Business of the House

Andrew Cooper Excerpts

Thursday 4th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly join the hon. Lady in paying tribute to police officers, particularly those who were hurt in the appalling recent disturbances.

As colleagues will know, the current outbreak of Ebola that the hon. Lady refers to is affecting the DRC and threatening Uganda. Our estimation is that the risk to the UK population is currently low, but we keep that under constant review. We have implemented a package of broader health measures, including live information screens at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester airports, and NHS 111 pathways have been updated. We continue to work closely with international partners. Last month, up to £20 million of new UK aid funding helped to contain the recent outbreak in the eastern DRC, but we keep that under constant review.

I could not agree more with the hon. Lady that the aid programme is an important part of our national security. I also think it is a moral cause. We are committed to a target of 0.7% when fiscal circumstances allow. We are committing £1.4 billion a year to tackle human suffering in some of the worst humanitarian crises. We will still be the fifth-biggest funder of development aid and we will invest £850 million in the Global Fund for 2026-28. I understand what she is saying about the need to go further, but we should not ignore the fact that we are doing everything we can.

[Andrew Cooper (Mid Cheshire) (Lab)]

More than 15 people have died in water-related incidents in the recent hot weather, including 17-year-old David Tita Junior, who sadly lost his life at Pickmere lake near Northwich last Tuesday. My thoughts, and the thoughts of the entire House, are with David’s family at this difficult time. The tragic incident highlights the importance of water safety education, and particularly the risks associated with cold water shock. Will the Leader of the House arrange to have the Minister responsible look at this and other recent cases, and consider how water safety education in schools might be strengthened?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I join my hon. Friend in sending condolences to all the families of those who have tragically died, including David. As part of the Beat the Heat campaign, the UK Health Security Agency promotes safer choices around where, when and how people swim. As my hon. Friend rightly points out, primary schools are required to provide mandatory swimming instructions. Primary school leavers should be able to swim 25 metres confidently; if there are reasons why that is not happening, I will ask the relevant Department to find out what they are. The number of deaths is tragically high and the issue will affect a number of constituencies, so I urge him and others to attend the Westminster Hall debate next Tuesday, to raise questions directly with the Minister.

Business of the House

Andrew Cooper Excerpts

Thursday 3rd July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I am sorry to hear about the incidents in my hon. Friend’s constituency. The hot weather brings with it great opportunities for coastal communities like hers, but I recognise that when it brings antisocial behaviour, that can be a real problem. I will certainly pass on her calls to the Home Secretary, but I assure my hon. Friend that we are giving the police the powers that they need to tackle these issues, as well as the funding to carry them out.

[Andrew Cooper (Mid Cheshire) (Lab)]

If the Leader of the House likes piña coladas and getting caught in the rain, may I suggest that she looks no further than the Piña Colada Festival in Northwich on 16 August? This event, in honour of Northwich-born Rupert Holmes’s song “Escape”—or, as he describes it, the song from which there is no escape—adds around half a million pounds to the local economy, and is now one of the most important events for the hospitality sector in Mid Cheshire. Could the Leader of the House arrange for a debate in Government time on the role of such events in town centre regeneration? Should she wish to conduct some empirical research prior to any debate, perhaps she would like to visit Northwich on the 16th.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

Yes—with me joining her, no doubt.

Business of the House

Andrew Cooper Excerpts

Thursday 3rd April 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising Epilepsy Awareness Day, for wearing a purple tie and for supporting his constituent Sara. He has raised another important issue, and tackling epilepsy and other health conditions is what this Government are all about.

[Andrew Cooper (Mid Cheshire) (Lab)]

I recently attended the official opening of Her-Place Charitable Trust’s new hub in Winsford, using space generously provided by Weaver Vale Housing Trust. The hub will provide the charity with its first permanent base, from where it can deliver services to support women and girls across Cheshire, including the community launderette, drop-in clinics and friendship groups. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Her-Place not only on the opening of its new hub, but on the invaluable work it does in my area?

[Lucy Powell]

I will join my hon. Friend in congratulating Her-Place. It sounds like a really important hub in his constituency for women and girls to come together.

Business of the House

Andrew Cooper Excerpts

Thursday 6th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

Absolutely; that is why this Government are taking our clean energy mission so seriously. It will not only give us energy security, but lead to lower bills for people such as my hon. Friend�s constituents. In the meantime, we are ensuring that we extend the warm home discount to another 2 million people next year, so that his constituents and many others can keep themselves warm at home.

[Andrew Cooper (Mid Cheshire) (Lab)]

Last week, I had the privilege of opening the new block at Sir John Deane�s sixth-form college in Northwich. It was revealed at the event that the Sixth Form Colleges Association has confirmed that, once again, Johnny Deane�s is one of the country�s leading sixth-form colleges, having both the highest attainment and the highest value added of all large mainstream sixth-form colleges. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Sir John Deane�s on that incredible achievement, and will she allow time for a debate on the vital role that sixth-form colleges play?

[Lucy Powell]

I join my hon. Friend in giving my heartfelt congratulations to Sir John Deane�s sixth-form college for its outstanding contribution and all the great standards it delivers.

Business of the House

Andrew Cooper Excerpts

Thursday 12th December 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I think this is the fourth question I have had today on the vital role that local culture and theatres play in our communities and in keeping our high street as the vibrant centres that we want them to be. I am sure the Chair of the Backbench Business Committee has heard those questions, and I would advise everybody to club together and get a good debate on this issue.

[Andrew Cooper (Mid Cheshire) (Lab)]

Grange community primary school in Winsford has just retained its status as a centre of excellence through the inclusion quality mark. This award recognises the school’s commitment to make sure that inclusion is a priority, and that the educational and personal needs of every child, including those with SEND, are met through its curriculum. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating everybody at the school on this fantastic achievement, and will she arrange a debate in Government time on the importance of inclusive provision in mainstream schools?

[Lucy Powell]

I absolutely join my hon. Friend in congratulating Grange community nursery and primary school in his constituency on its great work on inclusion and supporting children with special educational needs. We have had lots of discussion of that topic this morning, and I am it sure would make a great topic for a debate.

Business of the House

Andrew Cooper Excerpts

Thursday 10th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

My hon. Friend might attract some other attention to Bawtry, now that he has said how many bras are on display. He raises an important issue about Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the importance of the screening programme in preventing many deaths—it prevents 1,300 deaths a year. He is right that the programme has been declining, so the efforts of his constituents and others to raise breast cancer awareness and highlight the importance of screening are absolutely to be applauded.

[Andrew Cooper (Mid Cheshire) (Lab)]

The Cheshire county netball under-17 squad, which includes girls from my constituency, will travel to America next month to compete in the netball open championships—the first British team to be invited to do so, I believe. I know that the team will have an unforgettable experience and will showcase their talent, and I wish them all the best. Will the Minister arrange a debate on the benefits of supporting grassroots teams and facilitating their participation in such events, which offer youngsters unique opportunities and help develop cultural relationships between countries and friendships between competitors?

[Lucy Powell]

I am delighted to congratulate the Cheshire county under-17 squad on successfully reaching the 2024 USA netball open championships—what an achievement. Netball is a fantastic sport; I really enjoyed it as a youngster, as my daughter does now. My hon. Friend might want to raise these issues in the next debate on the importance of sport in our society.