Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Urgent question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make a statement on the UK’s response to the worsening situation in Sudan

We We now We now come We now come to We now come to the We now come to the urgent We now come to the urgent question.

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May I ask the Minister if she

12:36

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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will make a statement on Britain's response to the worsening situation in Sudan?

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Sudan is the worst humanitarian

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Sudan is the worst humanitarian crisis on record. Over 30 million people need aid and 12 million people have been displaced. Families people have been displaced. Families spreading fast and new -- famine is spreading fast and reports the spreading fast and reports the situation will Life -- situation will deteriorate. Recently aid will deteriorate. Recently aid workers were killed. This violates international law. The UK calls for accountability for such attacks, accountability for such attacks, including through the UK press statement on the 12 June.

Last week, the UK Security Council found the UK Security Council found reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity may have been committed and humanity may have been committed and . The perpetrators must be held to account. The UK continues to play a leading role in ensuring aid gets to where it is most needed. In April, the Foreign Secretary brought together a broad coalition of partners to build consensus on strengthening humanitarian access. The co-chair statement calling on the parties to facilitate humanitarian access in accordance with their commitments in the declaration.

Over £810 million in funding for Sudan was announced, including 120 million of UK aid, supporting over 650,000 people this year. In the absence of a ceasefire, the humanitarian situation will only worsen. We call on worrying -- warring parties to come to a meaningful ceasefire. Any process that follows must be inclusive. We underline the importance of returning to civilian rule which is democratically elected and representative of the whole country. Moves by the Sudanese army forces and Rapid Support Forces to establish their own parallel government will only exacerbate de facto splits and could lead to permanent partition of Sudan and this is in no one's interest.

We have and will continue to use all diplomatic tools at our disposal to protect civilians, get aid to those who need it most and support a Sudanese led peace process with civilians at its heart.

12:39

Rt Hon Sir Andrew Mitchell MP (Sutton Coldfield, Conservative)

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Thank you for granting this urgent question today. I make no apologies for raising the desperate straits of the Sudanese people again in this House. Not least because it is Britain which leads on the Sudanese situation in the United Nations on behalf of all other nations. The people of Sudan are in the throes of the worst humanitarian catastrophe in the world. The , even though such things can hardly be imagined. Earlier this month, the United Nations and international organisations reported mass displacement of tens of thousands of people, following the combatant forces advancing across quarter- final states.

There has been increased recruitment of fighters, increased recruitment of fighters, including children across -- Darfur. In the recent and welcome Ministerial Conference by the Foreign Secretary, much-needed money was raised but the goal of a high- level contact group to drive political efforts towards achieving a ceasefire and protecting Sudanese civilians were met with an impasse. civilians were met with an impasse. Despite our efforts, the past two years has been over story of faltering international endeavour while world events have cast Sudan into the shadows as its people have faced only deepening peril.

I ask the Minister three questions, what lessons has the government learned from the siege of El Fasher and the overwhelming of a camp for displaced people to prepare and protect civilians from the spread of violence across this area? How are they supporting local emergency response groups? Can she confirm that prevention of atrocities remains a key pillar of British policy? And is unaffected by the recent cuts in the development budget? 30, and finally, what is the government doing to advance international efforts to protect civilians alongside its pursuit of a ceasefire? Are we to assume that the process is dead? What discussions has she had with counterparts in the United States over recent weeks?

12:42

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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I thank the Member for his questions and also for his long- standing interest, not just in Africa, but particularly this awful conflict in Sudan. Sudan is a personal priority for the Foreign Secretary, which is why he brought together foreign ministers to try to find a resolution. The Prime Minister reiterated that the UK will continue to play a key humanitarian role, evidenced by the 120 million of UK aid announced for Sudan this year. On the question he asks in relation to the work post Cheddar, we are working to sustain the momentum of the actions at the momentum of the actions at the With the African Union to ensure that strong African leadership is there in response to the conflict.

We also joined the EU consulting group on Sudan in June, and in Geneva to advance our work on the protection of civilians because he is right to say that international law in this regard places heavy emphasis on prevention of conflict, prevention of atrocities. We continue to identify opportunities to use our role as pen holder of Sudan in the European Security Council. He also specifically asked about the situation in the El Fasher camps. I want to reassure him that the UK is doing all it can.

But the question always is access. We have the money, we have the workers, it is access that we need in order to provide life-saving aid and that is the nub of the issue we are working on.

12:44

Abtisam Mohamed MP (Sheffield Central, Labour)

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There is not a single person in my Sudanese diaspora in Sheffield that has not been affected by the harrowing events in Sudan. Multiple displacement of millions of the most vulnerable people, the famine ripping through the population. The worst part is whilst this, the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, is making every boundary we know, world powers walk away. UK Government has a unique position as pen holder for Sudan. I appreciate that we call for a ceasefire for the resolution.

The resolution set no deadline for concluding the ceasefire and organise no enforcement mission. What are we doing to enforce accountability for the shameful complicity of states, backing the warring sides? When we push for warring sides? When we push for agreement of a ceasefire so the people of Sudan can be free from this horror?

12:45

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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Can I thank her, and the loud voice she has in here on behalf of her Sudanese diaspora. The most important thing the UK can do to build momentum from the London Sudan conference, building in mind we were the first to really have such a conference, is to continue to base our work on the statement from the co-chairs of the important conference to continue to, as she says, use our role in the United Nations and to work through the new friends of Sudan creeping in order to keep pushing, at the highest level, as she says, using our position on the UN Security Council to galvanise the Security Council action and continue the important supply of aid into the region.

supply of aid into the region.

12:45

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

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Thank you for granting this

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Thank you for granting this urgent question today. I am grateful to the honourable member of pursuing this. The situation in Sudan is this. The situation in Sudan is dire. We are deeply concerned on the International Criminal Court's findings last week that there are reasonable grounds to believe that reasonable grounds to believe that there are war crimes committed in there are war crimes committed in Darfur. The humanitarian situation deteriorates, the UN warned of drastic cuts to life-saving food aid drastic cuts to life-saving food aid to Sudanese refugees fleeing to neighbouring countries.

Sudan has been identified as a global hunger hotspot of highest concern and without humanitarian assistance, the without humanitarian assistance, the risks are terrible. With recent attacks on UN aid convoys, can the Minister provide latest assessment Minister provide latest assessment of the situation and the extent of a blocking? How is she ensuring that blocking? How is she ensuring that UK aid, including the £120 million announced at the April Sudan conference, will reach those who need it and the aid workers are need it and the aid workers are More broadly, what new measures if the government taking to compel the parties to allow more aid in? How is she supporting the political forces to engage in constructive dialogue such as the Cairo Conference and what is your assessment of the effectiveness of these processes? Despite the Spending Review,, we get to understand what the 0.3% means.

Sudan matters. It's not in the national interests of the UK for the crossing of red lines to persist in this conflict, nor to have displacement of people on this scale or see further destabilisation in this region of Africa. this region of Africa.

12:47

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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I thank her for her questions and she asks about the findings from the ICC last week and we acknowledge the critical findings and that there are reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity may have well been committed. It is an important milestone in the ICC investigation into crimes in Darfur and the UK remain steadfast in the commitment to ensure international law is followed and breaches are called out at investigated. The UK is committed to assuring accountability for those responsible for atrocity crimes and this includes the fact-finding minded and the ongoing ICC investigation.

She is mentioned the attack and the targeting of aid workers, is an absolute disgrace and the clear violation of international law which should be condemned. She is also mentioned what we have been doing recently and that includes the consultative group in Brussels on 26 June and contributing to discussions with the UN Secretary-General personal envoy on Sudan and his plans to have talks with the warring parties, including on protection issues. She finally mentioned the important question of the Spending Review.

I'm sure she is aware that we have a lot of lessons to learn from last time the aid budget was reduced because the National Law Office criticised the way that the reductions were made in the year, without consultation, and questioned the value for money. The government will, in contrast, take a long-term look over the three years remaining in this Parliament.

12:49

Uma Kumaran MP (Stratford and Bow, Labour)

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That this could have been relevant at any time in the last 20 years is damning, and the failure of the international committee. This morning my honourable friend the member for Huddersfield and I hosted the BME and others unheard harrowing stories about what's happening on the drum. -- BMA. Medical centres including hospitals are becoming battlegrounds and as always women and children are getting the brunt of the devastation. It is a large humanitarian crisis with allegations of genocide backed by US and the UN and well documented cases of work.

This is a war on civilians. The UK must lead by example in his role as an envoy and demand urgent action. Can the Minister set out what urgent action she will take in the next week particularly in Parliament will

12:52

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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not sit again until September and by which time many lakes will have been which time many lakes will have been damaged. There I thank her for the damaged. There I thank her for the important work. -- Many lives. I thank her for her role, particularly on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and particularly with the Committee and particularly with the aid workers who focus on medical aid workers who focus on medical relief and I'm sure she sure is the concern about the worrying news that concern about the worrying news that there has been a cholera outbreak in the region and I thank her for her work on that.

She also impresses the importance of UK support to women and girls and the Foreign Secretary and girls and the Foreign Secretary visited in January to raise awareness in Sudan and spoke awareness in Sudan and spoke directly to refugees, including survivors, who shared harrowing survivors, who shared harrowing stories of sexual violence and torture. The Africa Minister was the torture. The Africa Minister was the chair of the meeting committee to preventing violence against women and girls in Sudan. She is quite right to say that, this week, we right to say that, this week, we must do more as we approach the recess and I will do more to share this dialogue in the House so this dialogue in the House so efforts can be redoubled at the end of August to make sure the UK is well represented in international discussions.

12:52

Monica Harding MP (Esher and Walton, Liberal Democrat)

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The ongoing war in Sudan is the largest humanitarian catastrophe in the world and the biggest since it the world and the biggest since it began. I thank the Speaker for granting this urgent question. I would like to ask the Minister, locally led emergency response rooms are essential to response on the ground. How is the UK increasing support for them? Since the London conference, what bilateral conversations has the government had with regional actors including the US about Sudan.

War crimes have been taking place on an almost daily basis and the two parties oppose democracy in Sudan so what is a government doing to support civil society and groups fighting for a democratic future? It has been repeatedly reported that the UAE is funnelling weapons to the Rapid Support Forces and these allegations have been deemed as credible. What is the government doing to address this and to uphold and expand the arms embargo? How is the government clamping down on illicit trade in Sudanese gold that is financing the war? What assessment has been made of the American judgement that of the American judgement that chemical weapons are being used in Sudan? Speak amok I thank her for the question.

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12:53

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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I thank for the question and there will be more questions when we moved to questions for the Foreign Minister on G7 meetings, NATO meetings, and there are questions asked under the umbrella of international affairs and they have been replied to by the Foreign Secretary but we can always do more. She is aware we have to keep up the momentum from the London Sudan Conference. She asks who we are working with and of course we are working with the African Union and first and foremost it's about promoting leadership from African countries to deal with this in Africa.

The Foreign Secretary has redoubled efforts as a well- respected Foreign Secretary within the African Union dialogues and he has also recently joined the EU consultative group on Sudan and I know that she will appreciate that and it is a worthwhile forum to be in. As mentioned, we are working to advance work to protect civilians. She mentions the UAE and the answer to any partners who might have an element of involvement in the conflict, the message is clear, we need to press for a peaceful solution.

Anyone supporting behind the scenes will need to come together in the right spirit to talk about a peaceful solution for all. Last question on gold in Sudan, I shall have to write to her.

12:55

Phil Brickell MP (Bolton West, Labour)

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In response to an urgent question in April on the London Sudan Conference, my honourable friend Conference, my honourable friend confirmed that conference said a further £120 million of it was required to support the people be Minister referenced earlier. With that in mind, can the Minister inform the house, in the intervening months, what progress has been made to ensure the additional aid reaches the most vulnerable people in Sudan?

12:55

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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The honourable member raises an important point. It's not just about money but access, diplomatic heft, knocking heads together to get the aid through to those most in need and he mentions the £120 million for this financial year. The proportion provides support to local responders bought through the Sudan Humanitarian Fund which is for emergency agencies and also the Fund for Sudan which provides direct cash assistance for emergency aid groups on the ground. The reason for that is often in conflict zones, formal banking collapses and so it's important that, on the ground, the UK can assist small groups in getting that vital aid in.

getting that vital aid in.

12:56

Rt Hon Sir Gavin Williamson MP (Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge, Conservative)

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Such an enormous civilian price is being paid in Sudan but one of the greatest horrors is the use of rape and sexual violence against women and children as a weapon of war. It is being used systematically as a weapon of war. I appreciate the Minister has limited options but I would urge the Minister to look at every single way that we can be more robust and strong and really lead the charge and make sure vital aid, not just to combat Tonga but help people who have been -- combat combo but also help people who have been but also help people who have been ripped, we get the aid to them and help them as quickly as possible.

12:57

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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The UK does fund support for the protection and care services responding to gender-based violence and conflict-based sexual violence in Sudan and they do provide support to survivors. Longer term grams also to survivors. Longer term grams also work to tackle FGM and empower women. women.

12:57

Rachel Blake MP (Cities of London and Westminster, Labour )

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I echo my honourable friend about the terrible suffering and desperate need for support for women and children and I thank the Minister for the update and piloting the update of the London-Sudan Conference and the urgent need for access to it. When I speak to my constituents from the Sudanese diaspora, the talk about desperate sadness and the conversations that they have with friends and family who are still in the region. Can the Minister update the House on consular arrangements and what is being done for the friends and family of my constituents? family of my constituents?

12:58

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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I thank the honourable lady for the campaign on behalf of her constituency, Westminster, the city. I encourage you to use the hotline with her staff because it's the best way to get consular advice and reassure our communities in the reassure our communities in the Diaspora of Sudan. Diaspora of Sudan.

12:58

Dame Harriett Baldwin MP (West Worcestershire, Conservative)

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I thank my honourable friend for securing this question on the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. I welcome the leadership steps that the UK government is taking. Can she also tell the House what conversations are being had with the African Union and the UN about the possibility of sending peacekeepers

13:00

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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into Sudan, in order to protect civilians? Speak I thank her for her civilians? Speak I thank her for her leadership role in the last Parliament as the chair of the APPG and also her role with the and also her role with the international secretary as well. We know that there are a number of know that there are a number of departments and she's mentioned some but the participants in the conference including Egypt, Saudi conference including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, South Sudan, Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, Uganda, Norway, Canada, the US, Switzerland.

It was a perfect moment and she asks about a perfect moment and she asks about continuing that and we will redouble efforts with multilateral agencies efforts with multilateral agencies and also the League of Arab States. and also the League of Arab States. They have a lot on their plate but this important Sudan does not move down the agenda because it is in down the agenda because it is in Africa because that is a fear and in terms of mainstream newspapers, we terms of mainstream newspapers, we must keep this in the spotlight and ensure that, actually and within the

13:00

Melanie Ward MP (Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, Labour)

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ensure that, actually and within the normal time, we work at a multilateral level to maintain our

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multilateral level to maintain our leadership role. The humanitarian situation in Sudan is horrific with the growing perpetration of atrocities against civilians. It is part of a growing pattern of mass atrocity crimes being perpetrated across the world but the UK government strategy on response to these mass atrocity crimes has not been updated since 2019. Does the Minister agree it is

13:01

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

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Can the Minister explain what in practical terms the security council could do, even if all of its members could do, even if all of its members could do, even if all of its members are neutral on the terms of backing one side rather than the other, if two sides are determined to fight two sides are determined to fight one another and neither are reliant

13:01

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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one another and neither are reliant on outside assistance to continue the complete, it is there anything the complete, it is there anything

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the Security Council could do even if it was united on the need for intervention? I think it is not just about the military intervention in terms of the security, it is also about the impact of the diplomatic solutions. impact of the diplomatic solutions. I think the UK has the most important role as the pen holder to try to bring everybody together around the table. That is why we had around the table. That is why we had the London Sudan conference and there were certain people who threw their hands up and said, we have not achieved anything.

But I think the achieved anything. But I think the important thing was we laid down a marker and we are following up with other partners and leaders in this area. It is using the Security

13:02

Alex Sobel MP (Leeds Central and Headingley, Labour )

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area. It is using the Security Council leadership role that we will get you a solution. But he is right

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to say there are a lot of things in their plight. What is happening in Sudan and

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What is happening in Sudan and Darfur is one of the world's deepest and longest running humanitarian crises. Fortunately, in South Sudan crises. Fortunately, in South Sudan we are seeing the rise dash I unfortunately insulted and we are seeing the rise of tensions and military action. Recently the Ugandan army has entered South Sudan Ugandan army has entered South Sudan and there is risk of regional conflict and Civil War that would take a deepening humanitarian crisis

13:03

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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take a deepening humanitarian crisis across the region. What is the UK doing in terms of talking to Uganda and South Sudan to de-escalate that

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conflict? Is right to say that the longer

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Is right to say that the longer the war lasts, the longer is ripple effect. Can we give credit to countries like Egypt, China and South Sudan in managing the crisis, South Sudan in managing the crisis, as well as others nearby, they have taken so many in. There has been aid from countries like the UK, but the impact within the region is impact within the region is devastating. I will certainly take back to the Minister for Africa his particular point about the impact on particular point about the impact on

13:03

Brian Mathew MP (Melksham and Devizes, Liberal Democrat)

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particular point about the impact on South Sudan, and reply with what we are going to do, this month, not leaving until September, this month.

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Is a former aid worker and

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Is a former aid worker and resident of Darfur, I feel for the people in Sudan deeply. I would like people in Sudan deeply. I would like to know from the Minister if there are plans to increase the amount of spend for the emergency response

13:04

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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spend for the emergency response groups who are clearly doing a very

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valuable thing at the moment? Can I thank him for the work you did before coming to Parliament and did before coming to Parliament and the support for so many countries, the support for so many countries, Myanmar as well. We lay on record that 120 million is a lot of money and we have to follow that money. There is sometimes a situation where the banking occurs in certain contexts and that is why we need to have relationships on the ground with the source of aid organisations which the member was in this morning, to talk about how was the

13:05

Rachael Maskell MP (York Central, Labour )

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situation today and how we can maintain that. It is not just about the impact of the budget, also the diplomatic work that goes around the funding so we can maximise that money.

