Business of the House

Danny Beales Excerpts

Thursday 9th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Danny Beales (Uxbridge and South Ruislip) (Lab)]

A recent London Councils report highlighted major issues in the capital with special educational needs provision, workforce capacity and inclusion. In the light of that, I welcome the new Government’s significant financial commitment to SEND. However, this year, Conservative Hillingdon council is proposing a £7 million cut to schools in my constituency, due to its own failure to manage the local SEND system. That will devastate SEND inclusion in local mainstream schools. Can we have a debate in the House to discuss SEND provision, and will my right hon. Friend relay my concerns to the Department concerned?

[Lucy Powell]

I will relay my hon. Friend’s concerns about what Hillingdon council is proposing for special educational needs and support for schools. This Government have allocated an extra £1 billion for special educational needs. We have also allocated significant extra money for local councils. There really is no excuse for Hillingdon council to behave in this way.

Business of the House

Danny Beales Excerpts

Thursday 10th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

My hon. Friend can take a great deal of personal satisfaction and thanks for the Bill getting to this place, along with his union Unison, which we are proud to have worked with on that Bill and on the Make Work Pay policy document that supports it. He is absolutely right: the issues of maternity pay, parental leave, bereavement leave and zero-hours contracts, as well as all the other benefits in the Bill, will be widely debated as it progresses through the House of Commons.

[Danny Beales (Uxbridge and South Ruislip) (Lab)]

There is an even better birthday present than a question from the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon): theatre tickets to the Beck theatre in Hillingdon. That theatre is much loved by my residents and constituents, but unfortunately we face the real prospect of its closing in the coming weeks due to the inaction of the local Conservative council in Hillingdon. Would the Leader of the House make time in this place to discuss the real value created by arts, culture, and community theatres such as the Beck?

[Lucy Powell]

My hon. Friend raises the very important matter of community theatres, and the one in his constituency sounds really important. It is a matter of national shame that so many theatres are struggling to find funding, and I hope that his local authority will reconsider its decision. He may wish to raise this issue next week at Culture, Media and Sport questions.