Commons Chamber

Thursday 16th July 2026

(began 1 week, 4 days ago)

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Alan Campbell Portrait Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Tynemouth, Labour)
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to talk about what might happen in that legislative progress process, then I'll help her to achieve that.

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Euan Stainbank many constituents have reported significant delays to requests for medical information. requests for medical information. My constituent Grahame, for whom it took five months from first contacting the DVLA to resolve his contacting the DVLA to resolve his inquiry, reported to me that this delay had a significant impact on his mental health due to the loss of independence. Behind each of independence. Behind each statistics there is a person. So to add my name to the Member for Erewash, which I welcomed earlier Erewash, which I welcomed earlier with the leader arranged for a statement after the recess for DfT Ministers to hear about DVLA waiting times from all members in

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this House and update the House on what they are doing to resolve them. Yeah. It's just unacceptable that

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It's just unacceptable that people face delays due to medical conditions and we recognise that such delays do have an do have such delays do have an do have knock on consequences. As I said previously, the DVLA are working hard to reduce delays and have introduced a new casework system which will improve things significantly. But I will take up the matter with the relevant Minister and as they monitor the progress, if a statement is required on our return, then I'll certainly give that some thought.
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Steve Reed Portrait Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Streatham and Croydon North, Labour )
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that all parts of our country are ready for devolution. We need to devolve power out of Whitehall so devolve power out of Whitehall so that we can rebalance wealth, power and opportunity right across this and opportunity right across this country. This is the second richest country in Europe, and yet England has seven of the ten poorest has seven of the ten poorest regions in northern Europe. That is the case for change. Devolution the case for change. Devolution requires strong local councils delivering good public services, supporting economic growth and closely connected to the communities they serve.

Two tier structures are confusing for residents divide responsibilities, slow down decisions, duplicate costs and blur accountability. In many areas, existing boundaries no longer match patterns of local economies, public services or local identities. We cannot continue with an outdated and misaligned system that does not serve local people well. We can do better. That is why today I am announcing further decisions on local government reorganisation in remaining areas of the programme, subject to parliamentary approval. I have decided to implement proposals for new councils in the following areas and in some of these areas, modification powers will be used to make the boundary changes requested alongside proposals for ease.

Madam Deputy Speaker, I will refer to these proposals in a shortened form, but the specifics are in the accompanying written statement. In Derbyshire and Derby, the two unitary option put forward by Chesterfield, Derby, Erewash and High Peak, including boundary changes in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay. The four unitary proposal put forward by Exeter and Plymouth, including boundary changes in East Sussex and Brighton and Hove. The two unitary proposal, including boundary changes requested by Brighton and Hove City Council except for the parish of Falmer, the one unitary proposal in Gloucestershire.

The four unitary proposal in Hertfordshire include including boundary changes except for the ward of Arbury in Kent and Medway. The four unitary proposal, put forward by Dover, Swale and Thanet in Lancashire, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen. The four unitary proposal put forward by Chorley, Lancaster, Preston, Ribble Valley, South Ribble and West Lancashire in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland are two unitary option put forward by Leicester City Council, including boundary changes in Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. The four unitary proposal, put forward by Lincoln City Council, including boundary changes leaving North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire unchanged in Nottinghamshire and Nottingham, are two unitary option put forward by Nottingham City Council, including boundary changes.

The three unitary proposal in Oxfordshire, including boundary changes in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent. The two unitary proposal, put forward by East Staffordshire, Stafford and Cannock Chase, but also by Stoke on Trent. The two unitary proposal in Warwickshire, the two unitary proposal in Worcestershire. In both Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and West Sussex. I am not announcing decisions today because further time is required to get the decisions right. Madam Deputy Speaker, everyone involved wants to see stronger local councils delivering better local services, which will improve the lives of the people we serve.

The decisions announced today will do that and improve local government for over 15 million people. We will see 38 councils operating across these areas in place of the current 134, this will result in over 250 fewer senior posts and significant salary savings, and nearly 3000 fewer councillors. This could save up to £20 million a year on council councillor allowances alone. Across these areas, councils themselves projected that these decisions could lead to net savings of around £1 billion by the end of 2030 233, when the anticipated benefits are fully realised.

Savings that will be reinvested into frontline services local people care about the most across England. Once all decisions are taken, we will have cut the number of councils from 317 to a maximum of 173. This will simplify and strengthen local government, serving over 20 million people and reorganisation will also support city growth. For example, Plymouth is a nationally significant defence growth location and a housebuilding priority driven by investment at Devonport. Leicester is a major urban economy facing cross-boundary housing, employment and infrastructure pressures, including unmet housing need.

Our decisions today will help those two cities grow, along with others including Preston, Derby, Nottingham, Exeter, Oxford, Brighton and Hove and Lincoln. These bigger cities will be crucial in making sure that our country can build the homes we need. I am tremendously grateful for all the hard work councils put into their proposals, but I also appreciate that some members of this House and some councils will disagree with my decisions. I am sure that we can all agree that the hard work of transition to new councils must continue to be a shared endeavour across local and central government.

It's something we all need to get right to protect the services. Some of the most vulnerable people in our communities rely on. A broad support offer is in place for councils, including support to councils through our sector advisers and through funding to the Local Government Association. We have already announced £63 million in capacity funding to support the reorganisation process. I am pleased to provide further detail today on how this funding will be allocated. Each area will receive an unprecedented 900 zero zero £0 per new unitary council in capacity funding.

On top of this, we are committing up to 150 zero zero £0 in supplementary funding as part of a wider package of support for children's services, adult social care and public health leadership. Taken together, this means there will be over £1 million for each new unitary council in capacity funding for every reorganisation area. This is the first time reorganisation has been supported in this way, and it shows this government's commitment to supporting councils to make sure we get these reforms right.

Madam Deputy Speaker, the programme will now move forward in line with the timetable already set out, with elections to the new unitary councils scheduled for May 2027, ahead of new councils taking up their powers in April 2028. Today marks a significant milestone for the future of local government, with decisions now taken on 19 out of 212 tier areas across England. Reorganising local government is not a debate about where to draw lines on a map or about structures and systems. It is about making real improvements to people's lives and to the communities that they are part of this reform programme.

Madam Deputy Speaker is ambitious, but it is the right thing to do and I commend this statement to the House.
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James Cleverly Portrait Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly MP (Braintree, Conservative)
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Shadow Secretary of State. Sir James Cleverly. James Cleverly. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I thank the Secretary of State for advanced sight of his statement. for advanced sight of his statement. This is blatant. Madam Deputy Speaker, this is blatant. These changes, like so many of his decisions, have been driven by party politics. The Secretary of State tried to cancel local elections. He was caught trying to tip the balance in Labour's favour, in Labour's favour, and nothing in today's statement has done anything to dispel the belief that this is purely partisan.

Many communities have been left in limbo, while Labour councils have been allowed to redraw the map on which future elections that they will be engaged in will be fought. Can the Secretary of State honestly say that that's going to inspire confidence in the integrity of this process? And if he wanted accusations of gerrymandering to be put aside, why on earth did he create such a clearly gerrymandered set of boundaries? And, Deputy Speaker, The maps speak for themselves in Devon.

He's accepted the proposals put forward by Labour run Exeter in Plymouth. In Leicester he has accepted the submissions by Labour controlled council in Nottingham. He has accepted the proposal put forward by the Labour run City Council. I could go on and on and on, but time does not permit. How on earth? How on earth can the Secretary of State expect anyone to believe that this process has been politically impartial? Devolution should be about transferring powers away from Whitehall.

It's about giving freedom to succeed to local areas, and for them to keep the reward of that success, creating the conditions for more investment, more jobs, more opportunity. But none of that is dependent upon imposing a single organisational model from Whitehall. Unitaries should never be the admission price for devolution deal, nor should local areas be compelled into so-called strategic authorities, simply because he and Whitehall prefer organisational uniformity. Devolution should mean trusting local people to make local decisions.

The Secretary of State says he is holding councils to the standards of best value of transparency, consultation, good governance, sound decision making. Yet by the very same standards, he fails his own test. Minimal consultation, partisan judgements, arbitrary decision making. The Secretary of State speaks about stronger councils. Yet some of these new authorities will be burdened with crippling debt from the day they are created. Take take. Nottinghamshire. Madam Deputy Speaker, Rushcliffe Council. Conservative run council well run, financially secure.

Yet under his plans it will be carved up with most of its assets transferred to a debt ridden labour Nottingham City Council. How on earth can weakening well-managed councils to prop up bankrupt ones create a stronger foundation for local government? And what of local democracy? He says with great pride, how many local representatives are going to be culled in these proposals? Decisions taken further away from the communities that they affect. Planning powers becoming increasingly removed from the very people who have to live with the implications of those decisions.

And he complains about two tier local government. But his own mayoral proposals create two tiers of local government. So, so so please, can you inform the House? Is two tier local government good or is two tier local government bad? He doesn't seem to know. And also, what assessment has the Secretary of State made of the democratic deficit? And given the pace with which he is driving these changes, and the fact that a number of the proposals have still not been outlined today and won't be until the autumn, what on earth gives him the confidence that they will be implemented in time for shadow elections in May of next year? And what assessment has he made of the likelihood of judicial reviews further delaying this timetable before 2029? Madam Deputy Speaker, this statement raises more questions than it answers.

If this proves to be the Secretary of State's final appearance at the despatch box in this role. No, I we don't agree, but I've enjoyed I've enjoyed working with him across the despatch box. But that. But I hope he recognises the mess that he is leaving behind. Yeah. He cannot believe that he has squandered this opportunity for genuine devolution. Instead, his legacy will be one of taking power away from local communities, imposing an unfair funding review on councils and generate and gerrymandering local government boundaries.

And I find it difficult to believe that is a record he will genuinely be proud of.
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Steve Reed Portrait Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Streatham and Croydon North, Labour )
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Yeah, yeah. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Thank you. >> Madam Deputy Speaker. Can I first of all say that I've enjoyed first of all say that I've enjoyed working with him too? He is, unfortunately, a very effective shadow Secretary of State, and I hope our relationship in this hope our relationship in this manner can continue for a long time into the future. Unfortunately, the facts don't support the claims that he's making. The majority of proposals that I've just outlined, as decisions have cross-party support.

I accept that reasonable people may agree or they may disagree with the decisions. But the important thing now for residents is that we move ahead to realise the savings, to secure the economic growth, because it because it is those things that will benefit local people. He talks about debt, of course, it was when the Conservative Party was running Woking Council that they racked up billions of pounds in debt, that the government has had to intervene and write off because of the severity of that debt.

In fact, for councils across the country, they will realise savings of up to £1 billion and that's account the council's own estimate of the savings that they can then invest in front line services. That is to the benefit of local people. He will know that I can't comment on judicial reviews, but I can reassure him and the House that this programme will go ahead and it will go ahead on schedule. Gareth Snell very much.
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Olly Glover Portrait Olly Glover MP (Didcot and Wantage, Liberal Democrat)
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Spokesperson Olly Glover. >> Spokesperson Olly Glover. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker and I thank the Secretary of State for advance sight of his statement. Whilst recognising that a lot of Whilst recognising that a lot of work has gone into the proposals today by a lot of people, many of the details adds to an existing impression of chaos. We are finally getting sight of the detail just 9.5 months before many affected areas have elections, existing councils have been forced into putting time and resources coming up with proposals, many of which have been ignored as existing councillors and officers have been uncertain about their futures for the nearly two years it has taken to get to this point and many communities will feel done to not done with the lack of notice and opportunity to scrutinise his department's sweeping decisions is also a huge concern.

His suggestion that local identities are being considered will come as a huge surprise to my constituents in Culham and Clifton Hampden, which, although many miles from Oxford city centre and surrounded by countryside, are going to be incorporated into Greater Oxford, many existing communities and council wards in Oxfordshire will also now be arbitrarily divided between the new unitary councils. Colleagues in Devon worry that rural communities have been ignored at the expense of new unitaries, designed to benefit the needs of cities. In addition to endless previous changes of mind about Sussex, Sussex elections and boundaries, the fact that a decision has not been made about West Sussex has been met with disbelief.

The government promised to work in partnership with local authorities and to rebuild the trust shattered over the last decade. So given that, I asked the Secretary of State, what assessment has he made of the long term financial viability of the proposed unitary structures, given that several of the councils being merged risk being financially unviable?
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Steve Reed Portrait Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Streatham and Croydon North, Labour )
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I thank him for his questions. And of course, long term financial viability is one of the main reasons why this process is taking place, and that was one of the key criteria on which the final decisions have been taken. And he will find the details of that in the written ministerial statements. Now, of course, it's necessary to consult. And of course that means areas will be putting forward proposals. And the government is today responding to those proposals. In the case of Oxford, Devon and other of the cases he's referred to, the option selected is because it is the best for economic growth.

Right at the start of my statement, I pointed out the fact that despite the fact we are the second richest economy in Europe, we have seven of the ten poorest regions in Northern Europe. We can't allow that to continue. We need economic growth. That is how we put more money in people's pockets. That is what this government is focussed on. In the case of West Sussex, where we had a consultation, we have received an awful lot of additional information, and I think it is only right to consider that information carefully before coming to a final decision.

We owe that respect to the parties and councils and residents groups

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who took the trouble to provide their responses. Before I come to backbenchers, members will be aware that there are a lot of you wishing to get in. It would be very helpful if

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questions could be succinct. Michael Payne thank you, Madam. Deputy Speaker. The Secretary of State and I have known each other a long time. We served in local government together, and he knows I'm as passionate as he is about bringing power back closer to
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Steve Reed Portrait Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Streatham and Croydon North, Labour )
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Secretary of State? question, and I believe the option that we have selected was the one supported by the Conservative Party in Gloucestershire, and indeed, we in Gloucestershire, and indeed, we selected it because it gave us the strongest and most stable option and the strongest financial case. and the strongest financial case. There will be savings coming through this process. They can be ploughed back into improving the front line services that residents in Gloucestershire want to see running far better. It's good to

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know that they have his support in seeking to achieve that. Can I make another exhortation

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Can I make another exhortation for short questions please and say after the next question I will go to Steve Darling. So, Steve Race.

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to Steve Darling. So, Steve Race. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I welcome the four unitary model for Devon, as I think it does best for Devon, as I think it does best serve the interests of everyone across Devon. This has been a long time in the making for Exeter and it's been increasingly it's been increasingly unsustainable to retain Exeter, an economic driver of the region, as a district council going forward. Does the Minister agree with me that this proposal will allow Exeter to better drive sustainable economic growth, jobs and economic growth, jobs and opportunity and means decision making is better represented by the people in my city?
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Kevin McKenna Portrait Kevin McKenna MP (Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Labour)
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Kevin McKenna. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I'm a strong proponent of unitaries. >> A lot of the root cause problems in my constituency are down to the fact that we've got districts and fact that we've got districts and the county council, and there's no perfect solution for anywhere. Everywhere is special, but Kent has Everywhere is special, but Kent has a lot of elements that are particularly special three coasts, links to the continent and the rest of the country. And in my constituency, two industrial towns that are completely outwith the rest of the economy of the county.

So there are challenges around the decision that was picked, particularly where the transport links don't line up, the NHS boundaries don't line up and we're missing out because my constituency has been separated from the rest of the Thames estuary on huge economic potential. Can the Minister and Secretary of State outline to me what we're going to do to accelerate devolution powers to Kent and my constituency, and particularly to make sure that we've got some creative things so that we don't just follow the medieval boundaries and maybe bring

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in some emergency development corporations so that we can bridge this gap. That really is enough. Secretary of State.

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I thank him for his question and indeed his creativity in the proposals that he's putting forwards that would further benefit forwards that would further benefit his constituents and Kent. And I'd be very happy to ensure that he has a meeting with the relevant Minister to discuss those further. Minister to discuss those further. But the the option that we have accepted for Kent is because it
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Linsey Farnsworth Portrait Linsey Farnsworth MP (Amber Valley, Labour)
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subject to public consultation. It also places a huge burden on Amber Valley Borough Council during the reorganisation, with double the amount of work. So I'm thinking about my constituents and their absolute right to excellent public services throughout this process. The Secretary of State will know, through my many representations about my concern about capacity to deliver this change. Now my local authority is considering next steps, and the Secretary should know that that does include all options available to them.

I'm pleased to order.

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The hon. Lady needs to ask a question, as indeed do all members, as quickly as possible, because this is taking a very long time.

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this is taking a very long time. Linsey Farnsworth yes, Madam Deputy Speaker. So can the Secretary of State commit today that the lion's share of that capacity funding for Derbyshire will go to Amber Valley? Given that

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we're the most affected state? I thank you for a question, and I can attest to the fact that she I can attest to the fact that she is a very powerful, frequent advocate of her constituents in Amber Valley. The the option that we've accepted is the one that best supports economic growth across the county, because I believe that will best support her constituents ambitions and aspirations for themselves, their children and their communities. And it was also the one that we believe best reflected, best reflected Derbyshire's north south Derbyshire's north south geographies and economies.

But of course, I'm always happy to make sure that she has a meeting with sure that she has a meeting with relevant Ministers to discuss any further concerns that she has.
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Stephen Doughty Portrait Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )
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before I do, I am sure that the whole House will want to join me in expressing our sincere condolences expressing our sincere condolences to the people of Spain. Following the recent wildfires in Andalusia, and our thoughts are with those who and our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones, all those affected and the emergency responders working under extremely difficult conditions. And we are thinking of all those British nationals affected by tragically, nationals affected by tragically, by these fires. And our embassy and consular teams remain available to support all of those who require assistance.

Madam Deputy Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that on Tuesday, the 14th of July, I signed the treaty in Brussels alongside EU Trade Commissioner Sefcovic, who signed on behalf of the EU, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, the deputy Chief Minister of Gibraltar and the Spanish Foreign Minister, Alvarez, were also present at the ceremony in recognition of the important role Gibraltar and Spain have played in the negotiations. This is genuinely. Madam Deputy Speaker, a historic moment. It represents the culmination of over five years of work, and I would like to pay tribute to all of those whose efforts have brought us here, including, indeed, members of the previous government, including the right hon.

Member for Braintree and the noble Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, but particularly my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, the former Defence Secretary, current Defence Secretary and indeed our crucial teams of negotiators in London, Brussels and Madrid. And I particularly want to pay tribute to the Gibraltar team in the foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office who have done sterling and excellent work at so many levels. It's been recognised within the department, but I want to place on record my sincere thanks to all of their efforts over many, many years.

And of course, Madam Deputy Speaker, I want to thank the Government of Gibraltar who have been our partners at the negotiating table throughout, and nothing in this treaty has been agreed without their full involvement and indeed their fulsome support. I am also grateful, Madam Deputy Speaker, to the European Commission and indeed to Spain, for the constructive approach that they have taken to negotiations, and together we have found solutions that worked for all and throughout this process. Madam Deputy Speaker, we have been committed to transparency with Parliament, and since last June, when we reached political agreement on the treaty's core elements, we have regularly kept members informed of developments and including through private briefings, but also on many occasions being held to account here and in the usual ways.

And we therefore laid the final text of the treaty, as I promised, that I would do so. Madam Deputy Speaker, before Parliament on 14th July, the day of signature alongside explanatory memorandum, which was the earliest possible opportunity to do so. But as members will see, as I had assured them, the signed treaty has not substantively changed from the one that I deposited in the libraries of the House in February. The draft treaty, in which they have been examining for the past four months. Signature of this text has enabled provisional application of the treaty on the 15th of July, and this has given the people of Gibraltar clarity and certainty.

They do not have to wait for a far off and undefined date of ratification before they can enjoy the economic and social benefits of the treaty. The fluid border is here now, and you will have seen my Deputy Speaker. The joyful scenes, the genuinely historic scenes after so many years at that border, which were genuinely moving and I think reflect that people have been at the heart of this agreement throughout in the efforts that ourselves, the European Union, Spain and Gibraltar have done, and we put them first and foremost, the interests of the people of Gibraltar and indeed the wider region.

And yesterday morning, the Chief Minister and the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, oversaw the removal of the final pieces of the fence. Indeed, very emotional scenes with workers, Gibraltar residents and holidaymakers now crossing between Gibraltar and Spain with ease, and the government of Gibraltar have worked tirelessly to put in place all the necessary legislative and operational changes to make this happen, and I am very grateful for their dedication and, as I said, they were truly historic scenes, very, very special scenes, and I.

I was honoured to be presented, Madam Deputy Speaker, with a piece of the now removed frontier myself to celebrate this very, very significant moment, the coming down of a barrier in continental Europe. So having mentioned the benefits of the treaty Madam Deputy Speaker before, I think it'd be right to set out in full once more again what. These are. Over half of Gibraltar's workforce cross the border every day. They depend on being able to do so swiftly and easy, as do the shoppers and holidaymakers going in both directions.

The treaty guarantees this. Customs and immigration checks will no longer take place at the border. Instead, everyone arriving into Gibraltar airport will undergo dual immigration checks. Firstly, a check by the Gibraltarian authorities who remain responsible for immigration and entry into Gibraltar, and then a check by Spanish officials to enable entry into the Schengen area. Completion of both checks will enable people to move freely between Gibraltar and Spain as they choose. And as for goods, Gibraltar and the EU will form a bespoke customs model.

Gibraltar will bring its standards and tariffs for goods in line with the EU's, where relevant, and this eliminates the need for checks on goods at the border, making life easier for ordinary shoppers and providing reassurance for businesses. The impact of the Treaty on Gibraltar's prosperity Madam Deputy Speaker is not limited to the border as significant a change as that is, it also enables commercial flights between Gibraltar and EU member states in the Schengen area, removing a block that has been in place for years, and this will bring potentially new investment to the region.

