Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Q7. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to assist local authorities in using public procurement to help create economic growth. (903712)

I can assure that the remit across the nations and regions of the United Kingdom as a really committed to supporting service providers with updated guidance and providers with updated guidance and I can assure the honourable lady that we will be talking to colleagues in Wales and Northern Ireland.

10:14

Georgia Gould MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Queen's Park and Maida Vale, Labour)

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I welcome the continuing pattern for procurement and the honourable member has helped lead the way in

10:15

Ben Coleman MP (Chelsea and Fulham, Labour)

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Hammersmith Council on this area. I have seen how much energy there is have seen how much energy there is to deliver jobs and growth. The government is working on plans to reserve contracts for local employers which can be a key tool in supporting businesses across the supporting businesses across the economy. Our national policy statement looks to maximise spend with small businesses and ask with small businesses and ask authorities to work collaboratively

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on local and regional growth plans. I think the Minister for Health reply just now and for the excellent work in putting together this procurement strategy. It has been a passion of mine for years that we don't use procurement just to talk about social value but we get extra economic value which helps with

10:15

Georgia Gould MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Queen's Park and Maida Vale, Labour)

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local growth, and that is what this statement is in a hugely welcome it. May ask the Minister whether she now intends to issue guidance to local authorities to ensure that they know how best to issue economic value with small firms, training small with small firms, training small firms on how to tender, encourage them to break procurements to small them to break procurements to small firms have a better chance of bidding, and not require an years bidding, and not require an years

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Growth is the number-one mission of the government and be flown from local authorities like Hammersmith local authorities like Hammersmith and Fulham which build economic value into procurement. The Procurement Act makes new tools available but it is critical how they are used to build growth and

10:16

Helen Morgan MP (North Shropshire, Liberal Democrat)

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they are used to build growth and the government will set targets for the wider public sector and we delivered extensive training and develop new practices to help make the most of this huge opportunity. So much of it is about culture and the use of these tools, as the honourable member has set out. We will work with local authorities around the country to deliver the enormous opportunity.

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My constituency as a food production powerhouse and I welcome

10:17

Georgia Gould MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Queen's Park and Maida Vale, Labour)

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production powerhouse and I welcome any steps on British produced food but local authorities have gone to effort to secure this at low cost. I wonder what steps the Minister is taking to ensure farmers are paid fairly for the food that they produce and secondly that the Department for business and trade is not about to undermine that by entering a damaging trade deal with the US. the US.

10:17

Rt Hon Ellie Reeves MP, Minister without Portfolio (Lewisham West and East Dulwich, Labour)

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I think with the guidance we have put into the national procurement policy statement makes it clear we want to deliver best value and that is about value for money, including cost, and it means ensuring we are supporting growth, local suppliers, and it allows local authorities to make decisions on creating jobs, best opportunities for communities best opportunities for communities

10:18

Jim Dickson MP (Dartford, Labour)

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This government was elected on an overwhelming mandate to deliver change. We inherited a country hit by unprecedented cost of living crisis with millions stuck on waiting lists and committees blighted by crime and antisocial behaviour. We are already delivering the change we promised with a pay rise for 3 million workers thanks to the increase in the national minimum wage. NHS waiting lists are down six months in a row. There is funding for 13,000 neighbourhood police and community support officers.

That was the change we promised and that is

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the change that we are delivering. I thank the Minister for her answer. I really impressive answer. I really impressive catalogue of achievement in the early months of the government. More early months of the government. More specifically, in my constituency, can the Minister set out more detail

10:18

Rt Hon Ellie Reeves MP, Minister without Portfolio (Lewisham West and East Dulwich, Labour)

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can the Minister set out more detail for my constituents and the House on how big infrastructure projects can not only kickstart economic growth but also provide jobs, skills, opportunities for residents in Dartford and across the Thames

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estuary. My honourable friend is a great champion for the people of Dartford,

10:19

Alison Bennett MP (Mid Sussex, Liberal Democrat)

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champion for the people of Dartford, fixing Britain's creaking infrastructure is vital for the growth mission and plan for change. growth mission and plan for change. We are reforming planning rules to cut blockages, develop infrastructure, meet the target of 150 planning decisions by the end of Parliament. The government is committed to working with the private sector to deliver the Lower Thames Crossing which would drive economic growth by improving connectivity between Kent and Essex.

10:19

Rt Hon Ellie Reeves MP, Minister without Portfolio (Lewisham West and East Dulwich, Labour)

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Us the Minister is undoubtedly aware, part of the plan for a change is kickstarting economic growth. -- Plan for Change. The Cabinet office is responsible for EU negotiations when it comes to EV charging. What assessment has been made of the cost of the UK not being in the Customs

10:20

Mike Wood MP (Kingswinford and South Staffordshire, Conservative)

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Union with the EU? Speak amok I thank the honourable member for that thank the honourable member for that question and the Minister for the Cabinet Office has been negotiating with the EU in the national interest with the EU in the national interest for this country. We've been clear for this country. We've been clear that there will be no return to the Customs Union or Single Market but a reset with EU relations is

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important. Key to much of that plan as the government target to make the UK the fastest growing economy in the G7. With the IMF joining the OBR and With the IMF joining the OBR and OECD and massively slashing OECD and massively slashing projections for UK growth and the IMF not expecting the UK to be the fastest growing economy in the G7 in any year between now and 2030, how confident is she that the government will meet that target?

10:21

Rt Hon Ellie Reeves MP, Minister without Portfolio (Lewisham West and East Dulwich, Labour)

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Well, the predictions are that we are set to be the largest European

10:22

Topical questions: Cabinet Office

growing economy in the G7 and since growing economy in the G7 and since coming to government in July, we have prioritised growth. For example, Universal Studios building

10:22

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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example, Universal Studios building the biggest theme park in Europe and Bedfordshire, unblocking planning decisions, leading to things like the Laura Thames Crossing. We are getting on with delivering the growth the country this after 14 years of decline under the Conservatives.

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Moving to tropicals. Number one, Mr Speaker. -- Moving

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Number one, Mr Speaker. -- Moving to topicals We have been working to create a more focused Cabinet office that

10:22

Gurinder Singh Josan MP (Smethwick, Labour)

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more focused Cabinet office that will drive reform and help deliver on the plan for change. We are taking decisive action including taking decisive action including cutting wasteful spending so resources can be targeted on the front line and I'm pleased to inform the House I will shortly be opening the UK Resilience Academy which will be an important resource in treating public servants for a range of emergencies.

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I am sure the Minister will agree about the diversity of

10:23

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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about the diversity of responsibility across all of government in public institutions is key to assuring the public the government is working for all of us. That is also in relation to various geographical areas of the UK. Can the Minister detail what work has been done to review the diversity of public appointment in the UK and particularly in light of the changes proposed to public bodies.

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Merit will always be the primary consideration in any appointment but

10:23

Alex Burghart MP (Brentwood and Ongar, Conservative)

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consideration in any appointment but diversity is important and we are not giving up on it. We want to see a public service which looks like the country and which speaks with all the accents that make this country a great place. My honourable friend the Minister recently spoke at the Civil Service Social Mobility Conference to bring the message home and it will reflect what we do.

10:24

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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I would like to ask the Paymaster General for an update on negotiations with the European Union. He has not updated the House since the beginning of February and there has been much speculation in the press. Perhaps he would take this opportunity to rule out dropping the rights to annual negotiations on fishing.

10:24

Alex Burghart MP (Brentwood and Ongar, Conservative)

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Of course, we represent the interest of our fishers and are interested in the rates of marine protection but I'm sure the honourable gentleman understands I cannot give a running commentary on negotiations but we are clear that we will negotiate in the national interest and in line with the manifest we were elected on. manifest we were elected on.

10:25

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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I think the whole House will have heard him fail to rule that out. It was good to hear the Prime Minister recently praising the Brexit freedom to regulate as we wish on AI. Can he assure the House that EU AI rules will not be applied to Northern Ireland? Speak amok he again comes with his questions. I would like to just saying that we have had an atmosphere of collegiality and I want to join in that atmosphere because I want to agree with

10:26

Ms Julie Minns MP (Carlisle, Labour)

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something the Leader of the Opposition said when she said the previous Conservative government previous Conservative government left the EU without any plan for left the EU without any plan for growth and that is true. I wheel to the honourable gentleman that he should follow the public the bitterness. Major retailers like Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, have all followed the Morrisons, have all followed the government approach and people could conclude that the right honourable gentleman and his party have learnt nothing.

10:26

Rt Hon Ellie Reeves MP, Minister without Portfolio (Lewisham West and East Dulwich, Labour)

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I really want to get all the members in that did not get in because we were slow.

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Will the Minister join me in congratulating the seven skills in my constituency that launched my constituency that launched breakfast club this week? Does the Minister agree breakfast clubs are a fantastic example of the Plan for

10:26

Sarah Olney MP (Richmond Park, Liberal Democrat)

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fantastic example of the Plan for Change and the reform of public services in action? Speak amok I thank my honourable friend for the question and I'm pleased to hear about the seven new breakfast clubs in Carlisle and I'm delighted the skill and my constituency also has a new free breakfast club. With our Plan for Change, we will give children the best start in life and break down barriers to opportunity and put money back in the pockets of parents, saving up to £450 with the rollout of free breakfast clubs.

rollout of free breakfast clubs. Warm words about a reset in relations with the EU are no longer

10:27

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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enough. The impending summit is an opportunity for real action. Can you Minister take the opportunity to Minister take the opportunity to Minister take the opportunity to commit to bringing in a UK-EU youth ability scheme that will boost economic growth and enhance chances for our young people in our country and across the EU. Speak on the issue, it is not part of our plans

10:27

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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issue, it is not part of our plans and with all this that we will listen to proposals but will not go listen to proposals but will not go back to freedom of movement and there is concrete proposals and concrete progress and we are looking to secure a new partnership with the EU will make the country safer, more secure, more prosperous. Speak amok I believe that Teesside has enormous

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potential for AI. -- I believe that Teesside has enormous potential for AI expansion.

10:28

Will Stone MP (Swindon North, Labour)

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enormous potential for AI expansion. This is a huge opportunity for the UK. The action plan is a the UK. The action plan is a statement of the UK's ambition to make the UK a leader in AI. We have once a expression of interest and received over 200 responses at the

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foot of -- at the first of these has already been announced. We have recently found out that

10:28

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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We have recently found out that portraits and painting of Elizabeth I and William Shakespeare are among 60 and pieces of artwork removed from Number 10, Number 11 and other great addresses. Does this not become mockery of the St George's Day celebrations as the government is more concerned with chasing the new Woki agenda than submitting a new Woki agenda than submitting a history Quetta history Quetta

10:29

Joe Powell MP (Kensington and Bayswater, Labour)

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We celebrate our history and I wish him a happy St George's Day one day lead.

10:29

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Actually approach the eighth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower disaster, we are still no closer to justice. Campaigners have been clear to me they want to see changes implemented but are sceptical of previous filters to learn the lessons from past disasters. Does the Minister agree that as part of

10:30

Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP (Orkney and Shetland, Liberal Democrat)

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the Minister agree that as part of

10:30

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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the commitment to the Hillsborough law, there should be a mechanism to ensure that inquires are set up,

10:30

Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP (Orkney and Shetland, Liberal Democrat)

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they lead to meaningful change. Speak amok my honourable friend is a Speak amok my honourable friend is a powerful advocate on this and it's important that the government is held to account for the implementation of inquiry

10:30

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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implementation of inquiry recommendations are vetted by the government has committed to establishing a record of establishing a record of recommendations made by 2024 to ensure this become standard practice in the future and we are considering white reforms in the inquires landscape. Speak amok press reports earlier this week indicated negotiations with the EU around security and defence were to be linked to a review of the agreement and in particular with access to fisheries. Can I invite the Paymaster General to confirm there will be no linkage between this will be no linkage between this We will be in negotiating in the interest of fishers and looking to the responsibilities for the environment.

environment. It is right that this government has ensured there is funding in place to compensate victims of the affected blood stand, but many of those in my constituency are concerned that the process is taking too long. Can the Minister say a little more about what we are doing

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to speed things up? Ipca is operationally independent

10:31

Dr Danny Chambers MP (Winchester, Liberal Democrat)

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Ipca is operationally independent that I stand ready to take steps to make sure that process is made as

10:31

Rt Hon Ellie Reeves MP, Minister without Portfolio (Lewisham West and East Dulwich, Labour)

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make sure that process is made as soon as possible. Payments to the affected will start by the end of

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this year. It is every British citizen's

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It is every British citizen's right to vote and voter turnout is one demonstration of public engagement with the text, so will the Minister consider scrapping photo voter IDs so that 777,000 people who said that was the reason they didn't vote in the last general they didn't vote in the last general election will be able to exercise their right to vote in the next general election.

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I thank the honourable member for that question. As we set out in our

10:32

Gareth Snell MP (Stoke-on-Trent Central, Labour )

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manifesto, the government is committed to creating democracy, and committed to creating democracy, and we believe it is wrong when voters we believe it is wrong when voters are discouraged from voting. We don't have plans to remove the voter ID rules at these elections in May,

10:32

Georgia Gould MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Queen's Park and Maida Vale, Labour)

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ID rules at these elections in May, the veteran cards will be accepted for the first time and we are for the first time and we are conducting a thorough review of the rules evaluating how they impacted citizens at the general election.

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citizens at the general election. Too many government departments have tableware with British taxpayers money, so can I invite the ministerial team to make a commitment to make sure that every department replaces its foreign-made table set with the British made from Stoke-on-Trent. Stoke-on-Trent.

10:33

Rt Hon Sir Roger Gale MP (Herne Bay and Sandwich, Conservative)

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We know the brilliant partnership of Stoke-on-Trent industry were committed to supporting businesses and ensuring they have the best chance of winning contracting authorities to minimise spend and support industrial strategy.

10:33

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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Submission for a medal to be issued in recognition of those injured in service. That had the injured in service. That had the backing of the police minister. It backing of the police minister. It has now disappeared into a Cabinet Office. Can the Minister dusted off Office. Can the Minister dusted off and give it a fair wind?

10:34

Jim Allister KC MP (North Antrim, Traditional Unionist Voice)

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Let me say to the honourable member that I will write to him about this issue and find out

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exactly where we are with it. Under the framework, the government through the Cabinet

10:34

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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government through the Cabinet Office regularly supplies data to the European Union about the number and type of checks conducted at the border. But refuses to provide that data to members of this House. When I was a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and the oversight Ireland Assembly, and the oversight of those checks lay with the local department, I was able to require department, I was able to require that, but now it is under DEFRA, members of this House who ask this members of this House who ask this question get a refusal of an answer.

Why is that? Why is that? I am happy to look into the matter the honourable gentleman raises. I very much hope that we can secure an agreement that will reduce the number of checks on the Irish

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Sea. The 36th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster came and went Hillsborough disaster came and went over recess. Also over recess we saw rumours in the media that the rumours in the media that the government is committing to the Hillsborough law. Can the Minister

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explain the government thinking? I pay tribute to the families

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I pay tribute to the families campaigning over so many years. The government is committed to bringing government is committed to bringing in a Hillsborough law, but it is really important that we do work closely with the families to ensure that we get this right and that is what we will do.

10:35

Urgent question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs if he will make a statement on the talks held yesterday in London on the war in Ukraine

That completes questions. We will We now We now come We now come to We now come to the We now come to the Urgent We now come to the Urgent Question. We now come to the Urgent Question.

10:36

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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To ask the Foreign Secretary to make a statement on the talks, in London yesterday, on the war in Ukraine.

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I thank the honourable lady for her question and the ironclad her question and the ironclad support for Ukraine. We remain fully committed to working with Ukraine and our international partners to and our international partners to secure a just and lasting peace. Our support is ironclad. Representatives support is ironclad. Representatives of the UK, France, Germany and the United States convened in London United States convened in London yesterday with Ukraine for another round of intensive talks following up on the meeting in Paris last up on the meeting in Paris last week.

All parties reiterated their strong support for Pres Trump's commitment to stopping the killing and achieving a just and lasting peace. The talks were productive and made our next steps, and all agreed to continue their close coordination. I look forward to further talks soon. The Foreign Secretary had bilateral discussions and remains in close contact with counterparts to give further details, and I hope the right honourable lady will understand this as it will only benefit Putin. We condemn Russia's most retail missile and drone attacks on civilians including overnight, and our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones at this tragic time.

These are simply shocking scenes and they come on the back of shocking scenes in Kiev, Sumi and other locations across Ukraine in recent days, and I would remind the house that while Ukraine has been in peace talks, Russia has continued these severe attacks including last night, and that is a stark reminder of the continued bloodshed perpetrated by Putin. I witnessed the terrible situation just weeks the terrible situation just weeks ago when I visited just hours before I arrived, and not just those killings but the shocking situation when it comes to the abduction of children and the intent to wipe out Ukrainian culture and Putin's demands remain undiminished.

We are clear about that. President Zelenskyy has shown his commitment to peace. Pres Putin must now agree to a full and immediate ceasefire without conditions as Ukraine has done. We will not stop all the

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parties in that end. For all the talks taking place,

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For all the talks taking place, it is concerning that a clear unified front in support of Ukraine has yet to emerge. The Minister has yet to emerge. The Minister mentioned the statement which consists of three sentences, that consists of three sentences, that the talks are successful in reaching the talks are successful in reaching a common proposal. Can the Minister tell us exactly what was productive tell us exactly what was productive and successful about these talks, and what the next steps actually are, and whether Ukraine is in agreement.

Where security governments made? Was the U.K.'s long-standing position of supporting Ukraine's accession to NATO discussed, and following the apparent missile strike last night in Kiev which killed more innocent civilians, does he believe that Putin is committed to a just and fair end to this conflict? Can the Minister confirm whether the status of invaded and occupied places were discussed and what the UK government position is. The UK was the strongest advocate for Ukraine regaining all the territory taken by force by Putin and for Putin to lose this war.

Is this still the case? There is much debate about ending the war, but this war was started by Putin, a vile autocrat who is being propped up by an access democracy in our own continent and by those who are opposed. We need the government to be leveraging British influence in Ukraine, battling the national order by force. I condemn the function of Russia, and to those colleagues, I will say this. It shows you on the right side of history and that we must always

10:41

Rt Hon Priti Patel MP (Witham, Conservative)

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stand up to tyranny. UK sanctions on Russia must stay in place. What is the government's position on the government's position on applying secondary sanctions among the billions of pounds worth of

10:41

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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proceeds from Chelsea FC made available for Ukraine? Can the Minister explain why the 2.6 billion Minister explain why the 2.6 billion loan to Ukraine backed by the assets has been paid for three years rather has been paid for three years rather than in full now, and finally, what more can be done to mobilise British technology which can be cheap and technology which can be cheap and quickly applied to adopt Ukraine's

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military efforts? Well, thank you. I think the lady

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Well, thank you. I think the lady for her questions and her continued support and unity on these issues. It is a crucial signal that we send It is a crucial signal that we send across this house, not only to our friends in Ukraine, but to Putin. friends in Ukraine, but to Putin. This house will not be devised on these issues. I collapse reassure these issues. I collapse reassure her of her commitment to Ukraine and her of her commitment to Ukraine and ministerial contact over weeks.

ministerial contact over weeks. Contact remains at every level. She asked me a number of specific questions, but I'm afraid I am not going to go into the detail of the discussions yesterday. She will understand that. I know she has a job to do but she will understand why that is necessary. I agree with the points about sanctions and this is just par for the course when it comes to Putin and his regime. She asked about what we're doing on sanctions.

Our commitment to sanctions remains undiminished. We are going to continue to maintain pressure across every level and we are ramping up the pressure. Today, we have announced new sanctions including the re-purpose involved game console controllers to kill Ukrainians by Russia and we are taking robust action not only directly to choke off the Russian war machine but also when it comes to 2nd country circumvention is, and I have spent a lot of time on this issue. She asks about situation in Chelsea, but I refer to my previous comments.

We are working at pace to meet the agreements made on that. She put about the accelerator Lane and the first tranche of that has been dispersed. I talked about this with the Prime Minister a few weeks ago for they have access I'm happy to write to her separately about the details in which the tranches will be paid. There is absolutely no softening of our commitment to the coalition of the willing and the Foreign Secretary met with counterparts last week underlining our shared commitment, so we are leading the coalition to defend Ukraine security.

We will not get into operational detail. She asks about Crimea. The U.K.'s position regarding sovereignty is well-known and our position has not changed. We do not recognise Russian sovereignty over Crimea, and on what terms this war comes to an end can only be decided by negotiations with Ukraine

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at the heart of them. Does the Minister agree that, as one of the individuals who were sanctioned yesterday by the Kremlin, that if Putin is serious about that if Putin is serious about securing any sort of lasting peace in Ukraine, he should stop performative sanctioning of performative sanctioning of democratic elected members of this house and focus on stopping the murderous, barbaric killing of civilians in Ukraine and stop the civilians in Ukraine and stop the invasion of that nation that we stand within.

Or.

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I utterly condemn members of this house, including my honourable friend. I am on that list to as are many other members. It is many other members. It is unacceptable but we are clear on that. I think he rightly points out the very nature of Russia's examples the very nature of Russia's examples in recent days. The horrific tax, the deaths, the killing, the the deaths, the killing, the aggression. Russia was the aggressor aggression. Russia was the aggressor

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Overnight, Russia launched 11 ballistic missiles and nearly 200 ballistic missiles and nearly 200 cruise muscles and joints at civilian targets. The talks in London should have been about increasing support for Ukraine but increasing support for Ukraine but instead they were revealed by resident Trump and he made a resident Trump and he made a resident Trump and he made a petulant response to the refusal of Volodymyr Zelenskyy to categorise the west of Crimea as Russia. Trump demonstrated he is not interested in demonstrated he is not interested in a just peace which would deter future Russian aggression, instead, he is content to carve up Ukraine with Putin.

