Vikki Slade MP: speeches 2026

Speeches

• 15 Apr 2026 · Cost of Heating Oil · Hansard source

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  Will my hon. Friend give way?

• 15 Apr 2026 · Engagements · Hansard source

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  Q8. Will the Prime Minister join me in congratulating Dorset Wildlife Trust and the people of Dorset on their incredible efforts to secure Upton heath for nature, after part of this internationally designated site was put up for sale after decades-old planning consent was being used for mineral extraction? We worked around the clock to raise hundreds of thousands—secured just last night—to buy the site, but the value was inflated by the permission from the 1950s, which should never have applied to a site of special scientific interest. Will the Prime Minister demonstrate his Government’s commitment to nature by committing to legislate to extinguish historical planning consents without compensation on sites that achieve international environmental designation?

• 14 Apr 2026 · Crime and Policing Bill · Hansard source

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  Does the hon. Member agree that the vague wording could lead a police force to ban, for example, a Pride protest three months after a farmers’ protest? There is no clarity as to whether a protest is damaging; it is just that the protest is cumulative.

• 13 Apr 2026 · North Atlantic Submarine Activity · Hansard source

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  It is clear that under the current leadership, the US is no longer a reliable ally, threatening European colleagues and Commonwealth nations and undermining the very purpose of NATO. As we face increasing threats from Russia, we are reliant on the US for our nuclear deterrent, for our kit and for technology. Will the Minister share his plans to increase the prioritisation of British and European partners’ equipment, so that we can have some independence from the US and also boost our domestic market?

• 18 Mar 2026 · Student Loans · Hansard source

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  My son is studying for a degree in musical theatre performance, and is due to graduate in a few weeks’ time. That may be something that the hon. Member thinks has no value. My son will probably spend a certain amount of time working tables and trying to make a living while he progresses in his career. He would not be able to be of use to people as a future teacher, a future councillor, a future communications officer or, perhaps, a future politician without that degree. Is the hon. Member suggesting that his degree has no value?

• 18 Mar 2026 · Social Media: Children and Young People · Hansard source

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  I recently visited Lytchett Minster school and Queen Elizabeth’s school, and I held a session asking the young people about their views. Overwhelmingly, the children in sixth form supported a ban and the children in the younger part of the school did not. How will the Government tailor the questions for younger children and older children, so that we get a true understanding of the problem?

• 17 Mar 2026 · Child Maintenance Service · Hansard source

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  I congratulate the hon. Member for Bolton North East (Kirith Entwistle) on securing the debate, and I thank her and the Minister for allowing me time to speak. I will cut to the chase to make sure that the cases I want to reference are heard. I have raised this issue so many times in this House, and it is disappointing that we have only 30 minutes when so many Members wish to speak. Mark was abused by a partner, but was not believed until she attacked another man. He paid for his child, but was banned from seeing them for six years. It is only now that the court has redressed that injustice. Sarah was forced to undergo the indignity of DNA testing, despite years of her ex-partner seeking custody of their children. He now pays one penny a month in arrears. Nicola’s ex has taken to working abroad to avoid payments. His arrears are going to take 471 years to clear. After I spoke about this issue in the Chamber last month, 1.2 million people viewed my video and 5,000 people contacted me—mums and dads from across the country with harrowing stories. While most were women who recognised my constituent’s experience, hundreds of men also wrote to me about being denied access, losing money directly from their accounts and being pushed to breaking point. Some told me about men who had taken their lives after being overwhelmed by the CMS process. The House of Lords has concluded that parts of the CMS are no longer fit for purpose, and it is really time to make this change. We must make sure that people are not hiding income. It is not fair that resident parents are still having to pay their bills to their landlords and Tesco, but non-resident parents can deduct everything else before their child maintenance. That simply does not work. I know that colleagues across Parliament, from every party and every region, have called for this debate, but debate is not enough. We need to have a full consultation, to learn lessons from other countries that manage child support better, and, ultimately, to have a White Paper so we can create a positive legacy for separated families. I am holding a roundtable on Friday, not just with my own constituents but with all of these people who have asked me for help. We must change this system.

• 17 Mar 2026 · Meningitis Outbreak · Hansard source

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  Meningitis is one of the worst nightmares that parents worry about, particularly when their teenagers leave home and are living away. My constituent Vicki Purdey from Corfe Mullen had her life changed by meningitis two years ago, and she is still unable to walk unaided. She is calling for meningitis awareness in schools, particularly via PSHE lessons, and at university through freshers’ packs. Will the Secretary of State talk to his colleagues in the Department for Education to progress this, given the high-risk nature of those in this age group and the fact that they will not have been vaccinated as they were born before 2015?

• 16 Mar 2026 · Strait of Hormuz · Hansard source

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  The US President has suggested that the future of NATO may depend on countries falling into line with him, and supporting him on reopening this shipping channel. Does the Minister believe that it is acceptable for that type of pressure to be applied to sovereign nations, when there is still no evidence that this war has a legal basis, or that there is a plan for it?

