Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lewis Atkinson and Keir Starmer

Wednesday 1st July 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I am very proud of the fact that after net migration reached almost 1 million under the Conservatives, we have brought it down by 82%. The hon. Gentleman references the asylum system; asylum decisions are being made at record levels, the backlog is down, removals are up 41% and we are closing asylum hotels. The Conservatives lost control of our borders, but small boat crossings are now coming down, and we have deported 70,000 people with no right to be here.

The hon. Gentleman likes to ask questions. He should be asking some questions of the leader of his party, the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage), who is sitting next to him—he received £5 million from a crypto billionaire and then privately lobbied the Bank of England on digital currencies. Did the Reform leader carry out paid lobbying? Why did he keep his £5 million gift secret? Are Reform Members happy with their leader earning £20,000 an hour flogging gold bullion? They need to ask questions across the Reform Bench, but they never do.

[Lewis Atkinson (Sunderland Central) (Lab)]

Q9. Too many people are waiting too long for NHS mental health care, with over 6,000 adults waiting up to two years. In Sunderland, grassroots organisations like the wonderful Betsy Jenny café are providing support to our community, but they cannot substitute for timely, NHS-funded care. As the Government consult on their new mental health strategy, will the Prime Minister agree that it must include clear waiting time standards?

[The Prime Minister]

We are determined to transform mental health services so that everyone gets the support they need. I am pleased to say that we have recruited 8,700 extra mental health workers. We have opened the first of six 24/7 neighbourhood mental health centres and ensured that nearly 800,000 more children and young people have access to a mental health support team at their school or college. There is more to be done, but this is a real step forward.

UK-EU Summit

Debate between Lewis Atkinson and Keir Starmer

Tuesday 20th May 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

The hon. Member raises an important point, and we will continue our discussions with others to try to resolve some of the frustrations—to which, common sense would suggest, we can find a better solution, and we will.

[Lewis Atkinson (Sunderland Central) (Lab)]

Sunderland is proud to be a city of makers, from cars to music. Without reversing Brexit, those makers need access to Europe, whether that is exporters such as Nissan, which need the certainty to export, or musicians, who need the freedom to tour. Can the Prime Minister outline how this deal will support good jobs in Sunderland, whether they be in the motor or the music industry?

[The Prime Minister]

Let me rest on my hon. Friend’s first example, which was of cars. The India deal, which massively slashed the tariff on cars, is good for car manufacturing and good for car exports, and the deal with the US saves thousands upon thousands of jobs in the car industry, which is why it should be welcomed.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lewis Atkinson and Keir Starmer

Wednesday 27th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

Obviously the whole House is concerned about energy bills, which are actually lower this year than they were last year. The long-term way to deal with this issue is to have clean power by 2030, to make sure that we drive energy bills down on a permanent basis, and that is what we will do. On the winter fuel allowance, the right hon. Gentleman knows very well what the Government’s position is; indeed, I have rehearsed it with him many times.

[Lewis Atkinson (Sunderland Central) (Lab)]

Q9. Antisocial behaviour involving modified and off-road bikes is a menace, and has a huge impact on communities such as mine in Sunderland. Although I welcome the work that Northumbria police does in partnership with our council, they need stronger powers and more resources. Can the Prime Minister outline how he will back the police to tackle the misery caused by intimidating and downright dangerous antisocial behaviour on bikes?

[The Prime Minister]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue, because antisocial behaviour affects so many people. Sometimes it is described to me as “low level”, but its impact is not, particularly when it comes to off-road bikes. That is why we are implementing tough new respect orders, which will give powers to the police, including powers to seize off-road bikes and, crucially, a power of arrest for breach of orders—something that has been missing in recent years. We will tackle this problem, because it blights communities across the country.