Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Urgent question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if she will make a statement on the public safety implications of the Government’s plan to set a 28-day limit on prison sentences for recalled offenders.

News or political programs. I am here to defend all of you. I will continue to defend you. Do not take

10:43

MPs for granted. I know it is not the Minister's fault, but the message has to go back aloud and clear, and when you are in the wrong, try apologising to the Will the Secretary of State make a

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Mr Speaker

statement on the implications of the government plan to step 28 day limit on prison sentences for recall defenders?

10:43

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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I hear very clearly your words and I very much respect the role of Parliament and I am pleased to be here today to follow-up the written statement that was laid on the Lord statement that was laid on the Lord Chancellor. The background to which Chancellor. The background to which .$$NEWLINE

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Mr Speaker

That is the thing we should remember. You wouldn't be here at all. It is only because I have decided you should be here, so let's not try to take advantage of the situation you are making.

10:44

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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I apologise. It's meant the action of the right honourable member opposite to layer and Urgent Question, and that is how Parliament works and rightly so.

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It is not the way we should be acting. It should be acting that the statement should be brought here. statement should be brought here. Let's get this very clear. This is Let's get this very clear. This is not about having to grant and Urgent Question. It is about the government doing the right thing rather than having to drag the ministers here. having to drag the ministers here. It is not how we should be working.

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It is not how we should be working. I am sorry for any misinformation that I have given in trying to begin that I have given in trying to begin this question. We respect each other this question. We respect each other and I respect very much that you are standing up for Parliament which is the right thing to do and I applaud. the right thing to do and I applaud. The Lord Chancellor has written in a statement that the background which was the changes to fixed term recall was the changes to fixed term recall which is around the prison capacity challenges that the government faces.

When we were elected, we faces. When we were elected, we inherited a prison system on the inherited a prison system on the brink of collapse. There we took immediate action to prevent the catastrophe, prisons continue to be perilously close to filling up entirely. Last December, we published a long-term building strategy setting out our aim to open up 14,000 prison places by 2031. This is the largest expansion of the prison estate since the Victorians. We have committed £2.3 billion to prison expansion and since taking office, we have delivered 2400 new places.

We also commission the independent sentencing review which Sentencing Review will offer us a path to ending the capacity crisis in our prisons for good. But the impact of sentencing reforms will not be felt before spring next year. In our current trajectory we will hit zero capacity in our prisons in November. We cannot allow that to happen. That is why we have announced our intention to lay a fixed term recall instrument strategy for those serving sentences of between one and four years, and can only be returned to prison for a can only be returned to prison for a fixed 28 day period.

It builds on previous legislation introduced by the last government mandated 14 day the last government mandated 14 day records for those serving sentences of under one year. To be clear, high of under one year. To be clear, high risk offenders have been exempted from this change. Any further information related to offenders information related to offenders risk is received after they have been recalled which means they are no longer considered suitable for no longer considered suitable for fixed term recall, and they may be returned for longer on a standard recall if assessed necessary.

recall if assessed necessary.

10:46

Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Sorry seems to be the hardest word today. I see the Justice Secretary has still not come to Parliament to defend her policy. Yesterday she deliberately avoided scrutiny in this house because she knows this decision is wildly unpopular. It risks the safety of the public. To govern is to choose, there are 10,500 foreign criminals in our jails. 17,000 people are in prison awaiting trial. These two groups make up roughly 1/3 of the prison population.

The sensible step forward would obviously be to introduce emergency measures to expedite deportations and get the courts sitting round the clock. If the Justice Secretary chose to do that we will support her. So far she has not. She had refused to take the judiciary up on their offer of extra sitting court days. It is not uncommon for as many as half the courts at the Old Bailey to sit empty on any given day. Instead she has decided to let out early mills who reoffend or breach their licence.

There is now no punishment or deterrent for criminals who

10:49

Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP (Newark, Conservative)

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about it, this decision has put the public in danger and victims in jeopardy. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, said Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, said she cannot stress the lack of consideration for victim safety and how many lives are being put in danger. Is the Justice Secretary or her minister really telling victims of Domestic Abuse Orders that their abusers will be back on the street in just 28 days if they have in just 28 days if they have breached their licence, and no one will even check with the Parole Board? Can the Minister explain to Board? Can the Minister explain to the house whose exempted from the scheme because right now, confusion

10:49

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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scheme because right now, confusion reigns. Yesterday the Justice Secretary gave the impression no domestic abusers or sexual offenders domestic abusers or sexual offenders would be eligible for her scheme. Her department has since said they Her department has since said they will include many, but not all, and the ministerial written statement yesterday glibly conceal the answer to which criminals would be excluded. Will the Minister take this opportunity now to tell the house? If he doesn't know the answer, he commits to publishing it by the end of the day? Lastly, Can the minister confirmed to the house anyone in breach of a restraining order will be ineligible for a fixed

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term recall, because anything else would be an insult to the victims? Thank you Mr Speaker. Since

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Thank you Mr Speaker. Since taking office we have deported over 1800 foreign national offenders in custody, securing their early removal from our prisons. 15% more than in the previous 12 months. On than in the previous 12 months. On the issue of court sittings, we have the issue of court sittings, we have announced 110,000, the highest level of court sittings for a long time. of court sittings for a long time. We will exclude anyone serving more than four years in prison.

All those convicted of a terrorist or national-security crime, those who are subject to high levels of risk are subject to high levels of risk management multiple agencies, where the police, prisons, and Probation Services work together, which includes certain sexual and violent offenders including many domestic offenders including many domestic abusers. If there are ongoing concerns about the risk posed by concerns about the risk posed by offenders due to be released after 28 day period, frontline workers can apply initial licences to manage this.

If further information related to an offenders risk is received after they have been recalled, which means they are no longer considered suitable for fixed term recall, then they may be detained for longer on a standard recall if assessed necessary by the HMPPS Public Protection team. We know how important it is that victims are kept informed on all those eligible the victim contact scheme will be notified about offenders released. They will have opportunities to make representations about victim - related licence conditions.

Whilst exclusions from serious offenders is necessary, the thing that would be necessary, the thing that would be even worse is running out of space which, at this stage, would mean the managed breakdown of the Criminal managed breakdown of the Criminal Justice Bill which the Lord Chancellor said quite rightly would Chancellor said quite rightly would be unconscionable. No government should leave that challenge as a legacy to the incoming government legacy to the incoming government like his government did.

10:51

Andy Slaughter MP (Hammersmith and Chiswick, Labour)

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Chair of the select committee. current Lord Chancellor is seeking to resolve was created over 14 years by the irresponsible Conservative government. While today's announcement subject to safeguards makes sense in the short-term, we have to look at the whole way of have to look at the whole way of recall as developments. From 100 cases 30 years ago to over 13,000. Over 50% of the prison population. In less than 30% of those recalled In less than 30% of those recalled for further offences.

Will the government look at the way the recall operates because without freeing up space, rehabilitation is impossible. Overcrowding reaches impossible. Overcrowding reaches ridiculous levels and we run out of space altogether. space altogether.

10:52

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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My honourable friend is right. The recall population has doubled in seven years. And we need to address that. The Independent Sentencing Review will report shortly and hopefully there will be recommendations in that report which we can then respond to.

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Liberal Democrats Spokesperson.

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Liberal Democrats Spokesperson. Thank you Mr Speaker. There is no doubt that the Conservatives plunged our prisons into crisis. But this latest announcement makes it clear, latest announcement makes it clear, they chant from a sedentary position, but it is clear the government has failed to step up and government has failed to step up and tackle the sheer scale of the problem. Across the country, victims and survivors are worried about what and survivors are worried about what this will now meet for them.

If there is a specific offence of domestic abuse, those dangerous offenders could have been excluded from early release. But the government has taken no action at all since Liberal Democrats raised a solution with them last autumn. Will the Minister finally commit to the Minister finally commit to giving victims and survivors protection they deserve by creating new domestic abuse aggravating new domestic abuse aggravating offences? Will the Minister go further to protect our communities by bringing forward a clear plan to by bringing forward a clear plan to reduce reoffending which would be the only way to solve prison overcrowding once and for all? And finally if the Minister won't listen to me, will she listen to that Domestic Abuse Commissioner who has just warned that lives are now at risk?

10:54

Sarah Russell MP (Congleton, Labour)

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I thank the member for his question. He will know that his colleague is working closely with my colleague who is that next to me, the issues he raises about getting things right for victims it is something we take seriously and something we take seriously and needs to be done properly. It needs to be done with victims to get things right. Hopefully we get the Independent Sentencing Review Independent Sentencing Review report, there will be things in their that give us confidence moving forward and the way we work with victims.

10:54

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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The benches opposite appear to have forgotten quite a lot of things and I think it might be a good time to remind them. The former Justice Secretary Chris Grayling disastrous partial privatisation of the probation service was overturned in 2019 other serious offences of people including rape and murder of those on probation skyrocketed. Does he agree that what we are seeing is the long tail of conservative

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failure that overshadows everything that we have got to do? My honourable friend is actually

10:55

Simon Hoare MP (North Dorset, Conservative)

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My honourable friend is actually right to remind the house of the chaos and turmoil that the party chaos and turmoil that the party opposite when it was in government applied to our very important patient service. We are putting probation back together. We have already brought 1000 new probation officers on board. Committed to a further 1300 new probation officers in the coming year.

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Picking up on your statement Mr Speaker, I'm sure my committee will Speaker, I'm sure my committee will take a good look at the issue of take a good look at the issue of Ministerial Code. I know the issue cannot be one that just lip service cannot be one that just lip service is paid to do. I make no apologies to return to the views of the Domestic Abuse Commissioner in Wales

10:55

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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Domestic Abuse Commissioner in Wales who has issued a severe warning to the Lord Chancellor yesterday I cannot stress the lack of consideration for victim safety and how many lives have been put in danger because of the proposed changes to prison recall. " Why does he think she has arrived with all of the expertise and knowledge she has,

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why does he think she has arrived at that conclusion? We have great respect for the

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We have great respect for the Victims' Commissioner. What would be letting down victims is if we allowed our prison system to get to allowed our prison system to get to the place where we cannot lock prisoners up. That would be unconscionable. That is why it is

10:56

Olivia Bailey MP (Reading West and Mid Berkshire, Labour)

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unconscionable. That is why it is important that we have taken the steps we have. We are excluding prisoners who pose the most risk. It means various agencies working together. The exclusion includes all terrorists and national crime terrorists and national crime terrorists and national crime security people. And when there is risk of people moving from a fixed risk of people moving from a fixed term recall to a standard recall.

10:57

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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When he entered office there were fewer than 100 prison spaces left in our prisons. This was a terrible failure from the Conservative party. Does he agree with me that instead of empty words and false promises to build prisons, this government is getting on with the job?

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Honourable Friend is quite right. We face a real emergency when we

10:57

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP (Solihull West and Shirley, Conservative)

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We face a real emergency when we came into office. It is unconscionable that any government would do that to an incoming government. Under the last Labour government, we added 28,000 prison places. The Conservative government places. The Conservative government in their 14 year managed to add 500 prison places. In 10 months we have already delivered 2400 prison places.

10:57

Thank you Mr Speaker. Has the Minister's Department done an impact assessment on this policy? If so, they release that to the house as soon as possible? If not, can the Lord Chancellor confirm how she knows how this policy will impact on victims and the wider public?

10:58

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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We are always alert to assessing how a policy is applied to the wider public and victims, and that is

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important. Thank you Mr Speaker. This

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Thank you Mr Speaker. This situation is one of the most egregious examples of state failure, and the consequences of the worst and the consequences of the worst chaos and incompetence of the last 14 years. The Lord Chancellor has been clear that the current levels

10:58

Rt Hon Liz Saville Roberts MP (Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Plaid Cymru)

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been clear that the current levels of demand we cannot build our way out of this crisis will stop does the Minister agree with me that we have to be honest and do something different to ensure we never run out of prison places again, including improving the existing prison estate, investing in the probation service so we can reduce reoffending and therefore reduce the pressure on prison places?

10:58

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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Improving the prison estate, we are doing that. Investing in probation, we are doing that. And we also will have the actions coming forward from the Independent Sentencing Review. So I agree with

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everything my honourable friend has said. Victims of domestic abuse, sexual

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Victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and stalking are now in the fear, particularly those who live in fear, particularly those who live in rural areas where tagging does not always work. What particular always work. What particular measures will be put in place to support victims in rural areas who

10:59

Terry Jermy MP (South West Norfolk, Labour)

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support victims in rural areas who are distant from probation officers and distant from police?

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Anyone record under the fixed term recall will be recalled for 28 term recall will be recalled for 28 days. If their risk is assessed as greater, they will be transferred to greater, they will be transferred to standard recall. The reality is anyone affected by this has already

10:59

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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anyone affected by this has already served their time in prison. They are unlicensed and being properly monitored and effectively managed by

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the probation service. Thank you Mr Speaker. The prison capacity crisis has been years in

11:00

Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Wright KC MP (Kenilworth and Southam, Conservative)

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the making. Does the Minister welcomed the news that the prison in Norfolk has been granted planning permission just this week by a planning committee, a 25% increase in capacity, 247 extra places. The application alone represent 50% of the total places created under the last government in 14 years. Does the Minister agree that this is further evidence of the government

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delivering after years of inaction? My honourable friend is right to point to that planning allegation point to that planning allegation going forward. It is excellent news and shows we are getting on with the job.

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Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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Although the government should have volunteered to defend its position here, Summit was held ministerial response with the prison estate I accept the government had no good options at this point. With the Minister except that the problem with what he's choosing to do is that the return to prison for breach of important licence conditions is there to be a deterrent. If you reduce that deterrence, you run the risk of making more people reach licence conditions and making the overcrowding problem worse.

Would he consider, if you choose this path, to find ways to increase the deterrent effect by making sure that, following a 28 day return to prison, there are other restrictions on prisoners freedom like electronic on prisoners freedom like electronic

11:01

Claire Hazelgrove MP (Filton and Bradley Stoke, Labour)

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All of those things will be looked at by the independent sentencing review, but the mandating of the 14 day fixed term release was a measure taken to the previous a measure taken to the previous government. We are extending that for up to 4 years under 28 days for up to 4 years under 28 days because of the situation we faced to make sure we do not run out off places in the interim.

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Like me, many residents across the constituency were rightly appalled last summer to discover the real state of the situation left real state of the situation left behind by the party opposite. I wonder if the Minister may agree with me that when it comes to with me that when it comes to prisons, this is an opportunity the party opposite to apologise.

11:02

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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The Minister makes a good point and the house will have heard her

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point. They have often use the word

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They have often use the word emergency for the state of the prison population and I have asked the Secretary of State how long will the Secretary of State how long will it take to deport all of the foreign criminals clogging up our jails, and it seems to me this is a moment for

11:02

Warinder Juss (Wolverhampton West, Labour)

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it seems to me this is a moment for the Secretary of State to say this is an emergency. Free up around 10,000 places and help overcome this

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crisis. We have deported more offenders

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We have deported more offenders than the previous 12 months and we are continuing to work hard with the are continuing to work hard with the Home Office to deport foreign national offenders but we will never be able to do that on the scale that

11:02

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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be able to do that on the scale that is necessary to address the challenges we face within our

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presence at this point in time. On a recent visit to Wolverhampton, I came across several Wolverhampton, I came across several prisoners who have been recalled and were waiting up to a year to have their cases progressed. Does the

11:03

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

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their cases progressed. Does the Minister agree that by limiting the sentence, making better use of technology to punish offenders in the community and to make the Probation Service more effective will not only result in better rehabilitation of prisoners and to reduce reoffending, but it will also reduce reoffending, but it will also ease the overcrowding that we have in our prisons due to the efforts of the previous government.

11:03

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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These are actions that we have to take in order to address the challenges we face in the system now to make the system work better and work better for victims and for protecting the public.

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Given the nature of domestic abusers, many will welcome the opportunity to give another twist of the knife at a mere cost of 28 days. Hasn't he just presented them with a

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practical opportunity? I have gone through the exclusions of this very carefully,

11:04

Andy McDonald MP (Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, Labour)

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exclusions of this very carefully, and I have emphasised the importance of good professional bodies continuing to apply proper risk assessment, and where those risk assessments say that a standard recall is more appropriate, that will happen.

11:04

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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It is a bit rich for the party opposite to be critical when they left the criminal justice system in total meltdown. Will my friend agree with me that tagging is an important part of the resources available in protecting the public from criminals, and perhaps he also saw the Channel 4 dispatches programme showing the contract given to circle by the party opposite totally and icily failing. Will he tell the house whether or not we have confidence to deliver that, and if not, will he remove them and bring service back into public control?

11:05

Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP (North East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)

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It is clear that the technology has huge potential. A recent study has shown reoffending is down with curfew tax but he is right to draw the concerns about the contract. Circus performances improving but it is still not at an acceptable level. Reporting was done when we knew there were serious issues and applied financial penalties on those who were given the benefits of their performance drops, all options remain on the table.

11:05

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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This is a further illustration of why this house should be legislating to remove all impediments to the deportation of foreign national offenders. But he said in his reply to the shadow justice ceremony that victims of this policy should be kept informed, and yet he refused to say whether the department has conducted an impact assessment. What new information is he willing to new information is he willing to commit today to publishing each month so the victims are indeed kept informed? informed? Victims need to be kept informed.

We work with commissioners to make sure that is the case.

11:06

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

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In separate cases, two families and my constituents lost loved ones, murdered by offenders out of remand and who never should have been. Well ministers agreed to meet with me, and if they so wish, those families so that they can have some assurance that lessons have been learned from these cases and that other families are not placed in that same horrendous situation. horrendous situation.

11:06

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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I am very sorry to hear about the case he alludes to, and I am very happy to meet with him to take the

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matter further. I want to turn to victims.

11:07

James Wild MP (North West Norfolk, Conservative)

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I want to turn to victims. Freeing prisons early have placed Freeing prisons early have placed victims at unnecessary risk of harm for the Domestic Abuse Act mission has said it is simply unacceptable, so what discussions has the government had to these two commissioners before making this announcement?

11:07

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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We speak to the Victims' Commissioner's regularly, and my honourable friend is speaking to honourable friend is speaking to

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them regularly today. The justice secretary could have chosen to deport thousands of chosen to deport thousands of offenders in jails, maxed out court sitting days, or procure temporary sitting days, or procure temporary facilities to hold offenders. Why has she chosen to release serious offenders including domestic abusers offenders including domestic abusers free from jail earlier with no consideration for the victims?

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consideration for the victims? This is not about getting people

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This is not about getting people out of prison earlier. It is about out of prison earlier. It is about people who have already done their service and if they breach an issue,

11:08

Rt Hon Sir Gavin Williamson MP (Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge, Conservative)

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service and if they breach an issue, they are returned to prison. He might well ask the question of why the government that he has supported didn't take any of the measures that he spelt out. We are the government that has inherited what has left us, and we are taking the decisions to ensure that the unconscionable threat of having a prison system that is not able to lock up that is not able to lock up dangerous people is addressed.

11:08

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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Ministers seem to have been deliberate faked as to the breadth and number of Domestic Abuse Act offenders that will be eligible for offenders that will be eligible for this. Such a big announcement, I know that the government in the department will have done a lot of work in terms of looking at the eligibility and who will be eligible. Can the Minister set out to the house the exact number of to the house the exact number of Domestic Abuse Act offenders that will be eligible for the scheme.

I hear his question and I will write to him.

11:09

Sir Ashley Fox MP (Bridgwater, Conservative)

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The first duty of government is to keep the public safe, and I recently met with a constituent whose ex-husband is serving a prison sentence having raped her twice. Despite being in prison, her ex- husband has indirect access to children. My constituents think this is wrong. I think this is wrong. Does the Minister agree with me that Does the Minister agree with me that sexual offenders should serve maximum possible custodial sentences and lose parental access rights?

11:10

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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You will be aware that the victims and courts bill is about to go through Parliament, and it is that sort of issue that we rightly looked at through the Bill's passage.

11:10

Lincoln Jopp MP (Spelthorne, Conservative)

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One of the reasons that our prisons are so full is that we have more than 10,000 foreign nationals in our prisons. What steps is the Minister taking to deport them?

11:10

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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We have deported more foreign nationals in the first year of our watch than the previous government did in the years of its watch, and he is right, we have to continue to

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roll up our sleeves and carry on with the job. The Minister has been equivocal

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The Minister has been equivocal in answering the question asked on in answering the question asked on two previous occasions. Prior to announcing this policy change announcing this policy change yesterday, did the government meet and consult with the Domestic Abuse Act Commissioner about this policy change yes or no?

11:11

Ben Obese-Jecty MP (Huntingdon, Conservative)

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change yes or no? The question has been spoken to by the team, and on the issue of impact assessments, just to be clear that when we come to the Statutory Instrument, the impact assessment will be published.

11:11

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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The new measures announced have suggested that the government have learnt nothing. This is the same justice secretary who, along with the victims ministers signed a letter that let a convicted child rapist be removed from the deportation site, so why did the ministers appear to have such scant regard for the impact they will have on the victims of those crimes when we see her implement measures that will act as a deterrent rather than a minor inconvenience to the

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continuation of a criminal career? We are committed to getting this

11:12

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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We are committed to getting this right. The release scheme that the previous, put in place did not have

11:12

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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previous, put in place did not have the same exceptions that we had in our release scheme for the sort of offenders that he draws attention

11:12

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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offenders that he draws attention to. These things are difficult. The most important thing is to make sure we have a criminal justice system that will work and that will mean that dangerous, people who do really bad things need to be locked up. When we came into government, we were in a situation where that might not be able to be maintained as the case. We have taken actions that we would rather not take in order to ensure that we can keep the system going.

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The ministers very decent person we have been friends for many years

11:12

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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but I must ask this question. I am really struggling to understand the rationale that would allow a criminal to consider their options and to work out of what they will do is worth an additional 28 days, or a person who breaks that order balancing out whether it is worth a month jail. Criminals need to be fearful. If they break the law again, it will be worse next time around, so can the Minister please outline how the Minister in his department says this will work as a disincentive to repeat offenders.

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Thank you very much. The exceptions that apply to this

11:13

Royal Assent Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP (Romsey and Southampton North, Conservative)

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The exceptions that apply to this tight fixed term recall alteration means that there will still be the means that there will still be the management of people in the community which will be risk assessed as always, and if their view is that a different approach needs to be taken, a different approach will be taken. approach will be taken.

11:13

Business Statement: Business Questions to the Leader of the House

Before we come to Business Questions, I have to notify the house that the king has signified his Royal assent to the following acts. Institute for apprenticeships and technical application transfer of functions et cetera Acts 2025, bank resolution recapitalisation Acts 2025, and the great British Acts 2025, and the great British Acts 2025, and the great British

11:14

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

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Was the leader of the give us the future business?

