Monday Volume 690 8 March 2021 No. 185

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Monday 8 March 2021 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2021 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 501 8 MARCH 2021 502

Dr Coffey: My hon. Friend should be aware that we House of Commons have account managers working in all parts of the country to take up this scheme. In particular, we continue Monday 8 March 2021 to work with a wide range of organisations closely connected to SMEs, including chambers of commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses, to get the The House met at half-past Two o’clock message out there and make it straightforward to apply. We should recognise that, due to eligibility criteria, not all direct applications may be successful, and the support PRAYERS of a gateway is likely to be beneficial. We are also enabling applications through the gateway plus model, [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] which will particularly help sole traders, and we will continue to advertise that. Virtual participation in proceedings continued (Order, 4 June and 30 December 2020). Peter Gibson [V]: I thank my right hon. Friend for her [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] answer. I welcome the removal of the 30-person threshold, which will help even the smallest firm in my constituency. Since the launch of the kickstart scheme, our phenomenal Oral Answers to Questions Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has been facilitating SMEs to access it, and he has helped 350 young people sign up. Will my right hon. Friend join me in commending Ben for the fantastic work he is doing to help young WORK AND PENSIONS people in Darlington gain experience and employment?

The Secretary of State was asked— Dr Coffey: I am very happy to agree with my hon. Friend that Ben Houchen is doing a fantastic job in his role as Mayor. In case people had not realised, as well as Kickstart: Employer Accessibility getting Treasury North in my hon. Friend’s constituency of Darlington—a project that I am sure my hon. Friend Richard Fuller (North East Bedfordshire) (Con): What achieved with the Mayor—Ben Houchen is leading the assessment she has made of the effect of the removal of way on making that difference to young people’s lives, the requirement that kickstart applicants bid to deliver which is really important. I have also seen it work well a minimum of 30 jobs on the accessibility of that with Andy Street and, to be fair to other Mayors, I am scheme to a wider range of employers. [912984] confident that people like Steve Rotheram and others will continue to do so. Peter Gibson (Darlington) (Con): What assessment she has made of the effect of the removal of the Andrew Jones: In Harrogate and Knaresborough, we requirement that kickstart applicants bid to deliver a have seen great organisations such as St Michael’s Hospice minimum of 30 jobs on the accessibility of that scheme with North Yorkshire Hospice Care offer 30 roles in support to a wider range of employers. [912990] services, from retail to catering, care and communications. Not everywhere is fortunate enough to have such a Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con): progressive organisation, so the policy change is welcome. What assessment she has made of the effect of the I was originally going to ask my right hon. Friend about removal of the requirement that kickstart applicants the increase that she has seen from this policy change, bid to deliver a minimum of 30 jobs on the accessibility but she has answered that. Will she keep the House of that scheme to a wider range of employers. [912997] informed, so that Members of Parliament can help to promote this fantastic opportunity and see more people The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Dr Thérèse get the opportunities that kickstart can provide? Coffey): I am pleased to update the House that, after removing the threshold last month and allowing direct applications for any number of roles, we saw an increase Dr Coffey: My hon. Friend is right to point out that of 3,000 employer applications throughout February, removing the threshold has enabled a number of institutions which is a jump of 75%. There will continue to be an to apply directly to kickstart. The example he highlights important role for gateways as we progress to our was already under way, but it just shows some of the ambition of 250,000 kickstart jobs, which we are well fantastic opportunities that this scheme can offer young on the way to achieving, with almost 150,000 roles people. By creating so many of these roles, with the wider approved, more than 4,000 young people having started variety of roles that we are seeing, we are reducing the their roles and another 30,000 vacancies live right now. risk of long-term unemployment for hundreds of thousands of young people, and we will continue to keep the Richard Fuller: I thank my right hon. Friend for her House updated on progress. answer.Given the large number of small and medium-sized enterprises across the county, jobcentres in Bedfordshire, Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab) [V]: Kickstart is including the one in Biggleswade in my constituency, only for young people claiming universal credit. Many are raring to go to enable small businesses to take disabled young people claim employment and support advantage of this change in Government policy. Can allowance instead. Will the Secretary of State consider she advise me what she is doing to ensure that those extending kickstart to include disabled young people small businesses are aware of the scheme and its benefits? who are not eligible for it at the moment? 503 Oral Answers 8 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 504

Dr Coffey: The right hon. Gentleman will be aware Jobcentre Estate that young people with disabilities can move on to universal credit, so there may be an incentive to do that, Rob Butler (Aylesbury) (Con): What steps her but this issue is under consideration. My hon. Friend Department is taking to ensure that the jobcentre estate the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work has is adequately equipped to support an increased number discussed this with me and the Minister for Employment, of jobseekers. [912986] and we are considering it further. Selaine Saxby (North Devon) (Con): What steps her Mr Speaker: I remind Members to put their masks Department is taking to ensure that the jobcentre estate back on if they can. I am sure that those who have not is adequately equipped to support an increased number done so have a certificate, because they would not want of jobseekers. [R] [912991] to put the rest of us at risk. Matt Vickers (Stockton South) (Con): What steps PIP Application Process: Disabled People her Department is taking to ensure that the jobcentre estate is adequately equipped to support an increased Cat Smith (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Lab): What number of jobseekers. [913000] recent assessment she has made of disabled people’s experience of the personal independence payment Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con): What steps her Department is taking to ensure that the application process. [912985] jobcentre estate is adequately equipped to support an increased number of jobseekers. [913003] The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Justin Tomlinson): Wehave made a series of improvements Antony Higginbotham (Burnley) (Con): What steps to the personal independence payment claimant experience her Department is taking to ensure that the jobcentre following research and two independent reviews. Building estate is adequately equipped to support an increased on that, the forthcoming Green Paper on health and number of jobseekers. [913004] disability support is being influenced by the views of disabled people and representatives from disability The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work organisations. and Pensions (Mims Davies): As part of our estates expansion and renewal programme, the DWP by summer Cat Smith: I wrote to the Minister last week telling will have rapidly increased the number of Jobcentre him about the work of the Morecambe Bay Poverty Plus sites, placing them in new locations where they are Truth Commission, which has empowered people who needed. This will ensure that we bolster our face-to-face have experienced the social security system to speak support in a covid-safe environment for both our claimants truth to power and try to improve the system. Will he and our additional 13,500 new work coaches. As Members meet the PIP claimants in my constituency who want to will appreciate, negotiations on some sites are ongoing, tell him about their experiences? and I will update the House further when appropriate to do so. Meanwhile, MPs with a new site opening in Justin Tomlinson: I thank the hon. Member for that their constituency are being notified. question, and I would be delighted to do that. I know that she has been very proactive on a number of issues Rob Butler [V]: Sadly, the pandemic has meant that in my area over the years, and I would be delighted to many people in my constituency of Aylesbury have lost have a meeting with her and her organisation to listen their job and, for the first time in decades, find themselves to their experiences. looking for work. How can my hon. Friend ensure that the Jobcentre Plus estate and its staff are equipped to Vicky Foxcroft (Lewisham, Deptford) (Lab) [V]: help jobseekers who are in their 50s and 60s, who have Following the coroner’s damning prevention of future paid their taxes and their national insurance for their deaths report in the case of Philippa Day, who took an whole working lives and now need bespoke personal overdose and, sadly, passed away because of DWP and assistance to find a new job and continue to contribute Capita failings, have the Government implemented the to the economy? recommendations, and if not, when will they? As well as responding to the coroner, will the Minister keep this Mims Davies: We are supporting people of all ages House updated, and do the Government not accept back into work in Aylesbury and beyond. The DWP has that, when so many people have to go through an a network of 50-plus champions throughout our JCPs. inhumane assessment process, the system is flawed and These champions work with work coaches and stakeholders it is time for a radical change? to focus help and support for the over-50s, highlighting the benefits of employing them and sharing best practice. Justin Tomlinson: While I cannot comment on individual Our plan for jobs provides new funding to ensure that cases, when we tackle any of these serious issues, we put everyone, including those 50 and over,get tailored support a great amount of thought and care into doing so. That to build on their skills and move into work. is why the Department set up the serious case panel, personally led by the Secretary of State, to look at the Selaine Saxby [V]: Many businesses in remote rural themes and to make sure, if there are any lessons that communities, as in North Devon, are a long way from a need to be learned, they are shared with the key decision Jobcentre Plus, and therefore would not usually use the makers quickly, and that we improve our support and jobcentre to advertise vacancies, particularly given poor our services for some of the most vulnerable people in public transport. What assurances can my hon. Friend society. It is a real priority for our Department. give that rural businesses will be actively engaged by 505 Oral Answers 8 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 506

Jobcentre Plus, as it is especially important that young In Cumbria and Lancashire we have recruited almost people looking for work in such rural communities are 400 extra work coaches to assist customers, with a able to access local jobs through the kickstart scheme? further 90 due to join in the next three months. We have also set up a DWP youth hub in partnership with Mims Davies: Our JCPs are engaged with local recovery Burnley Borough Council and Calico, and we are working plans, including in rural areas. They are essential to help with local employers to provide local kickstart placements people of all ages into work and help all communities to such as with the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust thrive. In North Devon, the DWP is funding the youth and Stanley Black and Decker. flow partnership with local businesses and the chambers of commerce to help young people engage with Benefit Claimants: Repeat Assessments opportunities such as kickstart. I was delighted to join my hon. Friend at her recent event with local businesses in her community to discuss kickstart and how we can Karl McCartney (Lincoln) (Con): What steps she is tailor those opportunities for every area. taking to reduce the number of repeat assessments that benefit claimants with severe conditions are required to Matt Vickers: In January, the DWP confirmed the lease undergo. [912988] had been signed on a new Jobcentre Plus in Stockton South. Can the Minister confirm how many work coaches The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work are due to work at the new site and how they will be (Justin Tomlinson): We stopped regular assessments for helping my constituents in Stockton South? people with severe conditions for work capability assessment and personal independence payment claimants with the Mims Davies: My hon. Friend will now be aware that highest level of needs which will not improve. We are we have signed a lease on a new jobcentre in Stockton’s continuing to remove pensioners on PIP on to ongoing Dunedin House. I am pleased to report that work is awards at their award review, and the upcoming health now under way on opening to support claimants, which and disability Green Paper will consult on further is due by the end of this month. A total of 49 new work improvements to the assessment process. coaches have been recruited in my hon. Friend’sconstituency to help local jobseekers, and 20 will be based in the new Karl McCartney: As we move towards the end of this site, along with some of our more experienced work difficult period, what lessons can be taken forward coaches and leadership, to ensure the sharing of best regarding the simplification of the benefit process for practice and helping people in Stockton to progress. those in my constituency and across the nation with confirmed severe conditions? Tim Loughton [V]: May I pay tribute to Worthing jobcentre, which has been very proactive in dealing with Justin Tomlinson: My hon. Friend raises an important new benefit claimants and will have a lot of extra work, point. One lesson we can take from these unprecedented alas, with people who find themselves out of a job times is to look to extend the principle of the severe because of the pandemic. conditions criteria and, where possible, use clear evidence Work coaches offer important support to a diverse to remove unnecessary assessments. We will explore range of claimants, but self-employed claimants can that further, working with disabled people and health really benefit from the wisdom of someone who has and disability charities, in the upcoming health and direct experience of setting up their own business, so disability Green Paper. what specialist support will be available to UC claimants looking to boost their incomes through self-employment Review of Special Rules for Terminal Illness in the future? Christina Rees (Neath) (Lab/Co-op): What plans she Mims Davies: DWP work coaches can refer claimants has to publish her Department’s review of the special interested in moving into self-employment to our new rules for terminal illness. [912989] enterprise allowance programme, and to other sources of local business advice and support as appropriate. The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work The new enterprise allowance offers participants the (Justin Tomlinson): The Department is committed to important opportunity to develop that business, as my delivering an improved benefit system for claimants hon. Friend points out, to make that business plan and nearing the end of their lives, and we are working across receive more than a year’s support from a business government to bring forward changes. mentor to make a success of it, in Worthing and beyond. Christina Rees [V]: Will the Minister urgently correct Antony Higginbotham: May I start by thanking all the anomaly whereby someone with a severe condition the staff at Burnley jobcentre, who are doing an amazing eligible for an ongoing award under the normal rules job in supporting people day and night? has a light-touch review after 10 years, but someone As a result of the pandemic, unemployment is increasing with a terminal illness such as motor neurone disease in Burnley, impacting on those who find themselves out has to reapply after three years under the special rules of work for the first time as well as young people or risk having their benefits stopped? looking to enter the world of work. What steps is the Department taking to support people in Burnley who Justin Tomlinson: I thank the hon. Member for raising find themselves in that situation? that important point, referring to someone who qualifies under special rules for terminal illness normally having Mims Davies: Alongside our plan for jobs, Burnley an award for three years. The point was raised during JCP recently held a virtual careers event for jobseekers, the review of changing the rules around special rules; which I know my hon. Friend was brilliantly a part of. we are considering it and I welcome its having been raised. 507 Oral Answers 8 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 508

Budget 2021: Departmental Policies rate of universal credit is utterly inadequate and that the £20 uplift, as a minimum, should be made permanent Marion Fellows (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP): with immediate effect? What assessment she has made of the implications for Dr Coffey: No, I do not accept that, and I want to be her Department’s policies of Budget 2021. [912993] clear. It has been explained to the House in multiple ways over the past year why that decision, which the Chancellor Peter Grant (Glenrothes) (SNP): What assessment announced last year, was taken at the time. Let us be she has made of the implications for her Department’s straight about this: universal credit is working and will policies of Budget 2021. [913001] continue to work. It worries me how many Members of Parliament criticise universal credit when it is clearly The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Dr Thérèse working. It has done what it was designed to do. For Coffey): Since the start of the pandemic, our priority as those people who have had their hours reduced, universal a Government has been to protect lives and people’s credit has kicked in and the payments have gone up. livelihoods. That is why we are continuing to give our Frankly, unlike in the last recession, in 2008, when the support, extending the temporary £20 a week increase Labour party did nothing to help with some of the in universal credit for a further six months, taking it financial instability that people were going through, well beyond the end of this national lockdown. I should I am very proud of what we have undertaken by investing point out to the House that total welfare spending in over £7 billion extra in the welfare system in this last year. Great Britain for 2020-21 now stands at an estimated £238 billion, 11.4% of GDP. Alongside that, the Budget Matt Rodda (Reading East) (Lab): Pensioners who confirmed the ongoing measures that we will be taking have worked hard their whole lives have seen their life as part of our plan for jobs, including the expected savings disappear after becoming the victims of some starting of the restart programme, particularly focused truly dreadful scams, which have happened both online on long-term unemployed, before the summer recess. and on the telephone. The Government say they want to protect the interests of savers. However, there is Marion Fellows [V]: The Budget was a kick in the teeth mounting evidence that they are failing to act sufficiently for people claiming legacy benefits, who have been to curb some appalling abuses, and this was not mentioned unjustly denied the extra £20 per week in support since in the Budget. Will the Secretary of State explain to the last March. The SNP has pressed UK Ministers on this House just how these dreadful scams have happened, countless times. Will the Secretary of State now answer and will she commit to taking further action? She is a simple yes or no question? Yes or no—did she ask the taking action against scams on the phone; will she now Chancellor to extend the £20 uplift to legacy benefits in also commit to taking action against scams online? the Budget? Dr Coffey: We have just passed the Pension Schemes Dr Coffey: Discussions between Ministers are normally Act 2021, and aspects of scams were considered in that confidential, but the answer is no, the reason being that legislative process, so the suggestion that somehow we we have a process that was put in place as a temporary are not doing things to tackle scams is far from the case. measure relating to covid. The rationale for that was set Indeed, the hon. Gentleman will be aware from the out last year. I encourage the hon. Lady to genuinely Budget of the ongoing support that we continue for consider encouraging people who are still on legacy pensioners in honouring our triple lock. benefits to go to independent benefits calculators to see whether they would automatically be better off under David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP): In extending the universal credit. Universal credit has been a huge success £20 uplift of universal credit, albeit for only six months, during the last 12 months—if not the years before that, the British Government are clearly conceding that without but it has particularly shown its worth—and I genuinely the £20 uplift, universal credit is insufficient to meet people’s encourage people to really consider whether they would needs. I want to take the Secretary of State back to a be financially better off moving benefits now rather point she made to my hon. Friends the Members for than waiting, potentially, to be managed-migrated in Glenrothes (Peter Grant) and for Motherwell and Wishaw the next few years. (Marion Fellows). She said that claimants should move from the legacy system to universal credit. Will she stand up at the Dispatch Box and make it crystal clear that for Peter Grant [V]: I think the Minister has possibly given some people that will mean being worse off, particularly the game away there by linking an explanation of her when the £20 universal credit uplift is taken away? Can refusal to ask for an uplift to legacy benefits to an she clarify why she thinks that disabled people, for attempt to pressurise my hon. Friend the Member for example, have lower bills as a result of the pandemic Motherwell and Wishaw (Marion Fellows) into pushing and why they were not worthy of the £20 uplift? her constituents to move from a useless system of legacy benefits to an equally useless system of universal Dr Coffey: The hon. Member should be clear about credit. what I did say. I encouraged people who were on legacy Does the Secretary of State not accept that the fact benefits to get an independent assessment, which is that universal credit had to be increased by £20 a week available through a number of organisations and online as soon as lockdown was imposed is a clear indication calculators, rather than wait to be managed across to that the underlying rate of payment of universal credit universal credit. It is really important that MPs encourage is not adequate for people to live on? I defy anyone on their constituents to consider the ways they could be the Conservative Benches to live on universal credit for financially better off, rather than waiting for the more than a few weeks, never mind two to three years. Government to go through quite an arduous process Will the Secretary of State now accept that the underlying during the next few years. 509 Oral Answers 8 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 510

Benefit Claimants: Rent Arrears The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mims Davies): The latest official statistics Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con): How many and from the Office for National Statistics show the UK what proportion of benefit claimants are in rent arrears. employment rate is at 75%. The package of support put [912994] in place by this Government, including the furlough scheme, has protected many jobs during the pandemic, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work but there have been difficult times for many. Meanwhile, and Pensions (Will Quince): Wedo not collect information in the Budget we announced that the furlough scheme about individuals’ rent accounts. For universal credit has been extended to the end of September. claimants with rent arrears, alternative payment arrangements and support with budgeting are available. Daniel Zeichner [V]: Unemployment has not really In 2020-21, we are projected to spend almost £30 billion been a major issue in Cambridgeshire for some years, on housing benefit and the housing element of universal but with over 8,000 people furloughed in the city of credit to support people with their housing costs. Cambridge and 300 jobs in Chatteris lost recently, there is now real fear. Cambridge City Council is appointing Bob Blackman [V]: I thank my hon. Friend for that an economic recovery officer, but overall where is the answer.The evidence produced by the National Residential plan for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough? Where is Landlords Association and a lot of housing charities the strategy to secure quality jobs in future? demonstrates that rent arrears are growing and growing very fast such that they will probably never be repaid. Mims Davies: I can absolutely assure the hon. Gentleman What action will my hon. Friend take to ensure that that we work with the local recovery plans and that we rent arrears are eliminated and further assistance is have a plan for jobs in Cambridge and beyond, so there provided to people who genuinely cannot afford to pay is positive news in his constituency. We are doing our their rent? sector-based work academy programmes in construction, warehousing and care. We are working with our new Will Quince: I thank my hon. Friend for his question. job finding support service with the Papworth Trust. He is a strong advocate on these issues. As I say, Weare engaging with local companies on kickstart—indeed, managed payment to a landlord is available where universal we are working with Addenbrooke’s and a bunch of credit claimants are unable to manage monthly payments other local companies—and we have recruited 50 new and are at risk of financial harm. That can be requested work coaches for the Cambridge jobcentre since March, by the tenant, landlord or work coach. Our relatively with 18 more to come, making an extra 68 to help in his new online tool makes it easier for landlords to request constituency with that local recovery plan. a managed payment to landlords. UC also enables a landlord to request recovery of rent when a UC claimant Seema Malhotra (Feltham and Heston) (Lab/Co-op): is in arrears or once a tenancy reaches two months’ rent In June, the Prime Minister promised an opportunity arrears. I agree to some extent with my hon. Friend. guarantee for every young person. With 800,000 young Rent arrears concern me too and we continue to monitor people now not in education, employment or training, the situation very closely. and only 4,000 kickstart placements to date, the Minister recently told the Work and Pensions Committee, “Watch Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab) [V]: Of this space”, and that details on the guarantee would land the 1.3 million universal credit households who are at the Budget. If the Prime Minister announced it and claiming housing support for their properties in the she supports it, did the Chancellor not get the memo or private rented sector—that is, the people who are most has the Treasury once again blocked support where it is at risk of homelessness as a consequence of rent arrears—in needed? Can the Government not get their act together more than 700,000 cases, so more than half, there is a on a jobs promise such as the one Labour has proposed shortfall between the rent being charged and the help so that young people out of work or training at six available. That number has grown by a quarter of a months get the opportunities that they need? million since the start of the pandemic. With housing support being cut again in the Budget, will the Minister Mims Davies: I know the hon. Lady is committed to answer this one question? Will that number have gone opportunities for young people, as am I, and our plan up or fallen during the remainder of 2021? for jobs has multiple interventions: the £2 billion kickstart scheme, job finding support, JETS—job entry targeted Will Quince: We increased the local housing allowance support—the 13,500 new work coaches, our £150 million rates in April 2020. We invested nearly £1 billion in boost to the flexible support fund, and restart coming LHA, lifting rates to the 30th percentile, giving an this summer. I assure her that our focus on youth average increase of £600 more housing support per year continues. In her constituency, 17 employers are engaging than would otherwise have been received. For 2021-22, with kickstart for young people, with 77 vacancies all LHA rates will be maintained at the increased level, available and 11 starts. Of course, 140,000 opportunities ensuring that claimants continue to benefit from the are coming through the system now and I continue to increase. For those who require additional support, have this focus on youth employment, as she rightly £140 million of discretionary housing payments are points out that we should, and I will continue to work available next year. across Government to highlight that. Universal Credit: Monthly Assessment Period Employment Rates Matt Western (Warwick and Leamington) (Lab): What Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) (Lab): What recent estimate steps her Department is taking to ensure universal credit she has made of employment rates in the UK. [912995] payments are not reduced in the event of a claimant 511 Oral Answers 8 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 512 receiving two payments in the same monthly assessment Mims Davies: The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. period as a result of a wage payment being delayed by a Northern Ireland received Barnett consequentials to support bank holiday or weekend. [912996] the job start scheme, and our officials have been talking. The money is not ring-fenced, and I am keen to see all The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work young people access this type of scheme across the and Pensions (Will Quince): We introduced legislation United Kingdom so that they can get the support they on 16 November so that monthly earnings can be need to progress. Should anybody need further support reallocated to another assessment period, meaning that to make this happen in Northern Ireland, our officials claimants affected by this issue will therefore have one continue to stand ready to see it start. salary payment taken into account in each assessment Covid-19: Support for Universal Credit Claimants period. We have also produced guidance to help to ensure that claimants, staff and representatives are aware Sally-Ann Hart (Hastings and Rye) (Con): What of different earning patterns and the impact on universal steps she is taking to support universal credit claimants credit payment cycles. during the covid-19 outbreak. [913002]

Matt Western: People such as Mr B in my constituency The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and across the country have been forced to survive with and Pensions (Will Quince): Wehave injected over £7 billion little to no support, all because of an error through the into our welfare system, including increasing the universal Minister’s Department. Worse still, the pain has been credit standard allowance for a further six months until prolonged by pursuing this through the courts. Will the September,providing claimants with an additional £1,560- Minister do the right thing and properly recompense worth of support over 18 months. We are extending the those affected, such as Mr B, who suffered as a result of minimum income floor relaxation to July 2021 for all utilities being cut off and consequent costs as a result? self-employed UC claimants affected by the economic And will the Minister meet me to discuss that specific impact of covid-19, and we are increasing the number case? of work coaches by 13,500 this financial year. Sally-Ann Hart [V]: Universal credit has helped millions Will Quince: Of course, I will be very happy to meet of people during covid, including thousands in Hastings the hon. Gentleman to discuss that individual case, and and Rye. It is one of the positive news stories to come I am very sorry to hear of those circumstances. However, out of the pandemic, but it is clear that many universal the Court of Appeal judgment was very specific and credit claimants need ongoing support tailored to their was limited to double earnings for those paid calendar- specific circumstances. What steps is my hon. Friend monthly caused by a non-banking day salary shift. We taking to deliver a strengthened universal credit support have chosen to go further and include all the monthly-paid service that meets the needs of claimants and ensures a who are affected by double earnings, but the judgment consistent and streamlined service for claimants, not did not require the Department to apply the new just in Hastings and Rye, but across the country? arrangements retrospectively. Will Quince: I thank my hon. Friend for that question. Kickstart: Departmental Discussions She is a strong advocate for her constituents in Hastings and Rye. Since April 2019, and throughout the covid pandemic, we have provided funding to Citizens Advice Ian Paisley (North Antrim) (DUP): What discussions and Citizens Advice Scotland to deliver Help to Claim, her Department has had with the Department for which gives specific and targeted support for those Communities on the kickstart scheme. [912999] people needing additional support to successfully make a universal credit claim. I am pleased to say that we will The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work be funding that support for a further 12 months. and Pensions (Mims Davies): The Northern Ireland Executive will be running the job start scheme to support Self-isolation: Financial Barriers young people to progress. Similar to the kickstart scheme available in England, Scotland and Wales, it is also Catherine West (Hornsey and Wood Green) (Lab): focused on helping young people most at risk of long-term What assessment she has made of the implications for unemployment. The hon. Gentleman will be pleased to her policies of the financial barriers to people’scompliance know that the DWP has been in regular contact with with the requirement to self-isolate; and if she will make colleagues in Northern Ireland to discuss the development a statement. [913005] of the job start scheme and share progress and insight The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work on the kickstart scheme. (Justin Tomlinson): The Government have delivered an unprecedented package of support during the pandemic. Ian Paisley [V]: The Minister is absolutely right that Where eligible, financial support for those self-isolating the kickstart scheme is a wonderful, innovative scheme, in line with Government guidance includes access to which should be applied to Northern Ireland, but it has employment and support allowance, universal credit, not yet been rolled out there. I wonder whether the Minister statutory sick pay and the test and trace support payments will be honest with us and tell us whether that is the scheme, depending on individual circumstances. fault of the UK Government or the fault of the local Communities Minister,who has been allocated the money Catherine West: The scientists on the Scientific Advisory but has not yet applied it to the scheme? Will the hon. Group for Emergencies have said that many people are Lady encourage her to get on with applying this scheme still not self-isolating for financial reasons.What assessment to Northern Ireland in the next telephone call that she has the Department made of the means-testing involved has with the Communities Minister in Northern Ireland? in the £500 payment? Does the Minister not agree that 513 Oral Answers 8 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 514 this should go, and that everybody should be eligible for The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work that £500 payment, because we cannot allow a stop-start and Pensions (Will Quince): In April 2020, legacy benefits recovery as we come out of lockdown? Secondly, does were increased by £600 million, and they will increase he agree that statutory sick pay is pathetically low for by a further £100 million as part of the Government’s those jobs that are eligible for it, and that there are far annual uprating exercise. Support is also available for too many jobs where people do not even get basic legacy claimants migrating across to universal credit. statutory sick pay? Since July 2020, a two-week run-on of housing benefit, income support and income-related employment and Justin Tomlinson: While the £500 test and trace scheme support allowance and income-based jobseeker’sallowance payment is rightly targeted at those most in need, we is paid to eligible claimants to provide additional support have also provided local authorities with £35 million for to move to UC. discretionary payments, and we will continue to provide local authorities with a further £20 million per month Kate Osamor [V]: Nearly 2 million sick and disabled while this scheme carries on. The rate of statutory sick people claiming ESA have missed out on £1,000 this pay should not be looked at in isolation because, depending year, at a time when they are facing increased costs. The on eligibility, people may also be able to claim universal Minister will know that for many of them a transition credit or new-style employment and support allowance, on to UC would see them significantly worse off. Will and the majority of employers pay more than the he review the Chancellor’s decision to continue to statutory minimum. discriminate against those disabled people on legacy benefits? Almost a year into the crisis, what possible Contracted-out Health Assessments justification is there for this two-tier system?

Zarah Sultana (Coventry South) (Lab): What recent Will Quince: The temporary UC standard allowance assessment her Department has made of the (a) accuracy uplift was introduced to support those facing the most and (b) efficiency of contracted-out health assessments financial disruption due to the pandemic. Legacy benefits for (i) employment and support allowance and (ii) personal were uprated by CPI—the consumer prices index—last independence payment. [913006] year and will be uprated again by CPI as part of the annual uprating exercise. Claimants on legacy benefits The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work can make a claim for UC if they believe they will be (Justin Tomlinson): Throughout the pandemic we have better off. I encourage anybody to go on gov.uk and use ensured that disability benefits remain open and we are one of the independent benefit calculators to check committed to ensuring that claimants receive a high-quality, carefully their eligibility, because on applying for UC consistent and efficient service. We continue to complete their entitlement to legacy benefit will cease. paper-based assessments where possible and are now carrying out telephone assessments alongside a trial for Covid-19: Disabled People and their Carers video assessments.

Zarah Sultana [V]: The outsourcing of assessments Florence Eshalomi (Vauxhall) (Lab/Co-op): What for employment and support allowance and personal discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the independence payments to companies such as Capita financial effect of the covid-19 outbreak on disabled has been a travesty. Constituents tell me how they have people and their carers. [913010] been signed off work by their GP, only for non-specialist Capita assessors to refuse their claims. When they appeal, The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work they are forced to wait absurd lengths of time for the (Justin Tomlinson): Disabled people and their carers decision, which causes severe financial hardship. Coventry have access to the full range of social security benefits Law Centre, which deals with the majority of appeals in according to their circumstances. DWP Ministers and the city, has found that a staggering 90% of appeals are officials regularly discuss support for disabled people successful. This pandemic has shown that things can be and carers with their counterparts across government, done differently, so will the Minister take this opportunity and recognise and value the vital contribution made by to scrap these cruel assessments, kick out outsourcing carers in supporting some of the most vulnerable in companies such as Capita and bring in a framework society. that treats disabled people with dignity and respect. Florence Eshalomi [V]: I thank the Minister for his Justin Tomlinson: We have increased, in real terms, by answer. A recent survey of disabled people conducted £3 billion the support provided to those with disabilities by Inclusion London, a disability organisation based in and health conditions, through disability benefits. All of my constituency, found that more than one in three our assessors have at least two years’ experience and disabled people had experienced a worsening financial extensive training. The Department monitors closely situation during the lockdown, and recent research by the quality—this is carried out independently—and Citizens Advice found that one in four disabled employees 92% of claimants have found their experience either has faced redundancy since the pandemic started. We satisfactory or better. know that even before this pandemic, disabled people faced an employment gap of nearly 30% when compared Legacy Benefits with non-disabled workers. Will the Government commit to using the upcoming national disability strategy to Kate Osamor (Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op): What steps bring forward comprehensive proposals to address the she is taking to support people on legacy benefits. chronic employment insecurity that disabled people [913009] face in the wake of covid-19? 515 Oral Answers 8 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 516

Justin Tomlinson: I thank the hon. Lady for raising a The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Dr Thérèse very important point about disability employment. The Coffey): The Minister for Pensions updated the House Government are very proud that we delivered record last week through a written ministerial statement on disability employment—it is up 1.4 million since 2014 category pensions and the comprehensive correction alone. Even during these unprecedented challenging exercise that we are undertaking. I am concerned by times, over the past 12 months 25,000 more disabled some of the ongoing accusations and assertions being people are in work. But we recognise that there will be made about how we are addressing the issue. I am very challenges going forward, which is why we have made grateful to Sir Steven Webb for bringing his concerns to changes to Access to Work so that people can get support our attention last year, but it will not be lost on the working at home; we have increased our support through House that he was Minister for Pensions from 2010 to Disability Confident, sharing best practice and providing 2015—indeed, he was a shadow Minister beforehand— resources to employers to be able to make changes, when the issue was neither noticed nor tackled, including often small ones, to take advantage of the huge talent when the comprehensive reform of the pension system pool available. This is a key area, and in both the was under way. forthcoming national strategy for disabled people and I recognise that Ministers should expect the the health and disability Green Paper we will continue administration of pensions, however complex, to be to look at ways in which we can support employers to undertakenaccurately.IcommendtheMinisterforPensions, offer more opportunities for disabled people of all ages. who is putting his shoulder to the wheel to put right this historical error. The House should be conscious that, Youth Unemployment when we became aware of the problem, we undertook a comprehensive investigation into its extent, which showed Rushanara Ali (Bethnal Green and Bow) (Lab): What that the issue dated back many years and at a larger recent steps she has taken to reduce youth unemployment. scale. Weare now undertaking detailed, thorough processes [913011] for individual assessments that will take some time, but we will contact people whose payments should have been updated and they will receive any arrears. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mims Davies): This Government are committed to providing support to help young people James Daly [V]: As covid-19 restrictions are hopefully move into work and avoid the scarring effects of long-term relaxed over the coming months, will my right hon. unemployment as we recover from the pandemic. The Friend support the establishment of a bricks-and-mortar £30 billion plan for jobs includes new youth hubs and youth hub in Bury, to offer invaluable support to all specific interventions targeted at young people. Our young people in my local area and build on the current DWP youth offer and the kickstart programme are virtual provision? designed to move young people towards meaningful and sustained employment opportunities. Dr Coffey: Indeed, I will. I commend my hon. Friend for his advocacy for young people and making sure that Rushanara Ali [V]: Happy International Women’s they get into a growth sector. Day, Mr Speaker. Last year, youth unemployment went up by 420,000, Jonathan Reynolds (Stalybridge and Hyde) (Lab/Co-op): reaching 600,000, and it is set to reach 1 million, yet the The economic forecasts that accompanied last week’s Government’s kickstart programme has got only 4,000 Budget painted a challenging picture for the Department young people into work, despite employers providing for Work and Pensions over the next few years. Forecasts placements. Will the Minister explain by what date her are not always correct but, if those are, we face a period Department’s own target of 200,000 placements will be of low growth and high unemployment. Based on what met? the Chancellor said about unemployment peaking at 6.5%, what would be the shortfall between the total Mims Davies: The hon. Lady is absolutely correct: we number of young people out of work for more than six are converting more than 140,000 job placements into months and the maximum number of places available starts and 30,000 jobs are currently being advertised. In on the kickstart scheme? her area, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets has approval for more than 500 kickstart opportunities in a variety of sectors across the borough. A virtual youth hub Dr Coffey: I do not have that assessment to hand. is also operating in Tower Hamlets to support people The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the Office for and we hope it will move to face-to-face contact shortly. Budget Responsibility significantly reduced its forecast There are 119 new work coaches in Hoxton and a new in respect of the impact on unemployment, in recognition temporary Jobcentre Plus is opening in Leman Street in of the excellent provisions already made by the Government Tower Hamlets in April. We take youth unemployment in the past few months and the ongoing measures set incredibly seriously.As we move into recovery,we will make out in the Budget. We made a commitment to aim for a sure that young people take up roles and move into quarter of a million kickstart jobs to be in place by the work safely, to get those kickstart opportunities going. end of this calendar year; we are well on track to doing that. We should recognise that kickstart is designed for those people who are furthest from the labour market. Topical Questions We will continue to use our excellent jobs army of work coaches, of whom we will have nearly 13,500 extra [913044] James Daly (Bury North) (Con): If she will by the end this month, to help young people to get make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. into work. 517 Oral Answers 8 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 518

Jonathan Reynolds: I am grateful to the Secretary of Dr Coffey: I have not yet responded to that letter—I State for her reply. I appreciate that that might not be understand that officials will be responding to the embassy information that she has to hand. Perhaps she could —partly because, and some of the aspects of this have write to me with the specific figure because matching been raised, I wanted to explore some of what our the scale of the challenge is surely what we all want to policies—[Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman is trying see. to intervene and I am trying to give him an answer. In the Budget, the Government also chose to align [Interruption.] I think I have probably said enough as the end of furlough, the end of the self-employment he does not want to hear the answer. support scheme and the end of the universal credit uplift, so they all now come to an end on 1 October. She knows [913048] Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con) that we believe that the uplift should stay in place until [V]: It is wonderful to hear from the Secretary of State we can replace universal credit with a better, fairer about the progress on the kickstart scheme. Does she system, which, by the way, would be one where people know that one of the sole traders in West Worcestershire, are not worse off if they move on to it from the legacy who is keen to take on a kickstarter, discovered that system. Given that we all expect the end of furlough to they needed a company number to do that? Also, with at least have some impact on unemployment, would it farmers in my constituency saying that they are lacking not have made sense even to this Government to keep labour, has she thought about setting up a seasonal the uplift in place to at least help absorb the end of the agricultural work kickstart scheme? furlough scheme? As it stands, just when people will The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work again really need it, out-of-work support will be reduced and Pensions (Mims Davies): Wewelcome the involvement to the lowest level in 30 years. of all employers of all sizes in all sectors in the kickstart scheme. We have made it even easier to bring in small Dr Coffey: The hon. Gentleman asks a fair question employers and sole traders by developing an important about why these have all been taken in parallel. I think kickstart gateway-plus model to accommodate their specific that it is to give certainty and direction to the country needs. They can apply through an approved gateway-plus and to employers, particularly when it comes to the organisation that can provide a suitable pay-as-you-earn operation of the furlough scheme. As I have said before, scheme process for young people on placements with this is really the time for those employers to get their them. With regard to working on agriculture, I am workers ready again to go back into work, ideally sooner engaged with Department for Environment, Food and than before the end of September. Thinking about the Rural Affairs Ministers on this and we are focused on temporary £20 uplift that was applied to universal supporting all sectors that need labour. There is a covid credit, I think it is also fair to say that that is not the economy and growing jobs in some sectors and we are only way that we have supported people on benefits in keen to support them. the last year. There are also things such as the increase in the local housing allowance rate, which is on a [913045] Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) (LD) [V]: permanent setting in cash terms. Those are the sort of It has been 19 months since the Department for Work other measures that we have taken, including to help and Pensions announced the review into the special some people on low incomes with the cost of living. rules for terminal illness and, in that time, an estimated 6,000 people have died waiting for a decision on benefits [913046] Mr David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden) claims. Can the Minister explain why there has been (Con) [V]: Can my right hon. Friend tell the House such a delay, assure us that every possibility is being what steps she is taking to improve the Child Maintenance pursued to rectify this and reassure those who are still Service and, in particular, to ensure that children of waiting? separated parents get all the money to which they are entitled? The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Justin Tomlinson): I thank the hon. Member for this question. While there were delays to the review because Dr Coffey: My right hon. Friend is right to highlight of covid, we are committed to the three themes that the importance of the Child Maintenance Service in have come out of the review: raising awareness, improving what we are trying to do to make sure that children have consistency and changing the six-month rule. I thank income coming ideally from both parents during their all the health and disability organisations and charities upbringing and to give them support. My noble Friend that have helped to support that review. I am committed Baroness Stedman-Scot is actively working on ways to to going further to explore extending the principle of potentially improve aspects of the running of the Child the severe conditions criteria to remove unnecessary Maintenance Service, which I am sure is something that assessments as well as changing the six-month rule. the whole House will want her to continue to do. [913049] Christian Wakeford (Bury South) (Con): In 2018, David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP): Due to continued the Supreme Court ruled that unmarried cohabiting British Government inaction, more than 126,000 UK couples should be able to qualify for bereavement support pensioners living in Canada have seen their state pension payment if one of them dies. Currently about 200,000 fall in real value year on year, with average payments as families with children lose out on payments worth low as £46 a week. In November, the Government of almost £10,000 each year. Can my hon. Friend let me Canada wrote to the British Government offering a know: when do the Government plan to implement reciprocal social security agreement. Has the UK responded their commitment to the 2018 Supreme Court ruling to that letter and, if not, what message does the Secretary and ensure that grieving children and their surviving of State think it sends from global Britain of its attitude parents receive bereavement support payments no matter to UK pensioners who live in poverty overseas? whether their parents are married or not? 519 Oral Answers 8 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 520

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work Peter’s British pals who live just 500 metres away over and Pensions (Will Quince): I thank my hon. Friend for the border in the US get the full state pension, but Peter that question. We understand how vital this support is only gets £46.90 a week living in Canada. Can my right to families who have suffered the loss of a loved one. We hon. Friend, on this day,Commonwealth Day,tell Peter— intend to take forward a remedial order to remove the and me, because I want to hear the answer —when Her incompatibilities from the legislation governing widowed Majesty’s Government intend to respond to the Canadian parents allowance and bereavement support payment Government’s request for a reciprocal social security by extending those benefits to unmarried cohabiting agreement? couples with children. The order will be laid before the House in due course. Dr Coffey: I thank my hon. Friend for that question. If the hon. Member for Glasgow East (David Linden) [913047] Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab) [V]: The had not tried to intervene on me, perhaps I could have Minister for Disabled People will know that many disabled given the fuller answer that I intend to give now. people’s organisations are extremely unhappy about the It is my intention that the Department will respond national disability strategy consultation, which closed to the Canadian embassy on this matter. My hon. last month. They were quoted as being “shocked and Friend will know that UK state pensions are payable dismayed” and I know the Bristol Disability Equality worldwide and there is often a reciprocal arrangement Forum feels the same. What conversations has he had in place where that is a legal requirement. For the last with the Disability Unit in the Cabinet Office to try to 70 years, it has not been the policy to initiate new rectify this and ensure that disabled people do not feel agreements. However, I understand the points that he insulted and excluded but are properly engaged in this and other Members have made in their representations process? and we will continue to consider the matter carefully. Justin Tomlinson: I thank the over 15,000 individuals and organisations who have already responded to the [913055] Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab) [V]: There is real national strategy pre-consultation. However, this is only and understandable anxiety from individuals in our part of our extensive stakeholder engagement ahead of former mining communities about a range of DWP issues the forthcoming national strategy for disabled people. I including Dupuytren’s contracture, pneumoconiosis, have also written to all MPs of all parties to say that I mesothelioma and other prescribed diseases. Will am keen for them to host events either with me or with the Minister meet me, as chairman of the all-party senior officials, depending on parliamentary business, parliamentary group on occupational safety and health, to get more real lived experience, whether from individual and others so that we can attempt to resolve those disabled people, organisations or charities. I would be continuing, avoidable outstanding problems? very happy if the hon. Member would agree to do one Justin Tomlinson: Yes, I would be happy to host such of those on behalf of her constituency. a meeting. I know that the hon. Member has a long- [913051] Andy Carter (Warrington South) (Con) [V]: I standing track record of raising very important issues am sure the Minister will join me in paying tribute to in this area. staff at Warrington jobcentre, who are doing excellent [913053] Chris Green (Bolton West) (Con): As unemploy- work to help people to find a job. Does she agree that, ment has been going up in recent months and is set to by making it easier and cheaper to do business, a new increase further,will my hon. Friend join me in commending freeport here in the north-west will generate good- the efforts of jobcentres around the country for all their quality jobs for local people? Will she work with me to work, especially the jobcentres in Leigh and Bolton that ensure that anyone looking for work in Warrington serve my constituents so well? South is quick to seize these opportunities? Dr Coffey: My hon. Friend is right to praise the work Mims Davies: I echo my hon. Friend’s words and those coaches at his Jobcentre Plus, who are exactly the people of other Members who have praised the very hard work who will help prepare people to get those opportunities of all our DWP staff, especially of course in Bolton and as and when they arise. I was particularly pleased with Leigh. They include an additional new 41 work coaches the initiative of freeports, recognising not only the one recruited for jobcentres that serve my hon. Friend’s that will help people in his constituency but the one— constituency.Thanks to their efforts, the kickstart scheme freeport east—that will benefit people in mine. has so far seen the development of more than 300 roles across more than 50 employers in the Bolton and Prestwich [913050] Chris Stephens (Glasgow South West) (SNP) area. [V]: As in the constituencies of many Members of the House, there are constituents in Glasgow South West [913054] Matt Vickers (Stockton South) (Con): A number who are potential victims of furlough fraud. There are of constituents have contacted me regarding issues with obviously people who will now have to claim universal the Child Maintenance Service, which we have raised credit in order to get money, so can Ministers assure with the appropriate officials, but there are long delays, the House that the cases of those who are caught up in which cause much distress to families in Stockton South. this predicament will be dealt with sympathetically? Will my right hon. Friend please address this with officials in her Department so that we can get much-needed Dr Coffey: Yes. answers and solutions?

