Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Marie Tidball and Diana Johnson

Tuesday 20th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Dame Diana Johnson]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising this. He will appreciate that I am relatively new in post, but I am going to find out and I will write to him with the specific answers to the questions he has posed today.

[Dr Marie Tidball (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Lab)]

Constituents in Stocksbridge, Deepcar, Wharncliffe Side and Oughtibridge regularly tell me how important it is for them to have access closer to home to routine blood tests, X-rays, special educational needs and disability support, mental health support, NHS dentistry and mammograms, because of the poor transport links and delays in accessing NHS diagnostic services in Sheffield. Therefore, I was delighted to welcome Stocksbridge towns fund board members, local health leaders and experts to visit the 519 community hub site in our town. Will the Minister meet me to discuss our proposal for a community diagnostic centre in the new 519 building, to maximise its benefit to our community—mirroring the excellent Glass Works and Alhambra centre facilities in Barnsley—and to bring health to our high streets locally?

[Dame Diana Johnson]

My hon. Friend is a doughty champion for her local area and for ensuring that we have services close to populations and close to where people live. I am very happy to meet her to discuss this.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Marie Tidball and Diana Johnson

Monday 25th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Dame Diana Johnson]

I can certainly talk to Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office to discuss what we can learn from the proposed programme and the good practice we know exists already in many parts of the UK. We want to build on that so I am very happy to share that.

[Dr Marie Tidball (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Lab)]

9. What steps her Department is taking to help tackle car theft in rural areas.

[Mr Speaker]

Who wants to answer this one?

[The Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention (Dame Diana Johnson)]

Sorry, Mr Speaker. These questions are like buses—they all come along at once.

Vehicle theft is a deeply distressing and damaging crime which can have a detrimental effect on both individuals and businesses, including in rural communities. That is why we are working closely with both the police and the automotive industry to ensure the most robust responses possible to these crimes. Last week I met with the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for vehicle crime to discuss this issue and how we can better work together to prevent it.

[Dr Tidball]

An increase in car and van thefts and antisocial behaviour in Stocksbridge, Deepcar, High Green, Chapeltown and Dodworth has left my constituents feeling vulnerable and unsafe. Local people have also experienced excessive 999 response times. How is the Minister tackling the rise in vehicle thefts, working with manufacturers to improve vehicle safety and supporting South Yorkshire police after years of Conservative cuts?

[Dame Diana Johnson]

I am pleased that this question is being asked, and it is important to note that this autumn, driven by the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for vehicle crime, the national vehicle crime reduction partnership has been launched, bringing together the police, the Home Office and manufacturers on the very point of how we tackle this problem. We are also committed to bringing forward legislation to ban electronic devices used to steal vehicles, empowering the police and courts to target those criminals using, manufacturing and supplying them.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Marie Tidball and Diana Johnson

Monday 21st October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Dame Diana Johnson]

The Government have no plans to scrap the role of police and crime commissioner. We think it is a valuable role that can enable the missions that this Government have set out to be enacted locally, including the safer streets mission. We need to work with the PCCs to make sure that mission happens in the different force areas around the country. PCCs also have a role to play with their other partners, local authorities and the voluntary sector.

[Dr Marie Tidball (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Lab)]

Noisy off-road bikes speed around neighbourhoods such as Chapeltown in my constituency, deliberately disturbing and intimidating residents. Will the Home Secretary commit to properly tackling off-road bikes by giving the police the right powers to crack down on this issue?