What Britain's parties say and do in public, recorded from the source.
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Labour Party
Latest entry 3 Nov 2026
Conservative and Unionist Party
Latest entry 3 Nov 2026
Liberal Democrats
Latest entry 3 Nov 2026
Reform UK
Latest entry 3 Nov 2026
Scottish National Party
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Green Party
Latest entry 3 Nov 2026
Plaid Cymru
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Showing every spoken contribution, including 11,997 under 12 words. Hide short remarks
The anecdotal reports that my hon. Friend raises are very concerning indeed. The Government are investing £97 million in upgrading national resilience assets and we are developing England’s first wildfire action plan, covering prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. I will ensure that he receives an update from the relevant Minister to give him the answer he seeks.
The hon. Gentleman is an assiduous campaigner for St Andrew’s hospice and related issues. I recall a particularly moving speech he gave on hospice care during the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, and I pay tribute to him for that. We are supporting the hospice sector with a £125 million funding boost, alongside £80 million for children’s hospices over the next three years, but I do understand continuing concern in the sector. I will make sure that the relevant Department hears his concerns, but I also remind him that we have three days of Budget debate. I am sure he has been here long enough to be able to weave hospice funding into a contribution, should he catch Mr Speaker’s eye.
The Government recognise the importance of preventing dangerous driving and ensuring the safety of all road users, and I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for raising the issue on behalf of her constituents. Through the road safety strategy, we are taking steps to make our roads safer for everyone, but that needs everyone to step up, including local councils and police. I will do as my hon. Friend asks and help to secure a meeting with the relevant Ministers so that she can discuss the matter further to ensure that those who play a part are working together to get the best outcome.
I understand the concern in some areas about the changes that we are proposing, but I point out to the hon. Member that there is a statement on local government on the Floor of the House next, so he might want to make his point directly to the Minister.
I absolutely join my hon. Friend in congratulating Sizzling Lounge on its award. However, I better be careful and also commend all the curry houses in my constituency for the fantastic contribution that they make. I thank all of those who made the awards possible. Curry restaurants are an important part of our local communities, in my hon. Friend’s constituency and others, and I congratulate everyone concerned.
Charities are the heart and the very best of our local communities. I am happy to join the right hon. Gentleman in thanking Linda and Andy for everything that they do, wishing Living Like Linda well for the future, and thanking all the volunteers across our country, who do a fantastic job on behalf of local communities.
My hon. Friend is a fantastic advocate for her constituents, and she is right to raise that important matter. I am afraid that it is just the latest example of Reform-led councils letting down the people that they are supposed to represent. With ringfenced funding secured, planning permission in place and the procurement notice published, there is no excuse for Reform on the matter. I will raise it with colleagues at DCMS and ensure that she gets the meeting that she seeks.
I am pleased to join the hon. Lady in paying tribute to hospice care, both in her local example and across the country. As I said in answer to a previous question, the Government are committing more resources there, but we are aware of the concerns and <span id="452" class="column-number" data-column-number="452"></span>demands of the hospice sector across the country to ensure that hospices can go on providing the very best services possible. We have three days of debate on the Budget, and this seems to me the sort of thing a constituency MP might want to raise then.
My hon. Friend raises a concerning matter. We have heard too many tragic stories involving the dangerous use of e-bikes, including in my own constituency. The Crime and Policing Act 2026 introduced new offences and penalties for dangerous cycling. I encourage my hon. Friend to apply for a Westminster Hall or Adjournment debate to further discuss not just how we can work to tackle e-bikes, but how we can best work cross-border.
I certainly join the right hon. Gentleman in congratulating Lonsdale cinema on being shortlisted as one of the best cinemas in the UK and Alan Towers himself on all the work he has done. Independent cinema is very important. I am a cinemagoer—I am something of a film buff. It might be tempting in one of these exchanges to have a week of cinema, Mr Speaker. I don’t know—we’ll see where we get to. I pay tribute to all those who work to make this possible and who have provided entertainment for so many people, both in the right hon. Gentleman’s area and, I should say, at the Jam Jar cinema in my constituency too.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to celebrate the announcements made in the Budget yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor. I agree that this is an excellent example of the Government’s commitment to reindustrialisation, which will ensure that our investment works twice for us—both keeping us safe and driving reindustrialisation with skills here in the UK.
We have missed the hon. Gentleman in the last few weeks, so flags have rarely got a mention, but we are back now. I know why he does it, and he does it very well on behalf of his constituents, I have to say. There was a lot in yesterday’s Budget, which he might want to go back and have a look at. If there are measures in it that he wants to see the Government go further on, such as hospice funding, food banks or support for charities, he has an opportunity to make those representations because we have three days left of the Budget debate.