[913052] Craig Whittaker (Calder Valley) (Con) [V]: I Dr Coffey: My hon. Friend is right to raise the issues recently had the pleasure of meeting Peter Duffy, a that constituents face. I encourage him to engage directly British 94-year-old who has lived in Canada since 1980 and with my noble Friend Baroness Stedman-Scott, who who also served this country as a world war two pilot. runs surgeries for MPs. As I said in response to my right 521 Oral Answers 8 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 522 hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice and Howden Mr Speaker: I just want to reassure the Secretary of (Mr Davis), I encourage my hon. Friend to recognise State that that was never the intention of the question. that we are looking into this issue and that we will continue to try to make progress to ensure that children [913063] Christian Matheson (City of Chester) (Lab) get the money to which they are entitled. [V]: Too many of my constituents on assessed benefits —ESA and personal independence payment—find that [913062] Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): I support the the reports from their assessments bear no relation to Government’s policy of levelling up, but I think it is what was discussed in the interview. What measures important that when the Government allocate money, will Ministers put in place to ensure that accuracy and it goes to those communities that have the highest level honesty are carried through in those assessments of unemployment and the highest level of children so that we do not see huge numbers of those decisions living in poverty or in need of free school meals. It is an overturned on appeal, which is happening at the age-old policy, namely: from each according to her moment? ability, to each according to her need. Would not anything else be utterly corrupt? Justin Tomlinson: Although the vast majority of people who access their benefits get the outcome they were Dr Coffey: The hon. Gentleman used the word “her”. hoping for, we recognise the need for continuous I do not know if he is trying to suggest that I am improvements, which we make working hand in hand corrupt in any way. That is not something that I would with health and disability charities, organisation users normally associate with him. However, just to be clear, I and frontline staff. In the forthcoming health and disability am very pleased to be working with my right hon. Green Paper, we will look at the specific themes of Friend the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities evidence, advocacy, assessment and the appeals system and Local Government on what we are doing about the to ensure we continue to deliver those improvements. initial element of the community fund, following into the UK shared prosperity fund. In that, the DWP will Mr Speaker: I am suspending the House for a few be particularly involved in making assessments for minutes to enable the necessary arrangements to be programmes that are targeted at helping those who are made for the next business. furthest from the labour market and not necessarily on benefits today. We want to try to ensure that as many people as possible get the opportunity to work and to 3.34 pm take that follow-up to help UK plc’s productivity. Sitting suspended. 523 8 MARCH 2021 NHS Staff Pay 524

NHS Staff Pay Last year, the Secretary of State brought to this House legislation to put into law the NHS long-term plan. He said from that Dispatch Box that his legislation 3.38 pm represented “certainty for the NHS about a minimum funding level over the Jonathan Ashworth (Leicester South) (Lab/Co-op) next four years and certainty for the 1.4 million colleagues who (Urgent Question): To ask the Secretary of State for work in our health service”.—[Official Report, 27 January 2020; Health and Social Care if he will make a statement Vol. 670, c. 571.] on the Department of Health and Social Care’s That long-term plan was based on a 2.1% pay increase recommendations on NHS staff pay. for all NHS staff. Every Tory MP voted for it, the Minister voted for it, and now every Tory MP is cutting The Minister for Care (Helen Whately): This pandemic nurses’ pay. has asked so much of our health and care system. The The Minister talked about the Budget. Where is the whole country recognises how our NHS workforce have Chancellor? Where are his glossy tweets? Where is his performed with distinction and gone the extra mile video? Why did he not mention in the Budget that he throughout this crisis, which has also had a huge impact was cutting nurses’ pay? Why did he sneak it out the day on our economy. It has been and still is a tough time for before in the small print? businesses and all those who work in them. This is happening at a time when our NHS staff are As hon. Members will be aware, most of the public more pressured than ever before. In the midst of the sector is having a pay freeze. However, even against that biggest health crisis for a century, when there are 100,000 backdrop, we will continue to provide pay rises for NHS shortages, what does the Minister think cutting the pay workers, as the Chancellor set out at the spending of NHS staff will do the vacancy rates? Perhaps she can review. This follows a multi-year pay deal, which over a tell us. million NHS staff have benefited from and which includes The Minister talked about the pay review body, but a pay rise of over 12% for newly qualified nurses. We are she did not guarantee that the Government will implement also ramping up our investment in our NHS, with a any real-terms pay rise that the pay review body £6.2 billion increase for 2021-22, as part of our £34 billion recommends. Why is that? It is because Ministers have commitment by 2024-25, and £3 billion for supporting already made up their minds to cut, in real terms, NHS recovery and reducing waiting lists. As part of that, we pay in a pandemic. Our NHS staff deserve so much are increasing the number of staff in the NHS, with better. If this Government do not deliver a pay rise, it over 6,500 more doctors, almost 10,600 more nurses, and shows once again that you simply can’t trust the Tories over 18,700 more health support workers in the NHS with the NHS. now than a year ago. We are also on track to have 50,000 more nurses in the NHS by the end of the Parliament. Helen Whately: I thank the shadow Secretary of State for his welcome. As it is International Women’s Last week, we submitted our evidence to the NHS Day, it is a shame that he does not have a female pay review bodies, which are independent advisory bodies colleague by his side at the Dispatch Box. made up of industry experts. Their recommendations are based on an assessment of evidence from a range of stakeholders, including trade unions. They will report Mr Speaker: Order. I think we just need to get back their recommendations in late spring, and we will carefully into reality. I do not think we need the personal slights. consider their recommendations when we receive them. The shadow Secretary of State is entitled to ask for an urgent question and I have granted it, so you are questioning I can assure the House that we are committed to the me, not the shadow Secretary of State. NHS and to the amazing people who work in it. Just as they have been so vital throughout this pandemic, they will continue to be the very essence of our health Helen Whately: My apologies, Mr Speaker. service, together with all those who work in social care, I do not think that we should play politics with these as we come through this pandemic and build a health very serious questions as we come through a pandemic and care system for the future. that has hit us and the world so hard, when people have lost their lives, people have lost their jobs, and we as a Jonathan Ashworth: I am grateful to the Minister, but Government have had to spend so much to support the where is the Secretary of State? Why is the Secretary of economy, individuals and, indeed, the NHS. I have been State not here to defend a Budget that puts up tax for speaking to staff on the frontline of health and social hard-working families and cuts pay for hard-working care throughout this pandemic, and I and the Government nurses? The Secretary of State has stood at that Dispatch are grateful to them and thank them from the bottom of Box repeatedly, waxing lyrical, describing NHS staff as our hearts for what they have done and are still doing. heroes, saying they are the very best of us, and now he is While so much of the public sector is having a pay cutting nurses’ pay. freeze, NHS staff will get a pay rise. Last summer, when asked by Andrew Marr if nurses In these difficult times, the Government have submitted deserved a real-terms pay rise, the Secretary of State their evidence to the pay review bodies and, as I said in replied: my opening statement, they will report back to us. They will look at a wide range of evidence, including, for “Well, of course I want to see people properly rewarded, instance, evidence from trade unions, inflation, and the absolutely.” wider situation with the economy and pay levels, and we Yet now he is cutting nurses’ pay. will of course look at their recommendations carefully. 525 NHS Staff Pay 8 MARCH 2021 NHS Staff Pay 526

The right hon. Gentleman talked about the vote that seeing pay cuts or reduced hours. We are in a time of we had on the NHS Funding Act and, yes, we absolutely huge economic uncertainty, but while much of the did vote for it. We are fulfilling our commitment to public sector is going to have a pay freeze, the NHS record investment in the NHS—£34 billion more. He workforce is going to have a pay rise. also referred to the long-term plan and, although not something we voted on, the 2.1% increase within it will Peter Gibson (Darlington) (Con) [V]: I acknowledge be invested in the NHS workforce this year. That will the very difficult decisions that the Government have include not only these pay rises, but pay progression had to take as a result of the pandemic, with the and further investment in the NHS workforce. majority of public sector salaries being frozen this year. We will continue to invest in more doctors and more Will my hon. Friend confirm that our amazing NHS nurses for the NHS, and I wish that the right hon. staff being the exception to that in part acknowledges Gentleman would welcome that. We will continue to their hard work, and that we should now await the support the recovery of our economy and restore our outcome from the pay review bodies? public finances, so that we can fund our NHS not just Helen Whately: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. through the pandemic, but into the future. The NHS workforce is the exception to the pay freeze Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey) (Con) [V]: The for the wider public sector, recognising the huge amount long-term plan budgeted for a 2.1% increase in salaries, of work done and the lengths they have gone to in which has now gone down to 1%, but an even bigger looking after us all during covid. He is absolutely right gap in last week’s Budget was identified by the Office that we will wait for the response from the independent for Budget Responsibility as a lack of funding from pay review bodies before we announce the pay settlement. next year for annual covid vaccinations, for Test and Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD) [V]: The Test and Trace, for long covid and for millions of catch-up Trace programme, which the Scientific Advisory Group operations delayed by the pandemic. What discussions for Emergencies considers has had only a marginal impact has the Health Secretary had with the Chancellor about on covid-19 transmission, will have had an almost that gap in funding, and where will that money come 150% increase on its original £15 billion price tag following from? the small print buried in the Chancellor’s Budget last Helen Whately: I thank my right hon. Friend for his week. Is this Government’s claim that the 1% pay offer question. He mentions the 2.1% increase within the to NHS staff is all they can afford actually serious? long-term plan. That figure covers not only this pay rise Helen Whately: The first thing I would say to the for the NHS workforce, but the pay deals that have been hon. Member is that the Test and Trace programme is agreed for staff in other multi-year pay deals, pay doing a truly phenomenal job. The other thing I would progression, and other investment in the workforce. As say is that in the pandemic what we absolutely need is for his question on funding for the broader extra covid an effective test and trace programme, so I make no costs, that is not in the main NHS budget. Just as we apologies for the fact that we are making sure it is had £63 billion invested in those costs throughout this funded. year, there is an extra £22 billion set aside for covid costs outside the NHS budget and also £3 billion specifically Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con): Although everyone for recovery and bringing down waiting lists. in this Chamber would really like to give nurses a decent pay rise as much as possible, may I ask the Minister how Dr Philippa Whitford (Central Ayrshire) (SNP) [V]: that equates with equivalent grades in the police, the fire The proposal for a mere 1% pay rise suggests this service and the armed forces, particularly given that, as Government do not value the risks taken and sacrifices she has already mentioned, they are on a pay freeze at made by health and care staff throughout the pandemic, the moment? nor the challenge that they will face to clear the backlog. Like their initial refusal to extend free school meals, it Helen Whately: As my right hon. Friend says, most of also shows the Government are out of touch with the the public sector—and that includes the police—is public. regrettably under a pay freeze for the coming year With a workforce crisis before the pandemic, does the because of the challenging times we find ourselves in Minister really believe that such a mean award will help and in recognition that across the economy there are recruit and retain healthcare staff? Senior band 5 nurses people who have lost their jobs and that we are having in England already earn up to £1,000 less than their to spend a huge amount of money to support people’s Scottish counterparts, while the removal of the nursing incomes. It is against that backdrop that we are giving bursary and imposition of tuition fees has saddled NHS staff a pay rise, but indeed these are difficult times recently qualified nurses with up to £50,000 of debt. I that we are living through. am sure the Minister knows that shops do not accept claps instead of cash. Will this Government not give Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP) [V]: I have received health and social care staff a decent pay rise and consider literally hundreds of emails from constituents and from a one-off thank you payment, as in Scotland? the Royal College of Nursing. The Democratic Unionist party and I support the campaign for a fair wage increase Helen Whately: I am somewhat surprised by the for NHS staff, because they have been at the forefront language the hon. Lady used around 1%, because a of the war against covid-19. They put their lives on the 1% pay rise for this large number of staff will cost line day by day in defence of this great nation of the around three quarters of a billion pounds. She should United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. remember that this all has to be paid for in the context Since 2010, average weekly pay in the private sector has of, sadly, around three quarters of a million people grown by 22%, compared with only 17% in the public losing their jobs through the pandemic, while others are sector, so I ask the Minister, very gently and kindly, 527 NHS Staff Pay 8 MARCH 2021 NHS Staff Pay 528

[Jim Shannon] Helen Whately: Absolutely.We submitted our evidence to the pay review body last week, which included the whether she will in the name of justice and for moral affordable pay envelope from the Government. The Pay reasons consider reviewing the decision and deliver for Review Body will look at a wide range of evidence, and NHS staff. we will look at its response when it comes back to us. Helen Whately: The Government have submitted our evidence to the pay review body of what we can afford Barbara Keeley (Worsley and Eccles South) (Lab) [V]: for NHS pay, but the review bodies will look at a wide This pay proposal for NHS staff has managed to be range of evidence on what is the right level to set and both wrong and unpopular. Over two thirds of those will make recommendations over the spring. surveyed, including nearly 60% of Conservative voters, think that a 1% pay rise is less than our NHS staff Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con): I am proud deserve, and I believe that the Secretary of State should to play a small role on the NHS frontline, and this last, be in the Chamber answering this urgent question about most recent wave has been particularly brutal on nurses, it. Does the Minister agree that NHS staff are worth a healthcare assistants and, especially this time round, real-terms pay increase? Does she consider that the ambulance crews. May I urge her, during this period billions wasted on ineffective or undelivered personal while the review body is considering the matter, to open protective equipment could have been better spent on up discussions with the Treasury to look at what more giving our NHS heroes a pay rise? we can do for our NHS staff, be that a one-off additional payment or other support, such as just giving people Helen Whately: It is absolutely right that we invested more rest and recuperation time? Weshould do everything in ensuring that we could supply PPE to the NHS and we can and make every effort to go further than what the social care workforce during this extremely challenging has so far been recommended. time. There was a global shortage of PPE, so it is right that we spent money on that. As we look ahead at the Helen Whately: I thank my hon. Friend; I know that pay deal for the next year, it is right that we exempt he does tremendous work on the frontline. He makes a NHS staff from the wider pay freeze for the public really important point: beyond pay, the question of sector and ensure that they get the recognition they what other support we are giving to the NHS workforce deserve for what they have done and are still doing. is really important. Through the pandemic, there has been lots of extra support for the workforce, whether that is with practicalities such as hot food and drink—things Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con) [V]: I thank my that make work and long hours more manageable—or hon. Friend for the answers she has given thus far. Clearly mental health support, which is so crucial for those who we have to await the results of the independent pay have had really traumatic experiences. We are absolutely review body, but can she explain to the House the basis looking at what continued support we can put in place on which the Government have put forward the proposal in the months ahead. of 1% and how that compares with the commitments that were made to dramatically increase salaries,particularly Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood) (Lab) [V]: for nurses at the start of their careers? NHS staff feel betrayed by this Government on pay. In July, the Secretary of State—who really ought to be in Helen Whately: We have delivered on the commitments the Chamber today answering for his responsibilities—said in the multi-year pay deal for “Agenda for Change” the following: staff, including nurses. That includes the 12% pay rise “We absolutely want to reward NHS staff for what they have for newly qualified nurses, bringing the starting salary done.” for a new nurse to almost £25,000. We are now going That is what he said, so can the Minister tell me how on into a new pay settlement for the forthcoming year. As earth delivering a real-terms pay cut meets that very part of the spending review, the Budget will set the clear promise from the Secretary of State? envelope to cover pay costs for that pay settlement, but there are extra pay costs for the growing number of staff Helen Whately: As I say, this discussion is against the as we increase our staff in the NHS, particularly nurses—as backdrop of many people receiving a pay cut in parts of I said, we are on track to have 50,000 more nurses in the our economy, people losing their jobs and a wider pay NHS by the end of this Parliament. freeze in the public sector. Against that backdrop, we recognise the enormous work that the NHS workforce have done, and that is why they are exempt from the pay Jack Dromey (Birmingham, Erdington) (Lab) [V]: freeze and will be getting a pay rise. Together with my right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Liam Byrne), I met nurses— Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East) (Con): I members of the Royal College of Nursing—in the west thank the Chancellor for the scale of economic intervention midlands, and Catherine, a young intensive care nurse that he has provided for businesses and livelihoods in told, with tears in her eyes, how she had worked for these unprecedented times, and I join others in paying months to save lives. She told how she went off for a tribute to our incredible NHS staff; the nation owes week’s holiday because she was exhausted, and when them a debt of gratitude for what they have done and she came back, three of the four people she had been continue to do. I understand that no decision on NHS caring for had died and a member of staff had died. pay will be made until May. Will the Minister wait for Does the Minister not begin to understand the dismay and heed the advice of the independent pay review body and despair on the part of tens of thousands of nurses before confirming the scale of the pay rise that NHS like Catherine that, having endured purgatory to save staff can expect? lives, their reward now is effectively a pay cut? 529 NHS Staff Pay 8 MARCH 2021 NHS Staff Pay 530

Helen Whately: I disagree with the hon. Member Dr Ben Spencer (Runnymede and Weybridge) (Con): about what he just said—as I said, we are committed to I draw the attention of the House to my entry in the giving NHS staff a pay rise—but he actually made a Register of Members’ Financial Interests and to the really important point when he talked about Catherine fact that my wife works in the NHS. NHS staff pay is and other frontline staff, who have been through incredibly and always will be a highly contentious issue—it was difficult times. I speak to nurses and other healthcare contentious during the junior doctor contract debate workers all the time, and one of the things I have heard and we do not need the back end of a pandemic for it to many times in recent weeks and months is how badly be so at the moment—because of the mere existence of staff need time off, and many staff have not been able to national pay contracts, pay awards and review bodies. take holiday because they have been putting in extra As part of the implementation of the changes proposed hours to help with the pandemic response. It is absolutely in the future of health and care White Paper, will my vital in the weeks and months ahead that staff get the hon. Friend view alternative models that allow decisions annual leave they need to rest and recuperate, and I am on individual staff pay to be set by local employers, working with the NHS to make sure that happens. such as NHS trusts themselves, so that they can be best suited to the employees and the services they work for? Richard Fuller (North East Bedfordshire) (Con): Helen Whately: I thank my hon. Friend, who makes a Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their jobs really important point. The balance between nationally during this pandemic and will be looking to the Government set pay and local pay has been a point of much debate to support them so they can start earning again for their over the years. There are pros and cons to both ways. families. Millions of people in this country are on furlough We do not want to have trusts competing directly all the and are living with pay cuts of 10% or 20% and will be time for workforce, but on the other hand there are looking to the Government to continue to support their higher costs of living, for instance, in some areas. That businesses through extension of the furlough programme. is why there is some flexibility in the system for different Thousands and thousands of small businesses have levels of pay according to different areas, as he will well seen the value of their businesses evaporate over the last know, and some extra support in areas where it is hard 12 months and will be looking to the Government to to retain staff. I always to listen to his expertise, which I support the economy to rebuild their businesses. So will really value. my hon. Friend remind us that it is the Government’s job to balance all of those calls on the taxpayer, and it is Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab): the job of the pay review body to come back with a Earlier this year, Baroness Harding defended giving recommendation? £1,000 per day to private sector consultants on the failing test and trace programme. Now, the Minister Helen Whately: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. says we cannot afford to give our NHS heroes a real-terms So many businesses have been so hard hit by the pandemic, pay rise. Given that covid will be with us for years to and it is vital that we support not only the livelihoods of come,given the outstanding non-covid backlog in treatment, individuals who work in the businesses that have been and given the incredible pressure on NHS staff, the hit, but those businesses themselves, because they are existing 100,000 NHS vacancies and the resulting reliance what will help us come through this and recover from on expensive agency staff, can we really afford not to? the economic pain of the pandemic. He is right that the Helen Whately: The hon. Lady talks about the NHS Government are having to balance these enormous workforce. One of the fabulous things we have seen demands on the public finances, and we also need to throughout the pandemic—I am really grateful to all take steps ourselves to recover those finances so that we those who work in the NHS for this—is a reduction in have a strong economy for the future. the leaver rates, so more people are staying and sticking with the NHS, which is truly phenomenal. We have Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) (Ind) [V]: Does the to make sure we look after those people, and I talked Minister realise that there is a sense of the most enormous earlier about some of the support for the NHS workforce anger all across the country? Nurses have seen us through as we recover. It is also fabulous to see such extra interest this crisis and have saved many lives, yet they are offered in careers in the NHS; for instance, over a third more a pay cut as a result of it. Some are already having to people are applying to become nursing students this year resort to food banks to survive, and a third are thinking compared with last year. I also want to make this point of leaving the profession unless they get a decent pay on the test and trace question: it is not either test and rise. Surely to goodness, if £37 billion can be found to trace or the NHS workforce. We need to have a test and pay Serco for a failed track and trace system, the money trace system, and, of course, pay our NHS workforce. must be available to pay NHS staff properly. You cannot clap for them, and cut their pay at the same time. Surely Sara Britcliffe (Hyndburn) (Con): I had several bits we should just pay them properly, so that we can have a of correspondence about NHS pay over the weekend. national health service that we can all be proud of and Can my hon. Friend confirm whether any decision has all rely on for all time in the future. been made specifically about nurses’ pay and what the total allocation for NHS pay rises is in the Budget? Will she ensure that those on lower pay bands are prioritised Helen Whately: Actually, talking of anger,it is probably in any pay awards? not very helpful for many of those on the Opposition Benches to be fuelling a level of anger by calling a pay Helen Whately: I thank my hon. Friend very much rise a pay cut. We are being absolutely clear that NHS for her question. Nurses are just a part of the workforce staff are getting a pay rise. I also say to the right hon. being considered in the pay review, which involves over Member that we need an NHS Test and Trace system to 1 million staff. About 300,000 of those are nurses. control the virus and we need NHS staff. The cost of a 1% pay rise is about three quarters of a 531 NHS Staff Pay 8 MARCH 2021 NHS Staff Pay 532

[Helen Whately] Clive Efford (Eltham) (Lab) [V]: It has not taken the Conservatives long to revert to type and forget the billion pounds, but we will absolutely look at the contribution that our NHS staff have made to fighting recommendations from the pay review bodies when this pandemic over the last year. Since 2010, “Agenda they come through later in the spring. for Change” staff have seen their pay cut in excess of 10% on most of the spine points on the column. What Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab) [V]: The assessment has the Minister made of the effect that this Minister has today said that she is grateful to NHS staff pay increase will have on the retention and attraction of for their hard work during the pandemic, yet the reward high-quality staff into the NHS? Surely, we need to the Government have suggested is a real-terms pay cut. attract those people into the NHS, and this will not Does the Minister feel that that is the right response, do it. both morally and economically? Helen Whately: The hon. Gentleman makes a really Helen Whately: In our submission to the pay review important point about the retention of staff. I am working bodies we said we have a funding envelope to enable a to make sure that we have another 50,000 nurses in the 1% pay rise for NHS staff. As I have said to other Members, NHS by the end of this Parliament. On one hand, that the pay review bodies will look at a wide range of is about making sure that we have more newly qualified evidence and at factors including inflation. They will nurses graduating with nursing degrees; on the other, it also look at what is happening to pay levels across the is about making sure that we keep the nurses and the economy. other NHS workforce that we have. We have seen an improvement in retention, but I want that to be maintained. That is why I am working with NHS England on Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con) [V]: My hon. Friend making sure that we have the greatest possible package will be aware of the heroic efforts made by NHS staff at of support, including mental health support, for staff the Princess Alexandra Hospital and across Harlow who have been through a really tough time. during the pandemic; they put their health and lives at risk looking after Harlow residents. While absolutely Mr Gagan Mohindra (South West Hertfordshire) (Con) recognising the economic constraints and the £2 trillion [V]: May I first wish the House a happy Commonwealth debt that our country owes, will she reconsider and at Day and International Women’s Day? Will my hon. least propose a larger increase for lower-paid NHS Friend outline how many pay rises we expect to see workers? through pay progression by raising pay bands?

Helen Whately: I completely agree with my right hon. Helen Whately: My hon. Friend is absolutely right Friend about the heroic efforts of NHS staff at hospitals that, in addition to the pay settlement that we will reach and primary care and community trusts across the through this pay review process, there are many staff country, including the Princess Alexandra Hospital. who will be eligible for pay progression. About 40% of As I have said, we have submitted to the pay review the staff we are talking about are eligible for payprogression, body our envelope for funding—the 1% that the so many of those will get a pay rise in addition to the Government say they can afford—and we will look at figure that we get to through this process. its recommendations when they come back. I should also say that there was a commitment in the spending Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central) (Lab) [V]: The review to ensure that lower-paid staff would get at least Minister was right when she talked about the amazing a £250 pay rise, and that applies to those in the NHS as people who work in the NHS who have, in her words, well. “gone the extra mile”for the country.Does she understand why they will see this real-terms pay cut as a kick in the Steve Brine (Winchester) (Con): We heard this weekend teeth? She justified it by reference to the pay freeze for about nurses in particular wishing to leave the profession, other key workers, but that was a decision of this so does the Minister have any figures on departures in Government. Should they not recognise that they have recent years? Does she agree that the elephant in the got it wrong on both counts, review the pay freeze and room is not pay across the board but low pay in the give NHS staff the pay rise they deserve? NHS? Even a 10% pay rise on not very much is not very much. Do we not really need a grown-up conversation Helen Whately: I must remind the hon. Gentleman of about what we pay those who do some of the least the difficult times that we are living in: many thousands glamorous jobs across health and social care day in, day of people have, sadly, lost their jobs through covid out, every single year? and others have had pay cuts. We are in times of great economic uncertainty, and against that backdrop the Helen Whately: My hon. Friend is absolutely right Government have to make very difficult decisions. They that we should be thinking about the whole workforce. have made the decision that there will be a pay freeze for As the Minister with oversight of social care, I have much of the public sector, exempting those on the lowest many conversations with that sector about the pay pay and the NHS from that pay freeze—so the NHS levels for people working in social care. I want to see us workforce will get a pay rise. appropriately rewarding and recognising staff across our whole health and social care system, not only in pay Kevin Hollinrake (Thirsk and Malton) (Con) [V]: terms but in the wider package of support that people Every 1% increase will cost the taxpayer £750 million, get, and making sure that each day at work is a good but I did not hear the shadow Health Secretary say by day. That is something that I will continue to work on in how much he would increase pay or indeed which taxes this role. he would increase to pay for that. Does my hon. Friend 533 NHS Staff Pay 8 MARCH 2021 NHS Staff Pay 534 the Minister agree that one way to increase resources Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth) for health and social care and remuneration for our care (Lab) [V]: By the end of the year, £37 billion of taxpayers’ workers is by means of a German-style social care money will have been spent on the Serco Test and Trace premium? programme, which is not even fit for purpose. That is on top of the Government spending £10 billion more on Helen Whately: I thank my hon. Friend for his question. PPE contracts than they should have spent. Given that I am smiling, because it is not the first time that he has waste, how do the Government justify the view that mentioned to me a German-style social care system. I most of the 300,000 NHS nurses are worth only a absolutely appreciate the work he has done to look into £250 a year pay rise? that and say to him, as I have before, that we will bring forward proposals for social care reform. He is absolutely Helen Whately: The pay conversation that we are right that we also need to look at the whole health and having at the moment is indeed about nurses—who are social care system as we consider these difficult questions. a fabulous part of our NHS workforce, and I cannot thank them enough—but it is also about the wider NHS Ben Lake (Ceredigion) (PC): The efforts of NHS staff workforce, which includes paramedics and health support during the pandemic have been nothing short of heroic, workers, and this pay settlement will also include some and, although deserved, recognition and good will are doctors. More than 1 million staff are being considered no substitute for proper pay and investment. Given the in this process, and that is why the cost is closer to current level of vacancies and the fact that the use of £1 billion than the figure the hon. Lady mentioned; it is agency staff in Welsh health boards costs nearly £70 million around £750 million. The Government were absolutely a year, does the Minister not agree that a substantial right to invest in PPE to protect staff in health and pay award would not only be fair but would constitute social care during the pandemic at a time when there an investment in the NHS workforce that could help was a global shortage of PPE, and we are absolutely recruitment and retention of staff, thereby reducing right to have invested in a world-beating test and trace reliance on agency staff? service, which is doing a phenomenal job and is essential to our country’s recovery from this pandemic.

Helen Whately: I am absolutely committed to increasing Mr Speaker: We now come to the final question, from the NHS workforce. As I mentioned in my statement, Nigel Mills. we already have 10,000 more nurses than a year ago; and 6,500 more doctors and over 18,000 more health Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) (Con) [V]: Will the Minister support workers. We saw fantastic growth in the number confirm that the public sector pay review body can take of students starting nursing degrees last autumn—nearly into account the exceptional service and sacrifice of our 30,000—and nearly 50,000 have applied to study nursing nurses and medical staff over the last year, and that if it this autumn. I am absolutely determined that we will recommends a higher pay rise than 1%, the Government continue to increase the size of our NHS workforce to will look at funding that from new resources and not meet the healthcare needs of the population. have to scrimp and save elsewhere in NHS to fund the difference? Dr Jamie Wallis (Bridgend) (Con) [V]: I thank the Minister for the answers she has given today, but will Helen Whately: I agree: our NHS workforce—in fact, she set out in more detail the process of the pay review our whole health and social care workforce—have done body? a phenomenal job through the pandemic and, we should not forget, continue to do so. I will not pre-empt the Helen Whately: The process begins with the Secretary recommendations that we will receive from the pay of State sending the pay review body a letter to set up its review body, but I assure my hon. Friend that we will remit, which was done in December. We then submitted absolutely consider them carefully before coming to a our evidence to the pay review body last week, which decision. covered the point about the pay envelope as well as a whole load of information about, for instance, retention Mr Speaker: I will now suspend the House for three and staff levels and support for the workforce. The pay minutes to enable the necessary arrangements for the review body will consider that, along with other evidence next business to be made. from the NHS, trade unions and others, and will report back to us in late spring. We will carefully consider its 4.20 pm recommendations and come to a decision. Sitting suspended. 535 8 MARCH 2021 Women’s Health Strategy 536

Women’s Health Strategy women’s voices are heard, the provision of high-quality information and education is imperative. To give a timely 4.23 pm example, March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Endometriosis is a common condition affecting one in The Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention 10 women of reproductive age, yet the average diagnosis and Mental Health (Ms Nadine Dorries): With permission, time is seven to eight years. It greatly saddens me to I would like to make a statement about the women’s hear how so many women think, or worse, are told that health strategy. Today is International Women’s Day, the debilitating pain and symptoms that they are and on this important day we must acknowledge that experiencing are normal or imagined and that they for generations women have lived with a healthcare must live with it. We must ensure that women have system that is designed by men, for men. As a result, access to high-quality information about health concerns. women have been underrepresented in research. Despite We must also ensure that health and care professionals women making up 51% of the population, we still know can access the necessary information to meet the needs little about some female-specific issues, and there is less of the women they provide care for. evidence and data on how conditions affect women and men differently. Despite living longer than men, women The third pillar is making sure that the health and spend a greater proportion of their lives in ill health and care system understands and is responsive to women’s disability, and there are growing geographic inequalities health and care needs across their life course. Women in women’slife expectancy.That makes levelling up women’s have changing health and care needs across their lives, health an imperative for us all, so we must meet our and we know that specific life events, or stages of life, goal of extending healthy life expectancy by five years can influence future health. For example, we know that by 2035. women who have high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia during pregnancy are at greater risk of heart attack and There is already a lot of excellent work under way to stroke in future. We also know that women can find it achieve that. The Government are working on the next difficult to access services that meet their specific needs, strategy on tackling violence against women and girls, or that meet their needs in a convenient place or time, and we have announced plans for a new sexual and and that there are significant inequalities between different reproductive health strategy,led by the Minister responsible groups of women in terms of access to services, experience for prevention, public health and primary care—my of services and health outcomes. For example, women hon. Friend the Member for Bury St Edmunds (Jo of black ethnicity are four times more likely than white Churchill)—which we plan to publish later this year. women to die in pregnancy and childbirth. That is why I Although this focused work is vital, it is also important recently established the maternity inequalities oversight that we take an end-to-end look at women’s health from forum to bring together experts to consider and address adolescence to older age. I am thrilled to inform the House the inequalities of women and babies from different that today we are embarking on the first Government-led ethnic backgrounds and socioeconomic groups. There national women’s health strategy for England. It will set is still more to do, so levelling up women’s health must an ambitious and positive new agenda to improve the be a priority for us all. health and wellbeing of women across England. As we know, not all women have the same experience, so we The fourth pillar is maximising women’s health in the want to hear from as many women as possible, from all workplace. The pandemic has brought home just how ages and backgrounds, about what works well and what important this is. Some 77% of the NHS workforce and we need to change as today we launch our call for 82% of the social care workforce are women, and evidence. throughout the pandemic women have been on the The call for evidence, running until 30 May, seeks to frontline, making sure that people receive the health examine women’s experiences of the whole health and support and care that they need. care system, including mental health, disabilities and There is some evidence that female-specific health healthy ageing, as well as female-specific issues such as conditions—such as heavy menstrual bleeding, endo- gynaecological conditions, pregnancy and post-natal metriosis, pregnancy-related issues and the menopause support, and the menopause. The call for evidence is —can affect women’sworkforce participation, productivity based around six core themes, which cut across different and outcomes. There is little evidence on other health areas of women’s health, and I would like to set them conditions and disabilities, although we know that common out briefly in the House. conditions that can lead to sickness absence—for example, The first pillar is placing women’s voices at the centre mental health conditions and musculoskeletal conditions— of their health and care. We know that damaging taboos are more prevalent in women. Investment in women’s and stigmas remain around many areas of women’s health in the workplace is therefore essential to women’s health, which can prevent women from starting ability to reach their full potential and contribute to the conversations about their health or seeking support for communities in which they live, so that is a fundamental healthcare. When women do speak about their health, pillar of our strategy. all too often they are not listened to. As the Minister for The fifth pillar is ensuring that research, evidence and patient safety, I regularly hear from and meet people data support improvements in women’s health. We have who have been affected by issues of patient safety. As a world-class research and development system in the independent reports and inquiries have found, not least UK, but women—particularly women from ethnic the Cumberlege review and the Paterson inquiry, it is minorities, older women, women of childbearing age, often women whom the healthcare system fails to keep those with disabilities, and LGBT women—have been safe and fails to listen to, and this has to change. under-represented in research. This has implications for The second pillar is improving the quality and the health support and care that women receive, their accessibility of information and education on women’s options for and awareness of treatments, and the support health. If we are to tackle taboos and ensure that that they can access afterwards. We must work to ensure 537 Women’s Health Strategy8 MARCH 2021 Women’s Health Strategy 538 that women and women’s health issues are included in not belong; and women of colour presenting far too research and data collection and so finally end the data late with conditions that could have been easily treatable gap that sadly exists. The better the evidence, the better if they had found healthcare more accessible. I meet we can understand the health and care needs of women many women victims of domestic violence. They use and deliver the change that we need to see. healthcare services more than non-abused women, so I Our sixth and final pillar is understanding and responding hope to see the Government’s upcoming violence against to the impacts of covid-19 on women’s health. This women and girls strategy address their needs. pandemic has taught us so much about our society and The coronavirus crisis has had a disastrous impact on our health and care system. As we build back better many women, and I have been honoured to listen to after this pandemic, we must make sure that we fully colleagues share their heartbreaking experiences of baby understand the impact of covid-19 on women’s health loss. My heart breaks for all those women who have had issues and what we can do to take that understanding to go through that alone during the pandemic. What forward. support will be offered to women who experience baby The call for evidence is about making women’s voices loss without their partners by their side? Within maternity heard. Wewant to hear from women from all backgrounds services there are huge inequalities. The Minister is and will be inviting all organisations and researchers right to highlight the fact that black women are four with expertise in women’s health to provide written times more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth, and evidence, too. We will respond to the call for evidence I welcome the launch of the forum, but the Government after the summer and we aim to publish the strategy have known about these inequalities for years, so why later this year. I hope that the strategy will be welcomed has there not been action sooner? The Government are across the House. running a separate sexual and reproductive health strategy; I thank the Members who have been working with us would it not have made more sense to bring it, as part of on this vital agenda. I thank my hon. Friend the Member that working, into this? A part of this which is widely for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price) for breaking down stigmatised is the menopause. How will the Government taboos around women’s health through her advocacy in be seeking to engage women who have to go through the House, and my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport difficulties throughout the menopause? (Caroline Dinenage) for her initial work on the strategy. The “Five Year Forward View for Mental Health” I also thank the Members who lead the all-party recommended that by 2020-21, in England, 30,000 more parliamentary groups on women’shealth, on endometriosis, women each year would be able on sexual and reproductive health and on women and “to access evidence-based specialist mental health care during the work, and many more. We will keep working with perinatal period” Members in all parties as we take forward this essential and said that that was important. Can the Minister tell work. us whether that target has been met? Today, it is huge This strategy marks a turning point for women in this news that a woman of colour has spoken about her country. We are making women’s voices heard and mental health struggles during pregnancy. Many women putting them at the very centre of their own care, so that face difficulties but stay silent, afraid to seek help. With we can make sure that our nation’s health system truly stigma attached to mental illness, the Government must works for the whole nation. I commend this statement ensure that evidence is collected from all of our ethnically to the House. diverse communities. Women are still being misdiagnosed in 2021. With 4.33 pm male bodies being seen as the default body, there is a Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (Tooting) (Lab): I thank the huge historical data gap in understanding women’s Minister for the advance copy of the statement. I wish health needs. It is shocking that women are 50% more every woman in the House and throughout the country likely to be misdiagnosed following a heart attack simply a very happy International Women’s Day. because our symptoms differ from those of men. What research will the Government commission to bridge It is welcome that the Government want to understand that divide? the plight of women throughout the country,but although the Minister said that this strategy is the first of its kind, Finally, pay is a gendered issue. Women are 82% of in reality it is not. We heard much that was in this the social care workforce and 90% of the nurses. Can announcementwhentheGovernmentlaunchedthewomen’s the Minister justify the real-terms pay cut to our frontline mental health taskforce in 2017. If the Government NHS staff? Will she end poverty wages in social care? took this matter seriously, it would be a first. The We need healthcare to work for every woman across Minister responsible for mental health at the time, the the UK—young and old, white and women of colour, hon. Member for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price), said: cisgender and transgender. We cannot wait any longer. Women’s health and wellbeing should not be an annual “This report is a call to action for all providers, commissioners and practitioners across the health care system to drive forward PR exercise. We need action and we need action now. the ethos of trauma- and gender-informed mental health care.” Ms Dorries: I join the hon. Lady in wishing every That echoes what the Minister just said, so why are the woman across the world a happy International Women’s Government asking the exact same questions four years Day. She opened by talking about the mental health later? taskforce and saying it is not the first of its kind, but it A multitude of health concerns are unique to women absolutely is. It was a five-year project that the NHS and are often overlooked. In hospital, I hold the hands used to bring together women and organisations from of women in their darkest times: young women and across the healthcare sector to develop a mental health girls presenting with eating disorders; trans women plan—a five-year view—which it did and reported on. admitted after suicide attempts and substance abuse As she knows, partly as a result of that, we now have the because they had been made to feel as though they do long-term plan in mental health. 539 Women’s Health Strategy8 MARCH 2021 Women’s Health Strategy 540

