Business of the House

Catherine Atkinson Excerpts

Thursday 16th April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

It is important that military personnel have access to driving tests, and the hon. Lady is right: the action the Government have taken means that resources are spread slightly thinner than they might otherwise be. We need to make sure that there are no delays due to administrative issues. If my memory serves me correctly, there is a Backbench Business debate next week about the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. The hon. Lady might want to raise her concerns and bring in the defence side that she has talked about.

[Catherine Atkinson (Derby North) (Lab)]

Many thousands of children in Derby will be lifted out of poverty by this Labour Government through the changes that came in earlier this month, but there is no complacency in a city that has some of the highest salaries outside London yet a high number of children living in poverty too. That is why the Tale of 2 Cities charity has been set up. It is working with businesses to create an improved life chances fund for around 500 children in our community nurseries—children who will be eligible for free school meals once they start school. Will the Leader of the House allow time for a debate on the next steps in tackling child poverty, so that all children have the chance to thrive?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this matter and for championing the work of Tale of 2 Cities. Local charities are the golden thread that runs through our communities, and they do a fantastic job. The Government are keen to support them, not least because we are taking action on child poverty, scrapping the two-child limit and focusing on the cost of living. I encourage my hon. Friend to apply for a Westminster Hall debate, so that she can ask the Minister who responds what the next steps in the Government’s plan are.