Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Urgent question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero if he will make a statement on the closure of the Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery.

We We come We come to We come to the We come to the urgent We come to the urgent question. We come to the urgent question.

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To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero if you will make a statement on the closure

12:50

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

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of the oil refinery? In my oral statement on 30 June,

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In my oral statement on 30 June, I informed Parliament of the disappointing news that the oil refinery had entered insolvency and refinery had entered insolvency and the court appointed an official receiver to manage the situation on the site to determine next steps. Since then we worked urgently to ensure the safety of the site, security of fuel supplies and protect workers. This is also allowed time for bidders to express an interest in the site. Following thorough process, the official receiver assessed the bids received and concluded that sale of the business as a whole is not a credible option.

I visited workers on the site on 17 July and will be working with them again shortly today. I know this will be hugely disappointing news to them, their families and the wider communities as a whole at this time. The package has been offered to all of those in the refinery to guarantee their pay and jobs in coming months. The government will also immediately fund a comprehensive trading guarantee for refinery workers to ensure they have the skills needed and support to find jobs, for example in the growing clean energy workforce.

We understand the officials continue to explore various proposals for assets on the site and I remain hopeful the solution is found that creates future employment opportunities at the site. The refinery will continue to process crude until the end of the month, and continue to sell for coming weeks allowing buyers to adjust their supply chains. The former owners left the refinery in an untenable position and left the government with little time to act. That is why the Energy Secretary immediately demanded an investigation into their conduct and the circumstances around insolvency.

That is why I repeatedly called on the owners to do the right thing and provide financial support to the

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workforce at this difficult time. When the refinery closes its doors in October, there will only be for oil refineries remaining in the UK following the news about Grangemouth a few months ago. This is the second oil refinery to close is the second oil refinery to close in the UK in six months, prompting questions around energy security and

12:52

Andrew Bowie MP (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Conservative)

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questions around energy security and resilience. In Immingham, people are waking up today to the reality they are being told that redundancies are now inevitable. Around 625 jobs will be lost. For the community in Lincolnshire this is seismic. They are aware of the long-standing issues with the group, I reiterate my support of the government into their investigation. What progress has been made on the investigation and when do they expect the report to be made? We cannot escape the fundamental crisis facing our manufacturing sector.

The sector is facing extinction because of enormously high energy prices and crippling carbon tax bills. The department knows this to be true, they accepted some -- exempted some industries from paying the Net Zero levies, and exempted some businesses from paying the costs. We see subsidies being paid by government to businesses to exempt them from the charges imposed from the very same government. We are truly through the looking glass. The department is wilfully talking down the oil and gas industry with hostile language and an impossible regime, while overseeing deindustrialisation of the -- of the United Kingdom through high costs.

This is accelerated decline through ideology and steer through Whitehall. What is being done to ensure the future of the four remaining oil refineries in the United Kingdom? What assessment has been made of the UK's resilience, given the steep reduction in our refining capacity over the last few months. What assessment has been made of the increased reliance on imports that will be necessary as a result of the reduction? And will he start speaking up for the oil industry, upstream and downstream, who see a disregard for them, their workers and their communities that rely most on it.

rely most on it.

12:54

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

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Can I firstly say I agree with the shadow Minister, he is right to point out the impact that news like this will have on the workforce, who are hearing that news this week, and also the wider impact it has on their families and the community. That is why it is so important we That is why it is so important we provide that support. On the issue around the investigation, there's not much I can update the House on at the moment because the Insolvency Service is carrying out that investigation, it would be wrong for ministers to interfere in that, but we have given the direction we expect that to be completed as quickly as possible.

Given the mess we found the company in, I would not be surprised if that inventive -- investigation will take a bit of time to get to grips with what was going on. That is for the Insolvency Service to resolve. We have done everything we can to try to keep the site going, find a buyer, that is important for the workforce and local resilience. The Lindsay oil refinery comprises approximately 10 percent of the remaining refinery capacity, there is a much larger refinery next door.

We have already seen in the last few weeks, fuel supplies have adjusted, commercial contracts are renegotiated, although we wanted the refinery to stay open, assessments suggest there is not an immediate risk to fuel supplies locally or in the wider area. We do support the oil and gas industry. I have spent a lot of time with the oil and gas industry understanding some of the challenges that are long-standing challenges, particularly around jobs lost over the past decade.

We consulted widely on what the future of energy in the north-east should look like to give confidence to that. I should also say on the fiscal regime, we inherited it to -- from the previous government, and we consulted on what the future of the EPL should look like, to make sure there is certainty about what the landscape looks like, the Treasury will respond in due course. And we want to recognise it is an industry in transition, burying our heads in sand does nothing to protect that workforce for the long-term.

We will continue to work on the industries of the future and the wider strategy. These industries continue to be important. That is why I brought all together to discuss the refinery sector and was shocked to see that was the first time they had been bought from the government. I

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asked to reflect he was in power during that time. The Minister was right with the jobs and communities reflected by the worrying news coming from Lindsay. The problem is there are

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Lindsay. The problem is there are the result of shockingly bad management. My Select Committee will be looking at the future of refining in this country. My Select Committee is looking at this in the autumn and we will be able to take further evidence at that point. Energy prices, the way to get down in -- prices, the way to get down in -- energy prices, is to reduce the reliance on energy prices determined reliance on energy prices determined by Vladimir Putin and other states, and we have two manage this and not and we have two manage this and not play into culture wars like Reform 12.

12.

12:58

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

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Separate from the issues facing the refinery sector and oil and gas sector, it is right that we recognise there are workers here -- for workers it is devastating news. There are assessments underway around how credible some of the bids around how credible some of the bids for the site. I'm sure the inquiry into this will be useful. On the question of energy cost more generally, one of the conversations I had with the refinery sector was around how we could do more to bring down costs for them.

We are looking at how we can support refineries more through the energy-intensive industries compensation scheme to see if we could include them in the future, which would cut costs and help UK refiners with the competitiveness but that is not straightforward but we are determined to look at that. He is right to say the overall context of what we are doing is a government is driving forward the transition to clean power because it gives us back energy security, takes away that volatility in prices that has been devastating to households and businesses over the last four years, but it is also the economic opportunities that drives forward refineries into what can be profitable in that transition in the future.

It will help them to play their part.

13:00

Edward Morello MP (West Dorset, Liberal Democrat)

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The closure of the Royal refinery is troubling, jobs at risk across the supply chain. It is a devastating blow to workers, their families and communities that rely on the refinery. We need clear strategies to support those whose livelihoods are in jeopardy, that means practical help with reskilling and retraining. It is an opportunity for targeted green investment in industries that can offer decent, secure jobs for the future. This crisis speaks to a wider failure, the UK still lacks a proper plan for a just transition, one that gives oil and gas workers confidence about what comes next.

We need to wind down fossil fuels in a way that provides genuine opportunities, well-paid jobs, clean energy infrastructure and proper support for the communities that lung power this country. As other parties embrace climate to nihilism and internet conspiracy theories, the Lib Dems call on the government to ensure we do not backtrack on climate targets, we do not undermine green investor confidence and we do not abandon our leadership on the world stage when it comes to climate change. I asked the Minister, what steps are the government taking to ensure contingency plans are in place so that those whose jobs are risk guarantee support and opportunities to redeploy their skills? How is the government ensuring that investment in skills and regeneration is targeted to have the greatest impact where it is needed most? Finally, what steps is the government taking to ensure the transition to renewable energy makes the best use of the skills and experience of oil and gas workers, especially in places affected like especially in places affected like

13:01

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

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I think I will respond to the points. About the point that he rightly makes in devastating news for the workers, but also some he said that I want to echo. Which I said to the workers when I met them last week, that this decision and what has happened to this company is no reflection at all on the incredible work they are doing. And I do want to just reiterate that fact that as so often happens, the workers and up facing the brunt of what has happened because of decisions making by the overall company, so he is right, and we will support the workers.

That is why my departments are funding guaranteed to make sure all of those workers are given an assessment of what the training needs are so that they can be given a tailored support and we can make sure that is rolled out in the coming months. On his wider point on the transition, he is right to say we need a proper plan and that is why we consulted on the future of energy in the Northsea, but what does the future of energy sector look like.

We see thousands of jobs being created and offshore industries and we want to support that and he is right to highlight that this is critical, and to shameful that we seek to listen to the conference in that country in the name of some net zero rhetoric. The truth is there has been more than £40 billion of investment in clean energy is and that means jobs and opportunities all over the country, and those who talk that down should be ashamed.

13:03

Laurence Turner MP (Birmingham Northfield, Labour)

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I would like to draw the house's attention to my declaration in respect of the GMB trade union. The Minister said that he was engaging with workers. Will he set out what engagement he is undertaking with trade unions and representatives, and Kenny give the house the assurance that modelling work undertaken by the Department to include the impact on the wider supplied?

13:03

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

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I should also declare that I am an interest of the trade union which is on my register of interest. I have engaged with both the Unite trade union rep here on the site but also the day shift workers who are not represented by trade unions to make sure I hear from them. I met with them earlier this month and let them last week at the refinery and I will be meeting them in about an hour's time to talk about this more I want to continue that engagement with them.

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My first concern is my constituency work in the refinery and I'm sure the Minister can give

13:04

and I'm sure the Minister can give enhanced reassurance to them about redundancy. Can I ask on behalf of my constituents in North my constituents in North Lincolnshire, a deeply rural area where we rely on heating oil because we are not on mains gas, what will be the impact on the price of heating oil due to the closure of this refinery?

13:04

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

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I thank him for his questions. On the question of redundancy, because of the nature of how we have gone into insolvency, the workers will be entitled to statutory redundancy. We think that is not acceptable due to the role that they played in delivering for this company for many years, and that is why I have asked the owners of that company to put hands in pockets and improve that redundancy package. It is not possible for the government to improve that directly, time still hopeful that the company owners will do the right thing.

We are providing a training guarantee to workers from government funds to make sure they have that support. On the question of impact, I am happy to take away the point on oils, but we have been assessing on the fuel leaving the refinery hasn't been at the normal pace to see what impact that has had. It has had minimal impact on supplies across the region, partly because a significant amount of the fuel and products come from the refinery that is next door.

We will continue to monitor that, and if there is an impact on prices, I will be happy to look into that. be happy to look into that.

13:06

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

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The refinery sector is an energy intensive security which is the mercy of energy prices. It has a huge impact on ability, so whilst it is welcome that the minister is considering the certification program and the expansion that it could include the refinery, the business test is a huge barrier that needs to be overcome, meaning that many companies won't be eligible. He also knows that the competitor scheme isn't due to come online for another two years. Consultation on that scheme has yet to be opened, so for the refineries and the ceramic companies that are looking down the barrel of every Energy Bill, can he give some indication of what help and support will be available now before these new schemes come online so we are covering more statements in the next few months.

13:07

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

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My friend is right, and that is why it is so deeply frustrating that we inherited these issues having not been resolved for a long time because these are not things that have just arrived in the past 12 months, having the refinery sector to come in and talk to government about some of these challenges would have been a fairly obvious thing to have done at one point in the last 13 years, but it didn't occur to the previous government. We have inherited some of these challenges, and consultations will take time.

It is right that we conduct a proper consultation to make sure there are no unintended consequences. I know my honourable friend, the Minister for business and traders looking at how we can do this as quickly as possible and I am happy to follow that up with her because she is right. We do not want to be, nobody wants to be talking about redundancies at any point of the economy and we are doing everything we can to prevent that from happening.

13:08

Martin Vickers MP (Brigg and Immingham, Conservative)

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Thank you. This is a massive blow to my constituency. Most particularly to those directly employed, but also to the wider economy of the region. Could the Minister reconsider the statement he has just made about statutory redundancy. I want to see the maximum support given to those workers, and could I raise two other points? The North Lincolnshire Council published a Green growth zone about the future of the regional economy. Can I urge the Minister, as we discussed yesterday to consider an urgent meeting of all those involved around the table, and one of the points, if he is not already, could I shame to speak to his local government and ministerial colleagues because this means that North Lincolnshire Council will lose £2.6 million worth of business rates.

Needless to say, that is a

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massive blow and would affect the delivery of services. And I thank the honourable

13:09

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

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And I thank the honourable gentleman for his questions and for meeting me to discuss it yesterday. I do appreciate the impact it will have, not just in those refinery workers directly impacted but also on the wider economy. There are reckless acts from a closure like this that we do appreciate. On the statutory redundancy point, we have looked and pushed and pushed to see if there is more action government can take to change or give any payments. It is not possible for government to do that because the insolvency service has to follow rules in terms of creditors and what their parameters are to operate in the event of an solvency, but I do think the owners of this company have footage from this business and they should do the right thing by the workforce that delivered that for them.

I absolutely have agreed to a roundtable to talk about that and I am happy to arrange that with whoever is useful and wants to participate because he is right about the opportunities, and in the North Lincolnshire Council point and business rates, and happy to engage with them, but although this site won't continue around the refinery, we are assessing the bids that are interested in parts of the site that we hope will deliver jobs and economic benefit in that business rate income, coming from new industries on the side, as much that he wants to retain it in its current form, but we hope we can make progress there.

13:10

Dr Scott Arthur MP (Edinburgh South West, Labour)

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Thank you. I thank the Minister for his statement and the news of their will be a further investigation. I have two questions. The previous government didn't meet the sector for 13 years. I know the Minister said he has met them recently, but are those reports correct? And secondly, families will be in crisis and will be struggling to do it. We also have to make sure there is a moral obligation to ensure these families are supported statutory payments are welcome, and clear.

clear.

13:11

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

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My understanding is that that meeting hasn't happened. If the honourable lady from the Frontbench on the opposition wants to find me the date where the government met, I would be very happy to look at those dates and that will be helpful. But the point is, as a sector, there are particular issues and individual issues. Some have transitioned into other pieces of work and the government does what it can in that space. On his final point, I agree with him that just having met the workers on the site, they have done nothing right in the situation.

They have worked very hard to keep the refinery going and should do the right thing and fund those workers, and I hope they will respond to my letter in due course.

13:12

Chris Law MP (Dundee Central, Scottish National Party)

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Clearly there is a missing element. Skilled jobs are lost, and that transition can be made. What insurance can the Minister give to us to address what is a deeper issue and policy?

13:12

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

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Well, I do take the point that the gentleman makes about the importance of recognising workers. We recognise there is a transition underway and put in place a plan that hasn't been the case. We have lost more than 70,000 workers in this industry and it is important we grapple with those. It will not be easy, but the starting point is to bring everyone together who has an interest in this, trade unions, industry, the green investment driving forward to make sure we're delivering on these jobs and that the training and support is in place for workers to transition, but he raises an important point.

I would also say that it wasn't breaking news that Grangemouth was in a precarious position in the previous government could have done more to make sure there was a transition there. I met the task force yesterday along with my colleague in the Scottish Government to look at what the prospects are for those sites. There are interesting propositions coming forward for the 200 million from the national wealth

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fund, and I'm hoping we will have good news from Grangemouth soon. And I thank the Minister for his

13:14

Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP (Beverley and Holderness, Conservative)

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And I thank the Minister for his briefing yesterday? There is a pattern developing. 800 jobs were pattern developing. 800 jobs were created every single day in the 14 years of Conservative government, and unemployment has gone up every single day under this label government. Can the Minister reassure those 400+ jobs that have been directly lost on the other side of the Humber. Perhaps 600 jobs directly just on the south side of the Humber, and this government won't destroy our industrial base and that there is a future for us because right now, it looks like we're heading in the wrong direction.

13:14

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

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I think I will avoid the political points in a week where workers are finding out about job losses because that is obviously devastating for them, but I would say that the industrial strategy that this government has published is the first time this country has is the first time this country has strategy for a long time, and it recognises, we are investing in the future to deliver thousands of jobs on the Humber and right across the country to make sure that there are investments coming forward and jobs for the future, and the problem with the honourable gentleman's point is his party opposes that investment.

They oppose the jobs being created that will deliver those jobs and the future and that is simply an untenable position. Either he is four or against that, and the strategy is the way to deliver it.

13:15

Carla Denyer MP (Bristol Central, Green Party)

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Last time we discussed Lindsay, I asked the ministers to support my energy jobs bill, a plan for the redeployment of oil and gas workers that is proactive and industrywide rather than reactively and crisis by crisis and it will be paid for by the companies. That is what the workers and unions want but he said he didn't agree. He has said now that the government will fund training guarantee for these refinery workers and asks this company's owners to make voluntary contributions to support workers.

That is progress but will he now turned this into a proactive and industrywide plan and please go beyond asking the company nicely to

13:16

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

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The company went into insolvency, Are entitled to only statutory redundancy. I have called for the owners to do the right thing and fund proper redundancy for those workers. That is separate from a wider piece of work we are doing around the transition. I think the honourable lady misses the point around the importance of delivering investment in oil and gas that is also investment in renewables and deliver the jobs that come next so there is a transition for those workers. I think her proposal, which I have said I do not support before, and I'm happy to repeat, would do neither of those things.

It is essential we support the oil and gas industry in its current form and recognise it is a transition, we have decades of oil and gas in this country to come, but we are already building up what comes next, that needs investment and infrastructure, which many people in her party seem to oppose.

13:17

Bradley Thomas MP (Bromsgrove, Conservative)

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While the Minister is right to point out this refinery produces overall a small amount of the UK's refined fuel. The site does provide around 50 percent of the fuel into Warwickshire oil storage, a key site in the West Midlands that supplies fuel into the West Midlands, which is very large centre. Can the Minister give his assessment on what the impact will be on the supply and demand balance of fuels in the West Midlands as a result of this closure?

13:17

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

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I am happy to follow up with him, specifics with the honourable gentleman, but I get daily updates at the moment on that point. The first week of the insolvency did some disruption to supplies, our evidence pointed to the fact that those commercial contracts were able to be renegotiated and adjusted to that. We are continuing to monitor the make sure there is not that disruption but there is no assessment at the moment to suggest there is any impact at all on fuel security, clearly we will continue to do that.

From the party of the workers opposite, just four MPs have turned up to speak out on behalf of the workers. But what I want to know workers. But what I want to know from the Minister is, is it true a foreign company has already been lined up to asset strip and decommission the site? Yes or no? I think misjudging the mood of the question, which is about workers affected by redundancy and nothing from the honourable gentleman on those workers hearing the news this week.

We assess the number of bids for businesses as a going concern, none of the bids were credible, which is why we made the decision to cease refining. There are bids interested in parts of the site, for a range of different things. I'm not party to those bids, they are sensitive bids that will be assessed on the basis of how many jobs can be retained and the industrial opportunities on that site, which is what we are driving forward. Spreading nonsense and rumours, either in this House or social media, does absolutely nothing to support the workers on that site.

13:19

Harriet Cross MP (Gordon and Buchan, Conservative)

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I have listened to the ministers answers throughout and he is rightly highlighting the importance of jobs and redundancies. But I do think we need to be a bit clearer and open with people about what the new jobs in the renewable sector are about. They are not comparable to the jobs in the oil and gas sector, a lot of them are part-time or temporary jobs during construction phases. We are losing a huge number of workers across the country because of the government's policies on oil and gas and the speed which the sector is being demolished.

Can the Minister outline to these workers across the country how these jobs will be supported into the future because their full-time comparable jobs, not just temporary ones.

13:20

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

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A key objective of this government is to deliver good, well-paid, trade unionised jobs. That is something we have been driving for. The Secretary of State has been pushing on trade union recognition to make sure we have as good terms and conditions as for example in the oil and gas industry. The investment going into clean energy delivering thousands of jobs across the country, will deliver tens of thousands of new jobs, is against the backdrop of opposition from her party, opposition to Great British Energy in the north-east of Scotland, delivering those jobs, and we are also announcing the final investment decision on Sizewell C, 10,000 jobs being created in nuclear after years of dither and delay by her party.

We are getting on with doing this, we will do everything we can to make sure those jobs are can to make sure those jobs are comparable in terms of terms and conditions and pay. If she wants these jobs to be created, she should support some of the policies that deliver them in the first place. deliver them in the first place.

13:21

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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I thank the Minister for his answers. Then in mind the refinery was supplying around 10 percent of fuel in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it is essential that a way forward is found. Part of the solution must be a commonsense approach to using fossil fuels. What discussions has the Minister had with Cabinet colleagues to provide a long-term assurance that there is a future for the refinery? Even in this 11th hour?

13:22

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

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The government has pushed over the past four weeks where we have been aware of this issue, to try to find a route where the refinery can continue as a going concern, that was a number one objective. The assessment looked at bids and found non- were reliable to do that. We are not in the business of nationalising loss-making businesses. Unfortunately that is not the route we will take that we have done everything we can and all we now want to do is assess bids for the future of the site to see what the approach is that keeps as many jobs on the site as possible but also delivers on the industrial opportunities of that site for the wider community and we will continue to have those conversations.

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That concludes the first urgent question. I will give a few moments Urgent Urgent question.

13:23

Urgent question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the Government’s response to the Birmingham bin strikes.

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Urgent question. To ask the Minister if he will

13:23

Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Labour )

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make a statement on the government's response to the Birmingham thin

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strikes -- bin strikes. Members will be aware of the disruption caused by the industrial action in Birmingham, Birmingham City Council are independent employers and this dispute is employers and this dispute is between the council and unite the trade union. The government is not a trade union. The government is not a party to it but we do have an party to it but we do have an interest in it, recognising the impact on local residents. This government's priority remains for Birmingham residents and we will continue to support the council to continue to support the council to keep Birmingham's streets clear, keep Birmingham's streets clear, while dispute remains ongoing.

Thousands of tonnes of waste has been removed. The council continues to monitor the situation to ensure to monitor the situation to ensure waste does not build up again. The background to the dispute is the historic equal pay issues the historic equal pay issues the council faced, the source of one of the largest equal pay crises in the largest equal pay crises in modern UK history, that has to be at the front of our mind. The council has been in negotiation for many has been in negotiation for many months, making a fair and reasonable months, making a fair and reasonable months, making a fair and reasonable Clear in the need for the equal pay position.

The union rejected the council's offer. The council worked hard to offer options to affected workers, including transferring to other roles in the council on the same grade, and in some cases upskilling those workers. An enhanced redundancy package is available, for those who wish to leave the service, and there has been significant uptake. Given the union's rejection of the offer, as of last week, the council is entering consultation to resolve the dispute while protecting the equal pay position. I urge the union to work with the council on a sustainable way forward that is 30 workers in the council and the residents of Birmingham.

Members may be aware that earlier today the commissioner announced he was retiring. I want to wishing well for the future. There has been a new leader appointed as lead commissioner and will take the position tomorrow. They bring a wealth of expertise and I am To deliver on the plan for Birmingham's residents.

13:25

Ayoub Khan MP (Birmingham Perry Barr, Independent)

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The bin strikes in Birmingham have now dragged on for over four months and it is Birmingham's 1.1 million residents paying the price. The government repeatedly scapegoated in workers, yet refuses to address the root cause, the real reason why residents have seen Public Services crumble and council tax bill rise by 21 percent. At the heart of the crisis lies 13 years of mismanagement and incompetence under a Labour run council. The Minister wants to blame the equal pay settlement for cutbacks, but forgets the council has had the settlement looming for over a decade, over 13 years there has been endless council waste.

An athlete's village that housed not a single athlete has been sold off at a cost of £320 million, 260 million on an IT system failed, millions on consultants, now the government is standing idly by while their counsel is cutting up to £8000 from bin workers. The biggest betrayal is the government's downplaying of its involvement. For months, ministers claim it was a local issue, yet now it is clear government appointed commissioners must approve any deal. Last week the commissioners rejected a deal that could have ended the strike, despite the council's managing director being inclined to accept it.

Not by the workers, but the commissioners and therefore the government. The government has the power to end the strike, and yet it has dragged its feet in making a deal. The council's action amounts to fire and rehire. With the government's role in the negotiation, is it having the negotiation, is it having the practices it pledges to ban? Will he personally commit to ending the fire and rehire practices the council is using? using?

13:27

Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Labour )

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I hear his characterisation but that is not the relationship to the reality of the situation. The council is an independent employer. It is not for the government to go council by council, negotiating on trade union disputes, it is for the councils themselves as employer to negotiate with the workforce. That is the same in Birmingham as other councils. The commissioners are councils. The commissioners are appointed by the government, there professional expertise in giving advice to the local authority on whether it is lawful.

But the negotiations are taking place between the council themselves and Unite the trade union and its Unite the trade union and its workforce. I want to pull out the idea we are scapegoating workers in the dispute, there is no party that has done more for workers rights and the Labour Party. There is no government in a generation that has done more on workers rights then this government, headed by the Deputy Prime Minister. The way that I hear members of the talking in a way that degrades that, I am afraid To represent what we inherited as a government, and our determination to make it right.

Of course, Birmingham could and should have made some decisions much earlier. That is a matter of fact and that is why commissioners are there today. But the finance settlement had an increase of course spending power in 9.8 percent, £131 million of additional money into Birmingham. Including the largest settlement for the recovery grant of any council in the country. the country.

13:29

David Simmonds MP (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, Conservative)

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Is the Member for Birmingham alluded to, the House knows the origins of the dispute in Birmingham were in the 2017 settlement of equal pay arrangements which created £760 million liability for that local authority under the Labour Party and which have been undermined at every turn by the relationship between Labour's administration in Birmingham and the unions. It is clear that local authority and its leadership have been dodging scrutiny and accountability at every turn and they refused even to debate the proposals brought forward by the Local Authorities conservative group with plan to end the strikes and clean up the city.

I have questions I would like to put the Minister, what guidance will he give to his seven strong commissioner team to bring about an end to the strikes? What public health assessment is the What public health assessment is the government out about the impact of tons of uncollected rubbish and huge increase in the rat population in Birmingham? Will he consider withdrawing the facility time to Unite you are currently refusing to go about the process of bringing an end to the strikes? Would he tell commissioners, including the new announced today, that Birmingham's besieged households would must not be held to ransom by the unions for a day longer? Who does he think has failed the House holds Birmingham more? The Labour council leaving rats on the street and more than 21,000 tons of uncollected rubbish in a heatwave? Or this government which has failed to intervene to bring about an end to this blight on

13:31

Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Labour )

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Can I thank him for his questions, I will answer in turn. questions, I will answer in turn. Can I say we will take no lectures at all from the party who was in government for 14 years, that's all the downgrade of local authorities across this country, including in Birmingham. Of course, he says, these are Law Commissioners, that is correct, government appointed commissioners. But let's not forget who the government was appointed the commissioners, of course, it was the government, the previous one, yesterday announcing the change in the lead commissioner, we have to be careful we don't try to politicise those people who believe in public service, while helping out the local authority and supporting the government in trying to turn the council around, so let's leave the politicisation of the commissioners to one side at Deal with the facts here.

I think last time I was in this chamber, Madame Deputy Speaker, it was the Conservatives who were talking down the role of being workers. And how it was degrading. At that time, there was talk about how the MoD might come in to collect the waste, and it was degrading to their role, that was never going to be the case. It was a glimpse into how they view the workers affected here. There is one thing that is absolutely the case, it is that this party believe in the power of frontline workers, and we believe in the importance of these frontline roles, we absolutely value the role of refuge collectors, and we see the implications when it isn't collected.

But we have to be clear, whatever settlement it's on the table has to be lawful, affordable, and cannot cross that line of undermining equal pay negotiations taking place and I hope at least on that basis, we can agree.

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You, Madame Deputy Speaker, we thank the Minister for outlining the government's working maintaining that vital collection for residents. Residents want to see the city clean Residents want to see the city clean up, they don't want to have to face another summer of this, and we see a situation where we can look back at situation where we can look back at the recent heatwave, and now the strike action is now past six months and at the Minister just outlined, and at the Minister just outlined, it is important for us to consider it is important for us to consider the hardship being felt, with many of the striking workers, many people

13:34

Florence Eshalomi MP (Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, Labour )

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of the striking workers, many people who do not want to politicise this, you just want to do the right thing by their families. One recently told the BBC that morale is quite low, everyone is trying to stay strong together but it is difficult. The union has tried to help us out with strike pay, but for many of us, it doesn't cover our bills, it was -- It put massive strain on our families, nobody should have to be put in that position. So, I hear the ministers calls, in terms of saying that this is a situation that the commissioners in Birmingham at the Unita result but what more can the Minister and government do to finally bring everyone around the table, so we can bring a final end to this dispute.

