Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

David Williams Excerpts
Thursday 30th January 2025

(1 day, 8 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lucy Powell Portrait Lucy Powell
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Banking hubs are critical to communities such as that of my hon. Friend in West Dunbartonshire. The Government are committed to rolling out our 350 banking hubs—more than 100 are already open. I think that would be an extremely popular topic for a debate.

David Williams Portrait David Williams (Stoke-on-Trent North) (Lab)
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This week, the YMCA released its annual report, revealing the devastating cuts to youth services over the past 14 years. Spending in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire has been cut by more than 90% since 2010 and funding is not equitable: in Stoke-on-Trent, spending per young person is 10% less than in inner London. Families in my constituency deserve better. Will the Leader of the House make time to debate the need for adequate and equitable funding for youth services?

Lucy Powell Portrait Lucy Powell
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It is a source of national shame that youth funding decreased by three quarters under the previous Government—one of the deepest cuts made to any public services. There was no real strategy for young people, and we are seeing the consequences of that. The Government are determined to turn that around, and we will work with my hon. Friend to do that in Stoke-on-Trent.