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Their brutal violence being perpetrated against Sudanese civilians is only being fuelled by civilians is only being fuelled by those external actors from the UAE, Egypt, Russia and beyond. Will she Egypt, Russia and beyond. Will she ensure that there is diplomatic interventions with each of those interventions with each of those nations and report back to the House the outcome of that dialogue? Also the outcome of that dialogue? Also that the UK lead on the banning of the use of mercenaries in conflict? We have not signed a convention as

13:05

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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We have not signed a convention as UK government, it is time we need a

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UK convention on the use of mercenaries. Can I thank her as the chair of

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Can I thank her as the chair of the APPG, I know she has a diaspora of Sudanese as well in her locality. Can I emphasise that the UK is not protecting any country which has an interest in this conflict, we have interest in this conflict, we have been clear that we expect all countries to comply with the existing sanctions regimes and arms embargo which works with partners of the UK Security Council to enforce the UK Security Council to enforce these.

We do need to move to the face of political resolution to the conflict. Can I request her patients that I for the second part of her that I for the second part of her question into a question I had from

13:06

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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question into a question I had from the other member with regard to updating parts of policies and

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procedures since 2019 on this point. Can I thank the Minister for her answer to all of the questions. answer to all of the questions. Strong words in the commitment. I Strong words in the commitment. I believe the words encourage us all and thereby encourage our and thereby encourage our constituents. Sudan ranks fifth on the World Watch List for Christian the World Watch List for Christian persecution, with more than 100 churches and Christian buildings forcibly seized in the conflict. forcibly seized in the conflict.

Christians are afraid to act as their faith and the murder of 300 people in a region has underlined the reason why Christians live in fear. How can government assist and fear. How can government assist and will government intervene helping

13:07

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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people of the region who are being exterminated just because they are

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Christians? I thank you for that intervention

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I thank you for that intervention and his work relentlessly in this House on freedom of religion and belief. This region used to be so belief. This region used to be so much more diverse, but the space for religious freedom has narrowed and he is right to be challenging. I he is right to be challenging. I will also share his thoughts with our freedom of religion or belief champion, the member for champion, the member for Northamptonshire, so we can work together on this and make sure we

13:08

John Slinger MP (Rugby, Labour)

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shine a spotlight on freedom, particularly for Christian communities, and other communities

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in the Darfur region. I'm sure all honourable members

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I'm sure all honourable members would want to praise British diplomats for what they are doing on this issue. The potential catastrophic loss of ever more catastrophic loss of ever more civilian life, not just in the arms, but in the humanitarian catastrophe, means the conscience of the world must lead to action. With diplomacy must lead to action. With diplomacy first and foremost. Has the government considered working with government considered working with allies to ensure all options remain on the table? Does he agree that on the table? Does he agree that regarding Sudan, previously sought genocide in Darfur, we must ensure genocide in Darfur, we must ensure

13:09

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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genocide in Darfur, we must ensure we do not have do say is a global community, if only we had acted more

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robustly, or never again. I thank you for his question and

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I thank you for his question and his extensive work in civil society his extensive work in civil society for these questions. The current position is for us to engage position is for us to engage extensively through diplomatic means to encourage all parties to come to the table, we are very aware of the complexity of this particular complexity of this particular conflict and the fact we there is not just to start in the region, there are a lot of other players as well.

We are uniquely positioned with our role in the United Nations Security Council, and we do a lot with the Arab states, we do a lot with the Arab states, we do a lot with the Islamic Corporation groups, we really, at the moment, using

13:09

Ben Lake MP (Ceredigion Preseli, Plaid Cymru)

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we really, at the moment, using diplomatic efforts, double time, I

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do listen to what he says. Given initiatives and efforts to address the catastrophe have encountered a degree of reluctance, encountered a degree of reluctance, if not opposition, from states such as Russia, I was pleased to hear the government saying they are working government saying they are working closely with regional partners, can she say what work is being done to she say what work is being done to support countries such as Egypt and the African Union to address the humanitarian crisis? And the ceasefire, ensuring the unblocking

13:10

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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ceasefire, ensuring the unblocking of humanitarian aid?

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I thank him for his long-standing

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I thank him for his long-standing interest in element. I know he will be pleased that the participants we have worked with in the London conference continue to be very much partners in this endeavour. Certainly, Egypt, the kingdom of Certainly, Egypt, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Ethiopia, Uganda Saudi Arabia, UAE, Ethiopia, Uganda and more. As the Indo -- Indo- and more. As the Indo -- Indo- and more. As the Indo -- Indo- Pacific Minister, we talk with the RCN states who also cared deeply RCN states who also cared deeply about their brothers in Sudan.

These ongoing conflicts that are not

13:11

Chris Bloore MP (Redditch, Labour)

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ongoing conflicts that are not enjoying the spotlight of attention, we must have those on our agenda

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when we have our diplomatic interventions. I thank her for her responses so far. She will be aware that the far. She will be aware that the indiscriminate aerial bombardment indiscriminate aerial bombardment that have happened in conflict and

13:11

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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that have happened in conflict and the disregard of civilian and

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military targets. Although looking at war crimes in the area? Since the outbreak of the

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Since the outbreak of the conflict in 2023, the UK has frozen conflict in 2023, the UK has frozen the assets of nine come in -- commercial entities. The UK also sanctioned to RSF generals for their sanctioned to RSF generals for their crimes against civilians in November crimes against civilians in November 2024. He is like to emphasise the 2024. He is like to emphasise the current sort of warfare which is drones and how difficult they are in this particular conflict for

13:12

Ayoub Khan MP (Birmingham Perry Barr, Independent)

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this particular conflict for civilians to know how to shield from those. These new method of war is very much top of our agenda when we

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are talking. Can I thank the Member for Sutton

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Can I thank the Member for Sutton Coldfield in having this issue remain at the forefront of the remain at the forefront of the plight for the Sudanese. We often plight for the Sudanese. We often hear about the plight, the conflict of Sudan does not get the mainstream media it ought to. We know about media it ought to. We know about recent harrowing events in North Korea defined with 300 civilians, including children and pregnant women were massacred. We know there

13:13

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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women were massacred. We know there have been peacekeeping troops on the ground. Will the Minister explore that opportunity with the relevant nations? Is that something that can be considered?

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Certainly last month we joined

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Certainly last month we joined the UN EU consultative group on Sudan for the first time. Alongside partners from the US, Saudi Arabia, partners from the US, Saudi Arabia, African Union and Arab states. That African Union and Arab states. That was top of the agenda. Our role at the moment is being pen holder of the UN, but all channels are open the UN, but all channels are open and we see all these, but the important thing is we try to get them around the table again and may them around the table again and may -- maintain the momentum we had for the brief moment at the London

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conference.

13:14

Jon Pearce MP (High Peak, Labour)

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With 150,000 men, women and children dead, 13 million people displaced, the tax on humanitarian workers, reports of ethnic cleansing and genocide, Sudan is undoubtedly the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today. And yet, almost nobody knows. There are no marches on the streets, there is comparatively little media attention, there have been very few statements and urgent questions in this House. Will the Minister set out what more the government can do to raise awareness of the desperate need to address this conflict?

13:14

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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I thank the Member for his spotlight, the UK condemns the growing body of evidence of serious atrocities being committed against civilians in Sudan, the escalating violence, killing of civilians, sexual assault of women and restriction of humanitarian access. That is why the Foreign Secretary ensured he visited the border to raise awareness of the conflict in Sudan and its impact in neighbouring countries. Speaking to Sudanese refugees, including survivors who shared harrowing stories of sexual violence and torture.

And the Minister for Africa, for whom this is probably the highest priority area. He hosted an event with his Dutch and Swiss counterparts to discuss the alarming rates of conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan and the inadequacy of current responses and we will redouble efforts following this urgent question to ensure we follow that question to ensure we follow that question to ensure we follow that

13:15

Mr Gregory Campbell MP (East Londonderry, Democratic Unionist Party)

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The unfolding scenario in Sudan

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The unfolding scenario in Sudan almost defies assumption. Have been important points made about accessibility and does she agree that in order for it to be that in order for it to be accessible in terms of aid and assistance, there has to be a

13:16

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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comprehensive international plan to give a realistic hope of delivery in

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the next few months? He is right to talk about the importance of bilateral meetings and importance of bilateral meetings and working at the multilateral level. Also, to support at the same time Also, to support at the same time the important area of gathering the important area of gathering facts as we go along because it can prevent further issues. The UK prevent further issues. The UK provided manner £80,000 for a witness project investigating witness project investigating attacks against civilians.

-- £980,000. Also, a fact-finding £980,000. Also, a fact-finding mission to support evidence gathering and accountability so

13:17

Joe Morris MP (Hexham, Labour)

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gathering and accountability so that, one day, justice will be served. I thank the Minister for

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I thank the Minister for answering the questions and I thank the honourable member for bringing the honourable member for bringing the question to the House. I frequent contact and I am concerned about improving accountability for those guilty of war crimes and so following on from previous questions, can she assure me that we are leaving no stone unturned in making sure people face justice?

13:17

Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour)

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He is right to say that reports from Darfur are horrifying. Some may amount to ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. We had about this first hand in January. We will strongly and always support active investigation and this includes allegations of crimes and that is why the UK has provided technical support.

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That concludes the urgent question. I will let the Frontbench

13:18

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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question. I will let the Frontbench We now come to the statement.

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I would like to update the House

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I would like to update the House on the content of the reforms which cover the growth and competitive cover the growth and competitive strategy which are the 10 year plan for financial services and will make for financial services and will make the UK a global centre for financial the UK a global centre for financial investment by 2035 with the country benefiting from success and will build on thriving regional financial services sectors around the country. The rental services sector as one of The rental services sector as one of the largest and most productive sectors of the country.

-- Financial services. It provides 1.2 million services. It provides 1.2 million jobs across the UK's nations and regions. The strategy will unleash regions. The strategy will unleash the potential of the sector to maximise growth and opportunity in maximise growth and opportunity in the economy. This will mean working people will get better returns on savings, homeownership will be unlocked for tens of thousands more people and more businesses will get people and more businesses will get access to the capital that they need to grow.

The Secretary of State for to grow. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade recently presented the Modern Industrial Strategy to be JEGS in which financial services were -- to be House at which financial services identified as an area that we can build upon, one of eight. We have the fastest growth in G7 in the first quarter of the year, four interest rate cuts, faster wage growth in the last 10 months that the previous 10 years of the previous government.

The FT-SE 100 at a record high and business confidence at the highest in nine years. I will not take lectures from those opposite who presided over 11% inflation and debt rising every year. The vision is of an active state working in partnership with business and the reforms were codesigned with the industry. The Chancellor and I undertook extensive negotiation and I was pleased to see natural services firms across the country will come the reforms publicly along with the CBI.

They reintroduce informed risk-taking back into the financial services system to deliver prosperity for working people and we will always ensure financial stability is a prerequisite for economic growth and we continue to be committed to the high international standards which underpin the resilience of the system. I will set out the details of the package to the House. The government is delivering a competitive environment to attract investment and drive growth. We have set out plans to deliver the most significant reform to the financial ombudsman service since inception, ensuring it no longer acts as a quasi- regulator and returning it to its original purpose as an independent service for complaints between consumers and financial services firms.

We are streamlining the regime to reduce the burdens imposed on firms by 50%. We have passed the FCA to report back by September on how it plans to address concerns about the application of the consumer duty for firms from utterly engaged in wholesale activity. Secondly, reforms will put capital for investment into infrastructure and businesses. We are supporting the changes by the Bank of England into minimum funds and we are implementing lower capital requirements for domestically focused banks and preserving flexibility in the approach for international banks to ensure the UK remains competitive while aligning with international services.

We are committing to meaningful reform while maintaining aspects of the regime to support financial stability and protect customer deposits. We welcome the financial review of the levels needed for financial stability and the decision of the committee to ease the restriction on mortgage restrictions. -- Mortgage lending. This will allow additional first- time buyers to access mortgages in the first year. Thirdly, we are making changes to risk for start- ups. The FCA and PRA will launch a review of scaling up to ensure fast-growing businesses have access to the resources they require and there will be a resume to enable innovative firms to start operating file they wait for approval.

We are modernising and future proofing regulation for e-money and looking at mixing original district. We are seizing opportunities in leadership including sustainable finance. The insurance sector has been welded for centuries and we are committed to staying at the front of the pack with a new insurance framework and we are having an industry showcase event to sell the sector globally. We are future proofing the asset management sector which is the second largest in the world and will publish the draft legislation this year.

The UK is already a leading global hub for stable finance. We have set out plans for a stable regulatory framework and are giving the industry clarity by deciding not to pursue the green taxonomy and focusing on ambitious policies to support investors to invest. I look forward to working with Lord Sharma and the committee that he is the chair of to improve UK finance. We want to go further in building a new retail investment culture and boosting the competitiveness of the capital market.

We have taken great strides to improve the system, led by the Pensions Minister, so that people can have better saving in retirement and we want people to get the best return on savings. For too many, the Amone is not working hard many, the Amone is not working hard enough -- the money. The chancel has announced the largest reforms in more than a decade and targeted support in time for the new tax year and have welcome steps taken by industry and I thank Chris Cummings of the Investment Association for helping consumers with the work he is doing and we are reforming the system for ISAs to allow better outcomes for savers and the UK economy and we are loving larger assets to be held in stocks and shares from nature, 11 more individuals to invest in assets that will support future success in the UK and see better returns on savings to ensure capital markets.

We're also announcing a new listings Task Force Klepto Capture office of investment to attract world leading investment to attract world leading businesses. We also have an ambition to improve the digital pilot. We are taking steps to enhance UK leadership and ensure the UK remains the most open and connected financial centre in the world. We will launch a service to attract international financial services firms to invest in the UK and draw their business and be a further facilitating cross-border activity with the publication of guidance on overseas recognition regimes.

And will look at the UK regulator on this. In conclusion, through these steps, the government has placed financial services at the heart of the growth mission. The strategy for 10 years is ambitious and the most far-reaching reforms to financial services for 10 years, unleashing the fantastic potential of the world living financial services sector, backing British businesses, unlocking homeownership for tens of thousands across the country, supporting savers to get returns, and investing in our shared future. I commend this statement to the House.

13:27

Mark Garnier MP (Wyre Forest, Conservative)

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I am very grateful to the Minister for advanced site of her statement. Many of these reforms were formally known as the Edinburgh Reforms and much can be welcome. On this side of the House, we will always support reforms to the financial sector that ensure the City of London remains a global powerhouse but the rhetoric from the Chancellor lasted about growth and stability of skewers the truth of this government's record. -- Obscures. Growth is at a standstill and despite the fanfare yesterday, the government, shot other ideas, is forced to turn to the City of London for inspiration in a last throw of the days, looking for an engine for growth with stifling policy.

The Chancellor described the government as a beacon for stability but the legacy was handed over to her. Unemployment was at historic lows with record levels of employment and inflation under control. That is a stable foundation that the government was handed the keys to. This government presents over instability and the OECD, the Bank of England, they have all sounded the alarm that growth prospects had collapsed. The government is claiming to be cutting red tape for claiming to be cutting red tape for industry but they are talking about the Plan to Make Work Pay but there are burdens for employers with 17 new legislations, similar to the 1970s.

This comes even as they threaten to increase paperwork for expenses and for financial services, on these benches, we welcome sector confidence and clarity but words must be matched by careful delivery. On reforms to the Financial Ombudsman services, there is agreement it should return to its roots as a fast and effective dispute resolution service and not a quality regulator but when many businesses are waiting for reform, when will be given power to make backdated changes to legislation and what impact will the reform have on this such as a case before the Supreme Court? Turning to streamlining the approach of the FCA and PRA, it might increase fiction but we must make sure it is not windowdressing when critical challenges remain.

The FCA and PRA must admit stability in the market is not the only way to deliver growth but objectives must be aligned and ambitious in the drive for reform. Turning to ISAs, the Chancellor trumpeted reforms including something we welcome which is in terms of high returns for savers. There is no certainty in the future of the cash ISa and the government, whether clarity, risks undermining ambitions and that is trumpeted by the Chancellor during the speech last night. On capital investment policy, we welcome reform but the change I championed during the recent changes on capitalisation, this will help challenging banks to compete and The government's review of ring fencing rules is coarsely welcome.

But the government confirmed that a line at the US and EU has been considered? More broadly, the history of the last Labour government reminds us that good intentions are never always enough. The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, that the then Chancellor introduced, introduced a tripartite system which was well conceived but badly implanted. He contributed to the effect of the 2008 financial crisis. It falls on this government to demonstrate they will not repeat those mistakes again. Finally, at Mansion House last night, the Chancellor missed a crucial opportunity to be straight with the British people and rule out further tax rises.

I asked the Minister today, will she guarantee working families and businesses will not face more tax increases. Will she rule out any further surprise raids on the British taxpayer? British financial services sector has away thrived when reforms are clear. The test of these reforms will come when full details emerge. Ultimately growth will only come the Chancellor realises that hard-working people and businesses across the country are the real agents of economic growth. Thank you. growth. Thank you.

13:32

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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Thank you Mr Speaker. Half of that was alright I suppose. I do actually want to start constructively and thank him for his welcome to some of the reforms, and answer some of his specific details before I come to the wider points. On the financial ombudsman service, have set out in great detail what we are going to do. Some of that changes require primary legislation that he will be aware of. We are proposing an absolute time limit of 10 years.

However, with discretion for the FCA to give longer periods in the case of products with longer lifetime. I can't comment on the ongoing issue on car finance. You will know it is working its way through the courts. He talks about the different objectives that the regulators have. We have been very clear that the regulators, that we expect them to embed the secondary objective to facilitate economic growth and competitiveness. Whilst also obviously complying with the other objectives. He will see that in the remit letters that the Chancellor sent to the regulators at the last Mansion House speech last the last Mansion House speech last November.

On ices, on ISAs,, we continue to consider reform to them. We want to make sure more people have the opportunity and confidence doing best which is why targeted support which will be introduced by firms, we have worked on at pace, will be introduced by the end of this tax year and will shift the dial and give people confidence to invest. I think he said that he was in favour of what we are doing on MRL. I know he agreed with the will be put through the House which is Coming into force today, the Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Bill.

