Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Select Committee Statement: Select Committee Statement on the Seventh Report of the Justice Committee, Ending the cycle of reoffending – part one: rehabilitation in prisons, HC 469

At At the At the conclusion At the conclusion of At the conclusion of his At the conclusion of his statement, I will call members to ask questions on the subject of this statement. These should be brief questions, not full speeches. Can I emphasise that questions should be directed to the Select Committee chair and not the relevant government Minister? Frontbenchers may take part in questioning. I call Andy Slaughter. Thank you very much.

14:07

Andy Slaughter MP (Hammersmith and Chiswick, Labour)

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Madam Deputy Speaker. And I thank the Backbench Business Committee for allocating time for me to make a statement on behalf of the Justice Committee. This is the seventh report of the Committee on Rehabilitation Prisons. This time last year, the Justice Committee began its principal inquiry to look at the crisis of reoffending. Against the backdrop of a broken criminal justice system, around 80% of all offending is reoffending. This figure alone suggests there is a serious issue that Hmps is not currently serving its stated mission of rehabilitating the people in its care.

The the purpose of the prison are clear. They include punishing, protecting the public and rehabilitating offenders. The opportunity for offenders to be rehabilitated in prison should not be considered a luxury. It is a fundamental necessity to ensure that those who have done their time can return to society as law abiding citizens. Yet the evidence we receive paints a starkly different prospect. Instead of being places of reform to many of our prisons have become places of stagnation where offenders languish and rehabilitation opportunities are scarce.

Our inquiry into rehabilitation has taken place amidst a prison capacity crisis, overcrowding, staffing shortages and deteriorating infrastructure have created conditions that is actively undermining rehabilitation. The committee found that the current conditions across the prison estate are simply not conducive to reform. Overcrowding has led to arbitrary prison transfers, disrupted sentence progression and reduced access to purposeful activity, education and family contact. With the demand for prison places set to keep increasing, the government must set out the steps it will take to ensure that rehabilitation is not compromised, alongside how it intends to manage demand and supply.

The challenges do not end there. In the 12 months to the 30th of June 2025, there was a leading rate of almost 12% among prison officers. These staffing shortages are not just an operational inconvenience, they are a public safety risk. As we heard recently, in the year to March of this year, 262 prisoners have been released in error. Overworked staff, outdated systems and inadequate training has meant that when officers are stretched to breaking point, the likelihood of administrative errors rockets current levels of wrongful release are not isolated blunders.

They are symptomatic of a system under intolerable strain. Alongside this high turnover, poor recruitment processes and limited professional development have all contributed to a culture that hinders rehabilitation. Governors lack the autonomy to lead effectively and the current staffing model is unsustainable. The committee recommends that prison staff should receive training at least annually, with more frequent support as they progress through their career. Furthermore, the prison estate is in a state of disrepair, dilapidated buildings and broken infrastructure limit access to rehabilitative spaces and contribute to poor mental health.

Despite recent capital investment, it remains unclear how the government intends to address the £1.8 billion maintenance backlog. This backlog is not just a financial figure. It represents real barriers to rehabilitation. We call on the government to provide clear breakdown of how funding will be used to address this backlog, and to ensure that future investment is targeted at improving prison conditions and rehabilitative activities. The committee is deeply concerned by the widespread failure to meet the statutory minimum for time out of cell.

Many prisoners are locked up for 22 hours or more each day, with limited access to fresh air, showers or rehabilitative or rehabilitation. This lack of time out of cell undermines efforts to reduce reoffending and contributes to poor mental health and disengagement. Purposeful activity, including education, work and offending behaviour programmes, is central to rehabilitation. Yet it is inconsistently delivered and often deprioritized. The sentencing Bill rightly aims to incentivise good behaviour and engagement in purposeful activity through its earned progression model.

But this ambition will fail if purposeful activity remains inaccessible. The committee calls for a renewed focus on ensuring all prisoners have access to meaningful activity and for time out of cell to be formalised, standardised and data on it to be published. Going forward, education is the cornerstone of rehabilitation. Yet prison education is underfunded and poorly delivered. Participation rates are low 5,050%. Prisoners are not in education or work. For those that do take part, Ofsted ratings remain poor, with 75% of prisons inspected in 2024, 25 rated inadequate or showing no improvement.

It is therefore unsurprising that two thirds of offenders are not in education or work. Six months after release from prison. Given this, we are alarmed by reports of significant real term cuts to prison education budgets of up to 50%. We expect the government to clarify the rationale of any budget reduction. Conditions across the youth estate are also in decline. Children in custody are entitled to 15 hours of education per week. Yet the committee heard that this minimum is routinely not met, and children are spending up to 23 hours a day in cell due to the failure of HMP to manage behaviour effectively.

As well as making every effort to meet the statutory minimum of 15 hours for education, HMP must set a statutory minimum for time out of cell in young offenders institutions. Health and wellbeing services are failing to meet the needs of prisoners. Mental health support is inconsistent and operational. Prevent timely access to care. Women in prison face acute and complex health needs, yet the system is failing to provide even basic support. Although the government has set out its ambition to reduce the number of women in custody, it is unclear what action will be taken for those currently in prison.

The committee expects the government to respond with a clear plan for how it will meet the health and wellbeing needs of the women currently in its care. Remand prisoners now make up 20% of the prison population, the highest level in at least 50 years. Yet they remain excluded for much of the prison regime, including access to education. We heard that remand prisoners often spend extended periods in custody, only to be released directly from court following conviction, without any support or intervention.

This raises serious concerns about how the government expects these individuals to avoid reoffending. Rehabilitation must be available the moment someone enters custody and therefore remand. Prisoners should have access to all parts of the regime should they choose to participate. There is more. There is plenty more to be done to improve outcomes for offenders. The committee will shortly commence part two of its inquiry by examining how rehabilitation continues in the community for those released from prison, as well as those serving non-custodial sentences.

A further report will follow, making not only recommendations for changes in how community sentences work, but also long term recommendations for structural reform across the criminal justice system to once and for all, end the cycle of re-offending. Let me be clear the time for action cannot wait for sentencing. Bill represents a welcome opportunity to rethink how we reduce reoffending, but legislation alone will not deliver rehabilitation. I apologise that it's a bleak prospect that I set out, but that is the reality of prison life and prisons are simply not working, and particularly not working in the field of rehabilitation.

As this report sets out, it must be matched by a renewed focus by Hmps to deliver better time out of cell education and health and wellbeing services. I urge the government to take these recommendations seriously, to promote rehabilitation effectively, and to ensure that our prisons are places of reform, not despair. The government has inherited a very difficult situation here. It is trying to address that in a number of ways. But the crisis in prison cannot be underestimated, as the symptoms have shown recently in wrongful releases and other tragedies in the prison sentence.

We have to deliver a system that truly serves the public good, and that will only come in the longer term with effective rehabilitation

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and prison. Tessa Munt. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker,

14:16

Tessa Munt MP (Wells and Mendip Hills, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, I thank the hon. Gentleman for presenting the committee's statement with the Chief Inspector of Prisons recently, concluding that the outcomes for children in custody are not improving and the urgent notification issued to Secure Training Centre. And given that its children we are discussing, does the hon. Member agree that the conditions across the youth estate are completely unacceptable and as recommended, the government should produce an action plan for youth custody?

14:17

Andy Slaughter MP (Hammersmith and Chiswick, Labour)

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I do agree and I thank the hon. Member who is a very effective and active member of the committee for that question. We shouldn't ignore the fact that youth custody is one of the successes of the prison system, in the sense that over the past few decades, the numbers of young people in custody have gone down from, I think, over 3000 to around 400 now. But those who remain in youth custody in a variety of a rather confused variety of institutions, are not being well served.

I think it's the intention of the committee to look at youth custody and young people in prison itself. But we can only examine and recommend. I think it is for the the government to look as a matter of urgency, the crisis that exists also in the youth estate for those who remain in custody.

14:18

Warinder Juss (Wolverhampton West, Labour)

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I thank my hon. Friend for his statement. Does he agree that reducing re-offending through rehabilitation is not only the key to reducing the prison overcrowding, but also the court backlogs too? And it is unacceptable that prisoners have to very often make the choice between either engaging in work or education or accessing their basic needs, such as having time out in fresh air, having a shower or a hot meal.

14:18

Andy Slaughter MP (Hammersmith and Chiswick, Labour)

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Again, I thank my hon. Friend for that question. It's it's certainly true that there is a close relationship between the crisis in the courts and the crisis in prisons, and a good example of that is that what I mentioned in my statement, the number of people on remand is at a 50 year high, and they are occupying prison places for far longer than they should be. It's also true that if we can break the cycle of re-offending, and I've said that 80% of offences are re-offending, the numbers in prisons will come down.

That in itself will make rehabilitation in prisons a lot easier. That will mean that fewer people are becoming before the court. We're in a we're in a downward spiral at the moment. We have to not only stop that, we have to reduce that so that lower offending, lower offences against the public at large mean fewer people in prison and fewer people before the courts. It's a big ask,

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there. Sir Julian Lewis. In light of the urgent question

14:19

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

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we had earlier today, does the chairman of the committee believe that it is essential for the purpose of rehabilitation, that prisoners should be protected against indoctrination by convicted terrorists?

14:19

Andy Slaughter MP (Hammersmith and Chiswick, Labour)

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I do believe that very much, sir. And I believe that that that is what this and indeed previous governments have have set out to try and achieve. I hope that the report of Jonathan Casey will shine a light on what is not working in relation to that, and certainly, given his background, I believe that it will. The government then has to implement that, because one of the problems with prisons, and we covered this in another very recent report on drug culture in prison.

It's the operation not just of extremists, but organised crime and the the lack of control, the lack of organisation and disciplines, not only in prisons, he talks about, but across the prison estate is one of the most worrying aspects of prison life at

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the moment. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

14:20

Sarah Russell MP (Congleton, Labour)

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There is an epidemic of violence against women and girls in this country, and the government has a stated aim of reducing this by 50%. In that context, it is absolutely critical that our prisons play their role in rehabilitation. Does the chair of the Select Committee agree with me that whilst 70% of people are being released from remand, having spent either directly because they found not guilty or in fact because they're found guilty, but on the basis of time served, we're currently missing a huge opportunity to do rehabilitative work because that is typically not offered to those on remand at all.

14:21

Andy Slaughter MP (Hammersmith and Chiswick, Labour)

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Torfaen very much for that, that question. Numbers of women in prison and indeed of young people are a small percentage of the prison population, but they give particular cause for concern. I mentioned in my my statement the, the health and mental health needs of prisons, which are higher levels of self-harm, are higher. And there is a clear need there. It's a need, I think, to be fair to government, the government has recognised and which the government has policies to address.

It's the practicality of that that we're lacking now because at the moment the levels of support that are required. So I welcome the fact that the government has said it wants to see it very clearly, wants to see fewer women in prison. What we need to know is how is that going to be

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achieved from this point onwards? Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Around half of prisoners are

14:22

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

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Around half of prisoners are neurodivergent, and the population of young prisoners with ADHD is around ten times higher than in the population at large. And with such specialist targeted support needed for these prisoners. We've heard that they've been let down by the system, and they can't access the right time and the right support, regardless of the new system that's in place. Does the hon. Member agree that the delay in producing an update to the neurodiversity action plan is unacceptable, and it really must be published straight away?

14:22

Andy Slaughter MP (Hammersmith and Chiswick, Labour)

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As the new the newest member of the committee, I'm pleased to see her here today. Yes, she she she's always got behind the brief very quickly because we are waiting for an update on that. On that on neurodiversity action plan. Many levels of of societal problem are reflected to a much higher level in prisons, whether that be people with learning difficulties, people with literacy problems, and indeed neurodivergent. That's not a coincidence, but it is a wake up call to the fact that these issues have to be addressed if we are.

Rehabilitation is for all prisoners, and we and special steps need to be taken in relation to neurodiverse prisoners. So I hope we are going to see and see the Minister, very capable Minister in her places listening to all this, and I'm sure

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she will tell us very soon when updated. And that concludes the statement.

14:23

Presentation of Bills

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And that concludes the statement. We now move on to the presentation of bills. Presentation of Bill of bills. Presentation of Bill Bobby Dean. Tax Reliefs (Evaluation) Bill Second Reading. What?

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Day by day, 14th January.

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Friday, the 14th of January. Presentation of Bill Max Wilkinson.

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Presentation of Bill Max Wilkinson. Thank you very much. Declaration of Income and gifts by candidates for elected office. Russian

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Federation Bill. Second Reading. What day? Friday the 10th of July.

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Friday the 10th of July. Friday the 10th of July. We now

14:24

Backbench Business: Debate on a motion on the subject of International Men’s Day

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Friday the 10th of July. We now come to the backbench debate on International Men's Day, and I call

14:24

Josh Newbury MP (Cannock Chase, Labour)

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International Men's Day, and I call Josh Newbury, who will speak for around 15 minutes. Josh Newbury. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I beg to move that this House has considered International Men's Day. The issues affecting and contributions made by men and boys, and what it means to be a man in Britain today. It is an honour to lead this debate, and I am grateful to the Backbench Business Committee for granting time for the House to consider this important issue, and to members from across the House who supported the application and recognised the need for a serious national conversation about men's health, men's wellbeing and modern masculinity.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of our International Men's Day debate, a chance for us to celebrate men and commit to tackling the challenges that they face head on. For me, being a man means being there for family and friends, particularly when they need the support the most. It means being the best dad and husband that I can be, and perhaps most importantly, being a fallible human being. But let's face it, you don't need to be an expert to know that being a man in today, Britain today can be very tough.

We hear that from the men in our families, on our street and in our workplace. Mental health issues are on the rise. Preventable killers like heart disease and prostate cancer are being caught too late. And most shockingly of all, suicide remains the leading cause of death for men under 50. Something I know many hon. Members wish to focus on today. With this backdrop, many men and boys are turning to online influencers who promote a particular reductive view of what being a real man is.

But that really gives them any sense of hope or optimism, optimism about their future and their role in society. The uncomfortable truth is that as men, we often don't ask for help. For generations we have been taught the stiff upper lip. Sorting yourself out. Manning up is the best response to life's challenges. When you combine that with higher rates of addiction of various types, it's no wonder Men's health has reached a crisis point. And that hits families, workplaces, and our communities. This is why the first ever mental health strategy for England, published yesterday, is so welcome.

I commend the government and all of the organisations involved in writing it, for listening to what men need and not shying away from tackling issues that affect men specifically. This strategy will mean we meet men where they are to break down enduring stigma around mental health. It will improve care for men with prostate cancer, and it will support ex-miners like those in my constituency, with better NHS diagnosis and treatment for people at high risk of respiratory disease. It's the first serious effort to understand the problems men face and chart the path to a country where men and boys can live longer, healthier, happier lives.

As the first speaker, I want as best I can to set the scene for the discussion and highlight the breadth of issues affecting men and boys across the UK, from health and education to employment, fatherhood and social wellbeing. Today we will touch on the challenges men face at every stage of life, celebrate the contributions they make to their families and communities, and hone in on what we can do to shift things in the right direction. I particularly want to thank the Dad Shift campaign for their support in shaping today's debate.

Their campaign for better paternity leave, backed by undeniable evidence, is grounded in lived experience. And they're also the reason that you might expect 1 or 2 dad jokes this afternoon, Madam Deputy Speaker. I'll go into their campaign in more detail later, but I'd like to kick things off with one of my favourites. Scientists have found that dairy cows give a better yield when farmers talk to them. It's a case of in one ear, out the other.

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I was tempted to pause for laughter in my speech notes, but I'm glad. I didn't.

