The right hon. Gentleman is right to invite Members to watch that video to become more informed on what I know is an issue of considerable concern across the House. We recognise the profound, life-changing impact that these harms have had on individuals and their families. As he knows, we are carefully considering the Hughes report, but I understand the frustration and the timescales involved. I will ask Ministers to update the right hon. Gentleman and, indeed, anyone else who is interested in this matter.
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend; she has been an assiduous and tireless campaigner on this matter, and she rightly continues to raise it. As I said to the right hon. Member for New Forest East (Sir Julian Lewis), I appreciate the frustration in this regard and the time that it has taken. I do not know why it has taken so long, but rather than meet me, I think it would be more useful if she and perhaps the right hon. Gentleman met Ministers to see whether this can be sorted out.
I pay tribute to the right hon. Gentleman, who has also been a passionate and consistent supporter of animal welfare, and echo his words about Sir David Amess. I will look out for the ten-minute rule Bill, and I hope the House gives it support. I will give some thought to what the Government might do to assist it, but without giving the right hon. Gentleman any false hope, I will say that we are looking at whether there is scope for addressing wildlife issues in a third Session. Even if the Government do not bring forward something on this topic, I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will find a way of attaching it to anything that has the word “wildlife” in it.
It is fantastic news that Carlisle will host the 2027 European championships of the International Federation of Celtic Wrestling. It will do two things: people will learn more about the sport, I hope; and, in visiting, they will learn more about the fantastic city of Carlisle, which I am sure will be brought wider benefits than just the sport itself. I will ensure that my hon. Friend gets the meeting with the sports Minister she requests so that even after the championships have finished there is continuation of acknowledgement of the sport and the impact it can have.
I believe that the best way forward for the right hon. Gentleman is to make his case directly to Ministers. He could wait for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs questions, which I think are next week. If he wants a longer and greater opportunity to do that, I will arrange for him to meet the fisheries Minister.
Let me join the House in wishing my hon. Friend a happy birthday. On leasehold reform, we are committed to ending the feudal leasehold system and bringing forward legislation to deliver that as quickly as possible; as the Prime Minister said at conference, it is a priority for him. That is about implementing the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and going further. If my hon. Friend wishes to begin making a strong case before any further legislation comes forward, I suggest that an Adjournment or Westminster Hall debate would be well attended.
I am very concerned to hear that, and I simply hope it is not true, but I will go away and investigate. There is a House of Commons Commission meeting on Monday, where perhaps we can raise this question to get reassurances. The hon. Gentleman underlines the importance of making sure that we get on with restoration and renewal and address some of these issues. There is a huge fire risk in this place. That is not over-egging it—there just is that risk. I hope that what he raises is not true, but I will take the matter away, think about it and find out whether it is true.
It is vital that those safeguards are put in place. If my hon. Friend wishes to discuss her concerns with Ministers, I will help her to arrange a meeting. I will also bear in mind what she has said, because the Government are doing important work not only in trying to support hospitality, but crucially in trying to get young people into work. If there is a need for a statement, I will make sure that one is delivered.
The Government are committed to doing everything we can to support people with the cost of living crisis. That includes the cost of housing, and making sure that we get rid of the problem of homelessness and do not add to it. If the hon. Lady seeks a debate on these matters, she can put those points to the relevant Minister. I have to say, though, that rent controls are not, in the Government’s view, the panacea that she seems to suggest.
My hon. Friend, as ever, is a champion for working people in his constituency. The points that he raises, which I know about from reports from my constituency, are deeply concerning. As he points out, the Employment Rights Act 2025 aims to prevent unscrupulous fire and rehire practices and guarantees fundamental protections for working people. Let me be clear: it is unacceptable for any employer to attempt to degrade workers’ terms and conditions before statutory protections come into effect. I hope that employers, including Taylor Wimpey, hear his comments today, because I can assure them that if they do not, he will continue to make them.
The total funding settlement for the police for 2026-27 provides up to £21.2 billion for police forces, for counter-terrorism policing and for wider systems, but it is important that that money finds its way to the frontline, particularly in town centres. What the hon. Gentleman has said will echo with other town centres. It is important that we use that money to get extra neighbourhood officers on patrol. I hope that his local council and his local police force have heard what he has said, because they have a crucial role to play. If they are getting the resources that they need, there are no excuses; they need to get on and use them to make sure that people feel safe in their town and village centres.
The Government’s position on reparations—I saw what happened, in particular with the petition that came from Jamaica—has not changed. However, I will take away my hon. Friend’s request to see whether the FCDO can provide a Minister, because it is important that we work together, even if some people will not necessarily want to hear what the Government have to say.
I am a big fan of the Select Committee process, but it does need people, when they give evidence, to take part in good faith and give good responses to Members’ questions. Let me take this issue away to the relevant Department and to think about it. However, if the hon. Gentleman wants to make his case at length, a Westminster Hall debate or an Adjournment debate would be the way to do that.
