Rejoining the EU
I am incredibly close to bringing this debate to an end, but I will give way.
Showing every spoken contribution, including 12,832 under 12 words. Hide short remarks
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Rejoining the EU
It is always worth taking something seriously when such divergent Members of this place agree. I am sure that that will be recorded in Hansard and was heard by those of us in the Cabinet Office.
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Rejoining the EU
As has been pointed out, I have 42 minutes, so why not take one more intervention?
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Rejoining the EU
I think it is clear to anyone who has listened to the debate over the last couple of hours that there is no lack of debate in this place or, in fact, anywhere else, on this important matter. That is why we are rightly looking at options for the future relationship to strengthen the country’s prosperity and security.
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Rejoining the EU
This is my final sentence: Europe is our neighbourhood—
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Rejoining the EU
I do, but I only have one sentence left, so I will give way.
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Rejoining the EU
The hon. Lady invites me to speculate; I think that the Prime Minister was quite clear this afternoon. I will finish by referring to something that the Liberal Democrat spokesperson, the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Dr Pinkerton), said, which is that Europe is our neighbourhood. As he said, geography matters: the EU is our closest partner and largest market—there are only 21 miles between France and England, and we share land borders as well. A stronger, deeper relationship is in Britain’s best interests.
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The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Calculation of CBAM Rate and Determination of Carbon Price Relief) Regulations 2026
Can the Minister explain why the Government are proceeding with the removal of free allowances when there is no contingency plan if the UK’s CBAM fails to prevent carbon leakage?
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Employment Support: Young People
21. What steps he is taking to support young people into employment.
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Employment Support: Young People
Youth hubs such as that based in Inclusion Education in Basingstoke provide fantastic opportunities for young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, to learn and to work. Could the Secretary of State say a bit more about how youth hubs are helping to deliver the youth guarantee so that young people can realise their potential? Having heard that the Minister for Employment opened the youth hub in Uxbridge, may I ask whether the Secretary of State or the Minister might consider a visit to Basingstoke youth hub to discuss young people’s challenges and opportunities?
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Baby Loss Awareness Week
I represent a large chunk of Morecambe Bay, and I will never forget the 2015 Kirkup report into maternity safety, published just one year after the birth of my first child. I am speaking in this debate because too many babies are still dying. I have met too many bereaved families, whether that is baby Ida’s parents, the constituents who had a medical termination due to a fatal foetal abnormality, the twins who lost their mum in childbirth, or the women who I speak to regularly who have lost pregnancies at all stages. I support my colleagues’ comments on the Amos review, the Ockenden reports and the national maternity and neonatal taskforce. In her closing remarks, I would like to hear how the Secretary of State will drive the changes needed, as outlined in those reports. I would first direct her to the submission from all-party parliamentary group on patient safety to the Amos review. I would particularly direct the Secretary of State to the Japanese system of no-fault compensation for cerebral palsy, which gives automatic compensation to parents whose baby gets a brain injury, but does not prevent them taking further legal action. That has reduced costs, but more importantly, it has reduced the number of cases of profound cerebral palsy, because it has standardised reporting and learning processes. I briefly flag that health is much wider than the healthcare we receive. The truth is that right now racism and poverty are killing babies and mums, and we need to do something about it. Those of us who are interested in patient safety talk a lot about culture. Culture is simply the way that we do things around here, but it can have a profound impact on safety, particularly the psychological safety of staff in raising concerns, which in turn affects the safety of services. Senior leaders and ward managers need to be able to welcome concerns and act swiftly on them, but unfortunately we too often see a culture that makes life difficult for staff when they speak out, and managers and leaders who do not take responsibility. One of the reasons that I welcome the Hillsborough law—the Public Office (Accountability) Bill—is that it changes the legal risk from one where honesty is seen as legally risky, to one where honesty in the event of a tragedy is now legally enforceable. Further on culture, I highlight my worries that midwifery education and culture in some instances still promote normal birth ideology—I have seen that too often. In no other area do we expect bodies to work perfectly, and yet there are still some sections that think people can think their way to a natural birth, and I have seen the harm of that too often. I will speak about miscarriages—I have left this until the end because, to be honest, even after nine years a pregnancy loss can still sting. Miscarriage is the most common complication in early pregnancy. There are about a quarter of a million miscarriages every year, but even that number is not exact; we do not know the true prevalence of miscarriage, which means that we are missing opportunities for data-led service planning and vital research. Miscarriage is really common, and I hope that the openness that we are developing as a nation can help women to recover, while also recognising that it can have a severe impact on their mental health. Data from Tommy’s shows us that months after a loss many women have symptoms of anxiety, depression and even PTSD. Women who have experienced a miscarriage are 3.8 times more likely to die by suicide. I am not saying that there is a direct causal link, but there is an association that needs to be looked at. I am proud of what we have done as a Government by recognising baby loss and the toll that a miscarriage can take. We have heard about some of the problems with baby loss certificates, and I hope that that is addressed. It is wrong that—most of the time—women still have to go through three miscarriages before they get care and support, so I urge the Secretary of State to fully roll out the Tommy’s-graded model of miscarriage care. It is essential that women get an appropriate level of support, information and treatment when miscarriage happens to them. I want to give people some hope as well—I know that some very recent experiences have been cited in the Chamber today. Last week, I was reading a novel by Katharine Schellman. She has a line about the loss of a spouse, but it perfectly reflects my feelings a decade after pregnancy loss: “It was still there, but quieter, a sad memory instead of a broken heart.” I want to reassure colleagues that they can go some way to mending that broken heart. Finally, I thank the people supporting families who lose a baby. I especially thank Matilda’s Mission, a baby loss charity that works in my constituency and that every year remembers baby Collinge. It supports so many families at the absolute worst time. It gives them a community who understand them and support them, and that is what we should have for every family.