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I shall. The business for the week commencing 19 May includes week commencing 19 May includes Monday, 19 May, second reading of the mental health Bill Lourdes. Due the mental health Bill Lourdes. Due to 20 May, second reading of the victims and courts bill. Wednesday, victims and courts bill. Wednesday, 21 May, opposition day eighth allotted a debate on a motion in the name of the official opposition name of the official opposition subject to be announced. Followed by motion to approve a Statutory Instrument relating to terrorism.

There is a 22 May, if necessary, consideration of Lords Amendments. Followed by general debate on access to NHS dentistry followed by general debate on dementia care. The subjects of these debates were subjects of these debates were determined by the Backbench Business Committee. The house will rise for the Whitsun recess at the conclusion the Whitsun recess at the conclusion of business on Thursday, 22 May and return on Monday, 2 June. The return on Monday, 2 June. The provisional business for the week commencing second of June will include Monday, 2 June, second reading of the bus services number

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I thankfully do for her remarks.

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I thankfully do for her remarks. This is the week in which we have seen the tragic and untimely death seen the tragic and untimely death of Sir Roy Stone. We had brief moment of recognition of him earlier moment of recognition of him earlier

11:16

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

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in the week but I'm keen aware that many Labour MPs were not in the House at the time of his flourishing, so I wanted to give the Leader of the House the chance to say something about him if she wished. More widely we have had a week of mixed economic, growth slightly up and wage growth week. A spike in unemployment, as everyone had predicted, and fiscal strains highlighted just today by a former Treasury civil servant. We have also had an immigration policy launched with echoes of Enoch Powell and the Prime Minister doesn't know the difference it appears between capital spending and current spending in relation to hospices who are seeking to support people day- to-day across this country who are literally at death's door.

I was planning to move on from the politics of the week at this point in my remarks but for the extraordinary series of interventions by the speaker a few minutes ago. On the government's failure to announce its probation policy in the House. The speaker rightly sought and was eventually given an apology by the Minister for this latest failure. But the irony is it is extraordinary that it has come hours after the Leader of the House herself had to be dragged to this chamber to answer questions on this very topic.

She failed to apologise at that time and I wonder if she will take the opportunity to do so herself today? Whether she does or not, I hope that you Madam Deputy Speaker, Mr Speaker, and all that Deputy Speakers, who insist on maintaining the privacy of our parliamentary democracy and demanding that governments are held demanding that governments are held to account. Today I want to do that and to offer a positive policy idea, not to focus on what may be passing from day-to-day and government policy but focus on the longer term, and I do so in relation to a personal interest of mine.

The house will know it is a mini obsession, growth and development and innovation in higher education. This week we saw the graduation of our first students in our new university in Hereford, the new adversity for technology for some this is the first greenfield university in this country for 40 years, a specialist technical engineering University teaching students of every age and background, especially those from less well off families, in an intensive and immersive way. Teaching the hands-on skill of an open ship but the rigour of a Masters degree.

Working in teams, building work habits and working closely with defence and security and energy and construction, food, agriculture. I mention it now because it highlights what I think could be considered a lack of ambition in the way we thought about higher education as a country over the last 50 years. This is an institution that does not just focus on marginal educational gain but transformational improvement. Take a person, male or female, were old might never have thought of going to university at all, to help them find their passions, take them as far as they could go.

To reinvent not just what students know but how. The theory and practice tied together and the challenges will top forging professionals through immersive and intensive work with a sense of mission and purpose, and to build the right habits and prepare them not just for the world of work but for the world of work that is constantly changing. And to keep the benefits of being small in size, something we have lost so much higher education, utility and accountability, the person engagement, the teamwork, the sense of belonging and community, so that our students grow as morally serious human beings who can readily and resiliently deal with complexity and uncertainty.

We are deeply aware of the power and responsibility that comes from being an engineer. These students are studying to a Masters in engineering. This is certified as being high-quality. They are going to jobs at a rate of almost 100% with big companies like Cadburys and BA, and local companies at an average salary of £34,000. During national needs and local needs together. I raise this because I want to invite the government and members across the South to consider whether we could not do this elsewhere.

There are 50 at least elsewhere. There are 50 at least small cities and large towns in this country which lack higher education country which lack higher education and higher economic growth. There's a huge need for specialist stents a huge need for specialist stents skills, and this can be part of the solution. I don't know whether any colleagues would like to be involved colleagues would like to be involved but each of them could be in their own area in the constituency for new own area in the constituency for new universities.

Not just the campus but in a new university design for local people and local businesses local people and local businesses and national economic opportunity. I invite the house and the government to consider this. to consider this.

11:21

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

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Can I first of all take this opportunity to also pay tribute to Sir Roy Stone, the former Principal Private Secretary to the government Chief Whip. Very much known as the usual channels. I think he embodied that with distinction. I did not know him personally but I know very much of his reputation, and of the love and esteem with which he was held by many members from across this house. We send our thoughts to his family and is at this time.

I know as well that the thoughts of many across the house will also be with those currently living in Gaza. We see the intolerable suffering, death, and starvation on our screens most evenings. This must stop and it must stop now. Food is not reaching people who are starving, airstrikes killing civilians, hostages are still being held. I know this whole House want to see a change of course, meaningful aid getting in, and a path to a durable peace. I also heard Mr Speaker's statement about the government giving statements to this house in a timely fashion.

I am still here what he has said. As I said yesterday in this house, I will ensure that message is relayed, as I do on many occasions to our cabinet colleagues. I will remind the house that the Lord Chancellor did lay to the house yesterday afternoon a long written Ministerial Statement, as did the Home Secretary earlier in the week. Of course we can and we must do better. The honourable gentleman, as I said yesterday in the house, should remember that we have given 146 oral statements in just 133 sitting days.

That far outstrips what happens under his government when frankly they disrespected Parliament time after time after time. I won't really be taking any lectures from him on that. I hear what he says about the new technical University in his constituency in Herefordshire. It sounds like a very important innovation to provide technical education and engineering pathways particularly for people from backgrounds who might otherwise access such education. My eldest son is currently studying engineering at one of the universities that I represent, Manchester Metropolitan University.

I hope p.m. Any others have a pathway to work. But he is right, when higher education joins much more closely with the place of work and the skills that are needed for the jobs of the future, I think that is where we get much more bang for our buck and young people really do have the opportunities in life that they need. I notice that he did just about mention the economy this week. He did not seem to want to welcome the good news on growth figures out this morning.

And he did not mention the interest rate cut last week either. Nor did he mention the 200 jobs that we have created since the election. I don't know if he noticed last week or not, what the former Chancellor George Osborne said of his current leader, and the stance of his current party. But they are more interested in culture wars than having serious economic plans. He is right isn't he? The Leader of the Opposition, and he talks about getting figures wrong, what a big way to get your figures wrong in prime ministers questions yesterday by a factor of 100.

I don't know if you wanted to set the record straight on that because she also did not seem to grasp the importance or the value of the trade deals that we have struck in the last week or so, and the billions of pounds they will bring to the economy. Thankfully there are still a few true conservatives on the backbenches who really understand that core conservative idea of free trade. Because his former Deputy Prime Minister, the member for Hertsmere, welcomed the trade deals.

His former exit secretary, the member for North East Cambridgeshire, welcome them as Cambridgeshire, welcome them as well. Even Kwasi Karteng, the former Chancellor, said it was a success. So George Osborne is right isn't he, So George Osborne is right isn't he, they have no idea where they stand on the economy. They have no plan on the economy. They have no plan for the economy. We have got a plan, for the economy. We have got a plan, we have a Plan for Growth, a plan to improve living standards, plan to put money back in people's pockets, put money back in people's pockets, and today we are starting to see the fruits of that.

11:26

Chris Bryant MP (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. A beautiful village in my constituency has aesthetic beauty but it is the has aesthetic beauty but it is the people I'm most proud of. In the gallery today are a group representing the British Legion there who have been as possible for raising tens of thousands of pounds raising tens of thousands of pounds for our veterans and armed service personnel. With the Leader of the House join me in welcoming them, including officers, veterans, school including officers, veterans, school governors and our local efforts for their public service and commitment to the community? to the community?

11:27

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

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Absolutely. Can I join him in welcoming those from the Royal British Legion to Parliament today, and I'm sure share the gratitude of and I'm sure share the gratitude of the whole house to them for the work they have done. The thousands of they have done. The thousands of pounds that they have raised, and all the service that they have given over many years.

11:27

Marie Goldman MP (Chelmsford, Liberal Democrat)

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Double democrat spokesperson.

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Can I echo the words of the Leader of the House about the intolerable of the House about the intolerable and increasingly in survivable situation in Gaza? Can I urge the government to do everything within government to do everything within its power to help remedy that its power to help remedy that situation? My constituent who are self-employed regularly has to deal self-employed regularly has to deal with HMRC. He recently wrote to me with HMRC.

He recently wrote to me that the unacceptable waiting times on HMRC's customer service helpline. In his experience this issue has In his experience this issue has been going on for years but has grown considerably worse recently. He tells me he sometimes has to wait He tells me he sometimes has to wait up to 40 minutes before he has to give up and hang out. It is all very well having services online if they well having services online if they are not fully accessible, we will still need an HMRC helpline that is still need an HMRC helpline that is responsive.

Sadly that is not the case. This unacceptable level of customer service has been the subject of cross-party criticism in this house many times over the years. This year, the Public Accounts Committee agreed the situation has indeed got worse. They situation has indeed got worse. They found that 44,000 HMRC customers were cut off while waiting more than 70 minutes to reach an adviser. This 70 minutes to reach an adviser. This is more than six times the whole of the 2022/23 financial year. I am the 2022/23 financial year.

I am sure the whole House will agree that spending time on the phone waiting to resolve tax issues is not something many of us are Constituents particularly enjoy Constituents particularly enjoy doing. Nor does it do anything to help productivity. Businesses need to spend time selling their goods and services and generating tax receipts for the Treasury not receipts for the Treasury not languishing on the end of the phone. So will the leader ask a statements So will the leader ask a statements to be made about when we can expect to see improvements?

11:29

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

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Can I first of all share what she says, as I said my opening remarks, about the situation in Gaza which is truly intolerable and really awful to see. She raises what is I think very familiar story that many of our businesses and Constituents face, in trying to contact HMRC and other services. It is simply not good enough people having to wait as long as she describes. It is incredibly frustrating for them. As she says, it has a real impact on the time that they could otherwise be that they could otherwise be spending on their businesses and doing what they need to do.

She may doing what they need to do. She may be aware that later this year, HMRC will publish a transformation will publish a transformation roadmap, to ensure that their services do significantly improve and that the customer end in and that the customer end in particular. I will ensure that a statement is given about that plan statement is given about that plan when it is ready to do so and that she gets an update from the Minister. Minister. Like many honourable members I have leaseholders in properties managed by first bought who have seen service charges dramatically increase, in one case by 262% since 2020.

Despite getting very little in return. Can we have an update on the government's timeline for the introduction of the greater protection for leaseholders and strengthening of regulation for

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This is an issue raised with me regularly at Business Questions and

11:31

Bob Blackman MP (Harrow East, Conservative)

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regularly at Business Questions and by my own constituents. I represent many leaseholders in my constituency and the situation she describes is all-too-familiar and I'm sorry to hear about what is in her constituency and she will now the government has ambitions and want to end the feudal system and bring forward a system of commonhold and I published the white paper and we are trying to make it easier for leaseholders to get the right to manage. Bringing forward a draft reform bill which is a comprehensive package to change the system for good.

good.

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In addition to the business events, next week there will be a statement from the Business Trade statement from the Business Trade Select Committee. After recess, if we are granted the time, on June 5, we are granted the time, on June 5, there will be a debate on high Street enclosures, followed by a debate on safety regulations and construction planning of battery energy storage sites and with time on June 12, there will be a debate on June 12, there will be a debate on distribution of SEND funding followed by a debate on the fifth anniversary of the COVID-19 anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, a debate on pensions for people living overseas. pensions for people living overseas. On Thursday, I feel debate for three On Thursday, I feel debate for three hours on the UK-EU Summit result. hours on the UK-EU Summit result. Then we come back and debate on the Groceries Code Adjudicator and on Groceries Code Adjudicator and on Thursday the fifth, police presence on high streets and then a debate on the contribution of maths to the UK. the contribution of maths to the UK.

On June 10, a debate on the funding pause and the effect on international development. On June 12, a debate on the legal conditions of humanist marriages and followed by a debate on long-term additions. Today is the last day for people to respond to the consultation from the Housing Communities and Local Government Department which was given Royal assent and this is supporting housing. In the last two years, rogue landlords have continued to exploit vulnerable

11:34

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

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people and I'm delighted that the people and I'm delighted that the government have taken up the legislation that was prepared before the general election but I urge individuals who wish to respond to the consultation to do so without the consultation to do so without the consultation to do so without delay. And then I would ask the Secretary of State to give a statement afterwards on what action the government will take and the the government will take and the responses that have been received and when we could expect to see regulation being brought into practice so that vulnerable tenants practice so that vulnerable tenants do not continue to be exploited.

Speak first of all, I thank the Speak first of all, I thank the Chair of the Backbench Business Committee for announcing the important debates they have coming, particularly the banking hubs which gets raised with me regularly in gets raised with me regularly in these sessions and any with a prepared question, take note of the prepared question, take note of the debate is forthcoming and also the battery storing planning application debate which I know the Member for debate which I know the Member for Aldridge and Brownhills raised with me and I think it is her debate, in me and I think it is her debate, in fact.

Can I also thank the honourable gentleman for his act and the Supporting Housing Regulatory Act from 2023, an important act he pushed through parliament and a very important issue, tackling rogue landlords who are taking advantage of vulnerable people. I know that this is a matter of interest to many people across this House. After people across this House. After today, I will get in touch with the Minister about making a statement on the implementation. the implementation. People in my area are blastoff with Yorkshire water.

-- brassed off. They have failed repeatedly to deliver clean water to opt in and put thousands of litres of dirty water into the streams and rivers and we learned that people in the north of Yorkshire were having to boil water. They have pushed up prices and pocketed billions of pounds of profit since COVID. Can be debate this lamentable progress to deliver clean water by Yorkshire water and can we discuss whether or not we think privatisation is a

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failed experiment? I thank him for raising this issue and I'm sure he will agree the issue and I'm sure he will agree the previous government let water companies profit from filling waterways and rivers with sewage and rubbish. We are taking action and have already passed the Water (Special Measures) Act which holds

11:36

Rt Hon Sir John Hayes MP (South Holland and The Deepings, Conservative)

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(Special Measures) Act which holds water bosses criminally accountable for discharges and we've secured over £100 billion of private sector investment to upgrade and build water infrastructure. There is more to be done and that is why we have the commission which recently published and there will be further legislation coming forward in due course to look at the broader issues of water reform and governance.

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I commend the Leader of the House for full answers but many members for full answers but many members are standing and in order to get everyone in, we will have short

11:37

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

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questions and short answers, please. The Leader of the House will now

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The Leader of the House will now I've raised the issue of some I've raised the issue of some murderous devices in the wrong hands before and the government is making changes to the Crime and Policing Bill but I've heard no information, despite promises from the Prime Minister, about the response to the consultation on this. It is well over one year and we have heard over one year and we have heard nothing so can we organise a statement to the House dealing with statement to the House dealing with the consultation on Crossbow ownership and seal as soon as ownership and seal as soon as possible? -- sale.

possible? -- sale.

11:38

Liz Twist MP (Blaydon and Consett, Labour)

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I will ensure he gets an update. Please write to say be brought in amendments to the crime and policing Bill and it will come back after recess for the remaining stitches when the issues can be discussed but, in the meantime, I will ensure he gets a full response. he gets a full response.

11:38

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

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A few weeks ago, I was pleased to engine three education trips to Parliament with Derwentside College, the primary school, and St Marys in Blackhill and I congratulate all of Blackhill and I congratulate all of them, pupils and staff, who are a credit to the schools and colleges and to our constituency. I pay tribute to the magnificent commitment to education and Parliament. Can we have a debate on what more we can do to help people understand how they can take part in democracy?

11:39

Tom Gordon MP (Harrogate and Knaresborough, Liberal Democrat)

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I join her in commending the great work that the Education Team in Parliament do and I'm pleased they had a great experience at her constituency. Education about citizenship and democracy is a vital part of what people are doing in schools and we must continue.

11:39

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, Madam Deputy Speaker. A number of weeks ago I mentioned the and logical Harrogate Town elections and I wonder if she might grant time in government time to debate local government organisation. The borough council just to receive 0.5% of profits from Spring Water but that's been taken away by North Yorkshire Council and we want to see that backed to ensure local councils do not miss out.

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He makes a good point. I am delighted to congratulate those who delighted to congratulate those who were elected to the Harrogate Town Council, Even If Many We Are Not Council, Even If Many We Are Not Labour, but I Imagine They Are Not. He Makes a Good Point. We Are

11:40

Mary Kelly Foy MP (City of Durham, Labour)

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He Makes a Good Point. We Are Bringing Forward the English Devolution Bill and many of these issues will be debated and discussed and I know that there is keen interest in the bill and some of the issues contained within it. I will make sure he gets a response.

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Will my right honourable friend

11:40

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

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Will my right honourable friend join me in commending the work and join me in commending the work and dedication of Mel Metcalfe and the Durham Pride Team supported by Tess Tickle and her team for making this the best event for the LGBTQ community yet and will she help us ensure the hard-won rights secured by the LGBT possibility and computers are not eroded by those who would prefer to see celebrations like Pride resigned to the history books?

11:41

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

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I will join her in congratulating those who have organised Pride in Durham every year and we are coming to the season and we have a large Pride event in my constituency, Manchester, as well. We normally make time for a debate on the LGBTQ beauty ahead of the Pride Season but I will take that into account. Speak later today the House will be debating the subject of solar farms and I don't wish to pre-empt that but the fact of the matter is that building solar farms and agricultural land is completely incompatible with the proposed policy on sustainable agriculture.

policy on sustainable agriculture. Could the Leader of the House in the privacy of the Cabinet room have a private the Prime Minister and ask private the Prime Minister and ask him to talk to the energy secretary and Agriculture Secretary and bang their heads together?

11:42

Liam Conlon MP (Beckenham and Penge, Labour)

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We will debate some of these issues later today and the balance must be struck and he is right about that. Meeting energy needs, energy security, getting bills down and developing solar is key. At the same time, ensuring agricultural land and food security is maintained and I am sure that we will debate those issues later.

11:42

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

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As the MP for Crystal Palace, I asked the Leader of the House to join me in wishing Crystal Palace football club good luck last month and my constituents were left feeling glad all over when her good wishes helped secure a thumping victory against Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final,-0. As a City fan, I think she will be less likely to push the Eagles mac good luck this weekend but please wish us good luck for Saturday and acknowledged that not only are the fans underdogs but the whole country, too.

11:43

Wera Hobhouse MP (Bath, Liberal Democrat)

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Well, as the MP for Manchester City as well as a fan of the club, I don't want to see Crystal Palace winning on Saturday but I recognise, Madam Deputy Speaker, that this is a huge step for Crystal Palace. It is a long time since they have been in the FA Cup final. I know that the supporters will be the over loud and proud on Saturday and the whole of his constituency and South London is his constituency and South London is absolutely behind them on Saturday but hopefully Manchester City will win.

11:43

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

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Gillian House is a homelessness charity operating in Bath for years and the lease is ending and with no routes to funding, they are facing closure. -- Julian. Can we have a debate on improving the opportunity and dealing with the short-term contracts which are devastating for people at risk? Becoming I'm sorry people at risk? Becoming I'm sorry to hear about the homeless charity and the challenges that it's fishy. She is right. Short-term funding cycles that we have seen for local cycles that we have seen for local government are part of the challenge for charities like that in her constituency.

We are committed to a three-year funding cycle for local three-year funding cycle for local government and we have boosted finances in every part of the finances in every part of the country to deal with the situation she describes. she describes.

11:44

Mr Calvin Bailey MP (Leyton and Wanstead, Labour)

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I first welcomed the remarks from the Leader of the House regarding the intolerable situation in Gaza and the commitment to ensuring the government does everything it can to bring about a swift conclusion to the situation. What Israel is doing to blockade items necessary to sustain life contradicts the same humanitarian laws that our own armed forces have to uphold when defending us. Alongside arms sales, one of the biggest issues is the RAF overflights and they are coming from overflights and they are coming from the base of where I once served and although I have no doubt we are serving honourably in line with international law, for the clarity international law, for the clarity is required for the purpose and extent of these UK military cooperation is because we must be cooperation is because we must be open and transparent and assure our constituents that nothing is being constituents that nothing is being done to aid the disgraceful acts from Israel against the people of Gaza.

What can my honourable friend do to address this alongside colleagues in the Ministry of colleagues in the Ministry of

11:46

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

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And I thank him for that question and reiterate that the situation in Gaza is intolerable. We need to see it ending. We need to see a ceasefire and for negotiations to stop the bloodshed and killing of innocent civilians, as well as hostages being freed. As far as that hostages being freed. As far as that may now feel from the situation we are in, a long-term two-state solution must be found as well. He solution must be found as well. He will know that on the issue of arms will know that on the issue of arms exports, we have six ) suspended -- suspended arms export to Israel.

suspended arms export to Israel. In January in January 2024, my constituent wrote to the Treasury about his business. The Royal mail has confirmed that his letter was signed for. He didn't receive a reply and came to my surgery seeking assistance. Having investigated the matter, I wrote to the Treasury in March. I wrote again to the Treasury on seventh May. My constituents has still not received a reply. Will the Leader of the House have a word with the Chancellor and ask the Treasury

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to reply to my constituent? I'm sorry to hear that his

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I'm sorry to hear that his constituents 's correspondence has constituents 's correspondence has not been reply to. If he would supply me the details of that correspondence at the end of the

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correspondence at the end of the session, I will absolutely ensure he gets a speedy reply. Village in my constituency

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Village in my constituency recently experienced a sudden and unexpected closure of their post unexpected closure of their post office. We know how important postal services are for providing banking services, opportunities to pay services, opportunities to pay bills, IT services. I set a petition. 200 residents have signed it already. Could we have a debate on government time about the

11:48

Christine Jardine MP (Edinburgh West, Liberal Democrat)

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on government time about the importance of post offices. -- IT services. I'm sorry to hear about the

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I'm sorry to hear about the closure of the post office in her constituency. As I've said many times before, I think it is absolutely critical that members of Parliament like herself really stand up for these services and make clear to the post office that this is not

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acceptable to our constituents. I'm sure we would all the green

11:48

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

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I'm sure we would all the green that the well-being of our universities is vital to the

11:48

Christine Jardine MP (Edinburgh West, Liberal Democrat)

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universities is vital to the economic well-being of this country. I know in my constituency of Edinburgh West, the well-being of our four universities in Edinburgh

11:48

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

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our four universities in Edinburgh is vital not just to the economy but the livelihoods of many of my constituents. International students are vital to the well-being of those universities and Universities Scotland say that the measures proposed this week by the government on immigration could cost universities in Scotland £85 million a year in terms of the levy. There is a great deal of concern about this. Can the leader arrange for me to have a meeting with the relevant minister to see how we can address this issue and perhaps reassure the university sector?

