BUSINESS QUESTION
Near-live transcript. Not the official record.
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. Will the Leader give the House the forthcoming business?
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. The business for the week commencing the 2nd of November will include Monday the 2nd of November, Continuation of the Budget Debate. Tuesday the 3rd ofNovember Continuation of the Budget Debate, Wednesday the 4th of November, remaining stages of the Sporting Events Bull, followed by consideration of a carry-over motion relating to the Railways Bull
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Followed by consideration of a carry-over motion relating to the Cyber Security and Resilience and Information Systems Bull The House will then rise for the November recess at the conclusion of business on Wednesday the 4th ofNovember.and return on Tuesday the 10th of November. When the business for the week commencing the 10th of November will be Tuesday the 10th of November, Second Reading of the Financial Services and Markets Bull Wednesday the 11th of November, an Opposition Day, debate on a motionin the name of the official opposition, subject yet to be announced, Thursday the 12th of November, general debate on the 10th anniversar- sorry, the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.followed by a general debate on the Nolan principles, the subject for these debates determined by the Backbench Business Committee, and Friday the 13th of November
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Private Members' Bills.
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I thank the Leader very much for that update. Mr Speaker, as the House will be aware, this is a day of veryMixed feelings, we mourn the deaths and the injuries sustained in the Spanish high-speed rail disaster.yesterday, but in a far happier vein, it's impossible not to celebrate the triumph of Harry Kane in the Ballon d'Or, the first British winner for 26 years, and of giant-killingFleetwood Town in conquering Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.
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Just in time for Halloween, Mr Speaker, we learned that the SNP government in Scotland has a
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Jobs have vanished, but the salaries remain. One of these people has been non-working in the NHS for 17 years.That's the SNP in a nutshell, Mr Speaker. Needless to say, the Scottish Government have no plans to change this state of affairs.Hundreds of people being paid to pretend they have jobs. It's the perfect metaphor for this Labour government. And sothe Chancellor of the Exchequer
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Who spoke after the usual orgy of pre-briefings to the media yesterday?avoided, I have to say, to his credit, some of the more lunatic ideas of his colleagues. He tried his best, Mr Speaker, but frankly, HarryFleetwood Mac would have done better with that budget.
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election, not the future of Britain. As Helen Miller of the Institute for Fiscal Studies put it, there was quote lots of fiddling but no clearconcurrent fission. It means that disposable household incomes are falling, the tax burden is at historic peacetime high,
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growth forecasts are falling with not even the whiff of a strategy for growth yesterday. Worst still, as the noted economist Paul Johnson pointed out, the budgetback-end loaded spending cuts in most areas of public service spending of 2.6% per year between 2028-9 and 2030
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22. His verdict was, quote, this is not honest politics nor honest economics. His words, Mr Speaker, not mine.
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I think it's well known, is not a Conservative. But there's something even more troubling here. Britain is walking a fiscal, a monetary and a security type
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And yet again, the Government's response has been to postpone difficult decisions, spin the plates, ladle on the fudge and hope that nothing goes wrong.
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And now we have speculation, persisting speculation despite attempted rebuttals, that the Prime Minister may call a general election. What an extraordinary abdication of responsibility.
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That would be The message would be this, yes, Britain faces profound economic and international uncertainty, so let's add a little extra disruption to it.
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entirely unnecessary election more than two years before one's required. And while we're at it, let's reopen the constitutional turmoil of another
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The British people would surely say, we gave you, Labour people, a majority of more than 170 to sort out the country's issues. You have replacedyour own Prime Minister and your Chancellor, you have failed to deliver the change you promised, and now you want another election because you're simply too frit to make the decisions required.
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It needs stability, it needs financial strength, it needs national security. Instead, it's getting short-term fixes, deferred decisions and political
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This is not a strategy for governing Britain, it's an absolute failure of leadership. The Chancellor couldn't even meet his own test for defence spending over which he supposedly resigned. Mr Speaker, the
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has talked endlessly of his desire to quote rewire the state. The Chancellor
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Yesterday, we've got a huge debt burden, stretched public services, rising
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So will the Leader now explain, in his usual candid way, without prevaricating or blaming others, why these two men have demonstrated absolutely zero interest in actually takingany of the serious decisions required to address these issues.
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Mr Speaker, first of all, can I join with the shadow leader in sending our deepest condolences to the people of Spain in the aftermath of the horrendous train crash.
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which occurred yesterday taking the lives of 68 people as well as injuring many others and I'm sure as he said the thoughts of the whole house were with all those affected.Last week, Mr Speaker, across the UK we some we saw some of the uh some very uh severe and stormy weather, and I want to send condolencesthe families of those loved ones who lost their lives, but also to thank all the emergency service workers who have been working hard to mitigate the effects of the storms. I'm also saddened to
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Speaker of the passing of Sue Holt. She was a much respected member of the staff of this place in the Inter-Parliamentary Relations Office and I know the whole house will want to send condolences.their family and friends at this time. Further to the tributes made last week, Mr Speaker, and your words this morning, I'd also like to add my best wishes again to Tom Goldsmith, who after 30years of outstanding service to the House.
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of work of the House today. I'd also like to pay tribute, Mr Speaker, to Currie King, who after 43 years in the Civil Service and
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the Privy Council is leaving her role this week.
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was appointed a Lieutenant in the Royall Victorian Order in the 2023 New Year's Honours in recognition of her servicesto the Privy Council, and I have greatly valued her advice and guidance in my role as Lord President of the Council, and I wish her well.the uh uh shadow leader of the House has said on entirely different matters. I want to congratulate Harry Kane who this week became the first English player to win the Ballon d'Or since Michael Owen in 2001.I'm sure Members across the House will join with me in sending congratulations on this well-deserved win, and I'm sure as as as I did found his
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comments as he accepted the award, very moving, and I think young people who are looking at Harry Kane will see someone entirely
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not just to the support but to um family and and everything else and he really ishe wrote to many people and I wish him well. Mr Speaker, there will be no business questions next week, so I do want to mention Remembrance Sunday on the 8th of November as we take pause to honour those who gavetheir lives in defence of our freedoms, let us remember the extraordinary debt that can never fully be repaid.
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to the comments of the shadow leader of the House. The Chancellor set out a very clear plan yesterday in the budget, which gives families and businesses some breathing space from rising
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support Britain's economic growth, not least the £100 payment to 20 million households in council tax bands A and D in England. Also, support for businesses, taking around
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80,000 more retail, hospitality and leisure businesses out of business rates altogether.
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And at the same time, Mr Speaker, supporting the housing market with measures for the first time for first-time
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social housing and cutting unnecessary costs and delays for housebuilders. We've also, Mr Speaker,
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our commitment to end homelessness for good. I have to say on the other comments that he made, I found him uncharacteristically unfair, I think, about the
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of yesterday. And on the question of pre-briefing, I was struck and pleased in light of what we said over a period of time
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at how little pre-briefing there was about the budget and how disciplined the Chancellor, his team and indeed everybody else was in making sure that it was this House that heard
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for the first time the contents of that budget. He mentions the issue of household income and the government is not complacent, Mr Speaker, aboutthe challenges that we face going forward, and I have I listened very carefully to what has been said about the potential for household income going forward.
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But I just gently remind him and others opposite, Mr Speaker, that 14 years of Conservative government and
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worse off at the end than they had been at the beginning, and that is the first time, Mr Speaker, in history that that happened, so we're not going to take any
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from the right hon. Gentleman, or indeed anyone else. He will know, because it is true, that this Government faces international pressures. There are headwinds that we needface and I think a little bit more understanding of that would be appreciated and despite all of that the projection still is that the economy will grow. It won't grow as fast as we wanted to grow. That is why the measuresin the budget were there to try and make sure that in getting the foundations right we then get on with growth as quickly as possible. We will be doing all we can, but I would also gently pointwithout being complacent, that the predictions about growth in this year were lower than it has actually turned out is the case, but we will see what happensat least in the Middle East. It is noticeable, Mr Speaker, that when a
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or very credible organizations talk about the state of the economy, not least the OBR, the IMF and the IFS, that one
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offence than the previous administration. They were spending during their time in office the lowest amount since the end of the Cold War. The Prime Minister set out a very clear
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yesterday, in which he committed again the government to a 3% spending 3% on defence and also that we will meet our NATO commitments. So the
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what happened yesterday was a recommitment to those things and we are on in line on track to deliver all of them and my final point is this Mr Speaker the right hon. Gentleman talks about an election and the Prime Minister was very clear in what he said in the last few hours about the the how he seespossibility of an election. And and actually I'd just say to the party opposite, if they are looking for a general election, be very careful what you ask for.Does this suit, Callister?Vere much, Mr Speaker. May I ask the Leader of the House to join me in congratulating my constituent
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Conor MacCawain, who has completed an extraordinary 18,000 km cycle ride fromFrom Annandale in Dumfries to Canberra, Australia, over the course of nearly a year, Connor has biked through 23 countries and raised over
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New Zealand, United States and Europe. So will the Leader of the House join me in wishing Connor every success
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remainder of his remarkable adventure and a warm Clydebank welcome when he returns home next spring.
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I'll not only join my hon. Friend in congratulating Connor on completing such an extraordinary adventure, but of course to thank him for doing so for such a good cause. There will be many people
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who will benefit from what Connor has done that we'll never meet him, but nevertheless they will have met him and when they learn of his achievements they will behugely impressed, I'm sure, and I wish him every success for the remainder of his adventure and safe travels on his journey home.Liberal Democrat spokesperson Bobby Dean.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can I say at the start that we share our thoughts with the victims and families of those involved in the train crash in Spain and
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I also want to add to theCongratulations to Harry Kane and Son on behalf of all
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run out of things to say.There were of course a record number of measures in the budget yesterday, but they had the lowest cumulative value that we've seenin decades, and I think that makes it the most extravagant display of looking busy for the boss.
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in history. Moving on to other events, Mr Speaker, this week on Monday we saw that the AI debate
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of the agenda and I'm afraid that I think this makes Parliament look slightly ridiculous. We last debatedAI properly in this chamber back in 2023. And in terms of how the technology
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Instead on Monday we debated the performance of Royall Mail, an important issue.
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the one that was only debated the week previous in Westminster Hale, and critics are now saying that this exposes how this
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both of these things. We need to make sure that we tackle those important local issues in our constituency but also rise to the challenge
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of our time. There are huge questions to answer on the growth opportunity presented by AI. How we get it
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engage with, and so I asked the Leader of the House, will he make time for a debate
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in government time, as urgently as possible so that colleagues can engage with these big questions of our time.
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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and can I say from the outset that I always find the hon. Gentleman's comments both honest and brave, and admitting that he's a Tottenham Hotspur fan is characteristic of him.In terms of the postponement of the debate, I do understand his his
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frustration and indeed the frustration of others, but as he said, the the the first debate uh attracted a huge amount of uh attention. There were two important debates in front of the House. Uh Imake sure we try to make sure that the number of statements are balanced, but we've got to balance that with making sure that the House is kept updated. I am committed to finding time, as much time as possiblefor the Backbench Business Committee and I'm sure the Chair of the Committee who's in his place will have heard the desire of the hon. Gentleman for a debate and on a wider point he does make some relevant points Mr Speaker about
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AI safety and the budget delivers the government's most ambitious AI package yet, investing £700 million to tackle the risks of AI, and it willand we will place AI at the centre stage at the G20 presidency when I expect that the House will be given ample time
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that happens actually to debate those issues and we will be working towards at the summit hopefully agreeing a single set of global principles andon AI and the government is clear where there is further necessary work we will do that and in terms of making time for a debate he makes avery important point about the link between AI and growth, and I've just announced the further three days of the Budget debate, so with a bit of ingenuity, I'm sure he or others can make those points during that debate.