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Employment Support: Young People
14. What steps he is taking to support young people into employment.
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Employment Support: Young People
Just last week, I had the privilege of visiting Derwentside college in my constituency to see the amazing work it does in linking to employers in a range of sectors across the region, ensuring that every qualification offered can lead to real employment opportunities across Durham and the region. From care to construction, there are real opportunities to tackle the issues for young people currently not in education, employment or training. Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating the college on the work it does, and will he join me on a visit to see that incredible work in practice?
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High Streets: Amber Valley
There are few occasions in this place when Members universally agree, but recognising the importance of town centres to our communities is one such occasion. That is why I am pleased to bring forward this debate, and why I am glad that the Government are prioritising high street regeneration. The sad truth is that successive Governments have overseen the managed decline of high streets in former industrial and mining towns such as mine. My constituents are fed up with it, and so am I. I recently conducted a high-streets survey in my three towns of Alfreton, Heanor and Ripley. The results echoed what I hear time and again on the doorstep: residents are frustrated by high streets they describe as “run down”, “untidy”, “drab” and “unloved”. Many respondents felt that there were too many gambling shops, barbers and vape shops, and not enough of the businesses that help to create vibrant town centres, such as clothes shops, restaurants, chemists, greengrocers, children’s activity centres, farm shops and, in particular, independent local businesses. The Minister will be pleased to know that my constituents also proposed solutions to these issues: stronger measures to allow them to take over empty or derelict buildings; measures that equip small businesses to compete on a level playing field against big multinationals; reductions in business rates; crackdowns on unlawful business; measures to encourage variety and competition; increased pedestrianised areas; requirements for shopfronts to be cleaned up, repainted and repaired; and of course the famous one—free parking in the town centres. From my side, I am partnering with local business leaders to set up an Alfreton town centre taskforce, and I am working with Ripley Trader’s Association and Heanor Vision to discuss how we can address those concerns and implement some of my constituents’ ideas. I would be grateful if the Minister could address those ideas in his remarks and outline the very welcome steps that I know he is taking to tackle some of these persistent issues. The Government’s commitment to giving communities the powers and resources that they need to drive this change forward is welcome. It builds on the excellent work of my town and parish councils, including the beautiful flower displays that bring pride and colour to our high streets in Amber Valley, but civic pride alone cannot undo years of neglect. Successive Governments have overlooked former industrial towns and left the east midlands facing an estimated £11.4 billion investment gap. Amber Valley needs meaningful investment to modernise our high streets and ensure that they are not just more attractive, but sustainable for the future. Last night, my youngest son and I went to the cinema to see “The Uprising”, a film that I would highly recommend. In Amber Valley, the real uprising took place in 1817, when men left Pentrich village in what became the last armed uprising in England, driven by a feeling of being overlooked and taken for granted. Nearly a century later, fed-up miners at Alfreton colliery led the national coal strike of 1912, helping to secure the first minimum wage for coalminers. Those defining moments are still commemorated on information boards and in our town centres at Ripley’s fish and chip shop and Alfreton’s Moot Bar. Why, Madam Deputy Speaker, do I recount those events this evening? Because the people of Amber Valley still feel that our communities are overlooked—not for lack of ambition, effort or ideas, but because investment has too often gone elsewhere. The determination to turn things around is clear. Our borough council, town and parish councils, businesses and community groups have devised projects that can create jobs, strengthen our town centres and grow the local economy. I will champion them every step of the way, but they need investment to become a reality. Let me turn to some of them now. First, as the Minister will be well aware, I have been pressing for Government funding to support the borough in delivering an ambitious regeneration of Alfreton town centre. The vision is of a revamped pedestrianised area around Institute Lane, outside seating in Severn Square, and a lively daytime and night-time offering. The potential of this was brought home to me recently, when I was lucky enough to be invited to Alfreton Town football club to meet some of the brilliant volunteers who keep the club running. If my club, Everton, is the “people’s club”, then Alfreton Town FC should certainly be known as the community’s club. The atmosphere, players, volunteers, staff and fans were phenomenal, and I came away in awe of them and their sense of togetherness. As I travelled home, I reflected on how a revitalised town centre could become an integral part of the matchday experience: people could have breakfast at the Naughty But