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I didn't. Jokes aside, the challenges we face begin very early in life, with boys lagging behind girls from boys lagging behind girls from school readiness through to further education. This year, 45,000 fewer men under 19 started university men under 19 started university compared to their female peers, and boys are disproportionately excluded from school. And let's say excluded from school. And let's say it as it is, white working class boys are at a particular disadvantage and not because of a lack of talent, but because of the lack of talent, but because of the hand they are dealt from birth.

To employment outcomes. Paint a similar picture, with young men similar picture, with young men making up 62% of those unemployed, nearly a million men out of work. All while our construction, All while our construction, teaching, healthcare and social care sectors struggle to fill vacancies. Yesterday. More in vacancies. Yesterday. More in Common published a report into the disillusionment amongst many men, particularly those in their 40s and particularly those in their 40s and 50s. Some in the media might characterise this as a backlash against feminism, but what's actually behind it is men feeling actually behind it is men feeling that their lives are out of control, that no matter how hard they work, they can't provide the security and they can't provide the security and opportunities they want for their families.

They can't plan for the future, so it's no wonder that they future, so it's no wonder that they feel vulnerable and let down, particularly by politics and politicians. Their priorities are, unsurprisingly, very similar to the general public. Daily pressures like the cost of living, insecure work, unaffordable housing, high levels of immigration all combining into a sense that the system is rigged against them and in favour of those who are already privileged. Loneliness and poor mental health is one of the inevitable consequences of this, particularly concerning given that middle aged men are amongst the least likely to seek help, either from professionals or their peers.

And just as men take on more and more pressures and responsibilities, many find that their social circles shrink. Community groups like Andys Man Club and Stand By Me in My Constituency have such a vital role to play. They work tirelessly to give men that non-judgmental space, to meet others in a similar position, and know that they are far from alone. And on that note, International Men's Day should be an opportunity to smash through stigma. Want to be that I believe still persists amongst men? Is being the victim of sexual harassment and assault.

Breaking the silence can mean those of us in privileged positions telling our stories. So here is mine. Around ten years ago, I went on a night out in an unfamiliar city with a group of friends. I was very conscious not to overdo it, because if I got separated from the group, I wanted to be able to find my way back to the hotel. I remember going to a few bars, having a good time, but then it's a complete blank, which is something that I've never experienced before or since.

The next morning, I woke up with the worst headache I've ever had. The man I was sharing the hotel room with commented that he had a great night, but that I'd overdone it a bit and needed to be looked after. That didn't seem to tally with me being determined to pace myself, but I thought maybe I'd drunk too much and I just wanted to get home and sleep it off. What followed in the days after was constant text messages from this man, initially just asking if I was okay, but then repeatedly asking what I remembered and commenting that I was a great shag.

Now that made me freeze because I had no recollection of getting back to the hotel, let alone anything else, and he'd repeatedly told me how out of it I'd been. So how could I have ever consented? It took me a few weeks to piece together my memories, the blanks, the text messages, this man's insistent tone. Obviously, I cut myself off from contact, but it took me a long time to admit, even to myself, that I was a victim of rape. I never felt able to report this and face the likely conclusion that, months on from that night, there wasn't the tangible evidence to ever bring a charge.

And I will probably always carry a bit of guilt around that. I found myself processing all of this with thoughts like, I count myself lucky that I was unconscious when it happened, but I want to say clearly today that no victim should ever feel that they have to put themselves in a hierarchy or feel any shame. If it is the people who do this to another person who should feel shame. And I hope that we can foster an atmosphere where men have the courage to speak out about this and seek justice, even if it is a hard road.

Now I realise that this is a very heavy topic Madam Deputy Speaker, so I'd like to end on one that brings me and so many men a huge amount of joy, and that is fatherhood. The vast majority of dads want to play a bigger role in raising their children. The previous generations did. The traditional role of protecting and providing is still there, but more and more dads are clear that providing also means their children are benefiting from their presence as much as possible. Right now, we have the least generous statutory paternity leave in Europe at just two weeks and at less than half the minimum wage, with nothing at all for self-employed dads.

One stat that I find shocking is that 90% of paternity leave claims are made by those with above average incomes, and far more is claimed in London than in the rest of the country. That is a stark class divide, and is certainly not what the last Labour government envisaged when paternity leave was introduced. A poll by Movember found that 62% of new dads struggled under financial pressure, and a third don't take any leave at all. It's no wonder that recovery times for mums with birth complications are getting longer and mental ill health amongst new dads is on the rise.

This is the future of our country that we are talking about here, and we deserve so much better than this. Before I finally sit down, since I'm in such good company, I'd like to give you one more dad joke. I went into a bank recently and asked for some nails. The assistant asked me how long I wanted them. I said, well, I was planning to keep them. Maybe I could have paused for. Let me end on this. Supporting men and boys is not a fringe issue, and it's not an issue for men alone.

Say this out loud and proud. A society that helps men be healthy, hopeful, and present is a society that works better for women too. You want stronger families, better relationships, and happier communities. Lifting men and boys up is part of that solution. Men who protect and provide shouldn't be shamed. They should be celebrated. And to my fellow men, if you are ever struggling with anything at all, just know that we will hear you and be there for you. International Men's Day is a reminder that change is possible and it's necessary.

Thank you madam.

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The question is as on the Order Paper and with an immediate four

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Paper and with an immediate four minute time limit, I call Clive Jones. Thank you very much, Madam

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Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. As we mark International Men's Day, it is an opportunity to address the biggest opportunity to address the biggest inequality in men's health. Prostate cancer is the most common

14:34

Clive Jones MP (Wokingham, Liberal Democrat)

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Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, yet it's the only major cancer without a screening programme. Hopefully, the Secretary of State will ensure this changes in the National Cancer Plan. We are approaching a pivotal moment on the path towards the UK's first prostate cancer screening programme. We cannot afford to wait. While more men miss out on life saving early diagnosis. Some men face greater inequalities than others. Prostate cancer UK report that black men face twice the risk of prostate cancer, and men in deprived communities are 29% more likely to be diagnosed with late stage, incurable prostate cancer without targeted and urgent action.

These inequalities will only deepen at national screening programme is urgently needed. It would result in earlier diagnosis and we all know that when prostate cancer is identified, early survival outcomes are dramatically improved. As I've said, I'm sure the Secretary of State will ensure that prostate cancer will be a priority within the upcoming national cancer plan. But could he confirm this? Can he also confirm that GP guidelines will be updated so they can start life saving conversations with men at risks? There must also be clear advice on simple online risk checker, and the government needs to fund nationwide awareness programmes so every man knows his risk and can act early.

Implementation of these four things will dramatically improve the outcomes for men with prostate cancer. I'm afraid there will be no dad jokes from me. My daughter's constantly tell me that all my jokes are dad jokes and they're bad ones. Thank you. Yeah.

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I call it David Burton-Sampson. Thank you very much. Deputy Speaker. You may or you

14:37

David Burton-Sampson MP (Southend West and Leigh, Labour)

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may not have noticed this unusual growth appearing between my nose and my top lip. Yes, it's Movember, and for the first time ever, I've had the opportunity to prove to everyone I can actually grow facial hair. Well, if that's what you can call it, my Mo is becoming the subject of much contention, with many suggesting that this premier of what I now affectionately call Bob should remain after the 30th of November. But those who I'm gaining a growing level of respect for because of their sensible opinion agree that Bob needs the chop.

And that's exactly what's going to be happening. Movember is one of many great organisations focusing on men's health, including improving men's mental health. I am growing this Mo to highlight a plight that many of us will have been touched by, not just poor mental health, but male suicide. As I have said in this place before. I have been personally impacted by male suicide, having lost a good friend literally just a year ago last week. A year on, I know that for me and all those who were part of his life, the initial shock may have gone, but the sense of loss and pain still lingers, as do the endless questions of what if? No more so than for my friend's husband.

We often forget that suicide has a profound effect on those left behind, especially partners. Suicide survivors, as they are known, will often likely go on to develop depression, PTSD, and need psychiatric care. Most worryingly, people bereaved by suicide are 65% more likely to take their own life than somebody bereaved by a natural loss. The story of my friend is sadly, a story that is repeated time and time again. The stats around male suicide are simply shocking. Three in every four suicides are male, and it's the leading cause of death amongst young men aged 20 to 34, with the highest rates of suicide amongst men aged 40 to 54.

Many of these men have been in contact with either their GP or other primary care services prior to the death, but only 33% of men are part of the of men, and referrals to NHS talking therapy. And that doesn't match when you think that 75% of men are victims of suicide death. So what's leading to this? It's often thought that men just don't talk about their feelings similar. Similarly, they ignore signs of ill health. Much of this is because of the cultural norms around masculinity that cannot be broken for fear of appearing weak.

But is this really the case? As I've just said, many men will reach out to primary care estimated to be 43% of men aged 40 to 54 who die by suicide saw their GP in the three months before their death. What men often don't do is talk about their feelings in environments where they're likely to get more peer support from the community. Some amazing works being done in this space by organisations such as Movember, Men's Shed and Andy's Man Club.

I'm delighted to see I will give way.

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He's making a really excellent contribution on the issue of men contribution on the issue of men not expressing their feelings. At my last surgery, I had a constituent who was telling me constituent who was telling me about the domestic abuse he had suffered. But being a man, feeling unable to express that because men unable to express that because men do not get beaten up by women, does my hon. Friend agree that domestic abuse is an evil that, although largely affects women who are

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largely affects women who are targeted, men can also be affected by domestic abuse as well? Yeah. I do agree with everything my

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I do agree with everything my hon. Friend has just said. Domestic abuse is abhorrent and it does mainly affect women, but we can't mainly affect women, but we can't deny that it also affects men and this is something we need to look into and address. Look, I'm into and address. Look, I'm delighted to see the first ever Men's Health Strategy launched yesterday, starting to address head yesterday, starting to address head on the issues I've raised today. With £3.6 million invested in suicide prevention projects for suicide prevention projects for middle aged men and expanding and expanding mental health teams in expanding mental health teams in schools, plus a partnership with the Premier League together Against Suicide initiative.

With the Suicide initiative. With the brilliant Samaritans. Moving forward, we absolutely need to keep the focus on supporting men's health, especially their mental health. We want to see more men's spaces continue to evolve, to be more supportive of men's emotional needs. I'll continue to work hard through the APPG for Male Suicide and Mental Health to drive and promote better mental health for men. We must see suicide rates come down before we lose too many more of our sons, brothers, fathers and partners.

And to finish, in the spirit of the dad shift request for as many dad jokes as possible, here's mine. Why did the maths book look so sad? Because it had too many problems. And on that note, if you feel you have too many problems,

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don't hold them in. Get talking. Thank you. Yeah, yeah. Natalie Fleet.

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Thank you. Deputy Speaker. I am absolutely thrilled to be here today to celebrate the incredible men amongst us, including the Member for Cannock Chase. And I thank him

14:42

Natalie Fleet MP (Bolsover, Labour)

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for Cannock Chase. And I thank him for sharing his story. Men need to be celebrated today that pick up the pieces, make our lives better by being in them, provide positive role models to our children. I want to speak about the most undervalued man in my life, my husband Richie Fleet. In March. It will be 25 years since we met me at 16 with a newborn and him ready to step up into a role that he chose to, and he has absolutely smashed.

He makes me feel supported and loved, and I am proud to see him growing from a caring and present father to an incredible grandad. And I can't wait to see his adventures with our granddaughter as he drops his hours to take on his share of her childcare. Yeah, sorry. Madam Deputy Speaker, this breaking news. All the toilet seats have been stolen from Scotland Yard. But police say they've got nothing to go on. So I love that everyone loved it.

Yeah. Too long. The times, everyone loves the dad joke. We can't let paternity leave be the real joke. And the way that we see it is really important. It's a very important class issue, either with 90% of paternity leave taken by the 50% of top earners, and dads in my area are less likely to take paternity leave than dads that live in London. The men's Health Strategy, which I am thrilled that we are introducing, is right to identify that flexible working and sufficient paternity leave positively impacts fathers health, relationships with their partner and involvement with their child.

When we get this right, it's not just better for men, it's better for women and children too. I was honoured to be at the first ever International Men's Day celebration in Downing Street last night. I could take a guest and there were so many to choose from in my constituency, like Kyle Barnes in Langwith, who set up a football team for his daughter, like Andrew Roseberry in South Normanton that spent so much time volunteering at the school, like Tony Mellors in Newton, who wants to make sure that is our area's history is passed on to the next generation.

But the man I took was Paul Oxborough from Homewood. Paul's friend, Dale Caffrey, was a man that we lost too soon. Suicide remains the biggest killer of men under 50, and the destruction left behind is immeasurable. He set up men's health motorbike with Dale's wife and best Friend, a mental health charity that provides free online and face to face support. In five years, the charity has grown from 100 volunteers, now holding over 400 events this year, taking mental health peer support to the biker community across the UK.

I am thrilled to have this national charity established in my constituency by this incredible bloke. As I saw Paul speaking to the Prime Minister last night about all that the charity had achieved, I thought about the suicides that could be prevented. There's so much to celebrate today, but there is so much more to do. Let's show our boys that real courage is talking about men's mental health. Strength comes from opening up when you need to. Let's make it real. That proper, brave men talk about how they feel.

And I'll finish with the words of my friend Tracey about her late husband, Kurt Hayes. Bradley. One life lost is one too many. Every life saved is a blessing. It is definitely time to talk. Thank you.

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He Alistair Strathern Madam Deputy Speaker. And can I just start by saying an incredible thank you to the hon.

14:46

Alistair Strathern MP (Hitchin, Labour)

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an incredible thank you to the hon. Member, my friend for Cannock Chase for the way in which he opened today's debate. Securing it was important enough, but the bravery I think he showed today, as well as the leadership he's shown on so many of the issues that he spoke to in his speech, will serve men right across the country, far better in the future than maybe politics, as well as chief in the past. And it's a day after International Men's Day, but I could not think of a better model for a modern strongman than the vision of himself he set out today, and being so brave to share with.

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Us all. Now, as he finished, I want to start with a dad joke because, as you know, all good jokes need some forewarning. Last week I went to the library. Now, I don't know why the library. Now, I don't know why in this place, but I wanted to find a book on paranoia. So I went up to the librarian. I tapped on the shoulder and I asked her where she shoulder and I asked her where she might be. I might be able to find one.

She leaned over to me and whispered, I'm afraid, sir, they're

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whispered, I'm afraid, sir, they're all right behind. You now. That isn't actually as good as my jokes get reaction wise in this place, so it's great to see everyone else lowering themselves to my level for one day. But the point behind this, this campaign is point behind this, this campaign is a really, really important one. Paternity leave in this country is a bit of a joke, and when I've been holding events with new mums, new dads, new parents right across my constituency, it's been really quite heartbreaking, actually, to quite heartbreaking, actually, to see the impact that that challenge of paternity leave is causing on them.

New dads who've got mums with them. New dads who've got mums with high risk pregnancies on the way, struggling to think whether they're going to be able to take enough time off before the birth, let alone after, to be there to support them. New mums telling me heartbreaking stories of how they have to go through caesarean have to go through caesarean recoveries alone after their dads had to return to work. It's simply cannot be good enough and it shouldn't be good enough to is progressive for us to look at a statutory paternity leave offer that is so narrow, so tight that only some of the wealthiest and richest in society are really able to take it up.

We have to do far better than this, and I really hope that we make the most of the paternity and parental leave review we've got coming up to put this right. But this isn't the only issue, as so many have already spoken about, that's failing men today. Men's mental health and some of the strategies and issues identified in yesterday's landmark announcement for far too long hasn't been forensically focussed upon in this place. I know from my own challenges after quite a bad concussion, left me out of work for the best part of six months, unable to comprehend, struggling to read at times.

