Information between 4th February 2026 - 24th February 2026
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4 Feb 2026 - Climate Change - View Vote Context Ben Lake voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 4 Plaid Cymru Aye votes vs 0 Plaid Cymru No votes Tally: Ayes - 392 Noes - 116 |
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11 Feb 2026 - Climate Change - View Vote Context Ben Lake voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 2 Plaid Cymru Aye votes vs 0 Plaid Cymru No votes Tally: Ayes - 362 Noes - 107 |
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23 Feb 2026 - Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill - View Vote Context Ben Lake voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House One of 4 Plaid Cymru Aye votes vs 0 Plaid Cymru No votes Tally: Ayes - 73 Noes - 286 |
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23 Feb 2026 - Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill - View Vote Context Ben Lake voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 4 Plaid Cymru Aye votes vs 0 Plaid Cymru No votes Tally: Ayes - 361 Noes - 84 |
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23 Feb 2026 - Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill - View Vote Context Ben Lake voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House One of 4 Plaid Cymru Aye votes vs 0 Plaid Cymru No votes Tally: Ayes - 77 Noes - 280 |
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23 Feb 2026 - Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill - View Vote Context Ben Lake voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House One of 4 Plaid Cymru Aye votes vs 0 Plaid Cymru No votes Tally: Ayes - 156 Noes - 273 |
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23 Feb 2026 - Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill - View Vote Context Ben Lake voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House One of 4 Plaid Cymru Aye votes vs 0 Plaid Cymru No votes Tally: Ayes - 161 Noes - 272 |
| Speeches |
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Ben Lake speeches from: Firearms Licensing
Ben Lake contributed 2 speeches (1,005 words) Monday 23rd February 2026 - Westminster Hall Home Office |
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Ben Lake speeches from: Russian Influence on UK Politics and Democracy
Ben Lake contributed 2 speeches (883 words) Monday 9th February 2026 - Westminster Hall Cabinet Office |
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Ben Lake speeches from: Sudan
Ben Lake contributed 1 speech (102 words) Thursday 5th February 2026 - Commons Chamber Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office |
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Ben Lake speeches from: Postal Services: Rural Areas
Ben Lake contributed 1 speech (69 words) Wednesday 4th February 2026 - Westminster Hall Department for Business and Trade |
| Written Answers |
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VAT
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli) Thursday 5th February 2026 Question to the HM Treasury: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made and assessment of the potential merits of completing an updated assessment of the potential savings to the Exchequer from withdrawing the postponed VAT accounting process, taking into account (a) increased deferred VAT payments since implementation, (b) growth in missing trader fraud and VAT loss due to misuse or non-compliance,(c) sectoral analysis of industries contributing most to deferred VAT and (d) behavioural and enforcement trends since PVA’s introduction. Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury) Postponed VAT accounting provides significant support for businesses, helping to manage cash flow and facilitate imports. HMRC undertakes regular operational work to ensure compliance with the rules around postponed VAT accounting.
The VAT gap has reduced from 13.8% in 2005-06 to 6.2% in 2024-25, and has remained broadly stable since 2020-21.
The Government keeps all tax policy under review as part of the policy making process
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Syria: Kurds
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli) Friday 13th February 2026 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help protect and support Kurdish communities in North-East Syria. Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement I made to the House on 28 January 2026. |
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Floods: Social Rented Housing
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli) Thursday 12th February 2026 Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of data on the impact of flooding on social housing tenants. Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) In January 2025 the Environment Agency commissioned an independent review of Property Flood Resilience (PFR). The review identified gaps and opportunities to grow the PFR market, resulting in a new action plan for all relevant parties to take forward.
The National Housing Federation (NHF) representing 600 housing associations who provide nearly 2.7 million homes formed part of the review’s Leadership Group.
The review found that there is growing awareness among housing associations of the increasing flood risk and noted they already have access to a comprehensive Flood Toolkit. Social landlords however face several challenges including data gaps, securing temporary accommodation and ensuring residents have access to the right advice and support.
The review recommended that social landlords develop clear and coordinated strategies to prepare for and mitigate flood risk for their tenants and homes aligning PFR measures with wider work to improve energy efficiency, building safety and decency. The NHF has committed to delivering several actions over the next five years to strengthen members’ flood readiness. |
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Agriculture: Inheritance Tax
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli) Thursday 12th February 2026 Question to the HM Treasury: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how will property subject to tenancies agreed under (a) the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 and (b) the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 be valued for the purposes of calculating an estate's inheritance tax liability. Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury) The reforms to reliefs for agricultural and business property do not affect the existing rules on how assets are valued. The general rule for inheritance tax is that assets are valued at their ‘open market value’ at the date of death. If a property is subject to an agricultural tenancy, the open market value will reflect that fact. The value of the freehold interest subject to the tenancy may therefore be less than the vacant possession value. The valuation will consider factors including the type of agricultural tenancy, term length or security of tenure, property specific factors and the rent payable. |
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National Wealth Fund
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli) Tuesday 10th February 2026 Question to the HM Treasury: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure equitable funding by the national wealth fund across all nations of the United Kingdom. Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury The National Wealth Fund's Strategic Plan sets out its ambition to accelerate place-based investment across all four nations of the UK, and it has dedicated directors in each nation to support this.