11:49

Well, look, I think it is important to say that international students play a really important part to our country and bring with them skills and make a great contribution to our country. I think that's why UK universities said this week that our measures will keep us very competitive in these areas, but I do take on board what she is saying. We have education questions saying. We have education questions coming up soon I will ensure the Minister get back to her on these matters.

11:50

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

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Sunday marked National Fishing Remembrance Day. I'd like to pay tribute to the previous member for South East Cornwall and her late husband who lost his life to the sea. Will the Leader of the House sea. Will the Leader of the House make time for a debate on government time on support for a sustainable fishing industry, particularly in terms of smaller fleets? terms of smaller fleets?

11:50

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

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I will absolutely join her in paying our respects. I think it was National Fishing Remembrance They last week and I'm sure the whole House will join me in paying tribute to those who have contributed to our economy but also the fishing way of life in constituencies like hers. Fishing and fishing communities always raises lots of interest in this house. I'm sure if she wanted to apply for a debate on the fishing community, she would get interest.

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The leader has been how -- very helpful previously in facilitating helpful previously in facilitating ministerial engagement on the switch of the radio tennis which system. of the radio tennis which system. That switch off is due to take place at the end of June, which is only

11:51

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

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at the end of June, which is only weeks away -- teleswitch. Many people in Scotland still don't have a new metre and that carries the threat of losing hot water and heat at the end of June. I have constituents like Ian Darling of peoples who have repeatedly had appointments for change cancelled which I think is unacceptable -- Peebles. Can the leader ensure that the statement is brought forward to tell us what is happening with the switch off and assure us that nobody will be left without heat or hot water.

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I thank him for raising these important matters with me again. He important matters with me again. He is very diligent on behalf of his constituents. He is absolutely right. The switch replacements have right. The switch replacements have been far too slow and we have been been far too slow and we have been trying to speed those up. What he describes is simply not good enough. He is right to say it is unacceptable. We must meet their obligations -- we must meet our obligations and ensure that no constituents are left without heating or hot water in the situation.

I will ensure he gets a

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situation. I will ensure he gets a ministerial response and ask that the whole house is given an update. David Williams.

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David Williams. As a proud Stokie, I cannot wait to celebrate our city Centenary to celebrate our city Centenary alongside my fellow residents. With the Leader of the House me in the Leader of the House me in congratulating councillors Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council and are fantastic Lord Mair, further exceptional leadership Mair, further exceptional leadership in delivering a truly ambitious and includes -- inclusive programme of activities -- Lord Mayor.

11:53

Jess Brown-Fuller MP (Chichester, Liberal Democrat)

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I absolutely join him as a proud Stokie and join him in thanking Jane Stokie and join him in thanking Jane Ashworth. I love visiting Stoke-on- Trent myself and look forward to it flourishing over the next 100 years.

11:53

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

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With the recent closure announcement of the Yeovil maternity Hospital and special baby care unit, will the house committed to a debate in the chamber to discuss the failure of the implementations?

11:53

Baggy Shanker MP (Derby South, Labour )

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Can I congratulate her in raising these matters in Westminster Hall and elsewhere. These are very important issues. I'm sure that were she to apply for may be back into business debate on those matters, she would get a lot of support in doing so. Maybe she could encourage others who are here today in listening to her please. -- pleas. listening to her please. -- pleas. These matters are important to the health secretary. health secretary.

11:54

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

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Earlier this month, it was fantastic to attend primary engineer events supported by the amazing Gemma Smalls. Pupils from local schools showcased model trains which they had designed and made themselves. We are very proud in themselves. We are very proud in Derby of our real heritage and we are investing in our young people to ensure there is a bright future ensure there is a bright future ahead. Were the Leader of the House join me in recognising the outstanding creativity, teamwork and problem solving these young people showed? showed? showed?

11:55

Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP (North East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)

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Absolutely. The array of hard work in his constituency... Hopefully the real history becomes part of the future for young people in his constituency and they can have a career in real engineering in the future.

11:55

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

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Can I join the leader and shadow leader in their tributes on Tuesday. He was the most exceptional civil servant. An exceptional loss for many. Can we have a debate in government time on any legislative changes needed and wider changes to deliver value for money in the restoration and renewal programme? Particularly given government statements on the wider pressures on public finances and the fact that members of this house were newly elected last July and have not had an opportunity to give their views?

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Can I first of all join him in paying tribute to the exceptional service of Sir Roy Stone and I know service of Sir Roy Stone and I know that he worked with him, as in many that he worked with him, as in many others across this house. He really does sound like the most tremendous person to have worked with. He raises a really important issue around the restoration and renewal project relating to this House of project relating to this House of Commons.

He and I both sit on the House of Commons Commission where we House of Commons Commission where we will discuss and we do discuss those issues. Is it -- it is vital that issues. Is it -- it is vital that this house has a say on what that project will be going forward and project will be going forward and that we do get value for money and that people can see what that money is being spent on, which are some of the necessary resurfacing works that we've got to see in this House of Commons at some point.

We will have plenty of time to debate these

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plenty of time to debate these issues on the floor of the house. Last week, his Majesty the King

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Last week, his Majesty the King was pleased to approve the appointment of the new Bishop of Carlisle. After two years acting in the role, his appointment has been widely welcomed across the dioceses. Would the Leader of the House make time on the debate of the important work religious leaders to?

11:57

Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP (Aldridge-Brownhills, Conservative)

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I join her in congratulating the Bishop of Carlisle on his recent appointment. I know these matters actually are of interest to the house because they fall outside of government business. They often struggle to get time to be debated. With something discussed recently with the member for Battersea who is the Church Commissioner as well. Hopefully, through the modernisation committee and other work we are doing, we can find more time to doing, we can find more time to Like the Leader of the House, I am delighted that we will be having a debate about battery energy storage systems.

That is not my question for today. I just wanted to press again about Aldridge train station because at transport orals, I asked a question and she said she would get back to me but has not. Money has been taken away from this project. And struggling to get a response And struggling to get a response from the West Midlands. I wonder if the Leader of the House could assist or perhaps offer us a debate in government time on the importance of government time on the importance of rail connectivity, not just in my constituency, but around the West Midlands, particularly given the review on the West Midlands, real Hub.

Hub.

11:58

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

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Can I congratulate her on raising this matter. She is right to do so because access to transitions, investment in train stations is a real issue to our constituents, and I hope the Minister does come back to her. I will change that, absolutely. I think there would be a lot of interest in a broader debate on access to train stations and rail infrastructure in the West Midlands and beyond.

11:59

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

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I'm very concerned that this week FedEx announced they are closing the depot in Newcastle. This is bad news for hundreds of workers in my constituency. It feels like a case of profit over people. A stark contrast to this government's commitment to our industrial heartlands. This site is strategically placed and can and should prosper. With that in mind, will the leader join me in urging FedEx to think again and explore alternatives to protect the jobs and livelihoods of my constituents?

12:00

Robbie Moore MP (Keighley and Ilkley, Conservative)

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I'm sorry to hear about the proposed closure of the FedEx depot in his constituency in Newcastle. He is absolutely right as a constituency MP to raise those on the -- on the floor of the house with me. These are obviously matters for FedEx but we want to see more investment in jobs and opportunity in his constituency and I will

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ensure he gets a meeting with the relevant minister. West Yorkshire recently announced

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West Yorkshire recently announced to much fanfare that certain areas would be receiving extra officers as

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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would be receiving extra officers as part of the New Neighbourhood Policing Team Strategy. It seemed like a positive announcement hid the fact that the so-called new officers have been seconded from operations which is a critical team of officers tackling vehicle crimes. It will have a negative impact on my constituents. Could we have a debate in government time on this important issue, and perhaps the leader will agree with me that if officer numbers are in issue four West Yorkshire police, they should not be continuing with the military hiring continuing with the military hiring practices that deter white recruits practices that deter white recruits

12:01

We are committed to introducing more neighbourhood policing roles and will introduce another additional 13,000 neighbourhood policing roles by 2029 and that is part of the guarantee. I am sure his constituents, like mine, will want to see those that they are policing in his constituency tackling crime and making sure the streets are safer.

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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Abilities are vital community resource. -- Defibrillators. They are an assurance for visitors. In my constituency, Paul Kimberly has been leading the parish-rise defibrillator network which includes 50 for the area and thanks to this we are now in the top 2% nationally for defibrillator coverage. Will the Leader of the House congratulate him for his work and agree we need a more informed and strategic approach more informed and strategic approach on defibrillators and will she allocate time for this?

12:02

Ben Obese-Jecty MP (Huntingdon, Conservative)

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I join him in congratulating Paul Kimberly for getting more defibrillators to your constituency. We recognise the importance that they play and improving access to them is critical. We have top up funds to do that. We have to have a more strategic approach.

12:02

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

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Questions and answers must be shorter to allow more colleagues in.

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I am sure the Leader of the House loves a farm shop and in my

12:03

Patricia Ferguson MP (Glasgow West, Labour)

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constituency we were recently declared the owner of the best farm shop and they have high quality produce and from personal experience I can tell you how busy it is and how difficult it is to get a table. Will be Leader of the House join me in congratulating them and wishing the best of the best for the national competition next month where we have potential to become the best farm and delicatessen in the country?

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Andy Tracey, I think, and I join you in congratulating them on the award-winning farm shop and perhaps next time she could extend me an

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next time she could extend me an invitation and I might join him. Football Families for Justice as a voluntary organisation campaigning a voluntary organisation campaigning on behalf of ex-professional footballers who have died or are footballers who have died or are suffering from neurodegenerative

12:03

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

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suffering from neurodegenerative Footballs. They suffered these injuries far more than others. The FFA are trying to get the football Association to take some responsibility, to no avail. Will the Government consider amendments to the Football Regulation Bill that will encourage them to do so? There I join her in thanking the FFJ for the work they are doing and she is right, they did debate the bill at the second reading and she has got on the committee for that and it is a good opportunity to debate a further action is needed.

12:04

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 Fire and Rescue Services are facing damaging cuts. I visited one brigade and they are facing proposed cuts and reductions to coverage. These proposals could put coverage. These proposals could put lives at risk. Can we debate the importance of adequate funding for fire rescue services and does the Leader of the House agree that the SNP cuts are completely reckless? SNP cuts are completely reckless?

12:05

Warinder Juss (Wolverhampton West, Labour)

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The honourable gentleman is fantastic and pinafore services in his constituency and I'm sorry to hear the SNP government is proposing to cut the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. They have had a good settlement in the recent Budget and there is no excuse and I encourage them to continue competing.

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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In the last 10 years or so, one student has died every four days in England and Wales due to suicide and members of the House have put questions to ministerial departments on several occasions to establish a statutory of care for higher standards for students but the position remains uncertain for those students who may be vulnerable but not diagnosed with disability. Will be Leader of the House meet with me and the director of student life and designated student lead in my constituency, Wolverhampton West, to discuss and clarify what duties and responsibilities universities afterwards students with regard to health and well-being.

12:06

Claire Young MP (Thornbury and Yate, Liberal Democrat)

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These are shocking statistics. Really difficult stories to hear and these are not just numbers but individual tragedies which are happening in our universities. The Department for Education leads on these matters and I will ensure his question is. question is.

12:06

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

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Flooding is of increasing concern across the country and last month I met agencies involved with tackling flooding on the railway bridge impact the surrounding farmland in my constituency. The government has made no funding commitment for protection beyond next April. Will be Leader of the House bring plans be Leader of the House bring plans for a longer term flood protection funding to the House? funding to the House?

12:07

Sarah Edwards MP (Tamworth, Labour)

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We have listed protection funding considerably after years of underinvestment and cuts under the previous government. We have got a previous government. We have got a flood task force in place and I will ensure the House is kept, as we have done a number of statements on flooding already, but I will ensure the House is updated on all plans for enhancing flood defences.

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Lightspeed broadband have been installing infrastructure across my installing infrastructure across my constituency and disgracefully we constituency and disgracefully we have falsely claimed in communications, including written letters to Magnicity was, that I signed off on the work during a

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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signed off on the work during a meeting. This is a gross representation of a meeting I held to raise complaints and the unacceptable behaviour undermines unacceptable behaviour undermines members of the House. Can I request a statement on how the government is ensuring corporate companies cannot misrepresent members, make false claims for financial gain or undermine MPs in their constituencies and have penalties for doing so? They are a disgrace for doing so? They are a disgrace and I want colleagues about their conduct.

12:08

Bradley Thomas MP (Bromsgrove, Conservative)

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I am sorry to hear of this shocking incident and that Lightspeed had misrepresented her so Lightspeed had misrepresented her so badly to her constituents and she is right to raise that on the floor of the House this morning and I'm sure it will get the attention that it deserves.

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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Estate management monopolies are blighting the lives of homeowners across the country including residents of Mecca security. The most egregious examples which I know many colleagues are aware of our companies including First Port, representing carelessness at best and at worst a lack of ethics. Does the Minister agree regulating these companies is essential and can they update the House and when these reforms will be ready? reforms will be ready?

12:09

Mr Luke Charters MP (York Outer, Labour)

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The case of first -- First Part is one I'm aware of and it has been raised across the House and we are committed to the sound we published a white paper and put forward regulations to make the right to manage easier and will bring forward a comprehensive leasehold reform draft bill later this year and I'm sure the whole house robot combat. sure the whole house robot combat.

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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-- The whole House will welcome that.

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There are issues on the EastLink Real and Trans-Pennine Route. That's Real and Trans-Pennine Route. That's my honourable friend agree that one of these lines should be named after

12:09

Lincoln Jopp MP (Spelthorne, Conservative)

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of these lines should be named after Alan Turing to celebrate his brilliance and ingenuity?

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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I am a huge fan of Alan Turing and making sure he gets the recognition that he deserves. I think that it would be a fitting tribute to consider the trans- tribute to consider the trans- Pennine route or perhaps another Pennine route or perhaps another real line being named after him but it's important to get these upgrades and get the infrastructure that the and get the infrastructure that the and get the infrastructure that the north... -- rail line. That connected the constituency to.

12:10

Lincoln Jopp MP (Spelthorne, Conservative)

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Leader of the House knows a great deal about my constituency and she knows it is in the administrative county of Surrey but she may not know it is in the historic county of know it is in the historic county of Middlesex and tomorrow is Middlesex Day and I got to the government to gently remind them I suggest that the Middlesex Flag is flown over the Middlesex Flag is flown over Downing Street. Just fly the flag. Downing Street. Just fly the flag.

12:10

Steve Yemm MP (Mansfield, Labour)

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He flies the flag for his constituency very well indeed as a new member of Parliament. I know absolutely pitch constituency represents should take the right and that and I'm sure we can all recognise the historic day of Middlesex Day.

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In June, I plan to host a joint

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In June, I plan to host a joint event with the Royal British Legion and the Ministry of Defence Armed and the Ministry of Defence Armed for Us Government Team with the aim to better inform MPs of the current offering from the government and as offering from the government and as

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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part of the event there will be the opportunity for members to engage with constituents and for them to share their experience of the Armed Forces Covenant. I wonder if we might have time on July 7 so that

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these real voices and experiences can be heard in this place and recognise. It sounds like a great event he

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It sounds like a great event he is organising to share experiences of the Armed Forces Covenant with members of Parliament and he is giving me a great deal of notice for a debate he would like as well and a debate he would like as well and so we will consider that and make sure he gets a full response.

12:12

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sure he gets a full response. My constituency is a town furthest away from a district hospital than almost anywhere else

12:12

Mr Jonathan Brash MP (Hartlepool, Labour)

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hospital than almost anywhere else in the country hospital is Hereford in Plymouth, almost 90 minutes away, and the number one bus has added two changes, three buses, and often free changes, three buses, and often free bus fares. Can we have a debate on how the government will fund vital transport routes? Making sure we have limited health services available in every community is a vital part of the health mission for this government and we must make sure that they are connected and joined up with local transport.

You will have heard that we have got the Buses Bill coming back after the recess and he might back after the recess and he might want to raise these issues then. want to raise these issues then. , Young Heart Little sporting stars will compete on the sporting stage and the under-14 netball squad and the under-14 netball squad qualified for the National Netball Finals on May 17 and 18.

12:13

Shockat Adam MP (Leicester South, Independent)

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Will be Leader of the House join me in wishing them the best for the finals and thanked the company whose generous donation as well as others helped to make the process possible? Wheel I join him in wishing the under 14 netball squad of the best when they go to the event in Sheffield. I'm sure they will do Hartlepool proud and I join him in thanking all those who help make that possible. Stigma classic I had the privilege of visiting a truly remarkable academy in my constituency.

It's more than a slow but I centre for 120 extraordinary

12:15

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

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children, many of them have life- limiting conditions and physical and mental challenges. What struck me was most of them had boundless joy, courage, unbreakable spirit. During my visit I heard concerns about my visit I heard concerns about my visit I heard concerns about proposed cuts to transport funding and these changes have a devastating impact on the children, families, impact on the children, families, school. Can I ask Leader of the House to join me in celebrating the incredible book of the Academy and

12:15

Jayne Kirkham MP (Truro and Falmouth, Labour )

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incredible book of the Academy and secondly to affirm that the access secondly to affirm that the access to education must never be affected for transport, especially for vulnerable young people? Becoming a vulnerable young people? Becoming a join him in recognising the great work that Ashfield Academy do and bring so much love to all those who go there. He raises the important matter of access to transport matter of access to transport funding which is an issue for local funding which is an issue for local areas to ensure happiness and I'm sure that has been hurt and he might want to raise the important matters under the Buses Bill which is coming under the Buses Bill which is coming up after the recess.

12:15

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

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There is real concern for families in my constituency that changes to the Adoption and Special Guardianship are being brought in before the impacts are fully known or assessed and much funding has gone and it is used for emergency support in complex cases for children affected by things like Alcohol Alcohol syndrome. Alcohol syndrome. Will Alcohol syndrome. Will be Alcohol syndrome. Will be Leader Alcohol syndrome. Will be Leader of the House grant time for a debate on

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this important issue? These issues have been raised many times and we have an urgent question granted a few weeks ago by

12:16

Richard Foord MP (Honiton and Sidmouth, Liberal Democrat)

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Mr Speaker. I recognise that this fund offers support to adopted and kinship families who do a great job and we should pay respect to the work that they do and the life changing role adopted parents bring changing role adopted parents bring to parents that they look after and I will ensure the Minister gives her a full reply and remind ministers a full reply and remind ministers this is a matter of great importance this is a matter of great importance this is a matter of great importance

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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Thank you. Speaking of the council this week, the coordinator, Tom Fletcher, spoke about preventing genocide in Gaza. He said that future generations will hold us in this chamber to account. Members of the house were given the opportunity yesterday to ask the government about its assessment of the likelihood of genocide in Gaza. Could the Leader of the House grant us a debate about the obligations on governments such as ours here to prevent genocide?

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I know that many members and many

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I know that many members and many members of the public will have heard that important speech by Tom Fletcher at the UN Security Council Fletcher at the UN Security Council yesterday. We did have an extensive yesterday. We did have an extensive debate about these matters in the house yesterday. I will just reiterate that this government wants reiterate that this government wants to see an end to what is happening in Gaza, an end to the bloodshed, and to the airstrikes, eight getting and to the airstrikes, eight getting in, the hostages being returned, and working towards that diplomatic,

12:17

Euan Stainbank MP (Falkirk, Labour)

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working towards that diplomatic, long-term solution. It's not for the government of the day to make an adjudication on whether genocide or whatever has happened, that is a whatever has happened, that is a matter for international courts. Absolutely respect international courts and what they do. courts and what they do.

12:17

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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I have a constituent from the banking sector who was told that she might receive 20% less in her

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pension. I think these issues around

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I think these issues around pension clawbacks, making sure that pension customers get treated fairly and decently is absolutely and decently is absolutely important. We do have a Pensions Bill coming forward shortly where there are additional consumer protections.

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Can I thank the Leader of the House for the opportunity to raise an important matter as I do every

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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an important matter as I do every week? Religious minority communities face discrimination. Overseas development aid also has a very crucial role to play. Will the Leader of the House contact the FCDO minister to check on how the UK minister to check on how the UK currently support religious minority currently support religious minority leaders? How can we better use our age -- our aid?

12:19

Mr Alex Barros-Curtis MP (Cardiff West, Labour)

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I will absolutely ensure that ministers do keep this house updated ministers do keep this house updated on issues relating to these issues. on issues relating to these issues.

12:19

Could be debate the issue of bilingual death certificates? -- could be debate? -- we. I have a constituent who will have to go to court, have the process quashed and another undertaken. Can the leader offer any advice and support that this should be the default position when the deceased person is from Wales?

12:20

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

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I'm sorry to hear about this case. He will know that death registration law is a matter for the General register office but I can assure him that the Ministry of Justice is working with them to better encourage them, particularly when it comes to bilingual request like the one his constituency had. like the one his constituency had.

12:20

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

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Pupils at the school in Harris, the most beautiful constituency in the country, have come top prize in the eco-schools Scotland award. They are the most environmentally aware pupils on the planet and when I visited the school they give me a lesson on the effects of micro- plastics on the marine environment. Will the Leader of the House join me to lessen the effect of micro- plastics on the marine environment? For the planet and for the pupils of the school.

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I absolutely join him in congratulation from congratulating congratulation from congratulating the students in educating him and the students in educating him and the rest of us on micro-plastics and the damage they caused to the marine

12:21

Ms Polly Billington MP (East Thanet, Labour)

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environment. We do have a second reading of the Private Members' Bill on this issue on 20 June. It would make a very popular topic for a debate.

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My right honourable friend will be aware that mums and babies have been badly failed by maternity

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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services at the hospital in my constituency, the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mother hospital. The unit has now been rated good. This is a testament to the hard work I know has been put in by hospital management and staff to turn things around. Which she also join me in welcoming the £1.8 million to plan welcoming the £1.8 million to plan additional improvements to the maternity unit and share my racing confidence that the hospital has confidence that the hospital has turned a corner? turned a corner?

12:22

Paul Davies MP (Colne Valley, Labour)

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I'm really pleased to hear that maternity services and her constituency have been good rummage have been given a good rating -- have been given a good rating by the have been given a good rating by the CQC. I'm pleased to see there is new money going in. And looking forward to keeping a close eye on their performance.

