Speeches by Bool.

“In Prime Minister’s questions last week, I raised the need for a universal national screening programme for type 1 diabetes. Will the Secretary of State agree to meet me to discuss this, so that it could form part of the 10-year plan, given that it fits so neatly into prevention of issues such as diabetic ketoacidosis …”

“3. If she will take steps to stop the use of smartphones in schools.”

“Schools with a smartphone ban were rated higher by Ofsted, and their students achieved better GCSE results. All the evidence shows the benefit of banning smartphones in schools, but the Government are simply issuing non-statutory guidance and passing the buck. Does the Minister not understand the evidence? Does he need…”

“T8. Another private school, Queen Margaret’s school for girls in York, has announced its closure, months after the Carrdus school in my constituency announced its closure. Over 11,000 children have left the private sector in this first year, which is more than three times what the Government expected. Does the Minister…”

“I do not believe that I heard an answer to a number of the questions asked by the Leader of the Opposition, so I will ask the Home Secretary again. When did Baroness Casey submit her findings, and did the Government request any changes?”

“It is National Diabetes Week, and as someone living with type 1, as we both are, Mr Speaker, I am more than aware of the serious complications of diabetic ketoacidosis—DKA—which can prove fatal if not caught early enough. A quarter of children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when in DKA, and that could be avoided wi…”

“I rise to speak to my amendments 145 to 147 and to highlight the importance of new clauses 39, 84 and—if I have time—83. My amendments seek to correct a clear oversight in the legislation by extending the energy bill discounts to those who live near energy generation sites, rather than simply to those who live near ene…”

“I rise to speak on the looming crisis facing us in relation to battery energy storage sites. As Members have explained, the sites are beginning to play a larger and larger role in the transition to greener energy sources, but at the moment ideology is winning the day and pragmatism is disappearing. There is over 78 GW …”

“Secretary of State, you mentioned biosecurity and that you are very keen on supporting it. I wanted to ask what is happening now about the ban on EU products coming into the UK for personal use. At the moment, from 12 April, there is a ban on cattle, sheep, goat and pig meat, and dairy products. When I have come in fro…”

“Thank you, Chair. I am really pleased to hear that Baroness Batters is leading on the farm profitability review. Could you just quickly tell me what resources and expertise are available to support her work? You also mentioned that it is a six-month review. That does not really seem enough time to get under the skin of…”

“We do, but it does not address enough and that is a problem.”

“I do not think we disagree about getting energy security. That is fine, but solar is only effective about 11% of the time and there are other spaces that should be used. You mentioned about the land use framework. One thing from our consultation was that actually there is not this effective mapping. That was something …”

“I am staggered by what you have just said there. The mental health strain is unbearable. I have heard farmers telling me this weekend about family members planning things they should not be doing to get away from this. I am really upset to hear you say it like that, because you are saying this money is going to help me…”

“You are stressing them out more.”

“I beg to differ. There are the 75,000 farms that we actually think are affected and all the farming protests we have had. You know that that is a very different situation.”

“Those who unfortunately are at this point now cannot.”

“Perfect. Within that, you talk about support. Just then you were rather dismissive about the inheritance tax, but that is a huge element of giving long-term support to our farmers to know that they actually have their farms in the future. You talk about diversifying as a means of profitability, but they will get hit by…”

“You say about that. Have you read our report, “The Government’s Vision for Farming”, yet?”

“You talk about being responsible with taxpayers’ money, but, in terms of giving farmers certainty, in the autumn Budget, as the Chair mentioned, you brought forward the end of BPS early and started the reforms of APR. In November 2024, you closed capital grant schemes and then reopened them in February. In March you cl…”

“Going back to the SFI, given the change for those who applied in those two months before, those ones who you are opening it for, DEFRA has capped the applications at £9,300, based on the average of all those who applied. Given that the average application for a commercial farm, as opposed to a few meadows or pony paddo…”