Peter Prinsley MP: speeches

Speeches

• 26 Jun 2025 · BBC World Service Funding · Hansard source

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  I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that remark. The World Service is ultimately about the listener. We must bear in mind, when considering the funding settlement for that service, that there are individuals living under authoritarianism whose freedom of expression is so very restricted. They rely on the World Service to provide an accurate and comprehensive global perspective. Funding the World Service is not just about serving elites; it is about earning respect abroad and safeguarding future freedom. Let us not be complacent when it comes to the funding of the BBC World Service. It is an important source of essential soft power and a way for the country to punch well above its weight on the international stage, to spread truth, to lighten the grip of totalitarianism, and in some circumstances prevent the need for us to use hard power at all. That is exactly what the Prime Minister told us this morning. It has been said that we could not recreate the BBC World Service today if we started from scratch. There is not the political will and no one would be willing to take such a risk. If we lose the World Service, we simply will not get it back. I do not think we should take that risk. The Government were bold to increase funding for the World Service last year, but a more steady and long-term funding arrangement must be put in place to prevent what I fear will be death by a thousand cuts.

• 12 Jun 2025 · Long-term Medical Conditions · Hansard source

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  I thank all who have contributed to this interesting discussion. I particularly thank my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough and Rushden (Gen Kitchen), who has acquitted herself extraordinarily well and should be congratulated. It is quite obvious that many of our fellow citizens are depending on us. It is also obvious to me that the politics of healthcare really do matter. We have an opportunity to do something about this, and we must seize that opportunity, because I believe that is one of our great missions. I thank everyone very much for coming to the debate this afternoon.

• 5 Jun 2025 · Joining Up Government · Hansard source

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  3. What progress he has made on joining up government.

• 29 Apr 2025 · Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Visit · Hansard source

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  After 570 days, 59 hostages remain. Does the Minister agree that their unconditional release is a key to the ceasefire? What did Prime Minister Mustafa have to say about that yesterday?

• 1 Apr 2025 · Product Regulation and Metrology Bill [Lords] · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Member for her intervention. I would point out the particular danger of button batteries—something that is well known to ENT surgeons—which cause perforation of the oesophagus and the trachea by a chemical reaction. In the last two years, 95% of consumers have purchased from online platforms, with approximately 23 million monthly transactions in UK. We certainly need strong accountability for these marketplaces. Without that, dangerous items will continue to resurface, putting children at risk. I urge the House to ensure that the Bill puts more pressure on the sellers of unsafe toys, forcing them to take responsibility for their actions.

• 6 Mar 2025 · Relations with the EU · Hansard source

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  8. What steps he is taking to improve relations with the European Union.

• 24 Feb 2025 · Counter-terrorism · Hansard source

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  Sadly, the misappropriation of religious belief to justify acts of terror and intimidation has become familiar across the world. We have seen the minds of too many of our young people corrupted by online pedlars of hate, so what action are this Government taking to tackle radicalisation at a time when xenophobia and intolerance are being promoted for political purposes?

• 24 Feb 2025 · Counter-terrorism · Hansard source

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  9. What steps her Department is taking with international partners to counter the threat of terrorism.

• 4 Feb 2025 · National Cancer Plan · Hansard source

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  Does the Minister agree that the move from analogue to digital will be key to cancer research, especially in the field of rare cancers such as the brain tumours that we have been hearing about?

• 4 Feb 2025 · Clean Power by 2030 · Hansard source

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  5. What progress he has made on achieving clean power by 2030.

• 27 Jan 2025 · Clinical Academics · Hansard source

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  5. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help retain clinical academics in universities.

• 20 Jan 2025 · Obesity: Food and Diet · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend’s intervention was not really an intervention, because I had reached the end of what I wished to say. Nevertheless, I thank him sincerely.

• 19 Nov 2024 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  Will the Secretary of State explain what plans he has—if any—to limit the scope of practice of anaesthetic associates and physician associates, about whom there has been such publicity lately?

• 22 Oct 2024 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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

• 22 Oct 2024 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  The BBC World Service is vital UK soft power. The Foreign Office’s contribution to its funding is about £100 million per year—about the cost of an F-35 fighter jet. The UK has plans to acquire 74 of these fighter jets. Would the Minister agree that we might consider acquiring only 73 of them, if that was the price of preserving the BBC World Service?

• 17 Oct 2024 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  T3. In March 1974, a Turkish Airlines jet crashed while flying from Paris to London. More than 400 people were killed. Among them were 19 members of the Bury St Edmunds rugby club. It was the greatest disaster to befall the town in living memory. This year, 60 cyclists cycled from Paris to Bury St Edmunds, raising £200,000 in their memory. Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating these bold cyclists?