"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain. I congratulate my near-neighbour and hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble (Mr Foster) on securing this important debate. I wish him well. I also congratulate the right hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois) on achieving the …..." Patrick Hurley - View Speech
"It will have been very important to place that on the record once the right hon. Gentleman gets home this evening, I imagine.
The Government’s aim to reduce premature deaths from heart disease and stroke by 25% over the next decade is welcome, ambitious and absolutely necessary. Cardiovascular disease remains …..." Patrick Hurley - View Speech
"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Vaz. Our local high streets are the beating heart of our towns and our country, but they have faced profound challenges in recent years. We have seen the rise of online retail, changing consumer habits and years of under-investment in …..." Patrick Hurley - View Speech
"First, I pay tribute to you, Sir Desmond, for your exemplary chairmanship, Sir Desmond. I also thank Members from across the House for their valued contributions.
With your indulgence, Sir Desmond, I will touch on funding, a topic raised by several Members, through an anecdote about how I paid my …..." Patrick Hurley - View Speech
That this House has considered the impact of the University of the Air White Paper on lifelong learning opportunities.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Desmond. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this debate marking the 60th anniversary of the …..." Patrick Hurley - View Speech
"I agree entirely, and will make similar points later in my speech. The hon. Gentleman and I are very much on the same page...." Patrick Hurley - View Speech
"Funding is a huge issue here. The modular basis for the Open University has been a real boon to people who find themselves unable, for whatever reason, to study in a traditional format, but funding is still a key concern.
"I am more than happy to commend Baroness Jennie Lee, and I am more than happy to celebrate the success of my hon. Friend and of the countless thousands of others who have studied around the real lives we all lead.
"Definitely. If anything, it is even more important in 2026, with all the challenges we see around us.
As I said, we should be honest about the challenges. Despite the success of institutions like the Open University, adult participation in higher education has fallen over the last decade. Too often, …..." Patrick Hurley - View Speech