The National Wealth Fund is already investing in Wales and will continue to work closely with devolved governments and local leaders to help accelerate project delivery and drive regional growth.
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National Wealth Fund: Wales
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli) Tuesday 10th February 2026 Question to the HM Treasury: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the spending of the national wealth fund in Wales. Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury The National Wealth Fund's Strategic Plan sets out its ambition to accelerate place-based investment across all four nations of the UK, and it has dedicated directors in each nation to support this.
The National Wealth Fund is already investing in Wales and will continue to work closely with devolved governments and local leaders to help accelerate project delivery and drive regional growth.
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| Early Day Motions |
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Monday 23rd February Merched y Môr and the World's Toughest Row 2 signatures (Most recent: 24 Feb 2026)Tabled by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli) That this House celebrates the achievement of Merched y Môr, the first female crew from Wales to take part and complete The World’s Toughest Row; congratulates Denise Leonard, Helen Heaton, Heledd Williams and Liz Collyer, a team from Pembrokeshire for rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic from San Sebastián de … |
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Monday 26th January Ben Lake signed this EDM on Friday 6th March 2026 Dolphin hunting in the Faroe Islands 57 signatures (Most recent: 10 Mar 2026)Tabled by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley) That this House condemns the grindadráp (Grind) in the Faroe Islands, where pods of dolphins are driven into bays by small boats and slaughtered by hand; notes with concern that more than 1,000 cetaceans were killed in 2025, including juveniles and pregnant females; further notes that this practice is largely … |
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Monday 2nd March Ben Lake signed this EDM on Wednesday 4th March 2026 Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal 2026 32 signatures (Most recent: 9 Mar 2026)Tabled by: Kenneth Stevenson (Labour - Airdrie and Shotts) That this House notes the Great Daffodil Appeal 2026, which is Marie Curie's flagship annual fundraising campaign, held every March, when people from all corners of the UK wear a daffodil badge to show their support for people with terminal illness; further notes that the Great Daffodil Appeal has now … |
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Wednesday 25th February Ben Lake signed this EDM as a sponsor on Thursday 26th February 2026 Recognition of Ukrainian driving licences 23 signatures (Most recent: 9 Mar 2026)Tabled by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe) That this House notes that, under the agreement in force since 20 May 2021, Ukrainian driving licences may be exchanged for Great Britain licences; further notes that because tests taken before 28 December 2021 did not record whether they were completed in a manual or automatic vehicle, the Driver and … |
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Monday 23rd February Ben Lake signed this EDM as a sponsor on Thursday 26th February 2026 Papur y Bobl, Rhosgadfan community newspaper 5 signatures (Most recent: 26 Feb 2026)Tabled by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd) That this House warmly congratulates 13-year-old cousins Celyn and Caio on the creation of Papur y Bobl, a new community newspaper serving the village of Rhosgadfan in Gwynedd; notes that this initiative by the Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen pupils demonstrates exceptional commitment to local journalism, cultural expression, and civic participation; … |
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Monday 23rd February Ben Lake signed this EDM on Thursday 26th February 2026 Surveillance and political intimidation of journalists 27 signatures (Most recent: 9 Mar 2026)Tabled by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Labour - Salford) That this House recognises the vital importance for press freedom of investigative journalists being able to report the truth without fear or favour, and to protect the identity of their sources; is concerned by media reports that the organisation Labour Together commissioned public relations agency APCO Worldwide to identify the … |
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Monday 23rd February Ben Lake signed this EDM on Thursday 26th February 2026 22 signatures (Most recent: 9 Mar 2026) Tabled by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury) That this House registers its concern that Lloyds Banking Group plans to close 95 local branches this year, including in Tewkesbury; acknowledges the value of high street banks to local communities, particularly the elderly and those without easy access to public transport; recognises the harm bank closures have on rural … |
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Monday 23rd February Ben Lake signed this EDM on Thursday 26th February 2026 Funding for fire and rescue services 46 signatures (Most recent: 10 Mar 2026)Tabled by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool Riverside) That this House supports the Fire Brigade Union’s calls for urgent investment in the UK’s fire and rescue service and has heard their warning that cuts kill; expresses deep concern that proposed cuts and chronic underfunding that have hollowed out the UK’s fire and rescue services leaving communities without adequate … |
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Wednesday 25th February Ben Lake signed this EDM as a sponsor on Thursday 26th February 2026 27 signatures (Most recent: 9 Mar 2026) Tabled by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole) That this House notes that billionaire wealth is at its highest recorded level, with the number of billionaires surpassing 3,000 for the first time, while one in four people globally face hunger and 14.1 million people in the UK experienced food insecurity last year; observes growing concern that extreme concentrations … |