13:34

Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Labour )

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Can I thank the Chair of the subcommittee for that, and I think much of it we can agree. And it speaks to why the resolution on this issue are so important. At the heart of this, there are working people with mental mortgages to pay who want pay resolution. To be clear, first of all, the council has been in negotiations for many months, and have a fair and reasonable offer, which unfortunately the union rejected. The council worked hard to offer options to affected workers including transfer into other roles in the council at the same grade and in some cases, agreeing to up skill the workers.

General packages available for those wishing to leave the service. And we have seen an uptake in that. But in the end, none of us want to see this role on indefinitely. We want to see a resolution for workers affected, and also the residents of Birmingham who quite rightly expect their local public services will be delivered to a good standard.

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Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. Birmingham wants its refuse and recycling service back as quickly as possible, to enter the risk to public health and the environment. public health and the environment. Especially in the most densely pocketed parts of the city. Liberal

13:35

Gideon Amos MP (Taunton and Wellington, Liberal Democrat)

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pocketed parts of the city. Liberal Democrats -- Densely populated parts. Liberal Democrats want to pay tribute volunteers and services, who while unions could not agree, carry on cashing hammer and tongs out there, cleaning up the city, and there, cleaning up the city, and dealing with refuge and waste pilots dealing with refuge and waste pilots and fly-tipping. For years, under the previous Conservative government, councils were expected to do more and more with less and less. And this is borne through, in less.

And this is borne through, in Birmingham, as in many other cases. The government must now tackle that The government must now tackle that funding crisis. Particularly, in funding crisis. Particularly, in social care. And in local government generally. So that what is happening in Birmingham does not spread across the country, Madame Deputy Speaker. the country, Madame Deputy Speaker. Given the one off cleanups across have cost the council £3.9 million already, isn't it time the already, isn't it time the government funded a complete clean- up of refuse, so the residents of Birmingham do not have to foot the bill and spend the rest of the summer living alongside disgusting rubbish? Secondly, will any clean-up issuer waste is properly dealt with, issuer waste is properly dealt with, and recycle, where possible? Given that the city is already third from the bottom in terms of waste recycling.

13:37

Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Labour )

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I think he made some very fair observations about the funding crisis in local government, but it would be remiss of me not to take him back to the coalition years, started austerity and local government. They were not just casual observer to the demise of local performance, they were active participants in it, and those very first years, where the cuts really bit local authorities, were of course aided and abetted. Our job, after 14 years of the impact of that, is to try and find a way to it and we are doing that and rebuilding the foundations of local government for announced the consultation of the fair funding review, three distribution of funding across the country, to areas of high deprivation that need it most.

We are taken account of those service pressures. We are grasping the nettle on those structural changes needed, but from devolution and reorganisation to make sure the sector is going to be decent at the end of it, and repairing the broken market audit alongside it, so long, we are preparing the foundations of local government would need to be clear that it is a localised dispute. And of course, we don't want to see but impacting the local people. But I do need to say to the House, I have heard it a number of times and should have called it out on the first example, there is not tens of thousands of tonnes of waste accumulating on the streets of Birmingham.

There was, and it was dealt with efficiently. And in most cases now, there are connectors taking place, most households at most times, there is not the accumulation of that and we saw earlier. Clearly, it is fragile and we do not want to return there either. Which is why we remain in regular contact with the council on that basis. that basis.

13:38

Laurence Turner MP (Birmingham Northfield, Labour)

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Thank you very much, Madame Deputy Speaker, and I would like to welcome the appointment of the new league commissioner today. The Minister knows we have had many discussions about the intervention, including, at times, from a place of concern, and I look forward to working constructively with Tony on behalf of the citizens of Birmingham. I would like to draw attention to my registered interest in respect to GMB and Unison unions, which are the claimant unions in the equal pay case in Birmingham, and I feel compelled to round out the partial account we have heard today, partial account we have heard today, in this chamber.

So, will the Minister confirm that by far the largest share of Birmingham's equal pay liability, of more than £1 billion, was incurred when the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats ran the city. And will he further confirmed that over the last decade, 2024, Birmingham suffered the sharpest reduction in spending power of any unitary authority in the country, with devastating consequences for every constituency in Birmingham.

13:39

Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Labour )

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I think that is a fair point, I forgot his brief stint as a Liberal Democrat councillor when he put the question on the floor today, but there is something here. Actually, the people of Birmingham wanted to put the party politics and it to one side. I think what matters to local people is, one, they are treated fairly when it comes to local tax levels, and secondly, they get a good level of public service put across. But there has to be accountability here and it is a matter of fact that some of these big decisions should have been taken earlier and that does go to the conservative Liberal Democrat council.

His fundamental point about the importance of equal pay, the liabilities, which are big numbers, which are the size of the council at the historic issues there, cannot be undermined. The worst outcome of this dispute is that a decision is made for short term that doesn't address the medium and long term, that completely unravels pay

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negotiations and by doing that, completely undermines the women workers in scope. Can I commend my parliamentary

13:40

Rt Hon Sir Andrew Mitchell MP (Sutton Coldfield, Conservative)

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Can I commend my parliamentary neighbour and the member, for bringing this Urgent Question to the bringing this Urgent Question to the House today, before the House rises. And I also paid tribute to Max, whose retirement has been announced in the last few hours, who, in my opinion, has dispatched the herculean task with this considerable distinction. He will be aware Labour are now imposing the contract, which the opposition leader, urged the Labour leadership to do a year ago, after they understand that my constituents, who, under Birmingham the local government purposes, have had their patients tried beyond insurance by this council.

And he is here where recent polling, the constituents are more likely to vote Labour next May, and the honourable Democrat are counting the days until next May comes and we can get rid of this dreadful council.

13:42

Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Labour )

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Can I start off by thanking him for taking my advice and not making this party political. I think a bit more refining and will get there in the end is what I would say. I think it is an early starting point. And the negotiations. Surely he would expect that the local authority, in a trade union negotiation, would enter that negotiation in good faith. That it would go as far as it can lawfully go, in making a settlement offer that respects the workers who are losing pay as result of equal pay.

Because that is surely the right thing to do. And I would hope that he would not expect that the council disregards that entirely. The council rightly cares about its workforce, not least of all, because many of them will be Birmingham city residents themselves and they want to make sure that they support that process. They, like others, of course, were not happy the offer was rejected by the union but that is not to say that we cannot use the time now, the conversations to continue in this process.

So we can have a resolution that put the people of Birmingham first.

13:43

Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP (Islington North, Independent)

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Could the Minister explain this. Yes, I understand the issues of equal pay, yes, I think you will pay is essentially important and legally necessary. But what we have here is the reduction of pain, in a significant group of workers. -- Reduction of pay. How can they possibly be held responsible for the financial problems Birmingham city has? And as it isn't their case, entirely justified, what they are doing is protecting their own wages and conditions, as any good trade union would do in any position, in any negotiations.

Can I simply accept and understand that, and that be the basis on which a settlement could be agreed at a could return to?

13:43

Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Labour )

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-- Return to work.

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Where he started what I think most would be when looking at a co- pay, but the reality is, there will pay, but the reality is, there will always be winners and losers in equal pay, when looking at women who have been underpaid historically for have been underpaid historically for a long time, so councils have options here, they can either compensate and pay upwards for all compensate and pay upwards for all female workers, so they can parable male workers, and most councils in male workers, and most councils in most circumstances, that will not be affordable, because there are huge sums attached to that, automate sums attached to that, automate package affordable, they have to be able to equalise, and equalising consultation with trade unions.

And consultation with trade unions. And in Birmingham, that is what has in Birmingham, that is what has happened. The issue in Birmingham is very particular to the service, which is a previous agreement reached, that honesty does not hold reached, that honesty does not hold when assessed against equal pay, in terms of the actual tasks carried terms of the actual tasks carried out by workers, and in the end, that does not pass the equal pay test, but that is not to say that we are but that is not to say that we are not urging the council and uniting the union, to continue negotiations to solve this.

We absolutely want the right outcome for workers as

13:45

Shockat Adam MP (Leicester South, Independent)

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the right outcome for workers as well as the residents of Birmingham. I would also like to thank my

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I would also like to thank my honourable friend for securing and tabling this Urgent Question and would like to thank the Minister for his answers and I do sympathise with his position. But minister, the cost of recruiting and replacing this workforce, the cost of policing the dispute, the cost of legal fees, is costing the already overstretched council £4 million. All the while, the good people of Birmingham, the very people that voted in a Labour council and many a Labour Member of Parliament are living in foul misery, so does the Minister not agree that it would save millions of pounds, improve our relationship with the dedicated bin workers and restore a basic necessity to the people of Birmingham if, to get out of this, you could intervene?

13:45

Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Labour )

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I need to be clear about, the starting point of causes we want all parties to negotiate in good faith, and what the local authority to do its best to table a deal that, of course, goes as far as it can go. But the red line has to be that it cannot cross over and compromise and unravel the equal pay negotiations taking place, in all the trade unions, that have been a party to. There is the issue. He could rightly say, which is what he indicates, surely it doesn't pay what it takes to resolve the issue with striking bin workers but for the equal pay package to hold, it can parable payment needing to be made to female workers scope, so the type of as he talks about our fantasyland.

They are on that point, it got above legality and affordability for the local authority. We have urged the council to negotiate in good faith as a trade union and go as far it can go, providing for the fact it is lawful, affordable, and doesn't lawful, affordable, and doesn't

13:47

Iqbal Mohamed MP (Dewsbury and Batley, Independent)

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I congratulate my honourable friend for tabling this Urgent Question and for the response from the Minister. The Birmingham in the strikes are not just about waste, they are about what happens when the state retreats from local services without proper reform. UK must confront the legacy of austerity, we think a local government is funded and run, and treat frontline workers with the respect and fairness they deserve. Failure to do so risks further breakdown in public services and public trust not just in Birmingham but all over our country.

Will the Minister explain what steps the government is taking to analyse how we got into this mess in the first place, and what steps the government will take to ensure that no other counsel is facing the same situation anywhere in our country?

13:47

Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Labour )

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We have to accept there are some issues here that are unique to Birmingham. On equal pay for instance, many councils in England dealt with equal pay a decade ago in Birmingham did not which is why the liabilities have escalated in the way they have. But the fundamental point about fair funding and making sure that local public services can be rebuilt as exactly where we can agree. We do believe that for most people their local neighbourhood services have been impacted so heavily not only by austerity by the growth in demand for adult, children's, and temporary accommodation as well.

We have to rethink how we found it and how we

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reinvest back into prevention and early intervention to prevent the crisis management model. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker.

13:48

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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And I thank the Minister for his answers. I wish him well in his endeavours to try and paint the solution and enable a solution to be found. Government has stated that it is committed to a sustainable resolution, but in relation to a severe backlog of all kinds of waste in the ongoing dispute, information coming from the workers stating they are facing cuts of £8000 a year which will be devastating loss for families. Can the Minister acknowledge that an intervention must be done now, to make workers feel worthwhile, and to sustain trust between councils and the workers? workers?

13:49

Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Labour )

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Whoever is negotiating in this environment will have the same guardrails as local authority does. The local authority has to be mindful of the equal pay packets that it has agreed with all the trade unions. It cannot do anything in this very narrow dispute. Both in terms of the impact the resident and local workers if it means unravelling the equal pay issue. So I share his concern about the impact. It is important that the local authority and Unite the Union continue the talks and try and find a resolution.

And can I wish you a

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peaceful recess and to the other members of the house. That concludes the Urgent Question. If I can give the Front Benches a few moments to change Benches a few moments to change over. Statement Dame Diana Johnson.

13:50

Ministerial statement: Orgreave Inquiry

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over. Statement Dame Diana Johnson. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. With your permission I would like to With your permission I would like to make a statement regarding this governments commitment to establishing the truth about events in 1984 at Orgreave. The clashes at Orgreave coking plant in 1984 are etched indelibly into our nation's memory. This clash marked pivotal moment in the nationwide miners' strike that was ongoing during that period. Some 95 picketers were arrested and charged with riot and violent disorder.

All charges were later dropped after evidence was discredited. As a result of the violence, there were serious implications for the relationship between policing and coalfield can at that time. The passage of time has not diminished the impact of those present and their families. On Thursday last week, the Home Secretary visited the site of the former Orgreave coking plant. Along with campaigners from the National Union of Mineworkers and the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign. As well as a number of members of this House and the Mayor of South Yorkshire.

I know that the Home Secretary was very grateful to all those who took time to attend. And that she was moved by the experience that they shared, by walking part of the route the picketers walked on that day 41 years ago. It is this Labour government's commitment to get truth and justice for those communities. It is of course important to note that have been significant changes in the oversight of policing since 1984. And to the way that the public order is now police.

Nevertheless, questions about the specific events of Orgreave have remained unanswered for far too long. More than four decades may have passed, but those questions must still be answered. That is why we have committed in Labour's manifesto to ensure, through an investigation or an inquiry, that the truth about events at Orgreave comes alight. Yesterday, we made good on that promise, as the Home Secretary announced the establishment of an inquiry into events surrounding the clashes at the Orgreave coking plant in 1984.

The Right Reverend Dr Pete Wilcox, Bishop of Sheffield, has agreed to chair the inquiry. The Bishop is a

13:54

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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very well respected member of the local and wider regional community in South Yorkshire. His credibility in South Yorkshire. His credibility and impartiality will stand him in very good stead to deliver this very good stead to deliver this inquiry. He will be supported by a small panel of independent experts small panel of independent experts who will be appointed in due course. In a similar vein to the Hillsborough panel chaired by the Hillsborough panel chaired by the Bishop of Liverpool in 2010. The purpose of the inquiry will be to purpose of the inquiry will be to aid public understanding of how the violent clashes and injuries caused violent clashes and injuries caused to Orgreave on 18 June 1984, and the events immediately afterwards, came events immediately afterwards, came to pass.

It will be a statutory inquiry, under the Inquiries Act 2005 the appropriate powers to compel the provision of information compel the provision of information necessary. The direction of the inquiries investigation will be a matter for the chair. As the matter for the chair. As the sponsoring department, the Home Office will provide support and ensure that the inquiry has the resources needed to fulfil its terms of reference. But will have no other say in the conduct of the inquiry, or the conclusions that it may reach, until it is time for us to respond to them.

It will be key for the inquiry you have access to all information which it deems relevant. For that reason, the Home Secretary has recently written to all police forces, the National Police Chiefs' Council, and the College of Policing and all government departments, to ask that all material they hold relating to the event of Orgreave be retained in order that it can be provided in a timely manner to the inquiry if requested. Recognising the need to deliver swiftly, whilst avoiding any undue impact on individuals well-being, I hope the inquiry will look to the previous examples of good practice, such as the Hillsborough Independent panel, to inform its method of delivery.

The Home Secretary is currently in the process of consulting inquiry chair on a proposed terms of reference. She has asked him to engage with key stakeholders including the National Union of Mineworkers, and the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign as part of the process. We will place a final copy of the terms of reference in the libraries of both houses at the earliest opportunity thereafter. It is our expectation that the inquiry will launch in the autumn. For the police to perform their critical functions effectively, it is essential that they can secure and maintain the confidence of the people they serve.

That is why this Labour government has made rebuilding trust in policing an integral part of our Plan for Change. Of course much of that effort is concerned with strengthening forces for the challenges of now and the future. But where historical events cast a long shadow that stretches into the present day and are called fields, we must shine a light on what happened and ensure any and all lessons are learnt. Questions about events at Orgreave have gone unanswered for too long.

This government, committed to putting that right. The upcoming inquiry will work independently, fairly, and without fear or favour, to establish the truth about what happened. I

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commend this statement to the House. Shadow Minister. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister for advanced sight of her statement. Growing up in the north-east, I know the emotions stirred by the miners' emotions stirred by the miners' strike. Decades after the event they continue to cause significant division and disagreement within our division and disagreement within our communities. Regardless of people's views on the rights and wrongs of the incident. Historic events like the incident. Historic events like this, that's all conflict and violence on our streets will always be deeply regretful.

We must be deeply regretful. We must acknowledge that in the decades since, no government, including 30 years of the last Labour government, deemed it necessary to establish such inquiry. That's Labour such inquiry. That's Labour government included three of the current Home Office ministers, with the current minister of state for border security and asylum serving border security and asylum serving in the Home Office at the time. If this inquiry has a real contribution to make, I did that then Labour to make, I did that then Labour government not hold one? What has government not hold one? What has changed? As members will know, there have been previous calls for such inquiry.

When the decision was made inquiry. When the decision was made not to grant one, it was based on recent grounds. The passage of time at the significant legislative at the significant legislative changes in the decades since, as the Home Secretary said in a written statement " There have been significant changes in the oversight of policing since 1984 and to the way that public order is now police. " Does the Mr believe an inquiry is likely to result in any meaningful relevant lessons for today's policing system? The Minister for policing was a long-standing advocate for the infected blood investigation.

Similarly, the Hillsborough panel highlighted the deep injustice of a tragedy involving its police force. Both of those inquiries came understandably at considerable cost. Therefore Can the minister outline what the

14:00

Matt Vickers MP (Stockton West, Conservative)

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Department anticipates that delivering a proportionate and meaningful inquiry on this issue will cost? The press reports on the proposed chairman raises serious questions about his ability to act in a beautifully neutral and independent manner. Can the minister independent manner. Can the minister sure the house that the inquiry will not be political in nature? And that it will listen to the views of all it will listen to the views of all parties present on the day, so this is not million example of the government putting the interests of government putting the interests of the union's head of the police.

As in so many issues recently, this raises questions about the raises questions about the government's commitment to supporting brave police officers who act within the law to do their job. Can she confirm the government is committed to supporting police officers who put themselves in harms officers who put themselves in harms way to keep public order? And comply with their training and instructions. Finally, I note from instructions. Finally, I note from the government's publication that the inquiry will be statutory, with the inquiry will be statutory, with powers to compel individuals to provide information when necessary.

This sounds remarkably similar to a This sounds remarkably similar to a request we have made to the government. One which was repeatedly government. One which was repeatedly rejected. The victims and survivors of rape gangs deserve detailed updates on the progress of that inquiry. Yet the lack of information about how this new inquiry will be set up, and how it will compel evidence leads me to conclude that the government has prioritised the miners over those who suffered horrific exploitation at the hands of rape gangs.

This Labour government and union paymasters should not determine the pecking order of justice in this country. There are still perpetrators of child sexual, and those who covered it up who have gone unpunished. And yet this government has chosen to prioritise this inquiry. Baroness Casey in her audit spoke of the need to implement inquiries that are time-limited. What I ask of the government is this, focus on this issue, given your initial refusal, make sure action is taken at greater speed, to bring about justice those vulnerable women who suffered at the vulnerable women who suffered at the

14:01

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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I was going to start by saying I welcomed the initial comments from a shadow minister in recognising how the Orgreave situation happened all those years ago, and was casting a shadow still other communities in Yorkshire and the north-east and other parts of the country as well. I must say, I found some of his comments in the response he made really... I am surprised actually, because I know the shadow minister it a great man and is trying his best to fulfil the role as shadow and policing minister, I to his questions and I will come to the issue he raised at the latter part of it contribution around group games, but I must say I found his comments extremely distasteful and not accurate or correct.

If I just deal with the issues of why we are having this Orgreave inquiry. Our manifesto commitment was to ensuring that there was a thorough investigation and inquiry, that the truth about the events at Orgreave came to light. And that is what we are doing today, that is what we are delivering on, that manifesto commitment. We are also, as I said in my remarks, committed to rebuilding public confidence in policing and campaigners and mining communities have spent decades searching for answers around what happened.

So, the purpose of the inquiry will be to aid that public understanding of how the events at Orgreave on 18 June 1984 and immediately after came to pass. I hope that explains why we are taking this action today. The shadow minister asked about the cost and we have been very clear that we will be meeting the cost of the inquiry from the Home Office. We are also mindful that what the inquiry to be expeditious as best it can, and to be value for money.

That is why we look at the model of the Hillsborough Independent inquiry, because we think that model was a good model to follow. Certainly, there will be conversations with the Chair, around the projected costs and the timeline that the chair will want to set out. I am just turning then to the issue of the Chair, and I was really disappointed, again, with the remarks. I think Bishop Pete has previously supported calls for an inquiry, and it is important to know that was in the context of his pastoral role in supporting members of the diocese of Sheffield who were impacted by the events at Orgreave.

And he certainly didn't show any favour for either the police or the picketers, when calling from that inquiry. And I don't think that cold attracts from the necessary credibility, the impartiality, and independence I believe he will bring to this role as the Chair of the inquiry and I know he has the backing and support of key stakeholders, for taking forward that role. And I think it is also important to remember the Chair of the inquiry will be supported by a small group of independent members, and those members will have members, and those members will have expert knowledge of areas, but will help with terms of reference.

So the inquiry is statutory, a shadow minister referred to, because we recognise the importance of the document being brought forward, being compelled to produce, and also witnesses as well. Just to conclude on the issue of the grooming gangs, which the shadow minister referred to. He will know there has been a great deal of work, TRACEY SMITH: -- To make sure that the hideous appalling situation is being uncovered around the grooming gangs are now going to be dealt with, the safeguarding minister has given statements to the House, the Home Secretary has given statements to the House, there has been a clear list of the action being taken.

And it seems to me that work is absolutely right, and of course, under the previous government, when the independent child abuse inquiry was set up, there was support across the House for that work of Professor Alexis Jay, there was just a great pity the previous government did not actually enact any of the recommendations that Professor Alexis Jay came forward with. And I think that is a hugely shameful state of affairs, this government then inherited, but absolutely clear this government is dealing with grooming gangs, as that is absolutely the right thing to do.

But equally, it is absolutely the right thing to do to set the Orgreave inquiry up today.

14:06

Jon Trickett MP (Normanton and Hemsworth, Labour)

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I very much welcome the policing minister announcing to the House the absence taken by the government. I was active in the time of the miners strike and I now represented 23 former mining villages, many of the And if we were to have even a small sample of opinion, as to what they think happened at Orgreave, they will tell you the finger points in one direction only, that is Number Ten and people closely associated with Mrs Thatcher, but I want to ask about the terms of reference.

Because on the day, 19 men were arrested on trumped up charges, with evidence fortified by police officers, and I have met some of those police officers, and they say they were told, on orders from above, what to stay, or what's right. -- Or what to write. That is a serious matter, men were put in jail, or even hospitalised, on trumped up charges. Will the terms of reference allow the bishop, who was a good man, to pursue the trail of evidence, wherever it leads, in order to determine once and for all how that Miss Justice was organised by people in the Conservative party? -- Miss Justice.

14:07

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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I'm grateful honourable friends question I know he is a great deal of experience and knowledge in this area, and as I said in my opening remarks, the terms of reference are currently being discussed with the chair, but it's very clear that the inquiry should look at the evidence and testimony, if that is what they wish to do, and we will do that without fear or favour, wherever the evidence leads them to look.

14:08

Josh Babarinde MP (Eastbourne, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. I came into this chamber for this statement. To hear about and speak about the Orgreave inquiry, so it is pretty shocking to hear the shadow minister use it as an opportunity, again, to play politics with child sexual abuse and exploitation, yet again. As a survivor myself, I find that particularly appalling. Liberal Democrats welcomed the announcement of a statutory inquiry into events between police and miners at Orgreave on 18 June 1984.

And for years, those caught up in harrowing events of that day, had to carry the painful form of this unresolved justice. Not just around the injuries sustained but also the police charges that were subsequently dropped. Over 40 years on, we must come together to ensure this inquiry reaches its full potential. And uncovers the answers that those impacted so deeply deserved. This must include proper consultation which will be key for rebuilding public trust. I would therefore welcome more details on the Minister on how the communities of the impacted miners and their families will be involved in the inquiry.

Of course, inquiries can be a powerful tool for enquiring about injustice, but there is also a duty of candour that needful cooperation. So, the government is already committed to bringing this into force, will the Minister use this now was an opportunity to provide a

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clear timeline to introducing the Hillsborough law to Parliament? I am grateful to the honourable

14:10

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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I am grateful to the honourable gentleman for what he said. Just to gentleman for what he said. Just to put this into context, the Home Secretary and I have met a range of key stakeholders already, their respective views on the scope and nature of the Orgreave inquiry, and what it should seek to achieve. There has already been consultation with the Orgreave truth and justice campaign, National Union-Tkuma workers, South Yorkshire police, the Blair of South Yorkshire, many MPs in this House, who have got an interest in this, including my honourable friend for, as Orgreave buys in her constituency.

And we have also met other interested parties, from the fields of law, and one of them that I met personally was Michael Mansfield, who was the lawyer who represented a number of those who were charged at Orgreave. We have also met academics, because we know there is value in looking at what academics can show works in terms of inquiries. So, we are already engaged in quite a lot of consultation. There is further consultation now on the terms of reference.

That is ongoing and the responsibility of the Chair and I know and expect that all the parties we have already met with will be engaged again. As to the Hillsborough law, I know there is very active work on that at the moment. I cannot give a TIME today, but I know that it will be brought to the House shortly.

14:11

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

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It is a privilege to be in the chamber today, to hear that we're finally getting the inquiry that has long been campaigned for by the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign and also the union, and many in my community and others in South Yorkshire. Who are just simply asking for the truth. The shadow minister has just said this shouldn't be a litter size, but this year agree with me this is political, it is one of the not political things that has ever happened South Yorkshire, and is incredibly important that this inquiry is a statutory footing, in order to compel people to give evidence, to get to the truth, that I know many in our communities still bear the scars of.

14:12

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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Again, my honourable friend speaks with great knowledge about how this has affected her community, so many years on. I think she makes so many years on. I think she makes an important point that there is a political point of this inquiry, for those of us around at the time, it was a very political time. And the miners strike, all of that, so I think it is absolutely right that we have this opportunity to look across the PTO, what is happening at -- Across the piece, what was happening at Orgreave, does my honourable friend said, the involvement perhaps other politicians in this, but it is important we recognise there is a political context.

And that is why, again, it is so important this inquiry will be on a statutory footing, to allow documents and witnesses to be compelled to give evidence to the inquiry.

14:13

Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP (Islington North, Independent)

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Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. Could I say first of all I absolutely welcome the statement being made by the Minister today. It is an enormous step forward and I think we should pay huge tribute to the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign. In particular, Kate Flannery, and Chris and colleagues for all the work I have done for a long time. This was pledged in the last three Labour manifestoes, 17, 19, and 24, so it is a good step forward.

Can I ask though, to bear in mind, very carefully what the member said in his excellent question. Lives were ruined, people were very badly injured as a result of this, suffered for many years, unable to work because they had been blacklisted in other things. Given charges that were made on trumped up evidence, and suffered consequentially and it has gone for a very long time. So I think we need to know a number of things. One is the terms of reference will allow evidence to be taken under oath from whatever it needs to be taken.

Whoever was there, Arthur and many others, all those surviving miners that were there at the time, must be given their time to be able to explain exactly what happened. And also the role of South Yorkshire police in the attack that took place against those miners, so we can get to the truth of this. I realise putting a timetable on an inquiry is a slightly difficult thing to do, because we do not want to prevent the inquiry getting all the evidence it needs.

But we also don't want an inquiry to run on forever, and then losing his -- Its impetus, so if she can give us an idea of how long, or if she would be prepared to accept interim reports as it goes on, so rapid progress Been made, and can she assure the House that where the evidence leads to culpability of ministers, police officers, senior civil servants, or many others, throughout a whole command chain, which the events were explained, prosecutors will follow, evidence will be put before the court and, if necessary, people will be brought to justice for it.

We have to bring to justice the totality of this event.

14:15

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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I agree with right honourable gentleman about paying tribute to the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign and I have the privilege to meet with some of the members of that campaign. And I fully acknowledge and appreciate how lives were ruined and families have suffered a lot actually. Not just the people there on the day, but the wider families have suffered as well, so it is absolutely right we set this inquiry up. Lives have been ruined.

As to the terms of reference, I know the Chair will take note of the comments are my honourable gentleman has just set out, what you would like to see in the terms of reference. As to the timetable, I absolutely agree. I want this to be done as quickly as possible. But as thoroughly as I am hoping that in early discussions we were looking at a time frame of round two years. Those were the early discussions that we had. And I ought to say to the right honourable gentleman, obviously I cannot prejudge what the recommendations are going to be from the inquiry.

We will need to look at those recommendations when they are made.

14:16

Grahame Morris MP (Easington, Labour)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. As chair of the coalfields group of Labour MPs, and on behalf of the group, I welcome this statement. It is an historic moment, and I know the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, the campaigners, and many more Labour colleagues will have wanted to have been here had they had a little more notice. The Minister will know that even last year, organisations were destroying documents, actions that could hinder the inquiry. It is vital that individuals and organisations are held accountable.