Some of you might be wondering what's changed, but what I can joke about it now is no laughing matter. At the time, I was lucky that I had friends who were able to point out the fact that actually my symptoms were well beyond concussion. I was getting quite deeply depressed and ensure I got the right support, the right guidance to get back to work, and to feel comfortable and confident in myself again. And while all I can do to thank them, to thank Jo, to thank George, to thank Alex's, to put their names on the record and forever associate them with me.

Dubious privilege. I'm not sure they'll be so grateful for. I think it also highlights the importance of making sure that no man should ever be in a position where they have to go through a challenge like that alone. I'm lucky in my constituency that great groups like for men to talk in Hitchin Stockport Men's Health Walking Group or the great Group round in Sheffield, where I live by Steve Coxon, are there to ensure that men can have these spaces to reach out to. And that's why it's so important to see investment in some of these groups and in the wider community approach to men's health front and centre in the strategy, but we know we need to do far more.

The fact that this strategy was the first of its kind speaks, perhaps, to a wider problem in our politics that at times we can shy away from being confident in speaking to some of the challenges that affect men, particularly and specifically as progressives. This should be our fight when it comes to making sure society is there for vulnerable lads at school, dads and moms alike going through vulnerable births, making sure that we're there for men at some of those darkest moments in their lives.

These are big progressive causes. We should be comfortable in taking them on loud and proud about our agenda in speaking to them. Because at the end of the day, men's issues aren't issues just for men. They're issues for everyone. We've all got men and women in our lives, and we should all be passionate about policies that tackle all of the challenges

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they face full throated and proud, not shying away from them. Thank you Connor Rand. Thank you,

14:50

Mr Connor Rand MP (Altrincham and Sale West, Labour)

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Thank you Connor Rand. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and it's great to be able to contribute to this debate and follow so many this debate and follow so many powerful speakers already. And I commend the government for marking International Men's Day by launching its Men's Health Strategy Strategy, an initiative that will not just change lives but save lives. And Madam Deputy Speaker, as part of International Men's Day, like many of my friends, I've been working with the campaign group Dad Shift, who are campaigning to improve the UK's paternity leave offer, which quite frankly, is in itself a bad joke as the worst in Europe.

And speaking of bad jokes, to follow on from some of my hon. Friends, I have to admit to being slightly hesitant to to include a dad joke in my speech, because the last time I tried a joke, it went badly wrong. It was a joke about Chewbacca, but I messed it up. It was a Wookie error. Madam Deputy Speaker and one I won't be repeating. I know what members are thinking. Stick to the day job and look, I'm I'm lucky enough to have two amazing jobs.

One is being the Member of Parliament for Altrincham and Sale West, and the other is being a dad to two young boys, and the latter was made so much easier by having access to paternity leave. It meant that in those early, formative, precious and slightly less precious moments that come with fatherhood, I could be there as a new parent for my boys and my partner Catherine, and we were a team on that journey together. But one third of new dads don't take any leave at all when their children are born, and we have to be frank and honest about why that is.

It's because they can't afford it. Our statutory paternity leave of just two weeks at less than half the minimum wage, with nothing for the self-employed, shows a system and a settlement that is fundamentally broken. And look, I'm delighted that both through the Employment Rights Bill with the granting of a day one right, but also with the parental leave review, this government has a chance to fix that fix. Mums shouldering and unequal caring burden and responsibility, and fixed dads having to lose out on time with their new children.

Because 90% of dads want to play a more active role in their children's lives. But as polling from more in common reveals, too many men believe a life where hard work means security for their family is out of reach. And what better way to tackle disillusionment by improving paternity leave, showing that governments not only listen but can make the lives of men across our country better? Supporting dads to be the best parents they can be will go some way to create role models.

We need younger boys to have growing up. And in a world of Andrew Tate's online misogyny and grievance politics, it feels more important than ever because we should want young boys to grow up with fathers who are active in their lives, who are comfortable enough to embrace being a truly equal co-parent, and who feel like hard work brings rewards, support and security for their family as part of a social contract in our country. And government has a responsibility to help create these conditions.

So on International Men's Day, I pay tribute to all the dads out there doing the best and all the organisations across Altrincham and Sale West, like Andy's Man Club, like Home-start and actually all those across our country who are helping dads to be the best they can be. And I urge us all to work together on creating a society, to support dads to be the children.

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Hey. Matt Turmaine. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. And firstly, I'd like to pay And firstly, I'd like to pay tribute to my hon. Friend, the Member for Cannock Chase, for an incredibly moving introduction to incredibly moving introduction to this debate. International Men's Day, held on the 19th of November, Day, held on the 19th of November, but which we're debating today, is a wonderful chance to celebrate all that is good about men and boys,

14:55

Matt Turmaine MP (Watford, Labour)

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and to commit to ensuring that we, as legislators, do all we can to support that agenda. Madam Deputy Speaker, you would have noted also that my hon. Friend the Member for York Outer made a very emotional participation in Prime Minister's Questions yesterday, and I would like to thank him for that moving speech which touched everyone on these benches and I suspect, those across the House. I would also like to acknowledge the Prime Minister's social media post a letter to my son.

What a moving piece that was. Whether we have sons or daughters, nephews or nieces, the emotion with which my right hon. Friend spoke was truly heart touching. Madam Deputy Speaker, as a participant in today's debate, having worked with the dad on raising awareness around the issue of paternity pay and others, it is beholden on me to deliver to the house a dad joke. I went shopping and someone threw a block of cheese at me. I said, that's not very mature. I'll get my coat.

At the end of the debate, things have moved on from when I was a lad, but I recognised the frustrations that some men and boys feel emerging from education into an adult world, which is not very caring. When I finished my education and started work, I struggled. Flushed, full of the sense of hard work and dedication would see me through to success. It was an alarming revelation to discover that this is not necessarily the case you only need t work hard to get on was revealed in the midst of a recession.

To me, to be a lie. It has been said before by the economist Gary Stevenson that if we just tell young men that all they need to do is to work hard to succeed, then we shouldn't be surprised when their reaction is not a positive one. The challenges that men feel are often focussed around employment, family and identity. It is the structures of the society around us that we ourselves have created that results in those frustrations and challenges that people feel.

As a documentary maker, Adam Curtis has said, we could just as easily create a world in which those frustrations, challenges and reasons that people despair do not exist. We have, as members of this place and members of society, simply to decide that that is what we want to do. Will we rise to the challenge, I wonder? Let us consider social media and its potential for toxicity as an example. Now I'm of a vintage where I was present not just at the birth of this media, but at its conception.

I cannot tell you how optimistic everyone was for the future, to meet like minded friends in virtual spaces and discuss ideas, to discover aspects of one's self that had hitherto been unexplored, to revolutionise work, and perhaps at its most pleasurable to play games with people for fun and for engagement. What a contrast to the world in which we now live, where many young people, and arguably many others, wish that they could just switch the internet off to get some respite. It has been said that the British dream at its core extends to having a family and providing for them.

We all know how difficult that is under the circumstances we are debating today. Conversation is required. What stops those men and boys feeling that they can have conversations to discuss these fears in an environment that is open and supportive, rather than as a pathway to despair. We all know men and boys don't have these conversations because of the reasons of fear and repression, and how perceived society regards us. But Madam Deputy Speaker, it does not have to be this way. Others may also raise this point today, but 90% of paternity pay is.

Paternity leave is taken by people in the top half of earners, and that grows to 95% for shared paternity leave. This cannot be the world that we wanted to create. The issues affecting men and boys are serious. This International Men's Day, let

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us all resolve to come together and resolve them. Sarah Russell. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker,

14:59

Sarah Russell MP (Congleton, Labour)

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and please can I say an enormous thank you to my friends, the members for Cannock Chase and

14:59

Matt Turmaine MP (Watford, Labour)

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members for Cannock Chase and Hitchin for talking about their own experiences so very movingly. They

14:59

Sarah Russell MP (Congleton, Labour)

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are role models for us all. And speaking of role models, if one saw what was on the television and on social media about men, you would think that they were just a bunch of feckless teenagers who grew up into man children. And it's really, really distressing. I only know really good men. I am obviously fortunate, but the men in my life and in my community are fantastic. They are great role models for their children. They are pillars of the community. They are businessmen, they are volunteers.

My community is so much richer for the men within it, and my life is so much richer for the men within it. So when I talk about men and boys, I wouldn't ever want us to think that it was from a place of negativity. But I see so much negativity around me and it is so fantastic, then to see the work that is being done by my local boys school. In having conversations with their year seven group at the moment about masculinity and about the different forms of social hierarchies that exist amongst men, and how that can work or not work for them socially.

It's also fantastic that the government has announced £60 million to rebuild large chunks of that school, and I welcome that. And also the men's health strategy. We have so many fantastic community groups doing mental health work or supporting the community in general within my constituency. I can't list them all, but I wanted to give particularly honourable mention to Goostrey Community Shed the Shed crew in Holmes Chapel who produce a lot of exciting things for the community. Sandbach Men walking and talking group, the Congleton Mental Circle and no snooker.

None of them exclude women, but all of them have an emphasis on ensuring that men can absolutely live their best lives. Now, when I speak about men living their best lives, I am also campaigning alongside the dad of Pregnant Then Screwed and other organisations to increase paid paternity leave. I think it is extremely sad that self-employed men do not receive any paid paternity leave at all whatsoever, and I think it is incumbent on us as a government to change this as soon as possible.

Women in equivalent situation would get statutory maternity allowance, and I don't see any reason why the same thing can't be made available to men. I of course therefore have to participate in the dad jokes. So I am going to say, what do you call cheese that isn't yours? Nacho cheese? And what do we call two weeks of paternity leave? Not nearly enough.

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Yeah. Mayor Alice. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Madam Deputy speaker, I gave my

15:02

Maya Ellis MP (Ribble Valley, Labour)

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Madam Deputy speaker, I gave my handyman a to do list the other day, but he only finished items one, three, and five. Turns out he only does odd jobs. I know it's a terrible joke, but as the dads shift and my colleagues across the chamber are highlighting today, paternity leave in this country is also a terrible joke. And it's letting our brilliant men down. We have to do better. Madam Deputy Speaker, before I was a socialist, I was a feminist and a precocious one at that.

I think I was about 17 when I read a book called Modern Motherhood and the Illusion of Equality. And quite apart from all the valid analysis it made about equality going to the wall after women have babies. The fact that most horrified me was that husbands couldn't stay with their wives in hospital after the baby was born. What was this medieval treatment that this writer was telling me? Still happened in the UK? And of course, 20 years later, it's still often happens. It was at that moment that all my illusions that equality was largely achieved were shattered.

I had grown up on the girlbosses of the 80s, like the glorious late Diane Keaton in Baby Boom. But Madam Deputy Speaker, how could there be equality if it was not, if it was only in the workplace and not in the home? And how could we have equality in the home if men were shut out the literal moment they became a parent? So this International Men's Day, the plea I want to make to this government is to take the possibly once in a generation chance.

We have to lock in six weeks paternity leave paid by the government at full pay. Many studies have shown that the earlier men get involved in caring for their children, the more equal the distribution of work in the home becomes and the amount of conflict reduces to. No man goes into a marriage or becoming a dad wanting conflict. And so I fundamentally believe that the key to unlocking true equality is ensuring men have as much and appreciation as women of what it takes to care for a family and a home.

I could spend all day giving you a love letter to fatherhood. I've said before in this place that I would not be here if my own husband didn't choose to be a brilliant father. Holding down the fort at home while still running his own successful business, too. I see my friends husbands trying so hard to be the dad that often they didn't have themselves. We are letting men down by not giving them the money, the structures and the role models to help them embrace this huge experience in life that I know men in generations past have been excluded from.

Only last week I spoke with firefighters at Fulwood Fire Station in my constituency of River Valley about how when you cut funding for a post within a shift team, the first thing it impacts is the flexibility of the rest of the team, most of whom have families that are trying to juggle. These are men and women who want to be present parents, and we should be enabling them to be great public servants and great dads to Madam Deputy Speaker. I'm a huge fan of how the internet and social media can connect people, so I cannot celebrate fatherhood without shouting out some of the brilliant creators on Instagram and elsewhere who make dads feel less alone.

Dean Walker, aka Fun Dad Dean and comedian George Lewis give dads role models for modern parenting. They give light relief and a reminder that being a dad is hard for everyone, and that dads are doing their best in the depths of parenting exhaustion. I know many of us communicate by sending their videos back and forth, and I'm sure they've saved a few explosive, explosive arguments. I may or may not be speaking from personal experience. Finally, Madam Deputy Speaker, as the incomparable Emmeline Pankhurst said, we have to free half of the human race, the women, so that they can help free the other half.

I'm glad to be here today and in this government to do my bit to help free the half as they have helped to free me, and I look forward to this government taking the single biggest next step they could make towards equality by introducing six weeks paternity leave paid by the government at

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full pay. Thank you. Sam Rushworth. Thank you, Madam. Deputy Speaker. Can I thank my

15:05

Sam Rushworth MP (Bishop Auckland, Labour)

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Deputy Speaker. Can I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock Chase for leading this debate today and for what I thought was really and for what I thought was really powerful and courageous speech. We've come a long way in 12 months. 12 months ago, as the chair for the co-chair for the APPG for Men and Boys, it was my privilege to lead the debate on International Men's Day. And I remember at the time, people coming up to me saying I was being whispered about, and I better show my feminist credentials.

So I'm really grateful today for for those who who've showed up and for all of the fabulous contribution contributions from some of our female colleagues, I must say I feel a bit for the Secretary of State today, because one of the calls over the last 12 months has been for a men's health strategy, and most of our speeches have focussed on a new call around paternity leave. And I can only say he's been a victim of his own success. Yeah, because. Because he's listened and he's delivered.

And I was so proud yesterday evening to be able to join him and fellow members of Parliament and in Downing Street, where the Prime Minister announced that men's health strategy. I was also joined by somebody from my constituency who runs peer support groups for men with with mental health struggles, the funding for many of those sorts of groups is currently under threat, and I can see that the strategy is making clear that that that is an intervention that we need. And so I'm really grateful for that.

Now, Madam speaker, the Member for Ribble Valley just now stole my dad joke. So I'll cross that one. I'll cross that one out. But I've got a new pen. It can write under water. It writes other words to. And I do hope that we've got that. We can store all of these dad jokes in a database somewhere. I wanted to just take a couple of moments to, to address, though, the importance of fatherhood and what it means to me, and particularly this call for paid paternity leave and why I think that's so important.

And and linking that to mental health. May I say that in some of the darkest moments in my life where, like a lot of people, I experienced depression and felt that my maybe my self-worth was lacking or that I was failing at everything I was trying, that it was my children and picturing their faces and my responsibility as a dad that pulled me through those difficult moments. And some of the happiest moments in my life were those first early days holding a newborn child.

I remember vividly holding, holding my arms, my my youngest daughter, and looking into her face and just feeling like I'd been given this precious gift from heaven and and knowing that she was precious. That's all I knew at that time about her. I couldn't predict how she'd turn out to be. She's now a 12 year old, and she's going through all of the sorts of emotions and stages that girls at that age go through, and in those. And when she tries my patience, I still remember that moment.

I still say to my wife, you know, she is precious and and we absolutely adore her. My oldest daughter, she's the one whose birthday party broke my leg a few months ago when I was roller skating with her around the the disco to Mr. Brightside. I remember when being up in the night with her when she had colic, but those early weeks are so important and far too often women are left alone to recover from their surgery while the fathers are missing and not having those moments to bond.

