Lucy Powell MP: speeches

2141 published records · newest first.

Speeches

16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
My hon. Friend consistently raises the issue of asylum hotels in his constituency, and I am really sorry to hear that he has not yet had a response from the relevant Minister. I will ensure that he gets a response and the meeting he has asked for.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
As a near constituency neighbour of my hon. Friend, I am well aware of Meadow Mill and all the trauma and difficulties suffered by residents during the recent flooding. Many other colleagues’ constituencies were affected, too. This Government inherited really poor flood defence systems, which is why we have put in place a floods resilience taskforce. My hon. Friend is right to highlight insurance costs and other issues, and I will ensure that the House is kept constantly updated on flooding and its impacts.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
Absolutely. The Renters’ Rights Bill—the Conservatives voted against it this week, shockingly—will see the end of section 21 no-fault evictions, which is an important measure, along with many others, towards ending homelessness in this country and tackling the root causes of it. I strongly support my hon. Friend’s support for the Bill.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
My hon. Friend is absolutely right: this country faces a housing crisis. That is why this Government have an incredibly ambitious target to build 1.5 million homes over the course of this Parliament, and we are changing the national planning policy framework to ensure that local councils have ambitious targets for their own local areas in order to meet that target.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
Absolutely. I thank the right hon. Gentleman for raising that issue, which has not been raised with me before. The Down Syndrome Act was an important piece of legislation, recognising the amazing contribution that those with Down’s syndrome make to our society and our country, while recognising the challenges that they face, and the extra support that they need to flourish. I will find out for him where we are up to with the implementation of the Act, and ensure that he is updated.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
Despite great progress in recent decades, we are all still well aware that too many products in the world are designed by men, for men, and we still need to address some of those issues. I am sure it would make a very good topic for a debate.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
My hon. Friend is a fantastic champion for his constituency. I strongly welcome his question, and fully support what he says about Peterborough cathedral, and all the cathedrals of this country. What a national asset they are. He will be aware that the Government have in place a range of support programmes for places of worship, such as the listed places of worship grant scheme and the Churches Conservation Trust. Next week, there will be a Westminster Hall debate on the listed places of worship grant scheme, in which he may want to participate. Finally, I join him in strongly supporting the campaign to raise the funds that Peterborough cathedral needs.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
I join my hon. Friend in commending the great efforts of London Southend airport. I commend him and other local leaders for taking this airport from strength to strength in recent years, particularly over the past year. I know that easyJet is looking at opening a base there soon. It is clear that this airport is now going from strength to strength, which is something that his constituents will strongly support.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
I absolutely share the hon. Gentleman’s displeasure, and I thank him for raising this matter today. It is a very disturbing mistake for The House to have made. He will be aware that I am not responsible for the magazine, but I hope that the editors and the editorial board are watching this exchange and can offer the hon. Gentleman a full explanation and a full apology. They need to put this situation right with immediate effect.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
The business for the week commencing 20 January includes: Monday 20 January—General debate on the impact of food and diet on obesity, followed by a general debate on financial education. The subjects for these debates were determined by the Backbench Business Committee. Tuesday 21 January—Remaining stages of the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill, followed by a motion to approve the draft Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (England and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024. Wednesday 22 January—Motion to agree a money resolution relating to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, followed by Second Reading of the Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Bill [ Lords ]. Thursday 23 January—General debate on Holocaust Memorial Day. Friday 24 January—Private Members’ Bills. The provisional business for the week commencing 27 January will include: Monday 27 January—General debate on the creative industries. Tuesday 28 January—Remaining stages of the Water (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ]. Wednesday 29 January—Second Reading of the Arbitration Bill. Thursday 30 January—Business to be determined by the Backbench Business Committee. Friday 31 January—The House will not be sitting. For the convenience of the House, and in view of the three important statements that are taking place today, the motion on the draft Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (England and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024 will not be moved today.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
