Voluntary Groups and Community Centres Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Esther McVey
Main Page: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)Department Debates - View all Esther McVey's debates with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Voluntary Groups and Community Centres
Esther McVey Excerpts(1 day, 10 hours ago)
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Several hon. Members rose—
Esther McVey (in the Chair)
Order. I remind Members that they should bob if they wish to be called. We will come to the Front Bench spokespeople just before 10.30 am.
Ben Coleman
And meet his mother. I would like to bring the listenership up to two; a 100% increase after this debate would not be a bad outcome.
It was interesting to hear my hon. Friend the Member for Stirling and Strathallan (Chris Kane) talk about how local government in Scotland has been constrained by the actions of the Scottish Government. That is having a serious impact on the voluntary sector.
The hon. Member for Frome and East Somerset (Anna Sabine) reminded me—this is a little secret, which has now been shared—that we are fellow bassoon players, although I have not played since school. That reminds me of the damage that Margaret Thatcher did when she abolished the Inner London Education Authority and decimated musical education across the city. It has still not fully recovered, despite our efforts to improve things.
The speech of the hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (Mr French) was very interesting, particularly given that he completely avoided the issue that I raised of the damage that austerity under the Conservative Government did. We had years of funding cuts, and of course a very sharp rise in demand for voluntary services. We are grappling with that as we try to repair the immense damage to this country after so many years.
It was good to hear the Minister set out in such detail the many things that the Government are trying to do to repair the damage. We cannot pretend that it does not exist. The examples that everybody has given show the huge challenge to the community and voluntary sector and community centres. I very much appreciate the Minister’s determination to ensure that the Government do more. I will very happily take her up on the offer—if it turns into one—of a meeting with Ministers at MHCLG. That would be excellent and I thank her for that.
After hearing everyone’s examples and experiences in their communities, I want to close by thanking our community centres and the volunteers in them for their immense work. Our communities are richer in many ways—even if not financially—and definitely happier and better supported thanks to them. I hope the changes that I have called for can be made to give them a boost and the stability that they need.
Esther McVey (in the Chair)
If Members will allow me, I would like to congratulate my local rugby club, Lymm rugby club, which last week got the King’s award for voluntary service.
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved,
That this House has considered Government support for voluntary groups and community centres.