So I thank him for his support on that. On ring fencing, we have detailed which areas we are going to look at. I'm happy to write him further. One area is sharing resources across that ring fenced and non-ring fenced part of banks. We want to ensure that we strike the right balance between growth and servility. His point about economic stability Mr Speaker, I will take the lessons from the party opposite, where we had inflation at 11%, people paying extremely high mortgage rates.

Debt rising year after year. The only thing that was stable under the government was wages that were flatlining.

13:34

Dame Meg Hillier MP (Hackney South and Shoreditch, Labour )

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Chair of the select committee. Day Meg Hillier.

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I thank the Minister look forward on the Treasury Select Committee to interrogating her about the detail interrogating her about the detail of this as we look at it as the detail emerges. And the Chancellor. One of the things the government has been talking about since the election, leading on from the election, leading on from the previous government, is the remit letters which encourage growth to the regulators as a secondary the regulators as a secondary objective. Would she be clear on computers when she will be clear about how the government will be about how the government will be clear about its own appetite for risk in the sector? So both firms of the regulators know how far the the regulators know how far the government would be prepared to go, because I know from our experience in this place that if too many consumers suffer under any changes, this will be what is raised.

There this will be what is raised. There is a tendency for government to say, you went too far. For the sake of the sector and regulator and

13:35

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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the sector and regulator and constituents, can she tell us either now or when she will be able to tell us the government line on risk

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reform? I thank her thoughtful question. I'm happy to come to the committee and talk about in more detail. The and talk about in more detail. The Leeds Reforms regulate the growth, instead of seeking to eliminate risk from the system altogether. We know from the system altogether. We know that in order to get greater returns, there is a need to take informed risk. It will enable firms informed risk. It will enable firms and consumers to take informed risk. We will always obviously support the regulators and legislate in a way regulators and legislate in a way that protects consumers from bad

13:36

Daisy Cooper MP (St Albans, Liberal Democrat)

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practices and bad actors. Liberal Democrat spokesperson. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. There is much to welcome in this statement was the hope it sends a strong signal to the fintech sector strong signal to the fintech sector and stable finance that UK plc is open for business. It is important to get the balance right between growth and risk. We would like to welcome the announcement of a scaled up unit. I asked the Minister whether it will have a mandate to look at liquidity valuation, two of the challenges that prevent British start-ups from scaling up here at home.

The retail investment culture, we welcome plans to reform the financial advice and guidance, and national advertising campaign. We believe we should trust people to weigh up the risk and rewards of investment if they are properly informed. But we also know that money habits are formed as young age. Can the minister advise whether the government has any plans to introduce financial literacy as part of the school curriculum? And from cradle to grave. Will the government say when it will confirm when they will bring forward any reforms at all to cash ISAs? The uncertainty is undermining the government's own goal.

Mortgages many have been prevented from getting onto the housing ladder, and this was unexciting to them. Can the Minister say what reassurance she can provide that additional lending will not result in boom and bust? And with inflation jumping today, what is a realistic number of those up to 36,000 first-time homeowners getting on the housing ladder in the next year? We welcome the streamlining of cheques on senior managers, but can the government confirm that these changes will not expose financial firms and their customers to greater risk.

Finally, if the government wants a step change in economic growth, this is a start, but the government must go further and faster having a better trade deal with the EU.

13:38

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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I think we have a very good deal with the EU that we agreed in May this year, which we will continue to build on. I was very pleased to have invited European Commissioner for financial services, who was at the dinner last night at Mansion House. I will try and get through all of the questions. On liquidity evaluations, I point out to her that we have some of the deepest capital markets in the world. Last year, the amount of equity capital raised in London was larger than the three extra European exchanges put together.

But I recognise the issues that she was talking about. On the advertising campaign, the Secretariat has been lead on this and will look at risk warnings. There should be a balance in risk warnings to make sure the risk warning is also informing people of the benefits of investing over the long term. She rightly talks about the importance of financial education and capability. It is something that, in the financial inclusion strategy which will be publishing in the autumn, we will be putting forward suggestions on.

I wanted to reassure her because this is a cross departmental effort, but I'm speaking a meeting actively to Schools Minister so we can be aligned with the curriculum review that she knows the DfE are taking forward. She asked about mortgages. Can I reassure her that obviously we have had extensive regulation since the global financial crash. We are not going back to the bad old days where there were no verification checks on affordability, and there were 125% mortgages. The system that we have got means there are people on modest incomes who are unable to get on the housing ladder.

For example, Nationwide have said because of the Bank of England's recent decision, they will be able to help an additional 10,000 people each year with their Helping Hand Mortgage, to fulfil their dream of homeownership. That is a great step forward and it will mean that people across the country are able to benefit from the security of homeownership that many in this house do, particularly those on modest incomes and those in generations they have been deprived of those opportunities.

13:40

John Grady MP (Glasgow East, Labour)

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Select Committee Member.

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These reforms are targeted on getting great investment into British infrastructure. These reforms are targeted on cutting red tape. Would my honourable friend tape. Would my honourable friend tape. Would my honourable friend agree with me that it is a bit rich for parties opposite to criticise the government for introducing redtape when they brought in the redtape when they brought in the planning and infrastructure Bill which creates projects we can invest

13:41

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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which creates projects we can invest in an gets houses to deal with

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housing inflation? Could not agree more. We are intent on building the 1.5 million homes promised at the last election. I remind the honourable gentleman opposite that in fact the OBR, even opposite that in fact the OBR, even before we had the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, the first planning reforms, the OBR has scored planning reforms, the OBR has scored this to be the largest increase in GDP by the end of the scorecard of

13:41

Dame Harriett Baldwin MP (West Worcestershire, Conservative)

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any non-fiscal lever in its history. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. The economic secretary may want to have a look at Hansard and make sure that she got the right sound bite that she got the right sound bite into the record about the 10 months of wage growth in the comparison. My understanding is that indeed wage growth was slow after the financial crash. We tried to compensate that with increasing personal allowances, but actually wage growth has been bouncing back since the pandemic was top she may want to correct the record that is the case.

To that Leeds Reforms, as they have migrated from Edinburgh down to Leeds, the Treasury Committee will scrutinise the implementation. But is it her vision that they should be implementation over the next year before the next Mansion House speech rather than on the 10 year basis that she outlined as a strategy?

13:42

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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I thank her for her question. I will refer her, because it is very useful, to page 63 of the strategy which sets out an ambitious timeline for implementing reforms that the Chancellor set out last night, and indeed in Leeds yesterday morning for it will show her that we have already taken action to influence some of the decisions we took, in November last year, introducing new private securities market, which is now open for business that we legislated for in May.

It will be a demonstration of how we are working at pace. There are other things that will take a little longer. She will understand, having experience in this place and government that some of these things require primary legislation. She will see by the two page summary at the back of the strategy how we plan to implement the reforms at pace to unleash the potential of the financial services sector.

13:43

Preet Kaur Gill MP (Birmingham Edgbaston, Labour )

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Too many of my constituents are trapped in the rental market pain of someone else's mortgage instead of saving for a home of their own. Average rent in Birmingham have now passed £1000 a month for the first time, driven sharply upward since the mini-Budget. I strongly welcome the Chancellor's Leeds Reforms which will help 36,000 first-time buyers onto the housing ladder. Can the Minister say more about what the government is doing to boost housing supply, so that homeownership can become reality for more people in cities like mine?

13:44

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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I thank her very much for the question. As my honourable friend said previously, the package that we announced yesterday, announced by the bank of England but also the FCA discussion paper, goes to the heart of making sure we have the right balance here between ensuring people have affordable mortgage products but also ensuring that they are accessible to more people up and down the country. As she will know, and she is referring to I'm sure, the planning at infra structure bill that the other planning reforms that we set forward some of the most ambitious planning reforms for a generation.

They will unlock the potential for those homes to be built so we can get more and more first-time buyers onto the housing ladder.

13:44

Rt Hon John Glen MP (Salisbury, Conservative)

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Select committee member John Glenn.

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I welcome the reforms, they build on welcome the reforms, they build on much that was done in the previous administration will stop but they do build on them and acknowledge in terms of the consumer facing terms of the consumer facing changes, on mortgages, on ISAs, the aspiration to get people investing, they are positive. On the listings they are positive. On the listings review, we did a listings review about four years ago. All of it is about four years ago.

All of it is just about implement it. I would urge the Minister to look at culture urge the Minister to look at culture and fiscal issues as well as regulatory issues. The second point I would make is around the PRA, and I would make is around the PRA, and the scale of ambition on that side of the regulatory framework. In of the regulatory framework. In conversations with senior leaders at Mansion House last night, I think it was felt that the FCA's level of was felt that the FCA's level of ambition is high, but be wary of constant shifting of the goalposts, constant shifting of the goalposts, and a lack of real change particularly on the internal rating particularly on the internal rating based, and how banks can get the regulatory capital treated differently more quickly because it

13:45

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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is taking too long and needs to

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We have listed a task force which

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We have listed a task force which will be a joint thing. It is different. It is a joint piece of different. It is a joint piece of work between the office of investment and HMT and other departments to ensure that we are attracting the best and the brightest companies to list here in brightest companies to list here in the UK. There were many reforms undertaken by his government on undertaken by his government on listings taking forward the review, listings taking forward the review, the Mark Austin review, and he will see that the FCA published its final prospectus rules as well.

We have prospectus rules as well. We have got to get the regulatory side right, but there are other factors at play that we are looking at as at play that we are looking at as well. On the FCA, all I will say this to reassure him that, as he knows, I hold the relationship with knows, I hold the relationship with both of those regulators and we will continue to push them to be ambitious in supporting our growth

13:46

Clive Lewis MP (Norwich South, Labour)

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agenda.

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I want to confirm that my name is Clive and not Cassandra, yet I do feel like the Trojan princess forever warning of things that would go wrong but being ignored. Can I be reassured, given that the Bank of reassured, given that the Bank of England has repeatedly said that losing mortgage lending standards and allowing more people to borrow and allowing more people to borrow larger sums relative to their income can push up house prices and can push up house prices and increased financial instability? Given the state of the global economy, I do appreciate that these economy, I do appreciate that these are not the same D regulations that took place before the crash, but took place before the crash, but surely she can understand that many of us will be cautious about deregulating at a time of such deregulating at a time of such instability.

I understand we want to get more people on the housing ladder. We want to increase growth, but there is a risk. I wonder

13:47

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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whether that risk has been duly appreciated. Can I reassure him that our agenda is to streamline regulation agenda is to streamline regulation and to make it more proportionate, and obviously, there are guardrails and affordability checks for mortgage providers, and at the moment, the level of repossessions is very low indeed, and banks and other mortgage providers to all of the work to avoid repossessing homes, and as I said, we are not going back to the bad old days of 125% mortgages and no verification on people's affordability.

This is about rebalancing the system to ensure that more people can afford to buy their own home but it is about struggling because he is right to ensure that we are taking more informed risk and that we do that while ensuring financial stability.

13:48

Bobby Dean MP (Carshalton and Wallington, Liberal Democrat)

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The Chancellor announced a list of reforms yesterday. Many of them are on the shopping list of industries so the committee will examine them closely to make sure they work for the consumer and the long-term stability of the economy. There was one change in particular that will worry those with strong memories of the crash and that is of ring fencing. The Conservative spokesperson indicated that perhaps we need to look at removing ring fencing entirely. I think that will be a big step backwards.

These are driven by Liberal Democrat cables which would separate everyday customer deposits from the risk of investment banking, so can the Minister give us assurances now that the hard earned savings of families will not be put at risk by the speculative activity of other people's money?

13:49

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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Highways have great pleasure in giving evidence to the committee. And can I reassure him that the government is upholding the ring fencing regime and we have got to strike the right balance between protecting financial stability and safeguarding depositors, but equally, we think there are some flexibilities that should be explored within the ring fencing regime which will allow further growth and further capital to be deployed in the real economy.

13:50

Callum Anderson MP (Buckingham and Bletchley, Labour)

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I thank the Minister for Health statement. I commend the work that she and the Chancellor have done on the wider Leeds reform. I want to pick up on the forthcoming campaign to promote retail investment which has the potential to reshape public understanding of risk, reward and financial planning. The problem with many previous campaigns is that it has failed to reach the people who most need it. So, can the Minister provide a bit more detail about how the Treasury intends to work with financial services industries, and civil society to ensure that the campaigns have financial capability and efforts across the population?

13:50

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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He is a great campaigner on this issue, and he is absolutely right. This isn't an easy nut to crack. We will work very closely with the industry led campaign. We need to give people the confidence that if they want to invest and save for the longer term, they will be able to secure better returns through investing rather than just holding large amounts of money in cash.

13:51

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

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Whenever I listen to the excellent times radio and other commercial broadcasters, I am always favourably impressed by the fact that, at the end of every positive advertisement for a financial product, three words are said, capital at risk. Can she assure the house that in the review of risk warnings that is going to be undertaken, that basic fundamental red flag at the end of people pushing for you to invest your money in some grand and profitable enterprise will not be left out?

13:51

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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We are not suggesting getting rid of this. I think that is what he is asking directly, but one of the investment platforms did some research about the wording of risk warnings and he will know that there is quite agenda gap here between men who, if you look at your figures from the Financial Conduct Authority's, financial life survey, that more men have the confidence to invest in women, and there are other demographic factors as well. We want to give people the option and the confidence to invest, but of course, there will always be risk warnings.

But there is a risk, if over the long-term you hold all of your savings in cash due to inflation as we know.

13:52

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

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The science innovation technology select committees enquiry into regional innovation and growth has repeatedly heard that access to capital outside London and the south-east is the biggest barrier to start-ups scaling up and delivering growth and jobs. So the reforms that have been set out to reintroduce informed risk taking which I'm sure will be prudently implemented should, as she said, realise capital to catalyse growth. Can she say a little bit about how it will deliver more capital investment into the productive economy of the north- east?

13:53

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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I might not be able to give her specifics about her region right now, but what I will say is that my colleague the pensions minister has secured an ambitious industry led cord which commits 90% of pension, 17 of the pension funds representing 90% of active DC savers to be invested 10% in private assets, half of those to be in the UK, and they will be on the hunt for firms who need to be successful in the future, need the capital to start up and sail up, and we are working closely with the British business bank on these issues.

13:54

Rupert Lowe MP (Great Yarmouth, Independent)

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After 20 years in the City of London over the last year, I have had to endure a stream of what I would call financially illiterate verbal babysitting. I listen today and hear the Chancellor talk about regulating the growth. You don't regulate for growth, you regulate for growth. The problems are the FCA and the PRA who sprang from the financial services market in 2000 which was a Labour act which created the FSA and that turned into the PRA.

Those two organisations have shut the City of London down. We are now a shadow of our former selves in terms of raising global capital, and I heard you say the opposite.

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Please be seated. You heard the Minister. You don't refer to the Minister as you. And please come to the question.

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the question. My question is, is the Minister aware of the information about aware of the information about caveat and to which used to be a caveat and to which used to be a requirement for entry. It is risky to push people into investments as you hollow out our economy with higher taxes.

13:55

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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higher taxes. As the Minister hollows out, not

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you and me. Let me just say that I think

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Let me just say that I think there is, with the exception of him some cross-party support for the some cross-party support for the regulation that we have. Of course we do need proportionate regulation to ensure that there are protections in place for consumers. He seems to be suggesting that we get rid of regulators altogether which I think most members of this House would be opposed to. I have heard of the concept and I am suitably patronised by him.

13:56

Andrew Pakes MP (Peterborough, Labour )

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One of the first visits I undertook at the election was to my local branch of nationwide which, for generations, has been providing financial advice. One of the previous periods of financial deregulation by the party opposite, we saw a movement which led to the demutualisation of the building society movement and created uncertainty for thousands and thousands of Tencel homeowners and people looking for financial support. So, can I asked the Minister she can reassure the house today that the cooperative sector will be absolutely essential to the everyday financial service that working people need?

13:56

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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It is something that the Chancellor and I are passionate about, making sure that we deliver our commitment to double the size of the sector. We have asked the financial services regulators to report by the end of the year as to what more they can do to support the growth of the sector. We are supporting the industry led cooperative and mutual's counsel, chaired indeed by the chair of nationwide Kevin Parry, and indeed, we have concluded recently a call for evidence on the common bond, another form of mutual, and we will be setting out our response in due be setting out our response in due course on that issue.

13:57

Dr Kieran Mullan MP (Bexhill and Battle, Conservative)

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Given the news on inflation today, the ongoing increases to employment and the downgrading of growth forecast is right that this government is looking at other ways to stimulate growth, but the poor rate of returns on ordinary bank accounts and savings accounts. My constituents want decent rates of returns on ordinary savings accounts, and Martin Lewis and others have pointed out that market remains stubbornly resistant to passing on interest rate savings and offering competitive rates, so while I understand what they want to get people to invest in other types of savings, what plans to she have to tackle the poor rate of return people get in ordinary savings in bank accounts?

13:58

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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I am engaging with Martin Lewis who is a doughty champion across the country. I will say to him that you did the consumer duty, banks and other providers have a duty to ensure that they deliver the best outcomes for their consumers, but I do know what he says.

13:58

James Naish MP (Rushcliffe, Labour)

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I thank the Minister for Health statement and I know there is a concierge service that is referenced within investment that will court international development and act as a one-stop shop to promote the UK. Can I ask our regional dimension may be considered within that for places like the East Midlands where I'm an MP whether maybe significant future potential for both jobs and investment.

13:59

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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The concierge service will be working across the country and I reassure him of that. It is about ensuring that the UK has a single shopwindow to international firms looking to either setup or invest further in the UK, and as we have set out in the reforms, the benefits of that investment and the benefits of unleashing the potential financial services should be felt across the country in the East Midlands and beyond.

13:59

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

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The grim truth is that people's living standards in Wales have still not recovered from the 2008 crash which resulted in a Labour prime ministers bailing out the banks and the Tory austerity experiment, so whilst the government not risking a repeat of the mistakes of past when all the evidence shows that growth will not trickle down from poorly regulated bankers? regulated bankers?