En bloc economic and transport opportunities. And among all these changes, the treaty preserves the operational autonomy of our military base. As members will know, British Forces Gibraltar is a critical hub for naval, air and joint operations across the Mediterranean and indeed into the Middle East and more widely. And the treaty fully protects our ability to operate to, through and from Gibraltar. Spain will have no ability to restrict the movement of UK military personnel goods into the base, and all information sharing will be limited to the necessary details required to support the new border arrangements.

British Forces Gibraltar will remain a sovereign base for operations well into the future. This treaty has always been about creating a framework for Gibraltar's relationship with the EU and providing them people and businesses with the stability and certainty that they needed post-Brexit. Having been left out of the arrangements at the time of withdrawal from the European Union. But nothing in it affects UK sovereignty over Gibraltar. But to make that explicit, article two of the treaty clearly states Madam Deputy Speaker that no part of the treaty can be used to challenge the UK position on sovereignty.

Gibraltar is a vital part of the UK family. That will not change and I would like to. In conclusion, Madam Deputy Speaker, reflect on the significant achievement that this treaty represents. It is banished the fears of a hard border between Gibraltar and Spain, bringing back the memories of the past, and it has given Gibraltar the certainty to move forward with renewed confidence. It's going to enhance the prosperity of Gibraltar and the wider region, and it's bolstered our relationships with the EU and Spain, unlocking wider, deeper and very, very welcome cooperation.

I'm very proud to have signed it. I'm very, very proud to have worked alongside all of those to achieve a hopeful future, to put the past behind us and to find a way forward focussed on people and prosperity. And I really do want to celebrate that new relationship here today. So I commend this statement to the

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House. Before I call the shadow Minister, could I gently remind the Minister, could I gently remind the Minister that the statement he just gave seemed to deviate slightly gave seemed to deviate slightly from the copy I had received, and perhaps we need to make sure that they align perfectly. Shadow they align perfectly. Shadow Minister Wendy Morton thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and let me Madam Deputy Speaker, and let me start by joining the Minister in expressing the sincere condolences of these benches to all those
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Wendy Morton Portrait Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP (Aldridge-Brownhills, Conservative)
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affected by the recent wildfires in Spain. I'm grateful to the Minister for advance sight of his statement. for advance sight of his statement. Our starting position is that an agreed legal basis for Gibraltar's relationship with the EU is needed. relationship with the EU is needed. Gibraltar deserves certainty about its future. Businesses in both Gibraltar and Britain need Gibraltar and Britain need certainty. British citizens travelling to Gibraltar need certainty, and the many thousands of frontier workers need certainty of frontier workers need certainty and we need to have proper scrutiny, not least because an acceptable deal between Gibraltar and the EU has to do many things at once.

It must uphold unequivocally and without qualification, British sovereignty over Gibraltar and the express will of the people of Gibraltar to be part of the British family, not Spain. Every government has a duty to defend the integrity of the United Kingdom and the British family. Wherever it exists. It must also deal with the practical realities of the frontier and Gibraltar's economy. However, we find ourselves in the extraordinary position that with the treaty signed and provisional application underway, and even with the final sections of the frontier fence now removed, Parliament has still not been afforded a proper debate in government time to scrutinise this agreement.

Since the agreement was announced, the shadow foreign affairs team have requested five urgent questions numerous oral and written parliamentary questions to try to establish the government's intentions, often receiving unsatisfactory non-answers. The FCDO is responsible for Britain's treaty obligations, but it's been the Government of Gibraltar, including the Chief Minister, who has all too often kept members of this House informed. I thank them for this. Even today. In this statement, there is no mention of the Crag process and scrutiny, so I ask again for confirmation that the 21 sitting day Crag process will apply and will he set out the timetable for this today? We cannot have a repeat of the way the government has tried to avoid scrutiny.

For example, with the Chagos deal on the substance of the deal itself, starting with the military base, can the Minister offer an unambiguous and unequivocal guarantee that nothing in this agreement constrains the operation, freedom of action or sovereign control of His Majesty's Armed Forces in Gibraltar? Britain's military base is not a matter for compromise, negotiation or shared competence. It is a sovereign British base, sovereign British territory serving vital British and NATO interests on the entry of British commercial goods, including British foods, into Gibraltar.

Can the Minister confirm whether the new process has been stress tested with British businesses? When will and when will guidance for businesses be published on movement of people having a fluid border with Spain? A a key request of the Gibraltar government clearly comes with trade offs and we should recognise that the decision to have Schengen checks in a British overseas territory is obviously one such compromise, and there is understandably a really a real strength of feeling about it, notwithstanding that Gibraltar has always had its own entry requirements, including for Brits.

In light of reported chaos at the border. It's imperative that the government gets this right, and given the totally chaotic way that the EU has introduced its EAS systems across Europe, it's imperative we do not see a similar situation. The Gibraltar airport. We on this side of the House will be watching. So what tabs is he keeping on the rollout of the new checks by the EU? And what is his recourse if British nationals end up being disrupted by EU issues? Turning specifically to Gibraltar's new residency regulations, which came into force on the 14th of July, what assessment has the Minister made of the impact on the ability of British citizens to live and work in Gibraltar? What is the anticipated impact on British citizens of retirement age? Wishing to relocate permanently to Gibraltar? And does the government have contingency plans to support Gibraltar if the Spanish government stages any provocations for their domestic audience? Now the border fence is down.

And finally, the Leader of the Opposition in Gibraltar has expressed concern that the UK Gibraltar Concordat envisages circumstances in which the UK could act without the consent of Gibraltar's government or people on treaty matters. What is the minister's response to this? And if there were to be a change of government in Gibraltar, what implications? What implications would there be to conclude? Gibraltar is as British as any of our constituencies. Britain and NATO rely on Gibraltar strategically vital military base. In an age of insecurity, the base is indispensable for our country.

Any deal to secure a long term future arrangement between Gibraltar and the EU needs to be subject to the most rigorous scrutiny in this House. The government should know that and expect that members on this side of the House rightly desire to understand what this treaty means in practice. Thank you.
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Stephen Doughty Portrait Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )
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Minister Dartford. >> Well, thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and if I may, I just apologise to the previous Madam Deputy Speaker. There was no substantive difference in my statement as delivered from the statement as delivered from the copy provided. I may have stylistically altered slightly a couple of lines, but I apologise for that in advance to Madam Deputy Speaker. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The Shadow Minister for her very reasonable questions and indeed a broad support for what we have signed and agreed.

And I think recognising that this is supported by the people of Gibraltar, it is what they want. And actually there was unanimous support in the Gibraltarian Parliament for this deal. I think it's very, very important. And she asked about the Crag process, as I explained in the debate that we had the other day, and I will reconfirm today, the treaty is now laid, the Crag process starts. It will, of course, only take place while both houses are sitting. So the intervening period of the recess does not intervene with the ability of both houses to provide scrutiny.

And actually it helpfully aligns with the process in the European Parliament. They have their own processes on this, which will take place in the autumn as well. I remain completely at her and other shadow Ministers and the other shadow spokes people's disposal. For any further technical or other questions. I'm sure teams and officials will be also happy to provide further briefings, but I would gently say that we have answered many, many, many questions on this issue. We published a draft treaty text on 26th of February.

So that's been in this House for four months for study. As I said, it hasn't substantively changed since then. I've been before multiple committees. And indeed, we had a debate just in Westminster Hall the other day. I am very happy to talk about this. There is absolutely nothing to hide. Madam Deputy Speaker, this is an important treaty, and I'm glad, despite the comments about the process, that she broadly endorses it. She asked about military autonomy. I can tell her absolutely. The military autonomy is protected.

That was a key red line for us. And indeed, I think it also reflects a new relationship of cooperation. You know, Spain is a key NATO partner, and we're working on alongside them on so many different issues. And I think it reflects a mature and responsible way forward. And actually, of course, as I said, does not affect in any way our operations from British Forces Gibraltar. She asked about goods and the process is indeed, of course, guidance is being provided to businesses.

Of course, there are always some teething issues bringing in these processes, but we're actively monitoring what is happening in those processes and making sure that the systems can keep up. She asked about checks on people. I'm not sure what she meant by reported chaos. I think there was some slight issues with the first flight that came in, but the second flight has come in, I think without incident. We're closely monitoring on the ground what is happening. And of course, with any new system, this is a dramatic change.

There will be implementation issues. But she rightly raises important concerns about the entry exit system. We of course, this deal was also to prevent that operating at the existing now removed hard border, which would have been very logistically complex. She knows the geography, the border. So I am confident that these arrangements will work. We're keeping them under close monitoring, but in terms of the wider entry exit system issues that she raises, myself and other Ministers have been regularly raising these with other European counterparts and the commission, and she has some specific points about pensions, which I'll happily write back to her on.

I don't expect to see any provocations. I'm not sure what she was referring to in. In the future, I expect cooperation and cooperation in the mutual prosperity of the people of the whole region. I think that was very, very clearly reflected by the remarks that we had from the Spanish Prime Minister and indeed from the Chief Minister of Gibraltar and indeed the mayor of La linear and officials from the Spanish side. Everybody wants this to work. Everybody wants this to work for people, for businesses.

And I think we see a real new spirit and a way forward on this. She asked about the Concordat. I've signed the Concordat with the Chief Minister. I've also written to make some further clarifications. I hope those are satisfactory and address the concerns. But we're very, very clear. Nothing about Gibraltar. Without Gibraltar, of course, we have some constitutional responsibilities, but I've set out that it's only in very exceptional circumstances there would be any difference in our position. We would always be working alongside Gibraltar, and I set that out very clearly in the documents which she can read.

So with that Madam Deputy Speaker, I hope she is satisfied and I remain at her disposal. For further detailed technical questions.
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Al Pinkerton Portrait Dr Al Pinkerton MP (Surrey Heath, Liberal Democrat)
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Liberal Democrat spokesperson Doctor Al Pinkerton. and can I draw attention to my register of interest? Having had the privilege of visiting Gibraltar in July of last year, I warmly in July of last year, I warmly welcome this agreement and congratulate the Minister. The government, together with Gibraltar's Chief Minister and indeed the Deputy Chief Minister on securing it. Gibraltar has always insisted that this should be nothing about Gibraltar without Gibraltar, and this agreement both meets that expectation and honours that principle.

I also pay tribute to the Spanish government for the pragmatism it has shown in coming to this arrangement. This agreement finally resolves existential uncertainty created by Brexit. It protects Gibraltar's economy, safeguards our defence interests and gives the territory certainty and confidence in its own future. Self-Determination is and must remain the bedrock of our relationship with all our overseas territories. That is especially important to say today. Sadly, after the disgraceful scenes that we saw in Atlanta last night, where football was used as a platform to challenge the Democratic right of Falkland Islanders to determine their own future.

That principle is not negotiable and never should be. I ask the Minister three very simple questions. First, in relation to the EU's entry and exit system coming into force. What reassurance can he give British travellers that journeys to and from Gibraltar this summer will not face unnecessary disruption this summer and into the future? Secondly, has the government assessed the practical impact of the Schengen 90 and 180 day rule on British citizens travelling to Gibraltar? And if so, what conclusions has that assessment reached? And then, finally, can the Minister reassure this House that the constitutional safeguards within this agreement are sufficiently robust to ensure that Gibraltar, the United Kingdom and Spain? No, again, return to the uncertainty and border disruption of the past?
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Stephen Doughty Portrait Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )
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Mr. wholehearted support. It's very, very welcome. I can absolutely assure him that the constitutional safeguards are in place there at the heart of this agreement, and the heart of this agreement, and indeed are entered into in good faith by all involved, but particularly by ourselves in the European Union. And that is why this has been a, you know, a complex and long process. And the treaty is a is a substantive document, and it's there in that way to ensure that it has the right safeguards and provisions in place.

He asked about the 90 and 180 day rule. Of course, people do not have an automatic right to go and spend beyond that period in Gibraltar. At the moment, of course, Gibraltar remains responsible for its own immigration processes. But of course, we looked at this issue. It's what Gibraltar has agreed to in order for that fluid access into the Schengen area and Gibraltar residents are not prevented in any way from returning home to Gibraltar. And we, of course, will look at how these things are implemented over time.

What I would say, of course, is that fundamentally, though, this actually opens up opportunities for people and businesses, both to travel to Gibraltar, to travel to the wider region. And as I said, hopefully new flights will open up, obviously subject to commercial interests, but it does genuinely open up new hopes for travel and investment in the region. And he asked about entry exit system. As I explained to the shadow Minister, of course, we keep this under close monitoring, as we do in relation to all entry and exit points into the Schengen area.

We are always raising issues through our posts and concerns. We've raised things with the European Commission and of course there are. Exceptions and and processes by which when queues get too large or when problems emerge, that those can be dealt with. But we're confident they will be dealt with in in the case of Gibraltar. Lastly, Madam Deputy Speaker, he mentioned the events yesterday and, you know, I would agree with him. It was deeply inappropriate and deeply disappointing. It's a real shame that people couldn't focus on on the football.

I think most people looking at it would feel that way. We have absolutely no doubt about our sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and the surrounding maritime areas. The Falklands are British, they remain British and they will continue to be British. And Falkland Islanders want to be British. And they have explained that many, many times. Let's get back to focusing on the football.
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Stephen Doughty Portrait Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )
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Well, can I thank him for his consistent advocacy and support on behalf of Gibraltarians? And I think it is very important here think it is very important here today to see that support on both sides of the House, and I thank him for his consistent support on this, the concordat that I've set out with the Chief Minister and indeed the letter as well, that I've written, set out the circumstances of how we would work incredibly closely with the Government of Gibraltar going forward for any, you know, unforeseen circumstances.

The treaty has clear provisions in relation to that as well. Of course, we don't foresee circumstances where these would ever be needed, but it's important. They're always there, and I'm confident that they will stand the test of time.

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That concludes the statement on signature of the UK EU treaty in respect of Gibraltar. If the frontbench wish to quickly shuffle frontbench wish to quickly shuffle frontbench wish to quickly shuffle over, they should do so now. We. We now come to. We now come to the Select Committee statement on behalf of the Work and Pensions Committee. Debbie Abrahams will speak for up to ten minutes, during which no interventions may be taken. At the conclusion of a statement, I will call members to ask questions will call members to ask questions on the subject of the statement.

These should be brief questions and not full speeches. Can I emphasise not full speeches. Can I emphasise that questions should be directed to the Select Committee Chair and not the relevant government Minister? Frontbenchers may take Minister? Frontbenchers may take part in questioning and I call Debbie Abrahams.
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Debbie Abrahams Portrait Debbie Abrahams MP (Oldham East and Saddleworth, Labour)
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State Pension age, a really important area for us to examine, and it follows very closely on from the inquiry that we held last year on pensioner poverty and published on pensioner poverty and published our report this time last year, and during that inquiry, we identified the real health and financial the real health and financial issues facing many working age people as they approach State Pension age. This was particularly Pension age. This was particularly evident following the increase in the State Pension age to 66 back in 2020.

But as many but not all know, the State Pension age has now started to rise from 66, as it did in this year in April, and it will reach 67 by April 2028. What our reports have shown is that people experience the effects of this State Pension age increase unevenly. Our transition to State Pension age inquiry asked a direct question what happens to those who cannot keep working until their State Pension begins? The committee recognises the pressures on the State Pension system.

In 2005, spending on the State Pension and pension benefits was 5.3% of GDP. 20 years later, as society has aged, this has increased to 6.6% and by 2070 it's

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Estimated this will be as much as 9%. Over half of all DWP as 9%. Over half of all DWP spending is set is spent on State Pension. As I say, this is set to Pension. As I say, this is set to increase as our society continues to age. The Committee recognises to age. The Committee recognises the balance, the need to balance sustainability, adequacy and fairness in our Social security fairness in our Social security system as a whole, including our State Pension system.

But fairness must mean fairness, not only between generations. It is fairness within generations, fairness to those who are least well equipped to build a secure retirement is equally important. Unfortunately, it is clear that disadvantage, ill health and frailty are not spread evenly across the country. They are concentrated in some communities more than others, and they go hand in hand, in hand with poverty. It cannot be fair to ask those with the poorest health, the fewest resources and the greatest risk to face the increase in State Pension age without support.

The evidence we received was clear financial resources. The capacity to work in good health, help people manage the transition to a higher State Pension age. But many people reach their early 60s after years in low paid and often, often physically demanding work in poor health and unable to work. As the Health Foundation's recent report has shown since 2012, healthy life expectancy the average age someone is expected to live in, good health has fallen, and it's fallen by two years of 60.7 years for men and 60.9 years for women.

And again, this is an average in areas like mine, industrial, former industrial area. The healthy life expectancy for for men and women is actually 56 and 58 years. So you see the difficulties that the country is facing on this issue. And of course, within that, different cohorts will have different expectations expectancies as well. Many experienced disadvantages in older age as a product of a life lived in poverty, having few financial resources, experienced insecure work, and often poor housing.

Madam Deputy Speaker, this poor health and later working life is reflected in different employment rates. In 2025, for example, only 42% of people aged 65 were in work. For those aged 66. The current State Pension age, it fell to under 30%. That's less than 1 in 3. However, ill health is not the only reason people leave work. The Minister told us that while poorer people tend to leave work before State Pension age because of ill health and or disability, wealthier people are more likely to retire early because they can afford to do so.

But there are other reasons that people leave work before State Pension age as well, including becoming family carers. But on the flip side of this, we heard about older workers who wanted to work but could not find a suitable job. People who had left employment because of illness or caring responsibilities and couldn't get back into work. Sometimes these people ended up having to draw down small pension savings just to get by before their State Pension began. It is not generally recognised that the previous State Pension age increase, from 65 to 66 caused a doubling, a doubling of absolute poverty among 65 year olds.

Our real concern is that the rise to 67th May have an even greater effect. The committee heard that work limiting health conditions among people aged 60 to 64 has increased from 28% in 2014 to 31% in 2024. We also heard that almost half of people aged 60 to 66 in the lowest income quintile were already classified as frail. These are people vulnerable to deterioration in physical and cognitive functioning. The department said that poverty, the poverty pensioners and pensioners experience when the State Pension age rose from 65 to 66 was mostly temporary because people who were lifted out of poverty as soon as they reached their State Pension age.

But temporary poverty can still do lasting harm. It can mean. It can mean going without essentials and carrying stress, carrying stress into later life. Half of pensioners are already experiencing poverty, even if temporary increases the risk of accelerating or exacerbating this deterioration in physical and cognitive function. Madam Deputy Speaker, these issues are not inevitable. They are solvable. Firstly, older workers need better support, healthier workplaces, flexible working opportunities. The government's current approach is focusing on supporting later working, including through the Mayfield Review, which the committee wholeheartedly supports and welcomes.

As we've said in other reports this year, we wish the government would do more to accelerate this work. However, it's unclear how many people will be lifted out of poverty by the government's current labour market measures. We hope that the Mayfield Review will help in time, but it is a 3 to 7 year programme and even if change came quickly, it could come too late for many people now approaching State Pension age. Support to stay in work often needs to reach people in their 50s rather than their mid 60s.

That is why my committee concluded that additional Social Security support is needed. This is not an abstract concern. It is a direct and foreseeable effect of State Pension age policy for people unable to work. The longer wait for the State Pension can mean a year or more on inadequate working age benefits a year using up savings, a year of hardship. We recommend the government as a minimum consult on an uplift in Universal Credit in the year before State Pension age, with the aim of introducing additional support by the end of this year.

We heard that such an increase would cost around 600 million a year. That must be considered, alongside the estimated savings of around 10.5 billion a year. Once the State Pension age is 67, compared with if it had stayed at 66. We recognise that work incentives matter, but the proposal is modest. It is targeted at people in the year before State Pension age. Many of those out of the labour market at that point are unlikely to return to it.

The overriding priority would be to prevent hardship that otherwise that would otherwise be the predictable result of public policy enacted in the 2014 Pension Act. We also recommend that when the state Secretary of state's State Pension age review commences, they consult on the longer term support for those unable to work up to State Pension age. That review should model costs and benefits, including the effects on work and incentives downstream and including impacts on health and social care services.

Our report also looks. A report also looks at government decision making. The government has relied on impact assessment from 2011 and 2013. We think those assessments are now outdated and insufficient. They did not reflect the recent increase in work limiting ill health. They did not reflect deepening inequality in health, healthy life expectancy. They did not provide a current basis for understanding who would be most affected by the rise to 67 in 2023. The previous government decided to proceed with the increase to 67, but said it would keep under review the position of people unable to continue to work.

No such review had been published by the time of the 2024 general election, and the current government does not plan to evaluate the increase until after it completes it in 2028. That is too late. The government will have missed an opportunity to identify risks and put mitigations in place before any further increases take effect. Oh, I've got just about half a minute, if that's convenient with you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Thank you. And the committee therefore recommends a more holistic approach to future assessments.

The Department should consider the cumulative impact of policies on individuals. It should use evidence that reflects employment history, occupational class health status, caring history, income and protected characteristics. It should consult the Chief Medical Officer on health impacts. It should estimate likely poverty increases in time to act before they happen. And we also want to mention about the communicate the importance of communication. Not everybody is aware of this increase to 67. And we know from previous policy, pension policy the impact that that has had on people.

