Oral Answers to Questions

Elsie Blundell Excerpts

Tuesday 23rd June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Rigby]

My right hon. Friend the Member for Makerfield (Andy Burnham) will speak for himself, but I am confident that his view is that growth extends far beyond the area that the hon. Gentleman referred to. Most importantly, this Government’s approach is to ensure that growth can be generated right across the country, rather than in just a few postcodes.

[Mrs Elsie Blundell (Heywood and Middleton North) (Lab)]

11. What fiscal steps she is taking to help develop transport infrastructure in the north-west.

[The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rachel Reeves)]

This Government are committed to improving transport connectivity right across the north of England, and we know that part of how we can deliver that is by recognising that decisions about local transport are better made locally. That is why we are giving mayors and local leaders the powers and the funding to make decisions locally; through the transport for city regions fund alone, there will be £4.1 billion for Greater Manchester and the Liverpool city region between 2027 and 2032, and there will be further devolution through the integrated settlements.

[Mrs Blundell]

As the Chancellor will know, northern powerhouse has been spoken about since 2014, which is 12 years ago. If we are to get Northern Powerhouse Rail off the ground and delivered, we cannot let valuable land that could create tens of thousands of jobs and boost the northern economy be used as a cheap option. What recent conversations have there been with local leaders regarding the proposed underground station at Manchester Piccadilly?

[Rachel Reeves]

This Government, for the first time, have backed Northern Powerhouse Rail with actual money in the spending review. The programme will improve connections between key cities—Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield and York. We have not yet taken a decision on the type of station that we will deliver at Manchester Piccadilly, but I recognise my hon. Friend’s preference for an underground station. I recently met Bev Craig, the leader of the city council, to discuss how the Government can support Manchester’s ambition for an underground station at Manchester Piccadilly.

Spring Forecast

Elsie Blundell Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Rachel Reeves]

The OBR has revised down the level of debt in every year of the forecast.

[Mrs Elsie Blundell (Heywood and Middleton North) (Lab)]

I thank the Chancellor for her statement, and for the decisions she has taken to ensure the stability of our public finances so that we can improve our public services. As she will know, the number of individuals in the probation system is at an all-time high, with violent reoffending perpetuating the cycle of crime and leaving the public at risk. What steps will the Treasury take to drive down the number of staffing vacancies in the Probation Service, so that those in the service can work relentlessly to reduce reoffending and ensure the safety of the communities we represent?

[Rachel Reeves]

As Chancellor, it was my responsibility to make sure that we had fair settlements in the spending review for every Department. That included a big uplift in the settlement for the Ministry of Justice so that we can invest in probation staff, in prison officers, and indeed in prisons, which were full to bursting point when we came into government because of the legacy of the previous Government.

Spending Review 2025

Elsie Blundell Excerpts

Wednesday 11th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Rachel Reeves]

I thank my hon. Friend for that kind invitation. I look forward to being with her in Paisley and Renfrewshire before too long. It is the case that 14 years of Conservative Government and an additional 18 years of SNP Government in Scotland, have left many communities on their backs. The investments that we have announced—particularly with their multi-year nature—are about turning those communities around, so that more people can have pride in the places in which they live.

[Mrs Elsie Blundell (Heywood and Middleton North) (Lab)]

I welcome the Government’s announcement of an additional £2.5 billion in Greater Manchester. This will have a real benefit for my constituency and the town of Heywood, which will get the tram for the first time. What can the Government do, together with the Greater Manchester combined authority, to make sure that we get shovels in the ground as quickly as possible?

[Rachel Reeves]

I thank my hon. Friend for her lobbying; because of her efforts, Heywood will now get that metro station. Working together with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, we will ensure that the spades are in the ground quickly so that her constituents can benefit from the additional investment that this Government are putting in.