Will the Minister make clear to his US counterpart that the apparent ultimatum delivered last week is utterly wrong and will only embolden future Russian aggression? Having found myself on the list of MPs from across the House being MPs from across the House being sanctioned by the Kremlin, but the government outlined how it plans to support members who have been targeted for speaking out? targeted for speaking out? I welcome the continued support of his party for the united front on Ukraine but I do not recognise the characterisation of the talks yesterday because they were constructive and involved the United States.

We are in regular contact with US counterparts and Secretary of State Marco Rubio recognised what we were doing and the Prime Minister has spoken with President Trump in recent days and the Foreign Secretary also with his counterpart only want to bring this war to an end. We are working with all of our allies including the US on plans to stop the fighting. We wouldn't agreement with all of us on that. We are working closely with President Trump in that regard. We are clear that the voice of Ukraine must be at the heart of any talks and we warmly welcome the agreements and discussions between the US and Ukraine and ultimately the ball is Ukraine and ultimately the ball is in the court of President Putin and instead he continues to fire missiles and cause the destruction missiles and cause the destruction and killing the honourable gentleman highlighted.

It is terrific and the responsibility lies with one person, Vladimir Putin. -- It is horrific. Vladimir Putin. -- It is horrific. I associate myself with the comments made by the Minister about the attacks on Ukraine and I thank him for his statement. Could he update the House and the support To Ukrainian people in the UK including the Ukrainian community in Redding? Speak amok he references Ukrainian communities across the UK. I have a Ukrainian community in my own constituency and this week I met with committee members to discuss a range of issues and we talked about range of issues and we talked about the horrific abduction of children that Russia continues to perpetrate which is one of the most heinous aspects of the conflict.

I'm proud of what British communities have done across the country to support Ukrainians and the huge ties that have been built up and it is fantastic we have signed the partnership for 100 years because this is about relationship and support and also 100 years into the future at every level, economically, diplomatically, militarily, and with people, crucially.

10:49

Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly MP (Braintree, Conservative)

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Thank you, Mr Speaker. Our

10:49

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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international relationships the international relationships the world over are dependent on the confidence of those parts of the confidence of those parts of the country that we stick by our white and allies do likewise. We'll be right honourable gentleman, the member for Tottenham, ensure they member for Tottenham, ensure they convey that message to the USA that the world is looking, friends and the world is looking, friends and foes alike, at our willingness to foes alike, at our willingness to stick by the commitments we have made to Ukraine and if we renege on those, every single relationship around the world will be on your mind? , I thank the former Foreign Secretary for his comments and continued support and I thank him for his engagement with me when I was on his side of the benches on these issues.

I have been clear and the government has been clear that our support is ironclad now and 100 years into the future. That is

10:51

Johanna Baxter MP (Paisley and Renfrewshire South, Labour)

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clear. I conveyed support and unity clear. I conveyed support and unity on this issue and had an excellent and productive discussion and there and productive discussion and there is strong unity on these issues and is strong unity on these issues and we have to continue with this across Europe and in transatlantic and global alliances, not only to deter global alliances, not only to deter against the threat from Russia about the threat we face together.

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I was on the list of sanctioned MPs yesterday and I want to be clear that if Vladimir Putin thinks sanctioning me will silence me, he is very wrong. It is no coincidence

10:51

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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is very wrong. It is no coincidence that the sanction came on a day when I released and launched a report that I co-authored with UK Friends of Ukraine on the issue of stolen children which outlines in detail the systemic capture and conscription of Ukrainian children by Rina Shah. Can my right honourable friend -- by Russia. Can my right honourable friend reveal if this issue was discussed yesterday and does he support the Return the Stolen Children campaign and will you join me in calling for a national UK day of action on recognising this issue of the stolen children on July 17 on the International Day of Criminal Justice?

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I thank my honourable friend for her comments. She is right to raise the issue of the stolen children. I the issue of the stolen children. I discussed this a short time ago with the Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister and this is a matter of Minister and this is a matter of personal priority for the Foreign Secretary and myself. It is one of

10:52

Rt Hon Sir Julian Lewis MP (New Forest East, Conservative)

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Secretary and myself. It is one of the most heinous and horrific aspect of the conflict because it is not only horrific for the children and

10:52

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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10:52

Rt Hon Sir Julian Lewis MP (New Forest East, Conservative)

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families but speaks to a wider attempt by Vladimir Putin to subjugate the people, identity, language, culture, and indeed the future of Ukraine. One of the most future of Ukraine. One of the most powerful things I have in my office is a picture painted by one of the children who was thankfully return

10:52

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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children who was thankfully return but there are sadly too many who have been taken and I'm very happy have been taken and I'm very happy to discuss the suggestion she has met and I look forward to working with her on this issue.

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If the government could persuade the Nobel Peace Prize committee to the Nobel Peace Prize committee to give the award to Donald Trump on condition he stops saving with the aggressor against the victim, does the Minister think American policy the Minister think American policy might then revert to one of NATO

10:53

Lisa Smart MP (Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)

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might then revert to one of NATO deterrence which prevented world war three for 50 years after the end of World War II?

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The honourable gentleman no is fine well that is not a matter for fine well that is not a matter for me but for the Nobel Committee and I

10:53

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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do not recognise this characterisation because we are working hard with the US and other NATO partners to secure a just peace for Ukraine. We are on the state of peace and Vladimir Putin is on the side of war, that is very clear. Speak amok members across the House have been sanctioned by Vladimir Putin and his flunkies and they should that as a badge of our. Could the Minister update the House on how progress has been made moving from freezing to seizing Russian assets to strengthen the hand of brave Ukrainian allies? Speak amok again, I condemn the action against her and others in this House and Russia must pay for the damage it is causing

10:55

Chris Vince MP (Harlow, Labour )

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Ukraine. I saw some terrible examples of that just a few weeks examples of that just a few weeks ago. I've spoken about the new acceleration scheme available to acceleration scheme available to Ukraine and the government continues Ukraine and the government continues That she references and I've had extensive discussions with my G7 counterparts on this issue to

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counterparts on this issue to consider all possible lawful avenues to make Russia pay for the damage it is causing and I will update the House in due course on this. I thank the Minister for the statement and I thank the honourable member for statement. It's important

10:55

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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we speak with one voice on this important issue. I asked the question to the Secretary of State question to the Secretary of State for defence on Tuesday and he mentioned in his opening statement mentioned in his opening statement the terrible image of controllers for our computer systems being used

10:55

Dan Carden MP (Liverpool Walton, Labour)

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for our computer systems being used With NATO partners about the changing nature of warfare and if

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changing nature of warfare and if this will be fed into the review? We have certainly had those conversations and we have them regularly and I thank him for raising that point. We have regularly discussed those issues and I'm sure that will be considered as part of the Strategic Defence Review and he points out the efforts we are making to deny Russia any of the nefarious means that they use to prosecute the horrendous war in Ukraine and we are taking specific action on those matters and will continue to consider further

10:56

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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actions. Speak amok I welcome the words of the Minister today and the steadfast support for Ukraine but steadfast support for Ukraine but also for promoting European security for ever. Could he say more about how he's working across departments to support the efforts of civil to support the efforts of civil society in particular and businesses in the UK to make sure we're offering the gritty support possible at every level? Speak

10:56

Rt Hon Sir Roger Gale MP (Herne Bay and Sandwich, Conservative)

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I point them towards that

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I point them towards that arrangement and there are important twinning arrangements across the UK and we look forward to strengthening those working with those and I've met with organisations in Kyiv a few met with organisations in Kyiv a few weeks ago and the more links that we can create across the House, that can create across the House, that will be the true strength and foundation on which the partnership is built into the future. Speak amok is built into the future.

Speak amok the Minister's confirmation that the

10:57

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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the Minister's confirmation that the Coalition of the Willing will not allow the accession of any Ukrainian sovereign territory and I understand how that squares with the current negotiating position which seems to be based entirely on that. There are some 20,000 Ukrainian children who have been stolen by the Soviet Union. That is a war crime. Did the meeting yesterday make it absolutely plain that no range of any concessions based upon warcrimes be

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admitted at any time? The right honourable gentleman

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The right honourable gentleman asks important questions and I share asks important questions and I share his passion and I don't want the details directly but I spoke about

10:58

Shivani Raja MP (Leicester East, Conservative)

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details directly but I spoke about this issue very recently with Ukrainian counterpart Sandy Foreign Secretary takes a keen interest in it as well. He asked about it and I repeat what I said. We do not recognise Russian sovereignty over

10:59

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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recognise Russian sovereignty over I was also one of the members sanctioned yesterday for calling for this House to do everything we can to stop him and the lessons of a century ago that dictators like Putin cannot and will not stop Putin cannot and will not stop unless we stop them. The only way to stop him is through strength ducts through a strong armed forces, NATO, through a strong armed forces, NATO, and a strong nation. Kindly Minister set out how we will invest in our set out how we will invest in our strength to stop Putin and keep ourselves safe? Speak amok I condemn the sanction against him.

He asked what we are doing to keep the country safe and all of our allies and Russian security in place and the Minister for the Armed Forces has stepped up resources for Defence and security and UK support to Ukraine. We are increasing Defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2027. The UK is committed to providing, committed to providing the UK with £3 billion in assistance this year and every year it takes and we have and every year it takes and we have 1.6 billion supplying Ukraine with more than 5000 air defence missiles.

That is utterly crucial and makes a tangible difference so they do not face the barbaric attacks we saw overnight.

11:00

Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne MP (New Forest West, Conservative)

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I welcome fresh members to the list. Why is President Trump

11:00

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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treating Ukraine as the aggressor? Will the Minister remind US negotiators that together with the UK, the USA signed the Caressed -- Bucharest Memorandum ensuring the Bucharest Memorandum ensuring the independence when that country sacrifice unilateralist position as

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sacrifice unilateralist position as I welcome his United support on Ukraine, and I share his characterisation of the position. We share trumps desire to bring this war to an end. We are working closely with the US and partners, and as I said before, President Zelenskyy is demonstrating a commitment to peace, including tube dissipation of the US and European partners.

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Does the Minister agree with me that last night brutal attack on that last night brutal attack on Kyiv is a timely reminder as other honourable members have alluded to honourable members have alluded to to governments and leaders around the world that Russia is and always has been the aggressor in this has been the aggressor in this conflict, and does he agree that that perspective must be central to

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that perspective must be central to any talks .$$NEWLINE We are

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any talks .$$NEWLINE We are unequivocal. Russia is responsible for this war. They are responsible for the ongoing killing and addressing. That is where we stand behind Ukraine and working with allies to have a lasting peace because we know that Putin's demands and intentions remain undiminished and we need to make sure that Ukraine has the right to defend itself against Putin.

11:02

Steve Darling MP (Torbay, Liberal Democrat)

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This weekend, I will join with

11:03

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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Ukraine communities to mourn the sad loss of a Ukrainian national who has loss of a Ukrainian national who has died far from home. In light of the almost 20,000 children that have been stolen by the barbaric Putin been stolen by the barbaric Putin regime, can the Minister advise the chamber what practical step the

11:03

Dr Scott Arthur MP (Edinburgh South West, Labour)

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chamber what practical step the government are taking to get these

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children home? I was able to discuss those step with this important issue. We are exploring further ways to look at this. We have been doing huge amounts, and I look forward to seeing steps forward on those in due course. I am very happy to update him on that in writing. him on that in writing.

11:03

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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I am ashamed to admit that I have not been sanctioned by Russia. I am feeling a little bit lonely. Clearly I have to do more to call out these war crimes. This house is always at its most passionate when talking about the need for peace in Ukraine, so can I ask the Minister if he has talked about peace being lasting, it

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has to be just. That is well misunderstood, and that is something we underlining all of our conversations, whether that

11:04

Bob Blackman MP (Harrow East, Conservative)

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we are committing to support things within Ukraine, so we have been very clear that justice must come alongside the sustainability and the ability to deter against future aggression and to defend its people right now.

11:04

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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Part of the assistance provided to friends in Ukraine has been firefighting equipment, the devastation overnight proves that it is inadequate. If we can provide help, will he reach out to our international partners to encourage them to supply equipment so the fires can be brought under control and people's lives saved.

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He raises an important issue. I worked on some issues in the worked on some issues in the previous parliament with colleagues,

11:05

Stephen Gethins MP (Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, Scottish National Party)

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previous parliament with colleagues, and one of my friends was called up as a firefighter in responding to some of those attacks on the cities. The need is huge. We have been doing huge amounts of support on reconstruction and energy infrastructure, and I am very happy to look at the issues raised to see if there is more we can do in that regard.

11:05

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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Pope Francis described pride as the most devious of sins but I wonder if he will grant us a little bit of an indulgence in taking some pride in joining colleagues across the house on those who have been sanctioned by Russia. But those doing the hard yards are in Ukraine at the moment. Can the Minister assure us that the United States still believes in Ukraine's territorial integrity for which those brave Ukrainians are fighting.

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We are working with Pres Trump in

11:06

Ben Obese-Jecty MP (Huntingdon, Conservative)

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We are working with Pres Trump in the United States and I refer to the the United States and I refer to the colleagues I made that we are very clear that Ukraine is at the heart of negotiations and that is why we are working with the United States and Ukraine, and that is what was happening in the technical talks yesterday here in London. yesterday here in London.

11:06

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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I asked the defence secretary about peace proposals from the US that required Ukraine to Russia I didn't receive an answer. This means Ukrainians and Russians are both having to give up territory they own, so can the Minister now state that the government will not support any proposal that sees Russian get territorial gain on any hostilities.

11:07

Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP (Orkney and Shetland, Liberal Democrat)

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You will understand that I'm not going to be drawing on the discussions yesterday. The only

11:07

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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person that would benefit is Putin but we have been very very clear

11:07

Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP (Orkney and Shetland, Liberal Democrat)

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but we have been very very clear that we share desired to bring this that we share desired to bring this barbaric water on end. We want to divide its future. The position has not changed and that is why we are not changed and that is why we are working with them and others to end that bloodshed and suffering caused by Russia. It is very clear who the by Russia. It is very clear who the aggressor is in this discussion. We

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will stand ironclad with Ukraine. I have got nothing new to say about this, but since I was one of those who was included in the list

11:08

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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of those in the Kremlin, but I do feel compelled to place on record feel compelled to place on record that my determination to expose the legality of floods near Putin and legality of floods near Putin and his government is greater today than his government is greater today than it was yesterday. Kevin Minister do what he can to make sure that our what he can to make sure that our resolve in this house is heard from the Kremlin and if necessary, in the

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White House. I am sure that the voices in this house I heard across the world. I have no doubt the Kremlin watch what is being said and I condemn the action on that side of the house. This terrible aggression by Putin has often had the opposite effect of what I think he intended to strengthen unity. Increased defence spending, increase resolve, increased willingness to stand with Ukraine and that is the message that we sent from this house from allies and what we must continue to send.

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The London talks, do we have the opportunity to discuss with allies the deployment of 100 and do we have the opportunity to discuss with allies the deployment of 155 members allies the deployment of 155 members of the Chinese People's liberation Army in support of Russia against

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Ukraine? I will not get into detail, but I

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I will not get into detail, but I can be clear that we are acting robustly against the country support robustly against the country support for Russia's illegal war. We did so in relation to a series of matters including industrial companies support and others raising concerns Chinese counterparts applying information to Russia. We supply in whatever format we can take action.

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I welcome the increasing to strengthening energy partnership with Ukraine which is crucial for with Ukraine which is crucial for Europe's energy independence. I recently visited advanced nuclear recently visited advanced nuclear fuel facilities being developed which is currently dominated. The which is currently dominated. The Minister say how we are looking at this technology and what it means for the energy partnership with

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Ukraine. I appreciate her interest in

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I appreciate her interest in these issues and support we are doing a huge amount with Ukraine to support the energy sector against the tax taking place and that is the crucial question for all of us across Europe, removing that dependency which I continually raise dependency which I continually raise with counterparts, and of course, that we look at new partnerships to support all of our energy needs in renewables, nuclear, or in other renewables, nuclear, or in other ways, so it is an important issue and I thank her for raising it.

Can the Minister update the house on whether yesterday's meetings involved any discussion around any involved any discussion around any future potential corporation, and if so, did he impart on his counterparts? counterparts?

11:11

Jim Allister KC MP (North Antrim, Traditional Unionist Voice)

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I will not get into the details of talks and discussions. We are very clear on the position. I need to stand with Ukraine. We are having these talks which continued these talks which continued yesterday with allies and others, and I refer to the answer I just gave a moment ago.

11:11

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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How can the Minister describe yesterday's talks as productive if yesterday's talks as productive if the United States continue to make unreasonable demands of Ukraine that unreasonable demands of Ukraine that the United Kingdom does not support?

11:12

Alison Bennett MP (Mid Sussex, Liberal Democrat)

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I can describe those talks as productive and instructive because they were.

11:12

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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It is being reported today that the White House is considering lifting its sanctions on the pipeline. More evidence that this administration deciding with Russia. This is hugely concerning and I'm sure the whole chamber agrees at this point. Can I urge the Minister and the Department to use whatever leveraged they have with the ministration to prevent this from happening, and if it does go ahead, what will the government's next step

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speak? She asks an important question

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She asks an important question about sanctions. They are a vital part of our armoury and we are part of our armoury and we are committed to the sanctions. We are

11:13

Charlie Dewhirst MP (Bridlington and The Wolds, Conservative)

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committed to the sanctions. We are very clear to get Russia to the table. We need to keep up the economic pressure to hinder its ability to wage war and deal with all of those ways in which that what is being fuelled and supplied, and sanctions are very clear. Stop undermining serenity and undermining serenity and independence, help ensure Russia pays for the damage it has caused, pays for the damage it has caused, and make sure Ukraine is placing the best possible position to secure a just and lasting peace, we will continue to work with the US on those important issues.

11:13

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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There is concern that Russia continues to bypass sanctions through shadow fleet, so what measures is this government taking

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alongside allies to prevent this? Since this government came to office, we have ramped up efforts on office, we have ramped up efforts on the issue of the shadow fleet which we first sought actions on the summit just days after coming into

11:14

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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summit just days after coming into office. I can tell him the impact of those sanctions has been substantial in constraining and taking down Russia's ability to wage this war. Collective sanctions by the previous government and our government have denied 450 billion Collective sanctions by the previous government and our government have denied $450 billion worth support to Russia to fuel that war. That could pay for another three or four years worth more of military aggression against Ukraine. We will not hesitate to consider further actions in this area, and we have announcement the biggest packages in recent weeks.

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I thank the Minister for his answer. What does a sanction mean? answer. What does a sanction mean? It means may super yacht will have to go to Valley water where I was to go to Valley water where I was born and brought up in. I will not born and brought up in. I will not stop me speaking up to tell it stop me speaking up to tell it straight that stolen children, thousands of men women and children murdered.

The church pastors that have disappeared. It is all of those things. It is a massacre. Those are the things that annoy us as about accountability. It is about making sure the Russians who carry this out

11:16

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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will be accountable for that, and I hope they are watching because it doesn't stop me or anyone in this doesn't stop me or anyone in this doesn't stop me or anyone in this I said earlier, pieces of gold but not at any price. How do we assure them that our support is there until them that our support is there until the rate deal is in place? What discussions are taking part with discussions are taking part with American allies to make sure we're on the same page when it comes to ensuring Russian aggression is not rewarded and the sacrifice of Ukraine is always remembered.

Speak amok I --

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I think the comments accurately capture the sentiments of the House and I condemn the sanction against them but the reaction of himself and them but the reaction of himself and other members should sure everybody in the world, Vladimir Putin and our allies, most importantly Ukraine, allies, most importantly Ukraine, that support remains ironclad and undiminished and will strengthen, undiminished and will strengthen, not diminish. I visited Bucha a few weeks ago and those scenes will never leave my mind.

Priests were murdered. Children were abducted. Further missiles came in and killed civilians. This should leave nobody in any doubt whatsoever who the aggressor is. It is Vladimir Putin and his regime. We will work with Ukraine, the US, European allies in the endeavour to find peace but then the ball is very much in the court of Vladimir Putin. of Vladimir Putin.

11:17

Urgent question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs if he will make a statement on the London Sudan Conference

That concludes the statement. I

11:17

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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That concludes the statement. I

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Urgent Urgent question, Urgent question, David Urgent question, David Mundell.

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Urgent question, David Mundell. To ask the Secretary of State if you will make a statement on the you will make a statement on the London Sudan Conference? There cohosted with the African Union, the cohosted with the African Union, the EU, France, Germany, the London Sudan Conference convened leaders to galvanise coordinated international action on the conflict. Discussions action on the conflict. Discussions focused on ensuring humanitarian access, protecting civilians, and supporting a peace process led by the Sudanese.

I statement that out shared principles - an immediate ceasefire, rejection of state interference, opposition apparel governments, return to a civilian- led transition, and a principled approach to fuel and unimpeded humanitarian access. This was not complete but it hundred million pounds and support to address the humanitarian situation was announced. This includes a further £120 million in UK aid for this year. This will reach over 650,000 people with food, nutritional support, emergency assistance, including for survivors of sexual violence.

