Parliament's party history for this member: Labour ( – present).
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I thank my hon. Friend for all his work in this area. I visited my local employability service, Working Denbighshire, last week. It runs an amazing programme called Barod, which means “ready” in Welsh. It does pre-employability work—working on confidence, social and communication skills and the things that really start young people on that pathway. Does my hon. Friend agree that we should be providing that sort of service to all our young people across the UK?
This past weekend, out on the doorstep speaking to constituents in Clwyd North, I was reminded once again that the issues that people care about most are often very different from the arguments that dominate social media. Away from the toxicity and division that can sometimes fill our feeds, people were not so interested in political point scoring. Instead, they wanted to talk about the practical challenges they face every day: paying their bills, accessing healthcare, supporting their families and making their money go a little further.
The message I heard time and again was that people can see that this Budget is responding to those everyday pressures, despite global challenges. They welcome measures that will help with the cost of living, whether that is support with rising bills or action to bring down the cost of everyday items in their shopping baskets. These may be small changes in isolation, but when people are balancing a household budget every month, small savings can make a big difference.
They welcome the £100 payment towards energy bills and the extension of the 0% VAT rate on electricity bills. They welcome the removal of the gas standing charge, too. This change, which has long been called for, will mean that households pay only for the gas they actually use; for too long, households have paid unavoidable fixed costs regardless of how much energy they use. This is a welcome step, but I want to see real progress on electricity standing charges, too. Many families in north Wales are rightly frustrated that they pay some of the highest standing charges in the country—paying before they have even switched on a light. We have heard the Chancellor make it clear that removing the standing charge for electricity is the next area of focus, and I will be pressing for that commitment to be delivered so that my north Wales constituents have a fair deal.
Of course, I heard local people talk about public services. I heard concerns about waiting lists, access to healthcare, and support for additional learning needs in our schools. No one pretends that money alone will solve those challenges, but extra investment will give us a far better chance of tackling them. I therefore welcome the extra £450 million of additional funding coming to Wales, which builds on the largest funding settlement since devolution, delivered in the spending review by this Labour Government. My constituents want to see shorter waiting lists, better support for children and stronger public services. They want to see funding translated into results. It will be up to the minority Plaid Cymru Government in Wales to make that happen by getting on with the day job, with fewer consultations and more action.
Finally, one thing that genuinely encouraged me on the doorstep was a sense that people were starting to see politics as more connected to their everyday lives. There was support for our new Prime Minister, with one constituent saying, “I could imagine the Prime Minister standing on my doorstep having this very conversation.” That comment stayed with me, because it was not just about the Prime Minister; it was about feeling heard. People want politicians who speak their language, who understand the pressures facing them and who are focused on the issues that matter to them most.
This Budget responds to many of the concerns that people have raised with me in person, while providing welcome additional investment and opportunity for Wales. I will continue working to ensure that the people of Clwyd North see the full benefit of that investment.
<Question HRSContentId="{06D84E38-C852-47AD-86D7-DA3D8E572CD9}">10. <QuestionText HRSContentId="{A013D4DB-C65D-41AC-80DC-7A33B93B92B1}">What steps she is taking to tackle antisocial behaviour.</QuestionText> </Question>
My recent Pride in Place survey in Rhyl found that antisocial behaviour such as street drinking and fly-tipping is putting many people off visiting their own town centre. With respect orders coming into force today, what guidance is being given to police to make good use of them against repeat offenders so that people want to visit their own town centre again?
I want to put my thanks on record to postal workers across Clwyd North, and in particular in Colwyn bay where there have been recent problems, and to say sorry that they have been left to deal with the consequences of failure that are not of their making. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that frontline postal workers should not be expected to shoulder responsibility for problems stemming from the organisation, and that it is Royal Mail’s responsibility to ensure that resources are in the right place to provide a good service?
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Lewell. For me, community policing is about whether people feel safe in their neighbourhoods, high streets or town centres. It is about public confidence that, when concerns are raised, there will be a visible police presence that knows the community and responds effectively. That is why long-term, consistent funding matters. Trust takes years to build and minutes to lose. Officers and PCSOs need the stability to develop relationships within communities and become familiar faces.
Community policing is also vital in supporting local businesses. Of course, this debate takes place just ahead of USDAW’s Respect for Shopworkers Week, and we all know that retail workers increasingly face abuse, <span id="457WH" class="column-number" data-column-number="457WH"></span>threats and violence simply for doing their jobs. The Crime and Policing Act 2026 is crucial to ensure that the police have the powers they need to tackle low-level offending, and now we must ensure that the powers are matched by the resources and policing presence to enforce them.
I will conclude with the story of an incredible police constable, Jake Hart, who was chasing suspects down the road in Rhyl, when a young boy offered him his bicycle to complete the pursuit. That is not quite the high-tech crime-fighting equipment usually discussed here, but it is a wonderful example of community spirit. More importantly, it showed a young person who trusted the police enough to want to help. It is so important for that trust to be kept—it is invaluable, and it is worth investing in.
I thank my right hon. Friend for securing this important debate. The nature of firefighters’ work is changing all the time. Does he agree that, as it changes, it is essential that firefighters have access to modern, fit-for-purpose training facilities? Does he share my concern that training facilities in north Wales have not been substantially modernised since the 1990s?
<Question HRSContentId="{2270DD8E-977F-44D7-95B7-5792376EF889}">20. <QuestionText HRSContentId="{FE0A275C-BC7D-4B24-B58F-52DEAA1C6B15}">What discussions he has had with representatives of hospitality businesses on the potential impact of business rates relief on the sector. </QuestionText></Question>
Like our new Prime Minister, many of us on the north Wales coast love the pubs and music venues of the north-west. The boost to them from business rates relief is really welcome, but we love our pubs and venues too. Pubs such as the Bay Hop and the Mayquay face the same challenges as our north-west neighbours, and we want to attract more live music to north Wales too. Decisions on business rates in Wales are of course the responsibility of the Welsh Government, but does the Minister agree that the need for support does not stop at the border, and that a 20% cut to business rates in Wales would be a welcome boost for us too?
This summer, Denbigh Town football club did itself proud as the host of four UEFA under-19 championship games, including a Spain versus Germany match that saw record attendance of almost 2,000 spectators. Thanks to significant investment in Central Park, including a £300,000 Cymru Football Foundation grant funded by this Government, not only is the club now match fit to host international games, but it has top-class facilities all year round for the whole community. Does the Minister agree that the inspiration and opportunities that that brings to children from all walks of life are immeasurable? How are the Government ensuring that facilities like those are available across the country?