Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Patrick Hurley and Steve Reed

Monday 24th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Steve Reed]

It is ironic that the hon. Gentleman mentioned 14 years, because that is the amount of time his party was in government, and it left us with this crisis, rather than building the social homes this country needs. The £39 billion is a record. It will give us the biggest increase in social and affordable homes that this country has seen in a generation. Conservative Front Benchers should be welcoming that, as we do here. Bids to the social and affordable homes programme will open early in the new year, and we will then start to get those homes built so that people who were denied a decent home under the Conservative Government will get one with this Government.

[Patrick Hurley (Southport) (Lab)]

2. If he will take steps through the planned homelessness strategy to increase Housing First provision.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Patrick Hurley and Steve Reed

Thursday 4th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Steve Reed]

I have enjoyed visiting Milton Abbas on many very happy occasions. I agree with the point that the hon. Gentleman makes. We are working with farmers and landowners to ensure that they are getting the support they need to take the kind of action that he talks about. The new regional tier proposed by Sir Jon Cunliffe will give a place where farming and land managers can raise their voices and ensure that the outcomes they can contribute to are delivered.

[Patrick Hurley (Southport) (Lab)]

6. What progress he has made on reducing pollution in bathing waters.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Patrick Hurley and Steve Reed

Thursday 19th December 2024 Commons Chamber

[Steve Reed]

Mental health services are the responsibility of the national health service, and the former Health Secretary, who broke the NHS, is in no position to lecture anybody about public services. She was no friend of the health service and mental health services, and she is no friend of farming. Some 12,000 farms went bust on the Conservatives’ watch. They failed to get £300 million out the door and into the pockets and bank accounts of farmers, and they signed a trade deal with Australia that undercut British farmers on environmental and welfare standards. I hear the posturing, but it is this Government who are standing up for farming.

[Patrick Hurley (Southport) (Lab)]

T3. I recently met farmers in the northern parishes of my constituency, and they told me about the urgent need for improved water management to protect farmland. They want to establish an internal drainage board for flood management, but they cannot take action to set it up until the necessary statutory instrument is in place. Given the importance of establishing an IDB in my area, will the Minister commit to working with me and stakeholders to reduce flood risks, and will she outline when the statutory instrument for an IDB in my area might be put before the House?