My hon. Friend paints a compelling picture of Southend and Rochford, and I would certainly be happy to visit one day. He also mentions the amazing work of the One Love Project on homelessness. This country relies greatly on such organisations. The Government are committed to tackling the root causes of homelessness and ensuring that funding is there to support people at the darkest time of their life.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue, which I know blights many communities. We are taking action to deal with e-scooters, making it easier for those vehicles to be seized where necessary, and other measures are coming to tackle antisocial behaviour as well.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
The issue of community post offices regularly comes up in these sessions, and I know it is a matter of considerable importance to the House. It would make for a good Backbench Business debate, and I see that the Chair of the Backbench Business Committee is still in his place. The hon. Member for Thornbury and Yate (Claire Young) is right to raise these issues. I know that colleagues are concerned about plans to close all the current Crown post offices, too. She should know that no decisions have been made on that, and I would encourage colleagues to raise the matter very strongly in the House, with Ministers and, indeed, with the Post Office itself.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
I thank my hon. Friend for all her campaigning on the important issue of palliative care, which so many in our country rely on at the very worst stage of their lives. I will ensure that the House is constantly updated on these matters, which I know are particularly important to the Secretary of State for Health.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
I thought for a moment that my hon. Friend was going to ask me to do some wassailing; I would need to look it up and get some training. I will absolutely support her in promoting these great English traditions, and all the great work that is happening in Grimsby to keep them alive. I am sure that it would make a very good topic for a debate.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
I think we can all identify with the plight of constituents who are experiencing unnecessary and badly co-ordinated roadworks, and all the congestion and disruption they cause. The Government want to see more local authorities introduce lane rental schemes, and I will ensure that the relevant Minister supports my hon. Friend’s call for such a scheme in his constituency.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
My hon. Friend is a very strong advocate for the craftsmanship and ceramics of Stoke, and of Staffordshire more widely—he has given us some good examples. Sometimes I do not want to have dinner alongside my hon. Friend, because he inspects all the ceramics and all the things we are using to eat our dinner, rightly so. I will absolutely raise the points he has highlighted with the House authorities and ensure we are doing more to support the great craftsmanship that we have in this country.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
I pride myself on knowing lots of things about what the Government are doing, but I have to admit that this is not something I am aware of or can offer the right hon. Gentleman any particular advice on right now. However, I assure him that I will raise it today with the Minister and ensure that he gets a full response. If that is not sufficient, I will ensure that the Minister comes to the House.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
It is completely unacceptable for people to have to wait as long as that. This Government are committed to significantly reducing the waiting times for Access to Work and other programmes, and I will ensure that a Minister looks into Gary’s case and it is resolved as soon as possible.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
The Department of Health and Social Care is working hard with industry and NHS England to help resolve the supply issues with ADHD medicines, which is a global problem. I will ensure that he and the House are updated on any progress.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
I thank my hon. Friend for raising that issue, which she has raised consistently in the House—it is a matter of deep concern and importance for her. We all very much welcome the developments in Israel and Gaza over recent hours and days, and we all want a long-lasting ceasefire and for the hostages to be released. Crucially, as she says, it will be important to surge much-needed aid into Gaza, so that we get people back to living there safely, with water and food.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
Accessibility on our railways is raised many times with me in these sessions and across the House. Let us be honest: the accessibility of many of our stations, including in my hon. Friend’s constituency, is deeply inadequate for those with buggies, in wheelchairs or whatever else. The Rail Minister is carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme, but I will ensure that the House is regularly updated.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
The Government’s plans to take back our railways into public ownership will improve reliability, investment and the passenger experience, so I assure my hon. Friend that those plans will be of great benefit to her constituents in the way she describes.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
Again, I thought I was being invited to Center Parcs. I am very partial to a water slide, should colleagues ever want to invite me to a Center Parcs. The hon. Member raises the serious point that when much-needed investment and great new facilities or services come into a constituency, we need to ensure that we have the infrastructure and roads to support them. The SNP Government in Scotland have just got a record settlement in the Budget, so they have no excuse not to support the road he talks about.
16 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
More
My hon. Friend is right. We have a plan to fix the potholes of this country, with huge investment going in. We want councils, such as Hendon, to get on with using those funds to fix the problem of potholes.

Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →