Business of the House

Nusrat Ghani Excerpts

Thursday 19th December 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

The hon. Lady raises a story with which many of us will be all too familiar as constituency MPs. She will know that this Government take domestic abuse and domestic violence incredibly seriously. We have a very challenging target of halving violence against women and girls over the next few years. We have an upcoming crime and policing Bill and a victims Bill, and some the measures that she asks about will be included in that legislation.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

Order. I have 17 colleagues to call and around 15 minutes left, so if we are sharp, I can try to get everybody in. I call Johanna Baxter.

[Johanna Baxter (Paisley and Renfrewshire South) (Lab)]

May I wish you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and all staff across the parliamentary estate a very happy Christmas? In the last week, my constituents in Paisley and Renfrewshire South have received the devastating news that the SNP-controlled integration joint board, running health and social care provision across Renfrewshire, is trying to make £19.1 million in cuts, having already closed Montrose care home in my constituency earlier this year. Given that the Scottish Government have just received the biggest funding settlement since devolution, does the Leader of the House agree that they should use that money to protect the most vulnerable constituents in Paisley and Renfrewshire South?

--- Later in debate ---

[Lucy Powell]

I am sure that my hon. Friend will appreciate that I cannot comment on a live planning case, but I understand that the Attorney General’s Office has appointed a representative to act on behalf of AQUIND Ltd in relation to this matter, and I hope that she will get the answer that she needs soon.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

Happy Christmas, Jim Shannon.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

Happy Christmas to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and to everybody in the House. I shall probably say that again later, in the Adjournment debate.

On 8 December, in the Partapur area of Meerut district in Uttar Pradesh, the police uncovered a so-called religious conversion meeting, where approximately 50 Hindus were found participating peacefully in a Bible reading session. There was nothing sinister and nothing subversive going on. Pastor Vineet, along with 14 associates, was arrested under sections 3 and 5 of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. Prior to his arrest, Pastor Vineet, who converted to Christianity a decade ago, had been organising similar prayer meetings in various locations. Will the Leader of the House join me in condemning such violations of freedom of religion or belief, and will she ask the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to raise this issue with its counterparts in India?

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[Lucy Powell]

First, I congratulate my hon. Friend on his recent engagement to our colleague Hana. When I congratulated her, she said that it was about time, so at least he got there in the end.

My hon. Friend raises an issue that has been raised with me on many occasions: how the woeful infrastructure that many of us experience in the north of this country is holding back our regions and our constituents. That is why we are prioritising transport infrastructure. We have huge investment going in, and I am sure that he will work with the Transport Secretary and others to ensure that it takes effect in his constituency.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

The honour of asking the last business question of 2024 goes to Tom Rutland.

[Tom Rutland (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Lab)]

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and a very merry Christmas to you.

Like many MPs, this year I held my first Christmas card competition, and I was blown away by the talent of local primary school children. Will the Leader of the House indulge me, and join me in congratulating the winners, Franco, Akithra and Lauren, and extending a massive thank you to the teachers in my constituency, who work tirelessly, day in and day out, not only to educate our young people but to unlock their potential and creativity?

[Lucy Powell]

Many of us undertake Christmas card competitions every year. They are one of the most wonderful things that we take part in as MPs. I congratulate not just my hon. Friend’s Christmas card winners but my own from Seymour Road academy in Manchester. I also congratulate him on getting the very last business question of 2024 under his belt. As you were not in the Chair earlier, Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish you a very merry Christmas as well.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

I thank the Leader of the House for being so patient; she has been on her feet for over an hour.