Peter Swallow

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Parliament's party history for this member: Labour (4 Jul 2024 – present).

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1. 3 Nov 2026·Parliament·Peter Swallow

   Young People and Work: Milburn Interim Report

   The Milburn review interim report was clear that in order for the support provided to be fit for young people to enter the workplace today, not only the welfare system but our health and our education systems need to be fundamentally rewired. Education has a critical role to play in preparing young people for the workforce and for life. What we hear again and again from employers is that young people, even in entry-level roles, have not been able to develop the skills that are essential in any workplace, and indeed for life—skills like communication, problem solving and critical thinking. This is not just about the NEET crisis we are facing today—painful though it is already for so many—or bringing down the welfare bill, although that is vital too; it is about taking the opportunity now to grasp the even greater NEET crisis that may be coming down the track as we face the reality of an economy being fundamentally reshaped by AI. It is clear that AI is the defining technology of our time. In just a few years we have seen it power breakthroughs in fields as wide-ranging and important as medical diagnostics and research, agriculture and mathematics. That is why it is so fundamental that young people develop the skills they need not only to use AI critically and thoughtfully, but also to exist in a world where things for which we have always relied on humans are increasingly being automated. I have long argued that an education system rich in the humanities must be at the heart of preparing young people for the age of AI, not just because of the content they would learn, but because of the skills the humanities would encourage them to develop. As part of its research into the future of the labour market, the National Foundation for Educational Research found that it was skills such as collaboration, communication, problem-solving and information literacy that will be most needed by employees in 2035. That is why it is so important that we develop an education system that provides young people with those skills.

   Hansard source
2. 3 Nov 2026·Parliament·Peter Swallow

   Budget Resolutions

   The Secretary of State makes an important point about our relationship with the EU. He will be aware that Bracknell is home to lots of companies that work in cloud technologies. Is he alive to concerns around the EU’s proposed cloud and AI development Act, and will he ensure that we address those concerns robustly as part of our negotiations in the summit and thereafter? We do need to get that right.

   Hansard source
3. 3 Nov 2026·Parliament·Peter Swallow

   Budget Resolutions

   The hon. Lady is aware that winter is fast upon us, which is why the Government had to design a scheme that can be delivered quickly. Will she also recognise the £100 million of additional support being given to local authorities to target exactly those households to which she has referred, so we can ensure that every household that is struggling financially this winter is given a little bit of support?

   Hansard source
4. 3 Nov 2026·Parliament·Peter Swallow

   Budget Resolutions

   This is a Budget that puts community first. It is a Budget for families, who will benefit from support on energy costs over the cold winter, and for much-loved high street businesses, with cuts to business rates. With the announcement of a Thames Valley mayoral strategic authority, it is a Budget that delivers devolution, so that decisions that affect Bracknell Forest and our wider region can be taken in our region. I have heard from countless families across Bracknell Forest about the cost of living pressures that they face because of skyrocketing fuel and energy costs as a result of the war in Iran, so I strongly welcome the announcement of a new £2.6 billion energy bills breathing space scheme, which will provide £100 in direct support for over 30,000 families in Bracknell Forest, helping them to keep their homes warm this winter. I also welcome the extension of the 0% rate of VAT on electricity until July 2027, and the removal of gas standing charges so that people are charged only for what they use. I know that the prices we have seen at the pumps in recent months are a huge source of anxiety for many across Bracknell Forest. I am pleased that the Government have recognised the pressures on motorists that have been caused by increasing fuel prices, and have extended the 5p cut on fuel duty to July 2027. They have also frozen rates, and made permanent the more generous mileage rates for both employees and self-employed people who use their own vehicles for work. These measures will have a real impact on households across Bracknell Forest, especially over the coming winter months. Supporting households is an essential and extremely welcome priority in this Budget, but I also welcome the clear signals that this Government have given to local businesses. Wonderful local cafés, restaurants, pubs and shops drive our local economy, but I have heard from too many that are struggling in this challenging environment and that have been forced to consider raising prices or cutting staff. For that reason, I was delighted to see the Chancellor announce that he will increase the small business rates relief thresholds for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties, meaning that about 47% of all RHL properties in the south-east will pay no business rates at all.

