Business of the House
24 Jun 2026 · Commons Chamber · 93 speeches · Official record
Commons debate API. Not a paper. A named member links to their Institrace record when we hold that seat.
A wheelchair-using constituent has contacted me after a major manufacturer and dealership refused to apply the VAT relief available to eligible disabled people purchasing adapted vehicles. There seems to be a perception in parts of the industry that the rules are complex and that dealerships bear a risk if that relief is applied incorrectly, which may be discouraging legitimately disabled people from getting the vehicles they deserve. Could we have a statement on this issue from the relevant Min... Full speech
I join the Leader of the House in his comments about Venezuela, Edinburgh, Bedford and our armed forces. I acknowledge his comments about the summer of saving, but ask him: a summer of saving who? Paternity leave has been a joy. I know it will not make me popular with new parents, but mercifully my daughter has been sleeping pretty well, so far- [ Interruption. ] Mum is doing well too. As hon. Members may know, our journey to this point has not been straightforward. I shared our story of miscarr... Full speech
VAT relief on adapted vehicles is an important matter, and as ever, the right hon. Gentleman raises it in the proper way. However complex these matters are, it is important that businesses do the right thing, so getting that understanding between business and Government is very important. I will raise this matter with the relevant Minister and make sure that the right hon. Gentleman gets an update on it. Full speech
It is appropriate that my hon. Friend should raise this matter in Armed Forces Week, but we should look to support veterans every week of the year, not just this week. I will raise his concerns with the relevant Defence Minister to see what further action can be taken to get rid of these delays. Full speech
On 20 May at Prime Minister’s questions, I raised the fears of my constituents, like Leigh, about the exceptionally high levels of forever chemicals in watercourses near the former RAF Upper Heyford airbase. Without hesitation, the Prime Minister agreed to ask the Environment and Health Secretaries to meet my constituents and me. Five weeks later, the two Secretaries of State have repeatedly refused a meeting; instead, the Minister for Water’s office has offered 15 minutes for an “initial discus... Full speech
“Can we have one, Dad?” That was the iconic slogan of Yorkshire Caravans back in the 1980s. I am sure the Leader of the House will not quite remember then, but will he join me in congratulating Yorkshire Caravans on achieving its 100th birthday, which is a huge milestone for a local business in Bawtry in my constituency? Full speech
Pubs are the lifeblood of our local communities. In Wokingham, we are very lucky to have so many great pubs. To try to help them, I ran my “Wokingham’s Best Pub” competition, recognising the value of pubs and their staff. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating The Two Poplars, which won the best pub competition last Friday, and, as I know he likes to support local pubs, will he consider joining me for a pint in The Two Poplars, where he will find good beer and good food? Full speech
In Brent, the support staff at Woodfield school face a cut in hours that equates to a cut of about £4,000 in their wages. The school is suggesting that it will fire and rehire them. The staff are on strike. The National Education Union is trying to negotiate, in order to save services, terms and conditions and jobs. Will the Leader of the House support me in ensuring that issues to do with special educational needs and disabilities funding do not jeopardise the care of children, or the terms and... Full speech
My hon. Friend is a champion for the youth guarantee, and I pay tribute to her for all the work she does to support young people. Over the next three years, we are expanding the youth hub network to over 360 locations across Great Britain, ensuring that every young person can access opportunities and comprehensive support in their local area. To celebrate that, I encourage my hon. Friend to look for a debate in Westminster Hall or an Adjournment debate to see what more we can do to support our y... Full speech
Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Princess Alice hospice in my constituency on celebrating its 40th anniversary this year? Over the past 40 years, it has cared for tens of thousands of people and has been a staple for local families at their most vulnerable. Only 20% of its funding comes from statutory NHS funding, with the rest mainly coming from selling woolly jumpers; as a result, it is able to meet only one third of the local need. Access to palliative care will come und... Full speech
Many schools, not just those in the hon. Lady’s constituency, are having to come to terms with the falling birth rate and how best to organise services, and it is not an easy thing to do. Should she seek a Westminster Hall debate or an Adjournment debate on the subject, she might hear directly from the relevant Minister about how best the Government can help. Full speech
