Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Urgent question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business & Trade, if he will make a statement on Government action to prevent the closure of Scunthorpe Steelworks

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Thank you for granting this urgent question. Can I ask the Secretary of State for business and Secretary of State for business and trade what action the government are taking to prevent the closure of

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Scunthorpe Steelworks? I appeared before the House on

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I appeared before the House on March 27, just moments after the March 27, just moments after the devastating announcement of early asset closures at Scunthorpe from British Steel and the commercial British Steel and the commercial decision to consult a large-scale redundancies. The course of action, the owner of British Steel has chosen this, as deeply disappointing and our thoughts remain with British Steel workers and their families at this concerning time. Government's contingency plans kicked in and the DWP and the FET must either where to DWP and the FET must either where to provide support.

-- DfE teams. We will try to ensure support is in

15:41

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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place for as long as possible. I assure the House that this is far from a done deal. We have been clear from a done deal. We have been clear that the best way forward is for that the best way forward is for British Steel to continue as a commercially run business with private investment and the government acting in support. This is why we made a generous offer of is why we made a generous offer of public funding on March 24. As members, the owner of British Steel members, the owner of British Steel did not accept the offer, no the necessary conditions which were designed to protect workers and safeguard taxpayer money and deliver a sustainable company dedicated to the future of British dealmaking.

That is not the end of the matter. The Vincent Reyes secretary and I met with the owners of British Steel, Jingye, and we are determined to retain steel production in Scunthorpe and put an end to years of uncertainty. I assure the House no options are of the people to achieve that and we continue to work tirelessly across government and with the order of British Steel to . I cannot go into further detail at this stage.

It would be damaging to workers, families, the company, the supply chain for me to speculate on how events might unfold in coming days and weeks while the live negotiation remains underweight and policies being developed at pace. Members should be in no doubt that there is a bright future for steelmaking in the UK under this government and we believe the steel and the superb workforce at Scunthorpe have an integral role to play.

15:42

Martin Vickers MP (Brigg and Immingham, Conservative)

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I thank the Minister for her comments and it is welcome that work is being done to the DWP and so on to support potential redundant workers but the reality is that the company, Jingye, are not involved in meaningful negotiations and the government has been critical of them in previous replies to my questions. It is very obvious they have cancelled the raw material autos which are essential to keep for this is going and these were due in May.

-- Raw material orders. Unless they can place another order for iron ore pellets, it will be too late. The Minister was somewhat reluctant to go down the route to nationalisation when I raised the matter a couple of weeks ago but the majority opinion in the area now and by leading competition as it nationalisation, on a temporary basis, is the only solution to keep the furnaces burning come the middle of next month. Can the Minister confirm that is something the government is actively considering? It would give opportunity to rebuild the industry, hopefully secure new private sector involvement.

It would convince the customers, most notably Network Rail, who get 95% of Railtrack from Scunthorpe, that there will be a continuation of supply. My view has come to the view that nationalisation in this instance, on a temporary basis, the only way. It will secure jobs, secure a future for steel production in Scunthorpe. I urge the Minister not to rule that

15:45

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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out and indeed to actually commit to it. Stick I thank the honourable it. Stick I thank the honourable member for securing this debate and for his comments and I know that we will continue to have honest will continue to have honest conversations and continue to talk. conversations and continue to talk. We are very much talking to Jingye and the met them, the secretary of and the met them, the secretary of state and others met with them on Friday and we hope to do so again this week.

Our priority is this week. Our priority is respecting the workers, safeguarding jobs, retaining steelmaking and we have been clear and our belief that the best way forward is for Scunthorpe and British Steel to continue as a commercially run business, as the honourable gentleman those, but I can tell him gentleman those, but I can tell him

15:45

Matt Western MP (Warwick and Leamington, Labour)

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I was really concerned to hear about the cancellation of shipments of the essential business for Scunthorpe. As of the business and trade community heard, from British Steel and from Tata about some of their needs. The Minister will be aware that some other ways we have aware that some other ways we have failed as a strategy as a country is not having a strategy. To establish a steel plan to establish what the U.K.'s needs are to have resilience across our industries and our economy.

15:46

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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Can I felt my right honourable And in the business and trade Select Committee we talked about exactly that. We have seen a decline in steel manufacturing in this country over the last decade was a very significant decline we want to turn that around, which is why long before we got into government we were committed to a plan for steel which is a £2.5 million investment in steelmaking in the UK. As we speak, I had to come back to be in this chamber.

As we speak there is a roundtable which I was due to be chairing, at a JCB, in Stafford, talking about the plan for steel and particular trade barriers, on this occasion we have been having a series of roundtable is, gathering evidence, to put the right investment in place.

15:47

Kevin Hollinrake MP (Thirsk and Malton, Conservative)

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Shadow secretary. and indeed the candidate Rob Walton, candidate for Lincolnshire for the engagement and work on this issue. Despite repeatedly promising to protect and support of virgin and steelmaking capacity, when in opposition at the Labour Party's potentially presiding over it's a total demise. And in the process of course thousands of blue-collar jobs, in this once proud industry, 5,000 at Port Talbot and Scunthorpe, directly and many more in the supply chain, having either gone forever or at risk.

Given that the regions with the highest numbers of steelworkers are Wales and Yorkshire and a number, this situation is also dealing a hammer blow to efforts to address regional inequality. Steel is obviously a key strategic industry, even more so given I need to increase defence spending and infrastructure investment. And even more so again given President trumps game changing imposition of tariffs. The Prime Minister keep saying that the world has changed and indeed we are witnessing the end of globalisation, which I cannot say I totally agree with.

The government's position, surely it has no choice but to intervene to support production. The alternative could see us locked out of reliable consistently priced sources of steel. So can I ask the Minister, they have stepped in to help a car manufacturing in recent days, will she now redouble her efforts to reach a deal with British Steel. Steel production is just one of the industry is closing due to high energy prices, 50% higher than our competitors in France and Germany, 400% higher than the USA.

Other industries, for example CF fertiliser on quayside and Grangemouth have closed their doors or are in the process of doing so. Would she press the case with the Chancellor for permanently lower industrial energy prices. She mentions the support for steelworkers, how many steelworkers have engage with? What support for them, what support has she given for the knock-on effect to communities? What assessment has she made of the effects to national security. She mentions a bright future for steelmaking, in this country. Will she confirm that is prime steelmaking capability?

15:49

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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Can I thank the right honourable member for his contribution and for welcoming the Prime Minister's announcement today on the mandate and the changes we have made in order to support the automotive industry, which is also incredibly important. The honourable gentleman talks about a number of good steel jobs that have gone, forever, or are at risk. The reason they have gone forever or are at risk is because forever or are at risk is because the previous government failed to intervene, in a way that supported our steel industry, which is why we lost so many jobs, over the last decade and not having Industrial Strategy, not having a plan for steel, meant that we allowed offshoring of our jobs, in the steel sector, which has damage, as he rightly said, lots of key parts of the country where we need good jobs and steel, I should say produced good jobs, better paid than the average in the area and these are really good qualified people we want to retain here, in the UK.

He talks about energy. Again, the reason we are here, where we are, there has been a gears of the previous government not intervening in the space. And of course we are very well aware of the energy crisis, in this country. Of course we are doing all we can to bring those down. I was asked by the honourable gentleman to redouble my efforts, in terms of the negotiations you're having with British Steel. I will do everything I possibly can, as we are doing.

I hope the honourable gentleman would understand why we can't go into detail about the state of those negotiations, because it would be bad for the workers and the bad for the supply chain. For the outcome. He talks about a national security and primary steel. We are conducting a review of primary steel, as part of our plan for steel. We have the results, from that soon and that we will look at those results and see what we need to do. I should stress, in terms of defence, there is defence equipment that is made in the UK, from eligible furnaces.

There is not much of defence work either in British Steel, or in a tartar in Port Talbot at the moment -- CATL. Sheffield Forgemasters produce steel from electric arc furnace, but he is right to talk about the importance of national security and he is right to say the work world has changed and things have moved on and we need to make sure we are protecting our country in the way that we need to. As I said in this chamber last time there is a reason why Putin bombed the furnaces in Ukraine first, because you want to have that steelmaking capacity in a country.

We are very alike to those issues. We are very alike to those issues. That is why nothing is off the table we are doing everything we can. we are doing everything we can.

15:52

Bill Esterson MP (Sefton Central, Labour)

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Members opposite you are heckling the Minister forgot their own governments tackling other high energy prices. They are heckling again now. They did know and they did nothing in government. I was at the tartar steelworks, three weeks ago, with the energy security Minister to net zero and we spoke to people locally and they have great concerns that the strategy there is shut. It is too late to take action to prevent that. They shut some years before we knew, that the furnaces were ready to operate.

Could I ask my honourable friend if she would do everything in her power to ensure that there is not the same gap. The problem caused in south Wales, as it has reminded people of the damage done by previous areas of DA sterilisation. They are concerned we are repeating the same mistakes again. Can she confirm that this government will do everything in its power to ensure we do not make the power to ensure we do not make the same mistakes of the industrial revolution this time.

15:54

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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Can I get my honourable friend for that question and we are very much planning and not to make the same mistakes that he talks about. We do not want it. That is the government's view and it remains the governments of year we will do everything we can to reach a deal with British Steel, where we can protect workers and secure those jobs and the production of steel.

15:54

Sarah Gibson MP (Chippenham, Liberal Democrat)

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Speculation around British Steel at the Scunthorpe plant is deeply concerning, both of the workers and for business owners alike. Who are desperately waiting for the Government to deliver just one piece of good news. Steel is vital to our green economy, it plays a huge role in our ability to extend our railways and to build a zero carbon homes. So what incentive does British Steel have to keep going? They have had to contend with the Chancellor's decision to hike financial insurance contributions and trumps terrifying tariffs.

Manufacturing businesses need the government to offer reassurance, certainty and stability. And we need to move from the patchwork of last- minute rescues to a long-term plan that will see industry on a sustainable footing. We need a robust Industrial Strategy, with a proper plan for steel in England. We have been told to expect this Industrial Strategy shortly. Will the Minister confirm exactly when we will have it. Will she be able to reassure the Assembly manufacturing businesses, in my constituency of chipping and across rural England that Britain wants them to grow.

And will it include, a long-term vision that will allow the UK to secure investment and the need for virgin investment and the need for virgin

15:56

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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I can reassure the honourable lady that we are developing a long- term plan in the Industrial Strategy. We are developing the plan for steel as I talked about and alongside that, of course, I would trade strategy as well which has been very significant in recent times. She points to the tariffs that have been placed on steel and she is right, it is a deeply difficult and I have been meeting with the steel sector for multiple occasions to talk about that and that is what the conversation that is happening, as we speak, in a Stafford is discussing, what extra measures need to be put in place.

The Secretary of State, met with the trade remedy authority, this morning, to push on some of the issues around trade protections she talks about the supply chain and the Assembly manufacturing supply chain. Of course that is very important and we will do what we can with the Industrial Strategy in the steel strategy to support them. I understand the point that the speculation about what may or may not happen in a Scunthorpe is deeply distressing, not just to the workers and the families but all of those who supply as part of that change.

That is why we will continue at pace to have the conversations we need to have with British Steel to make sure we do the right thing and as I said.

15:57

Melanie Onn MP (Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Labour)

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Thank you. The whole of northern Lincolnshire feels the brunt of this British Steel decision. Should the site close. To reconsider the generous of £5 billion offers. Support through the DWP is really welcome but the truth is that people have been leaving British Steel for years, because of the cycle of its uncertain future. I welcome the government's comment that there are no options off the table and as an interim is the government considering ordering the mills to keep the furnaces and burning.

15:58

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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Can I thank my honourable friend for her question and pointing out of course the uncertainty that has existed for many years. It is difficult to keep the force of they can secure jobs elsewhere. They would do that. I have been to Scunthorpe and talk to the trade unions, a lot, as you would expect, to make sure that we are understanding all of the issues at play. I do understand her question about what we may or may not do in the immediate term and I hope she will respect the fact that we can't, at this point so what we may end up doing, because we will be having those conversations and they are sensitive.

I will reassure her as I would the whole house that we are doing what we can to make sure we get the right solution. We do not

15:59

Richard Tice MP (Boston and Skegness, Reform UK)

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get the right solution. We do not get the right solution. We do not About 10 days ago I urged the Minister and the government to use this decision by the Chinese to close British Steel as an opportunity to take British Steel opportunity to take British Steel into public ownership. The situation is urgent they have stopped ordering the raw materials, unless those are ordered in about 10 days, those blast furnaces will go cold, in blast furnaces will go cold, in mid-May. When the Minister says that no options off the table, will she no options off the table, will she confirm that they will make those decisions, come to a conclusion about the options, within this very short timeframe to ensure that blast furnaces stay open and that actually the right solution, the long-term solution is to take British Steel into public ownership, invest in it for British industry and for British Steel and for the workers in Lincolnshire.

15:59

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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Thank you Mr Speaker, as I said about 10 days ago, it is economics and it is a job is an ideology that is good and drive the decisions that we make. The honourable gentleman is right to point to lots of speculation about the need to buy raw materials and those of the conversations we are having, I can assure him we are having with British Steel and will continue to do so. As I have said it is our preference that there is a commercial solution, with government providing support.

As I have said, all options remain on the table and I can assure the honourable gentleman that we are working at gentleman that we are working at

16:00

Mrs Sureena Brackenridge MP (Wolverhampton North East, Labour)

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Wolverhampton North-East of the largest wheel distribution sector. How does the government intend to protect jobs in this industry?

16:01

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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I thank my honourable friend and I would be happy to come and have a look in her constituency and talk to some people who work in the steel business. There are huge numbers of organisations and businesses across the country who rely upon steel and use steel. We have to make sure we are factoring this in and we are looking at boosting industry more widely through the industrial strategy, whether it is skills, R&D, access to finance. Whether it is the industrial strategy or the plan for steel itself, we must ensure we have a robust industry so we can have that security of producing the that security of producing the things that we need in the UK.

things that we need in the UK.

16:01

John Cooper MP (Dumfries and Galloway, Conservative)

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Between 1997-2010, something like 36,000 jobs were lost and that was under Labour, of course, in the steel industry. The old joke is if you want to stop something, you should nationalise it. Even this government could not run a bath, let alone the steel industry, isn't the truth that the dogmatic pursuit of net zero is driving up energy bills to a level that is not sustainable for industry? for industry?

16:02

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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I will repeat what I have previously said. We are making sure we look at all options on the table. We are making sure we talk to British Steel about the right outcome and will do what is right for the country and the industry. On energy prices, he is right to raise the high cost of energy and there is support through the supercharging which comes into effect in and British Steel will get support from that, as will other high-end energy that, as will other high-end energy intensive industry.

He is right to point to that and we are looking at that as well.

16:03

Emma Foody MP (Cramlington and Killingworth, Labour )

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I thank the Minister for the answer she gave. There has been intense media speculation last furnaces will close before consultation is complete. Can she reassure me and workers everything is being done to ensure this does not happen and that Jingye can do more with respect to UK law?

16:03

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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I thank my honourable friend for the question and she is right, of course. We will do that and we will look at the conditions to do exactly that. It is important that any deal that is done with taxpayer money is done in a way that we know will be within the law and that is something I am mindful of and also I'm constantly mindful of the insecurity people who work at British Steel will be feeling and the need for all of us to work as hard as we can to give confidence? give confidence?

16:04

Sir Bernard Jenkin MP (Harwich and North Essex, Conservative)

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I thank the honourable lady for keeping an open mind on what to do to save the remnants of our steel industry. Will she not agree it is vital we maintain strategic capability? Is it not unconscionable we are building British warships with imported steel? This represents the cumulative failure of many governments over many decades and so it is time to actually change policy, including the energy policy which is prioritising other things other than price to energy-intensive industries? I am glad there is some answer to that from the government but to build up strategic ability for water, which is what we must do in this country, we need a wholesale change to policy and I hope she will look for common cause between the front benches because this should be done on a consensus basis.

We do not need to tear chunks out of each other for mistakes we have all made in the past. in the past.

16:05

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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I agree we must have steel production in the UK. There is some nuance around this. High quality steel is being made for Defence purposes by British furnaces and it is possible because you melt scrap and that is what is making and in some furnaces, it depends what you make and it depends what you are making but for some things you don't need any primary steel. I agree with the premise we must be producing the premise we must be producing steel in the UK and we are looking at the review we are conducting and it will be finished shortly and, again, neither companies are critical suppliers and we need to steel production, as I have said before, to make sure we can build whatever we need to build in the future and we will work on this in a cross-party way.

cross-party way.

16:06

Rt Hon Sir Julian Lewis MP (New Forest East, Conservative)

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Me I say to the Minister that she should not waste the opportunity of a lifetime to have the parties of the right urging the party of the left to nationalise? One organisation which has been organisation which has been consistent in all of this, saying that the business Minister had failed to answer whether or not virgin steel was part of this but even if there are other things, we still need to have that amount of virgin steel to embark on the process.

If necessary, we should nationalise them for good. nationalise them for good.

16:07

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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Can I thank the honourable gentleman? If we get into these conversations, it is like the Facebook update, 'its complicated'. There are incidents where we need primary steel and also when we do not. There is a need for steelmaking in the UK and the results will come out soon from a survey and he is right that GMB have been advocates, as have communities and we talk to them regularly about British Steel and yes, I have not failed to notice the slightly odd position that we find ourselves in today and I would repeat that we are looking at all options.

The House will understand and we are looking at large amounts of taxpayer money and we have to spend that in the right way and in a sensible way and in a way that gets us what we need and that is what we are looking at.

16:08

Lee Anderson MP (Ashfield, Reform UK)

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This company does not want visits from the DWP or out of touch Labour backbenchers but they want their jobs, they want to make steel. All options are on the table. Do you agree with the policy of scrapping net zero and revitalising British Steel? Steel?

16:09

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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It is good to hear the workers and British Steel do not want visits from politicians so I assume the honourable member will take his own advice, and his party. I would say again that the honourable member will I cope understand that we cannot talk about the conversations that we are having with British Steel at the moment. It would be very destructive to the process, the workforce there, -- disruptive to the process, the workforce, the supply chain, commercial confidentiality.

I repeat what I have said before which is the preference is that we come to an agreement on commercial terms with government support and that we are looking at all options and nothing is off the table. is off the table.

16:10

Rt Hon Dr Andrew Murrison MP (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)

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That the Minister agree that we require cross-party consensus on the need to ensure this country is able to continue to produce virgin steel? Every other G7 country does, for a raft of reason. Does she agree that case is underscored by the Trump slump and the pragmatism of her party on net zero, intended, one hopes, for energy costs and the intriguing announcement from the Prime Minister at the end of globalisation. Those are things which have underscored and reinforced the case for the ability to continue to produce virgin steel in the country.

But she agree? in the country. But she agree?

16:11

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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I agree that the world has changed and we are in a different position that what we find ourselves in a few years ago. We need to make sure we are secure as a country and I believe steel as part of the answer, for sure. We need to make sure we are stopping the decline of the steel industry which has always been the wish of this side of the House in opposition and the commitment to the £2.5 billion on top of the money we are giving to tartar steel and this is a real commitment to change the way we operate the industry in this country so we stopped the decline and make things.

16:11

Rt Hon Richard Holden MP (Basildon and Billericay, Conservative)

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The ministry seems to be on the verge of acknowledging that this is actually critical infrastructure and that they will nationalise if necessary. Can she commit that necessary. Can she commit that virgin steel production in the UK is critical to national infrastructure and if necessary she will nationalise it in order to maintain the critical resource for UK Defence? Defence?

16:12

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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I am afraid I must disappoint the honourable member and I'm not on the verge of anything but have to repeat what I've said and we will continue to have negotiations and I'm mindful of the workers and the consultation and we will make sure we do the right thing through the plan for steel and the response and I cannot say any more at this point. say any more at this point.

16:12

I thank the Minister for her comments. Given the vital nature of this industry, we recognise this will be silent to those who would be less than trustworthy and if we are unable to produce the virgin steel ourselves and given the undoubted issue with national security, one issue with national security, one option that is... One outcome which is off the table is that this does close and if that is the case, will close and if that is the case, will she commit to protecting and saving these jobs?

16:13

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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British Steel is a private company and us are Jingye and I have said multiple times we will continue to talk to them to come to agreement on the generous offer which was made to them. We are looking at all options and we know that is the right thing to do and to be clear, we do not want to blast furnaces to close and we want to come to an agreement.

16:13

Nick Timothy MP (West Suffolk, Conservative)

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I wish the Minister will stop

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I wish the Minister will stop saying these issues are competitive. We are here to debate complicated issues and she is supposed to be here to answer our questions. We are witnessing the absurd issue of the government taking a Chinese company to help keep British Steel alive to help keep British Steel alive while they suppress their own costs and they are still on other countries. We may be the only G7 country incapable of producing primary steel. She has brushed off the reality of the crippling petition energy cost which will only get higher as a matter of deliberate get higher as a matter of deliberate government policy.

Why won't she admit that steel has no future in this country so long as this government's trade and climate policies continue? policies continue?

16:14

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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If only he had done something when he had some influence as an adviser to the previous Prime Minister. That would have been good, wouldn't it? I have not been sent here to divulge confidential, commercially confidential consultations with a private company that involve the jobs of thousands of people and if the member thinks that I am, he is wrong. We are not going to do that, no RB begging for going to do that, no RB begging for anything, no.

Absolutely not. I'm disappointed the honourable member would speak in that way. We are having a conversation about the deal which we believe is there to be done with British Steel and on the wider issue, it is a fact that China produces 53% of the world's steel and we have huge issues with that, as he knows, and the tariffs have overcomplicated that and that is why the Secretary of State was meeting on this topic today and that is why we are looking at the trade strategy and why we are talking to the Americans to make sure we can do a deal with them and why we will continue to make sure we have all the protection we need in terms of stopping the ensuring of steel as much as we can and the conversations will continue and the TRA are looking at steel and we expect the looking at steel and we expect the

16:16

Mr Andrew Snowden MP (Fylde, Conservative)

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An interesting stat 53% by China. If you look at the invasion of Ukraine, we look at the way that Russia started to dominate nuclear fuel market by pushing Western providers out. There is a reason why China and Russia are behaving this way, because they want to control critical raw materials, for national security, around the world. And in that context, in a months time, this House is debating the prospect of a Chinese owned company turning off our blast furnaces, in this country.

That cannot be an acceptable position to be in. Will the Minister commit, as has been asked but not answered several times already to order the raw materials, to keep those furnaces on, if necessary. Secondly the Minister said earlier in an answer, in response to a question, on primary steel, there was a consultation underway in a strategy and we will look at what we need to do. It is quite clear what we need to do, produce primary steel. steel.

16:17

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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This is what we were telling the previous government for many, many years. The reason that British Steel That was a purchaser that was made under the last government and in a commercial and private sector way. We believe in fair open markets, on this side of the House, I don't know quite what the opposition are becoming, but on China, our priority here is that UK jobs and steel production. We believe in a fair open market for foreign investment and we believe on having mature and balanced relationships with trading partners, like China.

We make sure protections are in place to protect the steel industry, here in the UK. We make sure we do the right thing and on primary steel and on the materials that he wants me to commit now to say that we would spend millions of pounds and most people in this House would understand that I cannot commit to anything like that at this time.

16:18

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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We now come to Jim Shannon. for her answers to the questions and very helpful. Our concern alongside the workers, the potential for 2,700 people to be losing their jobs is frightening. I think of all those families who are going to be directly impacted. Can the Minister confirm that the head of any announcement that the Minister will commit to meeting with the workers who are gonna be directly affected by any decision and provide a way forward to ensure that the steel industry and workers in this sector are secure and protected throughout the UK.

16:19

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Croydon West, Labour)

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Can I thank the honourable member for his question. We continue to talk to the trade unions who have been incredibly strong voices for workers in Scunthorpe. And GMB and Unite and we continue to talk to them and people who work to understand exactly what they are going through, because they have to be at the heart of the decisions.

16:19

Ministerial statement: Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate

That completes the Urgent Question. Front benches, change over.

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Secretary of State for transport,

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Mr Alexander. Giving a British, gives certainty

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Giving a British, gives certainty and support on the transition to electric vehicles as we set out backing industry in the face of global economic headwinds. We have global economic headwinds. We have worked in close partnership and at pace, with colleagues in the Scottish Government, Welsh Government Northern Ireland Executive, who I would like to Executive, who I would like to thank. The automotive industry is a cornerstone of our economy. It supports over hundred and 50,000 jobs and generates £19 billion, every year.

Today, with government backing, it must negotiate the turbulence of fresh global economic challenges. For too long this sector has been held back, by a lack of long-term certainty. That changes now. This is a government that listens and acts. We have a listen to car manufacturers, large and small. From Sunderland, to Solihull, crude Coventry, we have heard what carmakers told us they needed, not just to survive, but thrive -- Karoon. What they want is what we're delivering.

Practical, sensible reforms, will unlock investment, protect jobs and strengthen Britain's leadership, in the zero emissions transition. Mr Speaker, I can today confirm that the government is maintaining our manifesto commitment to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. I can also reconfirm that our commitment to all new cars and vans being 100% to 0 emission by 2035. No changes to the existing trajectory for the transition set out with a mandate regulation.

