Catherine McKinnell MP: speeches

Speeches

• 30 Jun 2026 · Defence Investment Plan · Hansard source

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  As the UK trade envoy to Italy, I thank the Secretary of State for confirming the GCAP funding in his statement. As MP for Newcastle upon Tyne North, I add my voice to those who want to see this as an opportunity to genuinely spread investment and opportunity that will build strength and resilience in our people right across the UK—they are our greatest sovereign asset. The north-east currently receives £70 of MOD funding per person—less than a tenth of the figure for other parts of the UK. That is a wasted opportunity and one that we must grasp to ensure that we genuinely build resilience. I look forward to hearing from my right hon. Friend how we can work together to pull that investment up to our region as a test bed for it reaching the whole of the UK.

• 29 Jun 2026 · Home Office and Ministry of Justice · Hansard source

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  I entirely agree, and my hon. Friend has anticipated a point that I was going to make. The increased court days are clearly vital to maintaining productivity and the efficiency of the use of court time, although that only works if the court system itself is working. We have seen very good examples of the way in which the additional days are already being used to clear backlogs and reduce the number of outstanding cases. In the English courts, we have seen evidence of the prioritisation of domestic abuse cases involving vulnerable witnesses. This can reduce waiting times, particularly for people involved in those sensitive cases—and yes, that makes a big difference to them individually, but it also makes an impact on our system as a whole. As my hon. Friend has said, we need a court estate that is fit for purpose in order to maximise the use of these additional days. I too have visited my local court, in this instance Newcastle Crown court. What was obvious, even on the day I was there, was the consequence of some of the malfunctions in the system that make it difficult for court cases to proceed, such as faulty infrastructure, the flooding of parts of the court building, dock alarms or door locks failing to operate. As a result of such problems, staff do not feel safe enough to do their work and maintain the security of the courtroom, and therefore cannot go ahead. Often it is vulnerable victims who bear the brunt of delays and cancelled court hearings. On the day I was at Newcastle Crown court, I heard about a complainant in a rape case. Her husband was the victim of an assault by the defendant, who had raped his wife. They were forced to wait four hours for the trial to begin. They were eventually told that the defendant would arrive and that the delay to his delivery was causing the delay, but it had a knock-on effect on additional days in court. Such delays ensue right across the system. Court staff report that, from a structural perspective, many of the issues affecting the court system in Newcastle have been caused by the departure of a full-time maintenance engineer, who was dismissed due to the need to make savings. In the light of the many delays of trials and hearings, that appears to be a false economy, which is why I am pleased that the Government have recognised the challenges to the court estate itself and are making investments. I am also really pleased that the Minister is acting on the huge problem of private contractors delivering defendants to an incorrect court, several hours late or just not at all. Midway through a trial in Newcastle in April, a defendant left court in custody on a Friday, only to fail to reappear the following Monday, with a jury ready and waiting. It is completely unacceptable, a total waste of taxpayers’ money and hugely offensive to those taking part in trials. I know the Minister is aware of these issues and is keen to establish an oversight body to review the prisoner transfer process from end to end. I will keep a very close eye on that, and I am sure that other Members contributing to this debate will do the same. Finally, I know that the Government recognise the importance of providing free legal advice, as set out very well by my hon. Friend the Member for Congleton. The Public Accounts Committee has recognised the importance of investing up to £34 million more a year in criminal aid, which is welcome. I conclude by asking the Minister to join me in recognising both the human and the financial benefit of timely justice, the absolute importance of maintaining our court estate, and the improvements. Where we see good practice happening across our system, it must be shared. I often hear good ideas and wonder why they are not being done elsewhere, and we need to have a system in which good practice is shared and best practice is rolled out for the benefit of justice right across the system.

