Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Josh Newbury and Lisa Nandy

Thursday 26th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Lisa Nandy]

Rugby union plays a vital role in our national identity. It matters to hugely to many Members of this House, almost as much as rugby league—the finest form of rugby, Mr Speaker. I appreciate the serious concerns of Welsh rugby fans, including the hon. Gentleman. He knows that the UK Government have no role in the operations of Welsh Rugby Union. Welsh sports policy is the responsibility of the Welsh Government and Sport Wales, so I strongly suggest that he raise his concerns with them.

[Josh Newbury (Cannock Chase) (Lab)]

T3. Having seen youth services slashed by the coalition Government and Staffordshire’s youth service shut down completely 13 years ago, I very much welcome this Government’s commitment to half a billion pounds to reverse the damage done by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Staffordshire missed out on the better youth spaces programme, so as the Department rolls out Young Futures hubs, youth centres and more youth workers, could the Minister assure my constituents that areas like Cannock Chase that have no youth service whatsoever will benefit from Labour’s reinvestment in the futures of our young people?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Josh Newbury and Lisa Nandy

Thursday 3rd April 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lisa Nandy]

I thank the hon. Lady for raising that issue, and I will certainly look into the specific fund she has mentioned. The Education Secretary and I are committed to putting sport back at the heart of the curriculum and our classrooms. We will be in a position to announce more about that shortly, but we share the hon. Lady’s vision of schools that are the hubs of their communities and are open longer hours to enable them to provide those opportunities for young people.

[Josh Newbury (Cannock Chase) (Lab)]

T5.  My constituent Paul Dadge was iconically photographed rescuing a badly burned survivor of the 7/7 bombings. What thanks did Paul get? His phone was hacked by a newspaper looking for stories. Twelve years on from the Leveson inquiry, most national papers are still in the Independent Press Standards Organisation, a complaints handler that they control and that has never investigated or fined a single newspaper in its history. Will the Secretary of State consult on introducing a truly independent press regulator for all national papers, so that we can make sure there are no more victims of phone hacking and press intrusion?

[Lisa Nandy]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this very serious issue. He will know that since the Leveson inquiry concluded, there have been dramatic changes in the media landscape, meaning that we need to take a much wider view of how to protect a free, fair and self- regulated press and to protect the public. Nevertheless, we recognise that there are long-standing issues with the protection of members of the public such as my hon. Friend’s constituent, who the Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism knows well. I recently met families from the campaign group Hacked Off and listened to their stories. It was a harrowing meeting, and we are committed to working with them to resolve these issues.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Josh Newbury and Lisa Nandy

Thursday 27th February 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lisa Nandy]

All I can say is that the hon. Member is lucky that I am answering this question, not my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda and Ogmore, or we would be here for several hours. My hon. Friend met the EU commissioner on precisely this issue yesterday. We firmly believe that closer co-operation with our friends and allies across the European Union is not just in our interests, but in their interests, and we are seeking closer agreement on this issue.

[Josh Newbury (Cannock Chase) (Lab)]

9. What steps her Department is taking to support small theatres and performing arts venues.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lisa Nandy]

We would be happy to look at the hon. Gentleman’s specific case, if he wants to supply the Department with details. The maximum of two interventions is an important principle to ensure that the maximum number of communities feels the benefit of the funding we are able to award. He will know that the Sovereign Centre in Eastbourne has been awarded £91,000 in funding as part of phase 2 of our swimming pool support fund. If he sends me the details, I will ensure that we take that seriously.

[Josh Newbury (Cannock Chase) (Lab)]

T6.  Alongside our theatre and museum, which I mentioned earlier, Cannock also has brilliant small music venues, such as The Station, all of which give our budding actors, museum curators and musicians a foot on the ladder. However, we still long for the opportunities that are open to children in other parts of the country. Will the Minister set out what discussions he has had with colleagues on routes into creative sectors for our young people?