I encourage the hon. Member to apply for a Westminster Hall debate. I am not the person that allocates those, but the hon. Member raises important matters. Given what he has said, it is important that he hears from Ministers with responsibility for planning whether further legislation is necessary, or, if the legislation exists, whether those who have the authority to use it actually do so. Full speech
My hon. Friend is right to champion the scheme that she refers to, which sounds like an excellent partnership that benefits all sides. I join her in congratulating Stephen Dunn on instigating this project, as well as the many other council officers across our country who do a fantastic job. I will ensure that the Secretary of State hears about it, because it sounds like an arrangement that has a lot of potential going forward. Full speech
As a member of the armed forces parliamentary scheme, I have seen at first hand the courage and dedication that our service personnel show each and every day, and, as this is Armed Forces Week, I want to commend them for it. One of my constituents is a newly attested Army reservist. He is proud to serve our country but his experience shows some of the barriers faced in training. It took nearly a year to train, but, crucially, he had to spend nearly £1,000 on travel, equipment and medical appoint... Full speech
The hon. Gentleman is an assiduous constituency MP and campaigner on these matters, and I pay tribute to him for that. This is important, and the Government recognise that all cancer patients should get diagnosed in the shortest time possible, which is why we have published our national cancer plan. We have backed that up with £2.3 billion of investment, which will deliver 9.5 million additional tests by 2029. Charities such as Leukaemia UK do vital work, and I know that they will want reassuran... Full speech
The reality of the situation is simple, and I am surprised that the right hon. Gentleman does not understand it. The new cash ISA limit, introduced by the Chancellor at the Budget in 2025, will encourage retail investment and drive better returns for savers. We are confident that we have struck the right balance between supporting normal investor behaviour and preventing routes that replicate a higher cash ISA allowance in stocks-and-shares ISAs and innovative finance ISAs. The new charge is aim... Full speech
My right hon. Friend will be aware that, in response to violence and disorder last year in Broadstairs, I have worked with Kent police, Southeastern railways, local councils and the British Transport police to establish better ways of tackling the problem of antisocial behaviour, yet still it returns-this time in Margate, as well as in Broadstairs, this week. I welcomed the extra resources allocated by this Government to seaside towns last year, which definitely helped. Will my right hon. Friend... Full speech
Some of my youngest constituents have been in touch with me to say that they are really worried about being split up from their friends in their class. They go to Woodley primary school, which faces stretched budgets and a lowering birth rate, so the school is moving to mixed-age classes. Could we have a statement from the Department for Education about Government support for schools moving to mixed-age classes, so that I can raise the concerns of my youngest constituents, who are really worried... Full speech
For years, my constituent Donna Louise Armstrong has worked tirelessly to serve the veteran community locally and nationally, both as our area co-ordinator for Poppyscotland and as vice-chair of the Homeless Veterans Project, which she helped to establish in 2019. She is very often seen at events in my constituency in her Paddington Bear outfit, raising funds for homeless veterans. Donna recently received recognition for her outstanding work in the King’s honours. As we approach Armed Forces Day... Full speech
I call the Chair of the Backbench Business Committee. Full speech
I will certainly give some thought to what the hon. Lady says, but let me knock on the head the idea that the business is light going forward. Next week, we have two days of estimates, which are the lifeblood of this place, because they allow Members to hold the Government to account for how they intend to spend taxpayers’ money. That is not light business, and there are the other measures that we are bringing forward next week. She will need to be careful in explaining to heavy goods vehicle dr... Full speech
I thank the Leader of the House for announcing the business that we have scheduled. In addition to the business he has announced, on Thursday 9 July there will be a debate on a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements, followed by a further debate on which we await confirmation from the sponsor. On Thursday 16 July, assuming that we are given that date, there will be the annual Sir David Amess pre-recess Adjournment debate, which is very popular with all colleagues. As we await the implemen... Full speech