Finally, Madam Deputy Speaker, I'd like to express my concern about the irresponsible rumours of the potential acceleration of a further increase in the State Pension age. This fear mongering is unhelpful, to say the least, as and is untrue. I commend my report to the House Madam Deputy Speaker.
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Bob Blackman Portrait Bob Blackman MP (Harrow East, Conservative)
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rightly point out, commemorate Sir David Amess, who was so brutally David Amess, who was so brutally murdered doing his job as an MP and his surgery. He was an expert at his surgery. He was an expert at this debate. He would raise 25 to 27 to 20 to 30 items within five 27 to 20 to 30 items within five minutes. And indeed, he had the whole of his press releases ready for the whole summer. In one debate. And can I also say it's my first opportunity to pay tribute to Anne Whitaker, who once again was brutally murdered.

And indeed, I remember Anne when she came up to Bedford and Kempston when I was standing in 1997 as a candidate. She came up with Michael Howard. And it's famously true that, of course, they didn't particularly get on as ministerial colleagues. And I was talking to to Anne and she said, don't talk to me, young man. Get over there and talk to to Michael. And I said, please, surrounded by all these sycophants. So she gave me a very keen piece of advice.

Use your sharp elbows and get yourself in the photograph. Don't let them be in the photograph. And indeed, she was an outspoken individual, and we miss her dearly and thank her for the service she gave to this house and indeed to to after she ceased to be a member. Now, Madam Speaker, I was delighted with the local election results in May this year. My constituency now has only conservative councillors, which I'm delighted to announce, and indeed my neighbour for. The Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner also has only conservative councillors and we made significant gains in my neighbouring seat of Harrow West, gaining 12 councillors from the Labour Party, and now we have 41 out of the 55 councillors in Brent, where one of the wards is indeed in my constituency.

We're more than doubled the number of councillors for the Conservative Party, and I'm delighted that one of my colleagues is now the deputy mayor of Brent Council as a result. So I look forward to the next general election whenever the right hon. Member for Makerfield chooses to call it, and the next local elections in 2030, when we'll make a clean sweep and turn Harrow fully blue. Now, this just shows actually the revival that's taken place by the Conservative Party under the Leader of the Opposition, increasing the polls, winning by elections, gaining seats from reform, who seem more interested in campaigning against a bid and keep pretending the Conservative Party is dead, when in reality, we're winning and coming back.

Now, as we pass the halfway point of the year, I wanted to update everyone with regards to the important work of the APPGs that I. Chair and I begin by putting on record, and I'm sure many other colleagues, the frustration that the increased bureaucracy when it comes to Agm's e.g. Ms. membership quorums and more. I hope that the committee that is looking into this, and I've written to them already asking. chaired previously by the late Sir David Amess, and we continue to press for sustained action on public and firefighter safety.

Nearly two years after the Grenfell Report, the priority must be coherent implementation, effective building safety regulation, faster remediation, reform of construction products and approved document B, and stronger investment in fire engineering research competence and learning from fires. Fire and rescue services are also facing growing pressures from wildfires, flooding, new energy technologies and increasingly complex buildings. So the all party group welcomes the recent investment that's been made in national resilience and firefighter health, but will continue to argue for sustainable funding, properly trained and equipped services and a greater attention to operational safety, not least as part of the College of Fire and I hosted earlier today reception in on the terrace for people that are bringing forward greater accreditation in terms of the all-party group for Israel and the Jewish community overall.

We've seen attacks in Golders Green, Hatzolah, ambulances and anti-Semitism across the country rising significantly. We must join together at House in condemning this in the sterling possible way, recognising that actions are needed, not just words. I must say that across the region, security concerns, of course, remain significant and a pressing issue for millions of Jewish individuals around the world. Whilst Israel and Lebanon have agreed a framework aimed at preventing Hezbollah's return to southern Lebanon. The group has rejected the agreement and its success will depend on enforcement and international pressure.

Iran also retains substantially military substantial military capabilities, including almost all of its ballistic missile infrastructure and a stockpile of highly enriched uranium that can no longer be independently verified. Following the end of the IAEA access. I am delighted that the government has finally designated the IRGC. I've raised this in the chambers more often than I can count. I tabled motions, put the questions to. Ministers of both governments, heard every excuse in the book that it was under review, that it could not be done, that it was being considered.

The government does not comment on prescription et al. All the while, the IRGC was murdering Iranians on their streets, arming Hamas and Hezbollah, running cyber attacks against this country and plotting on British soil against people who'd come here to be safe. So I welcome the decision. But this is the beginning, not the end. The IRGC controls the Iranian economy through its sprawling web of front companies. That means that anyone doing business with the regime is putting money into the pockets of the guards.

That has to stop. Every front company in this country should be identified, investigated and shut down. And anyone working for the IRGC here under diplomatic, commercial or cultural cover ought to be expelled. And I want to thank Madam Rajavi and the National Council of Resistance of Iran, whose painstaking work exposed the guard's covert operations and their financial empire, which put the evidence before Parliament and helped make the decision possible. My thanks go to the Iranian exiles here in Britain who were harassed, threatened and watched by these people and who kept telling us the truth, would have been far easier to keep quiet.

The Iranian people have shown us time and again what they want, which is a democratic republic founded on free elections, human rights, and a separation of religion from the state. I will continue to fight for that. And today we're a step closer to it, and I thank the government for doing it. The all party group for British Hindus, I virtually every week. Madam Deputy Speaker, I host an event on behalf of the Indian community in Parliament, bringing together the community, entrepreneurs, businesses that are working hard to contribute to the UK and showing the best of the Indian diaspora in this country.

The trade agreement, which has been negotiated for so many years, has provided a welcome boost to the relationship, but I hope we can see future agreements and benefits for the UK. I've also continued to work hard in raising awareness of the proposed sale of the only Hindu temple in Peterborough. A disgraceful decision by the council, which would see the only Hindu temple in the area closed, leaving a significant Hindu minority in Peterborough and neighbouring Cambridge with no place for worship. Now there's an ongoing court case and a review of the proposed decision, so I won't mention specifics, but I've made my position very clear, and we all have a duty to ensure that individuals can practice their religion peacefully, and it should concern us if there are councils or individuals that seek to deny that for the entire community.

Now, we recently re-established the all party group for Azerbaijan, and I was there over the weekend and on Monday and Tuesday this week, meeting key people and indeed, speaking at a conference on energy that reflects the importance of a country that is both a key UK energy partner and a source of stability in the South Caucasus. Now, during the visit, I saw how disruptions to traditional routes through Russia and parts of the Middle East have elevated Azerbaijan's role as a vital transport and aviation hub, linking Europe and Asia via the middle corridor.

As geopolitical uncertainty grows. It's essential that the UK continues to strengthen its relationship with Azerbaijan, and we do not take this for granted. So we should move quickly to deliver the strategic partnership announced last year deepening cooperation in trade, investment, defence, education and digitalisation, and having witnessed the impact of landmine contamination in Azerbaijan firsthand, where the liberated territories are being brought back into operation. I also believe that the UK should continue supporting the mine clearance efforts.

The UK Azerbaijan already enjoy a strong partnership. The priority now is ensuring our political relationship matches its growing strategic importance, and we continue to encourage Azerbaijan and Armenia to live peacefully alongside each other. Now, the Tobacco and Vapes Act has now become law, ensuring that anyone born on or after the 1st of January 2009 will never be legally sold. Tobacco products. This was first introduced under the previous conservative government. It's a strong example of cross-party cooperation delivering better public services.

The government's consultation on the Act is extremely welcome, particularly in tackling youth vaping, and Parliament will have an important role in scrutinising the regulations. But Madam Deputy Speaker, there are still 4.9 million smokers in the UK, and there's growing anticipation for the government's proposed roadmap to a smoke free nation. It is disappointing, then, that the planned NHS investment in smoking cessation has has been paused, particularly given commitments to expand opt out support in hospitals and create smoke free NHS sites.

Now, if the House knows I am very keen on ending homelessness and ending the threat of homelessness, and I was delighted to finally see the long overdue repeal of the Vagrancy Act 1824, ending the criminalisation of rough Sleeping credited you to the charities, campaigners and parliamentarians from across both houses who've worked tirelessly over many years to achieve this change and replace punishment with support. And so, in the same cross-party spirit, I hope the government will continue to engage with the APPG for ending homelessness, which I co-chair.

And while some indicators are improving, significant progress is still needed if the government is to meet its goal of ending homelessness. So priorities should include, and I have repeated this on many occasions implementing the Supportive Housing Regulatory Oversight Act, which was my private member's bill in 2023, expanding Housing First nationally, and introduced a much stronger duty to collaborate. So public services work together to prevent homelessness more effectively. So in conclusion, Madam Speaker, as chairman of the 1922 Committee, I, of course, was distinguished officer of such body.

I want to thank my fellow officers, the Executive Committee, for their support this year, and I'm delighted that we haven't had to stage a leadership contest. I also I also want to thank my my team for work in my office since I was elected in May 2010. We have dealt with 106 000 cases of individual cases from my constituents and indeed more than 10,000 this year alone already. So the fact is that casework is increasing, not reducing, I'm afraid.

So I'd like to wish you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The Speaker The other speakers, deputy speakers, the whole House, and indeed all those that contribute to our work. A very happy summer recess. I shall be starting my work experience programme with my students on Monday, so I'm quite glad there's no bank holiday. And of course, that gives young people an opportunity to learn what it's like to be politician. And I end, Madam Deputy Speaker, on a slightly. Because I know that in this debate, often we test our vocabulary skills.

So I'm very grateful to parallel Parliament who have contacted me, contacted me to confirm that I'm the only MP or member of the House of Lords to use the words Avenged deities, inverts, handicaps or franked in the last session. I beg

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to move. The question is, as on the Order

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The question is, as on the Order Paper, backbench members will be on a four minute speaking limit. But I want to put on record my gratitude want to put on record my gratitude to the late Sir David Amos, who was a huge mentor of mine, and he constantly fretted about my constantly fretted about my security. It never occurred to me that we should have been fretting about his, and I want to thank my about his, and I want to thank my constituency team for being fantastic, especially Pauline, who's about to go on maternity leave, and I call Mr.

Adam Jogee. Four minutes. Mr. Adam Jogee.
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Adam Jogee Portrait Adam Jogee MP (Newcastle-under-Lyme, Labour)
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Thank you very much, Madam. >> Deputy Speaker, and it's a pleasure to follow the chairman of the committee. I join him in paying tribute to, of course, Ann Widdecombe. We must be able to Widdecombe. We must be able to disagree without being disagreeable or in this case, murderous in our country. It's the British way, and the sooner we get back to that, the better. Ann and her family are in my prayers. And of course, like you, I think about Sir David Amess and his family.

Madam Speaker, I'm very grateful to be called so early. This is a novel experience for me, and I've had to completely rewrite my speech for this debate. Following the announcement from the Secretary of State on local government reorganisation this afternoon in business questions. Earlier, the Leader of the House said that a new administration may want to look at whether they want to proceed with any current proposals in other areas. I hope the next administration will hear my calls today to look at this. It's important because the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme must be at the heart of any changes made to how our community is run, and it cannot be the case that neighbouring areas hold anything close to decisive sway over decision making, or that the views and needs and concerns of people across Newcastle-under-Lyme are dismissed or diminished in favour of other areas.

And at the minute that there's very little in the proposal announced today to suggest that anything mitigates against that risk or reassures the people of Newcastle that their concerns have been heard. And I and I say to colleagues, I won't stop banging on about this until we put it right now, more generally, Madam Speaker, I welcome the £120 million support package for the ceramics industry in Staffordshire, and I'm grateful to the Chancellor, the Exchequer, the Secretary for business and the Minister for industry, the Member for Stockton, for their support in helping make that happen.

I welcome the roll out of free breakfast clubs to schools right across Newcastle, which is described in this House before. Madam Speaker is best described as the centre of our collective universe. I welcome the continued improvements to our air and the health and wellbeing of our people. Following the closure of Walleys Quarry landfill site. One of the few things I don't have to quite bang on about as much as I did when I was first elected to this House. I've worked hard to represent our excellent farmers who make excellent produce with their flock and animals.

Obviously excellent British food, and will continue to be a strong champion for them. I've enjoyed in this session, Madam Speaker, visiting our schools and our education institutions. We're proud of Keele University, Newcastle College and many, many schools engaging with and listening to our veterans and forces organisations. And I'm looking forward to a summer back home in Newcastle Island, where the sun shines brightly. I'd like to acknowledge the service of Godfrey, Margaret, Richard and all those who have looked after us and those who came before us for so many decades.

I wish them well in their retirement. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Oh, I have a minute and a bit longer. I may add a few words. Take the opportunity before me, but thank you to my constituents for their commitment to our country, to our community, and for holding me to account in no uncertain terms every single day. Thank you to my family for their forbearance and to my office team, for all their hard work, their support to me, and their commitment to the good people who live, learn and work in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

And can I also wish the Prime Minister and his family well for the future. I thank him for his service to our country. Happy summer, Madam Deputy Speaker. And there's 47 seconds back for you.
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Wendy Morton Portrait Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP (Aldridge-Brownhills, Conservative)
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Wendy Morton. >> Wendy Morton. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It's a pleasure to speak this afternoon in this debate on the afternoon in this debate on the last day before Parliament rises. And as ever, is the case, I have so much to say and never enough time. much to say and never enough time. As we approach the summer recess, though, I've reflected on the issues that matter to my constituents. What makes the communities that I represent so special, inevitably, is the people who simply care about where they live.

The volunteers at Pelsall Carnival, the wonderful Wombles, the Aldridge volunteer gardeners to name but a few. And that same pride is reflected in our green spaces. So I was delighted to learn that we received five Green Flag awards this week across the constituency, recognising the work of groups such as the Barbican Trust, the Friends of Pelsall Common and many volunteers. Our green spaces are what define our communities now I know you know what I'm going to come on to next because it's the last opportunity to mention, yes, the green belt, our precious green belt of Aldridge-Brownhills, because in my constituency we are under siege from developers thanks to the relaxation of planning rules by the current government and its redefinition of the green belt to green belt.

Currently, there are applications in. For sites at Birch Lane, Aldridge, 345 houses York's Bridge in Pelsall, 330 Chester Road, East, Streetly 245 Barnsley North Rushcliffe, 81 Little Aston Road in Aldridge, 160 Middle Moor Lane, West. Aldridge, 41 Chester Road West Streetly 600 Queslett Road East. Also known as Doe Bank Lane, 850 Longwood Lane 115. Currently under review 2767 applications Madam Deputy Speaker in the pipeline, all on green belt sites, which developers have reclassified as green belt. And that's not all.

There is potentially more to come. Now. I know my constituency is a desirable place, but that's because the green belt creates its identity and prevents us from being swallowed up into a greater Birmingham suburb. We need more homes. Of course we do, but they must be built in the right place. But instead our communities face developers exploiting this definition called grey belt. Can a field of carrots or maize really be called grey Belt? Course it can't. It's productive agricultural land. Yet developers at Birch Lane are using that label to force the hand of the local council at a time when food security has never been more important.

This policy is a recipe for food insecurity. Once these fields are covered in concrete, they are gone forever. Now, of course, I could talk a lot more at length about this, but I think I'm going to have to put in for a Westminster Hall debate when Parliament returns, and I've no doubt we'll have lots of support for that. But I just wanted to touch on a couple of more areas. One was the importance of our local businesses. Day in, day out. I go on the high streets speaking to traders.

They ask, we have some fantastic businesses, new businesses such as Serenity Kitchen and Bathrooms, existing family firms, Alan Foster Butchers, Herbarium Flowers, Orchard Hills Bakers and independent retailers such as H and Jodie. The message is set is the same they are resilient but they need the right conditions to succeed. They need a government that backs business and I don't see that we have one. In Brownhills, our pressures were compounded by high street sinkhole. Although the road has reopened, it reminded us of one thing and that is the importance of shopping locally.

And please, we've got the pride in place. Funding really will be working and hoping that we can make the progress that we need to. In Aldridge, we had a challenge with double red lines and what some would arguably say was predatory ticketing. It's an issue that we've been working through, but it really does highlight the importance of free parking, which is something that Walsall Council put in place. Let's see whether the reform led council will continue that. I'm running out of time, but let me just say there's no debate is complete without a mention of Aldridge train station, a project secured and one that needs the campaign.
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Chris Kane Portrait Chris Kane MP (Stirling and Strathallan, Labour)
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Thank you. >> Chris Kane thank you. >> Madam Deputy Speaker. Much has rightly been said about Sir David's enthusiasm for using this occasion to celebrate the people and organisations that make our communities stronger. Many members will recognise that some of the communities facing the greatest challenges are often those with the biggest hearts. In my constituency, that spirit has been embodied by filling community voice, set up in 2022 with a simple ambition to bring life back to the heart of the village.

In just a few years, its volunteers have created a thriving community garden, helped deliver the Grubhub Community Food Project and Christmas lights back to full in. Their work has helped renew community pride, and it is no surprise that they have been recognised at this year's Inspire Volunteer Awards. A few miles along the road, the Cowie Rural Action Group has spent many years quietly improving village life from the Wee Club, which brings older residents together each week to community projects including the Village Skate Park.

Cowie Rural Action Group has shown what can be achieved when local people work together. One of the best. Dare I say most out of the box ideas in my constituency began when someone looked at an old red telephone box and refusing to accept that it had reached the end of its useful life, the Balfron phone box food exchange has transformed that familiar landmark into a source of practical support for local people while reducing food waste at the same time. It is a simple idea, but often the simplest ideas can be the most effective, and I want to recognise Pcvs in Order, order.

I visited the charity last summer and was reminded of the extraordinary contribution unpaid carers make every day. For more than 50 years they have provided practical support, respite and, just as importantly, somewhere to listen. Now I want to recognise a campaign that shows why community action matters. Last year, after a determined seven year campaign led by Sarah Heward, the Tyndrum Infrastructure Group and the partners, A Changing Places toilet opened at the Green Welly Stop in Tyndrum. It filled a significant gap in provision and is a lasting reminder that determined local campaigners really can change lives.

That message was brought home to me by Quinn's, a remarkable young constituent from Bridge of Allan, who lives with a rare genetic condition. His mother wrote to me and said, we are dependent on changing places, toilets to give Quinn's the same life experience as any other child his age. Inspired by their own experiences, Quinn's and his sister Anita have become proud advocates for more changing places toilets, helping other families by raising awareness of just how important these facilities are. Across my constituency, volunteers are quietly making life better every single day.

The friends of Plean Country Park care for one of our best loved green spaces, while the Friends of Kings Park look after the historic park beneath Stirling Castle. The volunteers of the Bannockburn and Eastern Villages Sports Hub have created a place where the community comes together. At the University of Stirling, volunteers organise a parkrun every Saturday morning, bringing hundreds of people together through exercise and encouragement in Fintry, the Community Sports Trust continues to transform village life, while local volunteers have opened a wonderful museum celebrating the village's history.

In Saint Ninian's, the Mayfield Centre and its much loved library continue to bring people together through books and community events. In Strathblane, residents refused to put up with a dilapidated library and raised the money to build a new one themselves. In Braehead. The Crawford Hall has remained at the heart of the community for over 30 years, while Braehead Community Garden has helped people reconnect. With food growing for more than a decade. In the top of the town in Stirling, Cowan's Trust has been helping those in need since 1637, and Riverside Action in Mind provides life changing mental health support.

And of course, we head recycled bike gives unwanted bicycles a second life while helping people gain access to affordable transport across the constituency organisations such as Colne Valley Renewables and Callander Community Development Trust are generating renewable energy to provide a sustainable income that can be reinvested directly into local communities. I have mentioned some of the organisations in my constituency. I do not have time to mention them all, but it's been a privilege to place on record. My thanks to a few of the volunteers, charities and community champions who make Stirling and Strathallan

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such a special place and thank you very much. Wendy Chamberlain. Thank you very much, Madam

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Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker, as we prepare for the longer summer recess and reflect on the past year, I want to, first of all, extend my thanks to you, your team, Mr. Speaker, and the wider team for their work and your work in making this place your work in making this place function as it does. And to put on my on record my thanks to all of the amazing staff who work here in the amazing staff who work here in Parliament.

I know that every single one of us is a doughty champion. I hear that often at the despatch box, but it's true about those that work in Parliament too, as well as our staff who work out in the constituencies on a global scale. Madam Deputy Speaker, I know that many of my constituents in North East Fife care deeply and
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Wendy Chamberlain Portrait Wendy Chamberlain MP (North East Fife, Liberal Democrat)
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comments of my hon. Friends and colleagues who called for a ban on all trade in goods and services to those occupied territories, and I those occupied territories, and I would say that guidance to UK business is simply not good enough, particularly when significant building contracts are going out to building contracts are going out to tender. UK government requests might not outweigh the demands of shareholders and private equity contracts. I also want to raise the worsening situation in the village of Falkirk, which has been subject to multiple demolition orders from the Israeli civil administration.

I was at a meeting with Nahmod, a movement of Jews in the UK against occupation in the West Bank just yesterday, and they asked which I am going to ask the frontbench to take note of and feed back to. The FCDO is for urgent diplomatic intervention. This Palestinian village is currently having its future decided by a military court, and we must use all our diplomatic levers to prevent it from being demolished entirely. And energy costs are high. Madam Deputy Speaker, there has never been a more important time for us to retrofit households to make them as energy efficient and green in their use as possible.

