Live Facial Recognition
Sir John Whittingdale questions Minister on the expansion of facial recognition cameras in Croydon, urging that Parliament debates and approves a clear legislative framework for their use.
Constituents’ Issue in PMQs
Sir John Whittingdale asks the Prime Minister to review the case of constituents fined by Border Force for reporting an illegal immigrant, arguing they should be thanked, not penalized.
International Development Spending
Sir John Whittingdale expresses strong support for increasing defence spending, accepts partial ODA funding, and emphasizes maintaining Britain’s soft power, including BBC World Service, British Council, and global media freedom initiatives.
Ukraine and Baltic States
Sir John Whittingdale questions the Prime Minister about concerns that any settlement accepts Russian occupation of Ukrainian territory and asks for assurances that the Baltic states are included in future European security discussions.
Ukraine Security Guarantees
Sir John Whittingdale highlighted Russia’s breach of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, questioning why Ukraine should trust Putin without concrete security guarantees during any future negotiations.
Data (Use and Access) Bill
Sir John Whittingdale welcomed the Data (Use and Access) Bill, defended strong data protection and copyright safeguards, and emphasized transparency for creative industries and publishers.
GP Shortage in Maldon
Sir John Whittingdale highlighted Maldon’s GP shortages, rising patient loads, and increasing costs, urging the Government to review GP funding before the system risks breaking down entirely.
Chagos Islands
Sir John Whittingdale asked whether the Diego Garcia lease would place any restrictions on base use or storage, and sought confirmation that the UK could extend the lease when it expires.
Avian Influenza
Sir John Whittingdale warned avian influenza threatens poultry businesses such as Kelly Turkeys in his constituency, asking whether vaccination may be the only long-term solution for the industry.
Business and Trade Questions
Sir John Whittingdale raised concerns about appointing a former Amazon executive as chair of the Competition and Markets Authority, urging the Government to reaffirm the CMA and Digital Markets Unit’s operational independence.