I certainly pay tribute to Doncaster Rovers for everything that they do, and to other clubs that play an important role in their community. If clubs need to step up a little, I encourage them to look at what Doncaster Rovers are doing. It is not just about what happens on the pitch; it is about the work that they do in the wider community. Full speech
Again, the hon. Gentleman is an assiduous campaigner for his constituency. I congratulate him on setting up that scheme to recognise the importance of pubs in his local community, and I congratulate The Two Poplars on its achievement. I am tempted, I have to say, so I will have a look at my diary and see what we can do. Full speech
I welcome the Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting our veterans and delivering fairness for them. Can we please have a statement from the Veterans Minister on reducing processing times for war pension scheme claims? My constituent Denzil Hancock, an 88-year-old nuclear test veteran, continues to await a decision. Full speech
Will the Leader of the House give us the forthcoming business, perhaps including the business relating to the item just raised under the point of order? Full speech
Yesterday, during Women and Equalities questions, the Minister referred to the protection of the rights of trans people provided by the Supreme Court judgment, but I have constituents contacting me about their fear of using public toilet facilities when no gender-neutral toilets are available. They include one constituent who expressed the guilt they felt, because, as a transgender woman, she felt compelled to use the disabled toilet while at a museum because she could not use the women’s toilet... Full speech
I thank Princess Alice hospice for everything it does. Hospices in all our areas are so very important. I do understand its concern about having sustained funding going forward, but the Government have committed £125 million to support the hospice sector, with a further £26 million to support children and young people’s hospices. I suspect that the hon. Lady is right that this issue will come more into focus as private Member’s Bills come forward; I think she will get her opportunity then to mak... Full speech
The Leader of the House has many skills, as we all know, but many Members will not know that footballing skills are among them. In this world cup season, I suggest to him that playing fields have an important role in the football narrative of many boys and girls, and others playing football now, including for England. Is he aware of the campaign by the Shropshire Football Association, which has supported football since 1877, to protect where we play in Shropshire? We should ensure that our playi... Full speech
As chair of the all-party parliamentary beer group, I was in a lot of pain this time last week-I was pedalling to pubs in Norfolk, and was probably just outside of Norwich, or maybe somewhere nearby. This week, Pedalling to Pubs came to Parliament. It has raised over £130,000 for two brilliant charities that support the beer and pub industry, Only A Pavement Away and the Licensed Trade Charity. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating the riders, the support team, and the Members o... Full speech
The Met police play a vital role in keeping those who work in, live in and visit London safe, including us here in this Chamber. The Labour Government and our Mayor have stepped up and increased funding, but at the same time, the unique challenges that the Met faces- policing protests, complex crimes and terrorism-have all increased, meaning that, despite the uplift, there remains a gap in funding. Will the Leader of the House make time for a debate on future funding for the Met, and in particul... Full speech
Earlier this month, the Government announced that they are putting yet more money into the lower Thames crossing, meaning that we will now spend more than £3 billion on a road that costs more per mile than High Speed 2, and we will privatise away Dartford toll revenues for the privilege. Meanwhile, despite welcome steps by the Government for market towns and villages such as those in my constituency, buses remain more of a hypothetical concept than a regular and reliable form of daily travel. Ma... Full speech
Hundreds of my constituents have been left bitterly disappointed by the Government’s recent announcement cancelling the later stages of Project Gigabit. Chichester did not receive a single completed upgrade from that project-all the households and businesses that were due to benefit were included in the later stages of the scheme, and as a result, they have now missed out entirely. Will the Leader of the House arrange an urgent meeting between me and the relevant Minister in the Department for S... Full speech
The hon. Gentleman raises an important point. As he rightly acknowledges, it is a question of balance, but in that balance, the safety of children is paramount. He may wish to seek an Adjournment debate or a Westminster Hall debate on this, so that he can make his case, because I am sure his concerns will be shared by a number of colleagues from across the House. Full speech