I am sure that the whole House will join me in wishing Sandra a speedy recovery. I join my hon. Friend in encouraging his constituents to donate to the crowdfunder if it is appropriate and they can afford to do so. I will be happy to facilitate a meeting for him with the relevant Minister so that he can put his case directly to them.
It is extraordinarily tempting. I congratulate everybody involved in the refurbishment of the pub; pubs are at the heart of our local communities. I cannot guarantee that I will be there to celebrate with the hon. Gentleman, but I am sure that he will find many local residents who will be very pleased that it has happened. Perhaps when he is there sharing a pint with them he can talk about the support for hospitality that was in yesterday’s Budget.
My hon. Friend raises important concerns. I understand that she successfully lobbied her local council not to go ahead with a proposal to scrap free blue badge parking in council car parks. If that is the case, I pay tribute to her and local campaigners for their hard work. Regarding her concerns about people with Parkinson’s having issues accessing blue badges, I will ensure she gets a response from the relevant Minister to address her points directly. Should she wish to follow that up with a meeting, I will help her to arrange that.
I can get the hon. Lady the update that she seeks, but it seems to me that this is a topic that an Adjournment or Westminster Hall debate is ideal for, because I am sure that other colleagues across the House will share her concerns.
I am sure that the case will have caused great concern to my hon. Friend’s constituents; he is right to raise it. I hope that the owners of the building concerned have heard what he has said today and take urgent steps to address the situation. If they do not, I have a feeling that my hon. Friend will seek an Adjournment or Westminster Hall debate on the subject, in which he will give the issue an even greater voice. I hope that those concerned listen and get on with it.
We are doing a lot around fly-tipping, and there are aspirations across Government to do more about waste crimes, so the hon. Gentleman’s concerns are not only distressing but timely. He might want to seek an Adjournment debate on the subject because, as he suggests, this is not the responsibility of just one Department; it is about Departments working together to take the matter forward for his constituents and constituents across the country.
I join my hon. Friend in congratulating Ellis on raising so much money for OCD awareness; she is right to do so. It is right to celebrate young people making positive contributions to our society. We are improving access to NHS mental health support for children and young people, including those with OCD; over 40,000 more received support in this year to June than did in the previous year. To make clear to Ministers the need to continue making progress, I encourage my hon. Friend to apply for a Westminster Hall debate.
We have heard about this issue, which is serious, on many occasions. The Government are doing all they can to get dental hubs out there, so that people can get access to dental care. However, as the hon. Lady is aware, the question is wider than that; it is about reforming the dentistry contract. I will make sure that the relevant Minister has heard what she has said, and I will get her an update on what is intended, including for her area. If she wants a meeting with the Minister, I will arrange that, too.
Yes, I do. My hon. Friend is right to praise the innovative work of the Horizon Group. We are committed to supporting innovation by small and medium-sized enterprises, including through the £7.4 billion for UK Research and Innovation to support innovative company growth. There are a number of days’ debate on the Budget, and I encourage my hon. Friend to make these remarks—should he catch your eye, Mr Speaker—in that debate.
The Budget announced £100 million for local authorities to provide further support to the households in greatest need. We are giving local leaders greater control over locally generated revenue. We are delivering £78 billion in a multi-year finance settlement, and a £5.6 billion boost for local services over the next three years. I understand that local authorities that are adversely affected will have concerns, and the hon. Lady is right to raise them. We have a local government statement after this; she might find a way of getting that point into the statement.
I absolutely join my hon. Friend in congratulating the hard work of everyone involved in the reopening of the Alfred East gallery. We are committed to funding the arts; 130 cultural venues, museums and libraries are benefiting from the Arts Everywhere fund, which will ensure that galleries like the Alfred East are around for years to come.
We have introduced criminal liability for water bosses who cover up or hide sewage spills—indeed, they could face up to two years behind bars. The hon. Gentleman speaks powerfully; I understand the effect that this issue has in areas like his. I hope that the water company has heard what he said. Should he seek an Adjournment debate or a Westminster Hall debate on the subject, I am sure that he could go even further in setting out this issue, which he clearly feels strongly about.
Yes, I do. I join my hon. Friend in congratulating everyone involved in making the “What do you see when you look at me?” book on receiving their prestigious award. Projects like this play a vital role in preserving local stories, bridging generational divides and strengthening community spirit. I want to say well done to everybody concerned.
As ever, the hon. Gentleman raises a serious matter. He is right to point out that it is often women and children who suffer most when international labour rights are undermined. The UK continues to work with the ILO to implement and uphold employment rights across the world. I will raise his concern with Ministers, but the Chair of the Backbench Business Committee, the hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman), is still in his place, so if the hon. Gentleman seeks a debate on the issue, I am sure that the Committee will want to give his suggestion consideration.
