On Thursday 5 September 2024, the Great British Energy bill had its second reading. The Bill will enable the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to create a company called Great British Energy and make it a legal entity. GB Energy will operate independently but will be fully owned by the Government. Its main focus will be to support, promote, and get involved in producing, distributing, storing, and supplying clean energy. The Bill will allow the Department to work to cut down greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, improve energy efficiency, and ensure the UK's energy security.

An amendment was tabled at second reading and I voted against the amendment:   Ayes: 94 Noes: 348

I voted for the Second Reading of the Bill:  Ayes: 348 Noes: 95    The Bill will progress to Committee stage from 8 October 2024.

The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill was introduced and received its First Reading in the House of Commons last week on Thursday 5 September 2024.

In our manifesto and King’s Speech, we committed to immediately reforming the House of Lords, and we have introduced this Bill within 100 days of the new Government.

In 1999, a compromise amendment was made to the House of Lords Act and most hereditary peers had the right to sit and vote in the House of Lords removed with the exception of 92. This Bill will repeal this amendment and the remaining hereditary peers will no longer have this right by the end of the parliamentary session.

I am delighted that the Government has followed the manifesto that we stood on at the election, ensuring that the House of Lords can be fairer and more representative of the people it serves.

The House considered the Budget Responsibility Bill in a Committee of the Whole House on Wednesday 4 September 2024. The Bill seeks to ensure that fiscal announcements in respect of fiscally significant measures made by the Government are subject to an independent assessment by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). It would achieve this by requiring the OBR to produce an assessment of the fiscal impacts of fiscally significant measures, without a request from HM Treasury if necessary. These measures intend to preserve market stability and public trust in announcements on fiscally significant measures, by ensuring there is independent and transparent scrutiny of the Government’s fiscal plans.

Under the last Government and in particular the mini budget, the OBR was not asked for an independent assessment. This is now enshrined in law.

There were 2 Amendments to the Bill and I voted against both: Amendment 9 -: Ayes: 109 Noes: 36  Amendment 2 : Ayes: 73 Noes: 375

The Bill received Royal Assent on 10 September 2024.

On Tuesday 3 September 2024, the House of Commons considered the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill in a Committee of the Whole House. The Bill would remove the presumption in favour of franchised passenger railway services being provided by the private sector, and instead allows train operations to be provided by a public sector company when existing franchise contracts end.

there were 3 amendments and I voted against the amendments:

Amendment 14: Ayes: 111 Noes: 362 ; Amendment 17: Ayes: 113 Noes: 372 ; Amendment 21: Ayes: 82 Noes: 360 

The Bill passed its third reading without a vote and consideration of the Bill will now continue in the House of Lords. 

I have today written to the Area Director of the Environment Agency raising my concerns about the Sodium Cyanide spill that has occurred into the canal in Pleck. See below for the text of my letter.



If residents have any concerns they should call the Environment Agency helpline: 0800 80 70 60 which is a 24 hour Freephone service. I ask all residents to stay safe.