This follows a sustained push to make sure aid reaches

11:19

Rt Hon David Mundell MP (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, Conservative)

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thought in need. The UK will continue to lead international efforts to end the conflict in efforts to end the conflict in Sudan. Our immediate goals are clear, to bring an end to this clear, to bring an end to this destructive war, protect civilians, get it to where it is needed most. get it to where it is needed most. The vision is to work the Sudanese people and international partners to people and international partners to deliver the democratic and peaceful future that they deserve.

future that they deserve.

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I begin by thanking Mr Speaker for granting this urgent question. It is so important that we shine a light on the conflict which is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world at this time and Sudan is experiencing the most extreme hunger crisis as part of that with conflict crisis as part of that with conflict crisis as part of that with conflict -related famine, mass displacement, extreme sexual violence continuing to demonstrate millions of people. to demonstrate millions of people.

24.5 million people, about half the population, are experiencing acute food insecurity and there are 650,000 facing catastrophic consequences. It has led to unprecedented displacement with 8.6 Displaced since the start of the conflict are nearly 4 million people forced to flee across the borders. Unfortunately, the crisis continues to get worse. In recent days, we have seen the RSF attack the camp which housed about 500,000 displaced people and we have seen the Sudanese government allegedly attack a market in western Darfur which is speculated to be one of the worst incidents in the conflict.

Obviously, I share the Minister's aspirations and I'm sure the whole House does, we cannot underestimate the scale of this challenge. I was pleased the government took part in the conference but was disappointed that it was not possible to get the other participants, particularly the Arab nations, to sign up to an agreement at the end of the conference and it was also disappointing to find the RSF declaring an alternative government within a few days of that conference.

Can I ask the Minister specifically what the government is doing to encourage a greater role for the African Union, particularly

11:22

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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in discussions at the UN? Generally, in discussions at the UN? Generally, there is a view that if the African Union was more involved it would be Union was more involved it would be more difficult for Russia to veto UN resolutions and secondly, what are resolutions and secondly, what are we doing in relation to the UAE and we doing in relation to the UAE and their role in the conflict which has been significant?

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been significant? This is a truly tragic sequence of events for Sudan and the honourable gentleman has long had an interest and he's right to ask these questions. We hoped that we would be able to issue a communique and there are a whole range of countries with an interest in Sudan and we are at real risk, not just in further degradation of the situation for those across Sudan but also, as the honourable gentleman says, a declaration on this and none of it

11:23

Rt Hon Priti Patel MP (Witham, Conservative)

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will lead to a peaceful democratic future. The Foreign Secretary took future. The Foreign Secretary took future. The Foreign Secretary took the decision to try to ensure there was consensus among the parties. The situation is catastrophic and we are situation is catastrophic and we are taking every effort and this comes at the beginning of the end of

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efforts. We begin by supporting the remarks of my right honourable friend and also congratulating and securing what is an important and urgent question. Many millions of Sudanese civilians have been caught up in what is a barbaric conflict. They deserve peace and dignity and are facing the most appalling and dire humanitarian crisis and it is a fact that red lines have been crossed in this conflict and that cannot be allowed to stand. We want to chart a course for meaningful peace.

We all agree the need for an immediate end to the fighting is required and there is a need for urgent humanitarian access. Crucially, the Foreign Secretaries Conference did not see any new practical measures agreed with the African Union or other partners to help them into a ceasefire and end the conflict. Importantly, to deter the ways in which this conflict is being escalated because there has been no de-escalation whatsoever. Supporting a transition to a civilian-led government is clearly crucial and this has to be led by the Sudanese people.

What practical diplomacy is the Foreign Office and Foreign Secretary doing to help diplomatic processes like tidal to stay on track and to build confidence among little forces? Finally, on humanitarian aid,. -- Chiral. The Minister has announced the hundred and £20 million

11:26

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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announced for 2025-26. Which organisations are the FCDO organisations are the FCDO partnering with, has delivery started, and can the Minister confirm if in parallel to announcing the new aid, is he working to keep border crossings open and pressing for the safety nets, the proper for the safety nets, the proper safety nets, to ensure the aid ends up going to those who genuinely need it and not into the wrong hands?

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The opposition spokesperson

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The opposition spokesperson raises valuable questions assess the honourable gentleman about the African Union. We thought it was particularly important to be particularly important to be cohosted this event with the African cohosted this event with the African Conference with wide applications for those in the neighbourhood. We are taking practical steps and we conducted the conference in closed session in order to enable the kind of frank discussion that is required in order to strike towards a more peaceful solution in Sudan.

I do not wish to give the House the impression we have made dramatic progress towards an end to violence in Sudan. We are familiar with the terrible reports which continue to come in, even this morning, of events in Darfur and across Sudan. We think through the conference we were able to bring greater unity about what the necessary next steps must be, the importance of

11:27

Rachael Maskell MP (York Central, Labour )

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maintaining open borders, which are very important, and also to try and

11:27

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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ensure humanitarian access is able to be exercised across Sudan. We

11:27

Rachael Maskell MP (York Central, Labour )

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to be exercised across Sudan. We have been in discussions with the emergency relief coordinator, Tom emergency relief coordinator, Tom Fletcher, and he has spoken with participants and I can confirm that we remain in direct contact through we remain in direct contact through the special envoy for Sudan over the the special envoy for Sudan over the RSF and we are absolutely clear that we need a civilian process towards government.

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The government are right to The government are right to coordinate this conference as a first step on the path to peace but it is disappointing that contact was it is disappointing that contact was not established at the end of the conference. I know that we are still

11:27

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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conference. I know that we are still working hard to progress lateral talks and not least with the external actors in this conflict, for instance, the UAE and Egypt, and I also want to put the spotlight on women and girls in this conflict. There are high levels of sexual violence and I want to ask the Minister of what discussions were had around protection of women and girls and whether or not this could be a further step that he takes in ensuring their safety and the safety of those who have experienced trauma and also to protect women and girls

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in the future. My honourable friend is

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My honourable friend is absolutely right to put the focus on violence against women and girls in Sudan. It is appalling and even the Sudan. It is appalling and even the latest reports are loaded and

11:28

Monica Harding MP (Esher and Walton, Liberal Democrat)

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latest reports are loaded and graphic in the details about what is happening to Sudanese women and children across Sudan. The Minister for Africa has been leading international efforts to maintain a spotlight on these questions and he chaired a UN briefing on sexual violence in Sudan last month. In November, he was also appearing at the Security Council, further highlighting this issue. This concert is disproportionately affecting women and children in the UK will be focused on doing everything we can to try to do better.

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The Sudan conference in London The Sudan conference in London represented an opportunity to generate international consensus for generate international consensus for a path to peace in the largest concert in the world and it was deeply disappointed that the deeply disappointed that the conflict field to establish a conflict field to establish a conflict group and and to the fighting. What else can you do to establish a contact group? I welcome the announcement of £120 million more for humanitarian aid but can the Minister assure us that it will reach civilians as aid access is

11:30

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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As a weapon. What steps can be taken to protect women and children from to protect women and children from gender-based violence? I'm deeply concerned by reports that other nations are supplying supplies to the warring nations, particularly the warring nations, particularly Have provided weapons to the RSF who Have provided weapons to the RSF who are accused by the US of genocide in Darfur. Cabinet Minister of what steps he has taken to stop the flow of islands and assure British

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The Shadow Foreign Secretary raised this question as well, I am raised this question as well, I am very happy to write to the House with further details about delivery, both in relation to the 180 million both in relation to the 180 million and the concerning reports of recent days about restrictions in aid access, and once the situation access, and once the situation becomes clearer, I'm very happy to provide a full update to all parties on the practical questions about aid on the practical questions about aid delivery.

The honourable lady ask about the practical successes of the about the practical successes of the conference and what next on the diplomacy. The Co-Chair statements, just to remind the House, the Co- Chair includes not just the UK, but the EU, the EU, and others, and attempted to capture what was an important and frank set of discussions over the course of the day, setting out five intervals, it goes further than any recent statement. Because the ceasefire, rejecting interference, opposes parallel governance and supports a transition to civilian led governments.

The officials of the Foreign Office have been out,

11:32

Alice Macdonald MP (Norwich North, Labour )

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talking to all parties with an interest in Sudan, including the

11:32

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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interest in Sudan, including the two, to make clear there is a strong community and we expect to see it put into place. It is true, as both

11:32

Alice Macdonald MP (Norwich North, Labour )

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put into place. It is true, as both the most recent questions have set out, that we were not able to secure a contact group in the conference. a contact group in the conference. We would not want the House to think We would not want the House to think that the conference behind closed doors as it was therefore a failure, the fact it was difficulties all the

11:32

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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the fact it was difficulties all the more reason why it was important for the UK to show leadership and bring the African Union and others to the

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table to discuss these issues. What is happening in Sudan should

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What is happening in Sudan should shock us all for UNICEF has warned that children as young as one are being raped, more than 220 cases of being raped, more than 220 cases of child rape have been reported since 2024, so we need outrage, but more importantly, we need action. Can the importantly, we need action. Can the Minister confirm how much of our aid Minister confirm how much of our aid or any of our aid is being spent on supporting survivors of sexual abuse and violence, and also how we are using our role as pen holder on using our role as pen holder on Sudan, as the UN for pushing action specifically on sexual violence.

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My honourable friend has worked extensively on these issues and I know her commitment to them. I will write to her with a full breakdown

11:33

Rt Hon Sir Julian Lewis MP (New Forest East, Conservative)

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write to her with a full breakdown on which part of which aid programs are working with survivors, as I have set out in answer to an earlier question, the Minister for Africa has led efforts in the Security Council on ensuring the whole international committee is focused on the atrocities that she described. We are also leading efforts Human Rights Council to establish and renew the mandate for the UN fact-finding mission, which will be crucial for supporting future accountability efforts in Sudan.

11:33

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I appreciate the pressures on the officials who serve the Minister. But does he agree that this is an underreported disaster, playing out in the Sudan, and therefore, can I encourage him in the future to take every opportunity come to the House voluntarily with statements, rather than rely on an urgent question, to give him the opportunity he has taken today quite rightly to spell out where we are in this awful situation.

11:34

Harpreet Uppal MP (Huddersfield, Labour)

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Madame Deputy Speaker, I am always happy to come to the House, just for the clarity of the House, I am not the Minister with policy responsibility for Sudan, which is the Minister for Africa in the Lords. I would say, the Foreign Secretary has strong personal commitment to this, since he has become Foreign Secretary, he is intensely aware that there are many conflicts in the world, but this is conflicts in the world, but this is the one which is causing the greatest humanitarian disaster, there is a danger of their appearing to be a hierarchy of conflict and to be a hierarchy of conflict and the Foreign Secretary is personally committed to ensuring that is not the case.

That is the reason he took the leadership he did it last week.

11:34

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. Sudan is the world's biggest military in crisis and we know there has been a particular toll on women and girls, as other members have mentioned. 80% of hospitals in conflict affected areas are not functioning at maternal deaths have spiked, can the Minister say little bit more about how able support hospitals in the region? Thank you.

11:35

Brendan O'Hara MP (Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber, Scottish National Party)

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I thank my honourable friend for her important question. As I have said in previous questions, we are very focused on the fate of women and girls in Sudan. We have been working both through the United Nations and with the emergency relief coordinator, to try and ensure the necessary aid, whether that is a function of hospitals, support for survivors, other protection mechanisms necessary to provide civilian suffering are in place, and I will update the House

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once the position is clear, given the events of the last few days. I congratulate the right

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I congratulate the right honourable member for Dumfries for securing this question, and for laying out the unimaginable horror laying out the unimaginable horror of what is currently happening in of what is currently happening in Sudan. But there is of course a very real danger that that catastrophe in Sudan will spread to neighbouring

11:35

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Sudan will spread to neighbouring countries. Since 2023, an estimated 800,000 Sudanese refugees have fled to Chad which is already one of the purest countries in the world and ranks number one on the list of countries at risk of genocide. Can the Minister tell me what assessment has been made of the impact of overseas aid cuts to the likelihood of genocide occurring in Chad, and what is the government doing proactively to prevent a Jennifer side -- Genocide in Chad. side -- Genocide in Chad.

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Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker, my... The honourable gentleman asks an important question, since the conflict began, 3.6 million refugees conflict began, 3.6 million refugees have fled to neighbouring countries, that includes of course Chad, but

11:36

Laura Kyrke-Smith MP (Aylesbury, Labour)

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also Egypt, South Sudan, Uganda, and the Central African Republic, many of these countries I know, South Sudan well having served their for two years, these are countries with delicate political balances, which have seen severe recent instances of conflict, so what happens in Sudan makes a difference to the neighbouring countries. I do not think that what is essentially an issue here is UK aid to Chad, what essentially an issue is violent displacement from Sudan and we will remain focused on those questions.

11:37

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker.

11:37

Laura Kyrke-Smith MP (Aylesbury, Labour)

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I do commend the Foreign Secretary for cohosting the conference. An forgiving this, the political and thematic attention it warrants. The

11:37

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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thematic attention it warrants. The crisis in Sudan, is awful, as we crisis in Sudan, is awful, as we have heard from other members, never in modern history of so many people face starvation and famine as in face starvation and famine as in Sudan today and I put that down to the deliberate starvation tactics by the RSF and the SAF. Cannot the Minister outline what further measures the government is taking to measures the government is taking to enter this deliberate instruction of -- Obstruction of food aid by the warring parties?

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Minister. The UK condemns the growing body of evidence of serious atrocities of evidence of serious atrocities being committed against civilians incident, the escalation of violence, the killing of civilians, sexual assault of women and the

11:38

Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne MP (New Forest West, Conservative)

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sexual assault of women and the restriction of humanitarian access must end. That is why the Foreign Secretary visited the Sudan and Chad border to raise awareness of the conflict, it is what we hosted the conference last week, and that is why we are in regular touch, both with the parties themselves and with with the parties themselves and with all of those with influence, including regional players, the United Nations, and major donors, to do everything we can to try and do everything we can to try and ensure that humanitarian access is properly restored.

11:38

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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My it be expedient if we were to use our intelligence resources to expose and shame those who are antagonists. antagonists.

11:38

Adam Jogee MP (Newcastle-under-Lyme, Labour)

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Madame Deputy Speaker, we are clear there should be no external interference in Sudan and the continuation of this conflict serves no one. While we took the efforts last week that we did. It is why we did the conference in closed-door session, in order to allow the franc

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as possible exchange of views. The seizures of Sudan are beyond,

11:39

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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The seizures of Sudan are beyond, having brutally murdered and at risk of starvation, millions more displaced, women and children watching their sons, fathers, watching their sons, fathers, husbands been brutally killed, and many of those women and children being victims to the most horrendous being victims to the most horrendous sexual violence. In Newcastle, there are a number of people from the Sudanese community, who were born in

11:39

Carla Lockhart MP (Upper Bann, Democratic Unionist Party)

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Sudanese community, who were born in Sudan or their parents born in Sudan, watching the TV in fear and sorrow, so can I ask the Minister what we are doing to engage with and support the British community of Sudanese here in the United Kingdom?

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My honourable friend speaks about

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My honourable friend speaks about the horrors for British Sudanese, all those resident here, looking back home, and seeing such atrocious back home, and seeing such atrocious scenes. And I'm sure the African minister would be happy to meet with him and his constituents to discuss him and his constituents to discuss this further. I also have Sudanese constituents in Lincoln and I know the horror they feel each and every

11:40

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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day looking at this.

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Does the Minister agree that religious freedom must remain a key pillar of the UK's foreign aid pillar of the UK's foreign aid policy? And that said, with Sudan now ranked as one of the worst countries in the world a Christian countries in the world a Christian

11:40

Bob Blackman MP (Harrow East, Conservative)

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persecution, can he confirm this will be a priority, with foreign aid to Sudan?

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Madame Deputy Speaker, the freedom of religious belief remains a real priority for this government. On my way to the House, I was with On my way to the House, I was with our new freedom of religious belief envoy, meeting with the high community, who have suffered in

11:40

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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community, who have suffered in Iran, this remains the question for the government, and it remains a question, as well for the envoy.

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the Minister rightly condemns the violence against women and girls in Sudan, but can he specifically update the House on what assistance

11:41

Steff Aquarone MP (North Norfolk, Liberal Democrat)

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update the House on what assistance is being provided to the victims of female genital mutilation. These women are obviously severely and literally castrated. Will the Minister make sure we are providing

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assistance to those poor women? I thank the honourable gentleman

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I thank the honourable gentleman for his question. Interested in the fine detail of which elements of the program are working with survivors, program are working with survivors, I will commit to providing further

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information. I am deeply concerned by the

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I am deeply concerned by the ongoing conflict in Sudan and in particular, the sexual violence which was brought to light so shockingly by my colleague, the

11:42

Shockat Adam MP (Leicester South, Independent)

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number for Norwich North. Can I ask, when the Minister next engages with his counterparts in South Sudan, I wonder if he could race the case of the doctor who travel from Norfolk to South Sudan to practice medicine, shortly after independence, saved many lives across Africa in his time there, he was murdered a year later, and his family, my constituents, having fighting for his justice for a decade, will he meet with me and the family, to find how they can find justice for their beloved brother and son? brother and son?

11:42

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I am not familiar with the case. I will discuss it with the Minister for Africa and make sure he gets the proper response.

11:42

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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I would like to thank the right honourable member for securing this urgent question, because despite the barbarity of Sudan, it seems to be the forgotten conflict. Can I ask the Minister what steps are being taken to investigate and prevent the transfer of arms to Sudan by countries who may have been present at the conference over the weekend

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and our allies of the UK? We were clear in the Co-Chair

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We were clear in the Co-Chair statement, as we were clear in other places, we do not want external interference in this conflict and we are taking a risk that we can to try are taking a risk that we can to try and ensure we get back to different magic solution, that we get back to civilian transferred to a civilian rule, which is what the Sudanese

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desperately need. Can I thank the Minister very much for his answers? The Minister much for his answers? The Minister very clearly understands the issues and reciprocates the questions we

11:43

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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ask, we thank him for that. Having raised this, on the Sudanese war on numerous occasions, as others have in this House, and the war crimes taking place over the last number of years in Sudan, I was, and I have to say many others, were disheartened to see any semblance of peace talks. However we cannot and indeed must not lose heart and give up. The people of Sudan deserve a better chance without living in fear. How will the Minister facilitate further peace talks? And what discussions have taken place with allies to produce a coordinated global effort to stop the torture, the main income of the killing, and bring peace to all, thank you.

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Madame Deputy Speaker, I say with regret that the two protagonists of regret that the two protagonists of this conflict do not appear at the moment prepared to enter into moment prepared to enter into serious talks, that is why they were not invited to the conference, the conference was not an attempt to conference was not an attempt to mediate a peace deal, it is not possible to mediate a peace deal with, were neither participant is with, were neither participant is prepared to do so.

The reason we made the judgement that the

11:44

Business Statement: Business Questions to the Leader of the House

conference was so important was to try and cohere international support was next steps, to try and reduce the violence. We are working with

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all of our partners to do that. Includes the Urgent Question and I will just let the frontbenchers I will just let the frontbenchers swap over. -- That concludes the

11:44

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Order, Order, order. Order, order. Shadow Order, order. Shadow Leader Order, order. Shadow Leader of the House.

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the House. Can there be a local election coming? Madame Deputy Speaker, will coming? Madame Deputy Speaker, will the Leader of the House give us the

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forthcoming business? Leader of the House. Good to see we are so popular today. I shall come in the business today. I shall come in the business for the week commencing 28th of April includes Monday, 28 April, second reading of the Football Governance Bill, Lords, Tuesday, 29 April, remaining stages of the Public Authorities of Fraud and Error Recovery Bill, Wednesday 30th of April, Committee of the whole House and remaining stages of the sentencing guidelines, presentence reports Bill, followed by motion to approve the draft Licensing Act 2003, victory of Europe day licensing hours order day 2025, followed by motion to approve a money resolution relating to the crime, Crime and Policing Bill.

General debate on Parkinson's awareness month. Followed by general debate on prisoners of conscience. The subject for these debates were determined by the Backbench Business The House will rise for the early May bank holiday, the conclusion of business on Thursday, 1 May, and return on Tuesday, 6 May. The provisional business for the week commencing 5 May will include choosing 6 May, general debate on the anniversary of Victory in Europe and victory over Japan. Wednesday, 7 May, remaining stages of the data you send access Bill, Lords, Thursday, 8 May, business to be determined by the Backbench Business Committee.

Friday, 9 May, the house

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will not be sitting. Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker,

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Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker, I wish you and I very much hope everyone here had a spectacular

11:46

Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP (Hereford and South Herefordshire, Conservative)

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everyone here had a spectacular My I'm sure the house agrees with me at sadness at the death of the Pope. He was the embodiment of faith, hope, and charity. I would like to start with something small but I think important, my honourable friend the member for Hinckley and Bosworth recently asked the secretary of state for education written Parliamentary Question whether she had visited any private schools since July last year. The junior educationist replied as follows, " The secretary of state for education and the wider ministerial team visit a wide variety of education settings including private schools.

The secretary of state prioritises visits to our state schools would serve 93% of pupils in England. " All of which is true but not an answer to the question that was put. It was easy and it remains easy to compile the numbers. Leader has made clear on many occasions her commitment and belief that members of this house should receive proper answers to their questions. Could she take this up with the Secretary of State for education and see that a proper answer is given? More widely, I talked a few weeks ago about how the Prime Minister was steadily being mugged by reality.