But when people's homes are at stake, these retrofits must be done right, and several of my constituents have had their homes effectively trashed by workmen installing heat pumps funded through the government's eco scheme. Ministers and officials in DESNZ are well aware of this, as I have raised it both in this place and more generally, as well as having a meeting for some of my constituents with the Minister for consumers last year. Now, Madam Deputy Speaker, that meeting was in December, and since then my team has written multiple times to follow up on the pledges made.

And I note a letter from the Minister today to interested MPs, which sadly was primarily focussed on faulty solid wall installation and did not really refer to heat pump issues that are being experienced by my constituents and others. My constituents were promised audits of their properties for the purpose of remedial works, and although I am grateful to the Minister for his time, I do want to get something beyond my email update from last December. Madam Deputy Speaker, some of the building problems my constituents have experienced stem from a lack of training and oversight for refitting older rural properties.

Life in a rural community has its benefits, but it also comes with its own unique set of policy challenges, which are too often ignored. I have been trying consistently to get a banking hub for Cupar in the centre of my constituency, and I was pleased to meet with the Minister in her surgery on Monday. About the review review into the rules governing banking access. It is vitally important that everyone who needs access to financial advice can get it, and as part of my battle for banking, I have spent a few Fridays travelling the bus routes of North East Fife to understand how hard it is to access services which are further away.

I would love to invite you, Madam Deputy Speaker, to invite in Visit North East Fife at any time. In fact, anybody is welcome. We look forward to the Largo and Pittenweem Arts festivals this summer and the Leven putting Green is open every day, but I would never suggest that any of you travelled across it by bus. I just want to finish very quickly by highlighting a challenge that University of Saint Andrews is experiencing in relation to cuts to the Science and Technology Facilities Council Budget.

This is going to badly affect the astronomy department at the university. Cutting R&D is never the right answer, particularly with the scale of the challenges before us. I do hope that this is a decision that can be revisited. Thank you.

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Then visiting Mary Glindon. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm sure.

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That we all are aware of the importance of the role played by civil servants across the whole country. People often devote their country. People often devote their whole working lives to these roles, and so the least they deserve is to get the pensions they paid for on get the pensions they paid for on time, and for their loved one to receive their entitlements following bereavement. Sadly, the disastrous performance of capita
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Mary Glindon Portrait Mary Glindon MP (Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend, Labour)
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disastrous performance of capita saw the backlog rocketed to 120 000 in the first four weeks of their commencing work on the contract. I hope the government manages to get the scheme sorted out as quickly as possible, and suspends payments on all future contract awards to capita, pending a full review. The decision to award synergy, the synergy contract for payroll services across four departments, flies in the face of government's commitment to delivering the biggest wave of insourcing for a generation. So could we hit pause and review their ability to deliver before civil servants start to go unpaid? To today's civil servants from the PCs union are startling.

Strike action at the foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in a dispute over staff restructuring. We appreciate that internal reorganisation is sometimes required, but too often there has been a failure to consult, including over plant closures, to civil service officers, which include the Department of Education Office in Newcastle, and I know other members will have experienced similar situations with regard to departments offices across the country. I hope the Cabinet Office ensures all departments have proper discussions with trade union representing members affected by these changes, especially where closure of offices would be damaging to local economies and communities.

There really should be an economic impact assessment conducted before such plans. Go ahead. And could we please extend a vote of thanks to all our hard working civil servants and agree to listen to their concerns, which could have helped avoid many of the problems? In the case of capita? Sir David Amess frequently raised the issue of hepatitis as he was chair of the Liver Health APPG. The 20th of July is World Hepatitis Day. The UK is committed to achieving world Health.

The World Health Organisation's goal of eliminating hepatitis C as a public health concern by 2030. The virus disproportionately affects disadvantaged and marginalised communities. It is preventable and curable. Left undetected, it can cause fatal cirrhosis and liver cancer. I'm sure the House will join me in commending the efforts of our NHS, the hepatitis C trust and harm reduction services, which have had considerable success in finding, engaging, testing and treating people who are at risk. Thanks to them, the UK is within reach of meeting the World Health Organisation's target of hepatitis C elimination by 2030.

Another concern of Ann Davies, which I share as my north east region is the worst affected in the country, is alcohol harms. I pay tribute to all to the organisation, which has done excellent work in the North East to raise. Aware that alcohol causes several several types. Seven types of cancer, including bowel cancer and breast cancer. Last year, the drugs, alcohol and justice APPG, which David supported and I formally chaired, produced a paper reminding us that although alcohol misuse costs on NHS an estimated 3.5 billion.

There has been no alcohol strategy since 2012. As we wait a new MP and a new senior team to start work, I want to take this moment to congratulate the Minister of Equalities Bridget Phillipson for this week, completing orders to enact updated a code of practice on services, public functions and associations which will come into force on the 5th of August. There are now no more excuses and all service providers, local authorities and organisations, including our government departments, must bring their policies into line with the Equality Act so that women only services and spaces are exactly that for biological women only.



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A reminder. For colleagues. We do not mention members names directly. We mention them by their

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directly. We mention them by their constituencies. Sir David Davis. Madam Deputy Speaker last month's sentencing of Nicola month's sentencing of Nicola Sturgeon's husband exposed the real reasons behind the Scottish Government's persecution of Alex Government's persecution of Alex Salmon. From 2010 to 2022, Peter Murrell abused his position to embezzle almost half a million from embezzle almost half a million from the SNP to buy luxury items. He used the SNP money to buy a 3300 £0 Volkswagen Volkswagen Golf that he stole £57,000 by Jaguar car.

Further luxuries include handbags, an £850 gold pendant, four separate coffee machines costing about £9,000. Luxury kitchenware at least 26 fountain pens costing nearly 21,002. Dyson £350. Dyson hairdryers for a man with no hair, really. Then, of course, the infamous 120 000 motorhome. Did Sturgeon not wonder where he got the money for all those vehicles the kitchenware, the handbags, the pens, the pendants she loved? After all, who used the Dyson hair dryers in that household? My view on her denials is clear.

She is lying. She knew full well what her husband was doing and how those luxury purchases were funded. That Murrell was a thief was obvious in the 1980s when he stole from Alex Salmond, Salmond told surgeon. It was deeply unwise to keep her husband on as chief executive, but she kept him in place, enabling his
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David Davis Portrait Rt Hon David Davis MP (Goole and Pocklington, Conservative)
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crimes for years. Eventually, in March 2021, three members of the March 2021, three members of the SNP finance committee withdrew and resigned, blaming chaotic and incompetent financial management. incompetent financial management. And they were, on their own words on the receiving end of a hostile backlash driven by Sturgeon's toxic culture. They resigned in protest. Later on, they were followed by the finance director of the treasurer, rather of of the organisation. But Sturgeon told colleagues at the meeting where those first resignations happened, there are no reasons for the people to be concerned about the party's finances.

No reasons. And when the finance. When the treasurer resigned, she ignored it. Sturgeon was part of the cover up, using a position to suppress justice. She behaved dishonourably and dishonestly. But a most evil act was stitching up Alex Salmond to hide the truth. When he was considering going on the national executive himself. The risk to the conspirators was clear here's a new man who could not be silenced. So what did they do? In Simon's own words, there was a malicious and concerted attempt to remove him from public life in Scotland by a range of individuals within the Scottish Government.

The senior Scottish Government figures created a procedure for dealing with sexual harassment allegations that deliberately targeted salmon. That procedure was so biased that a judge ruled it unlawful and tainted by apparent bias. So having lost that, they brought prosecutions against it. But salmon was acquitted on all charges by a majority female jury before a female judge. It now appears clear that these actions to destroy a man's reputation and life were motivated by a desire to hide their own crimes.

There are many unresolved questions, but what happened was £60,000 of items dropped from the indictment, the hairstyles, the lingerie, the books by Sturgeon's favourite authors. Morals clearly protecting sturgeon by removing items that incriminated her in the investigation. Further questions for Sturgeon. The police had further questions for Sturgeon, but prosecutors stopped them from putting them. And those prosecutors work for the Lord advocate. The principal legal adviser to the Scottish Government. A clear conflict of interest. There's a clear pattern of secrecy, obstruction and power used to protect power.

A pattern started by Sturgeon. Scotland needs a fresh start that starts with a judicial inquiry into this entire sordid scandal, because it's a scandal that cost Alex Salmond his life.

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In keeping with the late David Amos, the summer adjournment debate Amos, the summer adjournment debate is indeed broad. I will be calling Alex Meyer, after which to help. I'll be calling Steve Darling and

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I'll be calling Steve Darling and to help Mr. Darling. That'll be followed by Sarah Hall Alex Meyer. Thank you, Madam Speaker. First

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Thank you, Madam Speaker. First of all, I have to say to the Leader of the House. I have a complaint about this Labour government. It's about this Labour government. It's entirely messed up the pattern of my life. At the beginning of every year, I used to know what I was going to be doing. I would be standing outside of a train station complaining about Tory fare rises, but no more, because this Labour government has introduced the first fare rise in 30 years, alongside bringing in Great British Railways.

Then come to Easter. I will be campaigning about hens and eggs as we were all thinking about them, because it's so unfair. And I've always thought this that hens should be allowed to be in cages. No more of the size of an A4 piece of paper with no ability to use their natural behaviours, flap around and do the things that hidden should be doing. They're called enhanced cages. And I always thought that the marketing people had really earned their stripes by calling them that, because they're absolutely confinement cages.

But again, this Labour government sorting it out and making sure that as part of the biggest change to animal welfare in a generation, we're going to get rid of those. And I even heard today that we're consulting on fireworks, so I've got no idea what I'm going to be campaigning about come November. But there is a summer campaign that I still think this Labour government needs to sort out. In the very first month that I came to this place, I asked for maximum working temperatures, and I was told by the Minister that they were going to work to bring forward discussions with the HSE by 2025.

I was told by Ministers that they had given approval for the HSC to then look into it, and by this year I was told that they are now looking into it and that in due course there will be a consultation. So I would say that was perhaps slow and steady, but perhaps a little too slow, because there is a climate emergency, and I don't think many people would deny that there is a climate emergency, possibly a few people on the benches opposite.

And my constituents tell me story after story over the recent heat waves that we've had of really unsafe working temperatures in the factories, in the shops, in the offices, in the classrooms that they are in. And I was looking back at some of the previous debates over this, because actually Parliament has been talking about temperatures for workers for many, many years. And the brilliant people in the library actually showed me the hansards from the 1930s, which was the first time that they were talking really about monitoring temperatures in workplaces and making sure that there was a thermometer in every factory.

And it's at that point that the idea of minimum working temperatures was put into place. And I think that today we absolutely have got to make sure
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Alex Mayer Portrait Alex Mayer MP (Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard, Labour)
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that there is a maximum as well. It's something that I think there is widespread support for. It's is widespread support for. It's very similar to the minimum working temperatures. You look at those debates from the 1930s and you see debates from the 1930s and you see that workers are feeling unwell, and actually that they're unproductive in temperatures that unproductive in temperatures that aren't acceptable. And the same is true today. As we fast forward to true today. As we fast forward to that changed climate.

So, Madam Deputy Speaker, I think this is something we can really get our teeth into at speed. The climate

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has changed and so must our laws. Yes. Steve Darling thank you, Madam

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Steve Darling thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker and it is poignant that it's the Sir David Amos debate that it's the Sir David Amos debate today, particularly in light of the shocking murder of Ann Widdecombe. You know, only a week ago, she was a Devon resident, and whilst I may a Devon resident, and whilst I may not have seen eye to eye with her politically, she did definitely bring authenticity into politics in spades. Loads. And would have actually benefited from Torbay Hospital, which she could probably see from Dartmoor to be honest, because it is an incredible view from certain patches of Dartmoor down to the fair constituency of Torbay and the hospital in Torbay needs significant investment.

Sadly, it's drifted down the league tables of performance and they were promised under the Conservatives investment. It was never delivered and the hospital, despite that, there are fears around services being torn away from the hospital. Myself and the heart campaign in Torbay, a campaigning hard to protect those services and get investment. And myself and others believe that there is a lack of acknowledgement of our frail elderly population in Devon, where
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Steve Darling Portrait Steve Darling MP (Torbay, Liberal Democrat)
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the finances are not following that particular challenge in Torbay. And particular challenge in Torbay. And I'm sure, Madam Deputy Speaker, you may be planning to visit Devon at some stage. We have an incredible hospitality offer, but it's really challenged at the moment with the challenged at the moment with the National insurance hikes, with the increases in utility bills and the failure by the government to failure by the government to properly manage to change our business rates. So I would implore the government to reflect on our hospitality industry and take a leaf out of the Liberal Democrats books around that.

Cut to VAT that we should be 5% cut for 18 months to support our hospitality industry, because that would give it a significant boost. Many, many people may be planning to visit the English Riviera this summer, and many may be venturing onto our coasts, so I hope that the Minister will ensure that common sense prevails in Recompensing. Our Coast Guards, appropriately, who put themselves in danger's way and support some people in very tragic circumstances. So I hope that we will see some positive way forwards there.

In conclusion, as a member who has a disability, I'm delighted that it is a Pride in Disability month this month, and I'm really disappointed that my local authority's failure, as in Torbay councillor, failing to engage with me appropriately around send issues because an MP should be there to champion his constituents. I'm having to take this now on to the Ombudsman. And finally, I'd like to thank all the staff throughout the parliamentary estate for their sterling work, and I'd like to thank my staff for their sterling work supporting my constituents, whether they're in in sunny Torbay or even hotter Westminster.

Thank you.

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Sarah Hall. Thank you. I want to use my contribution today to talk use my contribution today to talk about my constituent, Lucy Harrison, as a warning. What follows will be as a warning. What follows will be painful to hear, painful because Lucy was deeply loved, because Lucy's life was taken in circumstances that should never circumstances that should never have happened, and because Lucy's family and loved ones have had to carry the truth of that day ever since, they've shown extraordinary
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Sarah Hall Portrait Sarah Hall MP (Warrington South, Labour )
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since, they've shown extraordinary courage in allowing her story to be told. Lucy was just 23 when she died. She was from Great Sankey and Warrington. She had her whole life ahead of her. Lucy was not simply a name in the news. She was Jane's daughter. She was Sam's partner. She was deeply loved and she should still be here. Lucy had already achieved so much. She had earned a first class degree in fashion buying and merchandising, and had become a career and begun a career she was passionate about.

She was building a life with her partner, Sam. Sam has described Lucy as the joy of his life. She meant everything to him. Boxing day 2024 would be the last time that Jane saw her daughter alive. On the 27th of December 2024, Lucy and Sam travelled to Texas to visit Lucy's father and his family. Lucy's father, a British citizen, now lives in Texas. They were due to

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2025. However. On the. Day they were due to return home,

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Day they were due to return home, just before leaving for the airport, Lucy went into a bedroom with her father. Sam waited for Lucy in the father. Sam waited for Lucy in the living room. A short time later, Sam heard a loud bang. Lucy had been shot by her. She was in her father's home somewhere. She should have been safe. It was in the middle of the night when Jane, who was back home in Warrington, received the call that no parent should ever receive.

That Lucy had been shot by her father and she'd not survived. Jane and Sam immediately found themselves trying to understand how Lucy's death was being investigated, what evidence was being considered, and whether anyone would ever be held accountable. They were trying. They were left trying to understand a legal system without adequate support from the FCDO. The Prosper Police Department investigated Lucy's death as a possible criminal negligent homicide, but the case was later considered by a grand jury in Texas and no criminal charges were brought.

The gun had simply gone off when the evidence was later examined at Lucy's inquest in Cheshire, the conclusion was very different. The senior coroner found that Lucy had been unlawfully killed. The senior coroner for Cheshire told the court that Lucy's father's actions on the day of her death were truly exceptionally bad and reprehensible, so as to amount to her death, and she rejected the account that the gun had simply gone off. The coroner found that Lucy to have suffered the injury she did.

Her father must have pointed the firearm in her direction, failed to check whether it was loaded and then pulled the trigger. She described those actions as reckless and concluded that it amounted to gross negligence. Manslaughter. An officer detected alcohol on his breath and he initially denied having consumed any and despite that, no breathalyser or blood alcohol tests were ever carried out. So the coroner's findings directly challenged the description of Lucy Lucy's death as a tragic incident, and they raised serious questions about whether the original investigation followed the evidence.

With the rigour this case demanded. Lucy's family recognises that the legal systems in England and Texas are different, but they are and are not asking for the government to interfere in another country's justice system. But they're asking for the findings of a British coroner, reached after a full examination of the evidence to be taken seriously. And they're asking for Lucy's case to be reconsidered by US authorities. So today, I implore the government to use every channel it has to press the relevant authorities in Texas to reopen or formally reconsider Lucy's case, and to stand alongside a British family to ensure the findings of a British court are properly considered and as a matter of urgency to ensure that the FCDO in future does more to support families, the families of constituents who murdered abroad.

Jane has said that those who knew Lucy know what she would want them to do now, to make change, to do better and be better. And that's exactly what they're trying to do. They're carrying on the fight for Lucy.
15:23
Ben Spencer Portrait Dr Ben Spencer MP (Runnymede and Weybridge, Conservative)
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Order Paper. >> Order Paper. >> Doctor Ben Spencer. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I'd like to raise a deeply I'd like to raise a deeply troubling case that highlights serious concerns about the integrity of DNA testing within the Child Maintenance Service, and questions around the existing safeguards in place to protect families. So today, I want to share, as was recounted to me, what happened to my constituents, Miss Chelsea Miller, her fight for justice and the serious questions it raises.

Miss Miller, separated from her partner, her former partner, Mr. Brown, shortly after the birth of their son in March 2022, when she applied to DCMS for child maintenance. A few months later, paternity was disputed and the CMS arranged DNA testing through Cellmark and independent private company specialising in forensic and relationship DNA testing. Miss Miller attended an approved testing clinic. However, her former partner requested that the DNA sample be taken at Woodlawn Medical Centre, a location that was not on sale.

Marks approved list of collection sites. Despite this, the testing kit was sent there. Crucially, Cellmark did not verify that the centre was authorised or capable of conducting DCMS DNA test. DNA testing nor was my constituent informed of the change. The result came back stating that Mr. Brown was not the father. Miss Miller knew the result was wrong. She knew Mr. Brown was the dad, and for her own determination she persuaded Mr. Brown's mother to participate in private DNA testing.

That test established that the child was her biological grandson, that Mr. Brown's mother was grandma. And as Mr. Brown is an only child, it confirmed that the official result could not be correct. Subsequent investigations by the Department for Work and Pensions and the police confirmed what had happened. An employee of Woodlawn Medical Centre, Robert Patel, had conspired with Mr. Brown and tampered with the DNA testing process. Both Mr. Brown and Mr. Patel were subsequently convicted and sentenced to prison for fraud.

The concerns I had regarding this case are not limited to individual wrongdoing. It raises fundamental questions and concerns regarding the security of the chain of evidence relating to DNA testing and the process as a whole. Why was the DNA testing kit sent to an approved collection site without proper checks being carried out, while assessment oversight did DCMS undertake of the company and its practices before and after the commissioning of DNA testing? But most importantly, what lessons have been learned to ensure that no other parent or child has to endure the same ordeal? People need to have confidence in paternity testing, whether in child maintenance or other forensic uses.

The chain of evidence needs to be secure. Will the government urgently review this and meet with me and my constituent to discuss this case, and the measures that can be taken to strengthen oversight, accountability and safeguards within paternity testing? Families must be able to trust that decisions affecting their children are based on processes that are secure, reliable and beyond reproach. Speaker.
15:27
Samantha Niblett Portrait Samantha Niblett MP (South Derbyshire, Labour)
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I always open my iPad so I can read it. Thank you very much. It's read it. Thank you very much. It's a privilege to contribute to this debate. In memory of Sir David Amess, Sir David embodied what it means to be a great constituency MP. means to be a great constituency MP. He understood that our greatest responsibility is not just what happens in this chamber, what happens in our communities, our surgeries and our conversations with the people who put their trust in us.

That is what this debate celebrates. Constituency work rarely makes the headlines, but it changes lives. None of it would be possible without my incredible team, and I hope this House and my constituents will understand my wanting to take this opportunity to thank them. They make me a far more effective MP, and I'm enormously grateful for everything they do. Since being elected, it's been my privilege of my life to serve the people of South Derbyshire. Regular surgery is a monthly coffee. Mornings are amongst the most valuable parts of my role.

They allow me to listen, understand what matters to people, and to ensure that the work we do, both in the constituency and in this place reflects their experiences. Sometimes that work is about campaigns affecting whole communities, helping secure the new school at new House Farm in Mickleover, standing alongside residents in Stanton in their opposition to the incinerator and continuing to fight to protect Swadlincote, a nationally important pottery. But often it is the individual stories that really stay with you. Derek was just four years old when he had already waited more than a year for his wheelchair, a quarter of his life, receiving a photo of him smiling in it when it finally arrived is something I'll never forget.

Then there's Alfred and his mum, Emma Alfred, just ten, and we helped access funding for specialist therapies. There's Jason and his family, whose mobility support was restored and families who have secured vital medical appointments, specialist equipment or simply someone to help them navigate an overwhelming system. These may seem like small victories in the grand scheme of politics, but they're not. They're not small to the people living with them. Behind every MP and especially this MP is a dedicated team, quietly listening, chasing answers, navigating bureaucracy, and supporting people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

None of us came into politics from a political background in my team. Between us, we have experience in the NHS, business, education, the arts and the charitable sector. But we all share one thing a determination to help people. Our constituency office also has become a place where local organisations can support others. From Derbyshire, we're helping victims of domestic abuse to Derbyshire LGBT monthly spill the tea sessions, and I want my constituents to know that they have a friend and ally in me, even if they feel let down by this Labour government right now, as well as our Accessibility Action group, bringing together residents and partners to make South Derbyshire more inclusive.

