In Parliament this week several important debates will take place. This afternoon a subject will be organised by Christina Rees, the Labour MP for Neath in South Wales. Christina sets out “e-petition 649894 relating to financial risk checks for gambling” relating to the petition entitled “Stop the implementation of betting affordability/financial risk checks” which currently has more than 103,000 signatures. It was created by Nevin Truesdale obtaining over 102,000 signatures in the first month of its’ release and which is due to continue until the first of May this year. Interestingly there are less than 100 signatures in Neath. By comparison only in Crawley are there less than hundred names and the largest signature areas in Sussex are Chichester, Arundel and South Downs. The initial document is
“We want the Government to abandon the planned implementation of affordability checks for some people who want to place a bet. We believe such checks – which could include assessing whether people are ‘at risk of harm’ based on their postcode or job title – are inappropriate and discriminatory.”
The rest of the text is
“The proposed checks could see bettors having to prove they can afford their hobby if they sustain losses as low as £1.37 per day. We accept the need to help those with problem gambling but more intrusive checks triggered at a higher threshold risks bettors moving to the black market where there are no consumer protections or safer gambling tools. We are concerned there will also be a negative impact on British horseracing’s finances due to a reduction in betting turnover and resulting fall in Levy yield.”
Last Monday, “e-petitions 633591 and 645885 relating to animal testing and non-animal research methods” which was organised by Elliot Colburn. Although no other Sussex MPs contributed on the discussion, the Minister was Andrew Griffith, the MP for Arundel and South Downs. His constituency was the most significant contribution in Sussex for both e-petitions. Andrew began with
“I thank my hon. Friend Elliot Colburn for opening today’s important debate. As this is the first time I have spoken since, let me also commend him for his personal bravery when he spoke at the most recent Prime Minister’s questions. The number of signatories to these petitions—I think almost all hon. Members have mentioned it—indicates the strength of public feeling on this matter. This is not the first time that this issue has been debated, although it is my first time. Although I think none of us would want such a debate to become an annual event, this is absolutely the right forum in which to debate these important matters. I therefore congratulate all those who have contributed and everybody who has signed the petitions. I completely understand that the use of animals in science, including in toxicity testing, is a sensitive issue. More than that, I believe that everyone here would share my view that the day cannot come quickly enough when we are able to end the practice of animal testing.”
The planned sessions for Commons Committees that involve Sussex MPs include the Public Accounts Committee. Jeremy Quin from Horsham is debating with “Investigation into student loans issued to those studying at franchised higher education providers”. Tomorrow there are three Committees that involve Sussex MP’s The Education Committee involving Caroline Ansell from Eastbourne, focusing on, “Children’s social care”. There are two other items on Tuesday both involve Jeremy Quin. In the morning there is the Defence Sub-Committee debating
“Developing AI capacity and expertise in UK Defence” and in the afternoon Jeremy is Chair of that Defence Committee which is looking at “Service Accommodation” which refers to Armed Forces accommodation. The final item is on Wednesday the Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on the Overseas Territories involving Henry Smith from Crawley. The committee is considering “The UK Government’s engagement regarding the British Indian Ocean Territory”
On Friday there are a number of private members’ bills. Before Christmas there were plans for two Sussex bills to be fitted in this week. However, on the 9th February the Bill from Sally-Ann Hart was moved out to the 15th March, but the item for Lloyd Russell-Moyle has remained to be submitted for his second reading and is entitled “Conversion Practices (Prohibition) Bill”. On the 6th December his document was published with the comment
“Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57): Alicia Kearns, on behalf of Lloyd Russell-Moyle, supported by Elliot Colburn, Mr William Wragg, Dr Jamie Wallis, Caroline Nokes, Gary Sambrook, Dehenna Davison, Iain Stewart and Michael Fabricant, presented a Bill to prohibit practices whose predetermined purpose is to change a person’s sexual orientation or to change a person to or from being transgender; and for connected purposes.”
Last Monday a discussion connected to “Ukraine: Military Support” with Jeremy Quin the Horsham MP speaking. He was listed as the Chair of the Defence Committee. His comment
“Ukraine can win the war, and must win the war. The Minister touched on the provision of ammunition and equipment, but Ukraine also needs hundreds of thousands of trained personnel. I very much welcome the extension. Operation Interflex, and the work that we are doing, but could we not be doing far more of that with our allies to assist Ukraine?”
This Government faces huge challenges with Ukraine and like many others I would like to see more support being offered to the Ukrainians which currently live here in the UK.
ianchisnall 