Not just for what happened 40 years ago, but also for any attempts to undermine justice by destroying evidence. Can the minister confirm the inquiry will have access to all information and evidence, and no further documents will be destroyed or evidence withheld. And that it will have the powers to compel witness and testimony? I hope this inquiry will not only uncover the truth but make recommendations to right the wrongs done to many miners including some of my constituents wrongly convicted under riot and unlawful assembly laws.

One of those miners was no longer with us. I thank the Minister

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and the government for honouring this manifesto pledge. Thank you. If I could deal with this issue

14:18

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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If I could deal with this issue around documents first of all. The Home Secretary recently wrote to all Home Secretary recently wrote to all police forces in England and Wales, and all government departments, to remind them of the relevant legislative frameworks for Records Management, and to ask information related to the events at Orgreave on 18th June on 18 June 1984 be retained. And she went to all government departments as well. I know that the Home Secretary has asked if any documents have been destroyed, what those documents were, and why they were destroyed.

I think it is also worth reminding the House that under section 35 of the inquiries act 2005, it is a criminal offence to destroy or conceal information relevant to a public

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inquiry. Can I thank the Minister very

14:19

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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Can I thank the Minister very much for her statement? And for the carefully chosen words that the carefully chosen words that the honourable lady have put forward. Can I ask the Minister this question very gently, and from experience, does the Minister appreciate, similar to the prosecution, to ask a retired officer why he made a split decision 40 years ago, what was happening and he made that decision, and what was the exact wording of directions given to him, is and can be incredibly distressing and upsetting for officers.

And now in their 80s or 90s. What support Can the minister offer to them to deal with the trauma that they will undoubtedly suffer?

14:20

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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I think the honourable gentleman raises an important point. This isn't the first time that ministers have had to stand here and agree to inquiries into events that are a long time ago. The honourable gentleman will know that we have worked together on the infected inquiry that took a long time to get to that point. So I fully recognise that the length of time means that some people sadly will have died. Other people will be very elderly now, when they have to recall what happened.

So this is not how we want it to be is it. But taking the point about anybody who is going to be called to give testimony to the inquiry, I know that the Bishop will be looking at what support needs to be put in place to help those witnesses from the police or from the picketers and their families. But I'm sure will be uppermost in the Bishop's mind.

14:21

Mary Kelly Foy MP (City of Durham, Labour)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. As the Member of Parliament for the City of Durham, a constituency in the heart of the Durham coalfield, I welcome the pressing need for the inquiry into the events that occurred at Orgreave Plant on June 18 on June 18, 1984. As others have said, a huge thank you to those from the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign who worked for decades for this moment. Does the Minister share my frustration at the length of time it has taken this House to invoke such a crucial inquiry? Will she commit to investigating the role, the involvement of central government in that planning and instruction on how to allocate resources, financial and otherwise, in the lead up to, during, and after that day at the height of the 1984 miners' strike in Rotherham?

14:22

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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I Italy regret the fact that this has taken so long to be, for the inquiry to be established. And as I said, there are a number of other courses as well that we should have been looking at far sooner. I think it is very helpful that honourable members are setting out what their concerns are in terms of what the terms of reference should cover because I know the Bishop will want to look at what the House is saying, what members have to say, and make sure that is part of his discussions about the terms of reference for the inquiry.

14:22

Chris Webb MP (Blackpool South, Labour)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. It was alleged that there was a refusal to hold the inquiry because of the memory of Thatcher. Can the Minister confirm it will have statutory power to compel evidence and nothing will get in the way of uncovering the truth once and for all?

14:23

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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Yes, I can confirm this is a statutory inquiry with all the legal powers that a statutory inquiry has two compel documents and witnesses. And to go wherever the evidence leads them.

14:23

Kim Johnson MP (Liverpool Riverside, Labour)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. As the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on miscarriages of justice, and a lifelong trade unionist, I welcome the long overdue announcement of a statutory inquiry into Orgreave. I pay tribute to all who have campaigned for truth and justice particularly the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign. Given the serious concerns about destroyed, tempered, and withheld evidence, will the Minister confirm that any inquiry will be underpinned by a clear legal duty of candour to guarantee full transparency and accountability for all of those involved? For the police, and two former government officials, so that the victims and campaigners fully receive the answers they deserve?

14:24

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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I think my honourable friend raises an important point there. We looked very carefully at the role that the Hillsborough Independent inquiry played, and what happens there, because we think there is a model there that would be very useful for the chair in this inquiry to look at. I take the point from my honourable friend about the duty of candour. And the work that is ongoing now around putting that into

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statute. But absolutely, the Bishop will be looking at all of that. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I

14:25

Warinder Juss (Wolverhampton West, Labour)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I remember clearly the miners' strike in 1984 particularly what happened in 1984 particularly what happened at Orgreave. I know it has many painful memories for lots of people. First of all I want to thank and commend the government for holding this statutory public inquiry. It appears that after four decades, we might get truth and justice as to what happened on 18 June 1984. And also what happens to the 95 miners and how they were treated.

Can the minister please assure the House that if the inquiry does reveal evidence of misconduct and wrongdoing, necessary action will be taken, and we will also learn lessons from something like this never happened again in future?

14:25

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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I am very grateful to my honourable friend for his comments. It is clear that we have to let the inquiry once established do their work, and then make the recommendations. As the government we will look to respond to the recommendations that they make.

14:26

Josh Newbury MP (Cannock Chase, Labour)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister for today's statement, and in launching this inquiry, keeping a manifesto promise. Coalfield like mine in Cannock Chase, many of our former miners still bear the scars physical and mental of what happened at Orgreave 41 years ago. Our towns and villages still feel the collective sense of injustice. There are a great many men who wants to share stories of that day. To ensure their own closure, but also to ensure the truth will out.

Can the Minister assure my constituents and ex-miners up and down the country will have the opportunity to contribute to the inquiry?

14:26

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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I am sure the Bishop will be listening very carefully to the comments that honourable and right honourable members have made. I certainly know that there are individuals who would feel very comfortable to want to talk about what happened and to explain in testimony for top there are others who don't want to do that so it will be a matter for the Bishop to decide the best way forward to make sure that the inquiry hears from individuals but also has access to the documents.

That is for the terms of reference that the Bishop will be setting out shortly.

14:27

Laurence Turner MP (Birmingham Northfield, Labour)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I strongly welcome ministers statement and the fulfilment of the manifesto commitment. Like others in this House, I pay tribute to the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign. I'm sure members across the House have been disturbed by reports of destruction of potentially relevant documents, a point that has already been made in this statement. At this point in time, the Home Office is considering the case for instituting a public inquiry into the 1924 Birmingham pub bombings which I don't expect the Minister to pre-empt today.

In respect of the preservation of records, will the Department consider taking the same actions to preserve potentially relevant documents including those held by external bodies in advance of that decision taken? With the Northumbria police case highlighting a particular risk of accidental loss or deliberate destruction, in advance of that legal protection kicking in, I would welcome the chance to discuss this matter with her further.

14:28

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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I am very happy to discuss this matter with my honourable friend. It is worth saying that police forces are independent of government, and decisions concerning the management of the records are for them to make, in accordance with their respective reviews and policies on retention and disposal. However the government does expect any such decisions to be made in accordance with relevant legislation and national guidance. As I said, it is a criminal offence to destroy documents that may be relevant or conceal information that a public inquiry would be interested

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in. I'm happy to meet my honourable friend. That concludes the statement for

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That concludes the statement for top, ask the Front Benches to swap over now, I will give you a couple over now, I will give you a couple

14:29

Ministerial statement: Music streaming: Label-Led Principles

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Statements are Chris Bryant. Now for something a bit different. With permission, I would

14:29

Chris Bryant MP, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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different. With permission, I would like to make a statement about the government's progress with industry on the remuneration of artists in the music industry. Music is not just the food of love, it does not just set our hearts dancing and express our deepest desires. It doesn't just showcase the UK to the world. As part of our dynamic creative industries, which we have identified as one of the eight priority growth sectors in our industrial strategy, it is key to our economic future as well.

That is why music is at the heart of our new 10 year Creative Industries Sector Plan. And our new music growth package will more than double government funding for the industry to £10 million annually for the next three years. This will help UK artists achieve domestic and international success are nurturing our grassroots music. We want the UK music industry to thrive we know it won't thrive unless artists receive their fair share of the rewards, especially in the new era of streaming.

The stereotypes of artists starving in garages is not a model for successful industry. Musicians deserve their fair reward in the industry will only flourish if new generations of musicians are able to make a living. It is with pleasure that I announce today an important milestone, with the UK record labels having agreed new measures that will boost the earnings of legacy artists, songwriters, and session musicians. UK music industry is a global powerhouse. Coldplay, Adele, powerhouse. Coldplay, Adele, Stormzy, Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, and others, our country has been the birthplace of defining talent as a sheik the soundtrack of generations.

It is no surprise the other third largest music market in the world and the second largest recording music exporter. The first music streaming service as we know today started in 2001, and streaming now accounts for majority of music revenue. This has created a series of challenges the UK music industry, radically transforming how audiences experience music. How musicians are living, record labels treat their artists and how artists access different markets. The DCMS select committee sought to address some of these issues in an important report on music streaming 2021.

The Competition and Markets Authority completed a study into this and the intellectual property office conducted research into potential copyright reforms. In spring 2024, three years after the DCMS select committee reports, then government finally launched the creative remuneration working group tasked with exploring and considering industry led actions on remuneration from music streaming for existing and future music creators. The government convened the group once before the general election, and I shared my first meeting with a month of taking office.

I'm pleased to announce that after six meetings in a series of bilateral discussions, some of them quite difficult, this work has now resulted in a set of measures from UK record labels that they estimate will deliver tens of millions of pounds of new investment millions of pounds of new investment millions of pounds of new investment Central to this is a new set of principles, recommended today UK label members. Some independent labels are already implement indispensable and I'm delighted to say the three major labels, universal music group, Sony music entertainment and Warner music group combo would both adopt these principles and introduce bespoke packages to boost the earnings of artists, especially legacy artists who signed before screening came onto the scene.

To address specific challenges faced by smaller labels, PPI, are encouraging these labels to provide targeted support that are appropriate for their size and resources. The principles will commit me but across the UK to provide targeted support for legacy artists, songwriters and session musicians. This includes, for legacy artists, the disregarding of underequipped advances, bespoke support to increase streaming engagement, and clarity on contract renegotiation. The songwriters, the payment of per diem for the first time, with major labels, committing to a payment of four expenses.

And the songwriter program in partnership with the Academy, to provide financial support and assistance to songwriters. These payments will not be charged as are capable cost for their advance. And for session musicians, an increase in session fees agreed at the end of Joe, and a commitment to review their incomes from broadcasting public performance. The principles announced today will complement the industry code of good practice on transparency and the industry agreement on the data which will be published in 2024. They mark a major milestone in the government's work with the music industry in response to the DCMS Select Committee's 2021 report on the economics of music streaming.

Some concerns remain in regard to session musicians which is why I will be convening a further meeting with the industry to discuss these issues. We want these measures to be delivered in full, separate artists see real improvements. The Secretary of State and I want legacy artists to see their work revitalised and introduced to new audiences, to have their own recouped balances are disregarded, and their contract renegotiated. So to track progress and measure success, we will work closely with members of the group, including a council of music makers, to monitor a robust process, to see if it works as intended.

The government will then assess the need for further intervention to ensure this package delivers its objective to bring about real change for creators. This is not the end of the road, nor the lifting of the needle on this record, but it is a pivotal point, because of the principles we discuss are truly implemented, they have the potential to improve the lives of artists across the UK. I am deeply grateful to the bpi, major labels, and the Association of Independent Music for engaging with this work to recognise the dedication of the Council of music makers, including the featured artists coalition, The Academy, Music Makers Forum, and the Musicians Union at their tireless commitment to their members.

Finally, my thanks also go to the Culture Media Select Committee for shining a powerful light on this if House.

14:36

Mr Louie French MP (Old Bexley and Sidcup, Conservative)

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Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. The love of music is something we all share, all of her favourite songs that make up the soundtrack the most meaningful moments of our lives. Those moments of joy and also sorrow, and the songs that live forever. The music industry is a true global success story, from local stars like Adele, Ed Sheeran, and my favourite band, away Cisco to world-class cultural institutions such as the Royal Academy of music and the London Symphony Orchestra, our music industry remains one of the strongest in the world, showcasing our talent on the world stage and contribute £8 billion of our economy and a truly a jewel in the crown of our thriving creative sectors.

The Minister has noted, street name has transformed the music industry, with both listeners and artists. Listeners now have access to more music than ever, musicians cannot reach listeners on a scale only dream of in the past. The debate on whether artists are reaching a deal in this ecosystem, that is a view we share in the tighter house. While artists, and streaming platforms, are private agreements, members on all sides of apples will agree the success of streaming should not come at the expense of artists livelihoods.

In 2022, the previous Conservative 2022, the previous Conservative government asked the competition market authority to conduct a study in the music and streaming services, I was encouraged to learn that the CMA found no evidence of published revenue being suppressed, by distorted or restrictive competition. And the share of streaming revenues going to publishers and songwriters has increased from 8% back in 2008, to 15% in recent years. However, concerns remain, especially about the use of AI across creative industry. I know that independent research has also been committing the behalf of the government, into the impact on creators, performers, and the wider industry of potential changes to copyright law, in the areas of remuneration, contract adjustment, and right to aversion.

Furthermore, the Centre for data ethics and innovation has committed research into playlist algorithms used by streaming services. I can assure the Minister that members, also of this House, what are they a better deal for artists, songwriters and performers, that is what we broadly welcome the government taking an industry led approach to this issue. If only they did that elsewhere. I must however press the Minister to provide some assurances to the House. Firstly, can the Minister outline what consequences they will be able to fail to comply with these new principles, and what percentage of artists does he percentage of artists does he believe will benefit from this announcement today? Secondly, what message does he provide today to other creators and publishers who remain deeply concerned that they are not being fairly rewarded for their hard work and lastly, will the government commit to reviewing these reforms within 18 months, to ensure they are working for the industry.

Thank you. Thank you.

14:39

Chris Bryant MP, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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I say incidentally that the former shadow Secretary of State, I think he is now a shadow Secretary of State, is here, and we wish him well in his new job. It is a delight to hear from the honourable gentleman but he is always grumpy when he actually wants to say well done. I don't know about you, Madame Deputy Speaker, but I sometimes think the Conservative party as we all are cold, and nothing else. Party. Because they make nice statements but never actually do anything.

It is fascinating to hear him say we have a concern about the remuneration of musicians. What did they do nothing on the subject when in government? Absolutely nothing. It has taken the government to actually sit down with industry and sit down with creators, to make sure we got it over the line and we delivered a change for people. He asked about what happens when people fail to comply? I am absolutely confident all labels we are talking about will want to adopt these principles, they have been part of the negotiating process, there were tough conversations we had to have a different points, but they signed up to it, whether they will deliver them, I am confident that if any them, I am confident that if any legacy artists now wants to come back to their label and say I want to renegotiate my contract, of course, the precise terms of the negotiation will be a matter for the artist and the label themselves, but they will have a chance to negotiate.

Some people might, because this they signed a contract before straining existed, they might be on a rate of something light 9%, something like that, they will be able to negotiate that up to something more like 20, 25, 30% for a digital right. That will make a significant difference to legacy artists. And many people have made the strong point that it is all very well increasing the number of streams for an individual legacy artists piece of work but if they are not actually getting any more money for it, it is not going to benefit either the record label, all the legacy artists themselves.

I am very confident this will deliver. He asked about a review in 18 months. I can do better than that. As I said, we are going to review in 12 months time. Because if this hasn't delivered, of course we have got to reserve the right to bring in legislation, if necessary. And this was one of the points I made, at several different points. In the EU, there is equitable renumeration close, in legislation. If we -- Remuneration clause in legislation, if we felt the need to do that, that is something we can progress with.

Really good discussions with all different parties, that all of them want to comply about this. One other point I would make about songwriters, because quite often, people, lots of people know all the famous names. That we all talk about, he referred to Ed Sheeran and -- And so on. But all the people that rattle around in our brains for years and years, making sure they are not out-of-pocket, it is a really important part of the principles that I wanted to adopt and that is what I am really proud that, for the first time, there will be per diem's, £75 a day, plus expenses, to make sure no songwriter is out of pocket, and the deal that the Academy are doing for 100,000 patio with Sony will match that in another way.

We have to invest in the songwriter's of the future so we have a strong music industry we want for the future, but I am not

14:43

Paul Waugh MP (Rochdale, Labour )

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Can I first declare an interest that my son is a number of the band Big Huge Circle whose first single is now on Spotify and recommended by Clash magazine is beautifully complex. Can I welcome today's announcement, particularly the introduction of per diem's, and session musicians uplift, and cannot thank the member sitting in the gallery right now for his work on this. It is usually welcome, perfectly in time for the Musician Delegate Conference this week. But can I echo his concern about streaming and how long it has taken since our Select Committee first reported on this.

Can the Minister explain what further powers the government holds to intervene with the industry led, if those industry led measures for short?

14:43

Chris Bryant MP, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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First of all, can I wish was it Big Huge New Circle? Would have to enhance by three times now! I will take my file here. The 10% can obviously come 15% lots of agents these days. Obviously, the future of the music industry in the UK depends on having a pipeline. Actually, the single most important thing we can do with this is make sure every single child has the opportunity become a musician in school, music education in schools, not only delivered in providing musicians, but it is a false market is a force multiplier for other subjects as well.

I note the now Lord Brennan up in the gallery, that is another song from the music hall I think. My arable friend is absolutely right that he, on the Select Committee, is one of the driving forces that make sure there is not only a first report but a second report in the last Parliament, to keep holding the government's feed in the fire, I am determined we will do precisely the same with the record labels. In the end, I honestly believe, we will now have what the best arrangements in the world for remuneration for artists on stream in, and I am sure

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the record labels will stick with that. Thank you very much, Madame

14:45

Victoria Collins MP (Harpenden and Berkhamsted, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you very much, Madame Deputy Speaker. Britain's musicians Deputy Speaker. Britain's musicians have long been our most beloved national treasures, in our creative sector, musicians are some of our proudest export and are part of a £124 billion industry that drives our economy. Support for our legacy and session musicians is completely overdue and very welcome. From musicians like in my constituents, and national treasures, and I also agree with Adele being one of our national treasures, and as mentioned, all of those around them, whether it is the songwriters, producers, those who support them, but technological changes means but technological changes means online streaming now is the vast majority of consumption.

With thousands of trucks a day uploaded onto platforms, often withholding musicians income, so it is right the government is taking this seriously, we simply need to get this right. I would therefore ask the Minister to clarify the House how much confidence we can really have that the principal spelling out leading to more equitable distribution of streaming revenues. Ultimate, we understand this is a Labour led framework, whereas at independent oversight? And crucially, what guarantees are there of consistency or enforcement across the industry, we have also raised the issue many times in the past, but it remains true.

If we are serious about protecting artists rights to remuneration, we need to make sure copyright that has underpinned success for decades works digitally involving world. And as musicians and creatives face the tsunami around AI and the threat that could put to their livelihood, we need to tackle that seriously. I could include by asking the Minister one more to secure action for musicians, to support musicians and creatives,

14:46

Chris Bryant MP, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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She is in danger of becoming a national treasure herself. I'm not uniting the House in that. He cannot uniting the House in that. He cannot keep heckling, he is Health now. The important point is she asks about what confidence we can have, I'm very confident that it will. I have had face-to-face conversations with all the chief executives of the major record labels, and although sometimes I have been asking them to go further, they have got that extra mile.

I am sure that they will deliver on this. I'm confident that any legacy artists who wants to renegotiate the contract will be able to do so. We will be looking at precisely how that happens. If anybody is not happy with their renegotiation, we have included in the principles a means of them appealing, an odyssey that is the major role of the musicians union. If by the autumn, we suddenly find lots of musicians are saying I have not managed to renegotiate with my label, we will be returning to this issue.

The record labels are aware of that but they are determined, each of them will put together a bespoke package of trying to revitalise legacy work, and looking at wiping off unwritten balances and making sure people are able to earn more. The one thing I have always been nervous about it I don't think government should be writing contracts. It is very important this. Julie Andrews, when she took the role of Maria in The Sound Of Music, she just took an upfront free and never got paid in royalties thereafter which was probably a poor decision.

Whereas I think Arnold Schwarzenegger when he made movies he often decided to take the royalties and not take any upfront fees. The different artists will enter renegotiation in different ways. We wanted to rebalance the

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equation so it is more in the interests of musicians and I think this is what we have done. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I

14:49

Samantha Niblett MP (South Derbyshire, Labour)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I welcome this statement today for stock it is brilliant for top three weeks ago I visited Universal Music weeks ago I visited Universal Music and had the most fantastic visit, thanks to Charlotte Allen for sorting it. What was transparent and obvious to me was their support and love and continued passion for bringing in new artists. So to hear this arrangement for legacy artists is wonderful. Wonderful that within a year of us getting into power we have affected this change.

I thank him. I'm pleased to see within the statement the commitment to having conversations with session musicians. I wonder if we might have some idea of timeframes for the next steps?

14:49

Chris Bryant MP, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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I'm grateful to what she said, he was very helpful at Universal in the process of getting us to this place. And on the issue of DM's, £75 per day which was one of the major asks of the Academy and I'm pleased we were able to do that. She is right need to look at session musicians, one of the undertakings I have made this I will be getting the bpi and that Musicians Union together to discuss this in the autumn.

I hope this will be in the first couple of weeks of September.

14:50

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

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Given the ministers helpful references of a sartorial nature to his opposite number, may I congratulate him on his carefully understated sure as of tide today. I shall certainly remember to bring my dark glasses next time he is on parade. Can he explain to me as an parade. Can he explain to me as an ardent Swiftie myself, what protection do performers such as the son of the honourable gentleman for Rochdale have against their tracks being uploaded by anyone to a service such as YouTube, whereby it is possible for people to enjoy the music that apparently paying them any royalties at all?

14:51

Chris Bryant MP, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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I am grateful for the comments

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I am grateful for the comments about my time. My tie. I'm grateful about my time. My tie. I'm grateful his comments on my sartorial elegance. He is wrong about Eugene. YouTube is one of the streaming services, people are remunerated. services, people are remunerated. You could argue they should be remunerated more. But if people are breaching copyright, then that is an offence and people need to pursue that. Record labels are pretty keen that. Record labels are pretty keen on doing so on behalf of their artists.

As I say, YouTube is one of

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artists. As I say, YouTube is one of the streaming outlets. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I

14:51

Mrs Sureena Brackenridge MP (Wolverhampton North East, Labour)

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welcome the Minister's statement, and his work along with the government that we will now be amongst world leaders in supporting our creative industries, especially around streaming and remuneration. Can the minister outline how he will ensure that the changes fairly benefit all artists including Agassi performers, session museums, session musicians and those outside. And what steps will be taken if voluntary measures for short?

14:52

Chris Bryant MP, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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The kind of argument behind doing this is partly because all musicians simply don't earn enough to be able to make a living is the truth of the matter. Even when you look, if you have 12 million streaming, it might equate to a theoretical amount of money that you would be going to earn, but you won't because it will be deleted by the various processes it goes through and the money your agent takes etc. That is why we have been, that is why maybe so many artists produce songs about poverty.

Even destiny's Child, " Bills, Bills, Bills ". It has been an obsession for artists, because I think there is an impression can only be a good artist in music or creative industries if you struggle a bit. But the truth is we want people to build to make a living out of their creative industry, and that is a key part of being a Labour government, being able to deliver that.

14:53

Joe Robertson MP (Isle of Wight East, Conservative)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Could I invite the Minister to congratulate the Isle of Wight band congratulate the Isle of Wight band Wet Leg for reaching the top of the albums chart? A particular achievement given that they have beaten Oasis which I know personally is disappointed my honourable friend from Old Bexley and Sidcup. well.

14:53

Alex Sobel MP (Leeds Central and Headingley, Labour )

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I want to commend the Minister stop the history of the music industry is sadly full of tales of exploitation, and notable for its intransigence around the practice. And creating greater transparency, it is clear that the vision does not change to rectify the economic injustice of the streaming law as it stands. Copyright law has not come up to date with streaming, more than half the membership of the union and less than £14,000 a year. Can the Minister reassure us this is not job done and so many creators are poorly

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served, more will he do in terms of the streaming model? The one bit we have not been able

14:54

Chris Bryant MP, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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The one bit we have not been able to address is the amount of money that goes from the streamers themselves direct to the record labels. That is an international settlement and is more difficult for us to address. There was a time when I first arrived in the House, when musicians were getting absolutely nothing, the amount of money coming to record labels and two musicians fell off a cliff because of pirated music. That is when Spotify and other streaming services came into the equation and managed to rectify some of that.

But it is far from ideal full stop I wish more of the money by going directly to the artist, it is a personal decision of my own, I don't stream music, I buy music because I think more of the money goes to the artist to be do it that way. But for many millions of people in the UK, even for the Swiftie over there, I'm sure streaming is a way of having access to music they would not have come across otherwise.

14:56

Alison Bennett MP (Mid Sussex, Liberal Democrat)

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I welcome today's announcement not least because I am a mum of an aspiring composer and performer. I was pleased that the Minister mentioned the work of teachers and the Department for education in supporting music in schools. Credit should go to a teacher for putting together room three by literally putting them together in the room three practice room. Now they are doing really well performing regularly in Brighton. My question is, how can the Minister ensure the benefits announced today are not as concentrated in London but benefit all the regions including Sussex?

14:56

Chris Bryant MP, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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Of course I commend Mr wardrobe who has made the room rate happens musically. And I commend all music teachers. I remember at school music teacher decided that the boys choir should sing a song from a musical which unfortunately had the lines " I don't know how to love him and I've loved so many men before, " and he suddenly decided we would not sing that. Music teachers don't always get it right and sometimes they are courageous. It is important that we make sure that this is not just about London for sub miss about the whole of the UK.

It is one of the reasons why it was important we got the per diem sorted for song writers from across the UK who sometimes do have to travel into London for song camps or writing camps. Making sure they get their expenses plus per diem's, making sure this does not just apply to

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some people in our cities. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I

14:57

Peter Swallow MP (Bracknell, Labour)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer the House to my Register of Interests. I really welcome giving Interests. I really welcome giving more support for grassroots music creators. But it is important that grassroots music creators at the grassroots music venues to play in. Including the fantastic one in Bracknell. Can I ask the Minister to update us on the department's plans for supporting grassroots music venues across the country?

14:58

Chris Bryant MP, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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I also commend Acoustic Couch I have not visited but I'm sure invite will be on its way. We want to make sure we preserve as many of us more music venues as possible. That is why we are pushing as hard as we possibly can the idea of the Linah ticket levy on arenas. I'm delighted the Royal Albert Hall announced yesterday as the first venue that will be doing it across the UK. I pushed Live Nation to step up on this and they said yes, yes, yes, it sounded more like maybe, maybe, maybe.

14:58

Max Wilkinson MP (Cheltenham, Liberal Democrat)

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I welcome this industry led approach is the right thing to do. We need to bear in mind the artists who need remuneration at the end of it. They are not doing it for the money they deserve to be paid. What plans do ministers have for independent littering of the implementation of this? I ask that so the Minister does not himself have to retain an eye of the Tiger at all times. at all times.

14:59

Chris Bryant MP, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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He is worse than me. Oh yes years and it's not even panto season yet. and it's not even panto season yet. He has got very moderate tie. We need proper evaluation which were in the process of working out. I've said to be that we will convene in one years time by which time we will have evaluated whether this is really work stop but I'm confident that it will deliver the goods. He said that artists are not necessarily doing it for the money.

I went to see Alison Moy a at Kew Gardens a couple of weeks ago. She was magnificent and made the point at the beginning of her set she said, are not necessary get player everybody wants me to play because it isn't karaoke. I am an artist, musician, not just a celebrity. I think that balance lots of artists and musicians is very important. They need to earn a living, but also they are artists who have their own conditions and needs to be able to pursue what lies in the heart.

15:00

Chris Curtis MP (Milton Keynes North, Labour)

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Chris Curtis. Can I start by echoing some previous comments made in thanking the former member for Cardiff West as well as the unions and the Academy for their important campaigning on this issue. In congratulating the Minister for getting this important deal over the line. We do know that the music industry has long suffered with issues of transparency. I have no doubt the Minister will want to ensure this announcement make a real world difference. Can the minister let us know a bit more about the independent scrutiny that will be in place to ensure these new measures are implemented? Can you also let us know if there is a means of auditing what benefit music makers will see from the changes?

