Lucy Powell MP: speeches

1872 published records · newest first.

Speeches

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    My hon. Friend is a real advocate and champion for ceramics in his constituency and beyond. I am delighted to hear that, after this issue has been raised with me a number of times, Moorcroft Pottery has been saved by Will Moorcroft. I thank him for doing that. My hon. Friend will not have to wait very long at all for the industrial strategy.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    I join my hon. Friend in thanking Owen Sutton for all his fundraising. As I said in response to the hon. Member for Fylde (Mr Snowden), brain tumours really are the worst kind of diagnosis for anybody, as I know well from the devastating news in my family last year. The debate we had recently was well subscribed, and this Government are committed to ensuring that we have the very best research and treatment available for brain tumours. I am sure that if we had another such debate, it would also be very well subscribed.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    As I said previously, I am sorry; I know that the small increase we have had to make to the Dart charge is of concern to people. As my hon. Friend will be aware, the last time the charges were increased was 2014, but he is right that the issue of toll bridges, toll tunnels and tolls for infrastructure is of great importance to this House and comes up many times. I am sure that if he were to apply for a debate, he would secure one.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    I thank my hon. Friend for her campaigning on this issue. When she takes up campaigns, she normally gets results. I am sure that she will get results on this issue, too, because we need to regulate these practices. We need to make sure that people are properly trained and accountable and that people can hold them to account when things go wrong. We are responding shortly to the consultation, and I will ensure the House is updated.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    As ever, the hon. Gentleman raises a very serious issue. The UK Government continue to monitor events in Nigeria closely. We are working with Nigeria’s security forces to tackle violence against civilian communities, especially where it is religiously based.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    I pay tribute to John Gillespie, the former chairman of Unite Scotland. He sounds like someone who did a great deal to fight for people’s rights and for social justice, and a great, trusted leader for his union and the wider workforce.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    The most important thing that the British Government are calling for in this situation is de-escalation and diplomacy; that is our first priority. Any other conversations do not meet those ends. As for the principle of the issue, we have been very clear about our position: where there is sustained military action in which our troops could be involved, that would of course be a matter for the House to consider.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    I thank my hon. Friend for that important final question. I am strongly in favour of women being far more involved in decision making; when they are, those decisions are often better ones.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    I join my hon. Friend in wishing the group good luck with the award ceremony and their visit to Parliament next week. We want to see many more young people enjoy the creative industries. That is why our curriculum review is happening at the moment: it is vital that young people get involved.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    I thank the hon. Lady for raising this issue. I know that those who suffer with ME and their families feel incredibly strongly that not enough has been done over many years, and the Government will shortly be bringing forward our 10-year NHS plan. I will ensure that she and others get an update on that, which will contain information about ME care.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    We still have far too many dental deserts in this country, and I am sorry to hear of the situation in East Anglia. My hon. Friend is right that the Government are committed to creating more dental appointments, but it is also vital that we have dentistry schools to make sure that we can train and retain the dentists of the future.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    The hon. Gentleman will know that this Government are absolutely committed to reducing educational inequalities wherever they exist, which is why we have a mission to deliver opportunity for all. I do not know whether that means he now supports the education plans that we have set out—for example, reducing VAT on private schools in order to get more state school qualified teachers into the system. I know that the performance of white working-class pupils in our schools has been an issue for many years—in fact, it was an issue when I sat on the Education Committee when the hon. Gentleman’s party was in government. I do not remember it ever being a priority for the previous Government, but we will reduce educational inequalities wherever they exist.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    I join my hon. Friend in acknowledging Refugee Week. This country will always play our part alongside others to help those fleeing persecution. We have a long-standing history of welcoming refugees, particularly those from Ukraine, as she says, and Hong Kong in recent years. When they are here, they make a valuable contribution to our community.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    The Government continue to work with the British Horse Society to help deal with those issues. My hon. Friend will be aware that the highway code was updated a few years ago to include the hierarchy of road users, but we will continue to work with the British Horse Society and others to tackle these issues.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    I join my hon. Friend in recognising this important Roman site in her constituency, which chariot racing took place on—how fantastic. I know that she and her constituents are proud of their rich heritage, and I am keen to see what the future holds for them.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    The hon. Member raises a good point. We have been looking at the efficiency and effectiveness of ICBs; that is why some of those steps have been taken. He is right that we are strongly in favour of devolution, and of making sure that organisations such as ICBs are accountable to their communities. I will look into the specifics in his area and get back to him.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    I absolutely join my hon. Friend in wishing the Bamber Bridge community all the best with their barbecue this weekend, and their celebration of the stand that people took against racism all those years ago.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    My hon. Friend is a great champion for his area, and I am incredibly sorry to hear that his Conservative local authority has decided to close this valuable local garden centre, which does so much for his community. We have given local authorities one of the biggest boosts in local funding that they have had for some time, so they really have no excuse.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    The business for the week commencing 23 June includes: Monday 23 June—General debate on Pride Month. Tuesday 24 June—Estimates day (2nd allotted day). There will be debates on estimates relating to the Department for Education; the Department of Health and Social Care; and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Wednesday 25 June—Estimates day (3rd allotted day). There will be debates on estimates relating to the Ministry of Justice, in so far as it relates to criminal justice; the Ministry of Defence, in so far as it relates to the remit of the national armaments director; and the Department for Transport. At 7 pm the House will be asked to agree all outstanding estimates. Thursday 26 June—Proceedings on the Supply and Appropriation (Main Estimates) (No. 2) Bill, followed by a general debate on Armed Forces Day. Friday 27 June—The House will not be sitting. The provisional business for the week commencing 30 June will include: Monday 30 June—Second Reading of the Deprivation of Citizenship Orders (Effect During Appeal) Bill. Tuesday 1 July—Second Reading of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill. Wednesday 2 July—Consideration of Lords message to the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill, followed by motion to approve the draft Armed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2025. Thursday 3 July—Business to be determined by the Backbench Business Committee. Friday 4 July—Private Members’ Bills.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    I am sorry to hear that the hon. Member has not had a response to his correspondence and questions. I do not have details about the Camelford bypass in my folder, but I will certainly take that up with Ministers and ensure that he gets a response.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    I know that my hon. Friend has long campaigned on what happened at Orgreave, and that campaigners such as him and others want to see action, accountability and justice. Every community should have confidence in their police, but what happened at Orgreave still casts a very long shadow over mining areas like his and in Yorkshire. As he says, the Home Secretary is committed to resolving this issue and has met campaigners many times. We are working on a response as a priority, and I will ensure that the House is updated.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    Road closures can be a blight on local businesses, local communities and footfall on the high street, and they are obviously affecting my hon. Friend’s constituents. I am sorry to hear that the Scottish Government seem to have mismanaged these roadworks, and I hope they are listening today and get on with the job.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    We are all concerned about the rise in food poverty in recent years. It is a blight on our country and communities, and we want to put it right. This Government are committed to eradicating child poverty. That is why we have the child poverty taskforce, and we are looking at a range of measures. Just a couple of weeks ago, we introduced an extension of free school meals to all those in receipt of universal credit. That will transform the food poverty issues for young people across our country that my hon. Friend describes.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    As the mother of a number of teenagers, I recognise the importance of schools being smartphone-free. I know that many are taking steps to achieve that and they have the powers to do so. I am therefore pleased to hear that schools in Basingstoke have prohibited the use of smartphones and are educating parents on their dangers.

  • 19 Jun 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source
    More

    I join my hon. Friend in congratulating Johnstone Burgh football club on its historic win—the first in 57 years.

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