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Hon. Member for Horsham and Crawley has done sterling work in liaising with the
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community and there's more work to come.
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in her constituency. But in the meantime, will the
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in condemning this kind of violence
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the individuals that encourage it, and standing with the Lee South Western Morley Indians, I
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And we'll also call for a debate in government time on the need to protect all of our communities from
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Hear, hear. Thank you, Mr Speaker. And I absolutely join my hon. Friend in condemning this appalling incident in Wakefield and reaffirming that all forms of hatred and division have absolutely no place in our society. AttacksThis must never be tolerated and we need to send that message out in a united way but a very clear and a loud way from this place and I thank my hon. Friend and the Member for Ofset and Denbyfor the support that they have provided for their constituents. The Government takes this matter very serious, and if we can find
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time for a debate at some point in the future around social cohesion and what further can be done because we're doing a lot, then we'll certainlyBob Blackman, Chair of the Backbench Business Committee.
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Mr Speaker, and if the Liberal Democrat spokesman is brave, I can tell you I've got a season ticket home and away watching Tottenham.But I've watched virtually every goal that Harry Kane scored for us and I only wish he was still scoring for Tottenham rather than Bayern.
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Can I start on a sad note and pay tribute to the late Sir John Hannam?
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Who was the MP for Exeter from 1970 to 1997?
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He was also the secretary of the 1922 Committee from 1987 to 97.
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And indeed he died at the ripe old age of 97 and I'm sure we will join togetherin sending our condolences to his family.
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have long to wait, provided the Leader of the Houseallocate to this time because the debate on the emerging risks of advanced AI, which of course would had to be withdrawn
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Because of the sheer number of speakers there were for both debates on Monday, if we are allocated the 19th of November, we will allocate that date.
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important debate and also a debate on International Men's Day which actually coincides with the date as well.In terms of the Westminster Hale business
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On Tuesday the 3rd of November, there'll be aon the findings of the
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review. On the 10th of November when we come back, there'll be a debate on antisocial behaviour, and I remind the House that that debate will start at 11:30 rather than 9:30.
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And on the 12th of November, there'll be a debate on Fire and Rescue Services suicide prevention training, followed by a debate onNIT policy for the hospitality sector. Further debates will be announced for Westminster Hall.Ofcom's
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Mr Speaker, in addition to Remembrance Sunday, which
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and James, Shubh Diwali for the event, and also a happy, peaceful, prosperous and above all
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healthy Hindu year, which follows.However, if you're a Hindu in Pakistan, you're in serious trouble at the moment.
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as an all-party group for British Hindus, we were
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on the plight of Hindus in Pakistan.This makes horrific reading.
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I would ask the Leader to get a foreign foreign either the Foreign Secretary or a Foreign Office minister to come to the House and tellthe House what the Government is doing to safeguard minority communities, not just in this country, quite rightly, but also in countries where they are a
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Mr Speaker, and let me thank the hon. Gentleman as ever as Chair of his Committee for the hard work that he does and indeed the rest of the Committee, and I want to join him in paying tribute to Sir John Shannon who
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was a distinguished member of this House and we send our condolences to his friends and to his family. I thank him for what he said about Backbench Business going forward and the matter of the AI debate, so the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wellington shouldn't underestimate theinfluence that he has in this place because he's he's got half an answer if not the whole answer of exactly when it will be, but I will look at allocating time as the Chair will know. I will do my very best
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to do that. I also want to send my best wishes to the Hindu community for Diwali. As ever, the hon. Gentleman raises very important concerns about
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social cohesion and faith groups not just in this country but indeed abroad. I want to thank the Hindu community for everything that they do in our local community but in fact across the country and put that onbut I also will raise his concerns with the FCDO. He's raised these matters before. The government takes the treatment of minority communities and particular faith communities very seriously indeed, andraise it with FCDO colleagues and see at some point if we can get the statement that he seeks.
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can I also add my congratulations to Harry Kane, but could I also say just how proud we remain of the success of our Lionesses, not just on the field
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of the field in inspiring young girls uh to play. However, I've become aware that a girls' coach in Carlisle is unable to access the UEFA A licence because her role
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as a coach in the girls' emerging talent centre is excluded from the FA's priority criteria.
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in the equivalent boys' pathway is not. I have written to the FA, but their response states that they do not intend to change this.
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Will the Leader of the House therefore advise me how we in this place can make the FA think again and ensure that opportunities are available to female coaches in the women's game are not confined just to the large clubs and the top tier?
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Mr Speaker, I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend that we should all take pride in the success of the Lionesses. We are committed to supporting everywomen's sport, with Sport England committing £60,000 to support the FA in developing a bespoke women's football workforce strategy. Therefore, I'm very concerned
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But she asks how best she might be able to take it forward. I'm happy to facilitate a meeting with the sports ministers to see if we can get the answer that my hon. Friend
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and we can take this matter forward. Sir Roger Gale.
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the figures underpinning the business case
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National Grid's ludicrously environmentally damaging Sea Link project. I've been shown to
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Secretary of State for Energyis due to issue her determination on
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be playing Inspector's Inquiry into that scheme eminently.
