Business of the House

Debate between Lucy Powell and Patricia Ferguson

Thursday 9th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

What a beautiful tribute to Criss and all the work he did. I am sure that Criss’s family and friends will have listened to my hon. Friend’s words with great comfort. Councillors up and down this country do an enormously valuable job for our country and our communities, and I am sure a debate on such a subject would be very well attended.

[Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow West) (Lab)]

Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating the young women across the country who took part in the CyberFirst girls competition, and especially the winners in the Scotland section, Charlotte, Jess, Sania and Aoife of Hyndland secondary school in my constituency? Does she agree that it is increasingly important that girls are encouraged to pursue an interest and, perhaps, a career in cyber security?

[Lucy Powell]

Absolutely. What a fantastic achievement for Hyndland secondary school. I join my hon. Friend in saying that young girls should get into computing and cyber-security. Let us not forget that Ada Lovelace wrote the world’s first computer program.

Business of the House

Debate between Lucy Powell and Patricia Ferguson

Thursday 10th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

To see the new medical school opening is a brilliant thing to happen so early in my hon. Friend’s time as the MP representing Bangor. It will be a vital facility in helping this Government to deliver our ambitions for an extra 40,000 appointments a week and all the additional doctors that our NHS so desperately needs, so I am delighted to thank all of those involved, and I thank her for supporting it.

[Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow West) (Lab)]

May I wish my right hon. Friend an excellent time on her very special day?

Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating Drumchapel citizens advice bureau and thank it for dealing with 7,448 clients, clocking up 12,442 volunteer-hours and securing some £2,810,039 for clients in the course of the last year? Drumchapel citizens advice bureau, although excellent, faces a situation that is of course typical across communities up and down this country. Would the Government be able to provide time for a debate so that we can recognise the work of CABs and discuss what further support they might be given?

[Lucy Powell]

I am sure every Member of Parliament in this House will want to thank the citizens advice bureaux for the work they do across the country in providing our constituents with so much support and advice. I am sure that would be a very welcome topic for a Backbench Business or Adjournment debate if she wanted to apply for one.

Business of the House

Debate between Lucy Powell and Patricia Ferguson

Thursday 12th September 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call Patricia Ferguson, whom I congratulate on her election to the Chair of the Scottish Affairs Committee.

[Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow West) (Lab)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Will the Leader of the House comment on the Government’s actions to reset the relationship with the Scottish Government? The early meeting of our right hon. Friend the Prime Minister with the First Minister of Scotland was widely welcomed, but what more can be done to ensure that both Governments work together to deliver for the people of Scotland?

[Lucy Powell]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on her election to the Chair of the Select Committee. I know that she will approach that job with gusto and be a powerful voice on those issues in the Chamber. She is absolutely right: it is important for us to work constructively and in a grown-up way with the Scottish Government. The Prime Minister has begun the process of resetting the relationship. I myself have met the Scottish First Minister, and I will go up to Scotland in the coming weeks. We also want to strengthen the Sewel convention, to which I know she will give great consideration as the Chair of the Select Committee.