Gill German MP: speeches 2026

Speeches

• 8 Sept 2026 · Business Rates: Hospitality Sector · Hansard source

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  20. What discussions he has had with representatives of hospitality businesses on the potential impact of business rates relief on the sector.

• 8 Sept 2026 · Business Rates: Hospitality Sector · Hansard source

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  Like our new Prime Minister, many of us on the north Wales coast love the pubs and music venues of the north-west. The boost to them from business rates relief is really welcome, but we love our pubs and venues too. Pubs such as the Bay Hop and the Mayquay face the same challenges as our north-west neighbours, and we want to attract more live music to north Wales too. Decisions on business rates in Wales are of course the responsibility of the Welsh Government, but does the Minister agree that the need for support does not stop at the border, and that a 20% cut to business rates in Wales would be a welcome boost for us too?

• 3 Sept 2026 · Access to Sport: Poorer Families · Hansard source

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  This summer, Denbigh Town football club did itself proud as the host of four UEFA under-19 championship games, including a Spain versus Germany match that saw record attendance of almost 2,000 spectators. Thanks to significant investment in Central Park, including a £300,000 Cymru Football Foundation grant funded by this Government, not only is the club now match fit to host international games, but it has top-class facilities all year round for the whole community. Does the Minister agree that the inspiration and opportunities that that brings to children from all walks of life are immeasurable? How are the Government ensuring that facilities like those are available across the country?

• 13 Jul 2026 · High Streets Organised Crime Unit · Hansard source

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  22. What assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the high streets organised crime unit.

• 13 Jul 2026 · High Streets Organised Crime Unit · Hansard source

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  Many seaside towns, like Rhyl and Colwyn Bay in my Clwyd North constituency, are working really hard to regenerate their high streets and attract investment. Can the Home Secretary confirm that the high streets organised crime unit will ensure that coastal towns facing issues with organised criminal activity receive the same support as larger urban centres?

• 21 May 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Denbigh youth shed, led by the inspirational Scott Jenkinson. Youth Shedz is youth-led, with young people in leadership roles shaping their own activities, ranging from upcycling old guitars to creating comfort packs for children going into care. The Government have recently published the youth justice White Paper, in which early intervention and improving consistency are clear priorities. Will the Leader of the House agree to a debate in Government time on support for community-led youth organisations that are engaging with our young people, so that Ministers can outline how initiatives such as Youth Shedz can access sustainable funding and can be expanded across the country?

