Catherine Atkinson MP: speeches

Speeches

• 16 Apr 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Many thousands of children in Derby will be lifted out of poverty by this Labour Government through the changes that came in earlier this month, but there is no complacency in a city that has some of the highest salaries outside London yet a high number of children living in poverty too. That is why the Tale of 2 Cities charity has been set up. It is working with businesses to create an improved life chances fund for around 500 children in our community nurseries—children who will be eligible for free school meals once they start school. Will the Leader of the House allow time for a debate on the next steps in tackling child poverty, so that all children have the chance to thrive?

• 16 Apr 2026 · British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme · Hansard source

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  I hosted a meeting of small and medium-sized manufacturers in Derby about the challenges of energy costs as part of a manufacturing commission inquiry on SMEs and growth. I welcome the expansion of Government support for British business in energy-intensive sectors by slashing their electricity charges. Can the Business Secretary assure us that the scheme will support smaller manufacturers as well as the largest, and can he tell us more about how this Government will continue to work proactively, hand in hand, with businesses to meet challenges, rather than sitting on their hands like the last Government?

• 14 Apr 2026 · Knife Crime · Hansard source

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  Derby is a city that unites to tackle the toughest challenges. When more co-ordination has been needed in relation to knife crime involving young people, school leaders, the council and Derbyshire constabulary have been around the table to strengthen that joined-up response locally. Local organisations such as Safe and Sound also do crucial work with our young people. Does the Minister agree that tackling knife crime requires a partnership response that brings together communities, the police, schools and health authorities, and can she say a little about how the Government’s plan will strengthen those local partnerships?

• 13 Apr 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  The week before Easter, Derby suffered a terrible incident in which a car was driven into crowds of people on Friar Gate and several people were seriously injured. Will the Minister join me in thanking the emergency services for their response, as well as members of the public who delivered first aid? Will she meet me to discuss how we can strengthen local preparedness and design out risks, not just in Derby but across the country, to help to keep people safe in future?

• 26 Mar 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Currently, the rules and standards for taxis vary across the country, and they can operate in completely different areas from where they get their licence. Government action to tackle that will take a step forward next week when the consultation ends. Derby taxi drivers have worked with me and my hon. Friend the Member for Derby South (Baggy Shanker) to push for higher standards, greater safety and a level playing field for taxis. Will the Leader of the House join me in encouraging drivers and passengers to take part in that consultation? Will he ensure that there is parliamentary time to hear from Ministers about next steps, once we have the results?

• 19 Mar 2026 · Climate Change · Hansard source

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  Year 6 pupils from Reigate Park primary academy in Mackworth have written to me in some beautiful handwriting to say how concerned they are about climate change. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is absolutely essential that this Labour Government are committed to tackling the climate and nature crisis, and to accelerating to net zero? Does he agree that going further and faster on clean energy is the only way to secure energy security and cheaper bills?

• 17 Mar 2026 · Youth Unemployment · Hansard source

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  Having seen the 40% fall in youth apprenticeships over the past decade and the long-term trend of increasing numbers of young people not in education, employment or training, I welcome the fact that this Labour Government are enabling more apprenticeships and opportunities for young people. Derby is a city of makers with a highly skilled workforce, but we need to train up the next generation, so can the Secretary of State tell us more about how this Government will work in partnership with businesses, including SMEs, to provide opportunities to young people, so that we can benefit from their talents?