15:00

Chris Bryant MP, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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He is absolutely right. Of course we need to make sure this is implanted. I don't want to undermine confidence in that, because I don't want to give anybody a get out clause not implement to get. But we are working over the next few weeks with both bpi and others in putting together a proper evaluation process over the next year. I would hope I would be making things again, it is not up to me whether I making a statement, in a years time, to say precisely how this is work.

As I said earlier, I reckon this is worth several tens of millions of pounds of extra investment in the British music industry. I think we will see it has delivered. Returning to the it has delivered. Returning to the issue of my tie, it is a day of the

15:01

Josh Fenton-Glynn MP (Calder Valley, Labour)

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Member does very well to shake off the abuse on the other benches about his time, it is mainly blank spaces over there anyway, Calder Valley has a thriving creative sector with a lot of small and independent artists who lost out to streaming. Today's announcement is welcome. But small artists face the twin effect of both AI and streaming. Can my honourable friend assure me at this House that he will do more to make sure no small do more to make sure no small artists are able to get the money in their pockets where it belongs?

15:02

Chris Bryant MP, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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The point I made about remuneration of musicians and all form of artists, it applies equally to streaming and to AI. And the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and for Science and Innovation, had conversations last week, about how we proceed on the As there was a broad outline set of principles, one of which is undoubtedly we have to make sure that people are remunerated, when their work is used to create some other form of work and other form of value, and the people who made the original work should of course be remunerated.

I agree with him about empty spaces over there, empty chairs at empty tables.

15:03

Chris Webb MP (Blackpool South, Labour)

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Today is great news especially for artists and musicians in my constituency who play at our fantastic venue, that we have to make sure it stays for future generations, as my dad and myself have enjoyed. The parties engage with artists to ensure that today's changes deliver meaningful improvements for artists at all stages of their career?

15:04

Chris Bryant MP, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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It is good to see him in his place and I gather that it is for sale, and I am not sure if he's intending to buy it himself, with many acts have appeared on the P, it is important to have a place where artists can performance build their career and become the household successes we know. Not everybody will earn millions from music but we do want a large number of people to make a decent living out of their music in the UK and establishing good terms of trade to be able to do so and having a strong copyright regime is absolutely key to delivering that.

Of course, the Musicians Union were a key part of the discussions were held throughout the last year. the last year.

15:04

Chris Vince MP (Harlow, Labour )

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There was some mention of national treasures earlier and to quote Allison Aryeh, only you! -- To quote Allison. I won't be last next time! From the Newtown Erotic's to the Subways, Harlow has had a vibrant music scene, what plans does the Minster have to engage with artists at all stages of their careers, to make sure these welcome exchanges provide meaningful improvements?

15:05

Chris Bryant MP, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)

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I am all cried out. But I have not been listed in his list of national treasures. He makes very important point about how we need to make sure this is applied across all make sure this is applied across all , every child is in position, every child as an artist, until they are persuaded not to be a musician or an artist at some point in their life, actually, that is what I really want to embrace, in everything we do, in this area in government.

And in relation to the creative industry. We talk about film, and the big famous successes we have in the UK. Actually, a lot of it is about real hard graft by people who have had to learn how to perform well, what it is to be in front of an audience, what it is to market their performance and all the rest of it. It is tough. All they are saying half the time has come to the record labels, you pay my rent.

15:06

Points of Order Robbie Moore MP (Keighley and Ilkley, Conservative)

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That concludes the statement.

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Point of order. I wonder if I could seek your guidance, it has now been 36 days since the Home Secretary came to the since the Home Secretary came to the Dispatch Box and gave a statement on Dispatch Box and gave a statement on the grooming gangs inquiry, indeed, it's been seven months since the it's been seven months since the Home Secretary was at the Dispatch Box in January, indicating never going to be five local gang rape inquiries. This is causing a huge amount of concern for many victims amount of concern for many victims and survivors of this heinous crime, Madame Deputy Speaker.

And yet, here we are, on the last day before recess, and there had not been an update provided by the Home Secretary at the Dispatch Box, a the timings, who the independent Chair timings, who the independent Chair will be, the funding arrangements, dare I say whether or not Keighley and the Bradford district will be and the Bradford district will be included. Can I seek your guidance, before the end of the day, understanding orders, will there be any mechanism, for you, Madame any mechanism, for you, Madame Deputy Speaker, to ensure the Home Secretary comes to the Dispatch Box before the end of the day to provide

15:07

Judith Cummins MP (Bradford South, Labour)

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an update on a national grooming gangs inquiry? I thank the honourable member for

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I thank the honourable member for his notice of his point of order. I have got to say, I have received no notice from ministers they intend to make a statement on this matter, but ministers on the frontbench will have heard his point of order. Point of order, Alison Bennett.

15:08

Points of Order Alison Bennett MP (Mid Sussex, Liberal Democrat)

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I submitted a number of parliamentary questions to the Parliament of health and so -- Department of social care at the start of this month. A number of these questions, despite being to France on the seventh of this month, remain entirely unanswered, as of today. The 22nd of this month. On a number of examples, the Parliament has declined to estimate the number of hours spent in the commission by the department, since July 2024, on the grounds that the cost of such a destination would be great.

I would like to ask your advice, Madame Deputy Speaker, as to how I can get these questions answered for the benefits of my constituents, and so I can fulfil my duty in holding the government to account, thank you.

15:08

Judith Cummins MP (Bradford South, Labour)

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I am very grateful to the honourable member for giving notice of her point of order. The timeliness and adequacy of answers to written questions are not matters for the Chair, but all honourable members are entitled to expect full and helpful answers on time. She might like to raise the matter with the Procedure Committee, who I know take a close interest in these matters. Point of order.

15:09

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

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You will know that, long ago, indeed before we were born, tens of thousands of young men were sent to a far off place to witness the first British Nokia tests. -- Nuclear tests. Ever since, some of been campaigning for their interests and indeed, the government earlier this year, announced there will be a review into the blood and you're in tests that were taken at the time of those tests. You will appreciate, Madame Deputy Speaker, the significance of that, because, of course, the risk is of radiation poisoning.

The government have said that review will be published but we had no clarity as to when. There are tens of thousands of these records and they are being examined as we speak. Have you had any notice from ministers, that will come to the House with interim report, these men are now elderly, dying of course because of their age, by the week and month. But I calm along with the and month. But I calm along with the Member for Salford, with not -- By along with the number Salford will not give up this fight until they are published, I hope you can help in that regard.

15:10

Judith Cummins MP (Bradford South, Labour)

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I thank the honourable member for notice of his point of order, I have seen no notice that the ministers intend to make a further statement on this matter. He has however placed his point on the record. Presentation of, Alison Bennett. -- Presentation of bill. Presentation of bill.

15:10

Presentation of Bills

Unpaid Carers (Respite and

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Support) Bill Second Reading what day? Friday, 12 September.

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Friday, 12 September. Presentation of a bill.

15:11

presentation of Bills

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Presentation of a bill. Waste Tyres Bill. Second Reading what day?

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Friday, 5 September. Friday, 5 September. We now come

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Friday, 5 September. We now come

15:11

Ten Minute Rule Motion: Crown Immunity (Prisons)

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Friday, 5 September. We now come onto the 10 minute rule motion. Thank you, I beg to move that

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Thank you, I beg to move that leaves be given to bring in a Bill to make provision to remove Crown immunity as it applies to prisons for the purposes of health and

15:11

Blair McDougall MP (East Renfrewshire, Labour)

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for the purposes of health and safety legislation. Madame Deputy Speaker, Katie Allen lived in Clarkson, she had a loving family, and a very happy childhood. She was bright, did well at school, she took herself off to Malawi to volunteer. She returned from Africa determined to help people. And instead of studying geology at university as intended, she switched to study human geography. She decided and realised it was people she cared about and not rocks. She was excited about the future, she had moved into her own flat.

She was full of life, she was beautiful, she was loved, she was found hanging in a cell at 10 to six in the morning, on 4 June 2018, at His Majesty's prison at the Young Offenders Institution. Madame Deputy Speaker, the prominence of deficits UK wide, but these losses are a particular problem in Scotland. And the loss of young people in prisons is felt especially. Research in April found that our present death rates are akin to those in Azerbaijan.

An earlier study with Council of Europe, found Scotland's prison suicide rate was more than 2.5 times higher than the average, at about double that of England and Wales. I began with Katie's story because focusing on her case helps make sense of why this problem is so alarming, so acute, and so avoidable. In 2017, after a night out, Katie drove home after drinking, she clipped the curb, lost control of her car, she hadn't realised it, she hit and injured pedestrian.

She had no previous convictions, the victim asked for her not to be given a custodial sentence, but she was jailed for 16 months anyway. If anyone deserves a second chance, after a stupid useful second chance, after a stupid useful mistake, it was Katie. -- Useful mistake. But the second chance was taken away because of the failings of the Scottish prison service. We cannot mention Katie without also mentioning William Brown, whom I honourable friend, the member for Glasgow North, represents. William Glasgow North, represents.

William A study found these deaths to be preventable. Thanks to the findings, the failings of the prison services in these cases are now well- documented, detailed, and they are damning. But one thing out of the 400 page report, its many findings, and its recommendations especially sticks in my mind. When we look into prison suicides, we learn an awful new vocabulary. We come across terms like ligature anchor. For William, the ligature anchor was a bunkbed, but the inquiry found could have been removed, and worse, had been used previously for suicides in prison.

In the case of Katie, the ligature anchor was a simple doorstop, high up on the wall of herself. A doorstop, Madame Deputy Speaker, if you pounds to replace, at small cost for saving a young wife, but it was not believed to be worth it. Years after both deaths, nobody in the prison or in the prison service had thought to remove the doorstops or replace them with safer sloping alternatives. Bunkbeds had not been removed. The fatal accident inquiry today deaths found that reviews carried out after both deaths hadn't even mentioned the possibility of removing fixtures in cells, could have been used again for further suicides.

Nothing from me signifies that institutional lack of care, the failings that somebody somewhere should have been held legally responsible for. And for an inquiry, there is an investigation. inquiry, there is an investigation. The service at first concluded there was insufficient evidence to prosecute. Families of Katie and William challenge this and eventually the authority said yes, there was enough evidence to charge the prison service, with breaches of the health and safety act. But there was no prosecution. Why? Because of Crown immunity.

Because the health and safety work act places duties on safe run prisons, but Crown immunity means they cannot be prosecuted for breaching those duties. If they died in a privately run prison, there would have been a prosecution. In theory, Madame Deputy Speaker, individual prison officers can be prosecuted but in practice, they rarely are. Because when their employers are not prosecuted, they are not prosecuted. Indeed, the reasons those prosecutors don't happen is because it is argued because the shortcomings are in systematic failures.

The prison services can be prosecuted under corporate manslaughter legislation, but again, in practice, they are not because of that systematic failing, often judged to take place at the present level, rather than senior present level, rather than senior Those at the bottom pass legal responsibility upwards, and those at the top pass it back. Even with the support of the docket campaigners from Inquest, the charity which focuses on state -related deaths, no one is found legally responsible. The best the families of the lost can hope for in such circumstances is a censure with the Health and Safety Executive.

But even that toothless sanction is hardly ever used. In a decade only one prison has received a censure. We have been here before. Three decades ago, Crown immunity was removed from the NHS and it has had an impact. Take one grimly comparable case, the Essex partnership University foundation trust was fined £1.5 million for allowing suicides after failing to manage risks from points on their estate. Our prisons are responsible for so many more such deaths, but they are untouchable because of Crown immunity.

Untouchable service remains unaccountable. Traditional impunity removes the incentives for institutional change. Institutional change needed at local Scottish and UK level. Locally a review warned they needed a suicide prevention strategy, and instead they opted for another review that was never finished. In Scotland the Human Rights Commission has warned the recommendations agreed decades ago have still not been plummeted across the prison service, and across the UK just last week, the inspector of prisons issued a urgent indication warning about conditions at Pentonville and failure to address repeated concerns following recent suicides.

Doubt legal consequences, prisons across the country appear incapable of learning lessons or making changes. Every day with community risks more avoidable deaths. The prison service in Scotland and the government in Edinburgh have called for Crown immunity to be removed. But they need us in this place to do that. This campaign should not be used as an excuse for inaction now. They should not have to wait to be prosecuted in order to fulfil the responsibility to protect lives.

if those running our prisons don't act, they should lose their protection from legal consequence. Conclusion I remember a friend of mine who lost a child. They spoke of how a parent screams twice for such a loss. Once for the young person known and loved, and a second time for the life they would have gone on to live. For Katie's family, the knowledge that she wanted to live a life devoted to helping others and serving others invites them to imagine all the changes she would have made as she grew into adulthood.

Instead of a life that would have changed the world, we in this place I left with the tragic response ability of making sure it is our death that changes things. Her extraordinary mother, Linda, Tommy that Katie said of her experience in Malawi in Africa, " You know mum, prayers are great, but what people really need is practical help. " Katie's family, William's family and the others who lost their loved ones due to these institutional failings don't need our prayers, they don't need our sympathies or condolences, they need action.

They need us to provide accountability that will avoid future tragedies and change the culture that allows these deaths. That is why it is time to end Crown immunity imprisoned in Scotland and

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across the UK. I urge members to support the bill. The question is that the Honourable member have leave to Honourable member have leave to bring in the bill. As many are of that opinion say, "Aye". And of the contrary, "No". The ayes have it. The ayes have it. Who will prepare and bring the bill?

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Martin Rhodes myself.

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Crown

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Crown Immunity Crown Immunity (Prisons) Crown Immunity (Prisons) Bill.

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Crown Immunity (Prisons) Bill. Second Reading what day? 12 September. 12 September. I will give the

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12 September. I will give the Front Benches a few moments to swap Front Benches a few moments to swap We now come to the Sir David Amess summer Adjournment debate. Blob Nachman to move. Nachman to move.

15:22

Bob Blackman MP (Harrow East, Conservative)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I beg to move that the House has considered matters before the summer recess adjournment. And indeed for new members this is quite rightly called the Sir David Amess debate. This was his debate. I remember the poor minister at the time having to respond when a time limit of five minutes had been put on and he managed to raise 27 topics in that five minutes. This was his absolute dream to have this debate, and somewhere he will be looking on and observing what we all have to say.

May he rest in peace. We seem to be over halfway through 2025, it seems like only yesterday we were coming back from the Christmas break. It is interesting in true British style, the weather can't decide whether we should have Saharan sunshine or tropical rainfall. All of which makes that tube journey into this place even more of a challenge. It has been a busy few months for Parliament and across my constituency, I have been doing my job, hosting resident tours and events and speaking in the chamber, visiting schools and local businesses.

Piloting a presentation bill, chairing the Backbench Business Committee, and finally after 17 years Tottenham Hotspur won a trophy. I'm pleased the Backbench Business debate have become very popular with members. It is encouraging that so many have made applications to the committee. I would like to place on record my thanks both to the committee and to the clerks all the hard work they have done over these past few months. We now have a waiting list so that if anyone is applying for a debate in the chamber, I'm afraid you will have to wait until 2026 before a debate will be granted because we have such a long waiting list.

I would also like to thank the Leader of the House for meeting me on occasions to discuss the work that we do, and ensuring that backbenchers get the opportunity to raise their topics. In true tradition with these debates, I will raise the subject of making Stanmore station step free. We seem to be making some progress. Recently Canons Park tube station on the Jubilee line is on the shortlist for steps. That is great news Stanmore is still not on the list. My commuters now face the choice of either climbing 48 steps to the main entrance hall, 16 steps via the car park, 24 steps at the side of the bus stop, the current so-called step free route which is 140 m long and has a steep ramp that even the great Paralympians Tella Grey Thompson could not go up unaided.

TfL and the Mayor of London consider Stanmore station to be step free they won't consider further works. I've since discovered that under a Freedom of information request, there is no legal definition of a step free station. It is up to each individual train operating company, in this case TfL, to determine it. Taken in conjunction with the Transport Select Committee's excellent report on accessibility issues faced by disabled people in the transport sector, I'm now exploring how we can get TfL or the government to actually take action.

If we can get a proper step free definition agreed, we can apply pressure to TfL to delist Stanmore station as step free so will meet requirements for a new capability of a lift or travel later. The world has never been so dangerous especially London. The news not only in Harrow but across London, that police stations front desks will be closing is very worrying. This comes at a time when knife and street crime are at an all-time high the capital with total crime seeing an increase of 5.6% this year alone.

In addition, has been a 30% increase in gun crime, 10% increase in robbery and a whopping 82.5% increase in business robbery. The timing of his decision to cut police station resources is another example of the Mayor of London's impeccable timing. It is important to myself and our residents that the desks remain open because they provide a vital service, allowing victims to report crime in person and seek safety. I won't give way because I know so many people want to get in.

The justification for these tough choices is to address a funding gap of £260 million. This is not the right place to be cutting vital support. For years Sadiq Khan has told us a much better London would be with a Labour mayor and a Labour government. We may have a Labour government and Labour mayor but London is no better as a result. I've created a petition for the mayor to keep Harrow police station fully functioning and I know people in my constituency will visit and add their names to this.

Tomorrow Barnet's strategic planning committee decide whether to prove that brought all development. It is a proposal for 3828 housing units across 25 towers, most of which are above 20 stories high with the highest reaching 29 stories. It would demolish Edgware's existing bus station, bus garage and car park with no guaranteed replacement. I reject this developing in its entirety until a safe deliverable transport plan can be guaranteed. The plan currently depends on an underground electric bus garage, that the London Fire Brigade has already objected to pulling it are serious safety risk with no existing regulations or precedents.

TfL have claimed the diesel fallback is not viable, their alternative, but it is not viable and it is not costed or supported by any engineering plan. If this is approved, Edgware could lose its core transporting the structure permanently. I've created a petition against these plans and urge everyone to sign it. It can be accessed on my website. We are all very conscious of the escalating situation in the Middle East. My prayers are with all those who have been impacted.

Events which unfolded in the Middle East since 7 October 2023 have literally been unbearable to witness. Israel suffered the worst terror attack in its history, at the hands of Iran-backed terrorists Hamas, where innocent millions were brutally murdered and hundreds taken hostage cleaning babies, children, and the elderly. Hostages have been held in appalling conditions, and the accounts given by those released have been distressing and harrowing. Only last week I welcome someone into Parliament to recount their horrific experiences. As a direct consequence of the actions of Hamas on 7 October, and their use of civilian infrastructure to undertake terrorist operations, Palestinians face devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

My thoughts are with the families of those still hostage and every innocent life which has been lost or impacted by this conflict. I firmly support Israel's right to defend itself against security threats, but also we must ensure that the civilian popular Asian of Gaza are protected. It is welcome news that the US has facilitated a ceasefire between Iran and Israel which now must be upheld to regional security. The government and the foreign office must clarify its own role in relation to that ceasefire.

Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear-weapons. It is a prolific state sponsor of terrorism, the stated intention of annihilating the world's only Jewish state. A colleague is now clear that the recent actions taken by the US alongside Israel to degrade Iran is new to programming military capabilities when necessary. I'm concerned that we have not given a strong voice as the UK on that particular outcome. The UK faces an increasingly complex and concerning landscape of malign foreign influence.

Iranian influence in particular has been persistent and insidious in trying to harm our civic institutions and challenging our democratic resilience. The shocking tactics of theirs through the exploitation of the charity sector. These charities have become the nerve centre of the Islamic Republic of Iran on British soil, a foreign policy rooted in destabilisation and I do logical extremism. Revealed and published in the Times newspaper, a UK registered charity based in my constituency went to Iran, met senior IRGC commanders, and signed an agreement with the propaganda arm of the highest military authority of Iran's regime, the head of which is sanctioned in the UK pledging to spread the ideals of jihad and martyrdom, and resistance in the UK.

This is clear violation of the government scheme and the National Security Act. It also violates British sanctions, the charity remains open today. Hostile states are increasingly testing the resilience of our democracy, and in light of the recent Intelligence and Security Committee detailing the IRGC's direct involvement in such threats, cleaning plots on UK soil and direct interference in UK public sector, more than 100 parliamentarians have signed a letter to be sent to the Prime Minister today urging the government to finally proscribe the IRGC in its to finally proscribe the IRGC in its Should the government not decide to take the essential step, it must immediately put forward to adoption alternative legislative measures as recommended by the independent review of terrorism legislation to address the growing danger posed by state backed threats.

It is disappointing that the background vapes bill has stalled somewhat with no set date for the Committee stage. There is a risk that because the smoke-free generation policy has an impairment taste and date in 2027, that the bill is not seen as urgent. That is not the case. While we delay, tobacco companies are marketing heated tobacco and supermarkets and children are exposed to them. The marketing is working and children's awareness of these products is at an all-time high with 24% knowing what heated tobacco is.

Up from 7.1% just three years ago. Can the Minister confirm that this bill is a priority for the government and that Committee stage will begin before the conference recess in the autumn. And the same is true for nicotine patches. I'm sure many members will have seen on the tube the brightly coloured adverts for these products. Children are seeing them as well, with a record 43% awareness among young people. There is currently no age of Sail limit for these products, so a nine-year-old could legally purchase them, so will the government put a stop to this madness and urgently schedule a date for peers to begin scrutinising the tobacco and vapes bill overwhelmingly passed by this house.

This year alone, I visited 12 schools and I know many colleagues will have visited their schools in their constituency and I welcome the government's commitment to breakfast clubs for primary schoolchildren but every premise calling my constituency is unable to provide the space for breakfast clubs to take place, so even though they want to, they can't. I'm glad the Minister met with me recently to discuss it further and to see how we can achieve this. I am also pleased that the consultation is finally closed on my supportive housing 2023 regulations.

I hope this can be spurred on to the next stages and finally see the bill enacted, preventing the countless rogue landlords from exploiting vulnerable tenants. It is my understanding that, currently, the Dipti premise to is in breach of the law, given that she was due to create a supportive Housing advisory panel August 2024. We are yet to see that in action but she could implement that tomorrow without any further action. Now, the situation in Bangladesh is really concerning. We have seen, with the coup that has taken place, the attacks on minorities and banner have increased.

I have raised this in the house several times yet our foreign office doesn't seem to take proper action to actually call out this for what it is, an attack on minorities. Similarly, we had the horrific Similarly, we had the horrific terrorist attack. I remain deeply appalled and saddened by the barbaric attack on the innocent tourists which claimed the lives of 26 people including women and children, Hindus, Christians and a Nepali national. My thoughts are with their loved ones and I stand in solidarity with them and the people of India.

In relation to the response to that, it is good that there is currently a truce between India and Pakistan. However, that truce is still very fragile and could return to war once again. As someone who has stood with the Kashmir bandits and their right to return to Kashmir Valley, and India's sovereign right to protect its people, it is outrageous that this terrorism is sponsored by Pakistan continues in Kashmir, so it is right that we call on this and make sure we stand in solidarity with India.

Last week, we had at the Home Office would finally support claims relating to nationals which we will welcome. My office has several cases in limbo with the Home Office saying they are waiting updates, decisions pertaining to nationals, one of which was first brought to my attention nearly 2 years ago. The policy changes by the government in relation to the Home Office have created confusion and delay. Can we therefore get an update on when Syrian nationals can expect to have their cases processed so we can close some of these cases for the benefit of the individuals.

And once again, on the topic of the Home Office, I would like to pay tribute to the wonderful caseworkers at the Home Office who have been fantastic in dealing with the many, many cases my office sends through. They say we can politics a long time. The last few years have been transformational in Conservative run Harrow. We took over the council with just 18 months away from declaring bankruptcy with dwindling reserves and corruption in the highways department that I have race in the house before.

You would hardly think this is the same organisation, something that anyone asks about is the safety of roads and potholes. When we took over the council, we faced accusations of kickback schemes and corruption. Now they have committed 400 million a year for the next three years to invest in ageing infrastructure and was the first London Borough to use new machinery like the JCB pothole pro, otherwise known as pothole peat, which can repair potholes in a few minutes. That has been revolutionary and there is more to be done, many more rates to be repaired, but things are heading in the right direction.

Fly tipping is down 33%, culprits are being fined at the rate of £1000 each, and the council has launched a wall of shame to deter people and catch culprits. Collection rates are heading in the right direction with less in collections, and for the first time in a generation, power has a standard the number of parks we have, adding a recreation ground in Edgware in my constituency and hatch and Riverside in the Labour constituency to the east. And we started out with one hour free parking, the most generous free parking offer in all London Borough.

It has been used million sometime by residents to support our local businesses and high streets so whilst there is more to do, it is clear that Harrow is headed in the right direction as the Conservatives put residents first and I hope that next year, the return to local elections to carry on this could work for another four years. Now, whilst we will all go very shortly on our summer recess and we will all have a well-deserved break for our members and staff, I will be hosting my annual work experience programme when, at the beginning of August, I will be hosting 25 work experience students each week for two weeks to my constituency, teaching them what it is like to be an MP and how they can get involved in politics.

Over these last 15 years, I have welcomed thousands of young people into programme with many going on to work in my office or elsewhere in the Parliamentary state. It is a great way to engage with constituents and the younger generation, inspiring them to get involved and learn about Parliamentary processes. So as I conclude my remarks, I would like to wish everyone a lovely summer recess, well-deserved break, and I hope that everyone can get some rest and recuperation with their family, enjoy good food, good company with loved ones, and I wish all the staff of the house a chance to get a break from all of us.

15:40

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

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I'm sure we can all say amen to that. There are 34 members seeking to intervene in this debate. We need to go onto the windups at about 630. Work it out for yourselves, that is about five minutes ahead. I will not put a time limit on at this stage, but it may mean that some people drop off the end if colleagues are

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overzealous with their time. Thank you. It is a privilege to

15:41

Liz Twist MP (Blaydon and Consett, Labour)

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Thank you. It is a privilege to be speaking high up on the agenda in be speaking high up on the agenda in this important debate, and I recognise that. Now, just over a year ago, we welcomed not only a new Labour government but also the creation of the new constituency. It is fair to say that there was some bemusement locally about our new boundary. The new constituency has towns in Gateshead and County Durham all with strong identities of their own, but we have plenty in common.

From the time to the steelworker concepts, not forgetting the vital role played by our women in our history, and not forgetting our strong mining history, we have a really powerful industrial past and a strong community spirit. My constituents are passionate about fairness and access to opportunity. And they know the real division is not Gateshead or Durham but whether you are black and white already and white. So, I have had many highlights serving this wonderful constituency over the years, but top of that list has to have been securing funding for the new hospital in Shotley Bridge, and after years of broken promises from the last government, we are now expecting construction to begin by 2026/27.

And I want to say a massive thank you to Kevin early and to the hospital support group, and everyone in the local community for their efforts. That work continues and we welcome the Health Secretary to discuss progress. I am grateful to the support group and the trust for working with me to ensure we get everything in the right place to deliver four people in concert. There is a current concern about the out of hours urgent treatment in Shotley Bridge.

This is an issue I have been raising and I would encourage my constituents to submit to the ongoing consultation as I would be. This year, the government made transformational changes to employment rights, strengthening sick pay and moving towards fair pay agreements in adult social care. In April, we have increased minimum which meant that one in seven workers in the north-east saw a boost to their pay packet. This is what the Labour government means to my constituent. We have had more constituency wins this year.

The primary became an early adopter of our free breakfast club programme. Shotley Bridge School received funding for nursery, and we had investment for the GP practice. I welcome government funding for a vital part of our regional infrastructure, and finally, we have had the launch of the Gateshead safe Haven led by the CAPM north-east Council to support people in mental-health crises. And 58,000 children across Gateshead and Durham will now benefit from a mental health support team, an issue particularly close to my heart.

None of this would be possible without the work of local people on the ground, so thank you to all of you for everything you do. If there is one issue that remains high on the agenda, it is bus services. After years of deregulation, residents feel unable to iron out buses. That needs to change. I am proud that the government bus services Bill will hand back control to our communities and I look forward to working with our mayor, Tim McGuinness, to make sure that is the case.

This year, I have also talked to staff about how we can keep the bit is thriving, and I've heard concerns from staff about the state of the buildings desperately needing improving. And I will continue to raise issues going forward. Road safety and speed limits are another major issue for constituents and I look forward to working with ministers on the road safety strategy to resolve these issues. I was proud to join the Roland family at a ministerial meeting. They spoke eloquently about their son Andrew who lost his life in an accident involving an uninsured underage driver and I pay tribute to all those families in my constituency campaigning for change Another shout out to Terry Archibald and his daughter have been raising awareness for all they have done following these life-saving heart transplant.