And I think that that's a really important call that comes from from this debate and also just that precious time together. I met this week with the schools Minister. We talked as well about the need potentially for parenting classes. There's no shame in saying this, that sometimes we just need skills to help us develop our children's values. And and I know that that certainly I'm a better dad today than I was 18 years ago when my son was born. And I hope that those are things that

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we can take up to. Doctor Scott Arthur. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

15:09

Dr Scott Arthur MP (Edinburgh South West, Labour)

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. So this debate is a chance to speak honestly about the pressures, expectations and challenges that expectations and challenges that too many men carry alone and in silence. And I thank the Member for Cannock Chase exemplified all that in his speech, actually. So I really do thank him for his speech. So across my constituency there are organisations, large and small, supporting men and dads, and one of them is dads Rock, which has become a vital source of support for fathers at every stage of parenting.

And when I was elected last year, one of the very first people to contact me was dads Rock, making it very clear to me that I had to support the Dads Schiff campaign. But I do not have a dad joke. I have a Scottish dads joke, so there's ten cows in a field. Which one is on holiday? No interventions. Okay, it's the one with a wee calf. So thank you, thank you. So back to back to dads there WhatsApp peer support group, which now brings together more than 700 dads from across the country.

And in their most recent survey, their top request from these fathers was for stronger mental health support, particularly for new dads. And we see the power of. We see the power of dads rock in stories like Ewan's. Ewan's a young dad in his 20s in Edinburgh South West and he came to dads Rock struggling with anxiety, isolation and difficulties, maintaining contact with his eight month old child after separation from her mother. He was not included on the birth certificate, meaning that he had no parental rights, and as a result he felt overwhelmed and unsure about where to turn.

With 1 to 1 support from Greg, one of the dads rock workers, Ewan received guidance through a confusing and emotional court process. Greg helped him rebuild communication with his child's mother, and eventually she agreed to add him to the birth certificate, granting him parental rights and more stable access to his daughter. Ewan then joined Dads Rock's Dice and Dads and Dice group, where he built friendships and confidence in his own words, attending Dads Rock's Dads Night has had me bonding with other dads and having a laugh.

Very important in life, I think. Even with or without dad jokes, this is what meaningful, compassionate support for men looks like. It changes lives and strengthens families and dads Rock are not the only organisation doing this vital work. I also have to pay tribute to Doctor Ian Hounsome, who I met in my office recently. Ian recently received a well-deserved award from Napier University for his extraordinary work supporting Andy's Man Club. Ian first worked at the Man's Club in 2021, fleeing an abusive relationship.

He was just looking for a sense of community. He soon became a volunteer and now runs the Man's Club for the Edinburgh and Lothians and Borders area, supporting men at their lowest point and the recognition he received is well deserved and the impact he is having on men across the region cannot be overstated and Madam Deputy Speaker. One of the big things in my life is parkrun and one of the people that organises parkrun in Edinburgh has really benefited from Andy's Man Club, and it is a great example of the work that Ian is doing and the impact that it's having.

When we support men, their mental health, their relationships, their roles as fathers, we strengthen our society. Organisations like Tazloc Rock and Andy's Man's Club show us what is possible when community compassion and practical support come together. So on. On International Men's Day, which was yesterday, let us recognise those challenges. Celebrate the men in our lives and organisations driving change, and commit to ensuring that no man feels that he has to struggle alone.

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Thank you Madam Speaker Amanda Martin. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, I want to congratulate my hon.

15:13

Amanda Martin MP (Portsmouth North, Labour)

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Friend from Cannock Chase for securing this important debate and for his eloquent and brave words to open the conversation. As he said, today is a chance to celebrate the men and boys in our lives and acknowledge the challenges many face. Recognise the positive roles they play in our families, workplaces and our communities. Let me begin with my own. I want to celebrate my dad Terry, my brother Lee and my partner Robin. All fantastic role models, brilliant men and hugely important to me and our family and friends.

I also want to celebrate my fabulous nephew, the young dad Luke, my nephew Frankie, who himself turns ten this month, and my male friends and colleagues in this place. But Madam Deputy Speaker, I want to take a moment to celebrate my three beautiful sons and say to them, as you make your way in this changing world, you make me proud every day with your openness, your kindness, your humour, and your love and respect for each other and for those around you.

I love you boys. Every man in my life has faced challenges be that school or workplace bullying, health conditions, disability, bereavement from illness or suicide and yes, loneliness. The difference is that they had each other and crucially, they felt able to talk and to ask for help. But too many men do not. The statistics are stark. 1 in 5 men do not live to 65. More than 5000 men die by suicide each year. Nearly 1 million men are unemployed, and paternity leave is a class issue.

And against those self-employed, these numbers are not abstract. They are real lives. Young men lost in education, fathers struggling to balance work and families, and for some, family break-ups and separation from their kids, veterans adjusting to civil life, older men being pushed out of the labour market, and men of all ages wrestling with health worries but determined not to be a burden. It is partly because of these realities that colleagues and partners and I have established a labour group for men and boys. Our purpose is simple to ensure that this government builds policies and politics that better represent men and boys, and in doing so, improve the outcomes for everyone.

We believe in a modern, positive vision of masculinity and one that strengthens gender equality, not undermined it. Men feel that their identity has been shaken by rapid change, and feel that so much of life is out of their control. They mistrust politics and politicians, and in that vacuum, toxic, dominance based narratives can gain ground. So it's important that we as a government have their back. We need to offer hope, inclusive and a story of what British manhood should be built on pride, purpose, belonging and trust.

Supporting men and boys is not a zero sum game. It's about listening. It's about acting, and it's about rebuilding trust. This Labour government is already taking action. We've abolished exploitative zero hours contracts, raise the minimum wage and launch the UK's first ever men's health strategy or the England. Sorry, we are reforming apprenticeships, delivering pride in place investments and

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strengthening communities. The government must take responsibility. hon. Friend, give way.

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hon. Friend, give way. Can I thank my hon. Friend for giving way and thank her very much for her excellent speech. I've for her excellent speech. I've heard her talk glowingly about her boys previously, to me personally and to others, and she's doing them and to others, and she's doing them real justice in her speech. She's also, I believe, absolutely right to welcome the Men's Health to welcome the Men's Health Strategy, which was published yesterday, a fantastic document and roadmap for us.

Would she agree with me, particularly in relation to her boys, her her who are still growing up? Early manhood, that growing up? Early manhood, that young men are particularly prey to the problems of gambling, the problems of gambling, particularly online gambling, rapid turnover gambling, and that it's really welcome that the Men's really welcome that the Men's Health Strategy contains proposals to start to tackle from the grassroots upward, upwards, that

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grassroots upward, upwards, that real problem of men and gambling that we see in our country. Absolutely. I agree with my friend. Online safety is also crucial in protecting boys from harmful content, misogyny and gambling promotions that you talk gambling promotions that you talk about. The measures that we have taken in the government are a start, and we know we need to do more to and we know we need to do more to restore trust, dignity, opportunity and a sense of belonging where too many men have been forgotten and ignored, and so that men see and feel the changes in their everyday life.

I want to highlight the work I've been doing with tradespeople through my Torfaen campaign. You may have heard of it. Tool theft disproportionately affects male workers, many self-employed or running small businesses. Losing tools is not an inconvenience. It can mean losing wages, contracts, reputation and indeed lives. I launched the campaign after hearing countless stories of livelihoods being destroyed, and I want to thank everyone who has shared their experience. Their voices matter and they are part of what we celebrate today. Madam Deputy Speaker, when it comes to fatherhood, let me give a small nod to those very tired dads out there with a dad joke.

Madam Deputy Speaker, what do you call a woman who sets her fire to all her bills? Bernadette. Yeah, my boys will probably roll their eyes at that. But beneath the joke lies something very serious. The dad Shift campaign has shown how many fathers want to be present in the first precious weeks, but simply cannot afford it. Strengthening paternity leave is not just fairness for dads. It's about giving best starts. It's about helping families build resilience, and it's about shaping the kind of society we want to be here in Britain.

And so I want to leave you with a quote from a brilliant book, The Boy, the mole, the fox and the horse that captures the courage I see in so many men every day. What is the bravest thing you have ever said? Asked the boy. Help, said the horse. Asking for help is not giving up, said the horse. It is refusing to give up. Madam Deputy

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Speaker, that is the bravery we celebrate today. Yes. Scott Arthur Jeevun Sandher.

15:19

Dr Jeevun Sandher MP (Loughborough, Labour)

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Scott Arthur Jeevun Sandher. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, may I start by thanking my friend the Member for Cannock Chase, not only for bringing this debate, but is incredibly courageous and powerful contribution and no doubt is making waves across this country.

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Thank you so, so much for that. Yeah. Today, Madam Deputy Speaker, men are finding life unaffordable in a way that their fathers did not. And that's leading to anger. It's leading to despair, and it's even leading to despair, and it's even leading to death. But it is on us, and it is within our gift in this chamber, indeed in this government, chamber, indeed in this government, to ensure every single man, every single person in this country can find life affordable, with decent find life affordable, with decent jobs everywhere.

Now, Madam Deputy Speaker, the second part of my PhD Speaker, the second part of my PhD focussed on this topic. Why was men and non-graduate men couldn't find decent jobs? And whilst I can't decent jobs? And whilst I can't force you all to read my PhD, I can't force you all to listen today. can't force you all to listen today. Chapter one I. Because there's a huge crisis that men, particularly Non-graduate men, have gone through in the 1980s. Non-graduate men, in the 1980s.

Non-graduate men, about 10% not working. Today it's 25%. That's over 2 million men in 25%. That's over 2 million men in total, 1.3 million off long term sick. And that's not through any fault of their own. That's because fault of their own. That's because of the way the economy has changed both here and across high income nations. The decline of manufacturing no longer the factory manufacturing no longer the factory in their local town, their local city, they could no longer leave school and get a good job and get a good home and support a family that has all ended.

And now what we see across this country, across nations like ours, is a small number of good jobs and major cities are not enough elsewhere. And then we see young men doing the right thing, getting a good education and then finding they can no longer afford a decent life. And yes, that does lead to anger. Yes, it does lead to despair. But more than that, and tragically, far more than that, it also leads to death. The numbers of men, middle aged men dying from alcohol, suicide and drug overdose doubling in this nation over the past 30 years.

Despair caused by de-industrialisation. The scars of Thatcherism did not leave this nation. They did not stay with one generation. They passed from father to son. That is the country we're living in today. And what we are seeing step into that despair, that anger, that frustration is those in the radical right who say the reason and the cause for your poverty, your penury, your difficulty is because of those people who look different. And if you just attack them with just enough vigour, you're just violent enough, then your life will be better.

But we know where that leads. We saw it led a century ago and sadly we're seeing it across our nation again today. Violence only begets violence. Anger only begets anger. It's for us in this moment, in this country, in this chamber, to realise and step to it. And we in government do have that gift within us. Good jobs will not appear magically across this country. They will not come with economic growth alone. It's for government to help create those jobs. Yes, directly by building the homes that we need.

Yes. Through home insulation, yes, through clean energy. But as well as that, the private sector working with them, our industrial strategy. But beyond the economics, which is very important, is are also our political vision as well. This is each and every single person in this country deserves a decent life. But more than that, that we are stronger when we stand together than when each and every one of us does well. We all do well that we are stronger together and weaker apart.

And for those who say that we only to attack others, we say that does not live up to the best traditions of this nation and does not meet this moment that we are that is on us to meet. I'm so proud to be in this chamber with all of you. I'm so proud of my friend from Cannock Chase and for all of us in this place, to create a country where every single person, every single man, could afford to live a

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decent life. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Stella Creasy. Thank you, Madam Deputy. Speaker, it's.

15:23

Ms Stella Creasy MP (Walthamstow, Labour )

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Speaker, it's. A privilege to follow the member from Loughborough and also to be here with the Member for Cannock Chase who made a truly Chase who made a truly extraordinary speech. I also just want to reassure you, Madam Deputy Speaker, I won't be making a dad joke, not least because my father, who's a brilliant man, inspired in me a love of a deeply filthy joke, which I suspect probably isn't parliamentary language, especially the one about the Bishop of Birmingham.

So she'll be relieved on that. I'm also proud to be in this debate, and now to be having this debate in this chamber. I have previously participated on international debates and we've been resigned to Westminster Hall. So I'm proud that we are here today because people want to suggest that campaigners like myself, who've worked on women's rights don't care about men. And I mean that we don't know about men. We don't understand them. I did actually put tell me facts about men into chat.

GPT it told me that men have less sense than women. What they meant was sensitive taste buds and smell receptors. It also told me that men's beards can house more bacteria than dog fur. Although the different types of bacteria men. Most men own three pairs of shoes, apparently, and my favourite one is that men are more likely to have an extra nipple than women. I'm not sure looking to the internet to tell us about each other is the way forward, but I do know talking to men and boys in my own constituency across this country and with pride with my colleagues in this place, the challenges that we are facing in raising a generation of men and boys who can be happy and content with themselves.

That is why I welcome very much the new Men's Health Strategy from the Minister on the front benches. Because actually, this isn't about trading off against the sexes. There isn't a battle of sexes. There's a bafflement about how we can help each other because we are being pitted against each other in the very environment that my colleague from Loughborough describes. I take great hope in that. Actually, the evidence shows us that young men in this country are rejecting Andrew Tate, but they are crying out for something else.

They're crying out for what the different alternatives should be. And when the Samaritans tell us that 70% of men would live differently if they were free from social judgement, I know many women that would strike a chord with, but that is the challenge that we are facing. We are putting the men in our lives and the boys with them under a huge amount of pressure. That's why nearly 40% of men say that contributing less than their partner makes them less of a man.

And over 3 in 4 Britons say a man who stays home to look after his children is less of a man. And yet men are so unhappy that tells us that we can and should do things in this place to change that dynamic. Men are not a homogenous lump. Women used to get mad being treated in this way. They have a multitude of problems and challenges, and so do men. We see the rates of suicide, but we also see the variation. I pay tribute to my colleague on the opposite benches for highlighting the difference for black men when it comes to prostate cancer, and the importance of developing a strategy that doesn't just see men with prostate cancer, but those challenges.

I also look at the experience of disabled men in our society, often finding that they are being denied their own sense of identity in services. But in the time left to me, let me add my voice to those calling for us to support men, to be able to build positive relationships with their children from the get go. Frankly, we miss the boat in the Employment Rights Bill, and as a result, we've reinforced gender stereotypes that it's ladies who do babies and men who need to go out to work.

We must not make that same mistake again. I pay tribute to the work of Elliot, Ray, Jo, pregnant Stroud and all the campaigners now making that case. But frankly, we've got the evidence that at least doing what the women in select committees equality said to do about 90% for six weeks would be a step forward for our young boys and men to have each other at that critical point in life from the get go, and for the wives and the women who love them to be there with them.

I think of the latest young man in my life, Marlow J. Born last week, who's just starting his fight in life, and his parents. I want better for

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him like I want for every child in my constituency here. Calvin Bailey thank. You, Madam Deputy.

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You, Madam Deputy. Speaker, and may I thank my hon. Friend, the Member for. Cannock Chase for.

15:27

Mr Calvin Bailey MP (Leyton and Wanstead, Labour)

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Cannock Chase for. Securing the debate and for the strength he showed in his speech. It was not a speech. It was an act of leadership. Yes. It's a privilege to to follow on from our hon. Friend from Walthamstow, because International Men's Day is not in opposition to International Women's Day. It is not a zero sum game. We must be honest about the challenges facing men and boys, because if we do not address them openly, others with malign intent will exploit that space and in so doing, it is disappointing today that we do not have broad cross-party representation here.

And I'm grateful for the speech of my hon. Friend from Loughborough, which he gave a moment ago. Even as a highly decorated RAF pilot, I cry and I do so publicly. I say this for two reasons because we must show our men and boys that vulnerability and courage are not opposites. They are expressions of strength, and we must give young men permission to show that strength too. I also must say it because I need to continually remind my friend the member from Spelthorne of my previous career.