I have been contacted by a constituent in Biggin Hill who is deeply concerned that schools are not made aware when individuals who have been charged with child sexual offences are living in close proximity to the school. I appreciate that we have to balance safeguarding with legal and privacy issues, but surely making the schools aware makes sense. Can we have a debate in this place on community safeguarding? Full speech
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his work and the work of his Committee. I will endeavour to give the Committee as much advance notice as possible. I expect the Committee to be given Thursday 9 July to schedule business. I know how much the House welcomes the Sir David Amess debate, and I hope that I will be able to announce that in due course. However, he can expect it to take place at the time when people would expect it to take place. The hon. Gentleman raises the important matter of heat and s... Full speech
Order. I have allowed the time. You are a minute over. Please can you conclude now? Full speech
One key to creating opportunities in places like Rossendale and Darwen is reindustrialisation-making more things in more places, and creating good jobs close to home. To make this real, we need economic policy that truly understands the particular constraints facing our small towns and rural communities. We need to be connected, and to have a policy that works for all parts of the country, not just places with a mayor. That will require a truly ambitious industrial strategy that gets behind ever... Full speech
I certainly join my hon. Friend in congratulating Kyle on his youth endeavour award-he sounds like a credit to his local community and to his family and friends. I want to thank everyone who volunteers in service of their local communities, ultimately making them a better place to live. If my hon. Friend sought a Westminster Hall debate or an Adjournment debate on this subject-not just to talk about the work and success of Kyle-I am sure that others would wish to raise issues from their own cons... Full speech
Protected land and villages, such as Stoke Row and Park Corner in my constituency, are being sold off in small lots. Auctioneers subtly encourage buyers into paying over the odds for land that has no prospect of planning consent. The result is disappointed and ripped-off buyers. Plot holders, left with failed investments, try to monetise them in ways that go against planning rules. We have also seen some members of the Gypsy and Traveller community move ahead with unauthorised development, using... Full speech
I think it is unfortunate that I was not allowed to conclude in the terms that- Full speech
Will the Leader of the House join me in welcoming the GMB union’s campaign to protect the 130 low-paid Churchill Cleaning staff in this place from redundancy? Does he agree that Parliament must remain clean for all, and that the Government’s policy of ending the outsourcing of cleaning jobs should also be adopted by the parliamentary authorities? Full speech
I understand my hon. Friend’s concerns. I acknowledge the important work of outreach in educating the public about what Parliament does and why it matters. This is, of course, a matter for the House. I know that some Members have raised it directly with the House authorities via oral and written questions, and I am sure that the House authorities have heard her concerns as they weigh up this matter. Full speech
My constituents are fed up with getting fleeced by private parking operators, and this is an issue not just in Derby. The RAC expects a record 17 million fines from just the last year alone, costing drivers well over £100 million. This Government are right to stand up for drivers in Derby and across the country by introducing a new private parking code of practice, but does the Leader of the House agree that it is time to crack down on unfair private parking fines, and will he ensure that this H... Full speech
The Government are absolutely committed to ensuring that the Met police have the resources they need, and have increased funding by £446 million since coming to office. Court proceedings relating to Operation Manor are ongoing, and critical elements are still to be considered before any asset is realised. Ministers will consider how any residual funds are distributed, including reflecting on the role of the Metropolitan police service. Full speech
I welcome what the Leader of the House said about the defence investment plan. Militec Ltd is a small but mighty company in Mountain Ash, in my constituency, that has served our armed forces and police forces for almost 30 years, yet it is on the verge of collapse because of the much-delayed defence investment plan. Hopefully we will have the plan soon, but can we have a debate in Government time on the impact of the delayed defence investment plan on our small and medium-sized businesses, which... Full speech
We will leave it at that. Sorry, but I am not going to be challenged like that. I think that is totally unfair. I gave a full minute and allowed you to continue. I was going to allow you to come back. I would have expected better from the shadow Leader of the House than to challenge the Chair in that way-I have never had that before. I call the Leader of the House. Full speech