14:00

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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I say to her gently that we are not talking about going back to 2007. We have come a long way since then. After the crash, there were financial services, regulations introduced and a new system of financial services in terms of the FCA and the PRA, so conduct and potential. We are not talking about going back. We are not bringing back the 125% mortgages. We are simply saying that we need to reassess where we are and that the pendulum has swung too far the other way.

We need to rebalance the system so that both consumers and firms can take informed risk to drive growth across the country to make people better off, to give people the opportunity to secure better returns on savings. I would encourage her to look at the detail of this. We are looking to rebalance the system not go back to rebalance the system not go back to

14:01

Samantha Niblett MP (South Derbyshire, Labour)

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Is the co-chair of the APPD for fintech and with a 17 year old daughter who is considering how she should best save for her future, I welcome this news with real joy as we try to bring more wealth to more people. I suspect this joy is shared by the founder of platform that encourages women into retail investing, can start with small sums indeed. Another person who founded Blue Money supports people from ethnic minorities to build generational wealth through group saving on budgets, and the founder of another company that is about shareholder democracy to a digital age.

Giving everyone a seat at the table, whether they are savers or managers. Does the Minister agree that the government's approach, encouraging investing should give turn confidence to those considering investing into the female founded fintech companies they can scale and reach more people to help them become wealthier and more secure?

14:01

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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I could not agree with her more. She's a fantastic champion of the fintech sector. We have a thriving fintech sector already. The second largest in the world, second only to the US. We are determined to ensure that those companies access the capital that they need, and access the authorisations and licenses they need from the regulators. That is a decision for the regulators, but it should be done at pace so these companies can get up off the ground and start to scale.

Providing opportunities for retail investment, but critically, providing innovative products for consumers across the country.

14:02

Chris Vince MP (Harlow, Labour )

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister for his statement today for the number one thing the constituents of mine in hollow raised with me is the soaring cost of the private rented sector. Would she agree with me that reforms would help first-time homeowner buyers in hollow get on the housing ladder and working alongside the £39 billion investment in social housing, this can only good for my residence? can only good for my residence?

14:03

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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I could not agree more. We want to ensure that the dream of homeownership is expanded across the country including in his constituency of Harlow. The estimate is because of the reforms that we are taking forward, and there will be more to come, that 36,000 new first-time buyers will be able to buy the homes in the first year of this reform being in place.

14:03

Mr Gregory Campbell MP (East Londonderry, Democratic Unionist Party)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. The economic secretary said it is at a record high. But it is the case that many other countries in Europe are at a record high. But she talked about the cash ISA problem. Would she agree that what will be done to install confidence amongst the wider public who hold money in cash ISA's but are very reluctant and fearful of investing even in lower risk collective investment that, over the longer term, would produce much better returns than cash ISAs which are subject, she rightly says, to inflation? inflation?

14:04

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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I thank him for thoughtful question. We are doing a number of things. The first is working at pace with the FCA to ensure we have targeted support in place by the end of the tax year so it is in time for the new ISA season in April next year. We are looking at that risk warnings and also the industry led campaign on advertising opportunities of investing. We are doing all that we can and it is good that we have honourable members on different sides of the house who are supporting us in this.

Obviously different people will be at a different stage in the journey in life. If people are retired they may not want to invest in the stock market, I understand that their perspective stop they need more readily available cash. But people who are younger or up middle-aged, I don't know where I fall into that category, thank you. If they are able to, they could even put a small amount away to invest in their future. It really concerns me recently that there was a report suggesting that many people did not know their pensions were invested in the stock market.

That is how they get better returns on their retirement. There is a huge campaign that we need to run together with the private sector to educate people about the opportunities and give people the confidence to invest. At the end of the day, it will be down to people how they choose to invest.

14:05

Josh Fenton-Glynn MP (Calder Valley, Labour)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I welcome the Leeds Reforms today, many of the best things, they started in West Yorkshire. I see they are still chuntering from a sedentary position. It undermined an important point, that financial services on not just reserved for the people in the City of London that they are all around the country. Can the minister agree with me that one of the important things we can do to grow the economy is to focus on things this country does well during a financial services? well during a financial services?

14:06

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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Absolutely right. We were at Lloyds Banking Group yesterday in Leeds where Lloyds in the wider region employed thousands of people. There are some great opportunities here in the establishment firms, also, as my honourable friend from mid-Derbyshire was talking about, some of these new firms that are outside of London as well that are growing and providing innovative products. I was in Scotland recently talking to a group of fintech's about the support they are getting to work closely with some of the banks in Scotland.

To drive further investment into fintech, and the collaboration between more established players and the new players is very positive to see.

14:06

Chris Bloore MP (Redditch, Labour)

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Final question. for his statement. Listening to my neighbour from Worcestershire, charismatic neighbour from the frontbench, as charismatic as he is I don't think he can justify a record of 11% inflation, a £200 increase in mortgage payments and the revolving door of prime ministers and chancellors as a record to be proud of. But my question about 29 million people in this country who have deposits in current accounts, was people who invested in the stock exchange over the last 10 years saw yields of 9%, how do we convince and educate those customers to give them the confidence to get much better outcomes and their investments? outcomes and their investments?

14:07

Emma Reynolds MP, The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Wycombe, Labour)

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14:08

David Simmonds MP (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, Conservative)

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on financial services reform. Point of order David Simmonds. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. May I seek your guidance. The NHS announced yesterday morning the announced yesterday morning the closure of the Mount Vernon Hospital minor injuries unit in my constituency which also affects the members for Beaconsfield, South West Hertfordshire, Harrow East and West Uxbridge and South Ruislip and Hollington. The decision flies in the face of the 10 year plan for the NHS announced to the house recently. My letter to the Secretary of State on 24th of April has gone completely unanswered.

How, particularly given the impending recess, can I place my concerns on the record and hold ministers accountable for this action? action?

14:09

Ms Nusrat Ghani MP (Sussex Weald, Conservative)

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I'm grateful to the honourable member for giving notice of his point of order. The chair is not responsible ministers replies to correspondence with honourable members. But colleagues in all parts of the House are entitled to expect a timely response to the letters, especially from ministers on constituency matters. He has put his point on the record and I'm sure Treasury frontbench will have noticed his remarks. And will pass that on. Point of order Zarah Sultana.

14:09

Zarah Sultana MP (Coventry South, Independent)

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I seek your guidance regarding the accuracy of the official report in Hansard. My speech on Wednesday second of July 2025, the debate on Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism, I said the words " We are all Palestine Action. " The video and audio recordings clearly confirm the whole sentence was spoken. But Hansard has omitted the final word of that sentence. I have been advised this is due to a long- standing convention not to report word spoken after the chair intervenes.

But in this instance, the record omit words spoken before the chair's intervention. I'm aware of precedent which I provide members final words have either been proceeding or overlapping in intervention and have been included to preserve the accuracy of the record. Despite this, Hansard is not and refused to amend the entry that has since removed the sentence entirely. This blatant attempt of censorship and rewriting the record is deeply concerning and undermines the integrity of the official report. Can you therefore advise me and the House on that there are formal mechanisms to challenge permissions of this kind, reinstate the accurate records and ensure that Hansard fulfilled its duty to provide a full and accurate record of proceedings in this house?

14:11

Ms Nusrat Ghani MP (Sussex Weald, Conservative)

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You're a member has twice put her words on the record. She is not aware of her colleagues across the house, Hansard has their own editorial policy. She wishes to have her words corrected, she needs to take that directly with Hansard. It is not the responsibility of the chair.

14:11

Richard Tice MP (Boston and Skegness, Reform UK)

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Point of order. Minister's Questions earlier today, the member of Parliament for Rossendale and Darwen misled the House. House. We don't use language like misled the House we are talking about other colleagues. He will have to check his words if you wish to continue.

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I'm grateful. The member for Parliament for Rossendale and Darwen may have possibly inadvertently misled the House with regards to Lancashire County Council and Lancashire County Council and nursery funding. The reality is that unfortunately because of that, the unfortunately because of that, the Prime Minister that gave an answer based on that possible inadvertent based on that possible inadvertent misinformation. The truth is that Lancashire County Council carrying Lancashire County Council carrying out a statutory consultation as to whether to follow the example of Labour controlled councils such as Labour controlled councils such as at Blackburn and Blackpool, as to whether to have a small modest

14:12

Ms Nusrat Ghani MP (Sussex Weald, Conservative)

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noticing fee. The honourable Member will no

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The honourable Member will no doubt have already contacted the member that he referenced in the chamber. If not I have no doubt he chamber. If not I have no doubt he will do so. If only the chair was responsible for the content of members members questions and answers, but the chair is not answers and questions that members provide. He has put his words on the record and will get a response. I now move on to Presentation of I now move on to Presentation of International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Policies and Advisory Opinion on Policies and Practices of Israel (Sanctions and Other Measures) Bill

14:13

Presentation of bills

Reading Mac

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Friday 12 September. Thank you.

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Friday 12 September. Thank you. We now go on to the Ten Minute Rule

14:13

Danny Beales MP (Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Labour)

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We now go on to the Ten Minute Rule Motion. Managing a regulation bill.

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I beg to move that leave be given to bring in a Bill to establish an to bring in a Bill to establish an independent regulator for managing agents was not to make provision about the powers and duties of the dependent regulator, to require dependent regulator, to require managing agents to compliant code of practice, and to make provision about that Code of Practice. To make provision for a licensing scheme for managing agents, to make further provision about the regulation of managing age and for connected managing age and for connected purposes was not Labour governments past and present have been underpinned by a motivation to stand underpinned by a motivation to stand up for the voiceless is let down by broken systems, disempowered to take control over their circumstances stop I present this bill to the stop I present this bill to the House today because the failure to regulate managing agents has regulate managing agents has rendered leaseholders voiceless, let down and disempowered.

The down and disempowered. The government's commitment to end the broken leasehold system is a welcome pledge for many including leaseholders in places like my leaseholders in places like my constituency. Many have long been held hostage by exploitative held hostage by exploitative management companies. Now this bill will have the opportunity to take a further step forward in rebalancing the system. Improving management standards and empowering leaseholders hold the managing agents to account. The bill will establish a new independent rig later managing a. It would require later managing a.

It would require managing agents to have mandatory collocation. They will have to pass a fit and proper person test, be regulatory empowered to continuing professional relevant requirements. This will be set in statute which leaseholders will have clear sight and knowledge. This bill would provide legal obligations and provide mechanism for redress for leaseholders. The regular power to enforce compliance against managing agents, and ultimately remove them from the register regulate agents. It should be funded by firms individuals were Twiglet themselves. These are reasonable steps.

Colleagues across the House have highlighted the plight of constituent who have fallen victim of unregulated managing agent and bear the failures of the system. From Basingstoke to Brighton Kemptown, and thank you to honourable Friend these constituencies. Or an advice. My own constituency, I have been supporting residents in the development of web the developer waterway residents were presented with a bill of £100,000. Communal boilers have been left broken for two and half years. Leaks under the floorboards remain unfixed will stop my team and I do need to support and advocate these residents, relatives that proper regulator and wriggling through framework, managing companies like these appointed by freeholders remain free to provide accurate customer services from right extortionate fees and ignore residents.

They serve vested interests, leaseholders who pay the fees. I'm proud to be a member of the Labour for leaseholders group, working with honourable Friend to advocate for leaseholders putting pressure managing companies to do better. It is clear that we need a clearer robust regulatory framework like the one suggested by Lord Best who proposes this bill today. Leasehold system is not new. But the challenges it presents today require the government to act. Without mandatory collocations in regulatory oversight, leaseholders remain vulnerable to inconsistent service quality, and paid charges and a lack of records when things go wrong.

Managing agents responsible for complex and important areas including health, fire and structural safety, putting maintenance, May 21 projects, and building insurance was not leasehold blocks, managing companies hold substantial sums of hard earned money for top the current system not only allows but empowers unqualified incompetent managing agents. This bill is not about extending redtape for the sake of it. About protecting hard-working people from their money. I'm not attempting to tarnish all managing agent with the same brush. I know some leaseholders have positive experience, and the DPI, professional body representing 7000 managers and over 360 managing firms seeks to deliver safe secure well- managed homes.

Members of it are required to have accreditation and But my surgeries, these are not words they are using to describe their management companies. I welcome the TPI in standing up for leaseholders and for the role they have played in a role today and the consultation on reform, but voluntary accreditation systems in place of regulation exposes serious failures in the current framework. Relying on good-faith actors to voluntarily seek accreditation means, by definition, that bad faith managing companies continue to operate freely in this country.

We cannot accept this. Every managing company failing in their duty, there are multiple leaseholders being ripped off. The facts are clear and this is not an option. Just three months later, they were readmitted. I recently visited the complex and Roy slip. Residents moved in expecting to enjoy their retirement. Instead, they met with extortionate service fees with little or no explanation, serious concerns about how their money was being managed were falling on deaf ears, and shoddy maintenance work with feedback further ignored, and on the development, the story is just as dire.

Residents reported flooding in damp, mould not remedied. I recently conducted a survey of these residents were 50% of respondents said they had not received a response following attempts to communicate with them. If I went this residence now and told them that their managing company had lost and regained their accreditation, I'm sure they would ask what has actually changed and ask what process let that decision. It lays but the limitations of the current system and the urgent need for a regular Tory framework to look at standards in all managing agents.

This bill will introduce a property regulator, grant licences to agents based on tax and mandate qualifications to ensure minimum competency standards for agents and property managers. Without these provisions, it is leaseholders that bear the financial burden of lack of regulation, research by the TPI shows that independent regulators would be largely cost neutral with benefits to increase accountability offsetting any additional initiative costs. But there is also a significant cost of inaction as well. A human cost. Too many people feel ripped off in what have been difficult years for so many.

When it comes to the plight of leaseholders, this bill is a necessary step for doing just that. We have seen a lot since this government was formed by the housing crisis and rightly so and how it is our responsibility to fix it, and that crisis does not just begin and end with bricks and just begin and end with bricks and mortar. It comes down to security in our home. Social housing and homeowners as well. This bill can help towards delivering who have been cryptically insecure the total failings of the leaseholder system means this is a vital step forward for all leaseholders.

People feel under attack by the management under attack by the management companies. Now with this bill, we can build up defences to a proper regular Tory framework and ensure companies are properly qualified and that there is accountability that exists which all desperately need. Thank you.

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The question is that the honourable member have leave to bring in the bill. As many of that bring in the bill. As many of that opinion say I to the contrary now. Nice Nice and Nice and straight Nice and straight now. Nice and straight now. Thank Nice and straight now. Thank you.

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Managing agents regulation bill. Second reading, what day? Friday,

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Second reading, what day? Friday,

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Second reading, what day? Friday, 12 September. Well done. If the Frontbench are shuffling over, they Frontbench are shuffling over, they should do so now very quickly. Colleagues will leave very quietly and quickly through the chamber. The clerk will now proceed with the orders of the day.

14:23

Legislation: Property (Digital Assets Etc) Bill [Lords]: Second Reading

Property, digital assets second reading.

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Minister to move, second reading. I beg to move that the committee

14:23

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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I beg to move that the committee recommends that the property digital assets bill ought to be read a second time. The property digital second time. The property digital assets bill is a pivotal step in the evolution of our legal system. One that ensures the law remains relevant and preeminent in the digital age. As we set out in our plan for change, this government is fully committed for investors and businesses with stability and certainty. This bill will help provide that certainty for people and businesses who own and transact with digital assets.

This will help drive economic growth by encouraging innovation, attracting investment and reinforcing the U.K.'s position as a global hub for digital finances

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and technology. I thank you. I thank the Minister for giving way. When she agreed that for giving way. When she agreed that although this bill is small, it is very much mighty and it is important that we get this bill on the statute that we get this bill on the statute book because we want this country to be ahead of the game when it comes to these issues.

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to these issues. We want the UK to remain the preeminent jurisdiction of choice for legal services which it for legal services which it currently is, and this revolution of currently is, and this revolution of our law will enable it to remain a global hub for digital finance and tech. Overall, it is a build that reflects our legal heritage, embraces technological innovation and prepares our nation for the and prepares our nation for the future. To appreciate the significance of this bill, we must begin with the foundations of begin with the foundations of property law in England and.

For centuries, our legal system has categorised personal property as two categorised personal property as two distinct types. First, things in possession, tangible items that can be physically held or possessed such be physically held or possessed such as a book, jewellery or gold, and second, things inaction. Intangible second, things inaction. Intangible rights that can only be claimed and enforced through legal action, such as debts, shares or contractual as debts, shares or contractual rights. These categories have served us well for hundreds of years, providing clarity and ownership and facilitating, they have helped create legal certainty in matters ranging from insolvency to trust structures and arrangements.

However, the digital revolution introduced a new class of assets, digital assets, they do not fit neatly into either of these traditional categories. As things stand, we looked a 19th-century case law which sets out the thing can only be property if it fits into the traditional categories of things inaction and things in possession. The unique characteristics of digital assets like crypto tokens challenge the boundary of these categories. Unlike physical objects, digital assets cannot be held in one's hand. Unlike debts or contractual rights, digital assets have an independent existence in the world which is not dependent on the recognition by legal system.

Yet certain digital assets protects the characteristics of the common law recognises as making them. Crypto tokens are risks meaning they're used by one person to prevent simultaneous use by others. By contrast crypto tokens, some digital things like Word documents are not rivalrous and not recognised by the common-law as being capable of attracting property rights. For example, if I were to send you a word document, I retain a copy but if I transfer a crypto token, I know longer possess it.

This is due to the underlying block chain technology that ensures immutability, scarcity and non- cheaply tick ability. Features that make digital assets capable of attracting personal property rights even if they are not a thing in possession or a thing in action. Recent case law has begun to recognise that digital assets can attract personal property rights, but these decisions have not come forward in precedent-setting courts, and thus the legal landscape remains uncertain. This ambiguity risks stifling innovation as innovators are unsure what protections they have or whether they will be able to monetise their creation.