We are supporting the role of hybrid vehicles is a crucial stepping stone in that journey. With new full hybrid and plug-in hybrids on sale until 25 on sale until 2535. This strikes the right balance. Firm on our climate commitments but flexible in how we meet them. Because our aim is not to impose change for its own sake, but to enable industry to make the transition in a way that matches supply and demand, supporting businesses and the jobs they provide, every step of the way.

We are significantly increasing the stability within the mandate. Manufacturers will have more freedom in how they meet targets, including the ability to sell more EVs towards the end of this decade. When demand is projected to be higher. We are also extending the ability to borrow and repay credits through to 2013. And to earn credits, for cleaning up their non-Z fleet, all the way out to 2029. In assuring companies can manage their own companies more effectively. This recognises the real-world challenges, British businesses face.

And it gives them the smoothest possible road to run on. We are also reducing fines for missing targets, from £15,000 fines for missing targets, from £15,000- £12,000 per vehicle. And where fines are levied, which for the vast majority of manufacturers not be the case, the revenue will be recycled directly back into support for the sector. Because this is the government that invest in solutions, not punishes ambition and let me be clear, Mr Speaker this is not a retreat from our ambitions on EVs, quite the opposite.

It is right that the threat of fines remain as it is an inescapable fact that the domestic transport sector remains the U.K.'s single largest carbon emitter, accounting for 30% of emissions in 2024. That is why we are doubling down on our commitment to the electric transition with more than £2.3 million available to support industry and consumers. That includes funding for new battery factories, EV supply chains, charging infrastructure and grants for zero emission vehicles. Mr Speaker, the public are already leading the way.

March saw 43% increase in electric vehicle sales, compared to the same month, last year. February was a record month two, with the EVs accounting for one in four new car sales. The surge in demand shows we are moving in the right direction, but it also shows the importance of maintaining momentum. So we will continue working with industry to ensure demand keeps pace with supply, building a sustainable market, for building a sustainable market, for the long term.

And the infrastructure is growing too, with over 75,000 public charge points, now available and more than £6 billion of private investment lined up for the UK charge point rollout, by 2030. Today, a new charge point is installed every 29 minutes, that is over 50 every day. Families are charging at home, can now save up to £1000 a year, compared to petrol drivers. An EV charged at home, overnight can run for as little as 2p a mile. That is putting money in people's pockets, whilst relieving pressure on the planet.

Mr Speaker, we know that one size does not fit all. That is why a small and micro manufacturers will be exempt from these new measures. It is why vans will have five extra years to go green, because we recognise their unique role in the economy, in giving businesses the time they need to adapt. It is why we are making space for hybrid vehicles, in the next, not as a compromise, but as a contribution. Hybrids offer low emission today, without requiring overnight shifts, driving behaviour, or infrastructure.

They build public confidence, support choice and ensure no one is left behind, in the transition. This is not just a transport policy, and environmental policy or an economic policy, it is a part of this governments Plan for Change, a long-term effort to deliver clean, sustainable, high- quality growth, creating new jobs, in battery production, EV supply chains and infrastructure. Anchoring a manufacturing, here in the UK, and supporting unskilled apprenticeships, in cleantech and advanced engineering. Today's announcement, British names like Rolls-Royce, Land Rover and Vauxhall will now have the certainty they need to plan, invest and lead.

We are backing British businesses to succeed at home and abroad. These are reforms that are fair to manufacturers, reasonable for workers and right for the climate challenge ahead. I know some might retreat to tired arguments about a retreat to tired arguments about a wall or motorist. This government is focused on challenges are not imaginary grievances. Most of us are most serious, most of the passengers, we are all in this together, what we need is not division, but direction.

That is what we are delivering today by listening at industry, following the data, building a strategy, grounded in evidence and ambition. Because when we came into government Mr Speaker, we promised to prioritise one thing above all else, growth. Growth for industry, growth and clean transport, growth and people, places and pay packets, with this bold practical reform, backed by the

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prime Ministers of Plan for Change, this is exactly what we are delivering, I commend the statements of the House. I think on his birthday we should

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take the shadow secretary art. Thank you. I'm not going to

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Thank you. I'm not going to embarrass my self. You have just embarrass my self. You have just checked. I would like to thank... That is a helpful intervention from the honourable gentleman. I like to the honourable gentleman. I like to thank the Secretary of State for her statement and advanced sight of it. The announcement of the 25% tariff will be imposed on the UK automotive exports has caused significant concern within the automotive sector. Now facing terrace of 25% and about £8 billion worth of cars and exports.

These constitute a potentially devastating blow, for the automotive industry. I would

16:29

Gareth Bacon MP (Orpington, Conservative)

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therefore like to assure the Secretary of State will support the government when they do sensible government when they do sensible things to reverse the impact on our already fragile economy. And in that vein I am glad they have already committed to negotiating a better deal, with our closest ally and largest single country trading partner and do sincerely hope that they are successful in negotiations. However, with respect to the substance of the honourable ladies statement I must admit that I cannot share her enthusiasm for the rest of share her enthusiasm for the rest of Labour's plans.

Because the reality is that today Labour is simply trying to clear up the uncertainty they themselves have been treated to. When the previous Conservative government reacted to sluggish automotive trade figures and made pragmatic decision to change from 2013 2035, aligning the UK with France, Germany, Sweden and Canada. Labour accused us of undermining the automotive industry. This morning, the Secretary of State criticised the previous government for chopping and changing and consultation put out by a Labour claim there are policy cause great harm to the reputation as a leading nation in That is exactly what they did by reversing the 2035 deadline.

The plans announced over the weekend and not place the automotive sector in a better position, than it was when we left office, despite some minor amendments. What is more, this announcement will not undo the damage this Labour government has already caused. The introduction of a £25 billion in national insurance jobs tax, in the first budget is a major blow to businesses. We have warned for months that this would harm industries in the automotive sector is no exception. The Secretary of State will know, that US tariffs on UK car experts are set to pass the automotive sector £1.9 billion.

And combine with the government's jobs tax which is predicted by the OBR to be 50,000 jobs put at risk, it is likely to cause the automotive sector an additional £200 million. This double whammy is going to be very difficult whammy is going to be very difficult Despite today's announcement traders of stated zero emission mandates targets remain incredibly challenging. In their words and I quote, " $$CAPITALISEThe targets are incredibly challenging especially with a paucity of consumer demand and geopolitical upheaval.

Growing EV demand the levels needed still In In the In the case In the case of In the case of hybrid In the case of hybrid cars In the case of hybrid cars the government is proposing to increase the level of tax liable until those cards by as much as 16%. It could potentially cost individual drivers thousands of pounds each. The reduction in fines for missing sales targets of EVs from £15,000 down to £12,000 per vehicle is nothing to be celebrated.

It is like drowning in the depth of 120 m rather than 120 m. We have heard from numerous businesses who have said they cannot cope with this mandate. In October the CEO of Jaguar Land Rover warned it was creating severe disruption to the market. Not long after Vauxhall announced the closure of its Luton factory, citing the ZEV Mandate as a key factor in making the plant economically non-viable. And recently, in Oxford, the home of the knee since 1959. Last year when excluding fleet sales, the fact is only 10% of private purchases of new vehicles were electric.

Far from doing them a favour, the government offered to find retailers a small amount less for selling a product that consumers do not want and this is a kick in the teeth of the automotive industry. I must ask the Secretary of State with just one in 10 private buyers purchasing an electric vehicle in 2024, whilst the government still trying to force people to buy something that there is at present limited consumer demand for? Does she pretend that a single one of the measures announced today were not already in train before the tariffs were announced? Will she commit to reversing the hike in hybrid company car tax? Does she really think that reducing the fine for each car that fails to comply with EV quotas will be enough to mitigate the impact of tariffs.

Does she not believe that rather than chasing an arbitrator timeline, now is the time for a more gradual transition to electric vehicles. To allow the sectors to mitigate many of the challenges it is currently facing. Finally, will she recognise the blind impact of the ZEV Mandate, the jobs tax and external tariffs creating a perfect storm for the automotive sector, is facing significant and exacerbated challenges looks at the choice of months?

16:34

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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Can I extend my birthday wishes to the honourable gentleman as well. I hope he is grateful for that two birthday present that I give him, but only a statement today but also a general debate so we can face each other in the Dispatch Box. Not once other in the Dispatch Box. Not once but twice. It is rich coming from him for him to blame uncertainty on in the sector on this government. I can only think that he has some sort of selective amnesia case going on.

It was his government that introduced this policy. They then delayed the phase out date, tacking delayed the phase out date, tacking EV demand by 15% almost overnight. We have the spectacle of the previous prime minister, the honourable gentleman for North Yorkshire standing up making a speech, pushing the date to 2035 and almost overnight you saw the sales tax. I think he should be explained to Britain's car manufacturers why his party fact about so much, costing them millions, and doggedly left the sector less resilient to the global economic headwinds they now face.

He claims that this is a moment when we are tinkering at the edges, and nothing could be further from the truth. This is a significant moment for industry. He quotes the S MMT. I would gently say to him that the chief executive there said this morning that the government has rightly listened to industry. Responded quickly to global dynamics, and recognised the intense pressure manufacturers are under. He is also right to raise the issue of Jaguar Land Rover, who are affected by the imposition of the global tariffs that President Trump announced recently.

I would point out to him that the CEO of JL are has said the following about the announcement. " We welcome the increased flexibility in the zero emission Mandate, and a clear commitment from government to incentivise electric vehicle uptake and invest in infrastructure. " He also says that consumers do not want to buy electric vehicles. I think he needs to go and do his homework. The UK is the third largest market for electric vehicles in the UK after the US and China.

It is the largest market in Europe. Last year, he can chant as much as he wants, last year 382,000 EVs were sold. We have had record figures in both February and March of this year, where we have seen demand for EVs go up by over 40% compared to the previous month in the previous year. He claims that we were going to do this anyway. He is right that we have been talking to industry for a number of months. We were always going to have to do something to clear up the dog's breakfast of the policy left by his government.

Clearly the announcement last week about US tariffs on the car industry has made it all the more important that we have acted with pace and urgency. And it is completely right that we have provided certainty, the clarity for the sector which they had been calling out for four years. He claims this isn't going far enough. We are investing £2 billion in an automotive transformation fund which will ensure we can build the battery gigafactory of the future, supports the EV supply chain, ensuring that those high skilled jobs of the future are available in communities across the country.

We are spending £200 million on supporting the rollout of chargepoint backed by £6 million of private investment between now and 2030. We are spending £120 million on plugged in vehicle grants giving people that I wanted to purchase a new van up to £2500, and for a larger van, up to £5000. So I say to the honourable gentleman, this government is acting when his government failed. We are giving certainty to businesses, we are protecting jobs in a critical industry, cutting carbon, and fostering a competitive market to benefit consumers.

16:39

Catherine Atkinson MP (Derby North, Labour)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Today's news for the automotive industry in the move towards electric vehicles will be welcomed by my constituent including those who work for the nearby Toyota plant. Will the Minister continue this really encouraging level of engagement and responsiveness to industry concerns? And to make sure the transition is a success, can you confirm that this government's wider industrial strategy will further back British automotive factories?

16:40

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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I thank my honourable friend for the question. I know my colleague the Minister for the future of roads has visited the plant in her constituency. I understand what a critical employer it is locally. Toyota will benefit from any of the changes that we have announced today. The fact that we are allowing the sale of both full hybrids, as well as plug-in hybrids, after 2030. They will also benefit from the extension and expansion of the CO2 transfer cap.

And if they are ever in a position with a needs to be paying fines, they will benefit from a lower level of fines, and will of course be reinvesting that money on supporting the sector. So I can give her the assurance that she and her constituents want that we will continue to support this vitally important sector. important sector.

16:41

Mr Paul Kohler MP (Wimbledon, Liberal Democrat)

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Liberal Democrats Spokesperson.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Can I thank the Secretary of State for her statement and advanced sight of it. I want to congratulate the of it. I want to congratulate the shallow sector on his birthday and he is much younger than the Lib Dems Spokesperson. It is clear that the government must take urgent steps to support the car industry, with the switch to electric vehicles. Increasing tactility and the mandate Increasing tactility and the mandate is welcome, and voices from across the industry have made clear we also need to bolster demand by lowering need to bolster demand by lowering the barriers for individuals and businesses to purchase EVs.

As she knows the recent surge in demand referenced three significant discounts to promote sales. In addition to improving the charging network, it is crucial we and the inequality between public and private charging by securing the VAT charged by public charges is in line with home charging at 5% rather than 20%. It is wrong to penalised those who do not have access to private charging. Ministers should also postpone the increase in vehicle tax on electric cars, and explore introducing the plug-in car Grant.

As the Secretary of State made clear on the media round this morning, the spectre of trumps tariffs looms large over the industry. If the government is serious about protecting car manufacturing in the UK, the Prime Minister must continue to work with allies in Europe and around the world in a coordinated response. The only way to tackle Trump is to negotiate from a position of strength and show the UK is not alone and will not be bullied. Can I ask the Secretary of State three things.

What conversations has she had with the Chancellor about lowering the rate of public charging to 5%, and what other measures the government is considering to strengthen EV demand? Can the secretary of state confirm the measures announced today are a response to the ZEVM consultation and what additional mechanisms are be considered in respect of the tariffs that have since been announced? Will the government start negotiations with the EU on the formation of a UK-EU customs union to cut red tape, not only for vehicle manufacturer's but all UK industry?

16:43

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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Thank you. I can assure your gentlemen the government does keep the VAT variation between public and private charging under review. The 20% standard rate and public chargepoint are subject to most goods and services with very few exceptions. One of the things we are doing to try and give individuals low cost and affordable options for public charging is investing £380 million to rollout overnight charges which are cheaper and will be installed to help those without a driveway to charge overnight.

Today, Brighton council has confirmed it has signed the contracts to deliver 6000 of these charges, and comes after a company announced in February it was rolling out over 16,000 of these overnight charges across the Midlands, helping drivers charge for less. He asked me whether this response today is in response to the consultation that we have been running. We launched the consultation at the end of December, and it closed in February. This is the government response to that consultation.

With regard to the discussions that we will have with European colleagues, we will continue those discussions, though I'm afraid he tempts me into giving him a commitment to rejoining an EU customs union, and that is not a commitment I can make.

16:44

Bill Esterson MP (Sefton Central, Labour)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Can I thank my honourable friend for the stability and confidence she has given to our automotive industry? On behalf of those in my constituency behalf of those in my constituency who work at JLR, it will be very reassuring to them. The last government confirmed that it was already cheaper for drivers to switch to electric vehicles. He did so from that Dispatch Box this time last year. For those of us who are able to plug in at home, it is true after the cost of £1000 she said in her statement, her family.

Can I encourage to work with the energy secretary on reducing the cost of electricity more widely, to help those of us who can't plug-in at home to benefit and improve the consumer demand so crucial to supporting manufacturers?

16:45

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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I assure him that I will continue to work across government with colleagues in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. And in the Department for Business and Trade, in order to make the take up of EVs as affordable as possible, to individuals who are wanting to make that transition. He is entirely right to point out that drivers can save up to £1000 a year if they mostly charge at home compared to a petrol car. And you can run an EV for a little as 2p per mile charging at home.

I would also point out that half of used electric cars are now sold for under £20,000. There are 29 brand-new electric cars on the

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Thank you. I am proud to have a technical headquarters employing thousands of high-quality R and D thousands of high-quality R and D jobs and fantastic workers in my Basildon and Billericay constituency. There are certainly elements of what the Secretary of State has announced today which will be very welcome. However on the be very welcome. However on the flipside local businesses who are reliant and indeed the entire automotive sector will also be seeing a £200 million year increase in national insurance kicking and as

16:47

Rt Hon Richard Holden MP (Basildon and Billericay, Conservative)

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in national insurance kicking and as of yesterday. Today kicking in for my small businesses in my constituency, many of whom work in London, charges on the tunnel for the first time ever and others as well which means many of those small businesses will be facing charges of £35 per day just to operate in London. With the Minister raise those issues Mike Wood the Minister raise those issues with the Mayor of London and the Chancellor of the Exchequer? Perhaps you could was glass the question about the plug-in van ground.

Although the five year delay that has been put in is welcome, could she also answer the question as to how long that plug-in van grant will run for?

16:47

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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Madam Deputy Speaker, I am struggling to decipher a question in the speech that was forthcoming from the other side of the chamber. He asked me to comment on the opening of the silver town tunnel in East London. I would simply say to him that I suspect a number of his constituents whether they are driving for work or to try and reach friends and family have been stuck in absolutely atrocious traffic Northampton South of the Blackwall Tunnel. I would also point out for the first time ever London's double deck red buses will now be able to cross the Thames east of Tower Bridge.

So I would hope he would join me in congratulating both the Mayor of London and Transport for London in getting a new river crossing open which is much needed.

16:48

Preet Kaur Gill MP (Birmingham Edgbaston, Labour )

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Thank you. The news over the

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Thank you. The news over the weekend that Jaguar Land Rover was pausing shipments to the United States was concerning the many of my constituents employing 9,000 people constituents employing 9,000 people in its factory in nearby Solihull and supporting thousands of jobs in and supporting thousands of jobs in the wider supply chain. After the flip flopping of previous governments, this government has acted decisively to give British carmakers certainty and support in

16:49

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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carmakers certainty and support in the transition to electric vehicles. Can the Minister confirm whether she is planning to build Flex abilities

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into the mandate targets? I thank my honourable friend for that question. That is precisely what we have done. And to reassure what we have done. And to reassure her that I have been in touch directly with Jaguar Land Rover over the last couple of days. I am the last couple of days. I am pleased the certainty we are able to provide to them and other, new factories at this very -- other car manufacturers at this very difficult time, we are able to do that this week going forward.

It will provide

16:49

Rt Hon Sir Julian Lewis MP (New Forest East, Conservative)

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week going forward. It will provide some comfort to her constituents going forward and those who are employed at the local facility.

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Thank you very much. As someone who has never bought a new motor- who has never bought a new motor- vehicle apart from a motorcycle, may I probe her further about how she I probe her further about how she said the second-hand EV market. Does she anticipate for those families she anticipate for those families that would never be able to afford a new vehicle, does she anticipate a new vehicle, does she anticipate a time when the second-hand EV market will become people -- will be

16:50

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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will become people -- will be comparable to the market for second-hand petrol and diesel

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vehicles? I thank the honourable gentleman for the question and he is right to raise the issue of the second-hand raise the issue of the second-hand market. 80% of car purchases that happen in any given year are in the second-hand market. I am told at the moment one of the most popular products on auto trader is second- hand EVs. They are selling very well and he is complete right to say and he is complete right to say these vehicles need to be affordable

16:50

Dr Scott Arthur MP (Edinburgh South West, Labour)

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to everyone and an option for everyone. So I am hopeful by those green shoots we are seeing in the

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second-hand market at the moment. Members with lengthy questions are just preventing colleagues from getting on so please keep your questions short. questions short.

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Thank you. I thank the Minister for his statement and the leadership she is showing in delivering our manifesto commitments in partnership with industry. The contrast with industry. The contrast opposition is clear with it being a long and costed ideas for grants and long and costed ideas for grants and subsidies and tax cuts. I welcome the affirmation of the plan to roll out EV charging but is the Minister out EV charging but is the Minister sure that will be able to meet EV demand? Also is there any plans for a battery health check to help reassure people on the second-hand market when it comes to buying used vehicles?

16:51

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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I thank the honourable gentleman for that question. We are working with the UN ECC on the battery health check issue with he rages. -- Which he raises. We are working closely with the private sector on the rollout of charge point infrastructure. I said in my statement a new EV charger is currently installed at a rate of one every 29 minutes, 50 per day. I visited the new supercharging hub in Winchester only a couple of weeks ago.

Which really when you see it is a glimpse into the future. And so it is imperative the government continues to work with the private sector to make sure that time, that charging infrastructure is there for everyone in the places where they needed and when they need it. needed and when they need it.

16:52

Alison Bennett MP (Mid Sussex, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you. In the UK businesses in the automotive supply chain both across the country and in my constituency of Mid Sussex need more support. Indeed the spokesperson 20 like the SMMT needs a package and agrees packages needed for supply chain. What consideration has the Secretary of State given to the support of the supply chain specific? And also given that she is not inclined to be tempted by my honourable friend is imploring we should join an EU-UK customs union, what assessment has the department made at the cost of not doing so?

16:53

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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She will be aware the Cabinet Office lead on the EU reset negotiations. And so it would be a question she might most appropriately put to my colleagues in the Cabinet office. With regard to her wider question about support for the EV supply chain, we have announced the automotive transformation fund to a value of £2 billion. Part of that is specifically about supporting the EV supply chain. supply chain.

16:53

Luke Akehurst MP (North Durham, Labour)

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Thank you. Many of my North Durham constituents probably work at Nissan in my honourable friend enable the Washington and Gateshead South constituency. Nissan Sunderland 6,000 staff make excellent cars including hybrid and Alexa -- hybrid and electric vehicles. My honourable friend needs credit for putting a package together at pace that has been welcomed by industry. She is right to suggest it is only one piece of the puzzle. What more will she and the government colleagues be looking to do to support the sector in the coming months?

16:54

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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We will continue to roll out that electric charging infrastructure which is really important to give confidence to consumers. The time to switch is now. To EVs. We will continue to have the plug-in vehicle grants for individuals who are thinking about purchasing a new fan. We will continue to keep under review what else can be done to stimulate demand and make sure we maintain the momentum we are seeing in the market in the first few months of this year. months of this year.

16:54

Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Wright KC MP (Kenilworth and Southam, Conservative)

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Thank you very much. Can I welcome what I think the Secretary of State has announced in relation to smaller luxury vehicle manufacturers. Like Aston Martin based on my constituency. I say I think because her statement says it's more than your actual will be exempt maximal manufacturers will be exempt from these new measures. I would be grateful she can clarify that refers to the existing mandate of measures. She knows that's what the small manufacturers in question have been lobbying to be exempt it from rather than from the loosely linked she has announced today.

If she can confirm that and she is reliant on an argument you can treat smaller luxury manufacturers differently to everyone else, which he commended that argument to her colleague the Trade Secretary in discussion on tariffs with the United States?

16:55

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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I can confirm to the honourable gentleman the smaller and micro- manufacturers are exempt from deserve mandate but they will need to comply with the 2035 complete phase-out as per all other manufacturers. manufacturers.

16:55

Mr Toby Perkins MP (Chesterfield, Labour)

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Thank you very much.

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-- Thank you very much. I hope the

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Thank you very much. I hope the rest of the shadow Secretary of State's birthday is better than the last half an hour because I do not think he is contributing and his think he is contributing and his contrition today will aid very well. The measures the covenant have proposed are sensible as a compromise, the industry did need to compromise, the industry did need to compromise, the industry did need to compromise, the industry did need to From Derby North and many other Derby sure MPs heard on reasonable visit to Toyota.

-- A recent visit to Toyota. I think these measures do strike the right balance. Can I ask the Secretary of State. What is she able to say to those constituents of mine who live either in council flats or in terraced properties where it is very difficult to be able to get charging within their house, about what more we can do to ensure they are not faced with a huge price disparity in comparison to those who were able to have charging infrastructure at home? charging infrastructure at home?

16:56

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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We did issues and guidance to local authorities before Christmas on cross pavement solutions. And we are also offering a grant of up to £350 for households with on street parking. I hope those two things together will offer some comfort to his constituents who are in the situations he describes.

16:57

Graham Leadbitter MP (Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey, Scottish National Party)

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Thank you. I also thank the Secretary of State for the statement and the pace that is understandably needed with this. I do have some concern about pace and that it has to inform due process for the devolved Administrations. So can the Secretary of State assure the House sufficient time is being allowed for the devolved Administrations and the Scottish government to be fully involved and engaged in the consultation in the development and also the Scottish Parliament in any legislation every changes that may be required.

And second that a system has been made for the proposed changes to the negative impact on carbon emissions to the UK and Scotland and our respective governments ability to change such targets and will she publish any such announcements? Remarkable like to put on record my thanks to the to put on record my thanks to the Scottish government's --

16:58

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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I would like to put on record my thanks to the Scottish government for their work at pace over the last couple of days. I committed to his colleagues in Scottish Government work closely with them and that is exactly what I have done. With regard to carbon assessments we have conducted a carbon assessment and I can assure the honourable gentleman, the changes we are proposing today make a negligible change to the carbon emissions that were predicted to be saved as a result of the mandate.

mandate.

16:58

Mrs Sureena Brackenridge MP (Wolverhampton North East, Labour)

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Thank you. I welcome the Secretary of State's statement given the uncertainty and turmoil caused by US tariffs on British vehicles. Can my right honourable friend outline how she is responding to major employers like Jaguar Land Rover to ensure they can remain competitive and safeguard jobs in our local communities? As shared by my honourable friend is across this House. House.

16:59

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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I thank my honourable friend for that question. And as I may have said to other colleagues jail are will stand to benefit from the fix abilities we have announced -- flex abilities we have announced today including the increased borrowing flexibility and the expansion of CO2 transfer Mac -- cap and the changes we have talked about in regard to the way in which we measure CO2 emissions from plug in hybrids that will make it easier for them to use the CO2 transfer flexibility and so I think all of those things we have announced today will be welcomed by JR and hopefully her constituents will be employed at the factory.

16:59

Sir Bernard Jenkin MP (Harwich and North Essex, Conservative)

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Is the government top priority, if it really is gross, how can a policy which sets artificial targets to ban products that people want to buy, force them to buy that they do not want which are subsidised and incidentally suffer very high insurance costs and high depreciation costs. And may end up with having to close down capacity to reduce those products that people do want to buy in United Kingdom to buy cheap Chinese products to be imported from overseas.