I thank my hon. Friend for this well-timed question during Armed Forces Week. I join her in congratulating Donna Louise Armstrong on her years of service to her local community and on her very well deserved British Empire Medal for services to our veterans community. Her friends and family should be very proud of her. Full speech
I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson -welcome back. Full speech
I am sure that this matter is of real concern to my hon. Friend’s constituents, and she knows the Government’s position on fire and rehire. She will know that we are committed to funding SEND properly, but if there are instances where that is having a real detrimental effect on an area, I can arrange for a meeting with the relevant Minister for her. Full speech
Young people in Colchester will benefit from their new youth hub, which is one of 14 set up across Essex. Will the Leader of the House make time for a debate on the early impact of those youth hubs, and the youth guarantee that so brilliantly underpins them? Full speech
Will the Leader of the House join me in commending the fantastic parliamentary staff in Westminster and in constituencies across the UK who keep MPs’ offices running? They are employed by 650 separate offices, rather than by Parliament itself. That leaves them without consistent terms and, in some cases, proper support. The GMB, the largest union in Parliament-for the record, it is my union-is working to fix that through its “One Parliament, One Employer” campaign. Will he join me in encouraging... Full speech
My hon. Friend is right to point to the importance of towns and communities, such as Rossendale and Darwen. They have a vital role to play in Britain’s economic future, as do our rural and urban areas. The Government’s industrial strategy is focused on driving investment and creating well-paid jobs in every part of the country. Our efforts have helped to secure £360 billion in private investment to date, which will support over 120,000 jobs. I encourage my hon. Friend to apply for a Westminster ... Full speech
I feel sure that the Leader of the House will want to join me in celebrating with the people of Romford. We have a double celebration this week: Armed Forces Day, when there is a magnificent parade through the town centre with the Royal British Legion Band & Corps of Drums, ex-servicemen, cadets, and many others joining to salute our brave servicemen and women; and the 10-year anniversary of 70% of my constituents voting to leave the European Union and take back control of their country. I want ... Full speech
There are plenty of great pubs across Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove that I could invite the Leader of the House to, but today I want to talk about Wendy, Val and residents at Bradeley village in my constituency. Time and again, they fundraise and hold community events to raise money for good causes; most recently, they raised £1,000 for a local sight loss charity. Will the Leader of the House please join me in saying thank you to Wendy, Val and everyone in Bradeley village, and can we make ... Full speech
My hon. Friend raises an important matter. Road safety for children is vital. The work that lollipop people do for our young people is paramount. I hope that those at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council hear my hon. Friend’s contribution and take his concerns seriously. I pay tribute to Martin, Stella, Georgia and the many lollipop people across our communities for their work. I hope that this can be resolved properly. Full speech
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this matter. He is right that our new private parking code of practice will raise standards across the private parking industry to ensure that drivers are treated fairly. Stricter regulation of private parking companies will curb aggressive fines and debt recovery tactics. I am sure that the House will be updated when the code of practice is published, and I hope that will be at the earliest opportunity. Full speech
I am delighted that Cumberland council is to partner with Carlisle College and the Story construction group to renovate the old keeper’s lodge in Bitts Park in my constituency. The college’s construction students will gain invaluable experience of working on a live construction site, there will be no cost to the council, and a much-loved building will be brought back into public use. Does the Leader of the House agree that this partnership model could be adopted elsewhere to bring back other muc... Full speech
That matter was raised earlier, and I understand Members’ concerns. Let me take this away and see if we can get the assurance that the right hon. Gentleman and others are seeking. Full speech
I hope that the water suppliers and all their contractors have listened to what the hon. Lady has said and that they act on it. I know there are considerations about the safety and quality of water, but I am sure it is not beyond the wit of them, if they put their heads together, to make this happen. If she lets me know how the matter progresses, then should the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs need to get involved-I am not sure what its powers are in this regard-we will see wh... Full speech
