Martin Vickers MP: speeches

Speeches

• 2 Apr 2025 · Universities: Funding and Employment · Hansard source

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  We now come to the Front Benchers. If they limit their contributions to nine minutes, we will just have time for Mr Yasin to sum up.

• 2 Apr 2025 · Engagements · Hansard source

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  Some 2,700 workers at Scunthorpe steelworks are facing redundancy, plus many more in the supply chain, and many of those people are my constituents. It is welcome that negotiations are continuing, but whatever the outcome, the local economy is going to need significant support. All those affected would appreciate it and be reassured if the Prime Minister could give an indication that he was personally taking an interest in this matter, and if at some point in the not too distant future, he would meet me, neighbouring MPs and the council leader to discuss the way forward.

• 31 Mar 2025 · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Hansard source

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  In my previous role as trade envoy to the western Balkans, I visited Bosnia and Herzegovina on a number of occasions, and it was evident that though the entrepreneurial spirit was alive and well, business leaders were frustrated by the deadlocked structures that they must work in. Our embassy is doing what it can, but can the Government take any further initiatives that could increase economic activity and trade between our two nations?

• 27 Mar 2025 · Scunthorpe Steelworks · Hansard source

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  I thank the Minister for her statement and for the updates that she has provided to me in recent weeks. As she said, there will be increased anxiety among the workforce today, and we look to the Government to provide maximum support. For the sake of clarity, will the Minister confirm that the Government do wish to maintain blast furnace production until an alternative arc furnace installation is up and running? Will she also confirm that they want to maintain production to meet the demands of the defence sector, particularly in view of the recently announced increased spending? The Minister will be aware of the projects that North Lincolnshire council have proposed, such as the green growth zone and those in the artificial intelligence sector. Will she confirm that she will support them? She will also be aware of other projects in the region that are looking for Government support. Will she confirm that she will look sympathetically on them? Also, although I would not want to advocate this, will the Government consider nationalisation of the industry as a last resort?

• 27 Mar 2025 · Scunthorpe Steelworks · Hansard source

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  (Urgent Question) : To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade to make a statement on the future of Scunthorpe steelworks.

• 27 Mar 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  In reply to an earlier question, the Leader of the House said that the BBC should serve all local communities. It is around 18 months since we had a shake-up of BBC local radio, and the result is that it is much less local. Could we have a debate in Government time on how the BBC could be held to account for that and could provide local radio that is more local?

• 26 Mar 2025 · Fishing Quota Negotiations: Impact on UK Fleet · Hansard source

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  I remind Members to bob if they wish to speak. I intend to call the Front-Bench spokespeople at 10.28 am; if Members bear that in mind, we can probably manage without a formal time limit.

• 26 Mar 2025 · Spring Statement · Hansard source

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  A cloud hangs over the economy in northern Lincolnshire at the moment with potentially significant job losses at the Scunthorpe steelworks. In view of that, can the Chancellor assure us that funding will be available not only to look after any redundant workers, but to attract new business and provide retraining for existing workers?

• 20 Mar 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  I join others in sending my deepest sympathy to the shadow Leader of the House for his loss. I recently attended the awards for the Grimsby and Cleethorpes scout group, and the hon. Member for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes (Melanie Onn) and I were glad to give up our Sunday afternoon to attend the event. When we go to such events, we can see not just how valuable it is for the young people concerned, but how important it is that the adults and the scout leaders give up their time to help develop the young people. I know that if I ask the Leader of the House for a debate on this matter in Government time, she will suggest that I go to the Backbench Business Committee. However, as a member of that Committee, I am aware of how heavy the demands are. Therefore, I join the Chair of that Committee in asking the Leader of the House for more time, so that I will not have to wait too long for my scout debate.

• 20 Mar 2025 · Conflict in Gaza · Hansard source

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  It is a tragic fact that wherever they occur, military conflicts result in the death of innocent civilians, among them many children—we witness this day in, day out on our TV screens. Israel has an absolute right to take action to recover the hostages, but I agree with the Foreign Secretary that the continuing bombardment of Gaza will not achieve that of itself. Does he agree that one thing it does achieve is to risk radicalising the younger generation to become the Hamas supporters of the future?

• 14 Mar 2025 · Arm’s-Length Bodies (Review) Bill · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend is making a powerful speech and I agree entirely with the points he is making. As I recall from the coalition days, one of the reasons for the Lansley reforms was to make the NHS more independent of Government, which clearly failed. My personal view is that all these arm’s length bodies, quangos and so on should be within the Departments. Then, as he says, we would be able to question Ministers on the issues. The idea that we should make them independent of their political masters is something we need to overturn.