• 12 Mar 2026 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Despite relying on public money, the financial accountability and value for money of multi-academy trusts seemingly goes unchallenged, with many leaders earning more than the Prime Minister. Aspirations, which has a school in Poole, spent money on Teslas for its central staff and is now cutting the curriculum to balance the books. Initio is cutting teaching assistants as special educational needs and disabilities increase, blaming reduced pupil numbers, while boosting its exec team. With the current consultation on the White Paper, now is a good time for a debate in Government time on the transparency and accountability of academies, so that we can drive out excess and they can get back to doing what they were supposed to do.

• 12 Mar 2026 · Trade with Europe · Hansard source

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  A sector in need of urgent attention is road haulage—moving not only goods but people across Europe for the purposes of tourism and education but also, importantly, film, TV, sport and music. My constituent Cameron works mainly in the music sector, supporting European tours and festivals. He tells me that the 90/180-day rule is leading to cancelled events and job losses, with some firms only employing dual nationals, using European firms rather than British ones or flying drivers home to swap out on longer journeys to avoid breaching the rules. Although the rules have existed since 2021, as the Secretary of State has told me, they have not been fully enforced. As part of the UK-EU reset, will he look at finding a way to help professional drivers keep the show on the road?

• 11 Mar 2026 · Royal Mail: Universal Service Obligation · Hansard source

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  I align myself with the stories that everybody has told. Constituents in Sturminster Marshall received two postal deliveries in the whole of January, and then Royal Mail tried to blame letters not being delivered on the flooding, which happened at the beginning of February, so I do not trust anything it says. I am concerned about my posties, who are literally being brought to tears on the doorstep. They are being told that they cannot have any overtime even though posts are being advertised, and they cannot complete their rounds. They have explained to me that they are being expected to manage their decline. What is the Minister doing to stand up for these frontline workers who are key to our communities?

• 11 Mar 2026 · Engagements · Hansard source

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  Q13. Two weeks ago it was confirmed that no extra time would be provided in the other place to allow the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to complete its course. If the will of this democratically elected House is blocked, it will be a travesty for democracy and, more importantly, a tragedy for all those who are relying on the legislation and have waited so long, not least my own dad. Will the Prime Minister act now to prevent the dismissal of the views of 76% of the public, especially as other parts of our country have approved legislation, and so secure a real legacy of social policy in this Parliament?

• 10 Mar 2026 · Courts and Tribunals Bill · Hansard source

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  There is absolutely no doubt that long delays in criminal court shake public confidence, and I can only imagine the distress of victims forced to wait years for justice. In my role as an MP, I have supported those who have experienced repeat offences as they wait for stalkers to face justice. It is tragic that cases collapse because victims cannot face reliving their experience, or witnesses’ memories fade. It is not just victims who are harmed by these delays. Defendants, who are innocent until proven guilty under the law, are also having their life suspended, and those defendants deserve fairness. I am deeply worried about the income thresholds for legal aid in the magistrates court. It is ridiculous that someone in an entry-level minimum wage job will not automatically be eligible. How is that justice? Do the Government really believe that unless someone can afford to fund their defence, their freedom should be at stake? I hope that if this Bill passes Second Reading, the Government will put forward some substantial changes. At the heart of my concern about this Bill is the fundamental shift in the role of the magistrate and the bench division. A typical magistrates trial lasts five to six hours; a similar case in the Crown court is likely to take three to four days. That is for good reason, as more legal direction ensures that victims and defendants understand the process and upholds the integrity of justice. I am deeply concerned that if complex cases carrying sentences of up to 24 months in prison are passed over to the magistrates court, they, too, will become longer, creating even bigger backlogs, and just shifting the problem somewhere else. What assessment has been carried out—I have asked this on several occasions—of the capacity of magistrates to sit in multi-day trials? Those trials require attendance day after day, so younger working magistrates will be far less likely to be able to take part in them. The Magistrates Association has deemed that 17,000 magistrates are needed, and we have only 14,000. Previous recruitment drives have not generated enough applicants. Where is the evidence that our communities can find these extra people, who can give this extra time? The other problem is the age of magistrates. While there are some notable exceptions in the Chamber, 81% of magistrates are over 50. That is much higher than the average age of a judge. This proposal widens the demographic gap between the court and those facing justice. Juries provide broader diversity in age and background. This Bill is a real diversion. We have an insufficient number of magistrates now; where is the evidence that people will be willing and able to fulfil this critical and increasingly difficult role, in which they can take someone’s liberty for up to two years? That is a huge responsibility for somebody who is not legally trained. Speaking of legally trained people, I have raised the issue of access to legal advisers before. The Lord Chancellor has indicated that there will be more money for legal advisers, but that was before this proposal came forward. I raised the matter after seeing the issues locally. I see no evidence that enough legal advisers are willing to work at this lowest rung of the court system to support magistrates. I also wanted to raise the issue of the processes in the magistrates courts. One of my constituents, having been denied the right to go to the Crown court, has been told that she has just 27 minutes to plead her case, which she feels is a denial of her rights. We are talking about cases in which liberty is at risk, and a criminal conviction could lead to the loss of employment or travel rights, and could have a reputational impact for years to come, so we really must consider the effect of this significant move on both victims and defendants. I wonder whether the Lord Chancellor can tell us who said that “juries are representative of local populations”, and “a filter for prejudice”; that “Criminal trials without juries are a bad idea”, and that the Government should not fix backlogs by abandoning a “valuable tradition for short term benefit” in either-way trials.