   Hansard source
5. 3 Nov 2026·Parliament·Peter Swallow

   Budget Resolutions

   Absolutely, which is why I welcome the measure in this Budget. It means a direct tax cut for over 250 small businesses in Bracknell Forest, directly funded by increasing VAT compliance on those online marketplaces. It is right that the small businesses that thrive on Crowthorne High Street in my constituency, and across Bracknell and Sandhurst, do not face unfair competition from the big online marketplaces. That is a decision that this Government have rightly made in this Budget. This Government do not just talk about growth in every postcode, but recognise that our high streets are at the heart of achieving that growth. On that note, growth in every postcode means recognising the unique barriers holding back growth in every region of the UK. For the south-east, one of the biggest barriers to regional growth has been the slow progress of devolution. That is why I am delighted that this Budget also commits to a mayoral strategic authority for the Thames valley. Nobody knows the specific local and regional challenges we face better than our own local community, and no one is better placed to solve them. Devolution will bring more powers for Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Swindon, more funding for our region and a more joined-up approach on regional transport, skills and public services. This is not just about local business. In the south-east, we can proudly say that we are home to some of our most loved and most critical national businesses from Waitrose, which has its headquarters in my constituency, to our defence sector whose contribution to the economy is estimated to be £3.6 billion in 2025. We are also home to one of our greatest and most innovative British assets—our life sciences sector. So I welcome the opportunities that a more regional approach to our economy will create. This is a Budget that backs our region to do what it does best, which is to drive growth across the Thames valley and the whole of the UK. All these measures will strengthen our social fabric, boost our local economies and build resilient communities in these challenging times, but there is no community without security. As war continues to rage in Ukraine and the middle east, and as hostile actors swamp our information sphere and sow division in our society, we cannot afford to delay delivering the support we need for defence. That is why it is so important that the Chancellor has put forward a Budget that delivers fully on our commitment to fund the defence investment plan, and ensures we remain on track for the NATO target for defence spending to reach 3.5% of GDP by 2035. Alongside plans for a new multilateral defence mechanism and additional investment through the National Wealth Fund and the British Business Bank, this Budget treats our security with the gravity it deserves, after decades of underfunding by the Conservative party. The Budget is a clear demonstration that this Government have listened to the concerns of families and businesses in Bracknell Forest, and have decided to act on them. It meets the challenge of today with pragmatism and the promise of tomorrow with ambition. I know it will not solve all the challenges facing businesses and families in Bracknell Forest, but gosh, it is a darn good start.

   Hansard source
6. 29 Oct 2026·Parliament·Peter Swallow

   Topical Questions

   This month, there has been a series of serious road accidents in Bracknell, Warfield and Crowthorne in my constituency. In one incident, a young man, Shayan, very tragically lost his life at the scene. Will the roads Minister meet me to discuss these incidents, and listen to Shayan’s family’s plea for more action on road safety?

   Hansard source
7. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Peter Swallow

   Strengthening Community Resilience

   The Minister will know from our many conversations my concerns around the threats we face from foreign states and terrorism. He will also be aware that Bracknell Forest, which is 33% trees, is at particular risk of forest fires; many of my constituents are also seeing power cuts at the moment because of the storms. Will the Minister confirm to the House that the Government’s Be Ready campaign is about raising awareness, not alarm, of the full range of threats that we face to our community resilience, and empowering local people to have the tools at hand to address those concerns?

   Hansard source
8. 22 Oct 2026·Parliament·Peter Swallow

   Equitable Life Policyholders: Compensation

   As my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow North (Martin Rhodes) pointed out, there are many issues connected with this scandal that have affected people’s trust in pensions. The Minister will know that I have also been a very vocal champion of those affected by the lack of indexation for pre-1997 pensions. Does my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds North East (Fabian Hamilton) share my concern that the fundamental risk is that individuals will choose not to invest in pensions, having lost faith that, if something goes wrong, it will be put right? Ultimately, that will cost the taxpayer more, as people will not make the sound choice we want them to make of saving for their retirement.

   Hansard source
9. 21 Oct 2026·Parliament·Peter Swallow

   Child-like Sexual Abuse Dolls (Offences) Bill

   The hon. Lady is making an incredibly powerful case about something that, I think we can all agree, is utterly abhorrent. I want to ask about proposed new subsection 46D(9), which, as she rightly emphasised, would ban the adaptation of something into a CSA doll. Does the Bill also ban the supplying of parts to allow that to happen? She has mentioned that the Bill would look at banning the supply of CSA dolls. There is also separately a concern about modifying an object into a CSA doll. Is there a potential loophole whereby supplying the parts to enable the modification would not be covered by the Bill, which would address only the supply of entire CSA dolls?

   Hansard source
10. 21 Oct 2026·Parliament·Peter Swallow

    Support for Veterans

    <Question HRSContentId="{352C299A-CE04-4035-A029-183D21D0C37C}">9. <QuestionText HRSContentId="{49B33DA2-DB23-4FCD-BCFF-57FDA2C2027D}">What steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Defence to support veterans who served in Operation Banner.</QuestionText> </Question>

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2024 General Election: Bracknell

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