Vicky Foxcroft MP: speeches 2025

22 published records · newest first.

Speeches

9 Jul 2025 · Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill · Hansard source
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I welcome the amendment, but does my hon. Friend agree that co-production needs to go beyond oversight if we want to build trust and engagement with disabled people and their organisations, and that we need to commit to the principles of co-production as outlined in my speech on Second Reading last week?
9 Jul 2025 · Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill · Hansard source
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rose —
9 Jul 2025 · Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill · Hansard source
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rose—
9 Jul 2025 · Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill · Hansard source
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Will the Minister give way?
9 Jul 2025 · Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill · Hansard source
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Will the right hon. Member give way?
9 Jul 2025 · Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill · Hansard source
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Will the Minister ensure that the universal credit health element forms part of the co-produced Timms review when reviewing the assessment process, as the UC health element will be assessed under the new PIP assessment? Furthermore, can we ensure that all disability benefits and support are in scope, so that we can truly get an assessment process fit for the future?
9 Jul 2025 · Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill · Hansard source
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rose—
1 Jul 2025 · Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill · Hansard source
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I begin by welcoming the positive steps the Department has set out in the “Pathways to Work” Green Paper on supporting people into work; the right to try work without the fear of having to go through reassessment for benefits if it does not work out; reforming and modernising the Access to Work system; disability pay gap reporting; disability employment gap reporting; ensuring everyone has access to a supportive work coach; the assessment process, and ensuring that assessments are recorded as standard, which people were desperately crying out for; and ensuring people with lifelong conditions do not need to be reassessed when we know their condition is unlikely to ever improve. I also welcome many of the concessions the Government have made over the past week: bringing forward employment support, introducing protections for current PIP claimants going forward, and recognising the need for co-production. However, I continue to have some concerns, which I believe must be addressed. We need the Timms review to report before the new system is rolled out. On co-production, I want to start by saying that this should have happened way before we got to today’s debate. I know from my time as shadow Minister for disabled people that when we work with disabled people and their organisations from the start, we produce better policy. There is so much talent out there and, like many of us in the Chamber, disabled people and their organisations want reform of the benefits system, but the reforms set out in the Bill are not what they want or need. We should have been working with them on it right from the start.
1 Jul 2025 · Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill · Hansard source
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I absolutely agree. The review needs to ensure that it has the right engagement and consultation with everybody, but it must be co-produced with the experts by experience. I want to take this opportunity to clarify exactly what we mean by co-production. The principle of co-production is rooted in the US civil rights movement and the ladder of citizen participation developed by Sherry Arnstein in 1969. It should be in place from the start of the process. All information should be made available to everyone. A plan should be agreed together. There must be the ability to bring in experts. These experts should be paid for their contribution and treated as valued partners. We should empower and upskill those who are involved. And I hope that it goes without saying, but all information should be available in accessible formats. The valued partners need to be user-led disabled people’s organisations. I finish by underlining that the focus of making the changes should not be on making cuts, but on getting it right. The focus on getting it right means that everything needs to be in scope of the review, not just the ability to tinker within limited predetermined parameters. Co-production must take place before any changes to the current assessment criteria are proposed. If that means pausing to ensure that we get it right, then that is what we must do.
30 Jun 2025 · Welfare Reform · Hansard source
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I thank the Secretary of State for her statement. Will the Timms review have the powers to review the planned budget savings for future claimants of PIP and universal credit health components? Also, if claimants request a reassessment because of worsening health conditions, will they be assessed on the current criteria or the new eligibility criteria?
20 Jun 2025 · Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill · Hansard source
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This is my first speech in this Chamber since the general election, and if I am honest, I wish I was not speaking in this debate, as I wish this legislation was not being put forward. I have not always been opposed to assisted dying. Indeed, in 2015, I voted in favour of the Bill put forward by Rob Marris MP, but that was before I served four years as shadow Minister for disabled people. During that time, I spoke to hundreds of disabled people and the organisations that support them. They were, and remain, extremely fearful of assisted dying. I took on that role at the start of the covid pandemic. Disabled people were disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Nearly six in every 10 people who died were disabled. Many had “do not resuscitate” notices unilaterally pasted on their medical records, without them being informed. It made them fear for their lives. It made them fear that the authorities thought that their lives were worth less. It also made them fearful of what would happen if assisted dying was brought forward. That is why Disability Rights UK and other disabled people’s organisations have moved from the neutral position they had in 2015 to a position of opposition now. I do not claim that every disabled person opposes assisted dying, but I do claim that the vast majority of disabled people and their organisations oppose it. They need the health and social care system fixing first. They want us as parliamentarians to assist them to live, not to die. Disabled people’s voices matter in this debate, and yet as I have watched the Bill progress, the absence of disabled people’s voices has been astonishing. They have wanted to engage. Indeed, they have been crying out to be included, yet the engagement has been negligible. I believe that only one disabled people’s organisation was given the opportunity to provide evidence to the Committee. Furthermore, throughout Committee and at the initial publication stage of the Bill, accessible formats were not available. A large-print version of the Bill was published several weeks after the original, but no other formats, such as easy read and British Sign Language, have been made available. These are basic things that we should be doing when consulting on such important pieces of legislation, making it accessible so that everyone’s voices and views can be heard. Many of those expected to deliver this legislation also do not want it. They believe that it could destroy the doctor-patient relationship. The experts have all been clear. The Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of Physicians, GPs, disability charities, mental health charities and domestic abuse charities have all warned that the safeguards in the Bill are insufficient and will put vulnerable people in harm’s way. I will finish by saying that I am not opposed to the principle of assisted dying, but until we have a system that supports the right to life, I cannot support it. Until we ensure that all safeguards are in place, I cannot support it. And until the vast majority of disabled people and their organisations support the legislation that is being brought forward, I cannot support it. We are not voting on principles today. This is real and we have to protect those people who are susceptible to coercion, who already feel like society does not value them, who often feel like a burden to the state, society and their family. I urge anyone in this Chamber who has any doubts that this Bill does not protect them, who has any worries and concerns: please do not vote for it today. Let us fix our NHS, social care and wider society first and then consider this topic again in the future, when the time is right.