We have seen this again in the last few days with the government's U-turn on days with the government's U-turn on the ban on cells beat built with slave labour in China. It is the same with the energy policy, Labour's manifesto promised to cut bills, to boost energy security, and to create cheaper zero carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero by 2050. Trying to allay concerns by promising responsible transition in the North Sea that recognises " The ongoing role of oil and gas in our energy mix.

" Nine months and we can see how it is going. The government has had to U- turn on its commitments to zero carbon electricity by 2030. Most recently the situation with British Steel in Scunthorpe has underlined the deep incoherence of its overall approach. By banning new oil and gas licences and preventing new exploration, the government is committing the UK to greater dependency on imported oil and gas, at higher cost with higher emissions and under less democratic control. In so doing, it is not advancing environmental justice or economic resilience.

It is accelerating the decline in energy sovereignty that will leave this country less secure, and ultimately poorer. We do not produce our own oil and gas, we will have to buy it. The difference is that it will come from overseas, and imported energy is not any more expensive, it has far higher carbon footprint. If I may remind the house, Liquefied Natural Gas evolves cooling gas to 160 below zero. Shipping it thousands of miles from Qatar and reclassifying it. The net emissions are up to four times higher than from North Sea gas.

Crucially, UK territorial emissions go down but overall emissions including imports are higher than they would be. This is not an honest policy was Labour's manifesto talked about the importance of energy security refusing to allow new exploration does not reduce volatility, it increases it. Energy is after all national security. It is heating your house and fuelling your car. The idea that a major economy should voluntarily give up its energy supply before alternatives are well advanced is not progressive, it is reckless.

But the problem goes somewhat wider. The government talks about green industrial revolution but the more expensive imported energy we have the harder to achieve that will be. Not just steel but chemicals, ceramics, fertilisers, or require large amounts of gas and will do for years to come. If energy is unreliable or unaffordable, these industries will continue to struggle whatever the fond imaginings of the Secretary of State. Worse still, the government's policy will squander capital and skills that might have gone into safely managing the U.K.'s remaining hydrocarbon assets.

The extra revenues will help fund, that would help fund the transition will be lost to the many other countries that welcome such investment. While the government turned its back on a sector that still employs 200,000 people and contribute billions in tax revenue. Let me conclude by asking whether the leader of the

11:52

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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house shares my view that we badly need some common sense here. We all want an effective and just energy transition. But that starts with one transition. But that starts with one principle, control what you can, use your own resources responsibly and transparently while building the key transparently while building the key energy system of the future. Instead the government has chosen a path that will increase emissions, raise that will increase emissions, raise costs, we can the economy untie Britain's future to foreign powers and volatile markets.

It is not

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leadership, it is an abdication. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Can I also share with him, I am sure the thoughts of the whole house will be with Catholics in this country and around the world as they grieve for Pope Francis. As he said, he really did embody the very best of us with his deep faith and commitment to the poorest, the weakest, those dealing with conflict and destitution. Can I also once again put on record my thanks to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and Mr Speaker, and all the House staff for the professional and speedy way with which they called Parliament over the Easter recess.

They really do have dedication and professionalism at their core. And can I also take this opportunity, I don't think it has been done yet in the house, to pay tribute to Rory McIlroy. On finally getting one of the greatest sporting achievements he can, the golf Grand Slam, and the first European to do so. I think the resilience and mental strength he showed was unbelievable and really was a great role model of great sportsmanship. I wish all of those taking part in the London Marathon good luck this weekend.

The shadow leader raises a number of points about this government's strategy when it comes to energy and it change. I'm afraid I think his misunderstanding the economics of the situation here. Because the way that we will get energy security and the way that we will get lower bills in the future, and over the long term, is by having our own energy security. Our own clean energy supplies. Because we really do have to get ourselves off fossil fuels because to get that energy security, we have to become a price maker, not a price taker.

And home-grown energy is the only way we will get control over our prices and get us off the fossil fuel rollercoaster. As a country we have great assets in this way. We are an island nation, our ability to generate offshore, onshore wind, tidal, nuclear, and other things. This government has wasted no time, we have lifted the ban on onshore wind. We established Great British Energy. We have Great British Energy. We have removed 3 GW of solar, delivered record-breaking renewables at auction, kickstarted carbon capture I got the nuclear planning reforms underway.

That is how this country will bring down energy bills and get the energy security that we need. We have to get ourselves off the fossil fuelled rollercoaster and he really needs to look at the economics of the situation. I noticed that unlike many people, looking forward to the local elections, the shadow leader did not want to use the opportunity to make his party's pitch in the forthcoming local elections but maybe that is because they are not quite sure what their pitch is. People haven't forgotten the chaos and decline that his party left this country under after 14 years of failure and sleaze.

Whereas the Labour Party, we are putting money in people's pockets, we are boosting the living wage and wages rising higher than prices. We are fixing the NHS, with waiting lists down for six months in a row. Cut by 220,000 since July. New free breakfast clubs giving kids the start in life they want we are taking back control of our trains and our buses. And as I saw myself this weekend, we are taking swift action on tackling crime and antisocial behaviour.

By seizing and crashing off-road by which I did myself a top that is the difference that Labour in power makes. But I'm still not quite sure what the Conservative party's strategy is in these elections, and perhaps the shadow leader would want to enlighten us? Is it what is being proposed by the shadow Justice Secretary, in the form of an alliance with CAP reform? If that is not their strategy why hasn't he been sacked? The Leader of the Opposition used her flagship pre- election Today Program interview today to tell us about the one big achievement, Tory party unity.

I nearly spat out my tea. Because the benches opposite can barely muster a tear for her at PMQs, and the shadow Justice Secretary, he is in open leadership campaign mode because in fact this week, I see the letter that the shadow Justice Secretary has sent to all Conservative candidates standing in the local elections. With his clear leadership pitch and offering "Lunch with

11:57

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP (Slough, Labour)

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Robert. " This all was on House of Robert. " This all was on House of Commons headed paper which to me looks highly questionable. It is blatant manoeuvring and a strong leader would have sacked him by now. But isn't the truth, at the elections next week, a vote for the elections next week, a vote for the Conservatives is a vote for Reform

11:57

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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and vice versa. We have been dealing this week with the sad passing of Pope Francis

11:58

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP (Slough, Labour)

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was top but also I was deeply saddened with the cowardly deadly shocking terrorist attack on

11:58

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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shocking terrorist attack on innocent tourists in Jeddah and innocent tourists in Jeddah and Kashmir. The families and victims are very much in my prayers and I are very much in my prayers and I hope the perpetrators will be swiftly brought to justice. Does the Leader of the House wish to take this opportunity on behalf of our this opportunity on behalf of our Parliament to convey our heartfelt condolences to the people? And to

11:58

Marie Goldman MP (Chelmsford, Liberal Democrat)

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condemn this callous attack? Absolutely, and can I thank him for raising this. The horror of this horrific terrorist attack in Kashmir was utterly devastating and it is, as he says, a cowardly act. My thoughts in the thoughts of the whole government are with those affected especially those who have

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lost loved ones. Liberal Democrats Spokesperson. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Last week my honourable friend the MP for Bath was denied entry to Hong MP for Bath was denied entry to Hong Kong while making a private trip to see her son and meet her three- month-old grandson for the very month-old grandson for the very first time. She was given no reason by local authorities as to why she was refused. So it seems reasonable to assume that her own crime was to assume that her own crime was being a British parliamentarian.

My honourable friend tells me that having come all that way only to be bundled off on the next flight home with no explanation was a big shock and she was close to tears. Her son was waiting for her and her husband just a short distance away in the arrivals lounge but she never saw him. This is extremely worrying, and has far-reaching and very concerning applications. To be clear, my honourable friend had not been made

12:00

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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aware that she would not be welcome in Hong Kong, and this was a purely private visit. The Liberal Democrats

12:00

Marie Goldman MP (Chelmsford, Liberal Democrat)

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private visit. The Liberal Democrats are concerned that this could have a chilling effect on all parliamentarians who speak up for freedom and democracy. We cannot and

12:00

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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freedom and democracy. We cannot and must not accept our democracy being undermined by allowing the undermined by allowing the intimidation of UK Parliament Arians. Will the Leader of the House Arians. Will the Leader of the House ask the Foreign Secretary to make a statement on how the government intends to engage in a clear eyed manner with authoritarian countries manner with authoritarian countries that appear to be creating hidden blacklists of British

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parliamentarians? Can I thank her for raising this on the floor of the house this morning because I know this is a matter of deep and grave concern to all members across this house. I all members across this house. I know the honourable Lady for Bath know the honourable Lady for Bath well, I have known her for a number of years. I previously enjoyed our exchanges as her predecessor, and I exchanges as her predecessor, and I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of this incident.

And she must hear of this incident. And she must be so upset to not get the opportunity to meet her grandson. And to be denied entry to Hong Kong in this way. She's actually right to say that it is unacceptable for a Member of Parliament to be denied entry to another country simply for being a Member of Parliament, albeit on a private visit in this case. The government has relayed how deep concerns with this incident to the

12:01

Liz Twist MP (Blaydon and Consett, Labour)

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Hong Kong and Chinese authorities, and we will continue to press these issues with them over the coming issues with them over the coming months. She is absently writes to say that our democracy, our ability say that our democracy, our ability as a member of Parliament to speak freely in this place and not have that jeopardised when we are that jeopardised when we are travelling abroad is fundamental to travelling abroad is fundamental to travelling abroad is fundamental to

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I recently visited a great regional organisation north-east Youth, in my Blaydon constituency, and I met members of their peer

12:01

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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and I met members of their peer action collective, and inspiring group of young people, working to prevent violence within the education system. Lucy, Penny and Dana delivered a compelling presentation on the need for clearer communication and better listening to young people in schools. So, can we have a debate in government time on how we can promote more effective ways on understanding the causes of youth violence and disruptive behaviour and support young people before violence escalates. Absolutely, can I join her in congratulating Lucy, Penny and Dan and all of those involved, it does sound like a very good initiative.

sound like a very good initiative. She is right to say the government takes youth violence incredibly seriously. We have established the young futures program and we want to bring all of those together, to take these issues forward, and I think it these issues forward, and I think it would make a very good topic for debate.

12:02

Bob Blackman MP (Harrow East, Conservative)

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I join with the shadow leader and Leader of the House in expressing condolences to Catholics all of the world on the death of the Pope, his leadership of the church will be sadly missed. In terms of the business, can I commend the clerks who support our committee on the work they have been doing to try and get colleagues to submit and agree to having a debate next Thursday. We managed to achieve it, thank goodness. But can ask colleagues who have made applications on our waiting list please respond speedily once they have been offered a date.

In addition, the business on Thursday, 8 May will include a debate on St. George's day, which of course, should have been held today, but the fact is government business takes precedence. On Thursday, 15 May, there will be a debate on solar farms in the chamber. In Westminster Hall next week, there will be a debate on conversation for criminal injuries. We are not proposing to injuries. We are not proposing to have debates in Rasmussen next Thursday because of local election day. On 6 May, there will be a debate on parking regulation.

May I remind the House that it will take place 11:30 AM because we will be on Monday hours and there will be further debate in Westminster to take place as well. Madame Deputy Speaker, as has rightly been mentioned on Tuesday, the systematic murder of Hindu pilgrims in India. The said reality is the terrorist group that is thought to be responsible for this, it is a Pakistani organisation and delivery targets innocent people in Kashmir. Already, the Indian government have revoked visas, closed the border, and expelled officials from Pakistan as a result.

Bubbly most importantly, they have suspended the treaty. I think this is an important aspect that we need the Foreign Secretary to come and make a statement to the House on what could end up being very quickly and escalating situation between Europe and Pakistan. Tonight, there will be individual outside the high commission, I will be representing the opposition. I understand there will be representatives of the government has wealth we must give our reassurance and support for the

12:05

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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government of India, making sure that they apprehend these terrorists and making sure those responsible and making sure those responsible for supporting them are also brought to justice. My understanding is that to justice. My understanding is that the Pakistani government and the Pakistani military have condoned these attacks. I am sure the leader these attacks. I am sure the leader will join with me in condemning absolutely these atrocities and absolutely these atrocities and making sure that people who visit Kashmir are held safely and do not Kashmir are held safely and do not have to suffer such incidents yet again.

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Can I thank the Chair of the Backbench Business Committee for letting us know our future debates. letting us know our future debates. Like him, I am anticipating that next Thursday won't be as popular as next Thursday won't be as popular as today seems to be. For obvious reasons. Can I also, as previously said, can I join him absolutely in condemning these terrorist attacks in Kashmir. This country always in Kashmir. This country always stands shoulder to shoulder with other countries in this case India who suffer these horrific terrorist who suffer these horrific terrorist attacks, which are cowardly act and act that we condemn, as he says.

And those conversations are ongoing, as he notes, to provide the support he notes, to provide the support that we can and are there any British nationals affected, we will British nationals affected, we will also provide that support to them as well. But can I thank you again for raising this important matter.

12:07

David Williams MP (Stoke-on-Trent North, Labour)

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Members will have seen there is a lot of interest in business questions today, we have around 80 people. I am asking people to please take this time, if you have a very long question, rewrite it, it should be no longer than two or three sentences. I called David Williams. sentences. I called David Williams.

12:07

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. The good people were promised a significant improvement to their town, however, the Conservative leader of Newcastle Borough Council, alongside the former Conservative Member of Parliament, overpromise and under delivered. They knew they did not have the funds available. They should now say sorry to the people of Kitts Brave, will the Leader of the House make time for a Leader of the House make time for a debate for openness and transparency in public funding? in public funding?

12:07

Mike Wood MP (Kingswinford and South Staffordshire, Conservative)

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Can I thank him for once again raising this important matter with me, which he has raised before and I hope he is a strong voice and advocate for Kidsgrove and his constituents, and I am really sorry to hear about the Thracians with the town deal. He is absolutely right that things were overpromise and under delivered and that is why I think the people of his constituency rejected the Conservative party at the last election.

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Last months fire assessment was at least one third of the battery

12:08

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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at least one third of the battery energy storage systems so far already this year, residents are understandably worried when they're constructed near to their homes. Yet, Labour's planning reforms will make building these in villages like Swindon and Woburn in South Staffordshire even easier. Can we have a debate in government time, on the safety of battery energy storage systems, one planning regulations, and how we can make sure that local communities have proper oversight

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and a real say? I'm sorry to hear about the fire

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I'm sorry to hear about the fire in his constituency. Sorry, not in his constituency, is that right? his constituency, is that right? Nearby. He is absolute rewrite. We have to get the balance right in ensuring that these kind of facilities are safe, safely operated, while at the same time

12:09

Mrs Sharon Hodgson MP (Washington and Gateshead South, Labour)

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operated, while at the same time making sure we have the infrastructure we need, in the future for battery storage, and for electricity under the clean energy supplies. We are taking steps to make sure that local communities are consulted on these matters, that they benefit from these facilities when they come to their local area but we make no apology for saying we have to sprint towards the clean energy superpower that we need to

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be. Next week marks the beginning of coeliac awareness month, the time

12:09

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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coeliac awareness month, the time dedicated to raising awareness about coeliac disease, serious autoimmune disease, for which the only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet for life. It is not a fad. While coeliac disease affects one in 100 people in the UK, just 36% are medically diagnosed, leaving an estimated half a million people potentially facing debilitating systems yet in the dark as to their cause. So, will the Leader of the House granted debate in government time to mark this important month and help raise important awareness of this terrible disease?

12:10

Rt Hon Sir Roger Gale MP (Herne Bay and Sandwich, Conservative)

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Welcome coeliac awareness month is a really important time and I commend her for raising it here. As she raises a number of issues through the House. She is absolutely right, we need to do more to raise awareness of this very debilitating disease and to raise awareness around treating it and making sure access to gluten-free food and other things are affordable and available. And I think it would make a really good topic for debate.

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Deputy speaker, the Leader of the House will probably know that elsewhere in this House last night, the campaign to return Ukraine's stolen children was launched with stolen children was launched with cross-party support. With a very large number of people present. There are some 20,000 Ukrainian There are some 20,000 Ukrainian children that have been abducted and taken to the nearest Soviet Union.

12:11

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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taken to the nearest Soviet Union. That is a war crime. As is the bombing of Kiev and Kharkiv last night and Putin is a war criminal. Could the Leader of the House consult with the leader of the Lords and try to ensure that no platform is given to any person, however grand, that supports present Reddit President Putin to enable them to address these Houses of Parliament?

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Can I thank him for raising the

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Can I thank him for raising the Children of Ukraine at the event to launch the campaign in the House yesterday. We have just had an urgent question on this matter in the House, and I think the Minister was very clear about our unwavering support for Ukraine about our support for Ukraine about our condemnation of the continued

12:12

Liam Conlon MP (Beckenham and Penge, Labour)

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actions of Russia and Putin, especially over a long period of time. We stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, we are establishing the Coalition of the Willing to support what they want going forward. And that the only country stopping piece here is Russia and Vladimir Putin.. This war tomorrow if they chose to do, and I am sure we will continue to discuss these issues going forward.

12:12

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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I am proud to be the MP for Crystal Palace and on Saturday, many of my constituents will travel to Wembley to see Crystal Palace take on Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi- final. A win will see them continue on their quest for a first major trophy since the 1991 Zenith Data Systems Cup, will the Leader of the House join me in wishing Crystal Palace football club good luck for the weekend?

12:13

John Lamont MP (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, Conservative)

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Well, I do often get invited to

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Well, I do often get invited to support other football clubs, but look, my husband is an Aston Villa fan and obviously I am a Manchester fan and obviously I am a Manchester City fan, so we have quite a lot of other stakes in the FA Cup semifinals this weekend. But I am happy to join him in wishing Crystal

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happy to join him in wishing Crystal Palace the very best of luck on Saturday. There are proposals by the Scottish Borders Council to close a

12:13

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Scottish Borders Council to close a number of local nurseries, including those in Glenwood fountain hole, et cetera, there is strong local opposition to these plans. Local nurseries I believe are vital to rural communities, like mine, and keeping them open she was weak and attract and obtain families in the Scottish borders. Will the Leader of the House agree with me nurseries in the United Kingdom should be protected and allowed time for a debate to discuss importance of nursery provision in rural communities?

12:14

Matt Western MP (Warwick and Leamington, Labour)

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Absolutely, I am really sorry to hear about this, he is absolutely right, the Scottish government should be prioritising nursery provision, and ensuring that people in rural constituencies like his have got access to the provision which is absolutely vital. He will know that the Scottish government received a boon as a consequence of this budget, receiving over 20% more per person than those equivalent and

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the rest of the UK, so they really have got no excuses for the actions they are taking. Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker,

12:14

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker,

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Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker, I am sure everyone around this House is concerned about the use of public money. In my constituency, I have a council that is employing leaf council that is employing leaf blowers to blow leaf around a redundant car park. The county council but has spent money, £11 million, on levelling a field for a school playing field. And the bridge to nowhere, which costs £16 million. Can I ask the Leader of the House if you have a debate on how we can you have a debate on how we can better scrutinise the use of public money in local government.

12:15

Munira Wilson MP (Twickenham, Liberal Democrat)

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He raises a really important matter. Absolutely, local people want to know that their council tax is going towards the services that they want to see in their communities. Nothing frustrates our constituents more than seeing things in their area and their community as they perceive as being frankly a waste of money. This government is committed to bringing more accountability and audit into Local Government Act we are bringing forward legislation in that regard

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Just over three weeks ago the Children's Minister had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the dispatch box to be forced into extending the adoption and special extending the adoption and special guardian support fund which had expired the previous day. It left thousands of honourable children and thousands of honourable children and their adoptive parents in limbo. Not once during that 45 minute question

12:16

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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once during that 45 minute question did she say when she triumphantly announced £50 million extra to continue the fund that the individual support grants were about individual support grants were about to be cut by 40%. That information was sneaked out in a private letter last week during recess to local authorities and charities. Will that Leader of the House demand the Education Secretary comes and makes a statement, takes questions from honourable members who feel they were I'm sure inadvertently misled by the Children's Minister on that day, so we can understand the impact on some of the most vulnerable children in our society?

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I know that this is a matter of deep concern to many members across the house, and I commend her for the house, and I commend her for continuing to raise it. I have a number of constituents affected by

12:17

Paula Barker MP (Liverpool Wavertree, Labour)

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this myself. That is why the government has ensured that we have got £50 million arrangement for this

12:17

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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year. But she will I'm sure recognise that due to increased

12:17

Paula Barker MP (Liverpool Wavertree, Labour)

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recognise that due to increased demand on this which is a good demand on this which is a good thing, we have to make that money go a bit further for many families. But a bit further for many families. But I do hear what she says today about accountability of the government in this regard. There was a written this regard. There was a written Ministerial Statement on Tuesday but I will ensure that she and other members of this House are able to

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members of this House are able to question and speak to ministers as appropriate. Dozens of families across Merseyside including my constituents Gemma and Paul Lucas have been left financially and emotionally devastated by the actions of the home improvement company which has the director called Frank theory. Customers have to pay 60% of costs upfront to him and have been left with homes that are uninhabitable and in some cases dangerous. The Liverpool Echo has reported that they have seen documents that his company's were providing quotes company's were providing quotes after 2022 under a different name.