• 13 Mar 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Earlier this week, I had a meeting with the UK Chamber of Shipping. Coincidentally, it was the day of the incident in the North sea, so obviously we discussed that, but the main point of the meeting was to discuss the impact of shipping on the UK economy and my constituency in particular. May we have a debate in Government time on the importance of the shipping sector to the UK economy?

• 12 Mar 2025 · Sustainable Farming Incentive · Hansard source

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  The one thing in the Minister’s statement that farmers in my constituency would agree with is that they are not making enough money. When, as I hope, the Minister takes up the invitation from the Father of the House to visit Lincolnshire, will he meet my farmers face to face and explain to them exactly what his Government are doing to increase their profitability?

• 11 Mar 2025 · North Sea Vessel Collision · Hansard source

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  I join others in praising the emergency services, and I also praise Martyn Boyers and his colleagues from Port of Grimsby East, who supported the emergency services. Obviously, the concern at the moment is extinguishing the fire, but there will be a potential longer-term impact on the local community, inasmuch as there will be pollution and the like on the beaches. Will the Minister and other Departments work closely with the council and other agencies to ensure that any support that is needed will be available?

• 6 Mar 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  On Tuesday, I took part in the Westminster Hall debate on market towns, which was heavily oversubscribed. Although Members across the House did their best to canter around their constituencies and highlight places such as, in my case, Brigg and Barton-upon-Humber, time was very limited. Our market towns face a host of challenges, among them the future of the retail sector and the availability of public services, and it was clear that an opportunity to discuss those challenges in more detail would be appreciated. Could the Government provide time for a full half-day debate on our market towns?

• 6 Mar 2025 · North Sea Energy · Hansard source

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  As the Minister knows, the North sea renewables sector has been very beneficial to my Brigg and Immingham constituency, and I support proposals that will enhance and speed up the development of that sector. However, many businesses in the constituency are struggling because of energy costs, as my hon. Friends have mentioned. Can the Minister give an assurance that, particularly where energy-intensive industries are involved, the Government will bear in mind the consumer, be they business or domestic?

• 4 Mar 2025 · Palestinian Rights: Government Support · Hansard source

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  Unlike other Members who have been reflecting on recent visits to the region, although I have visited the region more recently, I visited both Gaza and Israel as long ago as 2012. My reflection when I returned, particularly from Gaza, was how appalling the conditions were. How much worse they are now. I wrote an article for my church magazine reflecting on my visit to Israel and I said that one could feel the tensions within society. It was not a society at ease with itself, and I suspect that is probably still the case. In preparing for this contribution, I looked back on the Backbench debate that took place in October 2014 about the recognition of Palestine. I noted that 39 Conservatives voted for recognition, including me and the Father of the House, the right hon. Member for Gainsborough (Sir Edward Leigh). The right hon. Member for Islington North (Jeremy Corbyn) was a Teller on that occasion, I noted. It would be interesting to hear from the Front Benchers what their views are now on that particular situation. One of the contributions came from our former colleague Sir Malcolm Rifkind, who of course in the 1990s was Foreign Secretary. His view was that it was not the right time for recognition at that point because to be a recognisable state there needed to be a functioning Government and military. In the present circumstances, achieving a functioning, democratically accountable Government and all the extensions of that such as a military is clearly an impossibility. I am very interested to hear the Front Benchers’ comments on that. As the Father of the House said, and I agree entirely, Israel has a perfect right to exist. I would describe myself as a friend of Israel, but friends can be critical and there is a lot to criticise the state of Israel about. It must surely recognise that its actions in Gaza—while with the perfectly legitimate aim of eliminating Hamas, particularly after the appalling atrocities of 7 October—are creating the Hamas of the future. They are radicalising the children and young people, who see death and destruction all around. How will they not grow up wanting revenge for what they see? In so many ways, Israel is an admirable country. The people have shown courage. Their science and technology are very advanced, and the resulting benefits are tremendous. However, Israel has a proportional representation system of Government, which inevitably means coalitions, and the extreme elements that exist within those coalitions will always hold them back. I very much hope that after this debate a united approach can be taken, whereby we recognise the rights of Israel but are also extremely critical where appropriate.