Nice café before kick-off, celebrate a victory in Severn Square, or warm up over a coffee with Dominique at the Hive Lounge after a cold winter’s match. I hope the Minister will outline the support and investment that the Government can provide to bring that project to life. It would make a tangible difference to my constituents, and would show that Amber Valley’s future is worth investing in. A second project I am supporting is the regeneration of the Premier Electric theatre in Somercotes. Built in 1912, it has served as a theatre, cinema and bingo hall, but after many years, it stands empty and decaying. However, its potential remains enormous. With the right support, it could once again provide a home for local theatre, live music, cinema screenings, and arts activities. It could become a hub for community life and a catalyst for regeneration. Somercotes parish council and Save the Premier community group deserve great credit for developing that vision. However, as a planning application that seeks permission to demolish the building is due to be considered in the coming months, time is short. The immediate priority is securing £21,000 for a feasibility study to assess the building’s future and unlock access to larger funding streams. I say gently to the Minister that if there is £21,000 to be found down the back of the green Benches this evening, it could make all the difference. For Whitehall, it is a modest sum; for Somercotes, it could determine whether a valued part of our community’s heritage is preserved or lost forever. In a similar vein, there is a project in Heanor that I have discussed with the Minister. Amber Valley borough council brought forward an ambitious vision for the regeneration of Heanor town centre, but that vision had to be scaled back when funding from the previous Government fell significantly short of what was required. Rather than abandon the project altogether, the borough adapted, contributed £1 million of council resources, and ensured that regeneration could still proceed. The result is a transformed marketplace, and the beautiful restoration of the historic grammar school building. The overall project, however, remains unfinished. The borough council still owns the adjacent science block, which was originally intended to be transformed into a cinema. Crucially, that cinema would have generated the revenue needed to cover the running costs and long-term maintenance of the grammar. Instead, the science block remains vacant and derelict, standing as an ugly reminder of the gap between what the community expected and what could ultimately be delivered. I know that some people in Heanor are angry, and I understand why. They were presented with a bold vision for their town, including extensive community use of the grammar, but when the funding was reduced and the science block regeneration could not proceed, the income stream that would have sustained the grammar was lost. As a result, difficult decisions had to be made. To secure the future of the building, a substantial proportion of the grammar is now to be occupied by a long-term tenant, whose rental income will safeguard this important heritage asset for generations to come. That is a sensible and responsible solution, but it is not the outcome that residents were initially led to expect, and it means the degree of community usage is more limited than was originally envisaged. I am angry too—not at Amber Valley borough council, which did everything possible to save the project, nor at those who have made difficult but necessary decisions to secure the building’s future. I am angry that a community with ambition, a credible plan and strong local support was forced to accept a diminished version of its vision because the funding required to deliver it was cut by the last Government. I am angry that local people were left with a restored building, but without the fully realised community asset that they expected. I am angry that the council was forced to choose between scrapping part of the vision or risking losing it altogether. However, we now have an opportunity to put that right. Heanor is exactly the kind of place the newly announced derelict buildings fund was created to help. The borough council owns the building; the plans exist; the local support is there; the need is clear. Like my son and I, families have to travel outside of Amber Valley to see films, because there is not a single cinema in the three towns in the constituency. What is required now is the investment to bring the science block back into use, complete the regeneration of the site and finally deliver the full potential that the people of Heanor deserve. I ask the Minister: how can communities access the derelict buildings fund or similar support? And what will he do to ensure that places that have too often been overlooked, like Amber Valley, are prioritised for investment? As the Minister is aware, the recent closure of Denby Pottery, which had operated in my constituency for over 200 years, has caused a significant economic shock, with the loss of 350 jobs in the constituency and the loss of around 250,000 visitors a year to the pottery village. Its closure has been deeply felt by my constituents, and investment in our high streets would go a long way. It would support Amber Valley communities and businesses and help us to rebuild from this social and economic scarring. Now is the time for the Government to step in and show my constituents that Amber Valley matters. I know that the Prime Minister understands areas like mine and wants to put them at the heart of his agenda. With the high street strategy imminent, I therefore hope that Amber Valley will finally receive the long overdue investment that it deserves.