5 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [Lords] (Fourth sitting) · Hansard source
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Opposition? Hold on—we are the Government.
5 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [Lords] (Fourth sitting) · Hansard source
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Oh no!
3 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting) · Hansard source
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Yes.
29 Apr 2025 · Staffordshire: Cultural Contribution · Hansard source
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The right hon. Member makes a really good point, and I will feed that back. I am missing out some of my speech and jumping ahead because I want my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford to have the opportunity to respond. After preparing for and listening to this debate, I am tempted to ditch my beach holiday and instead take a trip to Staffordshire. I could join my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent Central for a pint at the Titanic brewery or the hon. Member for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire (Mike Wood) to learn about the origins of the gunpowder plot. I could join my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent South at the Longton Pig Walk before watching a pantomime with the right hon. Member for Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge (Sir Gavin Williamson). I could then join my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Adam Jogee) for some horse riding—maybe with the Father who is retiring.
29 Apr 2025 · Staffordshire: Cultural Contribution · Hansard source
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I will make sure I raise that point, and good on hon. and right hon. Members for pressing me to get the Minister to commit to many things. I will then join the right hon. Member for Staffordshire Moorlands (Dame Karen Bradley) for a history lesson in architecture. She also mentioned Alton Towers, where I have very fond memories of going as a child. And who does not love a castle? I will also join my hon. Friend the Member for Tamworth (Sarah Edwards) in visiting Tamworth castle. By that stage, I will probably be ready for another beer, so I had better pay a visit to the brewing capital of the world—Burton and Uttoxeter. My hon. Friend the Member for Cannock Chase (Josh Newbury) convinced me that we need to secure funding for our theatres. I feel very strongly and passionately about theatres, and I know the Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism does too. I am certain there is nowhere else we need to be on 1 May, but if there were, it would be Staffordshire. I wish everyone a happy Staffordshire Day.
29 Apr 2025 · Staffordshire: Cultural Contribution · Hansard source
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I cannot get through the speech if I do; I am sorry. That is why this Government are proud to support the arts and culture. Only recently, we announced more than £270 million of investment for our arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage sector via the Arts Everywhere fund. And the £85 million Creative Foundations fund, which was announced earlier this year, will help arts and cultural organisations with varying scales of need to resolve urgent issues with their infrastructure.
29 Apr 2025 · Staffordshire: Cultural Contribution · Hansard source
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It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Furniss. I am pleased to respond to this debate on behalf of the Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism, my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda and Ogmore (Chris Bryant). I warned him that I might have to commit him to some stuff in responding to this debate. [ Laughter. ] At the moment, I am only committing him to writing to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent South (Dr Gardner) about Stoke’s bid to be a UNESCO city of crafts and folk art. I will make sure the Minister responds to her. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Leigh Ingham) on securing this debate and delivering a powerful speech that highlighted the wonders of Staffordshire. The number of contributors to this debate has also been extremely impressive. Staffordshire is responsible for some truly significant contributions to the culture of Britain and beyond, both historically and in the present day. My hon. Friend gave a number of wonderful examples, and I will add to her reflections. The Staffordshire hoard, discovered in 2009, is the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and metalwork ever found, which shows the region’s historical importance even in early medieval times. Samuel Johnson, the influential lexicographer and writer, was born in Lichfield. His dictionary of the English language, the first ever compiled, was a foundational work. He also rewrote the plays of William Shakespeare to ensure that all discrepancies were written out, which I find extremely interesting as somebody who studied performing arts at college, and drama and business at university. Staffordshire is world famous for its ceramics industry, as my hon. Friends the Members for Stoke-on-Trent South and for Stoke-on-Trent Central (Gareth Snell) so eloquently described. Josiah Wedgwood revolutionised pottery in the 18th century with industrial methods and high-quality wares. His legacy is celebrated today at the Wedgwood Collection in Barlaston, which is operated by the V&A, one of our great national museums. Perhaps more than anywhere else, Staffordshire, with its pottery, is a compelling example of how culture and creativity go hand in hand. This Government are committed to supporting culture and to making sure that arts and cultural activities are no longer the preserve of a privileged few. As part of our plan for change, we are committed to ensuring that the arts and culture thrive in every part of the country, with more opportunities for more people to engage with, benefit from and work in the arts and culture where they live.
4 Feb 2025 · Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Ninth sitting) · Hansard source
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He asked you to give way.
4 Feb 2025 · Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Tenth sitting) · Hansard source
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I beg to move, That further consideration be now adjourned. I specifically thank you, Sir Edward, for being so patient in the Chair for so long. [Interruption.] Sorry, Sir Christopher.
23 Jan 2025 · Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Third sitting) · Hansard source
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rose—
21 Jan 2025 · Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Second sitting) · Hansard source
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We are supposed to be polite to each other.

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