On Wednesday 6 November 2024 I chaired the seventh delegated legislation committee, which considered the Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals.





The draft Windsor Framework (Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals) Regulations 2024 simplifies pet travel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, introducing a free lifelong travel document for pets and eliminating certain health treatments previously required. This aims to streamline movement while maintaining high animal welfare standards, particularly benefiting assistance dog users and frequent travellers.

On 13 November 2024, the House approved the delegated legislation by Ayes: 412 Noes: 16. The minister can now sign this into law.

It was a packed Terrace Pavilion on Wednesday 6 November 2024 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Summer reading Challenge.

The Summer Reading Challenge is an important intervention which reaches 700,000 children every year helping them to enjoy reading.

We heard Alex Wharton Children's Laureate for Wales who managed to get the whole pavilion repeating his poem "Jellybean."

You can find more details about him on his website: alexwhartonpoet.co.uk

Next year the Reading Agency hopes to ensure every child participates in the Summer Reading Challenge.

I was a member of the Delegated Legislation Committee that looked at the Online Safety Act 2023 (Priority Offences) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 on Tuesday 5 November 2024.

The regulations amend the priority offences set out in schedule 7 to the Online Safety Act 2023. The criminal offences listed in schedule 7 to the act 'priority offences' impose duties on providers of certain internet services in relation to priority offences and content which amount to these offences. The act repeals the offence under section 23 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress) and replaces it with new offences under section 66b of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (sharing or threatening to share intimate photograph or film).

These regulations remove the repealed offence from schedule 7 to the act and add the new offences to that schedule. The Secretary of State considers it appropriate to add these offences to schedule 7 because of the prevalence of content on regulated user-to-user services or regulated search services that amounts to the new offences, the risk of harm presented to individuals in the United Kingdom presented by such content and the severity of that harm. The Legislation was passed.

There was a drop in on held by the Horticulture Trade Association on Tuesday 5 November 2024 and we were able to pick up a plant.

The picture above shows (l) Jonathan Whittemore, Commercial and Business Manager, Johnsons Nurseries in York and Jennifer Pheasey, Director of Public Affairs- HTA (r). I spoke to Jonathan about the barriers to trade with the EU.

The Horticultural Trades Association, founded in 1899, represents the entire environmental horticulture sector, counting 1,400 UK garden businesses among their membership who make significant contributions to the UK's economy, environment, health and wellbeing through their work.

As CO-Chair of the APPG on Horticulture and Gardening I wanted to hear from those in the business and to show my support for 'The Environmental Horticulture Manifesto. (left)  It sets out the the actions the nation can take  to ensure that our green spaces- from gardens to public parks- can be maximised.

Happy Diwali to everyone celebrating the Festival of Lights in Britain, and to Hindu, Sikh, Jain and some Buddhist communities all over the world. 

Diwali is a multi-faith festival spread over five days and is celebrated differently by different faiths.

In Hindu mythology, Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana to their homeland Ayodhya after 14 years in exile. Rama had defeated the evil demon king Ravana. Hindus also pay homage to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth. 

For Sikhs, Diwali marks the celebration of the arrival of Guru Har Gobind at the Golden Temple in Amritsar after freeing himself from the prison of the Mughal Emperor.

Buddhists celebrate Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism following the Kalinga War. In Jainism, it is on this day that Lord Mahavira achieved Nirvana. 

Throughout all of these backgrounds, Diwali is a festival of new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, hope over despair

As we look forward to more growth, opportunity and stability, let us remember the timeless message of Diwali: that light will ultimately triumph over darkness. Shubh Diwali!