I certainly join my hon. Friend in thanking the staff at Buckingham primary school and nursery, as well as teaching staff across the country for their hard work and commitment. In my constituency, I have seen at first hand the importance of outdoor play and outdoor learning, and I agree with him that it is so important. I encourage him to apply for a Westminster Hall debate, so that he and other Members can highlight the benefits of outdoor play. I think it is an important matter.
The Government have already made some important steps in that regard. I am not going to speculate, but the cost of living, and the cost of energy and heating, is certainly at the forefront of the Chancellor’s mind. If the hon. Lady wants a meeting with the relevant Minister to draw attention to the particular issues affecting her constituency, I will help her to arrange one.
The only way to bring energy bills down for good is by taking control through renewables to deliver energy security, with clean, home-grown power. We have already secured £100 billion of private investment in clean power since the election, and secured enough clean energy projects to power 23 million homes. We are supporting workers through the transition to clean energy, including by doubling the number of clean energy jobs across the UK by the end of the decade. I am sure that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will want to keep the House updated on what is a very important matter.
The hon. Gentleman raises an important matter, which affects a number of constituencies. The recent introduction of the fuel finder creates greater price transparency and increases pressure on retailers to price their fuel fairly, but the Competition and Markets Authority is also using that data to monitor how fuel prices vary between different areas, to ensure that competition in the fuel market is working properly. I know that what is happening in rural areas is of particular concern to the Government.
We believe that everyone should have the chance to develop their skills, no matter their stage of life. The adult skills fund is helping adults across the country access learning that can transform their prospects. I encourage my hon. Friend, who is a powerful advocate on these matters, to apply for a Westminster Hall debate so that we can explore what further steps can be taken to promote lifelong learning.
If the hon. Member for Glastonbury and Somerton (Sarah Dyke) is seeking a meeting with Ministers in a cross-party spirit, perhaps the hon. Gentleman will want to join her.
I commend my hon. Friend for the work that she describes, because ending poverty is not just a noble aim; it is something for which this Government have great sympathy. We are taking action in this area through our child poverty strategy, which will lift half a million children out of poverty by 2030, but as she acknowledges, there are still lessons to be learned and further progress to be made. As I announced when I set out the future business, we have a Budget in a couple of weeks’ time, and there will be ample opportunity in the Budget debate for my hon. Friend to make her case.
It is obviously really important that we get reorganisation right, which is why the Housing Secretary has withdrawn or paused decisions in 14 areas. We will set out the next steps as soon as possible, because I understand the frustration across the House on this issue.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the importance of local radio in our communities, and the importance of trusted news sources. We have launched our local media strategy, which increases community radio funding to £1 million per year. I appreciate that not everyone will be able to benefit from that at this point in time, but I encourage her to apply for a Westminster Hall debate to see whether we can further expand on her theme, because I am sure it will resonate with a lot of Members across the House.
The hon. Gentleman will know that this issue is a priority for the Prime Minister, not least because of his experiences when he was the Mayor of Manchester. We are very keen to see schemes unblocked so that we get new homes, but we want to explore all sorts of other possibilities as well. Should the hon. Gentleman seek an Adjournment debate or a Westminster Hall debate, perhaps he could get the latest from Housing Ministers and the Minister for Homelessness about what further action is envisaged by the Government.
As my hon. Friend will know, this year we launched the National Year of Reading 2026 to encourage good habits and to address the long-term decline in reading enjoyment. I thank the “Ask Me What I’m Reading” campaign for helping us to achieve that. In answer to his question, I am currently reading “The Generals” by Iain Dale, a collection of essays on leadership and generals. It is about how to improve leadership, and when I have finished it I am going to lend it to the Leader of the Opposition.
It is really important that we hear the voices of local people, and that they are not just heard, but can actually influence the process. At the same time, as the right hon. Member points out, the Prime Minister is absolutely committed to further devolution and making sure that decisions are made closer to where they have effect, rather than coming out from some centralised system or centralised planning infrastructure process. If she wants to seek an Adjournment debate or a Westminster Hall debate about planning, she can put that to the relevant Minister and see the direction of travel.
We are committed to ensuring that leaseholders, including those living in retirement housing, are protected from unfair and unreasonable practices, and we are giving consideration to the recommendations of the older people’s housing taskforce, including further work on resale values. I will make sure that my hon. Friend gets the meeting he seeks with the Planning Minister, but this theme has been raised before—I am not sure if it is exactly the same issue, but the issues are similar enough—and perhaps one meeting with the Planning Minister would allow all these issues to be aired.