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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Over the weekend, my constituency hosted a festival. It is a cider festival and folk festival which festival and folk festival which marked it -- its 47th year. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating the organisers of these vital festivals and could we have a debate in government time on the importance of local festivals in attracting tourism and strengthening

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local economies? Once again he highlights the real

12:23

Jessica Toale MP (Bournemouth West, Labour)

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Once again he highlights the real tourist hotspot of his constituency. He is a great champion for them. These festivals can really draw in the crowds and make sure that people come to his constituency and elsewhere. I will ensure that the Minister is made aware when he next wants to visit their. wants to visit their. wants to visit their.

12:23

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 constituent has been nominated for a National police award. He was able to disarm a man wielding an electric saw while waiting for the police. I want to put on record my thanks and mark the contribution

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police officers make to our safety. I will absolutely join her in

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I will absolutely join her in congratulating PC Rowe. What a remarkable outline she has done remarkable outline she has done there of the bravery. I will ensure that the Home Secretary has heard her question today and we can all celebrate their great work.

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celebrate their great work. This week, when the independent pharmacy Association visited pharmacy Association visited Parliament, I got stuck in and had my blood pressure and blood is taken. It really highlighted the essential preventative work pharmacies do to reduce pressure on pharmacies do to reduce pressure on GPs. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking independent pharmacies for the vital role they pharmacies for the vital role they play in community healthcare and welcome the record £3.1 billion uplift, and will she allow time for a debate on the importance of supporting local pharmacies?

12:25

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supporting local pharmacies? Absolutely join her in thanking

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Absolutely join her in thanking the work that local pharmacies do. They are vital in preventative healthcare and community healthcare. That's what this government is committed to. That is why we have put in the extra funding and that is why we will continue to support community pharmacies like these. community pharmacies like these.

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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My constituent has severe scoliosis and needs a new wheelchair. She was measured for one over a year ago and still has not received phone. In my constituency, the only option to get a wheelchair through the NHS is to -- through ATM healthcare. Will the Leader of the House take time to discuss how we can improve wheelchair access to constituents like Tina? -- ADM.

12:26

Tracy Gilbert MP (Edinburgh North and Leith, Labour)

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I'm sorry to hear about her constituent's experience. As she will now, NHS England have recently issued new guidance on this for independent care boards. This includes the wheelchair quality framework, published in April this year. We hope that will improve the experiences of constituents like hers.

12:26

Tracey Gilbert. have issued one of the largest orders in the last few months. The orders in the last few months. The Minister for the Middle East has appeared before this house on appeared before this house on numerous occasions. However, it is clear that members on both sides of the house are increasingly alarmed by the Israeli government's actions. With the Leader of the House look to schedule an urgent debate in schedule an urgent debate in government time on the U.K.'s response to the conflict, and recognition of the Palestinian state? state?

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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This has already been raised with me a number of times today. As I've said, the situation in Gaza is truly intolerable. We need to see an urgent ceasefire, aid going in, the killing stopped and hostages released. We've got to work towards released. We've got to work towards a long-term solution in the Middle East. The Minister has come to this East. The Minister has come to this house on many occasions, and I will ensure that the house is constantly kept updated and I can assure her kept updated and I can assure her that this government is taking a leading role in ensuring that piece is brought to the Middle East and Gaza.

The modernisation and introduction of the blue badge program is a lasting legacy of the last Labour government. Can the Leader of the House confirm sometime in the parliamentary timetable to discuss a cross-party campaign led by MPs and the editor of my local paper to support the success of the

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scheme and to look into the eligibility of including time- limited conditions? I'm well aware of the great

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I'm well aware of the great campaigning that he and other Kent MPs and his local newspaper are MPs and his local newspaper are doing around blue badges, which are vital to those who receive them. I'm vital to those who receive them. I'm sure it will get wide support if he wanted a further debate on these

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important matters. Will the leader join me in welcoming tomorrow's launch of the welcoming tomorrow's launch of the National Celebration called Love Your Local Market. We can promote Your Local Market. We can promote their businesses and culture as a key driver of economic growth. My

12:28

Maya Ellis MP (Ribble Valley, Labour)

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key driver of economic growth. My local market was voted U.K.'s favourite market for the third year in a row.

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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I will absolutely be having a look at the website myself later today. I know of the market that she is talking about in her constituency in Shrewsbury, which really is a

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fantastic market and I'm sure many people will be visiting at this weekend. The Heart Project is a project to

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The Heart Project is a project to move water from my constituency to Manchester. With the Leader of the Manchester. With the Leader of the House assure my constituents that

12:29

Terry Jermy MP (South West Norfolk, Labour)

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stakeholders like United Utilities... Will she also consider

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debating community impact? Let me just be clear. We expect water companies like United water companies like United Utilities to engage with local Utilities to engage with local communities about big projects like the one that she describes in her constituency. We want to see water companies being more accountable. That's why we have already passed some legislation in that regard and there will be further legislation coming soon.

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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Thank you very much. My residents are very concerned about animal welfare issues which is why there welfare issues which is why there was such outrage at the weekend after get further reports on abuses of animals carried out by workers at a livestock farm as reported by national newspaper. Given that this year will mark the 20th anniversary since the Labour government brought in the historic Animal Welfare Act, can we have a debate on historic farming practices and regulatory

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failures that do not go far enough to protect animal welfare? I will absolutely. I know animal

12:30

Kirsteen Sullivan MP (Bathgate and Linlithgow, Labour )

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I will absolutely. I know animal welfare attracts a great deal of interest from members of this House. interest from members of this House. This government is committed to producing the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation, building on our historic reputation in this regard. We've got a number of manifesto pledges, which will will be bringing forward throughout this Parliament.

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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Thank you. My constituent shared with me the story of his father and uncle service in World War II. Next Tuesday, a memorial will be unveiled to commemorate the deaths of over 800 Allied servicemen Live on the sunken ship and those rescued by sunken ship and those rescued by Chinese fishermen. My constituent will be there representing his family who survived. Will the Leader of the House make a statement in of the House make a statement in remembering those who perished in remembering those who perished in

12:31

This tragedy must be remembered and I am glad we are remembering it today and I'm happy to hear about the new memorial being unveiled.

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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I hope the whole House will join me in paying tribute to my constituent Roger Cooper who died this week. He was a brilliant and decent man, a member of the Labour Party, who campaigned for over 60 years for the party with his first election in 1964. I am actually proud that what turned out to be his last election elected a Labour government and then he and I hope Leader of the House will join me in paying tribute to Roger and all members of all the little parties who are the unsung heroes of our democracy.

democracy.

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I join him in paying tribute to Roger Cooper for 60 years of service to the Labour Party and whichever party we are from, we know that the members are activists and the reason

12:32

Ministerial statement: Cross-government review of sanctions implementation and enforcement

we are here today representing our constituents. I know that Roger would be thrilled that the final general election that he was involved in managed to elect such a wonderful MP4 High Peak and got a wonderful result and we sent heartfelt wishes to his family.

12:33

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

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That if the end of Business Questions. I will let the Frontbench have a moment to change over as we prepare for the state. We come to the statement on sanctions, implementation and enforcement and I called the Minister, Stephen Doughty.

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With your permission, I will make a statement on the cross government review on sanctions, implementations, enforcement. I'm glad to have the chance to do this glad to have the chance to do this today. This will be available for members who want to get into the members who want to get into the detail. Sanctions are powerful tool detail. Sanctions are powerful tool in the armoury and a vital national security tool and they are used to deter threats and demonstrate values and they protect UK interests, citizens, and defend peace and citizens, and defend peace and security.

Dealing with the situation security. Dealing with the situation in Russia is key to securing a lasting peace that is just in lasting peace that is just in Ukraine. The UK has sanctioned over 2400 people in Russia and they have been deprived of billions of dollars been deprived of billions of dollars since the invasion begun and that is money that could have allowed them to continue the terrible water managers. There have been over 500 new sanctions against individuals, entities and ships. Last Friday, the Prime Minister allowed sanctions for the decrepit and damaged 'Shuttle Crippled Almost Half the Fleet.

President Zelenskyy Is Serious about Peace and the Readiness Is Demonstrated by Him Being in Turkiye As Well and also they had been bring down that are on Ukraine and if Putin does not engage, allies will have no choice but to ramp up economic pressure further and forcing to the table. Alongside measures against Russia, we are using the dignity to uphold human rights and democracy around the world and we targeted pro-Kremlin operatives last month, responsible for destabilising Moldova and we had sanctions in Guatemala for undermining the rule of law.

We will not stop there and will continue to expose malign activity using the full range of tools at our disposal to shape the world for the better. Sanctions are playing a role in cleaning up dirty money and in general the Foreign Secretary is cracking down on those feeling irregular migration. This government is committed to not only using sanctions effectively but also, and this is the main focus of the statement of, ensuring that they are enforced rigorously. This means enforced rigorously.

This means punishing breaches with large fines. There is a greater need for a greater focus on sanctions enforcement and since we came to office, we have worked across government on this and liaised with law enforcement partners in industry. In October, we launched the Office of Trade Sanctions legislation with new powers to crack down on those and soften the blow sentence and we have also reinforced the Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation in the Treasury and looked at the multiagency Joint Maritime Security Centre to enable them to develop new tools to target the Russian Shadow Fleet, including in the cell.

The investments are paying off already. Last month there was a penalty of £465,000 against a major law firm subsidiary for a breach of sanctions went to the Ukraine invasion. We saw before a successful prosecution under the Russian Financial Sanctions Regulations thanks to excellent work by the National Crime Agency and I congratulate the team for their incredible work. I hope to see more enforcement action and I think we should be assured that teams are working effectively in a range of agencies and across government.

Funding from the Economic Deterrence Initiative has been crucial to maintaining the reputation with the allies. Also, for example, the British Virgin Islands and it has enabled the NCA to support enforcement and combat circumvention and there has been excellent work and we hosted this at Lancaster house a few months ago to collaborate and make sure we are with capability across the territories. I will turn to the review on enforcement specifically and I'm determined to go up to those who go after our sanctions and I launched a review in October to look at improving sanctions implementation and enforcement.

This is crucial for achieving foreign- policy goals and building a secure and prosperous UK. This forward- leaning review had three goals. First, to make it easier to comply with sanctions and also helping ensure goals. Second, to increase the deterrent effect on enforcement, making it clear that avoiding sanctions does not pay. And thirdly to enhance ability to take robust action against those seeking to evade measures. We will publish today and we will look at how the UK approach that's a good standard.

The vast majority of businesses agree with the sanctions and will continue to work to ensure they are enforced. We have launched a new email alert system to keep UK businesses updated on designations, legislation, licenses, other related topics. We are making the guidance cleaner and easier to access, providing guidance on ownership and control and introducing the list for all introducing the list for all designated persons. We are also introducing a reporting point for breaches. For bite, will publish a new enforcement strategy, making clear the consequences for non- compliance and look at new options for penalties for breaches including an early settlement scheme.

And we are dedicated to strengthening enforcement tools to ensure we have the literary powers, capabilities, intelligence. We have taken action already. Last month, we introduce measures to prevent designated individuals from holding director roles in the UK and protecting British businesses and the Department for Business and Trade as updating laws to protect workers who report breaches and trade sanctions, giving them whistleblower protection which is. These actions taken together and the pace will enforce the resume and allow us to project the strength of law around the world.

We are not satisfied with that. We are committed to exploring other areas to go further and deeper to improve enforcement and these areas will take long to scope and I will alert the House in due course and I will set out we will explore options for more effective joining of intelligence including the merits of a new sanctions intelligence function and will consider sanctions and licensing controls for exports with a high risk of sanctions the version and we will continue to support the overseas territories to enhance enforcement abilities and Explorer enhancing transport powers to target specific aircraft with sanctions and we will update Parliament when additional outcomes have been scoped including those that require new or a medical division.

You will know that we have put forward a number of sanctions recently, expanding the resume for Russia into a range of areas this week and with relation to changed circumstances in the Syrian regime. Let me conclude by reiterating the government commitment to government commitment to strengthening the enforcement of UK sanctions and implementation. We will continue to engage across will continue to engage across departments with industry, wider stakeholders and international partners to maximise the partners to maximise the effectiveness of the work and I commend the statement of the House.

commend the statement of the House.

12:42

Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP (Aldridge-Brownhills, Conservative)

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I think this is the third time in a week that I have met the Minister across the dispatch box to the bid sanctions. I start by thanking him for his statement. -- debate. Sanctions are imperative for supporting the rules-based system and punishing those who breach them the last government placed sanctions on the Bashar al-Assad regime and help the coordinated approach with allies in Syria and Britain placed sanctions on Iran and worked with the US for a shared commitment against those who threaten security in the Middle East.

In 2021, the UK put in place sanctions including asset freezes on Chinese officials for gross human rights abuses and Britain led international efforts to sanction Putin and those behind his war machine in response to the illegal invasion of Ukraine. We put the plans in place to set up the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation which the Minister referred to being formally established in October. This was set up to bolster capability and crack down on companies that breach sanctions and coordinate across government to ensure they are permitted effectively.

At that time, the Minister and density cross- government review. We have not seen the project so I have a few questions I will press the Minister on today. What changes are being made to the existing sanctions, implementation and enforcement frame? What role does the Department play and any changes? He references increasing deterrence against everything sanctions but what measures are being considered as part of this robust action? He mentions and enforcement strategy. When can we expect this to be published? And on the potential new joint sanctions intelligence function, I would welcome some clarity on how this fits into the existing framework are existing intelligence framework.

How does he envisage this working with the US and other allied partners? I am pretty sure the Minister will appreciate we have our own sanctions framework thanks to leaving the EU. The taxability is to set up our own framework. -- Flexibility. These chances cannot be squandered. Looking at this in the context of the EU Security Pact, the Minister confirm if he expects this to touch on the independence of the sanctions regime? We should be looking to build on the strong measures we put in place in countries and identities.

What progress is being made with identifying further sanctions to impose on those already targeted? On Syria, kindly give us an assessment of the number of groups and militia operating in Syria and how you will ensure the relaxation of sanctions benefits the people of Syria? How often will they give you the impact of the relaxation of sanctions and built a committee putting sanctions on entities and people in Syria if the standards we expect in relation to protecting rights are not met? Will the government consider a new bespoke regime and set of regulations for Syria? The critical mass of the sanctions on Iran were introduced under this party, the last Conservative government.

Sanctions form one part of the approach to tackling Iran but can he tell us the broader strategy on Iran? When we were in government we impose the largest and most severe set of sanctions Russia had everything. This economic pressure we have collectively imposed with the international community has tripled the Russian economy and deprived Putin of $400 billion that could have funded his illegal war. -- Crippled. We cannot afford to let up on exerting this pressure on his war machine.

Part of this includes tackling assets. What consideration has given to deploying assets from the sale of Chelsea football club to support Ukraine? Will he confirm the timeframe for this? I would welcome some clarity on what information is coming forward to the Minister in terms of potential sanctions which IS and nipples being exploited. -- Breaches and loopholes and what gaps have been identified? Will he update us on the action he is taking against any third-party countries supporting countries and entities we have sanctioned? Finally, I would like to ask the Minister how he plans to deepen our international coordination and what discussions has the government had with the US and whether the government had advance knowledge of the announcement yesterday and if it will have a bearing on nuclear policy regarding the Syria policy regarding the Syria sanctions? The sanctions are crucial to have in the diplomatic arsenal and we must ensure they operate as effectively as possible to ensure effectively as possible to ensure effectively as possible to ensure

12:47

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

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Thank you and can I thank the shadow minister. She asked me about the overall review, and as I said, it is being published now and she can peruse that in her time and we welcome all feedback and suggestions. I will summarise a couple of key themes. We recognise the different sectors are different levels of maturity with sanctions and government communications and engagement seemed to reflect that. Some of these measures can be very technical and we want to ensure that businesses can comply.

There is direct engagement between government and industry when it comes to compliance. We need to bring together our efforts. We have a range of different agencies doing important work. We need to improve our guidance and make sure we bridge any gaps in unclear regulations. We need to ensure that people understand the consequences of breaking -- breaching sanctions. Of course, she asked me about intelligence and cooperation with other countries. This is obviously crucial. We are going to explore how that works but there is a huge amount of cooperation between ourselves and key partners come including the United States, the EU and elsewhere.

There is cooperation across government as well. Our officials work very hard. I like to pay tribute to the incredible team and other departments as they do remarkable work. She asked about cooperation with the EU. Of course, it is important. This is being considered as a range of the measures as we approach the important summit next week. I can assure her that our own sanctions policy remains our own sanctions policy. We are often working in coordination with others. The EU has sanctions against Russia and others.

She asked about the third country circumvention. This is something I've paid particular attention to. I had meetings just this morning on this specific issue with a partner country to raise concerns. This is a feature of pretty much every week and we are bearing down on other routes that might be supporting measures to undermine our sanctions. She asked about Chelsea. We are doing everything we can to bring that about quickly but it is a complex legal issue and the UK is working with partners to engage with Abramovich's team and ensure that proceeds reach that vulnerable people in Ukraine.

Just about serial. She knows we obviously updated the regime this week and we remain with the sanctions against Syria. We will keep the situation under close review. We will judge the new government by its actions. the new government by its actions. We took very firm action in relation to the supply of ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the illegal war in Ukraine. We remain determined that Iran must never develop a nuclear weapon and we are committed to using all tools to ensure this, including the UN sanctions snapback mechanism.

She asked about enforcement and what difference is already being made. I give some examples of ready but another point is that in April, then say secured the first convictions. Someone was found guilty. His brother was also found guilty of circumventing a sanctions regulations. They were sentenced to 14 months imprisonment. She ensured that all of the appropriate authorities are acting. These investigations are often complex. They are not necessarily made public. I ask the house to bear with the house and -- some of our

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agencies as they enforce these. As we develop our sanctions

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As we develop our sanctions policy, I know my learned friend already knows that my view is that Parliament should be more engaged than they are. We can then have a than they are. We can then have a collective knowledge and we can all

12:52

Rt Hon Emily Thornberry MP (Islington South and Finsbury, Labour)

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collective knowledge and we can all feed in so we get the best possible sanctions policy. I don't think we have enough at the moment and I do think there is more that we should be doing. Other things members could be doing is suggesting more creative ways of using sanctions and lateral thinking. It doesn't matter at the end how creative a sanction is. If it is not in forest -- enforce, then it doesn't mean anything. There is not enough investigations being done not enough investigations being done for breaching sanctions, particularly towards British particularly towards British companies.

I listened to the way my honourable friend gave his statement and I read the statement but there and I read the statement but there is nothing within it to say there is to be more resources put into actually investigating potential actually investigating potential breaches of sanctions. We can change roles, we can give more power but if not enough people are kicking down doors, literally or otherwise, to make sure that companies are not breaching sanctions, then frankly, we are wasting a fantastic opportunity.

opportunity.

12:53

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

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The honourable lady is right to raise these issues and it has been a pleasure to engage with her on these. I would add there has been a significant amount of parliamentary scrutiny on sanctions, as the shadow minister already mentioned. Also, minister already mentioned. Also, our debate and statement today. I'm committed to the matter. We welcome all advice and information from parliamentarians. What I would say is that often it is not possible, particularly when it comes to specific information and suggestion, to come back on those and she will understand the importance of us not commenting on possible future designations because it might lessen the impact.

She rightly raises the challenge of resource rents -- resources enforcement. What I can resources enforcement. What I can assure her, having witnessed the work of these organisations, is that work of these organisations, is that they are doing some incredible work. The office for financial sanctions implementation imposed are monetary policy against most go for breaching UK sanctions and publicised that the UK sanctions and publicised that the industry can learn from this. There is example after example. I want to see more examples.

I will continue see more examples. I will continue to work with our enforcement agencies to ensure that is the case. agencies to ensure that is the case.

12:55

Calum Miller MP (Bicester and Woodstock, Liberal Democrat)

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I thank the Minister for his statement. I welcome the cross-party consensus we have had today that an effective sanctions regime is one of the most important tools for promoting the U.K.'s ideals abroad. It is a vital pillar in the strategy to punish Putin and eight Ukraine. However, regime must be effective. I will come today's report. The responsibilities across departments have sometimes worked against the effectiveness of our approach despite the hard work of officials, to which the minister already referred.

What lessons can the Minister .2 -- point towards? Following discussions yesterday with the Syrian president, this is critical to our approach. Can the Minister confirmed that government will only consider lifting further sanctions if there is clear progress towards protection of minority groups and women in Syria? The Liberal Democrats have repeatedly urged the government to create sanctions against governments breaking human rights. Can the breaking human rights. Can the Minister confirm sanctions against those suppressing democracy in those suppressing democracy in Georgia? In Hong Kong with the extraterritorial democracy extraterritorial democracy campaigners.

And those extreme members of the Israeli government to continue to advocate for the conquest of Gaza and the forced displacement of Palestinians from the occupied territories. the occupied territories.

12:57

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

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Again, can I thank the Liberal Democrats spokesperson for his support and agree with many of the points he made. He specifically asked me about serial -- serial. -- Syria. The changes that we have made are related to making sure that financial and economic activity in line with the potential for peace and stability is able to emerge. Of course, we keep the situation under close review. We retain the ability to impose further sanctions at future point and other measures.

I can assure him we keep that very close. The point he makes about inclusive political settlement, about the absence of violence. We saw some very worrying incidents in recent months. We are going to watch very carefully and very closely along with other partners and coordinate with others on that. He raised three specific context. He knows I won't comment on future designations. He knows I always welcome input. What he said specifically in relation to Georgia, we have sanctioned multiple individuals who are responsible in relation to repressive actions and corruption that we have seen in corruption that we have seen in recent months.

We keep a close eye on the situation. We are deeply concerned about the situation in concerned about the situation in Georgia. I've made that clear to Georgian representatives. I will be making that absolutely clear again. Our teams are working closely. Heroes were suspended cooperation Heroes were suspended cooperation with Georgia. It is a deep regret because we had a significant and because we had a significant and positive relationship with Georgia. But there have to be consequences But there have to be consequences for the actions they have taken domestically and otherwise.

I take on note what he said. As he understands, I will not comment on understands, I will not comment on future designations.

12:59

Melanie Ward MP (Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, Labour)

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The Minister is doing important work on a sanctions, which are highly relevant to the situation in

13:00

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

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the Middle East. Children Gaza will continue to die of starvation. The continue to die of starvation. The Israeli government is calling up the military for ethnic cleansing. This military for ethnic cleansing. This house cannot say never again to atrocities unless we act when faced with them. Does the Minister agree with them. Does the Minister agree that the UK must uphold the responsibility to protect and that concrete action, including fresh sanctions on is really ministers, I sanctions on is really ministers, I needed now to stop Israel in its tracks, let aid in, get hostages out tracks, let aid in, get hostages out and force an urgent ceasefire? My honourable friend speaks with the honourable friend speaks with the typical passion and experience that she has in these matters.

