Business of the House

Claire Young Excerpts

Thursday 19th December 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We all see the impact of permitted development rights and houses in multiple occupation on our communities. Where they go unchecked, they can cause real problems, and also have a detrimental impact on the housing supply in an area. He will be aware that the Renters’ Rights Bill covers some of those issues, and we are due to consider the Bill on Report and in its final stages when we return from recess.

[Claire Young (Thornbury and Yate) (LD)]

A merry Christmas to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and to everyone across Parliament and in my constituency.

Thornbury and Yate residents driving home for Christmas will face a second festive season of chaos on local roads, with at least one more still to come, thanks to the ongoing closure of the A432 M4 over-bridge. There is no compensation for the small businesses affected, or for residents living on the now choked local country lanes. Given that hundreds, if not thousands, of such post-tensioned bridges were built in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, this horror could be coming to many constituencies, but I have so far been unable to secure a debate on this important topic. Will the Leader of the House ensure that we can discuss the issue in the new year?

[Lucy Powell]

I know that the hon. Lady has applied on a number of occasions for a debate on that important matter affecting her constituency. Madam Deputy Speaker is in her Chair and has heard the hon. Lady’s appeal again today. Road closures of that kind, where bridges need that sort of work, can be absolutely devastating for local communities and businesses, and I will certainly help her in trying to secure an Adjournment debate on the subject.

Business of the House

Claire Young Excerpts

Thursday 12th December 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I do join my hon. Friend in hoping for a cruelty-free Christmas. She raises important issues on which we have a number of manifesto commitments. She will know that they are not currently in the legislative programme for this Session, but I am aware of the strength of feeling, and I am sure that things will be brought forward in the usual way.

[Claire Young (Thornbury and Yate) (LD)]

Last week, the Government stated that they would move away from SEND safety valve agreements, which have seen many local authorities across the country enter short-term funding deals with the Department for Education. Although that is welcome news, it has left those in existing arrangements —including my local authority, South Gloucestershire council—worrying about the future. Will the Leader of the House agree to a debate in Government time about the nature of the changes and ensuring that existing arrangements are fair, and to discuss how to provide all children with special educational needs and disabilities the quality education that they deserve?

[Lucy Powell]

The hon. Lady raises yet another important issue. The Government are trying to ensure that we have early intervention, and that the power to take action on that is in the hands of local authorities and others. We will introduce the children’s wellbeing Bill imminently, to tackle some of those issues at their core.

Business of the House

Claire Young Excerpts

Thursday 31st October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

My hon. Friend is right to raise this issue. Those kinds of events inspire participation and interest in the women’s game and more broadly. That is why this Government are committed to a curriculum review, putting physical education and sport back at the heart of our curriculum. Initiatives such as Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign continue to inspire many young women and girls to get active and get involved. I am sure that they will look closely at what she said.

[Claire Young (Thornbury and Yate) (LD)]

Small community pharmacies have been pushed to the brink in recent years. On a visit to Abbotswood pharmacy in my constituency, I heard how the current funding formula has led to a real-terms cut of 30% since 2015, and how it punishes rather than rewards pharmacies for providing extra services. Will the Leader of the House grant a debate in Government time on the role of pharmacies and how we can better support them to do their vital work?

[Lucy Powell]

Community pharmacies, as the hon. Lady rightly says, play a very important part in ensuring that health services are in the community and provide preventive support for local communities. That is why the Government are rebuilding our NHS. Community pharmacies will play a very important part in that. There is a debate next week on fixing the NHS, where I am sure the Health Secretary will be keen to hear her thoughts about community pharmacies.

Business of the House

Claire Young Excerpts

Thursday 24th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising that question, and pass on my thanks to Rabbi Janes and those who have come together in her constituency to deal with these issues. She is right to call for interfaith communities to come together. I am sure that she will continue to do that in her constituency.

[Claire Young (Thornbury and Yate) (LD)]

When the Cineworld in Yate opened in 2015, it was a big day for the town and came as a result of years of campaigning by former MP Steve Webb. Sadly, the cinema has recently closed its doors. It is one of the many cinemas across the country unable to keep up with rising costs. A key burden facing those businesses is the business rates system, which leaves them paying more than they can afford. Will the Leader of the House agree to a debate in Government time on the need to reform business rates, and on how a new system could benefit local cinemas?

[Lucy Powell]

I am sorry to hear about the closure of Cineworld in the hon. Lady’s constituency. We will have several days of debate on the Budget, starting next week, and I am very confident that business rates will be high on the agenda in those debates, as they always are.