I attended York Pride’s 2012 summer event today.  The event included a parade from the Minster to the Racecourse where I made the opening speech.   York Pride is a charitable organisation which aims to promote equality, diversity and … More…

I visited The Retreat in York today to meet the staff and patients.  The Retreat is a not-for-profit specialist mental health care provider based on Heslington Road, which works with the NHS and has been treating people with respect and dignity … More…

In today’s House of Commons debate on Rail Investment, I called on the Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening, to make sure the electrified Midland Main Line is connected to the first phase of High Speed 2, so that … More…

I co-sponsored a backbench business debate in the House of Commons today, which called on the Government to refund to Air Ambulance Services all the VAT they pay on the fuel that they use.  The debate was co-sponsored by the … More…

I visited York Fire Station in Clifford Street today to learn about the importance of river safety and the training which North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service is giving to riverside businesses.  I also saw a demonstration carried out by … More…

The Forestry Panel which was set up to advise the government on the future of England’s forestry and woodland policy following the Government’s climbdown on forest privatisation last year, published its final report today, in which it recommends that public … More…

It is Armed Forces Day tomorrow (Saturday 30 June) and so I have recorded the following message in support of the service community to thank them for the outstanding contribution they make to our country.     Armed Forces Day … More…

The Solicitor Secretary, Edward Garnier QC, has responded to two Parliamentary Questions that I tabled in the House of Commons about the annual savings achieved by the Crime Prosecution Service through co-locating CPS and police staff at Athena House in … More…

In the House of Commons this evening, I presented a petition organised by York Welfare Campaign group in response to the Government’s changes to the Housing Benefit system which have left many private tenants in York worse off and struggling to … More…

Official figures have revealed that affordable house building has collapsed throughout Yorkshire and the Humber.  Figures from the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency show that there were 34 new home starts in York in 2010/11 but none in 2011/12.  Across the … More…