Of course, constituency work is not a catalogue of successes. We did not stop the Staunton incinerator. Too many families are still battling a system that lets them down, and many of my constituents continue to face challenges with police, hold inappropriate development and poor roads. But being a constituency MP is not about winning every campaign. It's about showing up, listening, being honest, even when the answer is no and never giving up on the people we represent. Different constituencies face different challenges, but we all share the same privilege to serve the people who put their trust in us.

If the people of South Derbyshire know they have an MP and a team who listen, who who stand beside them and who will keep fighting for them, then I will consider that the greatest honour of this job, and I hope it's a fitting tribute to the example set by Sir David Amos.
15:30
Martin Vickers Portrait Martin Vickers MP (Brigg and Immingham, Conservative)
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Yes. Earlier this week, I spoke in the Westminster Hall debate about isolation of coastal communities. I prepared a five minute speech, but we're only allowed 2.5 minutes. So here's the other 2.5 minutes. I. The more in common. The research group recently produced a report commissioned by Associated British Ports about understanding British coastal communities, and the report is indeed a wake up call for Westminster. It surveys those living on our coasts and the message is clear 79% of coastal residents feel the government in Westminster doesn't understand their area.

I have to say I disagree with that to to some extent, because there are many people, such as myself, who live and work and were brought up in coastal communities, and it's very easy to knock Westminster for not understanding coastal communities or industrial areas or whatever, when in actual fact, many of us work very hard to argue for the case, for the communities in which we in which we live. Young people in this community can see the potential for coastal areas, but they need a reason to stay.

Currently, 58% of young people in coastal communities are considering leaving because they feel they have no choice or lack of decent jobs. In my area we have Immingham, the biggest port in the country, right on the doorstep, and if we unlock the investment of port infrastructure, we can reverse the brain drain. Turning from our economic future to the immediate health of our communities, I must raise deep concerns regarding NHS England's proposals for the Integrated Care Board. Boundary changes in our region.

I, along with neighbouring MPs, have written to the Minister and to the ICB arguing the case services across North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire and the wider Humber are deeply interconnected and we need a single health ecosystem. If NHS England proceeds with breaking up our current footprint, it will directly undermine the viability of Scunthorpe and Grimsby General hospitals. Furthermore, 300 000 people from the Humber and North Yorkshire ICB footprint are threatened by the financial stability of the entire system and it it it dilutes the level of support and services in our area.

Now, it wouldn't be complete if I didn't raise my long running campaign to restore the direct train services from Grimsby and Cleethorpes through to King's Cross. I've already raised it once. Transport questions this morning and I will go on at every possible opportunity. Grimsby and Cleethorpes represent one of the largest urban areas in the entire country, without a direct to our capitals linked to our capital city. Now the. The government claimed that the creation of Great British Railways will boost economic growth and provide direct service.

It is now up to the Ministers themselves to decide that. And they could at the. Merely by signing a. An order. Restore this service as quickly as possible, and in my last. 30s Madam Deputy Speaker, I'd just like to report that I had a close encounter with a cyclist this morning. Now, many pedestrians were around London will be aware that cyclists. Can I qualify that some cyclists can be a danger and you can go outside of this building and see lawbreaking.

You know, hundreds of cyclists breaking the law. If we if we don't enforce the law at a low level, we are turning our eye to the law, breaking at a higher level. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Melanie Ward thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It's a pleasure to speak in this debate and to hear speak in this debate and to hear the warm recollections of Sir David Amos, including from yourself. He was obviously widely respected was obviously widely respected across this chamber. Last month, we also remembered my dear friend Jo Cox, who we continue to miss, and Cox, who we continue to miss, and my thoughts this week are with the friends and relatives of Ann Widdecombe following her shocking Widdecombe following her shocking murder.

An attack on one parliamentarian is an attack on all of us. I always say that community solidarity is the biggest strength in my part of the world, and I'd like to use my time to highlight
15:35
Melanie Ward Portrait Melanie Ward MP (Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, Labour)
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some of the people and organisations who are shining examples of this. I'd like to pay examples of this. I'd like to pay tribute to the Linton Lane Centre, which celebrates its centenary this year, and I was glad to join their celebrations. Formerly Kirkcaldy Boys Club, it is a thriving cornerstone of life in Kirkcaldy, cornerstone of life in Kirkcaldy, providing a wide range of services to the community. The Linton Lane Centre is led heroically by Mandy Hunter, who celebrates 30 years of working at the centre.

Today I would like to say thank you to Mandy for her tireless years of service and thank you to all the staff and volunteers at the Linton Lane Centre. Turning to Dalgety Bay after the success of our new banking hubs in Cowdenbeath and Burntisland, we need a new banking hub in Dalgety Bay to ensure that vital banking services are still accessible there, especially to a population who are perhaps not always OK with online banking. I have raised this with the Treasury Minister only yesterday, and I will continue to push for this to happen now to two pieces of good news.

I was inspired by the work of students at Dunnikier Primary School, who produced an impressive display of artwork to celebrate diversity at their school. The school had become the target of vile racist attacks online as a result of holding Diversity Day celebrations, and I visited to offer my support. What I saw there were children from different backgrounds, all with a love for Scotland and pride in their family's heritage. It reminded me that the real world is different and often better than the online world.

These children had a greater understanding of each other than any of the abusive and racist trolls online. Let me say it clearly I am proud of the teachers and pupils of Dunnikier Primary,

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and I hope that they are proud of themselves. They.

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I warmly welcome the one. I warmly welcome the £515,000 new warmly welcome the £515,000 new investment that this UK government is making in Denfield Park in Kirkcaldy through the SFA. The Kirkcaldy through the SFA. The current football pitch has been prone to flooding and the new 3G pitch, which this funding will help pitch, which this funding will help to pay for, will provide year round football facilities for men's and women's teams across age groups and from across Kirkcaldy. A massive well done to all the Kirkcaldy Community Football Partnership for all of their hard work in making this happen.

Now, as many members have recalled, MPs would not be able to do our jobs without our incredible staff teams and I am very lucky in this regard. I would like to say a huge thank you to Angela Bailey, who is soon moving on from being my office manager. I will always be grateful to her for her work with me in 2024 and ever since then, and I wish her and her family all the very best in the future year. And that just brings me lastly to say, a huge thank you to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and to all of the parliamentary staff.

A relaxing and rejuvenating recess. I think we need it after recent events, and we are extremely grateful to all that you do in making our democracy function.
15:38
Jeremy Corbyn Portrait Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP (Islington North, Your Party)
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Yes. >> Madam Deputy Speaker, when the Member for Harrow East introduced this debate, he quite rightly drew attention to the huge work done by our constituency and parliamentary staff, and I think it's right that we should thank them on this occasion, and also thank all the parliamentary staff for what they do, and I do thank my local authority for what they do, in particular the street cleaners that cleaned up after the largest ever football celebration in Britain when Arsenal won the league.

I'm sure everybody will cheer that straight away. No. But could I also on put on the record my thanks to two members of the members room staff who are retiring today Godfrey Asari and Margaret Leballo, who've done fantastic work providing God knows how many cups of coffee and tea for all of us over many years. They deserve our thanks to. There are a number of things I want to just refer to very briefly, if I could. Madam Deputy Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister gave his last Prime Minister's Question Time.

He gave a characterisation of the Labour Party that he inherited when he became the leader, which I profoundly disagree with and is completely wrong. The Labour Party was not financially in any great problem when I ceased to be the leader. In fact, it had very large capital and cash assets at that time. Secondly, to call it morally bankrupt and claiming it to be a party that had been found to be institutionally antisemitic is completely wrong and will not be found anywhere in the HEC report that was put there.

And I do invite the Prime Minister to correct the record. I'm sure he would wish it to be accurate. There are many things that are going to face the new Prime Minister when he comes into office. I hope he will fundamentally change our policy on Gaza and Palestine and on Iran and Lebanon, and at the very least, cease military support and security cooperation with Israel, but also support the private member's bill that I put forward, calling for a public inquiry in Gaza, in the same way that Sir John Chilcot undertook a public inquiry into the policy on Iraq.

My constituency, like many others, has a large number of places that are now leasehold properties, fairly newly built, quite often, many of them covered with unsafe cladding, and therefore they require to be moved. And I'm pleased that the government has made some funding available to remediate unsafe cladding. That is good, except I ask the question why aren't the developers being given that bill? Why aren't they the ones that are forced to pay for what they knew to be unsafe cladding when they put it in? And so to the residents in my constituency in Drayton Park, Highbury Square and stadium buildings, I hope that we can do something for them because they have suffered very high insurance costs, inability to sell or move their places simply because something was badly built and they were unaware of it when they bought the place.

Two other quick issues I wish to raise. I have a constituent who I'd rather not name because I think he deserves privacy, who suffers from advanced motor neurone disease. He's in a very bad way. He is getting nursing care from the local health service and that is good. Of course, I have written several times to the Home Office asking his family in Nigeria be allowed to visit. They've consistently and absolutely refused to allow him to be visited by his son and any other member of his family.

I appeal to the Home Office, and I'm sure the Leader of the House will pass this on, and I'll follow up with another letter. Please show some humanity for this man towards the end of his life, to at least have the opportunity to see the rest of his family before he passes on from a most terrible condition in 15 seconds. Available fish and cook is a shop that's closing on Blackstock Road. Please do not allow what is a successful small business to be turned into a 24 hour gaming place.

Give us the powers to stop this kind of thing happening in any of our high country.
15:42
Lewis Atkinson Portrait Lewis Atkinson MP (Sunderland Central, Labour)
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Or the Lewis Atkinson. >> In the last year, Sunderland has shown it is truly a city on the up with a new hospital, library, bridge, construction skills, bridge, construction skills, academy officers housing all open or opening soon, all secured under a Labour council. With investment a Labour council. With investment plans in place for the Crown Works film studio, expansion of the Metro to Washington and much more now. Reform UK Sunderland might have criticised city centre regeneration as vanity projects and opposed council investment.

But in the spirit of constructive cross-party engagement that I have tried to adopt following their victory in May, I should acknowledge that reform have promised to bring back the air show. That was an annual highlight of my childhood that will presumably Madam Deputy Speaker be returning next July, so I want to extend an early invite to all hon. Members and the future member for Clacton to not just enjoy our beautiful coast, but also to help ensure that all rubbish from day trippers to Roker and Seaburn, is properly disposed of in the bin.

Sunderland fans will be minding the gap when we get off the Metro at the airport this summer, not just for our summer holidays, but for getting carried away at Europa League fixtures, perhaps in Milan. Our first season back in the Premier League was a resounding triumph, a huge turn in fortunes for the red and white team founded by a trade union. It just shows what you can do with the right manager, inspired recruitment and consistent hard work. Yes, I am referring still to football here, not the Labour Party.

I know the Leader of the House, the right hon. Member for Tynemouth, is an ardent fan of Europe, so I'm sure he'll join me in wishing Safc well for the season ahead. I do specifically want to mention at this point the contribution of David Bruce, who recently departed as the club's chief business officer. As a lifelong fan, a local lad made good. He led the commercial revitalisation of the club and, crucially, its reconnection with the with the fans, including through the return of fantastic Hummel kits.

I wish him well in his future work as chief executive of Sheffield Wednesday. Now Madam Deputy Speaker, at the end of the school year, of course, I want to thank teachers, staff and students across Sunderland for their commitment this year. A deserved summer break beckons and for those awaiting exam results, I hope they reflect all of your hard work. Mrs. Helen Smith has been teaching at Saint Anthony's Catholic Girls School for more than 30 years, including as head of sixth Form and leading their A-level politics programme.

She has encouraged and inspired generations of Sunderland young people to be engaged in our democracy, whether, whether as runners at our CPD election, counts visitors to parliament or as talented interns and staff in my and the offices of me and my predecessors, I thank her for that and the and the significant contribution she has made to public life in Sunderland. As I thank all teachers and staff retiring at the end of this term. Homelessness shames us all, and I want to pay tribute to the Prime Minister's priority on tackling it, including through increasingly increased, significantly increasing the homelessness grant allocation to Sunderland.

I am deeply saddened. Still, though angry even, that, that grant has not been used by the council to prevent the recent closure of the basis homelessness drop in centre and that no alternative provision has been put in place. Imagine being on the streets in a heat wave, or in a few months time, in the middle of winter, without a drop in service to have a shower in, to get warm in, to wash your clothes in. It's a disgrace. And I want to pay tribute to Dave Crawley and the team, to the engagement of churches and other faith and community groups in doing what they can to serve our homeless neighbours in the city.

Just remains Madam Deputy Speaker to wish you and all staff of the house a very happy summer.
15:46
Matt Vickers Portrait Matt Vickers MP (Stockton West, Conservative)
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Another Matt Vickers. joining the many other members who paid tribute to Ann Widdecombe? She was a remarkable, inspiring, passionate woman and I was honoured to welcome her to Stockton on numerous occasions. My thoughts go out to her friends and family. One issue raised with me week after week is the growing scourge of off road bikes and e-bikes. Whether it's Bishopsgarth and Elm Tree, Ingleby Barwick or Thornaby, residents across Stockton West are fed up with Feryal balaclava clad thugs using these bikes to intimidate communities, tear through parks and footpaths and make neighbourhoods feel unsafe.

Families can't enjoy parks or the residents feel intimidated and children cannot play safely. This is not simply anti-social behaviour, it's dangerous criminality. I put forward amendments to legislation that would have made it easier for officers to seize vehicles, and showed that non roadworthy bikes seized from persistent offenders were not returned, and explored greater accountability around the sale of off road bikes in the first place. While those amendments were not accepted, the problem has not gone away. If anything, it's getting worse.

I urge Ministers to look again at the issue and bring forward a comprehensive package of measures that equips police with the powers that they need, tackles the supply of these machines, and sends a clear message that those who use off road bikes and e-bikes to terrorise our communities will face real consequences. Another issue I hear about almost every day is overdevelopment across Yarm, Eaglescliffe, Middleton, Saint George and Heartburn, residents increasingly feel that their communities are being asked to shoulder an unfair level of development without the infrastructure to support it.

People understand that homes are needed. They understand that young people want somewhere to live, but what they cannot understand is why developments continue to be approved without the roads. The school places, GP capacity, drainage and local services keeping pace. Time and again I hear from residents who feel their voices are ignored. Development should happen with communities, not to them. The government's increased housing targets for placing more pressure on these communities. Planning should improve places, not simply gobble up the green belt to maximise housing numbers.

I hope Ministers will continue looking at ways to strengthen the role of infrastructure in planning decisions, and ensure that local communities have a meaningful voice before developments are approved. I'd like to quickly pay tribute to Richard Pengelley from Strangers Bar, who retires today after 37 years. Richard hasn't just poured pints, he's poured patience, good humour and the occasional reality check for MPs of every party. The place won't be the same without him. I wish him a long and well-earned retirement and look forward to reading his memoirs.

Madam Deputy Speaker Stockton West is an amazing place with amazing people and I'm proud to call it home and I'm proud to represent them.
15:49
Adam Thompson Portrait Adam Thompson MP (Erewash, Labour)
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Yes. >> Adam Thompson thank you. >> Madam Deputy Speaker. >> It's always an honour to speak in the German debate in memory of Sir David Amess. And as is traditional, I will endeavour to cram as many topics as I can into my contribution before we break for the summer recess. Firstly, I'd like to discuss recent knife crime in Ilkeston. While it wouldn't be appropriate for me to discuss in any one individual case in detail, there have been some incidents recently that have affected my community deeply.

As always, my thoughts are with those affected and I will be continuing to engage with the families of those involved and the wider community over the summer, as well as our local police, our police and Crime Commissioner Nicole Roberts and local councillors from across the political spectrum. As we work together to make our community safer. I also want to briefly address East Midlands Railway, a service I use regularly travelling between Erewash and London this week. EMR has continued to operate a reduced timetable, citing the impact of recent hot weather.

While extreme weather can affect rail services, passengers face disruption and shortcomings for years and the hot weather isn't going away. The introduction of the new Aurora fleet is very much welcome, but progress has been very slow. In the meantime, passengers are relying on the ageing class 222 Meridian trains that lack modern amenities such as properly functional WiFi. Passengers deserve a reliable, modern railway, and I hope the rollout of the Aurora fleet accelerates to deliver the improvements long promised on the Midland Main Line.

Supporting grassroots music has always mattered to me, both as a former gigging musician and as the MP for Erewash. Last summer, I spoke in this debate about the importance of protecting the small venues that give new artists their first opportunities and bring communities together through live music. Since then, I've been out seeing a stack of bands at grassroots gigs, because those venues and those acts only thrive when people show up. Grassroots music is about more than entertainment. It creates jobs, strengthens our communities, and gives the next generation of artists somewhere to begin their journey, and often something for young people to do.

But the enduring problems of venue closures, poor pay for artists and high prices for tickets endures. So to repeat my sentiment for last time, colleagues, friends, please go see a band this summer now. Madam Deputy Speaker, some quick fire points. The big paddle cleanup is paddle UK's wonderful initiative designed to clean up our waterways, and I'd like to thank all the volunteers for their work. I'm really excited that Bennerley Viaduct Visitor Centre is formally opening this week, and I'm very much looking forward to my first coffee there.

A very happy anniversary to Manor Fish Bar in Ilkeston, who are currently celebrating 20 years of fantastic chips. Treetops Hospice in Risley are an amazing local charity who provide hospice at home support for thousands of Derbyshire families using their innovative provision model, and I hope to engage with the Health Secretary after recess to discuss that model. A shout out to my barber, Madam Deputy Speaker F Swift. He's essentially a core member of my team at this point. He's always there to put a smile on my face, and he's far more famous on Instagram than I am.

Do give him a follow. My guy is hilarious. An invitation to all members. They're very welcome to join me for a creamy pint this summer in Sawley Junction. The book Pig, the Pig or the Optimist over recess. And one more can I beg reform at Derbyshire County Council to sort out the potholes. They are a right state. I'm sure every member across the house values the contribution. We've heard from various colleagues about their own teams and all the work that they do. I just like to put on record my thanks for my incredible team.

Becca, Curtis, Harrison, Holly, Jude, Robert, Ruby and Vicky. I express my very sincere thanks for everything that you do. Similarly, my colleagues on the Erewash Borough Council, James Dawson, our mayor, Greg Marschalek, they're doing wonderful work. Madam Deputy Speaker, I have covered as many topics as I could this afternoon. Indeed, I've got several further discarded pages that I would have raised had I had the time. But as we head into this recess, I thank again my team, my colleagues on the council, all the staff in the House, particularly those retiring this summer, and everyone who works so hard behind the scenes to keep this place running.

All members are very restful and wonderful. Summer. I look forward to returning in September to continue making the case for Erewash. Happy recess, Madam Deputy Speaker.
15:53
Steve Barclay Portrait Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP (North East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)
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Mr. Barclay. Members opposite will recall the political pain I'm sure many of them faced when the Winter fuel cut proposal was announced, which was put forward to save around 1.3 to 1.5 billion a year. They'll also recall the angst, the ministerial resignations, the delay that occurred around the Defence Investment Plan, which was about £15 billion, less than half of which is actually new money, about £6.9 billion. So it just seems very surprising that the government is proposing to spend more than the defence investment plan on this building, this estate, and, as a deposit, is planning to spend more than half of what was being put forward as a saving for winter fuel.

And if colleagues are surprised to hear that of the four options being brought forward, even the cheapest is more than £10 billion. But in a nice sleight of hand, all of the works on the northern estate, which is essential to our winner, is excluded. And that's over a further 5 billion over the next ten years, and that's excluding the half a billion we've spent over the last five years before building anything just on preparatory work. And after spending half a billion on preparatory work just last month, a national audit office said the 3 billion that had been brought forward is to allow the programme to progress from four options to two.

And yet when the legislation was passed, it was with one option. So after seven years and half £1 billion, we've gone from one option to four. And then the proposal is to spend a further £3 billion going from four options to two. But because the headline figure is so large to commit £3 billion but lock in the next Parliament so that the next Parliament, in essence, has no choice but to sign off a figure that this Parliament knows it will be highly reluctant to do.

And all of this has been done. Madam Deputy Speaker, with no debate in this House, despite half more than half of the Parliament being new. And this is not a new issue. I raised this point in this exact same debate, this David, late last year. I've raised it multiple times in the House. There has been no debate about these gigantic figures, despite the level of debate we have on the topic. And the government might say, well, it's a parliamentary matter. It's not. It's the government that will provide the money.

It's the government that has the majority in the House. And why is this happening? Because, bluntly, there's a breakdown in trust between officials who are deeply frustrated with members and peers because they feel we've not set a clear Budget as clear timeline. The goalposts are being moved in terms of the options and frustration from members and peers who feel that officials are not responding to concerns. I mean, in 2021, the Leader of the House said this scheme was massively gold plated, but the trade offs are still not being addressed.

And let me just give you one example. The Lord's roof. We had a proposal this week. The Finance Committee doesn't cover. We had a proposal though, on that. That's work outside our. Where an extra £1 million of cost was being incurred just because the Lords wouldn't agree to finish at 1030. And when I put that to members of the Lords, they were completely unaware of this figure. So, given I am out of time, the point I just wanted to surface to the house is these are huge numbers.