This does not sound like policy for growth. She may have priorities but it is not growth.

17:00

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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I would suggest to the honourable gentleman he speaks to his constituents who are buying EVs in numbers. There has been a 40% increase if you look at the... He is telling me he has got one which is fantastic. He is clearly leading the way. This is a massive industrial opportunity for stop for this country. -- Opportunity for this country. We need to give certainty and confidence to businesses and consumers and that is precisely what this government is doing. If he wishes to come, to become a poster boy for the EV industry I am very happy to have a conversation with him about it.

17:01

Rt Hon Anneliese Dodds MP (Oxford East, Labour )

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Colleagues and the Secretary of

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State must be much swifter. We have another statement and to further debates. Workers of BMW have made clear to

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Workers of BMW have made clear to me how determined they are to play me how determined they are to play their part in a jobs lead transition towards net zero. My honourable friend explain how these figures

17:01

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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friend explain how these figures will benefit BMW specifically given its significance in my constituency

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Today we are confirming that we will maintain the existing CO2 scores for plug in hybrids, using the revised scores now being used in

17:01

Mr Will Forster MP (Woking, Liberal Democrat)

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the revised scores now being used in the EU, that will be of particular benefit to BMW and the plant in her

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constituency. Clearly the car industry will be the hardest hit from trumps tariffs. the hardest hit from trumps tariffs. And my constituency knows this more than most because our single largest employer, McLaren, sells 42% of their products to the US. The

17:02

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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Minister consider retaliatory tariffs to protect British jobs and show tariffs have consequences?

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McLaren will of course benefit from the small micro manufacturers from the small micro manufacturers exemption that we have announced today. We are considering our position with regard to the position with regard to the imposition of tariffs, and I know that Business Secretary is currently consulting the industry about future consulting the industry about future steps. All I would say is an escalating trade war won't be the

17:02

Chris Vince MP (Harlow, Labour )

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escalating trade war won't be the best interest of anyone. I thank the Secretary of State for his statement today. Harlow is for his statement today. Harlow is obviously a new town and suffers from a number of properties that don't have offstreet parking for can I ask her to drill down on what you said to local councils about what they do to get more offstreet charging facilities?

17:03

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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He is right because of this is a critical issue and advice published before Christmas is vital in this respect as well as what we gave to households.

17:03

Nick Timothy MP (West Suffolk, Conservative)

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It is not just the absurdity of finding firms for making cars and insisting it is good for growth. It is that the national grid and local just to reach networks don't have the capacity to cope with growing demand now let alone if and when cars and central heating are electrified as the government promises, and the data centres are built. Can she confirm the connections queue stands at 756 GW with only 0.54 GW delivered in the last month?

17:03

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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I assure the honourable gentleman that I am in regular contact with the energy secretary to ensure that the grid connections and capability are there for the EV charging infrastructure we need.

17:03

Sarah Coombes MP (West Bromwich, Labour)

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Jaguar Land Rover and the wider

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Jaguar Land Rover and the wider supply chain employ huge sums of people in my constituency so I'm glad to see the Prime Minister and the Transport Secretary backing the automotive industry so strongly today. This commitment makes clear our strong climate commitments plus support for transition in the industry. Can the Secretary of State industry. Can the Secretary of State say more about how we will support demand side change to get EV charging point across towns in the country?

17:04

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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country? The Prime Minister is at JLR

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The Prime Minister is at JLR today in the Midlands. We are spending £200 million of public money on supporting the rollout of EV infrastructure. It sits alongside £6 billion of private investment to ensure those chargepoints are in places that people need them when they need them.

17:04

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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I thank the Minister for his statement and answers. Over time, the UK government has committed a lot of money to electric vehicle infrastructure in England. In Northern Ireland, the issue of charging point is not sufficient. And we are a much more rural community in Northern Ireland for top cannabis to ensure that through the Barnett consequentials additional attention will be given to ensure that the institutions of the funding that they need to ensure the charging infrastructure can meet the demand of the number of electric vehicles on the road? vehicles on the road?

17:05

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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He raises a fair point about the available day of chargepoint infrastructure in all places in the UK. It will be a matter look forward to discussing with my counterpart in Northern Ireland by next have the opportunity to meet them.

17:05

Matt Western MP (Warwick and Leamington, Labour)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister on behalf of my constituents many of whom work for Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin. It is helpful particularly the changes for small and micro manufacturers but also for hybrid. Particularly in the light of Washingtons tariffs last week. Of course electrification and hydrogen are the future, look at China where they are between 38% and 50% electric vehicles now. Can I urge the government to look at support for many factories who are subsidising the sale of electric vehicles? vehicles?

17:06

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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The automotive transformation fund which I mentioned earlier is a sizeable investment that this government committed to in the last budget. I look forward to speaking with my honourable friend further about his ideas about how this might be best utilised.

17:06

Ben Obese-Jecty MP (Huntingdon, Conservative)

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One of the major issues holding back ownership is the lack of EV charging infrastructure in my constituency. What assessment has the government made of capacity required and at what point will the upgrade cost be allowed full? What is the plan for EV battery disposal and the cost of getting rid of older electric vehicles?

17:06

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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These are matters that my department is constantly reviewing. With regard to the question about grid capacity I refer him to the answer I gave earlier to his honourable Friend.

17:07

Sally Jameson MP (Doncaster Central, Labour )

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. To make the transition a success, can the Secretary of State confirm this government's wider Industrial Strategy and back British auto manufacturing and supply chains to make sure this is a place-based growth agenda for all of our communities?

17:07

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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I can confirm that's my honourable friend. She will know that we will be publishing the Industrial Strategy soon. This is about creating the jobs of the future in high skilled industries. It is about creating the right conditions for growth, and that is conditions for growth, and that is what this government is committed to doing.

17:07

Richard Tice MP (Boston and Skegness, Reform UK)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. The Transport Secretary omitted to mention the UK car production last year was at its lowest level for 70 years outside the pandemic. And that actually new registrations this year of UK car production this year is down a further 11%. The total registrations of electric and hybrid cars this year is down another 2%. Will the Minister actually agree with me the best thing to do to ensure growth and more production is to scrap all these ridiculous zero emission targets forthwith?

17:08

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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Know I don't agree with the honourable gentleman. The number of new cars sold in the UK last year was 1.9 million, and the market grew by 2.6% on 2023. The number of new TVs sold last year was 382,000 which was nearly 20% of the market and represents a 21% growth on 2023.

17:08

Tom Hayes MP (Bournemouth East, Labour)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. I commend the secretary of state for standing up for cheaper and cleaner British cars in the face of the global chaos that is being forced onto our economy. This is particularly in light of the Conservatives botched Brexit deal direct Britain's car industry and lost this country a decade of golden British manufacturing. My constituents in Bournemouth East are crying out for charging infrastructure. The Secretary of State said nobody would be left behind. Can she outline how she will be investing in charging infrastructure to make sure everybody wants to be part of the electric vehicle resolution is able to do so? to do so?

17:09

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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This is a partnership between public investment in the private sector. I can assure him that we will be paying attention to Bournemouth as we will do all other parts of the country.

17:09

Vikki Slade MP (Mid Dorset and North Poole, Liberal Democrat)

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I rise to speak as a very satisfied second-hand EV driver. I visited the head office last month to learn about how home charging EVs can revolutionise the energy market and help EVs what's become a way of driving the way of managing the grid. What consideration is given to accelerated work on a flexible generation of storage to help drive demand for businesses and homes and make Britain the start of this revolution? revolution?

17:09

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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I know this is an issue that officials in my department are looking at very closely, I would be interested in talking to her further to learn more about what she learned.

17:10

Ben Goldsborough MP (South Norfolk, Labour)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. South Norfolk is the home to Lotus cars. This morning I had a meeting with the management team who welcomed the announcement today. One question I would have fought the long-term plan that we have for the car Manufacturing industry, what action will we be taking for UK based OEMs to make sure we have a plan for the EV transition so we are competitive in the future market?

17:10

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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Everything this government is doing everything cute contained within the announcement today is about ensuring that our British businesses are competitive going forward. I'm pleased to hear that Lotus are pleased with the announcement today because of other British bands such as McLaren, Bentley and others are pleased with the announcement. This is all about this government's commitment to driving growth and opportunity.

17:10

Siân Berry MP (Brighton Pavilion, Green Party)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. I am concerned about public health. We all know that diesel and petrol are not efficient and the 2035 extension applies to sales. Can the minister tell us whether she has assessed the impact of this on the achievement of clean-air commitments? Is this the last we will hear of any clean-air act from this government? this government?

17:11

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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I can assure the honourable Lady that an analysis of a frontal impact has been done that relates to both carbon emissions and in relation to the issue of air pollution that she raises. raises.

17:11

Terry Jermy MP (South West Norfolk, Labour)

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The Secretary of State is absolutely correct to say that demand for electric vehicles is strong but in my rural Norfolk constituency, the lack charging of the structure over the last 14 years has left many not wanting to make that switch. Can the secretary of state confirm that rural areas like Norfolk will be prioritised for their charging infrastructure in the future?

17:11

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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In terms of the installation of EV charging infrastructure in rural areas, we have increased that by 45% in the last year. I hope he and his constituents will start to see the fruits of this soon. fruits of this soon.

17:12

Wera Hobhouse MP (Bath, Liberal Democrat)

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Autonomous vehicles are the next step into the future. Can she let us know what discussions she has had with UK manufacturer's so they can take full advantage of the next revolution in how we drive and move around in cars? around in cars?

17:12

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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We regularly talk to manufacturers and other organisations that are interested in the move to connected and autonomous vehicles. We are open to exploring how that might work in the UK. We need to do it in a safe way, but I am interested in how we might be able to expedite some trials in the UK, and that is a subject we are working on at the moment.

17:12

Peter Swallow MP (Bracknell, Labour)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. I don't know which businesses the shadow Secretary of State or indeed the honourable member for Boston and Skegness have been listening to but I have been speaking to businesses including Honda, whose European headquarters just outside my constituency. They have been saying to me that they are committed to decarbonisation but have concerns about the fixity of the scheme we inherited from the party opposite. Given the Secretary of State's statements today, will she agree that this shows that Labour is the party of the British car industry and the car industries across the world? world?

17:13

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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He is entirely right. We are backing British business. We are supporting our domestic car manufacturing industry, and I am pleased to hear that the company is based in his constituency will be welcoming this announcement today.

17:13

Rt Hon Liz Saville Roberts MP (Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Plaid Cymru)

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Previous Labour and Conservative

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Previous Labour and Conservative governments did little when Welsh labour forces were swept away by labour forces were swept away by global forces. The car sector in Wales is facing 25% tariff thanks to President Trump. It threatens an industry which employs 13,000 people. The Bosch automotive Forum said the government commitments are said the government commitments are not enough. They are calling for direct support, is a government

17:14

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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prepared to step up and provide it? We have a £2 billion automotive transformation fund. We are investing hundreds of millions of pounds in other forms of support and I work closely with the Welsh Government on these issues. We won't leave any stone unturned in our attempts to protect the car manufacturing industry and ensure manufacturing industry and ensure that the high skilled jobs are there communities in Wales and across the rest of the country.

17:15

Mark Sewards MP (Leeds South West and Morley, Labour)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. We need charging infrastructure and that is why I'm grateful for the statements today and her answers to my colleagues across this House. Leeds South West and Morley has many residents living in terraced houses without driveways. Some of whom have been in contact with me asking what they need to do to get the charging infrastructure required to get an electric vehicle. I promised one such resident I would raise it with the Secretary of State, so what update can she give on our commitment to charging infrastructure across the UK?

17:15

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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I congratulate my honourable friend on fulfilling his promise to his constituents. We are working very closely with local authorities through the scheme to roll out charging infrastructure. And we also issued guidance I mentioned earlier in my statement to local authorities about improving the cross pavement charging solutions. There are also grants available for householders who don't have the driveway but do who don't have the driveway but do

17:16

Rt Hon Sammy Wilson MP (East Antrim, Democratic Unionist Party)

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The statement today is evidence of the economically damaging and market distorting impact of the unrealistic net zero policies. The only reason why the Minister is having to impose fines on producers is because demand does not meet the targets she has set for the production of electric vehicles. Does she not accept the only response for producers will either be to cut back on production and jobs or reduce the price of EVs, reducing profits and investment in the UK and are we going to find car workers are now the group of workers to be sacrificed to the objective net zero? net zero?

17:16

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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It is right we retain the threat finds. I would just gently point out to the honourable gentleman we do not believe in the first year of the operation of this mandate any manufacturers will have to pay fines. The trading window in terms of credits is yet to close and will close later this year but our initial analysis suggests no manufacturers will have to pay fines

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this year. That is the end of the zero emission com mandate. I will give emission com mandate. I will give the Frontbench a few moments to swap over. So Ministers can take their

17:17

Ministerial statement: Israeli authorities' detention and refusal of entry for two UK MPs

over. So Ministers can take their We now go on to the second statement. If colleagues can take their seats. The second statement, the Israeli authorities detention and refusal of entry for two UK MPs. I call the Minister.

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Madam Deputy Speaker, over the

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Madam Deputy Speaker, over the weekend to members of this House, the member for Earley and Woodley and the member for Sheffield Central and the member for Sheffield Central on a Parliamentary delegation to Israel and the Oliver Stone like the Occupied Palestinian Territories but refused by the authorities. They had refused by the authorities. They had both been granted entry clearance in advance of travelling to Israel. On advance of travelling to Israel. On arrival in Tel Aviv at 2:30 PM local time the two honourable members were held in immigration for six hours.

When I spoke to them at 8:30 PM they believed they were to be detained overnight without their mobile phones. While the situation was ongoing on Saturday night the Foreign Secretary spoke to his counterpart on the Israeli Foreign Minister and I spoke with the deputy Foreign Minister, the Israeli Ambassador. Following that intervention both were released from detention but their entry were still denied. The Foreign Office officials supported the two MPs and their staff at the airport. As soon as they were alerted to the situation.

After a public statement at 10 PM from the Israeli immigration authority they were then flown back in the early hours of Sunday morning. It is my understanding this is the first time a British MP has been barred from entering Israel. That decision appears to have been taken on the basis of comments made in this chamber. As the Foreign Secretary has made clear and as I am sure almost every member of this House will agree their treatment is an acceptable.

-- Unacceptable. And it is deeply concerning. It is no way to treat democratically elected representatives of a close partner nation. We have made this clear at the highest levels in Israel. I pay tribute to the contributions both members have made this place since they were elected. I know they both believe in a two-state solution. They have our support and solidarity. The Foreign Secretary and I spoke to both MPs while they were in Israel and I met them earlier today.

They have behaved with great dignity. They were part of a delegation visiting humanitarian projects amid the appalling situation in Gaza. In a dangerous and deteriorating situation in the occupied West Bank. They were going to see for themselves what is taking place in the occupied territories and to meet those directly affected by the shocking rise in settler violence. Such visits are commonplace for MPs from across this House. And from all parties. Indeed I am told more than 161 members of Parliament have conducted such visits.

They enrich the knowledge and experience of us as legislators and representatives. They create connections with countries, political counterparts and civil society. Indeed I note both organisations, medical aid for Palestinians and the capital British understanding have accepted visits involving members from all of the main political including the benches opposite. All members should therefore be worried by what this decision means and the precedent it sets. So our message to the Israeli government is not just that this is wrong it is that it is counter- productive.

We have warned them the actions like this only damage the image of Israeli government in the eyes of honourable members across the House. Amid this unnecessary and unwelcome decision the bloodshed continues in Gaza. The hostages are still held by Hamas. Essential aid is still blocked by Israel. And yet more innocent Alison Youngs are suffering. -- Innocent Palestinians suffering. The killing of paramedics and rescue workers was one of the deadliest attacks on humanitarian staff since the war began.

Madam Deputy Speaker, these deaths are an outrage. We must see this incident investigated transparently and those response will head to account. Our thoughts remain with the victims and their families. We will not go quiet in our cause for the violence to stop. For our demands 40 minutes workers and civilians to be protected. We urge all parties to return to ceasefire negotiations. It is clear this conflict cannot be one by bombs and bullets that cannot be won by bombs and bullets.

A ceasefire is the only way we will bring this conflict to an end. And return to negotiations to a lasting peace in the region. This is the only way we can end the needless loss of humanitarian workers striving to aid suffering. It is the only way towards a two-state solution that we all want to see. Where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security. I know honourable members across this House will continue to work towards that goal.

Madam Deputy Speaker, I commend this statement to the House.

17:23

Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP (Aldridge-Brownhills, Conservative)

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I call the shadow Minister.

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Thank you. I am grateful to the Minister for advanced sight of his statement today. I think it is statement today. I think it is important we put this all within the context of Britain's relationship with Israel. Israel is a key security and defence partner for the security and defence partner for the United Kingdom. It is the only democracy in the Middle East, their security matters and helps to keep us safe. Including dealing with threats that undermine our interests. When Conservatives were interests.

When Conservatives were in government we were able to have candid and honest conversations with the government of Israel on all issues because of the mutual trust and respect in our relations. It is only by maintaining that trust and respect Britain can bring influence to bear on issues that really matter for peace and security in the Middle East. And indeed for us too. Including on the course of this terrible conflict and ultimately on finding a sustainable and to the conflict which is what we all want to see.

This is more relevant than ever because of the current situation with the 59 hostages that are still being held. It is not in Britain's interest nor it is in the interest of peace in the region if there are tense and difficult relations with Israel that would undermine our influence. The Minister will be aware of his own FC DO -- FCDO advice on entry to Israel but for the benefit of the House it states, the Israeli authorities decide if you can enter Israel, some visitors may face longer searches and questioning.

Including those who are considered to have publicly criticised the state of Israel. Does the Minister accept British nationals visiting Israel, a country that has a warm should be aware of those requirements. And consider them carefully before making decisions to travel? And they therefore travel to Israel at their own risk? I think it would be so helpful today Madam Deputy Speaker, to understand what the Minister considers as counting as an official trip. And whether the FCDO was aware in advance of this trip? As MPs, as member of Parliament we do not have diplomatic immunity.

So what with the FCDO do and this is really important Madam Deputy Speaker, what with the FCDO do if MPs are allowed entry and then arrested? Moreover who were the AIDS who accompanied the delegation and who also returned

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to the UK? Order, order. We have to be able

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Order, order. We have to be able to hear the shadow Minister. We have to hear the shadow Minister. We have to ensure... I understand emotions are high but we do have to make sure we temper our debates.

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we temper our debates. Thank you. I think it is important and right we do ask some important and right we do ask some questions. I would like to also take this opportunity therefore to ask this opportunity therefore to ask the Minister to update the House on the UK government latest engagement with key interlocutors on efforts to find a way through the current extremely difficult moment in the conflict. There are chuntering is from the benches but they will have the opportunity I am sure to ask the Minister questions themselves.

As we have said before...

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It is for the chair to decide. Please continue. As we have said before Britain needs to be a proactive player and help drive things to a better destination with practical destination with practical solutions. So was any progress being made? Including on the central issues, the central issue of the issues, the central issue of the hostages who have been held in such cruel captivity. By Iranians backed Hamas terrorists since the atrocities of October. By Iranians atrocities of October.

By Iranians backed Hamas terrorists since the atrocities of October 7. The return of the hostages to their loved ones by Hamas remains the key to a sustainable end to this awful conflict. We have in our thoughts today and everyday the brave families of the hostages. For whom this is an unimaginably painful time. Madam Deputy Speaker, on the deaths of the 15 emergency workers last month has he all the Foreign Secretary, has the Minister or the Foreign Secretary had official discussions with Israeli counterparts in recent days? On their investigations.

And what does he make of Israel's assessment? Clearly it is important in all conflicts there is the most effective comedy complexion possible. And again we want to see a sustainable end to this conflict. On ode to Gaza has he sought to address Israeli concerns about diversion which may help to unblock the current situation and access and finally, we are yet to have a clear answer from the government despite repeated questioning about how they envisage what remains of Hamas can be removed from power in Gaza.

What the U.K.'s diplomatic contribution will be to bringing this about? Thank you.

17:29

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Minister. the honourable lady might come to the Dispatch Box in order to withdraw the comments of the Leader of the Opposition. Comments the shadow Secretary to the Treasury was not there to support. I remain none the wiser from her comments what the position of the Conservative party is about the detention of British MPs overnight. Despite having clearance to enter and their return. There are many on your benches and I can see one of them now who have been on such delegations.

I am sure the Conservative party would have the full support of this House where the member, the honourable member forgive me for North West Hampshire or my neighbour, the Father of the House or indeed the member for Brigg and Immingham, also from Lincolnshire, any of them who all have taken such delegations were any of them to be treated in this way. The whole house would support. These are not difficult questions Adam Deputy Speaker. I am truly surprised by the answers.

She asks me further questions. The Leader of the Opposition did not take the opportunity to ask questions before her Sunday round, not for the two MPs concerned, not of the Foreign Office. She characterised her comments in this House as being her mass propaganda. She can make what political characterisation of backbench MPs she likes. She seemed to elude the reason for their removal was they were not going to comply with Israeli laws. Let me be clear.

It is clearly... Would you

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like me to read her comments. Minister the tone used is not

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Minister the tone used is not

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Leader of the Opposition said on Sunday, " Look at the reasons why Sunday, " Look at the reasons why the Israeli government has given for why they are not letting them in, they don't believe that they are they don't believe that they are going to comply with their rules. " The reason for the denial given in writing by the Israeli government to writing by the Israeli government to the two MPs was for the prevention of illegal immigration considerations. The Leader of the Opposition should apologise.

17:32

Abtisam Mohamed MP (Sheffield Central, Labour)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. I would like to start by saying thank you to the Foreign Secretary, Middle East minister, and the British Consulate for their support. It has been a challenging few days. What happens to myself and my colleague has been unprecedented for top were denied entry based on that legitimate political opinions are firmly aligned with international law. Do not the only ones speaking about the atrocities. We are not the anyone is calling for change will stop we are not the only one saying that the current actions of these really government must change.

Many Israeli people and charities in Israel themselves also say this. There is no direct route into the West Bank. We have to go through Israel. This act was not just the diplomatic front. This wasn't about security, it was about control and censorship. No state, however powerful should be beyond criticism. I just really want to see a two- state solution. I desperately want to see peace, and hope the Minister will work with his counterparts in Israel to prevent this happening again.

So we can continue to act in good faith and shed light on what is happening.

17:33

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the dignity of my honourable Friend, and the honourable member for Earley and Woodley. I can assure her that we will continue to work with the Israeli government and all of our partners across the region towards a two-state solution. And I welcome the strength of support for her and many other colleagues in this House. To be clear, on the position of these really government, they do have the right to decide who enters Israel, as indeed we.

On this occasion, the two members of Parliament were given clearance to enter and so it was known to these really government before they arrived at the airport that they would be travelling. So it was with some surprise that I received the call on Saturday evening.

17:34

Monica Harding MP (Esher and Walton, Liberal Democrat)

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Liberal Democrats Spokesperson.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. I want to thank the Minister for advanced sight of his statement. Liberal Democrats wholeheartedly support his rebuke of the Israeli support his rebuke of the Israeli Government. Detaining two honourable Government. Detaining two honourable members of this house and denying their entry into the state of Israel. I am disappointed, however, Israel. I am disappointed, however, that this House has not been able to speak with one voice on this matter. I was shocked by the comments made I was shocked by the comments made are the leader of the Conservatives yesterday morning, and deeply disappointed by the comments by the Shadow Minister today.

Liberal Democrats believe members should be free to advocate without fear or favour on issues of national and global importance. We believe it is vital for parliamentarians to be able to see for themselves the realities of situations we discuss in this chamber. Israel's actions here are inconsistent with the behaviour we would expect from an ally and from a democracy. It is regrettable that the Conservative leader and spokesperson do not agree. Transparency in the Middle East is ultimately vital for securing a long lasting political settlement which must be based on openness and trust.

Can the Minister tell us whether the Foreign Secretary has since made it clear to his counterpart in the Israeli Government that this treatment of parliamentarians is unacceptable, and that no further parliamentarians will be treated in this way or denied entry into Israel? Will the Foreign Secretary also raised with his counterpart this morning's deeply disturbing reports of Palestinian detainees being subjected to torture, and this weekend reports that initial IDF account of the deaths of 15 aid workers at the hands of Israeli forces has been contradicted by video footage from a victim's mobile phone? phone?

17:36

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Madam Deputy Speaker, I can confirm to the Liberal Democrats Spokesperson that the Israeli Government are in no doubt about our opinions on this incident. She references a number of concerning reports that have come out in recent days. And in relation to that wider position, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, I'm sure we will continue to have these discussions at what remains a deeply concerning situation.

17:37

Yuan Yang MP (Earley and Woodley, Labour)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. I joined my honourable friend, the member for Sheffield Central in the thanks she is given to the Minister and to the foreign office. Since arriving home yesterday I've been inundated with support from MPs. Hundreds of whom written to me personally to express their solidarity. This outpouring of support has come from all parts of the house and has united us as British parliamentarians. We stand together against this unprecedented treatment of our MPs. Since I came to this place, the war in Gaza and the West Bank has been the top issue constituents have written to me about.