A winding up order was made against them on January 7 this year, more

12:18

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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than three years after Cell C is Home Improvements was dissolved in Home Improvements was dissolved in February 2022. What can the government do to prevent individuals government do to prevent individuals like this liquidating one company owing more than £1 million to customers, and potentially going on customers, and potentially going on to scam others by setting up other companies, one of which I am led to believe is called Merseyside believe is called Merseyside Construction Ltd? And what can be

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Construction Ltd? And what can be done to get justice and full refunds for my constituents, Gemma and Paul? I am really sorry to hear of this troubling case. She has used her voice and her platform today is a Member of Parliament to raise very serious issues and I commend her for that. This notion where directors dissolve a company to avoid debts only to set up a new one is wrong. And we are committed to stamping it And we are committed to stamping it out.

Companies House now have greater powers to do it. She is absolutely right that people like her constituents need greater her constituents need greater recourse when it comes to services and products doing wrong and not been delivered, and they can't then get the accountability that they need.

12:19

Greg Smith MP (Mid Buckinghamshire, Conservative)

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I am wanting to get as many people as possible to please keep

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questions short. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. With unitary council elections, With unitary council elections, county elections and mayoral races taking up a lot of the headlines at the moment, there is an often regretted subset of local regretted subset of local government, incredibly hard-working people who offer themselves to serve people who offer themselves to serve on parish and town councils, people like Nick Brown, who after 25 years stands down from a counsellor my own

12:19

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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stands down from a counsellor my own village. The amount of work that people put in for no remuneration but for love of place is extraordinary. A lot of the elections in my constituency are not only uncontested but will still carry vacancies after next Thursday. Can we have a debate in government time, not any to thank everyone that put themselves forward but how we can encourage more people to come forward and serve their communities through those councils?

12:20

Rachael Maskell MP (York Central, Labour )

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I join him in paying tribute to those who serve on our town and Parish Council. As he says, often for little actual reward in that sense. Our communities need them and it is vital. We are bringing forward, as you will know, changes to local government because we want to make sure that people are able to represent their areas and are able to deliver the kind of change in services the people on the ground

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want to see that is why we have a devolution bill coming forward. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Tomorrow we would have been debating the terminally ill adults end-of-

12:21

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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the terminally ill adults end-of- life bill stop however, we have not seen the impact assessment. I understand that it has been prepared but not published. Of course many of us have got serious concerns over the safety of the legislation, and therefore, having significant advanced notification of what is in the impact assessment is very important so we can scrutinise it. Can she say when it will be published and will she ensure that now it has been prepared that we can

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see this immediately and it isn't withheld? Can I first of all reassure her

12:21

Claire Young MP (Thornbury and Yate, Liberal Democrat)

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Can I first of all reassure her it is not being withheld. I have been asked about this a number of times and it may clear on previous times and it may clear on previous occasions that given the number of amendments to the bill, it was going to take some time. But I am glad that, in order to allow that time to pass, the sponsoring member moved the date to 16 May for the next stages of the spill. And the government is absently committed to ensuring that the impact assessment is both published imminently but also in very good time for people to consider the issues in it long before 16 May.

12:22

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

12:22

Claire Young MP (Thornbury and Yate, Liberal Democrat)

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Businesses across my constituency were given a rather glum Easter present with the news that HGVs will

12:22

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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present with the news that HGVs will

12:22

Matt Rodda MP (Reading Central, Labour)

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present with the news that HGVs will be banned from the end of May. It will lead to expensive environmental damaging diversions and one local haulier called as a hammer blow. National Highways estimate the bridge will cost between £300 million and £600 million to fix. million and £600 million to fix. With the leader of the house ensure the Department of Transport brings

12:22

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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the Department of Transport brings forward a clear plan as soon as possible? I will ensure she gets a full ministerial reply about why that has happened and when those repairs will be done to ensure that HGVs can get back onto the bridge as soon as possible.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. May I ask the Leader of the House to May I ask the Leader of the House to join me in supporting the Football Governance Bill which is due to have its second reading on Monday? Would its second reading on Monday? Would she also offer her support to Reading fans, and she does not support the club, but in these

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support the club, but in these difficult times as we wait to hear the outcome of the ongoing negotiations? Absolutely. I am delighted that

12:23

Sarah Owen MP (Luton North, Labour)

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Absolutely. I am delighted that the Football Governance Bill will get its second reading in this house next week. I know it is incredibly popular piece of legislation for many members like him across the house who have clubs like he has in his constituency of Redding. The bill seeks to ensure fans and communities are put at the heart of our football governance and the protections in place against rogue owners or those who don't have the

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financial means to support properly. May I also associate myself with the comments about the passing of the comments about the passing of Pope Francis. As a Catholic, we very much appreciate this and I wish the best to the conclave in selecting the new Pope. As the trend

12:24

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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the new Pope. As the trend continues, more than 1.5% of my constituency will be covered in solar farms. One of my concerns is about use of battery, as honourable Friend mentioned. The solar farm in my constituency will have a large one. They pose a huge risk of fires. They will pollute waters when fires are put out, they release toxic fumes they will take days to put out if you can even put these panels out. These applications are at serious risk you can she raise this with the relevant minister?

12:24

Laura Kyrke-Smith MP (Aylesbury, Labour)

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We do need to get the balance right to ensure these facilities are safe for local communities and that the risk of fires are mitigated as far as possible. Whilst also getting much-needed infrastructure in for energy storage, for battery storage, which is critical to the future of energy security and our economy. But I will ensure she gets an update on this.

12:25

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. The new traffic scheme in my constituency has been causing chaos and danger to my constituents. Almost 2000 people have signed a petition pulling for an urgent review of the chosen layout. The review of the chosen layout. The leader join me in urging Buckinghamshire Council to plan its road building and road works better? Would she reaffirm this government's Would she reaffirm this government's commitment to improving road infrastructure?

12:25

Steff Aquarone MP (North Norfolk, Liberal Democrat)

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Poorly planned and poorly delivered roadworks are of great frustration to her constituents and I'm sure to those across the house as well. I would join her in urging her local council to ensure that the roadworks don't cause the level of disruption that she describes and disruption that she describes and this government is committed to ensuring that.

12:26

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Families in Holt have been promised for years new primary school to replace the current building that is too old and too small to cater for the growing market town. However the Conservative led council dithered and delayed pointing to minor fluctuations in the birthrate as a pathetic copout. With the leader consider scheduling a debate on investment in our primary schools, how this is decided, and will she help facilitate a meeting with the relevant minister to ensure that pupils parents and staff in Holt get the new school they need?

12:26

Naushabah Khan MP (Gillingham and Rainham, Labour)

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I am sorry to hear of the dither and delay getting the school that his constituents have long been promised. As he knows, the provision of places is a matter for the local authority. They have been given the funding to provide for places where

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they are needed. They really have no excuse but to get on and provide the school. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. I recently visited Medway in my

12:27

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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constituency where volunteers provide essential help to those that need it. Restoring dignity and confidence back in their lives. Given that 4.2 million adults in the UK living hygiene poverty, will the leader consider how to tackle this and on specifically removing the 20% and on specifically removing the 20% VAT on soap and reclassifying it as an essential hygiene item which it currently is not?

12:27

Martin Vickers MP (Brigg and Immingham, Conservative)

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She is correct to highlight hygiene poverty which is a real issue for people in this country because the tackling poverty in all its forms is a matter for this government. I'm sure she would not expect me to make decisions or to talk about the future levelled VAT but I think this is a really excellent campaign I think will get wide support from across the house

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she wants to take it further. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Yesterday like many members across Yesterday like many members across the house I attended an event staged by the MS Society in Portcullis House. I was somewhat surprised to

12:28

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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House. I was somewhat surprised to be given this handout which says it is estimated that 3770 people in the constituency suffer from MS. I've met a number of them over the years. The number is surprising and it is estimated that another hundred and 79 will be added to that number media. Next week is MS Awareness Week, so will be an appropriate time for Ministerial Statement on that subject. I hope the leader can oblige with that? oblige with that?

12:28

Andy MacNae MP (Rossendale and Darwen, Labour)

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Can I first of all pay tribute to the honourable gentleman for all the work that he has done in supporting steel and British Steel in his constituency and for his attendance in the recall last weekend as well. He makes a really good point about MS Awareness Week. The real challenges that people have living with these chronic diseases and given it is MS Awareness Week, I will bear in mind his request for a statement.

12:29

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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To get to school William Cartwright has to cross a very busy early road the point where there is no lollipop service, or zebra crossing for the cars travel fast and people been hit several times. A petition has been launched to restore the safe crossing. He says we should not have to wait for an accident to happen for something is done. A similar story is told about roads near other primary schools. She join me in supporting the initiative and given how initiative and given how oversubscribed rules have been on this subject, can we have a debate in government time?

12:29

Sarah Dyke MP (Glastonbury and Somerton, Liberal Democrat)

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I join in congratulating Liam in highlighting these issues across his constituency. He is absolutely right, road safety matters do attract a great deal of interest in this house. We will soon be delivering an updated strategic delivering an updated strategic framework for Road safety. I will ensure it is brought to this house and will consider his request for a debate.

12:30

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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77% of LGBTQ plus millennial's are considering starting a family but only three but only 3/42 ICBs in England give female same-sex couples access to fertility funding. Others ask for between six and 12 rounds of funding before treatment is considered. As we celebrate Lesbian Visibility Week we have a debate about discrimination same-sex couples face when accessing fertility treatment?

12:30

Rachel Hopkins MP (Luton South and South Bedfordshire, Labour)

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I join her in supporting Lesbian's ability Week. We should be supporting all couples of whatever kind who want to start a family, and all the joys that that that brings. And all the support the families can bring to babies. I will ensure she gets a full ministerial reply but I'm sorry to hear of the postcode

12:31

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Last week, I cohosted a youth engagement workshop in my constituency. To help inform our governments National Youth Strategy. Young people from a range of organisations, including Luton Children in Care Council, CAG OMS, Children in Care Council, CAG OMS, Internews Pounds -- Youth Council, just to name a few. The government agree with me here is vital to recognise a wide range of young people's voices, that affect strategies and affect their futures, strategies and affect their futures, the breakdown barriers for all.

the breakdown barriers for all.

12:31

Lincoln Jopp MP (Spelthorne, Conservative)

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And I thank her for facilitating this workshop, she is absolutely right, we want to coproduce the National Youth Strategy and conversations at workshops, like she describes, as part of that biggest conversation I think ever with young people are absolutely critical to ensure we can design the services and support to young people actually want.

12:32

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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I know that the Leader of the

12:32

Lincoln Jopp MP (Spelthorne, Conservative)

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House, like me, will be a massive fan of acrobatic gymnastics. So, she

12:32

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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fan of acrobatic gymnastics. So, she will also be aware that Team GB went, over the Easter break, went to Luxembourg to compete with 22 other nations. What she might not be aware nations. What she might not be aware of is the outstanding contribution made by Spelthorne gymnastics bringing home five gold and three silver medals from the championships, so will the Leader of the House join with me in the

12:32

Shaun Davies MP (Telford, Labour)

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the House join with me in the members across the House in congratulating Team GB and Spelthorne Gymnastics on its outstanding effort?

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Absolutely, Madame Deputy Speaker. I thought he was going to ask me to perform a muscle there! We will save that for later maybe. Maybe of the political variety I was thinking more! If you do not mind. But yes, I will absolutely join him

12:33

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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in congratulating Spelthorne Gymnastics and the fantastic achievements of five golds and three

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silvers of GB acrobatic gymnastics. On a recent visit with the course

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On a recent visit with the course minister to a shopping centre, I was

12:33

Shockat Adam MP (Leicester South, Independent)

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minister to a shopping centre, I was reminded on the dedication of our magistrates, can we have a debate in government time on the importance of magistrates. Since the 12th century, magistrates have played a critical role in delivering local justice. Now as volunteers, many with decades of service, there is currently a long service medal award and she agreed with me there really ought to

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be? I will absolutely join him in thanking all the magistrates that, thanking all the magistrates that, as he says, are volunteers and they are the backbone of our justice system in this country. I think the issue he highlights is one that would gather a great deal of momentum and support, and I implore momentum and support, and I implore him to continue campaigning for it.

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If the Leader of the House will indulge me, I would like to quote somebody who I suspect has read more books than I have come Albert

12:34

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Einstein, he said " The only thing you absolutely have to know is the location of the library." Libraries are the backbone of local committees, bringing communities committees, bringing communities together, not just a place of knowledge. However, in Leicester, the mayor is looking to$$JOIN the mayor is looking to$$JOIN /library services to some of the most deprived areas of the city. I know this will be happening in other constituencies around the country, cutting our library services does reportedly affect the most vulnerable in our society, can I ask vulnerable in our society, can I ask Leader of the House to schedule a debate on our libraries, the work of our wonderful librarians across the

12:34

Jo White MP (Bassetlaw, Labour)

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our wonderful librarians across the country and urge the government to give more support to local authorities to protect these crucial services? Well, he is absolutely right. Libraries provide and are long- standing in many of our communities and provide a great service to local people, to access not just books, but these days, to access services, the internet, also some of the things to ensure that they have the kind of knowledge and the access that they need, I'm sorry to hear of plans in Leicester, which I will look into for him.

But we have given local areas are court settlement when it comes to budget, which hopefully means areas can keep their libraries open.

12:35

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Last week, I visited a fish and chips restaurant, where the owner Nick told me of his reconnect campaign, encouraging people to come off their screens and spend time in good company over a first-class good company over a first-class plate of fish and chips. He also showed me the safe space he created for MNrsk Mc-Kinney MNller Center for MNrsk Mc-Kinney MNller Center families. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking Nick for House join me in thanking Nick for running such a thoughtful campaign?

12:35

Rt Hon David Mundell MP (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, Conservative)

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Well, the fish and chips shop in her constituency sounds like a great place to go and reconnect. Putting away our phones and having a great place to fish and chips, and I will perhaps join her there one time soon.

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Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker, recently the Bank of Scotland announced the closure of all five of its branches in my constituency. As

12:36

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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its branches in my constituency. As part of the follow-through, the organisation link made an assessment about the access to cash in particular, whether a free to use cash machine should be provided. But they are bound by very strict criteria, which means they have to take into account other cash machines which might not be available 24 seven, which might not have disabled access, actually might not be stocked up on a regular basis with cash, so will the leader ask Treasury colleagues to review those criteria to make absolutely sure that people do have access to cash machines?

12:36

Torcuil Crichton MP (Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Labour)

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Access to cash in communities like his gets raised with me pretty much every week in this House. I will certainly make sure that a minister comes back to him on those criteria and whether they are appropriate, now that we are seeing more and more banks withdrawing from our high streets and with access to cash is really viable.

12:37

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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My local authority is fast approaching its 50th anniversary. Formed in 1975, it brought together the many islands that make it up, and give the Hebrides a unified identity. My father served on the council, my brother serves there, among many council officials have given service of the islands over given service of the islands over the years. By wishing them out happy 55 three, can the leader of the show they are appreciated? they are appreciated?

12:37

Rt Hon Sir Julian Lewis MP (New Forest East, Conservative)

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Absolute join him in congratulating the Western Isles Council a happy 50th anniversary, it sounds like he comes from a great dynasty of local politicians and areas as a Member of Parliament, representing his hometown, so I will

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join him in congratulating them all. I thank the Leader of the House

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I thank the Leader of the House in advance for the very large number of follow-up letters she will be writing after this marathon session. I know it is public quite a chore, I know it is public quite a chore, but we really appreciate that she but we really appreciate that she does this so conscientiously. Now, I was quite impressed in a brief exchange on 13 March about NHS

12:38

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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dentistry. As part of the formidable campaign being waged by the National for Women's Institute on the subject, when the Secretary of State for health said the problem requires " Not simply tinkering with the system as it is but fundamentally rethinking it." I am sure he is absolutely right about that. So, will the Leader of the House urge him to make a statement to the House what progress he anticipates making on this very important issue?

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Absolutely, can I thank him for thanking me for all the letters that my brilliant Civil Service team help

12:39

Alex Baker MP (Aldershot, Labour)

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support in getting the answers to people for these business questions. I think that incredibly serious and making sure members have answers to what they are raising with me. He is right to say that dentistry has been kind of broken in this country and access to NHS dentists is not what we would want it to be. And that there are more fundamental changes needed to ensure we can get the new dentist appointments and that we look at dentistry contact. I am lobbied about this by my own dentist every time I go, but I will ensure progress.

12:40

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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The alternative football club are going to Wembley, the FA Trophy final on 11 May will be the first time in the club's history that the resident blue army have played under the arch, with over 17,000 fans there to spectate. It is also the first football club in the country to achieve the Armed Forces status award for the work they do in our community. Other Leader of the House join me in congratulating everybody at the club in reaching this prestigious final and giving us all in Aldershot something to cheer about?

12:40

Tom Gordon MP (Harrogate and Knaresborough, Liberal Democrat)

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I will absolutely join her in congratulating Aldershot town in reaching the FA Trophy final. Against Spennymoor town for somewhat a great achievement for her local a great achievement for her local club. Have a lot of football clubs being mentioned to date, so I am sure she will might want to raise this next week in the Football Governance Bill second reading. But also, I join her in congratulating Aldershot town in being the first football club in getting the Armed Forces goal standard achievement as

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well. Harrogate's LGBT community report by homophobic comments made by Anthony Murphy, Conservative town

12:41

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Anthony Murphy, Conservative town council candidate, who described acts of homosexuality as great depravity, intrinsically disordered and organisationally directs even claimed AIDS is a diseased spread by those who are deprived and called on the church to purge this filth. This was not affecting failure, the local association of new and selected him anyway, they refused to withdraw support or answer to the same Anthony Murphy who was involved in organising Enoch Powell rallies. The local organisations have gone rose or a party that is absolutely back as they chase folks for Reform, I wrote to the Leader of the wrote to the Leader of the Opposition but no reply, will Leader of the House make time for a debate on standards in party accountability?

12:41

Gareth Snell MP (Stoke-on-Trent Central, Labour )

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I'm really sorry to hear of the appalling homophobic remarks being made by a councillor and a Conservative councillor at that. He has raised them here this morning, and I hope the Conservative frontbench have heard his question. Because action needs to be taken at the Conservative party need to show, like the rest of us that such remarks are completely unacceptable and they will not be tolerated in any of our democracy and parties.

12:42

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Madame Deputy Speaker, Stoke-on- Trent has witnessed a proliferation of HMOs in the city in recent years. With family homes being converted with very little notice given to Council, we are prosecuting a case for Stoke-on-Trent City Council to adopt an article for directive. This is proving to be more difficult than it ought to be full can I encourage the Leader of the House bring forward legislation to remove this permitted development fight for everybody across the country so HMOs can be properly regulated and looked after in communities?

12:42

Vikki Slade MP (Mid Dorset and North Poole, Liberal Democrat)

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I know this is a big issue in his constituency, and in mine, and in many others. We have got the Renters' Rights Bill, which is now in at the House of Lords, which will take some action on deregulating HMOs, but he is right, we can go further on these matters, and I would encourage him to continue to raise them and I will make sure he

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gets the ministerial reply. Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker.

12:43

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. Tragically lost his granddaughter Lauren, following an accidental drug Lauren, following an accidental drug overdose for happy later discovered she had been introduced to drugs by someone at her dance school, safeguarding concerns were not passed to the disclosure and barring passed to the disclosure and barring service. It was suggested the individual was also not DBS registered. When I queried this with the Home Office, they said Home Office legislation around recreation activity said the checks only provide eligibility for checks, not provide eligibility for checks, not making them a requirement.

I am sure the Leader of the House shares my concerns on this, will she ask the

12:44

Charlotte Nichols MP (Warrington North, Labour)

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concerns on this, will she ask the government to make time for a debate on the DBS service and how it can be strengthened to protect children?

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I am really sorry to hear of the case she raises, and the issue of DBS checks and whether they are wide enough, suitable and so one, does enough, suitable and so one, does get grazed in the House quite get grazed in the House quite regularly. I will ensure she gets a ministerial reply about that, she

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ministerial reply about that, she might want to reply for a adjournment debate, I'm sure she will get many people attending. It was good to meet with the

12:44

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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safeguarding alliance this morning about their concerns and mind regarding the patchwork of different departments, bodies and regulators with responsibility for safeguarding that allows known offenders to slip through the gaps and continue offending. Another arcing debate can close these gaps, on quangos and arms bodies, could the Leader of the House arrange for government times for MPs to be part of this, and can she advise when the Data Bill will be coming forward to allow opportunities for better regulation of our safeguarding data and relationship.

relationship.

12:44

Carla Lockhart MP (Upper Bann, Democratic Unionist Party)

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And I thank for that. The Data Bill is actually coming back for report stage on Wednesday, 7 May, so she may want to raise some of these issues there. But the tackling of safeguarding and ensuring we have the right safeguarding is a cross government issue, she will know, it covers many departments. We have got a number of measures coming forward in various pieces of legislation, which I hope will improve the safeguarding environment. But I would encourage her to raise these during the passage of some of these bills.

12:45

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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The UK government has a legal and moral duty to ensure that the union succeeds, it is therefore imperative

12:46

Carla Lockhart MP (Upper Bann, Democratic Unionist Party)

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that ministers do not go on solo runs and make unhelpful comments in

12:46

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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the context of Northern Ireland's place in the union, given the place in the union, given the support remaining, for Northern Ireland remaining part of the UK, has remained unchanged in has remained unchanged in generations, will the Leader of the House therefore give consideration to providing time for a debate on the government's responsibility to the government's responsibility to speak with one and its commitment to upholding Northern Ireland's place in this union of Great Britain and

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Northern Ireland? I will certainly assure the Minister has heard her question today for this government does speak with one, certainly try to, and I'm sorry if that has not been the case in what she describes. This in what she describes. This government is committed to the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts Friday Agreement in all its parts and she will know that these issues and she will know that these issues are matter for those who live in are matter for those who live in Residence in Hartlepool, and, with communities right across the borough, tell me they are fed up with crime and antisocial behaviour following 14 years of Tory failure that destroyed neighbourhood policing.