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Topical Questions
We know that increased volumes and more complex cases have led to increased response times, and we are working hard to bring those down by deploying additional resources, strengthening oversight and improving case management. I agree that this is not acceptable. We are working to improve the situation.
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Topical Questions
As I have said, we recognise that response times are not good enough, and I am putting extra resources in to improve them. Of course, if my hon. Friend wants to raise particular cases with me, I will look into them and ensure that she gets a speedy outcome.
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International Update
I commend the Prime Minister on what has been a flying start on the world stage, and I welcome news of a better, stronger deal with Europe that will cut costs and cut bills this winter. It is very clear to us, on the evidence that we have received, that the deal we inherited has left red tape strangling our businesses in general, and strangling small businesses in particular. The EU’s “Made in Europe” proposals risk destroying any ambitions to reindustrialise our country. To avoid that peril, we will have to get serious with the EU in tackling unfair competition from China. Will the Prime Minister reserve the right to introduce new tariffs on unfairly subsidised imports from China, so that British and European businesses have a fair and level playing field on which to compete?
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The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Calculation of CBAM Rate and Determination of Carbon Price Relief) Regulations 2026
I was not in the House in 2021—I think the hon. Gentleman was—when the Conservative Government introduced the emissions trading scheme, which introduced the carbon levy on UK producers of fertilisers and other such produce. Is the hon. Gentleman against the ETS now, and if so did he speak against it at the time, or is he just against levelling the playing field for UK producers? What has changed?
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National Security
I thank the Minister for her statement. Recently, constituents have been contacting me with concerns about self-appointed uniformed groups, sometimes masked, patrolling our local area. This is becoming a nationwide phenomenon. They tell me that it is frightening and that it is stopping them going about their daily lives. Does the Home Secretary feel that the national guidance and legislation around these self-appointed patrol groups is sufficient, given that such behaviour falls outside normal protest?
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Baby Loss Awareness Week
My daughter is a rainbow baby. It is amazing that we managed to have her, but the hurt and the pain to get to that position, when you have lost children in between, is absolutely unbelievable. Does the hon. Gentleman agree with me, based on what he has just said, that it is so important that after that first loss, as Tommy’s has suggested, intervention and professional support is given immediately, both in terms of investigating and understanding the cause and in terms of mental health support?
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Baby Loss Awareness Week
I commend so many colleagues for their powerful contributions to this debate. I want to talk briefly about three things: first, awareness, which is such an essential first step; secondly, the significant uplift and support that we need to see for bereaved parents; and thirdly, mental health support, which should always be there when people are trying for a baby, or when they lose a baby during pregnancy or during or after birth. I speak with a bit of relevant personal experience: I now have three beautiful children, but before I got pregnant with my eldest, I had three miscarriages. Three times my husband and I went through a surge of hope, excitement and nerves, the early planning for life with a baby, and sharing the news with a few close friends and family, only for it to end in disappointment. I was really knocked by it each time and was really unsettled, as there was no explanation for why it had happened. I was really frustrated by all the people who just said, “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine,” because I did not believe that I would be fine. I did not understand what had happened, and I did not know whether I would be able to have a baby or not, but I suppose I was lucky, because the NHS did get to the bottom of it, and I was then able to have my children. More importantly, I am here today on behalf of all my constituents in Aylesbury and the villages, an estimated half of whom will have been affected by some form of baby loss, either directly or through someone they know. I bet that many of them will not have shared those experiences, or will not have felt supported if they did. My first point is about awareness, because until I looked into it, I had no idea that half of all adults living in the UK are affected by baby loss. Before I had my own miscarriages, I had no idea that one in five pregnancies ends that way. I thank the organisations that are working nationally to change that, such as Sands and Tommy’s, and I thank the groups in my constituency who are doing the same. I want to give a special shout-out to Aylesbury Yarn Bombing, which has covered post boxes across Aylesbury with incredibly beautiful and moving toppers featuring hand-stitched sleeping babies, candles, teddy bears, hearts and little notes asking passersby to take a moment to show support and remember the babies we have lost and the families who have been affected. That is so important, because it is on all of us to educate ourselves, to speak more openly about baby loss, and to reach out and rally around people who are struggling as a result of it. That takes me to my second point, which is about improving the support. I would like to make one specific point about miscarriage, because when I had mine it turned out to be quite a common and treatable issue, but it was not until the third miscarriage that I was eligible for the tests to discover that. If that miscarriage support had kicked in sooner, I could have avoided the trauma of multiple miscarriages. So I really support the graded model of miscarriage care developed by Tommy’s, which would allow at least those limited tests to start sooner. I ask the Secretary of State to look into that. More broadly, we must end the lottery of care that exists for baby loss. I do hear from people who receive compassionate support—that midwife or bereavement counsellor who makes all the difference—but there is far too much of the opposite. I will quote one lady from my constituency who got in touch before this debate: “I am a mother of a stillborn baby, I was full term. 41 weeks and six days overdue with my first born. She was born sleeping. I received very little support afterwards. I was given a leaflet and told don’t worry, you’re