• 20 May 2026 · Defence Readiness · Hansard source

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  Things feel insecure right now, whether that is because of the war in Iran, the cost of living pressures on families or the sense that systems are not working quite right. In Clwyd North, I hear that all the time. When families are struggling and young people do not feel that they have a fair chance, it erodes their trust in the belief that things can start getting better, and it creates a feeling of insecurity. Building up that trust starts with clearly defining what we have put in place in our first two years of Government, and how our future actions will improve people’s lives. I know from speaking to people in Rhyl, in Colwyn Bay, in Abergele, in Denbigh and in communities across Clwyd North that my constituency is full of decent people trying to do the right thing day by day. I want to make sure that those people know that they are heard and that things can and will get better. We must be honest about the challenges, but focus on what matters to people: building something that works better. In Wales, that means a relentless focus on building a stronger and fairer future, helping families with the cost of living, strengthening our communities through better connections and opportunities, and improving our energy and, crucially, national security. It is about making sure that progress is felt in everyday life, especially in communities that have been historically left behind. It is about recognising how rich and varied Wales is with our cities, countryside and coast, and recognising that that requires a tailored approach to reflect different needs. This Government have already delivered significant achievements, passing 50 Acts in our first parliamentary Session. Behind every piece of legislation are real people and real lives. Among that legislation is the Employment Rights Act 2025, which strengthens protections, improves pay and tackles exploitative practices for people across Clwyd North. The removal of the two-child limit is set to benefit around 69,000 children in Wales, including 3,100 in Clwyd North. That is not an abstract number; that is families feeling more stability. When it comes to safety, the Crime and Policing Act 2026 responds to local concerns about antisocial behaviour, introducing tougher action to improve our town centres. These changes matter because of the difference they make to everyday life, with fairer work, stronger families and safer communities here at home. The need to feel secure is important to us all. In this King’s Speech, we are taking crucial steps to strengthen security, because people deserve to feel safe. The Armed Forces Bill delivers a long overdue boost to defence spending, strengthens reserve forces, improves the service justice system and puts the armed forces covenant into law, which my local veterans have said is much needed. Security also means stronger communities and shared purpose. Cutting bureaucracy, increasing police presence and introducing a national digital ID system will help people feel safer and better supported. That feeling of security also means tackling the root causes of the high cost of living, not just the symptoms. The energy independence Bill will reduce reliance on volatile global markets and deliver more secure, home-grown energy to stabilise and lower bills for households in Clwyd North. Changes to commonhold and leasehold will tackle the unfair ground rents and rising service charges about which I have heard too often in my constituency. For local businesses, the commercial payments Bill will crack down on the scourge of late payments, which is currently leading to the closure of a shocking 38 businesses a day. Taken together, those changes will ease pressure on families, support local economies, and build long-term resilience against rising costs. Security means better connections too. The railways Bill will unify track and train under one body, and give the Welsh Government a stronger role. Backed by a £14 billion plan, it will improve connections, support 12,000 jobs, and make journeys across north Wales more reliable. Given that such an ambitious plan has been set, we need all hands on deck to put it into action. I promise to play my part and to make a tangible difference to lives across Clwyd North, delivering real improvements and lasting change for the communities that I am proud to serve.

• 18 May 2026 · Youth Justice · Hansard source

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  I am so pleased that early intervention and working with families is at the heart of this Government’s approach. As a former cabinet member for children’s services in Denbighshire, I know how important that is. Will my right hon. Friend set out how increased investment in programmes such as Turnaround will help children in Clwyd North before they enter the justice system?

• 17 Mar 2026 · Youth Unemployment · Hansard source

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  One of my main priorities as an MP is to ensure that we see more of our young people in good, fulfilling work, because I know that far too many young people in Clwyd North are unable to fulfil their potential. I am excited about the £3,000 youth jobs grant and the expansion of the youth guarantee in Wales, but can the Secretary of State tell me more about the difference this will make to young people in Clwyd North?

• 3 Feb 2026 · Town and City Centre Safety · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Dowd. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Derby South (Baggy Shanker) for securing the debate. Improving community safety in Clwyd North is one of my top priorities. It has been great to work alongside North Wales police through meetings and walkabouts, and to talk directly to retail workers and residents out and about in the town centre. I have seen how antisocial behaviour is being tackled through better community cohesion. Local PCSOs and shopkeepers are connected by radio in our town centres, staying in regular contact so that they can quickly share information about what is happening on the street and, crucially, step in when issues arise. That kind of everyday co-operation is making a difference by deterring antisocial behaviour before it escalates, reassuring residents and businesses with a visible presence, and bringing a sense of order and safety, which is so important. That really matters because it shows people that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated, and that our communities, and crucially our high streets, belong to the law-abiding majority. We have got more PCSOs in every Clwyd North neighbourhood with a named officer in each one. We have got local initiatives, such as Operation Restore and Operation Vroom, to tackle violent offences, antisocial behaviour and persistent nuisance behaviour like e-bikes and disruption on our streets. In short, I can see first hand from being out and about in Clwyd North that Government-backed initiatives are being backed up by the local police’s confidence to really tackle issues. We have more PCSOs in our neighbourhoods, safer streets and stronger local communities. It makes a real difference and makes people feel secure.

