Edward Argar
MP for Melton and Syston
Con
7 May 2015 - Present
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Prime Minister's Questions
No PMQs questions found for this MP.
In their manifesto at the last election, the Government promised to set up specialist rape courts in every Crown court location. Will the Minister update the House on how many have been set up to date?
Context
The Government promised to set up specialist rape courts in every Crown court location as per their manifesto at the last election. There is a need for these courts to ensure swift justice for victims of rape.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Alex Davies-Jones)
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for highlighting the brilliant Labour party manifesto, which we are delivering in government. He is right to highlight the need for specialist rape courts. We are working with the Courts Minister on that and looking to see how we can push this forward to ensure that rape victims who have been languishing, waiting for justice, are not waiting too long. That is why we are implementing Sir Brian Leveson’s recommendations to ensure that there is swifter justice for victims.
Session: Topical Questions 2026-02-03
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What does the Minister say to childminders in Melton and Syston who are concerned about potentially increased administrative burdens and cash-flow pressures as a result of changes under Making Tax Digital for businesses with a turnover of at least £50,000? It is scrapping the blanket 10% wear and tear allowance, and replacing it with a requirement for line-by-line item accounting, with childminders having to pay up front and claim back later.
Context
Concerns have been raised about increased administrative burdens and cash-flow pressures for childminders due to changes under the Making Tax Digital framework, specifically regarding wear and tear allowances.
Dan Tomlinson
This is an important issue that is of concern to childminders. I have replied to correspondence on this topic from Members in this place, and would be happy to talk to Members about it further. The change is proportionate and reasonable, and we have engaged closely with the sector to ensure the burden will be proportionate for those affected by it.
Session: Topical Questions 2026-01-27
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Maintaining the focus on local communities, the fantastic St Mary’s birth centre in Melton Mowbray, in my constituency, has recently been temporarily closed by the local NHS trust for six months due to staff shortages. Although I appreciate that the Secretary of State does not have powers over such temporary closures and that local NHS leaders have engaged constructively, many local people fear that “temporary” could risk becoming permanent. If that risk looks like becoming a reality by the end of the summer, will the Secretary of State or one of his Ministers pre-emptively agree to meet me at that point to discuss it?
Context
The St Mary’s birth centre in Melton Mowbray has been temporarily closed due to staff shortages, raising concerns about permanent closure.
Wes Streeting
I absolutely give the right hon. Gentleman the assurance that I would be happy to meet him about his constituency issue, or indeed anything else. For all of the exchanges that we have across these Dispatch Boxes on issues of disagreement, what is not always readily understood beyond this House is the extent to which those on both sides work extremely constructively together, on the enormous number of issues that we have in common, in pursuit of the national interest.
Session: Topical Questions 2025-07-22
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Dementia is one of the greatest health challenges that we as a society face today and in the future, but too many people with dementia end up in hospital, rather than being treated in more appropriate community settings. The 10-year NHS plan offers a real opportunity to shift care into the community and away from acute settings, including for dementia. Will the Secretary of State commit to working with Dementia UK, the Alzheimer’s Society and other fantastic charities as he develops the implementation of his 10-year NHS plan to ensure that it truly delivers for people with dementia and those who care for them?
Context
The 10-year NHS plan aims to shift care from hospital to community settings, including for dementia patients.
Wes Streeting
I absolutely agree with what the shadow Secretary of State has said. All three shifts—from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention—ought to benefit people with Alzheimer’s, dementias and other neurological conditions, as will the pioneering science that we need in this country, which I know he is so passionate about.
Session: Topical Questions 2025-07-22
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The right hon. Gentleman could not answer that question, but hopefully we will get a more positive response to this one. I recently had the privilege of meeting Dr Susan Michaelis and her husband Tristan, who have set up the Lobular Moon Shot Project, which large numbers of Members of all parties across the House have backed. They are seeking £20 million over five years—a tiny sum in the context of the overall NHS budget—to research lobular breast cancer, which Susan is currently battling, to help improve outcomes. Her immediate ask is even simpler: it is for the Secretary of State to meet her in person to discuss the campaign and its aims. He is a decent man. Will he agree to do that?
Wes Streeting
I thank the shadow Secretary of State for his question and, even more importantly, I thank the amazing campaigners for what they are doing. This is probably the easiest question he is ever going to ask me. The answer is, of course, an emphatic yes.