[Ms Dorries] people who they know,to encourage women everywhere— and, as I said, not just women but families and anybody The hon. Lady also spoke passionately, as she always who wants to contribute. does, about the patients she meets as part of her work Within the first minutes of the link going live this and the women who are suffering from eating disorders— morning, we instantly had 300 responses. I have not sadly, that has been a tragic cost of covid. We know that checked what the figure is now. We need huge numbers two groups have been affected by the past 12 months in of women and yes, absolutely, it is not just about the the mental health sphere: people, including women, usual issues that get talked about, although they are an with pre-existing mental illness; and, in particular, young important part of this. Menopause, menstrual health, women aged 15 to 26, in whom we have seen an explosion maternity and neonatal issues are the things we talk in the number of referrals—I believe the figure is 22% for about frequently, but this will be about everything. For young women seeking help with eating disorders. We example, we know that drugs that are used on women have committed funding during the spending review, are trialled and developed using all-male cohorts, and when £500 million was announced, and I announced that doctors are taught in medical school to recognise £79 million on Friday. Part of that is going to deal with symptoms that are taken from men and not applied to the problems that we have as a result of the pandemic, women. We know about the inequalities, and we need to and with young women and girls—and in some cases know about any subject from disability to mental health; young men—who are suffering from eating disorders. anything that a woman experiences in a healthcare The hon. Lady talked about the stillbirth and neonatal setting, we need to know about it. target of halving the number of stillbirths by 2025. We are way ahead of our target on that. The Office for National Statistics published new data last week, and I believe we Dr Lisa Cameron (East Kilbride, Strathaven and are looking towards a 30% figure already. We are way Lesmahagow) (SNP) [V]: I welcome the Minister’s ahead of target, and that is a result of the measures that statement, which is timely on International Women’s have been put in place in the maternity safety arena, Day. I also refer the House to my entry in the Register including the saving babies’ lives care bundle and the of Members’ Financial Interests. A gender health gap early notification scheme. has arisen during covid-19, and the Scottish Government I reiterate that what we are announcing today is a call are also developing a plan to address women’s health for evidence from women everywhere in the UK: from inequalities. Research indicates that young women in every organisation and every friend, every partner, every particular have been found to have increasing anxiety, family of every woman.1 The link has been published depression, suicidal ideation and loneliness. With coping today. I published it on the Government website and it strategies and social support diminished, eating disorders is on the Department of Health and Social Care website are tragically on the rise with high levels of morbidity. and on my Twitter feed. It is a link that women can Young women disproportionately struggle to be referred easily access using their phones or their laptops, and it for treatment due to an antiquated medical model based takes a few minutes to complete. We want to develop on body mass index to identify eating disorders rather the first ever women’shealth strategy within the Department than on a psychological model, treating the whole person. of Health and Social Care that will deal with all the Will the Minister work with the all-party group for issues—there are too many for me to talk about now—and eating disorders and cross-party parliamentarians who all the ways in which women have been affected. These want urgently to address this matter via the funding will include research funding and cohorts of trials not announced, but also to ensure the timely access to using women, using all the information that we have treatments for those crying out for help and a diagnosis, from Paterson and Cumberlege and from women stating saving the lives of young women, and, in many cases, clearly that women are not listened to in the healthcare those of young men, too. sector. To address that, we need to hear not just from the Paterson women and the mesh women who spoke to Cumberlege; we need to hear from all women everywhere, Ms Dorries: I thank the hon. Lady for her question. and that is why we have launched this call for evidence In fact, we met recently to discuss this very subject, today, to develop this strategy before the end of the and I have also had meetings with a number of year. Members from across the House who have an interest in Caroline Nokes (Romsey and Southampton North) this area. I also thank her for the work that she does (Con) [V]: I really welcome this call for evidence and my in this area. I think that, as a result of our private hon. Friend’s clear commitment to hear from all women conversations, she understands both my commitment everywhere.Can she please reassure me that the consultation and that of the Government. I know that she is aware of will not just be about reproductive health, important the funding that we have allocated to assist with this though that is, and that it will include all conditions and surge of eating disorders that have presented of late and ensure that women have the ability to express freely of our commitment in the long-term plan to assist what they want to see from their strategy? I welcome the young women with both mental health issues and eating timescale of the strategy coming forward in September. disorders in particular. An eating disorder is the most deadly of all mental health illnesses and also one of the Ms Dorries: My right hon. Friend is a huge champion most difficult to treat. I am delighted to hear that this for women’s rights and a Committee Chair. I would ask issue is being taken seriously in the devolved nations as her, following the work that was undertaken by the well and that Scotland is also embarking on a similar all-party parliamentary group on women’s health, to path. I hope that, as we do on all issues related to contact anybody that she knows who can help to get health, we and the devolved nations will share data and this dealt with or who she has liaised with throughout the methods of collecting it, experience and the evidence her time as Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, to develop a women’s health strategy, which will one so that they can help to get this message out to the day be rolled out across the UK.1 1.[Official Report, 12 March 2021, Vol. 690, c. 5MC.] 1.[Official Report, 12 March 2021, Vol. 690, c. 5MC.] 541 Women’s Health Strategy8 MARCH 2021 Women’s Health Strategy 542

Julie Marson (Hertford and Stortford) (Con) [V]: I health strategy. Nothing is off limits; women can talk really congratulate my hon. Friend on her statement about anything. We have not yet decided what will go today, particularly on International Women’s Day. Does into the women’s health strategy, because we want to she agree that the women’s health strategy, including the hear what women have to say and what issues we are detailed pillars that she has outlined, is the first of its contacted about that we can develop in terms of policy. kind and will mark a real step change in approach in the We will be working closely, and officials will be working way that it centres women, their voices, their lived side by side. experiences, and their evidence in making real change The right hon. Lady also mentioned LARC. Access to the future of health policy in England? to SRH services is being maintained during covid-19, with a scaling up of online services. In response to Ms Dorries: I thank my hon. Friend for her covid, Public Health England launched a national encouragement. She is absolutely right. We are very framework for e-sexual and reproductive healthcare, excited about this strategy because it is the first of its which allows local authorities and service providers to kind. That is why we have put quite a tight timeframe purchase an expanded range of online services, including on this to keep the momentum going. We will be collating emergency contraception and the contraceptive pill. all the information and data before the summer and we Those services have continued during the pandemic. will be reporting when we come back after the summer recess. We will then be able to announce our women’s I congratulate the right hon. Lady on the work that health strategy before the end of this year. I hope that she does in her APPG. I hope that she will inform its everybody is as excited as I am about women getting members and those she knows who have an interest in involved and giving us their information, telling us what women’s health issues to click on the link and provide they feel, when we know that their voices are not heard. their evidence to us. We have, I believe, provided the platform for women to SiobhanBaillie(Stroud)(Con):OnInternationalWomen’s have their voices heard. I thank my hon. Friend for her Day, I would like the House to think about women with remarks and I hope that she will follow this process. I complex and multiple needs—addiction, trauma, abuse hope that she will download the link, provide evidence and eating disorders. Some lives are just too complicated herself—I hope that every woman in this House does for one service, and some experiences are just too awful that—and be there when we announce the women’s for many of us to contemplate. These women can, health strategy later in the year. however, turn their lives around safely with the right support; I think of organisations in my constituency Dame Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) such as the Nelson Trust, which does so much brilliant (Lab) [V]: Last year, the all-party group on sexual and work. Will my hon. Friend confirm that women with reproductive health, which I chair, produced a report complex and multiple needs will not be forgotten in this called “Women’s Lives, Women’s Rights” on women’s strategy? access to contraception. I hope the Minister will shortly meet me to discuss this report, which showed that, over Ms Dorries: I would like to reassure my hon. Friend, the past 10 years, with cuts to public health budgets and and I hope that she will do her utmost to make sure that the fragmentation of NHS services, women’s access to those women she is aware of are aware of the link and contraception has reduced, most strikingly in access to will provide us with their evidence. It is the evidence long-acting reversible contraceptives; that Black, Asian that we need to develop the women’s health strategy, so and minority ethnic women, in particular, lose out; and we need to hear from exactly the women she is talking that abortion rates have increased. What does the Minister about. Complex needs are just that: they are very complex. say about how we can put this right and how the We need to know about these women’s experiences in separate sexual and reproductive health and HIV strategy the healthcare sector—what acts as a barrier to them, running alongside a woman’s health strategy will actually where they think they are not heard, where they think work and ensure that women are at the centre of NHS their voices are drowned out and where they feel they services? are not listened to and do not get the services they should get. I will use endometriosis as an example. It Ms Dorries: The Government are committed to can take women seven to eight years to be diagnosed, all developing a sexual and reproductive health strategy, the time being told that they may have a mental health which we plan to publish in 2021. Development of the condition, that it is something they have to live with and sexual and reproductive health strategy will be separate that that level of pain is normal for a woman to experience, from the women’s health strategy. However, officials are when none of those things is true. We want to hear from working closely together to ensure coherence between those women. the sexual and reproductive health strategy and the I thank my hon. Friend for her question, which is women’s health strategy. We hope that they will not really important. She is right: many women suffer from contradict each other; we want them to work closely a number of complex health issues and have difficult together. The sexual and reproductive health strategy is lives. That is why we have made responding so simple, an incredibly important piece of work in its own right. via a link on a phone and taking a few minutes. I really Abortion is not a part of the women’s health strategy hope that those women hear this call and will respond. because, as everyone in the House knows, abortion is a free vote issue—it is a conscience issue; it is something Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD) [V]: I welcome the Minister’s that Members decide as individuals, not as parties— statement on the women’s health strategy. It has already and therefore it is more appropriate that that goes into been mentioned this afternoon but, as the chair of the a strategy on sexual and reproductive health and eating disorder all-party parliamentary group, it needs contraception than the women’s health strategy. That emphasising again: eating disorders have the highest does not mean that those subjects are off limits when mortality rate of all mental health disorders. While women respond to the call for evidence on the women’s eating disorders do not discriminate, they affect women 543 Women’s Health Strategy8 MARCH 2021 Women’s Health Strategy 544

[Wera Hobhouse] sick pay is available to an employee only for a linked period of sickness for a maximum of three years, which disproportionately. The longer they go untreated, the penalises those people—women, of course—with chronic longer and more complicated it is to recover. Will the long-term conditions such as endometriosis. Will the Minister look at the evidence—there is already plenty Minister commit to the women who come forward with of it—showing that we urgently need waiting time evidence that she will work with the Department for targets for adult eating disorder services? Work and Pensions to resolve those issues?

Ms Dorries: I thank the hon. Lady for her question; I Ms Dorries: I thank the right hon. Lady for her was waiting for it as I knew she would be contributing question. If women are giving evidence that substantiates today. We have had private conversations about this the points that she has just made, we will take it and issue, and I want to reassure her. I hope she noticed that provide it to the DWP. It is not the case that we would some of the £79 million I announced last week will be not do anything with that evidence; we absolutely will going towards dealing with eating disorders and the share it with other Departments. recent surge in referrals to mental health services. She is right to say that there is lots of evidence, and we are Selaine Saxby (North Devon) (Con) [V]: This is a aware of what happens with eating disorders and how really positive announcement on International Women’s they develop, and we work with charities, as she well Day as the women’s health strategy will deliver a much- knows. We would still like those women to respond to needed step forward to improve the health and wellbeing this call to evidence. of women across the country. Does my hon. Friend Many women struggle to get anyone to listen or share my concern that women’s experience of healthcare understand that they have an eating disorder. We struggle can vary across different geographies, and can she confirm to identify them early enough or pick up such things. that the forthcoming strategy will contain measures to We still need to gather that evidence, because it is at address this? certain points of contact that healthcare professionals Ms Dorries: I have no idea what the women’s health do not recognise or realise that they are dealing with an strategy is going to contain because we have not had the eating disorder. That is the kind of thing that we think evidence yet. We do not want to decide in advance where we could get fresh evidence about from women by them we are going to go with it; we are going to wait to hear clicking on the link and letting us know, either via their women’s voices before we do that. However, my hon. phone or their laptop. The hon. Lady has a huge Friend is absolutely right. As I mentioned in my statement, number of contacts, so I urge her to inform them and there is a geographic disparity in many areas. I think ask them to contribute to the call for evidence. that, as part of the evidence that we receive from women, that will become very apparent. I hope that she Robbie Moore (Keighley) (Con): Keighley has fantastic will be involved, click on the link herself and direct any women’s mental health charities such as Roshni Gar, women she knows who could be involved to do so. which provides culturally appropriate responsive services for south Asian women experiencing mental health issues, Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower) (Lab) [V]: The pandemic and Wellbeing Women Talk & Thrive, which does an has seen us make dramatic changes in how we live, and excellent job. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the the impact of these changes has been especially sharply forthcoming women’shealth strategy will contain measures felt by women. The Institute for Fiscal Studies found that to level up access to mental health services for women mothers are only able to do, on average, a third of the and girls across England, so that no matter where they uninterrupted paid work hours of fathers, so is it any come from, they can always access the mental health wonder that six out of 10 women are finding it harder support that they need? to stay positive day to day compared with 47% of men? What are the Government going to do to ensure that Ms Dorries: Parity between physical health and mental there is support available for these women, whose labour health is a priority in the Department for Health and is paid and unpaid, and who have been instrumental in Social Care. This is about breaking down taboos and getting the country through this pandemic? What will stigmas. That is why we have invested £2.3 billion, year the Minister do? on year, into mental health and into the development of a long-term plan. That is why we had another £500 million Ms Dorries: That is not strictly a health question but, allocated at the spending review a few weeks ago. That on the mental health issues that I think the hon. Lady is why we allocated £79 million of that on Friday to was referring to—the stress and other issues that women dealing with the very issues my hon. Friend has just are feeling—I hope she will encourage the women she raised. When we talk about a call for evidence for a knows to click the link and contribute to the call for women’s health strategy, I hope it is understood that we evidence. are talking about both physical health and mental health. I thank my hon. Friend for his question; it is important Nickie Aiken (Cities of London and Westminster) that such issues are raised as often as possible. (Con) [V]: I thank my hon. Friend for her statement and welcome the launch today, on International Women’s Liz Saville Roberts (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC) [V]: Day, of the Government’s call for evidence to help to I, too, welcome the launch of this call for evidence form the basis of a new women’s health strategy. Given today, on International Women’s Day. The consultation that an estimated 13 million women in the UK are refers to evidence that female-specific health conditions currently peri-menopausal or menopausal, including can affect women’s workforce participation. However, this woman, which equates to one third of the entire the welfare system does not currently provide adequate UK female population, will she assure me that menopause support for many such conditions. For example, statutory services will be at the heart of the strategy, and will she 545 Women’s Health Strategy8 MARCH 2021 Women’s Health Strategy 546 agree to meet me and a group of women experiencing contacted about is IVF, for which we know there is the menopause to discuss how we can ensure that currently something of a postcode lottery.I was contacted women are properly supported and do not have to deal by my constituent Klara Halpin, who was seeking to with this major, life-changing experience on their own? have a child through IVF but was rejected NHS treatment in County Durham because her partner has children from Ms Dorries: I answer this question as a post-menopausal a past relationship. However, if Klara had lived under a woman. The online survey within the call for evidence different clinical commissioning group, she would be eligible seeks information on the menopause. It explores the for that IVF treatment. Will my hon. Friend encourage menopause across various themes, including listening women undergoing IVF to share their experiences, either to women’s voices, access to information on women’s to this review or the sexual and reproductive health health across the life course and women’s health in the review, to try to ensure more equalised provision of workplace. I encourage stakeholders and women with services right across the country? experience of this area to respond to the call so that we can identify future work. Women often face damaging Ms Dorries: Absolutely, and I thank my hon. Friend taboos when starting a conversation about their health. for her question and for highlighting that case. I urge It is really important that we start smashing those taboos her constituent to contact us and share her experiences here, as we have been doing for a number of years now, with us. Fertility clinics across England have remained and that we talk about the menopause openly. Women open throughout the last lockdown. Clinics obviously can often face unsympathetic and stigmatised responses have to meet robust criteria to assure the Human when speaking about the menopause, particularly in the Fertilisation and Embryology Authority that safe and workplace, which is clearly unacceptable. This Government effective treatment can be offered. I am not sure of the are committed to breaking down those taboos, supporting geography that my hon. Friend was talking about, but I women and working women at all stages of their life, am disappointed to hear the difference between two and enabling them to reach their potential. This includes, care commissioning group areas and would ask her to of course, having more open conversations on the ask her constituent to contact us and let us know more menopause, whether that be with healthcare professionals details about her experience. or employers, and assisting women through that stage in their life, so that they can remain full and active Mohammad Yasin (Bedford) (Lab) [V]: In January, contributors during that stage of their life in their Bedford Hospital’s maternity services were downgraded chosen careers or workplaces. I urge my hon. Friend to to inadequate due to significant concerns on the part of click on the link, to get involved and to make sure that the Care Quality Commission about staffing levels and women she knows do the same. insufficient training. Maternity staff are facing extreme Carla Lockhart (Upper Bann) (DUP) [V]: I thank the burnout during this pandemic. The hospital has taken Minister for outlining that women can discuss anything steps to improve services, but will the Minister tell me during this consultation. Can she therefore outline what what her Government’s plan is to urgently train, recruit efforts will be made to reach out and gather evidence and retain more midwives so that all women can receive from mums such as Rachel Mewes, who said on Twitter safe maternity care? that she was pressured to consider having a late-term Ms Dorries: One of our objectives is to be the safest abortion at seven months pregnant, when she had previously country in the world in which to give birth, and we have stated repeatedly that she would never terminate for made tremendous progress by halving stillbirths and Down’ssyndrome? As a result, she now has post-traumatic neonatal deaths. This is an area in which we are making stress disorder and has said that being forced to imagine huge progress, and I would ask the hon. Member to ask someone killing her little girl Betsy nearly destroyed those with whom he is discussing these issues to respond her. Has the Minister considered the devastating impact to today’s call for evidence. that this kind of treatment is having on women’s health and wellbeing during pregnancy, and does she agree Mary Robinson (Cheadle) (Con) [V]: I congratulate that disability discrimination in the womb should end? my hon. Friend on her continued work ensuring that Ms Dorries: I thank the hon. Member for highlighting women have equal healthcare outcomes and experiences, her constituent’s concerns. Abortion as such will not be and I look forward to taking part in this call for part of the women’s health strategy, because it is being evidence. Consultations are most valuable when there is discussed under the sexual and reproductive strategy, significant participation, allowing us to gather information which is also ongoing, and is a conscience issue in this from a wide range of people and experiences. Will she House. It is not decided on party lines, it is down to therefore say what conversations she is having with individual Members’ votes, so it will not form part of other Departments and organisations to ensure a broad the women’s health strategy, which will be about policy. reach, for instance, through participation from colleges, However, the hon. Member is absolutely right; we will schools and universities, as well as charities and the take evidence, we will look at that evidence and, if it workplace? comes in via the portal, we will pass it on to the sexual and reproductive strategy. However, there are no taboos Ms Dorries: This call for evidence is going to last for and nothing that cannot be discussed. We want to hear 12 weeks, we are going to keep up the drumbeat consistently about all women’s health issues, and I urge her to urge and it will be cross-departmental. I hope that other everybody she knows to click on the link and get Ministers in other Departments will pick up part of the involved. load along the way and use their contacts and access to charities and organisations. We are working strongly Dehenna Davison (Bishop Auckland) (Con) [V]: I am with journalists and other outlets to try to get the news grateful to the Minister for her statement and fully over about what we are trying to achieve, our aims and welcome the call for evidence. One area that I have been objectives. My hon. Friend is absolutely right that working 547 Women’s Health Strategy8 MARCH 2021 Women’s Health Strategy 548

[Ms Dorries] her evidence of what her experience was. It is really important that BAME women understand that we want with charities, organisations, the third sector and all to hear their stories and birth experiences. BAME women women, and their families and friends, across the UK is are five times more likely to die in childbirth than white really important.1 I ask her, as I have asked everybody women. We need to know what those issues are, and it is else: if she knows of any particular organisations or important to get that message out to those women.1 charities that feel that they can contribute, she should encourage them to do so. Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab) [V]: I was pleased to hear the Minister mention endometriosis and Cat Smith (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Lab): For acknowledge the shocking fact that it currently takes decades, women with epilepsy were prescribed sodium eight years, on average, for a woman to get a diagnosis, valproate and were told it was safe to take during and the underlying assumption that it is just something pregnancy. It was not. Their babies were harmed, and that women have to put up with if they have pain during women continued to be prescribed sodium valproate their periods. As I am sure the Minister knows, it is and babies continue to be harmed right to this day. The National Endometriosis Awareness Month, and campaign Minister in her statement paid lip service to the Cumberlege groups are asking for a commitment to reduce average review, but this statement comes on the same day she has diagnosis times to four years or less by 2025, and a year given me a written answer that I have here, where she or less by 2030. I am slightly concerned that if we wait said that she is not going to implement recommendation 3, for this strategy, it will delay action being taken. What which is about a redress agency for victims of sodium reassurance can she give that the Government are acting valproate. If this statement is meant to mean anything to reduce waiting times now? on International Women’sDay,can the Minister remember those women with epilepsy whose babies were harmed Ms Dorries: I thank the hon. Lady for raising the in the womb? Can we get a redress agency for the all-party parliamentary group on endometriosis, which victims of sodium valproate? I have spoken to. The report has raised a number of important issues, and we are grateful to the APPG for Ms Dorries: Ever since sodium valproate was first raising awareness and for contributing to our understanding licensed, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory of this very important issue. The report’srecommendations Agency’s position has been clear: valproate should only are to be considered as part of the work to help the be used in women of childbearing potential if no other women’s health strategy. I urge that APPG and others, medicine is effective or tolerated. The MHRA has kept and the stakeholders, to participate in the call for evidence. sodium valproate under constant review. The national As this is an issue in the women’s health strategy, we director for patient safety has recently set up a clinically cannot go any quicker than putting the call out now for led valproate safety implementation group to consider 12 weeks, doing what we can before the summer recess the range of issues relating to valproate and prescribing to get the data and working on it over the summer recess, and to explore options to review and reduce prescribing. and then have a strategy before the end of the year. Our In terms of the redress agency, we have looked at that timetable is tight and quick, but that is what we want, across the board as a result of the Cumberlege because we do not want to lose momentum. We want to recommendations. A number of redress processes are get this report out before the end of the year. available already, and we did not want to complicate the landscape any further. We feel that, with the MHRA and the national director for patient safety, we have a Craig Whittaker (Calder Valley) (Con) [V]: Happy response to sodium valproate. International Women’s Day to all colleagues on both sides of the House. Darren Henry (Broxtowe) (Con) [V]: I absolutely Our successful vaccine programme has shone a light applaud the statement from the Minister, especially as it on concerns based on a lack of trust that make members comes on International Women’s Day. I speak on behalf of some communities more hesitant about coming forward of Broxtowe constituent Sarah Kolawole and her daughter to access services that could save their lives. Will my Ariella Kolawole, who sadly passed away shortly after hon. Friend confirm that she is taking steps to ensure being born in February 2019. I welcome all the research that a range of voices, from different communities, are that has been conducted to explore why negative birth consulted on this strategy, so that it leads to better outcomes and traumatic births for pregnant women of outcomes for women and girls from ethnic minority black, African and Caribbean descent are more frequent backgrounds? than other ethnicities. As we move forward with our NHS long-term plan, does my hon. Friend agree that Ms Dorries: I refer my hon. Friend to my previous we must use this call for evidence to ensure that equal answer. The impacts on BAME women in the health outcomes are achieved for mothers of all ethnicities? sector are of the utmost importance. That is why, over a 12-week period, we are using all Departments and all Ms Dorries: I thank my hon. Friend for raising such Ministers to keep the drumbeat up and make sure that an important point. It is the very reason I established we reach all women across the sector. It is really important the maternal inequalities oversight forum, so that I could to us that as many women from as many backgrounds learn from experts and organisations such as MBRRACE and as many geographical locations as possible across —Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits the UK respond to this call for evidence.2 and Confidential Enquiries—and Maternity Voices about the issues that affect black, Asian and minority ethnic Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): I thank the women in particular and why the statistics are as they Minister for her statement and for responding to all are. I thank him for raising the individual case of his 20 questions on the call list. May I ask Members to constituent, and I ask him to ask her to provide us with be very careful as they leave the Chamber? We have 1.[Official Report, 12 March 2021, Vol. 690, c. 6MC.] 1.[Official Report, 12 March 2021, Vol. 690, c. 6MC.] 2.[Official Report, 12 March 2021, Vol. 690, c. 6MC.] 549 Women’s Health Strategy 8 MARCH 2021 550