She will she has in these matters. She will now we don't comment on potential future sanctions. The Foreign future sanctions. The Foreign Secretary said in Parliament on 1 April. We continue to keep these issues under review. The Israeli government must cut down on settler violence and settlement expansion. violence and settlement expansion. She will know of the sanctions we have taken in that regard. She will also know the actions we have taken also know the actions we have taken against Hamas and against Palestinian jihad.

She will also know that we have repeatedly called for a ceasefire which restored for a ceasefire which restored funding to UNRWA. We continue to work at every level to bring an end to the horrific violence that we are seeing in the intolerable -- and the intolerable death toll. We are working with partners to achieve working with partners to achieve working with partners to achieve

13:01

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

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Does the Minister agree that it seems to be dawning on President Trump that Vladimir Putin is playing him and there is a chance of America adjusting the sanctions it imposes on Russia. He said in his statement earlier today and also yesterday evening that if Putin does not evening that if Putin does not engage seriously with peace, the UK and our allies will have no choice but to ramp up economic pressure but to ramp up economic pressure further, forcing him to the table.

I would have thought we ought to be ramping up economic pressure now, to ramping up economic pressure now, to the maximum that we can. Unless he the maximum that we can. Unless he is just saying that it will take longer, I suggest the government gets on with ramping up as quickly as possible.

13:01

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

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The right honourable gentleman will now we have been ramping up the pressure on the measures we took last night on supporting the military industrial complex did that little on the huge package of sanctions against the Shadow Slid on the top of that the voluntary insurance reporting mechanism has challenged 241 suspected Shuttle Fleet vessels in the first six months of operation to April 6 this year. We are not only making sanctions but following up and we sanctions but following up and we have been clear that Zelenskyy is have been clear that Zelenskyy is serious about peace and he has shown that repeatedly with his actions and that repeatedly with his actions and Vladimir Putin has not and we will do what we can to chalk off the war do what we can to chalk off the war machine of Russia which is causing devastation in Ukraine.

devastation in Ukraine.

13:02

Rachael Maskell MP (York Central, Labour )

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The sanctions providing crucial leverage and providing power and resources to resumes, it is vital to see a quality of application of sanctions and when we see the effect on Russia, we have questioned why they have not done this to the Palestinians which is pushing this into submission and famine and ultimately bringing 2 million people to their death. In light of the to their death. In light of the actions of Israel, we need quality and they understand the Minister and they understand the Minister will not make pronouncements from the dispatch box today, Kitty set the dispatch box today, Kitty set out how he formulates the evidence by which thresholds are which to apply sanctions? Will he look at the apply sanctions? Will he look at the framework to ensure that there is a quality and we can use it quality and we can use it effectively and the world understands where this country comes from as a result.

13:04

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

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My honourable friend asks about the broad principles that underline the sanctions action and there are three parts, one to deter malign activity, the second disrupted and the third to protect values. We have taken precautions as I referenced in relation to extreme Settler violence and before it with other partners on a range of measures and we are deeply aware of the situation in deeply aware of the situation in Gaza. Myself and the Foreign Secretary are deeply engaged and I Secretary are deeply engaged and I have set out a number of steps we have taken to respond.

We will ensure we act around the world with the sanctions regime and are given the sanctions regime and are given examples not only in relation to geographic areas but the things I mentioned in relation to tackling mentioned in relation to tackling violence and kleptocracy more greatly and there are a number of measures in that regard she can be assured it's not just Russia and Ukraine but acting globally. Ukraine but acting globally.

13:05

Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP (North East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)

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the Member for Finsbury south and Islington and I do not agree on many issues but she's right to focus on the point of enforcement and before coming to this place I was head of Sanctions and I worked for a financial institution and so I find it naive in the statement from the Minister to say that avoiding sanctions does not pay because often these are profitable accounts and in these are profitable accounts and in these are profitable accounts and in the statement when he says they are not compliant, they often are, safe not compliant, they often are, safe in the knowledge insufficient action is taken.

I appreciate the stock is taken. I appreciate the stock action is taken on individual cases but what is the average cost of a successful prosecution of the successful prosecution of the sanctions breach and how many have sanctions breach and how many have you been in total since coming into office? office?

13:06

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

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You will know because he held senior roles in government and will understand, not into technical details of every case, but, for example, HMRC, 2032, has issued six compound settlements against UK companies which have breach Russian sanctions alone for over £1 million including one in 2033 and I feel justified in saying that avoiding sanctions does not pay and I'm committed to ensuring we have more actions going forward and somebody public and others will not and we will respond to that but we are introducing new powers particularly for countries coming forward involuntarily disclosing and we must involuntarily disclosing and we must find ways of settling those but for those who do not face penalties.

those who do not face penalties. We know that too often evading sanctions happens through the British overseas territories, particularly secretive havens like the British Virgin Islands and a lack of public ownership records competence records to find out who is involved in sidestepping the sanctions regime. With all this in mind, can be Minister lay out how he is working with overseas territories to finally meet the commitment to introduce registers of ownership and can he reassure this place that our sanctions are robustly enforced across the entire UK family?

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He is right to raise this issue and it is an issue I have raised repeatedly with leaders of overseas repeatedly with leaders of overseas territories and I will raise it territories and I will raise it again and we have seen robust action on sanctions in terms of implementing and working with

13:07

Richard Foord MP (Honiton and Sidmouth, Liberal Democrat)

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authorities to ensure we have the biggest enforcement. I mentioned recently thinking Lancaster House with officials and I mentioned the specific example of PPI and we've been working with them on a range of issues. -- BPI. It's been productive. He is right that transparency contributes. We should have a register of ownership and also what has been agreed that we will introduce interest access registers and be seen will progress with some of them not there yet but you can be assured I'm not resting on raising serious concerns about on raising serious concerns about that and I will continue to do so in coming weeks.

coming weeks.

13:08

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

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The G7 Oil Price Cap prevents us from selling shipping insurance companies to companies carrying Russian oil but it is sold above $60 a barrel. I appreciate the Minister might say you cannot pronounce future sanctions and we understand future sanctions and we understand that but can we -- pre-amounts that can be reduced as further given the price drop below $60 per barrel for

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crude oil? It is an important issue and I

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It is an important issue and I will not comment on the future but since the action, there has been a 30% reduction in tax revenue from

13:09

Johanna Baxter MP (Paisley and Renfrewshire South, Labour)

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30% reduction in tax revenue from oil in 2033 compared to the year before and the price they received for crude has continued to sit below global levels and the work on the shadow fleet has significantly disrupted the revenue he can get from oil to fuel the war in Ukraine. We will consider all possible measures and offer measures to further strengthen efforts in this regard and the best way to do that is working with international partners and we are engaged in conversations on these matters every day and I will not comment on future actions.

13:09

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

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I thank my right honourable friend for the statement. Will he commit to investigating whether further sanctions are required on original, federal, military enforcement agencies who have been involved in the continued bar subduction of Ukrainian children to Russia and at the very least make sure we have a line sanctions against these individuals with those imposed with the US and EU?

13:10

Greg Smith MP (Mid Buckinghamshire, Conservative)

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She raises a crucially important point and knows my opinion and the Foreign Secretary knows it is an important issue and she knows with designated individuals in this regard and we continue to keep a sanctions possibilities under review and we will look closely for examples of anyone involved in the action of taking away Ukrainian children from families and children from families and attempting to wipe out cultural identity.

13:10

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

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As the sanctions regime ramps up and becomes more complicated, perhaps not as fast as my right honourable friend calls for, and I endorse that call, the Minister is right to be doing the right he is doing and as part of the review and his assessment as the sanctions ramp up and become more complicated, does he feel everything possible is being done to ensure UK-based businesses are kept up-to-date with the judging picture so that the one inadvertently falls into the wrong side of the law on this?

13:11

Patricia Ferguson MP (Glasgow West, Labour)

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The vast majority of UK businesses and individuals want to comply with the regimes. They support them and do not want to expose customers to additional risk and so we want to make sure they have the best advice and in a timely and clear that the terrible fashion and that is what the measures are set up to do in terms of consolidating information and how it is valued and so that there is capacity building in sectors which are less used to this and that is what we are doing here and we want to help people to comply.

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My honourable friend makes a powerful case for the efficacy of sanctions in achieving diplomatic

13:12

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

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and foreign policy aims. As we observe the 50,000 deaths and countless injuries and forced displacement and now the possibility of mass starvation and the renewal of the bombing of hospitals by Israel in Gaza, is it not time that the sanctions were applied to ministers such as Itamar Ben-Gvir and Smotrich. It is understandable he will not discuss future sanctions but will they discuss with colleagues the strength of feeling in the chamber that the sanctions must be taken against these individuals sooner rather than later?

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My honourable friend raises important and serious issues and she knows that we have repeatedly knows that we have repeatedly

13:13

Iqbal Mohamed MP (Dewsbury and Batley, Independent)

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condemned the rhetoric, the extreme rhetoric of the far right Israeli settlers and we've taken action against troops in the West Bank and we are regularly supporting the humanitarian response, whether that is the £120 million of assistance. -- £129 million. We can work to treat medically evacuated citizens and we are supporting UNICEF. There are a range of measures but I won't comment on future designations.

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I thank the Minister for his state. The UK has imposed sanctions against Russia and Putin for the against Russia and Putin for the illegal invasion of Ukraine and the workrooms of Putin. The UK has workrooms of Putin. The UK has sanctions against officials in Syria for which IS of international humanitarian law and targeting humanitarian law and targeting hospitals, schools, aid convoys, obstructing humanitarian aid and the

13:14

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

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obstructing humanitarian aid and the use of chemical weapons and the indiscriminate bombing of civilians. How does the government justify the absence of similar sanctions against senior members of the Israeli government when there is clear evidence of Israel perpetrating the same violations? What actions has the government taken to comply with obligations specified in the ICJ advisory opinion from July 2024 to ensure all economic and diplomatic ensure all economic and diplomatic support is withdrawn that helps to perpetuate the unlawful occupation of Palestine by Israel?

13:14

Josh Fenton-Glynn MP (Calder Valley, Labour)

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A number of questions and it might be helpful to get a list to respond individually but we have respond individually but we have been clear in condemnation of the been clear in condemnation of the rhetoric and the extreme rhetoric of the far right Israeli ministers are include about the horrific situation in Gaza and the support we are providing to make a difference on providing to make a difference on the ground that we have been clear in the calls for a ceasefire and in the calls for a ceasefire and clear in calls for immediate humanitarian access and I've repeatedly said I do not comment on repeatedly said I do not comment on repeatedly said I do not comment on

13:15

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

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I thank my honourable friend for his statement today. He up details about what conversations have been said about the use of frozen Russian assets to support those who are fighting Russian aggression in Ukraine?

13:15

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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It's a very important question. He will now that we have already dispersed the first two tranches under the scheme which is making a difference to Ukraine right now. It is too .2 billion. -- 2.2 billion. We are very, very clear that Russia needs to pay, and that they need to do that for the damage they have caused. Is going to have most impact if we're going to be able to do that in collaboration with partners.

in collaboration with partners.

13:16

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

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Can I think the Minister very much for his answers to the questions and returning to the chamber within 24 hours. In terms of financial sanctions, I read an interesting article, which highlighted the alleged loopholes in the transfer of funds. Would the Minister outline if the Department's approach will also deal with those UK businesses that might be enabling Russian assets to circumvent the

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sanctions? My honourable friend will know

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My honourable friend will know that there are significant criminal penalties for innovation of penalties for innovation of sanctions. If anyone has any sanctions. If anyone has any information relating to this, we hope that they will share this. He hope that they will share this. He can be absolutely assured that we look at every particular way in which people are trying to circumvent the sanctions regimes. We circumvent the sanctions regimes. We cannot have London or indeed the UK or our British family as a place enabling this type of activity.

We enabling this type of activity. We are resolutely committed to cracking

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down on it. I welcome the Minister's statement today. It is obvious that these sanctions are essential to deter the kinds of behaviours and deter the kinds of behaviours and activities that we don't want to see internationally. The Foreign Secretary has spoken about bringing Secretary has spoken about bringing sections against those involved in smuggling gangs and those that cause irregular migration to the UK. The Minister made reference to it in his statement today. When can we expect to see such sanctions take effect?

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And he also comment on their effectiveness in dealing with and defeating the criminal smuggling gangs? This government has been clear

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This government has been clear that we will take every measure possible to crack down on illegal migration and those who facilitate migration and those who facilitate the cruel trade in human beings, trafficking them across continents and countries. That's one of the reasons we are introducing that new reasons we are introducing that new regime. We will bring ringing forward to the legislation in due

13:18

Chris Vince MP (Harlow, Labour )

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forward to the legislation in due course and at the time, we will be able to discuss the exact details of the proposals. We aim to bring it forward as soon as possible to start taking actions. That is just one of the measures we are taking and I regularly engage with European and other partners on dealing with smuggling gangs and legal migration.

13:18

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

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Final question. statement. I'm reminded of conversations I had this week with one of my constituents. She raised a concern about recent cases of polio. I wonder if the Minister could tell me what progress has been seen on those enforced measures in recent months?

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I thank him for his Western. I'm delighted to hear the residents of delighted to hear the residents of Harlow are interested to see these measures in effect, and that is something seen across the United something seen across the United Kingdom. I will give him an example. The Department for Transport has

13:19

Select Committee Statement: Select Committee Statement on the First Report of the Work and Pensions Committee, Safeguarding vulnerable claimants, HC 402

The Department for Transport has detained for transport assets, one helicopter, to private jets, totalling over £80 million. I hope the house can see today just how serious we are about this, just how serious our enforcement agencies are, just how serious our departments are. It's fantastic to be working with the team across government. I want to pay tribute to government. I want to pay tribute to the fantastic officials and agencies that bring pressures on those who seek to evade or divert from sanctions regimes.

sanctions regimes.

13:20

Debbie Abrahams MP (Oldham East and Saddleworth, Labour)

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That is the end understatement. I will just allow the Minister to swap over on the front benches before we go on to our Select Committees statement. We now come to the Select Committees statement on behalf of the Work and Pensions Committee. Debbie Abrahams will speak for 10 minutes during which no interventions will be taken. At the conclusion of her statement, I will take questions. Can I emphasise that question should be directed to the select committee chair, not the direct government Minister.

Frontbenchers can take part in

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questioning. I now call Debbie Abrahams. Thank you so much. Perhaps I can

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Thank you so much. Perhaps I can start with something's. Festival to start with something's. Festival to the backbench business committee for allocating the time for me to make the statement of the House. This marks the publication of the first report of this Parliament report of this Parliament safeguarding -- 'Safeguarding vulnerable claimants'. It was vulnerable claimants'. It was launched under the stewardship of my launched under the stewardship of my noble friend. I pay tribute to him for initiating and supporting this for initiating and supporting this enquiry.

We were not able to conclude this enquiry before the general election last year so when I was elected as the chair of the site was elected as the chair of the site committee, it was a priority to bring this enquiry to conclusion. I bring this enquiry to conclusion. I was pleased that new members of the select committee agreed and I thank them for their support. I also wish to thank the members of the previous committee who contributed to the thinking behind some of these recommendations, but I especially want to thank the committee staff who for me are some of the unsung heroes in this place.

I'd like to thank Daniel Nash, Dixon. From this committee, like to thank John Paul Flaherty and Alexander Payne. I also want to thank everyone who has contributed to the report. There are many people and organisations who supported written and oral evidence and took part in roundtables and surveys. Finally, I wish to mention all those people who have not been treated or supported as they should have been by the Department of work and pensions. Ultimately, this report is for them and to try to ensure that others do not have to endure what they did.

The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for the delivery of essential services to millions of people each year. This includes some of the most vulnerable people in society who rely on benefits, or as I prefer Social Security support, as the main source of income. Our predecessor committee open this enquiry on 23 July, 2023, primarily in response to concerns that inadequate safeguarding practices in DWT had -- DWP had contributed to the deaths of claimants, particularly from suicide or starvation.

I first came across these facts 10 years ago. The case of David Clarkson came to light. David was a veteran who died after being sanctioned which means that his financial support was stopped. He couldn't pay for power and the internet and his fridge no longer worked. These cases kept coming. Girl who had serious mental health problems starved to death and his emaciated body was found inside. Philippa day, young man with mental health issues who relied on PIP.

I will never forget the recording of Philippa phoning the DWP and pleading for her PIP not to be stopped. Michael Sullivan, Alexander stopped. Michael Sullivan, Alexander

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Anderson. Would you like a sip of water

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before you continue? That was just the intervention I needed. Jodi Whiting, David Wood, needed. Jodi Whiting, David Wood, and many, many others. Our report recognises the significance of every death and harm experienced by death and harm experienced by claimants and the impact of these claimants and the impact of these cases on their loved ones. In 2023 cases on their loved ones. In 2023 to 2024 alone, we know that 14 to 2024 alone, we know that 14 deaths...

We believe that the actual number of deaths is much higher than number of deaths is much higher than this. We heard evidence that the process of accessing the DWP support process of accessing the DWP support and some policies themselves can create or exacerbate existing vulnerability. The threat of sanctions can lead to material and Engaging with the system has been so difficult and distressing that it has contributed to claimants deciding to take their own life. Where a coroner's inquest has found the DWP has contributed to death.

Since 2010, the DWP was issued with 10 prevention of death reports, relating specifically to the deaths of benefit claimants. This and the Equality and Human Rights Commission has outlined potential discrimination and the investigation that was subsequently launched have added to the evidence that the work and pensions committee collected. The enquiry set out to investigate the lack of support provided to the lack of support provided to claimants. A new select committee agreed to meet on 30 October, 2024.

I should also acknowledge that there was the paper published in March of this year and the government said it was consulting on new DWP safeguarding approach to make it clear what the department and staff are expected to do in order to safeguard the public. I welcome safeguard the public. I welcome Our principal recommendation is for a statutory safeguarding duty to be placed on the DWP to protect claimants. Although the Secretary of State would be accountable for this duty, reflecting leadership needed to drive these changes, it will make safeguarding in the DWP everyone's business, at all levels of the organisation and all stages of policy development and implementation.

It will include considering the safeguarding needs of claimants proactively, the ability to refer vulnerable individuals to other agencies duty of care, and proactively considering the impacts of key policies and legislation on the health and well- being of claimants before they are implemented. The need for this new legal obligation is clear. The current approach of safeguarding within the DWP has been described as piecemeal and lacking coherence, and the committee agrees. For this reason, the report calls for a comprehensive systems-based approach to safeguarding that integrates into every stage of policy development and implementation and review.

This approach must involve everyone within the DWP to ensure that safeguarding becomes a fundamental part of the DWP's culture. We see this new statutory duty as being the cornerstone of a big cultural shift that is needed within the DWP. For too long, the focus has been on cost-cutting, often at the expense of dividing genuine support. This approach has led to a system where claimants feel undeserving of support and fearful of the department meant to assist them. This necessary cultural shift must be driven from the top down with ministers and senior officials are leading the way.

The statutory safeguarding duty would help to save lives. The need for deep-rooted cultural change within the Department of the new -- often leads to mental distress for claimants. This is driven by continual cost- cutting measures. The DWP must prioritise safeguarding support over cost-cutting. It helps people and can passionately support those who may never work. The report also emphasised the importance of learning from past mistakes. The department has conducted a number of IPR's but the full-scale is much higher.

The ongoing investigation into the Department's treatment of disabled people underscores the need for transparency and accountability. In addition to the statutory duty, the report makes another a number of the report makes another a number of All significant policies are advised by the team. They are not routinely carried out, leading to policies that may harm claimants or exacerbate existing abilities. By making these assessments, we hope to ensure the impact of policies on the health and well-being are considered in harms mitigated.

The report stresses the importance of having a robust, clear, and accessible complaints procedure to prevent failures from re-occurring. As previously stated, the true scale of harms are not known. The report calls for the recording of publishers of cases involving claimants. The Department should then commit to publishing this information annually to age transparency. It also recommends improving transparency in the processes used for mistakes and failures and the introduction of independent body which the Department should not market's own homework to investigate serious harms.

On defining and identifying one ability, the department's current approach is seen as flexible and lacking clarity and consistency. The report calls for formalised definition of an ability that is clearly communicated in public facing documents. It also recommends that adding victims of abuse to the additional support area in Universal Credit and implementing proactive measures to identify and support claimants. Ensuring that vulnerable people can access the benefits they are entitled to is crucial for delivering equitable provision. The removal of the help to claim services has made it more difficult for some individuals to apply for credit.

We recommend that job centres provide their support that provide detailed information about what support is proactively offered to claimants. In relation to this, and I do give praise. There are so many good people in the department. It is integral to helping frontline DWP, and I praise them. I thank to communication, making sure people are aware of what support they are able to access is also important, able to access is also important, and we need to see more of that.

Also, in terms of the training capacity building for frontline capacity building for frontline staff, this needs to happen to get the cultural changes that we need. Finally, in relation to collaborations with other agencies, that needs to be a statutory that needs to be a statutory responsibility with the DWP on a safeguarding call. I am very grateful. grateful.

13:33

Rachael Maskell MP (York Central, Labour )

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Thank you, can I pay tribute to the work of my honourable friend? I know she has been a persistent champion of safeguarding vulnerable people within the system, and I think this report really emphasises that. I was surprised also that the committee did not advise the removal of conditionality because I know that is a serious lead into harm for so many people, particularly in anticipation of pathways for this house and in the light of the report, I think it makes very sober reading and raises serious concerns about safeguarding and accountability of that safeguarding.

I picked out around the recommendation. It is current advice recommendation. It is current advice to ministers. What steps can be taken so that she can be supplied with the full evidence-based that it needs in order to make informed choices as policies will place many people at serious risk of their lives. lives.

13:34

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

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I thank my friend on the pathways to work, but we have recommendations that have been undertaken which is published and made available. We want legislation on the potential impacts on the health and well-being Does the lady believe the safety of Does the lady believe the safety of claimants would be improved if there was a system in the DWP for flagging was a system in the DWP for flagging things as vulnerable and for ensuring that they always dealt with ensuring that they always dealt with the same person who might be specifically qualified to look after people with such vulnerabilities? people with such vulnerabilities?

13:35

Debbie Abrahams MP (Oldham East and Saddleworth, Labour)

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There are some systems, but we did find was that these were very fragmented and to ad hoc, so this is about making a coherent case that is everyone's business. We should be identifying claimants when they present, and we should be able to sign for other agencies that might have a statutory duty of care, for example.

13:36

Gill German MP (Clwyd North, Labour)

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This report is important and timely and I'm proud to be a member of the committee that has published this today. It has been good to hear recognition from the Minister with work and pension which need to change and that safeguarding must be at the heart of this. A duty to at the heart of this. A duty to report safeguarding concerns as one of second nature to me. I had clear understanding of safeguarding duties expected and rightly so.