Now as a chair of the APPG for Prostate Cancer, I want to focus my remarks on the most urgent men's health challenge we face. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, 63,000 diagnosis and 12,000 deaths every year. Early diagnosis, particularly among men amongst the highest risk groups, alongside more effective treatment pathways, would save thousands of lives and spare families immense suffering. Yesterday I visited I visited the Imperial Centre for Translation and Experimental Medicine in the constituency of my hon.

Friend the member of Ealing Central and Acton. The research is there are leading the world in mapping how fat and microRNA influence tumour growth, and in developing far more accurate diagnosis tools. Their work is opening the door to improved tests and promising new treatments, including for advanced disease. It is a testament to the excellence of UK science and I am grateful to the researchers, to the prostate cancer research and in particular to Joe Cliff for their partnership. This week, the launch of the first ever men's health strategy for England is a pivotal moment, and I am proud of the leadership for my good friends.

The member of Ilford North easier access to PSA testing and better communication with consultants both at home and in community settings will help the half a million men already living with prostate cancer. Monitoring is crucial. Many early stage cancers do not require immediate treatment, but they must be watched carefully so that changes can be caught in time because too many men currently fall through the gaps. However, there is more we must do, and I again raise the issue of commissioning of abiraterone for men with high risk but curable prostate cancer.

The evidence is clear it halves relapse rates, would save 650 lives every year, and would save the NHS 200 million over five years. Yet, because this is an off label use, it is stuck in a web of unnecessary bureaucracy and I am grateful for the constructive engagement from the Ministry of Health, Innovation, Minister of Health, Innovation and Safety and I hope we will see progress soon. Finally, early stage diagnosis amongst the highest risk groups remains the decisive factor. Next week, the National Screening Council will consider targeted screening for black men with a family history and men with genetic vulnerability, each with at least double the average risk.

But combining PSA with MRI, we can reduce unnecessary biopsies, improve safety and catch cancers far earlier. This would cost 25 million, but would deliver a net benefit for 54 million over five years. And just finally, Madam Deputy Speaker to my dad, David, I love you and thank you. And as for dad jokes, I hardly ever tell dad jokes, but when I do, he always laughs. Chris Bloore thank you.

15:32

Chris Bloore MP (Redditch, Labour)

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Thank you speaker. I begin by congratulating the hon. Member for Cannock Chase for securing this debate. Madam Deputy Speaker, the hon. Member is a man I deeply admire, the bravery he has shown in retelling the story of what happened to him is extraordinary. I'm proud to be his colleague and

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this House is unquestionably better for him being here. Hey. Madam Deputy Speaker, Cannock Chase holds a special place in my Chase holds a special place in my own heart. It is where I spent many hours of my granddad, a former police officer. He would often take me walking across the chase. He was the first person I ever spoke to about politics, as he picked me up from school and fed me every day to from school and fed me every day to support my parents.

He was a kind man, a proud One Nation Tory who taught me that far more unites us taught me that far more unites us than divides us, and that in public life we are not enemies, but simply people with different viewpoints on people with different viewpoints on how best to solve the challenges before us. That lesson has stayed with me throughout my life, and I with me throughout my life, and I know I am lucky to have had such a strong male role model in my formative years, and I miss him every day.

Madam Deputy Speaker, today's debate gives us an important opportunity to reflect on the issues affecting men and boys and the contributions they make and the contributions they make across our society. This is not about pitting one group against each other. It's about acknowledging that if we want a acknowledging that if we want a fairer and healthier society, we must be honest about where help is needed. The figures on men's health needed. The figures on men's health and well-being remain concerning. Men continue to account for far too more of far more of suicides.

They are less likely to seek support early, and too often feel compelled to, compelled to deal with to, compelled to deal with difficulty silently. The old idea that emotional openness undermines masculinity has lingered for far too long. It has cost lives and prevented countless men from getting help. The help they need. In that context, I'm proud that this government has launched its Men's Health Strategy, setting out a clear ten year vision for improving the health and wellbeing for men and boys in England. This strategy recognises that reality and begins the work of addressing it, though through early intervention, better support and a more honest understanding of the specific challenges men face.

And I thank the Secretary of State and the ministerial team for their hard work. I'm also proud of my hon. Friend the Member for York Outer, for his bravery in speaking openly about his own mental health challenges this week. Far too many men still feel it a weakness to demonstrate their humanity by opening up about their struggles. His honesty helped normalise these conversations and can help save lives. Madam Deputy Speaker, in Westminster Hall today we have debated the role of carers. Carers like my dad, who's right now sitting next to my mum in a hospital bed.

There are hundreds of thousands of men like my dad, supporting their families every day, quietly and with dedication. When we see the pressures faced by boys growing up in Britain today, they are navigating a world shaped by online influencers, some positive but many harmful. It is men like the members of York Outer and Cannock Chase and my dad and my grandad I admire and I look up to as a father myself. I want my son to see their examples and not the false prophets he might see on TikTok.

As a true representation of what it is to be a man, boys need strong, positive role models and reassurance that there is more than one way to be a man. Today is a moment to celebrate the positive contributions by men and boys, fathers, grandfathers, carers, teachers, mentors and volunteers that shape our communities. Men like Cole Dickens at Walgett Boxing Club, supporting young men Pete Martin fighting knife crime and getting fans, supporting veterans and so many more in Redditch supporting men and boys and society as a whole when men feel able to seek help.

Relationships improve. Madam Deputy Speaker Madam Deputy Speaker, Today would have been the 100th birthday of my political hero, Bobby Kennedy. And one of my favourite quotes is there are those who look at things the way they are and ask why? I dreamed of things that never were and ask why not? I am proud that this House is united in its insistence on changing things for the better, and supporting men and boys to live healthier, fuller and more meaningful lives. I finished with a knock knock joke, if that's even permissible.

Knock, knock. Who's there? Tank.

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Okay. You're welcome.

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You're welcome. Thank you for that. Liberal Democrat spokesperson Susan Murray. Thank you. Madam Deputy.

15:36

Susan Murray MP (Mid Dunbartonshire, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you. Madam Deputy. Speaker, and thank you to the. hon. Member for Cannock Chase for bringing this debate today, but also for sharing his experience. I am the mother of two young men, and I am very, very proud of the way that they tackle the challenges that life has put in their way with kindness and resilience. Before the debate, I took the time to sit down with some more young men. We talked about their experience of living as young men in the UK today.

They are successful individuals, university graduates with good jobs. And what from the outside looks like steady lives. Yet their outlook was shockingly bleak. They talked about their belief that without the support or systemic change, they would never own a house. They're resentful about their opportunity to build up a good pension. They talked about how the cost of living is reaching a point where even basic leisure activities, like sport after work, are becoming unaffordable. And most worryingly of all, they talked about how younger men are being radicalised by this.

They said they're increasingly seeing boys and young men being pushed into far right and hateful echo chambers while searching for an alternative path. It is clear that we are failing young people as a whole, and young men in particular. Buying a house is a distant dream for most young people, and even renting is by the government's own assessment, unaffordable. Mental ill health services are inaccessible, and male suicide is now the biggest killer of men under 50. Young men are falling behind young women in education and earnings.

At a time when traditional expectations are shifting or challenging their sense of identity and place in society. This is not about dismissing the struggles faced by women, many of which are the same. It's about recognising the nuance, the ways that these pressures affect men differently and the way that many men cope with them differently. Too often, this debate swings between two extremes those who wish to dismiss men's concerns altogether, and those who wish to capitalise on male disillusionment and to sow division and hatred.

This is why we welcome the government's new Men's Health Strategy, and applaud the campaigners and organisations that fought so hard to bring it to us at this moment. It is right that the government finally recognises the specific ways in which men are suffering from suicide, to substance abuse to prostate cancer, but we need to go further. Many of the steps are still modest and especially on suicide, and I have been directly affected by the suicide of a young man who had his full future ahead of him.

And as we've heard, this is the greatest killer of men under 50. But the government has scrapped the suicide prevention grant, a £10 million lifeline, and the new measures barely replace it. With thousands of people dying by suicide every year. We have to be more ambitious. That means restoring the suicide prevention grant in full, introducing regular mental health checks at key points in life, and tackling the wider determinants of health, including ending rough sleeping, which disproportionately affects men.

But beyond mental health, we must also address the deep sense of hopelessness felt by so many young men. We must acknowledge that men are now 14% less likely to attend university than women, and we need to provide respected alternative routes into good work through apprenticeships and skills programmes. We must also confront the housing crisis more quickly. Investment in housing will not only ease pressure on the market, it will create long term jobs in construction and engineering. This is deeply important because ultimately you can invest in mental health support, but without job prospects, a home to a home to build, a life in and a future to believe in, young men will continue to feel hopeless.

And when young men feel hopeless, they will continue to look for answers from those on the extremes. So while I welcome this men's health strategy, this is just the first

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step of many. Thank you. Shadow Secretary of State.

15:41

Mims Davies MP (East Grinstead and Uckfield, Conservative)

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Shadow Secretary of State. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

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And I thank the honourable. Member for. Cannock Chase for leading this. Debate this afternoon for

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Debate this afternoon for International Men's Day on. Focus on well-being. On modern masculinity.

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masculinity. And he was hugely. Brave and absolutely right when he said that no victim should not be able to speak out and seek justice. And it was wonderful to hear his positives around the joy of fatherhood. It is always a pleasure to speak on behalf of His Majesty's loyal opposition. I particularly welcome this debate as the co-chair of the All Party Men and Boys Group, along with the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland, who spoke about the preciousness of fatherhood, and I'm delighted to be continuing to be working with him, and I'd like to thank all the men and women in this For men's health and growing some really iffy tissues in certain areas.

But but I'm still very praiseworthy. The theme for 2025. As mentioned throughout the date, the debate rather is celebrating men and boys, and I think we've done it incredibly well. We need to talk about the positive value that men do bring to this world from families and communities. And I think we've reflected that well this afternoon and frankly, hence our all-party group we need to be doing this more often. I want to thank all dads father figures, top top chaps. Easy for me to say.

It's absolutely vital that we we do this and we talk about the positives. My dad's favourite joke who's who's long past. I'm going to give it a go because dads shift rightly said we need to highlight crucial male role models and fatherhood. His was and I still love it. How does the monkey cook his toast under the gorilla? Of course. There we go. How was that? Lincoln? I mean, my right hon. Friend has been judging behind me these, these.

That was that. And he actually suffered from from a head injury. And I was particularly struck by the hon. Member for Hitchin talking about how that is an unseen issue. And it's right that he's support, got sought support. Headway would particularly brilliant in my father's case. So I thank him for that. Now turning to how we talk about masculinity in a positive way. Role models, as we've heard this afternoon, so important if men and boys are only told that they are the problem and the issues that they are facing do not matter, we cannot be surprised when they flock to questionable social media influencers and people on the fringes of politics who tell them that they do, in fact, matter and they have value in the wrong way.

So for us, it's important that we reflect on the work of the centre for Policy Research on men and Boys, and they have said then this is important, that the narrative has and must continue to change from the problems that young men and boys cause, to the problems young men and boys have. And now we can do something to properly help them. And that should be incredibly welcoming. And as a mum of two girls, I know that they want boys to feel the support and positivity that young girls rightly have.

And I think it was right. The hon. Member for Portsmouth North bigging up young boys, her young boys and also the importance of protecting from harm. Our youngsters, all of them gambling, pornography we know, but we also know other sectors in young people struggling, particularly young farmers. We know it's often those men who can feel isolated and lonely and struggling. And the hon. Member from Loughborough rightly talks about men wanting a decent life. It's vital to look back about employment, but also it's the employment opportunities now that truly matter, to which I completely agree with.

In the recent CSG crucial report, Lost Boys, it identified six areas where boys and young men are falling behind in this generational crisis for boys education, where boys underperform at every stage from early years to university and lagging behind girls in employment. As we've heard today, the number of males 16 to 24, who are not in education, employment or training has increased since the pandemic by a staggering 40%. Health suicide is a top cause of death for men under 50, and many of us know families know friends we've lost because of suicide, family and fatherhood.

1 in 5 boys grow up without a father. An epidemic of fatherlessness, which is linking to poor outcomes. Crime. The prison population, 96% of it is male. Digital behaviour, where platforms amplify misogyny by misogynistic influences and extremist content, shaping identity and attitudes for our young men. So in particular, I want to thank Jane Packer and the BSI team. I was proud to join the BSI event in speaker's House last night on the new Suicide and Workplace Standard to help employers support men and boys wellbeing across the country, and to continue to work with the Samaritans.

Wearing the badge today, who tell me they need more volunteers to do their great work, particularly supporting and listening to men. Now. Now I've got the Secretary of State across from me. I want to just highlight that the government hasn't currently resumed the recruitment of the men's health ambassador there. Maybe he's going to tell us differently shortly, but we on this side of the House in the previous government would love to to see that. Yesterday I met man V fat, the amazing team who do great work in Wales in particular Richard and the team, all communities using football and rugby to help when it comes to being healthy, being fit and focusing on body image.

And again, like the Samaritans somewhere to talk in a male space. Now on to the last conservative government. The suicide prevention grant provided the 10 million, as we've heard, for 79 organisations between 23 and March 25th. Now, we rightly welcome and I think it's roundly welcomed, the dedicated men's health strategy. However, it does appear to be less than the 10 million under the previous government at 3.6 million. So over the next three years. So I ask Secretary of State to really help and boost and push on this neighbourhood based support for suicide prevention.

The 3 million is very, very welcome. But we absolutely, as we speak today and go forward, push on these health and community based programs. International Men's Day has suggested to all of us this debate is the opportunity to promote charities and initiatives in our own constituencies, like the amazing Men's Sheds mentioned today. Brilliant ones in my constituency also include a growing East Grinstead Sea Cadets, the Scouts and many after school clubs which make a big difference, particularly supporting our men and boys.

Something to do somewhere to talk to someone and the Uckfield Youth Club needs, like many groups, more volunteers and leaders now, we as MPs, rightly today and every day, should be encouraging men to seek help in our communities, to check in on them, to highlight the positivities. And I like to do that with one of my councillors, Ed Godwin. He is passionate about involving young people in politics. He stood at just 18 to serve his community and be a town councillor.

I'm very proud to welcome him into politics and also Councillor Gary Marsh in Mid Sussex. A district councillor for Ardingly, Balcombe and Turners Hill and my constituency. Recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, he has used his learning at the start of the year and his platform to urge men not to ignore the signs, to make sure that his constituents and ours know that there is help out there. And I'd like to thank Mark Brooks OBE for his ten years of work with the Association of Male and Health and Wellbeing, to get this parliamentary debate so that we can keenly talk about men's issues.

It's vital that we as MPs champion causes, particularly for men, to discuss, debate and strive to help men. As we said today, and boys with the issues affecting them both nationally and internationally. And it will help all communities and all members have made great contributions doing that work today. I truly think all parties working together can see the changes we need to see for the better, which may. Madam Deputy Speaker include an improvement on the quality of dad jokes in the chamber.

Thank you

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for that joke. Secretary of State Wes Streeting. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and what a pleasure to follow the and what a pleasure to follow the spokespeople for the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats, who have, I think, made

15:50

Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ilford North, Labour)

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contributions very much in the spirit we've heard this afternoon. I can reassure both of them that the suicide prevention funding has not gone, but it is devolved. This is going to be a challenge we'll have to work through during this Parliament as we embrace devolution and and set local authorities and health trusts free to spend as they choose. But we do need to keep a focus to make sure that the emphasis on suicide prevention isn't lost. But I really welcome the challenge they brought and the spirit, and I certainly confirm we will be appointing a new men's health ambassador, and I will keep the right hon.