Karen Buck on video link, which means that we can go Housing and Homelessness straight on to the ten-minute rule motion. Perhaps (Local Accommodation Duty) during that period we could sanitise both Dispatch Boxes so that we can go straight on to the next business, Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order if the principals have taken their places, and get at least No. 23) one extra person in for the Budget debate. 5.18 pm Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab) [V]: I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to place a duty on local authorities to ensure that persons for whom a homeless duty has been accepted are accommodated in the local area, including on discharge into private rented accommodation; to require local authorities to publish annual reports on steps relating to housing demand and supply taken or intended to be taken to meet that duty; and for connected purposes. Listen to anyone who has been through the experience of homelessness and it will become clear that losing your home is one of the most traumatising things that can happen. Yet homelessness is a reality for tens of thousands of people every year, and over the past 30 years, since the repossessions crisis that followed the 1990 recession, successive waves of families and individuals have had to live through it, and they have done so in the context of a shrinking supply of stable, affordable social housing to meet need. That shrinking of supply and the ratcheting down of support for housing costs as rents have risen have both caused homelessness and made it increasingly difficult for many councils to meet their local needs. Housing legislation requires all local housing authorities to secure accommodation in their own district, as far as reasonably practical. In response to a debate in my name last December, the then Housing Minister said: “We are clear that local authorities should, as far as possible, avoid placing households out of their boroughs...that should really be a last resort.”—[Official Report, 2 December 2020; Vol. 685, c. 183WH.] Yet that is clearly and obviously not the case and not adhered to in practice. My own borough of Westminster routinely accommodates homeless families out of borough: 55% of the 2,217 homeless households from Westminster were out of borough last year, up on the year before. The council has now also stated its intention to further cut costs by discharging homelessness duty into the private rented sector for 500 more households. London as a whole is the worst affected region in the country.There were 16.7 households per 1,000 in London living in temporary accommodation last year, compared with just 1.8 per 1,000 households in the rest of England. In the last full year to 2020, 19,727 of those homeless households were found out-of-area housing in London, which is 56.8%, while a quarter—25%—were not even in their sub-region and 2,559 were placed outside London. Even across the country as a whole, a quarter of homeless households are accommodated out of area, because councils cannot find suitable properties for them. This is not, of course, to denigrate the places where disproportionate numbers of homeless households end up—quite the reverse. It is to point out the manifest unfairness of requiring some of the poorest and most stressed boroughs to take an ever larger share of homeless households from other places, increasing pressure on their housing stock and other services. As we know, it also leads to the use of substandard properties thrown up under permitted development rules in places such as Harlow, Merton and Croydon. 551 Housing and Homelessness 8 MARCH 2021 Housing and Homelessness 552 (Local Accommodation Duty) (Local Accommodation Duty) [Ms Karen Buck] my family, but more importantly on my father. He effectively, overnight, lost his family and the people who helped and cared for However, most of all, this is about the impact on him on a daily basis. I find it sad and frustrating that the Council homeless people themselves. It is the tearing up of local are prepared to separate an old man from his family. For more than two years we have continued to travel back and forth every connections—not infrequently, lifelong—that are cast day from what should have been short term accommodation, in aside when they are most needed at a time of crisis. order to cook, clean and care for my father. However, this is Uprooted families and vulnerable adults are removed expensive, time consuming and taking a toll on our health, from friends and family,support networks and communities, marriage and on our children.” schools, work, and caring responsibilities that they Finally, there is a letter from a mental health worker themselves undertake. Parents are often desperate to about a family who were moved first to east London for keep their children in the same school to maintain what eight months and then to another flat in outer west little continuity they can in lives marked by disruption. London for two and a half years. The parents made the Forced mobility and upheaval have terrible outcomes choice not to move their children to another school for physical and mental health and educational achievement. because at the time three of them were taking their These are the stories of some of the families affected. exams. One child, I am told, started to lose her hair One constituent said: from anxiety when they became homeless. The youngest “My 6 year old, who has been through so much trauma from are extremely anxious and stressed; one has problems repeated changes…has to do a 4 hours a day bus journey back with eating and is having panic attacks. The mother has and forth to attend her current school. She often eats breakfast on had cognitive behavioural therapy in the past and tries the bus and does homework on the way back and most of the to give her children the tools to cope, but her own time she falls asleep”. mental health condition is deteriorating. Another said: As I have said, successive Ministers have stressed that “I have a child who attends a school in Westminster and who out-of-borough placements should be the exception has been through a tough few years as have we all as a family. Her rather than the rule. There have been landmark legal brother was diagnosed with a brain tumour and sadly passed cases, but nothing has changed. Temporary homeless away.My daughter has gone through and endured things I wouldn’t have wished for her to have faced at her age or any other child but accommodation is expensive and too large a share of we were still sent to a temporary property on the other side of the cost is put on councils—£189 million for London London. My housing officer advised there was ‘no other option councils alone. The truth is that councils are between a and I would advise you to accept as if you don’t you could be rock and a hard place. The shrinking stock of social taken off the housing register’. I told her I just wanted anything housing and social security cuts, from reductions in so I didn’t need to commute for 1.5 hours every morning and ever local housing allowance to the benefit cap, make it afternoon and that school was one of only consistent things that impossible to do what successive Ministers say should has kept my daughter happy & well. I was born in Westminster, happen, leaving cases to be tested against the law one by I’ve always been a resident and paid my dues and taxes and voted. I feel like I’ve been treated extremely unfairly and I feel sick to my one. All too often, the families affected are failed. It is stomach to the point I’ve been so stressed I’m not sleeping. I’ve no good offering platitudes in the full knowledge that been getting migraines, it’s just non-stop stress…and I feel like I the system is broken. Local connections must be maintained have no rights.” and councils enabled to meet those needs in line with Another said: Government commitments. “I am a 19 year old…who is registered blind and am going The Bill strengthens the protection that is now honoured through daily stress and anxiety. My case worker had said” increasingly in the breach and, in doing so, reduces the she is unable to find anywhere to live in Westminster harm being done to tens of thousands of the most vulnerable people in the country. “despite showing her all my records and how I have been living there all my life, knowing the area well and how to get around. They put me first up in North West London, but are now offering Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): Thank you, me” Karen. I do not know whether you know that you were east London, on audio link rather than video link, but we heard you loud and clear. I have been given no indication that “even further than where I am now. I am completely unfamiliar anybody intends to oppose the 10-minute rule Bill and I with the area. I’m very frightened from places I’m unfamiliar with as I can’t get around... The council told me if I do not accept it see nobody rising, so I intend to put the Question. they will end my contract for where I am now.” Question put and agreed to. Another said: Ordered, “I have lived, studied and worked in Westminster all my life. I That Ms Karen Buck, Robert Halfon, Bob Blackman, lived with my elderly father and looked after him, but we were too Fleur Anderson, Ms Lyn Brown, Siobhain McDonagh, overcrowded. Thankfully, after being classified as statutorily Dawn Butler, Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Feryal Clark overcrowded, the council accepted my family as being effectively and Dame Margaret Hodge present the Bill. homeless. However, notwithstanding our pleading and objections, we were moved away from my elderly father and placed in Ms Karen Buck accordingly presented the Bill. temporary accommodation in east London. I cannot begin to Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time describe the negative impact this has had on myself, my wife and tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 266). 553 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 554 Situation In Germany,the arts have been described as Lebensmittel Ways and Means —that which sustains life. Our museums, our theatres and our artistic and creative life are not frivolous add-ons; Budget Resolutions and Economic they are essential to our economy and to our national Situation sense of wellbeing, so we stepped up to the plate and protected them. Weunveiled the biggest single intervention in the arts in the history of the United Kingdom: the INCOME TAX (CHARGE) culture recovery fund, an unprecedented £1.75 billion Debate resumed (Order, 4 March). safety net that protected theatres, cinemas, museums, galleries and live performance venues across the country. Question again proposed, It has supported every thread of our rich cultural tapestry, That income tax is charged for the tax year 2021-22. from national Crown jewels such as the Royal Albert And it is declared that it is expedient in the public interest that Hall to regional gems such as the Wolverhampton this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions Grand and Norwich theatre, and through that fund we of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968. have given £170 million to music, £21 million to independent cinemas, £60 million to museums, and £180 million to Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): Before I call theatres. Surely we can finally put to bed the old lie that Secretary Oliver Dowden, I would just like to indicate the Conservative party does not care about the arts. to those participating remotely that there is a clock on After protecting arts and culture through a long covid whichever device you are using to transmit. Please winter, we are now preparing them for the spring and could you abide by that, because the time limit of three summer of reopening, with another £390 million in this minutes will be introduced from the beginning of Back- Budget to help museums, galleries and theatres open Bench contributions? If you cannot see the clock, please their doors when restrictions finally ease. have another device handy.For those who are participating in the Chamber, the usual monitors will be used for Likewise, the Budget extends our hugely successful timing. film and TV restart scheme, which during the pandemic has supported more than 200 productions up and down the United Kingdom. It has kept cameras rolling on 5.28 pm movies such as “Mothering Sunday”and shows including The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and “Grantchester”and “Peaky Blinders”. Most importantly, Sport (Oliver Dowden): This Budget represents a turning it has protected more than 24,000 jobs and £800 million- point in our fight against coronavirus. It is almost a worth of production spend here in the United Kingdom. year to the day since the Prime Minister, in a televised As a result, studios including Pinewood are currently address to the nation, took one of the most dramatic steps running at full capacity. In fact, the British film industry of any peacetime Government in history and imposed a just celebrated one of its most productive quarters on national lockdown. From that moment on, we were facing record. I hope that Members on both sides of the twin crises: not just a public health emergency, but an House will applaud the Chancellor’s decision to extend economic emergency too. The Government promised to the scheme. do whatever it took to see the British people and British Members on both sides of the House should also businesses through the crisis, and we did. A year on, applaud our decision to make another £300 million thanks to one of the most comprehensive and generous available to sports clubs as fans begin returning to Government support packages in the world, we are now stadiums, and a new fund that gives local communities in a position to begin rebuilding our economy. This the power to take ownership of their local sports clubs. Budget lays the first bricks in that process. It offers These clubs are not just businesses; many, particularly businesses protection to get through the next few months, smaller clubs, are the hubs of their communities, bringing but, with the road map as a guide, it also sets them on a life to villages, towns and cities across the country. The course to stand on their own two feet once the country Budget will help to ensure that they are still standing reopens, and, most importantly, it puts us in a position when the pandemic is over, ready and waiting to have to build back better from the pandemic, leaving us a their seats filled once more with spectators. country that is stronger, safer and greener than the one However, support to DCMS sectors is only one small upended by the coronavirus. part of the unprecedented offer of support by the In a debate about supporting businesses during covid, Government during the crisis. Together, the safety net it is worth taking stock of just how much was at stake we have placed under the British people totals £407 billion when coronavirus brought our country to a standstill —more than the GDP of Sweden—and the Budget last March. On the day that national lockdown was builds on that support, adding extra security for businesses imposed, all non-essential shops were forced to close to make it through to the end of the road map and back their doors, alongside pubs, restaurants, museums, galleries, into normality. We have also extended the furlough gyms, theatres and cinemas. In the space of a few short scheme, which has already supported 11.2 million jobs hours, millions of business owners across the country across the United Kingdom; to be clear, more than had their income wiped out. Their livelihoods were 11 million people and families have been given the hanging in the balance, and nowhere was that more stability and security of money coming in the door and apparent than at DCMS. Arts, culture and tourism being able to put food on the table for their children. thrive on the walls of human interaction. Theatres, These are not just statistics; they are real people who cinemas, live performance venues, museums and galleries have been able to get through the last 12 months thanks simply cannot exist without an audience or visitors; to the furlough scheme. We have also extended support with lights switched off, seats empty and stages bare, for the self-employed to include an additional 600,000 people genuinely worried that a century’s worth of freelancers, making this one of the most generous culture and heritage was at risk. programmes for self-employed people in the world. 555 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 556 Situation Situation [Oliver Dowden] At the same time, we are cementing our position as the tech powerhouse of Europe. We have unveiled a new While we continue to support the British people visa to attract the most exciting and talented tech brains through the final stage of this crisis, we have also in the world, alongside a new, improved visa process for announced measures that will put businesses across the scale-ups, entrepreneurs and disrupters. We have also country on the footing to stand on their own once more. launched a £375 million future tech fund. That is a They will no longer have to subsist day to day off the breakthrough scheme for groundbreaking tech businesses. state; instead, we will put them in a position to thrive on We have a plan to unlock billions from pension funds their own. We have therefore extended the VAT cut and and funnel that money into new innovative ventures. the business rates holiday, we are offering new recovery We also have ideas for a new listing regime that will loans, and we are offering new restart grants to help make it easier for companies to raise money and list businesses of all shapes and sizes get going again. their businesses here in the United Kingdom, not on If last year’s package was a package of support—the other markets. Some of the most successful and innovative vaccine against economic ruin—this Budget is the booster businesses in the world have therefore chosen to make shot. These measures allow us to put covid in the the UK their long-term home, as Deliveroo did just last rear-view mirror and start looking forward to a brighter week when it announced that it would be listing in future. London. This Budget paves the way for the next generation of tech entrepreneurs and disrupters to join them here Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) (Con): As in the United Kingdom. chair of the all-party parliamentary group on hospitality Of course, the other great future-facing industry and and tourism, may I place on the record my thanks to the powerhouse of DCMS and, indeed, the wider economy Government for the incredible support that they have is the creative industries. We are genuinely a creative given the sector to help it reopen? There is no doubt industries superpower. Our fashion and design businesses, that the Government have done their bit. Does my right those in film and TV,video games, architecture, advertising, hon. Friend agree that what we now need, as soon as it publishing and beyond lead the world in every sector. is safe, is for the British people to do their bit—to take They are a source of pride at home and envy abroad, holidays in the UK, to go back to our pubs and restaurants, and they now drive our economy. Film and TV alone to go back to our theatres and cinemas, and to get our are today worth more than the UK’s car industry. The economy rolling? sectors are not discrete—they are businesses that feed Oliver Dowden: I of course agree with my hon. Friend. off one another and into this country’s wider, vibrant Indeed, I very much look forward to visiting Cornwall creative ecosystem. again myself. I spent many happy childhood summers When a UK business, for example, in the video games on Crantock beach and have taken my own children industry, designs a new game, they do not just support there. That sits alongside other support we have provided the video games industry. They boost tech, our artists for Cornwall and, indeed, my hon. Friend’s constituency, and designers, the musicians who compose the game’s including, for example, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, soundtrack and the animators who bring the characters which has had more than £600,000-worth of support. to life. The furlough scheme, business grants and support Under the culture recovery fund, a total of more for the self-employed have been a lifeline to all those than £1 million has been provided to his constituency businesses, which will continue to benefit from the alone. schemes, as well as from the Budget’s new apprenticeship Seven decades ago, when we were rebuilding from the offer. rubble of the second world war, we looked to heavy Those businesses have also benefited from our industry—to coal and steel production—to power our unprecedented, multi-billion-pound investment in the recovery, but today our economy will be rebuilt on the cultural and creative industries. That investment was back of cleaner, greener industries, and tech has the made with our hearts, but also our heads. Cultural and power to turbocharge all those other technologies. Science creative businesses are vital to our economy, as they are and tech now underpins our entire economy. Millions vital to our national identity and, indeed, our very way of businesses rely on the UK’s broadband networks to of life. They will play a key role as we look to the trade, to connect with customers and to advertise their country’s long-term recovery and renewal. goods, and in the year of pandemic, Zoom and Teams That recovery and renewal will also centre on the have temporarily replaced office spaces all over the rehabilitation of the tourism industry, which, with planes world. grounded and airports closed, has been particularly In building back better, tech will be at the heart of hard hit by covid. Tourism is a major enabler in this our recovery. We have set 10 clear tech priorities for this country, supporting around 230,000 businesses in every Government in the coming years—we will be setting part of our United Kingdom. Through the pandemic, those out later this week—but we also included a number including in the Budget, we have provided extensive of measures in this Budget to make the most of the support to those businesses, including through the cut digital revolution. in VAT. Our new levelling-up fund will invest in tourism During this pandemic, millions of businesses were infrastructure across the entire Union. forced to move their operations online—to pivot to In spring, with my hon. Friend the Minister for Sport, deliveries and to click and collect. This time it was a Tourism and Heritage, we will go even further, publishing necessity, but we want to turn that into a long-term a comprehensive tourism recovery plan that sets out an opportunity for British businesses. That is why we are ambitious vision for the sector to bounce back from the launching a new UK-wide Help to Grow scheme to pandemic and drive that new era of growth. At that help 100,000 small and medium-sized businesses to get point, Britain will start reopening for business. Shops online or expand their digital businesses. will be pulling up their shutters, people will be returning 557 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 558 Situation Situation to pubs and restaurants or working out in gyms and is the same. It is the question at the heart of all economics— leisure centres. Day trips and mini-breaks will be back who has what and is it fair, and what will this Budget do on and eventually, overseas tourists will begin pouring to change the prospects for the people of the United back into our great country. Kingdom? Every time the Chancellor gets to the Dispatch Wewant a decade of great British summers, culminating, Box, that question is the same. So when I look back we hope, with the football World cup back here in the over those 13 Budgets that I have seen, I think, “What United Kingdom in 2030. Much sooner—indeed, next have the Tories done to make our country fairer?” They year—that feeling of national recovery and renewal will removed regional development agencies and slashed find its outlet in three unifying show-stopper events: the local authority funding, and now they complain that Commonwealth games, Festival UK* 2022 and the the economy is unbalanced. They ran down social security platinum jubilee, when the nation will come together to only to realise that when people with higher incomes give thanks to Her Majesty the Queen for seven decades needed it at the last minute, they had brought it to of unwavering public service. breaking point. They wasted years spending money on a costly reorganisation of our health service that they After such a difficult time for all of us, those events now say they want to reverse. Child poverty is high and represent a much-longed-for return to normality: the rising. Food bank use is through the roof and we are return of packed stadiums, packed theatres and streets staring down the barrel of an unemployment crisis. full of people celebrating. They are not just an opportunity Economically, it has been a decade of misrule and now for us to come together and remember what unites us. this Budget is on top of all that. Despite all that the They are milestone moments, alongside the rugby league Secretary of State says, I suspect that in the long term it world cup, Coventry city of culture, the centenary of will be neither use nor ornament at this time of economic the BBC and the 75th anniversary of the Edinburgh festival. peril, because this is a diabolical record, and I regret They will help drive our economic and social recovery very much the choices that the Conservative party has from the pandemic. They will reboot our tourism industry, made over the past decade. There is only one thing I demonstrating that our doors are wide open. They will regret more than its choices, and that is the failure of bolster our creative industries, with tens of millions of my party so far to replace it. pounds being invested in our arts and creators from every nation of the UK, and they will showcase our I have said that the economic questions remain the remarkable and wonderful country to the rest of the same year after year, but the economy moves on and, world. therefore, so must the answers. To make our economy Of course, we are not there yet. Coronavirus has and our country fairer, we need to understand the shaken our economic foundations like no other peacetime situation that we face. It is dire, as a result of both the crisis in our history. I know that businesses up and pandemic and the pre-existing flaws arising from a down the country continue to face many challenges as a decade of Conservative Government. Unemployment result of the pandemic. The road map back to full for young people has increased by 13% and 1.7 million economic health is rightly cautious, but it is one-way. As people are currently unemployed, and the Bank of normality gradually returns, we have so much to look England predicts that this will continue to rise throughout forward to as a country and so many opportunities to this year. The Office for Budget Responsibility has revive our businesses and our economy. warned that the scarring effect of the virus a year from now will be that the pandemic lowers output in the This Budget allows us to make the most of those medium term by 3% relative to its pre-pandemic path, opportunities. We protected businesses when they could and that is after the existing problems created by our not trade as usual or at all. Now we are putting them in exit from the European Union. This is the backdrop to a position where they can finally unroll their awnings my 13th Budget and the Secretary of State’s seventh—a again and declare Britain back open for business. I lost decade of growth, with us now facing economic commend the Budget to the House. challenges that surpass even the crisis of a decade ago. So what do the Government do? Well, finally, we have 5.44 pm long overdue confirmation of the extension to furlough Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab): I draw the and vital business support, yet there is still a planned attention of the House to my entry in the Register of cut to universal credit, just at the very time that Members’ Financial Interests. We just heard from the unemployment is predicted to spike. Also, less spoken Secretary of State how very well the Government have done of are the £14 billion cuts planned to public services for through this crisis, and he said how much we could look the rest of the Parliament and a 4% hit to our economy, forward to the Government—to the Tories—uniting the as I said, due to our exit from the European Union. country in times ahead. To use an old-fashioned northern That is before we get to the things that they appear to expression, “I’ve heard ducks quack before”. The Secretary have forgotten, including that missing pay rise for our of State joined this House in 2015, so while I think I am nurses and cleaners in the NHS and the long-term plan right in saying that he is two years older than me, I have for social care that the Chancellor remembered the day been around this Budget roundabout 13 times to his after. There was really very little help on the employment seven. That is nothing that I am proud of—I have spent front either. As we know, just 2,000 young people have my time in opposition and he has not—but, that said, started their kickstart apprenticeship, when the Tories he did work for David Cameron during 2012, so I am promised us 120,000. sure that he has experience enough to know the golden Businesses in the UK have been challenged over the rule of Budgets: never tax anyone’s pasties. past 12 months in unimaginable ways, from total shutdown Despite the exceptional context that the Secretary of to recreating themselves overnight. UK business State talks of, despite the many Budgets that he and I organisations, along with those in our social economy, have heard in this House, the question at every Budget have by and large proved themselves to be brilliantly 559 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 560 Situation Situation [Alison McGovern] taken to ensure that billions of pounds are not handed over to global logistics companies whose profits have creative and dynamic as well as having a keen interest in already soared during the pandemic? Whether it is the the public health imperative that we have all had to culture recovery fund or this tax relief, there seems to be focus on. This Budget does far too little to support a pattern: the Tories handing cash to the already lucrative. those businesses that really need it and too little to plan Worse still, what if some of the most important for the future. If a Government did get the framework structural changes needed in our economy, which this right, the innovation and creativity of UK businesses Budget should be an opportunity to address, cannot be would be able to thrive. sorted out by these sorts of tax incentive? In fact, on This poor lack of innovation is exemplified nowhere International Women’s Day, could somebody explain to more clearly than in our brilliant creative industries. In me how this tax cut for plant and machinery will this Budget, the Government have fallen well short of unleash all women’s entrepreneurship? How does focusing creating an environment for growth for creative and on tax breaks for big firms solve the underlying structural culturalbusinesses,whichaltogethercontributed£225billion issue of poor childcare, which is one of the biggest to the UK in 2018, accounting for 12% of the economy. drags on the well-documented productivity problem in It is the part of the economy for which the Secretary of the UK? I worry that the Help to Grow scheme will be State is supposed to be responsible. The culture recovery about as successful as kickstart and restart have been in fund, which he trumpets, saves buildings, but it does not reality. do enough to save jobs and support the growth that is It is not just that. The Government seem to be needed in creative industries across the whole country. missing the point of the pandemic entirely: that a strong The Secretary of State gave the game away when he said economy requires a healthy workforce. The Secretary of that the fund is there to protect the “Crown jewels”. State seems not to realise that we need a comprehensive There is no need for me to add to the extensive commentary plan for public wellbeing. That means supporting public on the royal family today.However,the Secretary of State’s services properly and giving every person in the UK a comments reveal an obsession with that which we have chance to improve their quality of life. inherited, rather than the demonstrable opportunities We know that a healthy population is an important in the next generation. input to a strong economy. Labour councils are already The adjustments made to the self-employment income leading the way, with Coventry City Council giving support scheme were not good enough either. Bringing residents free and discounted access to cultural and newer entrants to the industry into the scheme was leisure facilities. The council specifically argued that it welcome, but analysis by the Musicians’ Union suggests was vital for women’s participation, and particularly for that around 23% of its members are still left out in the those from lower-income backgrounds.In the local elections, cold. I understand from Prospect trade union that, councillors are putting health and wellbeing right at the while the fifth round of the scheme may run from May centre of their manifestos. For example, the Labour to September, it only provides three months’ worth of party in Lancashire launched a manifesto that includes support, which means that the effect is identical to the free swimming for residents over the age of 50 and under scheme running out at the end of July. This will affect the age of 16. Given all that we have been through, many industries, but it is particularly acute in the creative Labour in Lancashire is putting health and wellbeing at industries, in which it may take until much later in the the heart of future economic prospects. To make our year for normal work patterns to resume and in which economy work well, we need DCMS to focus on a big, two thirds of people are self-employed. bold plan for national wellbeing, which is something This is all a mistake because the creative industries that the Government have either forgotten or just do deserve to be taken seriously. In growth terms, as we not understand. said the day before the Budget, the creative industries Something else that has been forgotten is the fact that were up 7.5% in 2018 on the previous year, meaning our economy is inextricably linked to the global economy. that growth in the sector is five times larger than growth Not only have our financial services led the world, in the UK economy as a whole. That is a huge amount for good or ill, but so have our music, fashion, art and of potential that the Government simply have not met. publishing industries. Creative industries exported Instead, they decided to spend £25 billion of taxpayers’ £36 billion worldwide in 2018 because they are part of money on a tax incentive for businesses to invest in the modern services economy that the UK brings to the plant and machinery. It is pretty obvious that many of world. When pandemics hit, our open economy is going our newer businesses simply will not be helped by that. to be affected long after everyone is vaccinated at home, It is no bad thing at all to invest, but we are facing an which is why, if we really want to rescue our economy, unemployment crisis, and many small businesses are we need a much better plan than cutting aid to some of struggling to stay afloat. I think it is fair to ask the the world’s most vulnerable people. Government whether this tax cut will really get the It gets worse. In addition to the year of hell that the money where it needs to be. How they will ensure that pandemic has been for many businesses is the underlying money is not spent on investments that were already cause of the disruption and damage to our economy planned? that will last long after the pandemic: our exit from the If the Government do finally agree on a fundamental European Union. As I said before, our country may be change to our tax system, undoing much of the direction an island economy, but it is also an integral part of the of travel of previous Chancellors—and has anyone checked continent of Europe. The project of those on the hard if George Osborne is okay?—where is the proper review right and the far right—to blame European politicians that is needed? There appears to be a view across the for every ill that this country has ever faced, just as the House that the losses and gains from the pandemic have Prime Minister did for years in his Telegraph column, been hugely unequal, so what steps have the Government with little connection to reality—is having a real impact 561 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 562 Situation Situation on our economy across the board. Organisations such as the economists would say—is wrong, and it will be as the Federation of Small Businesses highlight its impact the priority of Labour Governments to undo it, alongside on small firms, whose profits are being wiped out as a the many other aspects of this Government’s economic result of post-Brexit costs. policy, which, after a lost decade of growth, is nowhere The creative industries about which the Secretary of near up to setting our country on the right path. The State and I have spoken have been hit hugely by Brexit, winners from this Budget will be those who are already as well as by covid. The Government show no show sign comfortable enough. The losers will be the small businesses at all that they will fix the problems. Those in the fashion whose prospects have been shut down temporarily by industry warn that restructuring is necessary due to the the pandemic or permanently by Brexit, the children industry’s European and global supply chains and the struggling after a decade of disaster for family benefits, disruption that our leaving the EU has caused, but where and every woman, man and child whose ambitions are is the help? Musicians and performers are unable to not well served by a Tory Chancellor more interested in tour freely in Europe—a vital stepping-stone for many his own. emerging artists and a key part of a crucial industry. All that because the many are having to pay the price for 6.1 pm the ideological obsession of the few. Karen Bradley (Staffordshire Moorlands) (Con): I am As the journalist Rafael Behr wrote recently, Brexit delighted, as a woman on the Conservative Benches, to has been turned into a “perpetual grievance” machine. be joining this debate. As I have only three minutes, I Let me give an example. The Secretary of State got am unable to go through the many things in the Budget himself into hot water by asking the fashion roundtable that I think are wonderful. It is a great Budget and there to use its star quality to influence our European partners— are many things to praise in it. The numbers that have whom the Conservative party has so successfully hacked been quoted by the Secretary of State for Digital, off. Was that an honest acknowledgment that there just Culture, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the is not anyone in his Department who has star quality of Member for Hertsmere (Oliver Dowden) are frankly their own? Or was it, on this International Women’s eye-watering in terms of Government spending, but in Day, an admission that the Tories see the fashion and the midst of those big numbers there are some losers creative industry not as a serious, leading industry that and some areas of our economy that need focus. I puts clothes on the backs of millions around the world would like to spend my three minutes—two and a half, but rather as a flighty and insubstantial part of our as it is now—focusing on them. economy in which women are too busy doing the stitching First, the self-employed who are employed through a to be consulted about the future of our economy? Is limited company have not had any support at all. I that how the Tories see us? cannot be the only Member in this House who has It is not lost on me that here we are, on International constant emails from such constituents asking for support. Women’sDay,debating the Budget—the money in people’s I am not saying that this is easy, but perhaps the pockets and whether our kids have a decent life or not— Treasury could see whether there is a way to help the and many of the speakers are men, as is often the case in self-employed. Many of those who are self-employed this House. Who can say why that is? I can certainly tell through limited companies are in the creative industries, the Secretary of State that I am not the only woman in and it would be great if we could find some way of the country who is a little bit fed up of the Prime helping them. Minister’s male-dominated Cabinet. We are fed up with The wedding sector has also been particularly hard the Chancellor of the Exchequer who, in his Budget, hit. Wedding venues are too large to qualify for business forgot to mention social care, in which thousands of rates relief. They have no turnover, so the VAT reductions women work. The Budget also does little or nothing for do not help them, and they do not serve food, so eat out the creative industries, in which thousands of women to help out could not help them. I know that support also work and which the Secretary of State dismissed in has been given to the wedding industry, but these venues such pathetic terms. want to get back open and to hold weddings. They can The women of this country are not very enamoured do that in a covid-safe way, and they were doing so of the Prime Minister, but that was true long before this before this lockdown. I ask the Government to bring Budget. We do not want his patronising arms around forward support for that sector. the nation. We want work that pays as much as men’s, I also want to touch on pubs, and I declare my we want to share the care of our children and older interest in that my family run pubs and it is the industry people so that we can have the same status as men at in which I grew up. While great support has been given, work, and we want people to listen when we speak. And wet pubs in particular have suffered. Support such as before anyone says anything, yes I know that the Tory eat out to help out has been available, as well as the VAT party has had two women Prime Ministers while the reduction to 5%, which is very welcome and I am pleased Labour party has had none, to which I would say yes, that it has been extended—as is Alton Towers, one of that is a serious criticism and it should be taken seriously. the biggest employers in my constituency. However, if a That is why Labour women will keep fighting, forever pub does not sell food, it does not qualify for the and a day, for women to be elected to the highest offices 5% reduction. Would the Government consider finding of state, not in order to get one woman on a pedestal but some way to help those wet pubs? They will be reopening to achieve for all women the systematic undoing of the just as the football season comes to an end and will assumptions and strictures that make us less than we are. therefore not have the benefit of people coming in to In the context of this debate, the assumption consistently watch the football, and they do not serve food and revealed by the Tories is that the work women do, from therefore cannot benefit from many of the Government’s care to creativity and culture, is worth less than the incentive schemes. Just a suggestion: maybe there could work men do. That assumption—that revealed preference, be a way to allow those businesses to continue furloughing 563 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 564 Situation Situation [Karen Bradley] of the least well-off. Governments all over the world have increased their support for their economies throughout staff but let the staff come back in to work to help them this crisis, many with interventions that are proportionately to reopen. There are great costs involved in reopening far larger than we have seen from the UK Government. that they need to think about. Having rightly carried the economy this far, it would My final point is about getting people back into town make no sense for the Chancellor to drop that commitment centres and spending money in the hospitality businesses. now. It is a real disappointment that he is not doing We need a whole-of-Government effort to ensure that more to do “whatever it takes” and provide the 5% of not just the great events that my right hon. Friend GDP stimulus that the Scottish National party has mentioned but local events are held. I spoke to the called for repeatedly. leader of my district council today, and we are looking There are of course things that can be welcomed. We to see what we can do because we want those businesses certainly welcome the excellent progress being made on to be able to stand on their own two feet, as the vaccinations and on reducing infection levels of the Secretary of State said. virus, which gives us ever more hope that when restrictions start to be lifted they might be able to stay lifted. We can 6.4 pm also welcome the extension of the furlough and the Richard Thomson (Gordon) (SNP) [V]: Let me join self-employment income support scheme. Obviously, other Members in marking today as International Women’s the furlough is not without its cost to employers, and Day. It is certainly a day for us to reflect on the together with the SEISS it still fails to reach too many contribution of women, and on how we ensure that people, but both have been lifelines for those they everyone is able to make their fullest possible contribution benefit. To help fill in some of those gaps, the Scottish and how we advance the cause of equality. It is also Government have provided nearly £30 million for newly important for law makers to be considering the impact self-employed people to mitigate the financial challenges of the choices that are made all year round. With last for those who have been unable to access the UK week’s Budget, it is particularly important to ensure Government’s SEISS. It is past time for the Chancellor that the decisions as far as possible enhance equality to recognise the shortcomings of his support mechanisms, and opportunity rather than diminish them. understand those they have left behind, recognise the hurt caused and undertake to do “whatever it takes” Siren voices have been calling for action to be taken from this point onwards to support those people who on the deficit that has resulted from the economic have been left behind. responses to covid, by which they inevitably mean the Government taking steps to cut public spending. Although everyone recognises that those schemes Unfortunately,the Chancellor shows every sign of wishing cannot continue forever,the threat to end both in September to heed that. The only comparable economic event to is not at all helpful for those who are trying to plan how the covid crisis in its impact on national debt was world to trade out of their present difficulties. The repeated war two. Most of us would find it hard to imagine the short-term extensions that we have seen over the past political voices that prevailed after world war two saying 12 months are obviously better than the alternative of that a national health service was unaffordable, that not extending. However, it creates an image not so public services were unaffordable or that it simply was much of a Chancellor carefully planning a route back not feasible for the Government to play a leading role in to recovery,but almost of a Wallace and Gromit Chancellor, rebuilding housing and industry. desperately laying the rails in front of the train just The important figure, of course, is not the debt in before it runs out of track. itself, but the debt as a share of gross domestic product. Ahead of the Budget the British Chambers of Commerce Economic demand will return as vaccinations start to warned that a quarter of British businesses would fire take effect and more of life can begin to return to staff immediately if the Chancellor failed to extend the normal. If the Government continue to support that scheme.The Institute for Fiscal Studies urged the Chancellor economic demand, the economy will return to trend to recognise and address the multiple inequalities growth and overall government debt will begin to shrink exacerbated by the crisis, saying that emergency support proportionately, exactly as it did after world war two. should be extended and that the furlough scheme However, if the brakes are to be put on spending in the “should not be cut completely in one go.” future, demand will assuredly fall and people will have less money to spend and growth in employment will be Placing a full stop date on furlough, rather than having stifled. Inevitably, the impact will then fall most heavily an open-ended promise of continuing it until it is no on all those who have least, such as families that have longer needed, risks pushing businesses to lay off their one or more adult out of work and in receipt of benefits. workers while they are still in recovery. The resulting There are many actions, both big and small, that the loss of skills and experience can only hinder the recovery Chancellor could have chosen to take in this Budget of individual businesses and the economy, so we urge which could help or hinder the recovery, but one of the the Chancellor to reconsider the date. No business is or most significant choices would have been to make will be furloughing staff unnecessarily, and a Chancellor permanent the £20 uplift in universal credit. It is no truly committed to doing “whatever it takes” would exaggeration to say that for many families that £20 has surely agree to maintain both schemes for so long as is made the difference between bills being paid or not, and required while restrictions remain in place. food being on the table or not. It is a comparatively Turning to the tourism and hospital sector, the best modest financial commitment, but one whose impact way to help it right now would be to allow it to trade for the good has far outweighed the resources it has out of its difficulties by getting money across the counter required. Extending it for six months falls well short of just as soon as it is safe once again to do so. The VAT doing “whatever it takes” to ensure the financial security reduction will be crucial. My party welcomed the VAT 565 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 566 Situation Situation reduction to 5% for the sector, but to stop that on provider, but the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick 30 September will not be helpful. It should continue for maker as well. The recovery from the pandemic will not the full year. begin when covid recedes, as businesses will simply Business rates relief will also be crucial and has been move on to dealing with the Brexit crisis. We need to a lifeline for leisure, retail and hospitality businesses, offer wide-ranging support for businesses in this regard. helping them to strip out fixed costs and stay alive. It is Instead of offering loans, it would be better to convert a matter of regret that the Chancellor has not committed loans to grants. the same level of resource as the Scottish Government, In conclusion, let me just make this observation: who have announced a £1 billion package that not only through the Barnett formula, Scotland is still dependent cuts the poundage rate, but offers 100% relief not just on problems being felt and choices being made in until June, but for the next 12 months for retail, tourism, Whitehall in order to release the resources that we hospitality, newspapers and the vital aviation sector. would wish to have in order to act in all the ways that we As a Member of Parliament representing the north-east need. Scotland desperately needs borrowing powers, of Scotland, I am only too aware of the importance of but as the UK Government take back control from the the energy economy and the criticality of ensuring a Scottish Parliament, they are also taking away resource just transition to net zero. While I acknowledge the and with it any reason for many to support the current £27 million that has been announced for the energy constitutional and fiscal settlement. I am certain that transition zone in Aberdeen, it still falls well short of that will not go unnoticed as we approach May’s election the wider £62 million transition fund committed last in Scotland. year by the Scottish Government. 6.15 pm Listening to the Scottish Tories would lead someone to think that the levelling-up fund will leave not a single George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): It is a pleasure pothole unfilled, not a bridge unrepaired and not a both to follow the hon. Member for Gordon (Richard project unfunded in north-east Scotland. Instead, now Thomson) and to be back in this Chamber to support that the detail has been revealed, we see that Aberdeenshire the Chancellor on this Budget for recovery and renewal. has been placed in the lowest category and Aberdeen In particular, I support his commitment to continue the city in the second tier. We are essentially being left unprecedented level of support: the extension of furlough empty handed, and it is hard to avoid the conclusion relief, which will have given huge reassurance to many that the UK Government are so far falling far short of families around the country—£280 billion already spent the necessary response to help secure the economic on covid relief in the past 11 months; his help for the future of north-east Scotland. We can only hope that self-employed; his extraordinary commitment to freeports there is better news to come in the sector deal that we todrivetransformationalgrowth,investmentandinnovation have been promised in the first quarter. in some of the most left-behind communities; his support As I have said, there is also essentially nothing for the for business-led investment, which is the key to growth 3 million who have been excluded. If she has spent years and job creation; and, in particular, his support for of practice and study in pursuit of her dream to perform, green growth to drive a sustainable economic recovery. Fatima’s next job should not have to be in cyber. She I do not know about you, Mr Deputy Speaker, but should have a fighting chance to get her next job in the after a Budget, I look for a judgment not from the area that she has worked so hard to be in. Our arts and Opposition Front Bench but from the business community cultural sector would be vital to our sense of who we of this country as they are the people who drive the are even without its economic contribution, but this is investment that creates prosperity. This Budget has not just about the performer we see and admire, because been welcomed by the CBI, the FSB, the Institute of there are so many other parts of the pyramid that helps Directors and all the key trade bodies, which speaks to put that performer on the stage. Those people have volumes for the confidence of boardrooms in this country been left behind without the ability to earn. If we in this Chancellor and in this Budget. impoverish them, we impoverish us all. As former Minister for life science, agri-tech and There has also been no additional funding to support transport technology, I can say that the Chancellor is musicians and touring artists who have suffered the absolutely right to back the businesses of tomorrow—the double whammy of coronavirus and an end to visa-free highest growth sectors, which produce not just the odd touring in Europe and no provision for live events single digit growth in jobs, employment and prosperity, insurance, without which the industry will be reliant on but double digit and, in some cases, triple digit growth. support for much longer than necessary. The Scottish Those new sectors of the economy are the best for Government have stepped in with funds for the performing getting us out of debt and releasing a generation from arts venue relief, for cultural organisations and the venues what could otherwise be a decade of decline after this recovery fund, which has supported theatres and other covid disaster. performing arts venues across Scotland. That provision Let us be in no doubt about the scale of the economic is supporting grassroots music venues and providing a disaster of covid as well as the healthcare impact. A stabilisation fund, furlough top-up payments and one-off total of £280 billion has been spent in 11 months, which grants for nightclubs and soft play centres. The UK is an unprecedented level of debt in peacetime. This is Government can and should follow suit. Interventions also the biggest recession that we have experienced in have also been made in tourism and hospitality with no peacetime. This is a trauma on the public finances on a UK equivalent: in the wedding industry fund, the bed- scale we have literally never seen in this country, and it and-breakfast hardship fund, the tour operators’ fund, takes us back to a debt-to-GDP ratio that has not been and the events industry support fund. These tourism and seen since 1760. This is an extraordinary moment. It is hospitality businesses have lengthy supply chains, reaching even worse than the economic legacy that we inherited all parts of the economy.It is not just the accommodation in 2010. 567 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 568 Situation Situation [George Freeman] Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): That is what I like, a timer. Well done, Tony. How will we avoid a decade of decline and the next generation paying for it? The Chancellor is right about two things. First, we have to reassure the markets that 6.22 pm we are the party still committed to returning our public Philip Dunne (Ludlow) (Con): It is a pleasure to finances to a sensible and balanced state. Let us not follow the hon. Member for Rochdale (Tony Lloyd). forget that a 1% rise in interest rates, if markets lost I would like to make three brief points in this important confidence in us, would lead to an extra £25 billion a debate on the Chancellor’s Budget statement. First, I year in interest payments. The Chancellor has taken applaud the priority to help to protect jobs and support some tough decisions and he is right to have done so, businesses as we emerge cautiously from the restrictions but, crucially,it is growth that we need and that commitment imposed to combat the covid pandemic. I therefore to those new sectors. Nine years ago, we set out an welcome the extension of the furlough scheme to September industrial strategy for life sciences, which has paid dividends and the increased support for the self-employed, in this year in our ability to deliver a vaccine more quickly particular those who started a new business during the than anywhere else in the world, and if we do the same year before covid struck. I am grateful to my right hon now in bioeconomy, artificial intelligence and robotics, Friend the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media we can do the same again, and the Chancellor has laid and Sport, who opened the debate, for the work he has the foundations for a decade of growth. done to secure survival funding for the sports, arts, culture and heritage sectors. These groups have been a lifeline 6.19 pm for cultural venues like the Ludlow Assembly Rooms Tony Lloyd (Rochdale) (Lab): Let me begin by agreeing and the Majestic cinema in Bridgnorth in my constituency, with my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral South with major support going to the Ironbridge Gorge Museum (Alison McGovern) that the measure of a Budget is not Trust, to ensure that these will all soon be able to reopen. the Pollyanna-ish speeches of the Culture Secretary but The continued business rates holiday and the VAT cut for the slow peeling away of the unpleasant and unfair hospitality and tourism businesses will also be a huge political choices that the Chancellor made last week. I help in south Shropshire when they are able to reopen. lay on a ventilator while medical and non-medical staff Secondly, I welcome the green finance measures, were saving my life, as they did the Prime Minister’s, extending the Bank of England’s remit to reflect the and I did not come out of hospital to clap those NHS transition to net zero Britain, which the Environmental workers and then say to them, “But you will have a Audit Committee had specifically called for. The real-terms pay cut.” It would have been hypocritical of confirmation of the £15 billion green gilts issuance, me to do that, as it would for anyone else. the launch of environmental retail savings products and One of the crises we face in this country is the crisis in the review of carbon offset market trading will all help social care. We know that the sector is dominated by to cement the City of London’s leadership in green low-paid women workers—indeed, far too low-paid. finance. The City and its regulators should lead the way We have to do something about that, yet we saw nothing in developing global standards of taxonomy to monitor in the Budget to relieve those problems. and rate company performance and investment products Rochdale is a town in a borough that has seen and portfolios, as part of our contribution in hosting £170 million taken away by successive Conservative both the G7 and COP26 this year. Governments since 2010. Wehave very high unemployment The Budget had some encouraging pointers to help among our young people—probably 50% higher than in the UK to meet its environmental obligations. The the country as a whole—and 17,000 universal credit major boost to business investment through the super claimants. With that kind of background, it makes no deduction capital allowance will help business to invest sense to say that universal credit will be cut by £20. That in newer, cleaner technology. It was also good to see the will take £17 million a year out of the Rochdale economy, £12 billion investment in the new UK infrastructure and stopping furlough in September will do equal damage. bank, with a remit to help to drive green growth and If this is a jobs-first Budget, what about the missing create green jobs, as will the development of freeports millions—those who got no help, such as Sarah Graham, and growth hubs, and the hydrogen projects, unlimited who runs a business in Rochdale as part of the Travel investment in offshore wind and the port infrastructure Counsellors franchise? She has had almost no financial that were announced. support for the last 12 months and will probably have But despite these promising moves, covid has delayed no income for another 12 months, because that is the many of the detailed environmental policies needed to nature of her work. It makes no sense for businesses deliver net zero Britain. The private sector is poised to such as that to be put at risk. Where is the ambition in invest in projects contributing to the economic recovery the Budget? Where is the hope for the future? Where is and to net zero Britain, but they need the demand the plan for investment in education for our young signals and policy structures in place from Government people or jobs skills training for the future? It is not to do so. The Chancellor missed this opportunity and there. Where is the commitment to Northern Powerhouse made little further progress in aligning recovery measures Rail? We have heard it promised so many times, but not to the overarching Government ambition to achieve net a spade has yet hit the ground. zero Britain. Last summer, the Chancellor launched the This is a Government that talk the talk on greening green homes grant—an excellent initiative to help the our economy, but nothing in the Budget will address the 19 million homes that need energy efficiency measures urgency of the climate crisis. This Government have to cut carbon emissions, but unfortunately he did not failed, this Budget has failed, and the Chancellor has choose the Budget to overhaul and extend this scheme failed the nation. [Interruption.] so that it would live up to his ambitious targets. 569 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 570 Situation Situation Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): We have to Eden Project North meets all the Prime Minister’s leave it there; I am sorry. policy priorities: it can be an exemplar project in terms of levelling up. As the project is shovel-ready, it is now 6.25 pm possible that workers can be on-site this year, with immediate gains, demonstrating the green shoots of John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab) [V]: recovery from covid-19 and being a showcase for the This is a shameful Budget. On International Women’s Government’s commitments to COP26 in Glasgow in Day, whether you are a mother in a food bank queue in November. Eden Project North is precisely the type of Britain struggling to feed your children or a mother of a project that the Government should be backing. Three child in Yemen, this heartless Chancellor is turning his Prime Ministers and four Chancellors have agreed with back on your suffering. It is shameful because of the this, as did the Minister in my recent Adjournment hypocrisy of standing on doorsteps clapping nurses and debate. now slapping them in the face by cutting the pay of our NHS heroes and heroines. It is especially shameful The benefits and employment opportunities are obvious. because at the head of this Government who are insulting Morecambe has a vibrant creative arts and tourism our NHS workers is a Prime Minister whose life they sector, and Eden will complement that as it has a proven saved. The ultimate irony is that the Prime Minister is track record of hosting arts and tourism events at its riding high in the polls on the backs of the hard work Cornwall site. I have submitted to the Treasury a private and dedication of the NHS staff who are rolling out the letter signed by 46 MPs from all areas of the UK, not vaccination programme so successfully. just the north-west, to back Eden Project North, and Anyone voting for this Budget will bear a mark of shame almost 100 businesses in the wider Morecambe area for throwing another 500,000 people into poverty when have also signed a petition to Parliament. It seems that the Government cut the £20 a week in universal credit if there is any project to change lives, this is one that from the poorest families in our community, a mark of should be endorsed. I urge the Government to back this shame for yet again failing to provide even that meagre project as we emerge out of the pandemic crisis. uplift to disabled people living in poverty on legacy The levelling-up fund is good but is capped at £20 million benefits, and a mark of shame for failing to tackle the per district, not per seat, with multiple restrictions on low level of sick pay that is forcing many workers to put use and existing funding streams now seemingly being their health at risk by returning to work. I have tabled redirected through a levelling-up bank in Leeds yet to an amendment to the Budget resolutions calling for a be implemented. How can Eden Project North access distributional analysis of the Chancellor’s proposals to this scheme, especially as it has already been endorsed freeze the tax thresholds. The Chancellor said: by the Government and can only apply in two years’ “Nobody’s take-home pay will be less than it is now as a result time through a council that will be abolished in the next of this policy”.—[Official Report, 3 March 2021; Vol. 690, c. 256.] 12 months? The levelling-up funds are not enough for The tax threshold freeze is a real-terms pay cut for Eden Project North unless they can be applied through millions of workers. The OBR estimates that this will an infrastructure scheme for £30 million to £50 million, mean 1.3 million more people paying income tax. Their seemingly only for roads. There needs to be more clarity take-home pay will be less. In 2019 the Conservative on the levelling-up prospectus and I call on the Government manifesto, like the Labour manifesto, pledged no rises to match-fund the £55 million Eden has on the table to in income tax, VAT or national insurance for basic rate get the bulldozers and builders to work on Eden Project taxpayers. This Budget breaks the pledge on which over North in Morecambe sooner rather than later. 550 Members of this House were elected. Many low-paid workers are in rent arrears, in household debt or taking 6.31 pm mortgage holidays, accruing more debt interest. We Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab) [V]: There is nothing in should not be legislating to cut their take-home pay. this Budget for Northumberland. There is nothing in I have seen it reported that in this Budget the Chancellor this Budget for my constituency of Wansbeck. It is typical is stealing my policies. No, he is not. His Budget plagiarises of what has happened in the north. We have seen decades the rhetoric but not the substance, with promises of of decline and decay since the social and economic corporation tax rises, but delayed and overridden by tax fabric of whole communities was torn apart and left giveaways—tokenistic gestures to levelling up but unreplaced. The decline has accelerated in recent years contaminated by pork barrel politics. Taken alongside as a brutal regime of austerity and cuts has taken its toll the fast-track award of crony contracts to Tory friends on already abandoned communities. Last week’s Budget and donors, it is hardly surprising that many now refer was a kick in the teeth for my constituents and many to this Government as corrupt. The decisions to freeze more in the surrounding area, who, despite years of fuel duties and to dig a new coal mine, and the pathetic being left behind, could see no sign of any attempt to scale of environmental policies, do not just pay lip level up in the region. service to the climate crisis we face but put future Despite that, the exciting proposal of a new state-of- generations at risk. By any measure, this is a Budget to the-art electric battery manufacturing gigafactory in be ashamed of. Cambois in my constituency presents an opportunity that our communities can be rebuilt around—a new 6.29 pm industrial power in the north that centres on green David Morris (Morecambe and Lunesdale) (Con) energy, upon which we must and will become increasingly [V]: We all understand the maelstrom in which the reliant. This will only be possible with the firm support Chancellor is operating and must congratulate him on of this Government, and the question from my constituents his efforts to deal with the immediacy of the crisis. to the Government is simple: “Will you support us this Despite this, I was somewhat disappointed that there time round or cast us aside once again? Will you deliver, was no reference to Morecambe’s Eden Project North. or will you boot us into touch once again?” 571 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 572 Situation Situation [Ian Lavery] but we welcome the extension of the VAT rate cut and of business rates relief, and the restart grants to get our Climate change is a real and dangerous threat, yet businesses back on their feet. No one, but no one, can there was little mention of it in the Budget last week. question the commitment that the Government have But, believe me, there is no get-out-of-jail card with given to this sector, and I am confident that we will see climate change; there is no vaccine for climate change. It another year of safe domestic tourism into North Norfolk. is crucial that the Government do what they can to support the development of this gigafactory in my 6.37 pm region. It is an opportunity for the people to get just Tahir Ali (Birmingham, Hall Green) (Lab) [V]: The employment—to get fair wages, and terms and conditions. Budget announced on 3 March left a lot to be desired. The Britishvolt gigafactory is only the first step in While there were certainly some welcome measures, it is what has the potential to be a revival for the north, astounding that so little was said about the NHS and which has been given so little to cheer about in recent social care, public sector pay, legacy benefits, schools, or decades. We need this; we need and deserve this chance what those families relying on universal credit will do and opportunity. I urge the Chancellor, the Business once the uplift is phased out in September. Yet those are Secretary and the Prime Minister to do whatever they the issues that so many of my constituents in Hall can and whatever is in their power to ensure that this Green regularly contact me about. proposal is successful. It will transform the lives of At the front of people’s minds is the NHS, yet here we thousands of families in my constituency. I urge them heard nothing of substance from the Government—no and their teams to work closely alongside those who new funding announced for the NHS in the midst of understand our region. We are a proud region and a one of the biggest public health crises we have ever proud people; give us the respect we deserve and deliver. faced. To add insult to injury, the Government are now saying that they can afford only the derisory sum of a 6.34 pm 1% pay increase for nurses. I direct them to the Royal Duncan Baker (North Norfolk) (Con) [V]: This was a College of Nursing on this issue and recommended that Budget that had a clear direction. Whether we like it nothing less than a 12.5% pay increase is satisfactory or not, if we do not continue to protect the jobs and for our nurses, who have worked hard and risked their livelihoods of the country,particularly in the private sector, lives to keep us safe and healthy over the course of the we will not have an economy to return to that does any pandemic. of the things that we take for granted, such as providing Also notable by their absence from the Budget were stability, growth or the tax receipts to fund the public children and parents. In my constituency, nearly half of sector. The Chancellor focused on that No. 1 priority. all children live in poverty—twice the national average— That is of the moment, and I commend him for it. which is completely unacceptable in a country as wealthy I have listened to the speeches by Opposition Members as ours. While the Budget gave sorely needed certainty over the last few days bemoaning what was not in the to businesses, children and parents were given none Budget rather than acknowledging the sheer depth of whatsoever. As the Child Poverty Action Group has support that this Conservative Government continue to argued, the temporary uplift to universal credit only offer. It is astonishing. Wake up! The answer to the delays an inevitable and considerable fall in income for biggest economic shock in history is not like a vaccine. many families living in poverty. This is simply not good We cannot fix where we are overnight; this situation will enough. The uplift should be permanent. take years and years to recover from. It is a question of Finally, there was nothing on public sector pay. Many priorities—and where do we even begin to start? We do of our key workers in the public sector now face squeezed what this Government have done since the start of the incomes as lockdown eases and the economy returns to pandemic—we protect people. We protect people’s jobs normality. After all they have done for this country, to and livelihoods with support that is still needed now. keep their pay frozen is a disgrace. This pay freeze must We heard it when the Chancellor said that the OBR be abandoned, and decent pay rises must be granted to now expects the UK economy to recover to its pre-crisis all public sector workers. level six months earlier than originally thought. Unemployment is now expected to peak at 6.5%, instead 6.40 pm of nearly 12% as feared last summer; 1.8 million fewer Chris Grayling (Epsom and Ewell) (Con) [V]: I do not people are expected to be out of work than first forecast. think any reasonable person could have expected to see That is not a bit of luck; that is a Government that have anything except a tough Budget this year. The measures produced one of the best financial responses in the taken by the Chancellor over the past year have been entire world to support their citizens. essential. We could not have stood by while so many We cannot fix the public finances in a single Budget fellow citizens saw their jobs and livelihoods disappear, when we are in the midst of spending £407 billion in so I pay tribute to the Chancellor for his speedy response total fiscal support, with our national debt reaching its and for the massive support packages he has put in highest level since the ’60s. The recovery from this place. Instinctively, I believe in low taxes and small economic shock will be long and prolonged, but like government, but in a crisis like this, measures of this our exit from lockdown, the Chancellor’s plan is the kind—unwelcome but necessary tax increases—are vital, right step. My right hon. Friend was honest: the steps as, I am afraid, are pay freezes, except in the NHS. I also will be steady, moving in the right direction and priority- very much agree with the Chancellor’s continuing focus driven. That is responsibility. on jobs. I say that as a former Minister for Employment For my constituents in North Norfolk, the message who spent a long time trying to help people back into has been heard. Tourism, leisure and hospitality, the work a decade ago, when unemployment was 2.6 million. dominant sectors for many rural areas, are on their knees, Getting people back into work has to be our priority. 573 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 574 Situation Situation However, there are a few areas where I would like the employment and 14 million people are living in poverty Treasury to have another look. The first is the situation in our country today, alongside the vast wealth I have facing people who have missed out on support over the just spoken about. past 12 months, and in particular those who pay themselves It is true that the Budget envisages expenditure on by dividend. I understand why the Treasury took the infrastructure, but it is £2.4 billion a year. That is a large approach it did at the start of the pandemic, and I amount of money, but it is 147 times less than the amount agreed with that approach then, but after 12 months of money that Germany is spending on infrastructure and three lockdowns, the Treasury should be taking a and it is 15 times less than what the Government are different view. It should be offering support to those spending with their Tory chums on the track and trace people, potentially as part of an expanded self-employment system, which is not working very well. All those things income support scheme. We have to do something for mean that one has to worry about the chronic nature of them now. the problems facing working people in our country. A My second concern is the travel and tourism sector. towns fund has been created, but it has already been The Secretary of State pointed out what a dreadful time cut, actually, through austerity and it is not going to the this has been for businesses in that sector. From airlines towns in most need. It is going to those that are most to event managers, businesses across the sector have convenient to the Tory party. As for housing, of course been crippled over the past year, and as of now, they they are giving more money to buy houses, but they have have no certainty about when they can return to anything done nothing to build more houses, thereby contributing like normality. This sector is vital to our economy, and to the chronic problem of housing facing our country. my constituency hosts a large number of small businesses This is not a Budget to build back better. This is that operate in it. I urge Ministers to make 17 May the a Budget that sustains everything we have seen— start of an unlocking process. We cannot continue with unemployment, poor work, precarious employment, borders shut to the degree that they are now. But if that poverty, cuts to the public services and austerity. It is not going to happen and international travel cannot should be rejected tomorrow night. The Chancellor begin again without onerous restrictions, the Chancellor needs to go back, with a new calculator, to bring a new will need to return to the issue. Budget back in due course. Finally, will Ministers look again at the conditions that apply to the rescue package put in place for zoos? 6.46 pm The fund was welcome, but it is very difficult for zoos to apply for it. It makes no sense to have a rescue fund go Jonathan Gullis (Stoke-on-Trent North) (Con): The unspent while the zoos go bust. Can Ministers look at extension of the furlough scheme, the extension of the this again and change the ways of applying for the VAT reduction and the restart grants are all hugely fund? welcomed by businesses and individuals across Stoke- This was a Budget that none of us would have wanted. on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke, particularly ceramic I hate to see taxes rise, but a smart Budget deals with the manufacturers such as Churchill China and Steelite, challenges of the moment, and this Budget did that very which have been hugely reliant upon furlough, so they well. can bring back workers steadily as demand for their world-leading tableware increases. If I can, however, make one further pitch for brewers, 6.43 pm such as Burslem-based Titanic Brewery, I would argue Jon Trickett (Hemsworth) (Lab): I have three tests for that more must be done to help the on-trade. The new this Budget. The first is: does it leave anybody behind? rate of duty for draught beer, defined as beer sold in If someone works hard and plays by the rules, they containers of over 20 litres, could be set at a lower rate, should be able to expect to get on in society. People who reducing the price gap between cheap supermarket booze are unable to work should be protected and expect to and a beer at the pub. This policy targets a sector that have benefits that secure a decent life, and public services has suffered throughout the pandemic and is only possible should be universal, properly financed and available to now the UK has left the European Union. all. By those standards, the Budget fails. I was astonished by the Leader of the Opposition’s Government Members argue that there is not enough sneering attitude over well-paid jobs moving to Darlington money in Britain. This is one of the richest countries in and money being invested in towns such as Kidsgrove. the world. The problem is that the wealth is located in a Instead of welcoming the investment, he showed how handful of large corporations and a few thousand very out of touch he is with the people of Stoke-on-Trent wealthypeople.In the last six months, during the pandemic, North, Kidsgrove and Talke by suggesting that Kidsgrove the stock exchange increased in value by £630 billion. is not entitled to the £16.9 million awarded in this Budget. Since the banking crash, the 1,000 richest people in our The Leader of the Opposition said that such country have increased their wealth by £400 billion. announcements were “giving up”, not levelling up. Let There is almost £1 trillion in unspent corporate liquidity us look at how, from 2012 to 2018, the Labour-led in the banks. There is a large amount of wealth available Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council gave up on in our country. The problem is that it is held in a very the borough’s second town. During that period, the spend few hands, and the Chancellor failed to touch it. At the on infrastructure projects in Kidsgrove was: in 2012-13 same time, working people, who have sustained our nil, 2013-14 nil, 2015-16 nil, 2016-17 £15,000, 2017-18 country through the pandemic, are facing a disgraceful nil. The local Labour party gave up so much on Kidsgrove situation. We have £8 million being taken by stealth that, when it was offered a chance to buy Kidsgrove sports because of the income tax changes. We have a third of centre for £1, it said no. Thankfully,Newcastle-under-Lyme key workers now paid less than the living wage. Ten Borough Council is now Conservative-led, by Councillor million people are currently working in precarious Simon Tagg, who has worked tirelessly with the Kidsgrove 575 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 576 Situation Situation [Jonathan Gullis] as we had in the financial crisis, a fundamental problem with the workings of the economy itself, but an external sports centre community group and County Councillor shock, and the economy will self-right if we allow it to Gill Burnett to develop plans for the sports centre’s big do so. comeback—a comeback that would not be happening It is not a surprise that there is a bigger drop in GDP without the town deal money, demonstrating clearly to in the United Kingdom than in some other countries. the people of Kidsgrove that, under this Chancellor and We have a much larger service sector economy, and this Prime Minister, places such as Stoke-on-Trent North, service sectors require people to move for them to work, Kidsgrove and Talke are forgotten no longer. therefore it is not a surprise that, if people cannot move, we get a bigger shock than an economy that is largely 6.49 pm manufacturing based. Christina Rees (Neath) (Lab/Co-op) [V]: The Chancellor’s However, I question some of the attitudes to the Budget has created a new cliff edge at the end of financial years ahead. We tend to get much of the same September. The furlough scheme stops at the end of old, same old on tax and spend; that the way to balance September. It should be extended and be flexible. The the books is either to raise taxes or to reduce spending. 5% VAT reduction for food and drink in pubs and No one looks at what a business would do, which is to restaurants stops at the end of September. It should be ask how it can earn more money. This country could extended and include the close contact service industry. earn a lot more money. The universal credit £20 uplift stops at the end of British exports now count for under 30% of our GDP. September. It should be made permanent and include That needs to improve—the figure for Germany, for legacy benefits. The Office for Budget Responsibility example, is nearly 49%. We have identified 400,000 forecasts peak UK unemployment of 6.5% at the end of businesses that we know could be exporters because September. That is 2.2 million people without jobs at a they have counterparts and peers that already export. time when coronavirus and flu may be overwhelming. Governments need to help companies into markets. The The Chancellor’s Budget is rhetoric over substance, market will do the same. playing down his £4 billion of cuts. Austerity is not over The Government can also help by setting a wider and in Wales. While we wait for his rhetoric to turn into better international framework for business. We can substance, the Welsh Labour Government have stepped liberalise global services post Brexit, with our freedom in again to protect public services, build a greener future in world trade policy. We should do so. Britain, the and create positive change for a more equal Wales, filling United States and Japan, the world’s three biggest service in the Chancellor’sgaps in support to move Wales forward. economies, would benefit enormously from trade The Welsh Labour Government’s £2 billion economic liberalisation. resilience fund is the most generous coronavirus support We need more wealth creation in the country. Wealth package in the UK, securing 141,000 jobs in Wales. creation is not the same as growth. Any idiot Government Hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses in Wales can spend tomorrow’s money today and call the result that are affected by ongoing coronavirus restrictions growth. Labour Governments have made careers of will have an extra £30 million. If restrictions are extended doing that since the first Labour Government. Wealth in next week’s Welsh Government review, an extra creation is taking someone’s unique intellectual property £150 million will be available through the non-domestic and turning it into a good or a service that does not rates scheme, with each business receiving up to £5,000. exist today, or a better good or service than exists today. The business rates holiday for retail, leisure and hospitality That is why I would like to see more creativity in what in Wales will be extended for 12 months, with a targeted, we do in the time ahead. responsible £380 million for businesses with rateable Are we really saying with a £39 billion tax rise that we value up to £500,000, plus charities. Together with the can find no major efficiency savings in the years ahead? small business rates relief scheme, that ensures that Are we really saying there are no supply-side changes in more than 70,000 businesses will not pay rates in 2021-22. our economy that could make it work more effectively? Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality said: Do we really have to be saddled in perpetuity with the “The Welsh Government has again listened directly to our balance of spending and the patterns that we see today? constructive proposals for more vital support and the new money I hope not. I hope that, in the Budgets ahead, once we will play a leading part in continuing to save local jobs and local put the covid pandemic behind us, we can return to a businesses”. Conservative tradition of not just tax reform, but tax One potential investment for Neath is the Chancellor’s simplification, because those are the things that will announcement of £30 billion for the global centre for make a market economy work better. We cannot fund rail excellence in Onllwyn. Since 2016, the Welsh Labour the public services we want to see unless we have an Government have partnered with current landowners efficient capitalist economy working at its maximum Celtic Energy, the rail industry, academics and Neath level, and that is the duty of any Conservative Government. Port Talbot and Powys local authorities, and had positive consultations with local communities. Let us hope that 6.55 pm this announcement is substance, not rhetoric. Steven Bonnar (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (SNP) [V]: The Chancellor’s announcement last week 6.52 pm about an extension to the universal credit uplift is of Dr Liam Fox (North Somerset) (Con): I broadly course welcome. However, by not committing to a welcome the Budget. It comes at an unprecedentedly permanent extension or offering tapered support, too difficult time for the public finances as a result of the many families are facing a cliff edge in six months’ time. pandemic and the Chancellor is indeed wise largely to Furthermore, by not providing a corresponding uplift leave the economy alone in the coming year. This is not, for those on legacy benefits, more than 2 million people 577 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 578 Situation Situation have been left to face increased costs, with many of our indeed. However, I reiterate my calls for that to be most vulnerable having to choose between heating their expanded further to provide support for those who, homes and feeding their families. sadly,are still missing out, including directors of companies It is evident that the enhanced conditionality of our and freelancers. hostile benefits system results only in a framework that The tourism and hospitality sectors have been hit is difficult to navigate, uncompassionate and penalises particularly hard during the crisis. Those sectors are the most disadvantaged. The Institute for Fiscal Studies’ vital in Penrith and The Border and across Cumbria, director Paul Johnson recently stated that the cliff edge and they may be slower to recover than some other reduction in universal credit will result in the income of sectors. I am therefore delighted that the Chancellor has some families in our communities falling by £80 from announced continued targeted support for those sectors, one month to the next. This drop in income will come at such as the extension of business rates relief, the extension the same time as unemployment is expected to peak. of the VAT cut and additional recovery grants and The deepening impact of the austerity measures enacted loans being made available. The sector is there ready by this UK Government will clearly result in a system and waiting to welcome visitors back to beautiful Cumbria that is unworkable and cruel. when it is safe to do so. This targeted support will make Does the Chancellor really think it is acceptable to that wide welcome all the more possible. leave the millions receiving legacy benefits facing real The support for training and upskilling communities hardship, just because they happen to be claiming in the Budget will make a huge difference. The doubling the wrong kind of benefit? Does he really think it is of the financial incentive to take on new apprentices acceptable to increase the income of these same individuals will allow more workplace training for folk of many by a lousy 37p a week, while continuing to refuse them ages. In Penrith, we have had the turmoil over the the vital £20 uplift? Why is their need any different? future of Newton Rigg College, and we now have a With no immediate return to normality in sight, it is lifeline of land-based education provision through an only fair and reasonable to provide the same level of innovative partnership between Myerscough College support to those on legacy benefits as to those claiming and Penrith’s Ullswater Community College. Investment universal credit. Many of my constituents in Coatbridge, in apprenticeships and further education training will Chryston and Bellshill have faced the full force of this bolster this lifeline as we work with local stakeholders incompetent system, yet it is not the UK Government to secure a future vision for a new Newton Rigg to who are stepping in to provide support, but our grassroots re-emerge. I look forward to working with Government organisations acting once again as the lifeblood of our and local stakeholders in realising this vision. communities.Tannochside Information and Advice Centre Finally, I was saddened that Cumbria’s freeport supports more than 200 of my constituents every month application, involving Carlisle Airport, Barrow and with benefit-related issues. Surely,given the circumstances, Workington, was not chosen in the first round of freeports. the Government should have extended existing benefit I hope the Government will recognise the importance of claim forms, instead of powering ahead with a system Carlisle Lake District airport to our region’s economy of inherent prejudice. This is just another abject failure and as a key part of the United Kingdom’s connectivity. in an already unsecure social security system. I hope, therefore, that they will continue to look to support The Budget should have been a chance for the the airport with financial and policy interventions. Government to think more ambitiously about the welfare This is a Budget with strategic importance, both now system. Given this failure and many fundamental issues and in the future, as we come through the pandemic. I around payment levels, the system will continue to leave am happy to give it my support. people struggling. This was the time to give people dignity. Instead the Government have offered nothing 7.1 pm but further deprivation, desperation and destitution. Mike Kane (Wythenshawe and Sale East) (Lab) [V]: It is delightful to follow the hon. Member for Penrith and 6.58 pm The Border (Dr Hudson). I look forward to visiting his Dr Neil Hudson (Penrith and The Border) (Con) [V]: beautiful bit of the north-west as soon as we are able to I very much welcome this Budget, which addresses do so. current issues while also planning sensibly for future This Budget is probably the most critical of my time economic stability. The Government have put in place in this place. The crisis has pushed millions into financial unprecedented support measures during a pandemic, difficulty. Following a decade of austerity combined which have provided a bridge to allow jobs and businesses with the economic shock of Brexit, this emergency to be there on the other side.I welcome that the Government has thoroughly gutted parts of my communities in are continuing the support with the extension of the Wythenshawe and Sale East. The Budget was an furlough scheme and other support measures. I am so opportunity to heal our economy and help those worst pleased that the Government have listened to our calls affected by the pandemic. I welcome the extra measures from both sides of the House for the uplift in universal announced last week aimed at filling in the gaps of credit to be extended, which will benefit around 635,000 support. However,manyof my constituents have shouldered households in the north-west of England alone. I hope an unfair share of the pain in the last 12 months. The it will be kept under review in case a further extension is Budget does not go far enough. required. I have seen the huge impact the pandemic has had on I am grateful to Treasury colleagues for responding Manchester Airport in my constituency and the surrounding positively to our calls for other additional support, and community. For example, Naeem Ahmed, the secretary the inclusion of some of the newly self-employed in the of the airport taxi association, shared with me the self-employment income support scheme is very welcome tragic news that several of his members had died of 579 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 580 Situation Situation [Mike Kane] The reliefs are part of a wider picture that must be addressed in the spending review. We need to look at covid, unable to stop working due to the lack of financial our R&D commitment for the future—for 2027—and assistance. These self-employed drivers and their families be bold, establishing new international research schemes need proper financial support. Teresa McGeough, a to bring in the leverage and get private companies to self-employed children’s dyslexic assessor, was unable to come to this country and commit to R&D. After all, work for much of last year. Teresa has only had access research and development is about to get us out of this to a small amount of financial support that is not pandemic. If we wish to invest in research and development meeting her family’s outgoings. The Government cannot now, it can point us in a fantastic direction for the leave those like Teresa without the help they need. future. The restrictions on hospitality in the past 12 months have had an unequal effect on wet-led pubs, unfairly 7.6 pm affecting those in working class communities like mine. Stephen Morgan (Portsmouth South) (Lab) [V]: This In addition, my constituent Paul Naylor, landlord at the Budget was a pivotal opportunity to deliver a stronger much-loved Legh Arms in Sale Moor, is left with less and fairer economic future, but instead the Chancellor than £100 a month due to the complex retail partnership has doubled down on the same economic illiteracy that between landlords and breweries. left us so vulnerable to this crisis. The extension of wage This should have been a Budget to put the country and business support schemes was the right decision but back on the road to recovery and right the wrongs of was, as ever, taken needlessly late and came at the cost the last decade by rebuilding our economic foundations. of businesses and jobs. Instead, it just papers over the cracks. The Office for More needs to be done to tackle the looming cliff Budget Responsibility confirmed that the Conservative edge on rent and evictions, which puts hospitality Government’s mismanagement has left Britain with the businesses, including pubs, at risk. Many of those excluded worst economic crisis of any major economy. We need remain without support and have received nothing during to learn the lessons of the pandemic, not go back to the this pandemic. The impact will be felt disproportionately insecurities of the past. The Chancellor has the wrong among the self-employed, freelancers and limited priorities and is out of touch with what the country company directors who are the lifeblood of local economies needs today. such as Portsmouth’s. They will remember the Chancellor’s hollow promise to do “whatever it takes” to support 7.3 pm them. The cultural and events sector, which is so Chris Skidmore (Kingswood) (Con) [V]: I welcome vibrant in Portsmouth, will see the lack of Government- this Budget, not only for its record levels of support in backed insurance schemes as a missed opportunity to the present due to the pandemic, but for having an eye help festivals such as Victorious to go ahead this summer. on the future. However, if we do not own our future, the This was a Budget that did not learn the hard lessons future will own us. Although this Budget was delivered that the pandemic has taught us. There was nothing for in a period of extreme economic uncertainty and gloom, schools, which are in dire need of investment if our the one shining shaft of light has been the UK’s leading children are to catch up and thrive. The Chancellor role in the covid vaccination programme, which has announced no support for job creation, yet the number been delivered solely due to the impact of research and of those under 25 and claiming out-of-work support in development. Clearly, research and development not Portsmouth has increased by 135% in the past year. only changes lives, as we have always known, but saves There was nothing for social care, which bore the brunt them too. As the covid R number begins to fall rapidly of the crisis and is in dire need of a sustainable funding due to vaccination, we need now to turn our attention settlement. to the other vital R number: the figure that we spend on Most insultingly, the Budget confirmed a pay freeze R&D in the United Kingdom. We have set ourselves for the public sector workers who have got us through a target of spending 2.4% of GDP on research and this crisis, and concealed a cut in NHS spending in development by 2027, yet we currently spend only 1.8%. the fine print. Since then, we have heard that our Compared with other countries—China spends 2.1% of NHS heroes have been offered a pay increase of just GDP, the US spends 2.8%, Germany spends 3.1%, 1%, which is equivalent to a real-terms cuts. More than South Korea spends 4.5% and Israel spends 4.9%—we 11,000 public sector workers in my constituency will be are falling behind in the global race when it comes to worse off, as will more than 15,000 police officers R&D. There are now just 2,135 days until we reach that and almost 40,000 members of our armed forces across 2027 target date. If we are not careful, we will miss the the region. The Government cannot cynically clap our target altogether. key workers one minute and then cut their pay the next. The Government have already committed to increase Finally, the Budget confirmed that Brexit will leave the public spend on R&D from £12 billion a year to us worse off, with a permanent 4% hit to productivity. £24 billion by 2024-25, which is incredibly welcome, We will feel that acutely in Portsmouth: this short-change but we must now focus on leveraging in private R&D Government continue to withhold funds that the port spend, which is currently around £30 billion a year needs to build vital post-Brexit infrastructure. The Budget and needs to rise to £70 billion by 2027. How are we showed us that the Government are intent on the same going to achieve that? I was delighted that the Budget economic insecurity and inequality that the OBR has includes a consultation on R&D tax reliefs. Although confirmed caused the worst recession of the major tax reliefs follow the Frascati manual, they are currently economies. The Chancellor has put his signature all limited to staffing costs, materials and software. We over a Budget that fails Portsmouth’s families, young urgently need to include data, education and skills in people and key workers. It lacks the ambition that my that package. city and this country need for the future. 581 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 582 Situation Situation 7.9 pm and AdLib. We are talking about a lot of people here. Because of a dispute between their employer and Her Mr Marcus Fysh (Yeovil) (Con) [V]: My constituents Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, all those members of are most grateful for all the support that has been provided staff have had no furlough since November last year—none, through the pandemic and towards the bounce back as not a single penny. I raised this two weeks ago and, in we look forward, and for the success with the long-term fairness, the Paymaster General’s office contacted me project funding that has begun to come through. We are and offered to set up some kind of meeting to try to very grateful for the furlough and all the grant and resolve the fact that those members of staff are not only support schemes. In particular, the business rates and not getting furlough but not getting universal credit VAT exemptions and the increase in capital allowances because their real-time information is being updated as in this Budget will, I think, set us in very good stead to though they were still being paid. However, I am afraid grow our way back into being able to have the revenue to say that I am still sat here waiting, and almost that we all want for our public services and to repair the 200 people, many of whom are my constituents, are still public finances. without any support. I plead with those on the Treasury We have had some really big wins that are worth Bench tonight to get this resolved and to do so swiftly. celebrating in Yeovil and district. In particular, there was £10 million in the Budget for the Octagon theatre, The last thing I will raise in the few seconds left to me which is so important to creative industries locally. There is that it is three years ago this month—indeed, you was also some money for the Westlands Entertainment were in the Chair, Madam Deputy Speaker—when I Venue to keep that going with revenue support. We have introduced a Bill to ban unpaid work trials, on that had, through the pandemic, support for the national fateful Friday in March 2018. The then Minister talked league, which has been of great benefit to Yeovil Town the Bill out. Unpaid work trials are exploitative, they and clubs like it. Outside the Budget, we also had some cost us around £3 billion per year and they unfairly brilliant recent news with the final go-ahead—the final target young people. As we go into the recovery, let us decision—on dualling the A303 section at Podimore, do something good, decent and right for people as they which kicks off a signature project that we as a Government try to find work: let us ban the egregious use of unpaid have wanted to institute for the whole of the south-west. work trials as we move into the recovery phase. That will be of huge benefit to my constituents and everybody throughout the south-west peninsula. 7.15 pm However, huge challenges do remain. For example, Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) (Con): The our high street in Yeovil is definitely struggling. We have Government are delivering the biggest economic had success in being allocated £9.5 million from the intervention in our country’s history, protecting the future high streets fund, which is brilliant, but it is fair jobs, businesses and livelihoods of millions of people. It to say that the private sector involvement in that does is one of the most comprehensive support schemes need the high streets to be back on their feet, so it is a anywhere in the world, and of course I warmly welcome great credit to the Government that the vaccination the help that it has given to so many of my constituents, programme has been going so well. I encourage everybody but all this comes at a very high cost. The Budget confirms to get their vaccination as soon as they are offered it, that the Government are due to spend £1,140 billion in because that gives us the best prospect of being able to this financial year. Borrowing will be £355 billion—some stay open as an economy, stay open on our high streets, £300 billion more than was forecast in the March 2012 get our economy firing again and give people the jobs and Budget. The perilous state of the economy means that it opportunities that they need. Rapid tests are a fantastic is not viable or sensible to start the task of repairing the thing that we have brought in. I think that that really public finances now, but inevitably there will be a day of gives us hope that we can get the economy back on reckoning—thankfully not today, but it will come. Right track, repair the public finances and have a great future. now, borrowing costs are at record low levels, but it is not sustainable just to continue to rely on an ever-expanding 7.12 pm Bank of England balance sheet. As the economist Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Glasgow South) (SNP) Liam Halligan put it, this kind of funding is a stop-gap, [V]: I am grateful that I can make some remarks in the not a “miracle cure”. We need strong economic growth proceedings this evening, Madam Deputy Speaker. The to fix the nation’s finances and get us back on our feet, Budget was obviously in the worst and most hellish and that means supply-side reform and higher productivity possible circumstances, but I am afraid that the Chancellor as well as improving skills and infrastructure that requires and, indeed, the wider Government have failed to meet the smarter regulation. moment and really go big on the economic recovery and Now that we have taken back control over making stimulus that so many people need and had hoped for. our laws in this country, we must do more to ensure that There are two egregious elements that many people, our rules and regulations are pro-competition. That including many of my constituents, have commented on. does not mean a race to the bottom—of course we must One is, of course, the fact that even still, a year into the maintain our high standards—but it does mean crafting pandemic, so many people who are self-employed are our regulation so that it treats businesses equally,including left behind. The other is the utterly egregious way in which start-ups and innovative disrupters, rather than entrenching the Government are using the levelling-up fund as some advantage for market incumbents. We need a regulatory kind of party political slush fund aimed at their own climate that encourages new entrants to markets rather constituencies. This is deeply egregious and needs to be than placing unnecessary barriers in their way.Regulatory fixed. rules are a core part of our economic ecosystem, and I want to raise two quick issues in the short time that the OECD is clear that reforming them in a way that I have. I have raised one previously, and it concerns encourages innovation and competition can boost GDP hospitality staff in Glasgow at two venues, Blue Dog and give consumers more choice and lower prices. Finally, 583 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 584 Situation Situation [Theresa Villiers] The other side of the “get real” approach is the need to face the debt. The two tax changes about which I if we are to have a truly roaring ’20s with the strong anticipate my constituents could be negative are the growth that we need, our regulatory system must keep freezing of tax thresholds from next year and the large up with new technology, enabling us to turn the scientific but delayed increase in corporation tax. I have talked genius to which this country is home into the successful about this to many of my constituents, big businesses cutting-edge high-growth sectors of the future. and the man in the street. Their reaction has generally been positive, with an understanding of the Chancellor’s difficult situation, and a pleased acceptance of the 7.18 pm continuing help, but a reluctant acceptance that debt Mrs Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Sunderland payment must commence. West) (Lab) [V]: Treasury data shows that transport In the debate over the past few days, there has been infrastructure spending in London is 2.5 times more per little mention of the new 95% mortgage guarantee person than in the whole of the north of England. If scheme, which will enable lenders to provide mortgages the Chancellor is serious about levelling up, we need to to buyers with a deposit of just 5% to purchase properties see spending on our vital infrastructure in all parts of worth up to £600,000. I believe that this is a new the north-east too. That is why, on Wednesday last opportunity, parochially, to rebalance the age spectrum week, I presented a petition to Parliament calling for of my constituency. Some 22% of the population are the Leamside line to be reopened in full, and the Restoring under 20, and 60% are aged 40 and over, which leaves Your Railway Fund bid calling for that was submitted about 18% who are in the 20 to 40-year-old bracket. on Friday. Reopening the line in full would bring rail Quite simply, many people in that bracket who have left back to Washington, which is the largest town in England and would like to come back cannot do so. Commonly, without a rail link, but the line would also bring remarkable they are young, single, young couples or young families, economic and connectivity benefits to the entire region. but they cannot afford to move to Mole Valley. After more than a decade of neglect from Conservative The two main towns of Leatherhead and Dorking Governments, with the added impact of the pandemic need boosting: they need shops; shops need shoppers; on top, the north-east needs that. and shoppers need homes. Those two towns have suitable Some businesses in my constituency have had to close brownfield sites that could be developed to provide due to the coronavirus restrictions, without any access homes costing less than £600,000. Unfortunately, Mole to financial support. They include driving instructors, Valley has the dead hand of an incompetent Liberal mobile hairdressers and other businesses that do not Democrat group in power. They are doing nothing to have premises. The Government should not be putting help, but I am hopeful that after May there will be a new local authorities on the line and making them the fall Conservative council that can move on the brownfield guys for a conscious decision that the national Government sites, sort out the planning, bring investment and homes, made. It is this Government who are hitting an estimated and enable the 20 to 40-year-old age group to use the 6,500 key workers across my constituency with a real-terms mortgage opportunity and revive the two towns of pay cut. They include the NHS heroes we all clapped Leatherhead and Dorking. for, but clapping does not put food on their tables. This also hits our teachers, police officers and all public 7.24 pm sector workers, who we all rely on day in, day out. After Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) working on the frontline throughout the pandemic, our (LD) [V]: A very good evening to you, Madam Deputy key workers really do deserve better. Speaker. As Members are aware, I am a co-chair of the My constituents all need assurances and certainty, all-party parliamentary group on gaps in support. I but the Government have failed to do that in this want to talk about two issues that have arisen from my Budget. The Government have made it clear that they work on that front. are happy to stick to the status quo of the same unfair The first—ironically, almost, given that today is economy and unequal country that has been so cruelly International Women’s Day, as others have pointed exposed by this deadly virus. out—is maternity. Our APPG suggested certain policies to the Government that could be based on maternity, 7.21 pm parental and adoption rights. I am not going to be churlish about this; there were some gives by the Government. Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley) (Con) [V]: Listening They recognised some of our suggestions and have to some Opposition Members in this particular debate, taken action as a result. I acknowledge that and give I am reminded of when my daughter was a teenager and credit where it is due. Alas, what we suggested on the one of her telling phrases was, “Get real.” This is a “get maternity front in particular, where a lot of people have real” Budget. The fact that the Government have been lost out rather badly, was sadly not taken up by the spending approximately 17% of GDP to protect lives Government. and livelihoods at the same time as the biggest economic It is only right that I should express my thanks at this contraction since the early 1700s brings home the phrase, stage to a number of organisations, including Maternity “Get real.” Action, Pregnant Then Screwed and ExcludedUK, as This Budget recognises that we need to continue to well as the campaigner Bethany Power, who did a great protect lives and livelihoods for some time to come. In deal of work. But you know me well enough, Madam my constituency, it is particularly welcomed by the Deputy Speaker; I am ever an optimist. I therefore hope hospitality, leisure and events industry. For them, it is in that perhaps, as the weeks and months go by, we can addition to the most welcome news that they are going still fine-tune the package to try to recognise the sort of to be able to open their doors. people I am talking about. 585 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 586 Situation Situation As the House is aware, I talk a great deal about the very conscious that, when we talk about “Build, build, highlands. Therefore, I will go very local on my second build”, while construction is important, we also need to point arising out of gaps in support. As has been said, think about how we will move more women into that the offer on the VAT front is welcome. However, while I sector, and into STEM jobs and jobs in the green recognise that that is helpful to hospitality and cultural economy. It is so important that we make sure that none businesses, I want to mention our highland games. I of them are left behind. speak as a past chieftain of the Tain highland games, I would like to follow a Member who spoke previously which is one of my proudest achievements and really and comment on the events sector. It is such an important puts being a Member of the House of Commons into part of our economy, but of course those businesses the shade. The 5% help is of no use to highland games, have not had the business rates break, because they because of course no tickets have been sold at all. These might not have the premises that we see elsewhere in games are simply not happening, and this year we are hospitality and in retail. It is a sector, particularly when already facing 13 highland games being cancelled. It is it comes to weddings, that is crying out for assistance obvious to all that highlands games and events of this and, again, employs many women. sort underpin the very fragile economy of parts of the The Budget was a delicate balancing act, and I commend UK such as the highlands of Scotland. the Chancellor on his hard work, but I urge him never Finally, I say to those on the Treasury Bench that we to forget that 51% of the population are women. really need a more finely tuned package to make these events happen in the future. If the Government could Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Rosie Winterton): look at extending the VAT cut beyond September, that The hon. Member for Halton (Derek Twigg) is having would be very helpful indeed. technical trouble, so we will come back to him. 7.26 pm 7.30 pm Caroline Nokes (Romsey and Southampton North) (Con): I pay tribute to the Chancellor for having listened Gareth Johnson (Dartford) (Con) [V]: I am pleased to to the repeated calls made over the last 12 months to be able to contribute to this debate in support of a good do something to help the female entrepreneurs and Budget that recognised the consequences of the huge businesswomen working in what we now call the personal amount of borrowing that has had to happen during care sector but 12 months ago was just known as hair this unprecedented time. Debt must be paid back and and beauty. can never be ignored, and this Budget helps to ensure that that will happen. We have to recognise this is a significant sector that contributes a great deal to the Exchequer and employs After every Budget, whoever delivers it, that person is in the region of 300,000 employees, most of whom are always criticised by the Opposition, but surprisingly women. Hon. Members might expect me, as Chair of with this Budget the Chancellor was criticised for a lack the Women and Equalities Committee, to wish to focus of openness, yet the converse is true. I recall Gordon on women and what was done for them in this Budget. I Brown raising national insurance in one of his Budgets, thank the Chancellor for the additional grant funding and not even mentioning it in his speech. That is an for the sector. However, I very carefully say to him that example of a lack of openness, not what we heard last there was some consternation at the choice of words week from the current Chancellor. used, because some in the sector suddenly became very This Chancellor delivered a Budget that will enable alarmed that they would not be opening at the same businesses to play their part in the bounce back the time as non-essential retail. I need some reassurance, economy needs. A crucial part of that was the creation and I hope that the Minister on the Treasury Bench will of eight freeports, the potential of which to boost our be able to provide absolute clarity that the sector will be economy is huge. It is unsurprising that more than in that step. 40 ports applied for freeport status, such is their popularity However, there was a measure of disappointment in in the sector, so the idea that freeports are not wanted the personal care sector that the VAT reduction, which just does not stand up to scrutiny. I am pleased that the we have seen so fantastically extended to hospitality, freeport of Thames,covering Tilbury and London Gateway, was not also extended to that sector. I think it only fair is to be created adjacent to my Dartford constituency. It that I voice those concerns today, because that could will create many local jobs and play its part in a global have been a significant contribution to maintaining the post-Brexit Britain. viability of some of these important businesses. However, However, freeports must be approached in the right it is not just about jobs and the economy, because these way to ensure that we get them right. They are not are businesses that help to combat loneliness and help without their challenges, but their potential is enormous. people to feel more confident in themselves, in turn Freeports are at their best when they incorporate an giving them the enthusiasm and confidence to go and element of manufacturing within the perimeter, rather face those job interviews, which we know that many, than simply being an import/export location. If raw many women will be facing. goods can be brought to the freeport, assembled and I recognise that the retail sector may be changed exported, that offers the best opportunity for job creation irrevocably and would ask the Chancellor to consider and for the port itself. The Thames freeport is expected how we can ensure that those women in the prime of to create up 25,000 new jobs, and it will help to keep their lives who may have worked in the retail sector for freight off our roads and fully utilise our links to 20 years or so get access to the retraining opportunities the sea. that they will meet, because if the retail sector is changed Freeports are exactly what is needed to encourage forever, we will need them to move into new, sustainable international investment in the UK and to facilitate sectors. Those jobs cannot simply be held for men. I am companies wishing to increase their UK operations. 587 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 588 Situation Situation [Gareth Johnson] is to them. Health and the economy go hand in hand. Our NHS staff have been there for us this year; we need The Thames freeport alone is expected to attract over to be there for them and get them a proper pay rise now. £400 million-worth of investment, which is why nearby Labour-run London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Rosie Winterton): We supports the creation of a freeport on the Thames. We will now go back to Derek Twigg. should back the opportunities that freeports can bring to this country. Creating them is a bold, forward-looking 7.36 pm step that will bring opportunities not just to my Dartford Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab): Let me first pay tribute constituency, but around the whole of the UK and, to the NHS staff, especially the nurses and doctors, and indeed, the world. also our carers who have worked so tirelessly and sacrificed so much in the past year. They have gone above and 7.33 pm beyond what was asked of them. They are exhausted Yvette Cooper (Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford) and stressed. Some have been traumatised by their (Lab) [V]: In the 12 months since the previous Budget, experiences. It left a real sour taste when it became clear we have had three difficult lockdowns, we have lost over that, despite his claims of honesty, the Chancellor had 120,000 lives, with one of the worst death rates in the not mentioned in his Budget speech the 1% that the world, and our economy has been one of the hardest hit Government are now proposing. Effectively, it is a pay as a result, with difficult times for families, small businesses cut. I want to see a pay rise that fully recognises the and people across the country. We look wistfully at some hard work and sacrifices of those who served the country of the health decisions made in Australia, New Zealand on the frontline in its hour of need. I also do not believe and South Korea where so many fewer lives have been the Chancellor’s self-proclaimed honesty when it comes lost and where they have been able to keep their economy to the resources that the NHS will need to deal with the and schools open. We should recognise what went wrong huge backlog of non-covid patients waiting for treatment last year, but also focus on what we need to get right as for things such as cancer. The Government have shown the vaccine is rolled out. their lack of foresight throughout this pandemic, so it is time that they ensure that mental health support is there Weneed to rebuild our economy and services. However, for frontline NHS and care staff who have served the Budget fails to do that. The extension of short-term throughout this time. measures that many of us called for is right, but it is not a growth plan. Capital investment is being cut just when Despite Halton being ranked the 13th most deprived we need to be investing in sustainable growth. Skills and area, it is not in the priority 1 group for the levelling-up employment support is too weak, especially for the fund and the UK community renewal fund. It beggars young, who need guarantees of jobs or training places belief that Halton is not a priority 1 area. The list of to get them back on track. Kickstart is still too small areas included by the Chancellor suggests that ranking and too slow, and key sectors such as pubs and the is more about who has a Tory MP than real need. His travel industry need more support. On International claims of honesty did not stretch to how the areas were Women’s Day, we need urgent action on childcare and chosen. The Chancellor must correct the situation so support for the often working mums who were more that the priority groups are based on areas in most need. likely to end up giving up work while schools were out. The Runcorn town deal will be an outstanding bid, We need growth plans for all the towns that have been with some fantastic projects such as the Unlock Runcorn heavily hit by 10 years of austerity. We have worked project to restore the locks and links to the Manchester very hard here in Castleford where I am sitting to get ship canal and provide much-needed jobs. I hope the our fair share of investment from the towns fund, but fact that the town of Runcorn has a Labour MP will after £200 million has been cut from Wakefield Council not count against it. I asked the Secretary of State for budgets over the past 10 years, too many other towns Housing, Communities and Local Government in are not included. Across the north, we are still not November if Runcorn would be treated less favourably getting our fair share of transport investment in our than other towns because it has a Labour MP. He said infrastructure for the future. that it would not be and that it would be treated fairly. I hope that he keeps to his word. This is against a Crucially, we need to keep supporting our NHS. background of cuts to Halton Borough Council’sbudget of After the year that our NHS has had it is incomprehensible £52 million since 2010. Halton expects to spend £2.2 million that the Government are proposing a real-terms cut in more on tackling the covid pandemic, despite promises staff pay. Nurses have told me about the traumas they by the Chancellor that that would be fully funded. The faced working on the covid wards, the long shifts and Chancellor must fully fund it. extra hours, how difficult it was nursing friends and colleagues who got sick, how fearful they were, and how The cladding scandal in this country has had a burnt out they now feel, and yet they keep going. We devastating effect, not least on my constituents in the need them to keep going, because it is our NHS staff Decks flats in Runcorn. Despite repeated representations, who are rolling out the vaccine to get us through and it the Government are still ignoring those buildings that is our NHS staff who we need to catch up on all those are under 18 metres tall. They must put this right. lost operations and that vital cancer treatment. We Today we celebrate International Women’s Day.Again, already have 10% vacancies among nursing staff and we heard nothing about the pensions injustice faced by the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has struggled women born in the 1950s. The Government appear to to get staff. Local health managers have told us already be completely indifferent to their financial suffering. how worried they are that people are leaving nursing These women must be properly compensated, and I because they are burnt out. The Government have no again call on the Government to right this injustice. idea what a kick in the teeth this 1%—below inflation—rise This Budget failed to meet the scale of the task. 589 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 590 Situation Situation 7.40 pm Across the country, businesses are closing, unemployment is rising, jobs are insecure, food bank usage has soared Andrew Bowie (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) and millions have fallen into poverty. (Con): Madam Deputy Speaker, it is a great pleasure to speak in support of this Budget and to wish you a A recent survey of my constituents revealed a shocking happy International Women’s Day and the whole House threefold increase in people’s feeling of financial insecurity a happy Commonwealth Day. during the pandemic. At the most acute end of this insecurity, more than a quarter of constituents said that Before I explain whyI very much support the Chancellor’s they were struggling to meet basic living costs. It is clear Budget, I want to address some of the comments made from speaking to my constituents that the distress and by my neighbour, the hon. Member for Gordon anxiety generated by this new financial insecurity is (Richard Thomson). He spoke about economic certainty having a profound impact on their wellbeing and mental and stability being key to economic growth and recovery health. It is vital that we recognise the emotional toll of from the current situation. Sadly, he was addressing us the last year and look to rebuild the country’s mental virtually, so I could not ask him whether putting the health alongside our economic recovery.With this in mind, case for another independence referendum would add it is unfathomable for the Chancellor to push ahead to certainty or add to instability and uncertainty, and with the £30 billion cut in day-to-day health spending. whether that would be good for jobs and economic If the last decade of austerity has taught us anything it growth across the United Kingdom. is that public sector spending cuts disproportionately The hon. Gentleman spoke about schemes lasting hurt those on low incomes. until September and said that he would like to see them Given that today marks International Women’s Day, carried through, because otherwise that would add it would be remiss of me not to touch on the particularly uncertainty and instability to the jobs market and business, acute economic impact of the last year on women. Last and yet the right hon. Member for Ross, Skye and month the Women and Equalities Committee concluded Lochaber (Ian Blackford), the leader of the SNP in this that the Government’spassive approach to gender equality place, claimed just as recently as the weekend that an was no longer good enough. It specifically called on the independence referendum could happen by the end of Government to undertake equality impact assessments, this year. I wonder how many people in the business so the fact that not one of the many supporting documents community feel that that would add to certainty and to last week’s Budget statement was an equality impact stability through the rest of this year. assessment is utterly inexcusable. Continuing to ignore The hon. Member for Gordon also poured cold the fact that the economic impact of the crisis has not water on the £33 million being invested in north-east been felt equally risks turning the clock back on gender Scotland, which we both represent, to support the oil equality. and gas industry as we transition from fossil fuels to Missing from last week’s Budget was the ambition renewables. He says that it does not match the ambition needed to tackle the deep crisis we are in. We needed a of the Scottish Government. He did not mention the strong foundation to support businesses, to give security fact that since 2014, the UK Government have supported to families and households, and better economic resilience, the industry to the value of £2.2 billion and have made and to ensure that no one and no community was left the North sea the most attractive and fiscally stable behind. Sadly, that is far from what we were offered. basin in which to invest in the world, supporting thousands of jobs in my constituency, in his and across Scotland. 7.46 pm This was a very good Budget—a pro-business Budget; a Budget building the foundations to prepare to build Sir Robert Neill (Bromley and Chislehurst) (Con) [V]: back better and build back greener; and a Budget that The exceptional circumstances of the pandemic require delivered for the entire United Kingdom of England, exceptional budgetary and financial responses, and I Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, not that we congratulate the Chancellor on having broadly got a would know it from listening to the Scottish Government balanced and very valuable package together to get the last week. The furlough scheme, which protected nearly economy back on track. Of course, the best way to get 1 million Scottish jobs at its height, was extended. The the economy back on track will be to work swiftly to business interruption loan scheme, which supported reopen businesses as soon as it is safely possible to do 90,000 Scottish businesses to a value of £3.5 billion over so. Meanwhile the support being given is welcome and the past year, is being followed up with the recovery necessary. loan scheme. The super deduction will foster innovation I particularly want to welcome the support given to and investment across Scotland. the cultural sector, both in previous rounds and in the current round in the Budget. That has helped theatres This was an upbeat, positive Budget that was required like the Churchill in Bromley in my constituency and by the country to take us forward into the next steps as many of our other key arts organisations. But if there is we recover from coronavirus. It was a Budget that spoke one thing I would urge the Chancellor and the Secretary about building back better and investment in the future, of State to look at doing further it is to give support not not separation, division and distraction, which is all the just to institutions but to individuals, and that has SNP ever offers Scotland. already been referred to. The vast bulk of performers in theatre and the creative 7.43 pm sector are freelancers; most of them are self-employed, Afzal Khan (Manchester, Gorton) (Lab) [V]: The mainly through limited companies, and I endorse the Office for Budget Responsibility was unequivocal in its comments made by other Members about the need to analysis of our financial situation: it is the Government’s look again at the treatment they receive. Also, the failure to control the spread of the virus that has continuation of self-employed support is welcome.Round 4 dragged us into the worst recession of any major economy. is very necessary, but I hope that Ministers can look at 591 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 592 Situation Situation [Sir Robert Neill] make a real difference to the lives of millions. I hope he thinks again and decides to take it rather than trading it one practical issue. While it is good that new entrants in for political favours. will now be able to get involved with the 2019-20 tax return and get support, there is real concern that some 7.51 pm applicants will have to wait until mid to late April before they can apply for the next, fourth, self-employment Sir Robert Syms (Poole) (Con): I welcome the Budget. income support scheme round. Given that the last The Treasury has had a particularly difficult time trying payment from round 3 was in December, people will to do what it can to assist in this crisis, and I think it, have gone for some four months in effect without any and the British system of government, has done extremely income. I hope we can address that. This is particularly well. Universal credit has worked well. Furlough has important for young performers and artists at the beginning worked well. The self-employment income support scheme of their careers; we need to nurture them and keep them has worked well. There is some argument about where in the sector so that we have the stars of the future. the boundaries are drawn, but from the point of view of The other area that needs continual attention is financial the IT and getting the cheques out to people, it has services. It is the jewel in the crown of our economy, and worked pretty well. It is amazing that we have got it did not get enough attention in the deal with the through the crisis without the levels of unemployment European Union. I hope we can return to that. We that were once feared. One of the most pleasing things should address three areas in particular. First, we must about the OBR forecast is that it looks as though stress the centrality of financial services to future trade although unemployment will go up in the next few deals and liberalisation in that sector. Secondly, we months, it will peak at a lower rate and, towards the end must make sure that our regulatory system is updated of this Parliament, start to get back to where we were in and fleet of foot to deal with emerging sectors and the first place. developments. I hope the Government will move swiftly I am an optimist, and I am rather more optimistic to implement, for example, the recommendations of than the OBR. I do not think we will have a budget Lord Hill’s report on UK listings to capture firms in deficit this year of £355 billion, which would require those emerging sectors on UK markets. And, finally, about £70 billion in the last two months. I do not think the Government must also consider the Kalifa review we will have a deficit of 10.4% next year and spend on FinTech. Both of those are important, indeed critical, £250 billion. I think the economy, when the restrictions for our long-term economic wellbeing. are lifted, will grow very rapidly indeed, because there is an awful lot of money sloshing around the economy. A lot of people I know want to go out to spend—to go to 7.49 pm restaurants, buy a car or go on holiday. Once the Ms Marie Rimmer (St Helens South and Whiston) restrictions are lifted and the degree of confidence from (Lab) [V]: The Office for National Statistics ranks St Helens the vaccine goes through our country, things will move and Knowsley as two of the top 10 unhealthiest places very rapidly. If there is a problem, it may be that there is to live. Well, I have the honour of representing the so much money flowing through the system that it is people of these two historic towns. For our people, the chasing too few goods and we start to have inflation. past decade has been tough, with the decade of austerity Inflation has not been banished and we have to keep still felt. The pandemic could not have come at a worse our eye on it. I think the deficits will be a little lower and time. The existing deprivation caused even more suffering. the growth rates will be a little higher, and business will Essential services that had been cut to the bare bones get back to growing rapidly when we lift all the restrictions. have been tested like never before. As we plan our My main plea to the Government is this: the data is economic recovery, the people of St Helens and Knowsley going in the right direction more rapidly than people will live with the impact of the decisions taken, which expected, and we have a pathway out of lockdown, so will be felt for decades. do not be afraid to bring it forward, as well as put it The Government have promised to take the levelling-up back if the data starts to turn bad. A lot of this debate agenda seriously, but I am afraid that the evidence is to has been about bailing people out, but what most the contrary.My constituency is ranked as the 62nd most people want is to get back to business, get back to work deprived, with the Chancellor’s being 450th. The child and get things running again. That has to be the key. We poverty rate in my constituency is close to double that need to get back to normal as soon as possible, and in the Chancellor’s. The schools in my constituency vaccines and Government policy should do that. have lost more funding per pupil than the Chancellor’s. Yet despite all this, the Chancellor’s constituency was 7.54 pm given more money from the towns fund and St Helens was not. I understand why the Chancellor has done Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab) [V]: This this—having the support of 39 Conservative MPs may Budget is taking place at a key time for the economy of come in handy for his brand—but this is not the time this country. It is an economy coming out of a crisis for political favours. The country agrees that this is the that has caused businesses to shut and jobs to be lost, biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression. If and that has harmed the prospects and potential of so the Chancellor intends to honour the Government’s many people across this country. The Budget was a promise to level up, why has the support not been chance to conduct a transformative change as we emerge provided based on needs? Towns like ours are looking from the crisis, to make the country fairer for all, to for fairness and want the Government to provide a reward our key workers and to build a secure and helping hand—to give towns the recovery funding they prosperous future that ensures that any economic recovery need to revitalise the town centres and rebuild public from the pandemic is felt right across the country. It is services. The Chancellor has a rare opportunity to clear, though, that the Budget failed to do that. 593 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 594 Situation Situation The Chancellor talks about support for the north-east, stadium in Coventry—events close to my constituency but travel any further north than Teesside and it is clear that indicate that we are getting back to normal times. It that the Government have forgotten us. The council in is not just those sectors themselves that have gone Sunderland, like many across the country, has done a through a tough time; the suppliers to them have, too. brilliant job throughout the pandemic, working tirelessly Those events coming forward will enable them to re-establish to support businesses and providing vital services on a themselves and get the economy moving. shoestring budget, but the Budget falls well short in I want to focus on one key measure for business—Help helping it to do its job. Across the country, there are to Grow, which will make a huge difference to the people who have had lifelong jobs suddenly finding performance of small and medium-sized businesses up themselves unemployed, and millions of children in this and down the country. The BEIS Committee in the last country are still living in poverty. What does this Budget Parliament looked at this issue, and we concluded that do for them, and what does it do for the millions already the myriad sources of support for SMEs made it difficult excluded? to navigate. In particular,we were concerned that business Then it emerged that our NHS workers, who have owners and managers did not know where to go to been working harder than ever over the last year, saving improve their own skills. We noted that businesses grew lives and taking care of our loved ones, will be given at faster when managers took time out to work on their best only a 1% pay rise, coming out of this year with a business as well as in their business. Help to Grow will real-terms pay cut. Then there is our social care system, offer 30,000 leaders and managers a training programme which was not mentioned once by the Chancellor—no over 12 weeks at a cost to attend of just £750 after funding lifeline for a system on its knees; no support for Government support. As someone who ran a small care homes or those who devote their lives to working in business before arriving here and did not know where to them. Our NHS and social care staff deserve much go for personal development training, I can see immediately better. how valuable this scheme will be. Let me move on to the digital skills agenda and the I hope that the scheme will cover the business skill of proposals that the Chancellor outlined last week. I sales. It is not the most obvious issue to raise, but on a wrote to him on this subject, and while any investment day when we learn that export sales fell last year by in digital skills is welcome—from the boot camps 14.7%, equivalent to £54 billion, we will need to make announced last year to the announcement of help to certain that, as a country, we get every single sale we fund software upgrades and training for SMEs—it seems can. The all-party parliamentary group for professional that he is looking at sticking plasters rather than at sales is launching a report tomorrow, which calls for a solving the issue of digital inequality. That seems like selling revolution to make sales a career aspiration for the theme of this Budget. the brightest and best, and to ensure that first-class Thanks to charities such as Laptops for Kids in the training in sales skills is available for both before and north-east and Rebuyer UK based in Sunderland, many throughout a salesperson’s working life. Effective sales more children and young people have had access to negotiations, with the measures that the Chancellor has technology and connectivity.That is great for education— given, will enable businesses to trade our way back to those new devices can be used both at home and in prosperity. school—but it causes new issues too. It widens the gap. The Government need a comprehensive strategy for upskilling those who are out of work to provide support 8 pm and devices to those who need them. The Budget was Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab) [V]: I want to underwhelming, unequal and unsurprising. focus on just one thing: what the Budget says about levelling up. The Government promised transformation, 7.57 pm but amid all the announcements and reannouncements, the reality is a reduction in the key regional development Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con) [V]: Just two weeks ago, funds this year, and probably for years to come. Even if the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee we include the national infrastructure strategy spending, published its report “The impact of Coronavirus on much of which is not levelling up, we are well short of businesses and workers”, which acknowledges the pace the transformative investment that levelling up implies. and unprecedented scale of the measures that the The comparison is made harder by the Government’s Government have introduced and how unfortunate habit of shuffling money from one fund to “this support has kept vast numbers of businesses and workers let them announce another. afloat during this exceptionally challenging time.” Levelling up demands detailed plans, patient investment Last week’s Budget continues that work. and, above all, local leadership. Combined authorities, The Chancellor has recognised the need for businesses such as the one I lead, understand our regions, both the to continue to have certainty and for jobs to continue to challenges and opportunities, much better than anyone be protected. I welcome the decision to extend the in Whitehall ever could. We are doing amazing things. furlough scheme for an additional six months. It has In South Yorkshire, we are investing in everything from already protected 6,500 jobs in my Rugby and Bulkington skills to active travel. We must plan, not just to recover constituency. I also welcome the further round of grants from covid, but to comprehensively renew our region. to help businesses as they reopen, and the extra support The Prime Minister said that he wants to work with us, targeted at the leisure, hospitality, arts and culture but the Government’s default preference is to force local sectors. governments to compete among themselves for modest, I was pleased to hear the Secretary of State refer to restricted, short-term funding pots, with Whitehall picking Coventry city of culture, which starts in May, and the the winners. It is the model chosen if the priority is rugby league world cup, with matches at the Ricoh maximising photo ops, not actual progress. 595 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 596 Situation Situation [Dan Jarvis] I believe there is much that can still be done that is either regulatory or non-legislative. Any Bill would merely The clearest test is to follow the money. As the put in place a regulatory framework that would require Government repeat the mantra of ending regional steps that can be taken now without legislation to inequality, their levelling-up fund puts the Chancellor’s facilitate continued access to cash. Chief among those Richmondshire constituency, ranked 251 out of 317 in would be the rapid renewal of PSD2 regulations, which England’s deprivation index, in a higher category of enable cashback without purchase. A number of pilot need than Barnsley, ranked 38. Richmondshire has had projects have demonstrated that it works well as an 141 covid deaths per 100,000 people; Barnsley has had idea, but the commercial providers of the system will 311. The Government claim that they are following not invest without the confidence that the Government impartial criteria, but the Chancellor must publish the will renew the regulations. I urge the Minister to make it full data and the decision-making process for those clear that the regulations are forthcoming soon. funds. All told, the hidden wiring that underpins our cash In one sense, the answer is irrelevant. Whatever formula system costs some £5 billion per annum. The less cash was used, it was the one the Government chose. If their in circulation, the higher the fixed costs for everyone formula gives a result that systematically favours areas who processes cash, right down to the smallest trader or that are already doing well over those that need levelling shop owner. No wonder some have opted out of cash up, they have the wrong formula. They should not and might never return. There is much organisations, pretend that it is some unalterable truth, they should such as the Bank of England or the Financial Conduct just change it. If they do not, we can be sure that it Authority, can do in advance of legislation to consolidate represents exactly who they are and what values they and reduce those fixed costs. The Government should represent. be not just pushing them in that direction, but shoving We need to level up every part of the United Kingdom. them forcefully towards the right agenda. Across the country, families and businesses are desperate for support to recover from the covid pandemic and to end finally the squandered potential of our regions. I 8.6 pm stand ready to work with the Government because, in this hour of need, there is so much that we can do Anna McMorrin (Cardiff North) (Lab): The Chancellor together, but we must work not for political gain, but said that this was an honest Budget which meets the for a much greater good. moment. Well, the Chancellor certainly met the moment for his mounting leadership bid, but it was nowhere near what was required to meet the tough realities of 8.3 pm my constituents. Paul Maynard (Blackpool North and Cleveleys) (Con): This Budget was a lost opportunity to provide security I welcome the chance to speak in this debate in support for those in hard-hit and precarious sectors, to provide of a Budget that is a delicate act to get the balance just economic justice to the excluded millions who have right between not choking off the economic recovery gone a year without support and to provide recognition fundamental to recouping our covid expenditure over for our protectors or stability for our businesses. There the medium to long term, and ensuring that we live was no recognition for our public sector workers who within our means for day-to-day spending from now on are at the forefront of the crisis and who we depend on and future-proofing our debt repayments against the to get us through. It was a Budget with a thin green potential for interest rate rises. veneer, not one that will properly finance climate action To be a truly Conservative Government, we must go to protect the health of people and planet, or demonstrate further by championing growth, promoting free enterprise to the world the power of the UK’s example as a climate —a concept rarely mentioned these days—but also leader in the year of COP. improving financial resilience. Weknow that the economic The Chancellor said this was a Budget to provide harm done at an individual and family level during the certainty. Well, he should tell that to my constituents pandemic has been aggravated by a lack of financial who have already lost jobs because businesses had to resilience. We should be accelerating the Government’s make tough decisions because they were kept in the response to the Woolard review, tackling with vigour dark. The Chancellor chose to time the extension of the disproportionate costs faced by those living in poverty furlough and business support when it was politically and turbocharging schemes such as Help to Save. convenient, kicking the can down the road to this Nowhere should that be more important right now autumn for when the Office for Budget Responsibility than protecting access to cash. Important as it is to predicts unemployment to hit a peak and when the celebrate International Women’s Day, I note that the universal credit uplift will be stripped away along with Fawcett Society is once more highlighting the lack of the furlough scheme—a frightening cliff edge looming women on our banknotes. I do not disagree with that this autumn, one of the Chancellor’s own making. analysis, but what we should be debating is whether we Today, on International Women’s Day, let us not will even have banknotes soon if we fast forward to a forget that this pandemic has had a disproportionate cashless economy without taking stock of how we get impact on women, who are more likely to work in low there. That is the debate we should be having. I declare pay and insecure positions. Unpaid carers hit 13 million an interest as a member of LINK’s Consumer Council, last year, predominantly women. There was nothing in which seeks to safeguard access to cash machines. the Budget for them either. Thank God in Wales for a As the Economic Secretary well knows, I am a little Welsh Labour Government, who have weaved a stronger disappointed there is no commitment right now to an safety net throughout the crisis.When the UK Government access to cash Bill, but I am in no way downhearted. failed or dithered, they stood up. 597 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 598 Situation Situation This Chancellor is also slashing life-saving support with a real-terms pay cut for our NHS heroes. He around the world: the aid that builds resilience to the sneaked it out in the small print after he got his favourable climate crisis and future health challenges. During a headlines on Budget day—not exactly up front and pandemic, the Government are pulling back our first honest. response to future crises and hitting the vulnerable The Chancellor said he would pay the NHS the extra hardest, the consequences of which we will feel here at costs of dealing with covid, but we read in The Times home. The Government are turning their backs. Overseas today that he is looking at ways of forcing them to pay and here at home, the Government are recklessly playing those costs from existing budgets. NHS managers say with people’s lives, pushing people to the brink only to they will have to start cutting services from 1 April to pull them back just a bit. That is not how responsible meet the £8 billion gap. There was nothing in his Budget Governments behave. It is time to do the right thing. to enable the NHS to start to treat the 4.5 million people now on waiting lists for treatment of non-covid 8.9 pm illness; nothing to deal with the exhaustion and trauma that NHS staff, who have fought on the frontline of this Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot) (Con) [V]: This pandemic, are dealing with, except a real-terms pay cut; is a Budget of which I am proud. I think that the and nothing to sort out the scandal of underfunded Chancellor has done an astoundingly good job. It is a and unreformed social care. All this is part of the extra responsible Budget. It has found that balance between £4 billion in cuts in the Budget for public spending on helping businesses, helping people and giving them vital services, over and above the £12 billion he had some certainty that, while we have this road map out of already pencilled in last November. Austerity is back our current lockdown, the support will be there, and for public services, not that it ever went away. that is incredibly valuable. What about poorer households and low-paid workers, I had one of my regular fortnightly meetings with my who are much more likely to be furloughed and much local businesses this morning, and I was interested to more likely to have lost their jobs or some of their gauge their reaction. I have to saythat it was overwhelmingly income? There is not much in this Budget for them. This one of relief. They were delighted with what the Budget £30 billion fiscal tightening and the huge tax increases delivered, and they were particularly pleased with the in this Budget hit the lower paid and poorest most. extension of the business rates relief and, indeed, With incomes forecast to fall by 4.5% by 2025, the the extension of the VAT relief. I would like to take the Chancellor has slashed help to those struggling. He is opportunity to pay tribute to Teignbridge, my district cutting the income of unemployed people by £20 a council, and my local businesses for making the most of week—a 7% cut overnight, just as unemployment is the opportunities to keep going and to survive—and forecast to reach 2.2 million when he ends furlough in that is what they have done. September. It is a double whammy for those losing their However, there do remain some concerns. The first, jobs. He is forcing council tax up, hitting the poorest which has already been rehearsed by a number of colleagues, hardest. Many of my constituents are already finding it is about those who have been excluded. For example, hard to feed themselves and their families. This Budget directors who have paid themselves historically by dividends will make that even worse and it will remove support have been totally left out of any support during the just when things are forecast to get even worse. totality of this pandemic. It is not their fault—there This Budget most certainly does not meet the moment. was nothing wrong with being paid by that mechanism— There is no plan for NHS recovery, just a plan for NHS and I would urge the Chancellor to look at that again. cuts. There is no plan for helping poorer households, My second concern is that the very smallest of businesses just a plan to impoverish them further. The covid crisis on the edge may or may not, by the time we come out has exacerbated poverty and inequality. Far from setting this, just fall over that edge. For them, it seems to me the UK on a path to fix the damage, the Chancellor that we need to look to the future. We need to look at seems intent on making things worse. how we can help them start again. We have a history of being very concerned about phoenix businesses, because 8.15 pm too often unscrupulous businessmen or women have established businesses, made money on the back of Robert Largan (High Peak) (Con) [V]: During this others, and then folded them and taken away the profit. moment of crisis and uncertainty, I believe this Budget But going forward there will be some phoenixes, and we strikes the right balance. It ensures that vital support have to find a way of distinguishing good from bad. I continues for families and businesses, while being honest would urge the Chancellor to look again at the credit and fair about how we fix the public finances. Crucially, record framework to find a mechanism to fairly support the Budget also sets out the next steps for levelling up. the truly deserving, but not those that are not. Getting back to normal must not mean failing to address the deep-rooted economic and political imbalances in A good Budget—well done to the Chancellor. our country, especially the north-south divide. 8.12 pm Last month, my colleagues and I in the levelling up taskforce joined the excellent think tank Onward to Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood) (Lab) [V]: The launch a report on levelling up the tax system. The Chancellor is by instinct a small state idealogue who analysis showed how capital allowance reform would slashes the public realm, but he prefers to claim to be a overwhelmingly benefit the north and midlands, especially Keynesian spender who dispenses largesse to those affected in places such as Derbyshire. So I was delighted to see by the covid crisis. But his treatment of the NHS shows the Chancellor announce the proposed super deduction, us the true nature of the Chancellor’s Budget: it is which will help businesses to expand and create new sneaky. He said he wants to be honest with the public, jobs. It is exactly what we need right now and it is a but he substituted his previously promised 2.1% pay rise potential game changer for rebalancing the economy. 599 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 600 Situation Situation [Robert Largan] global diplomacy to deliver it. We are months away from COP26 and the UK effort is nowhere near what is The Budget marks a real turning point for the north needed, with a delivery team that fails to inspire and as a whole. For decades, Governments of all parties with this Budget serving to remind us and the rest of the have focused far too much on London and the south-east, world that action on climate change is not a priority for to the detriment of places such as High Peak. The Leader the UK. of the Opposition chose to pour scorn on the decision One could be forgiven for thinking that Brexiters to relocate large parts of the Treasury to Darlington, would want to show that they can perform like a world which was announced alongside the establishment of Government, but instead we get announcements, 10-point the first infrastructure bank in Leeds. What the Labour plans, targets and wizard wheezes that lead to no action leader fails to understand is that these moves represent and that the Government seem to think are an end in an important shift in both power and the culture of the themselves. The world will be watching while COP26 civil service. If senior civil servants all live in London fails. and all commute into Whitehall, is it any surprise that This Budget could have seen funding allocated to the capital has done disproportionately well when it retrofit high-quality insulation and efficient heating or comes to Government investment? If senior civil servants to get district heating systems up and running to help were commuting into Manchester from, say, New Mills, address the UK’s greenhouse emissions, but there is I reckon that railway line would have been upgraded nothing practical, not even a bump for the existing decades ago. I appreciate that that concept might be green homes grants. There is nothing for a transition difficult to comprehend for a Labour party that seems deal and a miserly £27 million for energy transition. to think that new leadership entails moving from one There is nothing about recovery spending for nature north London borough to another. and no mainstreaming of natural capital costs. The Budget is a real statement of intent that this Government are going to invest in the north. The The Government have plenty to say about shiny £4.8 billion levelling up fund is a key part of this. I was competitions—there is a new one on energy storage— really pleased that High Peak has been identified as one ignoring already successful and operational schemes of the top priority areas for the fund and will receive such as Cruachan. There are competitions to create more than £100,000 to help develop a local bid—and showcases, but no cash on offer to get on and deliver. with good reason. High Peak badly needs investment in There is net zero by 2050, but no practical strategy our local infrastructure. On some measures, Gamesley about how to get there. Should the VAT system not be is ranked among the top 1% most deprived areas in the altered to encourage green home upgrades? What about country, which is largely down to very poor transport incentives for more efficient white goods or drivers of links. Gamesley has been waiting for more than 50 years behavioural change to encourage action towards for a railway station to properly connect it to both environmental sustainability? Glossop and Manchester. Politicians of all parties have The Chancellor has said his freeports will support been promising a bypass to the people of Glossop and green fast-growing industries, which is not something Hadfield for well over 50 years as well, and in the that anyone else thinks, but it is indicative of this second half of 2019 the Hope Valley line had some of Government’s attitude that someone else will sort things the worst train punctuality figures anywhere in the out. We need forward planning and anticipatory spend country. The capacity on that line desperately needs to to upgrade the grid for the extra juice as we switch to be upgraded. Our digital infrastructure also leaves much electric vehicles and for domestic heating and cooking. to be desired. Given our unique geography in the Peak That failure lays down problems for the future. In the district, we have some of the worst broadband blackspots same vein, we need to see the transmission charging anywhere. scheme changed to ensure that renewable energy can be However, there are reasons to be optimistic. Highways pumped into the grid wherever it is produced. England and Balfour Beatty have signed a contract to From an environmental and climate point of view, build the Mottram bypass and Glossop spur road. this UK Budget is empty, showing the lack of concern Punctuality on the Hope Valley line has improved markedly and ambition that the Government have for the issue. since the Government stepped in to take over the Northern Perhaps it would better serve us all if they turned over franchise and the ancient Pacers have finally been replaced responsibility and resources to the devolved Governments with modern trains. And Openreach has recruited an and Administrations, who are at least attempting to additional 15 engineers to speed up the roll-out— address these issues. The Government could even learn from their examples. Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Rosie Winterton): Order. I thank the hon. Gentleman for his speech, but we need to move on now. 8.22 pm Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (The Cotswolds) (Con) 8.19 pm [V]: I commend my right hon. Friend the Chancellor for Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP): his Budget, which was strong on enterprise, innovation Missing from this Budget is any real effort towards and recovery.The help announced last week for businesses addressing climate change and the environmental problems has been particularly welcomed in the Cotswolds, where the world faces. This Government like to talk about the local economy is built on small businesses, notably climate change but they do not act on that chat. So we in hospitality, leisure and the tourism sectors. I have get a token commitment to a green economic recovery been calling for extra support for those businesses, as while they continue to crank up the pressure to carry on they are the backbone of our economy and deserve regardless. When France was creating the Paris agreement, protection after being compelled to stop trading by the it invested huge amounts of money, time and effort into pandemic. The restart grant of up to £18,000 for hospitality 601 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 602 Situation Situation and leisure businesses, including personal care, hairdressers have. The politics are so obvious that I nearly took a and gyms, will help to reinvigorate them as we begin to drive to Barnard Castle to check whether my eyes were open up the economy, in addition to the local council deceiving me. discretionary fund of another £425 million. Last week, the Mayor of London announced his The road map has brought a great deal of reassurance vision for a 1945-style recovery for London, with “Jobs, for many business owners, with hospitality, leisure and jobs, jobs” as his mantra. The Chancellor must work personal care businesses starting to reopen on 12 April. with the Mayor to deliver this ambitious plan, instead They want to be able to reopen sooner and I have been of standing in his way, and to deliver a post-furlough making extensive representations to the Government jobs guarantee. Instead of a Budget to get our country on that point. Sadly, some are not scheduled to reopen working after covid, we saw the spectre of austerity until 21 June. I will continue to raise their plight. As the return to the Dispatch Box. The Chancellor is more whole route map is driven by data, if it is safe to do so, interested in his social media than in social justice. He we should accelerate the reopening of certain sectors, found money for well-lit videos but nothing for NHS such as outdoor events. nurses. Tin-eared and cold-hearted, this Budget was a Around 60,000 businesses in the UK are in the weddings litany of opportunities missed and chances squandered. sector. They usually thrive in the Cotswolds, but have The Chancellor failed to meet the moment and his been pushed to the brink by lockdown. I hope that Budget failed to meet the needs of the most vulnerable. many of those businesses will be supported by the restart grant, but they were not specifically mentioned 8.27 pm in the Budget speech. Debt and borrowing are at a peacetime high, so the Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater and West Somerset) fiscal challenge to reduce them is particularly challenging. (Con) [V]: I have given the Chancellor an enormous No one wants to see taxes rise, but in these difficult amount of praise during this crisis and for this Budget, circumstances it is right to even up the burden between but I offer him a few words of caution. He and I have individual and corporation tax. crossed swords only once, and that was three years ago, when he was the Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Finally, it is important that G7 agreement is sought Communities and Local Government with the task of so that the digital tax is made effective. It would be forcing through a law to abolish my local council in totally unfair for those businesses on the high street that West Somerset and create a new, bigger council with have suffered considerably due to the lockdown—and Taunton, which was a financial disaster. The idea was will have to start paying rates in June—if companies conceived by local Conservatives and sold to the online that have made substantial windfall profits are Government even though it was widely unpopular. The not efficiently taxed. public never got a proper say or a referendum. I warned my right hon. Friend that the issue would 8.24 pm rebound, and it jolly well did. As soon as the ballot boxes came out, people picked the Liberal Democrats, Feryal Clark (Enfield North) (Lab) [V]: Last week’s and the Conservatives were punished. I warn him that Budget was the Government’s golden opportunity to this could happen again, with a huge financial cost step up and fix the endemic inequality that they have throughout Somerset. He must remember the summer created throughout the country and in my own constituency of 2018, when the leader of the county council came to of Enfield North. They failed in that task on every London with a pet plan to form a local government. He conceivable level. They failed nurses, who deserve better did not bother to consult party colleagues in Somerset than the pitiful 1% pay increase they have been offered. first. I warned my right hon. Friend then to tread very They failed teachers, who have been given little support carefully, because he had seen it once already. I think he to plan a safe return to school for their students. They listened, but the leader of the county council returned failed businesses and the self-employed, including White and attempted to talk to his counterparts. The district Photographic Ltd in my constituency, which is one of council was invited to look at all the options and the 3 million businesses that have been excluded from produce a report, but when it reached no definite conclusion the Government’s support over the past 12 months. the leader of Somerset County Council branched out There are currently more than 19,000 people registered on his own again and, again, we had a financial mess. unemployed in Enfield and 28,000 on furlough who still That brings us to 2020 and the start of this frightful do not know what the future holds for them. There are pandemic, when every single council faced a huge crisis, nearly 14,000 people who were punished by the Chancellor and not just financially. Surely it is a lousy time to chase with a £500 cut to universal credit, which will see nearly dreams when you are meant to be looking after people, £7 million taken out of our local economy this year. but our county council insisted, and here we are. The The Budget was bad for families, for small business, for Chancellor’s old Department is behaving in the same frontline workers and for our communities. way—the people’s voice is not being heard. Instead of Who was the Budget for? It turns out that it was a another tacky online questionnaire that can be tweaked, Budget to support the Government’s local campaigns leaked and interfered with by anybody anywhere in the for re-election, with more than £1 billon funnelled into world, let us have proper consultation. their constituencies. This Government believe that they The Chancellor has been extraordinarily generous to can help to level up the UK—[Inaudible.] London has Somerset County Council, providing it with £80 million. some of the most deprived communities in the country— The emergency funding runs into many millions. My even more so after this pandemic. Analysis by the right hon. Friend may be shocked to learn that, believe London Mayor shows that 14 boroughs should have it or not, £13,550 has been squandered on a local TV been given the highest priority for funding, yet only two love-in and regional treasure, with a glowing video to 603 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 604 Situation Situation [Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger] Budget continues to fail manybusinesses in my constituency, in Scotland and across the other nations of the UK. I promote the council leader using covid money. That is hope that the Chancellor is listening and will address the monthly equivalent of a Cabinet Minister’s salary these valid concerns. for a couple of days’ work. It is a tacky saga that could all end in tears for our party. 8.33 pm I warn the Chancellor that this will be a financial disaster. The council has used the money that was Sarah Champion (Rotherham) (Lab) [V]: The economic meant for covid in the Budget to balance its books and impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been immediate put money into roads and car parks, and unfortunately, and severe. While it is welcome that the Government that continues. I hope that the Chancellor is listening have taken some steps to protect jobs in the short term, before we have another problem on our hands. the reality for many is that they face losing jobs that were stable and secure prior to this crisis. Sadly, that process has already begun in Rotherham. 8.30 pm In my constituency, 75 workers at Rolls-Royce face Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) imminent redundancy.Those are well-paid, highly-skilled (Ind) [V]: I welcome some of the measures that the jobs, and their loss will have a devastating impact on the Chancellor has brought forward in the Budget. I am town. Rolls-Royce’s Rotherham facility is based at the delighted that he listened to the concerns of the Showmen’s Advanced Manufacturing Park, which I know will be Guild in my constituency and across the UK by identifying familiar to the Minister. The park is a world-class base that sector as having exceptional reasons to maintain for innovation, research and manufacturing and the entitlement to use red diesel beyond April 2022. jewel in the crown of our local economy.The Government are more than happy to use it as a backdrop for policy However, a sector that feels let down by this year’s announcements. What they must do now, however, is Budget is the one represented by the Federation of defend its long-term future. The aerospace sector has Wholesale Distributors,having been excluded from business been hit especially hard by the pandemic, and I appreciate rates relief while hospitality, retail and leisure have all the profound challenges that Rolls-Royce faces. The been included since the beginning of the policy. I urge need for the Government to support this strategically the Chancellor to consider the merits of including this important industry is self-evident. They must recognise long-struggling sector in his plans for an extension of the inextricable link between aerospace and the wider the business rates holiday.If the wholesale sector continues aviation sector. That is particularly true for businesses to suffer the stress it has under this pandemic, with such as Rolls-Royce, which derives revenue from the minimal Government support, the disastrous knock-on flying hours of the engines it produces. The global effects on the hospitality and retail sectors will be travel taskforce is an important step, but the aviation dramatic and unparalleled. and aerospace sectors need a clear exit strategy, and one It is vital to acknowledge the lack of clarity given to that works internationally. These businesses are global another essential sector, many of whose employees live and do not work just to a UK boundary. in my constituency: the aviation sector. As John Holland- The UK should use its chairing of the G7 this year to Kaye, CEO of Heathrow airport, recently noted, create a global plan to get aviation flying again. Aerospace “The Chancellor talks about protecting jobs and livelihoods, and aviation are industries that may take considerably fixing the public finances and laying the foundations for the longer than others to recover once restrictions are lifted. future economy, and yet he continues to ignore the UK’s aviation The Government need to acknowledge that additional, sector.” long-term business support will be needed. This means The extension of the airport and ground operations also accepting that measures such as furlough may need support scheme for a further six months is welcome, but to continue beyond September in certain sectors. The the failure to guarantee a full business rates holiday for Government should view this as an investment for airports across the UK will have dramatic repercussions future prosperity.As the Chancellor himself acknowledged for the aviation industry. in the Budget: UK airports have had high fixed costs throughout “Business investment creates jobs, lifts growth, spurs innovation this period to keep their operations running 24/7. The and drives productivity.”—[Official Report, 3 March 2021; Vol. 690, impact on the sector has been unprecedented, with c. 527.] passenger volumes down significantly and virtually no I agree, but the Government’s rhetoric on levelling up revenue for the past year. The industry is at a standstill. the north will ring hollow if they stand idly by while It is imperative that a clear road map out of the crisis is dedicated, highly skilled workers lose their jobs. provided by Government, so that the industry has time While I am sympathetic to the challenges that the to prepare, plan and open up the market safely. That industry faces, Rolls-Royce is not without fault. I am cannot be done overnight. As Robert Sinclair, CEO of concerned that despite the furlough scheme, it is pressing London City airport, recently said, this is not just an ahead with substantial job losses. Furlough’s very purpose industry in its own right; it underpins the rest of the UK is to prevent that from happening, so why is it not using economy and is an enabler of trade, tourism, import, it? These are skilled employees who will not easily be export, retail and hospitality, so getting aviation open replaced as the industry recovers. To show them the sooner rather than later will aid recovery. door now is deeply short-sighted and will have wider I share the Chancellor’s expressed belief that we must implications for the supply chain and Rotherham’seconomy. give every business an opportunity to grow, innovate Taxpayer support for business to survive the current and succeed in the post-pandemic world and play their crisis must aim to protect jobs and not the bottom line part in the economic recovery, but the reality is that this of shareholders. 