Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Tom Pursglove

Tuesday 9th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

As I have said, we have committed ourselves to ensuring that schools will be funded for that purpose.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

Will the Chancellor explain why the customs union is the wrong policy choice for the future strength of the UK economy?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Tom Pursglove

Tuesday 11th September 2018 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

Police force funding has been protected in real terms. The nature of crime is changing, and police forces are reforming to reflect that.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

Corby and East Northamptonshire are seeing considerable housing growth, and it is essential that the infrastructure keeps pace, so will my right hon. Friend consider a new round of enterprise zone bidding opportunities to support more growth and jobs?

Public Sector Pay

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Tom Pursglove

Tuesday 24th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

This Government have achieved some of the lowest levels of youth unemployment for years. Under the Labour party, people were left on the scrapheap and we had rising youth unemployment, with up to 20% of our young people unemployed in 2010. What is important is that while people are training and gaining skills, it remains affordable for companies to take them on.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

I very much welcome these pay awards. Will the Chief Secretary say a little about the difference that taking millions of people out of income tax altogether will make in tandem with these pay awards?

[Elizabeth Truss]

My hon. Friend makes a very good point. We have seen disposable incomes—the money people have to spend—increasing under this Government because we have cut tax for basic rate taxpayers by £1,000 a year. We know that the Labour party wants to raise tax to the highest peacetime levels, and the reality of that would be less money for hard-working public and private sector workers.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Tom Pursglove

Tuesday 16th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

We have given councils the power to raise more funds in the draft local government finance settlement, but councils also need to look at how they can become more efficient, share back offices and use modern technology.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

Unemployment in my constituency is down by over 50%, but will my right hon. Friend consider a new round of enterprise zone bidding opportunities to help further that success story?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Tom Pursglove

Tuesday 7th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

Developing skills in prison is crucial to successful rehabilitation, but it is important that those skills translate into the real world. What consideration are Ministers giving to ensuring that skills development in prison dovetails with the needs in the industrial strategy?

[Elizabeth Truss]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I know he is a big supporter of the new Wellingborough prison. In that prison, as well as in others across country, we are looking at areas where there are skills shortages—whether it is in construction or catering—and making sure that we start apprenticeships in prison that can then be completed on the outside, so that we can bring new, skilled people to important industries.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Tom Pursglove

Tuesday 24th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that psychoactive substances have had a serious effect in our prisons: the prisons and probation ombudsman described them as a “game changer”, which is why we have now rolled out testing to deal with those substances. We have extra sniffer dogs to deal with them as well, and we are making progress.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

Recognising the consequences of crimes for victims must be at the forefront of offenders’ minds as they leave prison, so what steps are Ministers and the probation service taking to ensure that that is the case?

[Elizabeth Truss]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right: victims have to be at the centre of the justice system. That is what our court reforms will help to deliver. Restorative justice programmes, led by our police and crime commissioners, can help to bring a sense of justice to victims.

Prison Officers Association: Protest Action

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Tom Pursglove

Tuesday 15th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

We are putting the role of the Secretary of State into primary legislation to ensure that we are not just housing offenders, but turning lives around, getting people the education that they perhaps have not had in the past, getting them into work once they leave prison and getting them off drugs. All those things lead to a reduction in reoffending.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

I for one have enormous respect and admiration for our prison officers and for the difficult work that they do. A fortnight ago, the Secretary of State came to this House and committed to bring on stream an additional 2,500 prison officers. What reaction has she had to that announcement from the Prison Officers Association?

[Elizabeth Truss]

We did announce an additional 2,500 prison officers. That will enable every single officer to be responsible for six prisoners, which we know will achieve the results of improving safety and ensuring that we reform offenders. I would like to see the Prison Officers Association support that change.

Prison Safety and Reform

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Tom Pursglove

Thursday 3rd November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

We are going to ensure that there are enough prison places for those whom the courts are sentencing. That is our duty as a Government, but I also want to ensure that those prisons have safe, decent conditions and that they are places of discipline, hard work and self-improvement so that we can reduce the chances of those burglars burgling again.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

Corby and east Northamptonshire residents will wholeheartedly welcome the reinstatement of Wellingborough prison on the existing site. As a former local councillor, I can tell the Secretary of State that this is very good news for local people. I also commend my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone) for his persistent efforts. Will the Secretary of State make my constituents even happier by promising to keep the use of British steel at the forefront of her mind when having discussions about these projects?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his championing of British steel, and I shall look closely at his suggestion.