Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Keir Starmer and Liz Twist

Wednesday 10th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

All those involved in the violence will face the full force of the law, and quite rightly so. The hon. Member is right to describe, as he does, the fear that this instils in some of our communities. That is a very real fear, and it is being felt today, this hour, in Northern Ireland by families who are too scared to go about their lawful work, to go to school and to go about their business. That is exactly what it does, which is why we must all condemn it.

[Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett) (Lab)]

Q6. The British Standards Institution is 125 years old this year. I am proud to have been working closely with it to produce and publish BS 30480: the world’s first free standard on suicide and the workplace. The standard has now been downloaded more than 12,500 times. As we all work towards reducing the number of people who die by suicide, will the Prime Minister support more workplace adoption of the standard and work with the BSI and me to achieve that?

[The Prime Minister]

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend, who has been an outstanding advocate on this issue. I congratulate the BSI on 125 years of vital work. The guidance reminds us that every part of society has a role to play in suicide prevention, and it is positive that so many businesses are putting it into practice. I am pleased to raise awareness of it and to encourage others who have not seen it yet to look closely at it and follow it.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Keir Starmer and Liz Twist

Wednesday 17th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I am going to get an update from the Chancellor on Grangemouth in just a minute. The right hon. Gentleman is clearly not interested in Grangemouth. I would have thought, on a day like this, that he would want to welcome the £120 million investment into Grangemouth. It is a landmark investment protecting 500 jobs there and hundreds more across Scotland’s supply chain, and he cannot even bring himself to mention it. That is on top of the Typhoon defence jobs in Edinburgh and the shipbuilding jobs on the Clyde. After decades of SNP rule, its Members are totally out of ideas and they cannot even welcome the Grangemouth news. Scotland deserves change next year with Anas Sarwar.

[Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett) (Lab)]

Q5. In 2020, my constituents John and Karen Rowlands lost their son Andrew in a road collision. He was just 18 years old and a passenger. Like too many others, the driver of the car should never have been on the road. He was under age, unlicensed and uninsured, and he bought the car on social media using cash. Can the Prime Minister tell me how bereaved families like the Rowlands can have a meaningful say on our road safety strategy to ensure that the right checks are in place to prevent future tragedies?

[The Prime Minister]

May I send the condolences of the whole House, I am sure, to Andrew’s family? It is an awful case and every life that is lost to dangerous driving is a tragedy. The range of measures that we are taking to protect young drivers include penalties for driving uninsured and unlicensed, and measures to reduce the risks posed by unroadworthy vehicles. On her constituents being able to have an influence, I would be very happy to set up an appropriate meeting for them.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Keir Starmer and Liz Twist

Wednesday 10th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

Let me tell the House what we are doing. We are working with the former President of the National Farmers Union, Baroness Minette Batters, to review farm profitability—that is the key issue. We are delivering the 25-year farming road map, and we have struck a deal with the EU, which is of great benefit to farmers, and which of course the Conservatives say they will reverse. That is on top of the £5 billion that we put into farming in our last Budget.

[Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett) (Lab)]

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. It can be scary to talk about suicide, but we need to. So many of our constituents will know or love someone who has taken their own life, or they may have suicidal thoughts themselves. But suicide is not inevitable; it is preventable, and everyone has a role to play in saving lives. Will the Prime Minister reaffirm the Government’s commitment to preventing deaths by suicide and say how they are tackling this vital issue?

[The Prime Minister]

May I start by thanking and paying tribute to my hon. Friend for her work as my Parliamentary Private Secretary for the past 14 months? She has worked tirelessly and with huge commitment and respect across the whole of this House.

I think that suicide prevention matters to everybody in this House. I will reaffirm our commitment and I will work across the House with all Members to deal with suicide prevention.