• 20 May 2026 · Defence Readiness · Hansard source

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  It is an honour to follow the right hon. Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison). It is clear that when it comes to defence readiness, there is much on which we can all agree. Let me also—before he leaves the Chamber—pay tribute to the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith), and to my right hon. Friend the Member for Ilford North (Wes Streeting). The former set out in powerful terms the challenges that we face as a country, but it was the latter who set out, also in powerful terms, the hope and the determination that we must show in government in order to meet those challenges in a way that the country deserves. As ever, my right hon. Friend showed great courage and strength in leading from the front. Today’s debate rightly focuses on defence and national security, and it could not be more timely given the challenges that we face. However, that sense of security comes not just from investment in defence, although that is clearly important and I will say more about it shortly, but from investment in the broadest sense—investment in our people, in the creation of strong, resilient, enterprising and cohesive communities. That is what will ultimately keep us safe. The Armed Forces Bill and the national security Bill are important steps forward, and, given the disgusting and horrifying extremism and antisemitism that we have seen rising here in Britain, the tackling state threats Bill will also be a welcome response to the threats that we face on our own soil, including those from Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Having called for it, I welcome the legislation that is coming, and will be following developments very closely. However, we cannot make meaningful progress on defence without the defence investment plan. While I know that the Secretary of State and his team are working incredibly hard on producing the plan, the delay in its production is having real-world consequences, and we need it to maintain our international credibility. In my role as the UK’s trade envoy to Italy, I know how important collaboration is for the global combat air programme, which will unleash opportunities and defence investment. In my region, the north-east, our defence sector is a major employer, supporting thousands of jobs and a wide network of small and medium-sized enterprises. We could do even more, but we need certainty and security about what is coming down the track in order to protect our supply chains and the big contractors that we know are still waiting. Without the investment plan, we risk undermining defence manufacturing and sovereign capabilities, both in my region and across the country, and domestic production is not something that we can gamble with. We have such a strong story to tell in Newcastle. The opening of the North East Space Skills and Technology Centre at Northumbria University has added a new dimension to our regional capabilities by supporting apprenticeships and graduate programmes, helping to build the next generation of skilled workers. We know that defence investment does not just impact one industry; it boosts skills, innovation and opportunities across our whole economy. We need to know the details of the plan so that businesses can provide real, tangible support for our young people, and so that those young people can access high-quality training and employment. As a northerner, I am pleased to see the northern powerhouse Bill included in the King’s Speech, but it must be backed by genuine investment. The north cannot possibly endure yet another round of broken promises, especially after the catastrophic management of High Speed 2 by the previous Government. The small business protections Bill will offer long-overdue protection for sole traders, freelancers and family-run businesses, which we know have been ignored by large companies for far too long. I know that many small businesses will welcome the Bill, as it could genuinely save livelihoods, particularly in retail and hospitality. On the subject of retail and hospitality, the north-east is home to some of the best—Newcastle upon Tyne North is the home of the Greggs sausage roll, after all—but many in the sector are concerned about the impact of the overnight visitor levy Bill. I urge Ministers to keep an open mind as evidence emerges, because we need to ensure that our hospitality industry thrives. For many businesses, it is too often a question of whether they will survive. I urge the Chancellor to do everything possible to support our businesses, especially in retail, leisure and hospitality, because those are the sectors that give so many of our young people their first foot on the career ladder. Without them, we know that the costs to the state and to those individuals would be so much higher. Too often businesses feel like the odds are stacking up against them, so we as a Government need to all pull in one direction. It is in all our interests to make sure that opportunities for jobs, investment and community cohesion reach far and wide, because they do as much for our national security as investment in rotary blades and electronics. I will continue to monitor this issue in my role as co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group for youth employment. Finally, the energy independence Bill and the nuclear regulation Bill are both welcome. They will strengthen our energy security and our national security, and they will accelerate home-grown renewable energy. As chair of the all-party parliamentary group on warm homes, I want to see really ambitious energy production, and I will continue to monitor the progress made on warm homes and on the retrofitting of homes, because that is how we will help households to manage the rising cost of living. So much in this King’s Speech will be welcomed by my constituents in Newcastle upon Tyne North, from the commonhold and leasehold reform Bill to the social housing renewal Bill, but we have to ensure that they feel it, that they understand it, that they come with us and that they see the vision, so that we can help people to build better lives and stronger communities right across the UK.