Residents have shared with me the longing for peace and it was on their behalf I made the journey. As a former journalist I understand the significance of bearing witness, and I understand the risk it entails. Many personnel have paid the price with their lives. Before going to the West Bank I understood I was travelling to a region where violence is all too common. I did not anticipate detention and deportation from a British ally. Now, as an MP, it is the honour of my life to bear witness on behalf of my constituents.

My only regret that I was not able to do so on this trip. So far this Parliament the conflict in Gaza has been referenced over 1000 times British MPs. If my experience has proved anything it is that what we say this chamber matters, and I will encourage other members to continue speaking on this issue. People around the world are listening to us, our voice is powerful and we must continue to use it without fear of failure. So that is why ask the Minister what can he do to ensure future delegations going to the West Bank during those going this weekend can do so without having the remark censored in Parliament?

17:38

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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My honourable friend is a dignified and dowdy contributor in this place. I know honourable members of this House will continue to speak about fear and favour from these benches was the I would encourage them to do so. The spokesperson for the opposition referenced our travel advice which sets out some of the risks. I will encourage memos of Parliament considering visits who wish to discuss with the foreign office.

17:39

Rt Hon Kit Malthouse MP (North West Hampshire, Conservative)

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I am grateful. This is obviously a deeply alarming development, and coming off the back of the proposed financial penalties that are to be brought in on foreign NGOs in the occupied territories who bear witness to what is going on there. Two things I wondered if the Minister could enlighten us. It would be helpful if discussions with the Israeli government, if we could ask for a co-operative list of MPs who will not be permitted to travel to Israel so we can get a sense of the scale of their objection to what we say in this house.

Secondly, with the government still be entertaining military delegations from Israel in its own premises?

17:39

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I thank the honourable member for his question. On the second point we will keep these matters under review case-by-case basis. On the question of which MPs are welcome to travel to Israel, I will have to revert to this house. To our knowledge this is the first ever such incidents. It has been colleagues with a whole range of views right across the House that have travelled, so we House that have travelled, so we were dismayed to see what happened.

17:40

Rt Hon Emily Thornberry MP (Islington South and Finsbury, Labour)

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Foreign Affairs Select Committee

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share. Is a Grand Chamber I'm so proud to see Sony people who have come out to see Sony people who have come out on both sides in order to support our parliamentarians. And I am so disappointed to not be able to include the Frontbench of her Majesty's opposition. Our fury at Majesty's opposition. Our fury at this insult to our Parliament, but also to our country, is only also to our country, is only tempered by the fact that we must not forget why it was that these young women were going to Israel, because they wanted to bear witness to what is going on in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem.

They were going to meet generations of family who are living in temporary Refugee Council, who have been there for decades, are still waiting on the promise of a Palestinian state. They were there to see aid workers and charities as organisations are at threat of 80% tax. That threaten their very existence and life-saving work. They might even have seen as I did met the man who was look to the eye by Antony Blinken and was told that his home was safe when he was standing there in its rubble.

What steps is my honourable friend going to take on behalf of the government to protect the right of MPs not just to see the tragic reality of the West Bank, but also to protect their reprisals?

17:42

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I will update the house once we have had further discussions with the Israeli government on the question of MPs travelling in the way that I said to the honourable member. I would encourage all members of the House, whether they support the position of the government or not, to continue to speak in this House with a frankness and integrity that members would expect.

17:42

Bob Blackman MP (Harrow East, Conservative)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. My sympathies for the two colleagues who experienced their experience over the weekend. But we must remember Israel is in a state of war remember Israel is in a state of war against a terrorist entity. This country, at different times, has refused to admit elected politicians who wanted to come to this country were refused entry. It is Israel's right to refuse entry to other people who choose to come and call for boycotts or other elements against the state of Israel.

And colleagues need to be aware that if they wish to visit Israel, be clear what the foreign office advises, by the way, the travel insurance advice. If you do not follow the FCDO advice, you are not insured. FCDO advice, you are not insured.

17:43

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Madame Deputy Speaker, I would reiterate nobody in the British government is disputing the Israeli government's right to decide who enters Israel. It is clear their right to discharge as they see fit. What was surprising in particular about this incident was not just its novelty, its being the first time that MPs have been stopped, but that they had entry clearance already. They were permitted to travel.

17:44

Uma Kumaran MP (Stratford and Bow, Labour)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister for his statement. If this is how the Israeli government treats the U.K.'s elected representatives, just imagine how they are treating Palestinians. Parliamentary delegations are how we in this House understand the world and the issues we debate. I returned from a recent visit to the region as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee more committed than ever to working towards a lasting peace. Travelling to the West Bank shows you first had the fear and violence experienced by the Palestinians.

Meeting with the Israeli hostages, walking through hostage square, meeting their families and is home their trauma and suffering. Does the Minister agree with me the importance of Parliamentary delegations? And agree that actions like this by the Israeli government under my long- term effort for lasting peace? term effort for lasting peace?

17:45

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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So many members of this House have benefited from pulmonary delegations right across the world. And I do agree with my honourable Friend who has taken the effort to travel to many countries in which the Foreign Affairs Committee considers its deliberations. They are very important I want to see them continue.

17:45

Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP (Orkney and Shetland, Liberal Democrat)

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I remind the house of my entry in the register of interests. This is a delegation that was organised by the Council for British understanding it is my privilege to share as the chair of that organisation. Dozens of delegations of this sort have been organised over the years. And with the support of the FCDO, we would hope to continue to do so in the future. The attack on the honourable members as an attack on us all.

And I regret to say that is why the position of the opposition frontbench today is so utterly regrettable. We know that Israel has closed off Gaza in recent years. It looks as if the treatment of the honourable members is doing the same thing for the West Bank. What will the Minister do to ensure they are the Minister do to ensure they are the Minister do to ensure they are

17:46

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I hope to see Parliamentary delegations by Cabo and others continue and as the spokesperson for the opposition asked me about delegations, let me take this opportunity to clarify. While the member, the honourable member for Sheffield and in fact my honourable friend for Sheffield Central is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee this is not a Foreign Affairs Committee delegation although one has travelled recently. Nor was it a delegation from APPG. It is however a delegation in line with many many such delegations that have been supported by Carby and many other organisations in order to ensure parliamentarians can travel

17:47

Paul Waugh MP (Rochdale, Labour )

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and see things for themselves like see things for themselves. And I see things for themselves. And I hope they continue. This whole house was and remains united in its condemnation of the horrific attacks by Hamas and Israel and their disgusting treatment of the hostages disgusting treatment of the hostages ever since. Many of this House have also been appalled the indiscriminate killing of tens of indiscriminate killing of tens of thousands of men, women and children from the state of Palestine. Ever from the state of Palestine.

Ever since October 7 they have forced displacement of them and their blockade of aid on them is surely upsetting for many members of this House. Does the Minister agree with me the treatment and the smearing of my honourable friend's and they are honourable and I am proud to call them my friends, the members for Sheffield Central and Earley and Woodley as part of a wider attempt to stop others, journalists, parliamentarians and the Israeli people themselves and seeing what is really going on in the occupied territories? territories?

17:48

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Can I agree with how my honourable friend has described the honourable members for Earley and Woodley and Sheffield Central. They are my friends too. They are former bureau chief of the financial times and the honourable member was a lawyer before in his place. They are distinct memos of their community and distinct memos of this House. -- Distinguished members of their community and of this House.

17:48

Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne MP (New Forest West, Conservative)

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It has foregone the opportunity to engage with two of them like to have their ethical mentioned critics. More for them?

17:49

Preet Kaur Gill MP (Birmingham Edgbaston, Labour )

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I agree.

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question as well. Thank you. This is an unprecedented situation and I pay tribute to both of my colleagues and tribute to both of my colleagues and tribute to both of my colleagues and friends for the manner within which they have conducted themselves. I have visited Israel on many occasions and I have had the opportunity to live there. While members of this House may have disagreements with the current Israeli government does the Minister agree with me it is essential we agree with me it is essential we must enable delegations to visit the region because that is the only way we listen, we learn and we are

17:49

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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we listen, we learn and we are exposed to a wide range of views and perspectives? perspectives?

17:49

Graham Leadbitter MP (Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey, Scottish National Party)

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I agree. There are many friends in Israel -- friends of Israel in this House, many of whom are

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disappointed by the events over the weekend. Thank you. First of all I want is -- I want to express my solidarity with members of the opposite party. For events that happened over the weekend and the unacceptable circumstances. The fact colleagues circumstances. The fact colleagues were denied entry into Israel were denied entry into Israel because the is really government is terrified of what they would witness. Israel has intentionally targeted 15 humanitarian workers and has funded the indefinite expansion of illegal settlements in occupied West Bank.

Last week the Minister told this House they take action when there is a risk Israel would be reaching -- breaching international law. Does the Minister suggest the targeting of aid workers and this increase of territory in the West Bank does this? Will the government and Israeli impunity by ending indiscriminate attacks and by suspending all arms exports? suspending all arms exports?

17:50

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Were set and we went through many of these issues in some detail last Wednesday and I am sure we will return to the House to do so again. return to the House to do so again. My position remains the same.

17:51

Rt Hon Anneliese Dodds MP (Oxford East, Labour )

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Thank you for stop I have stood opposite The right honourable lady, the spokesperson for the opposition many times. We have engaged in the rough and tumble of political debate many times. It is not part of the rough-and-tumble of political debate to seek to justify the detention and deportation of fellow members in this House?. --. I wonder if my honourable friend agrees with me the position taken by the opposition frontbench poses a risk to all of us parliamentarians? parliamentarians?

17:51

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Madam Deputy Speaker, my right honourable friend speaks with force and I do condemn the position taken by the opposition benches. We just heard from a clearly trenchant advocate for free speech, I thought that was the decision of the Conservative party. Conservative party.

17:52

Rt Hon Dr Andrew Murrison MP (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)

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Like many colleagues I visited Israel and the West Bank and Gaza facilitated by the Israeli government and the Palestinian authorities. And benefited greatly from those visits and I hope going forward both the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government will facilitate visits by parliamentarians. Does he think it was wise for the Foreign Secretary in his remarks on X/Twitter to try and conflate China and Israel? and conflate China and Israel?

17:52

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Madam Deputy Speaker, the shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury did almost identical shortly thereafter. The honourable member may want to talk to his own party on that matter.

17:52

Luke Akehurst MP (North Durham, Labour)

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Thank you. For 13 years before my election I worked as Director of an organisation called we believe in Israel. I refer the House to my Register of Interests. Part of my job was to lead study terms the British politicians to visit Israel. Incidentally every civil trip also visited the West Bank to hear Palestinian perspectives on the conflict. I commend my two honourable friends wanting to visit the region and see the situation for themselves. We probably disagree on aspects of the conflict but they are moderate voices who support the two-state solution.

I think it is outrageous they were detained and not allowed entry. Does the Minister agree it is vitally important for honourable members to visit Israel and the West Bank and see the situation first hand? This helps people arrive at an informed nuance and balanced view and anything that hinders this is to be deplored? hinders this is to be deplored?

17:53

Edward Morello MP (West Dorset, Liberal Democrat)

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My honourable friend is well- known for his friendship to Israel and his remarks have real force. I agree with him.

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Thank you very much. It is my honour and privilege to serve on the Foreign Affairs Committee. With the Foreign Affairs Committee. With the honourable member for Sheffield Central and I would like to put on record my support for her and record my support for her and outraged her treatment. Given this is how the current is really is how the current is really government acts towards its allies in disregarding democratic and diplomatic norms, what steps will the government be taking to help ensure is rail enters into

17:54

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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ensure is rail enters into negotiations with its enemies towards a lasting peace and two-

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state solution? We will continue to work with Israeli government and all parties in the region to try and ensure there is a return to substantive talks, return to the ceasefire which

17:55

Tahir Ali MP (Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley, Labour)

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talks, return to the ceasefire which will lead to the release of hostages and an end to this terrible conflict. Madam Deputy Speaker, I would

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Madam Deputy Speaker, I would

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Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to ask as I have heard the statement in detail but what are the specific actions are this government taking against the Israeli taking against the Israeli government? For doing what they did to two of our colleagues. And secondly back in 2021 the Speaker banned the Chinese Ambassador for banning members of British Parliament from going to China. Is the same going to happen to the Israeli Ambassador until these actions are lifted? actions are lifted?

17:55

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Madam Deputy Speaker, we consider the actions of the Israeli the actions of the Israeli government not just regrettable but counter-productive for the reasons members on the opposite benches have said. It is so important as many on these benches have said parliamentarians are able to visit, able to engage and able ultimately to seek to persuade others. It is deeply regrettable, it is an acceptable and we have made that clear to the very highest level to Israel.

Israel.

17:56

Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP (Islington North, Independent)

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Thank you. Could I take this opportunity to thank the Minister for supporting the members for Earley and Woodley and Sheffield Central. And any other member attempting to make the same journey in order to acquaint themselves with the situation. Could he ring us up- to-date on what is happening over arms supplies and weapons to Israel? Can he assure the House they will suspend the sale of parts that make up the F 30 jets that are being used to bomb Gaza and kill so many people and destroyed by targeting schools and hospitals? And will he also tell us exactly what RAF criteria is being used for and why there are so many flights from RAF Akrotiri into many flights from RAF Akrotiri into Israel, is a delivering weapons?

17:56

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I have covered this ground recently. It remains as it was. We have taken a principled position in relation to the suspension of certain arms licences in September and that remains the position we have discussed, the decision in relation to F 30 five-part and RAF Akrotiri on a number of occasions. I would like to correct the record, when I was last asked an opportunity like asked -- asked a question by the honourable member I refer to him as just a member and it was genuinely a mistake on my part.

17:57

Sarah Owen MP (Luton North, Labour)

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Please can questions be short and Minister can assure his responses are also just a short.

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It is regrettable the Israeli government are now acting with impunity. They seem to be accountable to no international law. accountable to no international law. The continued bomb hospitals and schools killing eight workers and thousands of Palestinian civilians. Today breaking the silence reported Today breaking the silence reported further executions as well as the destructions of homes by the IDF and destructions of homes by the IDF and now this. Banning members of our Parliament from entering. Can I put on record Madam Deputy Speaker, I absolutely wholeheartedly disagree with what was said and the

17:58

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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with what was said and the accusations made from the bench opposite. Those members are our friends and colleagues and have more dignity and strength in their little fingers that has been shown on the Frontbench opposite.

17:58

Andrew Cooper MP (Mid Cheshire, Labour)

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Thank you. My honourable friend speaks with real force and I agree with her condemnation of the comments of the Leader of the Opposition.

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Thank you. There is no question

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Thank you. There is no question Had a different experience in Israel and that is to be regretted but we are hearing today this somehow makes

17:58

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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are hearing today this somehow makes criticism of Israel. Impossible, in this place were arguing time and again that is simply not the case. We can speak out and Parliament and we should continue to do so.

17:58

Dawn Butler MP (Brent East, Labour)

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I do not think Madam Deputy Speaker, anything I said that I expected this House to be less critical in their position so I'm not sure I accept the consequences

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or the comments. Your Mac -- To be speaking out against Israel

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To be speaking out against Israel and Hamas and to be denied entry is a disgraceful I am disgraced by her a disgraceful I am disgraced by her Majesty's official opposition and the position they have taken. They should be ashamed and reflect on what they have done. Channel 4 News, what they have done. Channel 4 News, Christians interview with the Israeli Ambassador clearly showed she was lying. Does the Minister agree with me actually however

17:59

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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agree with me actually however friends are being treated as a snub to the UK?

17:59

Ellie Chowns MP (North Herefordshire, Green Party)

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I stick by the remarks and the statement and my characterisation.

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Thank you. Green party MPs are in solidarity sharing the condemnation which should be fully cross-party which should be fully cross-party condemnation of the Israeli government of detention and government of detention and deportation of our two MP colleagues. Does my Minister -- does colleagues. Does my Minister -- does the Minister agree with me in the context of the wider spread evidence of war crimes international scrutiny of war crimes international scrutiny that what is happening in Israel and Palestine is ever more important? Palestine is ever more important? And noting the Foreign Secretary and the Minister have condemned the actions of these really government, many of the actions which I encouraged him to take in this House prior to today, how many will he now take to show actions speak louder than words? How will he make than words? How will he make disapproval really clear?

18:00

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Conscious of time I will not relitigate the many points the honourable member has raised with me in the past. Simply to I stand by the remarks in the statement and that we have made our displeasure known. known.

18:00

Kim Johnson MP (Liverpool Riverside, Labour)

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Thank you for the detention and deportation raises some serious questions. What is Israel trying to hide? And if they have not already crossed a red line, what more do they need to do for this government to take some action? The alleged execution of the 15 humanitarian aid workers was bad enough. What is this government going to do, actions do government going to do, actions do

18:01

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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This government has taken action. We have taken action since the day we form the government. I would be happy to rehearse whether it is Akhil Vyas suspensions, the restoration of funding to UNRWA, or the numerous other actions we have the numerous other actions we have taken. Given time I will save it for another day.

18:01

Rt Hon Sammy Wilson MP (East Antrim, Democratic Unionist Party)

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I think we have seen a good example of full outrage in this house today. Members have condemned the Israeli government. But with the Minister accepts that first of all the Israeli government has every right to decide who it gives entry to its country and he refuses entry. Would he remind his colleagues that it wasn't so long ago they were campaigning to get the president of the United Kingdom, the US excluded from this country?

18:01

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I'm not sure how many more times I need to say the position about Israel's right to say who enters its border but I'm happy to reiterate it once more.

18:02

Patricia Ferguson MP (Glasgow West, Labour)

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I have debated for many years with members of the Conservative party. I have often disagreed with them but never been ashamed of them before. Can I ask the Minister whether, considering that Israel has not been allowing journalists into Palestine and the West Bank, and now seems determined not to allow parliamentarians to go to that country in order to build links and deceive themselves what is going on, whether it is the point where we really do need to consider what action we take going forward, and whether that should be about talking to Israel, whether it needs to be something slightly stronger?

18:02

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. As I said in answer to a previous question, we have taken action since we form the government. We will continue to talk to the Israeli government. They are, as many members have said, a partner and ally, and we are surprised and distressed and oppose the treatment of MPs this weekend. of MPs this weekend.

18:03

Rt Hon John Glen MP (Salisbury, Conservative)

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Thank you, for 15 years I found it impossible to say anything on the subject of Israel and Palestine without it being completely unsatisfactory to either side on this debate. But I do have to say, having got to note the member for Earley and Woodley pretty well on the Treasury Select Committee, I was profoundly concerned by the decision of Israeli Government to do what they did. Though I respect the rights that they have to do so. It is so counter-productive.

It is only when we fully express our views on all sides of this debate that we can find an answer. Quite it is

18:03

Ms Stella Creasy MP (Walthamstow, Labour )

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It is a decent and honourable

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contribution. Colleague selected after 2024 may not know that in 2022, 287 of us were banned from entering Russia over our views about the Ukrainian over our views about the Ukrainian crisis. Not just myself and the member for the new Forest but the member for North West Essex, Leader member for North West Essex, Leader of the Opposition. At that time, the of the Opposition. At that time, the house stood as one standing up to that intimidation. Today from the opposition, the dog whistle is so opposition, the dog whistle is so loud about our colleagues who did nothing wrong apart from wanting to go and see for themselves what is going on.

It can be heard on the moon. What a disgrace. Will the Minister agree with me that this government will always defend free speech, and defending free speech means defending the ability for people to talk about things they may not want to talk about?

18:04

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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As I have said, these Parliamentary delegations are very valuable, and I want to see them continue.

18:05

Vikki Slade MP (Mid Dorset and North Poole, Liberal Democrat)

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Many of us have raised serious concerns about the actions of the Israeli government. And I am deeply concerned that the tactic may be being used by the state of Israel from condemning the country more strongly. What assurance can be had from the Minister that he will not be cowed by what has happened to his colleagues? colleagues?

18:05

Andy Slaughter MP (Hammersmith and Chiswick, Labour)

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I will not speak out what has

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happened to my colleagues. Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. I visited the Occupied Palestinian Territory is a number of times in years gone by. One of the purposes is to bear witness to what is having on the ground. That is particularly on the ground. That is particularly important for aid workers, for medics and journalists being killed medics and journalists being killed in great numbers. So whilst appreciating the Minister support

18:06

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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appreciating the Minister support for our colleagues, what is the government going to do to ensure that in the future members of this house can visit with impunity?

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It is the right of the Israeli government to decide who visits. government to decide who visits. They can exercise that right as they see fit. I am sure they will hear see fit. I am sure they will hear from right across the whole House that they want to continue to visit. Israel and Britain have a long

18:06

Iqbal Mohamed MP (Dewsbury and Batley, Independent)

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Israel and Britain have a long relationship was the both parliaments to Parliament, society

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to society, and people to people, I want to see that continue. I thank the Minister for his

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I thank the Minister for his statement. I would like to put on record mine and my colleagues solidarity with our friends and honourable members of Sheffield honourable members of Sheffield Central and Earley and Woodley. What are the UK government's precise red lines that, when crossed by Israel, will trigger a full arms embargo will trigger a full arms embargo that copperheads of economic sanctions against Israel? When will sanctions against Israel? When will the government publicly articulate and enforce these red lines to ensure accountability and uphold international law?

18:07

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I have talked about the importance of international humanitarian law, as has the Foreign Secretary many other ministers in this government. At this Dispatch Box in some length and conscious of time, I will refer him to the answers last Wednesday. answers last Wednesday.

18:07

Dr Zubir Ahmed MP (Glasgow South West, Labour)

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Can I thank the Minister for all the help that he gave to my colleagues and honourable members over the weekend. The British Jewish organisation has suggested that the occurrence of detention is symptomatic of an attempt to silence criticism within Israel and outside. Is my honourable friend sympathetic to this view? If he is, is a business as usual diplomatic relationship with this current Israeli Government still possible?

18:08

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. My honourable friend who is so committed to these issues, in discussing them with me and others for many years. He is right to highlight the important work being done. And I refer him to my previous response.

18:08

Mr Will Forster MP (Woking, Liberal Democrat)

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I was on one of those delegations that the Minister spoke about. Unlike my honourable Friend across the chamber, we were able to visit the area without a problem. But we did have an incident with these early settlers. As the Minister concerned and what's he going to do about what is supposed to be a democratic country sliding and undermining the rule of law and stopping British politicians from seeing what is happening in the occupied territories?

18:08

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I know that my neighbour the Father of the House has been on such a delegation and like the audible member,, I refer the house to my previous statements about the expansion of settler violence and illegal settlement in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

18:09

Joe Powell MP (Kensington and Bayswater, Labour)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. The power of bearing witness my honourable friend's were attempting to do was shown at its most extreme in recent days by the current group who filmed an attack on aid workers before losing his own life. Does the Minister agree there must be accountability rather than cover-up? accountability rather than cover-up?

18:09

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I do believe that wherever there are attacks on him and Terry and workers including the one my honourable friend mentions, there must be a focus. must be a focus.

18:10

Ayoub Khan MP (Birmingham Perry Barr, Independent)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Can I also welcome the Minister's statement. Sometimes this discussion is very polarised. And I would like to say it is not just an affront to this house and every member of it, it is not just an affront on the government. It is an affront on the British public that put us here. In that vein, thousands of British citizens travelled to Israel to make their way to the third holy site. Hundreds have been refused entry on arrival.

What reassurance can the Minister give them if our own MPs can't seem to get in?

18:10

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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The foreign office and the embassy in Tel Aviv and the consulate in Jerusalem will give support to all British nationals seeking to travel. They supported our colleagues on Saturday night and they have supported British pilgrims in a similar incident to the one he described in recent weeks. They will continue to do so. continue to do so.

18:11

Florence Eshalomi MP (Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, Labour )

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. I know that the leader of the opposition is not here but I would say gently to her, she should agree with the whole House and see that her comment may actually inflame the situation. They are not just wrong but actually counter-productive to the work the government is doing. I commend the members of the opposite side who have spoken power to the truth about what happened here. I express my solidarity to our two colleagues as well full stop their treatment was very concerning.

This is a worrying trend. We have seen aid workers being denied access. We have seen vital journalists being denied access. We know that atrocities are often committed in darkness, when people are forbidden to hide. Does the ministry agree that Israel must stop shutting the world off from the eyes of the world? world?

18:12

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I have spoken already about the importance of Parliamentary delegations. I hope they continue. I hope that the Free Press of Israel is able to operate within the Occupied Palestinian Territory's, and indeed the whole international press is. I have been deeply saddened and concerned to see so many journalists that have been killed in Gaza. On the comments of that Leader of the Opposition, I would like to inform the house that I did inform her office that I intended to make comments so I'm disappointed not to see her today.

18:12

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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I thank the Minister for his statement. As a general principle, proletarians should be entitled to travel. But there is an understanding that sovereign nations across the globe have the right to decide on who can enter their nation. Example I personally barred from China and Russia. I didn't hear anybody speaking about that. Does the Minister not agree that sovereign nations have a right to decide? We as our own nation should support other nations in their right to make their own rules for what they believe to be for their benefit? A sovereign right for each nation.

nation.

18:13

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I thank member for his question. I do indeed, as does the British government, except that every government has a right to control who comes in. Mournful Russia and Belarus that they have taken position they have done in relation to the honourable member.

18:13

Mark Ferguson MP (Gateshead Central and Whickham, Labour)

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Does the Minister agree with me that counter-productive and concerning actions in this regard by the Israeli government and a contemptible response from the Frontbench the party opposite have one thing in common, neither will command the support of the British people?