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Mr Speaker, with his usual courtesy, would the Leader of the House seek to ensure
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that that announcement is madeon the floor of the House and not slipped out in a written answer on a non-sittingFriday.
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Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I understand the right hon. Gentleman's concerns about these matters and indeed the way that announcements are made, and I will do my very best. I will take what he said away and I will do my very best to try to get to the root of the
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seeks to make sure that it is made in the appropriate way.
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this month 154
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student loan staff, 120 based in Scotland, were told their jobs would transfer to
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Gemini, the same company who incidentally helped design the Student Loans Company target operating model. This transfer will come into effect from the 1st of March, one month before the government's public interest test
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non-departmental bodies like the Student Loans Company to evidence the long-term cost of outsourcing decisions. Would the Leader encourage the
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ask an officer to provide a statement on how they can prevent outsourcing decisions being accelerated before the public interest test comes into effect.Thank you, Mr Speaker, and as ever my hon. Friend raises an issue of great importance to his constituents and I pay tribute to him for doing so. I understand that he has a meeting, Mr Speaker, with themy hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office in his diary and I hope that that meeting will address his concerns. If it doesn't, then I'm sure my hon. Friend who
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Doughty, fighter for his constituents, will raise it once again on the floor of the House and we have to see what else is necessary to move this forward.
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Secretary, the very real concerns of residents in Fermanagh. The
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Counsel on the basis of legal advice have raised a number of objections and on which the Home Office
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has missed its own deadline to give a
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decision by the 16th of
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will know how difficult these decisions can be and also I know the concern that it raises in constituencies such as his. So let's be absolutely clear and honest aboutBut I will raise his concerns here today with the Home Secretary because even where there are difficult decisions, it's important that as far as we can we take local communities with us and that we getBaroness Coffey
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Whereas, Mr Speaker, the athletics track at Carn Brea Leisure Centre is just one of two public access tracks in the whole of Cornwall and the Duchy's only five-lane facility for a populationof 600,000 people. It's in urgent need of restructuring at a cost of £600,000, but with EU and SPF funding no longer available and grants largely aimed at sports clubs, the leisure centrestruggling to meet the costs, will the Leader of the House help me secure a meeting with the sports minister to discuss how we cansupport this vital community asset at the heart of one of the UK's most deprived communities.Thank you, Mr Speaker. My hon. Friend is a strong advocate for his Connah's Quay athletics track and for young people in his constituency, and he knows that grassroots sports clubs and facilities
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the heart of our local communities, which is why the Government is backing them with £400 million investment in grassroots sports facilities across the UK. I am happy to help him to arrange ameeting with the Sports Minister. She's going to be quite busy after today's session to help to facilitate the meeting so that he can discuss it with her.
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Thank you, Mr Speaker.
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Cambridgeshire have been waiting years for the two new special schools in Gamlingay and March, and following meetings with two ministers, we finally got confirmation fromthe government to build the mount. We were thankful for that. However, since then, there's been radio silence, and that's 270 special
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in limbo. In July, I wrote to the Minister to ask for an update on the timeline
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for construction and I've heard
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children, schools and local
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. The hon. Lady is right to raise these matters on the floor of the House on behalf of her constituents, because they they will be of concern.to the local educational community but also obviously to the young people and their families. So I will take that matter up with the department and ensure that she will get an answer to her questions.
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Grateful, Mr Speaker.
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Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce was convened in 2023 to improve mental health support for higher education students and ensure that
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No minutes have been published since October 2025.
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Will the Leader of the House please ask the Department for Education to provide an update on the
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Baroness Twycross status, confirm whether or not Professor West is still in post.
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And also set out when
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to publish the final report and recommendations of theThank you, Mr Speaker. And I want to reassure my hon. Friend that Sir Steve West remains in post as the student support champion and as chair of the task force and will continue
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so until at least
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end of the current academic year. The minutes of the meeting held in the last meeting in August of this year will be published shortly, and I hope hopefully will provide him with the update that he reasonably requests.
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the speaker. Now, in rural areas like South
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Hampshire transport is a really pressing issue and the closure of the Ability bus service earlier this year has left many of myresidents isolated. We need to do so much more to support and provide for community transport, so could I ask for a meeting or a debate actually intime on securing greater support for community transport.
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that the noble Lady might want to take up as either a backbench business debate or an adjournment debate.
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John Butler.
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Mr Speaker, Mr Speaker, Middleyard apartments in my constituency, I have one constituent stuck on the fourth floor because the lifts are not working, 500 constituents without hot water or heating, and they've been toldcould last for months.
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investment developers and Union Develop Development Limited are responsible for this. Will the Leader of the House ask
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in the Department of Energy and to help urgently reconnect
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gas because we're entering into colder months and also the Minister for Housing so that we can look at financial risk management of freeholders and management companies because they have form, Mr Speaker. They have an apartmentin Hackney that's also without water. Thank you.
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Mr Speaker, and I completely agree with my hon. Friend that this situation is unacceptable. It's appalling that residents are being forced to rely on temporary measures despite
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service charges and with no end in sight in some cases. She's absolutely right to champion her constituents' urgent demand for the immediate
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I do hope that her words have been heard today by the developers.and the uh managers. We've got the leasehold uh bill uh coming down the uh track, Mr Speaker, hopefully uh that will right some of these uh wrongs. Uh but I also will take up the matter uh with the ministers.
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are most associated with this to see if my hon. Friend can get the progress that she seeks.bury
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. My constituent in Midlothian
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eight years trying to recover child maintenanceby their former partner. An investigation has identified undeclared
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and a failure to pay, yet enforcement action hasn'
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hasn't happened
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Mr Speaker, and we recognise that some parents' experiences of the Child Maintenance Service don't meet the
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that are expected of them, which is why we're committed to reforming the system. But I will assist the noble Lady in trying to get a meeting with the relevant Minister so that she can raise this case in
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in the context of what we're trying to do generally with the child maintenance service.