It is ridiculous that there is so little transparency and debate. It is going to be a national scandal. I keep raising it, but nothing is changing. It is time we had a debate in this House. It's time we made this issue transparent. It's time we brought some clarity, including a defined Budget. I would set the time limit as one parliament and set a limit and a

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Budget. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. oversubscribed.

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oversubscribed. A fitting tribute to Sir David that I'm sure he would have been proud of. I'm going to keep my proud of. I'm going to keep my remarks short. I love Luton, it's my home and my favourite part of my job is working with our wonderful, diverse, welcoming community and I've been proud to push forward the I've been proud to push forward the new play Park in Stopsley alongside Sandra and Mike Stratford, Cherry Newbury and the one and only Karen Caufield.

With spades now in the ground, this government's pride in place is funding a fire extension themed playground extension for younger children as well. It's a true community campaign. A Labour true community campaign. A Labour MP working alongside a Labour council funded by a Labour government powered by local people.
15:58
Sarah Owen Portrait Sarah Owen MP (Luton North, Labour)
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Yeah. over the next decade for our Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board, led by our fantastic new chair, Jackie Nouvelle, and I visit businesses every week. I do a Small Business Saturday, shout out every weekend and I see businesses like crafty as F run by Claire Linton Secretary five opened by the passionate Casey Foyle Heena Saurabh, providing IT services globally from her home in Luton North and the amazing Grand Bazaar supermarket that celebrated its first year anniversary, which I was honoured to mark alongside our Labour mayor, Javid Hussain.

Now I love visiting schools. In the last few weeks I've joined students Bricklaying at Stopsley High with their wonderful head, Karen Hand. After linking them up with local business Goodman to supply bricks for their courses. I've awarded amazing students at Putteridge High alongside their committed head, David Graham, and I've said goodbye to the truly brilliant Sandra Clarke, who retires from Woodlands High this week. The love and care and community you feel when you walk into that school is something amazing.

While she will be greatly missed, I know that she deserves a very happy retirement. And in Luton North we have so many great people doing amazing things, whether that's Paul Pryor opening up a Veterans Hub at the Leagrave and Limbury British Legion, Michelle Baldwin running a half marathon rather her than me to support the hospitals, charity or Rose at the Amino Centre who welcomed me to meet with the amazing groups like Attentive and Charlton Women's Group. This isn't the sum of everything happening in Luton North and I could go on for 30 minutes rather than three minutes, but I want to put these achievements on record.

We are strong, united, diverse part of the world and long may that continue. And just like many others, I want to be able to wish everybody here a fantastic summer and to thank those members of the parliamentary staff who are retiring, people like Richard, Margaret and Godfrey. And I want to say a massive thank you for them not just keeping us fed and looked after, but for their continued friendship, especially Godfrey, who has been extremely kind to my little one throughout the years.

And I want to say a massive thank you to my team. I couldn't do this without you, and you serve the people of Luton North in such a brilliant, committed manner. I couldn't ask more from you, so thank you very much.
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Rachel Taylor Portrait Rachel Taylor MP (North Warwickshire and Bedworth, Labour)
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Rachel Taylor thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Firstly, can I thank all of the House staff, particularly those leaving us this particularly those leaving us this year, but also pay tribute to my wonderful team. I couldn't do this wonderful team. I couldn't do this job without you and the work that you do for my constituents in North Warwickshire and Bedworth. Sir David was known throughout this House for the pride he took in his constituency. Now, I've always believed that sport has an extraordinary ability to bring people together, never more than when we watch our national team together.

As someone who's played tennis throughout my life and become a Wimbledon tennis umpire, I know that sport gives us so much more than benefits to our physical health, although I'm beginning to question those physical health benefits. After sustaining a broken rib, playing for the cross-party parliamentary team. Sport gives us confidence. It gives us friendships. It gives us the opportunity to meet people outside of our everyday lives. And for many people, it just gives us a reason to get out of bed and to get outdoors.

And that's what I see every time I visit the fantastic grassroots sports clubs in North Warwickshire and Bedworth, they're places where young people build confidence, where volunteers give countless hours to their communities, and where people of all ages and backgrounds come together around a shared passion. Earlier this year, I was delighted to visit Bedworth Rugby Club and support them in their ambition to install new floodlights at Atherstone Cricket club. I was pleased to attend the Martin Blackett Memorial Match, which every year raises vital funds for cancer research.

I had the chance there to join their fantastic ladies team in the nets. They told me to stick to the tennis. I enjoyed my visit to the bowls club at Water Orton and can assure you that Crown Green Bowls is much harder than it looks. It was a joy to to return to the Grove and see the local Ladies Darts League thriving. Margaret and the other volunteers do a wonderful job. The bowls team. There is also a force to be reckoned with and so many young people are taking up the sport.

Coleshill Tennis Club was a real lifeline for me during Covid, and the adders hockey team, where I played for a few seasons, have so many dedicated volunteers, including Mick and Jill Thomas, and thriving junior men's and ladies teams. Sport is so much a part of village life in so many of the villages in my constituency, from Fillongley to Newton Regis, Crawley to Austria and Warton to Polesworth, with its fantastic annual office, Abbott Run, to name just a few. I can't talk about sport and physical activity without mentioning the two wonderful part runs in my constituency, the rather hilly Bedworth Park run in the Miners Welfare Park and the picturesque Kingsbury Water Park parkrun, both of which I've run in and volunteered at.

I also can't talk about sport in my constituency without mentioning the three fantastic non-league football clubs, Atherstone Town Community Football Club, known as the Adders, who nearly clinched promotion this season. As I watched the nail biting match in Coventry, it was wonderful and also I need to mention Bedworth United and Coleshill Town. I've also supported them and watched their matches this season. It was great to welcome young people from Polesworth School and Nicholas Chamberlain to Parliament this year to talk about the barriers to them getting involved in sport and to join the Activity Alliance recently at the Junior Para Swimming Championships.

I know I've seen the Paralympians of the future as we remember Sir David Amess today. I'd also like to talk about our late colleague Jo Cox, who reminded us that we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than the things that divide us. It was an honour to join my friend, the hon. Member for Spen Valley, Jo's sister, together with her parents, Jean and Gordon, to run the 10th and very last run for Jo last month.

Grassroots sport demonstrates the truth of Jo's words every single week at the many brilliant sports clubs across North Warwickshire and Bedworth. I'd like to thank this House for listening to me, and particularly to thank all those who volunteer in community sport. You make North Warwickshire and Bedworth and our country a better place.
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Alison Taylor Portrait Alison Taylor MP (Paisley and Renfrewshire North, Labour)
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Alison Taylor thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. remember the sense of shock across the country at his murder. He was clearly a man of deep convictions and determination to serve his country and his constituents. My heart goes out to his family and heart goes out to his family and all those who knew him. They are in my thoughts and prayers today. As our neighbours across the Atlantic are reflecting on the 250th anniversary of their nation, I am reminded of America's great leader, Abraham Lincoln, and his words at Gettysburg, where he describes those who died fighting in the Civil War as having given their last full measure of devotion.

It seems fitting to me. Madam Deputy Speaker, that the same description can be applied to Sir David and to Jo Cox before him, that they gave their last full measure of devotion, giving everything they had to their constituency and their country. It falls to us to honour their loss and to rededicate ourselves to the service of our country. Like other members, I was deeply shocked to learn of the murder of the former member Ann Widdecombe. When I was a newly elected MP, a constituent came to me with an issue that led me to contact Ann.

She was incredibly kind and generous with her time, and I would like to record my deepest condolences to her family and friends. Serving my Stituents of Paisley and Renfrewshire North is the greatest privilege of my life, and I am grateful to Mr. Speaker, to all that he has done to help us do so safely. For several years I have served on the Labour led Glasgow Commission, exploring our barriers and opportunities for the Greater Glasgow region. One inescapable conclusion from that work is the need for strategic, ambitious planning in transport, infrastructure and culture.

I look to what has been achieved in Manchester as an illustration of what can be achieved with ambition and positivity. Taking the example of transport in Manchester, it is well served with an integrated transport network. My constituents can take a train to Manchester Airport. They can even take a train to the less frequented Prestwick Airport. But they cannot take a train to Glasgow Airport, hampering access for both travellers and workers. Bus franchising has transformed commuting and leisure travel across Manchester, while Glasgow, one of the first places to have an underground system, has seen no expansion of that underground network and little thought to integrated transport.

My own constituency includes Glasgow Airport and significant industrial and high tech manufacturing, constrained not by their own ambition, but by the lack of ambition of two decades of an SNP controlled Scottish Government. Following the publication of the Strategic Defence Review, I will be convening a round table with defence related businesses in my constituency, exploring how we can together play a part in the challenges ahead. For members still planning a holiday, can I highlight some of the delights of Paisley, Glasgow and Renfrewshire, all of which I represent? Part of a Renfrewshire museum, holds one of only a handful of copies of Audubon's beautifully illustrated Birds of America.

I can also advise the House that that previous important visitors to Paisley include the only clergyman to sign the US Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon, and former President Ronald Reagan, who had roots in the area. In fact, American influence radiates across Renfrewshire, which hosts a nine acre indoor leisure and entertainment zone at Braehead. Madam Deputy Speaker, the grid is aimed at children of all ages. Thank you.
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Julie Minns Portrait Ms Julie Minns MP (Carlisle, Labour)
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Members will have seen that we're a bit pushed for time, so after this speech I'll be reducing the time limit to three minutes. I call Julie Minns on a four minute

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time limit. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. One of the things. Sir David. Understood well is that the best causes we take up as parliamentarians begin not here in Westminster, but in our constituencies, like the hon. Member for Stockton West, many of my constituents have come to me worried about the growing presence of illegal e-bikes on our streets. Older residents are anxious about their safety. Local businesses raise concerns about dangerous modified e-bikes and Carlisle. Police officers highlight a worrying trend linking illegal e-bikes to wider criminal activity.

That's why, at the beginning of this year, I introduced a ten minute rule bill to ban the sale of illegal e-bikes and the kits that create them. Since then, with thanks to Maisie Stewart and Clark Beckett in my team, I have had the privilege of meeting with manufacturers, retailers, charities, bicycle and motorcycle industries, and police and community groups not just in Carlisle, but well beyond. And the more evidence I have gathered, the more convinced I have become that action is urgently needed to tackle what is a national problem.

Perhaps the most striking conversation I had was with local school children. When I visited school in May, pupils raised concerns with me about illegal e-bikes being ridden through Chances Park. They spoke eloquently and with conviction about the dangers posed to them, their friends and their families simply wanting to use their local park. I think there's something powerful about the fact that primary school children have recognised a problem that we, as lawmakers, have yet to address. The issue, I would like to be clear, is not e-bikes.

It is illegal e-bikes. There is a reason why there is a tight legal definition of an e-bike, and it's because vehicles capable of power and speed outside of those legal perimeters are simply not safe without proper checks, registration and licensing. The police understand the problem all too well. Cumbria's police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allan has been working with me and with commissioners across the country backing my call for a ban because time and again, when the thread of illegal e-bikes is pulled, wider criminal networks unravel with issues of illegal working, drug dealing and robbery.

On a positive note, I've also been delighted to spend time visiting and speaking with some of the amazing legitimate cycle businesses and organisations in my constituency, including Bike Cumbria, who refurbish bikes, helping people on low incomes enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of cycling and provide jobs, training and volunteering opportunities in my community. Illegal e-bikes also raise fire risks, and I heard earlier this week that there's been a nearly 150% increase in house fires due to lithium ion batteries.

A terrifying majority of them have been linked to illegal e-bikes. Taken together, these issues demonstrate that this is not simply a transport matter. It is about public safety. It is about crime. It's about antisocial behaviour. It's about consumer protection and it's about business. Most importantly, for all of us, it's about our communities. Next year, the tour de France comes not just to Britain, but to my constituency of Carlisle, and I want to ensure that the tour is a celebration of cycling, good legal cycling, and I want part of that celebration to be a ban on the dodgy, dangerous, illegal e-bikes that threaten our local communities here.



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Josh Newbury thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Like many colleagues who've spoken, I'd like to pay tribute to Sir David Amess. to pay tribute to Sir David Amess. Today. I make a speech I never thought I would have to make to pay tribute to a good friend. tribute to a good friend. Councillor Shanika Mark Hendrick, who passed away on the 1st of July at the age of just 28. I met at the age of just 28. I met Shanika in 2022 on the Next Generation programme run by the Local Government Association's Labour group.

Although I wondered Labour group. Although I wondered why I was amongst such an incredibly talented cohort, it was plain to see why Shanika was. Despite being relatively new councillor, she was clearly destined for an outstanding career in local government, and anything that she put her mind to. She was particularly passionate about planning, placemaking and her beloved home city of Milton Keynes. As a young woman of colour in politics, she faced condescension and sexism that no one should, particularly given that she was outstanding in all of the roles she held.

Despite that, Shanika carried a lot of self doubt, but one of the joys of knowing her was seeing her confidence gradually blossom into a realisation of the enormous contribution that she made. This is why we were devastated to hear, towards the end of June, that Shanika had been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain tumour. Such is the cruel speed at which
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Josh Newbury Portrait Josh Newbury MP (Cannock Chase, Labour)
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doing things, not just saying things. So I hope that sharing her story can shine a light on the experience of thousands of others. experience of thousands of others. Brain tumours remain the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40, yet fewer than 13% adults under 40, yet fewer than 13% of adults diagnosed with a high grade tumour will survive beyond five years, and just 3.2% of national cancer research funding. There are more than 120 types of brain and central nervous system tumours, making them particularly difficult to identify quickly.

The Brain Tumour Charity found that 41% of patients visited their GP three or more times before receiving a diagnosis. I welcome the government's commitment through the National Cancer Plan to improve outcomes, including investment in the National Brain Tumour Research Consortium, researchers are developing new approaches from immunotherapies to personalised medicine, but many promising breakthroughs are yet to reach the bedside, and we need to do more to support that. In Zeneca's memory, we can back earlier diagnosis and more research to ensure that every patient has access to the best possible care.

Now, before I go to pieces completely, Madam Deputy Speaker, I finish with a few words from a poem by David Hawkins, which was sent round our next gen cohort by Councillor Lorna Falkirk. You can shed tears that she's gone, or you can smile because she's lived. You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back. Or you can open your eyes and see all that she's left behind. Thank you.

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John McDonnell. Four years ago. We welcomed many new residents into a number of new homes in my into a number of new homes in my constituency. Despite saving up and getting themselves on the property ladder, paying anything between ladder, paying anything between £300,000 to £500,000 for a new brand new leasehold properties, those living at the Blue Note Apartments have found themselves to Apartments have found themselves to be living in a nightmare. Bellway homes were the developer and Bellway appointed directors Bellway appointed directors controlled the residents management company.

But when the residents moved in they found the boiler was not fit for purpose. My constituency regularly went without any hot water or heating for days.
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John McDonnell Portrait Rt Hon John McDonnell MP (Hayes and Harlington, Labour)
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The car park gates were constantly breaking down and trapping vehicles inside the car park. Patio slabs uneven and dangerous, leading to uneven and dangerous, leading to injury. There were leaks from the roof into individual apartments and very quickly the service charge very quickly the service charge bills far exceeded the estimates provided by Bellway, and Bellway and its directors refused to engage. and its directors refused to engage. Four years on, the scale of the problems have just grown worse. Over £100,000 of residents funds Over £100,000 of residents funds remain unaccounted for, including the from the Heat and Supply and Reserve funds.

Service charge demands have doubled in four years. Residents have been charged for fixing defects. Developers responsible for residents have refused basic financial information, including end of year accounts, receipts, invoices that they're entitled to under the Landlord and Tenant Act, even though they have gone through every appropriate route, and the patio dangerous patio slabs remain. Bellway has refused to transfer the freehold to leaseholders as contractually obliged to do so. They've allowed the property management companies, Premier Block Management and Gateway Property Management to act with impunity, sending out grossly inflated and incorrect service demands.

And they put my constituents under intense pressure to take over the property management company and expose them to significant personal liabilities. The reason Bellway have been able to get away with this is because they control the management, they have controlled the freehold and they have the resources to bully my constituents, including instructing top law firms to send them threatening letters. All I'm doing is calling upon Bellway to be transparent about this building's finances, resolve the outstanding issues, the physical problems that the residents are facing on the site, transfer the freeholders there contractually and morally obliged to do so.

I welcome the government's Draft Leasehold Reform Bill. However, this case exemplifies that the Bill needs to be much more robust, particularly in relation to service charges and the management transfer process. I don't want to experience this again with other constituents because I believe that they've gone through, as I said, a living nightmare

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because the unaccountability of this development and the management company. I call Amanda Martin.

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I call Amanda Martin. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Sir David Amos understood every what every member of this House what every member of this House should remember. Our greatest privilege is representing the people in places who sent us here. He never missed an opportunity to celebrate Southend, and today I want to do the same for Portsmouth. This year is especially meaningful because we are 100 years as a city because we are 100 years as a city status. For a century, our city is shaped by courage, service, resilience and innovation, but also defended our nation and welcomed openly.

People from around the world, built ships driven industry and produced generations fiercely proud to call themselves Pompey. Through this centenary year, our city has come together to celebrate.
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Amanda Martin Portrait Amanda Martin MP (Portsmouth North, Labour)
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Portsmouth 100 is more about more than looking back. It's about recognising the people who make our city and reading through the city and reading through the nominations for the 100 Pompey Belles Award, recognising 100 local women has been inspiring and women has been inspiring and humbling. They tell the stories of extraordinary women who quietly make Portsmouth a better place every single day. The hardest part now lies ahead because of the impossible task of narrowing these impossible task of narrowing these nominations to just 100.

Madam Deputy Speaker, I have learned over the past two years that Portsmouth sometimes has a habit of talking about itself as though it ends at the Guildhall. I have made it my mission since being elected to remind everyone that there is another half of Portsmouth and is every bit as special, and that is Portsmouth North, and that's where so many of my own memories were made. The street parties on Mousehole Road rolling down Portsdown Hill. Something I have to confess I've done rather more recently than perhaps I should have.

Spending long summer days sitting on the concrete steps at Hilsea Lido. And how wonderful, Madam Deputy Speaker, to see his much loved landmark restored for future generations, to make memories, to catching the bus as a kid into North End, to go shopping before treating ourselves to a burger at Uncle Sam's play dates with mates at the ball pit, at the sovereigns and in later on in the garden of the Rose. In June, family picnics at Baffins Park after a visit or going shopping with my nan in Cosham, or, as my Auntie Irene likes to call it, Cosme.

These moments may seem ordinary, but they are what makes a city extraordinary. And as we celebrate 100 years, I want to encourage residents to follow the Lion Trail, which takes them to so many gems in my city and make them make their own memories. And what next year 101 and what will I do to strive to change that? Building the homes local families need, giving every child the opportunity to achieve and thrive. Supporting our high streets, protecting our coastlines, backing our armed forces and speaking out for those who often don't feel they have a voice, and making sure every generation can build a good life in my city, the city I.

And they love. Madam Deputy Speaker, I want to thank my family and my loved ones for the support and my fantastic team Harry, Helen, Lucy, Abby, Matthew, Gemma, Oscar and Flora who with their partner Neil welcomed their beautiful baby boy Sasha Henry just two weeks ago. Madam Deputy Speaker, before I finish, I want to pay tribute to our outgoing Prime Minister to thank him for his service to our country and for his kindness and encouragement and friendship. And I want to warmly welcome our new Prime Minister around Greater Manchester.

Manchester. He is known as the King of the North. I gently want to remind him there is another North that deserves attention too, and that is Portsmouth North.

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I call David Pinto-Duschinsky. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. This debate is named for Sir David Amos, and I think it's an important chance to honour the values of unity, community and tolerance that unity, community and tolerance that both Sir David and our much missed colleague, Jo Cox, stood for so strongly. I want to echo hon. Members in commemorating Ann Widdecombe, and that's why I want to use this speech to briefly highlight an appalling hatred that is spreading and urge this House to unite in action against it.

Madam
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David Pinto-Duschinsky Portrait David Pinto-Duschinsky MP (Hendon, Labour)
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Deputy Speaker, like many in this House, I was appalled to hear of the terrorist plot against the Ijtema Festival and I'm grateful to the police for their rapid action, their decisive enforcement, as the their decisive enforcement, as the Home Secretary has said, undoubtedly saved lives. That undoubtedly saved lives. That Muslims were targeted is despicable, but it is not, unfortunately, unusual. Just yesterday, an

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unusual. Just yesterday, an individual was charged with plotting attacks on Multiple mosques. Anti-Muslim hate crimes are now at record levels. British Muslims, including my friends and neighbours in Hendon, are regularly subjected to a barrage of abuse, vilification and even violence. And this hate is becoming normalised online, on our streets and shamefully, by some members of this House. We have seen mosques attacked in places like Peacehaven and others, and in Edinburgh we saw where this all leads, with Muslims viciously attacked for no other reason than that they are Muslim.

Let's be clear. These attacks, this hatred is an affront to all we hold dear as a country. It is an assault on British values, and it is the job of all of us to confront it and defeat it wherever it is found. Madam Deputy Speaker, in Hendon we are blessed with a vibrant Muslim community and strong community institutions, including a number of mosques. They contribute so much to our area, but they are an understandably worried. I welcome the action the government is taking to protect our Muslim community.

