Business of the House

Debate between Lucy Powell and Gregor Poynton

Thursday 9th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising the issue. Flooding is affecting many more constituencies and communities, and is doing so more often, as we see the effects of climate change on this country. We have a Government-wide approach to tackling climate change, but also we are taking steps to make sure that our communities have flood resilience and flood support. I will ensure that the House is kept up to date on developments.

[Gregor Poynton (Livingston) (Lab)]

Wherever I go in my constituency, local residents raise with me the poor standard of the local bus service. One resident in Livingston Village told me that the elderly and people with children are forced to walk a long way, or pay for a taxi, to get to hospital appointments. Adambrae has lost its bus, and in Addiewell, Stoneyburn and Longridge, my constituents have to take multiple buses to get to the hospital. Unfortunately, this is not unique to my constituency, as statistics show that local bus services in Scotland have collapsed by 44% since the SNP took charge. Will the Leader of the House agree to a debate on the importance of local bus services to our constituents? Perhaps the SNP Government in Scotland can learn something from the UK Government about protecting our bus services.

[Lucy Powell]

I join my hon. Friend in saying how important local bus services are. That is why this Government are taking steps to ensure better bus services here in England. The Scottish Government will receive almost £48 billion in the next financial year. They really should use that to support local services such as buses in his constituency.

Business of the House

Debate between Lucy Powell and Gregor Poynton

Thursday 19th December 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I congratulate my hon. Friend who, as a new Member in this House, has been one of the best attenders both in business questions and for many other statements. He has really got his feet under the table, so to speak. He raises the important issue of cyber-bullying. He will know that this Government are ensuring the effective implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023, and many of those measures are coming on stream in the coming months. A Westminster Hall debate on the subject is also likely to take place soon.

[Gregor Poynton (Livingston) (Lab)]

Livingston has a considerable issue with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in our public buildings, our social housing stock and many private homes, too. For the first two categories, remedies are being put in place, but the same cannot be said for private housing, such as that in Chestnut Grove in Livingston. People bought their homes in good faith and had them surveyed by reputable surveyors, but have now lost half the value of the property due to RAAC. Will the Leader of the House agree to a debate on possible remedies for homeowners in Livingston and beyond who are in this predicament, and the potential role of the private sector, local government, devolved Governments and central Government in remedying this situation?

[Lucy Powell]

I am really sorry to hear of the ongoing situation with the slow remedying of RAAC in homes and buildings for many of my hon. Friend’s constituents. He will appreciate that this is a devolved matter, but the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is engaging with the Scottish Government on respective approaches to RAAC, and I hope that that will speed up remediation soon.

Business of the House

Debate between Lucy Powell and Gregor Poynton

Thursday 14th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that drowning is among the leading causes of accidental death in this country, which might surprise many. This would be an excellent topic for an Adjournment debate or a Westminster Hall debate, should he want to apply for one.

[Gregor Poynton (Livingston) (Lab)]

Over the past month, my office has been inundated with reports from specific areas of the Livingston constituency regarding the inappropriate use of fireworks, which is causing misery to many communities. I pay tribute to Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and West Lothian council for doing whatever they can to mitigate this problem. However, I do not want to see it happen again in 2025. Will the Leader of the House grant Government time for us to debate the inappropriate use of fireworks and the things we can do to tackle this challenge?