Nick Smith MP: speeches 2025

Speeches

• 18 Dec 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Merry Christmas to all. I bet Members will join me in paying tribute to our hard-working posties and sorting office staff. The team in Ebbw Vale do a brilliant job. However, despite their best efforts, constituents report delays receiving letters and even missed hospital appointments. Royal Mail management cite resourcing challenges. Does the Leader of the House agree that Ofcom should ensure that Royal Mail meets its universal service obligation, and can we have a Government statement on this?

• 18 Dec 2025 · Ukraine · Hansard source

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  Today’s newspapers carry further coverage of attempts by Russia to influence political systems in the west. To avoid being held to account for the war in Ukraine, Russian agents are reportedly undermining financial institutions and public servants in Belgium. Following the jailing of a former Reform leader in Wales for taking bribes from Russia, does the Minister agree that the inquiry into foreign financial interference in our domestic politics has not come soon enough?

• 18 Dec 2025 · Violence against Women and Girls Strategy · Hansard source

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  I warmly welcome the statement on ending violence against women and girls. Will the Minister tell us more about how she will support and empower third sector organisations such as Phoenix Domestic Abuse Services in Blaenau Gwent, which always deserve a helping hand?

• 11 Dec 2025 · Secondary Ticketing · Hansard source

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  9. What steps he is taking to protect consumers in the secondary ticketing market.

• 11 Dec 2025 · Secondary Ticketing · Hansard source

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  The Government’s action on ticket reselling is the first substantive effort to tackle those who leech off the music sector. Previously, as one loophole closed, another would often open. There have been warnings, however, that ticket reselling could continue through social media and messaging apps. How will the Government monitor that to protect fans so that they can see the artists who bring joy into all our lives?

• 9 Dec 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  The Minister for pensions was brilliant at the Budget in helping our mining communities across the UK. Will he provide an update on plans for changing the surplus sharing arrangements for both the mineworkers’ pension scheme and the British Coal staff superannuation scheme?

• 3 Dec 2025 · Grooming Gangs · Hansard source

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  Can the Minister say more about how the Government are reflecting the experiences of victims when tackling grooming gangs in Wales?

• 27 Nov 2025 · House of Commons Domestic Abuse Policy · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for her question. I am happy to help with her key point about messaging. Members, as employers, could implement a domestic abuse policy. To help with this, the Members’ human resources advice service has specific guidance and templates available for Members, and can support them with implementation.

• 27 Nov 2025 · House of Commons Domestic Abuse Policy · Hansard source

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  I am pleased to report that the House of Commons Commission agreed in October to seek accreditation from the White Ribbon campaign. The campaign does important work to prevent violence against women and girls by promoting equality, building networks and challenging harmful attitudes and behaviour. The accreditation process involves creating an action plan and policies to provide support relating to domestic abuse. Guidance and resources are available on the parliamentary intranet.

• 27 Nov 2025 · Palace of Westminster: School Visits · Hansard source

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  The Commission has taken steps to widen access to schools in terms of both volume and geographic spread, and these changes have led to an increase in the number of schoolchildren able to visit. More than 71,000 are expected to visit this year—an increase of over 20% since 2022—and we expect the numbers to be even higher next year. In 2023, the Commission approved a change to the travel subsidy programme to increase direct funding for schools that are furthest from Westminster, and improvements to the bookings process for schools were also implemented. The Administration Committee recently agreed further proposed improvements to the travel subsidy scheme, and these will shortly be considered by the Commission.

• 27 Nov 2025 · Palace of Westminster: School Visits · Hansard source

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  My constituency of Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney is 1,200 feet above sea level and we get snow a lot, so “Just be careful what you ask for” might have been good advice to that lovely eight-year-old. Of course, we need to improve access to this place. Fairer access to Parliament is a good cause, and our education department does good work in this sphere, but if the hon. Gentleman wants to make further inquiries, I am very happy to help him.

• 27 Nov 2025 · Palace of Westminster: School Visits · Hansard source

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  The new education booking system is being devised to help with regional equity. The hon. Member has hit on a really important question about transport access to this place, as well as about places to stay overnight. I will look into that further and get back to him.

