those are my three asks, so that no parent in Glasgow, Newtownards, Swansea or Somerset feels that they are the only one in the world that this has happened to. We owe it to the children we have lost and to the families they have left behind— [ Interruption. ]

• 24 Mar 2026 · Methane from Landfill Sites · Hansard source

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  I thank the Minister, as always, for his answers. It is important that we all get the advantages of the level of methane harvested from landfill sites. In Northern Ireland we also have landfill sites, with a lot of rubbish and therefore a lot of methane possibilities. I know that the Minister visits Northern Ireland regularly, so what discussions has he had with the relevant Minister there to ensure that we can get the advantages that he mentioned in his reply to the hon. Member for Warrington South (Sarah Hall)?

• 24 Mar 2026 · Endometriosis Services · Hansard source

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  It is obviously a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Dowd. I thank the hon. Member for Ipswich (Jack Abbott) for leading today’s debate on this crucial issue. Support for women’s gynaecology services is so important. I know from speaking to many ladies, and indeed nurses, back home in Northern Ireland that endometriosis services in particular are suffering drastically. The conversation about that must be had now. It is a conversation that has been had a few times in Westminster Hall, as well as on the Floor of the House through questions. It is a pleasure to see the Minister in her place. She is earning her money today, as this is the second debate she has responded to. It is a genuine pleasure. I know the Minister has pursued this topic over a number of years as an MP, but now she has the opportunity to respond to the requests from the hon. Member for Ipswich and from me, and I look forward to her response. Endometriosis is a chronic and often debilitating condition affecting around one in 10 women of reproductive age, yet it remains widely underdiagnosed and clinically misunderstood. In Northern Ireland, many women face long waiting times for diagnosis and treatment, limited access to specialist services, and significant pressures within gynaecology pathways. As a result of all that, patients often endure years of pain and uncertainty, as well as disruption to their daily lives, work, education and family life in general. I have spoken with numerous young people about this over the years, and have personal experience of it from the women in my life. When my wife and I got married, the doctor told Sandra that, “If you have a baby quickly, everything will clear up.” Well, no it did not—and three babies later, it still had not cleared up. I am not better than anybody else, but I have some knowledge of what it is like for a woman to deal with that every day.

• 24 Mar 2026 · Endometriosis Services · Hansard source

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  My friend and colleague, the hon. Member for North Down (Alex Easton), referred to that earlier in the debate. The hon. Lady underlines that point strongly, for which I thank her. The situation in Northern Ireland is dire—in Northern Ireland, we use that word to describe many such services that are just not up to scratch. Specialist pathways and centres are more developed in other parts of the United Kingdom; although I was very sorry to hear from the hon. Lady that it is now a nine-year waiting time—is that correct?

• 24 Mar 2026 · Endometriosis Services · Hansard source

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  My goodness—that is quite unbelievable. We tend to find that the situation on the mainland is better than back home in Northern Ireland. I fear that Northern Ireland has fallen far behind, and that little consideration is being given to the impact that that is having. The capital funding from the Department of Health in Northern Ireland does not go far enough to accommodate everything that we need. How many more women must suffer for how many more years before the scale of the issue is realised? It is my duty, not only as my party’s spokesperson for health but because of my personal experiences over the years, to represent such issues as endometriosis services. It is no secret that more must be done: more engagement, more research and more resourcing. I look to the Minister and ask about the research being done—I will make a request similar to the one I made to her in the debate we had on sudden unexplained death in childhood this morning. Some advances are taking place, but it is questionable whether they will be expedited quickly enough to catch up everyone. I also strongly but politely ask the Minister to discuss the issue with Mike Nesbitt—the Northern Ireland Executive Minister who holds the health portfolio—in the hope that this time next year, in Endometriosis Action Month, we can come together again and that the situation will be better for all those thousands of women across the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland who deserve better treatment.

• 24 Mar 2026 · Endometriosis Services · Hansard source

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  The hon. Lady speaks well, on behalf of not only her own constituents but all constituents and ladies across Northern Ireland. My mother also had various problems with endometriosis over the years, and one of my staff members—a young girl who got married just over a year ago—has had what were probably the worst problems with endometriosis that I had ever seen. Obviously, as her employer, I tried to be as sympathetic as I could so that she could have a few days off work, as she had to go to hospital and for appointments—it was endless. We always encouraged her to get married, and she met the right fella and did so. We hope that the situation will change for her. The personal experiences of women show the huge, wide-scale issues around birth control. At as young an age as 14 or 15, girls are often prescribed birth control to deal with painful periods, as the hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Sorcha Eastwood) will be aware, given her intervention. The issues often slip under the radar without further investigation, meaning that the same women find themselves worse than ever in their mid-20’s, with undiagnosed endometriosis alongside possible fertility issues, of which the hon. Member for Ipswich gave some examples. Given that conditions such as endometriosis are so widely known to be underdiagnosed at the earlier stages, it is beyond me why more has not been done to ensure that the problems are investigated as early as possible. That shortfall for us in Northern Ireland, and what I suspect is the shortfall everywhere across this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, needs to be addressed. We also see issues around the waiting lists, in the indeterminable wait to try to find out what is wrong, and to get surgical treatment for it. The waiting time in Northern Ireland is 18 months. That forces women to use their savings or money that they do not have to go private, as living with the condition is described as unbearable—I know just how unbearable it was for the young lady on my staff, my wife and my mother.