My hon. Friend has been a distinguished campaigner on this issue, and I pay tribute to her for that. I also pay tribute to the work of the Child Brain Injury Trust. We are taking steps, through the road safety strategy, to make our roads safer for everyone. These matters have been raised consistently with me in business questions, and I encourage my hon. Friend perhaps to join others in seeking a Backbench Business debate on these matters. I think it would be particularly well attended.
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend and her constituent for their local initiative, and I will make sure that the relevant Department has heard her question today. I encourage her to apply for a Westminster Hall debate, so that the matter can be discussed further, because I am sure that other Members might want to join in on that.
I thank my hon. Friend for this question; she is assiduous in campaigning on this matter. She makes a powerful case about the financial burden that tolls place on residents and businesses who need to get to work and access essential services. I will make sure that the Transport Secretary is made aware of her representations on the Floor of the House today. We will see whether we can arrange a meeting for her.
I understand that the current water supply agreement between Bristol Water and the Canal & River Trust is due to be renewed in 2028 and that there are ongoing conversations regarding dredging and managing silt in Gloucester dock. I will make sure the relevant Minister hears my hon. Friend’s concerns, but he may want to take it further and seek an Adjournment debate.
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend, who is a doughty campaigner for her constituents. What she says about parking in the run-up to Christmas will resonate around the country. As she rightly points out, we have given Hastings council record funding, and I suggest that the council listens to what she has said and spends it on her constituents’ priorities.
My hon. Friend is right to raise that concerning issue today, and the fact that it goes back to 2003 adds greater urgency to it. We recognise the significant concern that unresolved payment issues can cause for providers, so I am happy to try to facilitate a meeting between him and the relevant Minister, so that he can raise the case further.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this matter, which will resonate with Members across the House. It is often raised with me at this time of year, and I commend him for the work he is doing in his local community. The Government are looking at the matter that he raises. The consultation on reforming fireworks and pyrotechnic legislation received a very high number of responses, not surprisingly. The Government are currently considering the evidence and will respond in due course. At that point, I am sure there will be ample opportunity to discuss this matter further.
My hon. Friend is right to list all the individuals and organisations who played an important part in clearing up after the storms. I pay tribute to them and, indeed, everybody across the country for everything they have done, including local radio, National Grid and farmers, who in many cases are crucial to the <span id="461" class="column-number" data-column-number="461"></span>work that happens. The Government understand the challenges of a changing climate and the importance of resilience. We will be bringing forward in the future an opportunity to debate these matters further, but again, because this is about ensuring that organisations have the resources they need, we have three days of Budget debate left if my hon. Friend wishes to raise it.
I am sure the whole House will join me in thanking the Muster Point and the Chicksands and Henlow military wives choir for their invaluable work in supporting veteran communities. I join my hon. Friend in encouraging hon. Members to get behind and listen to the Christmas single “We’re Still Here” to ensure that it gets the notice and credit it deserves.
Last week, the Government launched the “Share the carriage, not the noise” campaign with rail operators across the country, reminding rail passengers to use headphones or potentially face fines of up to £1,000. The Bus Services Act 2025 gives local authorities new powers to crack down on nuisance behaviour on buses, including listening to loud music, littering, vaping and antisocial behaviour. Our new guidance will help authorities put these powers into practice and make journeys safer and more comfortable for passengers.
Absolutely. Our “Share the journey, not the noise” campaign has started a national conversation about the standards we should all expect on trains and reminded those few who fall short that there are fines in place. We expect that most passengers will comply with requests to watch videos on silent or use headphones, but there are clear routes for escalation if they do not, up to and including prosecution. Local authorities can now introduce bus byelaws covering excessive noise, with fixed on-the-spot penalties of up to £100.
Antisocial behaviour on buses is tackled through wider crime and policing laws, and transport safety officers—of which the Department has funded trials—will also be used. This is about giving local transport authorities the powers to enforce these byelaws, which obviously came about with Liberal Democrats working on the Bus Services Bill Committee. We have been tackling nuisance behaviour on public transport for a long time—it is an ongoing priority. We invested £2.5 million in the transport safety officer pilots, and have taken targeted action against nuisance behaviour and published guidance so that others can adopt best practice. Of course, the Bus Services Act gives every local authority the power to introduce those byelaws.
I am delighted to join my hon. Friend in welcoming that new coach service to her constituency. This Government are supporting operators by extending the 5p fuel duty cut until next July. I will of course check my diary, but I encourage all hon. Members to get on and book their seat; there are nine castles and some fantastic countryside to visit.
I fully recognise my hon. Friend’s concerns. Taxis and private hire vehicles are regulated through an outdated and fragmented framework, and this Government intend to bring forward a draft Bill to address that. My officials are also working hard to commence the powers from the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 that will let enforcement officers suspend any licence used in their area if there are immediate safety concerns.