Business of the House

Debate between Johanna Baxter and Lucy Powell
Thursday 13th February 2025

(1 week, 2 days ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lucy Powell Portrait Lucy Powell
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As my hon. Friend can see, I am particularly keen on hairdressing apprenticeships. Hairdressing is one thing that we will never be able to do on the internet, so it is a job for life for people who go down that route. He is absolutely right that we need to open up more apprenticeship opportunities to more young people. That is why, as we mark National Apprenticeship Week, we have announced changes to flexibility on maths and English requirements, which we think will open up far more opportunities for young people such as those in his constituency.

Johanna Baxter Portrait Johanna Baxter (Paisley and Renfrewshire South) (Lab)
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Last weekend, Renfrewshire council confirmed a case of H5N1 avian influenza at Castle Semple loch in Lochwinnoch in my constituency. That outbreak’s proximity to RSPB Scotland Lochwinnoch nature reserve has raised serious concern in the local area. What steps are the UK Government taking to engage with the Scottish Government on that matter, and what action are they taking to support conservation organisations and farmers in Scotland in respect of avian flu?

Lucy Powell Portrait Lucy Powell
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The outbreaks of avian flu in recent years have been incredibly difficult for the birdkeepers on the frontline of that terrible disease. My hon. Friend will know that disease control is a devolved matter, but an animal disease policy group co-ordinates the response across the devolved nations and with the UK Government. I will continue to ensure that she is updated on those matters.

Business of the House

Debate between Johanna Baxter and Lucy Powell
Thursday 9th January 2025

(1 month, 1 week ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lucy Powell Portrait Lucy Powell
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The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the green belt is, and remains, protected. The Government plan to unlock what we describe as “grey belt” —not particularly good-quality green belt—and we want a policy of “brownfield first” in planning decisions. He raises the issue of different aspects, including energy supply, infrastructure and transport, all coming together. Our planning and infrastructure Bill, which we will soon introduce to the House, will consider all those issues in the round, and I am sure that he will take part in those debates.

Johanna Baxter Portrait Johanna Baxter (Paisley and Renfrewshire South) (Lab)
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On 31 December, we marked the 95th anniversary of the Glen cinema disaster—one of the UK’s worst disasters—which took place in my constituency. Seventy-one children, the youngest of whom was only four, lost their life in a crowd crush caused by a smoking canister of nitrate film. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the legacy of those lost lives lies in the UK’s fire and building safety regulations? Next time she sees a lit emergency exit sign, will she pause to remember the children of the Glen cinema?

Lucy Powell Portrait Lucy Powell
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I am sure that the whole House will take a moment, 95 years on, to remember all those who were killed in the Glen cinema tragedy, as my hon. Friend reminds us on behalf of her constituents. She will be aware that things have moved on, and in recent years we have learned the lessons and ensured that our public places are safe. Although Martyn’s law, which is going through the other place at the moment, is focused on terrorism, it will also support action against fire and other hazards in our public spaces.

Business of the House

Debate between Johanna Baxter and Lucy Powell
Thursday 19th December 2024

(2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Johanna Baxter Portrait Johanna Baxter (Paisley and Renfrewshire South) (Lab)
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May I wish you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and all staff across the parliamentary estate a very happy Christmas? In the last week, my constituents in Paisley and Renfrewshire South have received the devastating news that the SNP-controlled integration joint board, running health and social care provision across Renfrewshire, is trying to make £19.1 million in cuts, having already closed Montrose care home in my constituency earlier this year. Given that the Scottish Government have just received the biggest funding settlement since devolution, does the Leader of the House agree that they should use that money to protect the most vulnerable constituents in Paisley and Renfrewshire South?

Lucy Powell Portrait Lucy Powell
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I agree with my hon. Friend. The Scottish Government have received a record settlement from this Government as a result of our recent Budget, and they have no excuse for making the cuts that she describes in health and social care.

Business of the House

Debate between Johanna Baxter and Lucy Powell
Thursday 21st November 2024

(3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lucy Powell Portrait Lucy Powell
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That is a shocking statistic that his constituents shared with him about the effect of cardiac arrests on young people. He and they are absolutely right that screening and getting a preventive health programme into our communities is vital if we are to address some of those issues and make sure people do not die or suffer unnecessarily from those sorts of diseases. That is what this Government are committed to doing.

Johanna Baxter Portrait Johanna Baxter (Paisley and Renfrewshire South) (Lab)
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I want to associate myself with the condolences for Lord Prescott. He was a true giant of our movement.

Last week, more than 450 people from across Renfrewshire gathered for the 20th annual ROCCO awards, run by the Renfrewshire chamber of commerce to celebrate businesses. Will my right hon. Friend assure businesses in my community of the Government’s support and will she join me in congratulating all the winners of this year’s awards, including Renfrewshire’s favourite business, the Paisley Pie Co., which resides in my constituency?

Lucy Powell Portrait Lucy Powell
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One of the great joys of my job is that I get to hear about all the great catering outlets in colleagues’ constituencies. I wish I could visit them all. The pie company that my hon. Friend describes sounds like a particularly good one, and I join her in congratulating it. This Government continue to support businesses such as those in her constituency and all those involved in the ROCCO awards.