It's on to have a grossly to the fantastic work happening across all our communities, in our schools, NHS, shops and libraries, in our care homes and leisure centres. This year I have tapped my feet to the singers and brass band, I've admired photography by Brighton photography photography by Brighton photography club, I've met environment pioneers, blackbox community garden and a greenside community orchard. Is not forgetting small businesses including those who met the Minister when he visited last year. Thanks to all who showed him what our patch has to offer and spoke about their experiences on the ground.

I'm always inspired by young people in our constituency, this year we've had visits to Parliament from St Mary's in Blackhill and Derwentside College. More schools I hope will have this opportunity in future. Thanks to Parkhead, to Thomas more and Saint Patrick's to opening their doors for me. As well as the primary schools for their fantastic local minerals and artwork. I got a good grilling from students at the Academy, and the pupils Parliament in Shotley Bridge showed me how democracy is done.

Westminster will be in good hands if we put the children in charge. Thank you to all the school staff for your hard work. I was pleased to meet with Head Teachers as well from across our constituency, to hear about the issues they face. They have provided me with insights I will feedback to government. I pay tribute to the fantastic volunteers supporting our community. Too many to name, but a quick shout out to Moorside baby bank, Newcastle United foundation to walking football, concert sobs, Derwent car club, I only hope I can match your passion and commitment to our communities.

Finally I want to thank my constituency team. Since the election we opened a second office and they processed over 8,000 cases. Thanks also to the doorkeeper's and the house staff for everything they do to keep Parliament running. And thanks to my constituents, new and old, who make the constituency a fantastic place to be. It's an on to represent this constituency, I continue working every day to make sure our people

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have the opportunities they deserve. The question is as on the order paper. I now call the father of the

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house. Thank you. I rise to talk about

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Thank you. I rise to talk about Lord Anderson's report into Prevent and the death of our wonderful and the death of our wonderful fallen colleague and my personal dear friend, Sir David Amess. Which dear friend, Sir David Amess. Which was published last week. It is obviously very appropriate to make this speech today, at the Sir David Amess adjournment debate. A debate named quite rightly in his honour. However, it is very sad that this

15:49

Rt Hon Sir Edward Leigh MP (Gainsborough, Conservative)

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speech is to draw attention to the way in which he and his family have been and are being let down, frankly, by the current Home Secretary and this government. The House is well aware that the Sir David Amess family would like there to be a full statutory public inquiry to the death of their beloved husband and father. Last week they met the Home Secretary uptown Downing Street, they were supported by their former MP and a first, leading London lawyers and public affairs expert.

All of whom came to support and help the family on a voluntary basis. At that meeting the Home Secretary and Prime Minister asked the family to go away and work with Lord Anderson to see if he could answer the dozens of questions they still have about why the killer slipped through the states safeguarding nets. Against their better judgement, the family did just that. They met with Lord Anderson along with their advisors and Anna Firth. They provided Lord Anderson with all the questions they still needed answering.

They then waited patiently for his report. Enduring several more months of stress and anxiety. Both the Home Secretary and Lord Anderson specifically promised the family that they would see the report first, and in good time, and to give them time to read it, digestive and take advice before being subjected to the glare of the media. And you can only imagine how deeply distressing to the family the whole media circus is. Unbelievably, yet again this did not happen.

The first family knew the report was imminent was when they saw an article in the Guardian, and received a text from a journalist that the report was due to be published soon. Clearly rather than keep their word to be a mess family, the government or someone in the government chose to leak the report to the press first. This is an absolute disgrace. The family should have seen the report first, not last. It is simply unacceptable to treat any grieving family in this way, let alone that of a distinguished parliamentarian.

Once again the family were bombarded by the media, causing them great pain. the media, causing them great pain. Although media wanted was "Their individual... For their own purposes. " Before that their family had any opportunity to read the report which was 170 pages long. The Home Secretary should feel ashamed, I hope the Minister will take the opportunity to apologise to the family for this insult. This government really needs to go and do far better in how it treats the victims of heinous crimes.

Critically however, there is now no doubt whatsoever following Lord Anderson's work that there must be a full public inquiry into why the string of failures that led to Sir David Amess's death were allowed to happen. Who will be held to account and what will be done to make sure there is no repeat? The family have been told repeatedly by the Home Secretary and successive Ministers that lessons have been and would be learned by Prevent. Including those set out out in the learning review which took place shortly after Sir David Amess's death and published earlier this year.

Yet the reality is heartbreakingly Southport happened three years later. The two cases are virtually identical. In both cases, the killer was well- known to the authorities and to the Prevent program, yet was allowed to slip through the net. It seems therefore that lessons have not been learned. The family feel that both the Home Secretary and Prime Minister were paying lip service when they finally met them in Number 10 last March. The family were assured by the Prime Minister and Home Secretary that they took their concerns extremely seriously, that they also felt the loss of Sir David acutely and that they would leave no stone unturned to help the family find the answers they need.

In the find the answers they need. In the find the answers they need. In the In the words of Katie I will end with these words, she was a best friend of my honourable friend.

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I think the right honourable gentleman was reaching the end, I'm fully aware of the friendship between the honourable gentleman and between the honourable gentleman and Sir David. I know he will have his

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opportunity to make his case. In Katie's words, despite Lord Anderson's review the majority of Anderson's review the majority of our questions remain unanswered. We our questions remain unanswered. We still do not know why basic checks like social media monitoring or verifying school attendance were not carried out before the perpetrator was released from the program. He was meant to have seven sessions, he had one over a cup of coffee in had one over a cup of coffee in McDonald's. And he was then McDonald's.

And he was then released. This is simply not good enough, yet Anderson skates over it, ignoring the catastrophic consequences that followed for my family and our country. Critical records including minutes from panel meetings and vulnerability assessments have either been assessments have either been withheld or were incomplete. That doesn't help any of us. Transparency is essential, we continue to face is essential, we continue to face obstacles in assessing these documents. Other than the killer himself there has been no accountability for my family. The accountability for my family.

The review revealed an alarming gaps in review revealed an alarming gaps in how the handling of the killer after he was arrested. No one has been held to account. This isn't about process, it's about people's lives and our right to see that those who under oath under oath about compel the witnesses to testify and documents to be disclosed. On behalf of my family I now call on the current Home Secretary and Prime Minister, do the right thing. Order and inquiry. Just as they rightly did for Southport.

They told my mother and me, and Anna Firth, that we would come back to Number 10 if we were not happy with the review. We most certainly are not happy with it, and I will be asking my team to write to them to request for further meetings to be available. Public inquiry would honour my father's legacy by assuring real accountability and preventing future tragedies. Lastly, my father dedicated his life to public service. The very least he deserves is a investigation into how his murder could have been prevented.

We owe it to him and to every potential future victim to get this right. We have had review after review since my dad died, we now call for a public inquiry. Let right be done.

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Thank you. It would be remiss of me not to pay tribute to that me not to pay tribute to that exceptionally powerful speech from the honourable member from Gainsborough. I'm sure that those in authority will have listened very carefully to his remarks, and I just

15:57

Grahame Morris MP (Easington, Labour)

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carefully to his remarks, and I just want to say I'm going to be very

15:58

Rt Hon Sir Edward Leigh MP (Gainsborough, Conservative)

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brief. I want to pay tribute to Sir David Amess, one of the issues that was the two his heart and he spoke

15:58

Grahame Morris MP (Easington, Labour)

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about it frequently was in relation to hepatitis patients. I also want to hepatitis patients. I also want to speak -- that's what I want to speak about today full stop I hope the House will agree to a timely appropriation, because on 20 July next Monday it is world hepatitis day, and as I mentioned Sir David Amess was a powerful adequate -- advocate in Parliament putting the case for Titus patients. If it isn't case for Titus patients. If it isn't presumptuous could I draw the attention of honourable and right honourable members to an EDM, and honourable members to an EDM, and early day motions I tabled, 1699.

I would just like to say a few things would just like to say a few things about this condition. Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that disproportionately affects disadvantaged and marginalised disadvantaged and marginalised communities. It is preventable, it is treatable and curable. Indeed, the United Kingdom has already committed to achieve the World Health Organisation's goal to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health concern by 2030. This would have a huge impact on health inequalities. It would be encouraging if the UK government while celebrating world hepatitis Day reaffirmed its commitments to meet the WHO 2030 targets, reinforced by a comprehensive hepatitis elimination action plan.

Many people do not realise that they have hepatitis C but if left untreated it can cause fatal cirrhosis, indeed even liver cancer. The efforts of our NHS in harm reduction services have seen considerable success in finding, engaging, testing and treating people who are at risk. The UK is currently within reach of meeting the World Health Organisation's target of hepatitis C elimination by 2030. This would be a tremendous public health achievement. To a government who are committed to addressing health inequalities and public health issues.

But in order to sustain the success so far we must overcome stigma, avoid complacency, and support these effective methods and commitments to achieve positive public health outcomes. I will just leave you with those thoughts. Thank you.

16:00

Rt Hon Mark Francois MP (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)

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I'm delighted to have been called in the debate which I'm pleased is now traditionally known as the Sir David Amess debate after our great friend Sir David. All I would say to follow the brilliant speech by the father of the house is that this is very close to the heart of the family. If it is not possible to have a separate topic inquiry, which is what they desperately would like, then as my right honourable friend alluded perhaps the other alternative is to slightly amend the methods of the Southport inquiry so the matter can be investigated via those means.

The additional cost would be minuscule. And the family would be minuscule. And the family Perhaps I could merely repeat that request today. Perhaps the most pressing issue in my constituency is the face of the old dilapidated Co- op supermarket site. It was purchased several years ago by an overseas developer who failed to find a new tenant. In fairness, they negotiated a deal with Morrisons which fell through and tried to negotiate one with Asda which fell through to.

I'm afraid the Labour Party were claiming the deal with Asda had been secured and thus they are trying to take the credit for that. It turns out this was simply untrue. Indeed, I recently received a letter from Mr Alan Leighton which confirmed that, after a year of negotiations, they reluctantly decided not to proceed with redeveloping the site. I have to say this is not harmed Asda in my eyes. Nevertheless, they apply to Basildon Borough Council for planning permission for a new store.

But the council drags their feet and failed to return the application, to the point where the developer could not appeal. It is now absolute vital that planning application is passed in the hope that they can find an alternative tenant like Lidl or another supermarket. Having tried for nearly 4 years to achieve this, if Harriet and not able to do so, perhaps the time has come for them to sell the site to an alternative developer who might have more luck.

Either way, I can report the house that my constituents are now thoroughly fed up with the whole drama of the old Co-op supermarket, as indeed and my. Therefore, I do intend for the hope of all my constituents that we can bring this prolonged saga to a successful completion and provide the new supermarket fit for the 21st- century. I would like to end my contribution today with a few remarks for devolution and local reform. This is been a torturous process made more difficult by the fact that there is absolutely no public demand for these changes at all.

I can report to the house that 24 years as an Essex MP, I have never once had a constituent tell me they wanted America Essex. Ministers recently wrote to MPs to confirm they are going ahead with the mayor of Essex based on the Siddique Khan model in London with combined authority. This will result in elections across the whole of Essex in the spring of next year. The government's proposals would replace the current two tier system with another two tier system. At present we have Essex County Council and the lower tier of district borough and city council.

Under the government's plan, this would give way to an upper tier of an elected mayor and a combined authority with a lower tier of multiple unitary authorities underneath, the town and parish council third tier remains unaffected. But it is not yet clear whether the Labour government also still intends to press ahead with their plans to create some unitary, a matter which has led to smart consternation. Not least among the potential constituents authorities themselves. Indeed, as of today, there are multiple different potential configurations, Essex County Council seem to want free unitary, others would prefer for, the Labour Party appear to be agitating in favour of five.

Thurrock Council has just announced a prefer for. But the constituent local authorities of which they have yet to reveal. In the meeting of council leaders earlier this week, some Labour council leaders were openly disagreeing with each other overall of this. The whole process is rapidly descending into a total farce. I have to say, having followed this issue closely for many years, I have yet to hear a truly compelling case as to why any of these authorities would genuinely be more efficient.

We are promised efficiency savings in year five is a former minister myself, I have to tell current ministers but year five never comes. So, I say to ministers to conclude, in all sincerity, if you press ahead regardless, and impose a solution by ministerial order with no consensus, this will still take a parliament to implement. Local government will grind to a halt in the meantime, many of the best officers will leave, it definitely won't save money we've been promised, and therefore, the game simply isn't worth the candle.

So if I could genuinely offer ministers and departments some honest advice, pull stumps now while you can. If you must go ahead with the mayor, do that, but dropped the unitary idea and let the local district borough and city council get on with the people they represent and let's have elections for those councils next

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month. Children are 20% of the

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Children are 20% of the population but 100% of our future. I population but 100% of our future. I say it every time I was at the school, and we know the first few years of a child's life are crucial

16:06

Mary Glindon MP (Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend, Labour)

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years of a child's life are crucial and lay the foundation for the overall development. For that reason, I am delighted that Battle Hill primary school is in the initial cohort to benefit from the government's expansion of school- based nurseries. The school is one of the most deprived areas of the ward and has always done a fantastic job supporting families. They previously had assured starts, and as a governor previously, I could say that it cared for children from birth to 11 years.

This is the aspiration once again. On the topic of young people, the north-east mayor and combined authority recently approved an £8.5 million investment or the expansion of the energy Academy in my constituency. The offshore energy industries along the Tyne are a source of enormous pride. The Tyne is open for business and the expansion of the energy Academy only strengthens that case. The funding would be used to create a new energy campus, tripling the number of students who would be able to enrolled each year.

The offshore renewable energy sector is set to create an additional 4.5 thousand jobs in manufacturing and engineering along the river over the next decade. It is right that a young person growing up in any of the wards in my constituency should have the opportunity to compete for new green jobs but if companies and local officials are moving the urge to ensure that jobs and investment are there, you cannot allow obstacles to get in the way, and when I say obstacles, I say this in the literal sense.

The eight years, I have led a campaign to remove power cables which are barrier to businesses securing work for large renewable energy structures. Last renewable energy structures. Last year, we identified Newcastle as a travel to work area with the third- highest green potential in Britain. However, this situation of present risks possible net benefits of up to 1.5 benefits of up to £1.5 billion and it has been proposed that removal of the cables will be completed in 2032. This is too late.

The race for green jobs is now. Over the years, few have championed Tyneside industrial strength as powerfully as the Shepherd family. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their tireless work. The employment they have created along the Tyne is commendable and they have convened some of the sharpest minds in the private sector to help some of the biggest problems we face. We have announced the spending review that the area will receive up to £20 million over the next decade to support its renewal, and I look forward to working with the community, ensuring that that funding is used when needed.

As chair of the responsible APPG, I remain concerned that reducing the numbers of smokers continues to plateau. 13% of adults smoke in Britain and that this has remained at the same level since 2021. It is alarming for over half of the adults who smoke who would benefit from switching completely to vaping wrongly believe that it is equally or even more harmful than smoking. I hope that when the tobacco and vapes bill returns later this year, this misperception about relative harms is not made worse.

I would also encourage the government and other health-related announcements to make clear that vaping is a safer option for smokers looking to quit. Finally, I would like to end on a happy and congratulatory note. I recently tabled to motions celebrating the hard work of individuals who have dedicated their life to public service. The first motion is deemed normal red fern after a previous life in education, and as the elected Mayor of Tyneside. The long list of achievements in my EDM explains why she is widely known in the north- east just by her first name.

Norma's involvement in the creation of the Greggs foundation breakfast clubs in 1999 after setting up her own as a head teacher change countless lives. The second motion concerns Gary Kent who has worked in Parliament for 38 years and has been my researcher for 14. After two decades of Anglo-Irish peace work, he was secretary for knowledge 20 years of the old party Parliamentary group. MPs use his experience as a cross-party and transnational activist and the group incurred stronger relations.

Such people in public life can inspire others and advance the common good.

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Thank you. Before I begin, can I associate myself with the remarks associate myself with the remarks from the father of the house in respect to a public enquiry for Sir respect to a public enquiry for Sir David. I want to raise an important issue which I know has been raised on a number of occasions by honourable members and that his honourable members and that his private management companies and the management of housing estates, and management of housing estates, and the outrageous charges that they make.

The land management firm

16:12

Martin Vickers MP (Brigg and Immingham, Conservative)

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make. The land management firm Greenbelt manages the open spaces in the part of Grimsby that I represent. Many residents have complained to me about the own arrests fees they are required to pay for the upkeep of these public spaces. These charges exacerbate the existing cost of living pressures many residents face, not to mention unfairness of a subset of residents been tied into paying estate charge for public spaces. Some of the for public spaces. Some of the charge in my Constituencies include tree works at the cost of £3110, planting works cost 2989, site management inspections, and the cost for contractors amounting to almost for contractors amounting to almost £45,000.

As such, on behalf of my constituents, I am calling on the government to address this unfairness and implement the recommendations highlighted by the Competition and Markets Authority following their study into housebuilding. As ministers will be aware, the CMA called on the government to implement mandatory adoption of public amenities on new housing estates. I note that the governments response to the study says that once welcoming the CMA's work, the government intend to consult publicly on the best way to bring this injustice or for leasehold of private estates and unfair costs to an end.

They intend to gather evidence to supplement the report. The government will be inviting views from a range of experts in the hope that this can be concluded quickly. The CMA also call for the introduction of advanced consumer protection measures underpinned by a robust enforcement regime for households living under private management arrangements. These measures would include increasing the range that homeowners are entitled to receive to understand what they are paying for and introducing a right to challenge a reasonable charge at the first here in tribunal and England or leasehold valuation Tribunal is in Wales.

And giving homeowners the rights to a point of management in the event of serious failure. The government accepted these recommendations in principle whilst highlighting that secondary legislation is required to implement them. Once again, a public consultation would be required. Finally, on this topic, I know the Minister made clear in a written Ministerial statements on the issue during the winter that we need to act as quickly as feasible to implement these provisions. The government's response to the CMA's recommendation is that the Minister noted that the provisions need to be enacted and detailed under secondary legislation.

Just finally, before I conclude, we had the Urgent Question earlier today following the announcement with the oil refinery in my constituency is likely to close, and that has an enormous impact on the local economy, and I return to 1 of the subjects which I think I have raised scores of times in this house, and that is if the local economy is to thrive and the government's growth agenda is to be met, we must have more important transport connections into Northern DA 180 is in an appalling state and is only a two lane dual carriageway, when perhaps a four way motorway is essential.

Access to our major ports is I believe still a government priority, it certainly was when I was on the transport select committee. I would hope the government could address that. As well as joining my campaign along with the right honourable member from Gainsborough for the renewed rail connection between Cleethorpes, Grimsby and King's Cross. I know my honourable friend will say here here to that. With that, I wish everyone a very happy recess.

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It's an absolute honour to speak in my first Sir David Amess in my first Sir David Amess adjournment debate today. Sir David, as we all know, worked tirelessly as we all know, worked tirelessly for his constituents. He set the right example for all of us, that politics at its best is about politics at its best is about service not spectacle. It remains the honour of my life to speak up the honour of my life to speak up for the good people of Stoke-on- Trent North and Kidsgrove.

In our area people have had a tough time of area people have had a tough time of it. It was heartbreaking to see our community hollowed out by 14 years community hollowed out by 14 years of prosperity. But today I am proud of prosperity. But today I am proud to say the tide is turning. After years of decline we are finally starting to fix what has been starting to fix what has been broken. We are giving our young people the best start in life.

Long before I became an MP I recall hearing heartbreaking stories of hearing heartbreaking stories of kids arriving at school hungry. So we got to work. Over the past few we got to work. Over the past few months we have started to roll out free breakfast clubs at Milton and Greenway primary academies, I thoroughly enjoyed visiting both of them. Soon, breakfast clubs will be available at all primary schools across the area which really fills me with pride. Then the small thorn primary Academy, a school doing fantastic work in the heart of our community.

For years parents across our area have missed out on opportunities because of the lack of affordable childcare, but now with a Labour government determined to ease the burden for families we secured funding for a school-based nursery providing much-needed places. I will be pressing the government for more school-based nurseries in my constituency. And on the coming flower day I am so excited I will be returning to a really important place that totally shaped my life and values. That is the YMCA in North Staffordshire.

It's where I worked for nearly 2 decades before I became an MP. It's where I learned what it means to serve. I can't wait to go back to open their brand-new youth hub, a place of hope, guidance and opportunity. A place where young people can see that somebody believes in them. Mr Deputy Speaker, non-office work that I do would be possible without the work and tireless efforts of my team around me. We have been on more than 200 visits in the past year to schools, charities, businesses, residents groups.

And we have responded to more than 4,000 individual pieces of casework on behalf of our local people. Like securing a place for a child to go to a school after the family had been turned down. Like restoring a £27,000 maternity payment for a mum after an incorrect reduction. Or securing a £19,000 back payment for a person who had been waiting over a year. That transforms lives. But there is still more to do. A few months after I was elected, both Moorcroft and real Stafford which had sustained our local economy for many generations announced they were closing down.

It was a devastating blow to our area and our ceramics industry. Happily though there are glimmers of hope. We'll Moorcroft, the grandson of the original founder, has stepped into safeguard the future of the iconic brand. And he protected a skilled workforce and preserved a name that carries real pride across potteries. Meanwhile, down the road a pottery has stepped in providing products at the Royal Stafford site. This is personal to me, my mum and grandad both worked in the pot banks.

I know what the industry means to local families and I have kept my word, pressing Ministers for support whenever I've had the opportunity. Including in a Westminster Hall debate I secured back in March. I place ceramics is now recognised as a foundational industry in the strategy. Their support with costs will come in 2027. But I will continue to raise with Ministers the need for additional support for the sector between now and then. Meanwhile, too many of our historic buildings still lie empty decaying and increasingly beyond repair.

But with the right support many could be brought back into use. Converted into affordable high quality homes, that protect our heritage, meet urgent housing needs and help to sustain our high streets in town centres. Under Labour we must go further and faster to make this a reality, and I urge relevant Ministers to proactively engage with me to look at what steps can be taken. I would welcome visits to my constituency to see our potential first hand. Finally, I cannot stand here today without paying tribute to Charlotte Steiner glistened her family.

Charlotte was only six years old when she was tragically killed by a driver twice over the legal limit, and under the influence of drugs. Since then her family have shown remarkable strength and determination in their campaign to amend a law on blood testing after fatal road collisions. I have continued to press for the road to be amended, to allow for blood samples to be tested in the most serious cases where life has been lost. I am grateful to the Transport Secretary, the road Ministers, and colleagues in the Department for their engagement and I look forward to their continued engagement on this matter.

Our community has known hardship, it has known difficulties. But we are strong. We have been knocked down, but we will never ever be knocked out. With a government that finally has our back, we can start building a better future for every child, for every family, every person and every neighbourhood across Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

We are beginning to play beat the clock. I understand the right clock. I understand the right honourable gentleman the member for north-east Cambridge has some north-east Cambridge has some important information about the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster, that I'm sure members will wish to hear. So I members will wish to hear. So I don't propose to impose a time limit immediately. After he has spoken I immediately. After he has spoken I shall impose a time-limit of five minutes.

Steve Barker.

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minutes. Steve Barker. Hiding in plain sight but not discussed in this chamber since the general election is the spending of

16:24

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

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general election is the spending of millions of pounds on the repair office building, with members later this year to commit to -- expected to commit to millions of pounds. The lack of debate or any meaningful transparency is despite the majority of this house being newly elected since last July. Instead, the detailed costs and options are being delayed until later this year, ironically around the same time the House is expected to vote on a budget which many expect will include tax rises.

Members of the House and members of the public might reasonably ask why the leader of the House has not held any such debate since coming into office. This issue speaks to a wider principle, whether decisions are best formulated in private when some of the numbers remain uncertain, when reliance is on controls, or whether it's better to have transparency not least on an issue of great public interest. And a lesson from COVID is that it is better to have transparency and open debate about the trade-offs earlier, than to hold those in secret or allow the benefit of hindsight after the event.

Supporting greater transparency has been a theme of my time in the House, whether my initial four years on the Public Accounts Committee, or as a Minister when I overruled official advice to disclose information to the National Audit Office during COVID. And since being elected as chair of the House's Finance Committee I repeatedly in private raised concerns about the financial management of the House and the restoration and renewal program. But I feel it is necessary to raise these issues on the floor of the House today.

Before doing so, can I place on record my thanks to Mr Speaker, because I know he cares deeply about taxpayer value. And it is an issue he has championed on many occasions. And I want to reassure colleagues that I will not disclose any information I received through my role as chair of the Finance Committee in a private capacity. The crux of the issue is that there needs to be a complete reset of the R&R program. The books need to be open to the public, we need to bring the public into the debate on how we balance the needs of a World Heritage Site, modern security, accessibility for example for those with disability, and value for money.

Updated costs need to be presented. Currently millions of pounds are being spent working on multiple options, despite Arsenal being into the 50 year of this work. And indeed, ideas are debated based on decisions taken by members no longer in the house. There is little visibility of this issue. The most recent costs presented go back to 2022, even then the cheapest was up to 13.8 billion, with the other costs costing more, that's without inflation and no other significant additions.

These will include the work done on the northern state, those aren't in the R&R program yet the public would associate those not least given they are a key part of any decant. We also know costs are massively increasing full stop if you take the Elizabeth Tower as an example, the most recent in this House, costs started at 29 million and ended up at 89 million, a 209% increase. If you take today's news, the cost of Sizewell C and how those will increase.

Second, known risks are in plain sight. -- No risks. We know the sponsor body that was set up at the start has now been scrapped, we know that we started with one option, we went to two and then three with an A&E, so in essence for options. Who knows, there could be 1/5 on the way. Give the house and example, the key body that oversees this is only met once this year. Only met twice since the last annual report. But if we look at what's in the public domain the first paragraph on the annual report says the crime board and the R&R board will provide sufficient and official information for R&R.

We have not debated it once and the governing group has met only once this year. I will canter through some of the other issues. In short, security is often resented as a reason for not being transparent. I would just colleagues attention to the very welcome intervention on Baroness Smith in the House of Lords, in their exchange with Lord Hayward, where the costs were 9.6 million and a still don't work particularly well. An issue just last week in this house, and official made a mistake in the House, colleagues complained about costs for the taxpayer and whether they were covered up.

I simply ask colleagues, are they aware what the costs are for the northern estate? The trade-offs and how they are being shaped? Or the cost of any delay? And how confident are they when asked to make those decisions alongside a budget that we will have the information that they need? I will finish with one final example. Because hiding in plain sight includes, a bit like High Speed 2, producing lots of literature. If I take another example, one of the most recent quarterly updates, colleagues can see on page 4, surveys ongoing, budget ongoing, development of the House of Commons and plans ongoing, costings ongoing, tender not started.

No meaningful information. Indeed the annual report has only financial information on the final two pages, page 29 and 30 of the report. This is not a new issue. Lord Moore is in 2022 report noted, Parliament has had a historically poor reputation for its management and commercial acumen. I believe issues should be shared with the public, trade-offs discussed, and members of this House, particularly new members, given sight of these issues. I have called repeatedly in private for a greater debate, today I want to do greater debate, today I want to do

**** Possible New Speaker ****

It is a huge honour to speak in this summer adjournment debates. My this summer adjournment debates. My one story about Sir David relates to one story about Sir David relates to a late friend of mine who is often the Labour candidate who stood against said David in general

16:31

Chris Vince MP (Harlow, Labour )

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against said David in general elections. Sadly, many years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer and spent long periods of time in hospital, showing you what sort of man David was, he often visited Julian in hospital to see how it was getting on. And on one such visit, he discovered despite having stood for elections in Southend on a number of occasions, he had never had the opportunity to visit this place and said David was incensed and determined to ensure that Julian had the ability to visit Parliament.

Sadly, he passed away before he had that opportunity, but I think it goes some way to show the sort of man said David was on it came to humanity. That is really important for us all to remember. I would like to take a moment to put on record my thanks to the whole secretary for putting up with my constant lobbying on behalf of the people of Harlow for the future location of the UK Health Security Agency and I am delighted that, last week, he confirmed that this Parliament will secure Harlow's future and as the health sector himself said last week, it is no longer a case of being the Oxford Cambridge corridor but the Oxford Cambridge Harlow corridor.

I am extremely proud that Harlow and people in Harlow will be on the frontline of the fight against biological warfare. For me, it is about much more than that. It is about securing the jobs and careers of the future. I visit careers of the future. I visit schools across villages every week. I see an incredible potential of young people in Harlow and in Harlow College, Stewarts, the opportunity for that potential to grow.