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huge wildfires in the Welsh valleys last summer. So can I welcome last week's summit which announced that the UK
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reports that some fires were being starteddeliberately. So could we please have a ministerial update on further next steps after the summit? We needmany more preventative ideas to address this dreadful issue.
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. The anecdotal reports that my hon. Friend raises are very concerning indeed. We are ininvesting as a government ninety-seven million pounds upgrading national resilience assets and we are developing England's first wildfire action plan covering prevention, preparedness, response
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recovery and I'll ensure that my hon. Friend receives an update from the relevant Minister to give him the answer that he seeks.
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Martin Vickers. Thank you, Mr Speaker. St. Andrew's Hospice in Grimsby and Lindsey Lodge in Scunthorpe provide an excellent serviceto my constituents, as does the hospice movement across the country. Hospice UK held a drop-in session earlier this week when they
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Could the Leader find time for a debate on this when we can explore how the hospice movement can
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honourable gentleman is an assiduous campaigner for assisted under his hospice and related issues and I recall a particularly
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moving speech that he gave on hospice care during the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bull and I pay tribute to him for that. We are supporting the hospice sector with £125 million funding
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hospices over the next three years, but I do understand continuing concern in the sector. I will make sure that the department
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department hears his concerns, but I'd also remind him that we've got three days of budget debate. I'm sure he's been long enough to be able to weave hospice funding into a contribution should he catch your eye.
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Through that come.
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The Speaker, in my constituency of Broxtowe, residents have reported to me dangerous um racing, speeding and other forms of anti-social behaviour.on the A52 near Bardills roundabout
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the Highways Agency, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham County Council and
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Support me and assist me in bringing together the relevant ministers so we can get those
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Mr Speaker, the government recognises the importance of preventing dangerous driving and ensuring the safety of all road users, and I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for raising this on behalf of her
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together to secure safety on that stretch of the road.
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road stra- safety strategy to make our roads safe
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for everyone, but it does need everyone to step up, Mr Speaker, including local councils and the local police. I will do as she asks, and I will help to secure a meeting with the relevant ministers so that she canas much as further to make sure that those who do play a part are working together to get the best outcome.
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. Yesterday's budget included an announcement that Surrey would get a
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in the red book budget papers it had that we're in advanced talks to have a mayor in my county. That is contrary and that is news to MPs like me who have not been consulted.
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the merits of introducing new mayors, including about the process that could result in my constituency of Woking and other areas having a mayor.without having say
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. I do understand the concern in some areas about the changes that we are proposing, but I'd just point out to him that we're expecting a local government statement next, in which case he might want to makePoint directly to the Minister.
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to the UK as child
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refugees from Myanmar. So would the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Sizzling Lounge and
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all the fantastic curry restaurants
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Congratulations Sizzling Lounge on their award.
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I'd better be careful by commending all the curry houses in my constituency too for the fantastic contribution that they make. I want to thank all of those who made thispossible, they are an important part of our local community, not just hers, but others too, and I congratulate and thank everyone concerned.Jim Shannon
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Mr Speaker, we are blessed in this country with charities up and down the country doing an amazing work and I was pleased to
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Host a dinner here.
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launching a new one that's based in Northamptonshire in my constituency called Living Like Linda which is inspired
- 11:32
the incredible Linda Williamson who now
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for a few hours. So will the Leader of the House join me in paying tributes to both Linda and
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husband Andy for the amazing work that they've done and all other charities up
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in the country who help people who really need it most.
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charities are the very heart and the very best of our local communities and I'm happy to join the right hon. Gentleman in thanking Linda and Andy for everything that they do and wishing Living Like Linda well for the future and all the volunteers across our country who do such afantastic job on behalf of our local communities.
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ten-year-old Art Deco cinema is the jewel in the crown of our town, yet theMy noble friend Baroness Council has decided to shelve the 1.8
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Reforms decision
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best work with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to ensure generations of
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advocate for her constituents and she's right to raise this important matter. I'm afraid it's just the latest example of reform-led councilsletting down the people that they are supposed to be representing. With ring-fenced funding secured, with planning permission in place and the procurement notice published, there really is no excuse for reform.on this matter and I will raise this with colleagues at DCMS and ensure that she gets the meeting that she seeks.
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Just to declare an interest as a patron of St. Hospice, Francis. TheThis assisted dying debate provided a much-needed focus onparty commitment to improving palliative care so all those who need it can get the support and solace just
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hospice care, but also ensure we keep up that momentum, so cure a debate on palliative
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honourable Lady in paying tribute in her local example of hospice care, but hospice care across the country, as I said in answer to a previous question, the Government is committing more resources to that, but we are aware ofthe um uh the concerns uh and in some sense the demands of the hospice centre uh across the country to make sure that they can go on providing the very best services that they can and as I said uh to the uh previous umI think that we have three days of debate on the budget and it seems to me the sort of thing that a constituency MP might want to raise during that.