It also puts off investors from investing in crypto tokens in favour of more traditional and predictable forms of investment. If we do not act, then we risk our global competitors getting ahead and putting in place the kind of certainty in their own legal systems that will divert investment away from this country. Recognising the urgency of this issue, in 2020, the Ministry of Justice commissioned the Law Commission to review the legal framework surrounding crypto tokens and other digital assets. The commission's report was unequivocal.

Certain digital assets should be recognised as capable of attracting property rights and legislation was needed to reflect this. This government has responded decisively. The property digital assets bill is the result. A concise yet powerful piece of legislation that affirms our commitment to legal clarity, economic growth, and technological leadership. The bill contains a single operative clause. It recognises that a thing including a thing that is digital or electronic is not prevented from attracting personal property rights merely because it is not a thing in possession or in action.

The bill allows the courts to develop a further category of personal property through our common law. Importantly, the bill does not attempt to find which digital assets may qualify. Nor does it prescribe a legal consequences of falling within this category. These matters are rightly left to the common law. Which, with its flexibility and nuance, is best suited to assess each asset on its characteristics. This is in accordance with long- established common-law tests for property. This approach reflects the strength of our tradition.

It capitalises on the adaptability and flexibility of the common-law by empowering the courts to look at legal tests to emerging technologies. This ensures that our legal system remains responsive, relevant and resilient. We stand today at the intersection of law and innovation where centuries of legal tradition meets the boundless potential. It is not just legal reform but an important step in our law and the global digital. Because law and the global digital. Because digital assets are here to stay.

From crypto tokens to voluntary carbon credits, these assets are reshaping how we transact, invest and interact, and yet until now, our private law has struggled to keep pace. This bill changes that. First and foremost, certain digital assets can be recognised as property. Individuals and businesses can now rely on clear legal rights and protections when dealing with things such as crypto tokens. This is because certain digital assets can now attract the same legal protection as other forms of property.

It means that owners of things like crypto tokens can enforce rights of the asset is stolen, whether it is theft, insolvency or inheritance, the law will now stand ready to protect those property rights. Clarifying the legal system, the bill reduces ambiguity and streamlined litigation. This is because the courts will no longer have to spend time debating whether further categories exist or trying to force assets into the traditional categories. This clarity will save time, reduce costs and ensure fairer time, reduce costs and ensure fairer The bill supports our ambition to be a centre for innovation and growth.

It requires fintech start-ups to choose English or Welsh, or Northern Irish love their transactions. Knowing these legal systems are equipped to handle the complexities of digital assets. The bill unlocks practical economic benefits. It assists in allowing digital assets to be included and claimed by creditors and insolvencies. It will fuel innovation, support new financial products and drive economic growth. Crucially the bill does not attempt to rigidly define every type of digital asset. Instead it allows the common law to evolve, giving our courts the flexibility to adapt to technologies that have not yet even been imagined.

This is one of the hallmarks of a progressive forwardthinking legal system like this one. This bill attracted significant cross-party support in the other place. Example, it was described by Lord Holmes as a short bill but one with significant impact for the UK and indeed beyond our shores. As a bill that will send a signal to all those involved in digital assets that London the whole of the United Kingdom is an excellent place to do business. In the same vein, Lord Sandhurst noticed the bill was small but perfectly formed.

It will make an important contribution to the development of the law. An assist judges and litigants in ensuring that necessary protection is giving to individuals and others in the digital sphere which might not otherwise be protected. It's not just words of praise but affirmations affirmations of the bill's importance, its clarity and the potential to shape the global, legal, economic landscape. As one member remarked on the third reading, "The world is watching. " We have proud tradition of legal excellence and a thriving fintech system with trillions of pounds in global economic activity expected to be transacted by digital assets by the end of the decade.

We must ensure that out legal infrastructure is not only fit for purpose but fit for the future. This bill is a critical step in realising that potential. Of course the bill underwent much scrutiny in the House of Lords and two principle amendments were made. Firstly the territorial scope of the bill was extended to include Northern Ireland. We are glad that our laws can be aligned in this area, and the benefits of this bill will be felt more widely. A second amendment was to the Bill's long title.

This was to ensure consistency between title and the built operative clause. I am certain that we now have the best possible version of this bill before us. The property did digital assets bill is a testament to the strength and adaptable to valuable tradition. It reflects a commitment to innovation, respect for the rule of law and our ambition to lead on the global stage. It was described in the Lords as abilities future facing, future proofing, growth enabling, groundbreaking, and good for innovation, investment, Citizen, consumer, and country.

I could not agree more. It is the bill for the future. The future in which digital assets play a central role in our economy, society, and our lives. By passing this bill we not only clarify the law but shape the future. Let us seize the opportunity, to send a clear message to the world that we are ready, willing, and able to lead in the digital age. Hirondelle.

14:34

Dr Kieran Mullan MP (Bexhill and Battle, Conservative)

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The question is that the bill be

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read a second time. I called the Shadow Minister. I rise today on behalf of the

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I rise today on behalf of the Official Opposition to express our support for the Property (Digital support for the Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill. I enjoyed understanding of property law looks understanding of property law looks like in the UK. The bill comes before this House and the other place where it is also ready seemed place where it is also ready seemed careful scrutiny for I want to acknowledge the contributions made by Lord Holmes of Richmond, whose deep expertise in digital and emerging technologies greatly enhance the debate.

An Lord enhance the debate. An Lord Sandhurst who rightly describe this as necessary but probally constraining measure. This bill is one that preserves inherent fixity one that preserves inherent fixity of the common law and provides enough statutory clarity to support continued innovation and legal continued innovation and legal certainty in a fast moving world. Recognising the need 2020, the Conservative government asked the Conservative government asked the Law Commission to look at how law and personal property should respond to digital assets. Consultations to digital assets.

Consultations undertaken and it said some assets defied current classification. It recommended confirming in the statute assets need not be things in statute assets need not be things in possession or an action to protect property rights. Paving the way for 1/3 category of personal property and ensuring our common law continues to evolve. This may be a short bill but carry significant weight for the U.K.'s legal framework and also globally for digital innovation. As other countries watch to see how we respond to that logical change, reaffirms the U.K.'s commitment to legal clarity, and competitiveness.

We have a world leading fintech ecosystem, and trillions of pounds in transactions and the UK must ensure it remains at the forefront of the supporting innovation, financial inclusion and capital markets. This will complement a wider program of regulatory reform already underway in the UK. Since 2023, firms promoting crypto assets have been subject to FDA rules including an entry risk warnings and 24-hour cooling off period for consumers. Anti-money-laundering rules apply. In 2025, the government published draft legislation to bring a wide range of crypto asset activities such as trading platforms and customer services under full financial regulation.

FCA the bank of England are already consulting on Stablecoin's and digital assets, while the bank explores the future of potential. These efforts taken together with this bill represent a joined up and forward looking approach to digital asset regulation in the UK. For centuries, the law has recognised traditional categories of personal property, things in possession referring to tangible products like a bar of gold. And things such as debts and contractual obligations enforceable through legal process. But the rise of the Digital Economy Bill has increased assets that defy these historical classifications.

The tokens and digital files and carbon credits, and businesses now interact with the third category of assets. This bill introduces the third category of personal property by confirming what the courts have been increasingly willing to suggest, but the thing is not occluded from being treated as property Millie because it does not fit the traditional mould. And it does so in a delivery modest way allowing the common law to evolve with that logical change rather than attempting to predict or prescribe it.

As Lord Sandhurst put it in the other place, which are champion flexible to the common law legislate only to reinforce clarify develop into ready emerging within it. This bill strikes the right balance. Principle in substance were careful in applications. Gives confidence to our courts, clarity to commercial actors and reassurance to individuals navigating digital ownership. The government amendment in the other place will expand this to Northern Ireland and we welcome the agreement of the Northern Ireland Assembly. I understand the Scottish Government has consulted separately on this matter.

Let me also take a moment to welcome the government's stated intention and the impact assessment to reduce the burden on businesses by improving clarity. At the time digital assets are critical used as means of payment, representation or value storage, it is vital that our legal architecture keeps pace, not to control innovation but we on these benches are committed to ensuring that our legal system remains fit for the 21st-century, and can accommodate new technologies while safeguarding responsibilities. What we are pleased to support this bill, let's not lose sight of the broader context.

After a year of downgrading growth forecasts, and our economy contracting, unemployed and rising, inflation rising, and borrowing costs creeping up, UK urgently needs legal reforms that drive up competitiveness and economic growth. But the recent reforms to international legal procedures, it is no coincidence that this bill stems from review mission by the last Conservative administration. We did understand the importance of forwardthinking legal reform to

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support 10 logical and financial innovation to drive economic growth. The Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

14:39

Mr Will Forster MP (Woking, Liberal Democrat)

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spokesperson. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I rise today in support of the rise today in support of the Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill, which tends to bring a legal frame into the 21st-century. Better equipping it to meet the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. This bill is firmly rooted in the rigourous work of the Law Commission, which was then followed by careful scrutiny in the other place. I want to thank peers for their work on this, to clearly Lords Tim Clement Jones for scrutinising it on behalf of the Liberal Democrats.

This bill confronts the long-standing legal ambiguity of how our common law system treats digital assets. As the Minister explained, and as I vaguely remember from my days at law school. As it stands, the law recognises two primary forms of personal property. Things in possession and things in action. But we live in an ever-changing digital world where everything is much more based on digital than that common law approach. Digital assets, which cannot be physically possessed and do not often consider claim against another person do not fall into the two traditional categories.

Without clarity around the law, we risk undermining individual rights. Weakening legal solutions in cases involving toe assets, NFTs, and other digital holdings. That is why this bill matters. It ensures digital things are not denied status because they don't fall into the two categories. That is why the liberal Democrats welcome the government's decision to accept the Law Commission's recommendations. This bill is appropriate at this time we see a growing use of digital assets across a variety of sectors. They are being used as investments, as stores for value, as tokens of identity and ownership, by more and more people than ever before.

Recent figures from the FCA indicates that nearly 12% of UK adults now hold crypto assets. It is the figure that has more than doubled since 2021 alone. And yet victims of fraud, those seeking resolution in insolvency, or simply those wishing to assert ownership over what they rightfully hold have been operating in a murky legal landscape. This bill leaves room for common law to develop in that sphere of property. This will help the law reflect the ever evolving nature of technology but it must be monitored over time to ensure regulation ultimately aligns with the need to protect individual rights and support economy.

We know digital assets means there could be risks, whether it is fraud or abuse or volatility. But ignoring them or failing to read let them effectively will not make those risks disappear. A legal vacuum only increases the risk of criminality and injustice. A clear modern legal framework empowers the honest majority, boost confidence and support innovation. This bill is measured, it is cautious, it is essential. It provides legal clarity, a pulse property rights, ensures our laws remain relevant in the digital world.

It is supported by the Law Society, by legal practitioners and by the Liberal Democrats. I hope everyone in this

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chamber supports it. Does the Minister wish to respond with leave of the house?

14:43

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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with leave of the house? With the leave of the house, let me say how grateful I am to those who have contributed to today's who have contributed to today's debate. In a rare expression of consensus I welcome the comments of the member for Bexhill and Battle and also the member for Woking. I think the quality of the discussion both here and in the other place reflects the significance of the bill before us. The bill is the product of rigourous analysis and wide consultation.

I would like to pay tribute to the Law Commission of the landmark report, and the many practitioners, academics, businesses, organisations, and engage constructively through the process. At its heart the Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill ensures our legal system keeps pace with logical change. The click confident step into the future. It reaffirms our place in the UK as a global leader in legal innovation, financial services, and digital commerce. It is a central part of the government Plan for Change and for growth.

For those reasons I commend the bill to the house.

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The question is that the bill be read a second time. As many are of that opinion say, "Aye". And of the contrary, "No". The ayes have it. contrary, "No". The ayes have it. The ayes have it. Programme motion to be moved formally. The question is as on the Order Paper. As many is as on the Order Paper. As many are of that opinion say, "Aye". And of the contrary, "No". The ayes have of the contrary, "No". The ayes have it. The ayes have it.

If ministers are wishing to leave the Frontbench, are wishing to leave the Frontbench, do so now. We now come to motion

14:44

Motion: Debate on a motion relating to the Committee on Standards Third Report of Session 2024-25 on Register of Interests of Members’ Staff

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do so now. We now come to motion number four, Leader of the House Tim Uy. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I

14:44

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I beg to move that the Motion in my name on behalf of the Commitee on name on behalf of the Commitee on Standards relating to the register of members and staff interests. I welcome the committee consideration of this matter and for the report. The motion, if approved, would extend who should adhere to the Register of Members' Interests of interests. And who would have to register their interests. And to include all of those who have a pulmonary network account as opposed to the current position of just staff who hold a photo ID pass for the estate.

The report, which is available for that House, outlines that the intention of this expansion of the register reflects current working practices. There has been a significant increase in the number of staff who have full access to much information and materials without a need to be present on the estate. The report outlines that this results in more than half the staff employed by members not being required to make a transparency I am grateful to the committee for their work on this matter, and I know that the chair will want to contribute to this debate and outline some of the debate and how they plan to implement this measure should it be approved today.

But I can assure the House that the intention is to provide time for the committee to make any necessary transitional and technical arrangements for the introduction of the change, and details will be provided to all members and staff, so on that basis, I commend the motion to the house. paper.

14:46

Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP (Hereford and South Herefordshire, Conservative)

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I thank the leader also for the work that she has given. In supporting this motion, I would like to add one small cautionary note which is that it has been relayed to me both from constituency staff and from other bodies that there is a potential concern about the release of names into the official public register and the connection that could be made there to email addresses. And I would be very grateful if, as the committee picks this up, it might devote some consideration among the other issues in order to reflect further to make this effective and as good a piece of legislation as we can make, or ruling as we can make.

ruling as we can make.

14:47

Alberto Costa MP (South Leicestershire, Conservative)

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Thank you. May I first thanked the leader of the four so quickly coming forward with a proposal for the sole recommendation of my committees third report of this session. The committee agreed on 12 June and barely a month later, here we are seeking to put its recommendation into practice. The change we propose is straightforward and quite confined but it is a real pleasure to see a proposal make such quick progress. As today's motion makes clear, the register of interest for MP staff, though who MPs employ to help us in our work has been in its present form since 1993.

At that time, it was considered that members of staff had privileged access to the Parliamentary Estate and its facilities because they held a pass allowing them physical access. It was those staff and those staff only who were therefore required to register any relevant interest. Times have changed as times I want to do. The arrival in the intervening 32 years of such minor innovations as the internet and mobile telephony have enabled remote access to the estate in a way not envisaged when the register was first created.

There has been a substantial growth in the practice of working from home and it is entirely possible now in a way it was not then for a constituency- based staff to have access to Parliamentary information and facilities without ever setting foot within the precincts of the Palace of Westminster. We are acting quickly to catch up slowly on the way that work and working practices have altered. At the time of a reporter month ago, around 2000 passes had been issued to staff but around 4200 members of staff have Parliamentary network access.

The change the committee proposes simply means that all those with such access will be required to register any interest arising from the list set out in the motion. It is a small but important reinforcement of the transparency that the house properly seeks and how the Parliamentary community does its vital work. The change as the leader of the suggests will not happen instantly if the house agrees this motion. The committee has sought to improve the transition in the motion to enable the standards committee to press go once the register of interests has satisfied us that the IT solutions required of which we have seen examples are robust and ready to go.

I would also like to thank the shadow leader for the comments he has raid and the concerns which he noted in respect of this motion. The committee is aware of concerns raised through the union Unite by staff but a new requirement of registered interests will place their names on a public register and I and the standards committee have offered to meet with representatives during the transition period to hear those concerns and if necessary, to consider whether a million nations may required, and I will report back to the leader of if the committee so views that those might be required.

Therefore, I am grateful to unite for having raise those concerns with the committee. And I am also grateful to Unite for having said that the approval of the principles behind these changes. So with that caveat in mind, it is the committees hope that the new arrangements will be in place in the autumn and that the committee in conjunction with the registrar will seek to publicise the change to ensure that all members of the house are able to encourage their staff to register as required.

Once more, the leader of has responded quickly, and thank you to the shadow leader for noting concerns raised by some. I trust that the house will feel able to improve these new arrangements.

14:52

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Manchester Central, Labour )

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Can I thank once again the chair of the committee for explaining to the house the background of bringing forward that report. As I have forward that report. As I have committed to him, I am very keen that reports that up to this house by the standards committee, I ran that forward to the recommendations as soon as possible, so I hope that I can show willing with having done this in this way so quickly, and can I thank him for his reassurance to the shadow leader and the trade unions who I know fully support the principles and the intention behind this measure but has the shadow leader said, there are some concerns about creating an entire register for those with no returns that perhaps could be found by those trying to lobby people and have access to people who put it out there for public view, so I look forward to him consulting and working with the unions about how that can actually be delivered and if any changes are necessary, my door is always open as ever, so can I just finally thank him and the whole committee and the Parliamentary standards as well for

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all his work with the committee on this and many other issues. The question is on the order

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The question is on the order paper. The aye have it. I will let paper. The aye have it. I will let the frontbenchers have a moment to

14:54

General debate: Giving every child the best start in life

the frontbenchers have a moment to shuffle over. Thank you. We now come to the debate on the matter of giving every child the best start in life and I call the Minister to moon.

14:54

Stephen Morgan MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Portsmouth South, Labour)

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This government has a mission to break down barriers to opportunity for children and young people so that background does not determine a child's future and their successes. After 14 dark years and the party opposite, we are restoring to our communities the hope which, for too many families, simply faded away. Because what this government inherited was truly a shameful legacy. They had 14 years in government and their record speaks for itself. 1300 children's centres closed or hollowed out.

Early years childcare costs spiralling way above the rate of inflation. Providers closing year-on-year. Now I know the members opposite, there are very few of them there, will bleat that, in their manifesto, they promised better, but the people of Britain are determined by what they deliver, not what they promised. At the heart of Labour's ambition for a better Britain is bringing change to the first few years of early years so that opportunity is not the privilege of a few but common to all of us.