Session: Topical Questions 2025-06-17
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Will the Minister commit without any equivocation to implementing the recommendation for a national maternity improvement strategy?
Context
The previous Government committed to the headline recommendation of a cross-party birth trauma inquiry, but no equivalent commitment has been made by this government.
The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)
To be clear, the Secretary of State is continuing to look at all those recommendations and considering how best to respond.
Session: Maternity Improvement Strategy 2025-05-06
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Can he update the House on when he anticipates the cross-party talks that were postponed in February will be rescheduled to take place?
Context
The Secretary of State had previously committed to cross-party discussions on the future of social care.
Wes Streeting (The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care)
Baroness Casey will be making contact with all party groups in order to set dates with parties across this House very shortly, and of course she will be kicking off her commission in April, which is now only days away.
Session: Topical Questions 2025-03-25
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For clarity, can the Secretary of State confirm what the quantum of those reorganisation costs will be and the date by which they will have been recouped?
Context
The Minister for Secondary Care had previously mentioned potential short-term upfront costs associated with the integration of NHS England.
Wes Streeting (The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care)
Given the scale of the job reductions and savings that we are seeking to make, the total quantum will be determined once the final shape of the organisation is determined.
Session: Topical Questions 2025-03-25
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He will know that osteoporosis impacts 3 million people. He is aware of the campaign by the Royal Osteoporosis Society, and the powerful parallel campaign led by The Mail on Sunday and the Daily Mail, for access to fracture liaison services across the country. Pre-election, he committed to support that, and a roll-out plan. People will look for an answer that looks to the future, not the past, so when will he publish the fracture liaison services roll-out plan, to ensure that all who need to access those vital services can, and will he work with campaigners and me to achieve that roll-out before 2030?
Stephen Kinnock
This is unusually consensual today. The Government are committed to rolling out fracture liaison services across every part of the country by 2030. I promised that before the election, and that is what we are delivering. In fact, we have already started by investing in 14 hi-tech DXA—dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry—scanners, which are expected to provide an extra 29,000 scans to ensure that people with bone conditions get diagnosed earlier.
Session: Topical Questions 2025-02-11
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The Secretary of State will be aware of the amazing work done by the eating disorder charity Beat, which I met a few months ago, and to which I pay tribute. Will he back Beat’s call for broader access to intensive community and day treatment for those with eating disorders—there are limited places currently—and set out a timetable in which that will be delivered?
Stephen Kinnock
I really welcome the shadow Secretary of State’s raising that important issue. Too often, even when patients with eating disorders are in health settings, they do not receive the right care or support at the right time. I would be delighted to receive representations from Beat on how we can improve the situation.
Session: Topical Questions 2025-02-11
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On hospices, while the Secretary of State’s pre-Christmas hospice funding announcement was, of course, welcome, the vast bulk of it was in fact non-recurring capital funding, which cannot be used to help them cover the hiked employer national insurance tax on hospices’ most precious asset: their staff. What steps is he taking to ensure that they receive recurring revenue funding, to enable them to cover the additional costs?
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)
The £100 million capital investment we set out before Christmas is the biggest boost to hospice funding in a generation, and it comes on top of the £26 million that we announced for the children and young people’s hospice grant. The right hon. Gentleman cannot welcome the investment and keep opposing the means of raising it. Would he cut services or raise other taxes?
Session: Topical Questions 2025-01-07
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The Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday of his elective recovery plan mirrored that of Sir Saijd Javid in 2022, but one aspect was different. Our plan explicitly recognised the importance of the workforce being in place to deliver the 9 million extra tests and interpret the results, and it set out proposals to increase that workforce further. What plans has the Secretary of State to boost the workforce in community diagnostic centres specifically, over and above the plans that he inherited from us, to ensure that his elective recovery plan is deliverable?
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)
The shadow Secretary of State is right to say that we need staff in place to do the job. The additional funding announced by the Chancellor in the Budget is central to the delivery of this plan—I note that he opposes the means of raising it, which is deeply regrettable—but we need to improve productivity as well.
Session: Topical Questions 2025-01-07
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I am grateful for that response but, just as my hon. Friends have highlighted in respect of the damaging impact of increases in employer national insurance contributions on GPs, hospices and care providers, I fear it was another example of the Government simply not answering the question and not having a plan yet. Either the Government have not done their homework and, as with the impact of NICs increases, they have not thought this through and do not know, or worse, they do not care—which is it?
Context
The government's lack of answers on the impacts of NICs increases has raised concerns.