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

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  May I thank the Leader of the House for his kind words about those of us who campaigned for miners’ pensions justice? There is real momentum for new economic opportunities now that Labour-led councils, the Welsh Labour Government and the UK Labour Government can work in tandem. In Blaenau Gwent, the council has applied for funding to upgrade the A4046 at Cwm. In Caerphilly, the new council leader, Jamie Pritchard, is driving urgent action to repair the land slip on the A469 between New Tredegar and Pontlottyn in the upper Rhymney valley. May I please ask the Leader of the House for a statement on transport interconnectivity and its economic benefits across the UK?

• 27 Nov 2025 · Technology: Productivity of MPs · Hansard source

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  In terms of paying more for Microsoft Copilot, there is a version that does come at a monthly cost.

• 27 Nov 2025 · Technology: Productivity of MPs · Hansard source

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  A new approach to proactively understand Members’ needs has been introduced by the Parliamentary Digital Service to shape improvements to digital services. Recently, its research informed a trial of a paid version of Copilot artificial intelligence with Members, including me, and with staff. To ensure that any new solutions meet Members’ needs, PDS runs pilots, works with suppliers and applies Member feedback to try to drive improvements.

• 27 Nov 2025 · Technology: Productivity of MPs · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend has a fair beef. The volume of unwanted emails received by MPs is a known problem, but no one yet has an easy solution. Testing of whether Copilot or other digital solutions can help with inbox management has taken place, but Copilot is unlikely to be the answer for it. I understand that the technology may now exist, though, and I will ask the Parliamentary Digital Service to brief her on what might be possible.

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

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  Coalminers powered our great country in the 20th century. They need justice in this century in relation to their pensions. Labour put right the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme, but parity is needed for the British Coal staff superannuation scheme. Will the Leader of the House ask the Treasury for a statement on pension justice for our mining communities, to right that historic wrong?

• 20 Nov 2025 · Russian Ship Yantar · Hansard source

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  Given both the Baltic sea incident in 2024, where underground cables were said to be sabotaged, and the latest provocation where the Yantar is said to be mapping undersea cables, will the Minister please outline how allied co-ordination, particularly with our Nordic and Baltic partners, could be strengthened?

• 20 Nov 2025 · Separation Centres: Terrorist Offenders · Hansard source

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  I thank the Minister for her response to the urgent question. The Frankland attack was awful. Given that body armour is crucial to the safety of prison staff, can she please tell us more about its procurement, so that prison staff are protected as best as possible, as soon as possible?

• 20 Nov 2025 · Ukraine: Forcible Removal of Children · Hansard source

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  The stealing of 20,000 children like this is an outrage. I thank the Minister for his statement. Does he agree that the Bring Kids Back campaign is right to emphasise that the return of these children is non-negotiable in any future peace deal?

• 19 Nov 2025 · Flooding: Monmouthshire · Hansard source

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  Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney neighbours Monmouthshire. Last winter, we experienced coal tip slipping because of heavy rain. People experiencing flooding deserve all our support. Can the Minister please tell us more about the support available to residents who are claiming insurance or emergency financial help in order to get through this really difficult time?

• 29 Oct 2025 · Engagements · Hansard source

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  I associate myself with the Prime Minister’s remarks about supporting Jamaica. Across our country, and in Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, off-road bikers are a menace. They tear up our environment, and turn our streets into racetracks. After years of Tory cuts, Gwent police are now tackling that. Does the Prime Minister agree that police forces, and communities such as mine, are seeing the difference that Labour can make in power?

• 29 Oct 2025 · Engagements · Hansard source

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  Q1. If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 29 October.

• 29 Oct 2025 · Asylum Seekers: MOD Housing · Hansard source

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  I am often asked on the doorsteps what we are doing to tackle this issue. Will the Minister please set out more information on what the Government are doing to stop small boat arrivals in the first place, so that we can close more hotels more quickly?

• 29 Oct 2025 · Gaza and Hamas · Hansard source

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  I thank the Minister for his answer to the urgent question. He has done a great job over time updating this Chamber—he has been terrific through this difficult period. Will he say more about the type of aid that he thinks our country needs to send into Gaza to support the people there?