• 17 Mar 2026 · Youth Unemployment · Hansard source

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  I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. As co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group for youth employment, I welcome the Secretary of State’s statement on these new measures. Members will know that Newcastle is home to the country’s best retail and hospitality offer, and I know many businesses will welcome the support for employing young people. Will the Secretary of State set out how his Department is working to ensure the balance between fairness in the administrative processes do not create any burden for small and medium-sized businesses to access the support?

• 26 Nov 2025 · Budget Resolutions · Hansard source

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  I am afraid that I cannot give way because the time will keep running down. Scrapping the limit is just the start and it has to happen in the context of wider welfare reforms that ensure that every child grows up in a home where work pays and where families can thrive. The mention of home brings me to council tax. There are deep-rooted inequalities in Newcastle. Just yesterday, I looked up two properties that are for sale: there was a lovely 1,600 square feet, five-bedroom house in Newcastle Great Park for £420,000, and a grade II listed former church in Knightsbridge in London of over 12,000 square feet, with seven bedrooms and a swimming pool, selling for £35 million. If I asked my constituents, “Who should pay more council tax?”, it is pretty obvious what the answer would be, yet incredibly my constituents will pay £75 more in council tax than that household in Knightsbridge. While I welcome the Chancellor’s announcements about council tax, I urge the Exchequer Secretary to go further and to review council tax bands, especially how new properties in all the new estates that are growing around the country are assessed. Turning briefly to the new powers for mayors on overnight stay levies, of course people flock to the north-east for good reason—our history, culture, stunning coastlines and the friendliest people they will ever meet. It is only fair that tourists help to fund the infrastructure that they use and enjoy when they stay, so I understand why mayors welcome this power and want to decide about it at a local level, so the amount is not just set in London but in every region, according to what works. However, that levy has to be proportionate and not have an unfair knock-on hit on small businesses, because if those businesses go under, we will lose jobs, vibrancy and what makes the north-east special. Our hospitality sector is under incredible pressure. I know that it is busting a gut to turn a profit and that every cost could be the one that breaks them, so while I welcome the higher wages in this Budget, we have to listen to some of the concerns raised by the Resolution Foundation. We do not want to discourage businesses from hiring, and especially not young people who want to take their first step on the job ladder. Finally, on electric vehicles, I appreciate the changes announced on pay per mile, but the affordability of electric vehicles remains a barrier to some who want to buy one and to do the right thing. Many workers have access to salary sacrifice schemes to help make the switch, but teachers in academy schools are still unable to access a scheme, because it was put on pause by the Treasury. I want to take the opportunity to make a plea that the Treasury sort out this impasse once and for all. It would be a win-win for teachers and the electric car scheme. To conclude, the goal is clear: a country where hard work pays, the cost of living is brought back under control, public services thrive and child poverty is history. Every pound of public money matters, because we know that it has the potential to transform lives. That is what people rightly expect of this Government, and I know that is the future that the Chancellor is working to deliver and why she has announced this Budget.