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My constituent recently contacted me after his three-year-old daughter was involved in a terrifying near miss with a recklessly riddene-bike. The unsafe use of these vehicles is a growing threat to public safety. In Scotland, enforcement is devolved and regulation is reserved. With this in mind, would the Leader of the House make time available for a debate on how the Scottish and UK governmentscan work together to protect our communities from dangerous e-bikes.Thank you, Mr Speaker. My hon. Friend raises a very concerning matter. We have heard too many tragic stories involving the dangerous use of e-bikes, including inmy own constituency. The Crime and Policing Act introduced new offences and penalties for dangerous cycling, and I would encourage my hon. Friend to apply for a Westminster Hale debate or indeed an adjournment debate to discuss
- 11:37
how we can work not just to tackle e-bikes but also how best we can work cross-border.Thank you, Mr Speaker. I don't know whether you are the leader or a cinema-goer, but this weekend you could visit the Lonsdalein Annan for its range of Halloween films including a 30th
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Speaker, I certainly join the hon. Gentleman in congratulating Lonsdale Cinema for being shortlisted as one of the best cinemas in the UK and for Allan Towershimself for all the work that he has done. Independent cinema is very important. I am a cinema-goer. I am someof a film buff. I'm sure it's very tempting, Mr Speaker, to in one of these exchanges to have a week of cinema. I don't know. We'll see where we get to. But I want to pay tribute to all those who worked to make this possible and who were providing
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so many people in his area, but also, I should say, the Jamia cinema in my constituency too.
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next decade.
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opportunities for young people and strengthen
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our economy. Thank you, Mr Speaker. My honourable friend is absolutely right to celebrate the announcements made in the budget yesterday by my
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Chancellor, I do agree with her. This is an excellent example of the Government's commitment to reindustrialisation, which will ensure that our investment workstwice for us both keeping us safe but also driving reindustrialisation with skills here in the UK.
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Leader of the House joined me in celebrating on Monday this week Essex Day.and to thank Mr Speaker for flying the flag of the county of Essex
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New Palace Yard here in the Houses of Parliament.
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Would he also accept that we have wonderful charities in Essex like the
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Collier Row and Romford
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that possibly takes away costs from government, so can we have a debate
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in Government time about how we can supportLocal charities like the ones I've mentioned tolocal people in my borough but across the country.
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Mr Speaker, we've missed the hon. Gentleman in the last few weeks and and therefore flags have really got to mention, but
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There was a lot in yesterday's budget which he might want to go back and have a look at, but if he's if there are some things there that he wants to go further on like hospice funding.or like food banks or whatever else and support for charities then he's got an opportunity because we've got three days left on the budget debate.
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Phoebe is best known as the 82-year-old former landlady of The Ross and Crown in Bishop's Stortford and she's much loved by our community, but she's currently on life support in
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lucky following a serious accident. Due to a dispute with her medical insurance, Sandra's family now face spiralling medical costs and a potential £80,000 bill to bring her home, which they're nowmoney to pay. So will the Leader of the House join me in encouraging residents in Bishop's Stortford to support this crowdfunder and sending best wishes to
- 11:41
and will he kindly use his good offices to help me to raise Sandra's case with the relevant minister?Thank you, Mr Speaker, and first of all, I'm sure the whole House will join me in wishing Sandra a speedy recovery, and I join him in encouraging constituents to donate tothe crowdfunding if they can uh if that's appropriate and they can afford to uh do so. Uh and thirdly, I'll be happy to facilitate a meeting with him uh
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for him with the relevant minister so he can put his case directly to them.
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Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I'm sure both your selfand the Leader of the House will share my delight at the
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all their hard work and everything they do for local communities. And after my competition has closed on
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Will the Leader of the House join me
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pints in the winning pub
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It's it's extraordinarily tempting, Mr Speaker, but seriously, I do I do congratulate everybody involved in the refurbishment of the the pub. Pubs are at the heart of our localcommunities and I congratulate everybody involved. I can't guarantee that I will be there to celebrate with him, but I'm sure he will find a lot of local residents who will be very pleased that ithappened and perhaps when he's there sharing a pint with them he can talk about the support for hospitality which was in yesterday's budget.
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. I believe that you, like I, dropped into the Parkinson's UK drop-in for MPs yesterday, whereIt was highlighted that across the country we have a postcode lottery when it comes to access to blue badges for people that are suffering from Parkinson's. So I was wondering if I could ask the Leader of the House ifcould have a debate in government time about this postcode lottery because access to blue badges is a real enabler for people with disabilities to be able to get out, go to work, education, appointments. Um so can we have a debate in government time? Thank you.
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. My hon. Friend raises important concerns, and I understand that she successfully lobbied her local council to not go ahead with their proposal to scrap freeblue badge parking on council car parks and if that is the case then I pay tribute to her and local campaigners for their hard work. Regarding her concerns on issues of people with Parkinson's accessing blue badges, I will make surethat she gets a response from the relevant minister to directly address her points and should she wishFollow up that it with a meeting with the minister. I'll help her to arrange that. Vikki Slade.
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Ben lives in a recently built, beautiful, shared ownership house in Malvern. His housing association won't allow him to install an EV charger.
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So, the Secretary of State for Housing has talked extensively about dealing with the blockers, but can the Leader of the House arrange for a ministerialupdate on what we can do about the corporate blockers who are stopping people from improving their own homes and trying to decarbonise the nation.Mr Speaker, I can get the hon. Lady that update that she seeks, but it seems to me this is the sort of topic that an adjournment debate or a Westminster Hale debateis ideal for because I'm sure other colleagues from across the House will share her concerns. Marcus Campbell,
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. Purchased for £51,000 in 2022, Cockermouth's old courthouse later collapsed and still partially sits in the River Coaker However, in the owner
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Hall Group Limited's accounts they state fixed assets of £248,000. They have not
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and the lack of transparency over asset valuations.Mr Speaker, and I'm sure this case will have made great concern to my honourable friend's constituents. He's absolutely right to raise it. I hope that the owners of the building concerned have heardis said today and take very urgent steps to address the situation.
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Because if they don't, I have a feeling that my hon. Friend is going to be seeking an adjournment debate or a Westminster Hale debate in which he's going to give even further voice to this need. So I do hope that theyand get on with it. Robin Moore.
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They are clearly being used.