However, for too long, I don't think that potential has always been realised, and as a former teacher, one of my number one aims is to see that change. And I know part of that is the investment that will come with it. It is an exciting time for our town with this Labour government, clear and achievable timeline for a new Alexandra Hospital, more police on our streets, and as part of this safer streets initiative, I am pleased that this Labour government, after I bought it up, is tackling the issue of taxi hiring and now we have secured the jobs of the future in Harlow.

It is an exciting time for Harlow. And despite the challenges of being a new MP, as I look forward to recess, I am still incredibly proud to represent my town and my community. A community which boasts so many organisations and charities. I declare an interest because I work for both of them, and the/rehab Association. However, I the/rehab Association. However, I wouldn't be ambitious for my town if I didn't want even more for Harlow and for the greater constituency.

The Health Secretary did suggest I should start lobbying another department. However, I am sure he will recognise the challenges of mental health provision in West Essex -like constituency went out doorknocking in Harlow. I saw how they felt let down by the current system, and I am determined that this Labour government will address the inequality between mental health and physical health. On a lighter note, I want to wish Harlow town the best of luck for the rest of the season.

I think my team, my family and the higher staff and everyone who has helped me during my first year in this place. It remains a huge honour. I would say it is the biggest honour of my life but if I

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say that, my wife might divorce me. It is an honour to speak in this

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It is an honour to speak in this debate. I also want to use debate. I also want to use opportunity to pay tribute to Ian Dowell, one of my predecessors as a hard-working Member of Parliament for Eastbourne who was appallingly assassinated in 1990 and whose assassinated in 1990 and whose shields on the door above the shields on the door above the entrance to this chamber. I would like to thank all those involved in like to thank all those involved in keeping MPs and our team is safe today with special mention to PCWorld Bailey who was helped my

16:36

Josh Babarinde MP (Eastbourne, Liberal Democrat)

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PCWorld Bailey who was helped my team and me manage concerning threats to us. But it has been an First year as Eastbourne's Member of Parliament, working with incredible campaigners from across our town and beyond, we have secured the reopening of the Eastbourne Gen Hospital for births after weeks of closure. We have won our campaign for direct train from Eastbourne to London Bridge and back. We have successfully led a national campaign to reform the law on domestic. We have worked with campaigners to save Linden court day centre for people with learning disabilities from closure.

We have worked with local residents to protect the sovereign Centre where I learned to swim from losing its poles. We have locked in working with governments and others, £20 million in funding which we thought we might lose after the election to regenerate our town and much more. But one year in an over 11,000 cases taken up for residents, and over 200 mentions of Eastbourne in the chamber later. There is still much more to do. We need to fix our Tempe accommodation catastrophe triggered by a housing shortage that can only be addressed if we build more housing and properly regulate temporary accommodation.

And in particular, we have a shortage of three-bedroom homes that are causing a huge challenge. We need to address another SEND crisis in our town, with families at the Wilcox family and others without provision that they need. We need Southern water to get a grip of the foul stench that its water treatment works have been omitting across our town in recent months, blighting the livelihoods of residents in Langley points and beyond. We need Southern water to fix this now, not next year, as they have said, and quite frankly, the CEO of Southern water should be no night his outrageous pay rise while this issue remains, and until local residents have been properly compensated.

And beyond our shores, in response to the appalling situation in Israel Gaza and the West Bank, the government must continue to push for the release of all hostages, urge for age to be left unobstructed into Gaza, ban arms sales to the Israeli government, recognise a state of Palestine, and further sanction the Palestine, and further sanction the Israeli government when it infringes on international law, and that includes Netanyahu himself. It is an honour to have been elected to represent the town that made me me, whose teachers believed in me, whose Scout leaders challenged me, whose local businesses took pants on me by giving me my first job.

I hope to be able to represent our town for many, many years to come, and as we draw to the end of our time here before recess, I would like to extend a very open invitation to any honourable members who have not yet booked their summer holiday. To Eastbourne, there is officially the sunniest town in the UK with more hours of sunlight than anywhere else in the country to the disdain of my friend, the member for Bognor. I hope that you will come and sample some of the best of Eastbourne's delights.

I am not going to take an intervention unless he will confirm my point.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

One of the highlights of my first year has been to be confused with the honourable gentleman on several occasions, including being left with his dinner receipt in the members room. So if we do come to Eastbourne, I hope he will pick up the bill for once!

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the bill for once! I certainly own him one but it wasn't as bad as being mistaken for another honourable mixed-race member when I once forgot my pass and I was granted a parse of somebody else who granted a parse of somebody else who may or may not be the honourable member for Huntington. I did not member for Huntington. I did not member for Huntington. I did not settle my friend and his bill, but I look forward to exchanging stories look forward to exchanging stories with one another of our mistaken identities in our WhatsApp group ddI crew that we have created.

crew that we have created. Currently, I think it is 11 5 to me in terms of me being mistaken more in terms of me being mistaken more times than the honourable member for times than the honourable member for Huntington but I'm sure that we many more adventures, shenanigans on that front and beyond as time goes on, front and beyond as time goes on, but if I can return to my point in the last 30 seconds, Eastbourne is the last 30 seconds, Eastbourne is open for business.

It is open for your custom and it is open for your leisure. Our 94 individual beaches await.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you. I want to join colleagues from across the house and paying tribute to Sir David Amis. paying tribute to Sir David Amis. Luton is my home and I love it and I want to put on record the work the want to put on record the work the people in my constituency do that make our play such a thriving community, whether it is people community, whether it is people motivated through faith like the Luton Council have faced, the Luton Council have faced, the churches, the mosques which support people across Luton North, or people across Luton North, or people's individual values.

Our community is motivated by a shared purpose to see thriving town and a purpose to see thriving town and a successful future shared by all. We are fortunate to have people go above and beyond, people like those

16:42

Sarah Owen MP (Luton North, Labour)

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above and beyond, people like those who sign my petition outside the school, and those of us continuing to fight in both directions to improve measures. We have seen far too many examples of dangerous driving but especially outside schools. Whether it is the work of the brilliant one who gives older black man spaces to meet across the region, and all the public health benefits that come with that, and I wish them the best of luck when Luton beat Essex at the next table tennis match.

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Groups like greenhouse mentoring future generations successes at the heart of all that they do, raising heart of all that they do, raising funds for polio vaccinations abroad to working in our town, mentoring children to tough teenage years and children to tough teenage years and the club had a brilliant result in supporting children through their stats seeing improvement from 58% to stats seeing improvement from 58% to 83%. Spending time with these groups is seriously good for the soul, and now onto our tired bodies.

Luton gents and litter picks all contribute quietly but powerfully to our community fabric. They make our our community fabric. They make our town happy and healthy. I have loved joining the litter picks throughout the year and seeing so many young the year and seeing so many young people join the sessions, taking pride in our local environment. And now to growth. £5 billion worth of now to growth. £5 billion worth of investment into our local economy from our airport, to universal studios, Goodman is taking over the studios, Goodman is taking over the site, they are the biggies.

But I do wish out how to local businesses wish out how to local businesses every single Saturday. We have many innovative small businesses who are part of our amazing community and I part of our amazing community and I have loved meeting everyone of them, and if you are ever in my office, pop down the road to the Tamarind restaurant and they will make sure you do not go hungry. I have just completed my 200th Small business Saturday and I hope that businesses know that I am here for them and I will continue shouting about how good they are.

So far, my teams have managed 4000 cases on behalf of Luton North but still the single biggest issue is the increasing desperate situation in Gaza. Tens of thousands killed, Israeli forces have struggled to provide schooling to starving children amongst the rubble and continued attacks. Until the international community take further actions, Netanyahu's decision to ethnically cleanse Palestine will never end. At the earliest opportunity, our government must recognise a Palestinian state, extend arms embargoes and ensure aid safely reaches those who need it, but more than this, we need a vision that goes beyond recognition to one that builds Palestine and Middle East free from terror and violence In closing, back home we know pensioners have had a difficult time.

Something that hasn't hit the schedules -- headlines is something that came up in my surgery. Thomas Lee did everything his whole life right, paid his pension to secure right, paid his pension to secure his future. However his payment scheme ended in 2002, yet Thomas and 2 million like him lost out. It would be worth seeing people like Tom not losing out. As we return home I really wish that league' station at the lifts it was promised by the last government.

There's nearly 2 million journeys made from that station and it is high time we had lifts and not scaffolding holding up our broken bridge. There is so much I would have liked to talk about today and one of the nicest debates in Parliament, only to say I feel lucky to live and work in Luton North. You couldn't ask the better people to work alongside, so let's keep walking down that road let's keep walking down that road Thank you. I'm pleased to be able to speak in the Sir David Amess adjournment debate.

One of the highlights of my year is my annual summer surgery tour when I go over 75 different surgeries in my constituency over a ten-day period. That's in addition to my usual monthly surgeries, but the summer recess gives me the opportunity to get a more isolated parts of my

16:48

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

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constituency. With my Scottish parliament colleague Rachel Hamilton. I encourage anyone out Hamilton. I encourage anyone out there who would like an appointment to please get in touch, to book an to please get in touch, to book an appointment. It's been another busy appointment. It's been another busy year, I want to use my time to focus on some of the campaigns on the Scottish Borders over the last 12 months. Sharing some of the months. Sharing some of the incredible work from those on the borders who make our community such an amazing place to live.

Access to cash is a huge issue in the Scottish borders. Residents have been left borders. Residents have been left without adequate banking facilities for far too long. I was delighted to for far too long. I was delighted to present my petition in the House of Commons signed by over 1,400 local Commons signed by over 1,400 local people calling for new banking hubs to be created. The Scottish borders need to see more local banking hubs need to see more local banking hubs to see that people have access to essential services they need.

There essential services they need. There is a good example of one working in my constituency, supported by local my constituency, supported by local residents and staff and businesses, fantastic local staff from the Post Office. The Scottish borders is Office. The Scottish borders is under attack from far too many windfarms, solar farms, battery energy storage units and pylons. The borders is a beautiful place to live and visit, but that beautiful landscape is being blighted by new energy infrastructure. I have been leading a campaign against these developments, we formed a campaign group called action against pylons Scottish borders to lead the campaign in our communities.

I particularly want to pager be to the outgoing chair of this group, Rosie Lister, for all her work getting this group up and running. And support in leading this campaign alongside dozens of other residents who have been supporting this cause. One of the other big controversial stories across the Scottish Borders over recent months has been Scottish Borders councils attempts to mothball several nurseries. Local residents were rightly furious by the initial proposals from the council. This decision was wrong and needed to be reversed.

I met with so many parents who were concerned their young children would be forced to travel long distances to go to nursery. Many other parents would be forced to give up work simply to look after their kids. It was a disgrace the council was ignoring the views of so many parents and families across the borders, I am pleased they have seen sense and are reviewing the decision. To make matters worse, the council are now considering a consultants report that will consider closing further public services like libraries, swimming pools and leisure centres.

I am completely against most of these proposals and I will continue to campaign to oppose them. Finally, I also want to pay tribute to volunteers across the Scottish borders. That's why I started my volunteer of the year award to celebrate the many selfless people in the borders who do whatever they can to help others. I received hundreds of entries and it's very hard to award these awards, but I want to mention a few. Kyle McKinley coaches young teams at Tweed Bank Thistle football club, making a big difference in his community.

David Shepherd involved in organisations including Coldstream football club and Bowling club. And all the volunteers at lavender touch, who provide incredible support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. Their work and support make incredibly difficult times for people little easier. Finally I want to pager be to Kelso cyclist Oscar, who at the age of 22 is competing in the tour de France as we speak. He is truly an inspiration to many young cyclists, not only in the borders but across all Scotland and the UK.

I have fond memories of Oscar, I was training to do my Ironman back in 2014. At the age of 11 he was showing me how to cycle up some of the very steep hills in the Scottish borders, with such mastery that he was demonstrating even at that young age, what a great talent he was going to be. I'm sure he has a fantastic cycling career ahead of him, I wish him well in the tour to France and I wish him well with his

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future cycling career. As we rise for summer recess I want to take a moment to reflect on the real work happening back home in

16:52

Sarah Hall MP (Warrington South, Labour )

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our schools, community spaces, our hospitals and homes. Our Parliament may not be sitting but that doesn't stop the work at home to deliver the change our communities voted for last year. In recent weeks I visited schools and education programs with children and young people, including even Street and Willow Green, and I had the pleasure of welcoming pupils from Saint Philips here to Parliament. Every conversation I had with parents and teachers and staff comes with the same message, we need to get inclusive education from the start.

That means making sure children with additional needs can get the right support early, and it isn't a postcode lottery. As chair of the APPG on nurture and inclusion, and an officer of the ADHD people, I see the national picture. In Warrington I see every day in the families I speak to, the schools I visit and the casework that comes through my inbox. I hear from families doing everything they can and teachers going the extra mile, but too often they are doing it without the right support or specialist provision in place for the young people.

At the heart of everything I do is the simple belief that every child, every family, every constituent should feel safe, seen and supported. That's why a back to the government plan to provide free school meals to every child whose family receives credit, and with new breakfast clubs on the way for every primary school we are taking real steps to make sure every child doesn't start the day hungry. It reflects the theme I hear time and time again from teachers and parents alike, children learn best when they are fed, focused and ready to learn.

I am glad to see the government moving in the right direction but there is still a way to go, I will keep fighting for a system that works for every child, not just the lucky few. That inclusion doesn't end at the school gate, it extends to places where communities come together like local leisure centres. Greenfields in Appleton is a much loved facility that plays a vital role keeping people active connected and healthy. But it is ageing and needs serious investment. If we are serious about public health we must invest in the everyday spaces that make it possible, including repairing and refurbishing leisure centres.

We have seen what's possible when local facilities get the investment they need. We now have a proper community hub, a space I was proud to bring forward. Let me be clear, laces like Broomfield's deserve that same level of care and attention. When it comes to services and infrastructure our local hospital matters, but after 14 years of underinvestment of my constituents in Warrington South have been let down by a system struggling to keep up with demand. In the past. Is well made, and I refuse to do that.

I want to be honest about the situation we find ourselves in. With many of the hospitals in the new government hospital program ahead of us in the queue not expected to be completed until the next decade, it's clear this isn't going to be solved overnight. At Warrington deserves a new hospital, that's why together with my honourable friend the MP for Warrington North we will keep campaigning to make that reality. At the same time we have a duty to act now to tackle immediate pressures facing our local health services and making a difference where we can, that's why a few months ago at Prime Minister's Questions I made the case for a new urgent treatment centre in Warrington.

Since then I had a meeting with Health Secretary to set out how transformational this project could be throughout town. It's practical, it's ready to go, and it's been designed to ease pressure on A&E and improve access to urgent care for residents. But our plan is now with NHS England, I want to thank everyone involved especially our brilliant NHS teams including Nick and Lucy for their vision and tireless dedication for the people of Warrington. Just down the road that focus on local solutions doesn't stop at the hospital, it carries through to the everyday support delivered in neighbourhoods.

In PUC the community shop which I helped open which has become a lifeline offering affordable food for the neighbourhood. Finally I want to speak about flooding, an issue that is causing real worry in Warrington South. I was speaking to residents, delivering meals, the impact of the flooding was devastating and for many that recovery is ongoing. Residents know all too well what it means to live with the constant risk of flooding, that's why I worked hard to secure over £2 million in additional funding to move the flood risk scheme into its design phase.

And why I will keep fighting to this important scheme. As Parliament rises for the summer work continues, because being an MP isn't just about what happens in this chamber it's about conversations on the doorsteps, it's about the support we offer in the moments of crisis and the changes we fight for everyday. I will keep showing up, listening and doing everything I can to make sure Warrington South gets the future it deserves.

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Thank you for calling me to speak in this debate this afternoon. It is fitting that the summer adjournment is named after my dear friend and is named after my dear friend and colleague, the late Sir David Amess. But it is with regret and sadness But it is with regret and sadness that I feel the need to draw to the attention of the House the way in attention of the House the way in which Sir David's family have been which Sir David's family have been continuously mistreated.

As I have raised time and time again, including at Prime Minister's

16:57

Andrew Rosindell MP (Romford, Conservative)

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including at Prime Minister's Questions, there must be a statutory public inquiry into what happened to David. Last March the Amess family met with the Prime Minister Abiy Home Secretary at number 10 Downing Street, supported by their former MP and a first, who continues to do great work for the family and their campaign for justice. As many have noted, including particularly the right honourable member for right honourable member for Gainsborough, the family were petitioned to work within Lord Anderson's process.

Again they tried to do the right thing, again they tried to comply with the government's approach, and again as it turns out this was a grave mistake. The Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and indeed Lord Anderson promised to keep the grieving Amess family front and centre of the process. They were meant to have a guiding, indeed a leading role, but this did not happen. Instead they were kept to the sidelines. Instead they were not treated as being in a unique position.

Instead the media received information before they did. The treatment of the Amess family has been simply outrageous. The process should have been followed more diligently, and the Amess family should have been treated significantly with greater dignity. Having lost their father, husband and wonderful friend to all of us, the Amess family should have been first in the pecking order not last. Indeed, His Majesty's Government should now show some more respect to the memory of our late dear colleague.

As I have said before, there must now be a full public inquiry not only matching the government's words with appropriate action, but ensuring that lessons are learned from the government we must see an urgent effort to establish the full facts. To learn the full lessons from the failings of Prevent, and what is going to be done in the future to avoid a repeat of such a crime against this House and indeed a crime against democracy. The honourable member for Eastbourne referred a few moments ago to the late member for Eastbourne, Iain Gow, who was a dear friend of mine also murdered.

Murdered by the IRA in a bomb on 30 July 1990, 35 years ago. Iain was the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher, and he first introduced me to Mrs Thatcher in 1982. But he was cruelly murdered by the IRA in 1990. So in the 35th year since his murder let us remember him as well, a great man and a bulldog of a politician. A great British bulldog. And we still him missing I am proud of being from the county of Essex, as indeed were today met Amis.

And if I may, I will take a few moments to say this. Romford, hoovering is Essex, and we have been denied the right to have any part to play in the discussions about Essex devolution. Essex is our county, our historic county. We are geographically tied to the people of Essex, and yet, we are forced against our wishes to be under this artificial construct called Greater London. I hope even at this late stage the government will look at this again and give the people of Romford and Haver in a chance to have a different form of local government so that we can focus on what is best for our borough and rekindle the links to our historic county of Essex.

And I ask all members to look at Parliament Square and the wonderful historic county flags on display. What a wonderful display of the fantastic historic counties of the UK of which the

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Essex flag is the most prominent. It is a pleasure to be able to

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It is a pleasure to be able to speak in the debate this afternoon. May I paid tribute to David Amis, an absolutely wonderful man, and could

17:02

Matt Rodda MP (Reading Central, Labour)

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absolutely wonderful man, and could I also pay tribute to Ian Gow as well for his vital work earlier in the history of this country. I am very proud of our town and I want to speak about Reading and my constituency of Redding central which is a new constituency. Although it covers a way to dedicate the same territory that the Reading constituency covered in the 1950s, there is some history there focus in the town centre and the nearby parts of the town.

We have had a year of contrasts and I want to raise a few important points about my constituency, and also to thank many local people for their work in our community. It is vital to start with the recent developments of Reading football club and in particular, to say an enormous thank you to Rob for buying the club, and also to thank the government for its work on the cross party were previously on the football governance bill, very important piece of legislation which I do believe will prevent any other English club from suffering the dreadful fate which Redding suffered for five years under an irresponsible owner who threatens the very future of the club.

I will once again thank only the new owner but also the players and fans of Redding who have been through an unimaginable time and it has been with great pride that we support our club and look forward to a better season later this year. I do appreciate this so I will try to focus my remarks and a few other key issues in our community. One of the vital issue for many of my residents is the future of Reading Gaol. This wonderful historic building which dates back to the 1850s has been left empty for some years and I have campaigned for some time for it to be turned into an arts and heritage help in memory of Oscar Wilde who was incarcerated there.

This would be the most incredible facility for our town and would bring new opportunities in the arts and heritage to Redding and indeed, encourage tourism to Redding given that we are at the terminus of the Elizabeth line and very close to both London and other cities like Oxford and Bristol. I am pleased that the jail was bought by a synthetic developer and I am looking forward to the tender exercise for a new architect to be successful and for further planning work to be carried out.

May I also say that I am pleased that, in the interim, the jail has been used to film and you may notice and crime thrillers that some of the present interior shots are filmed in Reading Gaol and that is an indication of just how wonderful this site could be. Back in 2014, there was an incredible exhibition run by the charity Archangel in which individual cells were used for installation art and Oscar Wilde's poetry was read in the prison chapel. It was an incredibly moving experience and I have to say that I heard one member from the arts world in London on his phone as we walked down at the cast-iron walkways like something straight out of porridge and said the words, I mean Redding.

It's really rather good. And I hope that more people can appreciate art and understand how rather good we are. I would like to briefly celebrate our towns, rivers and green spaces there was some great news yesterday about action to tackle pollution in rivers. This is been a huge issue locally to other watercourses which have been polluted quite shockingly in recent years. We have also suffered the problem of flooding but there is some good news underway with important parks and riverside spaces led by Reading Borough Council and in partnership with many other community organisations.

I am aware of my limited time. I would like to have other local heritage including the restoration of cemetery arch which is a historic landmark and to pay tribute to our dear friend who sadly passed away and I look forward to further work on that. I would also like to say thank you to our voluntary group, to our many small businesses who make such a vibrant town, the major shopping centre for southern England, and also, to the new investment in the town at Station Hill nearly £1 billion has been spent renovating the area and improving dramatically.

We have several blocks of flats in the area which was once home to a car park. May also celebrate our public services who do a wonderful job, and conclude by thanking the opportunity to speak this afternoon and may I once again paid tribute to Sir David. It is a wonderful tradition and I'm very proud to have contributed this afternoon.

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It is a pleasure to follow my constituency neighbour, the member constituency neighbour, the member for Redding in this debate. I can confirm that Redding is excellent confirm that Redding is excellent place to do shopping, a vibrant city with excellent restaurants and a really important regional hospital as well and I am disappointed that as well and I am disappointed that the hospital won't be rebuilt until the 2040s but like all constituency the 2040s but like all constituency MPs who circle the Royal Berkshire Hospital will be continuing to Hospital will be continuing to advocate for it.

It is a pleasure to represent my constituency of Henley represent my constituency of Henley and Thame and it has been pleasing to back some very local campaigns but also learn of some of the national significance those national significance those campaigns have as well. In my hometown of Henley, I have been

17:08

Freddie van Mierlo MP (Henley and Thame, Liberal Democrat)

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hometown of Henley, I have been campaigning to get horse bridge reopens since it closed over three years ago and when I became MP, I came in over a record of an action and immediately wrote to ministers to the National trust and many other organisations. Anyone who would listen basically, and I am really pleased that that work has made progress. But in doing that work, I have also discovered a lot more about the state of our infrastructure on our rivers, lochs, weirs and bridges, and we all know the state of infrastructure when it comes to education, health, our roads, but lesser-known is the poor state of our bridges, and those are essential for river navigation, for safety on the river, and if we didn't have those, my hometown of Henley pretty much wouldn't exist and we wouldn't have a river running through it.

Released, there wouldn't be any water in it. So I would like to just highlight that situation and call on ministers to continue looking at how funding can be raised for the Environment Agency in this vital work there. The second campaign I have been really focusing on is the Greenway. Two towns are just a few miles apart. We have the train station and the major town with shops, schools, and many facilities, and the two are not connected by an off-road Greenway capable of taking active travel, and I have been campaigning alongside residents to get that going.

That is why I have bought forward an amendment on contemporary purchase orders because as we know, we are readily used for projects but it is really difficult for active travel, and that is why we call for guidance, so we are very pleased that active travelling will be bringing forward guidance including two case studies on how other councils have successfully used CPOs and I'm grateful to the government for pushing out forward. I would also like to mention that the cycleway between Goring and Wallingford would also very much benefit my community and I hope the government again will continue to invest in active travel.

With the time left, I will briefly touch upon another issue I have been campaigning on in Oxfordshire, the lack of ADHD services. There is no commission adult service for conducting annual reviews in Oxfordshire. Back means, if you have ADHD, if you are on medication, once you reach that one-year limit that is required by guidelines to conduct an annual review by specialist, GPs are removing prescriptions from people who are well controlled on these medications. It is an absolutely scandalous situation and very dangerous for constituents for people with ADHD and I urge the government to move quickly on its task force for the forthcoming publication of the task force to make sure that we are happily treating and looking after people with ADHD.

In the time remaining, I would like to mention some of the excellent organisations I have had the pleasure of meeting, including dementia, sharing the trust and Thame which is excellent work for a food bank, Riverside, and the Henley YMCA. Like many first-time MPs who spend their summer recruiting, finding officers and doing a lot of, I am very much looking forward to this recess as I'm sure everyone is, but we will be back in September, holding this government to account holding opposition to account, and I look forward.

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I join my colleagues in paying tribute to David Amis, champion of his constituency, and with this

17:12

Jodie Gosling MP (Nuneaton, Labour)

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his constituency, and with this inspiration in mind, I want to celebrate a few of the incredible people and the progress made in Nuneaton. As we have the proud legacy of hosting the first legal lioness game, I would also like to start with football. Just over a year ago, our football team had no home, no team and no committee. And yet this year, we have managed to top promotion and 21 goals, and I would like to thank the football foundation for their support in looking forward and continuing the work to bring our club back home.

This past year has shown talent of my town and I can commend those who have supported the George Eliot Mayors appeal to raise £46,000 reported by the bell earlier this year. The breast-cancer unit will hopefully now be moving forward in our diagnostic centre to continue to support our communities. I dedicate staff to George Eliot Hospital who retired after 51 years in the NHS, 45 of those in the breast-cancer unit, and all of the members of staff and the work they have done to reduce waiting lists and improve care not only in Nuneaton but across our county.

Marianne Evans is a pillar of our community, the proud legacy and final resting place of one of my predecessors, the honourable on the. I join my honourable friend from Tadworth in celebrating this year, celebrating the history of the CEO who has selflessly turned over her 60th year to raise even more funds for this vital service. I am proud that the vital service. I am proud that the first elected Nepalese Gurkha Mayor. Around Nuneaton, we are making good progress.

This year, I have visited many businesses and schools and training institutes, and looking at improving job prospects. Hercules Academy trained over a thousand academies last month and South Leicestershire supported internships which are breaking down barriers for disabled people. Four of these interns, watching them now in good work, thriving with their confidence booming. It was an honour to hold the first SEND Parliament earlier this year and see how government can support the expansions of these schemes.

During the year, we have held our first sports and social activities festival which was a great success, showcasing the role of sports and communities and cohesion and well-being, improving health and society. And working Pubs like Nuneaton rugby, Nuneaton karate, as with most post-industrial towns Nuneaton has seen challenges. Our town centre is now transforming, later this year the new college building, food halls, and the leisure hobbies near completion. And the business improvement district is thriving and jumping into action with new wardens and a packed schedule of summer events.

We still have issues around crime and antisocial behaviour, and this also is being tackled in conjunction with the brilliant officers at Nuneaton and Bedworth Council. And alongside councillor Nicky King and Warwickshire police we are seeing the return of designated town centre officers and summer crime units to make Nuneaton the proud place we wanted to be. In closing I would like to say it's been an honour to serve Nuneaton this year, in the key areas of jobs, health, education and crime we are making real progress.

I look forward to continuing this work to rebuild our thriving town. And I would like to thank my team, supporting members here and at home, the House staff for all their work that makes it possible to make the change we were put here to do. I wish them a restful and peaceful

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break. It is a pleasure to speak in the

17:17

Robbie Moore MP (Keighley and Ilkley, Conservative)

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It is a pleasure to speak in the Sir David Amess summer adjournment debate, which is one of my favourite debates of the year because it gives debates of the year because it gives us all as parliamentarians the opportunity to talk about the fantastic places and communities we represent. We are all blessed to have excellent network of charities across our constituencies, none less than in Keighley. Those that are tackling mental health issues, Aware, missing piece, well-being and support in my constituency all do a fantastic job and fantastic work.

I was privileged recently to host them at a mental health forum, alongside Dr Carolyn Raymond in Ilkley where we brought together a range of stakeholders to talk about those challenges that are specifically facing our younger people. I also want to pay thanks to Dr Laura spells, who came along and gave an excellent and hugely compelling but deeply worrying peasant determination about the damage that smartphones are doing to our young people. And I look forward to continue working with the doctors and various stakeholders as we continue to tackle those mental health challenges facing our young people.

