Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Jo Platt Excerpts
Thursday 6th March 2025

(3 days, 22 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lucy Powell Portrait Lucy Powell
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We have an acute housing crisis in this country, and the long waiting lists, or even closed lists such as the one my hon. Friend describes, are a symptom of that crisis. That is why the Government are committed to 1.5 million extra homes, of which a huge proportion will be social and affordable homes.

Jo Platt Portrait Jo Platt (Leigh and Atherton) (Lab/Co-op)
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May I draw the House�s attention to my position as chair of the all-party groups on long covid and on myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)? In recognition of International Women�s Day, I wish to draw attention to the significant gender disparity in the impact of chronic illnesses. Given the gravity of the issue, will the Leader of the House commit to holding a debate on women�s health inequalities, with particular focus on those living with ME, long covid, and other chronic illnesses?

Lucy Powell Portrait Lucy Powell
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I thank my hon. Friend for raising that issue. We are committed to supporting those with chronic illnesses and those with ME, and we will publish a delivery plan in the coming months. She highlights the important matter of gender disparity. We recently had a debate on women�s health, and I am sure gender disparity in chronic illness would be a popular subject.