Children's early years are crucial to the development, health, and life chances. It is where we can make the biggest difference because, on average, 40% of the overall gap between disadvantaged 16-year-olds and their peers is already emerged by the age of five, and in those early years, so much of the inequality that those figures says that our society is entrenched. If we want to build a fairer and more equal society, as members on this house of the side want to see, that is where we lay the foundations.

If we want to see change for good, then the transformation we seek to bring must be part of a wider approach that covers every aspect of education and health, every facet of opportunity. That is why this government has published our vision for the future of early years. This landmark strategy will bring together early years and family services and put children's first years at the heart of work to improve life chances. It is backed by close to raise quality, and breakdown barriers to opportunity for every child.

Giving every child the best out of life sets out the first steps to delivering on our plan for change, commitment for a record number of people to start school by 2028. We will make early education and childcare more accessible and affordable. And expand and strengthen family services, and this build on the progress we are already taking, making sure that we find new and expanded school-based nurseries across the country, finding new breakfast clubs in early adopter schools, offering places to nearly 180,000 children including 79,000 pupils from schools in the most deprived parts of the country.

And from September, ruling out 30 hours of funded childcare for working parents, saving eligible parents using their full entitlement and average of £7500 a year. It should be the case that every parent that once it can get the high quality early education and childcare that they need. Yet for in 10 parents with children under five say there are not enough places locally. Disadvantaged children and those with SEND had the most to gain from early education and yet more affluent areas often have more places.

So we will improve the system. More families can benefit. We create tens of thousands of more places in expanded school-based nurseries backed by over 4000 million pounds of expansion. We will look at working parents, saving eligible families and average of 7 1/2 thousand pounds a year and we work closely with local authorities to increase the take-up of the 15 hour entitlements so the children from lowering families, though with SEND and those on kerosene the support that they need. As a result of the decisions made by my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, this government will soon be funding around 80% of the early education and childcare hours in England.

And if the government buys a service, it has an obligation to use that power in the public interest to shape the market, improve standards, to support and develop the workforce. And that is what Labour believes, and that is what Labour believes, and that is what we will do. We think we can do more to guarantee the benefits of that investment and ensure that they are realised where they are needed. We will look across the early education and childcare support provided by departments to find ways to increase the overall impact of government spending on children and families.

The passionate early years staff have passion across the country on the visits that I do they have worked brilliant later deliver for families at every stage of expansion of government funded childcare and continue to do so ahead of September. Because families know the difference that access to a place that meets their needs can make. That is why we are investing over £9 billion in early education and childcare and white diverse early years sector with a brilliant and valued workforce is absolutely key.

We will work with the early years sector to support settings to grow and spread their expertise, including working alongside philanthropy and social investors to encourage not-for-profit providers to open. We want early years to be a career people are proud to start and be rewarding to pursue, and more opportunity to gain and enter the workforce and build fulfilling careers. Childminders pay an integral role in our early years landscape and are treasured by so many families, and that is why we will keep working with the job centre plus to encourage people to become childminders.

But we also make sure the childminders and other providers can be paid monthly for funded hours, listening to the sector and making their income more We want a system that supports high quality provision for families. This includes funding for Ofsted to inspect settings more often and inspect new settings within 18 months of opening. The early years workforce is at the heart of this government's mission to give every child the best start in life. We are making sure that high quality starts also transitioned into starting school, making reception year a national priority for the Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence teams.

We want high- quality evidence to underpin the training and support and develop and for people working from the baby room through to the reception year. This will mean that passionate people can grow their skills and careers, help every child thrive. Together with educators and leaders who wants to drive high and rising standards, working with providers and schools, to equip them with the tools, training, and support that they need to meet every child needs. Alongside raising the standards of early years educators the professional register, we will increase the number of qualified early years teachers.

Aiming to more than double the number of funded early teaching training places by 2028. We will also offer financial incentives to attract and keep early years teachers in nurseries serving the most disadvantaged communities. So that every child the matter where they live can benefit from high quality early education. The SEND system we inherited from the party opposite has totally lost the confidence of families. This Labour government is absolutely committed to restoring that confidence. The last Conservative education secretary labelled the system she secretary labelled the system she left behind as "Lose, lose, lose.

" While current Tory shadow ministers said they did not do enough on SEND and should hang their heads in shame. We agreed that the differences we are doing something about it. We will make inclusive practice standard practice in the early years, by embedding an inclusive approach in our workforce education. Training and leadership opportunities, and funding evidence-based programs that are proven to improve children's development. We will drive improvements in the quality of teaching in reception. During schools have access to the right tools including tailored improvement to help each parent play the part and be confident in their child's progress.

This renewed vision for the early years goes hand-in-hand with the national approach to family services. One that brings together health, education, and social care. Around the needs of families, children, and babies. That is why I am proud that this government has established the best start family hubs that will be funded across all local authorities, bringing the Best Start family hubs and Start for Life

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approaches. He mentioned family hubs which I

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He mentioned family hubs which I welcome. In my area of Surrey we are going to local government reorganisation. How will that rollouts be impacted by reorganisation? Are you expecting to let over the next couple of years

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let over the next couple of years and then reorganise it after a new council has been created? Thank you for the question. We are obviously working through the are obviously working through the detail of our commitment as we detail of our commitment as we speak. We take his point back to the department. I know they are working closely with colleagues in MHCLG. closely with colleagues in MHCLG. What is powerful is we will be rolling out the family hubs to every rolling out the family hubs to every local authority in the country to make sure they make a real difference to the life of every child.

We are investing over £500 child. We are investing over £500 million to expand Best Start family million to expand Best Start family hubs to ensure LA live families can access joined up high-quality support from pregnancy through to early years. As part of the early years. As part of the investment we are providing dedicated funding to deliver evidence-based support for home evidence-based support for home learning environments, with a particular focus on disadvantaged families and the quality of parent- child relationships. He wants to support parents to create rich and nurturing home environments.

Encouraging them to chat, play, and read more with their child. We know the everyday interactions are the building blocks of early development. To help our ambition for 75% of children to achieve a good level of development by age 5, we will fund more evidence-based parenting, and learning programs so that more families can access these services before their children start school. This will be supported by a new national Best Start digital service, links to My Children on the NHS app bringing together the trusted advice all parents need, into one place and linking families to the local services.

In conclusion, the Labour government is committed to breaking down the barriers to opportunity. Early years and where we do that most powerfully. That is why apparent vision is clear, to make early years education the best it can be for children and in all settings. This is the start of a decade of national renewal. For families and the support that they receive. We will go further and faster to ensure that every child has the best start in life and the chance to achieve and

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to thrive. The question is that this House has considered the matter of giving

15:06

Neil O'Brien MP (Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, Conservative)

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15:18

Helen Hayes MP (Dulwich and West Norwood, Labour)

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Thank you. Giving every child the best possible start in life should be a driving mission of every government. Investment in the early years and in high quality education years and in high quality education for every child delivers amongst the highest returns of any area of public spending. They are quite literally building the foundations of a child's life. Governments that get policy right in these areas reap benefits in health and well-being, and economic growth and lower crisis -related costs.

The previously for government made huge strides in this area. The longitudinal studies now confirm that children who lived short to a centre did better in their GCSEs, the hospitalisation of children was reduced and so was the need for specialist support and education. But a year ago, this government inherited the legacy of a previous government that had not prioritise the needs of children for 14 years. Sure start have been largely dismantled. School and further education budgets cut. Early years funding has not kept pace with inflation.

Key services like health visiting and midwifery were scaled back. SEND services and Services stretched to breaking point, increasing numbers of children in the care system who are all too often being failed. Our children have been buffeted by the multiple blows of austerity, Brexit, the pandemic and the Liz Truss mini budget bearing down on public services that support children, young people and their families, resulting in more of childhood being left to chance, existing disadvantages, barriers to opportunity, remaining in place and being allowed to perpetuate.

The education Select Committee has recently published a report on children's social care. Children's social care is a good place to start, thinking about this governments opportunity mission because it is where some of the most egregious barriers can be found. The children whose families need the most support, whose lives are scarred by abuse or neglect, those for whom the state has both grievous responsibility and a huge opportunity to make a difference. The independent review of children's social care commission by the previous government described the system they presided over as a need of a total reset.

Spending on early health and support services that preventative nurturing support delivered by sure start centres, community nurses and early years practitioners has plummeted spending on crisis interventions including out of area residential placements often grace costs have spiralled. The number of children entering the care system has been rising and perhaps most telling of all, the outcomes for care is absolutely dire. This failure is so significant that if the government is serious about tackling homelessness, if it is serious about tackling the crisis in the justice system, it must turn its attention to the plight of care experienced people who are so vastly overrepresented in both of these populations.

Far less likely to be in education employment or training than their peers and far more likely to have poor mental-health. I very much welcome the government's commitment to invest in best start family hubs.

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Before coming to the chamber today, I had a meeting for experienced people and children experienced people and children where I learned, in the last year, 2023 to 24, over 15,000 children in care moved home, that is 34%, nearly care moved home, that is 34%, nearly 5 1/2 thousand in care moved school, 5 1/2 thousand in care moved school, so with the member agree with me that as part of the government strategy, we really need to support the children in care and minimise the disruption to their lives that we can control?

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we can control? I thank the member for his intervention and I report says exactly that. We have a system of exactly that. We have a system of children in social care that is under so much pressure it all too often fails to put children at the often fails to put children at the centre of the services that are supposed to be delivered to give supposed to be delivered to give them more stability and security in life and there many things about that system that urgently need to that system that urgently need to change.

I welcome the government's commitment to invest in best start commitment to invest in best start family hubs, providing better early health and support services in more area of the country. We need to see area of the country. We need to see investment which can take the balance over time from crisis spending to spending on more preventative services that can deliver genuinely good outcomes for children. Our committees report points to some of the further steps that are also needed, including creating a national offer for care leavers, improving mental health support.

The children and addressing the practical barriers such as housing that currently prevent the effect of foster carers. In the early years, the government inherited the previous ministrations commitment to expand funded hours of childcare, predominantly for working parents. This is a very challenging commitment to deliver. We know that it is quality early years education that has the most potential to breakdown barriers to opportunity yet the previous government's approach was designed to deliver more hours of care without any specific focus on quality.

The earlier sector is fragile and fragmented and providers continue to close. The expansion of school-based nurseries is a very welcome first step but there is undoubtedly a tension between a funding system designed to support working parents and the ability of the early years sector to reduce the impact of disadvantage for the poorest children, and the government must address this tension in the forthcoming child poverty strategy. Our committee second big enquiries in the system of support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

We are routinely letting down children and families, budding professionals working with children in an impossible position and driving more than half of local education authorities to the edge of bankruptcy. Children with SEND should be able to thrive in education, and education should equip them well for the next stage of life, yet for far too many children, the failure of the system results in absence from school, or mental-health and low attainment. There have been many rumours about what the government might do to reform the system, and I must say that these rumours are really unhelpful and traumatising for families who already have far too much to content with.

My committee will report after summer recess that I am clear that the government should be setting out a clear process and plan to engage parents and professionals and ensure clear and effective accountability mass and isms. I think the government is right to start with increasing the inclusivity of mainstream schools, but if it is to do this effectively, there must be proper investment to resource mainstream schools to become more inclusive with clear definitions of what an inclusive school is an strong accountability.

Finally, a priority which runs through all of these issues is tackling child poverty which has risen to shamefully high levels under the last government and is perhaps the biggest barrier to opportunity of them all. I am delighted that the government has announced an expansion of the eligibility criteria for free school meals to include all children whose families receive Universal Credit. As a local councillor, I was proud of me introduced free school meals for children in 2010 and we have seen the benefits of providing children with a nutritious hot meal over many years.

We will also make a big difference. Hungry children cannot learn, so taken together, these measures will ensure that no child has to start the school day hungry and the children who need it most get a nutritious meal at lunchtimes. They will boost learning while also easing costs for parents. Our committee has also recommended enrolment so that every child eligible to receive the new expanded free school meals offer receives it automatically and no child misses out. I am heartened to see this government putting children and young people at the heart.

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On the topic of child poverty, one of the drivers of child poverty that has come through my casework is that has come through my casework is the child may service and the lack of enforcement powers they have on holding parents to account who refuse their duties. Does she agree refuse their duties. Does she agree with me that greater enforcement powers, greater scrutiny of the child maintenance service is essential for reducing child poverty as well?

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as well? I thank the honourable member for his intervention and I agree. I have seen how it has become harder and harder for families to get resources and accountability out of the child and accountability out of the child maintenance service and I agree there is work to do in that space. I'm sure the government is similarly I'm sure the government is similarly aware of the challenges.

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aware of the challenges. Does the honourable member agree that an event I went to yesterday that an event I went to yesterday with health equal shows there is a 16 year discrepancy in life expectancy depending on where a expectancy depending on where a child is born? Does the honourable member think we need some form of legally binding poverty reduction target scheme which could be in place, like we had in Scotland, so place, like we had in Scotland, so we can measure progress?

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It is devastating to hear about those disparities across the country. I was at a secondary school recently in a very deprived area of the constituency and the teacher the constituency and the teacher told me that, when she had been at an event across the whole of her an event across the whole of her Academy trust, she noticed that her children were smaller than children children were smaller than children who went to schools in more affluent areas of the country.

That is a disgrace and not something we can disgrace and not something we can tolerate. I am clear that we expect the strategy to be ambitious and to the strategy to be ambitious and to be far-reaching and to do so, you must have clear targets and there must be clear accountability and I must be clear accountability and I look forward to its publication and my committee along the work of pensions committee will play our part in scrutinising that piece of work which is so important.

I am heartened to see this government putting children and young people at putting children and young people at the heart of its priorities after 14 years in which they have been an years in which they have been an afterthought. There is much more to do, and my committee will continue do, and my committee will continue to play its part by scrutinising the government and making evidence-based recommendations. I want to see a clear vision with real ambition for clear vision with real ambition for every child and a plan for all parts of our care system so that we can start to see the promise in this government's agenda.

The promise of transformed lives and life chances being delivered in every part of our country. chamber?

15:29

Munira Wilson MP (Twickenham, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you very much. I welcome this opportunity to talk about giving every child the best start in life because I suspect there are not many people in this chamber who would disagree that every child deserves a very best start in life and it is our duty as policymakers to ensure that parents and carers have access to the help and support they need to ensure that every child gets that best start in life. The best out family hubs that were announced last week are very welcome and present a great opportunity for the government to address the growing inequalities across from the previous government? If resource properly, the best start expansion could help achieve many of the things we have been calling for, including special educational needs and disabilities, contact times and practitioners and access to nutritional advice.

However, the government's aim must be matched with effective delivery. Children and families cannot afford for the government to get this wrong and the years under the Conservatives which The strategy states that high quality education and childcare this life chances for children and enables parents to work. Plans to invest in training and to raise the skill levels are welcome but I'm afraid the rhetoric from the government does not meet the reality on the ground.

The funding for the childcare proposals fell far short of what it took to deliver the provision. I'm afraid the current proposals from Labour are insufficient for industry and the ill-advised National Insurance hike has not only hamper economic growth but put hundreds of charitable and private mysteries at risk of collapse. One third of providers are at risk and four in 10 would reduce funded places for children aged three and four, according to the Early Childhood Alliance.

The government risks issues with the deserts left behind by the previous government and what is the point in having the payments if parents cannot access them because providers cannot fulfil them? With the expansion in childcare provision, keeping our children safe is paramount. I welcome confirmation last week that the frequency of inspections by Ofsted of early years settings will increase and that work is being done to develop an effective approach. As the Minister knows from conversations, if we are to prevent the tragedy that happened in Cheadle and the recent shocking case in my constituency when a nursery worker was convicted last month of 21 counts of child cruelty at the nursery, to prevent those from happening again, ministers must go further and must go faster.

The Early Years Foundation framework urgently needs to be strengthened and guidance put in place to keep babies in particular safe in these settings and that's important with the expansion of childcare foundation for children under two. I hope we can see clearer guidance on this and especially with CCTV, which I've cited today, and regular review of the footage. The strategy points to a golden standard for evidence informing practice. I hope the Minister will say in winding up if you will work with experts and charities to coordinate safe sleep standards for use in early years settings and make sure that goes hand in hand with multi-agency safeguarding training.

Giving children the best start in early years also means giving parents a genuine choice on whether to spend more time at home or go back to work full-time. I am proud to Liberal Democrats in government introduced shared parental leave but they take up years later it remains low because of low rates of statutory and paternity pay. I am aware the government has started to review the parental leave and pay. I welcome this. The Liberal Democrats have long called for a statutory paternity pay to be doubled to £300 a week and fathers to be entitled to one month of paternity leave as well as an 'use it or lose it' month of shared paternal leave because we know how valuable the opening months of the child's life are.

I hope the Minister and his colleagues in the Department for Business will heed our calls. I also want to press the Minister again on the strong economic and moral case for granting economic and moral case for granting statutory paid leave for carers, many of whom get forced out when they take on caring responsibilities to provide a safe and stable home for children. Despite all efforts, we must acknowledge some children will not get the best option in life due to trauma which means they have to be separated from their birth parents.

We must ensure they get the very best second chance in life. Family hubs must be modern signposting services but must offer trusting relationships and practice in front by trauma and staff must have trading the saying this part of the government into rebuilding trust with families. Continuing on that theme, the adoption and special guardianship support fund, as many members will know, provides funding for vital therapy to help these children process trauma. These sessions are not easy and some children are taking months to step through the door.

It is vital they are given the space and time and the support to help and to relearn how to trust adults. However, slashing the funding for each child from £5000 down to £3000 mean many. Therapy sessions, just as they get through the door. This is frustrating for parents, whether frustrating for parents, whether adopted or guardians but it also complains the tragic belief of the child they had been let down by all adults. The Minister knows I am determined to see the fuel £5000 funding restored for every child.

-- full. I will press them again today to go to the Treasury and demand the additional funding to meet the demand for the grants for the next generation can believe there are adults and even governments that are worth trusting. I have said previously that reducing the other budget by 50% would allow growth from £50 million up to £75 million to meet that demand. I would also urge the Minister not to leave parents, carers and children in limbo again by waiting till the last minute to announce further the fund will continue next year.

