Christmas Adjournment
Wera Hobhouse Excerpts(6 days, 8 hours ago)
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Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)
This last debate of the year is an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate some of the most valued aspects of our constituencies. I can mention only a few because of the time limit.
VOICES has been delivering independent, trauma-informed domestic abuse services in Bath for more than a decade, and it currently supports more than 200 women, with many more on the waiting list. VOICES is working hard to improve survivors’ experience with the courts. Earlier this month, I met Baroness Levitt to discuss the survivor-led guide to family court proceedings, which VOICES co-produced. We explored how the Government can work with VOICES, so that there is wider access to the trauma-informed guide, which helps survivors to navigate what is often an intimidating and retraumatising court process. I pay tribute to VOICES and the very hard work it is doing.
Looking back, many of the brightest moments of 2025 had a musical focus. Most recently, of course, carol concerts across the length and breadth of the city highlighted the joyful unity that communal singing can bring. November brought Mozartfest and lively am-dram Gilbert and Sullivan productions, and May brought the Bath festival and Party in the City. None of our cultural activities is free from deep financial worries; public money has all but dried up, and events can survive only thanks to the hard work of the volunteers who run the organisations.
Bath is home to a vibrant community of independent shops, including our independent bookshops, such as Mr B’s, Persephone Books, Topping, Bath Old Books, the Oldfield Park Bookshop and the iconic Skoobs—we have a wonderful choice. Many of those cherished local businesses face serious challenges, as rising costs and limited Government support continue to threaten their future. Mr B’s bookshop will soon see its business rates rise by more than 70%, largely because of a steep increase in its rateable value. Rateable value often bears little resemblance to the reality of what businesses pay in rent. Many independent shops have long-standing relationships with their landlords that are built on trust, loyalty and stability. In some cases, landlords deliberately keep their rents fair and manageable because they value reliable long-term tenants, but none of that is recognised by the valuation system, and the casualties are our independent shops.
The Government presented their business rates reforms in the Budget as a fairer deal for the high street, but in reality, the average pub will see its business rates increase by 76% in the next three years. I implore the Government to think again and support our local businesses.
For many of us, the festive period means time away from work, spent with our closest friends and family, but let us not forget the many extraordinary and dedicated workers in the NHS, the emergency services, social care, retail and hospitality, energy, transport and so many other sectors who work over Christmas. I thank them. I also want to say a very big thank you to all the staff who have supported us through the year. Merry Christmas to you all.
Business of the House
Wera Hobhouse Excerpts(1 month ago)
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Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend is not the first Member to raise that issue with me—especially over the past few weeks. As he knows, it is not just a question of the run-up to bonfire night; we are approaching end-of-year celebrations as well. Pet owners will once again be worried for their pets. It is important that measures on fireworks are proportionate, but this is such a big topic for MPs that if he were to secure a debate on it, he would find that it was particularly well attended.
Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)
I speak today on behalf of one constituent, although there are many similar examples. My constituent, who does not want to be named in order to protect herself, is losing out quite substantially because the Child Maintenance Service is failing to enforce the regular payments that she is owed. The non-resident parent makes one partial payment after another and then simply defaults again. The CMS has the necessary powers to act, but is not using them effectively to stop that cycle. Might we have a debate in Government time on how the CMS can enforce the timely payment of child maintenance?
Sir Alan Campbell
The hon. Lady raises another issue that is constantly in our constituency postbags and inboxes. The CMS is committed to ensuring that separated parents support their children financially. The powers should be used, but that is not happening in too many cases, as she says. If she supplies me with the details of that case in confidence, I will raise it with the appropriate Minister and see whether we can resolve it.
Business of the House
Wera Hobhouse Excerpts(1 month, 3 weeks ago)
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Sir Alan Campbell
Local theatres are a very important part of the UK’s creative industries and play a vital role in our local communities. In England, our Arts Everywhere fund will include support for local arts and music venues. As I have already said today, the SNP Government have received a record funding settlement, and it is a shame that assets are being underfunded. Should my hon. Friend seek a debate to highlight this case, I am sure it will be well attended.
Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)
In Bath we are so lucky to have three independent bookshops: Topping & Company, Persephone Books and Mr B’s. Proposed changes to maximum payment terms risk devastating the independent book industry, forcing it to be much more cautious and less willing to take on debut authors. May we have a debate on the proposed changes, and on how the Government can support the creative industries, of which writers, editors and independent booksellers are very much a part?
Sir Alan Campbell
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for raising the importance of the independent bookselling industry, and I will ensure that her words are heard by the relevant Minister. We are changing maximum payment terms, giving certainty to companies that they will be paid on time. Our shopkeepers and family-run firms work hard and they deserve the Government’s backing. We are determined to give them that backing, but too often they are held back by late payments.
Business of the House
Wera Hobhouse Excerpts(2 months ago)
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Sir Alan Campbell
I understand very well what my hon. Friend is asking for. Although there are currently no plans to review the scheme, I urge him to call for a debate, so that he can make his case, which I am sure will be supported by others across the House, and ensure that Ministers hear the significance of this.
Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)
Last week I visited ReMind, a dementia charity in Bath. In an earlier answer, the Leader of the House mentioned the modern service framework for dementia and frailty that was promised in the NHS 10-year plan. Can we have a statement from the Health Secretary when that framework is forthcoming, given the urgent need for certainty for all those affected by dementia?
Sir Alan Campbell
As I said earlier, we are determined to bring forward the framework. When that happens, I will make sure the Health Secretary hears the hon. Lady’s call to accompany that with a statement, so that she can hold Ministers to account.
Business of the House
Wera Hobhouse Excerpts(2 months, 1 week ago)
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Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend raises an important question and makes a really important point. As the Foreign Secretary said, the ceasefire does give an opportunity not just to scale up aid, but to look at the future of Gaza’s recovery. An important part of that is healthcare for children, because they deserve a better future than what they currently have. We are actively supporting the rebuilding of Gaza’s healthcare system and we will update the House on the measures we are taking. We have brought forward debates and statements on these matters, and we will continue to do so.
Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)
A couple of weeks ago, I spent a fabulous day at the races at Bath racecourse. For centuries, horseracing has been part of our national sporting history, and it is part of our DNA, yet across the industry people are deeply concerned about the threat that harmonising tax rates will have on the sustainability of the sport. May we have a debate before the Budget on the impact the proposed measures would have on British horseracing?
Business of the House
Wera Hobhouse Excerpts(3 months, 1 week ago)
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Sir Alan Campbell
I could not agree more about the importance of the availability of toilets in our town centres. I am sure that issue comes to MPs’ attention very often. For many people—particularly those with complex needs or health conditions—the lack of a toilet can be the deciding factor in whether they leave the house. As the issue is clearly one for so many colleagues across the House, I think it would be a great topic for a Westminster Hall debate.
Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)
I too welcome the Leader of the House to his place.
Just three days ago, the BBC revealed how effortlessly an illegal vape laced with Spice can be purchased through Snapchat. One in six confiscated vapes in schools now contains Spice, which is described as a zombie drug—a prison drug. That is potentially condemning young people to a lifelong addiction and a criminal life, yet this week Ofcom wrote that such evidence does not meet the bar for enforcement action, even under the new Online Safety Act 2023. Can we have a statement from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to explain why Ofcom is refusing to hold social media companies accountable for drug dealing on their platforms, which puts thousands of young people at risk?
Sir Alan Campbell
As a former drugs Minister, I absolutely share the hon. Lady’s concern. I have always thought that a strong line should be taken, and of course social media plays a role in that. I thank her for raising that really important issue, which is important for many people, not least parents. I will draw her concerns to the attention of the new Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary.
Business of the House
Wera Hobhouse Excerpts(3 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Lucy Powell
I thank the hon. Member once again for her bravery and her powerful testimony. I know many of us continue to be appalled by the experiences she has had over a number of years in the campaign brought by her abusive ex-husband and what he has tried to do in undermining her capacity to be an effective Member of Parliament, which she continues to be. I hear her calls today for the steps that need to be taken to ensure that this cannot happen again, and particularly that it cannot happen again to her. We have an elections Bill coming to the House soon, which will look at issues such as the suitability of candidates and their behaviour towards other candidates, and I am sure there will be ample opportunity for us all to support her in raising some of these issues during the passage of that Bill.
Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)
May I express my sympathy? No woman in this place will not feel deeply horrified and touched by what we have just heard.
I will not invite the Leader of the House to visit Portals paper mill in my constituency, although she should because it is an amazing company that is 300 years old and manufactures security-grade paper. It produces passports for countries across the world, but absurdly not our own, which are produced by a French company abroad. May we have a statement from the Home Office on the security implications if future contracts do not require primary production and personalisation of UK passports to take place here in the UK?
Lucy Powell
I think we all remember when the previous Government gave the contract for our passport production to a French company in the post-Brexit era. We all found it rather strange at the time. This Government are committed to buying British and to British procurement, and we will bring forward legislation and other means of ensuring that that can better happen.
Business of the House
Wera Hobhouse Excerpts(5 months, 1 week ago)
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Lucy Powell
I of course join my hon. Friend in congratulating George Bloor on qualifying for the golf Open championship, and what an achievement—it is a very high bar to attain. I will watch out for him later, when he will hopefully get a few under par golf things—whatever they are called—under his belt and maybe beat Rory McIlroy in the Open. [Laughter.]
Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)
I had to talk about cricket the other day and could not quite remember what bowling is, so instead I said, “throw a ball”!
One of my young constituents has had virtually no meaningful education since year 1. Now nearly at the end of his primary education, he cannot cope with being at school at all, as he is traumatised by repeated failures in the special educational needs and disabilities system. I know that the Government are planning long-term transformation of the SEND system and early intervention —that is all very welcome—but the crisis is now. The Leader of the House knows, as I do, that long-term transformation takes years to take hold, and people need help now. Can we have a statement from the Government on how they are dealing with the immediate crisis so that the people who are immediately facing all these difficulties can get immediate answers?
Lucy Powell
The hon. Lady raises the important issue of SEND, and the case she outlines explains the challenges that many families face in navigating the current SEND system. Support comes far too late, outcomes are poor, and it is very costly to all concerned. That is why we need to take a proper, concerted and long-term look over time at how we can reform the SEND system. To her question about immediate support, we have put in an extra £1 billion for this financial year, and we hope that that will reach the frontline so that constituents like hers can get the support that they need.
Business of the House
Wera Hobhouse Excerpts(5 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)
Research from the University of Bath has uncovered serious violations of the pharmaceutical code of practice by Novo Nordisk, one of the companies behind new weight loss drugs. The company covertly paid millions of pounds to healthcare groups and charities to promote its drugs. In the light of the Government’s active support for weight-loss treatments, can we have a debate in Government time or at least a statement on the transparency and regulation of the companies behind weight-loss drugs?
Lucy Powell
The hon. Member raises a really important issue. We recognise that medicines and their availability need to be carefully monitored and regulated, and there are various processes in place to do that. I will ensure she gets a reply from Health Ministers about that particular case.
Business of the House
Wera Hobhouse Excerpts(6 months, 1 week ago)
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Lucy Powell
My hon. Friend is right to raise this issue. What has happened in our waterways in recent years—the pollution and the discharges—is absolutely shocking. I am so proud that one of the first acts of this Labour Government was to introduce the Water (Special Measures) Bill, which is now an Act. That has given us the powers to tackle the erroneous and unwarranted bonuses of water companies such as United Utilities, and I am really glad to see the Act in action.
Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)
Voices is a domestic abuse charity in Bath that supports victims to recover from the long-term trauma and stresses of domestic abuse. It is in a new funding crisis, because mandatory funding goes into crisis and immediate risk-management services, not long-term recovery. May we have a debate in Government time on the vital importance of long-term recovery from domestic abuse and the financial support needed to keep charities such as Voices going?
Lucy Powell
I am sorry to hear of the struggles that Voices in the hon. Lady’s constituency is experiencing. She will know that this Government are absolutely committed to halving violence against women and girls over the next 10 years. That is an incredibly ambitious agenda, and of course it includes working with the voluntary and charitable sector. I will ensure that the Minister for Safeguarding gives the hon. Lady a full reply about that charity.