Safeguarding vulnerable added Safeguarding vulnerable added systems is important, so this needs to be second nature, so does my honourable friend agree with me that we must see clear action from the government to create the more compassionate system that we need to make this a reality?

13:37

Debbie Abrahams MP (Oldham East and Saddleworth, Labour)

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Am grateful to my honourable friend and thank her for what she has done. I agree with everything she says, and I do hope that it is sooner rather than later.

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And I thank my friend for what was a distressing statement. Can I ask other plans to protect claimants might apply to current claimants? might apply to current claimants?

13:37

Johanna Baxter MP (Paisley and Renfrewshire South, Labour)

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It is an important question. As I mentioned, I think it is really important. It is the bedrock of the report that safeguarding needs to be integrated at all stages and all levels and before policies and legislation, so it is absolutely key to legislation that is being

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house. I think my honourable friend for her statement. It is a pleasure to her statement. It is a pleasure to serve under her on the Select Committee. This report is sobering reading. The evidence taken was

13:38

Debbie Abrahams MP (Oldham East and Saddleworth, Labour)

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reading. The evidence taken was heartbreaking. It is my honourable friend agree with me that over and above the very specific procedural above the very specific procedural recommendations of the report contains, the overarching theme from everything we had is that there everything we had is that there needs to be a cultural change within the Department of work and which ensures there is reflected access, ensures there is reflected access, curiosity, sharing of best practice, curiosity, sharing of best practice, and it is a culture driven by compassion for the most vulnerable people in our country.

people in our country. I thank her for all she is doing, and absolutely, the culture is one of the key things in terms of statutory duty and making sure that we have a system based approach to safeguarding. I will never forget a quote from one of the witnesses that we have. She said I felt as though I felt I was supposed to have arms around me but there was nothing. around me but there was nothing. This should not happen in this country with such an important country with such an important department as this.

Thank you so much.

13:39

Dr Caroline Johnson MP (Sleaford and North Hykeham, Conservative)

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13:56

Alex Mayer MP (Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard, Labour)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Thank you for calling me so early. Clearly the sunrise of the debate. I believe that there is a climate and biodiversity emergency. Not only that, there is real insecurity in our energy markets. That is why I absolutely back the government's plan to triple our solar capacity and to reach a clean power target by 2030. I think we need to be looking at the whole gamut of renewable energy that is out there whether it is tidal, though perhaps not so much in Bedfordshire, wind power, and solar power as well.

I am lucky in my constituency, I am home to the joint tallest wind turbine in the country. I share that honour the member for Bristol North West. I did suggest when I visited there that we put a union flag at the top of it, so mine would be the tallest of the did not agree. We are also home, as the Minister knows, to a solar farm in Eggington because he came along and visited it with me. That is a solar farm that produces enough power to power 2000 homes every year.

What I think is interesting about it as well is that, as well as producing that clean green power, it producing that clean green power, it also retains an agricultural use, because, as the Minister may remember, there are also sheep grazing between those solar panels nibbling at the grass as they wait.

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Just to be clear this is not about blocking the way. Of course it is important that we have a diverse energy mix. But she must know that energy mix. But she must know that if we put that in the best quality agricultural land, we will import more food, extend supply lines and damage the environment?

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damage the environment? I thank the member for his

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I thank the member for his contribution. I think we need a mix but we cannot be in a situation where we rule out using solar panels where we rule out using solar panels on large chunks of land. As I was saying when the Minister came along saying when the Minister came along to visit our solar farm in Eggington and meet the sheep, some of the land and meet the sheep, some of the land around it, when the producers decided to work there, has been decided to work there, has been transformed into wildflower meadows as well.

I am also aware of another as well. I am also aware of another organisation in my constituency, a W organisation in my constituency, a W Group, in the next couple of months we will be building another solar we will be building another solar are. And the flower meadows that are so important for biodiversity in our country, we face real problems for some of our pollinators and other insects. The other thing that I learned when visiting that solar farm was actually that it could be useful for some of our ground nesting birds as well.

He found shelter and century underneath some of those solar panels. In essence, I just wanted to say that I really welcome what the government is doing here. I welcome what the government here. I welcome what the government did yesterday in terms of the new rules to make it easier for some of rules to make it easier for some of those smaller power generation from solar panels to be linked to our solar panels to be linked to our grid. I urge the Minister to go full steam ahead on this and to make sure that our solar power and solar that our solar power and solar industry has a bright future in this time of biodiversity and climate emergency.

14:00

Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP (North East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. To understand this government's approach to solar farms, one should start by rereading their own manifesto. Page 60 of the Labour In this solemn promise, what were they saying? Labour recognises food security is national security. That is why will champion British farming. Now, it does seem a long time ago but we have seen a succession of announcements where it is clear there is no commitment from this government to farming, and that is part of other commitments like council tax bills not going up energy bills going down, but on food security and its importance to national security, it is clear that it was a fake promise.

There is an irony because we still have the ongoing covert enquiry. What was very clear to me was that a time of national crisis value for money changes. There is a complete demand across nations for scarce resources, and at that point, I can assure you that food security will be an issue of national security. And that is why the callousness of the current government on the manifesto commitment matters so much.

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The government guarantee returns on investment on this farm which is on investment on this farm which is in effect bribing farmers to get away from farming.

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away from farming. It is creating an incentive to do the exact opposite of their own manifesto pledge which is why I manifesto pledge which is why I started with that point. Let me come onto the second point in terms of onto the second point in terms of labour's approach. That is to the cabinet itself. We can't sit and see cabinet itself. We can't sit and see first-hand the cabinet, but what is very clear. One who is had the good fortune to sit is how marginalised fortune to sit is how marginalised fortune to sit is how marginalised the Department of DEFRA has become within the government itself.

We saw the prime minister announced things like the compulsory purchase of like the compulsory purchase of farmland in order to support such schemes. We see the Labour leader schemes. We see the Labour leader make a raft of promises. We see the make a raft of promises. We see the deputy minister riding roughshod over the security of state, and we see the Chancellor was phoning to make sure that the FSA was being reduced so quickly they have to do concede a legal case which their approach was wrong and allow more applications to proceed.

That is without the commitment to Labour's farm tax. It was complete nonsense. So, we have a department that is completely sidelined and is failing to stand out in the Labour to stand out in the Labour manifesto. We see policy announcements which shows the instinct the values, the priorities of this government which is one that believes in top-down know best. It doesn't believe in localism. And why that matters to solar farms is because of the implication around how the delivery of this policy is happening on the ground.

We are seeing real clustering in search often as my neighbour would point out in clusters where the best food production actually sit. We are seeing gaming of the system where the developers bring in consultants to grade the land in ways that sit at aunts with historic knowledge of

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the value of that land. I am delighted to endorse everything my right honourable friend and neighbour has said about national resilience, but this point about grading land is critical. To be fair to the government, they have said the grade 1, two, and three should be protected. But the problem should be protected. But the problem is that the developers deliberately is that the developers deliberately attempt to distort that distinction by recreating land using organisations which are part of

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organisations which are part of their own corporations. He is completely right, and the

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He is completely right, and the issue is hiding in plain sight. When in government, I thought to strengthen the protections group for strengthen the protections group for farmers, that the energy secretary farmers, that the energy secretary wrote out bringing forward certificated in classifications because it is well-known that we know what a constituency level says know what a constituency level says that this malpractice is going on and not being challenged. The point is, this is not by accident.

This is not an error of delivery but by design and we can see that in decisions made with the secretary native Cambridge. There was an important announcement in terms of a mega farm made against official advice, so the reason this matters is to the wider trust in our politics. We had a clear commitment given to rural communities in its manifesto that is being broken, and I am conscious that many colleagues want to come through this, so it may be that number 10 and number 11 have simply decided they didn't expect to win.

They can be sacrificed, non- essential. It may be the number 10 and 11 have made that decision, but it is baffling that there is so much silence and these MPs are voting for measures that are having such a harmful effect in rural constituencies that is so short-term that it is putting our food security which matters to national security at risk.

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I am pleased to follow the honourable member as he will find

14:07

Tony Vaughan KC MP (Folkestone and Hythe, Labour)

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honourable member as he will find out shortly. I support this government's clean energy mission I want this country to be a clean energy superpower. I want to see more wind, tidal, hydroelectric power and as I will say later, nuclear. For the government, it means less air pollution, lower greenlight gases, and over time, lower flooding risks which is very significant in my constituency, and a more stable climate. For the economy, lower energy prices for households and businesses because we will not be dependent on gas prices set by the global energy markets.

As we store, we have no control over the global price. National security, more renewables will go to dependents because instead of our country importing fossil fuels from regimes, we can reduce more of our energy at home. These points have been lost on the Conservative party given up on being ambitious about tackling climate change. They simply do not believe that this country, the birthplace of Industrial Revolution has the will or the ability to build the world's strongest economy and reforms policy seems to support the surrendering of control of our energy prices to the global markets given their commitment to fast tracking oil and gas developments in the North see and abolishing subsidies for renewable energy.

My constituency of Folkestone and hive is proving to be a popular one in terms of development with flat land, and we development with flat land, and we have five solar farm projects in my constituency which, if they progress, would qualify for national significant infrastructure project status. And there are a few smaller ones as well. We want to play our part in Folkestone hive in supporting the nation's clean energy mission, and I believe we should be doing this in two ways.

First full, through bringing back nuclear energy generation at Dungeness and secondly, by taking our fair share of solar developments. I am glad that the government is committing to nuclear as part of the energy mix. The former power station, yes.

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The gentleman said he took five proposals in his constituency. Dizzy support all five of those proposals?

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support all five of those proposals? There is an issue about each area taking their fair share of development. It is key that we support the government's clean energy Michelle and taking our fair share as I will come on to say. We share as I will come on to say. We need to make sure it is a fair need to make sure it is a fair share. We have a decommissioned share. We have a decommissioned power station, and we should be bringing that back for energy bringing that back for energy generation.

The site has the location, the proximity to the grid, the local skills base for those technologies such as advanced modular reactions, and I am grateful modular reactions, and I am grateful to the Minister for his continued engagement on this issue but I would at the government to move faster to create the conditions for modular create the conditions for modular reactors in other technologies to become a reality. On solar, it must absolutely play our part in delivering the government's clean energy mission. Playing our part should not be at the expense of the fundamental character and beauty of this rural community.

People deliver for its tranquillity and beautiful landscapes, and as I say, we have to take our fair share of these developments to support the government's clean energy mission, but as I say, covering Marsh will affect the area. One of these projects would occupy 2.3 mi of countryside and there is more in the pipeline. It is consistent to support the mission and to accept our fair share while also saying that there are principal limitations on this and a reasonable amount of development is right to take.

So, the point I'm making is that solar farms need to be evenly spread across the country for some the clean energy mission is a national endeavour and we can't have one community facing this on their own. Lastly, if any honourable members want to intervene and make

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legitimate points, they are free to. The gentleman is making the point that I was trying to make. 7% of my constituents is an obscene amount of

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solar panels to put in our best quality farmland. As I've said, the importance of

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As I've said, the importance of supporting clean energy mission that everybody needs to play their part. everybody needs to play their part. What I'm saying is that there needs to be a fair share principle here, and what I'm saying is that if all and what I'm saying is that if all the areas of the country you have similar features to my constituents did that, then these impacts on did that, then these impacts on particular areas would be less, and that is an entirely fair balance to that is an entirely fair balance to make, what the party seems to be make, what the party seems to be wedded to its decided that net-zero is something that shouldn't be aimed at and they have absolutely no answer to how we solve the climate

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answer to how we solve the climate crisis. Lastly, there are real concerns about ethical. I thought it might be worth

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I thought it might be worth making the point generally that only 10% of solar applications greenbelt and accumulative number is completely irrelevant. What matters is number built from the land, so 7% of the constituency may be covered by applications that is not a reflection.

14:13

Rt Hon Sir Edward Leigh MP (Gainsborough, Conservative)

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14:20

Sarah Coombes MP (West Bromwich, Labour)

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believe this is a no-brainer. If we continue to be at the whims of dictators we are in trouble. We have heard arguments from members who are concerned about solar farms. It is not my job to speak to MPs representing rural constituencies I want to challenge the idea that solar energy is somehow a threat to our countryside. It takes up about 10 times less than the amount of land in a country given over to golf courses. My dad is a big golf fan I'm not attacking the golf industry.

I think if you are going to say that these are threatening a food security then I golf courses are doing the same. Solar is also helping to restore nature according to research from the RSPB and Cambridge University. They found solar farms take a greater number of bird species and surrounding arable land. A few members have asked already why don't we just put solar on rooftops? The government is also doing that. It is what I want to talk about. The Black Country where I represent is a proud manufacturing area.

When you look out across West Bromwich and Albury you will see huge numbers of factories and industrial buildings. To quote I thank woman before giving way. She makes reference to industrial activity. Does she agree that the predominant industrial activity that this supports is far eastern manufacturing of solar, and what would she say in response to Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6 who said this year, that by pursuing this route we are in fact seeking control, we are ceding control to other powers.

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I think companies we are nearby

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I think companies we are nearby each other. My copy is that this will be a big benefit to their business. There is no former business. There is no former estimates of the amount of roots in the Black Country for if I take an example of William King, one of the longest-running metal processing longest-running metal processing businesses, they have 29,000 m of warehouse facilities was top almost 3 ha of rooftop that could be used 3 ha of rooftop that could be used to generate solar power.

They made a start installing solar panels and hope the other Manufacturing hope the other Manufacturing businesses in my constituency will follow suit. Lighting up the Black follow suit. Lighting up the Black Country with solar will drive local growth, create jobs and build skills and power our industry. I know there are still lots of challenges to the private sector making the most of the solar opportunity, many of which the government are working to the government are working to address. Whether it is upgrading the grid so that factories can give away excess energy to local schools, delivering quick new grid delivering quick new grid connections, other issues about the business rates system and making it business rates system and making it more pro-solar than it already is.

At the moment the business installed solar panels on the roof and uses the energy itself there should be no increase in the rateable value. The businesses have said if they generate excess energy that they want to sell back to the grid, there business rates may be affected and increased creates a disincentive for companies to install maximum solar panels and generate additional clean energy. I met with the energy Minister last week and we had a good discussion. I am excited about what unleashing the full potential of solar panels across the Black Country and Britain could be.

It Country and Britain could be. It will reduce our exposure to fossil fuels and volatile prices that ends are dependent on international are dependent on international markets. It will ultimately bring down household bills. Across Britain we are on the brink of a clean energy revolution and we should energy revolution and we should seize the opportunity to manage the full potential of solar power across full potential of solar power across the country including lighting up the Black Country using our plentiful factory roofs.

14:24

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

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. The only less environmentally friendly form of power generation in the United Kingdom than solar panels is that tracks nuclear power station that is forest fed. It is a complete myth to suggest that somehow there is no carbon price that is paid for solar farms. Neither are they efficient. Given the lack of sunlight in most of the United Kingdom, the amount of power that is fed into the grid from solar panels is minimal.

We are talking about sacrificing acres of agricultural land, some of which has already gone, to no useful purpose whatsoever. It is time we grow up and recognise this. I Business Questions this morning, I asked the leader of the, but the secretary of state for energy and the secretary of state for agriculture are not singing from the same song sheet. The argument is simply not joined up. We cannot go on sacrificing agricultural land, such as that which surrounds the village in my constituency, or the Minster Marches all the land around Sandwich or west than it was top we cannot go on sacrificing that and expect to still have food sufficiency.

We are talking about lands that this summer is going making weeks. That in two or three years time will be growing houses and solar panels. That is simply not compatible in terms of policy. So I would urge the Minister to go away, think about this very carefully indeed, take the message to the Secretary of State, make sure that there is some joined up thinking before it is too late. I believe I'm afraid that 2030 is dead in the water and it is time we recognised that.

The way forward will be North Sea gas and oil, to bridge the gap between where we are now and small nuclear reactors. It is time we recognise that and stop messing around with pie in the sky schemes.

14:26

Terry Jermy MP (South West Norfolk, Labour)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. May I begin by congratulating the honourable member for securing this debate. It is an important debate for my constituents of South West Norfolk, and indeed the whole county of Norfolk. Because we have seen a solid influx of solar farm applications and it has become one of the most contentious and spoken about issues locally. To be clear at the outset, I am not a NIMBY or even a rural NIMBY as I have been referred to.

I support the government's growth agenda, I very much welcome the much-needed growth in my constituency, and I'm not anti-solar or anti-solar farm. I recognise the need for energy security, and I support net zero ambitions. But we must approach these challenges and the solutions pragmatically and with due regard for local communities and recognise the implications stop that is why I am working cross-party the honourable Member establishing a solar alliance in response to a solar farm proposal that cuts across both of our constituencies.

It is to ensure that the voices of our residents, businesses, and stakeholders are heard, and party politics does not come in the way of such an important issue. The facts are that renewable energy projects

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are not evenly distributed... I listened with interest to what

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I listened with interest to what he says and have some sympathy. Does he have any specific proposal about how to deal with Nationally how to deal with Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects approach? It completely overall to what he's talking about.

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what he's talking about. If he lets me get to the end of my speech and I'm happy to have a conversation and I may answer the conversation and I may answer the question he poses. The facts are renewable energy projects are not evenly distributed across the evenly distributed across the country. In Norfolk, our terrain is flat, it is quite sandy and frankly it is relatively easy to get things into the ground. The likelihood of into the ground. The likelihood of increased pylon capacity we are attractive to solar projects we are getting more than our fair share of getting more than our fair share of applications for solar farms and it places increased burdens on certain communities.

One of my particular concerns about the influx of concerns about the influx of applications is the impact on food security. All too often, agricultural land has become the agricultural land has become the default option for solar farms because it can be cheaper alternatives than when deployed at scale. Not because it is the right social and environmental option. It is not just any old agricultural land either. Solar farms are being disproportionately cited on better quality farmland rather than on poorer quality land.

There is three times more grade 5 agricultural land in the UK than grade 1. Five being the lowest quality land is referred to earlier with one being the best. Yet solar installations occupy 20 times more grade 1 and grade 5. That cannot be desirable or acceptable. I firmly believe that great two agricultural land should be protected and prioritised for food production. The National Planning Policy Framework considers one, two, and grade 3a is versatile and prom prioritises their protection.

But if you take the solar farm application in my constituency, if approved, 20% of the application site would cover grade two land. Around one third of the land to be used be best and most versatile. We are releasing in Norfolk longer hotter summers which adds to the challenges for farmers. Irrigation is needed more frequently adding to the cost and more land is becoming unviable for food production. As I've said before, I'm fully behind a pro green economy, as ensuring that renewable energy is not something for the future but for now.

I have huge simply with the Minister and the team. Our energy security is in an appalling state after 14 years of Conservative government. We have lived through soaring energy bills, fuel poverty, soaring energy bills, fuel poverty, and we need cheap clean energy. This cannot come at any cost. There are cannot come at any cost. There are alternatives. Let's take the facts and celebrate that the UK, with far more capacity than any other more capacity than any other

14:31

Rt Hon David Davis MP (Goole and Pocklington, Conservative)

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And I congratulate the gentleman on what he had to say? He was responsive to the local interest in this. We have had a number of glib comments about this or that percentage of land. Let's look at it from individual point of view. Last Monday, the East Yorkshire solar farm in my constituency of 3150 acres was approved. Not many policies make me angry and this one but this one did. This one drove roughshod over the desires and wishes and expressed complaints of my constituents.

It will cover an area the size of Durham. Imagine if we were applying how long the planning would take. This went through many things, through the consultation process with little more than a stand-up operation. There are inputs from my constituents and now we're paid any attention to whatsoever. In trying to save the global environment, we are told in untold harm and it will

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fail in its first day. Does he recognise that the Conservatives failure to have proper Conservatives failure to have proper national strategies around development mean that we don't have development mean that we don't have enough prison places to lock up all of our criminals and not having sufficient solar energy will do the

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same. Unless she is talking about the suntans of criminals, I'm not sure suntans of criminals, I'm not sure what the relevance of that is, but what the relevance of that is, but she was one of the ones who was picking numbers out of the air. What picking numbers out of the air. What I'm pointing at is the effect on normal things and it is not the normal things and it is not the bland view that she has put forward.

A 3000 acre solar farm is disproportionate for any part of the country because it surrounds villages, makes life miserable for villages, makes life miserable for people. Multiple towns and villages people. Multiple towns and villages will be completely surrounded by the East Yorkshire solar farm, and there is another one, the minor-league proposed for right next door. So will be effectively 6000 acres and I'm not very optimistic about the attitude of the government in the approval process. We also heard referenced slightly steering references was to we're talking about actual people in my constituency.

They raise from pensioners who spend their entire life savings to go and live in a quiet part of the country with a beautiful view and they will have a view of black plastic. From people not very far from me who are born in the country because they have a child who is very autistic and needs the peace and quiet and the rural environment that is provided. We have people on lower salaries to work in the country because that is what they want.

We have people committed their and these are the so-called name Becks and they don't want their lives ruined by this. When I surveyed residents like my honourable friend who proposed this honourable friend who proposed this motion, 90% were against the size, against the way it is done, and I am running out of time so I will make one of the point about the ill thought through nature of the policy. It depends on access to the grid, so the reason I have got to 3000 and probably more farms as from being at the grid, and this will encourage concentrations of huge farms all over the country in concentrated areas where ordinary people will have their life destroyed by an ill thought through and rotten policy.

14:35

David Smith MP (North Northumberland, Labour)

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I am proud that Britain has set targets for clean energy. We want to come from power sources by 2030 and the government is changing the planning system as we heard so that we can deliver the renewable energy of the future. It is important that benefits are felt by all of us and I am keen to make sure that my constituency is not overlooked in the new energy race. That means that solar farms should be farmer friendly and effective so they can serve my constituents as well as the whole country.

We have heard phrases like agricultural land a lot and I think we have to think through where these farms are going to be. It needn't be an either or as it seems to be suggested here. It is crucial that solar farms have local support and are rooted with communities. I know many in Northumberland want energy that directly benefits them in their neighbourhoods now, and I've spoken to very small rural communities in my constituency who are well underway and trying to get local solar farms.

They want to get signed up to the ambition of great British energy for the future. And we want to make sure that solar panels are a part of everyday life. In 2013, there were quartermillion hectares of commercial rates in the UK, and we should make good use to make sure that newbuild homes have solar panels for the benefit of their owners in their neighbourhood. That is entirely legitimate. But solar farms must go hand in glove with farmers, and in North Northumberland, we have highly productive land which is outstanding for local farmers for national food security, so it is crucial that we use this for the best possible purpose, but for the party that seems to claim it is for farmers, a free choice and small businesses, let's be clear it is the decision of those landowners if they want to diversify.

Early research shows that sheep farming and solar farms can go hand-in-hand. There is a name for this, and solar farms could represent one strand of healthy diversification for many farm businesses. I welcome that. I welcome the land use framework.