healthy, you’ll have a baby soon.” That was that, and it is not good enough. She is one of too many people being dismissed in this way. As we have heard, we need the national framework to set out what high-quality support for baby loss should look like. We need better data behind it, and clear ambitions and accountability for maternity safety more broadly. As always when it comes to maternity care, we need a sustained focus on reducing the pervasive inequalities in access and outcomes. We need dedicated space in hospitals, too. Another constituent told me about going through surgery for ectopic pregnancy, being put straight back into a public waiting area, and then being told there was no bed to stay overnight. That has to change, and I know we are making good strides towards that, but there is so much more to do. My third point is specifically about the mental health support that should surround baby loss. Of course, it is not only a physical experience or a bereavement; it can have a profound and lasting effect on mental health. Research published by Miscarriage UK in March this year found that more than two thirds—68%—of respondents reported mental health problems following pregnancy loss, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress. Research supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research has broken that down for early pregnancy loss, finding that one month afterwards 29% of women experienced post-traumatic stress symptoms, 24% experienced anxiety and 11% experienced depression severely. This continues for many months and years, and of course includes people with no history of mental illness. According to the baby loss charity Sands, only one in six bereaved parents are able to access any mental health care through the NHS. Mental health support must be an integral part of the support after baby loss, and I would love to see national standards for mental health services for bereaved parents, as well as national guidance for the local commissioning of these services to help end the postcode lottery that I have spoken about. We of course also need the staff, training and resources to be able to deliver these services, which we struggle with across the NHS, particularly for mental health. This is the only way to ensure that every parent experiencing baby loss will have access not just to compassionate clinical care and bereavement support, but to appropriate mental health support, including a clear pathway for referral to specialist services, where that is needed. Ultimately, for every parent and family experiencing baby loss, the response from the NHS and from society has to be one of dignity and compassion, and it has to result in the right support. I hope today’s debate will be a step in that direction.
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International Update
Last week, one of the food production companies in my constituency contacted my office regarding an import of fish from the European Union which has been held at Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority because of a labelling discrepancy. Delay and potential refusal of entry have significant financial implications for the business, with storage and associated costs continuing to accumulate while the container remains at port with the increasing likelihood that the stock will have to be destroyed as time goes on. May I ask for the Prime Minister’s reassurance that closer ties with Europe will make it easier for local businesses to import and export to the European Union?
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Baby Loss Awareness Week
I want to begin by telling the House about Rita Grace Ghazala, the daughter of my constituents Fadi and Liz. I consider myself very privileged that Fadi and Liz have asked me to share Rita’s story today. Not only have they shared her story with me, but they have allowed me to share her story with the House. During pregnancy, Fadi and Liz learned that Rita had Edwards’ syndrome, a life-limiting condition. They knew that the time they might have with their daughter could be desperately short. Rita was born in December 2024 and spent nine days with her mum and dad at the Royal hospital for children in Glasgow. Fadi and Liz describe those nine days quite simply as “the best nine days of our lives”. Nine days is a heartbreakingly short life, but Rita’s life was filled with love and has left an extraordinary legacy. In the months since Rita’s death, Fadi and Liz have channelled their grief into making things better for other babies with expected short lives and their families. Through Rita’s Legacy of Hope, thousands of people have supported their fundraising. They have funded Rita’s Room at Crossbasket House, providing a dedicated space for bereaved families so that no other family has to go through counselling sessions in an office. The funding has also provided two portable incubators, allowing parents to keep their babies close and make the most of their precious time together, and a cuddle cot and blanket system for Scotland’s tertiary paediatric palliative care service. It is an extraordinary legacy for one little girl. Through that work, Fadi and Liz also identified something that they believe needs to change. Fadi and Liz knew long before Rita was born that she had a life-limiting condition, so that pregnancy was full of hospital appointments, treatment, worry and uncertainty—for months. They have been clear to me that they were fortunate, as they were financially able to take time away from work, and had employers who would support them, but they know that many families receiving the same devastating news will not be in that position. No parent who learns that their time with their child could be measured in hours or days should have to worry about whether they can afford to take time away from work. Fadi and Liz believe that families whose baby has been diagnosed with a life-limiting condition should have a statutory right to paid leave during pregnancy. They call that proposal Rita’s law. The Government have already taken important steps to strengthen the rights of parents, including through the Employment Rights Act 2025, and I particularly welcome the review that is under way of the parental leave and pay system, but Fadi and Liz’s experience highlights a gap. The support available following the birth or death of a baby does not address the particular circumstances of parents who are told during pregnancy that their baby is expected to have a very short life. I therefore ask the Secretary of State to work with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade to ensure that the needs of those families are explicitly considered in the parental leave and pay review, and to take a serious look at Fadi and Liz’s proposal for Rita’s law. Rita’s life was heartbreakingly short, but it mattered enormously. Fadi and Liz have ensured that Rita’s name will be associated with compassion, dignity and giving families precious time together. I hope that by listening to their call for change, we can help that legacy reach even further.