• 4 Mar 2025 · Market Towns: Cultural Heritage · Hansard source

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  It is good to see you in the Chair this morning, Sir Jeremy. Since last year’s election, I have added another market town to my constituency—Brigg in northern Lincolnshire. Along the beautiful paved streets of Brigg there are a number of excellent independently owned shops and boutiques, as well as a fantastic range of clothing stores, eateries and other attractions. These independent retailers retain the traditional character of the town—some of the shops have served the good people of Brigg for over 100 years. Under the excellent leadership of Councillor Rob Waltham, North Lincolnshire council has made it a key policy to ensure two hours of free parking in Brigg and across the area, which is a vital component of ensuring that our high streets survive. A number of historical buildings in the town centre remain in use, some dating back as far as the 1700s. The centre of the town is a conservation area. One such building is the Angel, a 17th-century coaching inn. The building has been refurbished and is now a library and café. It is home to the Brigg heritage centre, which is free to enter and tells the story of how Brigg developed as an important crossing point on the River Ancholme. The most notable attraction is the Brigg raft. This 3,000-year-old flat-bottomed oak boat was discovered in Brigg in the 1880s and moved to the National Maritime Museum, but it was returned to Brigg in 2013. Brigg is home to a number of weekly outdoor markets. A street market runs every Thursday, providing fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers and the like. Barton-upon-Humber, in the northern part of my constituency, has a rich history. The name is derived from Beretun, meaning “barley town”—a testament to Barton’s importance for brewing beer. At the time of the Domesday Book, Barton was considered to be the most important town in the area, with two important churches. St Peter’s church closed in 1970. Chad Varah, the founder of the Samaritans, was born in Barton in 1911, when his father was the vicar of St Peter’s. Another notable person is Ted Lewis, the author whose book was famously adapted into the film “Get Carter”. Like Brigg, Barton has kept its traditional charm. People can visit the Wilderspin school to see how school life was in Victorian times. Both towns have a town council and a mayor. In these days of devolution when we are creating much larger authorities, which I broadly support, it is important that we retain the civic pride to which local town councils and mayors can contribute.

• 3 Mar 2025 · Church of England: Safeguarding · Hansard source

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  The hon. Gentleman is making a powerful speech. Speaking as a member of the Church of England and someone who has served on parochial church councils and as a church warden, I recognise how important it is that we move forward. He mentioned moving forward a moment ago, but in order to do that, is it not necessary for the leadership of the Church to take a lead on this? I say this with the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the hon. Member for Battersea (Marsha De Cordova) listening to the debate. Surely the sooner we have a new Archbishop of Canterbury who can lead the Church and hopefully provide dynamic leadership for that institution, the better. Only then can the Church of England move forward.

• 3 Mar 2025 · Independent Schools: VAT and Business Rates Relief · Hansard source

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  Order. I remind hon. Members that interventions should be short.

• 3 Mar 2025 · Independent Schools: VAT and Business Rates Relief · Hansard source

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  Order. I remind Members that they should, bob if they wish to take part in the debate.

• 3 Mar 2025 · Independent Schools: VAT and Business Rates Relief · Hansard source

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  Before we begin, I will make a short statement on the House’s sub judice resolution. There are legal proceedings active in relation to the policy of applying VAT to private schools. However, Mr Speaker issued a waiver on 5 February to allow reference to those cases, now and in future proceedings, on the grounds of national importance. For the record, I point out that my daughter is a teacher in a school affected by the VAT on fees.

• 27 Feb 2025 · Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill (Second sitting) · Hansard source

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  Q What about where we do not have the ability to return—with countries where we cannot return those people? They were going to go to Rwanda; now, where are they going? Dame Angela Eagle: With all due respect, I do not think they were ever going to go to Rwanda.

• 27 Feb 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Last week I visited the owners of a local business, who expressed their concerns about the pEPR regulations—the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024. These regulations shift the cost of managing packaging waste from local authorities to producers. That represents yet another burden on businesses at a time when they face no end of other increased costs. Could the Leader of the House ensure that the appropriate Minister comes to the House and explains what assessment has been made of the impact of these regulations?

• 27 Feb 2025 · Gaza: BBC Coverage · Hansard source

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  The days when people gained their news from the BBC and ITV are long gone. We now have a whole range of media outlets, many of which do not have the same editorial standards as we expect from our national broadcaster, so does the Secretary of State agree that it is vital that we can trust our national broadcaster and that it maintains the highest possible standards?