Member updated. Now, it's customary when beginning these debates to thank the Backbench Business Committee and the hon. Member for opening the debate for their outstanding contribution, whether the speech was any good or not. But I can honestly say, having been in this House for ten years, it is a rare moment to hear such a courageous speech as the one that we heard opening this debate. We can be truly proud of the Member for Cannock Chase. I hope his constituents know the diligent way in which he fights for his constituents every single day.

Here he is a conviction politician. He is prepared to speak truth to power and use his influence to get things done for his community. And just through his words, he will have had such an impact on so many people who he will never meet, but will nonetheless draw strength from his courage. I don't think there's anyone who's listened to the powerful contributions from Honourable and right hon. Members today who could fail to be moved by what we've heard, nor could they be anything but truly appalled by all of the terrible dad jokes.

In fact, I think the the contribution from the hon. Member for Edinburgh South West was truly the worst. I would like to get involved, Madam Deputy Speaker, but as is well known, I have absolutely no sense of humour and less sense of humour than Downing Street has for tolerating my jokes. I am. I am not a fan of political jokes anyway, since too many end up getting elected. Although I did once hear of a Canadian politician who was probably who was popular with everyone.

It's probably not Trudeau. As I listen to the debate. Madam Deputy Speaker, two broad themes emerge. The first is how every day many, many boys and men make wonderful contributions to our families, our schools, our communities and our workplaces, and not just in jobs and roles and behaviours that are associated with traditional masculinity and roles associated with men, but also nurses, carers, primary school teachers, those who have embraced the genuine commitment to equality and that no matter who you are, where you're from, whatever your background, indeed whatever your sex or gender, you can grow up to be whoever you want to be.

And as the Member for Bolsover said, I think so powerfully the capacity for love, laughter and empathy, the role of men and boys as allies and advocates, mentors and role models inspires others, lifts up our society, changes lives and brings joy to those around them. I would particularly like to pay tribute to two of the most important men in my life, my dad and his father, my grandad. For people who follow my family history, that's not the armed robber. This is the working class East End Tory, I have to say, in common with the my hon.

Friend, the Member for Redditch and his family heritage and political leanings, without them I would not be stood here today. They have been a rock of stability and inspiration in life. My granddad was my closest friend and moral compass and my dad has been the rock of stability I needed, particularly when things were hardest in my childhood. I'm lucky that both of my parents have always been in my life, but I must say that too often when I talk about being brought up by a single parent, the shorthand so often used in newspapers is single mum.

And as my dad often points out, he was the one who got the terrible teenage years and had to move out of the area to get me to move out before I hit the age of 30. So I'm very, very grateful to my dad, who I love and admire very, very much. We've heard powerful contributions today, and I couldn't help but notice that almost everyone endorsed the dad's shift campaign for greater paternity rights and leave. Of course, this government is legislating for day one rights, but I know the advocacy and representation we've heard across the House today will have been heard by my colleagues in government, and there will be a consultation.

And I'm sure we've not heard the last of this. Nonetheless. Madam Deputy Speaker, for all the positivity, the second theme we've heard today is an altogether less positive one. It's a startling reality that being a man growing up as a man and in today's society can be very tough, especially those from working class backgrounds like mine. My hon. Friend, the Member for Loughborough, spoke powerfully about the economic injustice in our society, the poverty and inequality that adds up to the pressures, the strains, the educational disadvantage, the lack of security and opportunity that too often holds back people from backgrounds like mine, especially men and boys.

And while I'm very proud to stand here today, I'm very proud of my own working class roots and very proud of having beaten the odds that were stacked against me. The object of this government, the object of the Labour Party, has always been to change the odds for everyone, not just to have the exceptional few beat the odds. And that is at the heart of this government's agenda. I want to pay tribute to those who have brought this agenda to the mainstream.

This is a debate that is ten years old, but I must remember and recall back when it started an awful lot of eye rolling Madam Deputy Speaker about whether this debate was necessary, I suspect, including by me and others who wondered whether this was truly relevant and how wrong that sentiment was, and how much of a brilliant riposte have we heard during this debate? I want to pay particular tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for York Outer, who spoke so powerfully at Prime Minister's Questions about the dark cloud that hung over him following the difficult birth of his and his wife's first child.

And as he said, the strength of a man is about being open, about his emotions. Sometimes we, as we've heard so painfully today, those struggles become so overwhelming that men feel the only way out is to take their own lives. And when that happens, it's not just an individual personal tragedy, tragedy. It's like a nuclear bomb, and the fallout hits everyone around them. As my hon. Friend the Member for South Wind South and Western Lee has spoken of so powerfully, and we know that this impacts on men in different ways and indeed in different backgrounds and sectors.

During an interview on Fixed Radio, the Builder's station yesterday, I was told that men in the construction industry are four times more likely to die by suicide, and one of the biggest causes of stress and anxiety for tradesmen is tall theft. And that's why I want to thank my hon. Friend for Portsmouth North, who's been like a dog with a bone on this issue, and her campaign has already delivered tougher punishments for the perpetrators of tall theft. And in fact, I promised Clive Holland, the host of Fixed radio, that I'd pass on this message to the house.

He said, I'd love to stand up at that despatch box and speak to all the people in Parliament, and I grab them by the lapels and say, get it through. Just get it through. It's crucial. We all need this industry. We'd still be living in caves without the skills of our industry. And he is absolutely right. And that's why we're very lucky to have my hon. Friend from Portsmouth championing this issue on behalf of that industry. The government's response to many of the issues raised in today's debate is the country's first ever men's health strategy.

It covers physical health and mental health, and what I'm most proud of is that it was drawn up in partnership with men themselves, experts, men's groups, charities and campaigners. And I think we're all aware that politicians today are about as popular as tax collectors and traffic wardens. And so we need wider allies and advocates. Groups like Movember, Men's Shed, Everton in the community who had the pleasure of visiting last week. Campaigners like Stephen Maddison, better known as Professor Green Cart Clerk Carlisle, the Premier League footballer who used their own experiences with suicide and mental ill health to spread awareness and prevent it from happening to others.

I paid tribute to the journalists, people like the LBC philosopher King Tom Swarbrick for talking about modern masculinity, the importance of male friendship and and and keeping the ties that bind us. There are a number of ways in which we're going to act, Madam Deputy Speaker, first, by expanding access to support services, second, by helping men to take better care of ourselves, and third, by ensuring stigma is challenged. And every man feels empowered to reach out for help. This is not just a plan, it's a call to action.

It's not just about changing services and laws, it's about changing hearts and minds and culture, particularly in a world with online harms and radicalisation. As pointed out by my hon. Friend the Member for Watford, as well as the many positives as identified by my hon. Friend, the Member for Ribble Valley, because half the battle for men and boys is to have the conversation in the first place, opening up the space to often, often utter the most challenging words I need help.

And that's why our strategy meets men on their own terms and their own turf. Partnering with the Premier League's Together Against Suicide initiative, investing 3 million in community based mental health programmes. Workplace pilots with EDF to support workers in male dominated industries. The support for miners and new research to help us tackle the biggest killers of men, including rising cocaine and alcohol deaths, as well as taking action on gambling. As my hon. Friend for Dartford exhorted us to and on prostate cancer, I will keep the House updated.

Madam Deputy Speaker, as we await the recommendations of the National Screening Committee. I've heard the representations today, particularly for the hon. Member for Wokingham and my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead. Madam Deputy Speaker, in conclusion, our aim is to create a society where men and boys are supported to live longer, healthier and happier lives, where stigma is replaced by understanding and where every man knows that his health matters. And of course, as we've heard so powerfully, including by some of this house's most outstanding feminist campaigners like my hon.

Friend the Member for Walthamstow. This is not an either or. This is not a choice between men and women. It is the recognition that while women's health inequalities have layered on top of them sexism and misogyny something that we as men must take responsibility for tackling. Two men do face challenges as men and boys when it comes to our education, when it comes to our employment, when it comes to our health, our well-being, our life chances and our opportunities. And as we heard so powerfully, especially from my friend the Member for Portsmouth North, it's not like the women out there don't care about their sons, or their dads or their brothers.

Quite the opposite. And similarly, we care about our mums, our sisters, our daughters, our nieces, our friends and our colleagues. There are differences between the sexes. There are differences in how we are impacted on and contribute to the society around us. But we are born equal and we have a responsibility to stand together to make sure that we create a rising tide that lifts all ships a healthier, happier, more equal, more just society. And that's what this strategy will help bring about and why this debate has been so wonderfully powerful.

Thank

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you for. And the Secretary of State mentioned brothers would be remiss of me not to mention my five

16:03

of me not to mention my five brothers. And this is going to give Hansard a run for its money. Basharat Naseem, Rosalind Nazir and Imran and obviously my husband David, wonderful men in my life have enabled me to be here in this chair today. I now call Josh Newbury to wind up. Newbury to wind up.

16:03

Josh Newbury MP (Cannock Chase, Labour)

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Thank you. Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to repeat my thanks to the Backbench Business Committee and hon. Members from across the House for supporting the application for this debate. We have had such a wide ranging debate reflecting the many challenges that men face, but also the myriad of ways that men enrich the lives of women, the places they live and work, and our country from across the House. We've heard about so many fantastic organisations doing brilliant work to support men, often at the lowest points in their life.

We've heard about new grandads reducing their hours to step up to care for their grandchildren in their formative months and years. We've heard about the health conditions that affect men, including inequalities and the need to ensure that they get the care they need from stepping through the GP door to getting the all clear. We've heard about the shockingly and stubbornly high rates of mental ill health and suicide amongst men. The stigma is starting to fall away, but it was so encouraging to hear what hon.

Members and the people in our lives are doing to reverse those statistics. One life at a time. We've heard about the joys and pressures of fatherhood, and how central that is to the lives of many men and boys. And of course, inescapably, we've heard some of the finest dad jokes that Britain has ever seen. Seriously, we should get together and write a book, but I'm sure that the call for paternity leave will call for better paternity leave enables all dads from all walks of life to be there for their partners and children in these vital first few weeks, and that has been heard loud and clear today.

It's been such a privilege to be part of this debate, and I am so looking forward to continuing the hard work on all of the issues that we've raised today. The whole country, not just half of

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it, will depend on it. Thank you. The question is, as on the order

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The question is, as on the order papers that I of the contrary, no the ayes have it, the ayes have it. I'll give the frontbenchers a few moments to shuffle over before we start the second debate.

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Okay.

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Okay. Colleagues, time. Time is

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Colleagues, time. Time is limited. Time is limited. We now come to the backbench motion on

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come to the backbench motion on Injury in service award. I call Tom Morrison, who will speak for around

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15 minutes. Tom Morrison. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I beg to move a motion on an Injury in Service award. I'd like to start in Service award. I'd like to start by thanking the Backbench Business Committee for their support in getting this debate. In May this getting this debate. In May this year, a police sergeant's legs were crushed when a car reversed into him repeatedly in a hit and run him repeatedly in a hit and run incident in rush Home, Manchester. Greater Manchester Police described it as a stark reminder of the risks it as a stark reminder of the risks our frontline officers face daily as they work to keep our communities safe.

The officer communities safe. The officer suffered tissue and muscle damage, but thankfully he is expected to make a full recovery. But not every brave officer, paramedic and firefighter does recover. Not everyone can continue with the job everyone can continue with the job that they chose and love, and when injuries are so severe that they

16:06

Tom Morrison MP (Cheadle, Liberal Democrat)

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injuries are so severe that they force someone to give up their work in public service, there is no recognition, there is no award, there is no medal. I first found out about the 999 injured and forgotten campaign when my constituent, Jane Notley, came to my surgery last year. Jane told me her story. She told me that she'd always wanted to be a police officer, and when it happened and she joined the force, it was one of the proudest days of her life.

But sadly, her career ended far too prematurely. It was whilst on duty in Manchester in 1989 that Jane attempted to stop a criminal from stealing cars in the area. During the incident, her legs were crushed between two cars by the criminal, who Jane says laughed while he did it. This horrific attack left Jane completely unable to walk and she was medically discharged from the force. The offender was never caught. Madam Deputy Speaker, I want to make this clear. Jane Notley is one of the most inspirational and wonderful people I have ever met.

After years of surgery and treatments, she can now walk and does so with the aid of her now infamous pink walking sticks. She is now self employed as a therapist, selflessly continuing to help others, albeit in a different position. Jane lost the job that she loved but has continued to serve her community. This is the kind of person that Jane is, but if someone met Jane on the street, they would have no idea of the ordeal that she's been through. No idea that she bravely put herself in harm's way to protect her community.

No idea of the sacrifice that she made so we could be safe. And Jane is not alone. There are many other emergency service responders who are injured every year and face the same awful loss of career that Jane did. Madam Deputy Speaker, it's estimated that there are 800 injured ex Greater Manchester Police officers still alive today. Please let that sink in. 800 people who lost a career they loved after putting themselves in harm's way to ensure that we, our families and friends, were protected and safe.

We all owe them a debt of gratitude. I was honoured to meet many of them in July, when they came to a cross party roundtable here in Parliament to describe their individual experience, and I'd like to put on record my thanks to those members that joined us on that day. The members for Blackpool Blackpool South, Warwick and Leamington, Stockport and Stockton West. I met some incredible people that day. People like Robert Barlow, John-Paul O'Rourke, Gary Pearson, Andy Walker, Robert Hindley, Shahid Mahmood, Simon Bywater and Kerry Snuggs, who's now set up the Intrepid Games, a sports event for those service workers that have been injured or disabled whilst on duty.

I know a number of them are here watching this debate today and I hope that we can all do them proud because they deserve their moment. They deserve the recognition that all they put on the line and all they sacrificed. It's a national shame that no government has acknowledged them and thanked them for their service. And this has to change now, Madam Deputy Speaker, while I talk of people deserving their moments, I have to mention Tom Curry. And can I make it clear that this is Tom's debate here today? Tom started this campaign and fought tirelessly to get the support across the House.

He's truly a force of nature, and I can honestly say it's been a pleasure to work with him this year to make sure that the Injury in service Award becomes a reality. Tom has built the campaign from the ground up. A former Sussex Police officer, he was cruelly injured just weeks before reaching 22 years of service, and so was denied any recognition for his work in the community. He's a former detective and it really does show nothing gets past him, especially governments dragging their feet.

And I'm sure I can attest for those members here today that Tom is relentless. And I know that our phones will not stop ringing. Our inboxes will never be cleared until the Medal of Recognition is delivered. Tom Curry has personally promised me that earlier this year, with Tom and Jane's help, I tabled an Early Day Motion that has since gained 111 signatures, making it one of the most supported motions in this parliament. Signatories from every single party right across the political divide from the Liberal Democrats, Labour, conservative Reform, the Green Party and independents.

This transcends party politics. It's a cause we can and should all rally around an issue with a simple and obvious answer from freedom of Information requests from 44 police officers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We know there are over 16,000 injured police officers across the country, but we don't know the total number of injured servicemen and women across all emergency services as these figures are not available. This is an injustice. We have to put right many who are injured and deprived of the long service and Good Conduct medals that awarded after a sustained period of service.

Up until 2010, emergency responders had to serve for at least 22 years, which was later cut to 20 years to get the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. The gallantry award is also insufficient, as the vast majority of attack personnel are deprived of the opportunity of gallantry because they are sprung upon and ambushed, meaning through no fault of their own. There are tens of thousands of people out there without recognition simply because they're cowardly attackers. Jump them from behind. The 999 Injured and Forgotten campaign believes that any new award for those injured in line of duty should be similar to the Elizabeth Emblem, and that it should be awarded to all public servants.

A constituent from Cheadle who works as a prison chaplain wrote to me this week and suggested involving prison officers as they are essential workers who get little or no public recognition. Another stark reminder of the way our public servants put their safety on the line for us. In 2019, a ministry of justice report stated that there are over 10,000 attacks on prison officers a year, with many ending in career altering injuries and severe psychological trauma. We must make sure that all public servants who are involved, the awards could be offered to all living survivors.