• 3 Feb 2026 · Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill · Hansard source

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  I absolutely agree. Every child deserves the chance to fulfil their potential, and it is our responsibility to make that happen. I am proud that a Labour Government in Wales have led the way with practical initiatives to support children, including free breakfast in primary schools since 2004, protected by legislation since 2013; universal free school meals for primary school children since 2022—I was incredibly proud to be part of rolling that out across Clwyd North; statutory guidance on school uniform branding that has been in place for years; and the school essentials grant, to help with the cost of going to school. Although those initiatives are invaluable, I have heard repeatedly for many years, including as the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on children in Wales, from organisations such as Barnardo’s Cymru, Citizens Advice Wales and Save the Children Wales that the single most effective step to lift children out of poverty would be to remove the two-child cap. Now, finally, with a Labour Government in Westminster, we have done exactly that, and we have done it in a measured, fully costed way that accounts for every penny needed. Those organisations have long sounded the alarm, and I am proud that it is our Labour Government who have taken action. As the MP for Clwyd North, I know exactly what I want to see. We need a long-term solution to child poverty. We need parents and families in reliable, fairly paid work to see child poverty off for good. We must rebuild our economy after it was decimated in the worst way. We must create clear pathways into work for young people and those locked out of employment. We must equip people with the skills that are needed for today’s jobs and the jobs of the future, and we must ensure that we have the transport, childcare and infrastructure that are needed so that people can get to work in the first place. I will work tirelessly to ensure that those opportunities are open to people in Clwyd North, particularly our young people. My constituency is ideally placed between two major investment zones, and it is my responsibility to ensure that my residents benefit from the opportunities that that brings. It is absolutely right that this cap is being lifted here and now, but we must remember that the very best way to ensure that children live well is to ensure that their families are supported and are in fairly paid, reliable work. That must be our relentless focus if we are to reduce our shocking child poverty figures, not just for today, but for generations to come.

• 3 Feb 2026 · Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill · Hansard source

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  I know all too well the difference this Bill will make for families across the country. In my constituency, I have seen far too many families struggling to make ends meet. Indeed, that reality was a huge part of what drove me to this place from my primary school classroom and a lead role in local government, so I am pleased and proud to welcome and support the Bill today and the tangible difference it will make in Clwyd North and beyond. It is important to note that the Bill has been fully costed and is part of an overall strategy. Everyone can call for something, but we have made it happen. Across Wales, this change will help 69,000 children, including 3,100 children in my Clwyd North constituency. I cannot overstate how deeply this change is needed and how proud I am to see it delivered under this Labour Government. It is exactly the kind of action we need to support families of all shapes and sizes after 14 years of Tory austerity, which have left far too many children in poverty. Although it might seem obvious, I want to emphasise that children are part of these families; they do not exist in a bubble, and they cannot disappear when life gets tough. Supporting families makes children better off. Families face a range of circumstances, often unexpected, and every child deserves to have their needs met regardless of that. Poverty in childhood does nothing but cost society in the long term. Children growing up in poverty are less likely to work as adults, and by the age of 30 they earn 25% less on average.

• 14 Jan 2026 · Northern Powerhouse Rail · Hansard source

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  This is brilliant news today, not just for the north of England but for north Wales too. With investment already in place for the north Wales main line, it will give us better connectivity for tourism, employment and leisure to our great northern cities and beyond. Does the Secretary of State agree with me that we must continue to work together cross-border to give my constituents the seamless transport system that they deserve?

• 14 Jan 2026 · Offshore Wind · Hansard source

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  I warmly welcome the not just one, but two offshore wind projects in Wales, with billions of pounds in investment and thousands of new jobs putting Wales firmly on the map as a clean energy producer. We are delighted to see Awel y Môr in north Wales, and the benefits for Clwyd North are clear—skilled, well-paid local jobs and a huge boost for local supply chains. Along with new nuclear at Wylfa, north Wales is finally getting the clean energy investment it deserves under this Labour Government. May I thank the Secretary of State for this investment in north Wales, and will he join me in meeting the apprentices at Coleg Llandrillo who are already training for these jobs of the future?