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International Update
Order. I want to call as many Members as possible, so please can we quicken the pace?
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International Update
Order. I think the Prime Minister has got the gist.
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International Update
I remind Members that they need to speed up, please, because we are finishing this statement at around 5.30 pm.
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International Update
For the final question, I call Jim Shannon.
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National Security
I call the Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee.
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Baby Loss Awareness Week
It is an honour to speak in this debate, which is always so powerful. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Andy MacNae) for leading it so sensitively. There are few things that compare to the joy of knowing that you are about to become a parent—you consider names and imagine the future, and those little things in life suddenly take on a whole new meaning—but for some families, there is a moment when all of that changes, and a future that was so full of possibility is filled with uncertainty and grief. My constituents Phil and Emma were brave and generous in sharing their experiences with me and my team. Emma’s story is one of repeated pregnancy loss, difficult childbirth experiences, and not receiving the care and support she needed. I will share Emma’s story in her own words. I warn hon. Members that Emma describes her experience of miscarriage in harrowing detail. She told me this: “Our story of pregnancy loss started back in March 2019. I booked a GP appointment after continually bleeding for three weeks. No pregnancy test was offered, and I was told to monitor the bleeding. After fainting at work from persistent blood loss, I visited the Samuel Johnson walk-in centre and I was given a routine pregnancy test, which came back positive.” Emma’s first miscarriage was followed by another pregnancy in February 2020, during the pandemic. She described the anxiety of attending appointments alone, without her husband, after her previous experience of loss. She went on to give birth to her daughter Alice, but the difficulties did not end there. Following Emma’s discharge, she developed an infection and was passed between three hospitals. She described being physically weak, emotionally struggling, and without the support she needed. After experiencing birth trauma, Emma and Phil were understandably nervous about having another child, but in March this year, they discovered that they were expecting again, and were excited about the possibility of a positive experience. Emma wrote: “I had an in-person eight-week midwife check on 19 March and was advised I needed birth trauma counselling, which I welcomed as it finally felt as though somebody was listening and cared about my past experiences.” But, at 11 weeks, Emma began spotting. She knew that she needed help quickly. She called the early pregnancy unit at New Cross hospital eight times before her call was answered. Despite her concerns, she was offered an appointment several days later. A private scan confirmed that the pregnancy was no longer viable, but the hospital could not bring her appointment forward. Emma described what happened next: “When we attended New Cross EPU on 14th April, we had to sit in the same scan room as pregnant women and ironically were taken into the same room where my first pregnancy was confirmed as a miscarriage.” Despite the findings, Emma was told she needed another scan in 10 days. She was sent home without pain relief, follow-up appointments or even a number to call for help. Just three days later, Emma experienced a devastating medical emergency at home. She said: “I went to the toilet, and found I had haemorrhaged completely through my clothing. I was scared and alone.” Emma passed out and was found in a pool of blood by her mother, who called 999. After waiting for 45 minutes, the ambulance service called back to say that Emma would have to make her own way to hospital. Her husband struggled to get her into the car and drive her to New Cross. When they arrived, the staff had not been informed of her situation. Emma describes the experience: “My husband at this point pleaded with the staff for me to be seen. He had to explain multiple times what had happened, all whilst I was bleeding heavily.” Eventually, Emma was taken into a treatment room, where her blood pressure dropped dramatically low and she lost consciousness. She was taken to intensive care, where staff discussed blood transfusions and emergency treatment. Emma is clear that the staff who cared for her that day were wonderful, but her experience leading up to that point raises questions about the support available to women experiencing pregnancy loss and medical emergencies. Emma was discharged with blood-thinning injections but no emotional support or follow-up appointments. She sought help for her mental health, only to be told that miscarriage was “just something that happens”, and was given an NHS talking therapies leaflet. She eventually contacted Tommy’s, where she finally felt listened to and supported. Emma also raised a wider concern about how pregnancy loss is counted and recognised. She said: “Despite the fact I have had two miscarriages, because I had a healthy pregnancy in the middle of these, my count will reset to one, almost rendering my first miscarriage as forgotten and pointless.” Emma’s story highlights the physical and emotional impact of pregnancy loss, the importance of timely and compassionate care and the need to consider the experiences of partners and families alongside those of women themselves. I want to finish by returning to Emma’s words: “Emotionally, it is an incredibly difficult time, but physically the pain women go through is totally underestimated. We want change for women’s health, change for partners’ support, and change for all families that have had to experience any maternity issues or baby loss.” It was so encouraging to see the Government introduce two weeks of unpaid leave for those who experience pregnancy loss, in any form and at any stage, and I am proud of the ambition set out in the women’s health strategy, but we now need to move as quickly as we can to ensure that every woman has access to high-quality miscarriage care and bereavement support, regardless of whether she lives in Cannock Chase, rural Northumberland or central London. No family should have to find out that the support available to them depends on their postcode. We have made important progress, and now we need to make sure that that progress is felt by every woman and every family who experience the heartbreak of losing their baby.