605 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 606 Situation Situation 8.36 pm 8.39 pm Gerald Jones (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney) (Lab) James Wild (North West Norfolk) (Con) [V]: I welcome [V]: Time does not permit me to cover all the issues that this Budget and the continued support for families and I would like to, but I shall start with the vital extension jobs in North West Norfolk. The scale of the package is of the £20 universal credit uplift to September, which is, vast, and I particularly welcome extending the universal of course, welcome and is something that I and many credit uplift, continuing the furlough scheme and widening other Opposition Members have been calling for. However, access to self-employment support. it does not go far enough. The Chancellor once again recognised the very Last Wednesday, the Chancellor had the opportunity challenging situation faced by tourism and hospitality to do the right thing and make the uplift permanent. It businesses. This is a vital part of west Norfolk’s economy, was disappointing, albeit not surprising, to see that he worth about £500 million and making up one in every still intends to go ahead with cutting the uplift in five jobs, so it is great news that the business rates September. This will mean a cut of £7.8 million to the holiday and the 5% VAT rate, which I campaigned for, local economy just in my Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney have been extended. There is also a strong case to constituency, leaving as many as 6,750 vulnerable families consider extending the lower 12.5% VAT rate, which £1,000 a year worse off. We all know that the economic applies from October, on an ongoing basis. impact of the pandemic will be felt far beyond September this year, with some of the most vulnerable families in Longer term, we need further action to build a more our communities set to be hit the hardest as a result of resilient visitor economy. The 2019 sector deal pledged the measures confirmed by the Chancellor last week. to create five tourism zones, increase visitor numbers, Therefore, the Government’s decision to end this vital extend the season and invest in skills. Visit East of extra support in September is all the more callous. England and the New Anglia local enterprise partnership are developing a bid for Norfolk and Suffolk, focused Turning to Wales, the Budget provides additional on heritage, culture, sustainability, skills and accessibility. revenue funding for Wales of £735 million, almost Digital is also an important part of that bid, through entirely as a result of covid measures in England. On a skills for small and medium-sized enterprises and access like-for-like basis, the Welsh Government’s core budget to full fibre. I would be grateful if the Minister could for day-to-day spending in 2021-22 is still 4% lower per ensure that the tourism recovery strategy that my right head in real terms than it was in 2010-11—11 years on hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, and it is still lower in real terms. In addition, despite the Media and Sport mentioned will kick off that process. Chancellor’s intentions for an investment-led recovery, While some delay has been understandable, it is now he failed to provide the additional capital stimulus important to get on with this initiative. needed to lay the foundations, with not a single extra penny for capital spend in Wales. The Budget also shows the Government’s commitment That leads me to the lack of support for those affected to growth across the country. I am pleased that King’s by flooding in my area. Just over a year ago, I asked the Lynn and west Norfolk is in the priority group for the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s questions for his new levelling-up fund. After a very disappointing result commitment on this issue and, at the Dispatch Box, he in the Future High Streets bid, I know that Ministers promised, in his words, to passport the money through will look closely at our town investment plan, which to Wales to help to deal with the floods. Only after includes projects to maximise our historic riverfront 10 months was there a sign of the support, but it and town centre, the creative hub and guildhall complex commits only to the current financial year and provides at the oldest working theatre in England, with strong only a fraction of what is needed. In this Budget, there Shakespeare links, the innovation incubator community is no provision to meet this urgent need. hub and the sustainably connected town centre. Finally, the approach to replacing EU structural funds by directly allocating funding in Wales on devolved It is business investment that will help drive the matters through the UK community renewal fund and recovery, so the super deduction is very welcome, but I the levelling-up fund is just not acceptable. Clearly, the urge the Treasury to look at the concerns of the National people of Wales will benefit from only a fraction of the Farmers Union that many firms will not be able to funding that they would have received from EU funding, benefit from investment in new farm technology.Measures demonstrating again the Government’s failure to invest to encourage apprentices and trainees are the right adequately in Wales. This is despite the promise made priorities, and, like businesses, I look forward to the to deliver not a penny less for the people of Wales. interim business rates review. It is important that the timetable for creating a level playing field for our high The community renewal fund is £220 million across streets does not slip. the whole UK, so a population share for Wales would be only around £11 million. The levelling-up fund is In the face of an unprecedented pandemic, £4.8 billion over four years, with £600 million in the unprecedented economic support has been provided. Budget for 2021-22, so our population share is £30 million. The Budget was honest about the challenges, but it Based on the very limited information that the Government makes the right call to continue short-term support have provided, a reasonable assumption of what Wales while setting out a path to fix the finances. While might get from these two funds next year is around corporation taxes are unwelcome, they are necessary £40 million to £45 million, compared with, on average, because as Conservatives we know, from clearing up the the £375 million each year that Wales received in recent mess left by Labour Governments, that you cannot keep years from European structural funds. Clearly this is spending without one day having to settle the bill. I just not good enough, and I hope that the Minister will back the Budget to support the recovery as well as to lay provide some clarity on these issues as he closes today’s the foundations for a strong economy. debate. 607 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 608 Situation Situation 8.43 pm If we are going to achieve the Chancellor’s vision for Mark Eastwood (Dewsbury) (Con) [V]: The Chancellor Teesside, he will have to address some of the fundamental has delivered a fair and bold Budget in extremely difficult issues driving regional inequality.The most recent figures circumstances. He has rightly continued to provide support from the North East Child Poverty Commission reveal to those businesses and individuals that have been affected that the north-east has experienced the steepest increase by the economic side-effects of the pandemic. At the in child poverty levels of anywhere in the country, rising same time, he has taken prudent decisions to ensure the from 26% in 2014 to 35% in 2019. In my constituency of health of the public finances and to incentivise investment. Stockton North, the rate is over 34%, with other areas in the Tees valley higher still. For under-fives, the rate is I welcome the proactive engagement from Treasury a heartbreaking 42%. Those figures should shock the colleagues ahead of this crucial Budget, and I am Tory Government; they certainly shame them. pleased that the Government have listened to concerns raised by myself and colleagues on a range of issues. I In Stockton North, more than 3,000 families with put my signature to a letter from the Northern Research children are in receipt of universal credit, so I am Group urging the Chancellor to continue providing pleased that the Chancellor finally agreed to extend the business rates relief to retail, hospitality and leisure £20 uplift. However, he will now cut it at the same time venues. In continuing to give that support to high street bringing the furlough scheme to an end and when businesses at 100% relief and then tapering it to 66%, unemployment is expected to rocket again—the exact the Chancellor is putting out a lifeline to affected businesses moment at which the OBR has expected that unemployment in our towns. The survival of these businesses will be will peak at 2.2 million. A fortnight ago I asked the important to the levelling-up agenda and in bringing new Prime Minister what action his Government would life to our high streets, which are the long-term goals of take to policies such as the towns fund, for which Dewsbury “free our children from poverty”—[Official Report, 24 February has submitted a bid. Similarly, I was pleased to see the 2021; Vol. 689, c. 913.] retention of the stamp duty cut for the time being, He said that that was about jobs, and I agree, but he before it tapers off over the course of the year. The needs a reality check about the north-east of England. furniture industry is a major employer in my constituency, The region now finds itself with the highest unemployment and the cut was well received. I wrote to the Chancellor rate, the lowest employment rate and the lowest average in my capacity as vice-chair of the all-party furniture hours worked of all British regions. Workers in the industry group, laying out the link between house sales north-east also have the lowest average full-time wages. and furniture sales and the importance of a phased We need bold action on jobs. withdrawal. Stockton is often used as a case study to highlight Finally, it was encouraging to see that, despite the health inequalities in the UK. Men in the town centre pandemic, this Budget recognised the importance of live 18 years less than people down the road. I have said sports and culture. Our grassroots football facilities time and again in this Chamber, and in every single have long needed investment, and more than 150,000 Budget debate, that we need a new hospital in Stockton games a year are cancelled due to poor pitch quality. if we are to address the health inequalities in our area. There is a strong link between taking part in grassroots It is time that the Government delivered it. football and obesity reduction, meaning that, alongside funding for the World cup bid, this is a long-term investment that will pay dividends. 8.48 pm I hope that the Government will continue to engage Carolyn Harris (Swansea East) (Lab) [V]: Nobody on issues that did not fall under this Budget, which I has been immune to the impact of covid, so nobody commend to the House. should be left out when it comes to recovery support. Unfortunately, however, so many have been, and last 8.45 pm week’s Budget suggests that that is set to continue. Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab): The Tees The Chancellor may think that he can roll out the big valley needed a Budget to help replace the extra 12,500 numbers and the sensational headlines and that the jobs lost in the past 11 months. What we got was small print will go unnoticed, but that small print is politically opportunistic short-termism with more promises people’s livelihoods, and one industry that has been of jobs for our area, but without the investment and overlooked yet again is the personal care sector.On average, detail needed to actually deliver them. I wholeheartedly these businesses were closed for 140 days in 2020 and welcome the 750 Treasury jobs for Darlington, but we will be closed for at least 101 days in 2021. We are cannot ignore the fact that Stockton lost 400 HMRC talking about 50,000 businesses that employ around jobs six months ago and that the north-east has lost 560,000 people—mostly women. Despite the unnecessary 6,680 civil service jobs since 2010. and insulting snickering that a number of colleagues on The freeport presents an interesting opportunity, and the Government Benches, including the Prime Minister, it could play a part in our recovery, although many previously felt that this industry warranted, it is an economists question what, if any, real benefit freeports industry worth £30 billion to our economy, not something bring. We urgently need to see the detail and an end to to be laughed at. I am pleased that the hair, beauty and all the secrecy and announcements without substance. wellbeing sector can think about reopening on 12 April, That is more important tonight, when we hear that jobs but while other industries have been granted a third at LIBERTY Steel on Teesside and hundreds elsewhere VAT cut, this sector has, yet again, been left to fend for could be in jeopardy as its lender has gone bust, and I itself. These businesses are facing, on average, £40,000 understand that LIBERTY is part of the freeport bid. in lost revenue, so even with business restart grants and, The Tories have let us down in steel on Teesside many a hopefully, a guaranteed date for reopening, their future time; I do not want them to do it again. survival is by no means certain. To recoup their losses, 609 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 610 Situation Situation they need a VAT reduction to match that of other sectors. Finally, I echo the comment that was made at the They are not asking for special treatment. They are beginning of this debate about the directors of companies asking to be included in those arms that the Prime who take their income in dividends. Wemust do something Minister is so keen to tell everyone that he is wrapping for them. As an inspector of taxes, I fail to understand around the whole country. the arguments put forward by Her Majesty’s Revenue Closely linked to the hair and beauty sector is the and Customs on this issue. It really is a question of wedding industry, with each relying on the other for a fairness that we do something to help them. proportion of their income. Both are worth multi-billions of pounds to our economy, both support hundreds of 8.54 pm thousands of jobs, both employ women, and both are at risk of collapse due to sustained lockdowns and insufficient LloydRussell-Moyle(Brighton,Kemptown)(Lab/Co-op): Government support. This is a Budget that sounds half-reasonable when we first hear it, and then even that half quickly unwinds as We all want our route out of lockdown to be safe and we delve deeper. The latest blow, of course, will in my restrictions lifted cautiously, but permitting sporting view be to social care, one of the hardest-hit sectors in events to go ahead with 1,000 people indoors or 10,000 this pandemic and the one that desperately needs funding. people outdoors six weeks before allowing 30 people to I went to my local hospice—on a Zoom call, of course— attend a wedding is an incredible decision. It feels as straight after the Budget, and I can tell hon. Members though this Budget has a disproportionate impact on that many of us were deeply disappointed. Social care women. On this day of all days, International Women’s costs Brighton—quite rightly—£30 million a year. We Day, it saddens me to say that this Government have let only get £40 million in council tax, and unfortunately it women down throughout the pandemic. They continue is unsustainable. We could have both addressed the to do so, and yet it is women who have carried the council tax bombshell that the Chancellor is putting on heaviest burden. home owners and residents, and solved the social care problem, whereby hundreds of people have died because 8.51 pm of an ill-equipped, ill-prepared and under-resourced sector. Instead, the opportunity has again been missed, John Howell (Henley) (Con): There is much to welcome the buck has been passed and we do not know when, if in this Budget, particularly the help that has been given ever, funding for our older and vulnerable people will to business. We have heard that this includes an extension come forward. It is such a shame. to the furlough scheme, new grants and loans, as well as additional support to hospitality, cultural activities and And then, of course, there is the kick in the teeth for leisure. There are two things that I want to concentrate nurses. Ministers gave them the clap in the summer, and on in particular. As the MP who helped to introduce the now they have given them only a 1% pay rise. What do concept of assets of community value, which helped they have to be thankful for? Nothing, really, from the stop pubs being sold off and allowed them to become Government this time round. While the Government available to communities, I commend the £150 million have quite rightly taken on my suggestion that returns community ownership fund, which provides grants of for the past tax year be taken into account, and those £250,000 to allow communities to have the money to people can be included, many more are still excluded. buy them. The original scheme has saved many a pub Brighton is a hospitality town, but many in our and I have a number in my own constituency. They are hospitality sector still say that they are vulnerable. The doing rather well, providing good food and drink, and VAT rate has not been extended to all businesses that are owned widely by the community. need it, including bowling alleys and some beauty salons, and it is still not right that too many of the loans will The second issue I wish to raise is the culture funds cripple businesses going forward. which are there to help in the cultural sphere. I hope that the funds will be adequate to support national Climate change was almost untouched in the Budget. museums—not just the British Museum, but museums We know that the warm homes grant is completely throughout the land, which provide a valuable window useless. We need a street-by-street strategy, but the on the history and culture of an individual area. Budget did nothing whatsoever on that. In terms of home building and home buying, it will help those with I also want to draw attention to the support for elite the money but push up house prices and make things sports, as, of course, I have rowing in my constituency. worse for many millions; and, with the local housing The Henley regatta is intended, hopefully, to be run in allowance matching only the 30th percentile, not the August, but it is a sport that is much wider than the elite 50th as it did in 2010, many renters are still worse off. label that is often given to it. Along the banks of Henley itself, there is great support for rowing for children. 8.57 pm I also hope that the culture recovery fund will support the sector, but it is very sad that room was not found in Derek Thomas (St Ives) (Con) [V]: This is a welcome the Budget to help out the courtyard societies in Burlington Budget statement and offers much for Cornwall and the House, which are fighting to be allowed to stay, often Isles of Scilly. For example, I welcome the commitments after maintaining a presence there for several hundred to apprenticeships. I have personally employed three years. I declare an interest in this as a fellow of the apprentices under a Conservative Government. Getting Society of Antiquaries, which is one of the learned the right match between apprentices and jobs will mean societies there. They contribute so much to society, and a great and much needed route to skilled, well-paid jobs the work that they do for society, teaching people about in construction of new homes, which we badly need, in their cultural place in the world, is of enormous value. I retrofitting existing homes, which will lead to healthier, hope that the Government will still do something positive greener,warmer and cheaper homes for many,in renewable for the antiquaries and the other learned societies. energy and nature recovery—massive areas of growth, 611 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 612 Situation Situation [Derek Thomas] Ministers trying to justify the miserly real-terms pay cut to staff in the NHS, they simply do not grasp the not just here in west Cornwall but across the country—and collective impact on our economy of such pay cuts. in engineering, food and farming: all areas that are That cut is wrong because we ought to recognise those essential to this green, resilient recovery from covid. workers’ sacrifice over the last year beyond a hand clap, There are also welcome measures in the Budget for but it also wrong because it starves our economy. Where our high streets. The grants to get pubs, restaurants and does the healthcare assistant or the porter spend their tourism going again, business rate holidays, the tapered money? It is in the local economy. return and the 5% VAT rate—for which I have argued Taking that further, freezing wages for council staff is for many years, and which I hope the Treasury will see wrong. They have done incredible work over the last as critical and agree should remain for hospitality and year and should not be expected to keep going for less tourism—are all critical for west Cornwall and Scilly pay. And where does the care worker or the leisure and our recovery, as well as home buyers. I am personally centre cleaner spend their money? It is in our local sure that the stamp duty cut will have helped in many economy. These wage cuts are wrong for the individual parts of the UK. However, will the Treasury consider and devastating for our economy. the impact on areas such as Cornwall and Scilly, where The Conservative party profits by pitting public sector the housing market was already strong, but where house worker against private sector worker, but the reality is prices have not helped many local families, despite the that the private sector—and wages in the private sector— stamp duty cuts? The 95% mortgage guarantee is very benefits massively from having public sector workers helpful for these families, but it relies on house building with money in their pocket and the confidence to spend to get closer to the demand for it to be a true success. it, just as public services benefit massively from having a Will the Government ensure that all unnecessary barriers thriving private sector and all that comes with it. to homes built for local needs housing are removed so that local families can benefit from a home and from You do not have to take my word for that, Madam the 95% mortgage guarantee? Deputy Speaker; just look at the lessons of the last decade. Squeezing the public sector did not help the The support for small and medium-sized enterprises private sector, but instead caused the slowest recovery in the Budget is also welcome, and it is critical for west from a recession in our nation’s history, which in turn Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Here across Cornwall meant that we could not invest in our public services, and the Isles of Scilly, SMEs are where most of the jobs leaving us so weak when this pandemic came. I cannot are—about 85% of people are employed in such quite believe that the Government are choosing to do businesses—and they are where the recovery will be if it the same thing again. is to be sustainable and lasting. Finally, regarding our councils, Nottingham has lost I welcome this Budget. There are many helpful things £270 million of Government investment over the last in it, and there are certainly areas that will help us to decade. Vital services that affect our daily life have all deliver a green, resilient recovery in a low-carbon economy. been diminished in some way or removed entirely. Our That is absolutely what our constituents want, and this council stepped up during covid; it is simply wrong that Budget really gives us the tools and the springboard to the promise even to meet its basic covid costs, never allow that to happen. I will watch with close interest mind to fund it properly, has not been met. We needed a how effective it is on the ground in providing the Budget for growth; instead, we have just got more of the well-paid jobs that all our constituents need. same, and it will not do. 9 pm 9.3 pm Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/Co-op) [V]: I am grateful for the chance to contribute to this debate. Matt Vickers (Stockton South) (Con): In December 2019, We have heard a lot from the Government and their Back the Prime Minister pledged to repay the trust placed in Benchers about their concerns regarding the Budget— us by the people of Teesside.Despite fears that the economic concerning facts and figures relating to the nation’s pressures of the pandemic could blow that plan off course, finances, in particular the financial obligations that we they have not. This Budget delivered for Teesside. It was have built up over the last year. I believe that they are Teesside’sBudget—not only because we left more money in looking in the wrong place. people’spockets, freezing national insurance contributions, What we should be focusing on in debating this income tax, VAT, fuel duty and beer duty, but because Budget is what the Office for Budget Responsibility has we increased the national living wage and maintained said. The good news is that the economy will bounce the personal allowance so that those on the lowest back quickly—of course it will; there is so much latent incomes pay less tax. Not only are we backing individuals, demand ready to be released—but the bad news is that, we are backing business—extending the furlough, extending after that rebound, growth will bump along at around the business rates holiday, and introducing a super 1.7% for the following three years. That is the sort of deduction to incentivise business investment and growth. anaemic growth that we saw during the historically slow This Budget delivered amazing, life-changing investment recovery from the 2008 crash, particularly in the last specifically for Tees Valley. Since being elected, I have decade. It is a damning indictment that the Government’s worked alongside the amazing Tees Valley Mayor, spending plans are likely just to generate the same Ben Houchen, and my Tees Tory colleagues on a campaign impact as the failed austerity model that we were promised to land a freeport for Teesside. It was incredible, therefore, was over. to hear the news that Teesside would be home to the That is particularly the case because the Government country’s biggest freeport, bringing £3.2 billion into our have not learned the lessons of repeated years of real-terms regional economy and creating 18,000 great jobs for cuts to the pay of public sector workers. As we saw from local people. But the good news did not stop there. 613 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 614 Situation Situation Our campaign to move the Treasury to Tees Valley has Many people around the country were excluded from also won through, with incredible jobs that could be support in this Budget. The 2.4 million people who have taken up by young people from my constituency. We been excluded from financial support are not helped by will be moving decision makers up north to see what it Budget measures that apply to only some of the self- means to live, work and play in Teesside—and, more employed. The Chancellor failed again to put in the importantly,how their policies impact on my constituents. financial support needed to help people to self-isolate, Then there was the incredible news that Thornaby meaning that they still have to choose between their job was to benefit from a £23.9 million bucket of town deal and their health. Our schools are left with nothing for funding. Thornaby is an incredible town, full of amazing additional spending related to covid. Our local councils people with bags and bags of untapped potential, skills are being forced into a 5% council tax increase after a and energy. They do not want a handout; they want a decade of cuts that have seen £211 million cut from hand up. They want their fair share of opportunities budgets in my local area of Salford. that so many other towns have had—and with this To add insult to injury, the Chancellor and the money, they will get it. I have had the pleasure of sitting Communities Secretary have come up with a priority on a town deal board alongside local people, great list for the levelling-up fund that puts their constituencies independent councillors, business people, educational into priority 1 for investment but leaves Salford and institutions, housing providers and others to look at other more deprived areas lower down the queue. This how we can ensure that this money is spent to best effect was not the Budget the country needed, with its triple and on the priorities of local people: tidying up our blow of tax rises, a pay freeze and a cut to universal credit town centre, restoring pride in the heart of our community later. Worst of all, while Government Ministers are happy by getting rid of dilapidated and disused buildings like to waste billions on test and trace that fails to deliver the Golden Eagle hotel and the old Npower office and to give contracts to their cronies, they are failing block; eliminating and improving substandard housing the key worker heroes of the NHS and social care. to make sure that every family can have a proper home; and developing a skills hub giving opportunities to 9.9 pm people young and old to gain the skills they need to Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Con) [V]: It is a secure great jobs, and helping the people of Thornaby pleasure to speak in the debate this evening. This Budget to unleash their full potential. was produced after a year of extraordinary economic So yes, Wednesday’s Budget was Teesside’s Budget, challenges and an extraordinary economic response to and we are determined to make the most of the give support to families and businesses. No Chancellor opportunities that this Government have presented us would want to raise taxes or increase Government with. borrowing to the current record levels, but in this Budget the Chancellor has rightly recognised the need to continue 9.6 pm to support families and companies in the face of this extraordinary unforeseen economic shock. Barbara Keeley (Worsley and Eccles South) (Lab) [V]: This Budget may come to be remembered for what it Equally, the Chancellor is right to be honest. Modern did not mention rather than for what it did contain. The monetary theory does not mean that a magic money health and care world was reported to be stunned that tree has been found, and we cannot expand the Bank of the NHS was mentioned only once and social care not England’s balance sheet forever, so rightly and probably at all in the Chancellor’s speech, and this despite the unwelcomely, the plan to restore public finances fact that we are still in the grip of a deep crisis in health understandably includes raising taxes. and social care due to this Government’s failure to get A key imperative last week, alongside the need to covid-19 under control. The UK has experienced higher restore the public finances in the medium term, was to rates of infections, hospitalisations and deaths from the encourage investment and enterprise and to embed virus than other countries. The care sector was rocked recovery. So, alongside the planned corporate tax rises by more than 30,000 deaths, and a fragile sector has was a more generous treatment of tax losses and the now become even more fragile. Turnover in care staff is announcement of the super deduction, which will inevitably at 40% and there are still 100,000 care staff vacancies. help many companies to invest in exactly the capital The president of the Association of Directors of Adult formation that they will need for the future. Social Services has warned that the care system risks The Chancellor is also right to focus on infrastructure “catastrophic failure” without urgent changes. During spending and investment. Infrastructure is not an end in the pandemic, the number of people with unmet need is itself; it is the driver of growth and productivity in likely to have risen to 1.9 million. The £1 billion extra to economies. The policies announced last week will allow councils for social care and the reliance on councils growth and investment in both physical and social raising the social care precept by 3% are both inadequate infrastructure. I welcome the increase in departmental sticking plasters. We need a recovery plan that gets spending limits and the increase in transport spending. social care functioning properly by putting it on a par I also welcome the increase in skills investment, in with the NHS. kickstart and in the digital skills scheme. The establishment After a year of incredibly hard work spent fighting of the UK infrastructure bank is welcome, but it is the this virus, there was no mention of a recovery plan for private sector that will drive investment. A green gilt is the NHS, and we learned just a few days ago of the welcome, but I urge the Government to think about an proposal for only a 1% pay rise for NHS staff who have infrastructure bond, which would open up the potential sacrificed so much during this pandemic. My constituents for private capital—individuals and pension funds—to are angry and upset at this derisory pay proposal, invest in infrastructure. Equally, the announcement of because last year Conservative MPs promised, budgeted the consultation on changes to the capital cap for for and voted into law a 2.1% pay rise for NHS staff. pension funds will drive some of that investment. 615 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 616 Situation Situation [Stephen Hammond] the public sector stepped up to the mark and went beyond the call of duty during the coronavirus crisis, Financial services are the jewel in the UK’s economic protecting the most vulnerable, I think most rational crown, so there is good news for many and I welcome people will agree that the Government not only owe some of the other measures, but I urge the Government them praise and support, but the fair funding they to think about a review of the regulation of financial deserve. services, to ensure that we have competitiveness and also appropriateness in regard to capital and conduct. 9.16 pm Financial services will allow the necessary investment to happen in the infrastructure of the United Kingdom. I Lee Rowley (North East Derbyshire) (Con): I am welcome this Budget. It was the right Budget at this pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this time, and the Chancellor is to be congratulated on it. important debate. I welcome the Chancellor’s Budget as a clear path, a demonstration of continued support in 9.13 pm difficult times, and a way to rebuild from the challenges we are experiencing. There is the honesty of levelling Bambos Charalambous (Enfield, Southgate) (Lab): with people about some of the challenges, which has Austerity is back, not that it ever went away, and despite been absent from parts of the debate, but also the a chameleon-like effort to convince us otherwise, it did fantastic news that we are laying the foundations for not take long for us to see through the Chancellor’s some extremely important successes, which we can plan Budget, which is a continuation of the austerity that is for now and benefit from in the coming years, with, for now in its 11th year. We have the insulting 1% pay example, the town deals. increase for nurses, which, when we factor in inflation at 1.7%, will actually be a pay cut. There is no increase in I was pleased that two town deals were awarded to the pay of other public sector workers. There is a towns in my constituency, Clay Cross and Staveley. The £30 billion cut to NHS funding, nothing for social care Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Support and nothing for local authorities, some of which are on said in his opening remarks that in a few weeks, businesses the brink of collapse. This is the true face of the will reopen and hopefully not have to close again. In Chancellor’s Budget for 2021. North East Derbyshire, when we reopen in a few weeks We clapped for the NHS throughout the pandemic in Clay Cross and Staveley, we will do so with a spring and we felt devastated when we heard of the NHS staff in our step and the huge confidence that we have the who had lost their lives while caring for others. We still tools to make things even better and the real opportunity do not know the full extent of the trauma and emotional to build on our successes in the coming years. scars our NHS staff carry from performing their daily First, I thank the Government for supporting Clay work caring for many thousands of covid patients in the Cross and Staveley in the past few months. I also thank most extremely challenging conditions in our hospitals. everyone in both those towns who has worked so hard The nurses, the porters, the cleaners, the healthcare to put the town deals together. I thank Gary Golden, assistants, the theatre staff and the hospital pharmacists—if chairman of Clay Cross town board, on which I have ever there was a time to reward them for their selfless the privilege to serve, and North East Derbyshire District work during the pandemic, that time is now. I urge the Councillors Alex Dale, Carolyn Renwick and Charlotte Chancellor to give the NHS workers the proper pay rise Cupit. From the Staveley perspective, I thank Ivan they deserve. Fomin from the Staveley town board, on which I also The challenges for the NHS are not over yet. There is have the opportunity and privilege to sit. That collaboration a huge backlog of delayed operations, appointments and coming together has been successful for towns that and treatments in the pipeline. The very same staff, who have had challenges over many years. are battleworn and weary from the fight against covid, Coming from North East Derbyshire and seeing how will now be expected to tackle the tsunami of the the industrial base changed in Clay Cross and Staveley backlog, with substantially less funding in the NHS. over many years and the difficulties we had in the 1980s That is scandalous and will cost lives. and 1990s, I know it is a huge vote of confidence that In the Conservative 2019 manifesto, the first item in we now have the opportunity to make things better, and “Boris Johnson’s Guarantee” was: not just because money is coming. Money is important, but it is not about what you put in, but what is done “Extra funding for the NHS”. with the money and how it is built on. We now have the What happened to that manifesto pledge? What about opportunity to do that. That demonstrates that when social care? Where is the elusive plan for social care that we are constructive and work with and are in partnership we were promised? Social care is in crisis, and unless we with central Government, we can achieve so much more. develop a properly funded social care system, older and vulnerable people will be put at risk. I thank the Government again. They are saying clearly to us that they believe in Clay Cross and Staveley and That leads me to local authorities, which have a that we can succeed and get on. We will pay them back statutory duty to fund social care, but council budgets by doing so in the coming years. have taken a huge hit while supporting local communities during the pandemic crisis. It is no surprise that some local authorities are on the brink of bankruptcy, having 9.18 pm to go cap in hand to be bailed out just weeks before the Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab): Budget. That is what happens after 10 years of austerity. It is the greatest crisis that this country has faced since The Chancellor is always bragging about the huge the second world war, and the Chancellor offers us a amounts he has borrowed and seems ideologically wedded partisan and peripatetic Budget—partisan because it to austerity and the demise of the public sector. When seeks to shore up the majorities of Conservative MPs, reflecting on the way NHS staff, social care workers and regardless of need or national benefit, and peripatetic 617 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 618 Situation Situation as it jumps from area to area and sector to sector, giving if I did not urge him once more to cancel HS2, a project and taking with no vision and little ambition, with that had a flimsy business case to start with that has nothing on social care, nothing for our key industries, now been blown apart by projections that rail demand nothing for Newcastle and almost nothing on climate is down for the long term. change. Critically, we need stimulus for growth. The capital There is an infrastructure bank with one 20th of the gains tax increases are uncomfortable, but I very much funding for the failing test and trace system. This should trust that the Treasury modelling will show the new have been the moment to light up the road to recovery; rates to be on the right side of the Laffer curve. instead, it is a mean and limited mates’ rates economic Fundamentally, the Budget has many measures that sticking plaster. There is the super deduction capital will stimulate growth. I particularly welcome the super allowance, which treats jacuzzis the same as manufacturing deduction measures to unlock investments; fuel duty lines and rewards Amazon for investing in surveillance freezes for families and businesses alike; the restart technology but not companies for investing in people. grants, along with the extension of the 5% VAT rate, to After a decade of the Tories religiously repeating that give retail, hospitality and others a fighting chance; cutting corporation tax increases the revenues brought frozen alcohol duties; freeports and Help to Grow; and in, apparently raising corporation tax now increases the the extension of furlough and the self-employment revenues brought in. It really is the Tory magic money grants, to give businesses, particularly those with long tree, is it not? It shows that all the years of austerity lead times for new contracts, certainty as they plan were driven by Tory ideological fantasy, even though ahead. they were a horror story for the communities that It remains a mystery to me why some of those who suffered, the public services that were cut and the jobs are self-employed and earn more than £50,000 and that were lost. owner-directors of limited companies who pay themselves What about small businesses? For a year now I have through dividends have not enjoyed the same support heard from the wonderful, vibrant businesses in Newcastle as those on furlough or the SEISS. Such micro and Central that are trying so hard to keep going in this small businesses, many in the creative, cultural, tourism, pandemic. They have shown amazing resilience and events and hospitality sectors—entrepreneurs to the dedication to the protection of customers and jobs. core—are essential to our recovery. We must find a They have invested thousands of pounds in making fiscal way to get them to the other side of this crisis. I their premises covid-secure, in the technology to move am proud that my local council, Buckinghamshire Council, online if they can, or in diversifying the services that has been able to support many such businesses through they offer. Some are paying the costs of staff furlough the additional restrictions grants, but I have heard, with from their own pockets and borrowing against their enormous sadness, of far too many businesses in my homes to do so. One pub owner told me that if he gets constituency simply giving up. through this pandemic, he will be working for the bank I particularly urge the Treasury to look once more at for the rest of his life. a sector I have spoken about before: the coach industry. I wrote to the Chancellor about the town hall that I One firm in my constituency is shouldering over £30,000 held last month for Newcastle Central businesses that a month in losses, serving debts that have been caused have been excluded from covid-19 support because they because the state has asked it to meet PSVAR and Euro were started a week too late, earned a few pounds too 6 standards. More debt simply cannot be the answer for much or do not have business premises. There are such firms. thousands of them in Newcastle Central—what did the To conclude, this is a very strong Budget, a Budget Budget do for them? There was the continuation of that is honest about the level of national borrowing, but existing schemes, but nothing for those who fall through which understands that the path to recovery must come the existing gaps. from growth. If we can close the gaps and open up as The Government say that local authorities have funds soon as possible, this Budget will stand us in good stead for discretionary grants—which is true, and Newcastle for growth and prosperity. City Council has worked incredibly hard to distribute them—but it is a cowardly and base attempt to dodge responsibility. The Government know that they have 9.25 pm not offered anything like the funding necessary to fill the gaps in support which they have created. If the Sally-Ann Hart (Hastings and Rye) (Con) [V]: At this Government allow our small businesses to go bankrupt, moment, nearly a year on since the first lockdown was the demand we will see after this pandemic ends will be brought about, I am reminded of the words of Lord met by big national or international chains and fire-sale Tennyson: venture capitalists, not the local businesses that our “Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will economy and communities need. To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” 9.22 pm Over the last year, we have all grown tired of the slow passing of time as the covid pandemic has brought to a Greg Smith (Buckingham) (Con): I rise to speak in halt our lives as we once knew them. The daily confirmation support of the Budget, which is a trifold balancing act of lives lost and loved ones around the country in in respect of continuing covid support, stimulus for mourning—the pandemic really has taken a toll on us recovery and fixing the public finances. all. But now is the time, as this Budget has sought to do, Faced with £335 billion in borrowing from the covid to strive for a better future: seeking to improve the life support schemes, the Chancellor has a difficult task, chances for all and finding solutions to turbocharge our but I can help him immediately with in excess of £100 billion economy, and not yielding to the cynicism and pessimism of that: I would not be true to myself or my constituents of some. 619 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 620 Situation Situation [Sally-Ann Hart] Statutory sick pay also remains shamefully low with a Unison North West survey revealing that 80% of care This is a good Budget and the Chancellor has got the workers will continue to receive £95 per week statutory balance right between supporting our economy and sick pay if they are ill or following the Government’s jobs right now as we continue through this pandemic, advice to self-isolate or shield themselves or loved ones. and laying out the necessary and proportionate measures The right thing to do is give them full pay. to pay for that support in the future. Global Britain in a Furthermore, this should have been a Budget about post-covid-19 world can be a beacon around the globe, investing in services given the record low borrowing a shining example of how to transform an economy costs for the Government and the chronic underfunding into a high-skilled, high-waged green economy, offering of the NHS over the past decade, which so cruelly exposed opportunities for many and levelling up our left-behind our country to this pandemic and resulted in the highest communities. This Budget sets us on course for that. covid death toll in Europe. We need capital funding for First, as vice-chair of the all-party group on hospitality urgently needed upgrades to my local hospital, Stepping and tourism, I welcome the extensions of the VAT cut Hill, which I raised with the Health Secretary directly in and the business rates holiday. Those measures have January, as well as additional funding in areas such really helped the hospitality sector through the pandemic. as cancer services right across Greater Manchester. It is welcome that they will be in place as they fully open Furthermore, specific funding for areas such as dementia this summer. I would have liked to see them extended are incredibly important to my constituents. Indeed, for a further full year to really give our hospitality and according to the Alzheimer’s Society there are almost tourism sectors a turbo-boost to their recovery, so I 4,500 people aged over 65 with dementia living in the hope my right hon. Friend the Chancellor will review local authority of Stockport. Despite that, services to that when the schemes are due to come to an end. tackle this degenerative condition remain significantly Secondly, I welcome the levelling-up fund and the underfunded. inclusion of both Hastings and Rother local authorities The Budget also fails yet again to go far enough for in priority group 1. This fund will really help areas that the 3 million people who are self-employed and have have been left behind for too long to get the vital been excluded from financial help during the pandemic. investment in local projects that matter to local people. ExcludedUK branded the Chancellor’s announcement I welcome the funding support that both the local “too little too late.” authorities I represent will get in putting their bids There was also almost nothing in this Budget for together. I look forward to working with them on that, maintained nursery schools such as Hollywood Park, along with my hon. Friend the Member for Bexhill and Lark Hill and Freshfield in my constituency. This in an Battle (Huw Merriman). unsustainable position for these schools, with the National Finally, I cannot conclude without raising the case Education Union warning that many will struggle to for a High Speed 1 rail extension from Ashford International survive year on year without a long-term funding settlement. through to Hastings, Bexhill and Eastbourne. I know I It is also high time that the national minimum wage have been banging on about it for a long time and it has be lifted to £10 per hour to reduce the level of in-work been talked about for nearly 10 years, but we really need poverty. May I therefore ask the Minister when the it to come through and get that train through there. Government will present their long overdue employment Wemay have grown tired and weakened by the pandemic Bill to the House? in recent months, but now is the time to strive, to seek, Recently, the House has been informed about civil to find and not to yield as we move our economy into a service jobs moving to the north. I welcome that, but so post-covid world, as this Budget does. much more needs to be done to level up this area of the country. My constituency has excellent transport links, the availability of high-quality workspaces and a thriving 9.29 pm community; I therefore strongly encourage the Government Navendu Mishra (Stockport) (Lab) [V]: On International to move their Departments to Stockport and other Women’s Day, I would like to start by paying tribute to parts of the north-west. the achievements of women throughout history and put it on record that I stand in solidarity with all those who 9.32 pm continue to champion equality. In my own constituency, Tom Randall (Gedling) (Con): I read in the newspapers I am proud that so many members of my community this morning that millions of people are going to sit in have put on events to mark the day and celebrate the front of their television sets this evening, and as I cannot role that women have played in our history, in particular imagine they will be watching anything other than the Heaton Norris community centre for its work in creating Parliament channel I would like to take this opportunity an International Women’s Week activity workbook. I to say that this is a good Budget that will help the was delighted to receive a copy last week and I would economy in its long recovery from the strains of the last like to say a special thanks to Nadia Ali and the youth year. group at the centre for all their hard work. The theme of this evening’s debate is supporting The 1% pay rise for NHS workers is shameful. It is businesses through the crisis, and the scale of that insulting for more than 1 million staff who have put support can be seen in the assistance given to businesses themselves in harm’s way on the frontline of the covid in Gedling over the last year: over £12 million in business pandemic over the past 12 months to keep our population interruption loans; over £44 million in bounce back safe. We owe them a debt of gratitude and should be loans; nearly £9.5 million under the self-employed income rewarding them for their efforts, not insulting them with scheme; and 88,000 meals under eat out to help out. But a measly pay rise for staff who are already underpaid Government support cannot be reduced to a list of and overworked. statistics on a spreadsheet; behind every loan or grant 621 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 622 Situation Situation there is a business and a family struggling to get by. it was not reformed so that it actually worked for That was brought home to me when a constituent, a homeowners needing to make their homes energy secure small businessman, stopped me in the street and said, and efficient, while also ensuring there is work for small with tears in his eyes, “If you see Rishi, tell him thank and local businesses in my constituency and across the you for the self-employed support scheme; it’s been a country. life saver.” The Chancellor’s interventions have helped Again, there was nothing for aviation communities, to save jobs, and he and the Treasury should be commended which have been so badly hit and are dominated by a on their work. sector that will be the last to recover from the pandemic. The Government schemes are among the most generous This could have been an opportunity to make aviation in Europe, but not all have benefited. I welcome the more sustainable and more environmentally friendly, major improvement in access to the self-employed scheme while sustaining jobs, skills and businesses, for example, now that the tax return deadline for this year has in the areas around Heathrow and other airports. Unlike passed, enabling over 600,000 more people to claim the Governments in France, Germany, Spain and the US, fourth and fifth grants. The all-party group on gaps in our Government have chosen to do neither. Where is support has produced a report with further proposals, the promised sector-specific support for aviation? It which I will read with interest. should be led by a tripartite body of government, the No Government can create jobs, but they can create unions and industry that could help shape the sector’s the conditions that encourage job creation, and I therefore recovery. It is not there. welcome the creation of a new wave of freeports in the This is a Budget where the rhetoric simply does not UK, particularly the fantastic news that one of them match the reality. It fails to support the NHS staff and will be in the east midlands. Centred around East further extends the social care crisis. It is a Budget that Midlands airport, the freeport will focus on innovation, bakes in the already huge inequalities in our society. It is low carbon and trade. I was disappointed to hear that a Budget that fails to invest in covid pandemic recovery the Leader of the Opposition disparaged this scheme by and fails to address the economic hit we know our saying that the creation of freeports “isn’t levelling up” economy faces after Brexit. It is a Budget that neither but is “giving up.” The east midlands freeport has the meets the challenge of the moment we are in nor plans potential to create up to 60,000 new jobs in the region, for the future, but it is a Budget that rewards political and as I already have constituents who work in and friends. This Budget is yet another missed opportunity. around the East Midlands airport site, some of those jobs will go to Gedling residents. That is to be applauded, 9.37 pm and I hope the Leader of the Opposition will reflect on his comments. I further applaud the launch of the Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) (Con): It is a levelling-up fund and look forward to working with delight to be here physically in the Chamber once again, colleagues in Gedling to put in what I hope will be an rather than speaking to a screen. There is no doubt that extremely successful bid. the hospitality and tourism sector has been one of the most severely impacted through this pandemic. I know These are difficult times and I appreciate that they that the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, as a former will not get easier in the very short term, but I congratulate tourism Minister, will know how important this is to the Treasury and the Chancellor on setting us on the Cornwall and to my constituency. A recent report course to future prosperity. highlighted that one in three households in Cornwall rely on tourism and hospitality for some of their income, 9.35 pm and that my constituency is the most reliant on these Ruth Cadbury (Brentford and Isleworth) (Lab): In businesses in the whole country. Therefore, it was vital three minutes, I can touch on only a handful of my that the Chancellor delivered further support for businesses serious concerns about this Budget. For NHS staff this in the sector so that they can not only survive through year has been the toughest ever, yet the only reward and the coming weeks, but be ready to reopen and bounce recognition in this Budget is a 1% pay rise, which is, in back quickly, and the Chancellor did deliver on those effect, a pay cut when inflation is accounted for. We things. now know that the Government are to cut health and I am chairman of the all-party group on hospitality social care by £30 billion, with yet another year of no and tourism, and there were five things we were particularly plans to fix our social care crisis. There was nothing to asking the Chancellor. It is not often we get everything help a couple in my constituency after she was discharged we ask for in a Budget, but this time the hospitality and from hospital and they both now face astronomical tourism sector just about got everything we asked for. costs to ensure she gets the care she deserves. What does We asked for an extension of the VAT cut, and the this Budget offer them? It offers them nothing. Chancellor delivered it. We asked for a continuation of With the UK hosting COP26, we would have thought the business rate holiday, and the Chancellor delivered the Government would have a bold, ambitious and it. We asked for a continuation of the furlough scheme, sustainable plan that both tackles the climate crisis and and the Chancellor delivered it. We asked for further creates high-paid, secure green jobs, with the associated grants to give businesses the cash they need to be ready economic stimulus the UK economy so desperately to reopen, and the Chancellor delivered it. We asked for needs, but they do not. They have just a green-focused a freeze in beer duty, and the Chancellor delivered it. So investment bank, and the Chancellor did not mention this was a Budget that delivered for businesses in my that it fails even to plug the gap left behind by leaving constituency and across Cornwall, and therefore it is the European Investment Bank, nor does it replace the very welcome. green investment bank that the Conservative Government There were, however, just two things I was particularly sold off. There was a £1 billion cut to the green homes grant, disappointed with in the Budget. Another sector that which was justified on that grounds that “too few applied”; has been severely impacted by this pandemic is the 623 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 624 Situation Situation [Steve Double] way beyond the Osborne-Cameron years and right back to Thatcherism itself. This is a stance that has lasted not aviation sector. While the further business rate grants to years, but decades. Its believers include the current support airports through the coming months were very Prime Minister himself who, when campaigning to be welcome, we were hoping for some good news on a cut leader of his party, said that on air passenger duty, and we did not quite get that. So “every time corporation tax has been cut in this country it has I would encourage the Treasury to look further at what produced more revenue”. we could do to support aviation through cutting air passenger duty in the near future. With the changes announced in this Budget and the increase in rates, we do not just have a different policy; I was also disappointed about the removal of the we have a different philosophy. It is all there in the Red relief on red diesel. This is particularly going to hit very Book, set out in table 2.1 on page 42, under the heading hard the quarrying and mining sector, which is another “Strengthening the public finances”. By raising corporation very important sector for Cornwall. I understand what tax rates, the Government hope to bring in an extra the Treasury is trying to do—to move people on to £17.2 billion in a few years’ time. That is the claim; that clean energy—but the fact is that for some of the heavy is the estimate of the increased revenue that the increased gear needed, particularly in mining and quarrying, there rate will bring. just are not alternative clean bits of machinery available on the market yet. So it will be relying on diesel, and If there was any lingering doubt about the sea change this extra duty is going to hit that sector very hard. That that this represents in the thinking of the Conservative is another thing I would ask the Treasury to look at party, it was swept away by the Chancellor the day after once again: what can we do to help businesses in this the Budget. He used his post-Budget interview on the sector while new technologies come on board? “Today” programme to bury the argument of his Overall, however, it was a good Budget, and one I am predecessors. He said: happy to wholeheartedly support. “the vast majority, if not all, of that increase in corporate tax receipts is probably more likely due to the cyclical recovery in corporate profits, which took a real hammering in the last crisis”. 9.41 pm He went on to say: Mr Pat McFadden (Wolverhampton South East) (Lab): “There was an idea that they”— It is a pleasure to wrap up this debate for the Opposition. Whatever is happening elsewhere on our television screens, cuts in corporation tax— I want to begin by thanking all the hon. and right hon. “could help spur business investment. And what we’ve seen over Members for contributing to this debate, whether they the past few years is that we haven’t seen a step change in the level did so physically or virtually. We have had a very wide of capital investment that businesses are doing as a result of those range of contributions over the past few hours, and corporation tax decreases.” hon. Members have raised a whole number of issues in So there it is: Thatchernomics and Osbornenomics buried relation to the Budget. These included the Government’s in full public view by Rishinomics—no more Laffer business support schemes, the importance of technology, curves; no more pretending that tax cuts always magically the creative industries, tourism, International Women’s lead to more revenues; no more tax bombshell posters; Day and the differential impact of the pandemic on “Singapore-on-Sea” laid to rest by Budget 2021. women, green finance, the universal credit uplift and With a Budget set to bring the overall tax take back its impending cut-off, unemployment and youth to levels not seen since the 1960s, the Conservatives unemployment, the 1% NHS pay offer, the levelling up have surrendered the mantle of claiming to be the party funding and those still excluded from Government support. of low taxation. The old Conservative slogan was that it The backdrop is of course one of the most difficult was the party of low taxation. The new slogan could be, we have known. There is a pandemic that has killed over “Tax on families up, tax on businesses up, but nurses’ 120,000 people and given us a huge hit to our economy. pay down.” Let the Chancellor put his signature on I want to focus on the taxation aspects of the Budget, that. This is the platform to which he has now signed up because on this particular issue this was no ordinary the whole Conservative party. This is the change that Budget. The Budget announced by the Chancellor last the Budget represents. week marked a watershed in taxation policy on the part When we look at what the Budget predicts further of the Conservative party. For years, we have heard the ahead, UK economic growth after this year and next is mantra that lower taxation rates would lead to increased projected to be just 1.6% or 1.7%. The Budget papers revenue by stimulating more economic activity. predict a long-term hit to growth of 3% from covid, Indeed, that was the previous Chancellor’s justification on top of the 4% hit to growth as a result of the for cutting corporation tax in the first place back in Prime Minister’s agreement with the European Union. 2010. He partly funded it by cutting investment allowances The more that we can mitigate this damage to growth, for manufacturing businesses, and he continued to stick the better it will be for prosperity, family finances and to that justification for years afterwards. In 2016, the the public finances. That is the heart of the country’s then Chancellor, George Osborne, said: challenge—how to get economic growth going. After “Not only have our corporation tax cuts given us the lowest the long, hard year that business has had, we need to let corporation tax rate of all the advanced economies of the world, companies grow, breathe and get back on their feet, not but we have seen a 20% increase in receipts from corporation weigh them down with ever growing debts, so why have tax”.—[Official Report, 4 July 2016; Vol. 612, c. 625.] the Government set their face so firmly against the This was not just a single policy and not just a political proposals that came from business groups themselves to argument; it was an article of faith. It was the core of turn the covid debt burden into a contingent tax liability the taxation ideology of the Conservative party. It goes in the future, dependent on future performance? 625 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 Budget Resolutions and Economic 626 Situation Situation Last week, the all-party parliamentary group on the a small contribution to wages as the economy reopens; Black Country economy heard alarming reports from more help for the self-employed with a fourth income manufacturing companies about the forest of red tape, support grant worth 80% of three months’ average cost increases and delays that they have faced in trying trading profits and capped at £7,500; and a fifth grant, to export goods since the beginning of January. Those with its value determined by a turnover test, to target businesses represent the finest Black Country tradition support at those who need it most. In addition, more of making things and selling them all over the world. than 600,000 extra people, many of whom became There is an old saying in the Black Country: “If you can self-employed in 2019-20, will now be able to claim for draw it, we can make it.” But those businesses now find the scheme. The CBI praised those steps and said it was themselves hobbled and hamstrung by the mountain of right that businesses start to contribute a little more as red tape involved in the Government’sBrexit arrangements. revenues recover,while the Federation of Small Businesses I appreciate that some Government Members may declared that the Government’s interventions were the not regret that—in fact, some of them may welcome building blocks of a pro-business Budget. it—but the hard-working businesses of this country We are also providing targeted support to the sectors deserve more than to be used as components in the that have found themselves at the sharp end of the Government’s ongoing grievance factory against the pandemic. As my right hon. Friend the Culture Secretary European Union. They deserve more than to be used as outlined this afternoon when he opened this debate, pawns in a battle of ill feeling that will not create a that includes hundreds of millions of pounds to support single job or export a single product. We know that the our arts, culture and sporting institutions as they reopen Prime Minister has dismissed business, but that attitude and an extension of our hugely successful film and is no good to hard-working exporters and manufacturing TV production restart scheme. companies. They deserve support for their efforts. Weare giving eligible properties in the retail, hospitality Covid has exposed deep inequalities in our country, and leisure sectors a £6 billion tax cut by continuing from the pattern of those killed by it to the frontline the 100% business rates holiday for three months. We workers who have kept the country going. It has imposed are extending the 5% reduced VAT rate for eligible on us all a responsibility to build a better economy out hospitality and tourism businesses until the end of of this: one that combines prosperity and security; and September. I listened carefully to the representations one that combines the wealth creation we need with a from my hon. Friends the Members for Hastings and commitment to heal the divisions exposed by what we Rye (Sally-Ann Hart) and for North West Norfolk have been through. Under new leadership, that is exactly (James Wild). We will continue to think carefully the approach that my party will support. about what is required to support all aspects of our economy. 9.50 pm As we start to emerge from the pandemic, our new The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (John Glen): restart grants will help get shops bustling, hairdressers Over the past four and a half hours we have had snipping and fitness centres buzzing again. I can confirm contributions from well over 75 right hon. and hon. to my right hon. Friend and neighbour the Member for Members from across the United Kingdom—from Romsey and Southampton North (Caroline Nokes) Blackpool to Buckingham, and from Stockton North that personal care businesses will be included in stage 2, and South to Somerset. There may be many geographical which will open from 12 April. differences between us and differences of opinion, but I As many hon. Members have mentioned, the think all of us, no matter our political allegiance or the Government continue to take their world-leading location of our constituencies, are united in our desire environmental commitment seriously. They remain to safeguard businesses from the impact of covid-19. dedicated to meeting climate change and wider On this International Women’sDay,I take this opportunity environmental targets, including improving the UK’s to pay particular tribute to those businesses’ female air quality. employees, whose work helps to drive this country’s economic success. The billions of pounds that we spend on such interventions are necessary and affordable in the short Indeed, the desire to safeguard businesses has been term but, as the Chancellor also said last week, we this Government’s guiding mission since the first days cannot allow debt to rise indefinitely, so let me touch on of the pandemic. That is why, over the past year, we the role of businesses in rebuilding our nation’s finances, have rolled out a series of extraordinary, unprecedented as mentioned by my hon. Friend the Member for Mid interventions, including the furlough and self-employment Norfolk (George Freeman). We are providing over income support schemes, billions of pounds of grants £100 billion of support to firms throughout the pandemic, and loans, as well as VAT cuts and rate holidays for and it is only right that we ask businesses to help as they eligible firms. Those steps have worked. According to return to profit and the economy rebounds. That is why, official statistics, insolvencies last year were ranked in 2023, we are increasing the corporation tax rate to 25% below 2019 levels. However, while the pandemic 25%. Even at that level, I say to the right hon. Member continues, it is only morally right that we do all we can for Wolverhampton South East (Mr McFadden), the to support the hardest-hit firms. That is why in last UK will still have the lowest corporation tax rate in the week’s Budget the Chancellor built on our existing help G7. Before that increase kicks in, we are making the tax for businesses as part of a total covid support package treatment of losses more generous by allowing businesses worth £352 billion this year and next. to carry back losses of up to £2 million for three years, Let me remind hon. and right hon. Members of the and we are reviewing the 8% surcharge levied on headline measures: extending the furlough scheme to bank profits to ensure that the sector remains globally the end of September, with firms required to make only competitive. 627 Budget Resolutions and Economic 8 MARCH 2021 628 Situation [John Glen] investment, and the remarks of my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (Mark Pawsey), whose enthusiasm However, that is far from the sum of business’s demonstrates his understanding of the sector. contribution to our economic renewal. Companies small I end my remarks by saying that UK businesses and and large have another important role: driving growth the men and women at their helm are the backbone of and spreading opportunity around the country.I strongly our economy. We are committed to doing whatever it support the points made by my right hon. Friend the takes to support them through this crisis and to unleash Member for Chipping Barnet (Theresa Villiers) on the their potential to drive our national recovery and renewal. role of changing regulations in growing growth and This extraordinary Budget in extraordinary times sets competition opportunities. out how we will achieve that and, in so doing, secure a In our Budget plans, we are building an investment-led stronger economy and a better future for the people of recovery and we have set out how to support the firms this country as we emerge from this pandemic. that are going to do it. First, we are increasing opportunities Ordered, That the debate be now adjourned.— for young people while ensuring that firms benefit from (David T.C. Davies.) a steady pipeline of talent, with £126 million to fund up Debate to be resumed tomorrow. to 43,000 high-quality traineeships. In addition, employers who hire a new apprentice will receive a £3,000 payment. We are also rolling out a new unsponsored points-based Business without Debate visa, so that high-growth firms in science, research and tech can attract the best global talent. Secondly, we are helping firms turbocharge their DELEGATED LEGISLATION growth by providing greater access to capital through a Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing range of new schemes, as acknowledged by my hon. Order No. 118(6)), Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Stephen Hammond). They include giving the pension industry more flexibility TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT to release investment into innovative ventures and helping firms scale up through a new £375 million “future fund: That the draft National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2021, which were laid before this House on 1 February, be approved. breakthrough” programme. The FCA will also consult on the IPO listings regime following Lord Hill’s excellent review, and I know that my hon. Friend the Member for IMMIGRATION Bromley and Chislehurst (Sir Robert Neill) will watch That the draft Authority to Carry Scheme and Civil Penalties that with great interest. Regulations 2021, which were laid before this House on 28 January, be approved.—(David T.C. Davies.) Thirdly, we are closing the UK’s productivity gap. Our super deduction—the biggest two-year business Question agreed to. tax cut in modern British history—will mean our business investment tax regime leads the world. As the Culture Secretary outlined earlier, our £520 million Help to ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT Grow scheme will offer small businesses MBA-style Ordered, management training, as well as help to embrace digital That Marco Longhi be discharged from the Environmental technology. I welcome the remarks of the hon. Member Audit Committee and James Gray be added.—(Bill Wiggin [V], for Sunderland Central (Julie Elliott), who gave some on behalf of the Committee of Selection.) begrudging support for Help to Grow and digital 629 8 MARCH 2021 Disused Mineworks in Skewen: 630 Flooding Disused Mineworks in Skewen: Flooding scale of the destruction that has been caused, and I can tell the House that the residents’ stories have not got Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House any less heartbreaking. do now adjourn.—(David T.C. Davies.) Mr Godden and his son work in the ambulance service, and Mrs Godden is a nurse. The last 12 months 10.1 pm on the frontline in the battle against this pandemic have been hugely challenging for them, and now this has Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon) (Lab): On 21 January, happened. Their home is devastated. There is not much residents living in Skewen in my Aberavon constituency left. Their caravan and the vehicle they were unable to had their lives turned upside down. Unbeknown to move have both been written off, but they still have to them, a blockage in a disused mineworks was preventing pay off the lease on the car. To add insult to injury, they water from draining away. Thousands of gallons of have been told by their insurance company that because water therefore accumulated underground, creating the they cannot make a claim against the Coal Authority, liquid equivalent of a ticking time bomb, which finally they are considered to be at fault for the damage the exploded on the 21st, causing a blow-out from the mine water has caused to their caravan. This is nothing short shaft. of a scandal. The force of the water was so great that not only did Emma Jones was at work when it happened. Her it punch through the cap that had sealed the mine for 15-year-old twins were at home studying when the over 100 years, but it erupted through the road above. water engulfed their home. They were rescued though The torrent of water and sludge then cascaded through waist-deep water by firefighters. The ordeal of what Goshen Park, down Drummau Road and The Highlands, unfolded that day has left her daughter suffering from through Sunnyland Crescent before settling in Sunnyland, nightmares, seeing images in her mind’s eye of her Jubilee Crescent, Dynevor Road and the bottom of family and friends face down in water. Cwrt-Y-Clafdy. Residents, including at a nearby care home, were evacuated as the mine waters continued to Ria Evans grew up in her home on Dynevor Road. rise. The sheer terrifying force of the water was breaking Her mother lived there and so did her grandmother. down walls, displacing cookers, fridges and furniture, The home holds great sentimental value to her. It was shattering glass and destroying belongings. It left a trail full of loving memories and treasured belongings, but of destruction in its wake. Miraculously, nobody was they have all been destroyed. Ria has yet to find long-term physically injured, but make no mistake: the traumatic accommodation. She is desperate to find somewhere to emotional aftershocks of this will be felt forever in this settle so she can get a bit of stability and stop living out tight-knit community. of a suitcase. Every day is a constant battle for her. She is struggling to sleep, she is struggling emotionally, and Before I make any further comment about the impact she is struggling to focus, which is affecting her work. of this horrific incident and how the UK Government and the Coal Authority must respond, I would like to Every time I speak with residents, I am profoundly place on record my thanks to the emergency services impressed by the dignity with which they are conducting and all the agencies that responded to the incident and themselves. However, I have to tell the Minister that helped residents. The local councillor, Mike Harvey, has there is a growing feeling of anger and betrayal about also been a rock for his residents, standing by them the way in which they are being treated by the Coal from the outset. Neath Port Talbot Council’s response Authority and the UK Government. has also been rapid and effective. It has continued to The Coal Industry Act 1994 transferred responsibility support residents, helping them to find temporary for mines, including the one in Skewen, to the UK accommodation, administering the Welsh Government’s Government. At that time, the Coal Authority was financial assistance, facilitating council tax exemptions, established and given the responsibility for managing providing support for pursuing insurance claims and the effects of past coalmining and dealing with the organising generators and dehumidifiers for residents myriad environmental and safety related issues that are without insurance to dry out their homes. the legacy of the coalmining industry. The Skewen mine I would also like to thank those at Skewen Salvation was inspected in 2011 and deemed a low risk, but it has Army for the wonderful work that they have done to since transpired that the map was incorrect and the support and help the victims. They were on site with wrong location had been inspected. Lessons must be their emergency vehicle within hours. They opened learned from this sorry tale, but the bottom line is that their hall for donations, and they have set up a fundraising the responsibility for the botched 2011 inspection lies page and raised thousands of pounds to help residents. squarely at the door of the Coal Authority and the UK Residents are particularly grateful to Briony Powell, the Government. volunteer co-ordinator, Emma Jones, the local area Why on earth should residents be expected to pay a co-ordinator, and Captain Jo Walters, who so quickly single penny for damage that has been caused through mobilised the relief effort. We are fiercely proud of our no fault of their own? Residents simply cannot fathom legendary community spirit in Aberavon. Wehave certainly why the Coal Authority is not accepting liability for the seen it in Skewen, and it has certainly been needed. damage that the mine water, ochre, debris and sludge Of the 144 properties affected, 59 were flooded internally from the mine has cause to their homes. I have to say and 17 were flooded externally. Over 50 households that I am equally baffled. have needed to find temporary accommodation. For Residents are continually being told that the UK each one of these properties, their owners are facing Government and the Coal Authority do not have liability every homeowner’s worst nightmare, and they are facing for flooding and that water is water—it is not owned by it in the midst of a global pandemic. Having visited the anyone. These arguments are both insensitive and site a number of times, I have seen for myself the sheer nonsensical. The blow-out was not an act of God, like a 631 Disused Mineworks in Skewen: 8 MARCH 2021 Disused Mineworks in Skewen: 632 Flooding Flooding [Stephen Kinnock] Minister stays away, the clearer it becomes to my residents how little the UK Government care about what has river bursting its banks or a storm surge; the mine happened to them. workings are man-made. They are the responsibility of Residents are equally worried about the impact of the Coal Authority and, by extension, of the UK the incident on house prices. The Coal Authority and Government. the UK Government must engage with estate agents The simple fact of the matter is that there is a moral and mortgage providers to ensure that their valuations responsibility that each property should be returned to and advice are based on a clear and comprehensive the condition it was in on 20 January, and that no understanding of the uniqueness of what has happened. resident should be burdened with the cost. What has Residents’ treatment by insurance companies has been been offered so far by the Coal Authority is, frankly, an a lottery. Some have acted reasonably well, but others insult: £500 does not begin to scratch the surface when have not. Residents have had real problems with insurance the cost of the damage caused by the mine water is companies increasing premiums, with quotes that have running to tens of thousands of pounds for each property. seen premiums double after the incident; in one case, One resident has been quoted £50,000. the annual payment jumped from £341 to £1,389 and a The Coal Authority and the UK Government are £10,000 excess. Others have been told that they cannot sticking dogmatically to their mantra that residents claim off the Coal Authority so they cannot make a need to go through their insurance companies, but what no-fault claim. about those who do not have insurance? There are This is a scandalous way to treat people. Residents about 20 properties with no insurance,and the intransigence should not be punished financially as a direct result of a of the Coal Authority and the UK Government means blow-out happening through no fault of their own. The that people are expected to find substantial amounts of Coal Authority has promised to provide an information money to make their homes fit to live in again. This is pack, which will provide estate agents with reassuring an appalling way to treat people who have had their details about the unusual nature of what has happened homes destroyed through no fault of their own. Even and the new water management system, but that is those with insurance are finding that it does not cover taking far too long. Residents need that information everything. Gardens, garden furniture, driveways, fences pack urgently. The longer it takes for them to receive it, and outbuildings that have been damaged are not included. the more stress is caused and the more cost incurred. In some cases, residents have buildings insurance but The UK Government and the Coal Authority must not contents insurance. also step up their efforts with insurers. They cannot be Rhian David, her husband and two young children allowed to get away with this behaviour. It is imperative were evacuated from their family home and have been that the UK Government make it clear to all relevant told that they will not be able to return for another year. insurance companies that they must not add a single Despite taking out a large sum of insurance, it is not penny to the premiums of those who have been impacted enough to cover the extensive damage. The initial damage by this incident, and that all claims should be treated as came to £18,000, but the secondary damage such as no-fault. damp has added a further £5,000 to the costs. The people of Skewen are strong and resilient. They By the Coal Authority’s own admission, this was a will not take this lying down and, to quote Dylan Thomas, unique incident and the work to remediate the mineshaft they will not go gentle into that good night. I am and install a water management system should prevent therefore giving the Minister fair warning this evening any future recurrence. A compensation fund must therefore that the Coal Authority and the UK Government have be set up to cover all uninsured losses and other unforeseen awoken a sleeping dragon. She needs to know that she is costs. The unique circumstances and the work of the in for a fight if she continues to stick rigidly to her Coal Authority would mean that that was a one-off stance. payment in exceptional circumstances. It would not be I have great respect for the Minister. I know her to be setting a precedent; it would simply be doing the decent a reasonable person and a credit to the important thing in response to an exceptional and unprecedented position that she holds. I therefore call on her to recognise incident. This is a question of doing what is morally that this is about doing what is morally right. It is time right, and the UK Government must respond accordingly. for the UK Government to step up and create a The Minister has stated from the Dispatch Box that compensation fund to cover uninsured losses and to she will visit Skewen to see for herself the damage and help those who have lost so much through absolutely no destruction that the water has caused and to hear fault of their own. directly from residents, but we still do not know when she is coming. Only by visiting the site can she appreciate what has happened and truly comprehend the devastation. 10.13 pm It is vital that she comes to Skewen before too much The Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth remediation work is carried out. Only by speaking (Anne-Marie Trevelyan): I thank the hon. Member for directly with the residents can she fully understand the Aberavon (Stephen Kinnock) for his campaigning on enormous emotional toll that this is taking. She needs this issue, which I recognise is a very serious one indeed to grasp the traumatic impact that the intransigence of for the residents of Skewen. I would also like to add my the Coal Authority and the UK Government is having. respectful gratitude to all those he mentioned who have The saying goes that actions speak louder than words. helped residents through this incredibly difficult and The Coal Authority and the UK Government have stressful time. Some years ago now when Morpeth, just offered the victims plenty of warm words, but statements outside my constituency,was flooded, it was extraordinary of sympathy rapidly curdle into empty platitudes if they to see the commitment—the continued commitment—of are not backed up by tangible deeds. The longer the those among the affected who just quietly continued to 633 Disused Mineworks in Skewen: 8 MARCH 2021 Disused Mineworks in Skewen: 634 Flooding Flooding support people and make sure that families got back on A mine drainage level in the vicinity has operated their feet, so I absolutely understand that. I just wanted effectively for a very long time, but had become blocked, to put on the record my thanks to them too, because I causing water and pressure to build up, eventually know just how difficult that can be. connecting with the nearby mineshaft, which allowed it I would like to provide the House with a little background to rise to the surface. The additional heavy rain from on the important work that the Coal Authority undertakes, Storm Christoph caused the water to force its way out, which I feel is relevant to the hon. Member’s very leading to the flooding on 21 January. This is considered important constituency situation. The coalfield areas of an extremely rare event and was unforeseeable. Wales, England and Scotland cover some 26,000 sq km, Since then, the Coal Authority has worked fast with or 11% of our country’s surface area. Since the start of local partners and continues to provide a blended package the industrial revolution, human settlement has followed of support to the community,which has included developing natural resource availability, industry and employment. a solution to reduce the risk of this ever happening The coalfields are consequently some of the most densely again, cleaning up in the aftermath of the flood and populated parts of the UK. Some 7 million properties practical help for residents affected, including, to date, lie within the coalfields, with 1.5 million properties lying increasing the maximum payment for each household above workings where coal has been mined at a depth of for outside restoration to £500. However, this is without less than 30 metres, and more than 170,000 mine entries doubt a deeply sad and very upsetting incident, and I are known of. Alongside these, there are hundreds of heard absolutely what the hon. Member for Aberavon miles of underground roadways, adits and drainage said about liability and, indeed, moral responsibility. systems, which are often only partially mapped, especially The Coal Authority’s work handling subsidence and in very historic coalmining areas. safety issues associated with former coalmines is a In south Wales, 52% of the population live on the statutory duty under the Coal Industry Act 1994 and coalfield, and the vast majority will fortunately never the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991. The 1991 Act experience any issues. Although there is little active sets limits to the liability in terms of defining coal-mining coalmining today, centuries of underground and surface subsidence damage. Flooding such as that at Skewen extraction have created a legacy of environmental issues does not form part of these duties, because flooding, and public safety hazards.As the hon. Member mentioned, whether the water comes from a river, a stream, the sea, the Coal Authority was created under the Coal Industry groundwater or a mine, is dealt with in the main through Act 1994, when the previously state-owned coal industry insurance. The Coal Authority is doing everything it was privatised, to regulate the industry and manage can to support the community within the bounds of the these legacy issues. The authority helps to manage the legislation and the guidance it has to work within, but I UK’s energy legacy safely and responsibly. am very pleased to note that, following a meeting last A substantial legacy of mining hazards remain in many week, the Coal Authority is reviewing its package of major conurbations, with one third of the documented support. I shall watch closely to see how that progresses. coalmine entries being in urban areas. Surface collapses The scale and complexity of our historic mining above abandoned workings and shafts present the most legacy mean that the authority will never be able to common risks to the public. The authority therefore has inspect all that is underground. I deeply sympathise a 24/7 hazard line, enabling the public to report mining with the hon. Member’s constituents and I realise that hazards around the clock, in order to ensure immediate this is an incredibly frustrating and distressing time for responses. Approximately 1,000 surface and subsidence them. However, it is neither affordable nor practical to incidents are reported each year, about half of which underwrite flooding damage risk associated with former are found to be coalmining related. The scale of the mining works for some 7 million properties, any more issues means that costly proactive remediation of the than it is for flooding from other sources. None the less, surface effects of mine workings and mining entries is I will continue to monitor progress and hope to get to carried out only when there is a higher risk to persons Skewen for myself as soon as lockdown restrictions or property. In 2008, the authority began a risk-based allow, so that I can hear at first hand both from residents mine entry inspection programme to identify such areas and those of the coal authority charged with the for proactive remediation. To date, some 149,000 shafts management of our coal mining legacy. I will watch have been inspected, less than 1% of which have required very closely to see how this revised package under remedial treatment. consideration rolls out. Once again, I hope very much The coalmine works in Skewen date back beyond 1830. that, when the lockdown restrictions hopefully lift in There are 287 recorded mine entries in the immediate the weeks ahead, I can get on a train and head to south area of Skewen, which are part of the proactive inspection Wales as soon as I can. programme. The mineshaft involved in this awful flood Question put and agreed to. and the area around it was inspected in 2011, as the hon. Member mentioned, and no concerns were identified at the time. It was mapped approximately 20 metres 10.20 pm away from where the Coal Authority now know it to be. House adjourned.

