Carolyn Harris MP: speeches

Speeches

• 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Just this week, we have seen further media reports of dangerous and unregulated cosmetic procedures ending in tragedy. In July 2021, the beauty and wellbeing all-party parliamentary group, which I chair, presented a report to the Government recommending an evidence-based policy framework to prevent such incidents occurring. Will the Leader of the House encourage colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care to do what the previous Government failed to do, and act now to take control of these dangerous practices?

• 22 May 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Over the last few days, the Welsh Rugby Union has announced plans to introduce a disproportionate funding formula that will disadvantage both the Ospreys and the Scarlets rugby union teams. Will the Leader of the House ask colleagues at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to add their voices to a group of cross-party Welsh MPs who are asking the WRU to find a way to protect and support all four equally important regional Welsh rugby teams?

• 1 May 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Fit, Fed, Fun camps are a Welsh Rugby Union project to keep children active, healthy and fed in school holidays. At Easter, Ospreys in the Community delivered the scheme in partnership with the WRU, and over 600 children across 12 local rugby clubs in the region benefited. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking Bidfood, Castell Howell, Tesco Llansamlet and High Street Car Boot Sale for providing the food, and congratulate the wonderful teams at the Ospreys and the WRU for their commitment and enthusiasm in delivering those really successful projects?

• 1 May 2025 · Trade Agreements · Hansard source

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  I declare an interest as the trade envoy to New Zealand. What conversations has the Secretary of State had recently with his New Zealand counterparts on the implementation of the UK-New Zealand free trade agreement?

• 30 Apr 2025 · Family Farms: Impact of Spring Statement · Hansard source

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  The Welsh Government’s budget contained over £300 million to support Welsh farmers. Is it not the case that Plaid Cymru and the Tories put Welsh farmers’ livelihoods at risk by voting against the Welsh Government’s recent budget?

• 12 Apr 2025 · Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill · Hansard source

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  Today I represent not only my constituents in Neath and Swansea East, but those of my hon. Friend the Member for Aberafan Maesteg (Stephen Kinnock). After years of under-investment and neglect by the previous Government, this Government’s commitment to steel is truly welcome. However, it is vital that the £2.5 million steel renewal fund already announced by the Government is used to support the industry across the UK, and Wales needs to get its fair share. Some 2,800 steelworkers lost their jobs in the region, but they recognise that the circumstances in Port Talbot were different from those in Scunthorpe. In Port Talbot, half the steel production had already been shut down when the Labour Government came into power, despite Plaid Cymru’s desperate attempts to electioneer this as an issue. It was impossible to reverse the deal that had already been struck between the previous Tory Government and Tata. Although steelworkers understand the urgency of the current situation and support the Government’s action to prevent further closures and job losses, they need commitments for Wales that will attract investment and create much-needed employment opportunities, like those being offered by the floating offshore wind industry. It was too late to save the furnaces in Port Talbot and the jobs are long gone, but investment in the area will bring new jobs—and, most importantly, new hope to all our constituents.

• 6 Mar 2025 · International Women’s Day · Hansard source

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  In my almost 10 years in this place, I have become somewhat vocal on women’s issues. Some would call me a “ferocious campaigner”, others a “challenging mouthpiece”, but I will take both. My passion for ensuring that women get access to the support and services they need is what drives me—from women struggling through the menopause to women in prison, and women who are victims of domestic violence, human trafficking or modern slavery. It has been my mission to use this platform to be their voice. Today, I will speak about an industry that is powered by women but is all too often overlooked and undervalued. As a former co-chair—alongside you, Madam Deputy Speaker—of the previous Parliament’s all-party parliamentary group on beauty and wellbeing, which we are reconvening, I have often spoken about the personal care sector. We championed such businesses during the pandemic, when they were belittled by those in power and were among the last businesses to reopen. Since then, we have continued to promote the contribution that they make to our economy, as well as the physical health and mental wellbeing benefits that they bring to society. More than 80% of those working in the personal care industry are women, and the industry has one of the highest rates of business ownership compared with other sectors—especially for women. In fact, women are four times more likely to own a personal care business than a business in any other sector. “The Future of the High Street”, a report published by the Federation of Small Businesses last year, recognised that women owners of small and medium-sized enterprises were more likely to engage with their communities, but also highlighted the difficulties women faced, such as excessively high rental costs, when women typically earn less than their male counterparts and bear the brunt of the time and cost demands of raising a family. It is especially encouraging therefore to see that beauty and wellbeing businesses, which are predominately owned and staffed by women, continue to open and thrive—and they really are thriving. In 2023, there was an 11% year- on-year growth in the GDP contribution of the industry to £27.2 billion. The same year saw a 10% increase in the industry’s workforce, with businesses employing 418,000 people. Professional services, such as salons, directly employed 224,000 people, of which 180,000 were women. Every day, the industry plays a role in our lives—from the products we buy to the services we use. It keeps us clean, enhances our appearance and helps us to protect our physical and mental health. Will the House join me in wishing every woman who works in the personal care sector or owns a business—let us face it, they will probably be working all day Saturday—a very happy International Women’s Day? [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear!”]