18:13

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I thank my honourable friend for the question. And I agree. The public expects that MPs will go and see for themselves this was an important delegation. I'm sure the constituents of my two colleagues would have welcomed the fact that they were taking the time and effort to try and ensure they had the best possible understanding of the situation. Sony constituents were so strongly about it.

18:14

Helen Hayes MP (Dulwich and West Norwood, Labour)

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I have had the privilege of visiting with two delegations to the Occupied Palestinian Territory. On those visits, we met with people working in schools and hospitals, clinics, we saw the operation of the Israeli military courts. We met with Palestinians whose villages had recently been destroyed by settlers, and on the last visit we met with Israelis who had lost loved ones on 7 October. Those visits enrich our understanding. They ensure that our debate in this place has informed not only by what we think we know but by the lived experience.

By having look people in the eye whose day-to-day reality is the issues we discuss in this place. Can the minister give assurances that he will continue to seek a commitment from the Israeli government that such delegations will not be such delegations will not be prevented in the future?

18:15

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I hope such delegations will continue in the future I will talk to these really government to that effect.

18:15

Yasmin Qureshi MP (Bolton South and Walkden, Labour)

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Thank you Madame Deputy Speaker. Can I put on record my thanks to the Minister and the Foreign Secretary for the support they have given to our two colleagues, who have since they have been elected spoken on many issues including what is happening in Palestine. Could I remind the house that Israel is an occupying power of Gaza as well as West Bank? Over the years they have consistently not allow people into Gaza, and we know now what they have been doing to it.

And now in relation to the West Bank, we see again what they are doing and it seems that what they want to do is

18:16

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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The British Government does consider the West Bank and Gaza, the Gaza Strip as are prepared Palestinian -- as Occupied Palestinian Territory.

18:16

Josh Fenton-Glynn MP (Calder Valley, Labour)

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The Israeli government justification for this action seems to have been a statement made by my honourable friend is against their government policies in this House. On that basis they detained, denied entry and expelled to elected members of parliament with their Democratic Alliance on legitimate Parliamentary business. At this point I repeat the question I asked my honourable friend on 20 March. I know these matters are complex but can my honourable friend tell me at what point we change our posture towards Israeli government? towards Israeli government?

18:16

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Madam Deputy Speaker, I am sure we will have an opportunity to discuss the events of Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories in further detail. I thank my honourable friend for his dedication and commitment to those issues. I am sure we will have further discussions in this chamber in due course. course.

18:17

Chi Onwurah MP (Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West, Labour)

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Thank you. My honourable friends the members for Earley and Woodley and Sheffield Central have borne their detention and repatriation with great fortitude and courage, dignity and indeed grace will stop which makes the opposition Front Benchers attack on them all the more disgraceful. It is an attack on all of us. Their detention occurred at the same time that it came to light Israel's version of the terrible killing of 15 aid workers was not true. Lying about actions in occupied territory, preventing the entrance of humanitarian aid and journalists, barring British parliamentarians, does the Minister agree with me Israel's claim to be an open and transparent areas and mind? Four I agree with my mind? Four I agree with my honourable friend's characteristic -- --

18:18

Warinder Juss (Wolverhampton West, Labour)

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I really my honourable friend characterisation of the grace and dignity of the two members who have

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been tried of the last 24 hours. I am sure we will discuss the other matters in due course. Israel is supposed to be an ally

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Israel is supposed to be an ally of ours. Does the Minister agree with me their treatment of our honourable friends is not only an affront but a further indication of affront but a further indication of Israeli government desire to show no transparency for their actions? And

18:18

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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transparency for their actions? And to not respect human rights?

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Madam Deputy Speaker, Israel remains an open society with a vibrant press who are reporting on vibrant press who are reporting on this incident. As it happens I hope this proves to be an aberration and

18:19

Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP (Clapham and Brixton Hill, Labour)

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this proves to be an aberration and members of this House will be able to go back to travel to Israel with no thought of detention.

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Thank you. To me the most

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Thank you. To me the most important thing about our country is that our flags or even our institutions -- not our flags or institutions -- not our flags or institutions but our people. And our representatives for thousands of people were treated with contempt. people were treated with contempt. people were treated with contempt. My understanding was that we are Britain and you do not do this to us. There was consensus on the side of the House this is not how we should expect to be treated by our allies and whilst I welcome the Minister's statement I still cannot understand where our red lines are and when thousands were slaughtered, when aid was prevented from getting into Gaza or when international order and ceasefire was broken.

Can the Minister explain where our The Red Lions? When Britain and Parliament have been insulted, how can we continue to sell arms to can we continue to sell arms to Israel? I have talked about --

18:19

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I have talked about the relation to arms sales. An argument is were heard in this chamber so recently. I agree I agree with my honourable friend's we all represent community across the UK and I believe the honourable members were trying to reflect the concerns of their constituents in travelling and I would encourage members whenever, honourable members whenever they are able to do so to travel to the place where their constituents have concerns. concerns.

18:20

Darren Paffey MP (Southampton Itchen, Labour)

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Thank you. I thank the Minister for his statement. I join with him and fellow members from most of this chamber though sadly not all of it in fully supporting our to honourable friends in the shocking treatment they have faced. Does the Minister agree with me at subtly make it a certain utterly disproportionate decision at a time and the situation in the Middle East is already deteriorating so badly, is already deteriorating so badly, it can only do damage to that government reputation here and in the wider world? Four

18:20

Oliver Ryan MP (Burnley, Independent)

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As I have said I think the decision is counter-productive.

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I rise in solidarity with the members from Earley and Woodley and Sheffield Central, to citizens of this House and I am disgusted by their treatment. Their treatment has their treatment. Their treatment has been suffered by all too many of my been suffered by all too many of my constituents, trying to visit and as has been mentioned before access sites around the country. Two MPs have recently been denied entry but have recently been denied entry but what will the Minister make do to make sure -- what will the Minister

18:21

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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make sure -- what will the Minister do to make sure British passport carrying citizens are able to access areas of Israel?

18:21

Kirsteen Sullivan MP (Bathgate and Linlithgow, Labour )

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It is up to Israel to decide who they grant entry to but any British national regardless of their faith, if they are travelling overseas can expect consular assistance of the Foreign Office.

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Thank you. I thank the Minister for his statement. I would like to applaud the dignity with which my applaud the dignity with which my honourable friend have responded and indeed the solidarity from many members across this House. Also members across this House. Also commend this statement made by the honourable member for Dulwich and honourable member for Dulwich and West Norwood who spoke so powerfully about the importance and impact of these delegations. Does the Minister these delegations. Does the Minister agree with me democracy is weakened if parliamentarians cannot undertake such visits and duties at a time

18:22

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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such visits and duties at a time when the need for security has never been greater?

18:22

Melanie Ward MP (Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, Labour)

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I thank my honourable friend for her question. I agree, Parliamentary delegations are important. delegations are important.

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Thank you. The detention and deportation of my honourable friends, the members are Sheffield Central and Earley and Woodley by Central and Earley and Woodley by the state of Israel is disgraceful. It gives hints of racism. We cannot discount the fact these members are discount the fact these members are women of colour. They were visiting the Occupied Palestinian Territory. the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The ICJ recently found treatment in this area and I quote, systemic... On race and ethnic origin. Right honourable members in recent honourable members in recent delegations who have made similar comments about the conflict are not treated in this way.

Will the Minister be summoning the Israeli Ambassador over this? And over what it now seems was the execution of 15 p RCS paramedics and those who went to rescue them in Gaza? to rescue them in Gaza?

18:23

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I have told the House the basis, the state of basis the two honourable members were given for their refusal. I will not pass further commentary on what might or might not be behind that. I will take the written reasons as the reasons and they were as I say the prevention of illegal immigration considerations. As unlikely as that may seem to this chamber. On the question of the deeply concerning reports about further deaths of humanitarian workers, this house has heard from the government on a number of occasions.

Our combination for the lack of complexion mechanism to ensure the vital life of humanitarian workers who conduct essential work. essential work.

18:24

Sarah Smith MP (Hyndburn, Labour)

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Thank you for I echo the comments made by my honourable friend, the member for Celtic. I found it deeply troubling the members that were detained at the weekend were not white. All the Minister expressed his concerns on these events and any future events and their implications future events and their implications on peace and trade?

18:24

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Conscious of time we have expressed concerns about the situation in the way I described and I will expect to have further I will expect to have further discussions with numbers of the Israeli government to that effect.

18:24

Laura Kyrke-Smith MP (Aylesbury, Labour)

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Thank you. I travelled to the West Bank in November and I heard from UN agencies and NGOs about international staff being denied entry and restricting aid efforts and that was alarming enough. The appalling treatment of our brilliant colleagues is a new low as it seems it is not just the support the Palestinians that is being denied but also right to scrutinise whether or not that support is getting through. Does the Minister agree future access to the Occupied Palestinian Territory spade and scrutiny must be protected?

18:25

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I have spoken already about the vital importance of free press and safe travel for journalists and indeed Parliamentary delegations.

18:25

David Smith MP (North Northumberland, Labour)

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I thank my honourable friend for his strong statement in the face of Parliamentary democracy and as dirty agree with me transparency and accessibility are key to Parliamentary democracy? Therefore obstructing the visit of to elected representatives of this place and allied nations can only raised troubling questions at the current health of Israel at the moment? health of Israel at the moment?

18:25

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Is one of the appealing elements of is really democracy is the free press, its vibrant debate and I know many members as they have said already of this House have benefited from vibrant explains like exchange with their counterparts in Israel. I regret that has not been the case this weekend.

18:26

James Asser MP (West Ham and Beckton, Labour)

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The response to this House should

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The response to this House should be united because it affects us all. Does the Minister agree with me any equivocation from any part of this House is sending a green light to House is sending a green light to other countries who wish to interfere and Parliamentary delegations and perhaps the opposition frontbench could give

18:26

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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that long and hard consideration? As I have said Madam Deputy Speaker, I think the opposition Speaker, I think the opposition should give this long and hard consideration. It should not be a complexly for this House given the circumstances and events this weekend.

18:26

Matt Western MP (Warwick and Leamington, Labour)

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Thank you. Had this been the member for Salisbury or New Forest East I would be stood here and I'm sure many clicks would be stood here as well in support of them. It goes across the House and therefore I find it extraordinary, the comments of the Leader of the Opposition. We must not forget those two members are our honourable friends and were granted visas to enter into the country by their ally. Does my honourable friend agree with me this was a showcase designed to intimidate, threaten and silence this place?

18:27

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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Madam Deputy Speaker, to be clear they were granted entry clearance rather than a visa. The distinction may seem academic to this House given both clearly permit the two members, the two honourable members forgive me to travel to the airport. It was not a surprise clearly to the Israeli authorities the honourable members arrived.

18:27

Thank you. I share the anger of most in this House. It is completely unacceptable to members of this House were denied entry into the occupied territories in the West Bank by the Israeli authorities. Does the Minister agree with me now more than ever is the time to be united and show solidarity across the House with our parliamentarians whose only mistake was to do their jobs by representing their constituents without fear and favour in this House to hold Israel accountable for its actions? Thank you.

18:28

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I can confirm to the House Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to see unity across it in relation to these kinds of matters and any parliamentarian of any political would enjoy the support of the Foreign Office under such circumstances. circumstances.

18:28

Harpreet Uppal MP (Huddersfield, Labour)

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Thank you. Can I pay tribute to my honourable colleagues who are not in their place currently. They are the most kindest and thoughtful people I know of. The fact the Leader of the Opposition has tried to damage their reputation is disgraceful. Can I ask, can I urge the Minister to continue to have conversations with the Israeli Ambassador to the UK and can I ask what additional dialogue he is having with international partners to ensure there is access to aid for Palestinians?

18:29

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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My honourable friend speaks with real warmth for our colleagues which I know is felt right across the House. It was reference not just on my benchers but those opposite for which I am grateful. I can assure her I will continue those discussions.

18:29

Joe Morris MP (Hexham, Labour)

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Thank you. Can I associate myself with comments made about our honourable friends. Does the Minister share my horror and outrage and anger at the treatment of the 15 paramedics in Gaza and ensure we are doing everything we can to make sure all those held like all those responsible are held to account? responsible are held to account?

18:29

Peter Swallow MP (Bracknell, Labour)

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Accountability is vital. I am indeed outraged by the reports.

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Thank you. The detainment of two honourable members of this House is honourable members of this House is shocking. In the killing of 15 Palestinian paramedics in Gaza by the IDF is deeply distressing. At a the IDF is deeply distressing. At a time like this it feels like piece time like this it feels like piece is further away than ever. So can the Minister set out what more we

18:30

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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can do to make sure we get that ceasefire we so badly need back in place?

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Madam Deputy Speaker, we will continue to work with the Israeli government and all relevant partners in the region to try and see the ceasefire restored. It is vital not only simply to Palestinians,

18:30

Chris Murray MP (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, Labour)

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only simply to Palestinians, Israelis but also to all in the region. Thank you. What has happened to

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Thank you. What has happened to our two amazing colleagues, my honourable friend is appalling. It is part of a pattern of behaviour is part of a pattern of behaviour from Israel. Of disdain or diplomatic relations with allies, of disdain for democratic norms, of disdain for human life. Does my right honourable friend agree this pattern is worrying and will he be correspondingly toughening the UK still matter posture so my constituents feel secure our government is standing up their values?

18:31

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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I thank my honourable friend for his question. And his commitment to these issues. Even before he was a member of this place. This incident over the weekend was novel. It is the first time we are aware entrances have been refused in this way. We are making clear our views about that to the Israeli government in the way I have said. In relation to the other issues I hope my honourable friend can reassure his commitment like his constituents we have taken action since becoming the government whether in relation to the suspension of arms, multilateral forums or indeed the restoration of forums or indeed the restoration of forums or indeed the restoration of

18:31

Andrew Pakes MP (Peterborough, Labour )

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Can I put on record my comments alongside everyone else in the House alongside everyone else in the House about our two members. This incident shines a much wider light on parliamentarians and the rights of journalists, charity workers, and others to enter into Israel and the West Bank and we have talked about entry into Israel but we should be talking about access to the West Bank, because it is the only entry point that they have into this.

What more can the Minister do to ensure that the learning, sharing into the West Bank will continue if the government embarks on a system of shutting people down? Does he also agree that this whole shamble we have seen has made it much harder and been a distraction from the real job which is taking on the crimes of Hamas, getting the hostages out, speaking up for the innocent Palestinians who are suffering day by day?

18:33

Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)

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My honourable friend speaks forcefully about the importance of focusing on hostages and the death of innocent civilians on both sides of the conflict and I want this to continue and this should continue to

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Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories. I thank the Minister for his

18:33

Points of Order Emma Lewell MP (South Shields, Labour)

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statement this afternoon.

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Point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. On a point of order, last week NPM Q, the right honourable member for Kingston and Surbiton raised an for Kingston and Surbiton raised an ongoing issue that my constituents ongoing issue that my constituents and I have been concerned in and I have been concerned in involving sewage in the sea. I believed it was still a convention believed it was still a convention and courtesy of the House that the right honourable member should have informed me he was going to wade into this matter.

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into this matter. I'm grateful to the right honourable member for giving notice honourable member for giving notice and can I confirm she has given notice of raising this with the notice of raising this with the right honourable member? Members should inform colleagues when they intend to table a question about the matter applying to the constituency, matter applying to the constituency, the rule does not apply to supplementary questions at Prime

18:34

Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP (Romsey and Southampton North, Conservative)

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supplementary questions at Prime Minister's Questions and this was a comment about the ownership of Thames Water but nonetheless she has put on record including her own campaigning on sewage dumping.

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Madam Deputy Speaker, on March

18:35

Points of Order Tahir Ali MP (Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley, Labour)

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Madam Deputy Speaker, on March 28, I shared on social media the work I am doing across the two houses with the government of Pakistan to build an international airport. This is an important issue for over 1 million British Kashmiris who come from there and face danger travelling from Islamabad. The reaction to that post including from some members of the House resulted in us being subject to Islamophobia, racist attacks, harassment. The members of Great Yarmouth, the member for Skegness, all of whom...

member for Skegness, all of whom...

18:36

Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP (Romsey and Southampton North, Conservative)

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The honourable member should not be criticising other members for social media posts in that way but I thank him for giving notice of the point of order which might have gone further than the notice given but he has eloquently put concerns on

18:36

General debate: Road maintenance

record. We come to the general record. We come to the general I call the I call the Secretary I call the Secretary of I call the Secretary of State I call the Secretary of State to I call the Secretary of State to

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. For too long, Britain has been plagued by potholes with too many people into many parts of the

18:37

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)

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18:56

Jerome Mayhew MP (Broadland and Fakenham, Conservative)

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19:10

Alex Mayer MP (Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard, Labour)

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year, representing a 13% increase. That sounds like good news and you would have thought more potholes would have thought more potholes would get filled in. I was concerned would get filled in. I was concerned to see there was only a 5% increase in spend and I appreciate the in spend and I appreciate the council also contributes capital to council also contributes capital to the government but I have two saying that I was hugely disappointed by that I was hugely disappointed by the state made at the joint budget scrutiny task force committee and I quote, "When the government announced we would receive more funding, the decision was made to spend less of our own money rather than extend the program.

I have been warned this could jeopardise the uplift of government funding and I would be grateful for the thoughts of the Secretary Austin on this. In light of this I welcome the light of this I welcome the government plan. I was especially pleased that we were told it would be a short report in plain English which I think all report should be, really. Of particular importance was that the template has that the council has to show how many holes they have filled in in the previous five years because residents will expect and indeed deserve to see the number being filled in increasing, so we are watching this space.

I know councils will be required to show how they are spending more on long-term preventative programs and that is important. We are living in a time of climate emergency and the wetter winters and the extremes of hot and cold are making things worse, including the number of issues with cycles. There are emerging technologies. AI can apparently identify cracks and spot the potholes before the arrive and there is also self-healing and bacteria-infused cement and systems for road temperatures.

Given all the innovations, I would be grateful if the secretary of state could let us know if she is considering updating departmental guidance on preventing potholes during the winter. On the topic of climate change, they also reduce fuel consumption and cut emissions with data showing smoother roads can reduce emissions by 5%. The opposite is true with bad roots. Poor road conditions can impact driver behaviour and because drivers are speeding up and slowing down, are speeding up and slowing down, the calculated emissions are 0.5 tons of CO2 higher because of the changed driver behaviour.

It is changed driver behaviour. It is crucial to minimise the disruption caused by utility companies and I know that this is something that ministers have stated repeatedly. We know that when you open up a road, it can reduce the structural life by an average of 17%. Therefore, I draw the attention of all honourable members to the street works inquiry that the Transport Select Committee is currently carrying out. You can tune into the evidence sections. The final result will be available soon.

We are all familiar with instances from the same stretch of river pavement is repeatedly opened up by different companies over a short period of time. It is a problem when you have new developments. For example, constituent me about the roads in Bognor Regis saying over one month, five different companies dug the road one after the other. When I queried that, I was informed, and I quote, "No collaboration opportunities were identified to reduce the number of road closures." Residents think the situation is ridiculous.

Turning to class, enabled with 24, the Centre For Economics And Business Research reported all of the business conditions were causing 60% of the Tory government black hole in funding. There is hope. Department for Transport's economic appraisal tells us for every pound invested in local road maintenance, there is a minimum return of £2.20 and up to £9.10 at the national level. Turning to buses and coaches, unlike motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, can often take different routes but bosses have an obligation to stick to the route where possible.

The Confederation of Passenger Transport highlights a 13% increase in cost per kilometre and much of this is attributed to delays, the versions, disruption, including being caused by the poor state of the road and First Boss told me they spend over £1 million a year repeating suspension components of buses with the cost inevitably passed on to passengers through higher fares and reduce service. I welcome the investment from the Labour Government in road maintenance and I hope all local councils rise to the challenge.

For my constituents who think it is like driving on the moon, it is not rocket science, nor is it a matter of inconvenience and filling in the potholes is crucial for safety, the environment, and for safety, the environment, and

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From local people across the constituency I received countless emails and letters about the emails and letters about the shocking state of our roads. People are rightly frustrated at potholes, the little and long waits for the little and long waits for repairs, forced on them by Bradford Council and perhaps this is one of Council and perhaps this is one of the most important issues that all of us as MPs get correspondence about. Why? Because it impacts each about. Why? Because it impacts each and every day of our, whether it's and every day of our, whether it's commuting to work or whether it simply getting out and about in the car to go and do other things.

Because we all care about what the state of our roads is right outside our door. And I just want to take you through my constituency referencing a few roads and highlighting the level of concern that constituents rightly raised to me. Take Elliott Street in Silverstone in my constituency. I was first contacted by residents on this major road through the centre of sills and years ago. The situation was poor then and over the last few years has only got worse and worse, to the extent people were referencing this in social media as being a mere joke.

At the side of the road in the Labour run council. And despite consistently raising this with Bradford Council, it has taken years for them to finally get on with it. I am pleased that literally just in the last two weeks resurfacing works have now finished. The works are welcome, of course, but residents on Elliott Street and across the wider area should not have been having to wait years for such a busy and important road to be repaired. Elliott Street is just one

19:18

Robbie Moore MP (Keighley and Ilkley, Conservative)

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example. There are other similar stories, within key fleets are, on Wasperton Avenue, on Halifax Road, Wasperton Avenue, on Halifax Road, North Street, the list goes on. In Ilkley, cow pasture Road has been Ilkley, cow pasture Road has been lobbied consistently. Difficult junction that we have at the top of junction that we have at the top of Calcutta Road outside Norfolk league Calcutta Road outside Norfolk league grammar -- cow pasture Road. David grammar -- cow pasture Road. David Downes and Andrew Lloyd have lobbied the council to look at this dangerous junction.

The size of the roads are crumbling on hills house edge line with cars getting stuck in the ditches as they pass one another. Again local Conservative councillors have consistently been lobbying the council to sort it out and yet no repairs have been undertaken. I will give way.

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Thank you. Not to make this too political, just a kind of give a political, just a kind of give a little bit of a view that, I'm not a little bit of a view that, I'm not a member for Bradford although it should be noted that £350 million of revenue funding has been cut from Bradford Council since 2010 and they Bradford Council since 2010 and they are doing an awful lot in a very difficult circumstances, partly

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difficult circumstances, partly because of the 40 years of Tory government. Justin 2020, Bradford Council through their statutory responsibility to provide feedback to MAC LG or Deluxe reported Justin 2021 that they were in sound financial health. And actually that was the year in which they apply to be city of culture and then this year, residents across the Keighley and Ilkley constituency are faced with a 10% increase in council tax despite the state of our roads being in such a poor state.

And it leads me onto a Freedom of information request that I put to Bradford Council and I was astounded to find out and I welcome the Secretary of State's announcement that there will be more transparency that is put on our local councils because between 2017 and 2022, I obtained through Freedom of information request that 4% of the identified spending for highways over that six-year period was actually allocated to my constituency of Keighley and Ilkley for reference.

Labour run council were able to find and allocate £13.1 million for the Bradford South constituency, £19.2 million for the Bradford East constituency, £17.4 million for the Bradford West were citrusy, but only, of that six-year period, just £4.1 million was spent across the Keighley and Ilkley Citroen see on highway spending. That is despite many concerns, quite rightly, being raised from residents across Keighley, Ilkley, Selsdon, Seton, wherever they may be in my constituency, complaining quite rightly about repairs on roads not being undertaken, pavements not being addressed, potholes not being looked at.

So it is no wonder that constituents are losing trust in our local Labour run authority. And the list goes on. Whether it is concerns that are being raised from local Conservative councillors, trying to hold Labour run Bradford Council to account, but yet we unfortunately seem to not be getting anywhere and not being listened to. And when Bradford Council to spend money on roads in my part, the question is, do they actually spend that money on what people wanted to be spent on? And of course they don't.

Because when Bradford Council spent nearly, or over £100,000 with an £87.5 thousand contribution from Mill Creek town Council on roads in Ilkley we got speed humps and blanket 21 -- 20mph zone, not the potholes being addressed. In a referendum 98.3% of people in Ilkley opposed the scheme. Post a roll-out of speed guns, way over 100 speed bumps been rolled out in the centre -- speed bumps. If you ask anyone in Ilkley what they would like, a good proportion of the 200 grand being spent on our rows, they would say quite rightly, fix the potholes.

Sort out that junction at the top of cow pasture Road at Bradford Council would listen, they go against the public referendum on the issue and instead spend the money on more speed humps, contrary to what the people in Ilkley quite rightly advocated through actually having a vote on this issue at the ballot box. What is the government going to do to ensure that my constituents get their fair deal on their roads from Bradford Council? It is no good the Secretary of State promising greater investment into roads, which of course is absolutely vital and welcomed but it is no good allocating promises when the funds don't get passed, the did Oriel local council, without allocating the money to my constituency in Keighley and Ilkley.

In the constituency we deserve our fair share but unfortunately Bradford Council are more than happy to allocate our council tax and any central government funds that come into the Bradford district, not on the roads in Keighley and Ilkley, but instead in Bradford city itself and it's about time that we had our fair share of highway spending in our constituency across Keighley and Ilkley.