Last month, my constituent Kyle Pusey was recognised with Cannock Chase district council’s youth endeavour award for his years of outstanding volunteering at Norton Canes library. Kyle is known for being polite, hard-working and always willing to go the extra mile. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Kyle on this well-deserved achievement, and could we have a debate on the positive difference he and many other young people make to communities up and down our country? Full speech
The UK Parliament’s school outreach worker for the south-west saw 20,000 children and 780 adult learners last year. In rural and coastal areas, that provision is absolutely vital. Some schools in my constituency cannot get to Parliament, and the ones that can are struggling to get places. Students from King Charles primary school have been in London since yesterday, but they could not come to Parliament because there was no space. I would be grateful if the Leader of the House found Government t... Full speech
The work and dedication to their community of individuals like Wendy, Val and the residents of Bradeley village are an inspiration to us all, and I am pleased that my hon. Friend brought that story to us. I join him in thanking them for everything they do; indeed, I thank community volunteers right across our country because, as I have described them before, they are the golden thread that tie our communities together. Full speech
The business for the week commencing 29 June will include: Monday 29 June-Estimates day, first allotted day. There will be debates on estimates relating to the Cabinet Office, in so far as it relates to security and resilience; the Northern Ireland Office; and the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, in so far as it relates to criminal justice. Tuesday 30 June-Estimates day, second allotted day. There will be debates on estimates relating to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, in so far... Full speech
I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this matter to the House. I hope we all agree that cleanliness and the upkeep of the parliamentary estate are absolutely vital, because they allow us to continue to do our jobs. The policy that he mentions is in the purview of the House authorities, and if my hon. Friend should wish to make his case to the appropriate House official, I will help him in that process. Full speech
I will endeavour to find a way through this so that what the Prime Minister committed to can happen. Full speech
I thank the Leader of the House for all his answers. Will he ask the Foreign Secretary to make a statement on the protection of recognised and unrecognised religious minority communities in the Gulf region? Following reports from Human Rights Watch that Qatari authorities have ordered members of key Baha’i institutions to leave the country without due process or an effective legal avenue to challenge these decisions, what steps are the Government able to take through their close bilateral relati... Full speech
The hon. Gentleman, as ever, raises an important matter. We strongly condemn the persecution of Baha’i communities in many countries around the world. Our special envoy for freedom of religion or belief, my hon. Friend the Member for North Northumberland (David Smith), has met with the Baha’i international community UN representative to discuss the persecution that the Baha’i face, and regularly engages with the community. I will raise the hon. Gentleman’s specific concerns with the Foreign Offi... Full speech
Freeholders on private estates currently face unregulated service charges and have no meaningful recourse if managing agents are incompetent. In January, the Minister of State for Housing committed to tackling these so-called fleecehold schemes by the end of this Parliament. However, with a new Prime Minister likely to reset the legislative agenda, affected constituents will be worried that that promise will be quietly dropped. Will the Leader of the House request a written statement on delivery... Full speech
I certainly join the hon. Gentleman in praise of Armed Forces Day and give the events in Romford our best wishes. It is important that the community can celebrate our armed forces. I imagine that the hon. Gentleman’s area, like mine, has been a recruiting area in the past. I am not going to join him, however, in celebrating the 10th anniversary of leaving the EU. I am tempted to ask the hon. Gentleman: how is that going, then? I am not going to condemn schools for making decisions. They must do ... Full speech
As my hon. Friend says, I am very keen for this issue to be tackled. I hope to return to my constituency this weekend, and if the weather is fine, I am sure that the police-I am meeting them tomorrow-will, through Operation Coastwatch, rise to the challenges posed by young people, predominantly, coming to the coast. I welcome them, but I do hope they will behave when they get there. We have passed the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which will tackle some of these behaviours. We will introduce resp... Full speech
