Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Abena Oppong-Asare

Tuesday 5th March 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Minister.

[Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab)]

NHS figures from December show that the number of women waiting for gynaecological treatment reached another record high of nearly 600,000. That number has tripled since 2012. A Labour Government will cut NHS waiting lists in England by funding 2 million more appointments a year. What can the Minister say to the women waiting urgently for treatment?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Abena Oppong-Asare

Tuesday 23rd January 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Minister.

[Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab)]

Recruiting and retraining more NHS staff is crucial if women are to get gynaecology, obstetric and maternity care. I would like to share the story of Sandy Simmons. She was told 11 months ago that she needed surgery for a uterine prolapse; today, after nearly a year of pain, she is still waiting. Labour candidates such as Keir Cozens in Great Yarmouth are speaking up for women like Sandy and the 905 women waiting more than a year for treatment in Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Will the Secretary of State apologise to these women—or, like the Prime Minister, will she just walk away?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Abena Oppong-Asare

Wednesday 13th December 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Opposition spokesperson.

[Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab)]

In 2020, women’s life expectancy in the poorest parts of the UK was almost 19 years shorter than those in the most affluent. Thirteen years ago, Labour introduced a socioeconomic duty in the Equality Act 2010 to make the NHS and other public bodies tackle this gap. Why have Ministers failed to implement it?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Abena Oppong-Asare

Tuesday 17th October 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Minister.

[Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab)]

The House of Commons Library says there has been no statistically significant change in the rate of suicides in England since 2015. Suicide remains the biggest killer of men under 50 in the UK. Why has it taken so long for the Government to bring forward a strategy, and why do they continue to drag their feet over reform to the Mental Health Act? Can the Minister give the House a firm timetable today?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Abena Oppong-Asare

Tuesday 5th September 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Minister.

[Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab)]

This Tory Government effectively banned new onshore wind, which is vital for net zero, energy security and getting bills down. We now learn this could change because one fine group of Tory rebels is shouting louder than another group of Tory rebels. There is no leadership, just a Government led by their Back Benchers. Can we finally get an answer from the Government on whether they will dither and delay or join Labour in leading the way and acting on onshore wind?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Abena Oppong-Asare

Tuesday 20th June 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Minister.

[Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab)]

The 2019 Conservative manifesto, some three Prime Ministers and four Chancellors ago, promised a fundamental reform of business rates. This is another broken Tory promise. Will the Minister admit that only a Labour Government will end the chaos, scrap business rates and replace them with a fairer system, so that our amazing hospitality sector can thrive and grow faster?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Abena Oppong-Asare

Tuesday 21st March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Minister.

[Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab)]

As my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth South (Stephen Morgan) just said, the Institute of Directors has warned that

“the UK will find itself left behind in the accelerating race to lead the green economy.”

The Confederation of British Industry says that we are investing five times less in green industries than Germany—five times less. Meanwhile, the United Nations issues warnings of a climate disaster. Where is the urgency and action from the Conservatives to decarbonise our economy and win the global race for green jobs?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Abena Oppong-Asare

Tuesday 20th December 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Minister.

[Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab)]

May I begin, Mr Speaker, by wishing you, the Minister and the whole House a jolly Christmas?

If the Government had implemented Labour’s windfall tax, they would have raised an additional £16.8 billion. Why have the Government chosen to leave this windfall of war on the table and not put it to use to support families and businesses in the tough winter ahead?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Abena Oppong-Asare

Tuesday 15th November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Minister, Abena Oppong-Asare.

[Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab)]

The Government allow offshore wind but are still banning onshore wind. Ending the ban would give us a vital tool to reach net zero, make Britain a clean energy superpower, and open up new investment and growth opportunities. Keeping the onshore wind ban will make energy bills £16 billion higher between now and 2030. Why on earth are Ministers undermining green growth and cheaper energy by maintaining the self-defeating ban on onshore wind?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Abena Oppong-Asare

Tuesday 17th May 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We now come to the shadow Minister, Abena Oppong-Asare.

[Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab)]

Under this Conservative Government, people’s savings have declined by record levels. Data from the Office for Budget Responsibility shows that the amount of income households are able to save is set to fall by more than £1,000. This Tory cost of living crisis is pushing people into debt, yet one Government Minister said yesterday that, if people are struggling, they should simply work more hours and get another job. Will the Chancellor confirm that “Get on your bike” is official Conservative economic policy once again?

Black History Month

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Abena Oppong-Asare

Tuesday 20th October 2020 Commons Chamber

[Abena Oppong-Asare]

I thank the Backbench Business Committee again, and all Members of the House who contributed to this debate. It has been an engaging debate and I hope that it will continue. I also thank members of the public for responding to my call about what I should discuss in the debate—I have met so many engaged people—and for recommending trailblazers for me to mention in the House today. I am sorry if I was not able to mention every one; there are just so many trailblazers out there, and we just need to learn all about them.

Let me emphasise again that we really do need a race equality strategy and an action plan, and to diversify the curriculum. We must listen to the public. So many people have signed the petition asking us to diversify the curriculum. This is not about political point scoring; it is about listening to what the public say their needs are, and looking at the stats that are out there. Loads of research has poured out, with teachers asking for the curriculum to be diversified.

This is not about identity politics; it is about understanding the true history of our nation in the UK, because we can move forward only if we learn the good and the ugly sides of politics. This is not about glossing politics and making it pretty. This is not about attacking white people or anyone else because of their politics. This is about learning our true history, because it is absolutely important that we understand it so that we are able to move forward and progress.

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am going to put the Question, because I think it is right that I should, but technically I should not, because it is 7 pm.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this House has considered Black History Month.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Abena Oppong-Asare

Tuesday 20th October 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

[Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab)]