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legally by drivers and other
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linked to safety and a safety threat for driving with the
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across government to do more about waste crime, so his concerns are not only concerning but distressing but also timely. He might want to seek a debate, Mr Speaker.debate because as he rightly suggests it's not just the responsibility of one department it's about departments working together to make sure that we can take this matter forward for his constituents and indeed constituents across the country. Lord Hodgson.
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awareness month and last week I
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Young Ellis at
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Alice Lawson of Beamish Academy in my constituency. Alice was diagnosed with OCD at a young age and has raised over £2,000 for OCD UK. Will the Leader ofthe House join me in congratulating Ellis on this incredible achievement and consider a debate in Government time?
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on improving awareness for OCD and access to support for
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people
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Mr Speaker, and I join my hon. Friend in congratulating Ellis on raising so much money for OCD awareness. It's right to celebrate.
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young people making positive contributions to our society, my hon. Friend is right to do so. We are improving access to NHS mental health support for children and young people, including those with OCD, with over40,000 more receiving support in this year to June compared with the previous year, but in order that we can make it clear to ministers the need to continue to make progress on this, I would encourageto apply for a Westminster Hale debate.
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. My constituent, who is approaching retirement, has been quoted £2,710 for root canal treatment.
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With just 23% of adults in Somerset seeing an NHS dentist in the last two years, can the Leader of the House highlight the problems of access of NHS dentists?and our Secretary of State for Health and Social Carey to reform dental services and end the southwest status as a dental desert.Mr Speaker, and we we've heard about this issue because it's a serious issue on many occasions and the government is doing all it can to get dental hubs out there to make sure that people do get access.But as she is aware, the question is wider than that. It's about reforming the dentistry contract. So I'll make sure that the relevant ministers heard what she said today. I'll get her an update on what is intended, includingin their own area, and if she wants a meeting with the Minister, I'll arrange that too.
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Last week, I visited the Horizon Group in my constituency, which has developed HERO, a solar-powered safety warning device made for remote environments. Products currently are providing an essential safety messaging for some regionson network rail, on unmanned crossings and access points. Innovation such as this keeps people safe. So does the Leader of the House
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on the importance of supporting innovation by British industry.
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. Yes, I do, and my hon. Friend is right to praise the work of the Horizon group and their innovative innovative work. We are
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to supporting innovations by SMEs, including £7.4 billion through UK Research and Innovation to support innovative company growth. There are a number ofdays in the budget debate and I would encourage my hon. Friend to make his remarks should he catch your eye in one of those.
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Mr Speaker, as a result of the government's so-called fair funding formula, Richmond Council, my local authority, faces a devastating cut of over £100 million of government funding.
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over the next four years. That's almost 60% of its budget is about to be gutted.
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communities? Will he grant a debate in government time to revisit this damaging formula so we can find a sustainable solution?
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. The the the budget announced £100 million for local authorities to provide
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support to households in greatest need. We are giving local leaders greater control over locally generated revenues. We're delivering £78 billion in a multiyear finance settlement and £5.6 billion boost for local services over the next three years. I understandlocal authorities that are adversely in in individual cases adversely affected by that will have concern and she's right to
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We've got a local government statement after this. She might find a way of getting that into that statement.
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Mr Speaker, last weekend the Alfred East Artfollowing catering reopened after being shut for six years. I have such fond memories
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visiting there as a child, so I'm so pleased that the next generation of young people in Kettering will be able to experience the same.
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With the Leader of the House, join me in thanking Billy, Adam, all of the gallery team in Catering for making this possible.
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Also join me in encouraging everyone in Kettering and the surrounding areasto visit the gallery. It's free and a really, really brilliant cultural
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Mr Speaker, I absolutely join my hon. Friend in congratulating the hard work of everyone involved in the reopening of the Alfred East Gallery.
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are committed to funding the arts with 130 cultural venues, museums and libraries benefiting from the Arts Everywhere
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Alfred East are around for years to come.
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Last month, South West Water were fined £8 million for more than five
- 11:53
My constituents are sick of a company that keeps breaking
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the law and treats fines as a cost of doing business. Will the Leader of the House commit to a debate on Governmenttime, holding these failing water companies to account and introducing jail
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introduce criminal liability for water bosses who cover up or hide sewage spills, indeed up to two
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behind bars, but the hon. Gentleman speaks very powerfully because I understand the effect that it has in areas such as his, and I hope that the water company has heard what he said here today.
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Should he seek an adjournment debate or Westminster Hale debate, I'm sure he could go even further in what he clearly feels very, very strongly about.
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Hazel MacLeod brought generations in Winchburgh together with pupils from Winchburgh Academy, Sinclair Academy andsenior community group Good Companions, creating a book of residents' memories, What Do You See When You Look at Me? The book received the highly recommended award at the Global Intergenerational
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the Excellence Awards 2026, which recognised 13 projects worldwide. Will the Leader join me in congratulatingeveryone involved and commend Hazel Stirling's efforts throughout the years and make a statement on the value of intergenerational
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to preserve local stories and strengthen community spirit. Leader. Yes, I do, Mr
- 11:55
Mr Speaker, I want to join my hon. Friend in congratulating everyone involved with the making the What Do You See When You Look At Me? book on receiving their very prestigious award.Projects like this play a vital role in preserving local stories, bridging generational divides and strengthening community spirit. So I just want to say well done toJim Shannon. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can I ask the Leader of the House this question? The report International Labour Law and International Human Rights Law: Analysing the Convergence in
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and informal workers. So would the Leader of the House please ask the Secretary of State to make a statement or, better still, make time for a backbench business debate on the effectiveness of UK programmes in promoting international labour rights and supporting the implementationOfcom conventions, thank you.