I thank the Leader of the House for his recent reply to my letter offering my support for the “regulating for growth” Bill, which was announced in the King’s Speech. However, while he was effusive in his gratitude for my interest in the Bill, he definitely ignored my question about its timetabling in the House. The Bill is vital for the marine autonomy sector, based in my constituency. The sector is very keen to hear when the Bill will come forward. Given the comments of the Chair of the Backben... Full speech
I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this issue to the attention of the House. He is right to recognise the incredible work done by our staff in Westminster and across the UK, and I know that there are a range of views on this topic. I also note that your conference did a great deal of work on this in the last Parliament, Mr Speaker. Should my hon. Friend wish to have a meeting with the relevant House officials to discuss how this matter might be taken forward, and whether there is a consensus, I... Full speech
I announced in the business statement that there will be a debate on these issues next week, when I hope the hon. Lady will be able to make her case. Let me reassure her that the Government are absolutely committed to taking action on this matter, and I am sure that, whoever is Prime Minister, that commitment will be maintained. Full speech
My hon. Friend knows that bus transport in particular is a key priority of this Government -buses are so important to towns and villages-and we are making real progress on it. He will also know that this is not a clear either/or matter. If he wants a debate to weigh up the best use of those resources, I encourage him to apply for a Westminster Hall or Adjournment debate so that he and others can make the case for the best possible public transport in their areas. Full speech
I understand the concern of the hon. Lady and her constituents about this matter, and I will seek to arrange the meeting she asks for. Full speech
My constituent Dean Collier chairs Priddy folk festival, a local volunteer-run community event that for 34 years has brought really good music to the village and raised money for the village facilities. For 20 years, campers and festival-goers used metered water in a tap on the village green. Bristol Water remove that meter last year so the organisers can no longer use the tap. The mains pipe to the village has a standpipe point in a perfect location, but Bristol Water has outsourced its supply ... Full speech
I welcome the Government’s announcement of a review into the zero emission vehicle mandate, with the objective of slowing the phase-in of ZEV targets. However, I do not believe that this changes the direction of travel for bus manufacturing, which supports 50,000 jobs across the United Kingdom, and is similarly struggling with the rise in imported Chinese electric buses. Will the Leader of the House arrange for a statement from Department for Business and Trade and/or Department for Transport Mi... Full speech
Buried in a bulging Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council budget consultation is a plan to lay off lollipop people in my constituency. Of the few hundred consultees across BCP, half had not used a school crossing patrol service for a year. Meanwhile, my petition has received many hundreds more responses in my constituency alone, and all the respondents are clear that they want to save our lollipop people. I recently met Martin, Georgia, Stella and other members of the school crossing patro... Full speech
My hon. Friend is right to raise this matter during Armed Forces Week. Reservists are an integral part of the effectiveness of our armed forces. They bring experience from defence, strengthen resilience and provide specialist skills that cannot be generated or sustained in regular forces alone. I encourage him to seek a Westminster Hall or Adjournment debate, so that he can make his strong case in greater detail. Full speech
I welcome the hon. Gentleman back to his place. I hope that all has been well following the addition of baby Lyla to his family. I wish them all well. The hon. Gentleman raises an important point: every woman deserves safe, compassionate care, and it is devastating when that is not the case. The work of Donna Ockenden and Baroness Amos made clear the systematic, sustained and recurring failures in maternity and neonatal care, which are entirely unacceptable. The national maternity and neonatal t... Full speech
Tax-free individual savings accounts are tax-free; it is a very simple principle. ISAs have existed for 30 years, and 22 million people in our country invest their savings in them; that is 40% of the adult population. As the Chancellor’s final act, she has decided to slap a 22% tax on cash in stocks-and-shares ISAs. Is there nothing that she does not want to tax? Does the Chancellor intend to come to Parliament and account for her actions? Can we have a debate on this decision, in the name of th... Full speech
As the Leader of the House and Members from across the House will be aware, when charities and voluntary groups arrange drop-in sessions in Parliament, we Members receive emails from constituents urging us to attend and support them. Yesterday, I attended the Leukaemia UK event in the House, and as is often the case, the main request of those attending was for early diagnosis. Could the Leader of the House arrange for a Health Minister to come to the House and give those people some reassurance ... Full speech