Instead, I hope ministers will commit to announcing the future of the fund by September so that families and providers can plan and have certainty for the future. Finally, parents and carers had been subjected to an adversarial special needs system for far too long and they have had to fight tooth and nail for the right of their children to be secure. Good education helps children discover who they are and what they can offer and sadly far too many are denied the help that they need.

As the chair of the select committee has pointed, the rumours that have been circulating have left many families across the country deeply concerned about our number of things. I know members across Parliament have had their inboxes filled with concerned emails. It is clear that the SEND system needs reform. It is broken. Any change must have children at the heart, not a Treasury drive for savings. I'm glad to see inclusive practice and SEND will be embedded in teaching.

It is crucial to identify early to ensure children get the help when they need it. It remains to be seen just what that help will be. The government has continuously failed to communicate with those affected by decisions but they have the chance to tell parents today further education, health and care plans will be removed from any child. I reiterate what the member for Kingston said to the Prime Minister last week and the letter that was sent to the Education Secretary sitting at the five principles for SEND reform the Liberal Democrats are happy to work with the government on.

We know that all these children, for the they have special needs or not, regardless of their background, whether.

15:39

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

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Every child, regardless of where they are born, deserve the best start in life. This claim has a direct impact on the performance at school, their workload, and affects all of their life stages. After leaving university, my first job, 20 years ago, was working for a local Sure Start centre in Stoke-on-Trent. I loved working there because I saw first hand how SEND has transformed the lives of families in Stoke-on- Trent. That is why the plans of the liberal government to rule out the family hubs across the country fill me with pride.

-- Labour Government. So many parents were given the necessary helping hand to give their children the best start in life 20 years ago and that is why it was devastating for me personally to what shady Conservative cuts decimated -- Presley to watch and see what the Conservative cuts decimated separately. They have claimed they did not actually close any centres but that was partly true but they took out all the centres had as for the left empty buildings with no offer of help to the committee.

It seemed obvious to me long before I was involved in politics that these cuts would result in more children living in poverty and care. I went to some meetings, not when in politics but working for the YMCA, and the concerns I raised were laughed off by Conservative councillors who said that they knew best. The facts on the ground said different. Stoke- on-Trent has among the highest numbers of children living in care anywhere in the country. Meanwhile, more children are living in poverty. This was completely avoidable and a political choice that the Conservatives made.

As the children impacted by the cuts grew older, they found a new hurdle with the massive cuts made to youth services in the committee. Conservative austerity led to over 90% of the money being taken away from local councils that funded youth clubs, which will give pubs I would have gone to when I was young. -- They were youth clubs. They were no longer available for young people in our community to engage in hobbies any more.

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I'm grateful to my constituency

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I'm grateful to my constituency never for giving way to me over my other constituency neighbour. He makes an important point about the vital role of county councils and local authorities can play in local authorities can play in providing services. Would he join me providing services. Would he join me in calling on the county council and Staffordshire to get their act together to make sure the services together to make sure the services that are young people deserve are delivered? Speak I agree and they

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delivered? Speak I agree and they often discuss this. I absolutely agree. I am grateful to my honourable

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I am grateful to my honourable friend forgivingly and I'm grateful friend forgivingly and I'm grateful to see representatives from Staffordshire talking about this today. I have got a group of young today. I have got a group of young people from my own constituency with me, participating in my first-ever me, participating in my first-ever summer school. The ad on the balcony today. They've been learning about how Parliament works and using their how Parliament works and using their voices to make change happen.

Can my honourable friend agree that honourable friend agree that committed serious we want to give every child the best start in life you must extend to youth services

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and giving them the opportunity to see the difference they can make? I welcome the comments. Citizenship is something I have reported over many years and so I take the comments on board completely. The Conservatives, unforgivably, turn their backs on children and young people when dealing support the most, I froze to be an MP for Labour, working alongside the government back on the sale of children, young people and sale of children, young people and their families.

In my constituency I have been into academies and visited the breakfast club is being rolled out. I have seen firsthand how kids arrive tired and hungry and then started the very down, full of energy, no longer with hungry bellies. I'm proud the government is extending free skill -- free school meals. That bill for thousands in Stoke-on-Trent next year. Being well fed means children learn better and is a critical step in lifting children out of poverty. I have focused on that from Michael working career.

I'm also proud we have got one of the very first skill-based nurseries which has been ruled out at the Academy. -- School-based. at the Academy. -- School-based. This will assist families who need a helping hand and help kids to prepare for transition into school and help to close the development gap early on. This is exactly what a Labour government is all about, supporting kids and young people to thrive and I'm proud to play my role in helping transform the lives of families across my constituency of Stoke on Trent.

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Order, order. I will announce the results of the division. On the

15:45

Deferred Division Results

results of the division. On the Draft Enterprise Act, the ayes, 334. The North, 54. The ayes have it. On the amendment for considerations of order 2025, number seven, the ayes, order 2025, number seven, the ayes,

15:46

Danny Kruger MP (East Wiltshire, Conservative)

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It is a pleasure to follow the honourable gentleman. His predecessor was a great Schools Minister previously in the government. I pay tribute to him in his memory. I also paid tribute to David Johnson, another former member who was children's Minister in the last government and responsible for much of the important reforms my colleague mentioned earlier. I welcome the debate. I recognise much of what the Minister said earlier about the importance of early years and the sort of interventions the government are talking about.

I welcome the ending children in poverty strategy. I want to make a poverty strategy. I want to make a point in this debate, I have heard a lot this afternoon about the importance of investment and importance of support for the different professionals who support children and families and that is all absolutely right and important. And I agree. Nevertheless, surely the most important resource available to us for supporting children and young people is their families and the communities that they grow up in.

I would implore the government to think very seriously in the preparation of their strategy about how they are supporting the conditions for success in childhood, not simply about the public sector professionals and the agencies and institutions which are available, but what is the strength of the informal institutions that young people grow up in. I welcome the fact that he mentioned in passing the importance of social investment and philanthropy and civil society in the provision of support for young people.

I claim some credit for the announcement the Chancellor made on Monday. She happened to be at the charity in Wigan, it was not on the press release, but that began on the press release, but that began its life as for young people. And the children sown in New York, a successful project aiming at much of the agenda we are discussing this afternoon, early identification of children at risk and the provision of support for them and their families on a community-based model, support for children and families that are disadvantaged.

We set the project up with help of significant philanthropy from Paul Marshall, founder of the ARC school chain, he said let's do it here. And we did it, on the slightly different model, quite monolithic, it is single entity, the model in west London is now being expanded across the country, I pay tribute to the team country, I pay tribute to the team there, they have been a genius running this thing. What she did was to bring together, recognise, there are, in our communities, an enormous array of resources in the form of local projects, formal and informal, which can help with the task of bringing up a child, as a village should.

The mission is to identify in schools, with the help of teachers, crucially using the data available on attainment and attendance, children who are likely to struggle later on. Then to ensure, on a personalised basis, they get the support they need, not just from the statutory system around the school, that will never be adequate to the range of needs and challenges that a population of children will need, but drawing on the resources of the community. Started in west London that has pockets of wealth and pockets of disadvantage as well.

Those disadvantage places, across the country and in Wigan where the project is working now, you can see that, there exist tremendous institutions that can support children and young people. I think there is a huge opportunity, not just to look to the state, schools or Local Authorities or to health, even though it is important to bring these agencies together around children, she think the real resource we have is in the communities, we should be putting in real support, whether faith groups, professional bodies, faith groups and local organisations.

And lastly...

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I thank you for giving way. I would agree that the foundation would agree that the foundation starts in the home with parents. And the mother's health during pregnancy the mother's health during pregnancy and postnatal and the government should include in their strategy should include in their strategy review of the current services and review of the current services and what support can be available to children.

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children. I find myself in agreement with him quite a lot, which is more than I expected when he was elected to I expected when he was elected to this place. That is great. I want to come to the importance of final life. I do not know to what extent life. I do not know to what extent that is on the agenda with the child poverty strategy. There will be lots poverty strategy. There will be lots of talk of families, maternal health and so on, but the crucial determinant of success for children is the quality of the relationships they grow up in.

We know this from all of the research in brain development of children, they are development of children, they are literally forming, human beings, literally forming, human beings, unique among mammals, we emerge very unformed, our brains are very blank as we emerge from the William. The strength and the health of our brains and our futures are laid out in early years by the quality of the relationships we grow up in and we experience. I know the government recognises this because of their emphasis on early years.

The quality of the relationships in the home matter so much. I hope the government will recognise the value of stability, the value of two- parent families as a source of real strength, protective factor, predictor of successful children and young people, we should do all we can to support single-parent can to support single-parent families, they are necessary, if we want to tackle child poverty we should support family stability, that means recognising the household as a unit, we are too individualistic with public policy in this country.

We think of family strength and that does not mean supporting couples. I welcome what the government is trying to do, I hope there will be recognition of the importance of community in the importance of community in family life and child poverty. Thank you.

15:53

Abtisam Mohamed MP (Sheffield Central, Labour)

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This area is of importance to me,

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This area is of importance to me, I spent 20 years working in or with communities. A significant part was in early years. I helps the children's centre through the Sure children's centre through the Sure Start programme, I saw how vital Start programme, I saw how vital early years provision is, how it lives of families, supports parents and gives children the solid foundation they need. The centres I worked with did not just offer worked with did not just offer childcare, it was a hub for childcare, it was a hub for essential early years services to help families.

We know that the intervention of early years support lacks a lifetime -- last a lifetime. lacks a lifetime -- last a lifetime. , they can shape their chances for the future in school, work and life. Since 2010, we saw hollowing out of Since 2010, we saw hollowing out of early years support. Sure start centres closed in their hundreds under the last government. Early years intervention services cut to years intervention services cut to the bone and I know this because our early years provisions we had lost a significant amount of funding, as did many others in Sheffield.

£3 did many others in Sheffield. £3 million of cuts to citywide services in early years started a campaign to in early years started a campaign to save early years, of which I became more involved in. Back then we argued when the cuts were being made that when we failed to invest in early years services, we paid the price down the line. In health inequalities and loss potential. We argued when the cuts were being made that there is a cost of late intervention, to communities and to public services, which is higher than the cost of getting it right from the start.

I welcome the initiatives from the government, the expansion of free school meals, free breakfast clubs and the 500 million investment into best start family hubs will stop it is important they catch their problem much earlier on, catch their problem much earlier on, before they escalate. When we invest much earlier on we reduce the cost to the NHS and the social care and Criminal Justice System. It is important we also see additional investment in existing family hubs, those who have been working tirelessly to provide early years support despite funding cuts.

It is vital we keep the independent voluntary sector involved in these discussions, many are involved in the delivery of early years services and family hubs in their communities. Investing in family hubs is not just good policy, it is the right thing to do. We want to tackle child poverty and ensure every child can drive, this is very start, with families right at the heart of that. heart of that.

15:56

Rachel Gilmour MP (Tiverton and Minehead, Liberal Democrat)

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The best start in life means a good education, good education means good school and a good school means a learning environment in which children can thrive. My constituency should not be an exception. But because of the decisions of the previous government it has been. I want to focus on the plight of my constituency, perhaps it may well relate to other communities. Among visiting, one could be forgiven to be sucked into complacency, but hidden in the area there are serious pockets of deprivation.

Economic and social poverty. You can feel it. Tiverton high school has been promised a rebuild since 1999. 26 years. 26 years. Time after time successive administrations of different stripes did not deliver, reneging on his promises. Since my arrival in this place I have pushed and pushed to secure commitment to the high school read. I was filled with a sense of optimism, last year the Department for Education confirmed the schools inclusion in the building programme, with commencing early as April 2025.

Finally it seemed the government had grabbed the metal. He did the cause. They had grown impossible to ignore. -- Heeded the calls. It is true the long-standing promise of a rebuild long-standing promise of a rebuild saw the school see routine maintenance for by the wayside, a keep calm and carry on setting, with anticipation diggers would get underway. The school is riddled with asbestos, unusable for many months of the year, and depriving students of education.

The school was built on a floodplain, the crucial detail which was skipped over and not acknowledged in the assessment by the Department for Education. The regular flooding of the buildings being a risk to life, particularly if you are under FIFA. Madness in 21st-century Britain. The school is dilapidated, not an environment conducive to learning. -- Under five foot. People feel nurtured, thrown onto the societies and forgotten about. -- The society's scrapheap. What messages that send children? If they rolled back on the promise of a rebuild, it would see a whole immunity shunned again.

-- Community. It will be cruel. We are talking about the hope of a community string along for 1/4 of a century, reduced to a line in a ministerial briefing. They say politics is the art of the grave. I will not walk away empty-handed from this. The community needs this to be this. The community needs this to be

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It is a privilege to contribute in the debate today on giving in the debate today on giving children the best possible start in life. As a father, this matters deeply to me politically and personally. We understand our personally. We understand our experiences in our first you ship experiences in our first you ship the adults were going to be and memories will stay with us for life, memories will stay with us for life, shipping confidence, relationship, and the view of the world.

I'm sure and the view of the world. I'm sure

16:01

Josh Newbury MP (Cannock Chase, Labour)

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and the view of the world. I'm sure all of us have had the privilege of into schools and speaking to children about what they want to be friendly grub. It is a privilege and responsibility to ensure children can dream as big as read that and feel supported. It is vital, therefore, that we do everything to ensure that every child gets the same opportunity and support to thrive. I want that for my children. I'm proud this government is committed to rolling out Best Start family hubs.

They provide a vital wrapper and support for families and offer everything from early education, advice for parents, support. My local Academy is another proud example of supporting children. As an adoptive parent and foster carer, I want to speak directly to the needs of some of the most vulnerable children, those who drop in the care system. Over 5000 children are supported and many of them are in cure. Because of the increase in demand, the council has faced potential pressure, overspending by £3.8 million, largely as a result of the cost of children in care.

This demonstrates the scale of demand and the commitment required. I declare an interest and mention this is the part I have taken in fostering to adopt my children, also known as early permanence, allowing children to move into stable homes as early as possible and avoiding the disruption which can characterise life in cure. I put my personal thanks on record to the Secretary Of State for Children and Families to discuss early permanence and support for these children today.

Evidence shows that early intervention, especially when support is needed up to six months, leads to lasting gains in vocabulary. There are measurable gains in vocabulary at age 18-24 months and helps to close gaps with peers with healing by the gaps with peers with healing by the age of five. -- hearimg. These children are capable but need us to support them and allow them to achieve their dreams. Labour is delivering the biggest overhaul of legislation to protect children in a generation.

Where others were kicking political footballs, on this side of the House, we act decisively to support the most vulnerable.

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I'm sure the whole House will

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I'm sure the whole House will want to thank him and his family for

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by example and bringing life experience to this. I appreciate that. Everyone who puts themselves forward to be an adopter or foster carer does so with adopter or foster carer does so with a huge amount of passion. It is a journey that is often filled with difficulty and certainly presents difficulty and certainly presents challenges but I think all parented does that and we have to recognise that parents, no matter how they that parents, no matter how they come into parented, are doing a lot to make sure the next generation can thrive, which is why we are all here today.

The government is putting massive support for kinship carers massive support for kinship carers in place with £40 million invested in foster care and a new allowance in foster care and a new allowance to provide financial stability for those stepping up to provide support those stepping up to provide support in the community and a national ambassador will work with local authorities to improve support and pathways. Together, the child pathways. Together, the child poverty task force and the expansion of free school meals, these underpin of free school meals, these underpin the mission to lift children out of poverty because no child should be hungry in the classroom.

I investing in family hubs, families can access wrapper and support. By ruling out early intervention programs for boosting language and early fostering to adopt children in the care system, we can deliver on the promise of giving every child, not just some, the best possible start in life to deliver on potential. Every child loves stability and opportunity and for the dreaming of being a doctor or an MP, it is our job to make the streams possible and allow them to make the most of opportunities.

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I am grateful for the opportunity

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I am grateful for the opportunity to speak today and I welcome the announcement by the secretary of announcement by the secretary of state and government on the work that is planned and the investment which has been announced. We agree which has been announced. We agree that every child in the country, regardless of postcode, parent, circumstance, deserve the best circumstance, deserve the best possible start in life and that is not just a slogan but a moral duty

16:06

Iqbal Mohamed MP (Dewsbury and Batley, Independent)

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not just a slogan but a moral duty and a political choice. It is the foundation for a more fair, strong, prosperous Britain and a critical contributor to the growth mission of the government. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities afforded to me when I was a child and I am the oldest of six. My mother was a homemaker and my father worked in a factory and fell ill and was supported by the state. I had free school meals, free school uniform, had the opportunity to go to university without incurring tens of thousands of pounds in debt.

I wish for the same opportunities and more for every single child in our country going forward. Today, far too many children have been failed by a system which is stretched, fragmented, underfunded. We are the sixth largest economy in the world but have rights and child poverty, issues with services, and a life expectancy gap which is alarming between the richest and the rest. It does not have to be this way. We can and must do better. If you are serious about giving every child the best start in life, it must start before buy.

The life chances of a child are shipped long before they take the first breath. Health for new mothers is critical for safe delivery and the emotional and physical development of the child. Across the UK, staffing levels for midwives are dangerously low and prenatal support is patchy, inconsistent. There is real issues with opportunity for ethnic minorities in deprived areas and health needs are often ignored. I would urge the government to take a holistic view and review the current state of mental health services across the nation and regions and -- maternity services across the nation and put in the required investment to equalise the services and make them fit for purpose.

It is not just a health issue but social justice. The most poor women, often at the highest risk of complications, are the least likely to receive the care that they need. Investment in maternal care is investing in stronger families, healthier babies, a better future for all. Continuing where life continues in the early years, the science is clear and has been mentioned already that the years up until five up until 5C the most opportunity for improvement and contribute to success, health, economic opportunity.

Why is this still a postcode lottery? Why is the inequality in PE? We must deliver universal care from the beginning to the end of school and I welcome investment in this area and we must invest and I fully support government plans to invest in the early years workforce. We must make quality and not just quantity a measure of success. Families are the first and foremost influence on the life of a child but support has been dismantled over the last 14 years.