Continuing action is essential so our Muslim citizens can live free and safe as they practice their faith and go about their daily lives. That means continuing to take measures and invest in protecting our Muslim community. And it also means tackling the root causes of anti-Muslim hatred and the language and attitudes that allow it to spread, including in this House. Hopefully that is a cause we can all get behind as we go into recess. I can think of no better way to honour the tolerance and British values that Sir David stood for, and I'd finally just like to finish by wishing every member of the House a very happy summer recess and thanking our brilliant staff, particularly Godfrey, Margaret, and Richard, for

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all they do. Thank you so much. I call Pam Cox. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It's a pleasure to Deputy Speaker. It's a pleasure to contribute to this debate in memory of Sir David Amess. Sir David, as we've heard, was a tireless we've heard, was a tireless advocate for his Southend constituency, and I felt it was constituency, and I felt it was fitting today to focus on an issue that connects Southend with my own constituency, Colchester, and that is through the role of the University of Essex.

Now, like fellow Essex MPs, I've been very concerned by the impacts of the decision to close the university's Southend campus. Southend city centre has benefited enormously from having a university presence. I remember growing up there myself and the difference it would have made at the time had there been a university presence there. Then the loss of that presence is already felt keenly by residents and, of course, by staff and students. Now
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Pam Cox Portrait Pam Cox MP (Colchester, Labour)
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the university has said it's taken the decision with great reluctance in response to the significant financial pressures facing the wider higher education sector. It's confirmed that the teaching will be confirmed that the teaching will be consolidated in Colchester, although it's also confirmed job although it's also confirmed job losses at that campus. Now, my thoughts as a former colleague to thoughts as a former colleague to many staff, there, with those with those colleagues suffering right now, and I'm sure thoughts across the House are with them as well as they face a very uncertain summer.

Now they've been robustly supported by their trade unions, UQ and unison over the past year, and they're right to continue to raise concerns about jobs, workloads and long term sustainability of our universities. They have my support and that of MPs who represent Southend. Nodding to people in the chamber behind me. Now, at a time when higher education across the country faces major challenges, I'm very pleased to see that universities UK is continuing its Future Universities initiative, urgently exploring how the sector can better support jobs, innovation, communities and students.

And the message is clear our universities are central to the economic and social prosperity of our country, and I hope they are very high on the priority list of our new Prime Minister. Now, in Colchester, we see that value every day. The University of Essex supports thousands of jobs, encourages investment, enriches our cultural life. It's a source of enormous local pride. We see that very clearly right now through many joyous graduation ceremonies that are happening over the next fortnight. So I wish all our new graduates well, and I wish everybody in the House colleagues, staff, friends, my own team, all the best for a very restful summer.



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Thank you. And the final speaker. Bayo Alaba thank you, Madam

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Bayo Alaba thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I'm deeply honoured to have the opportunity to speak here in this Sir David Amess debate. here in this Sir David Amess debate. Sir David's life was defined by 20 public service over 24 years, of public service over 24 years, of which he spent representing the constituency of South and West. Indeed, it was in Sir David's Indeed, it was in Sir David's memory that Southend was granted city status in 2022. That passion
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Bayo Alaba Portrait Mr Bayo Alaba MP (Southend East and Rochford, Labour)
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for our stretch of south east Essex coastline is something I share and something that makes sense when you consider that when you consider what it has to offer. From Wallasey Island to Shoebury East Beach to Island to Shoebury East Beach to Southend Pier and the Kursaal, there is plenty to shout about along our shores. Yet whilst the along our shores. Yet whilst the coast is crucial to Southend East and Rochford character, it also and Rochford character, it also poses its own unique set of challenges.

Bordered by water on three sides, we are physically isolated and obstacle compounded by a single century old, a century old link road and our location at the end of the railway line. I regularly hear from local residents, business owners and farmers about the impact that regular cases of standstill traffic has on their daily life and work. The cost of this, however, is felt most acutely by our young people. Teenagers in coastal areas like ours suffer worse health than their inland counterparts.

Achieve. Below average GCSE results in maths and English, and go on to earn lower future wages. There is, however, good reason to be hopeful. Southend is one of the country's fastest growing seaside resorts, with more than 7 million visitors choosing the city for their seaside day trips each year. It's unsurprising when you consider the regeneration regeneration efforts of recent years, which I've been proud to play a part in. It is. It is a particular pleasure to see the steps being taken to return our coastal to public use.

Coastal communities are also beginning to feel the benefit of the turning. Economic tides generated by this Labour government. The promise of local government reorganisation and devolution is also set to pave the way for greater community control of spending in Southend and Rochford district. We know what the solutions are to our problems. We know how to unlock the huge potential for growth that exists along our coast and in our towns and in our rural areas. We recognise the impact that the new link road would offer and the opportunity that would that would be created by improved access to high tech skills training.

That's why I'm proud to be reigniting the mission to secure new Link Road into south east Essex, and why I'm working to attract new industries and investment into our area. As I believe Sir David Amos understood, the success of South East Essex is defined by a spirit of hard work and self improvement. If our communities are given the tools to

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succeed, I have no doubt we can achieve incredible things. Thank you. Yeah. I call the.

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I call the. Liberal Democrat spokesperson Clive Jones. Thank you very.

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Thank you very. Much, Madam Deputy Speaker. At the outset, I want to raise a concern of my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford West and Abingdon. I understand that a number of MPs were not invited to a call this were not invited to a call this morning outlining the impact of local government reorganisation, and I hope that the leader agrees that that is unacceptable. You're here today. I wish to celebrate the life of Sir David Amess and following the untimely death of the former MP Ann Widdecombe, I think it appropriate to use this debate to talk about Sir David and how he conducted himself in Parliament.

I didn't know him personally, but I felt that I did through television. I remember him being his result being announced in the early hours of the 1983 general election and of course, seeing him many times on TV in the years that followed. He was renowned for his tireless campaigning on rain, on issues ranging from animal welfare to
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Clive Jones Portrait Clive Jones MP (Wokingham, Liberal Democrat)
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tackling fuel poverty. He was also a passionate advocate for children with learning disabilities. He championed women with endometriosis by launching an all party parliamentary group. He spent years campaigning for Southend to be campaigning for Southend to be granted city status. This was achieved in 2022. His commitment to achieved in 2022. His commitment to public service and admiration from colleagues across the House. Following his death, the then Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, described Sir David as one of the nicest, kindest and most gentle individuals ever to grace these benches and adding that our politics needs people like Sir David who are dedicated, passionate, firm in their beliefs but never anything less than respectful for those who thought differently.

The then Leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, echoed these sentiments, urging us to use the memory of Sir David's life to recommit ourselves for the things that he stood for decency in our disagreements, kindness in our hearts and faith in our democracy. Madam Deputy Speaker, that message is as important today as it was then in an increasing, divisive political climate, we must remember that disagreement should never come at the expense of respect. Over recent years, particularly during Brexit debate, political discourse has become more hostile.

Populist politics of misleading narratives have often deepened division rather than encouraged understanding. Social media has also transformed political debate. While it has created opportunities for engagement, it has also enabled anonymous abuse threats against public representatives and the rapid spread of misinformation. Such behaviour fuels hostility and weakens trust in our democratic institutions. There is perhaps no greater symbol of this than the murder of Jo Cox in 2016. Her killer brought political violence into sharp focus and demonstrated how extremist ideologies can erupt in an increasingly toxic atmosphere.

Tragically, Sir David Amess also became a victim of political violence in 2021. He was murdered while holding a constituency surgery, doing something he had done so many times helping his constituents, something he was well known for and something that many members of Parliament do on a regular basis. His killer targeted Sir David because of his parliamentary record. These tragedies remind us that extremism can take many forms, but its goal is always the same to intimidate, to divide and to undermine our democracy.

We must do everything we can to ensure that what happened to Jo Cox and Sir David Amess never happens again. And the elected representatives at every level can serve their communities safely and without fear. We should also remember that those members of staff and volunteers who support MPs also share the risk that public service can bring on this. I think of Andrew Pennington, who was killed in 2000 defending the Liberal Democrat MP for Cheltenham at a constituency surgery to finish.

Madam Deputy Speaker, we need more people in Parliament who conduct themselves, as Sir David Amess did. The greatest tribute that we can pay to Sir David is to uphold the values he embodied kindness, respect, public service, a belief that political differences should never diminish our common humanity. It is sad, Madam Deputy Speaker, that these are values that no longer appear to be followed by all political parties.

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Madam Minister John Lamont. Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. It's a great pleasure to close the Sir David Amess adjournment debate on behalf of the opposition. We have heard a great many excellent contributions great many excellent contributions from across the chamber. And of course, this is also a time to remember Sir David himself, who always made sure that the people of Southend were put firmly on the map during this debate. When I was during this debate. When I was first elected to this House in 2017, I will always remember his warmth, conviction and generosity.

He was a tireless advocate for the people he represented and for the causes he
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John Lamont Portrait John Lamont MP (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, Conservative)
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championed. I join honourable and right hon. Members in paying tribute to Ann Widdecombe. He was. tribute to Ann Widdecombe. He was. She was a woman of great conviction. She always said what she thought. You may not have completely agreed You may not have completely agreed with her, but you always knew where she stood. The way in which her life was cut short last week in life was cut short last week in such horrific circumstances is truly heartbreaking. And my thoughts are with her family, her thoughts are with her family, her friends, and everyone who knew and loved her.

I also want to pay tribute to those members of the House staff who are leaving the House of Commons this summer, including Godfrey from the Tea Room. Richard, after 37 years in The Strangers Bar, Franz Liszt after 25 years, and Dennis from the Members strangers members restaurant who has done almost 27 years, as many as well as many others who have served this house diligently for many, many years. Now, a number of members have highlighted some of the great attractions in their respective constituencies, like the Putting Greens in Fife, which the hon.

Member for North East Fife and the Member for North East Fife mentioned the airshow in Sunderland Central, which the hon. Member mentioned, and the hon. Lady for Paisley and Renfrew North mentioned the entertainment zone in Braehead. And lastly, I am looking forward to visiting the Green Belt. The hon. Lady for Aldridge Brownhills mentioned. But Madam Deputy Speaker, the summer is a wonderful time to visit the Scottish Borders and you don't have to take my word for it. Only a few weeks ago, Jeremy Clarkson described the Scottish Borders and I quote, as Britain's most beautiful region.

So if members are looking for a last minute staycation in the summer, you know where to come. One of the highlights of my year remains my annual summer surgery tour, which starts on Saturday, when I hold over 80 advice surgeries in every town and village across my Scottish Borders constituency. This is in addition to my regular monthly monthly surgeries and gives me an opportunity to visit every town, village and community, particularly those in the more remote parts and isolated parts of my constituency.

I will once again be holding this tour alongside my Scottish Conservative colleague Rachael Hamilton MSP, who was overwhelmingly re-elected to represent the Scottish Borders back in May. Now there are still appointments available, so I encourage any of my constituents who would like to meet in the coming days or weeks to get in touch. It's been a busy year. Madam Deputy Speaker, I have continued to campaign for better public transport links for the borders, particularly to extend the Borders Railway from Tweedbank to Hawick, Newcastleton and on to Carlisle, as well as to restore direct lNer services which have been cut from Beri Beri upon Tweed Station to London, which is so vital for keeping the borders and North Northumberland connected.

My constituency is, of course, a Borderlands community. We regularly cross the border to shop, visit friends and family, to get to work or to enjoy the beautiful Northumberland coastline. But access to NHS services for cross-border communities remains a significant challenge. My view is simple my constituents should be able to access healthcare as close as home to possible, even if that hospital or facility happens to be in England. It is only common sense that taxpayers who fund our NHS should be able to use the services that best meet their needs, and I will continue to campaign alongside local residents to ensure that access to NHS care is as quick and as easily available to everybody who needs it.

Madam Deputy Speaker, we have heard some excellent contributions from members across the chamber today, and I want to use a little bit of time just to mention some of them. The hon. Member for Stirling mentioned the red telephone box in Balfour, I think, which has been used as a food exchange. I think it's a great example. I know several of my own constituency of the redeployment of the red phone box network, so I congratulate the residents in Balfour for securing that.

My hon. Friend for member for Goole and Pocklington highlighted some of the big questions regarding the Peter Murrell scandal and the problems circulating around the SNP just now, and he rightly asked those questions because many people in Scotland are asking those questions, and many people are calling for a full inquiry into who knew what and when. Particularly particularly the former First Minister, Miss Sturgeon. Madam Deputy Speaker, the Member for the hon. Lady, for Warrington South and also my hon.

Friend for Runnymede and Weybridge, both raised very difficult and tragic cases and my thoughts are with the family of, of, of, of Lucie. And I am grateful for the hon. Member for Warrington South for raising that challenging and very difficult case. And my hon. Friend for Runnymede and Weybridge raised the important point about fraudulent paternity testing, and I hope that the relevant Minister will take this forward. My hon. Friend for Stockton West raised the important issue of off road bikes in Stockton.

I know that is an issue for for many communities, and the hon. Lady for Carlile raised a similar issue in respect of e-bikes. My hon. Friend the Member for North East Cambridgeshire raised concerns about the on going or the increasing costs associated with the restoration and renewal project. I know many members share those concerns, and I think it is imperative from the new government that we have a debate on this so that all the newly elected or relatively newly elected members from the 2024 election have an opportunity to have their say, because ultimately, we are dealing with taxpayers money, huge amounts of taxpayers money, and we need to have an open and frank discussion about that.

The hon. Lady for North Warwickshire. I do not think is in her place, raised the importance of sport, of which I wholly agree, although she did highlight the risk of taking part in parliamentary sports activities, given the sharp elbows seem to have caused to give her a broken rib. And perhaps for us all, the hon. Member for Cannock Chase gave a very moving tribute to one of his late council colleagues, and I am grateful for him for highlighting the the serious condition that people have suffering from brain tumours and have to deal with.

So I am grateful for. I have not been able to mention everybody, but I am grateful to all the hon. Members and hon. Members who have taken time to raise the issues affecting their constituencies. But of course, Madam Deputy Speaker, we should have been having this debate next week. We should have been having this debate next week. Once the right hon. Member for Makerfield had assumed the office of Prime Minister and had come to this House to explain what he plans to do with the country, because as things currently stand, Madam Deputy Speaker, we have little idea about what he intends to do.

The hon. Member did not publish a manifesto during the Labour leadership election. He has not yet been tested for many years he has made countless promises without having to deliver them. But soon he will. The right hon. Member for Makerfield said that WASPI women, for example, should receive compensation. But we hear now he has changed his mind. What are his plans for taxation? Which plans? Which taxes does he plan to increase? He said that he will take his full. He will take his responsibilities fully to fund the Defence Investment Plan.

After the Prime Minister and Chancellor left a £4.7 billion black hole. So how does he intend to pay for it? What is his plan to tackle the out of control welfare spending? Madam Deputy Speaker, all of our constituents, all of our constituents deserve answers to those questions. The new Prime Minister should be in this House early next week to answer those basic questions. Instead, he has bottled it. Yesterday, the opposition planned to move a motion to extend the parliamentary session to Monday so that the incoming government could face the proper scrutiny to allow the nation to hear from the new Prime Minister and understand what his plans are.

Instead, the Leader of the House, presumably acting as proxy for the incoming Prime Minister, came to the House and blocked it. I sincerely hope the Leader of the House believes his actions were worth it. Or will he be rewarded with a plum job in the reshuffle? I for one. Madam Deputy Speaker hope that the leader will continue in his current job because I think he has been an exceptional Leader of the House and I hope he will continue. Madam Deputy Speaker, as I close.

Can I thank my amazing constituency team who have worked hard for me since my election to this place in 2017, and for some who have suffered even longer since 2007, when I first became a member of the Scottish Parliament. Can I thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, Mr. Speaker and his office and the other Deputy speakers and all the everyone supporting the speaker's office throughout the parliamentary year the doorkeepers, the clerks, the caterers, the security staff, cleaners and members, parliamentary and constituency staff they all work tirelessly to keep this place running every single day.

I am sure that members across the House will join me in expressing our sincere gratitude for everything that they do. I wish colleagues from across the chamber a restful and enjoyable summer recess. I know that for many of us, it will be time spent working in our constituencies, but I look forward to seeing everybody

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in September. Thank you. Leader of the House.

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Leader of the House. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is indeed a pleasure to close this debate, and pleasure to close this debate, and I thank all honourable and right hon. Members that have contributed this afternoon. One of the themes this afternoon. One of the themes in virtually all of the speeches, I think, quite rightly, is the way in think, quite rightly, is the way in which we remember the late Sir David Amos, who was a an assiduous and tireless advocate for his constituents and his constituency.

And his presence was a is a constant reminder in these debates of a sorely missed that he is sorely missed by colleagues across the House. I also want to take the opportunity to pay tribute to the legacy of our friend Jo Cox. Last
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Alan Campbell Portrait Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Tynemouth, Labour)
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month marked ten years since her murder, and it is debates like this that prove the truth that in her that prove the truth that in her words and I quote, we have far more in common with each other than things that divide us. I also want things that divide us. I also want to reiterate my condolences, which are paid on behalf of myself, the government and indeed the House this morning to the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this dreadful time. Madam Deputy Speaker, dreadful time.

Madam Deputy Speaker, regardless of party affiliation, at the heart of our politics, our people and their families and moments like this are a stark reminder of the seriousness with which we must treat the safety of those in public life, and the importance of how we speak to and treat each other. Is so is of such significance. The tone that we take in this house matters. We set the standard of public discourse, and as this debate has shown, it is often good natured exchanges beyond our party political differences.

We have heard from, at my count, 29 members today on a range of subjects, and I want to refer to as many of them as I possibly can. But I want to start with the hon. Member for Harrow East and thank him for organising this debate, but also for his work as the chair of the backbench Business Committee. He often brings up constituency matters to the attention of the floor of this House, but he is also very powerfully a spokesman on matters of faith and indeed on foreign affairs, and I happen to now regard him as a force of soft power all of his own.

Let me then turn to the other contributions. And I'm sorry if I can't give detail to every contribution, but I want to do it slightly differently and look at some of the themes that have emerged this afternoon. And I wonder, Madam Deputy Speaker, that if our constituents are tuned in to this debate and maybe if these kind of debates were a bit more frequent, they might actually see a different side of MPs than the ones that are portrayed sometimes outside, particularly on social media, because one of the themes of today is a constant praise for volunteers in our local community, volunteers who have taken part in a whole range of community action, from parks to phone boxes, and they were raised by the right hon.

Member for Aldridge-Brownhills Stirling and Strathallan, Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy North Warwickshire and Bedworth. But it was a theme throughout many, many of the speeches. But at the heart of those debates very often is the importance of the campaigning constituency member of Parliament, and I'm delighted to say that in my time in this House, which has been a considerable time, I have seen the role of MPs change and develop and the expectation that they are constituency based, and it's the constituencies that inform their work and that they bring to this House.

And I want to mention just some of the MPs, but again, it was a constant theme. The Member for Portsmouth North. The Member for Colchester. My hon. Friend for Sunderland Central. The Member for Luton North of Stockton West of Erewash of Carlisle Hayes and Harlington a whole range of issues that I don't have time to go into individually, but they all show the importance of campaigning MPs. And I hope and I do believe that constituents appreciate that there are also members who have raised not just constituency matters, but the issues that most affect the constituency in which they that which they represent.

And there were two very important contributions from the Member for Brigg and Immingham and also Southend East and Rochford. On the significance of coastal communities, a matter dear to my heart, because my constituency is a coastal community and I would encourage people to spend the rest of this fantastic summer in coastal communities. I would suggest, however, that the they might want to avoid Clacton until the 13th of August, but I'm sure there will be welcome in places like Whitley Bay in my constituency, but also a slightly darker side.

Madam Deputy Speaker, with a reminder from the Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, and also of Hendon of the dangerous context sometimes in which we conduct our affairs. And unfortunately, as the name of this debate tells us, the price which is sometimes paid. But we've also had, again, a constant theme that behind a hard working and successful MP is a particularly hard working office. They are the face of the Member of Parliament very often in constituencies, and I thank my constituency office.

They've persevered with me for a very, very long time and I thank them. But it was also it was also a theme echoed by the Member for North East Fife from Newcastle-under-Lyme, South Derbyshire, Torbay, Cowdenbeath, and I just want to place on record our collective thanks for people who work in our offices tirelessly and often see a lot of the things that we'd rather we didn't see, and they just get on and they deliver. But also the role of the member of Parliament working hand in hand with public bodies and public servants, not just working with them hand in hand, holding them to account.

Civil servants, NHS staff, teachers have been mentioned. And my hon. Friend from Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend reminded us of the importance that when you've spent your life working in the civil service, you expect that your pension is dealt with properly and I would say that she's absolutely right in that regard. But my hon. Friend from Sunderland Central again raised the issue of the importance of teachers in our local community, and again, we send them our thanks.

Also in a sad case raised by my hon. Friend for Cannock Chase, we also should put on record our thanks to elected councillors who play a fantastic part in our local communities and thank. Thanking public sector workers and elected representatives is not often done, but I'm doing it from here. We also heard from MPs that our best. Described in the great tradition of MPs as inquisitors. So we had the Inquisitor general from Goole and Pocklington, who reminded us of the murky waters of the SNP.

And all I would say to anyone listening to that, particularly north of the border, is I just remind him that he's on more often right than he is wrong. So more strength to his arm in that particular cause. We also have the financial Inquisitor general from North East Cambridgeshire, who raised the issue of restoration and renewal. I would say to him and to the Deputy Shadow leader in his remarks, that there will be an opportunity for Parliament to consider this, because first and foremost, it is a matter for Parliament.

