I chaired the debate in Westminster Hall on 15 October 2026 at 3pm.   

The debate was opened by Bob Blackman MP the co-chair of the APPG Mary Kelly Foy MP spoke next. I was pleased the debate concluded before the vote in the Chamber after 4.30pm. 

Question put and agreed to. 

Resolved,
"That this House has considered progress

Helen Sharman CMG, OBE Hon FRSC was the first woman from the West to visit space. Helen spends her time now on outreach work with schools.

We chatted about how important it was to raise awareness of women in science, the so called STEM subjects. The event was organised by POST the Parliamentary Office of Science and

Here you can read the eNews for September 2026

As Chair of the All Party Parliament Group on Portugal I was delighted that the Session was addressed by the President of Portugal HE Mr Antonio Jose Seguro.

I was on the list to ask a question but was not called, this was my question:

Congratulations on your election. You have a unique position , your compatriots

I was on the list and was called to speak in the debate on the role of diasporas and migrants in developing social cohesion. only 2 minutes are allowed for speeches. The abbreviated speech can be found on the Council of Europe website. I am setting out my whole speech. 

"Thank you, Chair. And I want to

I attended as a delegate with the UK delegation to Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, the Fourth part of the 2026 Ordinary Session 28 September- 2 October 2026. in the morning session on Tuesday, the Secretary General (right) Mr Alain Berset gave his address to the delegates. We heard from Mr Johann Wadephul,

On 23 September 2026 I visited HMP Downview a women's secure prison to donate books to the Library. The books were donated by  the Reading Agency. In this year the Year of Reading I visited the library and saw the many activities that are provided by the Librarian and the Shannon Trust. I raised the issue of

I recognise this is an issue with strongly held ethical and moral positions on both sides of the debate, and I fully respect your views. Successive governments have taken the position that this is a matter of conscience for individual MPs. I support this approach. As you will know, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of