Business of the House

Kirsty Blackman Excerpts

Thursday 18th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend will know that the Government are bringing forward a series of measures on how to improve the water industry, which was in a dire state when we came into government. That includes looking at the role of the water ombudsman and others, and at how to protect customers from the sorts of practices that my hon. Friend describes. Let me take up the matter with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. If he wishes to meet Ministers, I will encourage them to meet him.

[Kirsty Blackman (Aberdeen North) (SNP)]

If I may crave your indulgence for a brief moment, Mr Speaker, I thank you and your deputies for all your service this year; all House staff, particularly those who keep us safe and those who will be working over Christmas; and all Members’ staff, who will in many cases continue to be on the frontline in helping people over Christmas.

In Aberdeen, the fiscal situation means that a number of people are losing their jobs in the oil and gas industry. The Department for Work and Pensions and the Treasury measure that by looking at how many people are claiming unemployment benefits, such as universal credit. That misses the key point that many people are moving abroad, retiring or simply moving out of the workforce completely and not claiming benefits. Will the Leader of the House ask the Work and Pensions Secretary and the Treasury whether there is a better way to measure accurately the number of jobs that are being lost?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will certainly draw the hon. Lady’s remarks and concerns to the attention of the relevant Minister and make sure she gets a response.