It is true that the government, of course, will be required and taxpayers money will be required to put right this place. If that is what the House decides to do and there will be a decision for Parliament. But I would just gently remind him, because he knows this, that it's not a situation where we can afford not to spend money and keep things as they are. We're spending a fortune now, and we're not actually seeing the kind of improvement that restoration and renewal will bring, even though it is costly.

We also heard, as inquisitors at a local level, I'm not sure that's the right word for the people that I'm going to mention now, but nevertheless, the MP as an Inquisitor that the person who picks up an individual case, an individual cause, and we heard very moving cases from both Warrington South and indeed from Runnymede and Weybridge. And I have to say, in my experience in this place, they are often the most powerful stories as we give a voice to the voiceless.

My hon. Friend, the Member for Dunstable, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard complained, complained that she's running out of issues now to campaign on because of the success of the Labour government, and I take no pleasure. I take a lot of pleasure in saying long may that continue. I also we also had as a theme, because it's a very important part and in many ways at least as important, if not more important than it was in the way that we discuss in this place world affairs, international affairs.

And I don't want to go through all the the difficulties that are faced now, but they are numerous. And again, raising issues where a voice for the voiceless are given. And that came very powerfully through from my my hon. Friend, as she is actually the Member for North East Fife, but also the Member for Islington North. And I give him an undertaking that I will pick up the case that he talks to about at the Home Office. But as far as his comments about the Prime Minister and our party are concerned, I saw the right hon.

Gentleman coming in, and I thought he'd be coming to this debate and maybe making those points. And as I recall, he was sporting a new baseball cap. So I'd just say to him, if the cap fits, wear it. Madam Deputy Speaker, In closing, I want to say express my gratitude to House staff, including doorkeepers, cleaners, clerks, catering, security, broadcasting, and indeed, Hansard and those in the visitor experience, as well as our staff and constituency teams, the civil servants who come together to make this place function.

I want to make a special mention. They've already been mentioned, but I want to do it from the despatch box of people like Margaret Godfrey and Richard Pengelley, who are leaving this house after many years of distinguished service, and I thank them for all the years of service to the House. They will be greatly missed. And of course, Madam Deputy Speaker, our thanks go to you too, Mr. Speaker, and the other Deputy Speakers. As we rise for the summer recess, I offer my best wishes to everyone here today and to those listening, and I hope that we have

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they have a restful and safe summer recess. Bob Blackman to wind up.

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Bob Blackman to wind up. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I think somewhere in the heavens, Sir David Amess will be looking down on this debate and looking down on this debate and saying thank you to the 32 members that have participated. And you've that have participated. And you've great all. Everyone has brought great credit to this House, bringing very important matters to bringing very important matters to be raised before we rise for the summer recess. So there's little more to be said other than to say best wishes for a long and happy retirement.

For those members of staff that are retiring, I hope our staff throughout the House have a peaceful recess when we're not here ready for us, when we do return for the debates that we will have and can. I wish all members yourself. The Speaker, The other Deputy Speakers and you do. All of us and all of our staff are happy. Recess. Let's hope people can get some rest and recuperation, because we're going to need it for a vigorous debate with the new Prime Minister, the new Cabinet and the opportunities to debate the issues of what they're bringing forward

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for the future of this country. The question.

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The question. Is, as on the Order Paper, as many as are of that opinion say I many as are of that opinion say I of the contrary, no. I think the ayes have it, the ayes have it. And I'll just give the House a few I'll just give the House a few moments to to settle and to leave. Before we move on to the important issue of the petition. Thank you. We now come to the petition, petition, petition Sally Jameson thank you.



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Madam Deputy Speaker. I present this petition today about repairs and refurbishments for Doncaster and refurbishments for Doncaster Royal Infirmary. People in Doncaster deserve a hospital that is fit for the future and the needs is fit for the future and the needs of the growing population. The petitioners, therefore, request that the House of Commons urges the government to take into account the government to take into account the concerns of people and work with Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation to prioritise the delivery of repairs
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David Davis Portrait Rt Hon David Davis MP (Goole and Pocklington, Conservative)
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institutional instinct to find a convenient scapegoat. Innocent convenient scapegoat. Innocent people paid the price, while the institution sought to protect institution sought to protect itself. If the Thirlwall Inquiry asked to narrow a set of questions, systemic NHS failures will go unexamined. More innocent children will die, more innocent parents will die, more innocent parents will be put through agony and another hospital will find another scapegoat. That's the consequence of getting this wrong. So what should the inquiry's terms of reference include? There are at least three lines of inquiry that deserve examination.

Each is supported by substantial evidence. Each almost certainly contributed to what happened. Each risks being overlooked. Firstly, the staffing crisis a neonatal unit stretched beyond its limits and operating under relentless pressure. Secondly, poor clinical management. The unit was repeatedly tasked with caring for babies, requiring the highest level of specialist capacity capacity it did not have. Thirdly, environmental risks there were serious contamination problems within this hospital. Now, two damning reviews of National Health Service maternity services more generally have now been published.

The Ockenden Report exposed failures at Nottingham University Hospital that mirror those at the Countess of Chester. Infections, overcrowding, under-resourcing, sustained pressure and overstretched staff. Different hospitals, strikingly similar failures, and Baroness Amos has also published her final report into the National Health Service, maternity and neonatal services. Its conclusions also echo with remarkable consistency the concerns raised about the Countess of Chester. Baroness Amos concluded, and I quote, the maternity and neonatal system is not set up to deliver consistently safe, high quality and compassionate care.

It's fragmented, overly complex and too slow to improve. She highlighted again, I quote, unsafe and unacceptable hospital buildings, excessive workload pressures and staff who felt ignored when they raised concerns about whether they could provide a safe or joined up service. She highlighted dangerous clinical environments and senior leaders who were not accountable, and, of course, staff who were fearful of being blamed when things went wrong. If the Thirlwall Inquiry was unwilling to heed the growing concerns of experts, it cannot dismiss the conclusions of two government reviews.

As far back as 2004, senior neonatal staff at the Countess of Chester were warning management of a staffing crisis, which shows no signs of abating, highlighting the unit was operating 30 to 40% below the staffing levels recommended by the British Association of Perinatal Medicine. They described stress that exceeded tolerable levels, reinforcing that such conditions could increase the risk of unintentional professional negligence. So how did management respond to cut costs? They abolished the advanced neonatal nurse practitioners, the most highly trained specialists in their field, upon which the entire safe working of the unit depended.

One of those nurses let go later described it as the decimation of the Nursing and midwifery service, adding that eight registered nurses were replaced with nursery nurses, unqualified staff replacing qualified staff. She described the trust blighted by inefficient managers, managers to manage managers, people to tick boxes, inefficient computer programs all at the expense of the registered nurse and midwife. If management's response was to bury the problem, what does that tell us about the state of the Countess of Chester? By 2015, a system repeatedly warned to be unsafe cannot be merely treated as a backdrop to the events of 2015 2016.

It is at least a part of the explanation. By 2012, the hospital's recruiting newly qualified nurses, often straight from university. One of them was Lucy Letby. During the years, Lucy Letby is alleged to have committed a crime, specifically 215 to 216. The neonatal unit was still functioning under dangerous pressure. Notably, one nurse working on the unit during this period recalled, and again, I quote, 2015 and 2016 were horrendously busy. They were probably the worst years I can remember in more than 20 years.

Everybody was absolutely stretched to the limit. You were expected to look after the maximum number that you could sometimes over the number that you should. So the inquiry ought to ask if concerns have been raised for over a decade, to what extent did those unresolved staffing failures contribute to the tragedies that followed? Were those failures addressed before responsibility was blamed on Letby? Now there are three levels of care in neonatal units. Depending upon the complexity of care, a unit is equipped to provide.

Appropriate grading of neonatal unit is fundamental to patient safety. Level one units accept babies with low care needs. Level three units accept babies needing the highest level of medical care. The Council of Chester was a level three unit throughout the early 20s to early 2000, but in 2005, however, it was downgraded to level two, an admittance that the unit could not handle level three babies. But the unit continued to operate under immense strain, worsened by management's decision to get rid of its hugely, hugely experienced advanced neonatal nurse practitioners.

Years later, in 2012, when Lucy Letby started the Countess, conditions remained poor. There were little space cots and incubators were stored in corridors. Mothers struggled to find somewhere to breastfeed their babies. Susan Gilby, the hospital's chief executive between 2018 and 2022, later described the unit as dark, dingy and cramped, providing a less than ideal environment to work in. Remember, this was a level two neonatal unit tasked with providing short term intensive care for fragile babies.

Indeed, the deficiencies were so serious that the trust launched a 3 million public fundraising campaign to pay for a new neonatal unit because the necessary capital funding was not available through the NHS. This was an acknowledgement that the unit was not fit for purpose. The inquiry ought to ask was the unit being asked to deliver a level of care it was not capable of providing? Staff at the time certainly, certainly thought so. One nurse warned the unit manager something awful is going to happen here.

We can't carry on like this. In late 2015, one consultant said the unit was so busy it was running out of vital equipment, adding and I quote again, this is now our normal working pattern and it's not safe. Things are at breaking point. When things snap, the casualties will either be children's lives or the health of our staff. The spike in baby deaths was that breaking point. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report from a report from the November 2016, confirm the unit was non-compliant on nurse and medical staffing levels when assessed against service standards for a level two unit, it ought to have been downgraded further to a level one.

Indeed, it's often claimed that babies on the unit stop dying as soon as Letby was removed from the ward. This assertion ignores perhaps the most critical fact. In July 2016, when Letby was removed from the ward, the neonatal unit was finally downgraded to a level one. In that moment, the risk profile changed. Fewer of the sickest babies were admitted at the Countess. 2016 Royal College report is clear, since the redesignation. From level two to level one, the pressure has reduced and the unit is operating more in lines with Bapm standards.

The consultants also reported that in the two months since the change, infants have been sick but recovered as expected. This report highlighted deficiencies in staffing levels, leadership and communication. But in the trial, that report was not shown to the jury. They knew nothing of it. In July, both the unit was downgraded and Lucy Letby left the ward. It's irrational to assume that one of these two events was entirely responsible for the sharp reduction in deaths, without testing the other properly, so the inquiry must examine both changes to make sure which made the difference during 2015 2016, when neonatal mortality rates spiked, the hospital also faced infection control problems.

One nurse described the unit as her worst nightmare. Pseudomonas aeruginosa had colonised taps within the nurseries of the neonatal unit. Pseudomonas forms a biofilm, a layer that allows the bacteria to spread within a water system, and Pseudomonas can kill newborns. In 2012, at Belfast Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital, three premature babies died from it. In an effort to mitigate these risks of Pseudomonas, the council Chichester installed filters on the taps, but the filters kept falling off.

Another baby's Letby is said to have murdered was found to have Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in their breathing tube, a bug responsible for some of the deaths in the Glasgow scandal hit Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. Of the 17 babies, Lucy Letby is said to have murdered or attempted to murder at least 14 babies, either had an infection or were suspected to have an infection. Professor Shirley's panel identified that ten infants were receiving antibiotics. Court proceedings identified another three. The fact that at least 13 babies were treated with antibiotics suggested the clinicians considered infection to be a real possibility in these cases.

On top of this, MRSA, MRSA, C difficile and Mssa were detected across the trust. It's not known whether the present in the neonatal intensive care unit. While giving evidence for her own trial, Miss Letby told jurors the neonatal unit had problems with raw sewage coming from sinks. This is not an invention in the hopes of abdicating responsibility. Contemporaneous messages between staff show that these concerns were raised at the time, and remember, this was a neonatal intensive care unit.

One nurse suggested an infection on the unit could be to blame. Letby agreed, describing sewage coming from the sink and overflowing toilets. She added that the unit needs properly assessing. I don't think the equipment gets cleaned properly. We haven't got the space or facilities to maintain hygiene. These messages pre-date any criminal investigation. The hospital's plumber confirmed this under oath. Human waste is backing up into hand washing basins on top of the other microbiological concerns, human waste can contains E coli, another hazard to vulnerable newborn babies.

Professor David Livermore, a professor of medical microbiology, is right to say, and I quote, infection was such an obvious cause of a spike in deaths. What investigation did they do into this? I'm yet to see any clarity in this. Even the parents themselves had initially assumed if something had gone wrong, it is likely because the hospital failings. One mother giving evidence against Lucy Letby during a trial, admitted, and I quote, I thought the hospital's old. It's not very nice, it's dirty.

And I thought it was along the lines of medical negligence. It never entered my my mind that there was somebody intentionally harming babies. That's the hospital we're talking about. Old, not very nice, dirty. And it does not look as though the medical Mansfield hospital did anything to mitigate the risk from these problems. A mother of three triplets who moved to Liverpool Women's Hospital noticed a, and I quote again noticed a different level of cleanliness compared to the Countess. There were clear hygiene protocols at Liverpool.

We were told to wash our hands before entering the unit and then again before entering the room, which was not the case at the Countess of Chester. One father of baby, born at the Castle, Chester, in May 2016, described the unit as chaotic and failing. He described an atmosphere of tension where it wouldn't take much for the unit to blow up. Now his daughter had a difficult delivery and could not breathe. At birth, he and his wife discovered three years later she'd been the sickest baby on the unit for over 24 hours.

Not a single doctor spoke to them about this. Nurses repeatedly told them that the baby was fine. Against that backdrop, he recalls that Lucy Letby stood out as the only staff member who took time to explain his baby's condition. The hospital itself later told him that Lucy had saved his daughter's life and had gone above and beyond the call of duty. He stated bluntly that the jury in Miss MPs trial was not given the full picture. The systemic problems, the lack of communication and overall disorder.

History does not judge institutions by how confidently they defend themselves. It judges them by whether they had the courage to confront uncomfortable truths. The Thirlwall Inquiry now faces that test, an inquiry that refuses to ask difficult questions is not fearless. It's formulaic, an inquiry that overlooks credible evidence is not comprehensive. It's compromised. A major failure of the trial was the jury was not shown the evidence from authoritative sources, such as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, which offered a credible alternative explanation for the spike in deaths.

The inquiry must not replicate that failure. It must not lend its authority to what may be a major miscarriage of justice. It owes the parents who lost their babies and future parents of future babies at risk. The absolute truth. Follow the evidence. Fear no conclusion. If facts are left unexamined, lessons are left unlearned. The inquiry should heed the warnings of Ockenden, Amos and the countless voices emerging in this Letby defence. Structural failure, institutional failure, medical incompetence or even malevolence.

Every one of these explanations must be dragged into the light and the unvarnished truth exposed.

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There. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and it is an honour to respond for the government in the last debate until September. And may I extend my thanks to you, the may I extend my thanks to you, the Deputy Speakers, and to Mr. Speaker, for your stewardship of this House and everyone that works here in and everyone that works here in Parliament and our constituency offices. And can I also thank all of our NHS staff who are keeping of our NHS staff who are keeping the service going.

Despite record demand over the summer? The right hon. Member for Goole and Pocklington has raised an extremely serious matter, and I want to start by expressing my heartfelt sympathy to all the families who were affected by the terrible events at the Countess of Chester Hospital. And as a mother of two daughters, I cannot begin to imagine what they are going through. And on top of their grief, they have been subject to a level of press scrutiny that would match anything we have faced as members of this place, and they have been left in limbo waiting for answers.

And as someone who advocates for constituents at my own trust, I know this will take an additional toll on their mental health. And I know all of us in this chamber can agree that they deserve closure. The previous government established the Thirlwall Inquiry in October 2023 to examine the events at the
17:19
Preet Kaur Gill Portrait Preet Kaur Gill MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care (Birmingham Edgbaston, Labour )
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Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Its terms of reference are available online. Lady Justice Thirlwall recommendations will help us to understand what went so wrong at the Countess of Chester, Chester. Her inquiry has now finished hearing evidence and the final report will be published at the earliest practicable date. Madam Deputy Speaker Lucy Letby was found Deputy Speaker Lucy Letby was found guilty by her peers following two two criminal trials, and she is currently serving 15 whole life sentences for murder and attempted murder, and her convictions were upheld by the Court of Appeal.

This is an independent judicial process, and it is not for the government to comment on judicial decisions or appeals, and the right hon. Gentleman has called for the inquiry's terms of reference to be amended or expanded to reflect the ongoing public debate around the safety of Miss Letby convictions. But the point of the inquiry is not to rehearse Lucy Letby trial. It is focusing on how people responded within the trust based on what they knew or should have known at the time of the events.

The inquiry is now in the report writing stage, and I have every confidence that the chair will consider all the evidence when drawing conclusions and writing her report and recommendations. That is why I do not consider that there is a case to either amend or expand the terms of reference on the information currently available. There is a separate process going through the Criminal Cases Review Commission that received a full application in relation to Miss Lesley's case in April 2025, and the merits of the application are solely for the CCRC to consider and, if appropriate, to refer the case for further consideration to the Court of Appeal.

An application to the CCRC does not itself indicate that the convictions are, or unlikely, or are likely to be unsafe, and again, the right hon. Gentleman will understand that this is an independent process, and it is not for the government to comment on, nor intervene in individual applications. I am aware that the right hon. Gentleman has also called for the inquiry to be paused or suspended. While the CCRC is reviewing this Letby application. An application was made by legal teams for Miss Letby and former executives at the trust to the inquiry chair to consider exercising her powers to pause.

The inquiry under section 17 of the Inquiries Act 2005, an application was made in parallel by the same legal teams to the then Secretary of State. My right hon. Friend the Member for Ilford North to suspend the inquiry under section 13 of the Inquiries Act, 2005, and the basis for both applications was that was that the inquiry should be halted until the CCRC had determined Letby application to it, and in March 2025, the chair refused the application and set out her reasons in detail and for transparency.

This has been made available online. In her judgement, the chair considered, among other things, the question of fairness, and she was satisfied that the inquiry process had been fair and would not become unfair because there is a possibility that all the convictions were unsafe. And my right hon. Friend the Member for Ilford North agreed with that reasoning. It would not be appropriate for the government to speculate on the outcome of the Ccrc's determination, and we should take into account that the families have not supported any pause or suspension of the inquiry either, even if, hypothetically, we did take that unprecedented step.

I concur with my right hon. Friend the Member for Ilford North that any suspension would create unnecessary delays and become a barrier to the families receiving the answers they deserve. There has been no new information that would make us think twice about this decision, nor to change the terms of reference, and there is a strong public interest in inquiry being concluded as soon as possible. And that is why this government shall not suspend the inquiry, pending the outcome of Letby application to the CCRC to review her convictions, I will.



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I thank the Minister for giving away. The Countess of Chester Hospital is the local hospital for Hospital is the local hospital for myself and for many constituents of mine. They will rightly want to mine. They will rightly want to know what the outcome of the inquiry is. And on top of these historic matters, last year, the historic matters, last year, the CQC rated the Countess of Chester hospitals urgent and emergency care services inadequate and found the overall hospital requires improvement.

And whilst I recognise the work that the trust is doing to deliver against their improvement plan and I thank them for the communication they have with me. There is still vital work to be done. And I wondered whether the Minister could set out what she is doing to ensure that they meet those improvements, and so that my constituents can be reassured that they will be getting access to the best possible health care they deserve. Can I thank the hon. Member for her question? She makes some really important, valid points, of course.

The Chester Hospital will want to know what the basis of the inquiry is, and as she rightfully says, the CQC has been in and has made lots of recommendations, especially because of the inadequacy. I have asked for a submission on progress from the CQC to understand what progress has actually been made, because I have been informed that there has been some progress made, but equally there is lots of other areas within which there isn't progress and I am absolutely making sure that I am receiving regular updates on that because, as she rightly says, every parent wants to see change.

In the end. This is about so many lives. You know, parents have had to go through such heartbreaking situation just to get to justice, and they do deserve disclosure. So I really do thank her for that. But where the inquiry identifies lessons on safeguarding vulnerable patients or how management responds to patient safety concerns, this government will examine them rigorously and take forward all recommendations that are deliverable, justified and in the public interest. Madam Deputy Speaker, there is a huge amount of interest inside and outside this chamber about the about the professional regulation of managers within the NHS.

We all know that the NHS needs and deserves the best leaders. We are committed to supporting their development and professionalism and to strengthen accountability where they where they fall short. Work is already underway to develop an NHS College of Leadership and Management to support and develop NHS leaders and. In addition, we will legislate in this Parliament to enable the Health and Care Professionals Council to begin to operate a statutory borrowing system for senior managers. The statutory borrowing mechanism will enable. The NHS will enable the Health and Care Professions Council to prevent senior NHS leaders whose conduct is unacceptable from working again in senior roles.

The government has also launched the Maternity and Neonatal Task Force, personally chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, and it will translate the recommendations of the noble Lady, Baroness Amos, into action. Madam Deputy Speaker, the right hon. Gentleman has campaigned against government overreach his entire career, and I respect him for that. I know he will agree with me that our democracy rests on a separation of powers, and I trust our independent judiciary to get on with the job.

They are well established criminal processes and procedures for how expert evidence is used at criminal trials and in our democracy. There are also routes for people to challenge convictions if they protest their innocence. Even for Lucy Letby, it is not for me or the government to undermine those processes. Our attention should remain on the families and parents impacted by this case, and continue to work towards providing answers and closure for them. That is what this government is focussed on, and we trust that Thirlwall Inquiry to

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give us those answers. Thank you. The question is that this House

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The question is that this House do now adjourn as many as are of that opinion say aye. the ayes have
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