2. What steps he has taken to ensure that trade union recognition is considered when determining the award of public contracts.
I refer to my entry on the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. Bidfood, which has public contracts with the Army, prisons and schools across the UK, has torn up a long-standing recognition deal with GMB and Unite, leaving workers open to fire and rehire. Does the Minister agree that public con…
CommonsOral Questions20 November 20252 contributions
15. What steps she is taking to improve rail connectivity.
The cul-de-sac of Thornton and Fleetwood in my constituency once had a rail line that served the local community well. Now, there is only one main route in and out by road. It is acknowledged that lack of connectivity is a determinant of health, wealth and educational inequality. Will the Minister m…
Sasha Marsden was 16 years old when she was murdered, raped and then set on fire by David Minto. Sasha’s sister, Katie—who is my constituent and who joins us today—is campaigning for victims’ families to have fairer access to sentencing appeals. Despite the need for closure in sentencing, perpetrato…
It is an honour to speak in support of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, which so many of us know as the Hillsborough law.
This Bill was born out of a state-sponsored injustice against working-class people. It was forged from the courage and persistence of those families—ordinary working-cla…
T9. Across our country, service leavers like Brady, a 29-year-old from my constituency, are experiencing homelessness and addiction before receiving the support they need. I welcome the Government’s work on the renewed armed forces covenant, but does the Minister agree that structured and timely hea…
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Efford. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Worthing West (Dr Cooper) for securing this vital and timely debate.
Liver disease is quietly stealing lives in every corner of our country. It is now the second-biggest cause of early death in Engla…
After 14 years of Tory neglect, the town of Fleetwood has been buzzing with ideas about how to make the most of this fantastic pride in place fund. My community is ready to hit the ground running. We are hungry to deliver the investment we so badly need. Can the Minister assure me that the people of…
CommonsOral Questions14 October 20252 contributions
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
The National Energy System Operator is currently assessing whether tidal range technology can help us meet our clean power mission. In Fleetwood, we have a huge opportunity for a tidal range project, which could bring desperately needed jobs and investment. Will the Minister meet me to discuss that …
CommonsOral QuestionsHome Department15 September 20252 contributions
23. What recent progress her Department has made on improving neighbourhood policing.
I welcome the Government’s commitment to the neighbourhood policing guarantee to restore bobbies on the beat in our town centres, following 14 years of Conservative cuts that have left our towns and villages at the mercy of shoplifters and antisocial behaviour. Will the Home Secretary outline how La…
Healthcare assistants at Blackpool teaching hospitals NHS foundation trust have been underpaid on the wrong band for years, but the trust has consistently failed to put that right, and as a result staff have been left with no choice but to be balloted for strike action by Unison from today. Healthca…
It is an honour to speak today as we approach this incredibly important anniversary. Today is the day to celebrate the victory of democracy and freedom over fascism, as well as to remember all those who lost their lives, were taken prisoner or suffered during that fight. I believe that the most impo…
I thank my hon. Friend very much for her intervention and totally agree with her analysis.
My school friend’s dad, George Brooks, suffered for the rest of his life from the ordeals he endured in the camps. As we approach the 80th anniversary of VJ Day and the celebrations that will come with it, th…
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stuart. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Lancaster and Wyre (Cat Smith) for securing this incredibly important debate. Having represented the Fleetwood part of my constituency prior to the boundary review, she will know the way the health se…
I am encouraged by the Minister’s statement, which is a plan to rebuild Britain from the mess left by the Conservatives. Can he inform the House how constituencies such as mine can take advantage of the new place-based business case as part of the Government’s Green Book strategy?
T3. Residents of Thornton-Cleveleys in my constituency are being warned not to eat food grown in their own gardens because a local site is being investigated after testing found high concentrations around it of a banned substance called perfluorooctanoic acid, which has proven to be carcinogenic, …
I have spent nearly a year in this Chamber watching our country pleading with the Israeli Government to de-escalate in Gaza. They have not. Strong words and desperate pleas have not worked. Is now the time to recognise the state of Palestine, as we promised in our manifesto? Is now the time to exten…
I welcome the Government’s commitment to investing in Britain’s future, tearing up the old rulebook that held back constituencies like mine for too long, but my constituents need to feel the benefits now. We need better transport infrastructure, including the reopening of our train line and more job…
T5. Labour’s plan to make work pay promised to bring about the biggest wave of insourcing of public services in a generation. Insourced services are often shown to provide better value for money. Will the Government provide an update on their work to ensure that public bodies carry out public inte…
My constituency has enormous potential, but it has been held back by the last 14 years of austerity. That represents a shameful neglect of not just my community, but the country. It is the duty of this Government to fix that. The industries that sustain reliable work for so many have long disappeare…
I do.
We have a disused railway line. Were it to be reopened, it would finally give Fleetwood the connectivity that it has so badly lacked for decades. I am heartened by reports that the Chancellor will be rewriting the rules that have diverted investment away from constituencies like mine, but the…
21. What steps she is taking to support the maritime sector.
Fleetwood, in my constituency, has a proud fishing industry, but our port is currently massively underused. The Government’s clean power mission is a huge opportunity for ports like Fleetwood to take advantage of jobs and investment brought by offshore wind projects. Will the Minister meet me to ens…
CommonsPrime Minister's QuestionsPrime Minister14 May 20252 contributions
Q1. If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 14 May.
Fourteen years of Conservative cuts have stripped the Environment Agency of the resources and the staff it needs to properly deal with badly managed landfill sites blighting communities like mine. The Jameson Road landfill site in my constituency of Blackpool North and Fleetwood has been producing t…