• 17 Mar 2026 · Productivity and Economic Growth: East Midlands · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Huq. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (James Naish) on securing this important debate. I welcome a debate on productivity and economic growth in the east midlands, because it is a region with extraordinary potential, but for far too long that potential has been under-realised. Nowhere is that more evident than in Derby. Derby is a city that helped to power the industrial revolution. The River Derwent, which runs through our city, once powered the mills that transformed Britain’s economy. Today, Derby remains at the heart of Britain’s industrial strength. We are home to globally significant engineering and manufacturing industries, from aerospace to rail, with thousands of highly skilled workers who design, build and maintain some of the most advanced technology in the world—technology that is crucial to this Government’s industrial strategy. For years, however, under Conservative mismanagement, deindustrialisation and chronic under-investment, regional disparities have meant that our region has not fulfilled its potential. Nowhere is that clearer than in transport. The east midlands received a lower level of spending per person than any other region. If our region had received just the UK average across the five years between 2019 and 2024, we would have had an additional £10 billion. That is billions’ worth of missing rail connections and bus services that would have connected people to work, training and opportunities. We cannot talk about economic growth without discussing investment in the skills that drive productivity. Derby is a city of makers, and we are known for our skilled workforce, but even in Derby it is clear that additional investment in our skills is essential. At the Nuclear Skills Academy, Rolls-Royce and the University of Derby are already delivering 200 apprenticeships a year, but there is so much appetite for good skills to deliver good jobs. I believe that Great British Railways, which will have its headquarters in Derby, can and should be an important vehicle for the skills that we need. We can also see that appetite at Derby’s university technical college, which has specialisms in engineering and life sciences. There were 450 applicants for just 100 places. If we are to deliver what we need and deliver what Team Derby foresees—good jobs, regeneration and skills—we need to ensure that we are investing in our future.

• 12 Mar 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Monday 16 March marks the start of Sign Language Week. Derby has the largest deaf community of any local authority in the country, thanks in large part to the Royal School for the Deaf, which was founded in 1898, and the strong and supportive community that has arisen ever since. Even in Derby, however, too many people find public services inaccessible. Does the Leader of the House agree that, across our public services, everyone should be able to access information and communicate in a way that works for them? Will he join me in wishing everyone who uses British Sign Language in Derby and across the country a very happy Sign Language Week? [In British Sign Language: Happy Sign Language Week.]

• 11 Mar 2026 · Engagements · Hansard source

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  Q11. Team Derby is our partnership ensuring that the billions of pounds in investment that this Labour Government are bringing into Derby benefits the people of Derby in regeneration, skills and good jobs. The Government’s record investment in Rolls-Royce submarines means hundreds of new jobs and apprenticeships in Derby. Will the Prime Minister firmly reject the Green party’s defence policy that would decimate jobs in Derby and leave the United Kingdom unprotected?

• 10 Mar 2026 · Courts and Tribunals Bill · Hansard source

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  Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman give way?

• 10 Mar 2026 · Courts and Tribunals Bill · Hansard source

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  I, too, am a passionate believer in the jury system, but Sweden—which is No. 1 in the World Justice Project’s global rankings—does not use jury trials at all, and neither do Norway, Germany or the Netherlands. In France, Denmark and Canada, only the most serious cases are dealt with by juries. My hon. Friend is not suggesting that those countries do not have liberty, is he?

• 10 Mar 2026 · Courts and Tribunals Bill · Hansard source

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  Will he give way?

• 10 Mar 2026 · Courts and Tribunals Bill · Hansard source

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  On that point—

• 10 Mar 2026 · Courts and Tribunals Bill · Hansard source

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  Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman give way?

• 10 Mar 2026 · Courts and Tribunals Bill · Hansard source

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  I fully agree that jury trials are a hugely important part of our justice system, but does the hon. Gentleman agree that the way that summary offences, either-way offences and indictable-only offences are classified has altered over the years? That classification was changed in the 1970s and in the 1980s, and it is incorrect to try to portray our legal system as one that is unchanged in 800 years.

• 10 Mar 2026 · Courts and Tribunals Bill · Hansard source

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  Will the right hon. Member give way?

• 10 Mar 2026 · Courts and Tribunals Bill · Hansard source

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  Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

• 10 Mar 2026 · Courts and Tribunals Bill · Hansard source

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  Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman give way?