I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this matter to the House, and of course I congratulate Yorkshire Caravans on 100 years in business. Businesses such as those are the cornerstones of the local economy, and its longevity only proves its worth and contribution. As my hon. Friend says, the product it manufactures produces lifetime memories for lots of people. Full speech
Doncaster Rovers are a league one football club, but the Club Doncaster Foundation is truly premier league in its outreach work. Last year, it delivered nearly £23 million of social value in Doncaster, and for every £1 invested, there was an £11.50 return through education and community impact. Does the Leader of the House agree that football clubs and their charity foundations should be celebrated for their work, and that other clubs should look to Doncaster Rovers and the Club Doncaster Founda... Full speech
I reassure my hon. Friend that this Government have increased the amount spent on defence by a record amount since the end of cold war, and we are determined to ensure that we have proper funding for defence. I hear what she says about the role played by companies across our constituencies. Since we came into office, 1,400 major contracts have been agreed, 86% of which are with British businesses, so colleagues across the House, including my hon. Friend, should be reassured that this Government’... Full speech
I thank the Leader of the House for the business. I know the whole House will join me in thinking of the victims of the earthquakes in Venezuela, of which we have just had news, and of course the victims of the train crash in Bedford and the victims of what now have been deemed aggravated terrorism-related attacks in Edinburgh. It has been a difficult week, Mr Speaker, but on a brighter note, I am sure that all will want to join me in celebrating Armed Forces Week and thanking all the men and wo... Full speech
My hon. Friend is a champion for the rights of his constituents, and I pay tribute to him. I recognise the concern that he has raised. Everyone, including trans people, should have the right to access the services and facilities that they need in a respectful way that protects dignity and privacy. Trans people continue to be protected under the Equality Act 2010, which we on the Labour Benches are particularly proud of. I will write to Ministers on his behalf and see whether we can arrange the m... Full speech
In the past hour and a half, I have received several emails and telephone calls. Let me read one of the emails: “I am writing this email as I have been reliably informed that bidding has commenced for turning Linton-on-Ouse RAF base into an immigration detention centre. I am deeply concerned as this proposal was put forward four years ago and caused great stress and turmoil to our local community. I would also like to know why the local community was not informed of this decision before the deci... Full speech
I am delighted to join my hon. Friend in thanking Pedalling to Pubs and offering it our congratulations; that is an incredible amount of money, and I congratulate every individual who has been involved in raising it. Local pubs are very important indeed, which is why the Government are trying to do everything we can to support them, but I certainly think Pedalling to Pubs deserves our congratulations. Full speech
I regret to say that I think the right hon. Gentleman is mixing me up with someone else if he thinks I have footballing skills, but I will plough on regardless. Let me be very clear: it is important that we protect our playing fields. We do need houses-homes-so that people can live fulfilling lives, but we also need to protect playing fields wherever we possibly can, and the Government are committed to that. If he wants reassurance on this matter, I can arrange a meeting with the relevant Minist... Full speech
Nobody in this House campaigns harder on behalf of the industry than my hon. Friend, and I thank him for that. The Government have allocated more than £73 million in additional funding to deliver almost 500 zero emission buses across England. The mandate is a devolved matter, but we are working with the devolved Governments to ensure that meaningful engagement takes place ahead of the review. I will raise his concerns with the relevant Minister to see whether there is any further update that we ... Full speech
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I welcome the right hon. Member for Hereford and South Herefordshire (Jesse Norman) back to his place, and I wish him a happy birthday for earlier this week. I join him in sending our condolences to the people of Venezuela and those caught in the earthquake. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. As the Prime Minister said yesterday, our thoughts are also with those injured in the rail collision last Friday, and the friends and family of the driver who lost ... Full speech