Lucy Powell MP: speeches 2024

Speeches

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  My hon. Friend will know that the Government are committed to the global oceans treaty, and we are an international leader on climate and nature. The Foreign Secretary is committed to ensuring that we ratify the treaty, and I will ensure that an update is given to the House in due course.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  I absolutely join my hon. Friend in congratulating Grange community nursery and primary school in his constituency on its great work on inclusion and supporting children with special educational needs. We have had lots of discussion of that topic this morning, and I am it sure would make a great topic for a debate.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  Like my hon. Friend, I was shocked to hear those statistics this morning. What a damning indictment it is of our healthcare system that more children are now dying at a young age than have done in recent times. I will certainly ensure that the Health Secretary has heard her question, and that she is given a full response.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  He’s behind me, Mr Speaker! The importance of panto season for our local theatres cannot be overestimated—it is usually what funds them through the rest of the year. My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise the issue of local theatres and arts venues, and I am sure it would make a great topic for a debate.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  I think we can agree that we are all a bit partial to some lovely fish and chips. Ronnie’s Sussex Circus Fish Bar sounds like one place we should all be visiting. I congratulate them as well. My hon. Friend might want to raise the issues she mentions in the Adjournment debate next Thursday, which is a great opportunity for people to raise issues to do with Christmas, and I am sure we will have good attendance. Invitations to local eateries are always welcome.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  It is a refreshing change in these sessions to hear about a banking hub opening and providing greater access to cash in a local community, such as that in his constituency, instead of hearing about its closure. I very much join my hon. Friend in congratulating and thanking the hard-working staff involved.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  I am really sorry to hear about the case in the right hon. Gentleman’s constituency, and I am glad that he has taken the opportunity to raise it on the Floor of the House. He will know this Government are committed to taking on the vested interests in this country and putting ordinary people and communities back at the front of the queue, but I will ensure that he gets a proper reply.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  I join my hon. Friend in congratulating the University of Northampton. It sounds like it has a strong track record. He will know that we have inherited a really difficult situation when it comes to higher education funding in this country, but the Secretary of State for Education is focused on that matter and I know that she will keep the House updated on her plans.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  I am always sorry to hear of local investors, businesses or other agencies in constituencies that will not engage with a Member of Parliament. My hon. Friend has mentioned them in Parliament today, and I hope that will make them more forthcoming in response to his request for a meeting.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Adam Jogee) on his dogged campaigning to get Walleys Quarry in his constituency closed down because of the actions of those running it. He has raised it with me a number of times, and I am sure his constituents will be very grateful for the action he has taken.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  My hon. Friend raises an important matter for her constituency, and I join her in encouraging the council to get on with making sure that the road to nowhere finally goes somewhere.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  I absolutely join my hon. Friend in congratulating those involved in Newmarket Street’s winter festival, which sounds like a really great place to get some last-minute Christmas shopping. I am very behind on mine this year, so perhaps it would be quicker for me to go up to Scotland to do it.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  I am all too well aware of the challenges on the Northern network that the hon. Lady describes and the issues on Sundays and with cancellations and capacity. I know that there are ongoing discussions and that this is at the top of the agenda for the Secretary of State for Transport. I will ensure that she comes to the House as soon as she has any further information to share.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  I really enjoy hearing about Members’ visits during Parliament Week; I know you had many such visits, Mr Speaker. I was on “Newsround” this week talking about Parliament Week—I have never had more cut-through. My hon. Friend raises important issues about CAMHS and mental health support for our young people. We are committed to getting more mental health support into our schools, and I will ensure the topic is considered for debate.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  I congratulate my hon. Friend, as well as those in his community, on his dogged campaigning—

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  I am very well aware of how important small businesses are in Rossendale and Darwen. Over the years, I have enjoyed many a nice cup of tea and cake in Rossendale and Darwen, and I thought my hon. Friend was going to invite me. I am sure I will have one soon.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  I am sorry to hear that my hon. Friend has not had a response about Swanscombe pavilion in his constituency. The vital role that these hubs—these culture and leisure facilities—play in our local communities cannot be overestimated, and I will ensure that he gets a ministerial response forthwith.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  Now that is a good Christmas joke! That’s how to tell ‘em, I say. I absolutely join my hon. Friend in congratulating Pippa on her very paws-itive work. [Hon. Members: “Urgh”.] Never mind. Perhaps the team want to come to Manchester Central to clear up some of the vapes we have there.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  I thank the hon. Gentleman for welcoming the appointment of my hon. Friend the Member for North Northumberland (David Smith) as the UK special envoy for freedom of religion or belief. I am only sorry that it was not the hon. Gentleman himself, but I know that he will play a keen and active role in ensuring that my hon. Friend carries out his advocacy role properly, and that the many issues that the hon. Gentleman raises in this House, week after week, are taken up by the Government.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  The business for the week commencing 16 December includes: Monday 16 December—Second Reading of the Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords] . Tuesday 17 December—Committee of the whole House and remaining stages of the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill. Wednesday 18 December—Committee of the whole House and remaining stages of the Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill [Lords] , followed by Committee of the whole House and remaining stages of the Financial Assistance to Ukraine Bill, followed by remaining stages of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill [Lords] . Thursday 19 December—General debate on matters to be raised before the forthcoming adjournment. The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee. The House will rise for the Christmas recess at the conclusion of business on Thursday 19 December and return on Monday 6 January 2025. The provisional business for the week commencing 6 January will include: Monday 6 January—Business to be determined by the Backbench Business Committee. Further business will be announced in the usual way.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  Absolutely. I join my hon. Friend in noting the importance of indoor and outdoor pools, and of swimming generally, to a healthy society and to our agenda for preventive public health. It is vital that we keep local lidos such as his alive. He will have a strong ally in the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, who is partial to an outdoor swim.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  The Government are committed to developing a circular economy in which we do not need waste incinerators, and my hon. Friend is right to raise the issue. It has been raised with me a number of times, so I am sure that if he applied for a debate on the use of waste incinerators, it would be well attended.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  Absolutely. I join the hon. Member in congratulating Oscar on his fantastic achievement. Oscar was really breaking some ground there—cycling in the Tour de France as a Scottish-developed cyclist.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  I am delighted to join my hon. Friend in congratulating those pupils on raising the issue of food poverty, especially at a time of year when the people’s needs in relation to both food and presents—Christmas poverty—are so stark. We all see that in our constituencies. I am sure that this would make a very good topic for a debate, and I expect we will shortly hear from the Chair of the Backbench Business Committee.

• 12 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

  More

  I strongly welcome today’s debate, and announcements on reparations and recognition for our LGBT veterans. Like my hon. Friend, I have constituents and others who were affected by this terrible practice over many years, and I am delighted that today, we are putting that right.