1WH 8 MARCH 2021 Press Freedom and Safety of 2WH Protesters: India The petition has already been signed by more than Westminster Hall 115,000 people, and it has until 17 June to run—a fact that highlights the public interest in, and topicality of, the issue. The close ties, and many family connections, Monday 8 March 2021 between these islands and India are another factor. The petition was created by Gurch Singh, whose family is [GRAHAM STRINGER in the Chair] from a farming background in the Punjab, after the distress he observed when he found his mother in tears Press Freedom and Safety of Protesters: watching the Indian news channels’ coverage of the India protests. He then spoke with relatives in India about the distress they were in, and with members of his local Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Order, community. It is testament to his efforts that his area is 25 February). in the top 10 constituencies for signatories. Gilles Verniers, [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] a political scientist at Ashoka University, has said: 4.30 pm “Every farmer community everywhere is discussing these farm laws. It is not just a local or regional matter.” Graham Stringer (in the Chair): Welcome to the first He is right. It has even found its way to being debated in hybrid meeting of Westminster Hall. I remind Members these islands. that there are changes to some of the rules in the new hybrid arrangements. Members present must stand when The farming protests are complex in their nature and they are speaking. Interventions are allowed on Members origins. Indeed, even as a Member who takes a keen present in the Room, but not by or on Members who interest in India and has family connections there, I are speaking virtually. must admit that, prior to the scheduling of the debate, I had little knowledge of the subject, other than having The timings of the debates have been amended to allow seen some brief news footage of clashes between farmers technical arrangements to be made for the next debate. and police in riot gear, from which I gleaned that it was There will be suspensions between each debate. Members something to do with farming laws, and that several who have not arrived for the start of a debate in Westminster high-profile celebrities such as Rihanna and Greta Thunberg Hall will not be called, and those Members who are had spoken out about it. I am grateful to those who here are expected to remain for the entire debate. have taken the time to speak with me over the last few If Members who are attending virtually have technical days, and to those who have provided briefings. The problems, they should email the Westminster Hall Clerks’ House of Commons Library,the Indian high commission, email address. Members attending physically should the petitioner,and several political contacts with first-hand clean their spaces before they use them and before they experience have all greatly assisted my understanding of leave the room. Members attending physically who are the issue. in the latter stages of the call list should use the seats in the Public Gallery and move on to the horseshoe when Today, we are not having a debate about the merits seats become available. Members may speak only from of the agricultural reform Bills passed by the Indian the horseshoe. Parliament. The UK Government have repeatedly acknowledged that it is a sovereign matter for the 4.31 pm Government and people of India. In their diplomatically worded response to the petition, the UK Government Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP) stated: [V]: I beg to move, “We respect that agricultural reforms are a matter for India”. That this House has considered e-petition 563473 relating to press freedoms and safety of protestors in India. That new-found support for self-determination and sovereignty from the UK Government is quite encouraging It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, —those of us from Scotland are paying close attention. Mr Stringer. I am grateful for the opportunity to take part in this return to Westminster Hall debates, with The Indian Government’s right to enforce law and virtual participation—something I know many Members order is also not in dispute, and again that has been are grateful for—which gives e-petitions awaiting a repeatedly acknowledged by the UK Government in debate the public hearing that the petitioners deserve. their statements on the protests. In their response to the Farming protests in India may not seem to be the petition, the UK Government stated: most obvious issue for a petitions debate, but the Petitions “We also recognise that governments have the power to enforce Committee has always accepted petitions calling on the law and order if a protest crosses the line into illegality. We look UK Government to engage with other Governments on to the Indian government to uphold all freedoms and rights human rights issues. The petition focuses on the protests guaranteed in India’s strong constitution.” in Delhi and across India following the agricultural However, this debate is an opportunity to note concerns reforms agreed by the Indian Parliament. It calls on the raised regarding the safety of protesters and press freedoms UK Government to in reporting on the protests. “Urge the Indian Government to ensure safety of protestors & To help those who may be coming to the debate with press freedom”. a similar knowledge base to the one that I had a week It argues that ago, I believe the background to be as follows. It can be “democratic engagement and freedom of the press are fundamental argued that the farmers have been ripped off for generations, rights and a positive step towards creating a India that works that the sector requires reform, and that they have for all”, suffered a huge loss of income due to the covid lockdowns. and calls for “transparency & accountability” from the Agriculture is controlled by the state in India, and three Indian Government. farm laws were passed by India’sParliament last September, 3WH Press Freedom and Safety of 8 MARCH 2021 Press Freedom and Safety of 4WH Protesters: India Protesters: India [Martyn Day] calling on the Indian Government to stop what it referred to as an “escalating crackdown”on protesters and farming resulting in opposition from farming groups. There are leaders, citing reports of arrests, threats and harassment arguments about the constitutionality of the laws, which of peaceful protesters. The International Press Institute is an issue for India’s own legislative and judicial process. took the matter up in its communication directly with The farm laws allow, for the first time, farm gate sales Prime Minister Modi, in which it urged him to corporations. They put an end to warehouse capacity “to take immediate steps to ensure that journalists can work limits for processors, and they introduce tax-free, privately without harassment and fear of reprisal” owned corporate yards, or mandis. We have heard reports from the Government, of water cannons and tear gas being used against protesters “and to direct the state governments to drop all charges against in the early stages of the protests, repeated clashes journalists, including those under the draconian sedition laws, between police and protesters, and the suspension of that have been imposed on them for their work”. mobile internet access and social media accounts in late Press freedom and the right to peaceful protest is January and early February. There are good links to central to any democracy, so the images emerging from reputable sources on those events in the House of India over the past few months are deeply worrying. Commons Library debate pack. Some 67 journalists were arrested and detained last Sadly, several farmers have suicided in protest, and year alone. The escalation in violence and the press others have died from exposure during the winter conditions crackdown, including over social media accounts, cannot of the protests. Indian farmers have been occupying roads simply be ignored, especially at a time when the UK around Delhi since 26 November, and on 26 January— Government are keen to strengthen ties with the Indian Republic Day—they drove more than 120,000 tractors Government. to the capital. The vast majority of those taking part, it As the world’s largest democracy and a key regional should be stressed, did so peacefully. I believe it was player, India has a pivotal role to play on the world inspired by an American farmers’ “tractorcade”, which stage. That is why it is vital that the Prime Minister and brought Washington to a standstill in 1979. It is a small Foreign Secretary impress on our Indian partners our world. joint convictions on free speech and the right to protest. Across India, some 750 million people are directly I look forward to hearing the contributions to the engaged in agriculture. That is around half of India’s debate, and I hope that the Minister will advise whether population. Land has been described as sacred, and farming these concerns will be raised by the Prime Minister on seen as a religious duty or way of life. It is a very his trip later this year. significant issue for India, and has a resonance with the Graham Stringer (in the Chair): Before I call the Indian diaspora around the globe, and for concerned Back-Bench speakers, I have two points to make. I am environmental and political activists. While the protests going to put a time limit of three minutes on speeches. I been largely peaceful, they have on occasion involved also announced at the beginning that hon. Members the use of direct action such as strikes and blockades, who were not present for the start of the debate would which have disrupted road and rail traffic. The most not be allowed to speak, but this is the first time we have significant clash between police and protesters so far had these arrangements so at the end I will call two hon. came on 26 January, when one protester died and more Members who were not here at the start—one of whom than 80 police officers were injured after protesters I think I went to Westminster Hall, as opposed to the deviated from an agreed protest route, including breaching Boothroyd Room, which is understandable. I do not security to enter the iconic Red Fort in Delhi. expect there to be that flexibility after this sitting, but it The BBC cited local media reports of police using makes sense to do it this way for this first meeting. tear gas and batons, and of police officers being targeted by protesters driving tractors.The violence was condemned 4.43 pm by farmers’ groups and union leaders. In response to Mr Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham, Perry Barr) (Lab) the violence, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs [V]: Thank you for your stewardship of this first hybrid put out a statement on 3 February arguing that the meeting of Westminster Hall, Mr Stringer. We are violence on 26 January had been the result of “vested addressing a critical issue. This is the largest trade interest groups” influencing the protests. It argued: dispute in the world at the moment, and it is not just “Indian police forces have handled these protests with utmost about people having a deal to be able to survive; it is restraint”, about their livelihoods. despite hundreds of police officers being attacked. The Huge numbers of farmers have committed suicide. statement also noted that the Government have held Those with small shareholdings of up to five acres will multiple rounds of dialogue with protesters’representatives suffer hugely under this law change, which is not about and farming unions, and had offered to suspend the looking after the welfare of farmers in India, who are implementation of the laws—an offer rejected by the by and large one of the most downtrodden communities farmers’ unions, who want to see the laws fully repealed. across the whole of Indian culture, because of the work Following the violence at the end of January, the that they do with their hands and the fact that the whole Indian Government also temporarily suspended mobile family has to be involved. When they have sought a internet access in three areas around Delhi where protesters peaceful change to the legislation, the Indian Government had gathered. The Indian Government claimed that the have abused them and delivered lathi charges—charges suspension was in order to maintain public safety. The by the police with batons of wood. They hit elderly UK Government have since acknowledged and welcomed people and women, not seeing who was there. By and the removal of those restrictions in their answer to a large, the farmers have been peaceful. Some individuals House of Lords written question on 22 February.However, from outside the movement have tried to instigate violence, on 9 February,Amnesty International released a statement but that has been condemned by the farmers’ unions. 5WH Press Freedom and Safety of 8 MARCH 2021 Press Freedom and Safety of 6WH Protesters: India Protesters: India The dispute is about livelihoods. It should not be protests should not shake our faith in that central truth. treated in a way that disregards all of the issues that the Rather than denigrating India with unjustified criticism, farmers wish to raise in Parliament. The dispute could we should celebrate it as the democratic success story have been finished quite easily. It did not need to go on that it is. for the 100 days that it has gone on for now. The Government must listen, but they have chosen not to. They should work with these poor farmers, but they 4.49 pm have chosen not to. They have taken a belligerent attitude Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) (Ind) [V]: Thank towards a community that provides crops for the whole you for calling me to speak, Mr Stringer. I congratulate of India, a community whose livelihoods support the the hon. Member for Linlithgow and East Falkirk people to eat. Some of the most impoverished people in (Martyn Day) on securing the debate, and on the excellent India can get support from agriculture and the work way in which he introduced the subject today. that the farmers do. The Indian Government— The fact that over 100,000 people have signed a petition in support of Indian farmers shows the Graham Stringer (in the Chair): Order. I call strength of feeling in the Indian diaspora, as well as in Theresa Villiers. the rest of the communities all across this country. From clothing workers in Leicester to shopkeepers in 4.46 pm London and elsewhere, many people in the diaspora Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) (Con): Anywhere have signed a petition to ensure that this debate takes in the world, in whatever country and on whatever place, because of the unprecedented nature of the continent, agricultural reform is very, very difficult. It is demonstrations in Delhi and because of the unprecedented always accompanied by division and controversy, and nature of the support for those taking part. For all in some instances there are protests and even law breaking. those hundreds of thousands of protesters in Delhi, For example, our nearest neighbour across the channel many more have joined in, and when a national call was has a farming sector often prepared to embark on civil made for a strike, 250 million people took part in disobedience and direct action. it—the biggest ever industrial dispute in the history of Many of the laws governing India’s system of farm this planet—so we should think about why those people support date back to the ’50s and ’60s, a time when the are protesting. country was sometimes on the edge of famine. Thankfully, They are protesting because they are predominantly there has been massive change for the better in the small farmers on less than five acres, many of them very intervening decades. Reform of farm subsidy and support poor. Over 22,000 have committed suicide in the past has been under active and intensive discussion in India few years as a result of the stress they are under. It is as for 20 years, and international bodies such as the if globalisation has been forced upon them, and they do International Monetary Fund have welcomed Prime not want it, so this debate is about the media reporting, Minister Modi’s attempt to take action on this challenge, and it is about the views that people take on this issue which many of his predecessors have backed away from. all over the world. I accept and understand that protesting farmers feel When a protest takes place, as the right hon. Member insecure about their future, but Prime Minister Modi’s for Chipping Barnet (Theresa Villiers) pointed out, Government have repeatedly said that a core purpose of there are often complaints. However, the nature of the the reforms is to make farming more profitable, raise way in which the protesters—the strikers—have been the incomes of people who work in farming and promote attacked in Delhi is unprecedented, as has been the investment in agriculture in order to increase yields. Food reaction of the Indian Government to the way in which security is obviously a priority for every Government the media have responded: internet access has been around the world. closed down, media access has been prevented, and Although the three items of legislation that have sparked mobile phone access has been limited. The media have so much controversy will mean change, they also leave been prevented from getting their message out to the many structures, principles and rules intact, and Mr Modi wider world. was emphatic in a speech on 8 February that the Last week, a number of colleagues now participating commitment to a minimum support price has been in this debate, including my hon. Friend the Member retained and will not be removed by any of the new for Slough (Mr Dhesi) and my right hon. Friend the laws. Moreover, his Government have offered to postpone Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell), the implementation of the new laws for 18 months to had a meeting with representatives of the National allow for more engagement, consultation and discussion Union of Journalists. On behalf of their colleagues in with the farming sector. India, they told us how concerned they were about the I hear the concerns expressed about the response to way in which Indian journalists have been prevented the protests, but when thousands and thousands of from reporting on this issue. Indeed, most of the British people are involved in demonstrations and encampments media have barely reported on it. lasting months and months, no policing response can In the few seconds I have left, I would like to quote altogether avoid controversial episodes.After all, complaints Sabina Inderjit, the general secretary of the Indian about police officers here in the UK are frequently Journalists Union, who concluded: made after mass protests, but that is not evidence that “Our brief view of the prevailing situation: Democracy in democratic values are under threat in this country, and India is in danger. Its fourth estate is badly bruised and battered. nor is it in India. Over the past five years, the country’s independent and free press, India is a country where respect for the rule of law which has aided India to gloat of being a vibrant democracy, is and human rights is constitutionally protected and being systematically and ruthlessly attacked like never before.” embedded in society. The authorities’ approach to the We should listen to Sabina Inderjit. 7WH Press Freedom and Safety of 8 MARCH 2021 Press Freedom and Safety of 8WH Protesters: India Protesters: India 4.53 pm Therefore, I demand that the UK Government condemn Paul Bristow (Peterborough) (Con) [V]: It is a pleasure Prime Minister Modi and the actions of his BJP to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer. What Government. The Government’s history of abuses and happens abroad affects us here. This is evident in a criminality is well documented. They continue to abuse pandemic but true in many other ways. Peterborough is the human and civil rights not only of farmers, but of a diverse, multicultural city: we have a large diaspora Kashmiri people through the military occupation of the from the Kashmiri region of Pakistan, and we also have region. They are cracking down on press freedom and many families of Indian heritage. The events on the political dissent, censoring critics and blocking access subcontinent are of daily personal concern and, quite to the internet. A British man, Jagtar Singh Johal, rightly, my inbox and postbag fill when we witness the remains imprisoned in India on spurious charges. disturbances in New Delhi and elsewhere. Furthermore, both Modi and the BJP Government are linked to the rise in violent religious persecution within We can all have our views on the rights and wrongs of India, including attacks on Muslims, Sikhs and Christians. the changes to the Indian agricultural law. It is not necessary to rehearse those here today, nor for the UK Therefore, I am calling on the UK Government to Government to side with one view or another. Diplomatic consider the imposition of sanctions—diplomatic and norms should be observed, but those norms assume otherwise—on Prime Minister Modi and his Government. others. The actions of the Indian Government in response Those sanctions should include banning Modi and to the farmers’ protests break accepted norms; they other representatives of the BJP Government from cross a line. It is terribly sad that we have reached this entering the UK, and they should extend to the seizure point, because India is a great country and a proud of any UK-based assets belonging to Modi or BJP democracy. As such, it should conduct itself like a Government figures until such abuses stop. The UK democracy and uphold its own constitution. However should work alongside international organisations to challenging the situation becomes, this democratic value protect human and civil rights in India and Kashmir, should not be suspended, even in the face of provocation. including the release of all political prisoners and an end Instead, the Indian Government have blocked the use to the crackdown on the freedoms of press and speech. of the internet on mobile phones and arrested journalists, and now we read the reports of new legislation to force 4.59 pm social media platforms to censor posts and break into encrypted messages. These are illiberal measures. The Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) (Lab) [V]: It strength of feeling of protesters does not make them is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer. acceptable, and the excuse of national security does not I know that numerous colleagues are keen to speak and make them any less authoritarian. that we do not have many minutes, so I will endeavour to be brief. Even supporters of the agricultural reforms must have concerns about freedom of speech. The fears of My hon. Friend the Member for Ealing North (James my constituents are evident. One regards the response Murray) is unable to be present today, but he asked me as an attack on “the minorities of India”, particularly to make the Minister aware of his concerns and the the Sikhs. He worries equally about strength of feeling among his constituents who have been “the safety of the protestors and the censorship”. in touch with him. They are deeply concerned about the Another says: Indian authorities’ use of force, and are adamant that the farmers must be able to exercise their right to “All we are asking for is for our voice to be heard by constitutional and right means. If you think I am just in my demand as your peaceful protest. I am pleased that the debate has been constituent then please do something about it.” called on the issue of safety of protesters and the continuation of press freedoms. It can never be wrong They doubt some of the allegations levelled at the to stand up for human rights and for the right to protesters, and they reiterate the heavy-handedness of peaceful protest in safety. The right to peaceful protest the Indian Government’s response. is a cornerstone of democracy and a right that thousands My constituents with family connections to India are of Indian farmers are using today, and which they have right to be worried. It is right that concern is expressed used for months now. in this House, and I hope the Minister will convey our Government’s concern. Upholding the law should never Both sides need to step back and recognise the need be allowed to slide into authoritarian oppression. to come to an agreement. I hope that the Minister will commit to helping that cause by offering British skills in 4.56 pm negotiation and compromise to help both sides bring Tahir Ali (Birmingham, Hall Green) (Lab) [V]: I offer the issue to a close. I know the farmers of India—I grew my absolute support for, and solidarity with, the farmers up in that same community. They worked hard to feed protesting in India. Their protests have brought the world’s their families and the nation. I know that they would attention on India, and particularly on the abuses of the not be out there protesting if they could avoid it, so a extreme far-right Government led by Prime Minister solution must be within reach. Modi and the Bharatiya Janata party. The protests are Until that is possible, I thank every constituent who for a just cause, as the farmers are fighting against signed this important petition. The continuation of significant privatisation of agriculture, which would freedom of speech and freedom of assembly is important negatively impact on their livelihoods. As we all know, to everybody with a commitment to democracy.All those however, the BJP and Modi have responded to the who are speaking today, all those who signed the petition protests with repression. Political opponents of Modi in and everybody who has written to me is part of that India are at risk of arbitrary arrest, and the civil liberties call. We are speaking to represent the more than 100,000 of all Indians are being eroded by an extremist, right-wing people who have signed the petition. They are British Government. citizens, British Indians, and the Indian diaspora, who 9WH Press Freedom and Safety of 8 MARCH 2021 Press Freedom and Safety of 10WH Protesters: India Protesters: India all care so very deeply about an equitable solution. I barricades, barbed wire and deadly steel spikes installed implore the Minister to use our skills in compromise to in the road, as if it were some sort of international help find a solution that works for both sides. border and not the outskirts of the capital city. The irony is that many of the protesters have served on the border, 5.2 pm or have children or grandchildren currently serving in the army. Mercilessly, their water supply, sanitation, Mr Pat McFadden (Wolverhampton South East) (Lab): electricity and internet have been intermittently cut. I represent thousands of constituents with family roots Trade unionists, human rights activists and journalists, in India. Many are Sikhs with family roots in Punjab. I including young women, have been arrested, with reports have received a great deal of correspondence on this of sexual assault and torture while in custody. issue in recent months, and many of my Wolverhampton The millions of protesters are from across India and South East constituents have signed the petition on different faiths, yet because a significant number of press freedom and the defence of the right to public them are Sikhs, they have been singled out and branded protest. There is a great sense of solidarity with those separatists and terrorists by unscrupulous elements of who are protesting, and a sense that they are fighting the mainstream Indian media. It is part of a pattern for their livelihoods and the right to earn a living. where Muslim Indians are labelled as Pakistanis, Christians Punjab has long been known as the breadbasket of as being under foreign influence, and Sikhs as Khalistani India. The Punjabi community in the UK have deep separatists—but we see you, and so does the world. Let family ties with many of the people who are protesting. me let Members into a little secret about the Sikhs: they The roots of the issue are the three farm laws that are taught to feed millions of those in need for free, year were passed last year, which those protesting fear will in and year out, regardless of background, colour or expose them to huge multinational forces and remove creed. They are brought up to stand up for the rights of the minimum price guarantees they currently enjoy. Of others, so we can bet our bottom dollar that they will go course India, as a sovereign nation, has a right to debate to the nth degree to stand up for their own rights. and legislate for its own laws on that, but—and this is Those of us, like me, who dare to speak up for the also the case if we look at ourselves—how many countries farmers are faced with a deluge of hundreds of fake operate a fully free-market system when it comes to profiles from the Twitter troll factory, and are accused agriculture? Systems of subsidy are very common. by some disingenuous elements of being, among other There is a great deal of anguish at the sight of things, racist. I do not need lectures from them about protesters being ill-treated, the internet and social media the wonders of India. I have been fortunate enough to accounts being cut off, and the arrest of activists. I have lived and studied in India for over four years, would always say that protest must be peaceful, but learned to converse in Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu, travelled I note the dignity of the protesters, with the provision of the length and breadth of that beautiful country, and langar—free food—not only for each other among experienced at first hand the warmth and welcome of protesters, but often for those policing them, too. There its lovely people. is also a rejection of the idea that those engaged in the protests are somehow not loyal to India, or that the While I am at it, let me debunk another myth used to response to people fighting for their livelihoods should silence anyone in Britain who offers anything but praise: be to suggest that they are somehow externally controlled, that they must apparently have a colonial hang up. To or to place a question mark over their motivations, those people I say that while we spend most of our time saying that they are against the state in a broader sense. discussing national issues, the beauty of being a British parliamentarian in the mother of Parliaments is that What unites those signing the petition, and the hon. almost every day we conduct debates about what is Members present, is a defence of the right of peaceful happening around the world. It will not be lost on protest and a desire to see a peaceful resolution to the anybody that the UK Tory Government, in their desperation conflict, so I ask the Minister to convey the concerns of to get a trade deal, are failing spectacularly to stand up the UK Parliament, to stand up for the right of peaceful for the human rights of the protesters, so I call on the protest, to defend press freedom, to explain why there Government to request that the Indian Government are such concerns in the UK, and to urge a peaceful speedily resolve the deadlock and ensure peace and resolution to this long-running and very serious dispute. justice for those farmers—

