Film Industry: Question to the Culture Secretary

John Whittingdale Shadow Minister I welcome the statement, but does the Secretary of State recognise that investment in the film industry depends on confidence and certainty, not least in the copyright protection regime? Will she make it clear that the Government do not intend to extend copyright exceptions to text and data mining? That would damage both the […]
Topical Questions – Energy Security and Net Zero

John Whittingdale Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care) Does the Secretary of State accept that the only way we will both meet our net zero targets and keep energy bills down is by pressing ahead with a new generation of nuclear power stations? Will he therefore accelerate existing projects such as Hinkley Point and Sizewell C, and press ahead with small modular reactor […]
Anniversary of 7 October Attacks – Middle East Question to the Prime Minister

John Whittingdale As well as the terrible loss of life of Israeli, Palestinian and Lebanese citizens, a shocking number of journalists have been killed or wounded while covering events in the middle east. Will the Prime Minister pay tribute to the courage of journalists who are risking their lives daily simply to do their job? […]
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: MDC Culture Funding

John Whittingdale To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding her Department plans to provide Maldon District Council for culture projects. Alex Norris Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) This government was elected on a manifesto that stressed a partnership approach with local authorities and an intention to stabilise the funding system, […]
Foreign Office Questions: Ukraine

John Whittingdale Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care) Last week’s attack on Ukraine by Russian missiles and drones was the biggest since the Russian invasion started. Can the Minister make it crystal clear that Ukraine’s right to self-defence must include the ability to target the origin of those missiles and drones, including Russian aircraft in Russian airspace and […]
Sir John Whittingdale raises issue of new developments in Maldon and Heybridge, and Hammonds Farm

John Whittingdale Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care) An additional 3,000 homes are currently being built in Maldon and Heybridge in my constituency, and Liberal Democrat-controlled Chelmsford city council wants to build another 3,000 at Hammonds Farm in my constituency, yet the local roads and health and education services are all under intolerable pressure, so what will the Secretary […]
Russian Sanctions Regime

John Whittingdale Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care) I thank the Foreign Secretary for his early statement calling on the Russian Government to release the British citizen Vladimir Kara-Murza. Will he look at what further sanctions might be used to put pressure on the Russian Government to release him and other political prisoners, such as the American journalist Evan Gershkovich? Stephen Doughty Minister […]
Elizabeth Emblem

John Whittingdale Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care) To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will extend eligibility for the Elizabeth Emblem award to all emergency service workers who are severely injured and medically retired from the service. Nick Thomas-Symonds The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office The Government recognises the invaluable contribution of emergency service workers to […]
Health and Social Care Reform

Lindsay Hoyle Speaker of the House of Commons, Chair, House of Commons Commission I call the shadow Minister. John Whittingdale Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care) I congratulate the Minister and his Front-Bench colleagues on their appointments. I welcome the suggestion that the Government are considering the possibility of a royal commission on social care and intend to address the issue […]
NATO and European Political Community Meetings

John Whittingdale Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care) I welcome the Prime Minister’s reiteration that the UK remains the strongest supporter of Ukraine against Russian aggression, but what support can we also give to another former Soviet state, Armenia, both in resolving its conflict with Azerbaijan, and in pursuing its ambition to move closer to NATO and […]