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International Update
The last 10 years of poor Brexit deals have taken a toll on our businesses and economy, including on a lot of small and medium-sized enterprises in my constituency that are looking to grow. We all want less red tape for business and frictionless trade with our largest trading partners, so can the Prime Minister seek a deal that opens up possibilities for my breweries, farmers and manufacturers to help them grow?
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International Update
My constituents in Pendle and Clitheroe want immigration to be controlled and managed in the best interests of the country, and I know that the Prime Minister’s constituents in Wigan feel the same. Can he confirm that, as long as he is Prime Minister, there will be no return to freedom of movement?
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Drumcree
In 2010, Tom Bingham, who had been Lord Chief Justice, published his book “The Rule of Law”, which we often cite in this House. He said about Ministers’ decisions that “ministers and public officers at all levels must exercise the powers conferred on them in good faith, fairly, for the purpose for which the powers were conferred, without exceeding the limits of such powers and not unreasonably.” I believe that in making this decision, which I know was a difficult one, the Secretary of State has excellently upheld the principles set out by Tom Bingham all those years ago. As he knows, this summer at the Belfast Fleadh, all traditions of music came together—including many Unionist bands and singers—and were welcomed and enjoyed together. Is that not the spirit in which we want to go forward in building unity?
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International Update
I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement. He may be aware that the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign is today protesting outside the US embassy in London against President Trump’s diesel deal, which will directly fund Putin’s war machine: a war machine that broke its promise to stop targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure less than 24 hours after it was committed to; a war machine that continues to bombard Oleshky, a city in the grip of a humanitarian crisis where people are being starved to death; and a war machine that is complicit in the forcible deportation and abduction of at least 20,651 Ukrainian children. Will the Prime Minister impress upon the President of the United States that his diesel deal will cost his own voters, my constituents and the people of Ukraine their safety?
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Topical Questions
T5. I am delighted that North Kensington will soon be opening a youth hub to support young people back into work. One challenge that people tell me we have locally is hidden NEETs—those who might be enrolled in college and not attending, or not claiming universal credit—so can the Minister explain what expectation there will be for the youth hubs to reach this hard-to-reach cohort of young people?
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Rejoining the EU
Many of my constituents work in Cardiff’s three universities. Before Brexit, EU students in Wales contributed £83 million off campus, but new EU enrolments halved within a year of them losing home fee status. Does my hon. Friend agree that much closer ties to the EU are essential for making our universities attractive to EU students again?
