Welcome...

This website is designed to let you learn more about what I’m doing in Westminster and in Huddersfield on your behalf. You can find my recent speeches and contributions to debates, information about my current campaigns on local and national issues, and details of how to contact me with you views or to ask for my advise or assistance.
You can also read my blog and listen to my podcasts to find out what I’ve been working on recently and the issues that I feel strongly about and would like to share with you.
Thank you for visiting my website, I hope you find it useful.

mp questions

Clause 138 - Power of governing body: educational provision for improving behaviour | Orders of the Day | Commons debates

I understand that key stage 3 tests will still be able to be taken on a voluntary basis. Will that be on a school-by-school basis, rather than on a local authority basis?

[17 November 2008]

Autism | Oral Answers to Questions - Children, Schools and Families | Commons debates

I realise that my hon. Friend has not been in her position for very long, but will she send a message to the whole of the Front-Bench team to stop shilly-shallying on this matter? We want more...

[17 November 2008]

Middle East | Oral Answers to Questions - Foreign and Commonwealth Office | Commons debates

Does my right hon. Friend agree that, if we are to get a satisfactory outcome in the middle east, we must engage our European colleagues more energetically? The new Minister for Europe is an...

[11 November 2008]

Middle East | Oral Answers to Questions - Foreign and Commonwealth Office | Commons debates

Does my right hon. Friend agree that, if we are to get a satisfactory outcome in the middle east, we must engage our European colleagues more energetically? The new Minister for Europe is an...

[11 November 2008]

BBC (Public Service Broadcasting) | Oral Answers to Questions - Culture, Media and Sport | Commons debates

Certainly I recognise that the BBC is still a great national institution and I am usually a great supporter of it. However, if we have a public sector broadcaster that is funded by the licence...

[10 November 2008]

Business of the House | Commons debates

Will my right hon. and learned Friend consider an early debate on Lloyds TSB's proposed takeover of Halifax Bank of Scotland? That bank employs many thousand of people in Yorkshire, most of them...

[06 November 2008]

Human Trafficking | Oral Answers to Questions - Solicitor-General | Commons debates

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that only this week the Fawcett Society hosted a meeting in this House at which it was alleged that 40,000 enslaved and trafficked women are currently residing...

[06 November 2008]

Higher Education | Westminster Hall debates

No, I will not I know that there was a hiccup with the payment of education maintenance allowances during the summer, because of the partnership with a private company, but they have had a good...

[05 November 2008]

Higher Education | Westminster Hall debates

Not for the moment. With independence comes the fact that we cannot—and thank goodness we cannot—tell the universities what to do on a daily or weekly basis. There are problems; I...

[05 November 2008]

Higher Education | Westminster Hall debates

I shall be brief. Of the nine hon. Members participating in the debate, seven have served on a Committee that I chair—even the Minister's Parliamentary Private Secretary, the hon. Member...

[05 November 2008]

Higher Education | Westminster Hall debates

I seek my hon. Friend's assurance, which I am sure that he will give, that he is arguing not for a reduction of standards for children from lower social and economic backgrounds but for fair...

[05 November 2008]

Immigration Controls: Aviation | Home Department | Written Answers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure that those travelling in (a) private helicopters and (b) very light jets or other private light aircraft...

[21 October 2008]

Immigration Controls: Aviation | Home Department | Written Answers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure that those travelling in (a) private helicopters and (b) very light jets or other private light aircraft...

[21 October 2008]

Political Parties and Elections Bill | Orders of the Day | Commons debates

I am enjoying my hon. Friend's speech, but I am still waiting for him to tell the House how he would improve the Bill in Committee. How might it meet his high standards?

[20 October 2008]

Political Parties and Elections Bill | Orders of the Day | Commons debates

I have been following my hon. Friend's speech closely, and I agree with a great deal of it, but does he not risk becoming diverted on the issue of the communications allowance? He says that it...

[20 October 2008]

news

HBOS and Lloyds TSB merger no longer needed

HBOS and Lloyds TSB merger no longer needed

A MERGER between banking giants HBOS and Lloyds TSB is no longer needed, Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman has claimed.

[17 November 2008]

MP demands check on people trafficking

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman is concerned about people trafficking. “There was a meeting of the Fawcett Society at the House of Commons last week where a figure of 40,000 women being trafficked and enslaved in Britain was mentioned.

[17 November 2008]

Barry Sheerman MP warns of deadly Carbon Monoxide risk

Barry Sheerman MP warns of deadly Carbon Monoxide risk

Barry Sheerman is supporting a new national campaign, ‘Carbon Monoxide – Be Alarmed!’ which encourages people to ensure they have an audible Carbon Monoxide alarm and that they have all their gas, oil and solid-fuel burning appliances serviced annually

[17 November 2008]

Baby P sparks call to put more in care

Barry Sheerman called for more research on how the most vulnerable families and problem parents could be better identified before tragedies occur.

[16 November 2008]

'Superficial' inspections warning

'Superficial' inspections warning

Barry Sheerman MP, who chairs the Commons children, schools and families select committee, said accountability was necessary but many people feared that "teaching to the test" can prevent pupils from getting a full education.

[16 November 2008]

Barry Sheerman: Time to stop the Lloyds' takeover of HBOS

Barry Sheerman: Time to stop the Lloyds' takeover of HBOS

In my opinion, the planned takeover of HBOS by Lloyds TSB is not right for employees of HBOS, the shareholders of HBOS or the customers of HBOS – and it should not go ahead.

[14 November 2008]

Interest rate cut saves £3m in Hudds if greedy bankers pass it on

Interest rate cut saves £3m in Hudds if greedy bankers pass it on

The Examiner: HUDDERSFIELD MP Barry Sheerman today told Britain’s mortgage lenders: “Pass on the cuts to your customers”.

[07 November 2008]

Visit to Unique Mental Health Service

Mr Sheerman drops into The Kirklees Early Intervention Service

[11 October 2008]

MP backs local job creation

Barry Sheerman supports FMG tender as bid will lead to significant numbers of new jobs in Yorkshire

[06 October 2008]

MP steps out to raise awareness of local charities

Barry Sheerman was joined in a walk around his constituency to raise money for three charities

[24 September 2008]

Barry Sheerman Supports Campaign to Keep HBOS Jobs local

Local MPs Barry Sheerman, Linda Riordan and Rosie Winterton throw their weight behind campaign to keep local jobs

[23 September 2008]

Select Committee Chair backs higher standards for BSF

Barry Sheerman supports Jim Knight's proposals for higher quality school design

[20 September 2008]

Local MP Joins Battle to Save Local Jobs

Last night Yorkshire MPs called on the Government to protect jobs in the region

[19 September 2008]

MP vows to 'fight tooth and nail' to protect regional jobs

VITAL talks to protect thousands of jobs across Yorkshire are going on in the aftermath of the Lloyds takeover of HBOS

[19 September 2008]

Launch of 'Waterwise'

MP Spearheads New Initiative To Transform Huddersfield Rivers

[15 September 2008]

What Is Huddersfield's Future?

Local MP to sit on panel to discuss his vision for town

[28 August 2008]

Barry Sheerman E-Politix Interview

Chairman of the Children, Schools and Family Select Committee Reflects on Past Work and Looks To The Future

[26 August 2008]

SATs Contract Terminated

US Firm Loses Contract After Marking Difficulties

[16 August 2008]

MP slams council's £200k Tesco plan spend

Council spend money on development yet to be approved

[13 August 2008]

Proposed Post Office Closures

Local Post Office closures are unwelcome, but if we are to keep Post Offices open it is essential that we get more people to use them.

[12 August 2008]