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Speaker, as ever, the hon. Gentleman is raises a serious matter. He's rightpoint out that it is often women and children who suffer most when international labour rights are undermined. The UKcontinues to work with the ILO to implement and uphold employment rights across the world. I will raise this concern with ministers, butthe Chair of the Backbench Business Committee is still in his place, so I'm sure should the hon. Gentleman seek such a debate, the Committee will want to give it consideration.
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annual campaign reminding children to be bright and be seen as the clocks go back
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I recently joined Delves Lane
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constant neighbourhood police and eldest transport
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How to stay safe on the roads.Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking Baroness Twycross and
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time for a debate on improving road safety education to protect young brains from injury.
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Mr Speaker, my hon. Friend has been a distinguished campaigner on this issue and I pay tribute to her for that and for the work of the Child Brain Injury Trust.We are taking steps through the road safety strategy to make our roads safer for everyone. These matters have been raised consistently with me on these sessions, and I would encourage my hon. Friend tojoin with others perhaps in seeking a backbench business debate on these matters because I think it would be a particularly well-attended debate.
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Select.
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. In South Derbyshire
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choices on venues to visit while recognising the economic value of the purple pound.I had a purple pound day on the 3rd of November next week.
- 11:58
Should the House consider a debate on introducing mandatory
- 11:58
Leader, and Mr. Speaker, I pay tribute to my hon. Friend and her constituent Dan Mottley for their local initiative, and I'll make sure that the relevant department has heard herquestion today, I'd encourage you to apply for a Westminster Hale debate, Mr Speaker, so the matter can be discussed further because I'm sure there are other hon. Members who might want to join in on that.
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As Mr Speaker, last weekend sosixty-fifth anniversary of the
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of the Tamar Bridge and local people are still paying the price to cross what is clearly critical
- 11:58
social healthcare, schools and jobs over the Tamar. So will the Leader of the House support me to secure a meeting with the Secretary of State for Transport?to deliver a fairer toll system in the short term and a toll-free Tamar in the long term.
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I thank my hon. Friend for this question because she is an assiduous campaigner on this matter. She makes a powerful case about the financial burden that tolls place on residents.businesses who need to get to work and access essential services. I'll make sure that the transport secretary is made aware of her representations on theof the House today and we'll see if we can arrange a meeting for her.
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Oh, there's Baroness Twycross.
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Mr Speaker
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I'm sure if you or the Leader of the House would like to visit my Gloucester constituency, first of all you'd be
- 11:59
But we have had a very dry summer and an
- 12:00
I'm concerned in the long term
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pay the fair share to uphold and maintain the historic docks in Gloucester.
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. I understand that the
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water supply agreement between Bristol Water and the Canal and River Trust is due to be renewed in 2028 and that there areongoing conversations regarding dredging and managing silt in Gloucester Dock. I'll make sure that the relevant
- 12:00
Does the Leader of the House agree with me that
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Support my campaign for Christmas parking in Hastings.
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We have given Hastings Council record
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and I suggest that they spend it on the priorities of her constituents and listen to what my hon. Friend has said.
- 12:01
Vantage Retirement Homes runs two care homes in my constituency, St Thomas' Prior near
- 12:01
The board is failing to pay out funded nursing care payments, a weekly sum that the NHS should pay to cover the cost of registered
- 12:02
The fact that it goes back to 2023, I think adds greater urgency to it. We we recognise the significant
- 12:02
that unresolved payment issues can cause for providers, so I will be happy to try to facilitatea meeting with him and the relevant Minister so that he can raise the case even further.Mr Speaker, Bonfire Knight can be difficult in Edinburgh. In previous years,
- 12:02
community hub, Sandy's community centre and many other groups across Craigmillar and Niddrie to keep disruption this year
- 12:03
to a minimum, back by 20 million from the UK government's Pride in Place funding.So will my right hon. Friend support a debate on how we back community organizations to tackle antisocial behavior around Bonfire Knight?Leader. Mr Speaker, and my hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this matter because that will resonate again with membersacross this house and it's often raised with me at this time of year and I commend him for the work that he's doing in his local community.The government is looking at the matters that he raises. The consultation on reforming fireworks and pyrotechnic legislation received a very high number of responses, not surprisingly, andGovernment is currently considering the evidence and will respond in due course, and at that point I'm sure there'll be ample opportunity to discuss this matterJenkin
- 12:04
Mr Speaker, after Storm Arwen last week with its echoes of Storm Desmond, I wanted to
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National Grid themselves and their teams for what they've done, particularly Jacob Wallace at National Grid. Cormac for sorting out theso quickly now and our farmers and Radio Cornwall. I think a lot of their actions and what we did in led to thepared scheme that the government rolled out
- 12:04
Leader, as I say, my hon. Friend is right to list all of the individuals and organizations that played an important part in clearing up the storms andtribute to them and indeed everybody across the country for everything that they have done including local radio, national grid, in many cases farmers absolutely crucial to the work that happens. You're right to do that
- 12:05
the challenges of changing climate and the importance of resilience and we will be bringingforward in the future an opportunity to debate these matters still further, but again, because it's about organisations making sure that they've got the resources that they need, we've got
- 12:05
three days of budget debate left if my hon. Friend wishes to raise give time to raise these matters still further.Mr Speaker, local veteran support group The Mustapoint do fantastic and vital work supporting
- 12:05
right across my community. And this winter, they're teaming up with the inspirational
- 12:05
Jim Shannon and Henley Military Wives Choir to release a single, We're Still Here, to raise funds to support their vital work.
- 12:05
So would the Leader join me in thanking them for all they do for our community and those membersto cross the House to dig deep and get behind their efforts and
- 12:05
like that single right up the charts this Christmas
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