• 26 Nov 2025 · Budget Resolutions · Hansard source

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  I share those concerns, as I know does the right hon. Member for Godalming and Ash (Sir Jeremy Hunt). We have cross-party interest in making better use of those resources. I thank the Chancellor for her comments about the infected blood contamination scheme, which is proudly delivered from my constituency in Newcastle upon Tyne North. The team there are incredibly proud of the work they are doing, and they will be proud of the announcement that the Chancellor made today. Working people in Newcastle are feeling worn down by the cost of living. We know that everybody is feeling the squeeze—it is relentless and it is grinding, and I know the Chancellor knows that too, and has sought in the Budget to deliver on that promise of a better life for a hard day’s work. Many measures in the Budget will deliver that, such as the freeze in rail fares, extending the bus fare cap, measures on fuel duty, frozen prescription charges, and the cut in household energy bills. I also know that the Chancellor cares deeply about children trapped in poverty, too often in families that are working hard and doing their best. I saw those stories at first hand on the Government’s child poverty taskforce. The driving force behind the crisis is the two-child limit. In the north-east alone, tens of thousands of children living in poverty will be lifted out of that by today’s announcement. The limit is both economically foolish and morally wrong, which is why charities and businesses in the north-east have been calling for it to be scrapped. Poverty comes at a price—a price in NHS bills, educational failure, and wasted potential. I strongly welcome the Chancellor’s decision to scrap that limit today.

• 26 Nov 2025 · Budget Resolutions · Hansard source

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  I would normally extend the courtesy of saying that it is an honour to follow the hon. Member for Angus and Perthshire Glens (Dave Doogan), but that speech was all a bit dreich. I have reflected hard on this Budget, as it is the first since I left my role in the Government as Minister for School Standards. As the first Labour Minister for 14 years, I focused relentlessly on more teachers in classrooms, more support for struggling schools, pay rises that teachers deserve, an inclusive school system, and curriculum reform to transform the life chances of every child. Believe me, I would have given anything to have found a few million, or indeed a few billion, behind the Government sofa, had there been that chance when making some of those decisions, and I suspect the Chancellor has known exactly how that feels over the past few weeks. To scrutinise public spending and to draw on those experiences of making tough decisions in government about how we spend the public’s money were among the reasons I joined the Public Accounts Committee. I have enjoyed our deep dives, examining how public services are delivered, where schemes fail, making sure that lessons are learned, and ensuring that we spend every pound in the best way possible. Just last week, we looked at clinical negligence—an area with a staggering £60 billion of accumulated liabilities. We have a golden opportunity to cut those costs and deliver better care at the same time, so I encourage the Chancellor to read our report when it lands, because it might come in handy for next year’s Budget.