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You. As many members of this House will recognise, road maintenance is something that resonates with all of our constituents and is a basic need. constituents and is a basic need. People across my constituency leave their homes everyday in cask they pay tax on to drive on roads that pay tax on to drive on roads that they are taxed to upkeep, and are not up to standard. 14 years of underfunding and a Tory County Counsel that my residents Tommy Counsel that my residents Tommy couldn't care less about our roads in our area because it's not an area that typically votes for them.

It's just not good enough. When I was out and about in the election, this issue came up over and over again stop potholes, crumbling roads became a metaphor for crumbling council services. Cash for our area were stripped back year after year after year not just for roads but for the developing and growth, while they announced gameshow style checks and told us we were being levelled up. It felt like a PR exercise and it was a PR exercise. From Burnley to Bradfield, people shared their frustration.

For too long our local roads have been left to deteriorate while the previous government failed to take action. It was a failure not just of investment but of attention, attention to the everyday concerns of people simply trying to get to work, to take the kids to school or visit loved ones. When roads crumble it's not just a nuisance, it's a safety hazard. It damages vehicles, erodes public confidence in the government to do the bare minimum. Constituents ask me, how can something so basic, so essential, today live, be left to crumble in this way? We cannot claim to be serious about economic growth, opportunities, if we cannot even assure people that they won't have to drive on surfaces that are similar to the roads of the Aussie outback.

I stand here today

19:26

Oliver Ryan MP (Burnley, Independent)

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encouraged because I'm proud to support a government that is now doing things differently, taking doing things differently, taking meaningful and measurable investment, getting things done and delivering. The Minister has made -- delivering. The Minister has made -- a clear commitment to reversing the a clear commitment to reversing the decline in road conditions and we are about to see results. £1.6 billion for roads this year, enough to fill 21 21 million potholes. to fill 21 21 million potholes. Lancashire is receiving funding Lancashire is receiving funding package of 46.85 Milian, a 40% uplift in what was allocated in the previous financial year, taking full food repair fund to £65 million.

This investment is not just a number on a spreadsheet, although their welcome, this is real meaningful progress for Stockton is a message that we are prioritising roads that many of our constituents can use them every day. This is a historic situation for our roads. But I'm disappointed that the County Counsel, the Tory run County Counsel, has only seen fit to surface three roads in the whole of Burnley and Pentium this year declared so far, over welcome but for the amount of money we are putting in we need to see more -- It's about improving road safety, reducing vehicle repair costs, boosting accessibility for everyone.

It's about making our town is easy, safe and more pleasant to live and move around in. While we are making progress, as a member of the public accounts committee it would be remiss of me not to mention the committee's recent report into the condition and maintenance and England. We found the Department data wasn't sufficient and applicability and road maintenance is still far too fragmented. And we can't afford to play pass the parcel between local and national authorities when our roads are falling apart beneath our feet.

The committee said that the DfT should take greater ownership by improving data collection, defining responsibilities and ensuring local councils have the resources and the oversight to deliver quality, timely maintenance and move away from short-term fixes to longer financial planning of our roads. I remember a long time ago I was an executive member for finance myself and to often over the years I was in the role, picking the bones of our reserves and capital plans to find one of pots and short fixes to fund that year.

Road programme that can't be reasonable in the 21st-century. I'm pleased to see the Prime Minister announcement that councils will have to publish data on the money they have been granted. I'm optimistic for our roads and council services because this government has made a conscious decision to invest in services that matter, to increase day-to-day spending from my counsel across the turn of the Parliament to get more done for my residents. To finish, in my constituency we are beginning to see the results of decisions.

Cash, real cash, going into our roads, the dealers, you pay your tax, you get decent services. But formally hard-working people that just hasn't been the case the basics were cut while we have to be grateful for the crumbs of levelling up, left with an empty tank and a busted engine but given a new radiator improve the experience. On the road to nowhere. And that's not the end of my car -related language. While I welcome this new money will continue to work closely with Lincolnshire County Council and the Department of Transport to make sure this will get funding for my area doesn't stall, isn't parked for a later date, that we get into gear, we buckle in, we hit the gas and we deliver on this.

At speed. I think I deliver on this. At speed. I think I

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I thank the government for holding the debate and assure the holding the debate and assure the shadow minister that we can travel in both kilometres and miles. As a Liberal Democrat, this is an issue close to my heart. What all photographs are a staple of our photographs are a staple of our literature across the country and we understand that for millions the state of the roads is no laughing state of the roads is no laughing matter.

I welcome the debate the government has called and it is vital we renew focus on an issue that was desperately neglected by the Conservatives for years. It's not just a matter for drivers. Whether we commute by car or bicycle, the journey begins on Littlewoods and the conditions directly impact the lives of

19:32

Mr Paul Kohler MP (Wimbledon, Liberal Democrat)

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countless individuals. We are facing a crisis. Despite the rhetoric of a crisis. Despite the rhetoric of the previous government about standing up for most of us, actions standing up for most of us, actions fell woefully short. One in 10 of English words requires urgent English words requires urgent maintenance in the next year and 50% of roads are reported to be in good structural condition but these are not abstract figures. They represent not abstract figures. They represent tangible burdens on everyday lives.

Data from the RAC shows that for anything more than a punctured tyre, drivers can spend hundreds of pounds for repairs related to potholes. The number of breakdowns attended rose by nearly 20% compared to the previous quarter. The debate about roads often centres on potholes as the most visible symptom of neglect but the real issue is the road network. Instead of talking about fixing potholes here and there, we must shift the focus to prevention, not reactive repairs. The recent injection of funds is a welcome acknowledgement of the problem but fails to address the fact the current mechanism is not fit for purpose.

The backlog of repairs is simply too long to be fixed by short-term injections of cash. If the government is serious about tackling the crisis, they must urgently reform the system and deal with the crisis. Local councils are responsible for managing 90% of national road networks and they will be the brunt of the challenge. However, they are underfunded and face huge financial pressure. The Local Government Association confirmed that English councils face a shortfall of £6.2 billion in funding across the next two years.

Given the challenges these councils are facing with the learning social care costs and the SEND crisis, highway maintenance is often seen as something that can be postponed until finances improve. Roads require resurfacing roughly every 15 years and the years of chronic underfunding have caused the crucial maintenance to be postponed. It has led to the current portal plague. The frequency of resurfacing for all classes of roads is now an Apollo 93 years. I recently spoke to a council spokesperson who said, "Roads are like trousers and you can fix a hole here or there with a patch but eventually it does not work and now we do not just need new trousers but a whole new wardrobe." Much of the funding for road maintenance comes from local government.

The Department of Transport acknowledged the current funding model is inefficient and does not deliver good value for money. The current cycle is reactive with short-term fixes hindering long-term planning. A longer term funding settlement would allow councils to plan ahead and move away from the reactive model. Furthermore, the current funding formula is woefully inadequate and fails to account for the diverse needs and road usage of different regions and demands a more nuanced approach. An example, data indicates that Merton, in which my constituency lies, has among the worst roads of the country but they receive less funding than other areas with better roads.

It was recently suggested that the poor standing of Merton may be due to a data error in the thick use. Regardless of the cause, this paints a troubling picture and either Merton are failing to maintain roads or report the condition and neither is acceptable. Can I request the Minister writes to me to clarify the situation? The current formula also affects infrastructure and the government has increased funding but there is no provision for the maintenance of the new cycle lanes and similarly there are complaints about the quality of pavements but is an issue for those with mobility issues.

We must ensure cycle path and pavements are properly maintained. Without dedicated funding, they will deteriorate, discouraging use and preventing more infrastructure from being provided.

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I thank my honourable friend for a giving way. Does he agree with me a giving way. Does he agree with me at the Eastbourne Seniors Forum that at the Eastbourne Seniors Forum that there are lots of trips and falls in Halifax and something they counsel Halifax and something they counsel has to get on top of to give people confidence in using roads.

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confidence in using roads. How can I disagree? Eastbourne,

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How can I disagree? Eastbourne, Wimbledon, many other constituencies, they are shocking constituencies, they are shocking condition. The government claims... Despite the lofty talk about fixing the issues, the budget has been cut by 5% for the forthcoming year and the government claims this is a temporary measure but the next period does not commence until 2036. Cabinet minister confirm that they will make up for the shortfall in the funding settlement next year.

This is key to keeping the economy moving. We cannot afford to cut the costs at this stage. To conclude, the Conservatives have led us down the fast lane to decay and there is no doubt roads are crumbling and motorists are paying the price. There is more short-term injection of cash and the current approach is akin to pulling into a service station for a brief respite. It may station for a brief respite. It may delay the journey for a bit but is not the venting deterioration.

If Labour is serious about fixing the roads, it must sort out the backlog and allow it to be proactively managed. It requires government to relieve the pressure on councils by sorting out social care as well as implementing a long-term needs-based funding model for road maintenance. Without meaningful action to support local councils, we will continue on I thank the Secretary of State for introducing this important bit. I know that improving roads and highways is a critical issue for the government and one that will help to deliver economic growth from my constituency.

Our roads have experienced years of decay under the previous government and are riddled with potholes. With potholes damaging cars and congestion on the way to work, this costs constituents. This debate is more than just bumps and burst tyres, as important as they are, and improving the network will boost investment in neighbouring regions and that is why I warmly welcome the uplift and over £9 million has been allocated to

19:40

Dr Allison Gardner MP (Stoke-on-Trent South, Labour)

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Stoke-on-Trent and £19 million to Staffordshire to fix potholes. The Labour-run council have done excellent work already and have worked with GCB to develop a cutting worked with GCB to develop a cutting edge solution to fix potholes which edge solution to fix potholes which can complete 18 years of additional work in just over two years and work in just over two years and using the Pothole Pro they are dealing with real improvements on dealing with real improvements on the roads and in the last few years the roads and in the last few years they have repaired 16,255 potholes, 772% improvement.

The city council had been using AI to map out the condition of the network, portals, cracks, depressions, with a complete inventory and they hope to deploy the technology further onto the bin wagons which go everywhere. This highlights the work being done on the road network. The network is strategically critical to economic development and the roads are a key connector between Crewe, Stoke-on- Trent, and derby. Manufacturing companies like JCB, Toyota, Bentley, and also we have dimension advanced ceramics.

Precisely the type of businesses looking for investment from the government and precisely the kind of manufacturers a bit of real wages and we need good road transport. Unfortunately there are significant challenges for constituents getting to the workplace. Particularly on the A50 with about causing delays and there are reports there are C of E delays. This affects the distance people can travel for work. Our roads are really important but I must add, as passionate as I am about improvements, equally, I'm more passionate about road safety and it goes beyond economic growth and filling potholes.

It makes a real difference to good safety for pedestrians in communities across Stoke-on-Trent, particularly in rural areas, which under the purview of the Conservative run county council. We deserve roads where people feel safe, not rods tormented by speeding traffic and high-speed roads cut through villages, making it incredibly unsafe for children or elderly residents to cross the road to catch buses, walk to school, go to doctors surgeries. Implementing to doctors surgeries. Implementing traffic calming measures and lower speed limits are essential step to making the utility sector and accessible for everyone.

I want to thank Josie and my constituency organised a petition to secure a crossing to ensure elderly people can access shops and public transport. Thanks to the local villages, another village cut in two, this time by a road which is often used as a ramp when the main road is congested. It means that people risk their lives crossing the shorts to the other side of the village and it is usually worrying. There are proposals for a huge development which will add to the problem and they desperately want a roundabout to ease congestion but the police are falling on deaf ears at the moment.

There are successes. My constituent has campaigned successfully to get a pedestrian crossing in his area and that is a crossing in his area and that is a huge win for the community in Stoke-on-Trent after his friend tragically lost his life due to dangerous driving and the lack of a crossing and I'm delighted to have helped Craig to liaise with the relevant professionals and the city council. And I also want to thank council. And I also want to thank Penny for leading the campaign for speed on her local rod for people wanting slower traffic.

These committees are being failed by a system which is slow and has no consideration for road safety. It moves too slowly and does not value the impact on communities for the local, villages, wider ridges, and the people nor the areas better than we do in Westminster or of the county council. The Prime Minister has said there is no monopoly on good ideas and so let's work with communities to deliver the changes our roads need and build connected our roads need and build connected

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Roads are crucial to life in the Scottish Borders. They are a Scottish Borders. They are a lifeline. My constituency stretches from Kobus path down to Newcastleton, takes the best part of Newcastleton, takes the best part of 2.5 hours to drive from one end of 2.5 hours to drive from one end of it to the other. Excluding trunk roads, there are 1857 miles in the roads, there are 1857 miles in the Scottish Borders of local roads that the council are responsible for and many more miles of trunk roads which the Scottish Government Transport Scotland is responsible for.

Looking round House I would challenge any other member to challenge that figure, that 857 miles of local roads that the council is responsible for. It's a very unique and high figure. Roads are essential for people to get around, see friends, go to school, get to work, go to hospital appointments. It's crucial that we have good quality roads to just exist never mind enjoy luxuries and life and it's not surprising that I receive so much casework from constituents expressing concern about the quality of some of the roads, the lack of investment that I will come on to discuss a little bit further.

But also surveys, knocking on doors doing doorstep surgeries, potholes will be the number one issue that local residents were raised with me. I want to mention, which I don't think any other member has mentioned, I want to pay tribute to the hard-working council employees who do do very good job fixing the roads under very difficult circumstances. They might not have the resources that they might need all the equipment that they always need, but they are doing the best they possibly can and very challenging circumstances to make the roads as good as they possibly can be.

They go above and beyond what is often their job, just to ensure that the roads in the communities that they often work in living themselves, are maintained to the best possible standards. What makes their life even more difficult often is the fact that you have gas companies or broadband companies coming into their communities and digging up the roads, so they might come and fix the road next week and then discover a few days or weeks later as utility company coming through digging out the road again.

Much more needs to be done both by this UK Government and the Scottish Government which are responsible for this area in Scotland to ensure that these type of utility companies are under a much tougher obligation to reinstate roads back to that standard that they were in prior to their work being carried out or indeed put them into an even better standard of the Jews to do the work, need to be investing in the road so it's put into a good standard once they have completed that work.

My own counsel, like another honourable member mentioned, has invested in the JCB pothole probe equipment, and amid growing concerns about the state of the roads they felt that was a good investment to make, and they have had a second one. The machine is hideout many road repairs, is which has seen a significant improvement in the local road network, huge backlog of road repairs, thanks largely to the lack of investment by the SNP government and I will come unto that shortly. The council have also set up a new interactive map allowing people to go online, and search the website, a map of the whole council area, people can identify roads and provide evidence of road repairs, potholes that need to be fixed.

Indeed as a consequence of this investment of recent Freedom of information request of all councils, or United Kingdom councils showed that for those who responded,

19:50

John Lamont MP (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, Conservative)

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20:00

Josh Newbury MP (Cannock Chase, Labour)

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to wait for lasting solutions, ultimately leading to high costs and greater disruption in the long run. Having been a district councillor in Having been a district councillor in my constituency for six years, although highways was not part of my remote huge chunk of my time was spent on this issue, particularly spent on this issue, particularly given that successive County Counsel is all too often missing action when it came to county councils issues in it came to county councils issues in my constituency.

Blocked drains have been a recurring problem, causing been a recurring problem, causing localised flooding and subsequently further damage to the roads and you guessed it, more potholes. 70 County Counsel, Conservative run for 16 years, has cut back its highways budget so drastically except in that one-year foremost roads routine drain fluid is only done once every three years. Even completely compacted drains not absorbing a single drop of rain frequently ignored as the outsourced highways contractor say that they are not a priority and will be cleared sometime in the next three years.

The shortsighted approach often leads to localised flooding and further deterioration of the roads, again complete. Economy. A common complaint is that with the highways contractor, the epiphany of profit driven service limiting outsourcing if ever I saw one. Frequently the pitch of having travelled miles from the depot only to sort one pothole or one drain at a time, leaving others nearby completely ignored, even though addressing multiple issues at once would be far more I am sure honourable members can relate to this.

The Conservatives have not sought to scrap the contract but have repeatedly awarded extensions. Other councils have switched to a preventative approach and had success but the Staffordshire we are in an endless cycle of patch jobs on the holes Dangerous. We need a proper fix for the whole system. I commend the action to make sure councils are accountable for improvements and particularly in use that from June 30 councils like Staffordshire will be required to publish detailed reports of how they are spending the £39 million they are getting from the government, how many potholes have been filled, and how they are spending the money.

We have to look at what works and what does not work. I am happy to give way.

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I think it is quite telling that we have got about 5-6 Staffordshire we have got about 5-6 Staffordshire MPs debating this matter and I think MPs debating this matter and I think that it speaks to how let down the

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residents have been through too long. I thank my honourable friend for the intervention and it's no coincidence that so many of us are coincidence that so many of us are here today to speak on these areas here today to speak on these areas of frustration and on the failings in Staffordshire. This government must and will undo the issues caused by the previous government. In conclusion, I say to my constituents that we must make sure this record investment has maximum benefit for towns and villages and we will go to the polls with the clear choice - the polls with the clear choice - carry on with the current situation? Deep cuts to budgets with an Elon Musk-style approach? Or a commonsense approach.

I know the approach I would go for and I hope we can work with this Labour

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Government to get the potholes fix. After the next speaker I will impose a time limit of five minutes.

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impose a time limit of five minutes. For residents in Stratford and even and across the country, road maintenance is one of the most visible signs of how the area is visible signs of how the area is being looked after. The funding allocated for road trip fares is falling short of what is needed and in fact the councillors are spending in fact the councillors are spending twice as much on repealing local roads as they receive in funding and the shortfall is felt on every street in my constituency of Stratford and even.

Dangerous potholes keep reappearing and road surfaces are cracking just months after being patched up and pavements are on a waiting list of many years to be repaired. In Stratford and even, we are seeing the consequences

20:05

Manuela Perteghella MP (Stratford-on-Avon, Liberal Democrat)

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of poor long-term planning by the of poor long-term planning by the Conservative-run county council, the local highway authority. In Stratford-upon-Avon, the Birmingham Road, one of the major arteries in Road, one of the major arteries in and out of town. Residents and businesses have faced seemingly endless disruptions which do not improve travel for cyclists. There were delays, disruption, exacerbated by emergency road closures and resulting in gridlock, children and young people not able to arrive to school on time, and teachers having to act as traffic wardens as well as residents arriving late for work.

The district councillor has looked for answers on why this has taken so long and why this was not more effectively coordinated in the first place and I recently hosted meetings with utility companies to address this and I was very disappointed that the Conservative representative for planning did not come. It's not just about inconvenience but the impact for businesses. They lose footfall, money, and it is also the impact on the daily lives of residents and parents trying to get to appointments and on families getting children to school.

What is frustrating is that it is avoidable. We need local authorities to be properly resourced and funded and we also need local authorities to plan better, coordinate more effectively, ensure that contractors do the job well and are more responsive to the communities that they serve. Let's give communities the leadership that

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they deserve. I am very pleased to speak in

**** Possible New Speaker ****

I am very pleased to speak in this important debate today. This morning, I took a moment to appreciate the headline of my local appreciate the headline of my local newspaper. As it happens, my local newspaper is also the local newspaper for the Conservative spokesperson and it said that the Norfolk council starts work to resurface 320 miles of road. It is resurface 320 miles of road. It is almost as if they could read the order paper for today. It is significant.

Today starts £12 million worth of investment into improving roads in Norfolk and I'm sure the article will be well read because we are a rural county with extensive road networks and sadly too many of them are in a bad state of repair. The resurfacing of 320 miles this financial year is a welcome increase on the 280 males completed last year and for the coming year it is because of the funding awarded to Norfolk County Council by the Labour Government which I am proud of and it is a joy to see the honourable member here and I'm sure he just admitted in his speech to thank the Labour Government for the significant sum of money because Norfolk received one of the larger sums of money in the country for road resurfacing and for the past decade I have been a counsellor, elected in 2013 and continued service until I resigned in March and I was a spokesperson for the Labour group for roads, transport, the environment.

I was elected, the backup was around £40 million annually. The most recent figure had increased to £70 million and so that is a disappointing statistic but inevitable given the extensive cuts to funding during the past 14 years of Conservative government. Inflation, particularly construction -related, is a significant factor and in the last year alone, the backlog has gone up. It's difficult in Norfolk because, as I mentioned, we are a large rural county and we have 6000 miles of road and is difficult in South

20:10

Terry Jermy MP (South West Norfolk, Labour)

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Norfolk, even routine flooding and the make up of the soil. It is sandy the make up of the soil. It is sandy and wet which affects the integrity of roads. The damage due to the potholes has resulted in the County potholes has resulted in the County Council paying out almost £120,000 in compensation in the financial in compensation in the financial year 2023-24 with a total of 228 year 2023-24 with a total of 228 successful claims. There were 150 the year before and the total bill of £56,000, further evidence of a worsening problem.

It is fair to say that all members routinely receive correspondence or comments on the doorstep about potholes and that is why I was delighted the government pledged £1.6 billion which I'm sure will go a long way to addressing the potholes that have been left for too long. I note comments about Staffordshire and the RAC has shown the longest time to fix individual potholes was in Stoke-on-Trent, followed by Westminster and Norfolk was third with 482 days on average to fix a pothole in my county.

I am supportive of the Transport Secretary unveiled £4.8 billion in funding for National Highways to deliver crucial schemes and maintain the motorways and I'm pleased to welcome the roads Minister to Norfolk. This cash will get on with pivotal schemes like the a 47 and also hopefully some other constituents will benefit from some of the improvements. The growth agenda of the government relies on tilting but repairing and fixing the basic infrastructure that this country relies on. It is central to country relies on.

It is central to delivering on a decade of renewal which would lead to renewed living standards, furthering productivity, and securing the economic future for Britain and delivering the plan for change. This is the mess we inherited and we are getting on with fixing roads across the country and in my home county of Norfolk.

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Glasgow's longest and straightest rod as Great Western Road which begins in the city centre and begins in the city centre and stretches to the West End and beyond the city boundary. It is the root you are likely to take if travelling you are likely to take if travelling to the West Coast of Scotland and has been dubbed the coolest Street in Scotland and I would strongly in Scotland and I would strongly support that. In spite of its importance, like every other road in Glasgow, it is plagued by potholes and I defy anyone to drive, walk, cycle more than 200 yards down the road and not see a pothole.

Thanks to the 'Evening Times', we now know that the potholes were responsible for 1451 reports to the City Council last year, the highest in Scotland. Sometimes you cannot see the potholes you will find that they are

20:14

Patricia Ferguson MP (Glasgow West, Labour)

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potholes you will find that they are so deep that they look like a clear stretch of road because they are full of rainwater. Cars are damaged and people are put at risk. Great Western Road is not unique and in the last two years in Glasgow, the the last two years in Glasgow, the amount paid out in compensation to drivers has almost doubled. At the same time, the amount of additional same time, the amount of additional money spent on repairing potholes money spent on repairing potholes has decreased by 20%.

As we know, the Scottish government received the largest ever budget settlement in the 26 years of devolution this year but unfortunately little of that was passed on to hard-pressed councils. Glasgow alone has lost out on over £400 million since 2014, even though it has been controlled by the SNP since 2017. It is estimated the city needs to spend £104 million repairing potholes, with the backlog for Scotland standing at a massive £2.56 billion. As the honourable member for Roxburgh and Selkirk mentioned earlier, is a former councillor, I also know how hard the staff at the Rose department but they need the resources to do the job and the honourable member also mentioned utility companies.

I have a bugbear about utility companies and that is that there does not seem to be any way of enforcing or encouraging them to do a job well. My own road has been dug up three times in the last two years by different utility companies. It is surely, in this day and age, something that we could make better for residents, and indeed for the utility companies must literally be pouring money down the holes that they dig. I also draw attention to the situation of the Clyde Tunnel which is partly in my constituency.

As its name suggests it is and north-south vehicular title that runs underneath the River Clyde. It is a very important road because it connects Glasgow to the Queen Elizabeth Community Hospital. The clay panel is only allocated the same for repair as any other standard stretch of road. -- Clyde panel. It has resulted in a shortfall of £800,000 in maintenance every single year, with the result that Glasgow City Council is thinking about applying a toll to the good which I think would be crazy but they are considering that for those who live outside Glasgow.

How do you prove that before you The money allocated to alleviate the problem in England and Wales will I'm sure make a real difference. It's therefore to be hoped that the Scottish Government will pay close attention to the actions of this government and learn from it, to allow our tourism and economy Germany to grow as it should. -- Generally.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you. I want to thank the Secretary of State for opening the debate. It's the most interesting debate. It's the most interesting debate since one about buses. I'm proud to call Edinburgh my home and proud to call Edinburgh my home and I love that tourists come all over to see the city. I'm often ashamed to see the city. I'm often ashamed of what they encounter on arrival of what they encounter on arrival particular potholes which feel like physically in the south-west.

It's not just Edinburgh. The roads are in a horrendous state with 400,000 potholes reported local authority since 2021. The state of our roads as we said earlier is a great visual way of understanding Local Government Finance Act. What we see on our roads is replicated in schools and in our social care. This particular issues, Glasgow receives the lowest per capita funding of any council in Scotland, absolutely shameful for a capital city to be treated in that way. I have to acknowledge though that since Labour took control of the city in 2022, we have been great efforts to improve ROI.