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Monday 23rd February Ben Lake signed this EDM on Thursday 26th February 2026 Government response to Israel’s West Bank annexation plan 64 signatures (Most recent: 9 Mar 2026)Tabled by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East) That this House notes the Israeli Government’s 15 February approval of a plan to register land in the Occupied Palestinian Territory of the West Bank as Israeli state property; strongly condemns this illegal plan to seize yet more Palestinian land; further notes the statement backed by 85 UN Member States, … |
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Thursday 18th December Ben Lake signed this EDM on Monday 23rd February 2026 UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons 100 signatures (Most recent: 25 Feb 2026)Tabled by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay) That this House supports the protection of the rights of older people in the UK and globally; recognises that a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons is an important step for establishing a global minimum standard of legal protection for older people everywhere; acknowledges the strong track record … |
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Wednesday 11th February Ben Lake signed this EDM on Monday 23rd February 2026 British couple detained in Iran 68 signatures (Most recent: 10 Mar 2026)Tabled by: Tony Vaughan (Labour - Folkestone and Hythe) That this House expresses deep concern regarding the ongoing detention of two British citizens, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who have now been held in Iran for over a year without formal charges or sentencing; notes with dismay the escalating violence reported at Evin Prison and the significant risk this poses … |
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Wednesday 11th February Ben Lake signed this EDM on Thursday 12th February 2026 Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank 54 signatures (Most recent: 9 Mar 2026)Tabled by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock) That this House notes with grave concern reports that the Israeli security cabinet has approved measures which would facilitate the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and further erode the basis of the Palestinian state; condemns statements by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich asserting that the Israeli government … |
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Tuesday 3rd February Ben Lake signed this EDM on Thursday 12th February 2026 Artificial Intelligence chatbots 38 signatures (Most recent: 2 Mar 2026)Tabled by: Danny Chambers (Liberal Democrat - Winchester) That this House notes the rapid advancement and accelerated adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots by both adults and children; further notes that many AI chatbots provide human-like responses and are designed to encourage emotional connection, friendship and intimacy; expresses concern that such chatbots are not required to clearly and … |
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Tuesday 3rd February Ben Lake signed this EDM on Thursday 12th February 2026 36 signatures (Most recent: 23 Feb 2026) Tabled by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent East) That this House notes with grave concern the growing confidence and visibility of far-right movements in the UK, including the increasing scale of far-right protests on the nation’s streets; further notes that such movements exploit genuine economic problems faced by many in order to scapegoat migrants, minoritised communities and refugees; … |
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Wednesday 11th February Ben Lake signed this EDM as a sponsor on Thursday 12th February 2026 International Humanitarian Law 11 signatures (Most recent: 23 Feb 2026)Tabled by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire) That this House notes the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights’ report finds that international humanitarian law is at a critical breaking point; further notes that civilian deaths during armed conflicts in 2024 and 2025 were in excess of 100,000, and that conflicts including in Gaza, Ukraine, … |
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Wednesday 11th February Ben Lake signed this EDM on Thursday 12th February 2026 International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026 46 signatures (Most recent: 2 Mar 2026)Tabled by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted) That this House celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Wednesday 11 February 2026; recognises the vital contributions of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics throughout history, including those whose achievements have been overlooked; acknowledges that stereotypes in education, a lack of female role models … |
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Tuesday 10th February Ben Lake signed this EDM on Wednesday 11th February 2026 Relationship between Jeffrey Epstein and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor 34 signatures (Most recent: 6 Mar 2026)Tabled by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion) That this House believes that Buckingham Palace should publish all papers and electronic communications that contain reference to the relationship between Jeffrey Epstein and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. |
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Wednesday 28th January Ben Lake signed this EDM on Monday 9th February 2026 19 signatures (Most recent: 26 Feb 2026) Tabled by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South) That this House notes the Government’s Green Paper on the BBC Royal Charter Review; further notes the changing nature of global politics and technology and the role of the BBC in strengthening our democracy; highlights that unaccountable political interference in how the BBC is run undermines public trust and the … |