The hon. Gentleman may want to look to an Adjournment debate or a Westminster Hall debate to make that specific point about his constituency, which he is justified in doing. The Government are providing more for the police settlement for this year. As we have stated on many occasions, we are very keen to ensure that rural areas and rural forces get their fair share. Ultimately, however, how the infrastructure of the force is either maintained or stays open is a matter for local police and crime commissioners.
As the Prime Minister has made clear, he is very proud to be a co-operator. As my hon. Friend points out, we have a Co-operative Prime Minister, who has said that he wants to embed the principles and values of the co-operative movement into what the Government are doing, which I think is an important step forward. I will give some thought to whether we can find time for a debate on this matter, because I think it affects what the Government are striving to do in all sorts of areas.
The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to call out inappropriate or damaging practice, and I hope such companies have heard what he has to say. The Government are committed not just to bringing forward that legislation, but to continuing this process to support people who are caught out by this practice. Therefore, there will be debates on it from time to time, but I will also give some thought to whether we need a Government debate outside that process.
This is a really serious matter, and my hon. Friend is right to bring it to the Floor of the House, because it is of huge concern to the families affected. She said that she had written to the Secretary of State and the relevant Minister. I am not sure whether she has had a response, but I will make sure that she does get one, and then we will see whether there needs to be a wider conversation across Government, or if it is a matter that the Department of Health can get a grip on.
The hon. Gentleman will have heard what the Prime Minister had to say about these matters at our conference, and indeed outside the conference. They are of real importance to him, and I do hope that we can make progress on the wider issue of social care with all parties across the House. With respect, I say to the hon. Gentleman that, following business questions, there will be a statement on social care, and he may want to put his question directly to the Minister.
I absolutely join my hon. Friend in congratulating Dick Cole, the leader of the Party for Cornwall, on this remarkable achievement. Whatever our political differences, nearly three decades of service to his party and to public life is a significant contribution and one that deserves recognition across the House. I wish him well for the future, and I would express that by asking my hon. Friend to take back my best wishes and to use the appropriate language, because I am sure he pronounces it better than I would.
The hon. Gentleman, as I have said before, is a strong advocate for his constituents. I pay tribute to him for that, and he is right to raise this matter. I know that DEFRA takes these matters very seriously indeed and I give him my word that we will contact the Department after this session to help ensure he gets a response to his letter. The case he raises is concerning. I trust him to get on and deal with the council himself. I hope that it treats the Member of Parliament with respect and gives him the answers to the questions he asks; I expect that it has heard his words today.
I am very tempted, but I am rather frightened that they will retain me as a fossil if I go! I pay tribute the people my hon. Friend mentioned for everything that is happening; I wish them well and thank them. She allows me to say what I have said before on these occasions, which is that volunteers are so important. They are the golden thread that runs through our communities. This is a remarkable achievement.
I agree with the hon. Lady that for those affected by MLD, it can be a devastating and life-changing disease. She is absolutely right to say that early diagnosis is essential and highly effective at halting the disease. It is important that every Government Department, but especially the Department of Health and Social Care, looks at ways of investing early on to make sure that there is not even greater cost and tragedy further down the line. I am happy to try to facilitate a meeting with the relevant Minister so that she can discuss the matter further.
My hon. Friend has been a tireless campaigner for the Ukrainian cause, and I pay tribute to her for that. I will absolutely join her in thanking Ewan and his team for their generous support for the people of Ukraine and their remarkable work. I pay tribute to all those involved in the hope and healing centre for their incredible efforts in supporting children in the most horrific circumstances, and I thank her for the work that she is doing.
I advise the hon. Gentleman to seek an Adjournment debate or a Westminster Hall debate on these matters. He is right to raise the concerns of his local constituency, and the opportunity to put directly to Ministers, in an expanded way, the concerns he has raised with me today.
My hon. Friend is a great advocate for her constituents and I join her in paying tribute to Hayley Archer. She is absolutely right that her constituents have a right to see improvements in this vital area, yet too often in business questions we hear about Reform-led councils who are simply letting down the people they are supposed to be representing. I hope Derbyshire county council has heard what my hon. Friend has said and takes action urgently to deliver for SEND families.
The hon. Lady raises very important matters for her constituency that echo what is happening across the country. We have announced the first road safety strategy in over a decade. It will saves thousands of lives over the next decade as we implement a plan to reduce deaths and serious injuries by around two thirds by 2035, but that is cold comfort to people who are caught up in these tragedies. The Government are also keen to reduce the red tape to ensure decisions can be made locally and quickly. I will raise the matter with the relevant Minister and get a response for her.
I am sure the whole House will join me in sending condolences to the family of Councillor Dave Parkins and in thanking him for his years of public service. I thank his family for sharing him with a life in politics and a life of public service. The commitment of our local councillors and public servants is vital to the success of our constituencies. I thank my hon. Friend for raising this today. I send our condolences to the family of Councillor Parkins, but also our thanks.