Wes Streeting
This Government are prepared for winter and we are already standing up the operational response to winter pressures. On funding, the right hon. Gentleman was in government just before the general election. Is he saying that his Government did not provide enough funding for the NHS this winter? If not, why not? If he does accept that it is enough money, he will surely welcome the extra investment that the Chancellor is putting into the NHS from next year.
Session: Topical Questions 2024-11-19
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The Secretary of State knows that every year, irrespective of which party is in government, winter is challenging for the NHS. Possibly, it will be all the more so this year with the potential impact on older people's health of the loss of the winter fuel allowance by many. What winter preparedness steps has he taken, like previous Governments, to increase A&E capacity and to increase the number of beds this winter, and can he say by how many?
Context
Every year, winter presents challenges to the NHS.
Wes Streeting
It is thanks to this Government and the action we have taken that, for the first time in three years, we go into winter without the spectre of national strikes looming over the NHS, and with NHS staff on the frontline not the picket line. It is thanks to the priority this Government have given to prevention that we have already delivered almost 15 million covid-19 and flu vaccinations, alongside the new RSV—respiratory syncytial virus—vaccination to help vulnerable groups for the first time.
Session: Topical Questions 2024-11-19
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I have the statutory instrument and list of exclusions here, but those offences are not included. My fear is that many convicted domestic abusers who received fewer than five years might be eligible for early release, undermining the Government's claim that they will not benefit from the scheme. This would be deeply disappointing to victims and the public.
Context
The question arises from concerns about the statutory instrument that excludes certain offenses from eligibility for early release under a new prison policy, with fears that it may not adequately cover specific domestic abuse cases.
Shabana Mahmood
With respect to the shadow Lord Chancellor, what will ring hollow is the Tory party's commitment to excluding domestic abuse from the scheme, especially considering their previous actions. We have taken every step available to exclude offences related to domestic abuse and are giving the probation service time to prepare, unlike the previous government.
Session: Prison Capacity 2024-09-10
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How many people will be eligible to be released at 40% of their sentence, including those sentenced under section 20 and 47 of the Offences against the Person Act?
Context
Questions about eligibility under the early release scheme for specific offences.
Shabana Mahmood
Exclusions have been made for serious offences with sentences of four years or more. Specific mix of offences per offender cannot be given, but serious violence and sexual offences are excluded from this policy.
Session: Prison Capacity 2024-09-10
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Every 30 seconds, a domestic abuse-related call is made to the police. It is positive to see that the number of domestic abuse cases referred from the police to the CPS has increased, but those numbers are still well below the level seen over the past five years. Will the Secretary of State address the delays in domestic abuse referrals from the police to the CPS and acknowledge the unique risks they pose?
Context
There is concern about the number of domestic abuse cases referred from police to CPS, which has increased but remains below previous levels. The questioner highlights delays in these referrals.
Alex Davies-Jones
As I have stated, this Government were elected with a landmark mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade. To do so, we must improve the justice system's response to these crimes, including domestic abuse. We must relentlessly target the most prolific and harmful perpetrators, better support victims and survivors, and ensure timely and effective justice. We will put domestic abuse experts in 999 control rooms and strengthen the use of protection orders, and we will strengthen the tools available to manage domestic abuse offenders.
Session: Topical Questions 2024-09-10
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Further to the point made by the hon. Member for Reading West and Mid Berkshire (Olivia Bailey), will she be open and transparent with the House, local authorities and the public about how many, at what point and, in broad terms, where they will be located?
Context
The government has implemented measures for early release of prisoners, including provisions for their accommodation. The questioner seeks assurance on transparency regarding these arrangements.
Shabana Mahmood
Yes, I will.
Session: Topical Questions 2024-09-10
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting) 2026-02-05
05 February 2026
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The hon. Member for South West Devon proposed an amendment to ensure that services are not caught within the charging scheme if they cannot operate due to GBR failures or actions. She argued that oper...
Draft Energy-Intensive Industry Electricity Support Payments and Levy (Amendment) Regulations 2026 2026-02-04
04 February 2026
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The draft regulations aim to deliver one of the Government’s commitments in the modern industrial strategy: to increase electricity price support to energy-intensive industries through the British ind...
Railways Bill (Ninth sitting) 2026-02-03
03 February 2026
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Moves amendments to ensure that the designation of railway passenger services considers rail freight capacity and growth priorities. Emphasises the importance of mutual regard between passenger and fr...