The criteria would be threefold a public servant injured on duty and medically discharged from the service. Due to that injury. The medal would be would recognise the health and career sacrifice of those who are injured on duty. The medal would mean that those who have made significant sacrifices could wear their medal proudly, and the public would be able to recognise and understand the bravery and service that they have contributed to this country. The medal would mean that the brave emergency responders, such as Police Constable Chris Aves, who is now paralysed and confined to a wheelchair, would rightly be recognised.

Chris now lives a completely different life and able to continue the job of protecting us because he was mown down in the terror attack on Westminster Bridge in 2017. Madam Deputy Speaker, this impacts us all. Many colleagues will remember PC Keith Palmer, who sadly died in this attack. He was rightly awarded posthumous awards for gallantry and the Elizabeth Emblem. His bravery saved many lives that day and we all owe him a debt of gratitude. But Chris is also owed our thanks.

He received no medal. He received no recognition for his bravery. Instead, he lost his career and the job he loved. The medal would mean that emergency service responders who survived the most awful situations will be met with respect, acknowledgement and honour. The medal will mean that Pam White's bravery and injuries during the IRA attacks in Harrods in 1983 would be recognised, despite her injuries and terrifying uncertainty, Pam guided members of the public to safety. The injuries sustained were so bad that she was forced to leave the force.

Those killed in the IRA bombings have now been awarded the Elizabeth Emblem, but the injured officers on that day, including Pam, who lost her job. The job that she aspired to from such a young age, are overlooked. Now. All of those emergency service workers will tell you that they are lucky they survived, while some of their colleagues lost their life in the line of duty. But Madam Deputy Speaker, this is certainly true, but we cannot allow this to become an awful game of comparisons.

The people I have mentioned have all suffered in the most appalling ways gunshot wounds, paralysis and other life changing injuries, and of course, PTSD, where many of these brave men and women relive their trauma day in, day out. Madam Deputy Speaker, I urge the government we cannot allow for these people to wait any longer. They need that recognition now. And thanks to Tom Curry's work, the proposal for the award reached the Cabinet Office before the general election. Multiple members have brought this to light in both ministerial correspondence and on the floor of this House.

But the same line is trotted out time and time again, with Elizabeth Emblem now being awarded as of December last year. It is yet another reminder to those overlooked injured survivors that they are forgotten and they have no recognition. Many family members of the fallen who received the Elizabeth Emblem support the introduction of this award, and agree that it is wrong that the injured are forgotten. This has been delayed for too long, so I urge the Minister here today to do the right and honourable thing, get this award off the ground, because those incredible people sat in the gallery right now should not have to wait another day longer.

Politically, there is no resistance. This is a worthwhile investment that would increase national pride, community cohesion and celebrate the incredible work of our emergency services. I thank the Minister for being here today and I look forward to his remarks. I hope he will take heed of this debate. Listen carefully and note with urgency that this award is the right thing to do. I would also like to thank all my colleagues who have joined this important discussion today. It's been a long time coming and I hope it's worth the wait.

I hope this debate here today will transform the lives of many injured emergency service workers. Thank you to Jane, Tom and to everyone watching for driving this cause all the way into the Houses of Parliament. It is no small feat and I hope we can all do you proud. This is your moment. This is your time. I look forward to continuing this campaign with all of you, and I promise I will never stop until injured emergency service workers get the recognition they deserve.

Thank you.

16:16

Jess Asato MP (Lowestoft, Labour)

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The question is, as on the Order Paper and as the debate is oversubscribed, backbench speeches are limited to four minutes and I call Jess Asato. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking.

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The Backbench Business Committee and the hon. Member for Cheadle for bringing forward today's debate. It bringing forward today's debate. It is certainly long overdue. I would also like to thank former police also like to thank former police officer Tom Curry, who is injured in the line of duty and whose campaign with other injured emergency service workers has emergency service workers has brought us here today. In my remarks, I would like to pay remarks, I would like to pay tribute to a constituent of mine, Sue Mitchell, who I met alongside Sue Mitchell, who I met alongside her husband today in November 1984.

Sue was 22 and on her sixth day of Sue was 22 and on her sixth day of working for Essex Police when, whilst pursuing teenage burglars, she was severely rammed by their she was severely rammed by their car as she and her colleague tried to block their escape. Despite a to block their escape. Despite a shattered kneecap and hand injuries, she was able to chase and arrest one of the burglars. She was one of the burglars. She was beginning to recover when crippling back pain and losing feeling in her legs prevented her from returning legs prevented her from returning to the front line.

She had to leave her flat because she could no longer climb the stairs. Nine longer climb the stairs. Nine months after the incident, she returned to light duties at Southend Police Station, but despite surgery on a damaged spinal despite surgery on a damaged spinal disc, which was diagnosed three years later, the police retired her at the age of 26 on medical grounds. Less than a week after the operation, the teenage burglars were handed 12 months youth custody. But Sue has had to live with what happened that day for the past 41 years, a lifetime of chronic pain and medical issues, and she sustained those injuries in the service of all of us, out of duty to maintain law and order and an eagerness to right wrongs.

Five days after the incident, the then chief superintendent praised her meritorious conduct and wrote that consideration will be given to more formal recognition of her and her colleagues action at a later stage. That later stage never came and Sue was never recognised. We have the chance now to write that particular wrong, something so long promised should now be delivered. As we've heard, it's estimated that 15,000 former police officers have, like Sue, been forced to retire due to an injury they suffered in our service.

Today's call to action is supported by nearly a third of members of this House, across all parties and by the Police Federation, the Fire Brigades Union, the Fire and Rescue Services Association, the National Fire Chiefs Council and the Union Unison, of which I must declare I am a member. Medical medal. Medal recognition for Sue and other blue light emergency workers who have been injured in the line of duty won't be able to change what has happened to them, but it could go some way to repaying the debt we owe them for their service and for

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their sacrifice. Thank you. James Wild. Thank you very much, Madam

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Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. I'm very pleased this debate has made its way to the floor of the House, and I congratulate the hon. Member for congratulate the hon. Member for Cheadle for securing it. My late Uncle Malcolm served as a police officer in Norfolk for many years. So I understand a little bit of the level of dedication and personal sacrifice required to serve in the police force, and I'm pleased this campaign enjoys widespread support, and I join others in paying tribute and I join others in paying tribute to Tom Curry for for leading this campaign, getting thousands of people to sign a petition and securing lots of support within this House.

And like other members in the chamber, I've been given first hand accounts from first hand accounts from constituents of horrific incidents which ultimately ended their careers. And one of my constituents, careers. And one of my constituents, Robert Gifford in particular, who is watching the proceedings today, has been very active in making the

16:20

James Wild MP (North West Norfolk, Conservative)

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has been very active in making the case to me about the importance of this issue. He spent over 20 years in the British Transport Police before his career was brutally cut short. While serving in the counter-terrorism unit, he was witness to multiple bomb explosions. As he's explained to me. In 1993, he was called out to the bomb threat in Bishopsgate and I won't go into all the details of what he's told me. But the bomb planted in a stolen truck did explode and killed one person and injured a further 44.

Later that year, he was called to Reading Station, where an IED had been discovered, and when that bomb exploded, he was only 150 yards away. Then, in 1999, he was early to the scene of the Ladbroke Grove train crash, a tragedy with 31 fatalities and hundreds of injuries. And I think his experience and what and what he felt in his service led to him ultimately having to leave the service because of what he'd seen. And I think it's fair to say he's a very fine example of all those who serve on our behalf.

Another constituent who has contacted me served with Greater Manchester Police and Norfolk Police for 13 years before his career was also tragically cut short. In my own constituency, he was beaten and physically dumped into a trailer by three thugs when responding to a complaint of anti-social behaviour. He has lived the rest of his life in fear, with constant anxiety attacks and unable to go to other than a few safe spaces. And these are the people we are talking about in this debate who serve in our emergency services.

I referred to police officers, but as the hon. Member referred to, of course, we're talking about prison officers, paramedics, others who put themselves in danger on our behalf. And the debate has highlighted, whilst each case carries its own story of suffering, there are thousands of people affected. The hon. Member for Lowestoft referred to the 15,000 figure for police officers, but there are obviously thousands of others in the other emergency services who would also be impacted by this. So it's right this House acknowledges the risks faced on a daily basis by our incredible emergency responders and who, like Mr.

Gifford, suffered career ending injuries in September, the Minister for then Minister for policing said the Home Office considers and continues to consider proposals for awarding new awards to members of the emergency service. I spent three years in the Ministry of Defence working for the then Defence Secretary, so I understand some of the inertia that can be in the system when you're looking to get new awards to recognise people's service, but I encourage the Minister to push against that, and I am proud to support this campaign and call on the government to establish a dedicated Injury in service award to formally recognise and honour the sacrifice of emergency service workers injured

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in the line of duty on our behalf. Clive Jones.

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Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker, and can I congratulate my hon. Friend for congratulate my hon. Friend for Cheadle for securing this debate? We all know how important emergency service personnel are to us, often putting their lives on the line to protect others. I have met many police officers, fire service firefighters and paramedics in Wokingham and have seen their selflessness and bravery firsthand. selflessness and bravery firsthand. My constituent, Ian, who I think is in the gallery today, has contacted me.

He served in the Thames Valley me. He served in the Thames Valley Police for 30 years, often putting himself in difficult and dangerous himself in difficult and dangerous situations whilst protecting us, the general public, whilst not being injured himself. He knows of too many colleagues who have been injured, and some have had to end

16:24

Clive Jones MP (Wokingham, Liberal Democrat)

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injured, and some have had to end their service, but they have not been recognised. Only in 2024 was the Elizabeth Emblem introduced and given to the next of kin of deceased police officers, firefighters and public servants. Surely an award is equally needed to recognise those who have been severely injured and medically retired from these services. These people who served our communities deserve an award like so many others. I urge the government to establish an official Injury in service Award to honour and acknowledge the sacrifices of these brave individuals.

Thank you.

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Zoe Franklin. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and congratulations to my hon. and congratulations to my hon. Friend from Cheadle. And thank you to the Backbench Committee for securing this important debate. And I am pleased to be able to speak I am pleased to be able to speak today to support the motion and my constituent, Andrew Barr, who is here in the gallery today. Andrew served in the Metropolitan Police as a detective constable from 2003 to 2019, and also volunteered with to 2019, and also volunteered with a search and rescue unit while off duty.

He is amongst the many great service people we are discussing service people we are discussing today who have had their careers cut short by severe injuries sustained while protecting the sustained while protecting the public. He now lives with complex PTSD after years of assaults, road traffic fatalities and traumatic traffic fatalities and traumatic incidents. Injuries that will remain with him for life. And yet, because those very injuries cut his

16:25

Zöe Franklin MP (Guildford, Liberal Democrat)

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because those very injuries cut his career short, he was denied the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. At official events, he stands as a spectator beside former colleagues as they proudly wear their medals. Him with nothing to show for his years of service and for the health, career and identity he lost in the line of duty. The creation of a dedicated Injury and Service Medal would give men and women from the emergency services like Andrew, the simple but powerful, important thanks and acknowledgement that they deserve.

To him and to all those injured in service, I thank you. I know we all thank you for your service. Like colleagues who have spoken today. I urge the government to commit now to creating this award. We must show men and women who have been injured in service that they will no longer be overlooked. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

16:26

Gideon Amos MP (Taunton and Wellington, Liberal Democrat)

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Gideon Amos. I first heard of the 999 injured and forgotten campaign in Tom Curry from constituents of mine and the enormous work he's been doing to campaign for an award for those injured in service. The constituent concerned a police officer who served 27 years, was suffered spinal injuries on two occasions. On the second occasion, her spinal dislocation and was paralysed. But in a year's time he went back to work and shortly afterwards had to attend a fatal air crash, and was then had to retire on due to further injuries.

As a result of attending that incident, people like him deserve recognition and they deserve an Injury in Service medal. One of the other constituents who's come to me about this is my colleague and constituent councillor, Simon Coles, Liberal Democrat chair of the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority, who's asked me to, who said that firefighters risk their lives daily in the service of their communities. When you're having the worst day of your life, it's a normal day of work for our firefighters.

They deserve the recognition these awards would confer on them. All our communities would approve of such recognition. And I urge the Minister and I urge the House to make sure that this long overdue campaign reaches a triumphal conclusion, and that those who are injured in service are properly recognised with the

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medal that they deserve. Yeah. Iqbal Mohamed. Thank you. Madam Deputy Speaker, I'd like to congratulate and thank I'd like to congratulate and thank my hon. Friend from Cheadle for bringing this important debate. May I also welcome and thank all the

16:28

Iqbal Mohamed MP (Dewsbury and Batley, Independent)

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I also welcome and thank all the public service men and women in the gallery and that are watching at home. Madam Deputy Chair, this debate coincided coincides with the fantastic news this week that the brave train driver, Samir Zitouni, injured during the Huntingdon train attack, has finally been discharged from hospital. It reminds us how often the people on our front lines do not receive the credit or recognition they truly deserve. And if this is true for a single shocking and horrifying incident that rightly captured national attention, then we can only imagine the countless cases faced by our emergency personnel who risked their lives day in, day out, so often unnamed in in the reporting that follows.

Only last month, I took part in a ride along with West Yorkshire Police, where I saw first hand the pressures involved, even in what we think is a routine neighbourhood policing. Reflecting on that experience, I'm struck by how our officers can within seconds find themselves face to face with frightening and unpredictable situations. We might assume these low risk encounters, but the reality is that any moment can turn into danger, leaving officers not only injured but sometimes medically discharged from the career they loved because they were protecting the public.

In preparing for this debate, I learnt that over 6000 officers since 2022, in West Yorkshire, Police experienced assault related injury injuries and over 15,000 former police officers have suffered life changing injuries in the line of duty across England. And that is before we even begin to count paramedics, firefighters and so many others. One line from the campaign that stayed with me, that many of these people are left injured and forgotten. How incredibly upsetting that someone can give so much to the public.

You receive so little in return. The very least we can do is recognise their sacrifice. There is currently no for. As we've heard, no current or former formal honour for those who survive catastrophic career ending injuries in the line of duty. To me and to many across this House, that is a glaring injustice. I welcome the growing cross-party consensus and the clear strength of feeling in this place. That is why I strongly support the introduction of an Injury in service award.

Mirroring, mirroring the recognition rightly given to those who lose their lives but extended to those who bear lifelong scars for their service. These individuals met every duty the public asked of them. It is time the state met its duty to them. I urge the government, the Cabinet Office and the Honours and Appointments Secretariat to act to ensure that these extraordinary sacrifices are finally recognised, formally and permanently. It would not take much from them, but it would mean the world to those who gained the recognition they have long deserved.

Our emergency services are there for us at the very worst moments of our lives. It is long past time that we showed them that this country sees, remembers and honours their courage.

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Thank you. Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I

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Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I thank the hon. Member for Cheadle, my friend, for securing this excellent debate. I want to seek excellent debate. I want to seek the Minister's help with regard to my Witney constituent, Bill my Witney constituent, Bill Maddocks. Bill was an on call firefighter, far fighter at Witney for 22 years and contracted Covid for 22 years and contracted Covid at work while seconded on a full time contract to assist the ambulance service during the

16:31

Charlie Maynard MP (Witney, Liberal Democrat)

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ambulance service during the pandemic. This became long Covid and he was ill. Health retired from the fire service as a result. During this process, he was assured by senior managers a pension equivalent to a full time firefighter would be his, and he was independently medically assessed as having a tier one level and 100% disability, entitling him to a compensation pension equivalent to a full time firefighter wage. This has been the basis of a long standing dispute, and his about his disablement and the apportionment was independent, even though it was independently assessed and agreed by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Services.

