Oral Answers to Questions

Lauren Edwards Excerpts

Thursday 12th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Peter Kyle]

The Government have a commitment to reduce the regulatory burden on business by 25%. My Department led on almost £1 billion of regulatory reform for company reporting in just the first weeks of our taking office. The small business plan and strategy will deliver for small businesses, on top of the industrial strategy, of course, which is getting our economy facing the future and into solid growth for now and the future.

[Lauren Edwards (Rochester and Strood) (Lab)]

I add my voice to that of my hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford (Daniel Francis) in calling on the Government to publish the review of market access for small breweries as soon as possible. I was delighted that Moot Brew brewery from Halling in my constituency produced the guest ale for the Strangers’ Bar in the House of Commons before Christmas. Will the Secretary of State support a national guest beer agreement policy, so that more fantastic local brewers such as Moot are represented in my local pubs?

[Kate Dearden]

My hon. Friend is a real champion for her local breweries, especially Moot Brew in Halling, which produces excellent beer—I know she visits regularly. We recognise the importance of independent breweries and pubs, and we are of course committed to ensuring that the sector remains diverse, competitive and rooted in local communities. We have reviewed the beer market to assess any barriers, and I will keep my hon. Friend updated.

Royal Mail: Universal Service Obligation

Lauren Edwards Excerpts

Wednesday 11th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Blair McDougall]

As I said a moment ago, I will certainly ask Ofcom for its assessment of its powers in this space, and I will keep the hon. Lady updated.

[Lauren Edwards (Rochester and Strood) (Lab)]

Before I became a Member of Parliament, I worked for the CWU at the time of Royal Mail’s privatisation, and I am sad to say that much of what we feared would happen has come true. Residents in Grain in my constituency reported receiving no first-class or second-class mail for weeks, similar to the reports of other Members.

I will highlight an incident in which Network Rail had to hand-deliver letters to residents to ensure that they were aware of the impending closure of a critical rail crossing, because Royal Mail service could not be relied on. Does my hon. Friend agree that the service to my constituents is completely unacceptable? Royal Mail needs to focus on addressing its significant recruitment and retention challenges, which have been made worse by the introduction of a two-tier workforce in 2022-23.

[Blair McDougall]

The example that my hon. Friend gives about Network Rail is a reminder that, as my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent Central (Gareth Snell) said a second ago, this is critical national infrastructure that we rely on at moments like that. The issues that my hon. Friend the Member for Rochester and Strood (Lauren Edwards) discusses in terms of the terms and conditions are exactly why we have made that a priority. The Secretary of State is bringing together the management and workforce to discuss those issues.

Oral Answers to Questions

Lauren Edwards Excerpts

Thursday 13th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Douglas Alexander]

I happen to be meeting the Philippine Government next week, although alas in London, not in Manila. The Department is working hard to agree a Government-to-Government financing framework partnership. That is just part of the work we have under way. If I can be of direct assistance to my hon. Friend and to her local business, I will of course be happy to speak to her.

[Lauren Edwards (Rochester and Strood) (Lab)]

The invest in women taskforce aims to drive investment in female-powered businesses at every stage. That includes putting more money in the hands of female investors, as we know that women back women. Does the Minister agree that one solution to tackling the gender disparity in investment decision-making roles is to set a minimum level of female representation for all investment committees that receive British Business Bank funding?

[Justin Madders]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. There is a strong correlation between the proportion of women on an investment committee and the proportion of female founders receiving investment. My Department leads on the investing in women code, whose 270 signatories commit to supporting female entrepreneurship. One of the key metrics we check is the gender balance on investment committees and investment teams. I am pleased to say that the code signatories significantly outperform the wider market in their support for female founders. Investment funds backed by the British Business Bank are expected to sign up to the code and the bank itself is a signatory.

Oral Answers to Questions

Lauren Edwards Excerpts

Thursday 5th September 2024 Commons Chamber

[Melanie Onn (Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes) (Lab)]

8. What recent progress his Department has made on introducing an industrial strategy.

[Lauren Edwards (Rochester and Strood) (Lab)]

9. What recent progress his Department has made on introducing an industrial strategy.

[Anneliese Midgley (Knowsley) (Lab)]

12. What recent progress his Department has made on introducing an industrial strategy.

--- Later in debate ---

[Jonathan Reynolds]

Let me say how wonderful it is to see my hon. Friend back in her place, representing her community and bringing with her even more expertise from the roles that she has held and the work that she has done in her time outside Parliament. It is a key priority for me to ensure that good jobs in the supply chain come with the transition that we all now support. I can tell her not only that we are interested in Air Products, but that my colleague, the Minister of State for Industry, already has a meeting with it scheduled in the next few days, and we look forward to working with my hon. Friend not just on that, but on many issues in the weeks and months to come.

[Lauren Edwards]

The voluntary sector had a strong voice under the previous Labour Government, and partnership with it was key to our achievements in office. How will my right hon. Friend ensure that the voluntary sector has a strong voice once again under Labour, so that we can deliver the Government’s industrial strategy, particularly as it relates to the creative industries and the mission to ensure high-quality care for all?