Does Leader of the House agree with me that Labour's pledge to put a named lease officer in every community, as championed by a brilliant council candidate, Lindsay Allen, is a game changer in tackling antisocial behaviour and crime across Hartlepool and in the country

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as a whole? I absolutely join him in thanking

12:47

Clive Jones MP (Wokingham, Liberal Democrat)

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I absolutely join him in thanking Lindsay Allen for proposing these Lindsay Allen for proposing these issues. He is right, we have to put neighbourhood policing back in our communities. We are committed to 13,000 more officers into neighbourhood policing over this Parliament. That is what we will do, we have the Crime and Policing Bill currently passing through Parliament

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that will give the police the powers they need to tackle antisocial behaviour. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Just before the recess, I was unexpectedly a guest of the NHS in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead. It was the result of my Gateshead. It was the result of my delayed cancer diagnosis, and it needs very urgent intravenous

12:48

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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needs very urgent intravenous antibiotics. I went in on Thursday night, and my records did not catch up with me from my local hospital until Monday. Can we have a debate in government time so that the Secretary of State understands the urgent need to have digital records so that our hospitals, our local hospitals, can pass on our details to hospitals in other parts of the country, in a very timely fashion, so that treatment can be undertaken

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quickly? I am sorry to hear of his

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I am sorry to hear of his admission to hospital, and it is good to see him here in his place today, is fit and well as ever. He

12:49

Kirsteen Sullivan MP (Bathgate and Linlithgow, Labour )

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today, is fit and well as ever. He is right, people would not understand that hospitals hold individual records and there is not that national database of data sharing across hospitals. I think it is something that people just imagine happened and it doesn't. The Health Secretary I can assure him is absolutely committed to raking down these barriers and making sure we have got the data sharing that we need, and the digital records that he describes that people can get appropriate treatment they need it.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

12:49

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. A sexual violence support service in my constituency is run by women my constituency is run by women forward in. It opened in 2022 in response to the need for single sex counselling services for survivors of violence against women and girls in the Edinburgh and Lothians area, including West Lothian which covers a large part of my constituency. Can a large part of my constituency. Can we have a debate in government time on the importance of single sex counselling services for survivors of violence against women and girls? Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking the all women team for the invaluable support that they provide?

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She is right to highlight the

12:50

Mr Will Forster MP (Woking, Liberal Democrat)

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importance of single sex spaces and counselling when it comes to these issues of Tackling Violence Against Women and. In dealing with the aftermath of that. She will know aftermath of that. She will know that the Supreme Court ruling over Easter gave greater clarity on these matters for service providers like those in her constituency. She might those in her constituency. She might want to raise the great work that they do at the next women and equalities questions on 7 May. equalities questions on 7 May.

12:50

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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The former Chief Executive of Woking Borough Council, Morgan OBE, has been identified as the chief architect by a public report in bankrupting my counsellor leaving it with debts of £2 billion. Does the leader of that house agree with me that the very least the government can do is remove his OBE for services for local government? Will she agree to hold a debate in this house so we can discuss government policy in removing honours when wrongdoing has been committed?

12:51

Mrs Sureena Brackenridge MP (Wolverhampton North East, Labour)

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I am sorry to hear about this case, he may be aware that there is a special committee that looks at, it is not a government committee, that looks at where nominations where there is a strong case for them to be removed. So I urge him to contact the Cotnou the name of it now, the committee, I will write to him with the details because he's actually right, you need to make sure that people are held accountable for their actions, and where they have received

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nominations. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

12:51

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Like the gentleman across the House, I also have more than 3000 people living in and around Wolverhampton living in and around Wolverhampton North East with multiple sclerosis. Including Simon who manages a full- time job, only because his employer provides flexibility he needs to cope with this unpredictable and degenerative condition. Neurological conditions like MS are lifelong, often invisible, and profoundly impact upon people's lives. Will that Leader of the House grants time for a debate on ensuring neurology is a clear priority in the NHS 10 year plan? year plan?

12:52

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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I will join her in highlighting MS awareness week which is next week. And thank her constituent, Simon, and his employers for being so flexible. As she describes, these chronic conditions do involve employers being flexible and having good employers as well as a range of other support services. Given it is MS Awareness Week next week I will make sure ministers do report to the house and what we are doing.

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Nigerian Christians are at the forefront of Christian persecution across the world. The majority of across the world. The majority of Christians worldwide enjoy the start of Holy Week, and many in the state of Holy Week, and many in the state in Nigeria had a different experience on this Palm Sunday. A massacre occurred in a key village massacre occurred in a key village where some 54 people were killed and 103 households destroyed. The entire

12:53

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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103 households destroyed. The entire village was displaced. Selective disarmament of Christians and violence by extremists. The Leader of the House, as he often does, and I appreciate it very much, schedule a debate or statement to ascertain what steps the UK government will take to support the protection of Nigerian Christian communities and tackle this ongoing violence? Thank you.

12:53

Paul Waugh MP (Rochdale, Labour )

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As ever, he raises an important issue of freedom of religion or belief for all, in this case, in Nigeria. It is something we raised with the Nigerian government on a regular basis and we need to put an end to the intercommunal violence

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that we are seeing. I know the Leader of the House

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I know the Leader of the House has a sweet tooth. So she may be disappointed she missed out on the very first chocolate festival held very first chocolate festival held by the Oxford pub in my constituency over the Easter break. It was a festival attended by many people and festival attended by many people and held in conjunction with chocolate makers. The people there donated the customers, and the pub donated free Easter eggs to children in need. Easter eggs to children in need.

Will she join me in congratulating the family for putting on the festival and will she join me for a candy and a shandy in Rochdale?

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I will certainly join him in congratulating the family on putting

12:54

Dr Scott Arthur MP (Edinburgh South West, Labour)

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congratulating the family on putting on what sounds like a really great event, a chocolate festival, to ensure those who perhaps don't have access or can't afford to indulge over the Easter weekend had the opportunity to do so at the Oxford pub. I might just gently say to the honourable gentleman perhaps next time he should bring us a feedback so we can make sure they are to the standard that the whole house would

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want. All of us made sacrifices when

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All of us made sacrifices when Parliament was recalled to save the steel industry. Mine involved missing a slice of the cake baked to celebrate the 20th anniversary of a

12:55

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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celebrate the 20th anniversary of a farmers market. I met Emma Galloway last week who explained that my slice was gone. You can imagine how I felt. My low calorie alternative is an EDM dealing with the 20th anniversary of the farmers market. It supports the local economy and it also supports sustainable farm across the world. Will the leader join me in wishing the farmers market a happy 20th birthday and also suggests that Emma makes a slightly bigger cake next time? slightly bigger cake next time?

12:56

Melanie Onn MP (Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Labour)

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I join him in congratulating the farmers market. It sounds likely to produce great cakes so popular there was none left for the honourable gentleman. Definitely next time they need to make more.

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We have got between 15 and 20 minutes left. Please do help each other out.

12:56

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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other out. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. But that Leader of the House join me But that Leader of the House join me in congratulating labours brilliant Lincolnshire male rural candidate Jason Stockwood? He truly is putting Lincolnshire first having just completed his countywide cycle tour raising over £16,000 for charities raising over £16,000 for charities across the area. The only candidate to wear Lycra in public. to wear Lycra in public.

12:57

Ben Goldsborough MP (South Norfolk, Labour)

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I will join her in wishing Jason Stockwood, who I know well, all the very best in standing as the first very best in standing as the first Lincolnshire mayor. He will make a fantastic mayor for Lincolnshire I hope people will vote for him next week.

12:57

Douglas McAllister MP (West Dunbartonshire, Labour)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Fantastic local businesses like sugar beet in South Norfolk are being hammered by the drawnout roadworks signed off by Norfolk County Council. And carried out by EDF with little care for the financial damage caused. Can we have a debate in government time and halting utility companies to account for their roadworks when they run riot?

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There is nothing more frustrating than poorly delivered roadworks. Especially roadworks that come in on top of other roadworks or just after

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top of other roadworks or just after them. I think this would make a popular topic for a debate if you wanted to raise it. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Earlier this month my home town Earlier this month my home town football club were crowned West of Scotland's Premier division Scotland's Premier division champions. On Saturday, they play their final home league game of the

12:58

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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their final home league game of the season and will be presented with a league trophy. It will be my pleasure to be there and see the lift the trophy. With the Leader of the House join me in wishing congratulations to all the players, managers, coaches, staff, and the supporters for such a wonderful successful season? And would she

12:59

Oliver Ryan MP (Burnley, Independent)

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wish to join me, never mind the FA Cup semi-final, which she wished to join me in West Dunbartonshire on Saturday and celebrate them winning Saturday and celebrate them winning the league? Quite I will join him in

12:59

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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the league? Quite I will join him in celebrating Clydebank FC. And what an honour it is as a new member of Parliament to see your football club lifting the trophy at the home ground on Saturday. I am otherwise engaged this weekend my own football interest but will look forward to seeing him on social media with the trophy.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Burnley is a Premier League town

12:59

Elaine Stewart MP (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, Labour)

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Burnley is a Premier League town once more. I am sure the whole House will join me, perhaps not the member for Blackburn who is not in its place, in congratulating all of those involved on their climbing back to the Premier League. Was she join me?

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Absolutely. We really have a football theme today. Can I put on record my congratulations to Burnley record my congratulations to Burnley FC. Getting promoted to the Premier FC. Getting promoted to the Premier League. I look forward to Manchester city putting a few goals past them.

12:59

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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city putting a few goals past them.

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My constituents contributed to a pension scheme before 1997. The expected discretionary increases to expected discretionary increases to counter inflation since another company took over in 2002 have not company took over in 2002 have not happened and the pensions have happened and the pensions have stagnated. This affects hundreds of thousands across the UK. The House

13:00

Amanda Hack MP (North West Leicestershire, Labour)

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thousands across the UK. The House finds time to discuss how this injustice can be addressed? Can I thank her for raising this

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Can I thank her for raising this important matter. There is nothing worse for pension holders than seeing their erosion of the value of the pension because up-rating is not happening in line with inflation. Pension scheme trustees have a duty to act in the best interests of their members. I will ensure the

13:00

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Just this morning my office received notice of intent to cancel to bus services in my constituency for the one X because O'Donovan to Leicester City and the 129 to Loughborough, as well as the only service for some of my rural villages. Will the Leader of the House join me in the concern for some of these proposed cuts and: Leicestershire County Council to work with me on local bus companies to save the services and keep my communities connected?

13:01

Ms Julie Minns MP (Carlisle, Labour)

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I am really sorry to hear the Leicestershire County Council are cutting vital bus services in her constituency. We have confirmed over £1 billion extra for local bus services like those that she describes and we are bringing forward, in fact it's passing through Parliament at the moment, the buses bill that will give local communities much more say in the local bus services in the area.

13:01

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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It was on 16 April 1850 that the Cumbrian cooperative and land building society first opened its doors. The Cumberland, headquartered in my constituency, celebrates 125 years of serving my constituency and the wider area. Other Leader of the House please join me in wishing the House please join me in wishing the Cumberland police society happy birthday and thanking them for the part they play in supporting Labour's pledge to build 1.5 million new houses.

13:02

Mr Connor Rand MP (Altrincham and Sale West, Labour)

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Absolutely, I join her in congratulating Cumberland building Society 475 years, a remarkable achievement, for all the work they are doing in supporting housebuilding in her constituency

13:02

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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housebuilding in her constituency Fantastic family friendly restaurant in Altrincham has suffered to the tune of thousands of pounds from tune of thousands of pounds from business rates scan. Thankfully, the licences of the fraudsters were suspended but they have since changed their company name and are now back to scanning small

13:02

Maya Ellis MP (Ribble Valley, Labour)

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now back to scanning small businesses again. This is the fourth time they have pulled restrict, so time they have pulled restrict, so can we have a debate on the business rates scams crisis in our country, so we can close the loopholes being exploited by these con artists for good?

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Am really sorry to hear of businesses in his constituency that had been victims of these business had been victims of these business rates scams. We are committed to rates scams. We are committed to reducing these kind of scams and will take steps to do that but I will ensure he gets an update from

13:03

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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ministers. Girl guiding and its volunteers provide endless opportunities for girls and young women in my constituency. Other Leader of the constituency. Other Leader of the

13:03

Emma Foody MP (Cramlington and Killingworth, Labour )

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constituency. Other Leader of the House join me in congratulating the trust group of girl guiding members who successfully campaigned to secure the hall which provides adventure and outdoor education for future generations of young people emotion make time for this House to

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discuss the importance of outdoor education within the government's National Youth Strategy? Absolutely join her in congratulating her local girl guides

13:03

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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in their campaign to secure the future of Watteau Hall girl guides to a great job and they are a vital part of youth services and youth activities that we want to see right

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across the country. Fly-tipping is a blight on local communities across Cramlington and communities across Cramlington and Seaton Valley in my constituency, yet under the Conservative government, fly-tipping increased government, fly-tipping increased over 56%. Can we have a debate on the action being taken to strengthen enforcement and how we are clearing

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up the mess the Conservatives have left nationally and in Northumberland? She is absolutely right, fly- tipping is a blight on many of our communities, and we are determined to take further steps on this. We are currently seeking powers in the Crime and Policing Bill to issue statutory fly-tipping enforcement guidance, but I know she will want to raise those issues as that bill

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passes through Parliament. Hawthorn's care home in Buxton

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Hawthorn's care home in Buxton recently celebrated 90 years of service to our local community. I am sure the whole house want to join me sure the whole house want to join me in sending them the warmest congratulations to the staff, the residents and their families. This stands in stark contrast to the Conservative led Derbyshire County Council closing care homes and adult day care centres across High Peak, including the sudden and shocking including the sudden and shocking closure of Queens Court in books and earlier this month.

Will the Leader of the House and arrange a debate in government time to consider the

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future of care homes and day centres run by local councils? He is absolutely right to

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He is absolutely right to highlight the importance of care homes like that, of hawthorns in his

13:05

Jas Athwal MP (Ilford South, Labour)

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homes like that, of hawthorns in his constituency, sorry to hear that the Conservative run county council are closing care homes at this point in time. We have seen a record settlement for local governments. So I think the local county council should really reconsider their decisions.

13:05

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Getting a driving licence in Ilford South has become almost impossible. Learners are having to wait for more than 18 months to book their tests, because road their tests, because road individuals and unscrew -- And unscrupulous driving schools are booking up the spaces and charging residents up to 10 times the cost of a single test. Learners are being exploited and the structures punished, will be leader of the have punished, will be leader of the have a debate for commonsense solutions for our individuals were locked out of driving by these mini creative practices? practices?

13:06

Sonia Kumar MP (Dudley, Labour)

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Thank you for raising that. He is absolutely right, the driver licence tests are not what we expect them to be, the Secretary of State is looking this week to address these challenges, there is further began challenges, there is further began and I will ensure he is given ministerial updates on these important issues. important issues.

13:06

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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UK homes use 1.7 billion pieces

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UK homes use 1.7 billion pieces

13:07

There are viable There are viable alternatives There are viable alternatives to using plastic in cleaning products. Wilma right honourable friend help encourage others and in this place, to ditch plastic and can we have a debate on the importance of reducing plastic waste?

13:07

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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She highlights a very important issue. We do need to reduce plastic waste. I will ensure that the House plays its part in producing -- Reducing plastic waste, we want to see a circular economy and that means less use of classical stuff means less use of classical stuff

13:07

Lee Barron MP (Corby and East Northamptonshire, Labour)

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They have pioneered engines that can pioneer heavy injury. Engineering that is helped and built by my constituents, these diggers are unable to drive on UK road, but thanks to this Labour government, that is going to change in 29 April,

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will the leader join me in welcoming this change that will bring increased jobs and investment? I will join him in congratulating the brilliant work of engineers and JCB, in his constituency. Really pleased this government has been pleased this government has been Will which will unlock further

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Will which will unlock further diggers in his constituency. Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker, in Corby, residents of Hook close were denied the chance to object to were denied the chance to object to plans for a huge warehouse to be built immediately next to their homes, now they live within its shadow. This was due to admitted failures by North Northamptonshire

13:08

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Council, including consulting the wrong street. Residents took the matter to court, the judge matter to court, the judge criticised the council, however, the case had to be ruled out, because it was out of time. Now, the council who didn't consult the residents, who didn't consult the residents, who consulted the wrong streets, that the judge criticised, pursuing

13:08

Kirith Entwistle MP (Bolton North East, Labour)

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that the judge criticised, pursuing £5000 in legal costs from the very people it failed. Does my right honourable friend agree that authorities should be held accountable when serious consultation failures occur and residents should not be financially residents should not be financially penalised as a result of this?

13:09

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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This article troubling case in his constituency. He is absolutely right high-quality consultation for developments is imperative and doesn't sound like that happened and proper procedures were followed in this case, and I will certainly

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raise that with the ministers. Too many of my constituents in

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Too many of my constituents in Trapped in overcrowded homes, and as Trapped in overcrowded homes, and as a result, too many parents are left with no option but to share rooms with their adolescent children. Outdated overcrowding rules and a

13:09

Leigh Ingham MP (Stafford, Labour)

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Outdated overcrowding rules and a shortage of housing means pleas for help are routinely dismissed. Does my right honourable friend agree families deserve better and that everyone deserves a decent home fit for purpose?

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This government, she will know this government is absolutely committed to providing more committed to providing more affordable, more homes, so we can tackle the issue of poor housing she describes in her constituency. And I think this would make a really good

13:09

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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think this would make a really good topic for debate.

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I am sure the Leader of the House

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I am sure the Leader of the House is tired of hearing of the concert road chaos in villages, but my constituents and I are at our wits end. Conservative run Staffordshire

13:10

Phil Brickell MP (Bolton West, Labour)

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end. Conservative run Staffordshire County Council continues to ignore the chaos of the 851, a 53, junction, failing row areas like Baldwin skate yet again. Will the leader make time for a debate on serious plans for fixing our roads, and how we have to get the councils that I Conservative led to do that?

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I am sorry that yet again she had to raise the poorly managed roadworks in her constituency that roadworks in her constituency that Staffordshire County Council really need to get a grip on. It sounds need to get a grip on. It sounds like they are making a real mess of roadworks in her constituency, Ryan

13:10

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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roadworks in her constituency, Ryan M -- And I am sorry she keeps having to come to this House to raise them with me. When consultations with my

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When consultations with my That years of Tory government, there

13:11

David Burton-Sampson MP (Southend West and Leigh, Labour)

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That years of Tory government, there is an issue of housing for top under the 1985 Housing Act, living room is classed as sleeping accommodation, that means many families? Assiduously find themselves stuck in a housing register extended periods of time, with no priority when bidding, often with teenage children having to share a bedroom and with a complete lack of privacy. Will the Leader of the House allow debate in government time to address this

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critical issue? Well, housing waiting lists are far too high in this country, that's why we need more social housing, it

13:11

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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why we need more social housing, it is why we need more housing., and that is why this government is committed to delivering.

13:11

David Burton-Sampson MP (Southend West and Leigh, Labour)

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Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker, holders in Hendon and across the UK are being ripped off, charge excessive fees, or delivering poor service, that his wife me, along with colleagues and these ventures with colleagues and these ventures have called many of these countries in the Department to explain themselves. In a recent white paper, the government set out a strong plan the government set out a strong plan to enter this for good. I ask for a debate in government time for what can be done on a constituency level can be done on a constituency level to support these reforms, specifically help the government hold agencies to account while hold agencies to account while reforms are enacted to uphold the unfair charges they are being forced to pay.

13:12

Johanna Baxter MP (Paisley and Renfrewshire South, Labour)

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Well, leasehold and those scrupulous managing agents is a huge issue for many of our constituents, we are committed to ending the feudal leasehold system for good, we have a commonhold white paper, the Minister has announced how he is going to bring into effect previous measures of the previous government, and we will have a leasehold reform bill coming later in this session. So these constituents will get the So these constituents will get the

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recourse and services they do so. The procession of business questions, the Leader of the House

13:12

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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questions, the Leader of the House kindly joined me in congratulating one of my constituents, Jane Gallagher, who just received a progress award from the Bedfordshire promise, for her 25 years of voluntary service at the Johnson Learning Center, little did we know that at the same time, is recognising Jean's incredible service, the council were planning cuts to that vital service, leaving the service itself now in jeopardy. Does the Leader of the House condemn, join me in condemning those condemn, join me in condemning those cuts, and that she agreed that the local SNP run council should instead be using the money they have been be using the money they have been given by this UK Labour government to invest on these vital services?

13:13

Chris Law MP (Dundee Central, Scottish National Party)

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Absolutely, this government has ended austerity. By giving the Scottish government the biggest boost to the that I have ever had,

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we should not be seen cuts like they have. Constituents from Redditch will

13:13

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Constituents from Redditch will be sailing in December, in a bit of be sailing in December, in a bit of a stroke, in the Canary Islands and enter rigour, to raise funds for three charities. Helping to educate young people into a ditch on the danger of knives. Will the Leader of the House join me in commending the self-described for blokes, taking on such an extraordinary challenge to support these critical causes?