Legally binding, the amount awarded was only equivalent to an on call pay rather than a full time wage. As a result of that, the Pension Ombudsman became involved and also the Fire Brigades Union, and it has continued to be a Byzantine maze where the Pension Ombudsman has walked away, saying it's outside of their brief and Bill remains for years on, incredibly debilitated and suffering, deeply supported wonderfully by his wife. Nikki and I would really like your help in finding a way through this.

Both, yes, monetarily. But also the man deserves an award exactly as we

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much. I was just going to correct the

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I was just going to correct the member's term of the word your. But I didn't want to interrupt his flowing speech. And now come to the front benches and I call the

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front benches and I call the Forster. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Police officers, firefighters, Police officers, firefighters, paramedics and other emergency services and public services face services and public services face real risks every day to keep people safe when those risks lead to life changing injury, it can bring a changing injury, it can bring a sudden and permanent end to a career built on service. We need to show our support and our show our support and our appreciation for them, whether they be emergency service workers or NHS

16:33

Mr Will Forster MP (Woking, Liberal Democrat)

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be emergency service workers or NHS heroes or others recognising the amazing work they do for us, every day is the least we can do. They all themselves, they put themselves in harm's way, they prioritise their lives. So they prioritise our our lives over their own, regardless of circumstances, to keep us safe. They protect us, they rescue us. They put us back together. When we are sick and injured. We need to be forever grateful for their sacrifice, their dedication and their commitment.

And we must not take that for granted. As we've heard this afternoon, this country does. We don't reward their efforts like we should. Those people have given everything in that service and yet they feel overlooked. I want to wholeheartedly commend the initiative of retired Sussex Police officer Tom Curry, who has led the campaign for the recognition of police officers injured in on duty. His work alongside the National Association of Retired Police Officers and others, have shown the strength of feeling on this issue.

I also support the Fire and Rescue Services Association, which is calling for a medal for emergency workers who are severely injured or and then have to retire due to medical issues. Debbie Adlam, the mother of late PC Andrew Harper, has warned that many injured and injured emergency workers feel brushed aside. She has spoken really powerfully about the colleagues of her son, who suffered both mentally and physically through their bravery, yet have had no official recognition. She reminded us I will give way.

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Honourable. Friend, for giving way. There's police.

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police. Officers and other emergency services having to. Being injured services having to. Being injured in the line of work. There has been some mention of issues like PTSD and other mental.

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Health issues. Would you agree with me that we need to see that as just as important? Because the just as important? Because the experiences that some of these frontline service people encounter

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frontline service people encounter on a very regular basis have very long lasting effects? Yeah. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker,

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, my hon. Friend from Winchester is completely right. Injured in the completely right. Injured in the line of duty needs to be about physical and mental health. And I think we've we've had many examples think we've we've had many examples of that so far today, Debbie of that so far today, Debbie reminded us that what might be five minutes on the news becomes a story that affects that individual for that affects that individual for the rest of their lives.

But back to Tom Curry. He left Sussex Police to Tom Curry. He left Sussex Police in 1989 because of the serious injuries he received whilst on the injuries he received whilst on the job. He has talked about being only a few weeks away from receiving his long service medal before he was injured, and now he has nothing to show. For example, I have from my constituency in my area of Surrey is that PC Geoff Newham, from Surrey Police, was named as an award winner of the Police Federation back in 2020.

He was an outstanding police officer. He was a member of the Surrey Roads Policing Unit, yet he was involved in a collision during a pursuit in 2018 that left him with serious back injuries, and that meant that he couldn't do his previous job anymore. Despite that injury, his tenacity and positive attitude saw him utilise his skills and experience to ensure that colleagues were he was able to support those colleagues with his first class criminal intelligence, allowing them to target and disrupt a number of high level organised crime units in Surrey, go after county line gangs and help lock up numerous offenders.

I don't know about you, Madam Deputy Speaker, but that deserves to be awarded. I've been moved by stories from colleagues across the chamber Parliament over several years, whether that be in 2018 and again in 2022, has increased sentences for criminals that have targeted our emergency services. If we're increasing their sentences, we should be able to reward the recognition of emergency workers. At the same time. For all those reasons and more, I support the creation of Official Injury on Duty award scheme.

It would provide recognition and dignity that those people deserve. I also want to applaud my hon. Friend for Cheadle for bringing this debate to this House and his work on this. I'm sure Jay Notley, with her distinctive pink walking sticks, would be really proud to have him as her MP. The Home Office has said that it recognises the duty of emergency service personnel injured in the line of duty, and is considering proposals. It's time for this House puts those proposals in reality, and I hope the Home Office Minister will confirm that today.

Vickers.

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Emergency service workers are the bedrock of society. They're the bedrock of society. They're the people who run towards danger while others run away. They're there in our hour of need and deserve our our hour of need and deserve our utmost respect. I want to start by paying tribute to every emergency service worker across the country for the incredible job that they do for the incredible job that they do in difficult circumstances, to serve the public and their local serve the public and their local communities.

I'd also like to thank all honourable and right hon. Members who have contributed to today's debate, and those who have engaged with and supported this campaign. In particular, I'd like to thank the Member for Cheadle who to thank the Member for Cheadle who secured this debate and ably set out the need for this recognition. out the need for this recognition. I'd also like to pay tribute to the right hon. Member for Herne Bay and Sandwich, who has long championed this cause. Madam Deputy Speaker Tom Curry, who joins us in the gallery today, is a truly remarkable campaigner who's not remarkable campaigner who's not prepared to take no for an answer.

Tom served in Sussex Police as a detective, but was forced to retire early after suffering a life changing injury. I think it's fair changing injury. I think it's fair to say that Tom's not a quiet man, but he's a great man who brings people together and has spearheaded people together and has spearheaded this campaign, and an honourable and right hon. Members across the House will want to join me in

16:40

Matt Vickers MP (Stockton West, Conservative)

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paying tribute to him and all the former emergency service workers who join us in the gallery today. who join us in the gallery today. Tom calls it a scandalous national disgrace that those forced to retire through injury in the line retire through injury in the line of duty are not awarded a medal. I agree entirely, it's time that we agree entirely, it's time that we honoured their service. These individuals have put themselves in harm's way to serve our communities, harm's way to serve our communities, and their injuries have cost them their job, often a job that they have dreamed of all their lives.

Earlier this year, alongside the hon. Member for Cheadle, we welcome hon. Member for Cheadle, we welcome dozens of former emergency service workers to Parliament. It was an insightful and at times very emotional discussion. Anyone who listened to those stories and the real impact on those people and real impact on those people and their lives and that of their families, could not oppose award in this recognition. Each and every this recognition. Each and every former emergency service worker there had a story. Many will have heard the experience of.

Many heard the experience of. Many members will have heard the experiences of their own constituents. But there's one I would like to share with the House today. Elsie Gault is a former police officer and she joins us in police officer and she joins us in the gallery today. She was injured while serving with Merseyside Police, involved in a horrific road traffic accident with a lorry. Sadly, her injuries were severe and have left her relying on crutches to remain mobile to join us today.

Elsie has travelled from the Scottish Highlands via the night train and will return will return on that same journey later today. That is how much this means to her. She wants to see recognition for other people who might have to endure what she has had to live through. Elsie's determination is truly inspiring. Turning to the specifics of this campaign, the ask is very simple that those injured in the line of duty must be recognised. As it stands today, no such medal exists other than if there are actions of high gallantry, but of course, very few of those are ever awarded for understandable reasons.

It's right that those who serve our communities and are injured in the line of duty have recognition for their service. The proposal has very clear qualifications, replicating the established injury on duty pension criteria. I also understand that both the firefighters union and Unison also fully support this proposal. Thanks to Tom's determined efforts and perseverance, this medal was already being looked at by the last government after the then police and fire Minister, now Shadow Home Secretary, ensured it reached the Cabinet Office, who oversee the awarding of decorations and medals.

There appears to have been little progress on new since the election, but given the new police Minister is one of the 219 MPs who signed up to support the campaign, I'm hopeful we can rely on her to take this forward. I urge the Minister to listen to the campaigners, listen to the backbenchers. This is a no brainer. Let's get it done. We've heard some excellent contributions from across the House today, and I hope the Minister understands just how important this issue is to former police officers in the gallery and right across the country.

I hope the Minister will be able to update the House on progress today. I'd also ask if he might commit himself and the Policing Minister to meeting with Tom Curry. I think the question from the gallery if Tom was stood here would be when, not if, will we award these heroes the recognition that they deserve? Madam Deputy Speaker, emergency service workers do so much for us

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them. Yeah. I call the Minister. Minister

16:43

Mike Tapp MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Dover and Deal, Labour)

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17:00

the highest signed motions delivered to Parliament because of this, and you can see the public support is all behind this. So what I would say to the government is we need to act now. There are people that deserve this recognition. They deserved it yesterday. Let's not wait another day. They need it now.

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The question is, as on the Order Paper that opinion, say aye. of the contrary. No. The ayes have it. The contrary. No. The ayes have it. The ayes have it. That's the end of that debate. I'll give the frontbenchers a few moments to shuffle over.

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shuffle over. This House. Do now adjourn. The question is that this House do now adjourn. And I call James Asser on the government support for children and families impacted by serious neurological conditions.

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James Asser. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I'm pleased to have secured this adjournment debate on the support available to children and, crucially, their families living with serious neurological with serious neurological conditions. I applied for this debate after hearing the moving testimony of my constituents testimony of my constituents Shalina a mother who, like so many parents in similar circumstances, never expected to find herself never expected to find herself navigating the complex and overwhelming world that confronted her when her daughter Tafida fell seriously ill.

Following Taffetas diagnosis, Shalina not only became an advocate for her own child, but an advocate for her own child, but went on to support others facing similar paths. She founded the Talila the Tafida Foundation, a charity dedicated to helping families understand treatment options and access specialist knowledge and feel supported at a time when many can feel at their most isolated. The Foundation now supports families both here and abroad, and their insights they have gathered are invaluable in helping shape thoughtful and compassionate reform.

Celina's story, sadly, is not a unique one. Each year, thousands of children in the UK are diagnosed with life limiting neurological conditions. limiting neurological conditions. Well, I'm very happy to give way to.

17:02

James Asser MP (West Ham and Beckton, Labour)

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17:12

Ashley Dalton MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care (West Lancashire, Labour)

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reality for children and their families. These conditions, whether congenital, acquired or progressive, often bring profound physical limitations, developmental delays, limitations, developmental delays, and complex care needs. Families face relentless hospital visits, financial strain, and the emotional toll of uncertainty, all while navigating fragmented health, navigating fragmented health, education and social care systems. The government recognises these challenges and is committed to challenges and is committed to improving access to care, reducing inequalities and providing holistic support through health, education support through health, education and social care systems.

Our ten year health plan will transform care for children with serious care for children with serious neurological conditions by delivering integrated, community based services that put families at based services that put families at the centre. It prioritises early identification and intervention, ensuring that children receive ensuring that children receive timely diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications through neighbourhood health centres. Multidisciplinary teams, including paediatric neurologists, therapists, paediatric neurologists, therapists, mental health professionals, professionals and social workers and will provide wraparound support and will provide wraparound support that meets medical, emotional and practical needs.

Digital tools will empower parents to manage appointments and access records as easily as they bank online. This is about creating a system that works for families, not against them. Through NHS England's Neurology Transformation programme, we're creating pathways that wrap around families. The national bundle of care for children and young people with epilepsy set clear standards for paediatric epilepsy care, for instance for cerebral palsy. New commissioning frameworks ensure early intervention and coordinated services and specialised paediatric neurosciences services provide access to life changing procedures such as epileptic epilepsy surgery and selective dorsal rhizotomy.

Rhizotomy. I can't say it rhizotomy. There we go. The government is committed to improving lives for those affected by rare diseases, which includes some serious neurological conditions under the UK Rare Diseases Framework. This includes better coordination of care and improving access to specialist care, treatment and drugs. We also hear that children and families impacted by these conditions can struggle to access mental health support, which is just not right. To address this, the NHS Genomics Education Programme has published new resources on rare diseases for healthcare professionals to help them with sensitive conversations.

The ten year health plan also sets out ambitious goals to transform mental health services across the country, so that everyone living with a rare disease, along with their loved ones, can get the support they truly deserve. We know that timely access to care is critical, yet many families face delays of months. This is unacceptable. This is why we've committed to meeting the NHS constitutional standard patients seen within 18 weeks by March 2029 through the elective reform plan, the Neurology Transformation Programme.

We're expanding diagnostic capacity, rolling out virtual consultations and opening more community diagnostic centres seven days a week. These steps will cut waiting lists and ensure that children and families get the care they need when they need it. We know that neurological conditions often come with emotional and behavioural challenges, and that is why mental health support is being embedded into paediatric neurology pathways. Initiatives such as the National Bundle of care for children and young people with epilepsy include psychological support as a core component.

But we're also expanding mental health support teams in schools and launching young futures hubs to provide integrated local support. This holistic approach recognises that physical and mental health are inseparable for many families. The move from paediatric to adult services is a key time of uncertainty. We're addressing this through structured transition planning as set out in the Nice guidance and NHS England frameworks

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I will. It's a I thank the Minister for

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It's a I thank the Minister for her response. But on that issue, that transition issue, that's a key, key issue for families in this area, key issue for families in this area, particularly in the last Parliament, the then all party group for cerebral palsy issued recommendations about health recommendations about health pathways for adults because there is not the same health framework for adults in for a lot of these for adults in for a lot of these conditions, including cerebral palsy, as there are for children.

So can I ask the Minister to take

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So can I ask the Minister to take that away today and look at how we can replicate some of the pathways that are there for children in the adult sector? Minister.

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Minister. I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention, and that's something that I'm more than happy to do. All that I'm more than happy to do. All too often we've seen that that transition is a really difficult transition is a really difficult time. And as he points out, where services are perhaps not as joined up and as cohesive for adults as for children, that is a huge jar for children, that is a huge jar and a huge problem for families to navigate.

And so in that vein, navigate. And so in that vein, we're committed to making sure that transition plans start early. They involve families and they ensure involve families and they ensure that continuity of care. Our goal is to make this process smooth and supportive, not stressful and fragmented. But health is only one part of the picture. Children with serious neurological conditions often have special educational needs and disabilities, and their success depends on a joined up approach across the sectors. And that is why the Send reforms that this government is working on are so important.

We're moving towards earlier intervention, stronger inclusion in mainstream education and better collaboration between health, education and social care. These changes will ensure that support is needs led rather than diagnosis driven, with clear accountability across integrated care boards and schools. By embedding mental health provision, improving workforce expertise and planning smooth transition transitions into adulthood care, we aim to deliver consistent, high quality support that helps children thrive and restores confidence in the system. Caring for a child with a serious neurological condition can place enormous financial strain on families.

The welfare system is designed to provide a crucial lifeline, ensuring that no family is crushed by the additional, often substantial, costs associated with their child's condition. The government provides support through a range of benefits including Disability Living Allowance, Carer's Allowance, personal health budgets and local authority support, including respite care and equipment provision. But financial support is not just about money, it is about giving families the stability and the security they need to focus on what matters most their child's wellbeing.

Our commitment to children with serious neurological conditions reflects the core values of our society compassion, fairness and the belief that every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential by improving the health care access and providing comprehensive support systems, we are building a more inclusive and resilient future for all. We will ensure that no child or family feels abandoned, and that

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compassion and coordination define the care that they receive. Here. We've just checked and we think it's dorsal rhizotomy, but hopefully I haven't got that wrong either. The question is this House either. The question is this House do now adjourn and may I say I the ayes have it. The ayes have it.

09:00

Oral questions: Transport

House House of House of Commons House of Commons - House of Commons - 20 House of Commons - 20 November 2025.

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