UK Musicians: EU Visa Arrangements

Debate between Andrew Bowie and Caroline Dinenage

Tuesday 19th January 2021 Commons Chamber

[Caroline Dinenage]

My message to the hon. Lady’s constituent would be that the Government entirely recognise the vital importance of the UK’s thriving creative artists. We want to support them in every way we can. I am just so pleased that there was not a Liberal Democrat Government, who would have voted for no deal.

[Andrew Bowie (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (Con) [V]]

This is a really serious issue and Scottish musicians will undoubtedly be affected. Does my hon. Friend agree that, instead of simply masquerading as a serious party of Government, the Scottish National party should start acting like one, cease these politically charged, ill-informed, deliberately misleading games—an example of which we have seen today—that do nothing to help the situation, work with us and support us in attempting to find a mutually agreeable solution, support Scottish musicians who have been let down by the EU’s decision not to accept our compromise proposals, and work to get an agreement over visa arrangements?

[Caroline Dinenage]

My hon. Friend hits the nail on the head. What we need to do now is to move forward. We need to come forward with sensible proactive solutions for the UK music sector. The industry itself has said that what we need now is clarity, not recriminations. That is what we are working to provide and we very much appreciate support from across the House for us to do that.

Assessment and Treatment Units: Vulnerable People

Debate between Andrew Bowie and Caroline Dinenage

Tuesday 6th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Caroline Dinenage]

We are absolutely clear that force should not be used at all.

[Andrew Bowie (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (Con)]

Learning disabilities and autism are no respecters of “devolved” or “reserved”, so will the Minister join me in calling for NHS Scotland and NHS England to work more closely together, pooling resources and expertise, so that all patients needing in-patient care across the United Kingdom can receive the best possible care?

[Caroline Dinenage]

Yes. I think this speaks to the whole theme of people working together, communicating, collaborating, and putting the care that is needed in place for people when they need it. The ability to work across borders is fundamental to that.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Bowie and Caroline Dinenage

Monday 18th December 2017 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Caroline Dinenage)]

We must ensure we have a welfare system that is fair not only to those in receipt of welfare, but to those who pay for it. The lower cap is fair to both working households and the taxpayer. Before the cap, the Department for Work and Pensions disproportionately spent £10 million a year on just 300 families.

[Andrew Bowie (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (Con)]

For jobseekers in my constituency of West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, it is overwhelmingly the “can do” attitude of professionals and the dedication of the work coaches, whom they value, that will help them to find work. Especially at this time of year, we as a House should definitely pay tribute to them. May I ask my hon. Friend how the new work coaches will boost the chances of jobseekers in West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, as well as those elsewhere, to find work?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Bowie and Caroline Dinenage

Monday 9th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Bowie (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (Con)]

I am sure that the Secretary of State and everyone in this House would agree that parents should fulfil their financial obligations to their children. But do they agree that much more should be done to combat those who are shamefully using legal loopholes to avoid paying child maintenance?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Caroline Dinenage)]

Where a parent fails to pay on time or in full, we aim to take immediate action to recover that debt and to re-establish compliance. Where someone’s personal income appears suspicious in any way, caseworkers may refer that case to our newly beefed-up financial investigations unit.