Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Kim Johnson Excerpts
Wednesday 23rd October 2024

(4 weeks, 1 day ago)

Commons Chamber
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Angela Rayner Portrait The Deputy Prime Minister
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I welcome the hon. Member to his place. We recognise the devastating impact that flooding can have. I know that the flooding Minister visited Bedfordshire in September to meet volunteers and residents. We inherited flood defences in disrepair and behind schedule. We have launched the floods resilience taskforce, and when it comes to the planning reforms needed to deliver the 1.5 million homes this country needs, we will ensure that the right infrastructure is in place and that communities are resilient.

Kim Johnson Portrait Kim Johnson (Liverpool Riverside) (Lab)
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Zoe’s Place, in the West Derby area of Liverpool, is a hospice that provides support to sick children and their families. It has been threatened with closure and has to find £5 million by the end of the year. Does the Deputy Prime Minister agree that such hospices need to be on a statutory footing and not reliant on charitable funding?

Angela Rayner Portrait The Deputy Prime Minister
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The hospice situation in this country has faced significant challenges because of the 14 years of devastation under the Conservatives. The Health Secretary has already raised these issues and knows that this is of importance; I will make sure that my hon. Friend gets to meet him.