Railways Bill (Tenth sitting) 2026-02-03
03 February 2026
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Mr. Mayhew moved amendment 63 to clause 36, proposing that the Passengers’ Council must have regard to the needs of all users, including potential users of the railway. He argued that the current draf...
Railways Bill (Seventh sitting) 2026-01-29
29 January 2026
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Proposes amendment to ensure rail strategy covers a period of 30 years, arguing that a long-term vision is necessary for sustainable railway development. Emphasises the need for strategic planning in ...
Railways Bill (Eighth sitting) 2026-01-29
29 January 2026
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The Secretary of State should require Great British Railways to 'take into account in all relevant decisions' rather than just 'have regard' to the rail freight target. This amendment would strengthen...
GP Services Melton and Syston 2025-10-30
30 October 2025
Adjournment Debate
Led by this MP
Thank you for calling me, Madam Deputy Speaker, and through you I thank Mr Speaker for granting this important Adjournment debate. General practice is in many ways the gateway to the NHS for our const...
UK-Türkiye Typhoon Export Deal 2025-10-29
29 October 2025
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Education Committee 2025-10-13
13 October 2025
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Presented the fifth report of this Parliament by the Education Committee, titled 'Solving the SEND Crisis'. The report highlights the moral imperative to address the crisis in special educational need...
Baby Loss 2025-10-13
13 October 2025
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The debate discusses the challenges faced by families who have experienced baby loss, highlighting that 13 babies die daily in various circumstances. It emphasises disparities in outcomes based on eth...
Attendance
95.5%
21 of 22 votes
Aye Votes
12
54.5% of votes
No Votes
9
40.9% of votes
Abstentions
1
4.5% of votes
03 Feb 2026
VOTED NO
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Second Reading
Ayes: 458
Noes: 104
Passed
28 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Opposition Day: British Indian Ocean Territory
Ayes: 103
Noes: 284
Failed
28 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Opposition Day: Youth unemployment
Ayes: 91
Noes: 287
Failed
27 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill: Amendment 9
Ayes: 91
Noes: 378
Failed
27 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill: Amendment 1
Ayes: 88
Noes: 310
Failed
27 Jan 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill: Amendment 2
Ayes: 61
Noes: 311
Failed
21 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill Commi...
Ayes: 195
Noes: 317
Failed
21 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial...
Ayes: 373
Noes: 106
Passed
21 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: Thir...
Ayes: 316
Noes: 194
Passed
21 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill Commi...
Ayes: 191
Noes: 326
Failed
20 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill: motion to...
Ayes: 347
Noes: 184
Passed
20 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Sentencing Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 7
Ayes: 319
Noes: 127
Passed
20 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill: motion to...
Ayes: 344
Noes: 182
Passed
20 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill: motion to...
Ayes: 347
Noes: 185
Passed
13 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: Clause 63 Stand part
Ayes: 348
Noes: 167
Passed
13 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 26
Ayes: 172
Noes: 334
Failed
13 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 9
Ayes: 181
Noes: 335
Failed
13 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: Clause 86 stand part
Ayes: 344
Noes: 173
Passed
13 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 25
Ayes: 187
Noes: 351
Failed
13 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 24
Ayes: 184
Noes: 331
Failed
12 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 7
Ayes: 188
Noes: 341
Failed
12 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: Amendment 3
Ayes: 185
Noes: 344
Failed
0
PMQs Asked
18
Ministerial Questions Asked
25
House of Commons Debates Involved
0
Westminster Hall Debates Led
0
Statements / Bills
0
Petitions Presented
22
Voting Record
Activity Compared to Peers
How does this MP's parliamentary activity compare to the national average across 649 MPs?
Prime Minister's Questions
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
1.9
Ministerial Questions
+127% above average
This MP:
18
Average:
7.9
Westminster Hall Debates Led
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
1.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+957% above average
This MP:
25
Average:
2.4
Statements / Bills Proposed
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
5.1
Petitions Presented
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
2.2
Voting Attendance Rate (%)
+26% above average
This MP:
95.5
Average:
75.6
Important Context
- - Ministers answer questions rather than asking them, so have different activity patterns
- - Activity quantity doesn't measure quality or effectiveness of representation
- - Some MPs focus more on constituency work than parliamentary questions
- - Newly elected MPs will have less parliamentary history
About This Page
This page tracks Edward Argar's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.