13:14

Dr Jeevun Sandher MP (Loughborough, Labour)

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I thought there was an invite to Antigua coming there, Madame Deputy Speaker, but alas not, but I will absolutely join him in congratulating and wishing well for blokes, Rob, Kevin, Matthew and Tom on their amazing charitable endeavours.

13:14

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Madame Deputy Speaker, potholes are a blight across my constituency, they are costing us £500 each time they damage our cars and the reason is because our rows have not been maintained by the Conservative run county council. So, does the county council. So, does the Minister believe on me the first of my constituents who vote to fix our my constituents who vote to fix our potholes are voting for brilliant Labour candidates across the villages? villages? Absolutely, after over a decade of Conservative chaos, our rows were left in a shocking state.

If people want the potholes fixing in this country, the need to vote Labour at

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next week's local elections. Safe spaces should be accessible

13:15

Julia Buckley MP (Shrewsbury, Labour)

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Safe spaces should be accessible to all, regardless of ability or disability, that is not always the disability, that is not always the case. The people in my county, looking to change that through this campaign for the Leader of the House join me in congratulating the young people of Norfolk for pushing this and will she make time for a debate on the importance of inclusive play?

13:15

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Absolutely right, players critical and I am pleased to see young people in Norfolk and her constituency are making it such a priority.

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Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker, this village has recently seen its rural outreach post office service with just two days notice. The

13:15

Adam Jogee MP (Newcastle-under-Lyme, Labour)

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with just two days notice. The underlying closure affects three villages, given no explanation nor consultation with the Postmaster Council or the three members of Parliament. In clear breach of the printable some engagement set out by the government. Can a leader please raise with the Minister for centroid the serious concerns my residence,

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and ensure the post office is fulfilling its obligations of a rural communities? Post office closures are really

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Post office closures are really serious matter for this House and I will implore her and she is doing today as a local MP, she stands up today as a local MP, she stands up for the post office services in her constituency, and campaigns for them to remain open, absolutely ensure

13:16

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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to remain open, absolutely ensure Will the leader join me in paying tribute to my constituents, Sue Jackson from Stafford and others, all members of the branch of the Alzheimer's Research UK. They have Alzheimer's Research UK. They have raised £15,000 in many ways colluding the human fruit machine. colluding the human fruit machine. Can she assure me and people in Newcastle that conditions like Alzheimer's and dementia will be at the heart of our plans to tackle early diagnosis? early diagnosis?

13:16

Susan Murray MP (Mid Dunbartonshire, Liberal Democrat)

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Tackling issues like Alzheimer's and dementia are at the heart of our early diagnosis strategy. We are determined to expand research and innovation into Alzhiemer's across all areas. Yesterday and today hundreds of young people in my constituency celebrated their final day at school celebrated their final day at school with the SQA exam period starting with the SQA exam period starting tomorrow. Leaving school and moving on to wherever it's a big transition in life. With the Leader of the in life.

With the Leader of the House join me to wish all of these young people the best with their exams and what comes next? Can we have a debate celebrating the have a debate celebrating the importance of these transitions?

13:17

Chris Vince MP (Harlow, Labour )

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I absolutely join her in wishing all her constituents, all young people in the constituency and across this house the very best of luck in the exams they will be

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sitting over the coming weeks. Final question. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

13:17

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Congratulations to yourself on that. Will that Leader of the House join Will that Leader of the House join me in congratulating the players, staff, and volunteers of a team staff, and volunteers of a team often known as the non-league Man City, Harlow town football club from the first division? I would she also wish them luck to do the double in two weeks time in the league cup final?

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He may be last but certainly not least. I will definitely join him in congratulating Harlow town football congratulating Harlow town football

13:18

Legislation: Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Bill [Lords]: Remaining stages

club. Maybe they have a Halla Haalaand if they are like Manchester

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city. Clark will proceed to read the orders of the day.

13:18

Mark Garnier MP (Wyre Forest, Conservative)

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Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Bill to be (Recapitalisation) Bill to be

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We will We will begin We will begin with We will begin with new We will begin with new clause We will begin with new clause 3 with which it will be appropriate to with which it will be appropriate to consider the amendments. I call that Shadow Minister to move the new clause.

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clause. I beg to move that the new clause be read.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Before I move on to new clause 3 Before I move on to new clause 3 specifically, let me reiterate that we on this side of the house welcome we on this side of the house welcome the government's decision to carryover the legislation from the last Parliament. And the principles underpinning the bill continued to enjoy strong cross-party support. We all want and need confidence in our banking sector. The failure of Silicon Valley Bank, SVB, exposed a gap in our resolution framework for smaller banks.

Unlike larger institutions they do not have the bail bond backup in the event of a crisis was not this is why this bill by providing the bank of England with new tools to manage small bank failures remains both prudent and necessary, to protect financial stability and public funds. As we move to consider the amendments that we have tabled at report stage, I want to make clear that our approach is constructive and focused on strengthening the bill and not obstructing its progress.

As the bill has made progress through both houses, our intention has been to address a series of smaller but nonetheless significant issues, and things that we believe require further attention. I appreciate this conversation may continue another day. So I welcome conversations with the Minister and she has a was been incredibly open to direct conversations in her usual pragmatic style. If I may start with new clause 3. We have three amendments grouped for discussion today. Firstly I will speak to you clause 3 addresses a critical gap in this build scope which is protection of credit unions.

These community focused institutions have seen significant increases in recent years driven by the ending of predatory payday lenders. And they deliver affordable finance. Membership of a credit union rose from 1.89 million in 2019 to 2.14 million of years later, yet while their importance has grown, their inclusion in our resolution framework has not kept pace. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme has paid £10.1 million in compensation to credit union depositors over the last three financial years primarily due to small-scale failures.

This underscores the potential vulnerability and the need for a tailored approach as the sector expands. Their growth is a success story that it demands proportional safeguards. This bill excludes credit unions from recapitalisation mechanism. While their smaller size and unique nature may differentiate them from banks, the question remains, how does it account for credit union failures as the sector scales up? Is there scope to develop a mechanism without posing undue burdens on these community institutions? New clause 3 seeks clarity.

It requires the Minister to produce a report outlining how the resolution framework can be adapted to protect credit unions. During their growth does not outstrip the regulatory state. The vast amount of legislation for credit unions was written back in the 1970s. The previous government made difficult reforms through amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Act. I welcome that common bond reform consultation which closed last month. I know the Minister and the government are giving this sector serious consideration, I'm sure she will agree with me this is not about applying bank style laws to mutuals recognising the unique role and risks.

Credit unions are more than financial institutions, they are engines of financial inclusion. They serve small working class community is and I know the government wants to support them specifically. As the sector involves so must our approach we must ensure the regulatory framework rose and I hope the government supports the amendment. And does no more than to look more clearly at the available options in terms of a crisis happens. I now turn to amendments to which seeks to address the concern which has been raised by their mutual and building society sector.

These institutions are not relics of the past, they are vital proponents of a financial ecosystem. Although the society was ecosystem. Although the society was set up in 18 1875 helping people to build financial resilience to get a home of their own, they are still very current today. Today building societies hold money in assets and provide over 3 million mortgages to people in the UK because represent a significant portion of the housing market and are a trusted source of savings for millions more.

They provide a clear and important diversification in our financial markets providing a clear alternative to shareholder banks. The party opposite stood on a clear manifesto commitment in doubling the size of the co-operative mutuals sector, it is something we would agree on. There is a good opportunity today for members of the party opposite to demonstrate that commitment to the sector by enshrining in this bill the requirements that the bank of England considers the risk of demutualisation when using mechanism enshrined in this bill.

There is a genuine fear from the building society sector that without proper safeguards, recapitalisation mechanism that this bill offers could inadvertently become a backdoor for demutualisation. The mutual institution faces resolution in the selection of the PLC sector which risks permanently dismantling its mutual status. Undermining the very ethos that makes these institutions unique. Our amendment provides a proportionate solution. It requires the bank of England to consider the impact of demutualisation on members and on the sector as a whole, whilst also exploring the feasibility of selecting the mutual sector purchaser.

If one both exists and meets resolution objectives. This is not about privileging mutuals at the expense of financial stability but ensuring the banks tools do not inadvertently modernise the landscape. It devastates the need for agile solution frameworks and the importance of preserving institutional diversity. Mutuals and building societies often serve communities and demographics that larger banks frequently overlooked. The gaps in financial inclusion week in the sector. Importantly, without millions of mortgages provided by the building society sector, particularly for first-time homeowners, the party opposite housebuilding plans would be possible.

Hope the Minister appreciate our amendment strikes a careful balance between safeguarding financial stability and honouring our commitment to a pluralistic banking system, one where mutuals continue to thrive as a cornerstone of community focused finance. I remind members opposite, it will be much harder to double the size of the mutual sector if, in the event of a failure, it is recapitalisation as the default mechanism towards the banking sector. So I hope the party opposite demonstrate the manifesto commitment to the sector.

If I may now turn to amendment one, there remains a genuine concern shared across this house and reflected in the debates on the other place about the risk of the recapitalisation mechanism being applied wrongly. Potentially capturing larger banks that already hold substantial lost resources. We believe the mechanism should be limited in scope and targeted at smaller banks who do not have the capacity to manage their own failure. Amendment one would never be used as the mechanism of this bill for matters other than intended, and I appreciate the new clause 1 and new clause two have already been ruled out of scope but it may be worth looking at those.

I hope to place on record today that we believe the time has come for a review of how we set the threshold, as well as protecting ceilings for depositors under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The currents statistic threshold disproportionally affect small and mid-sized banks. By indexing MREL threshold this will not stifle threshold this will not stifle competition. It would hinder their requirements to compete with larger banks. We hope the government will consider these points. Threshold limit should not stay static with time.

Likewise, the government recognition and the need to review the deposit limit. And the deposit protection scheme from £85,000 from £85,000-£110,000, whilst welcome, it certainly overdue. But it is worth noting that if the limit kept pace with inflation it would be nearly 2/3 higher at around £140,000 according to the Federation of Small Businesses. It is worth noting that only 4.6% of banks were insured by the Financial Services Compensation

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Scheme. Can I remind the honourable

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Can I remind the honourable gentleman that we are discussing what is in scope rather than what has not been selected.

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has not been selected. My apologies. There are points which are worth noting but I take which are worth noting but I take your point. If I may return to your point. If I may return to amendment three, this is the amendment tabled by the Liberal Democrats. Whilst we share the Democrats. Whilst we share the intent behind this amendment which mirrors our own amendment, there is a critical difference in the approach which gives us reason to pause. Like us, the Liberal Democrats recognise that in state and World Bank should not be the prime target of this legislation.

It introduces a requirement that we believe would create more problems than it solves. Our concern lies with the potential impracticality of this approach. Banking crises can unfold rapidly and as we saw with Silicon Valley Bank UK, where decisions were made in hours not days. Statutory Instrument laid becomes law the moment it is signed. Remaining so, however, unless either house rejects it within 40 sitting days. This creates a window of uncertainty. If there was a Hung Parliament, it could trigger a banking crisis.

We worry this necklace and could tie the hands of the future Chancellor hindering their ability to respond swiftly and decisively in a crisis. Those reasons we feel we cannot support the Bill as it stands. Finally, turning to the liberal democrats growth amendment, we find ourselves in a familiar and supportive position. This amendment which seeks to place a further objective on the bank of England to pursue competitiveness and growth in the market before directing recapitalisation of failing small banks, echoes concerns raised in the House of Lords where we were happy to support during the committee stage.

The government frequently repeats its focus on economic growth. It is a goal all of us share. The decision to levy the banking sector to cover the cost of the competitors failure must be carefully weighed against the carefully weighed against the The government has an opportunity to look at this legislation, and we hope they will. We support the overall bill, which will strengthen our banking resolution framework. And we have highlighted several key areas which we believe require further detail.

To protecting mutual credit unions and safeguarding the financial services compensation scheme against inflation, our amendments aimed to improve the Bill's effectiveness and fairness, and not only that, but something that is in line with the promises of the party opposite made during the general election so I look forward to the party opposite supporting to the party opposite supporting their own manifesto.

13:32

David Pinto-Duschinsky MP (Hendon, Labour)

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The question is that new clause 3

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we read a second time. I speak of amendments one, three and four. Under the party opposite, we need to boost long-term growth, ensuring a recovery regime as a key ensuring a recovery regime as a key part of that. Changes undertaken in the UK and globally have made banks the UK and globally have made banks safer and more resilient. However, the collapse of Silicon Valley banking in 2023 has demonstrated the need for risks of financial stability posed by small banks.

We need to have a process that goes beyond, and that is why we enjoy so much support across the financial services sector. But in designing this new approach, we must make sure that we reflect the lessons of experience. I have to say that I am concerned that these amendments do not do so and will impede the function of a new regime, rendering it less effective in moments of crisis. I was the adviser in the Treasury to Alistair Darling during the financial crisis when we had to resolve and recapitalise a number of major banks.

The action the Labour government took then often in the face of resistance from the benches opposite help save our financial sector from catastrophe and stabilise not just the UK but the global economy. There are many lessons to be learned from that period, but in relation of that bill, one stands out. What we learned from we had to save the banking sector was that successful resolution relies on two key factors, speed and flexibility. It is a congregation of these factors and he has only become more so.

In 2008, we watched banks liquidity deteriorate by the day, but now, as an example of signature banks collapse, the condemnation of banking apps and social media mean that a full-scale banking run can develop in hours or minutes. If we are to resolve banks successfully, regulators must be able to move successfully. Speed has become more important than ever. So too has flexibility. As we see diversification among banks and new challenges, new forms of institution and new types of markets emerging, this has become more essential, not less.

The valuer flexibility was demonstrated in Silicon Valley thanks UK subsidiary where was the creative use of powers to resolve banks to assail that protected consumers, minimised market turbulence and shield of the public purse. Rigidity and mechanistic failure to apply major bankrolls with regulatory oversight contributes to knowledge of that. Why do I raise this? I worry that it will reduce the efficacy of the bill. This will require the bank to consider the competitiveness and growth impact of the market.

However well-intentioned this is, this could have a very damaging effect. In a moment of crisis where policymakers have hours to act, it would place a duty on them to make a market assessment which could be challenged. This is simply impractical and we can slow down financial stability. As someone who was sat in the room during a bailout process, I have to tell the proposer of the amendments that spending time on this exercise is simply a luxury you do not have.

I'm also concerned that such a requirement would have a that such a requirement would have a chilling effect. This could not only raise collapse, but raise capitalisation as well. Experience tells us that the longer you turn off inclusion, it is a risk of higher cost. There are practical difficulties which is flawed. In seeking to analyse the market with an institution, you are putting the cart before the horse. Surely a much better course of action is to prevent the disorderly collapse of the institution and then work out its long-term future and the role it should play in the market.

The amendment fails to take into account other objectives that we should consider in deciding whether to act including the protection of retail savers and safeguarding macro stability. As drafted, the amendment, however well-intentioned, could distort decision-making. It's impact might not be. The same is true of amendments one and three. Both seem to circumscribe the use of statute to prevent it being used to bailout larger institutions. The amendment would rob regulators of the flexible it is to you raise the instrument in unforeseen circumstances in the name of solving a problem that does not exist.

The powers provided for by the bill are already aimed squarely at smaller banks. The bill states that the FSC S fund and resolution may only be used for institutions in a bridge bank or transferred to a new institution, and this wouldn't be applicable for larger banks as they are expected to be resolved. The bill also provides for Treasury sign off which requires a chancer to report to Parliament on the use of powers and mandates the bank to inform the chairs of the Parliamentary committees whenever a fund and resolution is undertaken.

As such, it is already well policed and circumscribed. There is little danger of this approach being regularly or routinely used in large banks, and adding a prohibition on using this approach in firms meeting their thresholds would add little. But it would create risk. My experience in the Treasury during the global financial crisis and in my work across financial services since then is that we cannot say the highly improbable will never happen, and we cannot always predict what form this will take what will trigger it.

I understand this lesson better than most. It was Liz Truss's disastrous budget that sparked chaos and people thought would be stable. Given this, it would be exceptionally unwise to bar the PRA to use all the tools at its disposal in exceptional circumstances. With eventualities, these things are possible like suffering mass redress event. We must allow bank flexibility to have access to tools provided in circumstances to ensure stability and protect the taxpayer. We must not bind its hand in a crisis.

The power of the proposals to deploy rapidly is what will give them their traction and help safeguard our financial stability. It is critical we preserve those assets of the bill and it is for that reason that I urge the house to

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join me and reject those amendments. I call Clive Jones. The Liberal Democrats are

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The Liberal Democrats are supportive of this bill because the last thing taxpayers need to worry last thing taxpayers need to worry about are the consequences of an under regulated banking sector. under regulated banking sector. However, I have put this on because the size of banks eligible for the the size of banks eligible for the new mechanism has been part of the keys passage. The regulator has set keys passage. The regulator has set out the bill stated aim is to respond to the failure of small respond to the failure of small banks, however, it is not applied to medium or small -sized banks.

It can create higher costs for banks and customers. These would persist for many years, adding a significant

13:42

Clive Jones MP (Wokingham, Liberal Democrat)

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burden of the banking sector and burden of the banking sector and consumers. Our amendment would ensure that this is not applied to the banks that have reached in a the banks that have reached in a state of minimum requirement for funds and eligible liabilities, or more simply for the UK banks. This more simply for the UK banks. This would therefore mean only small and mean banks can be supported by this mechanism and protect consumers and the banking sector from unnecessary the banking sector from unnecessary financial burden.

Leading to amendment for, this is been bought back to the Committee stage to replace the objective and consider the growth of the market before directing their recapitalisation through a levy on the banking sector. We believe further considerations or competitiveness and growth of the market are important to consider before directing the recapitalisation of failing small banks. To conclude, I would be very grateful of going into further details of remarks at Committee stage as to how precisely the amendment would complicate the process of managing the bank process of managing the bank

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failure. Thank you. It is a wizard pleasure to speak and your championship. I would like and your championship. I would like to thank the honourable members opposite for your amendments and opposite for your amendments and their constructive engagement throughout the bill's passage. This bill will ensure that the Bank of England remains equipped with the England remains equipped with the necessary tools to effectively manage bank failures in a way that minimises risk to the taxpayer,

13:43

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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minimises risk to the taxpayer, protecting the taxpayer and to UK stability. While there may be some agreement on the finer detail of this bill, I think what we have heard today and second reading demonstrates that there is cross- party support for the principles and overall objectives of this bill I overall objectives of this bill I thank the honourable member for Wokingham for what you said today about supporting the principles and objectives of the bill. The amendments in this group cover a broad range of issues, so I will therefore explain the government's permission on them in turn, but I also want to thank my honourable friend for her ending for sitting out his experience of the banking crisis and stressing that the mechanism that we are seeking to provide in this bill must allow the Bank of England in consultation with the Treasury and the other financial services to act with speed and flexibility at times of crisis.

There are hours not days to which to make these decisions, and at the forefront of our minds when discussing this bill, we have to member this often takes place over the weekend, as it did under the previous government. I will turn to that example in a bit more detail later in my speech, but I want to thank my honourable friend for setting out his concerns for any amendments that would essentially stymie the effectiveness of this stymie the effectiveness of this bill.

I will now turn to new clause 3 which is about the bills impact on credit unions, and I note the shadow minister raises an important number of issues because some of them are not relevant to the content of this bill but I will come onto them. The government overall absolutely supports credit unions. They play a vital role in providing affordable credit in communities across the country. However, they are not in scope of the resolution regime which we are discussing today. And therefore not in scope of the new payment mechanism introduced by this payment mechanism introduced by this That is a benefit to the credit union sector and something that they asked the government to do and therefore they will not be liable to pay towards the cost of a failure when the mechanism is used.

I wanted to set out the detail about the resolution regime and why credit unions are not involved and remained the shadow minister of this. The Bank of England has a set of powers under the regime that it can use to manage the failure of banking institutions to protect financial stability. In order for the Bank of England to use these powers, certain conditions must be met including that resolution action is necessary and in the public interest. It is unlikely these conditions would be met in the case of credit union field was given the size and the reduced likelihood of contagion if they fail.

It is therefore appropriate that these firms are out of the scope of the regime and placed into insolvency when they fail instead. The government does not therefore believe it is necessary for a report to be And credit unions. Nevertheless, I appreciate the points he is making about access to liquidity facilities. Credit unions are not currently able to access the Bank of England's liquidity facilities but the bank continually assesses the firms that are eligible. I would gently say that with eligibility to these liquidity facilities, there comes additional responsibilities on the part of the firms that benefit from them.

That is worth bearing in mind. I would reiterate the clear and strong support of the government for the credit union sector and that we continue to engage to understand compete.

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I commend and support the credit unions because they have a big part to play. For the record, my concern to play. For the record, my concern when it comes to crisis in banks, when it comes to crisis in banks, credit unions belong to members but the banks are different and they have got the chief executive and the directors and I believe there is an directors and I believe there is an issue with unfairness and you have got a pensioner who has saved all of got a pensioner who has saved all of their life and they still get dividends and bonus regardless of the crisis.

Within this legislation, can be be reassured that the bankers at the top who may be responsible will find that the bonuses will not be delivered?

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He draws me into discussing something that is not pertinent to something that is not pertinent to the amendments but I understand why he has asked a question. When a bank he has asked a question. When a bank fails there is a hierarchy of creditors. That ensures that those... I can write to him with the those... I can write to him with the hierarchy. I do not have it in my pack or my head at the moment. It pack or my head at the moment.