I spoke to the current counsel who happens to be my election agent

20:18

Dr Scott Arthur MP (Edinburgh South West, Labour)

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last year, who informed me that Edinburgh's independent road Edinburgh's independent road condition indicator has improved by 4.5% in the last year. The host of an improvement in a single year. This is just the start and it's what This is just the start and it's what people see when you step out of the House that really matters. The maintenance lists for the current maintenance lists for the current year was published just last week, pulled together by an excellent counsel and I was pleased to see that among the 500,000 m on the that among the 500,000 m on the roads resurfaced, many were raised by in the south-west constituents and also we have a porthole promise, and I think it has filled 22,000 m of potholes, it has been busy.

The UK Government has created a dedicated pothole repair fund for counsel south of the border. Currently standing at 1.6 billion, 500 million is new money, so tens of millions of pounds of money have made their way to Scotland to fill potholes. This was handed to Scottish government ministers. They have set up no similar fund, instead they blame councils for potholes. John Swinney says that councils have enough money already to fix the roads, despite as we heard earlier from my colleague from Glasgow South West, the current national backlog between round 2.5 billion or 3 billion.

It is not just the cost of filling potholes, cycling you -- UK says that one cyclist per... Dies because of a pothole. The SNP government must show omission when it comes to potholes and I'm disappointed as many members... Before I conclude, I do want to address something even more important than the state of our roads and stop buses, it is the state of our pavements. In many cases pavement conditions are worse than the roads and I was really pleased that the Secretary of State for Transport mentioned pavements in the introduction and I hope the set shadow minister does so because I didn't hear anything in the introduction.

If you're serious about creating more active and more eco-nation we must discuss pavement conditions every time we took about conditions. There is an easy and low cost where the government could improve our footpath, give local authorities the property to introduce a pavement parking grant. The complete ban in Edinburgh was transformed the city and would lead to critical of the pavements over time. Hope towns and cities across England will soon have the same powers.

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Thank you. According to the RAC, this is the area with the most this is the area with the most potholes on record in England. The Conservative run county of Derbyshire had a whopping 90,000 Derbyshire had a whopping 90,000 potholes last year, with the next worst area having over 20,000 less. Potholes are not just an issue for Potholes are not just an issue for motorists, doing damage to their cars and racking up big repair costs. But as the Secretary of State said and was absolutely right, it is also a safety issue, first cyclists, fur pedestrians, for people using mobility AIDS or those with vision impairments, poorly maintained road surfaces can make heading to the local shops more dangerous than it needs to be.

This government's £1.6 billion investment into potholes means £75 million for the East Midlands combined county authority, so Derby and Derbyshire will hugely benefit from this government's funding. But we all know that it's the job of both central government and local government to get the work done. And Derbyshire County Council having been Conservative led since 2017, fixing these potholes is just the surface of where the work needs to begin. And on 1 May residents and Derbyshire will have the opportunity to vote for a Labour run county who together with this government can work to ensure we see the properly maintained roads that we want.

In Derby, we are approaching the third anniversary of the closure of the bridge to Dolly Avenue and Mills, due to disrepair and safety concerns. Darley Abbey Mills is a beautiful Unesco site with a rich history dating back to the 1700s and is now home to dozens of businesses from Darley Abbey winds to birth in automotive, to the west hill wedding venue and reinvention fitness. The closure of the bridge was hugely damaging for businesses and difficult for residents. Derby City Council built a temporary pedestrian bridge in 2022 which is really important mitigation.

And it is functional but is not reflective of the stunning site on the Darwin River and is only temporary -- on the Derwent River. The local Labour councillors have long been calling for a new permanent bridge engaging with businesses and residents about it and now we have a massive step forward with the funding allocated by our Labour mayor for the East Midlands for a feasibility study for the bridge, a key milestone. And replacing the bridge would make such a difference to local businesses and

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residents but just a year ago, hope was running out. And it was the election of a mayor who has listened election of a mayor who has listened and worked with local councillors and businesses that has brought back and businesses that has brought back home to the situation. And I think it gives hope to all of us because everyone will have road everyone will have road infrastructure projects in our constituencies, and I hope elections on 1 May will bring more Labour on 1 May will bring more Labour councillors to work with Labour mayors and a Labour government to fix our roads and deliver the road infrastructure our communities want

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to see. For 14 long years, road users in

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For 14 long years, road users in Bournemouth got a raw deal. Motorists pay their taxes, but they Motorists pay their taxes, but they got little backs. -- They got little got little backs. -- They got little back. Bournemouth and the south-west have been left out. But no longer. Broken roads are not only risking Broken roads are not only risking lives, their costing working families, drivers and businesses hundreds if not thousands of pounds hundreds if not thousands of pounds in an avoidable vehicle repairs, fixing the basic infrastructure this country relies on essential to the delivery of national renewal, improving living standards and securing Bournemouth of Britain's future.

It's also a question of trust. When I was going around knocking on doors before the election and during the general election, people would say, you seem like a nice guy. We want to vote for you. But how do we know that when you go to Parliament you're not going to turn out like the last lot?

20:26

Tom Hayes MP (Bournemouth East, Labour)

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That you aren't going to deliver on the promises that you keep? I can now get people's doorsteps and talk about the prioritisation of this Labour government in fixing our Labour government in fixing our rows, matching words with deeds, the rows, matching words with deeds, the commitment significant sums of money and difficult circumstances repairing roads. Most only are we repairing roads. Most only are we investing in £4.8 billion to deliver vital road schemes and maintained major roads across the country to get Britain moving as part of our Plan for Change, we are adding Plan for Change, we are adding councils a record 1.6 billion to prepare roads and fill millions of potholes across the country was cap known Council has received more than £10 million from the government to fix our roads over the next 12 months and I spoke without council leader on 23rd March to make the point to her that we need to use the money or we lose the money and she has committed that she has a long list of roads that need fixing, and I'm confident they will be fixed.

The lack of investment to date is a full economy. Because when we don't invest in our roads in the first instance, we just store up problems, Repair costs. By investing in our roads now, I hope is we can actually save the taxpayer more money as well as make sure we have roads that are finally roadworthy. It saves local councils, 2023, the council has a dish out £60,000 in compensation because of the frailty of our roads. But we need to get some of our fundamentals right.

We heard already in the debate about the city companies, how would we see are roads repaired me to see companies will sworn in, dig up that road repair, and will just make the road worse after it. We need to make sure that doesn't happen. We need to think about our pavements. Have lost count of the number of elderly ladies I have spoken with who on their doorstep said they would go to the city centre but they are too scared of slipping broken pavements, cracking hip and not actually being able to get the hip replacement that they need quickly enough because they they know that the NHS has been ruined under the last government.

I want to commend PCP Council for targeting the roads that need fixing in my consistency. Cranley Road has had major work completed and I called for that. I'm pleased to see treatment works completed on several roads, and again I have called for this on behalf of constituents. I'm pleased to see plans for the resurfacing of sections of Ashley Road as part of the Boscombe area and I'm pleased that we see significant works on hold in Hurst Road.

This is particularly important not only to support producers who are households and families but also to support our tradespeople, when I knock on doors and talk with our small business owners and tradespeople to constantly reference the fact they have the tools stolen and the fact this can. Two £22,730 in repairing or replacing the stolen tools, threatened crime is a constant worry but the roads aren't being fixed despite the fact they pay so much money in taxes. I want to close by talking about how road safety isn't only about repairing potholes on our roads but also about make sure we have got an investment in pedestrian crossings.

We have been looking to introduce a zebra crossing on Queens Park Avenue to encourage schoolchildren to easily access at busy street. Currently the Department for Transport does not permit the side -- the use of side road zebras. I have been calling on the Department of Transport to support local councillors and my own calls for better zebra crossing provisions. I'm glad we are ending potholed plague stock commend my residence and constituents were calling for improved roads and I will be continuing to work alongside them to make the case for more funding and better investment in our roads.

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Under the previous government it

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Under the previous government it felt too often like being in the passenger seat with no one will, driving down the road with no sense of direction and hitting bump after

20:30

Peter Swallow MP (Bracknell, Labour)

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bump along the way and this isn't just an overly strange metaphor but a relative for too many of my constituents. I'm pleased to say that following the success of Labour in winning control of my local council and 2023, New Labour administration immediately set to work to address what they felt and what I know to be a huge priority for local residents. Setting out a plan to invest £5 million over four years. And that includes an extra £1 million in this year's budget over And on top of this local investment, and proud that the New Labour government have provided an uplifting Bracknell's budget.

That's £3.2 million more.

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I thank my honourable friend and congratulate him for the excellent congratulate him for the excellent speeches making. Will he agree with me that potholes are a costly, dangerous menace on our roads, and when he welcomed the decisive action when he welcomed the decisive action this covenant is taking to fill those potholes, which includes in my constituency nearly £12 million?

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constituency nearly £12 million? Absolutely. Very very happy to agree to just that. And the reason agree to just that. And the reason why this is so badly needed in why this is so badly needed in writing and mid box as well as in Bracknell is because of the huge backlog in repairs we have inherited from the previous government -- mid box. As well as re-severing major residential rates which have not received the support they need for too long.

This investment will also allow for other upgrades, including in Bracknell and you too could crossing, and using this investment Bracknell Forest Council is also addressing the pressing need for more parking. It's a massive issue in Bracknell, which has a number of older states, previously social housing where there is simply not enough parking for residents. But because we've been putting residents priorities first, we deliver more parking and the grass verge conversion scheme. It's slow progress, and there is much much more to be done.

Not least because it requires agreement between the local authority and social housing providers. So I would ask the Minister today what more support she can set out, and I know that she is -- has kindly spoken to me about this issue before. And it's clear that these investments are not job done. There's a huge amount more to do to address the potholes, to address parking, and that's why I welcome the scrutiny set out by the government the annual progress reports so residents can see the actions we are taking, and the local council is taking on their behalf.

And from October, a duty solicitor residents priorities for what work needs to be done and where it needs to happen. And I'm proud to say that I certainly believe that Bracknell Forest Council already does this but it's always welcome that extra focus. I do want to touch on the issue of roadworks delivered by, caused by utility companies. During the general election, there was a large number of roadworks in Crowthorne in my constituency, so much so that the choke was on the doorstep, how do you leave -- joke, how do you leave Crowthorne? You don't.

And Crowthorne is a lovely place. I'm very proud to live there, but one does occasionally have to leave. Just this weekend, I have been dealing with a utility companies roadworks down Yorktown Road in Sandhurst. This road has repeatedly seen utilities companies taking it up, and it is really the main road through Sandhurst. One constituent commented on Facebook, " I've worked at the since the start of the year, Yorktown Road has only been free from extremely disruptive roadworks for about 30 days." That's 30 days of the 100 or so days we've had this year.

So would like to ask the Minister what more we could do to make sure that these disruptive roadworks from utilities companies don't repeatedly hit the same stretch of road, and sadly all too often lead to what was a resurfaced road only last year being left in a terrible state of repairs. In the short time I've got left I would also just like to touch on another important element of our road network, and that is of course buses. I'm really really pleased that under this Labour government, we've seen a £1 million investment into Bracknell Forest buses.

That's more than in the previous three years combined. And that has seen massive improvements to our local services, including the 194+ now serving Butlers Park in Crowthorne, and it has been able to leave I'm pleased to say. And the ex 94, now stopping at Martins Heron station with more journeys between Heatherwood and from the park hospitals. Connecting our train stations and hospitals up with our bus network. And the council has also announced new companion passes for companions of disabled passengers to travel for free.

I know that more is coming with the bus services Bill so that we could see greater local control over our bus network. With this government, we are back in the drivers seat. Back behind the wheel. And I'm proud to say, driving on resurfaced roads. There is more to do. There are more potholes to be filled, that this government's plan for change, and it

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is delivering. Thank you. Driving through Stafford has become an absolute nightmare. We've now been in the grip of what can only be described as a plague of roadworks. It's not as a plague of roadworks. It's not the disruption here and there but an oncoming onslaught that has affected nearly every part of our town. To be fair, this isn't the first time I've fair, this isn't the first time I've spoken to the House about how poorly residents across Stafford Echo Shore residents across Stafford Echo Shore and the villages have been treated by Staffordshire County Council when it comes to roadworks and maintenance.

But I'm pleased that today I get to do so at length because frankly, the people I represent deserve to have their voices heard. Loud and clear. So we now face simultaneous disruption from a litany of roadworks across town. Let me name just a few. Station Road, works here are about to begin. Market Square, another set about to start. Tipping Street, the same story. Bradford bank, which has been a particular concern, Eastgate Street, North Walls, jail K St, Mark Mill Lane, inside, a major artery now reduced to a bottleneck.

And then there's Corporation Street

20:37

Leigh Ingham MP (Stafford, Labour)

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where the disruption is so severe that traffic is rerouting through cooperative Street, causing real problems for residents. I spoke to a constituent on the doorstep only a few weeks ago who told me they feel like they are stuck in a constant state of dangerous disruption. That state of dangerous disruption. That the small road has been closed permanently and they are not alone. permanently and they are not alone. I did for a moment when I was writing the speech consider doing a full list of all the roadworks in full list of all the roadworks in Stafford, giving you the gate period a bit like the shipping forecast but we worked out it would take the whole debate.

Now whilst its row -- right that rates should be repaired, I can't suffer the poor communication, the same roads planned to be up on repeat because of a lack of strategic planning between organisations. Staffordshire County Council has received nearly 40 million in funding next year from the local transport authority alongside Stoke-on-Trent he will receive a further 11.6 million in additional cash for fixing potholes and road maintenance. It is this Labour government putting money where it's needed. This Labour government providing funding with money actually there, not promises and unfunded commitments.

It is this Labour government handing councils the cash and the certainty they need. Now it's up to them to get on with the job. But that money to use, and prove that they are delivering for their communities. And after years of successive neglect from Conservative governments, is welcome news to my constituents that there are safeguards in place for this funding because if Staffordshire County Council doesn't show how they are improving our roads, they will risk losing 25% of the funding boost.

Staffordshire County Council must now publish reports on their websites by 30 June this year. Detailing how much they are spending, how many more potholes they have failed, and what percentage of their roads are in what condition, and how they are minimising Street works disruption. I constituents in Stafford's Echo show and the villages deserve better than the last Conservative government, the poor communication and treatment they received from Conservative led Staffordshire County Council. I want to continue to raise their concerns until we see real change in how these decisions are made.

Made, communicated and managed by Staffordshire's Conservative County Council.

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I call Joe Morris. Thank you Foster it's a pleasure to speak about road maintenance and the importance of safe accessible the importance of safe accessible roads in Northumberland and in western Newcastle. Under the previous government, the condition previous government, the condition of the roads were neglected, ignored, disregarded which damage the basic infrastructure and social fabric of my constituency. Across the constituency and greatly -- regularly confronted with roads in regularly confronted with roads in disrepair. In Hexham, Prideaux, Haltwhistle, and even in smaller villages, crumbling services of oceans and deep potholes are rife, and it's one of the things that comes back to me everything time I go out on the doorstep, speaking to local people.

It's the first thing people ask me about typically is a

20:41

Joe Morris MP (Hexham, Labour)

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fault in the local road. The rates that experience heavy traffic, often these are in Northumberland quite these are in Northumberland quite small roads, still experience small roads, still experience industrial traffic. potholes can industrial traffic. potholes can cause real danger and damage and it's a disgrace frankly, the safety of my constituents is jeopardised by this poor road surfaces. It cannot only place the well-being of residents at risk but cause considerable damage to vehicles and inflate expensive repairs on drivers might inflict.

The raid on Newton villages one example, wide enough to fit one car at a time, requires castor regular pullover and with orations on the side of the road it can damage vehicles and increasing financial burdens as a result. Now with flooding rampant on that road, the attempted patch repairs by Northumberland County Council are often undone within minutes. Indeed when I went to visit it with Newton Parish Council, I saw from my own eyes, in my own eyes the repair being done and within minutes the potholes themselves being flooded.

For residents going to pick up their children from school, young people driving to access employment, constituents getting to the shops or cycling to explore the wonderful landscape that makes north-east of England the best place in the country to visit, should not have to regulating encounter safety hazards or vehicle damage due to those road surfaces. And yet the Conservative administration at the family County Council have taken the rise of the road is that they are failing to communicate timeframes for repairs and failing to improve the condition of local roads.

And even where basic repairs have been provided, they've been slapdash. On Wylam Bridge, Lawrence O'Donnell, the Labour candidate for North Wylam tells me the same pothole has been patched eight times in 12 months. In my view this means the council is disregarding the basic welfare of residents and is letting families across Northumberland down, and we have the opportunity on 1 May devote that counsel out. The community should not be neglected due to the conservative majority on the County Council's ignorance of rural affairs, ignorance of rural life and their contempt for the people of Northumberland.

I'm pleased for the Labour government committing additional money to deliver vital road schemes to fixable local roads, and I just would like to while the Minister is here, just echo the calls of my honourable friend from North Northumberland to look at the urgent safety work that can be done on the A1, and this time to make sure that everything is brought forward is properly funded. And in addition to that, the A69 to receive similar treatment. It's clear that we are the only party that will prioritise local roads and the only counsel in Northumberland to make sure that happens.

And what the Minister is here, there are a few points to get attention and I hope she will address in her response. I've met with quite a few local farmers recently who have mentioned to me that they want to have EV charging points in their farm shop car parks, they have real difficulty accessing grants from DfT to get those charging points because they are told it's only accessible for service stations. Now the A69 doesn't have huge amounts of service stations. It would be a great way to boost the local economy, to boost our neck zero credentials and to ensure that -- net zero, and ensure people going through Northumberland can access those farm shops and put more money into the local rural economy.

I would be really grateful if the Minister could look at that and look if there is anything to be done there. Additionally, I just like to mention that it is not just... It's easy to play the Hackney political game here, but Hackney political game here, but it's not just politicians who benefit from fixing potholes. It is the public, is the people doing the school run, the people on the drive school run, the people on the drive to work, whether that's to Echo, city, going to Newcastle or Carlisle across my boss constituency, which is the biggest in England.

And I will use my last 15 seconds to talk about visiting Newcastle International Airport and seeing the runway being relayed with tarmac that comes from I was told my constituency, and you will be -- it will be absolute great to see some of the knowledge, skills and expertise -- put to use fixing those roads.

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Thank you. So people in Bury St Edmunds and stone marking must navigate pockmarked and pimpled streets, how depressing, how streets, how depressing, how frustrating. But who are forced to accept a fear of damage or even injury is a precondition of using our roads. People locked in extended battles the compensation with the council. And with their insurers. We council. And with their insurers. We all know about this problem. Only 36% of local roads in the east of 36% of local roads in the east of England are in a good structural condition.

People talk about the

20:46

Peter Prinsley MP (Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, Labour)

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effect of potholes on motorists, and quite rightly they are dangerous, damaging to cars and daily irritant damaging to cars and daily irritant for most of us, however it's not just cars owners who are affected by just cars owners who are affected by our roads. Sony people know a horror story. It's now no surprise to me having sat in this debate, that my having sat in this debate, that my son, a student at Keele University in Stoke-on-Trent was involved in a horrendous bicycle crash as he came down a steep hill and went head over heels as his front wheel landed in a heels as his front wheel landed in a Cyclists know all about potholes.

Between 2017 and 2023 evidence suggests that one person per week was killed or seriously injured while cycling, so potholes cause deaths and this is a trend that hasn't shown any sign of abating. Bus drivers and taxi operators can't do their jobs safely when the roads underneath them simply don't work. Our emergency services can't help us if they are expected to use crumbling roads. I've heard of paramedics whose ambulances have been damaged to the point of being unrivalled because of a pothole whilst on the way to a callout.

So better, smoother roads will support our local economies, improve transport and most importantly limit the number of accidents. So, it's really wonderful to hear the government are at last doing something after more than a decade in which our local roads were simply ignored under the Tories. In Suffolk, the effect of the declining highway spending down almost 25% last year from 2015, can be seen easily. That is already changing, potholes are getting fixed quicker but that's because our local authorities are getting a much- needed injection of cash.

From this Labour government. In Suffolk they are getting an extra £11.7 million this year for that purpose. So this Labour government is taking this seriously and delivering for the people of Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket. I'm also very glad to see that they are not simply papering over the cracks. They're going to use the latest tech to make sure public money is spent as effectively as possible, and lasting repairs to make sure our roads don't split up again.

Brilliant new pothole filling machines and surfacing technology save us money and it was really great to hear of the technology advances from the honourable member from Stoke-on- Trent South. Ministers have taken decisive action that the previous government put off for long and I hope the rest of the House can join me in congratulating them.

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I do welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate because the state of our roads is utterly critical to save travel, transportation and logistics and particularly in communities where

20:48

Kirsteen Sullivan MP (Bathgate and Linlithgow, Labour )

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there is a reliance on the road networks. As a former councillor I greatly welcomed the government's 1.6 billion for road maintenance in England, and I'm sure a few of my colleagues across the chamber tonight who were councillors will agree that there are few topics which flood their mailbox of local politicians more than potholes and the condition of roads. Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike have been failed by consecutive Conservative governments with counsel budgets slashed to the bone, and the Scottish counterparts are no better.

Reports from the local government benchmarking framework found that continued budget pressures from local councils have resulted in a 20% reduction in spending on road maintenance, and we see these budget cuts physically etched into our cities, towns and villages. As one honourable member spoke of the need to resurface rather than just fill in potholes, whilst I think that is absolutely the ideal in many situations reality is they just haven't been able to afford to do so and so they fill in potholes that break up a few months down the line.

I recently met with councillors in my constituency to discuss how years of Scottish Government austerity have left our roads in a dire condition. We see it all over. Councillors are frustrated, council staff, hard- working council staff really frustrated and local residents are frustrated and angry. Seeing the state of local roads in my own experience trying to deliver on road improvements and my former council role highlighted to me how it all comes back to local government funding.

The honourable member borrowed a few of their adjectives that I had noted down. In Scotland we have had 18 years of savage cuts, chronic ring fencing and brutal underfunding of local services. By underfunding of local services. By

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the SNP government. I know that... Thank the honourable lady for giving way and have huge sympathy with what she is saying about the underfunding and support from the Scottish government, but would she Scottish government, but would she also sympathised with me, I'm in the London Bor of favouring and we have London Bor of favouring and we have the Mayor of London, the Greater London Authority and they take you to sums of money from my constituents yet we don't see much constituents yet we don't see much of that money spent in places like Romford.

Roads like the 812 and they Romford. Roads like the 812 and they want you seven which the Mayor of London through TfL is meant to look after are often neglected. There is a common theme about these higher authorities who take money away from our constituents but don't spend it

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on the people that are paying the costs. Thank the honourable member for

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Thank the honourable member for his intervention but it will be no surprise to him that I cannot agree with him given years of massive with him given years of massive underfunding from his former Conservative governments inflicted Conservative governments inflicted upon councils across England. We've had years and years of chronic had years and years of chronic underfunding of local services so I do know that this 1.6 billion will be appreciated by councils across England, however it is yet to be confirmed that the resulting additional funding for Scotland will indeed reach local government, so I wrote to the deputy First Minister earlier this year to find out when the money would be passed to councils in Scotland.

In the deputy First Minister's response she made it clear that it is for the Scottish government to decide how that additional money would be spent and that there was no guarantee that it would make it to councils. As the honourable member for Edinburgh South also discovered. As is often the case with the SNP Scottish Government, funding is passed over from UK governments and has never heard of again. It's used to plug mismanaged white elephants, funding dependents or shadow overseas will stop the largest ever budget settlement for Scotland, the Scottish government has not yet committed to the very basic steps to repair our roads and deliver a safe environment for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike.

Whilst people across England will benefit from the huge investment of this Labour government, the SNP Scottish Government must not stand in the way of this Labour government delivering improved roads for the people of Scotland. Motorists, cyclists, residents and councils deserve the same commitment and ambition to improving our roads as this Labour

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government is showing in England. There is nothing more symbolic of

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There is nothing more symbolic of broken Britain and the mess we inherited than the state of our inherited than the state of our pothole riddled roads. Bumpy, pothole riddled roads. Bumpy, crumbling and unsafe roads have become the norm rather than the become the norm rather than the exception. For far too long our infrastructure was allowed to infrastructure was allowed to deteriorate. Cash-strapped councils having to prioritise vital services and the damage has built up year after year, and now it's a problem we are all facing across the country.

I was quite flabbergasted when I heard the opposition shadow minister alluded to roads being better for motorists in 2024 than they were back 15 years or 20 years. I would like to invite the shadowed minister to actually come and visit Wolverhampton North East because he would be hard-pressed to find residents who actually shared that view. In Wolverhampton North East I hear it on the doorstep every single time I speak to residents about their priorities and their issues. They are fed up of swerving potholes, angry about how much money they have had to spend on repairs.

Let's not forget the rising

20:56

Mrs Sureena Brackenridge MP (Wolverhampton North East, Labour)

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insurance premiums, a direct result of the number of claims people have to make due to these damaged roads. But with this government things are beginning to change. I welcome the government committing £1.6 billion government committing £1.6 billion to local highways across England. Of that, £500 million will go directly to fixing 7 million potholes, that's a huge step forward but because of a huge step forward but because of the dire state of the roads, this is just the beginning.

The Wolverhampton this will support £9.7 million in funding for this financial year, a significant investment will stop but our roads are in such poor condition that a single investment won't fix everything overnight. The problem is years in the making and will take time to repair the damage caused by years of neglect. There isn't a quick fix here so I welcome a strategic program to improve roads across Wolverhampton, resurfacing, surface dressing and preventative treatments that will last.