• 24 Mar 2026 · Reproductive Coercion · Hansard source

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  I thank the Minister for her positive response to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Natalie Fleet). The Minister obviously understands the issue very clearly. In my earlier intervention, I gave the example of Northern Ireland, where the sentence for coercive behaviour is 14 years. Over here on the mainland, in England and Wales, the sentence is only five years. Would the Minister and the Government consider strengthening the sentence to make it similar to that in Northern Ireland, ensuring that the time fits the crime?

• 24 Mar 2026 · Reproductive Coercion · Hansard source

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  I commend the hon. Lady for bringing forward this issue. She has strength of character, strength of personality and commitment to these subjects; it is always a pleasure to come along and hear her express her viewpoint, and I congratulate her. Just to be helpful to her—I did speak to her beforehand—she may only now be aware that in Northern Ireland, conviction on indictment for domestic abuse and coercive control can lead to up to 14 years’ imprisonment, while in England and Wales the same offence receives just five years’ imprisonment. Does she agree that coercive control demands its own legislation—equally applied, with equal severity— across the whole United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?

• 24 Mar 2026 · Water Supply and Housing Targets: West Kent · Hansard source

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  I commend the right hon. Gentleman for bringing forward this issue; he is absolutely right. He outlines a case in his own constituency, which is very pertinent to him. Unfortunately, what he describes is the case across the whole of the United Kingdom. In Northern Ireland, I have the very same problem. Northern Ireland Water seems to be discouraging planned housing, as it cannot meet the need. Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the Government must step in with direct action and fund the deficit while enforcing the obligations on water companies to hold up their end of the deal?

• 24 Mar 2026 · Women’s Safety in Rural Areas · Hansard source

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  I commend the hon. Lady for securing the debate. In rural constituencies such as mine and the hon. Lady’s, large stretches of unlit roads, pathways and open land, often bordered by dark fields, can create a real sense of vulnerability. Does the hon. Lady agree that future developments or planning proposals in such areas must take into account safe, well-lit corridors, especially when it comes to transport links, to ensure that women feel safe commuting to where they need to be in areas that are historically dark and isolated?

• 24 Mar 2026 · Oil and Gas · Hansard source

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  I thank the shadow Minister and the Conservative party for bringing this subject forward. My constituents tell me very clearly, “If we have oil, let’s dig it, let’s drill it and let’s make sure that we get the opportunity from it.” Is it not ludicrous for the Labour party to let Norway get all the assets from the drilling and let us get nothing, when it is coming from the same bed? For the Labour party to have that policy is ludicrous. It goes against the will of the people and against the will of us those of us on the Opposition Benches of this Parliament. I think the Minister should take a review of this decision.

• 23 Mar 2026 · Middle East · Hansard source

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  While we welcome the progress of talks in the middle east, the fact that our Government have to learn updates from the news cycle is beyond disappointing. The deterioration of the relationship between the President of the United States and the Prime Minister is particularly worrying. Will the Secretary of State begin to rebuild that relationship with our American allies, and show willingness to work in the best interests of this nation? The attacks on Diego Garcia prove that this nation is under attack, and that deserves decisive action. How will the Minister secure the right action to put us back in step with our American friends, regardless of any personality clashes?

• 23 Mar 2026 · National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill · Hansard source

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  I thank the Minister for bringing this Bill forward. He brings a good story to the House, but sometimes these decisions give rise to questions. My constituents believe that the Bill creates a financial disincentive for middle-income earners to save for their retirement. Does he not agree that this risks creating a pensions gap, with individuals becoming more dependent on the state in later life, which will cost the taxpayer more in the long run than the tax relief costs today? My constituents feel that, and I am asking the Minister the question. How would he answer it?

• 23 Mar 2026 · Hatzola Ambulance Attack · Hansard source

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  I thank the Minister very much for his statement, and for assuring Jewish people across the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that we stand with them and that they are in our prayers. No one has any doubts about the Government’s commitment to standing alongside the Jewish diaspora, but this latest antisemitic attack shows the depth of depravity that those who hate Jews will sink to even today. The symbolism of an attack on ambulances for the sick and vulnerable cannot be lost on anyone. It is clear that Government steps to combat antisemitism do not go far enough, so what meaningful steps will the Minister take to support the Jewish community, whose only crime is to exist in Britain? They are British citizens, and they deserve full support from their Government.