In Ilkley and Keighley we like to do things properly, that's why just last weekend it was excellent to attend to standout shows, from both ends of the musical spectrum. One of the hugely fantastic festival highlights in the festival calendar, it was delightful to go along and watch the independent show created by six lads from Keighley. I want to thank Nick Chambers for organising this event. At the other end of the spectrum the BBC have definitely got some competition. The Proms on the farm was a fantastic roaring success, for another year running.

I want to pay tribute to Stuart Clarkson, William Jarrett, and their team, about 10 volunteers who brought this together. Raising money for Sue Ryder hospice and the Methodist Church. I know that many attended the event visited the butchers to make sure their picnics were as good as they could be before attending the fantastic music event. I also attended the Oxford home straw race, in its 50th year. For those who don't know about this event it is where everyone gets dressed up in fancy dress, runs down the valley having a pint or two in the pubs along the way.

This is in its 50th year and has raised over £500,000 for local charities across Keighley and the wider worth valley. I want to commend Robin Wright and his team for the excellent work he has done ringing that together. I would also like to say a huge well done to our local Salvation Army, whose victory program teaches young people for free how to make cheap and nutritional food. Some of those I was lucky to meet this weekend, and I had a great chat with many of them on the challenges they are facing.

I want to again say a huge thank you to imaging, Stuart and their team for the work they are doing alongside Rachel in providing those teaching sessions for many people across Keighley. Giving young people skills to stay on the right path is also vital, which is why also want to say a huge thank you to switch hitters boxing club, in particular Jonny Greenwood, forgetting this going in Keighley. It's doing excellent work. I didn't get involved in the boxing sessions myself, but I have confirmed I will go back with my shorts on so I can take part.

I did feel slightly intimidated by some of these lads from Keighley in their boxing gear, but I will go back and give them some support. Because sports clubs do a huge job in providing confidence to young people from across Keighley. We are lucky on 1 August in elderly to be hosting the official Yorkshire Day. In Keighley we were lucky enough to host it a couple of years ago, we will now be hosting it in Ilkley and that is going to be a huge success for all of those residents across our area.

In summing up I want to wish all members across this House a very happy recess. I hope it is one which you will be out doorknocking, speaking to as many constituents as possible and making sure we are advocating as strongly as we can for the things that matter to them at a

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local level. It's a great pleasure to speak in

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It's a great pleasure to speak in this summer adjournment debate and to remember the star of the show in to remember the star of the show in years gone by, David Amess, whose plaque sits behind us. I also remember my late friend, Jo Cox. We served together on the board of the

17:23

Melanie Ward MP (Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, Labour)

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served together on the board of the women's network and I often think of her, I know we are significantly poorer in this place for the absence of her experience and her voice of real moral authority. I have to say something about the horrific situation in Gaza. Honourable members may know I was there in April last year in my former role as an aid worker, and even just as I was sitting in this debate I got an update on my phone that 15 people have died of starvation there in the last 24 hours.

Since I heard the Israeli military is now attacking dear Al-Balad I thought of a former colleague there, he has a disabled daughter. Where are they supposed to flee to? A former Minister said his country plans to set up a country plans to set up a concentration camp "In Rafah". Baroness Kennedy says genocide is taking place, the world must stop these atrocities. Our government has taken important action, but more work is desperately needed and quickly. Now to my constituency.

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of attending the Bernard Highland games, the second oldest in the world. It was a pleasure to join the parade behind the island and pipe band and to hear the chieftain declare the games open, and enjoy some of the fine Highland dancing on display. I congratulate the committee on a fantastic event. I will continue working on accessibility at the train station, an issue I have raised directly with Network Rail and the Secretary of State for Transport.

Frankly Network Rail needs to be getting on with it, the community has asked for an accessible station for many years that it has waited long enough. Having such a beautiful coastal constituency means the work of our lifeboats is usually important. This year Kinghorn RNLI right lifeboat celebrates its diamond you may leave. -- Jubilee. I thank the crew and the committee for the life- saving service they provide to our community. They have responded to 70 shouts already this year alone.

60 years of life-saving service is an incredible achievement. I would like to congratulate the Rotary club on its centenary and to draw attention to the wonderful plaque that was unveiled in the square on Tuesday. It commemorates the proud mining history and the key role the area played powering our nation. Because it commemorates the miners who tragically lost their lives in the pits as well. Over in coke or do I pay tribute to all those who play a vital role with our inaugural festival.

The work of all involved deserves recognition. They have given the town a cultural, musical, educational and artistic spring in its step in recent weeks. I'm already looking forward to next years festival. I hope to also work with all of the organisations I have mentioned so far as we provide input and ideas on regeneration to Fife Council who will make the decisions on how to spend the chancellors multi-million investment for the new fund, on the town centre and seafront.

I am usually proud that our Labour government is recognising the potential of our town and investing in our place and our people after years of SNP and Tory neglect. I have created a survey on my website that has already been signed by over 350 local residents, over recess I'm holding meetings, surgeries, roundtables and pop-up events to hear more from constituents, businesses and community organisations about what they want to see. I will pass their views onto Fife Council. At the same time, I promise I am continuing to press the Treasury to secure as much press the Treasury to secure as much funding as possible.

I would like to congratulate being nominated for a Britain in Bloom award for best town centre, the only Scottish town in that category. They make our town more beautiful and we have all been holding our breaths as the judging Walkabout makes its way around. I wish them the very best of luck and I wish everyone here a peaceful recess, I thank the house staff for all their work.

17:27

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

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Just before I handover to the Chairman of Ways and Means, this will be my last session in the house so I thank colleagues for the courtesy with which I think treated. Can I thank you particularly for the tributes paid to my friend Sir David Amess, David and I signed on the register on the same day when we came into the House. I'm very grateful to you all.

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I think I joined the House in thanking you for your work as chair. thanking you for your work as chair. It's an on to speak in this debate and uphold the memory of Sir David Amess. His legacy reminds us what it

17:28

Victoria Collins MP (Harpenden and Berkhamsted, Liberal Democrat)

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Amess. His legacy reminds us what it is to be an MP, to show up and champion the concerns of the people we represent. That is the spirit I carried with me as the member of Parliament. Over the year one of the most pressing challenges remains to be access to health and social care. I spoke with a constituent facing an eight month delay on an NHS appointment. I spoke with a mother who within 50 miles still couldn't get an NHS dental appointment.

And a woman who cares for her mother with dementia while looking after twins pushed to the brink. And a man who sadly took his life at the age of 24, campaigning for the importance of mental health care. Locally I congratulate the work of organisations such as Hector's health and youth port. We have seen movement for the NHS and welcome that, but we urgently need proper reform and prioritising mental health and social care work. As I have called on the government throughout this year, I would again urge them to start those cross-party talks on social care sooner rather than later.

The environment demands equal attention and my constituency has for the world's rare chalk streams, beautiful places. Yet Margate sewage treatment works has dumped almost 5,000 hours of sewage there over the last 12 months, and around 3,000 of those were non-stop. It was an honoured to secure my first Winston Westminster tour -- whence mince the whole debate on chalk streams. I welcome the proposals from the government yesterday and a meeting with the Minister to see how they can upgrade those sewage works.

I also thank those organisations like the Valley Society, who will not let me stop campaigning on these important issues. In high streets and families, small businesses are still struggling for as someone who grew up helping my mum on the shop floor this is close to home. Many businesses such as Temptations in Berkhamsted are saying they are still struggling, many are questioning how they are coping with the rise in employment costs, National Insurance costs and rents as well as other costs.

They are struggling, to say where we stay open? These are the lifeline of our local community, I would urge the government to rethink some of those proposals and how we can support our High Street small businesses. Transport is also a growing concern in my seat, we have seen cuts to vital services continue which connects constituents across Berkhamsted, I am please read eagle services have increased their service to every 30 minutes, we have worked with other communities who remain isolated.

We need more support for government, unfortunately local services are struggling under current financial strains. Hertfordshire County Council recently outlined grave concerns about the fair funding review which sees the council face a 45 to 55 million grant reduction. This is not about budget squeeze but a direct threat to the social services and those transport services that are delivering to our communities. On a positive note I have been excited about the work on science innovation and technology especially closer to home, I have wanted to bring the voice of young people to the national work.

It was a real proud MP moment when I spoke to two of my local schools and after visiting them they decided to get together, the students themselves wanted to campaign on online safety. I would urge the government to We handed over 10,000 pieces of casework over the last year, some of the most enriching work we do. I've had over 300 local meetings and raise questions and issues over 500 times to the government and every one of those has been on the behalf of my residents.

And I want to thank colleagues across the House for their support and especially also my team who have helped deliver that for local residents. As I found my feet and in my first year as an MP. Her my time as an MP reflects the principles I put forward in my Maiden speech. To be guided by the values of community, tolerance and perseverance. Most importantly, at like to thank the community organisations that deliver for Harpenden and Berkhamsted train and may beautiful villages for top the open door food banks, Harpenden money centre and many others, and wish everyone a fantastic recess as we go back in time to be resourced

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again and come back in September. About 16 colleagues bobbing and

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About 16 colleagues bobbing and for me to try and get you all and I will have to reduce the speaking again four minutes and it may reduce again. Thank you for some it's an honour

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Thank you for some it's an honour to speak in this debate today. I want to pay tribute to Sir David Amess, some kind of whose legacy of values lives on. I would start by values lives on. I would start by marking off a day which is taking place this Sunday. It takes place on place this Sunday. It takes place on the 27th 27 July every year to celebrate Norfolk. For its beautiful landscape to its history and

17:33

Alice Macdonald MP (Norwich North, Labour )

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landscape to its history and community spirit, and thank you to the community voluntary organisations in Norfolk and Norwich you do so much on this day and all year round. I enjoy visiting many of them over the last will continue to do so. Norfolk is not just a county of beauty and terrorist charm, and the driest county in the country even though it might not be the sunniest, although I might dispute that, although we are not just the county of beauty and terrorist charm, so a county of innovation and creativity.

Great things arise quietly from Norfolk, the first British Prime Minister, our naval hero Lord Nelson or Julie of Norwich for to be the first woman to write a book in English which has survived. And that's not changed. Many great things come from the work including Alfie hewer and also Lauren him who will be playing this evening against Italy for the Lionesses and am sure we will all join in sending the best of luck as they progress in their campaign. We have an opportunity to maximise the potential of the county further through devolution and please Norfolk is in the devolution about this program.

This along with local government reorganisation will enable us to track tract more investment, more jobs and deliver better services for our residents. So I want to content re- -- tender three issues. Health, as I've said many great things come from Norfolk and Norwich and that includes pioneering health research work. A recent hosted the University of East Anglia and Parliament to showcase their work in prostate cancer diagnosis that could transform the lives of men around the world. Norfolk and Norwich Hospital also leading a world first drug trial to tackle endometriosis and women's health is a priority for me so glad to have such pioneering work on my doorstep we have many challenges, most notably on health, dentistry.

We made some good progress so far with 21,000 urgent extra points allocated to Norfolk but we must go ahead quickly with the reform of the dental contract and have been assured by what my right honourable friend Health Secretary has said. I've also been campaigning alongside other honourable members to secure any dental school at the University of East Anglia. I believe we are the only region in the country without one and is display needed so hope to hear good news seen.

And to welcome the investment we've seen at the hospital and in local doctors surgeries from this government after 14 years of neglect, it was badly needed. I want to thank everyone who joined our campaign to save the NHS walk-in centre in Norwich which was quite unbelievably under threat of closure again. NHS bosses have listened and told me in the honourable member for Norwich South the such plans would not be posed again. I will keep pressure up the betterment to health services, including on the Norfolk Suffolk foundation trust.

Second, housing full to meet people in my constituency are struggling to get on the housing ladder, stuck on waiting list of facing soaring rents so I want to welcome the 34 may in the governance given to our Leila City Council to unlock Anglia Square, a site that has needed investment for decades and will now be unlocked to deliver many affordable homes and jobs. And this comes alongside the very welcome Renter's Rights Bill which among other things will end no-fault evictions Commandos hope the planning and infrastructure Bill will mean increased ways to hold developers to account for providing the community infrastructure they promised and we have two examples right now of play parks that have not been delivered.

Thirdly, opportunity. Special educational need as for many members as a huge challenge and I will keep pressing for the change we need including for a new SEND school at Angel Road. I want to thank all the schools and children hosting me and for excellent questions and we have to ensure every child has good job which is why so passionate about clean aviation and energy in our region. A deaf time for much more but I will keep fighting for the health, opportunity and times that my constituents need and want to thank my team and all my constituents for being so brilliant.

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Thank you. I speak today in the tradition of using this debate to highlight the issues facing my constituents. Sir David Amess at constituents. Sir David Amess at high bar in making the most of his opportunity to champion his constituents, and while we came from different political traditions I different political traditions I respect his example. Let's start respect his example. Let's start with road safety. I've raised serious concerns about rural roads throughout my constituency over the last year. I felt the dangerous last year.

I felt the dangerous junctions on the a 27 and the campaign to improve safety on the rural roads around Arlington. Elsewhere communities have been left to take matters into their own to take matters into their own hands, residents on the C7 have hands, residents on the C7 have raised over £20,000 just to fund a feasibility study as part of their feasibility study as part of their safer C7 campaign for the communities are having to crowdfunding for something as fundamental as road safety speaks volumes.

It's a damning indictment volumes. It's a damning indictment of national government failure to deliver infrastructure that our villages and rural communities villages and rural communities really need. In terms of housing planning housing remains one of the greatest pressures facing the community for them to many families stuck in temporary accommodation or genuinely affordable homes remain out of reach. We urgently need high

17:38

James MacCleary MP (Lewes, Liberal Democrat)

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out of reach. We urgently need high quality housing delivered in areas like mine and at the same time we Poor planning decisions. As a prime example of what happens when developers are allowed to bank brownfield sites in town centres to the detriment of communities. I'm hopeful the promised new powers in the planning instructor Bill will give local authorities the powers to act on cases like this at last. We do need new homes but they must come with infrastructure to support, proper consultation with residents proper consultation with residents and a focus on affordability.

I'm glad my local district council listened to local concerns and chose not to include the new town proposal in its draft local plan. That was absolutely the right decision. These kinds of speculative large-scale dropped into rural areas without proper consultation don't serve our proper consultation don't serve our communities. Meanwhile villages like ring are being bombarded with a constant stream of individual housing applications with no investment in roads, schools or healthcare to match. This is an planning commits creating pressure on communities or the breaking point.

Transport provision is also important. I welcome last week's news. It's a step in the right direction for rail connectivity across the south-east, however I was very unhappy as many of my constituents that the train won't stop at Plumpton. My constituents deserve better than to be left behind in major transport decisions. I will be objecting to the rate or -- rail operator and Department for transport in the strongest terms. Finally constituents rightly raised with me the ongoing unacceptable closure of the West Beach in Newhaven, the only stretch of sandy beach in our area.

If the nearby coastal towns like the former mentioned these porn can't match up to our -- Eastbourne can't match up to our beach. The treasured local space has been out of bounds for residence for too long. I've engage directly with those responsible to demand answers and push for the beach to be reopened. This isn't just about stretch of sand, is about fairness, local pride in the right communities to enjoy what should be a shared public asset. Generations of local families have memories of happy summers spent on the beach.

They shouldn't have to look back wistfully, should be able to return to it. We will keep fighting to reopen the West Beach. Enough is enough. None of these problems exist in isolation. Rate safety, GP access and housing, all of these issues reveal a deeper failure of governance over many years. I will keep working with my local constituents and local residents and campaign groups to get real change on issues that matter and provide genuine representation to residents in Seaford, Newhaven, Lewis pogo and You're right, it's not lost on me the huge issues -- shoes I stand in here in this place, representing the constituency that was Sir David Amess's.

And I send my thoughts today to his wife, Lady Julia and all the family, and I hope that we can find a way to give them the answers that they need. This is my second year standing contributing in the Sir David Amess adjournment

17:43

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

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debates. And with the passage of time, it's gone so quickly this last year, but it's not eroded that memory of Sir David Amess, and many in this place on both sides of this House and many in my constituency House and many in my constituency never forget him. He is very much missed. In my constituency, Tony Martin who runs the lifeguard Martin who runs the lifeguard station set up a temporary memorial to Sir David with lots of pictures from his life, his time in from his life, his time in Parliament.

It was a fantastic temporary display. And I'm delighted that over the last couple of months I've been able to work with Lady Amis and some of Sir David Amess's team to put in place a permanent display on the wall of that lifeguard station, and I thank lifeguard station, and I thank everybody who has been involved in the project. Now of course one of the project. Now of course one of the legacies of Sir David was that he, his death led to Southend becoming a city.

Now every city becoming a city. Now every city needs a cathedral. And I've been trying but it's proving difficult because Chelmsford has one, you can because Chelmsford has one, you can only have one cathedral per dioceses. But I'm working with the Bishop of the area on it. To give some special recognition, did you hope we can get this over the line and that I will get the support of the Church Commissioner in making this happen. I just want to quickly recognise the charity trust links based on my constituency who were 25 years old a couple of weeks ago.

Their CEO Matt King and their founder Cheryl Higgins have done absolutely fantastic work transforming a derelict plot of land in Westcliff into an absolutely outstanding project tackling loneliness, and social isolation through a range of different activities, and they really work on mental health there as well. It situates for the government want to do moving from hospital to community. Now very quickly, we've been struck by two tragedies in Southend over the last couple of weeks. Firstly on 20 June in chalk while Park I want to recognise the death of seven-year-old Leona Rucker who was killed by a falling tree.

And I send my sympathy to her family. And of course on Sunday, 13 July, we had the plane crash at Southend Airport. And again, I send my thoughts to the four people who were killed in that plane crash. I want to send my sincere thanks to the emergency services, something counsel and their leader Councillor Daniel. And for everything they've done on both these tragedies over the last couple of weeks, and most importantly the amazing Southend community who have come out, lay flowers, paid tribute to the family.

It's been absolutely heart breaking to see what's happened there over to see what's happened there over the last couple of weeks. The end of my first year as an MP, and it's been an absolute privilege and honour to serve the people of Southend West and Leigh. We've achieved a lot. There is plenty more to come. I'm looking forward to it, and I wish all members in this House a very happy and pleasant summer

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recess. Ben Lake. And honour to contribute to the

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And honour to contribute to the Sir David Amess adjournment debates, and I should like to omit my

17:45

Ben Lake MP (Ceredigion Preseli, Plaid Cymru)

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intervention by raising a topic that is very important to my constituency. That is the future of constituency. That is the future of I did try to make the case that we should have a renewed emphasis on the regeneration of those economies, the regeneration of those economies, not meat because it will go a big way to addressing the government's aspiration of growth across the United Kingdom but also it would help address demographic trend which is already posing severe challenges to the provision of public services, and if left and arrested, could be critical, for the future of them.

my constituency has an ageing population, it is particularly pronounced in my constituency, because according to the office of National statistics, if current trends continue, and Brookshire will have a percentage of its public over the age of 65, one third of the the age of 65, one third of the equivalent population will be over 65, in 2040, just 15 years away. I need not explain to honourable members how challenging it will be, simply to maintain the vibrancy of all committees but also to ensure the effective provision of wide- ranging comic services that any civilised community and society can hope to expect.

So, with a renewed emphasis and focus and perhaps a strategy for rural and coastal economies, the government will do well to recognise the importance that small businesses play in any of these communities. Some 81%, of the over 5,500 businesses are classified as small businesses, with fewer than 50 employees. This is quite typical for rural areas, where small businesses, especially in the agricultural, hospitality, tourism, leisure sectors in particular, drive the local economy. I think what will be very welcome if the government might look again at the proposal and policy indeed that used to be in place.

I was told yesterday by a former supple servant, that back in the Tony Blair government, there was a stage event policy development in Whitehall, which was considered the rural proofing, considering what the impact of any policy might be, for those specific rural contexts. If that was reintroduced, I don't think we would have had policy announcements, such as the changes to agricultural property relief or indeed the business property relief changes, as regards to inheritance tax, which we know are already causing a greater degree of concern, where it is estimated 35% of businesses, and 39% of farm businesses, already cancelling proposed investment projects.

In anticipation of these changes. Rural areas, small businesses in rural and coastal areas, therefore need a bit of hope at some confidence from this government, and I think rural proofing, as a stage of the policy development, and also, dedicated specific strategy for the redevelopment of rural areas, would go some ways to restoring that face, and in the very short time I have left, I should also like to briefly touch on the importance of our higher education sector. It is true for across the UK that higher education institutions, if we are serious about ensuring growth across every part of the United Kingdom, universities and higher education institutions must play a critical role in any strategy.

And in my own constituency, some 3,300 jobs are supported by the universities in my constituency. To put that in context, that is a pain % of total

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jobs and it is a real concern that we hear so little about their current quandary. I am trying my best to get

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I am trying my best to get everybody in, speak a limit is now three minutes. I wish to pay tribute to the late

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I wish to pay tribute to the late Sir David Amess. I did not have the privilege of meeting him but his

17:49

John Slinger MP (Rugby, Labour)

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privilege of meeting him but his reputation precedes him. I am a member of the Speaker's Conference and we are doing all we can to ensure the changes needed and indeed the culture shift required, to deter crime prevent the intimidation of candidates and elected officials at all levels so our precious democracy could thrive. This is particularly important if we are to encourage young people to get involved in our political system. They are on about how young people, far from being a problem, they are a great resource, one that is often underutilised and that we must unleash.

I tried to do this in my constituency, and one of the ways was holding a policy event. Young people pitched in one minute, one a new policy idea or change they would bring in, questions from the audience, followed by a vote. Some lacked confidence, others came to the event straight from basketball sessions, good example of what we need to do, to go to the places where young people are and listen. I took the winning idea into the chamber when the Leader of the House answered and I thank her for that.

We should be bringing the voices of young people into the corridors of power, because young people are genuinely interested in their communities, lives, country, is definitely their world. They have excellent ideas. They are going to inherit the future, so we better encourage them to engage with politics so they can be the architects of the future, rather than merely exist in a world designed by generations past. Which have, to put it politely, singularly failed to create a world of opportunity for all of young people.

Their voices are not being heard enough. The focus is all too often elsewhere. For example, we heard much noise about the alleged attack by this government on pensioners. If you zoom out and look down from outer space, it is actually the younger generation who have been neglected by governments of all stripes. The young people do not get a triple lock, they should, job security is far less than it was for previous generations, and earlier in the week, I asked people on social media, to comment on what changes they would need an all generation to make, so younger people can have more influence on politics.

As said, we need to same opportunities that the generation before us had, they dismantled the letter, that they used to build their lives and then told us to figure it out. Just like told us to figure it out. Just like they did. When people say to me 'I don't politics', my response is politics does you. If you are not involved, you see the ground to those who understand politics and I have been proud to be part of the government rectifying back. I want to say in the limited time left, thank you to all members of this House and all staff, that have shown me the support and kindness, and the honourable member who epitomises this, it is a good example for this

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generation to the next. Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. I started by paying tribute to so I started by paying tribute to so David Amess. -- So David Amess. I started by speaking on some issues started by speaking on some issues from architecture and see, we attended the opening of the new attended the opening of the new careers and skills hub for south- eastern rail for after the opening, I took the Minister on a two of the I took the Minister on a two of the station.

As a part of the station and has been left abandoned since 2020, where the rail service would 2020, where the rail service would no longer stop at certain stops. It stood ready for passengers to use once again, and it was great to have once again, and it was great to have the noble Lord Hendy reiterated his government support for our campaign government support for our campaign to have a national rail service to have a national rail service again. Issues I have raised, with again.

Issues I have raised, with the return of the rail, it is the operation on the M20. I am sorry it operation on the M20. I am sorry it was necessary to present a petition to the House last week, on behalf of my constituents. It was hugely disappointed that the county council and resilience Forum introduced the operation once again, and it will remain in force until at least 4

17:55

Sojan Joseph MP (Ashford, Labour)

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August. The recent announcement that the charge will increase from September has disappointed many of September has disappointed many of my constituents. Taken together with my constituents. Taken together with what is in place, it means all these what is in place, it means all these routes will cost more. We should of course be encouraging people to take public transport wherever we can. And I recognise that these are in place to manage traffic numbers, place to manage traffic numbers, however, many of my constituents will have no option but to pay these increased charges, as it is the only increased charges, as it is the only route available to them, to get to their place of work.

Potholes are a blight on the roads in my blight on the roads in my constituency. As they are in the constituencies of most members. It constituencies of most members. It is wrong that, as a result of underinvestment, constituents have underinvestment, constituents have been expected to deal with the condition of poor roads and the condition of poor roads and the maintenance backlog that has built maintenance backlog that has built up. I welcome that the government is investing in this problem, by investing in this problem, by providing millions of pounds of funding for highway maintenance across the country this year.

This increase means Kent County Council will receive in the region of £16 million. They will of course go towards roadworks, but I plead on behalf of my constituents, there must be better coordination to ensure that any disruption is kept due a minimum. -- Kept to a minimum. I conclude by using this opportunity to thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker, and all my colleagues and the staff of this House. of this House.

17:55

Ms Julie Minns MP (Carlisle, Labour)

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It is an honour to speak in my second Sir David Amess debate. And to speak of my constituency of Carlisle, and the incredible Roman dig at there that is rewriting our understanding of written's agent history. Carlisle was no ordinary outpost. It was a strategic stronghold on the northern frontier of the Roman Empire, it served as a key military and logistical hub, guarding the western end of Hadrian's wall, and controlling movement between Roman Britain and the unconquered lands of Caledonia.

This city bore witness to the march of legions, the clash of cultures, the daily lives of soldiers, merchants, and their families who lived on the edge of the empire. And now, thanks to this dig, 2000 years later, we are uncovering their stories one layer at a time. The Roman dig at Carlo Cricket club has revealed not simply one of the most significant Roman bath houses ever discovered in Britain, but the largest building on Hadrian's Wall. An evidence to suggest that the site may have hosted the Roman emperor Severus himself during his final years for substance 2021, this community volunteer led excavation has unearthed over 4,000 artefacts from coins, pottery, to delegate -- Delicate tiny gemstones, to carved stone heads.

These do not only tell us about Roman engineering and might, they tell us about people, their habits, their beliefs, their luxuries, and their losses. Carlisle's Roman past is not a distant memory, it is alive between our feet. It reminds us that history is not just about battles, it is about communities, resilience, and the enduring human spirit, which I feel is exactly what we have heard this afternoon about all of our communities in a bit debate. I therefore invite members to say thank you to all of those volunteers involved in the dig, led by the wonderful Frank, from Wardell Thompson.

And all made possible thanks to funding from the government, Conlon Council, and lottery, they are not just uncovering Roman Carlisle, they are reminding us that we are but fleeting custodians of our communities. And we should always treat that responsibility the same

17:59

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

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treat that responsibility the same I join colleagues in remembering Sir David Amess, I want to acknowledge the death of my father-in-law last the death of my father-in-law last month, he was a wise, kind and month, he was a wise, kind and decent man that will be best. I do remain very cross that I was forced to travel back to this place to vote on the day that my father-in-law on the day that my father-in-law died. Members who have been accused of criminal behaviour can vote by proxy, but people with dying relatives cannot.

It is unacceptable relatives cannot. It is unacceptable and must change. It has been a privilege to serve the good people privilege to serve the good people of Newcastle-under-Lyme over the last year, being the voice of our community in Parliament is the honour of my life and I'm conscious honour of my life and I'm conscious of that responsibility every single day. In my maiden speech I made tackling the landfill site my number one priority. We ran at the one priority. We ran at the operators out of town, secured the closure notice and closed the place closure notice and closed the place down.

I am grateful to the environment agency for the work they do, and have done in recent weeks, to stabilise the situation, our to stabilise the situation, our focus must now be on a safe and secure restoration of the site. The SEND crisis in Staffordshire has been firmly on my agenda since the election, for parents and carers who must navigate every day a broken system to get children and young people the support they need and deserve. Fixing our roads has been a real priority, with a pothole survey, to help me hold the county council to account.

We have seen action across areas, the town centre, and the county council who watched lots of my speakers in the centre, I hope they will use the money given to them to get on with the job. It is unforgivable and inaccessible, the deaths of women, men and children are unforgivable. I was raised to believe actions have consequences, so it to do whatever we can to hold the Netanyahu regime to account, recognise the state of Palestine. The two state solution requires two states, it is a simple as that.