It ensures that those who have already invested in the bank, for example, if the bank is building, they would become stakeholders of the bank. -- bailed in. It depends where it is in the process. I am happy to write to him about it. The people who have deposits in the bank are bank accounts are protected up to £85,000 and soon that will be increasing in the way that the shadow minister suggested. Come back to the amendments. I turned to amendments one and three in the name of the honourable member for Wake Forest There were discussions in the other place on this issue, too.

The government position remains that the mechanism is not intended to support the largest banks and this was set out. The largest banks will be continued to self-insure against their own failure. For banks required to, the Bank of England should use these resources to recapitalise such a resolution rather than resorting to the new mechanism in the bill. It is right that shareholders and investors should bear the losses before anyone else. That comes into the points raised by the honourable gentleman.

Coming back to the primary purpose, protecting the taxpayer. Bank failure is by its nature highly unthinkable. In the unlikely circumstances where a top up is needed to resolve a bank once the MREL resources have been used, they MREL resources have been used, they must consider if they want the cost to be borne by the taxpayer. It is the belief of the government the taxpayer should not be on the hook for this. I made this assertion at the committee stage and make it again today.

There are safeguards to prevent inappropriate use of the mechanism. The Treasury is involved in the use of resolution powers and the Treasury would need to approve any resolution action with implications for public funds. The Bank of England requested a large sum from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme which it could not provide through its own resources, additional amounts would need to be borrowed from the Treasury and would therefore require the approval of the tragedy. This means in practice Treasury consent would be required if the Bank of England had requested a large sum in the shadow minister attempting to draw me into different subjects relating to MREL which rightly I think you have reminded him of the scope of the bill and indeed the amendments that we are discussing today.

I would of course be happy to have those discussions with him and it is something that he knows the Bank of England have recently consulted on. I know what he said in the debate before he was called to order. He tried to draw me into questions around the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. I appreciate amendment three tabled by the honourable member for

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Wokingham... Yes. I am sorry. I am suffering with

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I am sorry. I am suffering with my sinuses. I appreciate the scope is limited and the Minister is making an excellent case today and I making an excellent case today and I would ask if she could write to me would ask if she could write to me on a related point which is that bank collapses are unusual and bank collapses are unusual and everyone takes a range of steps to protect. Would she be able to write protect.

Would she be able to write Of the bank was to collapse? Three perhaps we could have a discussion outside the chamber so I can better understand this question but you mechanism in this bill is about what happens when the resolution regime is triggered. Four conditions have to be met. The bill seeks to continue in the work the opposition to forward before the election and what we do in cases like Silicon Valley Bank and how we ensure, if there was no records to public one, but that there had been, to protect the taxpayer.

Perhaps we could have a different discussion. It is of great concern to members across the House. I appreciate the amendment to introduce an additional safeguard by only allowing it at the Treasury permitted through legislation and we talked about that in his speech. I would say that there may be risks associated with this approach and particularly the Bank of England had to take a decision at pace and crisis in the way my honourable friend that when situations arose. friend that when situations arose.

We discussed... We discussed some of these... There are a number of bot let's not recover the history. As the shadow minister has suggested, we are trying to avoid a window of uncertainty during which an SI would be laid. We have to work closely in consultation with the Treasury and other regulators and the Bank of England must act quickly and decisively, often over the weekend. I would like members and the honourable gentleman to cast your honourable gentleman to cast your mind back to previous failures.

We learned how quickly the authorities, the Bank of England and the Treasury must move to find a solution before markets open and resolve a failing firm in a way that protects financial stability and the taxpayer and protecting the taxpayer, depositors and financial stability must be at the forefront of our minds when making the amendments. Potentially the amendment he puts forward without a further stage to the process and the Treasury would be unable to allow the Bank of England to act and this could hamper efforts to implement decisions swiftly to achieve objectives and saw of Silicon Valley Bank UK had had the requirements, it would have made finding the solution before the Monday morning and markets opening more challenging.

The priority is to protect depositors and financial stability. Overall, the government believes it is better for flexibility of the bank, noting the safeguards in place I have mentioned. On the bitters of the points, I hope the honourable members will be persuaded to support the government position on this matter. It is a matter of intention. Let me turn to amendment four of the honourable member for Wokingham and another passage and this would be about the competitive advantage ready Bank of England exercise you to new power.

Growth and competitiveness are fundamental priorities for this government and I stated at committee stage, a disorderly bank failure of could pose a serious risk that the competitiveness of the sector and the UK economy and this bill seeks to mitigate that risk. Taking that and bearing that in mind, the government does not believe it should impose a requirement of the Bank of England to consider the growth and competitiveness when it is taking urgent crisis management action in relation to an individual distressed are failing from.

The situation is challenging enough without being given an additional objective of this kind. The resolution objectives set out in the banking act already provide a solid basis on which it must make its decisions. These include detecting financial stability, protecting corporate depositors, and protecting the taxpayer. As my honourable friend reminded us, the Bank of England in close partnership with the Treasury and other financial services regulators needs to act with speed and flexibility to maintain financial stability. These considerations are very different to the ones the PRA and FCA are making in policy admitting roles and the government accepts the secondary objective of facilitating growth and competitiveness.

I note there is a broader question around this but it is a complex matter and one well beyond the scope of this bill and we will be resisting this amendment for those reasons. Finally, Madam Deputy Speaker... The debate has attracted quite a lot of discussion around the edges. I will turn briefly... I can hear myself thinking it would be nice. Turning to the amendment proposed by the Shadow Minister, I would reiterate the government has made clear strong commitment to support the mutual sector and I assure hand we take the commitment in the manifesto to double the size of the sector very seriously.

There are many honourable members on this side of the House who save us Labour and co-opted MPs who have a great interest in this matter as has been demonstrated. I would also point to measures set out by the Chancellor which include, to refer to a couple of them, the reform, the consultation and the potential to perform common bonds with unions in Great Britain. The Chancellor asked Financial Conduct Authority and Potential to produce a report that the landscape of mutuals by the end of the year.

We welcome the establishment of a business Council and I took the first meeting of that council earlier this year. I would start by saying and grateful to the honourable gentleman for raising this issue and to say also that the chief executive of the Building Society Association has written to me on the issue he raised that we are getting with him and the sector on the issues relating to the bill and many other issues that are relevant to financial services and the role the sector plays in providing vital services to people across the country and as an engine of growth for the wider economy.

I understand that the sector's interestedly matters stems from a provision in clause 7 which gives the Bank of England explicit power to require securities issued by the firm for the new mechanism is in place. This provides a means for the bank of England to have recapitalisation of the new mechanism established by the bill at the property to provide additional operational certainty that where there went it's a failing fund to issue shares as part of resolution, doing so will not be put at risk by the usual administrative process and of course Mitchell is of a different ownership model with no shareholders and so that would require the from to be demutualised.

This brings me to the amendment which would require further detail and the code of practice for the mutualisation and particularly the Treasury would have to look at this with regard to resolution powers on a building society under circumstances where the use of recapitalisation would lead to this. A cadence would require the back of to give due consideration to the impact of such an issue and on the mutual sector and in particular where the bank of England could select a buyer from the mutual sector.

The Bank of the mutual sector. The Bank of England must have regard for the court I need regard to the new guidance with resolution power and in responding to the concerns raised, I would firstly not the back of want already has a power to require demutualisation if that is necessary to execute resolution necessary to execute resolution Transfer of the assets of a neutral firm to another acquirer, and we saw that in 2009 with the building society and the transfer of its assets to nationwide back then.

It's assets may well prove an attractive acquisition to another mutual and so a sale to the sector may already be a likely outcome an existing regime. However, it is worth remembering that the issues we are considering here relate to banks and bank societies once they have failed, and the alternative as part of a resolution may be insolvency, which may have far more adverse Karen Karen mind Karen mind honourable Karen mind honourable members Karen mind honourable members that this is fundamentally about this is fundamentally about this is fundamentally about

14:04

Mark Garnier MP (Wyre Forest, Conservative)

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It doesn't mean it is necessary to hardwire a requirement to the code of practice. However, I do of practice. However, I do understand that this is an issue that the mutual sector feel strongly about and my officials and I will about and my officials and I will continue to engage with them on it. continue to engage with them on it. If I can address one or two points that have been raised in this debate, the honourable member for Hendon is an incredible value which member because of his ability in that date.

As a result of the financial service, almost compound the problem by having a tripartite regime at the time, and if I remember rightly, the Chancellor of the Exchequer found it so scary that his eyebrows nearly turned white, but I think one of the surprising things about that crisis was that 10 years earlier, we have seen another crisis in the Asian banking crisis crisis in the Asian banking crisis which laid the groundwork. A Parliamentary for banking standards meant that I looked exclusively at all of this, and it is important that we have to resolve this, and as it turned out, the banking reform act 2014 have worked well in the case of some of its resolutions.

On the point about LBI's, we did deal with this problem pretty swiftly and pretty brutally. One of our leaders gets us wrong, we do get rid of them fairly quickly, and I urge the party opposite that of members of the Frontbench to get things wrong, perhaps it should be worth court arising that problem and moving on. Specifically on the two points, credit unions and mutuals absolutely. We recognise the mutual point about the mutual sector. We are not asking for demutualisation to be ruled out, but what I am asking is the prospect of avoiding this to be part of that very swift process and that is why we will move the relevant amendment.

And on the relevant amendment. And on credit unions, the credit unions are credit unions, the credit unions are very keen that this point is voted on, so we will be moving that as well. Thank you.

14:06

Division

14:33

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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engagement. There is broad agreement on the primary agreements of the on the primary agreements of the bill, but there is a differing view which has been expressed on the scope of the mechanism and the finer details. I would reiterate the government's position that it is important to learn the lessons from the cases of silicon valley which demonstrates that the implication of the firms failure cannot always be anticipated prior to the event as anticipated prior to the event as things move very quickly indeed.

It is important that the legislation avoids being overly restricted on the Bank of England's ability to use the mechanism in an unpredictable and fast moving failure scenario. Ensuring that the mechanism achieves its primary objective of protecting the taxpayer. I hope that those in the other place will agree that the government's position when the bill returns for their consideration, but at this stage, I would like to thank the shadow minister, the members for Dorking and Horley, Wokingham, and the honourable members on both sides of the house that sat on the committee, and I would also like to thank the member for Hampshire and the honourable members for St Albans and Bridgwater for their contributions at second reading and I would like to thank my honourable friend the Minister for who assisted in second reading who supported me, as well as the member for Newcastle-under-Lyme.

I would like to extend my thanks again to my honourable friend for Hendon for his speech earlier today at report stage. I would like to extend my gratitude to officials for their work in developing a highly technical bill, one that is not easy to be rushed, and supporting me throughout the Bill's passage through the house. I'm also grateful to the Parliamentary Counsel and all other officials in the passage of the bill. This bill supports the U.K.'s economic resilience to the risks posed by bank failures.

We all remember the damage caused by the financial crisis, and this alongside financial crisis, and this alongside measures in an orderly way that will deliver on the government's growth deliver on the government's growth mission. We have cross-party support mission. We have cross-party support in this house and look forward to its enactment, and I commend this bill to the house. bill to the house.

14:36

Mark Garnier MP (Wyre Forest, Conservative)

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The question is that a bill be

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called 1/3 time. Congratulations for bringing her

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Congratulations for bringing her first bell. She has done a first bell. She has done a magnificent job but can I just add what a pleasure it is to engage with what a pleasure it is to engage with the Minister who is summer we both share the common interests of the wider economy, and we have worked together on this but the overall together on this but the overall objective of this bill is one that we agree on. I spent some time looking at how we can stop another banking crisis with the privileged to work 2012.

All of this stuff is an iterative process. We will never be able to stop and cease financial crisis happening, or we can do is work together to make sure there are no other instances again we can put through the system, and this bill is one that is extraordinarily good in this iterative business but it genuinely is very important. I would also like to pay credit to the former Chancellor and economic secretary who worked tirelessly to transfer over the weekend.

This undoubtedly created issues with the system, but we are glad that this bill is something that is welcome in terms of Parliament. I think we will almost certainly look at things over the next few years, but we will the next few years, but we will engage with her and her officials and make sure that we do have a and make sure that we do have a world-class financial system that is the enemy of the world. Thank you.

14:38

Adjournment: Flood preparedness in Carlisle

If there are no further contributions, the question is that

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a bill be read third time. I beg to move this house to now adjourn.

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adjourn. I will give frontbenchers a

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I will give frontbenchers a moment to change over. The question is at this house do now adjourn.

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is at this house do now adjourn. Thank you. I am pleased to have secured an adjournment debates on a

14:38

Ms Julie Minns MP (Carlisle, Labour)

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secured an adjournment debates on a topic that is so important to my constituency of Carlisle. In the last two decades, Carlisle has suffered two devastating floods, to floods that have left local people fearful whenever there is a forecast of heavy rain. In the flight of January 2005, at that time, the worst flood since 1822. Three local people tragically lost their lives. Thousands were forced from their homes as 1800 properties were overcome by water from the three rivers that converge in the centre of Carlisle.

Power and telephone lines were disrupted, roads were closed, all of the city buses were damaged. The Civic Centre designated as the emergency control centre along with the police station, the fire station, the main electricity substation, the telephone exchange, and the sewage treatment works were all severely flooded. It was record rainfall that caused that flood of 2005, but just 10 years later, that record was shattered and Carlisle was flooded again. This time, 2200 properties were breached with floodwater.

With floods in both 2005 and 2015, I think the Minister will understand why many of my residents are concerned that, in 2025, another year ending in five might bring further devastation to our city. That fear is heightened because the defences that were promised by the previous government following the 2015 flood whenever completed. It is a fear that I can personally relate to. In 1985, my family's home in the Denton area of Carlisle, one of the areas still at risk because of those flow defences was flooded when the river burst its banks.

I can personally testify to the feeling of terror and helplessness when your home is invaded by water. Wading through what was once your living room, surveying possessions and furniture destroyed beyond repair. It is a horrible, crushing feeling. And even after the water subsides, the smell of damp and sewage remains. Returning to any sort of normality can take months, even years. My parents had spent the best part of two decades creating a home that they loved, and my Nan still talks of it.

But after the flood, she can never shake the sense or smell of damp, and then we had moved house. Over the next five years, £38 million was spent on the design, construction flood defences of the culture rivers. These were designed to protect from storm happening, and they did make a major difference. In 2012 and 2013, the defences were estimated to have prevented INXS of £80 million of flood damage to the city. But on 5 December 2015, storm Desmond hit Carlisle.

It was a storm with just one in 333 chance. It triggered the highest number of rainfall. Flood levels were approximately 600 million m higher than those experienced in 2005. Such was the extent of the flood that the crossbar post was submerged underwater. Fortunately, no one lost their life, and while the recently constructed defences were effective in some locations, it was quite clear that more needed to be done. Progress has been made in subsequent years, and I commend the Environment Agency for that.

Since the catastrophic floods of 2015, someone thousand 650 homes are better protected thanks to over 6 km of new or raised flood defences. Alongside improving converts and their associated inlet or outlet structures. The Carlisle phase 1 completed in 21 have increased protections for homes and businesses around Warwick Road around Carlisle. The Carlisle phase 2 scheme also competed in 2021 which raised defences providing further detection to the Hardwicke services. Schemes have also reduced the flood to local communities.

And it was particularly excellent to see the latter of these receiving innovative and low carbon approach of removing historic embankments to increase the effectiveness of natural floodplains.

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My honourable friend is making an excellent and powerful speech about excellent and powerful speech about this awful problem on her part of this awful problem on her part of England. Are there wider lessons that can be learned from the that can be learned from the techniques she is describing such as using natural materials and changes using natural materials and changes of land use for river catchments? This may be the case in the Thames Valley where the Thames and Kennet have flooded, and with climate change, they are providing levels of risk than they did in the past.

There may be a range of issues, and There may be a range of issues, and There may be a range of issues, and

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I think that there are lessons to be learned, not least because Carlisle has been so badly affected by flooding which is so devastating that certainly the schemes, in particular in terms of maximising particular in terms of maximising the flood lanes, lessons could be shared and I will talk more generally about the natural flood generally about the natural flood defence work that has happened on the outskirts of the city. As I say, the number of schemes to the north the number of schemes to the north of Carlisle, natural solutions like planting trees and the creation of wetlands have been used to mitigate against flooding.

All while providing wider environmental benefits to the community and the new natural flood management scheme is being delivered at the farm, offering further protection to Brampton. Also the river was threatened more than 200 years ago threatened more than 200 years ago and it has been assessed and a 1.1km of the riverbed has been returned to the natural state. During heavy periods of rainfall, the river can now spill out onto the natural surrounding floodplain medals, helping reduce the chance of flooding downstream towards Carlisle as well I the added bonus of creating pools and damp patches for birds to feed on and I'm delighted that earlier this month the that earlier this month the restoration won a prestigious flood protection award for 2025.

Schemes like this have an important role to play. I urge the Minister to look closely at how a redesigned SFR can compensate farmers to do the right thing by the local community for the loss of income they might have otherwise earned from farmland they have given over to natural flood management schemes. There is also the Carlisle Flood action plan. the Carlisle Flood action plan. Since funding in 2016, there is campaigning for the funding the city needs.

It is one of many examples that show Carlisle at its very best. Our community is one that binds together and nothing perhaps encapsulates that better than it taking just 14 days from the floods in 2015 to get to the aforementioned park up and running and ready for matches once again. Some might say that given the form this season, we could use a delay to the end of it. Let me be clear, more does need to be done. In January of last year, river levels threatened to overwhelm the city again.

Last May, the rainfall equivalent to a one in 300 year storm led to flooding of 100 properties in Scotland. The changing climate only makes these sorts of storms more common. The environment agency believes that the impact of climate change in the River Eden catchment which covers the majority of the constituency will be more severe than the vast majority of the catchments in England. At the very top of the list of what must be done is the flood risk management scheme which many in make it that UNC will which many in make it that UNC will now as the phase 3 scheme which was not delivered by the last government.

The objective is to reduce flood risk to 1700 properties in the area of the city and I was grateful to the area director for the environment agency for the area accompanying me on a tour in February this year. Despite assurances dating back years, residents have become frustrated and there is a lack of communication from the environment agency since the project was paused in 2021 due to environmental concerns. We are not the only community waiting for the fancies are even trying to get maintenance done to existing the fancies.

After 14 years of Conservative debtor and delay, some 3000 were below the required conditions. -- dither. It is one reason that I am glad we now have a Labour government and a responsive Floods Minister, if I make there. I welcome the planned investment of a record £2.65 billion in the next two years to build and repair over 1000 flood defences, better protecting 52,000 properties across the country. Last month, over £1 million was pledged towards a number of schemes in north-west Cumbria and this includes money towards road surface work and a property flood resilience scheme just outside the city and this is something I have been pushing the environment agency to deliver since I entered this place and is now planned to be finished by winter, 2025.

£300,000 was also secured for the long mooted project. I've been told feasibility studies are due by the end of the summer. While I look forward to the conclusions, I am concerned that even if a path is identified, it may be 5-10 years until the scheme can actually be delivered. Tackling the risk from this killing not just be about creating ever higher and more expensive and imposing flood defences at the Caldew. With a range of measures in Carlisle and Exide to help take the water away from the city and by precious time for it to ease.

The Caldew scheme will be one of the largest schemes the environment agency has ever undertaken. It is vital to the lives of Carlisle's over 100,000 residents and the prosperity of a place that has been centre of trading in the north-west of England since before Roman times. I recognise that this Roman times. I recognise that this scheme will not be quick and I would urge the Minister to ensure that a suite of measures are employed in the interim to mitigate the immediate threat from the river Caldew.

This could include clearing vegetation that slows the flow of the river to the city. I also wish to talk about emergency planning. I am glad that further expansions of the flood warning provision had taken place in Carlisle, including two new flood warning areas at Warren Bridge combining 300 properties and I'm grateful for the text alerts that I receive on a regular basis. One issue that has been pointed out to me is the need for more information to be given to the public ahead of there being an incident and then they can see where the nearest emergency centre is planned to be in the event of a flood.

The first time the public will hear of these locations would be when a flood occurs in that case. The

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My honourable friend is making a

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My honourable friend is making a great point and sometimes these happen in the middle of the night happen in the middle of the night and it is hard for residents to respond and does she believe there respond and does she believe there has to be better coordination between local authorities and the environment agency to tackle some of this? I've heard concerns raised about private landowners. I wonder

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what she makes of that point. I am particularly aware that there are a number of different landowners that have responsibility for the maintenance of the riverbanks and that patchwork of responsibility does, as my honourable friend identifies, give rise to issues and I think on the issue of flood alerts, it would be desirable if more information were viable in advance of the book applying for such an eventuality and they have to be dynamic plans because as I highlighted, you could not get to the emergency sector because it was cut off.

I recognise that providing the information in advance will not be perfect but I think it would be beneficial for the information to be made available. If these locations were known, residents would have a better understanding of where to move to in the event of an emergency and begin to do so when that comes through. I would be grateful to the Minister if she could consider that point in heart response. In summary, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would urge haste.

I've already said we have ended another year in a five and that would present concerns from my constituency. As we passed the 20- year anniversary of the tragic 2005 year anniversary of the tragic 2005 floods and in January as we approach floods and in January as we approach the 10-year anniversary of the 2015 floods in December, it is vital be get on with delivering the schemes get on with delivering the schemes that are needed to keep our great border city safe and secure for many years to come.

years to come.

14:56

Emma Hardy MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)

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15:18

Georgia Gould MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Queen's Park and Maida Vale, Labour)

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15:18

Emma Hardy MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, Labour)

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This debate has concluded

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