Everyone who has reached out to me, thank you, because your frustrations are justified. We know there is more to do and we can't fix every road overnight, but after years of frustration among this record of investment cash-strapped councils can finally get on with the job.

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I'm glad to have this opportunity today to address a problem that today to address a problem that comes up in almost every street when I'm out doorknocking in Stevenage I'm out doorknocking in Stevenage and our village is the problem being ever more potholes and the general disrepair of our roads. When I made a point to someone recently about the importance of tackling potholes the importance of tackling potholes they dismissed it as a trivial matter. I happen to think it's actually very serious.

It's very serious when a parent of a low income family just about getting by tells me that the pothole they can reported to a Conservative county councillor time and time again hadn't been fixed and eventually ended up costing hundreds of pounds of damage to her vehicle. Paying for that simply isn't an option so the family has to take the time out of their week to make a claim. Or the young teacher on her bank pothole causing her to tumble over and sustained serious injuries and miss school for several weeks.

The worst thing is this should all be preventable. Statistics from the online retailer black circles.com show that Hertfordshire had the highest average pothole -- payout are publicly claimed UK an average of 306 to seven pounds per claimant 2023. This amount is significant higher than the national average of 206 you want pounds. I can tell you

20:59

Kevin Bonavia MP (Stevenage, Labour)

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why this is. I will Conservative run county Council in Hertfordshire has totally failed on road repairs. Leaving our roads in Stevenage and Leaving our roads in Stevenage and the villages of Knebworth, Holocaust and others in the state of total and others in the state of total disrepair. I think the first reason that they have failed is bottom-up. Conservative councillors generally aren't for active in our community so council officers on the highway team getting what the issues are in the priorities from the ground.

The second issue is top-down. 14 years second issue is top-down. 14 years of funding cuts from successive Conservative governments to local councils in an era of austerity cheer led by Conservative county councillors in Hertfordshire while their budgets declined and outcomes got worse. Stevenage Conservatives recently claimed that Hertfordshire was the best run county council in the country. I gently suggest that when 14 years of austerity devastate the council project and local Conservatives are in charge of what's left you end up with a council run by the time of last year is the 172nd best performing in the country with very little left road repairs will stop believe it or not there is 1/3 issue full stop this is the existential one.

The Conservative Cabinet member for highways Hertfordshire County Council also Stevenage councillor doesn't even understand the pothole even is. In 2023 he proudly claimed that outstanding road repairs in Hertfordshire were lower than the national average with only four% of B roads and C roads outstanding repair compared to six sent nationally for top it all sounds fairly positive until you realise that we are not comparing like for like. Hertfordshire classifies the pothole as being at least 300 millimetres wide and 50 millimetres deep.

In Essex they only have to be 100 million it is across or just 40 mil metres deep. You think you just hit a pothole in Hertfordshire, we must be your imagination to the council. All the while they would rather change the definition of a pothole wait for people to claim for damages, costing the council more than it would fix, then it would fix them in the future of the first place will stop thankfully we are turning a corner, this New Labour government is on the side of road users in their cars on the bus and on their bicycles will stop it takes an issue affecting potholes as seriously as residents expect.

That's why our counsel received £9.3 million for road repairs to fix as many potholes as possible, a marked Whilst this extra funding is welcome because the public deserve to know how the council would use the funding to improve their local roads. Which I'm pleased the government is requiring them to show progress or risk losing 25% of the funding boost. So now the question of my residence, on their lips, can we really trust a fading Conservative run Hertfordshire County Council and the unseen, unbothered Conservative county councillors to use this money properly? We now have a New Labour government, facilitating change.

Through these measures. We also need effective councillors. To deliver the change every street, community, town and village across Hertfordshire and in the wider country. Were councillors like those in Tory run Hertfordshire failed to deliver the change, our residents can and should choose new ones who

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can. Michael Lee Pitcher.

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Michael Lee Pitcher. Thank you. If I could walk 500

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Thank you. If I could walk 500 miles, and then walk 500 more, it would be a miracle, particular after would be a miracle, particular after all this bobbin, but I would also walk the full length of the road network of Doncaster. Unfortunately due to the pothole crisis facing due to the pothole crisis facing this and every other authority in our country, the chances are I would our country, the chances are I would have tripped over on one and fallen down long before I got anyone's door.

Such is the state of the roads in Doncaster and the Isle of axonal and the amount of potholes I have reported over the last few years and had repaired, the time also called on social media pothole picture. But this is no joke and a real issue that affects people's lives. As in the example of the listener family in Hatfield in my constituency. On his 18th birthday, Josh was driving down an avenue and hit a huge pothole, which ripped through the side of his tyre, shot him into the curb, leaving a relatively new past drivers not only in a degree of shock but fearful of driving ever again.

He had a birthday, 1/18 birthday that he will never forget. But for all the wrong reasons. Just two months later his mum Gemma fell over a pothole on a footpath, causing her to sustain a really very serious injury to her arms, hands

21:04

Lee Pitcher MP (Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, Labour)

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and her knees. Impacting her for many months thereafter. So potholes many months thereafter. So potholes are not just a trivial matter. They are indeed hugely serious and ruin lives. Like most places, Doncaster lives. Like most places, Doncaster and axioms roads and their networks are one of the most precious but one are one of the most precious but one of the most expensive assets, and between the more volatile weather, increase traffic and physical heavier vehicles, the cost of maintaining those assets has risen at the same time that the council's at the same time that the council's budget for dealing with it has been cut by half by the previous government.

So now there is a repair backlog, sitting at the hundreds of millions in Doncaster alone, and we have a council fighting tooth and nail just to keep it out that while trying to resolve the pothole crisis. Thankfully this government has recognised the importance of tackling this. It has increased the funding to local authorities with 2.3 million for North Lincolnshire and 6.7 million for South Yorkshire. We are finally giving mayors like Roz Jones and the councils who know the area, who know where to invest the tools that they need to start not just to fight a standstill but really to make improvements.

And

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this is just the beginning. The honourable member mentioned we are finally giving tools to we are finally giving tools to mayors. Well surely he would agree it's better to give funding directly to local councils to spend on the local communities? If you give it to a wider mayor, it gets spent on a wider mayor, it gets spent on areas where the mayor has priorities, but it doesn't necessarily go to where the

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constituents that we represent need the money spent. Thank you for that intervention.

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Thank you for that intervention. I did actually refer specifically to mayor Roz Jones who is the leader of the council. She has just called a mayor in a situation, who knows the area specifically, Doncaster North. But of course the devolved mayors know their area particular and work with the area, there constituency to make sure that money goes to the right places at the right time. Our councils have been crying out for 14 years to help. And I'm really pleased to say now that Westminster is finally listening.

Westminster is listening to the list of family who I mentioned. They are listening to our constituents -- Lister family. And they are listening to all the local authorities who successfully need this money to invest. Imagine as such, I'm almost ready to relinquish the title of pothole picture, but I will be focusing on pavements in the future as well.

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In Cannington, Killingworth examine other constituencies we've heard about today, potholes are not just an inconvenience, they are a just an inconvenience, they are a danger. They damage vehicles, put cyclists and pedestrians at risk and cost working people hundreds if not thousands of pounds for repairs. The parents and the school run and small businesses making deliveries, this problem disrupts daily life and problem disrupts daily life and chips away at local confidence. And this does not happen by accident. Take North Tyneside Council, one of the last acts of the previous Conservative administration in North Tyneside was to outsource road maintenance for capita back in 2013 on a 15 year contract, a 15 year contract of poor service and inadequate outcomes, and during the election last year and every week when I was knocking on doors, the number of people who shared with me their frustration of potholes in our local area.

Like residence in Shiremoor, and Angleton Avenue, they would come out and Gaslight residents and whether the pothole existed and why they would tell them why they wouldn't be repaired. The pothole wasn't wide enough, wasn't deep enough. Often arguing for long periods of time whilst more were appearing like a frustrating game of whack-a-mole. And that is the legacy of failure in North Tyneside of the last Conservative administration. When the left behind and which we can never risk happening again.

But when we talk about legacies of Conservative failure, we can look no further than the Conservative run Northumberland County Council. And I found extraordinary the number of members on the opposite benches who wanted to associate themselves with no family County Council because we've seen staggering levels of negligence. We are now the county with the highest number of potholes in the entire... With the third highest, I beg pardon, in the entire country. Recent research showing 449 successful claims for compensation were made due to pothole damage to the County Council.

And one might ask himself, is that on par with the councils in the area? No, no it comes out higher noxious than all the individual local authorities within the north-east combined authority, not just all of those councils -- north-east, but more than four times the levels of all those councils put together on successful claims made on the County Council. More than 1/4 of £1 million on payout, a quartermillion pounds of taxpayers money that could have been far better spent. It's truly staggering when the County Council could have avoided all that by adequately maintaining our roads.

The Conservatives had the chance to fix it and they failed. The rates are broken, and so is their credibility, be it locally or nationally. Now the good news is that help is now coming from the Labour government. Our Plan for Change is delivering real results, and from this month, councils will receive their share of 1.6 billion in new funding to repair and maintain our roads. The north-east combined authority, led by Labour mayor will receive over £21 million to tackle the issue head-on.

And this is not about press releases or photo opportunities. It's about fixing the basics, the communities rely on. Fewer parents... Fewer elderly residents fearing a fall because of uneven pavements. But we are not just filling in the holes, we are laying the foundations for the future. And Labour is delivering a £4.8 billion investment in major

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road schemes, preventative maintenance, and long-term infrastructure renewal. Many fewer infrastructure renewal. Many fewer potholes, safer roads, and more confidence in our transport system. That's what government seriously looks like. Fixing the basics, supporting local economies, and making life better for ordinary people. The people of Cramlington and Killingworth have waited long enough. Labour is delivering the investment, the oversight, the plan. Now it's time for councils to act and for the Conservatives to explain why they ever let things get so bad.

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Thank you. When constituents talk to me about what matters most in to me about what matters most in their day-to-day lives, roads come up time and again. Whether it's up time and again. Whether it's travelling to work, doing the school run, or getting to vital medical appointments, the state of our roads appointments, the state of our roads affects peoples quality-of-life. And when those roads are full of when those roads are full of potholes and defects, and the damage vehicles and put cyclists and bikers at risk, it sends a clear message to at risk, it sends a clear message to residents.

You've been forgotten. That's exactly how to many people feel in Kidsgrove, but Lane, heresy head and mall cop. And today I want to speak up for them. Staffordshire County Council last year launched its highway recovery plan. But for

21:11

David Williams MP (Stoke-on-Trent North, Labour)

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many of my constituents, in Kidsgrove and the surrounding area, it still feels like they are waiting it still feels like they are waiting for it to even start. Residents are telling me the same time and again. telling me the same time and again. We report defects, we speak but We report defects, we speak but nothing gets done. Roads like Gloucester Road, new Chapel Road, Kidsgrove Bank, they remain in a Kidsgrove Bank, they remain in a shocking condition. Vehicles are being damaged.

And people, quite rightly are at their wits end. And rightly are at their wits end. And it feels as though Kidsgrove isn't -- is being treated like the poor relative, left behind by other areas while they move forward. Roundabouts in places like tour pits by the old in places like tour pits by the old norm it look neglected. Some older and disabled people tell me they fear leaving their own homes because of how unsafe the pavements really are. For example, on sister Road in talk, residents have to walk into the road as a broken pavement has been fenced off by the Conservative led council for over four years.

Let me be clear, Conservative led Staffordshire County Council is failing Kidsgrove, and that is not OK. However, just over the border in Stoke-on-Trent, we've seen a very different story. Since Labour took control of the council two years ago, the city has delivered a marked ago, the city has delivered a marked change in how we address potholes. The response speaks volumes, making it a priority. In 2023, around 500 defects were repaired. A year ago defects were repaired.

A year ago that rose to 17,000, a 76 % increase under Labour County Council. When they pledged to fix the target, they beat it, delivering 6,500 repairs in four months. That is the difference four months. That is the difference a Labour council makes. Under the leadership of Jane as worth, Stoke- on-Trent City Council has also increased its own capital investment in highways by more than 10% this past year, despite the financial pressures facing councils up and down the country.

Because they know that people of Stoke-on-Trent deserve better than the crumbling roads we inherited by the previous Conservative administration. This Labour government is now stepping up to help. Fixing the mess 14 years have left behind. Stoke-on-Trent will receive over £9 million of funding, Staffordshire County Council more than £90 million in new government transport funding. And it's vital we see the results of this in Kidsgrove. Let's not forget that back in 2020 to the people of Kidsgrove put their belief in Conservative county councillors, believing there would be strong voices for our area, but sadly those councillors appear to have gone AWOL, leaving the residents behind.

Residents in Kidsgrove deserve better than this. They deserve to know their voices are being heard and that their money, the money is there to put things right. I welcome the extra funding for both Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, but this cannot only be about money alone. It must be about delivery. And as we've seen in Stoke-on-Trent and indeed across the country, where the Conservatives failed to deliver, Labour steps up to pick up the pieces and get to work. I hope the residents of Kidsgrove and the talk and registry divisions will remember this as we approach the county council elections next month.

And I do say to ministers and the Secretary of State, keep backing innovative councils and get the basics might get the basics right, like the Labour led Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Every journey matters, and Kidsgrove should never ever again be treated like a poor relative. And for as long as I'm the MP for Stoke-on-Trent North and

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Kidsgrove, I will continue to stand up for my local residents. Alison Hume.

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Alison Hume. Thank you. In my constituency of Scarborough & Whitby, the views take Scarborough & Whitby, the views take your breath away. Sadly, so do the

21:15

Alison Hume MP (Scarborough and Whitby, Labour)

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your breath away. Sadly, so do the potholes when your car hits one. And not just when it happens, but when According to the RAC the cost of pothole damage to vehicles is around £600 on average more severe repairs costing considerably more. Potholes don't just damage cars, they damage people. One constituents told me that when his disabled father is driven to the doctors or to hospital appointments, it's almost inevitable that they hit a pothole on the way which causes him pain.

Another Scarborough constituents told me that the journey she needed to take to York Hospital to attend the pain clinic was too painful due to the quality of the roads, and therefore she stopped making it despite being in a huge amount of pain. The Conservative run North Yorkshire council say that keeping our roads in the best condition for the money they have is one of the biggest challenges that they face. Which is why it's brilliant that York and North Yorkshire combined authority will soon be receiving their share of the Labour government's record £1.6 billion road maintenance funding.

This is the biggest one-off road maintenance funding settlement councils have ever been given. For the Mr Merriman York and North Yorkshire £62.1 million, an increase of £16.6 million. And of course I have spoken to the mayor about the importance of ensuring the quality of repairs in my constituency of Scarborough and Whitby. Maple Drive in Scarborough is home to Northstead community primary school, a very busy road it is littered with potholes which are regularly reported to the council using their online tool.

Workmen duly arrived to fill the potholes but my constituents report the potholes soon reappear bigger than before, leaving Maple Drive looking like a patchwork quilt, but it has to be said not a particularly attractive one. It is vital that we abandon the one. It is vital that we abandon the patch and run approach and focus on permanent and innovative repairs, especially given the cold and increasingly wet winters we encounter on the coast. I welcome the caveat attached to the money which means the combined authority will need to publish annual progress will need to publish annual progress reports and prove to the public that the work is being done to a high standard.

After years of conservative neglect, thanks to this Labour government drivers in Scarborough and Whitby and the villagers can look forward to smoother, safer local roads.

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With leave of the House I call shadow minister Jerome Mayhew. It's been a very interesting

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It's been a very interesting debate and one might be forgiven for thinking that there are local thinking that there are local elections coming up. I don't know what caused me to think that but there was something in the air let's put it, let's leave it at that. I won't go through everyone's contribution, insightful and interesting as each of them were in interesting as each of them were in their own way, I will pick out a few highlights of the debate. I start with the Member for Keighley and Ilkley who robin the theme I developed earlier on referred to the terrible performance of Bradfield Council on pot falls -- potholes and that this is leading to a loss and trust in Labour and in particular he referenced the residents of Ilkley who would gone to the trouble of having a referendum on what they should do about the state of the roads.

The council proposal to impose speed humps at a 20mph limit despite 98.3% of residents voting against that they were ignored by Labour. Then you go on to the honourable member for Burnley who is . He again raised the condition of his local roads, but then he went on to make an interesting point because he complained of what he described as the levelling up crumbs, I took advantage of the length of this debate to look up what those levelling up crumbs were, in fact that was £19.9 million that was directed to Burnley itself, three town centre schemes, that was money that was achieved by the excellent former colleague of mine Antony Higginbotham who was understated but an amazingly effective member of Parliament.

I will follow the current member for Burnley and his career closely to see whether he delivers even a fraction of that for the people of Burnley. Then there was the contribution of the Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk, he showed up about the length of his roads, said it puts my race to shame. He was another advocate of the JCP pothole pro, he said that 1889 repairs have been undertaken six months. I will in the second, what he really exposed was the failure of the repeated failure of the SNP who have cut funding north of the border, and the lack of interest the SNP and the members in this place have shown in this debate.

With the emptiness of their benches and I will give way.

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Making a gallant effort to rattle through all of the fantastic contributions we have had tonight, I wonder if you could take this wonder if you could take this opportunity to congratulate the council and its Labour administration for the £5 million investment over four years in

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pothole repairs. I'm happy to commend any council

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I'm happy to commend any council that gets on top of their potholes, of whatever colour. I'm about improving the quality-of-life of the residents of the United Kingdom and I make no bones about it, if I make no bones about it, if Bracknell Council are improving the potholes in their neck of the woods potholes in their neck of the woods that is great. It's also the same about Conservative led councils as well. In his exposure of the failure of the SNP the honourable member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk was joined by the members for Glasgow West and also for Edinburgh South West.

They agreed that the SNP are failing the people of Scotland. I will take this opportunity as I was asked by the honourable member for Edinburgh South West to highlight the need for wheelchair access on the pavements, that is a very important consideration stop I'm not sure he is in his, he is in his seat. Then I move to the Member for Bournemouth East he made a speech which reinforced the reputation he has already earned in this House. There were contributions from Stafford and Hexham and Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket.

The honourable member for Bathgate and Linlithgow who I should have mentioned earlier was also blaming the SNP for their failure of motorists, but I take this opportunity to pay tribute to my lesson there which has he gained the maximum impact for the minimum amount of time in the chamber. If only the rest of us had followed his advice. Then there were contributions from Wolverhampton North East, Stevenage and ultimately the honourable member for Duncan in the artefacts own who referred to the power of mayors.

This gives me an opportunity to make a shameless plug for the Conservative candidate for the mayor of Doncaster North and former doll -- colleague and very good friend of mine fracture Nick Fletcher he will be a very good member. Then contributions from Stoke-on-Trent North, we almost Jonathan Gullis in this place, then finally Scarborough and Whitby. I started, I opened with this debate for the opposition, the key issue of the need for predictable long-term funding. There is a quite Irish to draw your attention, it's this.

The British people are bored of seeing the politicians aimlessly pointing the potholes with no real plan to fix them. That is a quote not from myself but from the Prime Minister and he was right, he identified the problem but he has then gone on to make it worse. I would love to be

21:25

Jerome Mayhew MP (Broadland and Fakenham, Conservative)

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corrected by this, but I give the Minister who will wind up after me Minister who will wind up after me the opportunity to confirm the calculations of the Local Government Association yesterday that Association yesterday that calculated the actions of this government and their national insurance contribution tax grab from insurance contribution tax grab from local authorities will reduce their ability to fund roads and other ability to fund roads and other important issues by 1.1 billion. Does she agree with the Local Does she agree with the Local Government Association, which is of course an all independent organisation, or does she not? Secondly, could she confirm that Vehicle Excise Duty has been increased by this government to the tune of £1.7 billion over the next five years during the course of this government, and does that dwarf the funding which has so far been announced for road improvements by announced for road improvements by Labour? It's not too late, the government could admit that they were wrong to shorten the timeframe of investment in road infrastructure, they could today commit to a 10 year funding plan, they could take this opportunity to reassure local authorities about how their funding is going to be received, allowing them to increase efficiency of their pothole repair programs, they could take this opportunity to deliver the long-term funding our road networks needs and I look forward to the imminent

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announcement from the Minister. I call Minister Lilian Greenwood.

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I call Minister Lilian Greenwood. Thank you. It is absolutely clear that local roads maintenance is an that local roads maintenance is an issue that affects everyone of us and one that our constituents care and one that our constituents care about very deeply, I'm grateful to all the honourable members who have spoken up on behalf of their constituents, I can assure them that this government gets it. Is absolutely determined to do something about it. There are too many contributions for me to mention all of them but my many honourable members including my honourable friend for Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard highlighted White's important that local councils are required to publish reports on their plans.

We want people to know if their local council is choosing not to spend the extra funding that we are providing and fixing their created potholed, pimpled roads. I would like to assure her and other members of the transport Select Committee that work is orally underway on a complete review of the guidance, the code of practice on well-managed highway infrastructure to give it its full name. I'm really pleased my honourable friend the Stoke-on-Trent North and South highlighted the innovation that has been adopted by Stoke-on-Trent labour Council and their highways department, investing in AIA to properly understand and monitor their road network.

And using the pothole quota undertake long to -- long lasting repairs I'm really sorry to hear that conservative Staffordshire County Council isn't as responsive to the concerns of her constituents who are calling their constituents who are calling for investment in road safety. As honourable members. It and Cannock Chase right you reminded us, Staffordshire residents can do something about this problem by voting Labour on 1 May. As can residents in Derbyshire in Northumberland in, in Hertfordshire, Lancashire and many other parts of the country.

I'm grateful to Scottish colleagues for their contributions, it's disappointing to hear that the SNP government is not acting to tackle the state of

21:29

Lilian Greenwood MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport) (Nottingham South, Labour)

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21:39

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have it. I beg to move that this House do

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now adjourn. The question is that this House do now adjourn. Michael Payne.

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do now adjourn. Michael Payne. Thank you. And thank you for the opportunity to speak in this opportunity to speak in this evening's debate. May I also thank my honourable friend, the Minister for being here to respond to this for being here to respond to this evening's debate? As my constituency neighbour, I know he is equally as neighbour, I know he is equally as passionate about Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands as I am. I refer members to Midlands as I am.

I refer members to my register of interest regarding my unpaid membership of two local authorities. Ahead of important local elections across the East Midlands, I am grateful to have this opportunity to lay out the importance of councils to our economy. Growth is this government's number one priority. It is what will pay for our public services. It is what will pay for our Social Security, from the State Pension Universal Credit, and is what will pay for our national defence. The government is right to focus on growth.

Under the last government,

21:40

Adjournment: Local authorities and economic growth in the East Midlands

we suffered a lost decade. Growth, flat. Incomes flat. Opportunity flat. And the East Midlands suffered as a result. The gap in growth between where we should have been to where we are is billions of pounds that could have been spent on essential public services. The East Midlands has been at the forefront of this decline as a result of Conservative mismanagement. Our economy in the East Midlands used to be strong, but deindustrialisation, a lack of investment, and regional disparities in public spending have left us lagging behind other parts of the United Kingdom.

The Midlands was the industrial heartland of this nation. We have so much potential.

21:42

Michael Payne MP (Gedling, Labour)

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21:57

Natalie Fleet MP (Bolsover, Labour)

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are in Nottinghamshire. Our area has been shut out of the conversation around economic growth or too long. I'm excited to see the change with a Labour East Midlands Mayor and the Labour government. The government the recently confirmed £15 million for Bolsover District Council which will see eight projects delivered to boost business and tourism across Kingston, Shire brick and Bolsover. However, there is one area that desperately needs investment so that we can unlock economic potential, that is transport.

80% of residents in Bolsover live in transport related social exclusion. That is compared to 18% of residents across England. It is a second highest in the whole of the country. From South Normanton to Bolsover transport issues affect growth and have a huge impact on everyday life. People are desperate for a bus to Chesterfield Royal Hospital. Just last week Morton was cut off completely from public transport after its bus was first cancelled and then reinstated but with Morton taking off the route.

How can people get to work if there is no bus service to take them? How do parents get their little ones to childcare? Why would a business invest in areas where people cannot get to their employer? Who is to blame? Derbyshire County Council must take responsibility. The Conservative run council has a Bus Service Improvement Plan, but buses continue to fail residents across Bolsover. Bus services are reduced, villages are cut off and buses are either late or don't turn buses are either late or don't turn up at all.

Rural communities rely on buses, for growth, for work and for leisure. Conservative Derbyshire County Council are letting us down. Bolsover deserves better, I would urge anyone who agrees to make this known at the ballot box on 1 May.

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Thank you. Before I call anybody else can I

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Before I call anybody else can I just ask members very gently that they need to have asked permission from the member in charge and the Minister and myself. I know some Minister and myself. I know some people have contacted the Speaker's Office, can I ask people who haven't contacted the member in charge and contacted the member in charge and the Minister to not stand. Minister Alex Norris. The Member for Gedling for securing this debate and raising both economic challenges and the opportunities faced by our communities across the East Midlands will stop its personal thrill for me and I've been friends for long time and he and I have been talking about these issues an awful lot as members of our council and days and beyond that apps over a pint in town from time to time to to be able to give that in this place on the occasion of his first Adjournment Debate is a personal thrill and I shared so much of what he said so I will talk a little bit about the potential and some of the investments, to doing to change the trends he has discussed.

The Midlands is the largest regional economy outside of London. There is plenty I think for us to support...

22:00

Alex Norris MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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This debate has concluded

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