• 6 Feb 2025 · Coalfield Communities · Hansard source

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  Very wise. I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate. I am being contacted by a growing number of mineworker constituents who were enrolled in the British Coal staff superannuation scheme, as is my hon. Friend the Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare (Gerald Jones), and all those constituents are understandably disappointed that they have not received the same justice as their former colleagues in the mineworkers pension scheme. That inequality is unfair, particularly as almost 5,000 women who worked in the industry and who were paid less were in the British Coal staff superannuation scheme. Does my hon. Friend agree that urgent action is needed to bring some parity to the situation?

• 11 Dec 2024 · Budget 2024 · Hansard source

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  The Budget commitment of £80 million for the Tata transition board was indeed welcome, but Thrive, the domestic abuse organisation in Neath and Port Talbot, is concerned that since the Tata announcement there has been a rise both in reported incidents of domestic violence and in demand for prevention services for perpetrators. Can the Secretary of State provide assurances that the transition board will look at this as a priority funded project?

• 4 Dec 2024 · Pimping websites and paying for sex · Hansard source

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  I rise on the 10th day of the UN’s 16 days of activism against gender-based violence to present a petition on commercial sexual exploitation on behalf of my constituents in Neath and Swansea East. Pimping websites are used by traffickers to advertise and facilitate the sexual exploitation of women. Our laws against pimping have failed to keep pace with technological change, and such websites are now readily accessible and play a key role in enabling sex trafficking in this country. Victims of trafficking and exploitation are some of the most vulnerable in our society, and it is our duty to protect them. The petition therefore requests “that the House of Commons urges the Government to outlaw pimping websites and paying for sex, and provide support, not sanctions, to victims of sexual exploitation.” Following is the full text of the petition: [ The petition of residents of the constituency of Neath and Swansea East, Declares that demand from the minority of men who pay for sex is driving the prostitution and sex trafficking trade, and this sexual exploitation is being facilitated by pimping websites that operate with impunity. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to outlaw pimping websites and paying for sex, and provide support, not sanctions, to victims of sexual exploitation. And the petitioners remain, etc. ] [P003026]

• 6 Nov 2024 · Support for the Steel Industry · Hansard source

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  Unlike the previous Government, this Government are fully committed to enabling the £800 million transition fund to support former steelworkers. I recently visited the steelworkers’ support centre in Port Talbot, in the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Aberafan Maesteg (Stephen Kinnock). In its opening four weeks, it has helped almost 600 individuals, many of whom will be from Neath and Swansea East. Will the Secretary of State join me in thanking Community union and the other organisations that have set up the centre, and provide an update on the transition fund?

• 6 Nov 2024 · Support for the Steel Industry · Hansard source

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  1. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support the steel industry in Wales.

• 23 Oct 2024 · Engagements · Hansard source

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  Q10. Last Friday was International Menopause Day and the Government announced Mariella Frostrup as the new menopause employment ambassador. Mariella will be working across Whitehall to ensure every Department recognises the need to support women through their menopausal years. Hopefully, the Deputy Prime Minister will join me in celebrating that appointment, and confirm that this Government will do all they can to keep menopausal women happy, healthy and wonderful.

• 16 Oct 2024 · Steel Industry · Hansard source

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  I call the shadow Minister, Greg Smith, to speak.

• 16 Oct 2024 · Steel Industry · Hansard source

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  I remind Members that they should bob if they wish to be called.

• 16 Oct 2024 · Steel Industry · Hansard source

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  Order. Mr Anderson, I am “you”.

• 16 Oct 2024 · Steel Industry · Hansard source

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  I call the Lib Dem spokesperson, Clive Jones, to speak.

• 16 Oct 2024 · Steel Industry · Hansard source

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  Order. May I remind Members that interventions are meant to be short and to the point?

• 15 Oct 2024 · Business Confidence · Hansard source

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  Order. Can we keep it to the debate, please?

• 15 Oct 2024 · Business Confidence · Hansard source

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  Order. I intend to call the Front-Bench speakers at 5.8 pm. All Members should take that into consideration and keep their remarks under five minutes.

• 25 Jul 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Resolven, a small community in my constituency with a massive heart, is today filled with pride for Dan Jervis, part of the GB swim team. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating not just Dan, but all our GB contestants at the Paris Olympics? They fill us with pride and joy, so will she join me in congratulating them all?

• 18 Jul 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  How wonderful it is to see you back in your rightful place, Mr Speaker. Last weekend, Rhian Thomas from Catwg primary school in Cadoxton, in my new constituency of Neath and Swansea East, won the primary school teacher of the year award. Rhian won the award for all she has done to create engaging learning experiences at Catwg primary school for pupils and the wider community. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Rhian, the school, and all teachers everywhere on everything they do for our children and young people?