• 16 Jul 2025 · Further Education Institutions · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Anna Dixon) for securing this incredibly important debate on further education colleges. Their importance and the passion for them have been clearly demonstrated by the number of interventions that she has skilfully taken, while also allowing for the contribution from my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Alison Hume). It is a real honour to be representing my colleagues from the Department for Education; the Minister for Skills and the Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing speak on these issues in the House. Further education really is vital to our plans to develop the skilled workforce needed for all pillars of the plan for change, and for providing people with the skills that they need to thrive in their life and work. It is key to unlocking their living standards and opportunities and to breaking down barriers to opportunity right across the country. Let us not forget—all hon. Members have reminded us clearly of this today—that colleges are a unique part of the education landscape. They deliver such a wide range of provision at all levels and to all learners of all ages. From foundation-level qualifications to master’s-level provision, they really do it all. We ask an awful lot of the sector, but we also know that it can deliver: it has shown that, and it delivers really well. As of 31 May this year, 86% of colleges were rated good or outstanding in their Ofsted reports. That really is a fantastic achievement, demonstrating consistently high quality across the sector. I know that the sector is dealing with a whole range of challenges, not least those set out by my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley in her opening speech. That is why we are continuing to invest and to provide support. We are really focused on delivering that where it is most needed. My hon. Friend first raised a question relating to capital investment, because excellent further education colleges, with good quality buildings and facilities, are really foundational to the Government’s opportunity and growth missions. In 2025-26, the Government are investing £6.7 billion of capital funding for education. That is a 19% real-terms increase from 2024-25, and includes £950 million for skills. The 2025 spending review announced continued capital investment to support further education providers’ capacity to deliver high quality training, ensuring that learners have access to the facilities and equipment that they need along all their training routes. From 2026-27 to 2029-30, the investment will include £200 million for the new skills mission fund, to strengthen technical education and tackle those sector-specific shortages of skills that we know are right across England, including through targeted investment in technical education colleges, which I will come on to shortly. Building on the £80 million of capital commitment in construction made at the spring statement, there will also be £1.7 billion of capital funding to help colleges maintain the condition of their estates, which will be risen in line with inflation, in terms of their annual allocation, and £375 million to support post-16 capacity to accommodate the increasing student numbers, which, of course, we welcome and are happy to support. More broadly, more than £7.5 billion of the 16 to 19 programme funding will be invested during this academic year, ensuring there is a place in educational training for every 16 to 18-year-old who wants one. That funds further education colleges and other institutions to provide study programmes or T-levels for 16 to 19-year-olds. Many Members raised how valuable access to T-levels is for young people. We used the 16 to 19 funding formula to calculate the allocation based on each institution, each academic year. My hon. Friend the Member for Shipley expressed significant interest in the adult skills fund, which fully funds or co-funds courses for eligible adults aged 19 or over from pre-entry to level 3. A number of other Members understandably have a huge interest in those opportunities. The Department will provide approximately £1.4 billion in funding for the adult skills fund in the coming academic year, ensuring that adult learners can access education and training that they need to progress in their employment and work. The funding will be used by colleges, local authority adult education providers and independent training providers. I want to be clear that the reduction to the adult skills fund for the 2025-26 academic year in no way diminishes our commitment as a Government to investing in education and skills training for adults over the life of this Parliament. We want to work collaboratively with the further education sector to make sure that these difficult decisions can be taken while still delivering in the way that the country requires. On sustainable funding, which I know many Members have an interest in, the Government are committed to ensuring that the further education sector is supported to achieve continuous improvement and, most of all, excellent outcomes for learners. The Department has in place a really strong accountability system alongside college oversight, which holds colleges to account and encourages continuous improvement. We really want to see improved outcomes for learners. That involves both the Department for Education and the Further Education Commissioner. We have place-based teams with an overarching responsibility for maintaining these relationships. The system ensures accountability, quality and finance oversight; that we are monitoring performance, support and intervention; and that we work collaboratively with local stakeholders to deliver on the outcomes we need to see. That means we can hold colleges to account, but also support them when they need intervention to ensure that they are delivering. Any organisation is only as good as its workforce. FE teachers and staff play such a vital role in colleges to break down barriers for learners and teach skills vital to economic growth. I was pleased to hear my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Ms Minns) mention learners with special educational needs and disabilities, and ensuring that opportunities exist for them too. That is why the Government are committed to recruiting 6,500 additional teachers across both schools and colleges, to raising the quality and prestige of FE teaching as a career, and to offering effective training and professional development.

• 16 Jul 2025 · Further Education Institutions · Hansard source

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  I am really sorry, but I do not think I will have time if I am to respond to all the issues that have been raised; I do not think I will manage even that. We are offering targeted retention incentive payments to FE teachers, particularly in key science, technology, engineering and mathematics and technical shortage subjects. We have a national recruitment campaign called “Teach in Further Education”, which we cannot shout about enough, to help raise awareness and increase consideration for FE teaching among industry professionals. We are also ensuring our initial teacher education system is setting high standards for new FE teachers, ensuring they have access to quality training, that we have bursaries to attract more than 2,300 trainees, that they are achieving the level 5 or higher FE teaching qualification, and that we are promoting the role in industry associates. Industry practitioners can teach part-time in FE and help to spread construction skills and exchange of industry practice, to make sure we can pass that on to the next set of learners who will work in our industries. I was going to talk about technical excellence colleges, but I am running out of time, so I want to say thank you again to my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley for securing the debate. I thank all Members who have taken part. I think I have demonstrated excellently our passion and support for further education colleges. We know how important they are to employers, businesses and the country as a whole, and I share that passion. Our colleges are crucial to the education system, equipping young people with the skills they need to get on in life and giving some people the second chance that they might not otherwise have had. Our plans and investments will help to support, develop and transform our excellent FE system. Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).