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Wednesday 28th January Ben Lake signed this EDM on Monday 9th February 2026 19 signatures (Most recent: 2 Mar 2026) Tabled by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives) That this House congratulates local communities which came together to support each other during the January storms; recognises however that the storms exposed weaknesses in and that lessons should be learned by in respect of emergency and resilience plans, including the Met Office’s late declaration of the Red Alert prior … |
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Monday 2nd February Ben Lake signed this EDM on Monday 9th February 2026 Role of the House of Lords in scrutinising legislation 57 signatures (Most recent: 10 Mar 2026)Tabled by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives) That this House believes that the use of filibuster tactics in the House of Lords to frustrate the majority will of the democratically elected House of Commons is unacceptable, including where the elected Commons has given its majority support to a Private Members’ Bill; further believes that the case for … |
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Monday 2nd February Ben Lake signed this EDM on Monday 9th February 2026 42 signatures (Most recent: 2 Mar 2026) Tabled by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington) That this House notes that thousands of retired civil servants are facing financial hardship and distress, after pensions and lump sum payments failed to arrive on time; further notes these payments are to those who rely on these as a sole source of income; also notes that this has resulted … |
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Monday 2nd February Ben Lake signed this EDM on Monday 9th February 2026 42 signatures (Most recent: 5 Mar 2026) Tabled by: Alison Bennett (Liberal Democrat - Mid Sussex) That this House recognises the work of hospices and their dedicated staff and volunteers in caring for people and their families at the end of life; notes with concern that the current funding model for hospices is failing patients and is not fit for purpose and that the rise in … |
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Tuesday 3rd February Ben Lake signed this EDM on Monday 9th February 2026 77 signatures (Most recent: 10 Mar 2026) Tabled by: Steve Witherden (Labour - Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr) That this House expresses grave concern at the executive order signed on 29 January 2026 by US President Donald Trump, which unjustifiably declares Cuba as an “extraordinary threat” to the national security of the United States and authorises new sanctions against any country supplying oil to Cuba; notes that Cuba … |
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Thursday 5th February Ben Lake signed this EDM on Thursday 5th February 2026 Public inquiry into Epstein links 90 signatures (Most recent: 10 Mar 2026)Tabled by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East) That this House stands with Jeffrey Epstein’s victims whose relentless courage and pursuit of justice has led to the publication of the Epstein files; notes with concern the number of British public figures included in these files; recognises that child sexual abuse on this scale is likely to have involved … |
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Note: Cited speaker in live transcript data may not always be accurate. Check video link to confirm. |
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5 Feb 2026, 12:39 p.m. - House of Commons " Ben Lake can I also thank the Foreign Secretary for her statement today, and particularly thank her for her engagement with the African for her engagement with the African Union and regional partners? I know that she will be concerned of the " Ben Lake MP (Ceredigion Preseli, Plaid Cymru) - View Video - View Transcript |
| Parliamentary Debates |
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Russian Influence on UK Politics and Democracy
68 speeches (20,630 words) Monday 9th February 2026 - Westminster Hall Cabinet Office Mentions: 1: Joe Powell (Lab - Kensington and Bayswater) Member for Ceredigion Preseli (Ben Lake) alluded to, there are many directions in which we can take the - Link to Speech 2: Anneliese Dodds (LAB - Oxford East) Member for Ceredigion Preseli (Ben Lake) said. - Link to Speech 3: Alex Barros-Curtis (Lab - Cardiff West) Member for Ceredigion Preseli (Ben Lake) mentioned, the important May elections will be a real test of - Link to Speech 4: Dan Jarvis (Lab - Barnsley North) Member for Ceredigion Preseli (Ben Lake) represents a beautiful part of the world, which I know and remember - Link to Speech |
| Select Committee Documents |
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Thursday 19th February 2026
Formal Minutes - Formal Minutes of the Treasury Committee in Session 2024-25 Treasury Committee Found: of cash: AOC0534 Julia Lopez MP AOC0535 Jayne Kirkham MP AOC0536 Wera Hobhouse MP AOC0537 Ben Lake |
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Wednesday 11th February 2026
Oral Evidence - 2026-02-11 14:30:00+00:00 Welsh Affairs Committee Found: meeting Members present: Ruth Jones (Chair); David Chadwick; Ann Davies; Simon Hoare; Gerald Jones; Ben Lake |
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Wednesday 25th February 2026 2 p.m. Welsh Affairs Committee - Oral evidence Subject: Housing and homelessness in Wales At 2:30pm: Oral evidence Lauren Caley - Policy and Campaigns at Shelter Cymru Katie Dalton - Director at Cymorth Cymru Dr Steffan Evans - CEO at Bevan Foundation Debbie Thomas - Head of Policy and Communications (Wales) at Crisis View calendar - Add to calendar |
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Wednesday 11th March 2026 2 p.m. Welsh Affairs Committee - Private Meeting View calendar - Add to calendar |