Business of the House

Robbie Moore Excerpts

Thursday 9th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

Absolutely. I am really sorry to hear of the death of my hon. Friend’s cousin John from mental health issues. He is absolutely right to raise this, especially at this time of year when we have dark nights and cold weather. It is after Christmas, and many people do not feel as optimistic at the start of the new year as the rest of us. He is absolutely right that speaking up, sharing and being open about these things is one of the best ways in which we can tackle the blight of mental health.

[Robbie Moore (Keighley and Ilkley) (Con)]

A constituent of mine, Maria Culley, has long been campaigning for a comprehensive regulatory framework for nannies, such as mandatory background checks, standardised training, ongoing professional development and the inclusion of other standards, all to ensure that every nanny in the UK is held to a high standard, while protecting families with the security of knowing that their children are safe and in capable hands. I have been asking for a meeting with the children and families Minister—the Under-Secretary of State for Education, the hon. Member for Lewisham East (Janet Daby)—for some time. Could the Leader of the House push that meeting along, so that I and my constituent Maria can meet the Minister to discuss this campaign?

[Lucy Powell]

The hon. Member raises a really important issue about ensuring that all those looking after our children are operating to the highest standards, and doing so safely and with strong levels of accountability. I would gently say to him that that is often not the message that comes from those on his Front Bench about these issues, and we are often asked to do the opposite when it comes to the early years sector. Our Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which passed its Second Reading yesterday, will look at some of these issues, and I will certainly ask for a Minister to give him a full response about the nanny sector.