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High Streets: Amber Valley
I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Amber Valley (Linsey Farnsworth) for securing this important debate and for the passionate way that she continues to champion the community that she represents. I believe that she was a fantastic champion on the Denby issue, and all of us who care about our heritage and about good, skilled working-class jobs mourn its loss. The way that she continues to fight, to say that it is not the end of the community and to secure investment in the future, is really important. I welcome this opportunity to set out the Government’s approach to supporting high streets, both in Amber Valley and across the country. High streets matter because they are far more than just places to shop. They are where people meet friends, visit local businesses, access services and spend time together. When a high street succeeds, it can lift confidence in a place and support local economic growth, but when it struggles, the impact is felt across the whole community. That is why the Government have made this a priority. I know that Amber Valley’s towns and communities have felt many of the same pressures seen across the country. Changes in shopping habits, vacant premises, crime and antisocial behaviour and the increasing challenge of attracting investment have all had an impact on our town centres, yet there are also real strengths to build on, including proud local businesses, active communities and a strong sense of local identity. Amber Valley has been a recipient of regeneration funding, and the Heanor area received £8.59 million through the future high streets fund. That supported the improvements that my hon. Friend referenced in her speech, including to the marketplace, the restoration of the former grammar school and plans for new town centre housing. Those investments demonstrate the role that regeneration can play in preserving heritage, improving places and encouraging future growth, but it is quite clear that her ambition goes even further, into Alfreton and beyond. She mentioned the Somercotes theatre, which is a fantastic example. Hopefully I can give her some routes to which she might be able to apply. The Government are making high streets a priority. On 27 September, we announced £210 million to bring derelict buildings back into use, to tackle vacancy and to support community ownership and control. We are introducing reforms that will benefit high streets across the country, and we are tackling long-term vacancies through the high street rental auctions. These powers enable councils to bring persistently vacant properties back into use and to make town centre premises more accessible to businesses and the community. More than 40 authorities are already using these new powers and have brought over 80 properties back into use. To accelerate delivery, we have announced a further £10 million to support councils, and we are reviewing new burdens funding payments to ensure that councils have the resources they need to implement these powers quickly. We are also empowering communities to take a greater role in shaping their local high streets. Through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026, we have introduced a new community right to buy, helping local people take ownership of valued community assets such as pubs, shops and community buildings when they are at risk of being lost. We are also acting to tackle the issues that too often undermine confidence in our town centres. Through a £30 million crackdown on high street organised crime, stronger closure powers and the creation of a dedicated high street organised crime unit, we are supporting legitimate businesses and helping communities take back control of their high streets. Retail crime remains a significant concern for local businesses. That is why, in addition to other measures, through the Crime and Policing Act 2026 we introduced a new offence of assaulting a retail worker and we have removed the £200 threshold for shop theft, making it clear that all shop theft is unacceptable and will be treated seriously. We are also supporting businesses directly and have introduced permanently lower business rates multipliers for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties alongside additional support for pubs and live music venues. We have also legislated to ban upwards-only rent reviews in commercial leases, helping to create a fairer and more flexible commercial property market that supports investment and reduces the risk of properties being empty long term. Alongside that, the business growth service is helping small and medium-sized businesses to access advice and finance and support to start, grow and invest, ensuring that local businesses can continue to play their vital role at the heart of our town centres. We recognise that communities want attractive high streets that reflect local character. That is why we are giving councils stronger powers to address the clustering of vape shops and gambling premises and supporting better standards for shopfronts and public open spaces. However, we know that there is more to do. Later this year we will publish a new high streets strategy, setting out our longer-term plan for supporting businesses, bringing life back into our town centres and helping communities to shape the future of their high streets. The strategy is being developed in partnership with businesses, civic leaders and local communities, because we know that thriving high streets cannot be delivered by central Government alone. Our ambition is clear: we want high streets that are safe, vibrant and economically successful, that are places where people want to invest, and, importantly, that are places that local people can be proud of. I know that my hon. Friend will continue to make the case for Amber Valley as that work progresses. I welcome her contribution to this conversation and all her hard work. I hope that we can meet soon to discuss the future success of the projects that she has mentioned. Question put and agreed to.
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International Update
I congratulate the Prime Minister on the work that he is doing with allies to promote resolution to conflicts around the world, particularly in the middle east and Ukraine. Nevertheless, my constituents remain extremely anxious about the effect of the situation in the strait of Hormuz on their fuel bills, going into what will probably be a difficult winter. Can the Prime Minister provide reassurance that he will try to protect the most vulnerable from increases in energy bills going forward, and will also continue our acceleration away from dependence on fossil fuels and further towards renewables, so that we are less open to energy price shocks in the future?
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Baby Loss Awareness Week
I thank my hon. Friend for his eloquent and moving speech, with lots of practical proposals. On maternity service failures, in April 2021, my constituents Phoebe and Jim Brooks tragically lost their much-wanted and loved son Jasper at Darent Valley hospital a few hours after he was born. The coroner’s report found there had been serious failings in his care, including a lack of resuscitation expertise on hand during the birth and premature withdrawal of neonatal care from Jasper. The family were sent to a bereavement room while Jasper was still alive. Does my hon. Friend agree with me that tragedies such as this indicate strongly that we must, as a matter of urgency, implement the recommendations of the Amos review, and then look at the need for a full statutory public inquiry into UK maternity safety?
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Topical Questions
T8. The Government’s recent investment in Connect to Work and the youth hub in Newport is welcome. Will the Minister assure my constituent, who raised with me the struggle her son, who is neurodiverse, has had in finding support into work, that these initiatives will be long-term, meaningful commitments?
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Rejoining the EU
Will my hon. Friend give way?