• 10 Mar 2026 · Digital ID: Public Consultation · Hansard source

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  Can the Chief Secretary tell us what happens if the 100-person panel concludes that the scheme will not have the trust, confidence and support of people? Can he confirm that digital efficiencies such as using emails, not letters, and automatically chasing up medicals in the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will not be delayed for this project?

• 9 Mar 2026 · Immigration Policy · Hansard source

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  Alongside last week’s announcements was the most welcome announcement that BNO passport holders will not be required to hold B2 language qualifications, but Hongkongers resident in Wimborne are really concerned about the income threshold. Can the Minister confirm whether that is also being exempted?

• 9 Mar 2026 · Support for NEET Young People · Hansard source

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  MYTIME Young Carers in Dorset works to identify and support young people with caring responsibilities, as without information on their whereabouts, it is hard to target them for initiatives. In a recent national youth voice survey, one in three young carers aged 16 to 18 reported that they were not in education, employment or training. That is eight times the rate of the rest of their peers. What steps is the Department taking to level the playing field for young carers alongside their peers, so that they can fulfil their potential?

• 4 Mar 2026 · Ministry of Defence · Hansard source

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  Does the Chair of the Defence Committee share my concern that our continued reduction in numbers in the armed forces potentially undermines our ability to maintain our NATO commitments? Does he also share my concern about the huge numbers of people interested in joining the armed forces and the significant time lag in their ability to join, which is leading to many of them pulling out?

• 3 Mar 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  T10. Last week, the BBC reported the death of Palestinian child Jad Jadallah, shot in a west bank refugee camp while Israeli soldiers watched him bleed to death. Violence against children is increasing around the world, including in Ukraine, Sudan and now Iran. What diplomatic action is the Foreign Secretary taking to prevent child death and protect surviving children from the lifelong trauma of war?

• 2 Mar 2026 · School SEND Provision · Hansard source

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  Unlike maintained schools, independent special educational needs settings are not required to respond to consultation requests from local authorities, leading to long delays, children being out of school for extended periods, and conflict when parents believe that their children are not in the right setting. What assurance can the Secretary of State give parents in Mid Dorset and North Poole and elsewhere that any school receiving public money will be required to work with local authorities?

• 2 Mar 2026 · Middle East · Hansard source

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  I want to go back to the original attacks. Last year, Trump told us that he was attacking Iran to destroy any possibility of it getting a nuclear weapon, and told us afterwards that he had “obliterated” the threat for years to come. Given that was the justification for the attacks last week, and now that Israel has said that they had been planned for months, their urgency seems questionable. What can the Prime Minister tell us about determining the facts around the justification and around the presence of nuclear materials, so that the basis of any future action is clear?

• 23 Feb 2026 · Schools White Paper: Every Child Achieving and Thriving · Hansard source

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  I welcome the language of “belonging”, particularly as the parent of a SEND child who once said to me, “They don’t want me here, do they, mum?” before he was put in specialist provision. We cannot have a broader and more inclusive curriculum if schools are facing cuts, and two of my local schools—Queen Elizabeth and Corfe Hills schools—are facing cuts of £700,000 or £800,000 next year. One is cutting subjects, and the other is slashing teaching assistants and support staff while the trust charges it £750,000 for central support. What can the Secretary of State do to ensure that more money reaches teachers and children, and is not eaten up by executives in trusts?

• 11 Feb 2026 · Police Grant Report · Hansard source

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  I want to follow on from the hon. Member for Bournemouth East (Tom Hayes) in asking the Policing Minister again: would you agree that it is about time we got—

• 11 Feb 2026 · Police Grant Report · Hansard source

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  I can only apologise, Madam Chair. Would my hon. Friend agree that the Policing Minister is long overdue in replying to the calls from Dorset MPs and the police and crime commissioner in November last year to look at the seasonality issue, because we simply cannot go on?

• 10 Feb 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  T7. Much of Dorset is blessed with solid-wall, thatched cottages—you must visit, Mr Speaker. That includes our National Trust village of Shapwick, where Slate cottage sat empty for two years because it would cost £100,000 to bring it up to the minimum energy efficiency standards, and the National Trust just could not do it. It has now sold the cottage, which is a real loss to the community. What will the Minister do to help landlords such as the National Trust to resolve this problem?