Last week I have the opportunity to attend one of the University graduation ceremonies, dig graduation to all the graduates and their families and I would like to pay tribute to the Vice Chancellor, standing down from the University. I wish him and his family well. I urge ministers next year to give support to the regeneration trust, I made the case before, the government has got lots Right, let's get this right as well, we need justice for members, long overdue. And I urge my colleagues in government to get this over the line.

We need support for our ceramics industry in Newcastle- under-Lyme and Staffordshire more broadly, I am eating with my constituents in local businesses, but there is much more we need to do. I will keep fighting for local jobs, like FedEx, who plan to cut 400, most change their mind, we cannot afford to lose jobs in the rural heartlands and the South. I said to the fathers, I will remain said to the fathers, I will remain

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I know some people will be hoping for a summer that is hot hot hot but many workers will not be because while we rightly have legal protections against cold in the protections against cold in the workplace, there is still no legal workplace, there is still no legal maximum when it comes to heat. So I was pleased that in the spring ministers began a process with the health and safety executive to look at workplace temperatures, and I at workplace temperatures, and I look forward to a timeline being set look forward to a timeline being set for public consultation.

Maximum working temperatures backed by law are already standard practice in other countries like Spain and Germany. But to be clear this isn't Germany. But to be clear this isn't just about stopping work when the sun shines. It's about commonsense protections, things like ventilation, rest breaks, call uniforms, flexible hours. The climate is changing, and so too must our laws. Turning to another summer matter, as we head to the summer recess I think the members across this House will no doubt be thinking about their summer reading list.

I'm sure you might have a few titles sure you might have a few titles lined up yourself, but how often do we stop to think about where those books are printed? Because quiet books are printed? Because quiet revolution is happening in the publishing industry. Which means millions and millions of books every single year are being printed in single year are being printed in Bedfordshire. And yet for some time this has remained a really well-kept secret. And that's why I called upon Amazon to include the words printed in Dunstable in every book produced at their Bedfordshire site.

And to make my point, I even wrote a children's story of my own. Which tells the story of a little book with an identity crisis because he doesn't know where he's from, and he goes all around the country, from Bristol in the south to Aberdeen in Scotland. And like all good stories it has a happy ending because the local MP... I challenged Amazon to make my story come true, and I'm make my story come true, and I'm absolutely delighted to be able to tell the House today that from this week, every book printed by Amazon week, every book printed by Amazon in Dunstable will say just that, in Dunstable will say just that, that it's printed in Dunstable.

A brilliant way to put the town and brilliant way to put the town and its people on the map. So whatever you and other members are reading in the next few weeks, whether it's biography, romance, I don't know, maybe political thriller, I hope you all have a great summer.

18:03

Alex Mayer MP (Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard, Labour)

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Is a privilege to speak in this debate in the memory of Sir David

18:05

Chris Webb MP (Blackpool South, Labour)

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Amess. My home town of Blackpool is full of character and resilience. full of character and resilience. It's people power, community is close-knit and despite facing more than a decade of neglect we remain than a decade of neglect we remain hopeful for the future. You have to spend long in my constituency in black. To feel the warmth and black. To feel the warmth and strength of our cultural spirit. But as the independent commission on neighbour has made clear in its recent report, our communities have been asked to pay more than its fair been asked to pay more than its fair share of the country's hardship.

And nowhere is starker than Blackpool South where we have 34 mission- critical neighbourhoods, more than any other constituency in the country. That represents nearly country. That represents nearly every part of our town where 97.8% of our population lives, including me and my family. I see the impact of this daily, exhausted public services, the empty shop fronts, the services, the empty shop fronts, the health inequalities and the frustrations many feel when they see new developments, new initiatives new developments, new initiatives new developments, new initiatives and new opportunities.

I'm proud this government is working on a new Child Poverty Strategy for many of the young people in my constituency but it must be backed by real but it must be backed by real targeted action at a neighbourhood level. Crime too is concentrated. Over 40% of all antisocial behaviour incidents in Blackpool happen in just three areas. A 16 yard girl told me recently that everyone she knows in the area carries a knife, and is involved in drugs or gangs. It's nearly impossible not to get involved she said.

Gangs make you feel like you are sort of powerful, that's the way it is. That's Blackpool. It is in the Blackpool I know and love. This is the result of communities being left behind and let down for too long. But where we focus, we've seen progress. In the Brunswick Board, banks in the multiagency group has seen a 40% drop in youth -related activities. The same with health, research from the cultural community show young people in cultural -- coastal towns suffer the worst outcomes of almost any measure but this is avoidable and thanks to local charities, young people are getting that support every day.

Organisations like the boys and girls club already do vital work with our young people, and this summer local boxing champion Brian Rose will be launching box Park, a sum of three toxic initiative with partnerships to stop young people causing ASB in the summer. It's a free event and initiative I will be taking part of as well. But we all know where we need to focus. Who needs the most help, and we know how to do it by empowering these places, listening to communities and targeting support with the greatest targeting support with the greatest impact.

Global South needs to have investment because when Blackpool succeeds, Britain succeeds.

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It's a privilege to speak in this adjournment debates named of course in honour of Sir David Amess. Sir in honour of Sir David Amess. Sir David Amess to the quiet power of backbench MPs in this House, shining a light on issues all too often left in the shadows. In the same spirit I in the shadows. In the same spirit I rise today to speak about EDS. A group of rare inherited disorders that affect the body's connective that affect the body's connective tissue.

Though it is officially recognised as affecting around one in 5,000 people globally, that figure is widely believed to be much higher due to misdiagnosis and under higher due to misdiagnosis and under recognition. In the UK is thought that around four and 60 people every constituency are living with EDS, and yet it remains one of the most misdiagnosed and neglected conditions in our healthcare system. Of these 460 people, it's my Of these 460 people, it's my constituent on Edwards. I had the chance to meet him early this year chance to meet him early this year and his story has stayed with me ever since.

A few years ago while mountain biking he was bitten by a mountain biking he was bitten by a tick and developed Lyme disease and it was any part of the story for the pretender he also had EDS, a condition that affects the college condition that affects the college responsible for supporting skin, joints, blood vessels and internal organs. The people like him back mean chronic dislocations, unbearable pain and neurological unbearable pain and neurological dysfunction and craniosacral instability where the school becomes unstable and begins to shift on the spine.

As a result his head no longer sit safely in his spine and the instability is crashing vital areas like the brainstem and spinal-cord. He lived with pain, frequent seizures and level of disability that has robbed him of the life he once loved, fishing, mountain biking and simply going outside. He told me he feels that his quality-of-life has been complete shattered. For a man like me in his early 30s to be in this position is heartbreaking. And should be anybody's reality in a country as wealthy as ours.

The NHS current offers no treatment for CCR and it lacks both expertise and imaging capabilities, for example the upright MRIs needed to diagnose his condition are not available on the NHS. Connor is now crowdfunding £50,000 to travel to a specialist clinic in Barcelona in the hope of receiving life-saving surgery to fuse his goal to his spine. He is fuse his goal to his spine. He is not alone. Takes patients up to 12 not alone. Takes patients up to 12 years to receive diagnosis.

Access to specialist is patchy at best and those with the means often turn to those with the means often turn to private care. Those without suffer, deteriorate and navigate a system that doesn't see them. As we clear, EDS is not rare. It's really EDS is not rare. It's really diagnosed. What begins as a physical health condition quickly becomes a health condition quickly becomes a mental health crisis. A debate was held last year and those members who held last year and those members who spoke powerfully that do never had the opportunity to meet with the then minister.

A copy where this conversation ends. I will apply to the backbench business committee for a debate on it and I urge colleagues across the House adjoining the server. Let's make space for the corners in every constituency. It's not just about one young man, it's about everyone not just waiting for treatment are waiting for someone to believe them. I wish all honourable believe them. I wish all honourable members and especially all Parliamentary staff a restful summer break. Thank you. break. Thank you.

18:09

Adam Thompson MP (Erewash, Labour)

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Thank you. I spent my youth in the grass-roots music scene, playing in bands and putting on shows with my friends. The music was rough, the deer rarely worked, and if we got one lonely punter who wasn't a family member turn up, we considered that a win. The DIY music scene was where my journey into politics began. In a hardcore punk band writing songs about disenfranchisement from the world around us. We were kids, expressing ourselves with electric guitars and microphones, indeed I often think how many colleagues in this House cut their political teeth in the debate chamber of the Oxford Union or others who cut theirs on the floor of the trade Union Congress.

I cut mine in a mosh pit with a microphone in my hand and music in my heart. Covered in other people's sweat and blowing out my vocal chords and screaming nonsense like that nurse will rise. When I grew up, a band could release an album, go on tour in medium-sized venues and what they would necessarily become rich, they were at least able to get by. Today with the proliferation of streaming services and the erosion of the value of ticket and merchandise sales, vivax can barely break even on music streams, and the venues are closing.

As many acts operate in pay to play environment, losing money every time you play. While indicative of a failing industry, the existence of might pay to play has long been true for small venues and small bands but I understand this year Glastonbury was paid to play for even some of the biggest acts. Indeed the Independent recently reported that one act had spent £80,000 of their own money on a Glastonbury set whilst small acts will offer just 250 quid to play one of the smaller stages and weren't even given enough tickets to cover the whole band.

This is a deeply unsustainable system that freezes out all but those with the private means to pay their own way for the it's killing our creativity. Have you noticed how in recent years there has been a rise in the number of solo artists and a decline in the number of bands? In my view this effect is born not only out of a change in music taste but out of simple economic. If a promoter is paying £100 to an act to play, a solo act takes home £100 while a five piece act scraped by with a measly £20 each.

I had this personally the one-time hour band were paid anything for a cake and didn't cover our train tickets. As colleagues look forward to the summer recess I would like to make a request of everyone. Colleagues, please go and see a band this summer. Preferably in a small venue, preferably a band you've never heard of. Please buy some of their merchandise and tell them they were good, even if they weren't. Especially if they weren't. Because without any Dixon, there is no chapel round, without not right, there is no Bikini Kill command without nurse Joy, there is no right or chili peppers.

Please support the grassroots. It's everything.

18:13

Jayne Kirkham MP (Truro and Falmouth, Labour )

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Will list a speech by far.

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-- Call list. Is an honour to speak in this debate is that I want to start by congratulating from a town council congratulating from a town council and source FM in my constituency for the opening of the resource project this weekend, which will bring community radio actually and community cafe to everybody in Falmouth, and thank you and good luck to all working for a pool in Falmouth. We are trying to get money Falmouth. We are trying to get money from the government.

Grass-roots fund and others and we are looking for a public-private partnership. Local to them are the dogs in Falmouth and we are looking to restore the Falmouth great rail line restore the Falmouth great rail line has been shut for 20 years to take 77 lorries off the roads in each trip. In Falmouth we have the docks, trip. In Falmouth we have the docks, and Falmouth Harbour which will have fantastic expansion plans and be looking to access the ports fund to looking to access the ports fund to make that happen and bring those new jobs to the town.

I'm so pleased with what this government has with what this government has achieved on water. There is a scheme that has been announced this morning to work on the CSO in creamery Gardens between our two main beaches Gardens between our two main beaches in Falmouth at last. I want to congratulate campaigners like plastic free Falmouth, the SAS and plastic free Falmouth, the SAS and some of the schools like the school eco-club in my constituency who have worked so hard for this. I want to say a little bit about a group in my constituency who have worked together and formed a support group because they all have endometriosis first David Amess was a champion for people with endometriosis, and we've been working to get training for healthcare workers in that area.

As a Co-op MP, I welcome community Right to Buy which will be forthcoming in the devolution bill. I have Constituents wanting to rescue a Methodist chapel and a pub, and the ship Inn in Paul Lowe. The funding source to go with that would be very helpful, and I'm looking forward to that hopefully being announced, and to continue that cooperative theme, I've been strongly supporting the sent moors community who have been trying to build affordable housing for the local community that has been decimated by second homes.

And I want to thank Alan Matlin was also involved in the Homes for Ukraine scheme in Saint moors and Falmouth and Penrith in welcoming refugees you have been doing the same thing. I wanted to thank Simon and my food banks, particular Simon for making Cornwall a foundation living wage place which is a fantastic initiative. Also helping their communities. The new beginnings community Association in Malabar, friends who have been bringing green spaces back to the heart of urban places, and the truer loops campaign restoring active travel routes around Truro.

I'm a new MP and many of these are very new projects, and hope to be able to stand here next year and the year after and the year after that and say we actually got after that and say we actually got

18:15

Perran Moon MP (Camborne and Redruth, Labour)

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I want to start by paying tribute to Sir David Amess, I did not know him personally but I am moved by the references to his life across this House, particularly by the father of the House. Madame Deputy Speaker, this debate in his name presents me with a fantastic opportunity to do something that I so rarely have the chance to do. Talk about Cornwall. I would first like to speak at the immense opportunity that Cornwall has in its future.

An opportunity recognised by the Labour government. It is hard to overstate the economic and strategic value of Cornwall's vast assets in minerals, which are clearly fundamental to our economic growth and Net Zero ambitions. In the UK, we import to inform as far up the field as the Democratic Republic of Congo, China, Australia, with all the damaging environmental impacts that come with such imports. Yet, in Cornwall, we sit on the third highest grade tin deposits in the world and there is plenty of it. This is not just a statistic, it is a strategic national asset.

We have 10 lithium geothermal ground source heat, but we are also blessed with the opportunities for offshore wind in the Celtic seek, offshore wind and solar, and tidal energy, from critical minerals extraction, under ground, to wind energy off the coast, Cornwall is ready to play its part in the new economy. The task is vast, but the prize is priceless, energy security of reducing our dependence on volatile international markets, climate actions securing materials we need for green technologies, jobs and regeneration in our Kurdish Celtic committees, bringing back employment to communities, desperate to grasp those opportunities.

Reducing economic disparities between places comes hand-in-hand with bringing opportunity to people. Not just raising skills, but building communities where skills are awarded. The renewable energy and critical mineral opportunities are not the only factors that make our land so distinct. Our language, culture and heritage, as well as our economic potential, Mark is out on this island. I want to ensure that our language, culture and distinctiveness are recognised, respected, reflected, in decisions made by the heart of the government. This includes getting a devolution deal, that works for Cornwall and celebrate our national minority status.

Our language, cultural and industrial mining heritage are not just things we do, they are who we are. They are part of our landscape and identity, they have helped to define who we were, who we are, and I am certain, who we will be. Madame Deputy Speaker, I have to find what I strongly believe Cornwall can be. But I want to highlight very briefly the barriers we faced. In terms of health qualities, we have struggled with poor health outcomes, and our remote coastal geography.

These health outcomes are connected to poor educational attainment. To that end, I would encourage members to join my adjournment debate in September on government support for remote Coastal Communities. remote Coastal Communities.

18:19

Markus Campbell-Savours MP (Penrith and Solway, Labour)

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It is a pleasure to speak in this debate on what is a good time to take stock of my first year serving my constituents in this place. I am extremely grateful to the old hands at their sage advice, however, there is one piece of advice I was given which I am happy to call out as the worst advice I have ever taken. Don't rush into recruiting staff, they said. Take some time to work out what you need. Madame Deputy Speaker, by last autumn, I was buried under so many emails, I thought I would never have time to sit in the chamber ever again.

I appeal to colleagues never to give that advice to new MPs ever again. Once my excellent staff were in place, they have got to work double hard to keep on top of the new inquiries and clear the backlog and I thank them today. But I should politely advise the man who regularly sent me an email consisting of little more than a daily express headline and a link, I am sorry, but we are unlikely to respond to all your emails. My constituency is an unusual one, one of the largest seats in the country, takes the Solway coast, part of the Lake District National Park, Carlow, and Penrith, and about seven or eight smaller towns, all in Cumbria, is very different, all pointing to different service centres.

If I am honest, Madame Deputy Speaker, it is hard work making sure I visit all my villages and towns, in my constituency, I can feel I am spreading myself very thin. I am sorry if some constituents feel they don't see enough of me, but I assure them, I am home in the constituency every week, I nine grateful for those living there who reach out and I'm grateful. Meeting farmers, and attending Maryport Carnival having two highlights of my year. These are strange times politically.

You could After securing such a huge majority of MPs at the last election that MPs like me would be feeling quite upbeat. I am not. Otherwise the government grasping the nettle on a range of issues, which appear to be beyond the political palette of the last government, retired to secure economic growth and rebalance how limited public money spent for the better, and I know that change takes time, I also see a public who are struggling and are angry. And when the public gets angry, they reach out for forces that feed on that angle, forces that have always afraid on that anger.

Between the emails from those telling them they are complicit in the murdering are complicit in the murdering Palestinian children or rape gangs, they are pleading with me not to try to belie Reform, not to outdo right-wing rhetoric, while I appreciate the frustrations of those sending me these emails, they rarely suggest an alternative approach. Here is mine. We accept we live in a country that is broken, we acknowledged there is people living in dire need. Do I have time? No. I recently met a minister who was keen to express to me that after 14 years of Conservative government, we must not forget on these benches we are still the disruptors, I believe that is a good lesson for all my honourable friends, especially the front bench.

18:22

Lewis Atkinson MP (Sunderland Central, Labour)

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It is a privilege to contribute to the Sir David Amess debate, he proudly championed Southend and its people, and it is in that spirit I would like to speak about Sunderland today. To start, the retiring head teacher of a Roman Catholic school in my constituency has, for 20 years, worked with Mills at the heart of that fantastic warm community school. She is adored by pupils, staff and parents alike, and I want to pay tribute to her today and wish her a very happy retirement.

Can I also take its opportunity to thank all teachers across Sunderland Central for all the work I have done for young people this year and to wish them a well-deserved summer break. I said in my maiden speech in October that Sunderland was a city on up. Well, promise made? Promise delivered. It feels like yesterday, we were at Wembley watching Tommy scored a late winner in the play-off final. Which means we are now on the eve of being back in the Premier League.

Sunderland fans are spending the summer pondering all the big questions. With our embarrassment of riches, who will be start on the right wing. When will Chris score his first Premier league goal? And when it will the views on Sam offender echo around St James' Park? -- SAMARTH TYAGI: Fender. I hope she will join me in wishing Sunderland FC well for the new season and also to celebrate the passing of the governance bill, to protect the health of our national game, despite the shameful opposition of reform and Conservative MPs.

Since being elected, my priority has been investing in Sunderland. There is such a buzz around the city. Cranes in the sky, businesses announcing they are moving jobs to Riverside Sunderland, the new crossing opening, women's Rugby World Cup. Government decisions are bringing further investment, rebalancing Council and NHS spending. I will continue to work publicly and privately to bring further investment in Sunderland. In our neighbourhoods, in our music and creative industry, in our public services. One facility that has had previous investments that we have incredible frustration with is Sunderland station.

18 months after opening, the facilities are still not working, and it is empty not good enough. I am eagerly awaiting northern trends at Network Rail's work, delivering the improvements they have assured me will be made. The station becomes rather less empty warehouse and more like the vibrant hub city deserves. With that, I wish you can all be house staff and colleagues, a very happy summer recess.

18:25

Peter Prinsley MP (Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, Labour)

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Final Backbench contribution. in the debate in the memory of Sir David Amess. Along with Jo Cox, he was murdered in a previous Parliament and I know many honourable members Mrs friendship very deeply and may his memory be a blessing. Mine is a beautiful constituency for members will be aware that its namesake, Saint Edmund, was until the 14th century the patron saint of England. He ruled East Anglia, between 1855 A.D. And 869 A.D., until he was killed by Viking raiders, who shot arrows into him until he bristled like a hedgehog and then cut off his head and threw it into the forest.

However, when they found his head, it miraculously reattached to his body. This was one of his miracles. It is my hope, of course, that when we elect a mayor for East Anglia next May, the new mayor may indeed choose this as the site of his new office. Since being elected, I have secured funding for the construction of much-needed new hospital, save the park flyer, and the 73 and 73 a bus route, securing £9 million of additional funding for bus routes.

We sorted out the potholes, securing £11 million, and station Hill is no longer cold Pothole Ali. With fixed breakfast clubs in at the Academy and private, free breakfast clubs are particularly important. In Stowmarket we have the brilliant food museum, running next addition right now, called school dinners. I visited last week with my honourable friend, the member for Washington and Gateshead South. We sampled flan, new potatoes, beans, followed by delicious sponge and custard. Free school meals at breakfast clubs will be one of the most important things this government does to help working families.

Now we are about to break for our summer recess. All we MPs have been learning on the job. And as I just discovered, I job. And as I just discovered, I have more to learn than many. I wish all my friends, all 649 of them, a wonderful summer recess and I hope

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everyone gets a good rest. Thank you. Frontbenchers. Liberal Democrat

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spokesperson. Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. It has been privileged to speak in the debate, one that honours the legacy of Sir David Amess, an MP that tirelessly advocated for his constituents. And I can feel how all the colleagues who have spoken in the colleagues who have spoken in this debate are also deeply passionate about their communities and I am privileged to be part of

18:28

Zöe Franklin MP (Guildford, Liberal Democrat)

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and I am privileged to be part of this. Sir David Amess' energy conservation Bill was ahead of its time, recognising action on energy poverty and environmental policy are two sides of the same coin. And today, I want to speak same spirit about one of the defining challenges of our time, the climate and nature emergency. Despite suggestions from Reform MPs and some conservatives as well, that policies on the environment are a waste of government time and money, residents from across my constituency of Guildford, have spoken clearly and urgently and passionately about the crisis facing our environment.

What is striking is not just how much people care, but how they believe government is falling short. 65% of Surrey residents do not think the government is currently doing enough on climate and nature. Surrey County Council owns inside unit polling shows that the policy consistently ranks in the top five public concerns alongside healthcare, and NHS privatisation. Determination to see action begins young, with my constituents from primary school, who wrote to me recently about their concerns about deforestation, the heartbreaking loss of animals, birds and plants that comes with it.

They understand cutting down trees fuels global warming, destroys animal habitats, and wipes out potential medicine solutions that could one day save human lives. A school eco- club spoke to me about a challenge of pollution in our waterways, one of our biggest failures. Action is happening far too slowly, but we cannot collectively do better. Community action groups within my constituency, like A Zero Carbon Guildford are doing the kind of work we should be backing at national level.

They are working with water Rangers and the trust, to protect waterways and monitor sewage pollution. With nearly 500 residents trained in citizen science, nine water testing hubs now active, and a new community water lab opened in partnership with the University of Surrey, in my constituency, this is proof that local people are not just waiting for change, they are making it. But they shouldn't have to do this alone. They tell me they want to see their government match their urgency. They want visible leadership, nature protection.

They want tougher laws to stop sewage polluting our rivers. They want Green Spaces Bill from all planning decisions, as they want support to make their homes warmer and cheaper to run. All at this point, we already know the evidence, insulator and retrofitting homes by the equivalent of six nuclear power stations, it could cut hospital bills by 1/4 and could save the NHS 1.5 billion a year, and prevents 10,000 deaths annually, due to cold and damp housing, this isn't just an environment of Policy Connect as a health and cost-of-living policy as well, so I say to colleagues across this House, if residents are engaged schoolchildren are this active, what excuse do we not have to act with A-level of urgency that matches theirs? I will end by highlighting one of the ways we can lead, by supporting sustainable transport.

Residents are asking for better, greener, transport options. They want joint infrastructure that serves people, not just cars. That is why I am pushing for a new train station in Guildford and calling for the government's support. Guildford residents have been waiting for more than decade on a decision on this. And with major housing is taking place locally, the appetite for local business and development for Greenaway's travel of the government because my commitments to rail travel, I simply say now is the time.

Let this summer recess not be a pause in our work, but a call to action for when we return, let us deliver the clean-air, status and low carbon transport systems that communities are calling for, because if we do not act, we are not just failing future generations but this one. And I will end by saying to all colleagues, I hope we all have the restorative recess that I think we all need after our first, for many others, our first year in this place and would also like to say an enormous thank you to all staff across the House where they are working for us or they hope to make this House function.

Without them, we would not be able to our residents in the way we do. Finally, I wish everyone a good recess. Thank I wish everyone a good recess. Thank

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Thank you. It's a great pleasure

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Thank you. It's a great pleasure to close the Sir David Amess adjournment debates on behalf of His Majesty Opposition. Although I did not have the privilege of knowing not have the privilege of knowing said David personally, I've heard time and again from colleagues across the House about the warmth and generosity and the conviction and generosity and the conviction that defined him. His remember not only with great affection but with admiration for his tireless commitment to his constituents and commitment to his constituents and the courses that he championed.

His ability to weave so many of those causes into these end of term causes into these end of term debates became something of a parliamentary tradition in itself. And stands as a lasting example of what it means to be a true local

18:33

David Reed MP (Exmouth and Exeter East, Conservative)

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18:43

Anna McMorrin MP, Assistant Whip (Cardiff North, Labour)

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Minister.

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Thank you. And I am honoured to close this debate, the final one of the term from the government the term from the government despatch box. And as a government whip, I don't often have the opportunity to speak in this opportunity to speak in this chamber. So it is a genuine privilege that this is my first time privilege that this is my first time responding in this way. Usually I'm the one lurking just out of shot, muttering about speaking limits and muttering about speaking limits and timings, so standing here feels just a little bit risky but I promise I won't abuse the privilege much anyway.

I am proud to be part of anyway. I am proud to be part of this Parliament. Representing the most women ever elected. We still most women ever elected. We still have a way to go, but as only the 479 female ever to be elected to 479 female ever to be elected to this place, it is striking to think that all those women who came before that all those women who came before me wouldn't even have filled this Parliament. But this debate has been reflective, respectful and shared by reflective, respectful and shared by United values.

And in doing so, we honour the memory of Sir David Amess, a man whose life and service embodied the very spirit of this place. A parliamentarian whose good humour deep commitment to his constituents won him respect from all sides of the stop and we've heard some powerful speeches today, and I'd like to pay tribute to some of them. I commend the Member for Harrow East in bringing for this debate, particular the work that he has done on raising the plight of those hostages taken on 7 October on 7 October 2023 and of the horrific attacks on innocent civilians in Gaza.

Those responsible must be held to account. And he raises many other issues. I won't go through them, but I will ensure the appropriate ministers right to the member to answer the questions he raises. The Member for Blaydon and Consett is a strong champion for her constituency, and point out the importance of bus services to her constituents, quite rightly. And our buses bill will allow the leaders to take back control, which I know she take back control, which I know she The Member for Brigg and Immingham seeks better transport connections and another Transport Secretary has this high on her agenda as well.

The Father of the House paid an emotional tribute to Sir David Amess, as did the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford and the Member for Romford, and of course, not forgetting, the member for Southend West and Leigh. And they raise the huge impact that this has had on a huge impact that this has had on a David's family. -- On a David but my family. I will make sure these are taken by the ministers. Our thoughts continue to be with a David Amess' family and friends.

The member raised was hepatitis A in July, I pay tribute to him and his campaign to raise awareness of this disease. The Member for Newcastle upon Tyne champions jobs and opportunities, in her constituency. Especially those jobs of the future. And those from offshore renewables. The Member for Stoke-on-Trent spoke about real life impact the Labour government has unreal people in his constituency, the rollout of three free breakfast clubs. He invites a minister, to visit his town centre. And I know many would take him up on that.

Myself included. But this, I know, competes with the Member for Eastbourne, who invites all of us to visit his wonderful constituency, and he is a great advert for summer holidays there. The Member for East Cambridgeshire raises the important matter of restoration and renewal in this place. I will make sure his comments reach the Leader of the House but I know many of these issues are matters for perhaps rather than the government. The Member for Harlow is a huge champion, for his constituents, and I am sure the phrase Oxford Cambridge Harlow corridor will catch on.

And I am impressed that the Member for Luton North completed her 200th Small business Saturday. And offer her congratulations on that mammoth commitment. Access to banking services and hopes form a central part of the speech for the Member for Berwickshire, as I know this is something shared across the this is something shared across the House. And we are accelerating the rollout of those banking hubs. The mental Warrington South spoke about the importance of inclusive education and I share her passion. As she recognises how having a Labour government brings that change to young people.

The Member for Reading Central rightly praises the Football Governance Bill, which would have prevented the fate that Reading football club suffered, we look forward to a better season for them, but I would say not too good, when playing against Cardiff. The Member for family raised active travel and the importance to his constituents, and I'm pleased we are the government are prioritising back. The Member for Nuneaton spoke passionately of her constituency, and is rightly proud of its place as home to the first official Lionesses match, and that I congratulate the Member for her work locally and campaigns, and also her ability to speak from her depth of experience about the horrors unfolding in Gaza.

And that this horror must stop. The member speaks with his usual elegance and I know his constituency

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