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I am listening to the points made about the opportunity for agri-vault about the opportunity for agri-vault X, a lot of residents would be open X, a lot of residents would be open to solar farms if they were combined with food growing in the way that he has described those in the has described those in the applications I am seeing coming forward in East Anglia, so would he ask the government to be stronger in ask the government to be stronger in its planning policies in encouraging and requiring solar farms that are

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combined with food growing. I was just about to say that I welcome the government's proposed welcome the government's proposed new framework that no government has done before which will help done before which will help landowners make sensible and effective decisions with their land, and I trust that will include a strong focus on both food production and renewable energy. Finally, solar farms must lead to lower bills. I am optimistic that, as we ease energy optimistic that, as we ease energy supply and generate more renewable energy, the British people will begin to see the benefit.

Skilled jobs and lower bills will be the reward for countries that want clean energy rates, and the best reward for solar and wind power will be more bills from my constituents in North Northumberland. We have heard a lot about a full stack at here today from the right honourable member for north-east Cambridgeshire. Setting up this full stack to me between food security and energy security is not the way forward. We must do both together. I want my constituents in North want my constituents in North Northumberland to be part of the national conversation as we move national conversation as we move towards net-zero.

They are keen to see lower emissions, lower bills, local jobs, and that means ensuring that solar farms are local farmer that solar farms are local farmer friendly and effective to serve the British people. British people.

14:39

Llinos Medi MP (Ynys Môn, Plaid Cymru)

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A two-minute limit from after the next speaker.

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Support for clean energy should not undermine our communities. The current plans for huge solar farms do exactly that. At present, we have do exactly that. At present, we have a proposal for the solar farm which would cover 3700 acres, nearly 2% of would cover 3700 acres, nearly 2% of the islands total land, huge area. These solar farms will be built on These solar farms will be built on good quality agricultural land, and we are not proposed to solar energy.

we are not proposed to solar energy. In addition, one is waiting construction. We are playing our construction. We are playing our part from solar to wind from marine to nuclear. This month is also known to nuclear. This month is also known as the mother of Wales because of the islands fertile land served as the baskets of Wales. Building these the baskets of Wales. Building these projects on good agricultural land is undermining food security and the is undermining food security and the agricultural sector which is a vital part of our economy.

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Thank you for giving way and she highlights food security and energy security which are often highlighted as an competition in this debate, as an competition in this debate, but isn't the truth that both are crucial for our future, for a crucial for our future, for a sustainable future, and that at the moment, it is not clear how the government will relate to the government will relate to the strategic spatial energy plan to the land use framework and she agreed that we have to work together under a clear national strategy?

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a clear national strategy? I think it is a sign of strategic

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I think it is a sign of strategic planning, but what we are doing is having a lack of food security having a lack of food security planning as well. It is also an and Esco Geo pack status. To recognise Esco Geo pack status. To recognise its outstanding geological heritage conservation, education and sustainability. Sustainable being the crucial word. The proposed solar farms are not sustainable and we farms are not sustainable and we totally undermine the global Geo path station for the island.

I would like to propose to the government that solar deployment should follow a higher active to suit communities. Solar should be integrated into newbuild domestic commercial and industrial buildings by building developers. Then it should be retrofitted to existing buildings by the building owners. I'm also deeply concerned that the government is backing local communities when it comes to control over the land. There is a huge concern that people are being used by developers to buy up land against the wishes of landowners.

The threats of DCO's give developers leveraged to take on decommissioning cups for solar farms. I would like to ask the Minister what assessment has he made at this and whether he believes the misuse of DCO is by developers is happening in Wales. We have a country to keep, a piece of land as proof of our right to survive. Cole, slate, water, our natural resources have been extracted from our deprived communities for the benefits of rivers. The land of our fathers has been stepped on valuable resources and the profits taken out of Wales.

It is only fair that communities are respected. Pushing through large energy solar projects with the needs of local people is not the way forward. The government must change course with its current approach, and the pattern of approach, and the pattern of extraction and for Welsh communities at the heart of its solar strategy.

14:43

Jake Richards MP (Rother Valley, Labour)

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I have been given to minutes get straight to the point and talk about Whitestone. Last July, I was elected to be the MP and I made a solemn promise that I would always put their interest first. And the Whitestone proposal in my constituency has raised real concerns and I have held numerous public meetings and consultations since that proposal first came on my desk last November. And the numerous concerns have been raised by residents and I have made those very clear to the developer as this proposal develops, but free major concern stand out and I share these.

The sheer scale of the proposal. It would change the very nature of the area which we enjoy. The particular locations which are affected. There are four beautiful villages which would potentially be engulfed by the proposal that is Whitestone. I have had conversations with developers and I am pleased that there is been a reduction of 25% already but I am hoping for much much more indeed. And thirdly, the issue of tenant farmers. It is right that many landowners may choose to engage in the solar farm markets and that is their choice.

We live in a free economy, but the tenant farmers, the situation is different and I have them in my constituency who farmed land for generations and feel that they are under threat and I want to support them as is my role. Therefore, I simply state this. I urge for the developer in coming forward for their proposal later forward for their proposal later this year to take into account the thousands of residents who have raised very serious concerns about raised very serious concerns about proposals.

I urge them to make their proposal proportionate and fair and proposal proportionate and fair and make sure that we get a fair deal out of the transition to a green out of the transition to a green

14:45

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

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I start mapping tribute to honourable members who are taking a brave stance against government whips and standing up for their constituency. These reckless solar farm proposal. Today's debate is specifically on solar energy. And the point I want to make apply to other types of energy infrastructure. The way in which these projects are being pursued aggressively and without due care is beginning to cause a major backlash. There are growing fears that solar and renewable projects are being forced through an green lit for installation against the wishes of the very people who will have to live next to them.

The net zero at all costs agenda of this Labour government which is enthusiastically endorsed by the SNP at Holyrood is causing great concern across the country. Protecting the environment should not come at the expense of our economy and jobs, and our countryside. Labour and the SNP's approach needs to change. Major infrastructure projects are a particular issue in rural constituencies like my own, where the countryside is not just something we speak about wistfully, in some far off place. It is where we live.

Countryside is part of our community. When solar projects are getting proposed that are bigger than some towns, it is deeply worrying for local people. Time and time again, when I look at these projects across my constituency, there's a scandalous lack of regard for the views of local people. They are given very little information, overlooks, or even ignored. They are expected just agree with it anyway. Labour and the SNP might think this is acceptable but we on this side of the house don't.

We believe it is wrong that people should not have to put up with it.

14:47

Sarah Russell MP (Congleton, Labour)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. The climate crisis is very urgent in our children's futures are under threat. And since the general threat. And since the general election, the government has consented to more solar power than was contented to the last 14 years will stop Great British Energy is investing £200 million funding investing £200 million funding rooftop solar energy panels, and you will energy schemes for schools, hospitals, communities, including to hospitals, communities, including to hospitals, communities, including to be placed on the roof of a newly built hospital near my constituency.

It will save hundreds of millions of pounds of public sector energy bills. New building standards will bills. New building standards will ensure that houses and commercial buildings are fit for a net zero future, and the standards are expected to encourage the expected to encourage the installation of solar panels. It is critical to exclude slave labour critical to exclude slave labour from the supply chain for solar panels both on moral grounds and to enable alternative producers to enable alternative producers to compete on fair grounds.

In China much of the global supply chain, the key component of solar panels is only fractured in Xinjiang where over 1 million Uyghurs live in forced labour. I learnt about their work earlier this week. And a 2022 report said that you are always watched and there is no appeal.

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I thank battlefront for giving way. She surprised to hear that, way. She surprised to hear that, whilst we are to be concerned about solar production in China, that solar production in China, that there was virtually zero investment in the U.K.'s solar production during the time that the party during the time that the party opposite was in office? And now,

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since we came to power, we... We have to have short interventions. I'm not going to get

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interventions. I'm not going to get every member in. I agree it was disgraceful and

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I agree it was disgraceful and I'm very pleased that the relaunched Solar Taskforce is focusing on developing supply chains that are resilient, sustainable and free from forced labour. It is important that we work across the country with we work across the country with farmers and growers was British farmers own about 70% about total solar generation capacity, I'm pleased that the NFU is pleased that the NFU is participating in the government relaunched Solar Taskforce. We must continue to ensure farmers are properly consulted about land use and that the previously developed or lower quality land is prioritised.

I want to say thank you to the businesses in my community but have been supporting solar and which includes Siemens and best pack, both of whom are manufacturers using renewable energy sources. The energy company is a not-for-profit mutual society that was set up by committed group of volunteers in my constituency. And they run a constituency. And they run a hydroelectricity generation project and supply electricity to Siemens and supply electricity to Siemens and donate money to local community groups. There is now a sister groups.

There is now a sister project installing rooftop solar on a number of sites in my constituency and beyond. Havana primary school in and beyond. Havana primary school in my constituency will be officially unveiling their rooftop solar panels unveiling their rooftop solar panels next week. I know the project will inspire the next generation of solar champions. I am proud to be part of a government that is meeting communities where they are and following their lead.

14:51

Richard Tice MP (Boston and Skegness, Reform UK)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Obviously I like to bring people together in consensus. And I think there is consensus within this house there is a place for solar which is on roofs. Of course I like to lead by example and so I put solar panels on the roofs of my industrial buildings because then you can sell electricity to the occupier underneath, and ease pressure on the National Grid which is under considerable pressure. But surely solar farms, we have been hearing about thousands and thousands of acres of solar farms, it is completely inappropriate.

In Lincolnshire, a great glorious county, their applications and plans for 40,000 acres, completely inappropriate, on agricultural top quality farmland. Not only does it destroy farmland, but there has been no mention of the jobs that it destroys for the next 20 to 30 years. Great jobs in the county of Lincolnshire. And this is absolute madness. It is also so unfair. If you are living in a village or a small town in the countryside, and it is surrounded all of a sudden not bite glorious fields but by black plastic, there is no justification or fairness.

I must finally in the

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time allotted touch on... I'm sure my honourable friend is

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I'm sure my honourable friend is aware of the large battery fault aware of the large battery fault that we require as we build more solar farms. Is he aware of the dangers they pose to the public? dangers they pose to the public? Quite I am grateful to multiple friend the member for common sense friend the member for common sense was not most of these solar farms are now including these huge battery are now including these huge battery storage systems.

We have now learnt they are very dangerous. Yes, three they are very dangerous. Yes, three of them have gone up in flames just this year in the United Kingdom. They cannot be put out. You have to They cannot be put out. You have to let them burn out. What happens when let them burn out. What happens when they burn? Toxic fumes including hydrogen fluoride and toxins seeping into the ground, as we have learnt into the ground, as we have learnt from California when one went up in flames.

There are massive dangers to these battery storage systems which nobody is talking about, and by the way, no one knows who is responsible for the health and safety of these

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battery storage systems. I thank your judgement for giving

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I thank your judgement for giving way. I have a sedative element to my constituency, the point he makes constituency, the point he makes about safety, it will be addressed in the planning and infrastructure in the planning and infrastructure Bill, it is something he would support? Quite it is the fact that

14:53

George Freeman MP (Mid Norfolk, Conservative)

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support? Quite it is the fact that actually the fire departments in counties up and down the country do not have the resources or manpower or the willingness to take on the safety risk, and this should be the subject I would suggest of a subject I would suggest of a separate big important debates. We are all concerned about health and safety, and surely no one wants to safety, and surely no one wants to be living next to something that is dangerous, toxic, and forces dangerous, toxic, and forces villages in their entirety to be complete evacuated because these things cannot be put out because of a process called thermal.

We need a a process called thermal. We need a greater understanding of the dangers of these battery storage systems. I rise as the member for Mid Norfolk and chairman of the all- party group on science and technology for top Norfolk is Britain's first county, it is our leading agricultural county, and it is absolutely in the vanguard of this country's agricultural industry and this government stated, although I think cynically stated, pledged to increase food security was top truth is the globe has to double food production in the next 20 years with half as much energy Norfolk is in the vanguard of technologists to do it.

The disease resistant crops etc. In my constituency of Mid Norfolk where farming and agriculture is the number one industry, employing thousands in agricultural machinery supplies, and food processing, I cheered on when I had the government was going to support the agricultural industry and support food production. I cheered on their commitment to support UK science. The agricultural science that is key to achieving that challenge. But what we have seen since the election is the most extraordinary attack on farms, attack on the rural economy, attack on small businesses taking on jobs, and a proposal for a 7 1/2 thousand acre, 10,000 mi, 20,000 km solar farm from Castle acre through Swaffham to Dyrham.

The constituency were agriculture, food, and tourism is the number one industry. Is opposite need to reflect. I want renewable energy, I want cheap energy. My constituents would like to be consulted, they will wake up living in the middle of a power station without any serious planning consultation at all. No community benefit and all the race taken back benefit and all the race taken back to London for some this is a cynical mood for the industrialisation of mood for the industrialisation of the countryside which will rebound seriously on the party opposite.

More importantly on this country's food and energy systems. It is food and energy systems. It is wrong. Quite brings us to the frontbench spokesman men. Liberal Democrat.

14:56

Edward Morello MP (West Dorset, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Before I start I should probably declare an entry in this house I spent the better part of a decade working in renewable energy. What I would not claim to be a solar expert I can certainly write a whole other speech debunking some of the things that were said today for the record, solar panels have a lower carbon footprint unit generated that the equivalent fossil fuel. The 95% recyclable and any solar farms relevant requires a report before it gets approval if it is anywhere near an Air Force Base or an airport.

Moving on though, those of us who actually believe in science know that tackling climate change means bold practical choices about how we decarbonise our economy. We are serious about reaching net zero, tackling fuel poverty and protecting our countryside, we have to make renewables work for people as well as the planet. It is a point that I have often made, as a sector that is not particularly good at community and the benefits of a just transition. Solar panels means cheaper bills for consumers, protecting against geopolitical insecurity, and a greener future for the next generation.

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I'm listening carefully to what your document says. So that we in your document says. So that we in the House can hear clearly in our country, is he saying that the liberal Democrats fully support liberal Democrats fully support solar farms? Quite the gentleman will be pleased to know it is been will be pleased to know it is been the speech. We have made progress on our power grid. A decade ago to 6% our power grid. A decade ago to 6% our power grid.

A decade ago to 6% of our energy came from renewables. To date is 42% we can go further not because climate emergency demands it but because renewables are the cheapest source of energy available. The Democrats believe strongly in expanding solar and other renewables to reduce our dependence on fossil fuelled, improve energy security, and bring down bills. Crucially, we and bring down bills. Crucially, we believe this must be done protecting our natural environment. Strategic our natural environment. Strategic land use framework is essential if we are serious about delivering net zero whilst also safeguarding our ability to produce food and restore ability to produce food and restore nature.

We are asking more and more of the countryside to produce food, Carbon, generate clean energies, biodiversity, and provide space for housing, tourism and recreation. Without a joined up approach we risk hitting these parities against one another. It is vital that the framework is clear natural guidance on where solar is most appropriate, and encourages dual use solutions that support both energy generation and nature recovery. It must also enable local authorities to plan ahead with confidence, balancing competing pressures in a way that reflects the needs and character of the local communities.

Planning policy should not be dictated solely by where grid connections are available but by long-term vision of how we want our land to be used. It is a common claim that instead of putting solar on fields we should put solar panels on rooftops and car parks. I do not disagree. As someone who used to work in the sector I feel obligated, to explain the commercial realities. If utility scale solar costs 50p per unit to build, rooftop solar is roughly double that and meanwhile energy cap is paid little as 5p or 5.5p per unit of energy exported to the grid.

That means other types of solar do not stack up for investors. This is something the government can fix by mandating a minimum export price, we can unlock rooftop investment, reduce pressure on farmland and Consumer bills. Yes wholesale energy bars would earn a little less but consumers and the climate would benefit. It is an easy win for the government to stated its commitment government to stated its commitment We cannot reach our climate targets without solar. We need to prioritise low-grade land and ensure new schemes come with tangible benefits for communities affected.

Community benefit funds could receive a good share of the wealth created. Different from Wellington has got causes for the Energy Bill to deliver just that alongside local authority powers to invest in energy efficiency to help reduce energy. In Scotland, community benefit is worth £5000 per year. This means the controversial large-scale solar project in the constituency of South Cambridgeshire will provide 2.5 million annually to the local community. That is the scale we should be talking about and has to be the community that determines how and where that money is spent.

Today, about two thirds of solar power is granted, but we do have a critical role to play and the Lib Dems are proud to be on this issue. We welcome the government to adopt our policy on solar panels on new roofs of new homes. We call on ministers to go further by requiring to meet net-zero building standards and include provisions, and when it comes to delivery, we are showing what can be done. From the solar farm to Westmorland and the thousands of car park panels in Portsmouth, we are delivering clean energy at scale backed by communities.

The government must also be responsible. I know many of us are concerned about policies being removed. I am yet to meet a farmer who got in because they want to grant solar panels. We must ensure farming a sustainable, profitable so that farmers can keep doing what they do best, producing brilliant British food and looking after the land. I also share concerns about the use of significant infrastructure projects schemes which are taking land out of schemes which are taking land out of use.

Finally, a very quick word on standards. I am testing the Deputy Speakers patients. I know there are concerns about labour practices in supplied the industry is taking action. I can attest to this. Having action. I can attest to this. Having been part of the solar energy working group when it was first constituted, the industry has taken this very seriously, and through the initiative, traceability standards initiative, traceability standards are being applied to ensure standards with laws. At the end of the year, facilities will produce gigawatts annually five times the gigawatts annually five times the current capacity and as a result, we can meet the targets without compromising our values.

The compromising our values. The potential for solar is a normal which can create jobs as well.

15:04

Joy Morrissey MP (Beaconsfield, Conservative)

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15:15

Michael Shanks MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) (Rutherglen, Labour)

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15:27

Points of Order

simply say it I hope the Minister has listened carefully to what has been said. This is not about NIMBYs. This is not about even the aesthetics of it for stop it is about the overwhelming scale of these proposals. The sheer scale of them and the fact that they will take up a huge amount of good quality farmland. If one had a sensible strategy, one would put it in the places where there was not good food producing land. Would not put it in the best food producing land.

That is what this government

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is seeking to do. The question is as on the Order Paper. As many are of that opinion say, "Aye". And of the contrary, say, "Aye". And of the contrary, "No". The ayes have it. The ayes

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have it. Point of order. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker.

15:28

Perran Moon MP (Camborne and Redruth, Labour)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. In her speech, the member for Sleaford and North Hykeham referred to the Heckington Fen solar project and said it was approved by the secular state. It did not take this decision and with used himself from it. This was made abundantly clear publicly stop we have a duty in this House to be accurate and do not question and other members integrity. What the honourable Member said is categorically incorrect and I would therefore respectfully ask that she withdraws that comment.

15:28

Dr Caroline Johnson MP (Sleaford and North Hykeham, Conservative)

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Can I thank the member for his point of order. He will of course know that that is not a point of order but a point of debate that perhaps would have been better dealt with in the debate itself by means of intervention. I'm sure if the honourable lady wishes to respond she will be able to. she will be able to.

15:29

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

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Point of order. Labour government, a Labour donor has been given permission to build

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this. But as the point I was making. Order we are not going to have a continuation of the debate via

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points of order this afternoon. The interests of accuracy, and I

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The interests of accuracy, and I understand that is what we are trying to pursue, during the course of his final remarks, the Minister

15:29

Backbench Business: General debate on long-term funding of youth services

of his final remarks, the Minister said that 30% of power was produced by solar panels. Figures for April

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show it was 10%. I thank the right honourable Member for his further point of order. As I said these are points of debate not point of order, and

15:29

Natasha Irons MP (Croydon East, Labour)

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15:40

Richard Foord MP (Honiton and Sidmouth, Liberal Democrat)

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The question is as on the order paper. Members will be able to see quite how many are expected to speak this afternoon because I will put a three minute time limit on

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immediately. Richard Foord. Thank you. Different young people

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Thank you. Different young people have incredible potential. Across our whole county we have seen their creativity, their resilience, and creativity, their resilience, and their ambition. We are lucky to have a dedicated network of organisations a dedicated network of organisations and volunteers who are supporting them every week, from youth workers to councillors, community leaders to care mentors. People across Devon are stepping up to help our young people get new opportunities. If I think about Sidmouth, for example, think about Sidmouth, for example, Sidmouth YMCA plays a role in the local community hosting elections local community hosting elections last summer before the July elections, and people who came from elections, and people who came from across East Devon to those are some really fantastic searching really fantastic searching questions.

But, sadly, Sidmouth has seen the demise of the youth centre seen the demise of the youth centre at man stone and we saw some excellent work that was going on there has folded. And has moved elsewhere in the town and this is symptomatic of the sort of demise of youth services that we have seen over the last 15 years structure does my honourable friend agree with me that the empty benches of the party there made a conscious choice

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to underfunded services? Well, he is absolutely right, and Devon county council was run by the Devon county council was run by the Conservatives since 2009, and over that time we saw a staggering 76% that time we saw a staggering 76% real terms cut to youth services, real terms cut to youth services, and I mean despite that we still see some really dedicated volunteers who are doing their very best with very are doing their very best with very limited means.

The John Tulloch youth centre, the youth and community centre there offers weekly community centre there offers weekly youth club sessions through Devon, providing space for young people to providing space for young people to connect, to be heard, and to develop together. And we have seen with the together. And we have seen with the Shared Prosperity Fund that it is also possible to serve those young people on the cusp of adulthood. We people on the cusp of adulthood. We have seen adult employment hubs, including those in clubs and library including those in clubs and library and the community centre and with the Shared Prosperity Fund they the Shared Prosperity Fund they provide one-to-one advice for people aged 16 and over to help them gain confidence, develop skills, and find employment all further training.

Or at least we did. We did until March 2025 when we saw the Shared 2025 when we saw the Shared Prosperity Fund run out. So, we are really in a place where we are very concerned about the funding for youth services in Devon. Devon County Counsel spends just £39.30 p per John person, and that means that county of Devon ranks 100 for that of 107 with respect to that. And according to them over 10,000 young people in Devon are currently waiting for mental health support and this is the sort of investment that, made early, can alleviate concerns downstream and, indeed, can actually save that state funding on services later on.

Looking at academic studies, this is demonstrated, a review of evidence from 74 academic studies found that work produces a social return on investment of up to £6.40 produces a social return on investment of up to £6.44 every one pound spent. So, what I am urging us to do is build on what is already working, to expand brilliant examples that we have across Devon. But this needs to be through long-term, sustainable funding. We need to join our youth services with mental health, education, and creating a more integrated coordinated approach that integrated coordinated approach that enables our young people to get the help and support that they deserve.

Thank you. Thank you.