Health visits have been cut and Sure Start centres closed and many parents left to struggle alone. I welcome plans to rebuild family hubs in every amenity, the health visiting service, trust, by giving parents will support and not judgement. -- Real support. One of the biggest issues facing a child in terms of how well people do in life is where they were born and the income available to the family. Across the UK, child poverty has been rising.

According to the Child Poverty Action Group, 1.6 million are affected by the two child benefit cap, with your future limited by a government policy, not anything the family has chosen to do, but a decision denying them support to grow and thrive. In my constituency, over 11,800 children are growing up in poverty. More than 50% live in working-class households. These families are doing everything asked of them, going to work and trying to say, but are unable to meet their child's basic needs.

One parent told me they live in a 2-bedroom flat with three children and they have two cycle to work and they are in deficit and an extra £50 a week would make a huge difference, meaning a warm court, school trip, proper meals, my child arriving in the classroom ready to learn. What kind of country does that to children? We want every child to have the best start in life but how can that happen then policies push them into hardship from both? It's not just a matter of litigation but a smart investment, leading to better outcomes, higher earnings in the future, increased tax revenue.

Children are not a cost to be capped but the future of the country. We must also tackle the mental health crisis affecting children and young people. As we know, and as I have heard many times, many are overwhelmed and waiting months for help and so we need mental health support teams in every school. We need early intervention, not crisis firefighting. We must train staff in trauma-informed practice. Moving on to education, I was looking -- I was blessed with the opportunity to go to school and I never went to school on an empty stomach and the benefits my father received made sure I had free school meal and this be the huge difference to what I've been able to achieve in life.

Education should be the great leveller. In reality, the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and peers is disappearing, not shrinking. We must expand free school meals to every pupil because no child should learn on an empty stomach. I welcome this being ruled out for every child with Universal Credit in the family but I would urge the government to expand and make it a universal benefit. In conclusion, this is not about short-term fixes, but long-term relation building and solutions.

Our country that invests in its youngest and supports mothers, refuses to accept inequality as inevitable. When we give children the best start in life, we all benefit, with lower crime, better health, stronger communities, and a more productive economy. Let us rise to the moment and stop managing the claim and start investing in potential. Let others give every child in every corner of the country the best start in life. Thank you.

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I commend the mission to give every child the best start in life and so it is critical that all and so it is critical that all children, no matter where they are born, have every opportunity to achieve potential and at this point achieve potential and at this point I must mention the number of MPs from Staffordshire sat here during from Staffordshire sat here during the bid. It shows you the importance of the topic to our children in our

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county. I am inspired by my honourable

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I am inspired by my honourable friend. I'm grateful to the honourable lady and she is right, this is missing the point that

16:15

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

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Staffordshire hunt as a pack. We absolutely do and we get our

16:15

Iqbal Mohamed MP (Dewsbury and Batley, Independent)

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We absolutely do and we get our colleagues and become a formidable bunch. I am very proud to be part of the team. I am proud to work for a

16:15

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

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government that is breaking down barriers to opportunity, tackling child poverty, improving early years development through the Plan for Change. This is a nationwide issue but I wish to stress the critical importance in Stoke on Trent more widely. Our children have been neglected by the previous government, time and time again, and that some of the worst outcomes for childhood development, health, well-being of the country. I want to point out that this is the best place in the country to live and that people are fantastic.

We have been let down, and it is by no means the default of the wonderful people the default of the wonderful people

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My constituency has recently

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My constituency has recently scored the second best in the country for people to advance. The neighbouring constituency has scored neighbouring constituency has scored top. We know that there are challenges for children in life. It challenges for children in life. It is so important that kids in Staffordshire get the same opportunities. Which is why this opportunities. Which is why this government is working to spread the opportunity for an wide so they all have the best possible opportunity

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in life. I thank you for her intervention and commend her on the wonderful and commend her on the wonderful outcomes propose. I'm sure you still have issues in your constituency you have issues in your constituency you to battle for. Child poverty in my constituency is as high as 66 percent. In 2022/2313 children in percent. In 2022/2313 children in every classroom of 30 were living in poverty. Between 2019 and 2021, poverty. Between 2019 and 2021, babies born in Stoke were nearly twice as likely to die before their first birthday than the national first birthday than the national average.

Stoke-on-Trent has the highest number of children in care per head of population in England, our children face excessive delays in early years development. In 2023, Stoke-on-Trent was the bottom 10 of all English local authorities for the number of children with the expected level of literacy, communication and language and numerous skills I early years foundation stage. I know the figures will shock many but I want to make it clear that Stoke-on-Trent must be a priority region for tackling child poverty and related missions.

There are children in my constituency who start school unable to speak, use the toilet or brush their teeth. There are children in high school still learning phonics which should have been taught in primary school, as they are struggling with such severe delays in development. On the topic of infant mortality, this is an issue linked to socio-economic inequalities and persistent inequalities in health. As has been mentioned, the first 1,000 days of a child's life are the most important. What happens during these days can in many cases predict a child's entire life course.

But so many children in our city, their first few years are marked by deprivation, poor quality housing and low living standards. The Labour Stoke-on-Trent City Council are doing excellent Our children, they have made major improvements to children's social care services, focusing on early health, and new front door arrangements and the family matters program is a multiagency program delivering prevention and support services to provide children with the best start in life. Local organisations have also run incredible programs to facilitate a thriving early years network in Stoke-on-Trent to improve children's early development.

Our city council and local services have had to work incredibly hard against a backdrop incredibly hard against a backdrop of successive cuts over the last 14 to 15 years which have decimated so many services and forced many to close altogether. Many of our early intervention holistic programs, those where families could get advice, health visitors supported families right from pregnancy and staff could identify families in need and offer early support, have need and offer early support, have

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now closed their doors. I thank her for a brilliant speech and also forgiving way. Isn't speech and also forgiving way. Isn't much of this about the history of our communities, lots were let down and forgotten for many years. We don't just need joined up thinking, don't just need joined up thinking, we need joined up results because that is how we deliver for communities in Newcastle, Stoke-on- Trent and across Staffordshire. I thank you for his intervention. He thank you for his intervention.

He points out the complexities and history of these issues that we face that we need to solve in a holistic approach. I thank you for that approach. I thank you for that point. I have forgotten where I was. In the absence of these amazing services, Sure Start mentioned by my colleague, the predominant policy colleague, the predominant policy route now has been to fund reactive services that only reach families at crisis point. Not only is this crisis point. Not only is this costly, it results in so many children with developmental delays or safeguarding concerns going unnoticed until it is far too late.

Early years services provide the Early years services provide the lifeline to so many families, in their absence, inequalities have their absence, inequalities have risen and children have suffered. Children deserve better. I'm grateful to the Minister who is that in her seat he has agreed to have a meeting with me to discuss these difficult problems we wish to solve and which the government are working hard to address. I am pleased, as I said, that this government is expanding the early years offer through the family hub model.

I am grateful that the government has further committed to supporting the family hub. The families elsewhere Family support hub. They are aware of the challenges in their community. They also deserve support and children would hugely benefit from the centre in their neighbourhood. We know what works. We know high quality early years education and support networks for families can completely transform a child's life chances. We know early intervention is far more effective and far more affordable than trying to fix problems later down the line.

We need policies that improve neonatal and postnatal health, provide parents with the knowledge and support to give their children the very best start and provide children with the support to achieve their early learning and development goals. I am so grateful for the expansion of early years support through the best start family hubs and our targets for early years development under the plan for change. This government will bring about much-needed change for children across the country and it is critical that this investment is

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received in Stoke-on-Trent South. I congratulate the Minister for

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I congratulate the Minister for that statement and thank him for the work he has done, particularly on getting mental health support getting mental health support workers in our schools. Is there workers in our schools. Is there Member of Parliament for Epsom I see how important early years investment how important early years investment is for a child's life. Around my is for a child's life. Around my community. This week I had the community. This week I had the pleasure of meeting a young boy pleasure of meeting a young boy waiting for his GCSE results, with a clear dream of what he wants to be.

I have also seen children being held back, not because they lack talent or ambition, but because they did or ambition, but because they did not have the same start in life. In some areas children want to be doctors, engineers. The areas they doctors, engineers. The areas they doctors, engineers. The areas they cannot see my past what is around them. It is about early years opportunity. I want to support the government expanding breakfast clubs. Like the one in my constituency making a real

16:25

Chris Bloore MP (Redditch, Labour)

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difference. These clubs set children up for a positive start to their day and ease pressures on hard-working families. I welcome the government's plans to extend the number of plans to extend the number of children that will receive free school meals. I'm pleased there will be a central funding for the first time for the best start family hubs across my constituency. The hopes will provide support for families from parenting advice to early development services, offering a development services, offering a vital lifeline, a true successor to the legacy of Sure Start.

I was the legacy of Sure Start. I was struck when I listen to the Secretary of State earlier this we talk about this rollout, that the Prime Minister came to my constituency in the final election some of the general election campaign, gave his speech in Sure campaign, gave his speech in Sure Start centre that had been abandoned Start centre that had been abandoned by the previous government, in a constituency that had been forgotten, one of the most socially and economically deprived areas in the West Midlands.

I'm delighted this government is taking action to reverse 14 years of decline. I'm reverse 14 years of decline. I'm also happy to see it invest in making a difference locally. At the Academy, funding has been used to Academy, funding has been used to convert unused classrooms into nursery spaces. Providing places nursery spaces. Providing places where they are needed most. That helps level the playing field from the start. My constituency is also seen significant increases in SEND support for the county council, although there is more work to do there.

And the benefit of support workers in schools. We must go much further. In my days, I was taught in a class of nearly 40, in temporary buildings. They should be behind us. Yet, because of disastrous decisions like cancellation of the building programme, schools are facing the daunting challenge of having to raise millions of pounds to remain fit for purpose. I want to see that -- do not want to see that school have temporary buildings enforced upon them. That was not levelling up, that was levelling down our children.

I want to say something clearly, I have never met a family that wanted an easy ride. I have only met families who want a fair shot for their children, a level playing field, the chance to give their children opportunities they did not have. That is why I found the debate yesterday on the two- child limit troubling. The fact the official opposition made children a political wedge issue. Condemning their parents for whatever circumstances they may find themselves, a decision that will only impact children.

That is why we have this week about the better future fund, a decision to invest for the private sector to have outcome based delivering opportunities to lift children out of poverty. We cannot talk about giving children the best start in life without talking about addressing poverty in all forms. Furniture funding. There are some children who go to sleep without a children who go to sleep without a bed, and parents without cookers. The member talked about families in his brief intervention, I would like to put on record that all families do not have two people or two parents in it.

Families can be indifferent sizes and we should support all of them. This is about dignity, stability and the basis of a secure home environment. If a child cannot sleep properly, study

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in peace On the point about furniture

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On the point about furniture We have a beds for kids project, because there are so many kids in Stoke-on-Trent who do not have a bed to sleep at night. I agree with his comments about furniture poverty. It is important that also gets picked up in terms of government policy. I agree, it is a stain on Civic agree, it is a stain on Civic Society that we have failed. I agree with the rights and responsibilities with the rights and responsibilities of families.

Unfortunately voluntary of families. Unfortunately voluntary groups have taken up the challenge where the state has rolled back. To complete my remarks, where we have complete my remarks, where we have the financial capacity, we should the financial capacity, we should produce people in poverty, it is produce people in poverty, it is about their dreams. For those who believe in social mobility, he believe in the transformative power of education and aspiration, we should never sacrifice the principle on the altar of desperate attempts.

What happens to children in between? The people struggling to afford school shoes or make ends meet. I am pleased the government are refusing to take on the opposition's mantra of condemning parents for their choices or the circumstances they find themselves in. If we are serious about giving every child the best start, we need more than one words, we need investment, compassion and commitment to early years as a national priority. Something I'm proud to be part of the Labour government who have done so far.

It's those first days, months and years that futures are forged and responsible at ease as lawmakers and public servants are at

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their highest. It is pleasure to follow my

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It is pleasure to follow my honourable friend. For the best part of the decade his commitment to of the decade his commitment to seeing improvement for the lives of children is something we can all children is something we can all take a leaf out of. I spend a lot of my time visiting primary schools, I my time visiting primary schools, I visit and meet with teachers, get

16:30

Gareth Snell MP (Stoke-on-Trent Central, Labour )

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16:48

Darren Paffey MP (Southampton Itchen, Labour)

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17:04

Chris Hinchliff MP (North East Hertfordshire, Labour)

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housing, built to meet needs that are not being provided for. They are not being provided for. They will be difficult choices and other projects will have to fall by the wayside but we cannot ignore the wayside but we cannot ignore the human cost of delay. It is not a static problem. Sheltered does not static problem. Sheltered does not pause. Leaving hard-working families to raise children in cramped and multi- accommodation with precious multi- accommodation with precious little space to play or learn is no little space to play or learn is no way to do this.

We need 90,000 way to do this. We need 90,000 social homes for 10 years to address the crisis and I will continue to the crisis and I will continue to make the case for funding package. This is not just the right thing to do morally but has also been shown that hitting the benchmark would that hitting the benchmark would return billions to the public purse with lower spending on temporary accommodation, reduce benefits cost, less crime, nearly £3 billion from less crime, nearly £3 billion from the improved life chances of children.

I escaping the logic of children. I escaping the logic of the OBR and the old lies about savings from cuts, we can enrich the future of the nation for all of us. In my first year as an MP, I've enjoyed sitting skills and meeting students in many areas of my constituency and they are talents, optimism, it is always an antidote to the cynicism and pettiness that can all too often provide politics. -- pervade.

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I have two important points from speaking to people in my committee speaking to people in my committee and they want to be citizens, part of the rod, and secondly, they want of the rod, and secondly, they want to conserve nature and help with to conserve nature and help with that. Does he agree that children that. Does he agree that children want to take part and preserve nature?

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I do agree and each and every child in the country deserves a safe child in the country deserves a safe home that is not leaving the family struggling to make ends meet every month. If we give the next generation security to thrive, they generation security to thrive, they will do the rest and the true legacy of the government will be found in the laughter, learning, achievement

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of children. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak and I thank colleagues across the House for passionate

17:06

Rebecca Paul MP (Reigate, Conservative)

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the House for passionate contributions. The member for Hertfordshire and more including Stoke-on-Trent South, Stoke-on-Trent Central, and they also confirm that I have it on good authority that the MPs from Staffordshire hunt in a pack and I can confirm that from today. I draw attention to my registered interest before speaking. Ensuring every child, regardless of background or circumstances, has the opportunity to thrive is something that cuts to the heart of why many of us were drawn to politics in the first place.

We know that in crucial early UC foundations of well-being are led for life and we must ensure those foundations are solid. I reflect on the record of the Conservative party. Conservative government introduced and expanded free childcare entitlements for children aged three and four and also younger. They launched family also younger. They launched family hubs and the Start for Life program, providing support to families when they need it so problems can be addressed before they escalate and we recognise stable and secure families ensure the best start in life for children and family hubs are a vital part of achieving this.

For 14 years, we have targeted early health and should a determination to be the way from postcodes playing a role in health. That is nowhere more role in health. That is nowhere more vital than from conception to age 2. Science is clear. The brain of a child develops more rapidly in these years than at any other point and saw attachment, stimulation, nutrition, the emotional environment during this time, they all have implications for learning, resilience, hell. Interventions in these early days can change life chances and feel your to act components over time.

-- Failure. Earlier this month, the government published a strategy on giving every child the best start in life and the name, school, substance was much indebted to the previous government. As the old saying goes, imitation is the highest form of flattery. The flattery identifies early years as a priority for the government and this is welcome but I echo the sentiment from the Institute For Fiscal Studies that this is a first step, not the finished article. This family hubs part is a good example of this and there is a further £60 million announced in the autumn budget and £57 million in Start for Life funding for 2035-26.

The goal of rolling out the hubs in every local authority is ambitious and something to be welcomed. I will make one important point, even with the new funding, spending on integrated early years services will remain less than one third on what was spent at the peak. Family hubs are being asked to do more and seven children up to 19 with fewer resources per child and that the government wants this to be Sure Start 2.0, and I'm sure they do, they must be more ambitious for funding plans.

To build on the solid foundation inherited from Conservative predecessors they must ensure investment, high quality stuff, and target the family hubs. Before I move on, I welcome that each has been promised a staff member trading SEND who can offer practical help to families navigating what is a complex system. We all know SEND is a big issue and I'm well aware from casework in my constituency that often families of SEND children are left fighting against the system that should fight for them.

Early implementation is inconsistent and when the diagnosis is made, the EHCP assessment and support is often delayed. Disappointingly, ministers have refused to outlaw scrapping EHCP outside special schools, despite the children relying on them in early settings and that has put pressure on families and professionals alike. Over 110,000 people have signed a petition opposing the changes but ministers have not offered assurance that no child will lose the right to support. I got the Minister will provide clarity and reassurance to what parents today.

Looking at the government approach, Best Oxalate office more family hubs, expanded... -- Best start for a life. If you are seeking to seek the best, a key provision is high quality education, the very provision the bill seeks to the very provision the bill seeks to threaten. Far from it being a foundation for early years, ministers have led an attack on skill standards by undermining academies that have led the way on skill improvement projects. If the government gets its way, academies will be unable to recruit teachers without qualified status from non- traditional backgrounds and will have to fall the same curriculums as other schools, risking the progress made by three decades of cross-party consensus on academies.

This is nothing less than educational vandalism and of any member of the House that said, they will have two they will have 2p a visit to Wales, run by Labour. -- to pay. The bottom of the rankings in maths, anguish, science. They cannot bring himself to ban access to smartphones which is a simple and effective in improving educational outcomes. The honourable member brought forward a bill to do that and I welcome the cross-party consensus he built up. It is shameful the work was undone by a government that insisted on watering down the bill and burying their heads in the sand.

A government that refuses to act against this danger gives me cause for concern about the commitment to offering children the best start in life. I conclude on the studies, who are facing extreme financial pressure because of government decisions. The lack of compensation for the National Insurance employer increases causing the hating of fees increases causing the hating of fees and people to opt out altogether. -- Increasing of fees. I would to minister to consider this if the Treasury is driving them into the ground with tax increases before they have even started.

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

17:13

Janet Daby MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Lewisham East, Labour)

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