• 5 Mar 2026 · Local Museums · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Lewell. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jen Craft) for the opportunity to debate this hugely important issue. Dinosaurs, Egyptian mummified people, a bronze age boat, Viking weaponry, rare native animal species, jet engines, rockets, a working modern railway, the remains of the world’s first factory and the largest collection of works by the Enlightenment artist Joseph Wright of Derby can all be seen in Derby museums. Some of the Wright collection is currently up the road at the National Gallery, but it will be back in Derby in June. My children’s favourite are the Egyptian mummies, which prompted my five-year-old’s recent demand that at Halloween, her mummy has to be wrapped up as a mummy—I have a lot to be thankful for. My children are three of the nearly 15,000 schoolchildren who visit Derby museums each year. Derby is blessed with museums, including Derby Museum and Art Gallery, the Museum of Making at the Derby silk mill—a UNESCO world heritage site and the location of the world’s first factory—and Pickford’s House. Given that so many of our regional museums have faced financial difficulties because of 15 years of reductions in funding from local councils—the result of the previous Government’s austerity policy—I was delighted that Derby Museums trust received £800,000 from the Government’s museum renewal fund via the Arts Council England last year. In addition, Derby also has the National Sikh Heritage Centre and the Derby Computer Museum, which has loads of computers from the ’80s and ’90s. People can have some hands-on, retro fun there by playing a game on an old Nintendo, writing basic software on a BBC or loading games from tape on an old Sinclair—it is even harder to tear my husband away from there than it is my children. I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock for securing this debate, because regional museums are vital to the renewal of town and city centres, and provide places of inspiration and curiosity on people’s doorsteps. Derby museums welcome over a quarter of a million visitors each year and are vital to our visitor economy. I conclude by saying to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock that the Dracula that we would all recognise was in fact made in Derby. One hundred and one years ago, Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” was staged in Derby, and for the first time appeared as the charming, sophisticated vampire, with his trademark cloak and cane, that became a cultural icon. I thank Derby Museums trust, the QUAD and, particularly, the University of Derby, as well as many other partners, for their work in reclaiming Dracula as a son of Derby. If she and the Minister bite at the invitation, they could attend the international Dracula conference in Derby next year.

• 4 Mar 2026 · Department for Business and Trade · Hansard source

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  We are seeing fantastic and significant investment and regeneration in our city centre in Derby, but it still bears the scars of 14 years of austerity and neglect. Will the Minister tell us a bit more about how the Government are helping businesses to grow?

• 3 Mar 2026 · Spring Forecast · Hansard source

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  Derby will be the home of Great British Railways, which, with rail continuing its journey back into public ownership, will be focused on serving passengers rather than profit. Under the previous Government, rail fares rose by 60% between 2010 and 2024. Under Labour, they are frozen. Does the Chancellor agree that bold measures such as that to tackle travel costs will help bring down the cost of living?

• 25 Feb 2026 · Student Loan Repayment Plans · Hansard source

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  The ambition for two thirds of young people to benefit from higher level education, where it is an apprenticeship, technical or academic qualifications, is about ensuring that young people have opportunities. Of course we want a fair system of student finance, but the answer should not be taking away choices. The Conservative plans to cut 100,000 university places—to decide what students are and are not allowed to study—is wrong, and it is being proposed by many who benefited from going to university. The coalition Government of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats tripled university fees and introduced plan 2 loans. I have been contacted by many graduates such as Adam, who told me he borrowed £37,500 and has repaid over £20,000, but because of interest now owes over £1,000 more than he borrowed in the first place. I am pleased that the Education Secretary has said she will look at these loans. I am also pleased that, unlike the Conservatives, who made and dropped pledges on apprenticeships and presided over a reduction in their number by almost a third in the decade before the last election, this Government are investing £725 million to help deliver 50,000 more quality apprenticeships. For the most disadvantaged students who want to go to university, this Government are reintroducing maintenance grants, enabling opportunity and choice, not cutting them off and telling 100,000 students that they cannot have the choices that were open to us.

• 23 Feb 2026 · Pride in Place Funding: Derby North · Hansard source

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  12. What mechanisms his Department has put in place to ensure that communities are consulted on the use of Pride in Place funding in Derby North constituency.

• 23 Feb 2026 · Pride in Place Funding: Derby North · Hansard source

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  For me, the most exciting thing about the £20 million of Pride in Place funding for Chaddesden West in my constituency is that local people decide how it is spent. People in Chadd know their community better than anyone. I have already had some great suggestions, including creating opportunities for young people, tackling loneliness for older people and addressing antisocial behaviour in the area. How are the Government ensuring that local voices are heard and acted on?