15:44

Katie White MP (Leeds North West, Labour)

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Katie White. I want to begin by thanking the honourable member for Croydon East for securing this important debate. The long-term funding of youth services is not just about that setting, it is an investment in the Next Generation and building a future where all young people can thrive. We are, as colleagues have already said, facing a mental health crisis. According to recent NHS data, one in five children now has a mental health condition, and I was very saddened to read the latest UNICEF data which places the UK near the bottom of the table for the well-being of children the happiness of teenagers compared to other high income countries.

On child mental health, the UK ranked 27th out of 36, and British teenagers would joint second to last for overall happiness. The economic consequences are stark. According to the government's key working report, young people with mental health issues are nearly 5 times more likely to be economic lean and active. Since 2015, there has been a surge of more than 2 million young people with work limiting health conditions and over half a million of those due to mental health.

And while there has been welcome progress from this Government launching the National Youth Strategy, committed to more mental health support in schools and increasing investment and early intervention, the pressures on young people continue to grow. They are facing challenges previous generations never encountered, including the impact of smartphones and social media and increased social pressures these technologies bring. Yet, over the last decade, we have seen, as those members have said, decimated, with over 1 billion to pounds lost since 2010. And in my constituency I recently met Talia who attended one of my surgeries to talk about the lack of support for her children with special educational needs and the lack of youth services in that community.

Rather than wait for action, Talia took it upon herself to connect with other organisations to explore how best to support the youth. She is now working with others to transform the building into a community hope for young people with a focus on supporting neurodiverse needs. This is a powerful example of community leadership, but also of unmet need. I would like to urge us to do more to support meaningful local consultations, bringing together young people, parents, schools and community groups to ensure long-term funding is targeted at youth services where it is needed most and the investment to align with the government's goal of improving mental health support in schools.

Not as a stand-alone thing, but as a product part of our strategy, so can I ask the Minister how can we better support communitywide wraparound services and bring together local organisations to meet that need and what further steps can we take to meet the negative impact of smartphones, social media, on young Because if you want a productive Because if you want a productive future, the most powerful opportunities are there today.

15:47

Shockat Adam MP (Leicester South, Independent)

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The simple truth is that the money be invested in youth services today and young people will save hundreds of billions of and tomorrow. More than that, it will save lives and futures and we are proud to have incredible grassroots youth organisations making changes. The organisation Pedestrians allows SEND children is to build confidence and feature in exhibitions with music. It is in the High Fields part of the city and offers a safe space of the city and offers a safe space and the club and they are mentoring and empowering the next generation but the stories are rare with many young people have another to go and the winter turn to but as mentioned by the honourable member, the alarming statistic that the UK was ranked 21/36 in happiness and well- being league for young people is unacceptable.

Local authority spending has been slashed by £1.2 billion in real terms in the last two years, a cut of 70%. Again, 73% and as provisions shrink, violence rises and people aged 10-17 are 40% more likely to commit crime. Why? If we do not offer them real role models like we did in youth clubs then they will find toxic ones on social media because without a safe space, isolation takes root, mental health declines, hope disappears. Youth work is alive and well with research showing young people who access it are happier and healthier.

It is smart economics because for every 1 pound invested, the social return is between £3.20 and £6.40, with youth works giving us over £500 million a year in costs from knife crime, antisocial behaviour, criminal justice. It is not spending but saving. The sector is under threat with funding short-term, insecure, skilled towards building, not people. It is not buildings that change lives but youth workers and we have lost many and one third that remain are on temporary or zero- hours contract earning with double the UK average wage.

Several action points that we can take - a national youth strategy with plans to protect youth services. A dedicated youth minister at the Cabinet level to ensure that youth is not an afterthought. A long-term workforce strategy to recruit, retain, properly p the professionals that young people rely on and also moving

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from capital investments to opening access services in every postcode. When we talk about youth

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When we talk about youth services, we talk about the kind of country we to be and we discussed

15:51

Chris Kane MP (Stirling and Strathallan, Labour)

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country we to be and we discussed crime prevention, mental health, silos, but the threat that is most clear is property-funded youth services. Youth work is a proud tradition in Scotland in my constituency it takes many forms, Council programs and community services and they work to address inequality, isolation, opportunity inequality, isolation, opportunity gaps. Youth project has taken the former hotel and turned it into a thriving hostel and social enterprise, offering training opportunities to young people and in Bannockburn there is a sports hub for the eastern villages delivering partnership with the football club, rugby club, Cricket club, showing how sport, youth work, development go hand in hand.

These are fantastic examples of grassroots ambition but beyond energy and enthusiasm is a deep sense of fragility with too many struggling with short-term funding. Organisations like the National Lottery Community Fund and many others have stepped in to keep things going.

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I thank my honourable friend for

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I thank my honourable friend for his passionate speech and he is showing why Scotland have produced some of the greatest football some of the greatest football players of all time like Billy Bremner. His point about the funding Bremner. His point about the funding of the youth project, he talked about short-term funding and in my about short-term funding and in my experience it is about the need for funding new projects, not long-term funding for existing projects.

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funding for existing projects. I agree with that and thank you for recognising a good sterling man, for recognising a good sterling man, for recognising a good sterling man, Billy Bremner. -- Stirling. There Billy Bremner. -- Stirling. There are issues with local government, and the retreat under the SNP in Holyrood has seen a real terms cut of over 15% for local authorities and that makes it almost impossible and that makes it almost impossible to deliver statutory expectations little expand for the future and bend youth services are currently in practice not abstract and we see it in worsening mental health, rising youth crime, lost opportunities.

We all know what works and the boost confidence, attainment, support employability. These are generational investments, not optional extras. I welcome the commitment of the Labour Government to embedding the youth services alongside mental health and career support in communities. Action from Westminster only go so far when Hollywood is pulling in the opposite direction. -- Holyrood. We must properly fund councils and commit to long-term support for services because it's not just about budgets but hope and acting on belief in the potential of every young person.

15:55

Rachel Gilmour MP (Tiverton and Minehead, Liberal Democrat)

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Of four, in my community, it is a wonderful place to grow up and wonderful place to grow up and embodies the best of the green and pleasant land of England and it is home to a vibrant network of youth circles. I pay tribute to the fantastic sports clubs across the fantastic sports clubs across the patch, big and small, the strong presence of young farmers and the presence of young farmers and the cadet branches of armed services in cadet branches of armed services in the local area and the myriad of streaks across the constituency and streaks across the constituency and the award-winning Young Voices we look forward to welcoming to Parliament next week.

I apologise if Parliament next week. I apologise if I've left anyone out. Screens are I've left anyone out. Screens are becoming an increasing fixture in the lives of sugared iterations of the lives of sugared iterations of the countryside is becoming more important, boosting mental health, important, boosting mental health, encouraging exploration and laying the foundations for a lifelong appreciation for the natural environment. One of the greatest youth services in my constituency is the environment itself and I am keen to make sure young people appreciate it.

Opportunities often lie elsewhere and that is for isolated and distant communities. This is a direct result of underfunding services and the shortchange of investment in future generations. I was shocked but not entirely surprised when I saw the figures for 2023 and 24 which indicated that Somerset funded youth service will lead to the tune of 4.21 pence per lead to the tune of 4.21 pence per young person. Compare this to Hull. If only the Conservatives had not run some of that of the grand and underfunded local government across the country.

I will try to not get this mixed up. And finally, as we consider the future of the services, we cannot ignore the would-be benefits of adopting the youth mobility scheme. This initiative would allow young people in the UK greater access to work expense I study exchanges and cultural experience within Europe and broadening horizons and fostering collaboration and give youth the ability to grow and explore beyond our borders. It's not just beneficial to them but it strengthens the economy and enriches society.

Surely it would represent one of the greatest services to young people. Either we get serious about issues facing youth services or we fail to tackle them head on and risk losing what we have which would be detrimental to all.

15:57

Dr Lauren Sullivan MP (Gravesham, Labour)

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I would like to thank my honourable friend prosecuting this fantastic bid. As someone who has experienced the profession as a young person and having my local youth club and also being a member of the UK Youth Parliament I know first hand how important youth work is and how much has been cut due to austerity and cuts. I have also been to see my local youth Council and they had been running for 25 years, and incredible achievement despite what has been going on.

In that meeting, I ran a session with the National Youth Strategy, 'Deliveroo You', a delivery service for young people. The first one, young people should be listened to and empowered through youth voice mechanisms at each level of government, supported by youth workers and there is a legal duty to support youth workers. Long-term fully funded, preventative, universal and open access youth work in all areas. It The social work models but they can be targeted. This is open access.

Trained, qualified, and invested in the youth work profession and we recognise the qualifications and that they are protected as a youth worker in the same way that a doctor or a lawyer is. Fourth and finally, a statutory duty on local authorities to have primary legislation to provide youth work so that it is never seen as an easy cut again. That is an order, I delivery order that would truly nourish young people across the land. Through a statutory youth service act, and a long-term workforce strategy, we can address their shortages and up skill youth workers to deliver for young people and I hope the Minister would agree.

This is a step in the right direction. We have listened to the voice of campaigners and 20 years ago but I was at the forefront of the campaign, the government and the Prime Minister committed to delivering that as part of the manifesto of commitments after many years of campaigning and I would like to pay tribute to all those young people that have joined in that effort and also we should welcome those who are now joining that campaign and jumping on the bandwagon.

We need to reverse the trends and see that good open access to youth work returns across the country. Youth work works and I hope the National Youth Strategy delivers on the hopes of so many young people.

16:00

James MacCleary MP (Lewes, Liberal Democrat)

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I thank the honourable member for Croydon East for bringing this debate to be chipper. Youth services are not a luxury, but a lifeline and at best to provide a place to go, trusted adult to talk to, opportunities to thrive but we are seeing these vital services hold out or shut down altogether. I believe they share an example from my own constituency today. The Sussex Development Association is a respected social enterprise based in Newhaven and had to recently make the painful decision to close the youth club sessions, not due to lack of demand, far from it.

Some young people using the service credit the youth workers with saving their lives but like so many organisations they have been squeezed by rising wage bills and the knock-on effect of the National Insurance changes and are facing an additional £20,000 in costs from increases in the minimum wage and also £70,000 from National Insurance or £90,000 in total for an organisation supporting young people in a deprived community. Because they are a large not-for-profit, they do not qualify for the payments that were meant to cushion the blow and they are being penalised for investigative committee.

We are trying to keep the flame alive and continue to support youth voices through the young people forum and offered little voices and ensure it remains a youth but without long-term funding, they are so many others are forced to In recently has over 1 billion has been cut from youth services across the UK. Across the YMCA youth spending dropped by 70% is what we need is not another round of bidding wars for limited funds, but a proper, long-term settlement. One that recognises that investing in young people prevents future crises in mental health, crime, education, and in employment.

It is not only , it makes economic sense also. I would also urge Ministers to review how changes in employment policy from the national insurance thresholds to minimum wage differentials are impacting voluntary and community organisations. Social enterprises like CDA should not be left to bear disproportionate burdens because they choose to create good, permanent jobs. If we are serious about giving young people a stake in their future, then we need to give youth services a stake in hours. Not just words, but funding that matches the scale and impact.

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Thank you. I would like to congratulate the member from Croydon East on securing this important debate. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate one of my leading news providers,

16:03

Jodie Gosling MP (Nuneaton, Labour)

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of my leading news providers, aspiring arts, on their 10 year anniversary. And from non-US conversations with the leader of the youth group, I know that the struggle they have had over the last 10 years and the success of these projects are truly a testament to the dedication of staff. A true labour of love. It is amazing that with the YMCA estimating that Warwickshire County Council cut a staggering 84% from our youth budget since 2010, that the centre they have developed is a fantastic one that provide support for hundreds of young people.

They add value to our young people's lives without, games, cooking, health provision and education. The music provision is incredible. Just about to get even better than the performance spaces recording studio established and they are building the capital culture and creative industry talent that we need for the future. Truly enhancing lives and broadening horizons. Critically though, for me, they provide a safe place and I and all safe place for young people that have nowhere else to go. Those that need support, does the face pulling, harassment, it gives a positive choice to those at risk of criminality.

We already know the youth provision reduces the rate of youth offending by 13%. And, also, reduces the severity of crimes. The positive impact of youth services transforms lives and maps out a positive pathway to embracing passions and nurturing talent. Supporting the children, sorry, supporting young people to learn the skills that they need to live successful lives in the future. Currently, in Nuneaton, over 20% of our young people are economically inactive. Youth crime and social behaviour, youth violence, are enormous issues which have resulted in tragic outcomes in recent days.

They aspire and have been holding the front line, supporting these young people and their mental health needs and providing alternative provisions when the barriers to attending school are just too great. I would happily give way.

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I thank you for taking the intervention.

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intervention. I think my right unforgiving way and I was waiting for an opportunity to mention young carers which are hugely important part of the great hugely important part of the great picture of young people and often face many barriers to education. I just wondered if she would agree to just wondered if she would agree to make sure that any consultation with with young people include young carers, as I have in the department.

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carers, as I have in the department. Absolutely, and I think it is quite clear from the interactions quite clear from the interactions with young carers and parents of children that are not in school that the gratitude towards the service and the value-added for the service helps greatly. And the casework from helps greatly. And the casework from the provision are often harrowing. the provision are often harrowing. Young people on the job crisis, on the edge of suicide, self-harm, mental health apostles, victims of violence and victims of abuse.

The open door policy means that we have open door policy means that we have a safety net to support them. The net also, the net that they provide saves lives. Helps them rebuild those futures and offers brighter support for the future. Evidence suggests that one pound youth provision results in £3.40 to six pounds. But I think that the value is incorrigible, especially when considering the impact of other services, such as health, education, policing, and justice. Aspiring arts were collaboratively across the north of Warwickshire to provide services with other youth groups and establish an ambitious and inspiring plan to support our young people.

They would like to do more, and with secure funding instead of piecemeal day-to-day mouth to mouth, they would be able to secure a place for young people across Nuneaton and to support everyone. Thank you.

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Thank you. First, may I congratulate the Member for Croydon congratulate the Member for Croydon East for securing this timely and essential debate. I know she is not just a champion of young, but local Government and the speech eloquently demonstrated the urgent need for demonstrated the urgent need for action to build a fit for purpose action to build a fit for purpose youth service. Rather like Star Wars, life feels like it was a long time ago, in a currency for far time ago, in a currency for far away, but I was one of those young people living in it village that would benefit hugely from the presence of a youth centre staff by highly skilled youth workers.

A profession that has been profession that has been demonstrably underappreciated among the valued for the last decade. As a young man in the secure space, not just to play games, learn skills and socialise but the support of the

16:08

Chris Bloore MP (Redditch, Labour)

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socialise but the support of the support workers in gaining the support in the challenging times in my life. We do not talk about it in those terms then because accessible and nonjudgemental mental health support available on my doorstep, something that is not available to my religious constituencies now. But, conversely, as the internet, social media and YouTube influences have emerged and the challenges that poses to our young people, we have witnessed the dismantling of the service. Combined with the impact of the cost of living crisis and the impact of COVID and we cannot modify that young people are facing far more challenges than we did growing up.

As a parish district and county councillor I have witnessed the local Government cuts and what they have done to decimate our youth

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service. Of course. I am very grateful to my honourable friend forgiving way. He made a very passionate speech about the importance of the youth provision. Does he agree with that provision. Does he agree with that the dismantling by the party opposite of the youth service by opposite of the youth service by closing 19/25 youth centres prior to

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2010 would have done irreparable damage to the young people in Oxfordshire? To thank the honourable member

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To thank the honourable member for his intervention and every counsel that I have served on was also conservative. And they also conservative. And they decimated our youth services and I think it was a real shame to see the empty benches across the other side. I am grateful that the Government I am grateful that the Government has now listened to the voices of young people, and has launched the National Youth Strategy, but let's National Youth Strategy, but let's not be under any other questions about this, there's a lot of wood to divorce of the benefits of youth services in youth work painfully obvious and fits perfectly to this Government mission to economic growth, safer streets, and an NHS growth, safer streets, and an NHS fit for the future and breaking down barriers to opportunities.

I have spoken many times about mental spoken many times about mental health in this tubercle especially my concern for young people. If it for purpose and accessible youth service can make significant progress in addressing these growing challenges. It would give young people a space and support that they need in their communities to drown out the voice of misogynistic influences poisoning their minds and putting our sisters and daughters at risk. It can be a place of education and aspiration that attacked our young people from the nefarious actors promoting violence and crime.

Let's be bold, decide to invest appropriately in our youth services for long-term. Let's replace a state statutory minimum and ensure accessibility for all young people, including those with neurodiverse challenges and said greater standards for those protect youth worker profession. Surely there can be no greater investment or

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important one in our nation than investing. I am keen to get everyone into my will have to reduce the speaking limit down to two minutes. Two minutes.

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minutes. Thank you for raising this very critical debate today. Youth services are integral to allow us to live healthy lives and we cannot live healthy lives and we cannot deny the issues children and young deny the issues children and young people often get pushed aside, so we must recognise the contribution they make to our society now in the future by ensuring they have access to this kind of provision. I was so to this kind of provision. I was so pleased to hear the Government announcements at the National Youth Strategy this year, just last week I held the strategy session in my constituents and heard from the fantastic council about what young people in my area need and want because the chance to hear them talk because the chance to hear them talk openly about their concerns and I was really taken aback by the number of students who discussed stress and worry and pressure they felt around exams particularly and to take a moment to wish luck to all those starting their GCSEs this week, but it just emphasises the need for them to support with the people I have to support with the people I have stated.

They discussed that lack as it goes the people that felt truly saved in. Youth provision is personal for my. I am a member of the interior guide since I started brownies when I was seven and served on the board for six years, and I have seen first-hand the impact that these kinds of places, these youth basements, can have on young people. I would like to thank the confidence that I have standing in this House today comes from that provision and that is the power that youth services have some I would like to highlight to the Government how powerful investment can be with regards to the structure and good practice.

Many organisations have existed for over a century and rely on volunteering. The reality is that modern lifestyle cannot trust in this, but the frameworks and organisations have been cutting across I would welcome building on these provisions. One young woman I spoke to recently also said that the private station she enjoyed was too expensive, so I would like to see subsidising great low-key where possible on preventing the -- reinventing the wheel that can support businesses. I would just like to highlight quickly one other thing that is making sure that youth provisions and communities and making sure that is accessed around the country.

16:12

Warinder Juss (Wolverhampton West, Labour)

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Thank you. 93% of young people who attended a youth centre say that it has made a positive difference to their lives and have come away happier, healthier, more confident in themselves and in their futures. From reducing levels of nine knife crime and improving the education attainment levels of young people, youth services do not just deliver outstanding benefits to our children, but also provide exceptional value for money. In my constituency we have the youth zone which provides a clear example of the value that long-term investment in youth services can deliver.

I have visited many times and seen first-hand the extraordinary impact that this service has had on our young people. They have overcome their fears, discovered their passions, and feel ready to make a positive impact on the world. One attendee said that the way had inspired her to study cybersecurity at university, whereas another confided that the way was the only place where they managed to get a hot meal for the day. The services, however, are too fragile for the current funding system.

We cannot survive on goodwill alone. We need consistent, long-term funding. Over the last 14 years of a Conservative Government, with Government funding having come by more than 70%, we have had 750 youth clubs lost in England. And this has led to our young people paying the price. One in eight young people are not in full-time education or training. One in five have mental health conditions, and one in five are persistently absent from school. We must now make investing in our young people and in our youth services priority.

The way that youth zone in my constituency delivers that impressive return of £13 per one pound invested in children's well- being, I support the government's Plan for Change and I must ask the Government to commit to a

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services. I congratulate the honourable member for Croydon East on securing this debate and on her excellent

16:15

Richard Baker MP (Glenrothes and Mid Fife, Labour)

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speech. Youth services are of fundamental importance in my constituency were some in the constituency one in three children are living in poverty. This is completely unacceptable and shows how important the work of the Child Poverty Taskforce is going to be. Of course, funding for these vital services was cut by the Tories, but in Scotland to under the SNP there has been a 27% decrease in funding in real terms for youth work since 2015 to 16. This is feeling the young people of Scotland who most need our support.

Instead, the work on charities should be supported with long-term funding arrangements, including keeping connected projects delivered with our life matters supporting young people to promote positive mental well-being and reduce stress. Such support is all the more important when I understand that in some health support areas of Scotland children and mental health adolescent support services are no longer offering a pathway to a diagnosis of autism which can cost over £4000 to secure privately, and this is absolutely shocking first of the Scottish Government have been promising to deliver multi-get funding settlements for youth services for nearly 20 years, but have failed to deliver beyond stated examples welcome in Glasgow and the nationally FF funding pilot.

But by now after those 20 years, there should be an approach across the whole sector. Year-to-year funding is a barrier to recruitment and potentially staff, and their ability potentially staff, and their ability potentially staff, and their ability If we are to achieve a better society for all young people come assisted in this funding will be essential at all levels of government throughout the country and in particular communities there too many young people do not have the life chances which should be there right.

there right.

16:16

Baggy Shanker MP (Derby South, Labour )

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I also would like to congratulate my honourable friend for bringing this debate. In derby, there are so many organisations that work hard with the fantastic young people and whether that is children or providing support for young people and families or the community action initiative who support vulnerable young people in communities. Absolutely, yes.

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My honourable friend will now we have incredible services in derby and he mentioned some but the YMCA and Derby Youth Alliance. Would he agree that it is disgraceful how agree that it is disgraceful how many others have closed because of conservative austerity cuts?

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conservative austerity cuts? Absolutely right. The austerity

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Absolutely right. The austerity cuts have affected so many groups in derby and they do not exist and we have had to scale back services and have had to scale back services and it is truly shocking and there are other groups like the Community other groups like the Community Trust who fund it and there is excellent work being done in the excellent work being done in the city and the promise which we recently launched works hard to offer aspiration and experiences to offer aspiration and experiences to young people and we could do much young people and we could do much more.

We know investing in the future starts by investing in young future starts by investing in young people. Charities like those we have recently mentioned working in derby do exactly that but the Tories ignored this absolutely. They decimated funding for youth services and we have heard that with every speaker this afternoon and it is not any different in derby. The spending on youth services has fallen by a staggering 81% since 2010. Yes, 81% since 2010. Does the Minister agree with me that longer term funding for youth services is crucial so that we can enable every young person in derby and across the UK to thrive?

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. In 2008, the Labour Government launched a fund for the development

16:19

Ms Julie Minns MP (Carlisle, Labour)

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launched a fund for the development of broadcast youth centres are some of the most deprived areas of England and thanks to that and the vision and commitment of a local businessman a youth centre opened its doors in April, 2011. Since then, young people have hosted Royal visitors and put politicians like myself through their paces. It is not just a place for young people to go and enjoy activities and socialise but also a place for parents with the recently launched

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