Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Darren Henry

Wednesday 22nd November 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Got it. I call Darren Henry.

[Darren Henry (Broxtowe) (Con)]

Q13. I have a question about apprenticeships. It is vital that individuals of any age can train and retrain for good local jobs, further education and skills opportunities that are available. Will the Prime Minister work with me in my campaign to establish an apprenticeship hub in Broxtowe?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Darren Henry

Thursday 26th October 2023 Commons Chamber

[Darren Henry (Broxtowe) (Con)]

Nottinghamshire previously submitted a levelling-up bid for a new Toton link road but narrowly missed out. The project—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. One of us is going to have sit down, and it is not going to be me. The question was on Leeds, unfortunately. Is the hon. Gentleman’s supplementary linked?

[Darren Henry]

indicated dissent.

[Mr Speaker]

Right. Let us move on.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Darren Henry

Thursday 4th November 2021 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We have a slight problem, in that the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Darren Henry) is trapped outside because Insulate Britain have blocked access to the House. That is totally unacceptable: it is interfering with democracy, and it is not what should happen. It is a tragedy that his constituents will not be represented by the hon. Member for Broxtowe, but I ask the Minister to answer the hon. Gentleman’s question.

[Darren Henry (Broxtowe) (Con)]

7. What steps his Department is taking to encourage the uptake of cycling and walking.

[The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Chris Heaton-Harris)]

It is slightly ironic, is it not, that the question is about cycling and walking, and how we can decarbonise transport. While I am sure that those people outside have decent intentions, the way in which they are going about their business is completely unacceptable.

We need to continue our business here, so I can happily update the House with the information that my Department is investing an unprecedented £2 billion in active travel over the course of this Parliament, which is the biggest ever boost for walking and cycling.

My hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Darren Henry) would have asked a supplementary question, and I know that he wanted to talk about areas in his constituency, because that is all he ever does. [Laughter.] He wanted to talk about Mini-Hollands and how they can change people’s behaviour when it comes to cycling, and to mention the town of Stapleford. The Department’s publication “Gear Change”, which could be described as a manifesto for cycling, refers to Mini-Hollands. Expressions of interest have been received from more than 30 local authorities wishing to build them—including Nottinghamshire County Council—so they are clearly remarkably popular. We are working on a list in order to progress to the next stage, and will receive a feasibility study in the next financial year.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

I call Darren Henry.

[Darren Henry]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I do appreciate your understanding when I was blocked getting into the House earlier today by the protesters.

Last year, thankfully, the Prime Minister came to Broxtowe to announce “Gear Change”, which provides £2 billion-worth of cycling and walking funding. That indicates that active travel is really at the heart of the Government’s agenda. I have in Broxtowe a town called Stapleford where people have put in an expression of interest for something called Mini Holland, which sounds fantastic. Will the Minister explain what that scheme is all about and how the process will work?

[Mr Speaker]

He already has, but don’t worry.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lindsay Hoyle and Darren Henry

Monday 12th July 2021 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Thank you for that.

[Darren Henry (Broxtowe) (Con)]

What steps her Department is taking to prevent young people from becoming involved in crime and violence.