5.5 pm Graham Stringer (in the Chair): Order. We move to Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab): Some Bradford West now, with Naz Shah. supporters of the governing party in India have said that this is an internal matter—“Foreigners, keep your 5.8 pm nose out of it.” I can tell them why everyone is so Naz Shah (Bradford West) (Lab) [V]: I congratulate concerned. It is because human rights are universal, the hon. Member for Linlithgow and East Falkirk and a world in which they are upheld in all of our interests. (Martyn Day) on securing the debate. It is an honour to Hundreds of farmers have died already because of follow my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Mr Dhesi), the freezing cold and because of ill health while protesting. who speaks very passionately about the subject. Imagine the collective pain for those of us whose parents The truth is that we should not need someone such as and grandparents have been tilling the land in the Rihanna to speak up on such issues as the farmers’ Punjab, who have a strong connection with the land and protests in India for the world to take notice, but that in whose family and friends are involved in the protests, some ways explains how the world now works. The when we see scenes of tear gas, water cannon and brute powerful are heard with a single tweet, while the average force being used against them, and when we see them person’s voice is often ignored. That is one of the herded into the protest sites like animals, with metal central arguments that the Indian farmers are making. 11WH Press Freedom and Safety of 8 MARCH 2021 Press Freedom and Safety of 12WH Protesters: India Protesters: India [Naz Shah] against peaceful protesters and journalists covering the protests are of deep concern. Tens of thousands of The very argument made by the innocent farmers is police have been mobilised across India to quash the that when the new laws take effect, taking away the protests. Barricades and roadblocks have been set up to regulated markets that allow for minimum prices for block protesters, and more than 248 farmers have died their crops and replacing them with deregulated markets just outside New Delhi in camps. Some have died of that work in the favour of the big, powerful corporations, health issues and others from suicide. These farmers are who then will listen to the average farmer? The Indian sacrificing so much and all they want is to be listened to. Government talk about how prices will be able to be My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I have written negotiated, but as we all know, without the safety net of to the Foreign Secretary, calling on him to work together minimum prices, when the big, powerful corporations with India to ensure that democratic values are upheld do the negotiating, it is the average farmer who is left and that fundamental freedoms—such as the freedom worst off. That is what the debate is really about: of expression and the freedom of assembly and association ensuring that the voices of ordinary farmers can be heard. —are respected. I am afraid to say that so far his Let me be clear: when we raise such issues because they response has been woeful. are a very serious concern for our constituents, who often Of course we welcome close relations between the have families in India struggling in such circumstances, UK and India, but they must be based on a mutual it is not about being anti-Indian. India is the fifth largest commitment to human rights, freedom of religious economy in the world. It is ranked second in the world belief and the rule of law and democracy. The UK must in agricultural production and ninth in the world for work to ensure that these principles are consistently agricultural exports. India has a rich history and culture, upheld. Can the Minister please update us on what and is a rising economic power. However, with such steps the Department has taken, including at the Human increases in economic opportunity comes responsibility. Rights Council, since the Foreign Secretary met his It is important that we support the average farmer, counterpart in India 12 weeks ago? Can he tell us what especially when they are faced with large and powerful assessment has been made of whether the new farmers corporations. laws in India are in breach of article 9 of the international This is not a debate between two equals. These farmers treaty on plant genetic resources on food and agriculture? are already struggling. More than 52% of India’s farmers Will he speak to the Food and Agriculture Organisation are living in debt, which is causing a shocking increase about this matter? The UK has a prominent position on in the suicide rate. In 2019 alone, nearly 10,300 Indian the world stage and in UN institutions. We need to take farmers killed themselves. Such an alarming situation this responsibility seriously, and I urge the Government cannot be ignored. to act without delay. In addition, because the protests have been dominated by Sikh protesters from Punjab, the Government have 5.14 pm tried to silence their voices by marginalising the issue to Nadia Whittome (Nottingham East) (Lab) [V]: As the one that affects a single community. The current Indian granddaughter of Punjabi farmers, I am proud to speak Government’s record on minority rights is not one to be today in solidarity with the millions resisting Modi’s proud of. I urge them to consider the issues of globalisation regime. Farmers from across India—of all faiths and and capitalism in a serious way, and to avoid making none, of all genders and all castes—are protesting against this situation another case of nationalism and marginalising laws that threaten livelihoods. In total, 250 million yet another minority community in India. workers went on strike in solidarity. That is the largest strike in world history. In response, in order to stoke 5.11 pm communal violence, the Indian Government-controlled Layla Moran (Oxford West and Abingdon) (LD) [V]: media has demonised protesters as Sikh separatists. Thank you, Mr Stringer. It is a pleasure to serve under Protesters have been met with state repression and your chairmanship. brutality. I speak today as the Liberal Democrat foreign affairs It is timely that the debate is being held on International spokesperson proudly to support Councillor Gurch Singh, Women’s Day because women are leading this historic the Liberal Democrat councillor who organised this revolt. In January, the courts told women protesters to important petition, amassing more than 115,000 signatures. go home. They suggested that women farmers were not I hope that all hon. Members and the Minister will join real farmers, but the women workers of India are refusing me in applauding him for his hard work to galvanise to be silenced, from farmers’ leaders, such as Jasbir Kaur greater action on this issue. Nat, to jailed climate activist Disha Ravi, to Dalit trade It is right for British MPs to speak about this issue, unionist Nodeep Kaur, who was wrongfully imprisoned, not just because of our constituents who may have reportedly sexually assaulted and tortured by police. family ties with India, but because wherever democracy These women could not contrast more sharply with and human rights are under threat we cannot look the their sexist Government and the misogynistic movement other way. We all know—in this virtual Zoom room or that supports it. When Modi was Chief Minister of elsewhere—that democracy does not just happen at the Gujarat, he was banned from entering the EU, Britain ballot box. People must have freedom to protest, freedom and the US for his part in instigating the 2012 riots that of the press and freedom to debate, which are all saw more than 1,000 Muslims killed, so it should concern cornerstones of a thriving democracy. everyone that this Conservative Government are a close This is no small matter: more than 250 million farmers ally of the far-right Hindutva regime in India. Modi spoke have been protesting since August last year. We are alongside David Cameron when he visited the UK, our witnessing what could be the largest organised protest Home Secretary is an active supporter of the BJP and in human history, yet the police brutality and arrests there are billionaire donors who bankroll both parties. 13WH Press Freedom and Safety of 8 MARCH 2021 Press Freedom and Safety of 14WH Protesters: India Protesters: India In the 2019 election, Hindu nationalists mobilised clear that I stand in complete solidarity with the hundreds for the Tories, and the Tories are responsive to their of thousands of Indian farmers, as do tens of thousands bigoted agenda, like their opposition to banning caste of my constituents in Ilford South who understand that discrimination. Modi and Amit Shah decried the truth the freedom to protest, wherever it takes place, and the as propaganda and divisive, but it is not protesting ability to provide food and welfare for one’s family is farmers, Rihanna or Greta Thunberg who are dividing clearly an international human right. The issue has so India; it is the BJP.This Conversative Government need galvanised the Indian diaspora community, especially to decide which side they are on: the side of farmers or those from a Punjabi or Sikh background and others the side of fascists. who have land links or familial links to farming in India, that tens of thousands have engaged in global 5.16 pm protests, including hundreds and hundreds in streets, John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab) [V]: towns and cities across the UK. May I apologise to you, Mr Stringer, and to the Minister? Many of my constituents in Ilford South have been I am also listed in the Budget debate and I might have to horrified to see how Sikh farmers, many of whom are leave before the Minister responds. It is beyond my their family members, have been treated by the Indian control; I am sorry. Government. They have had water cannons hitting them, I speak as the secretary of the National Union of and tear gas and brute force used against them repeatedly Journalists parliamentary group, but, like others, also while peacefully protesting against the so-called farmers as a friend of India, not just because of my constituents Bill. Everyone has a fundamental human right to protest who originate from India but because of my own family peacefully, and the actions of the Indian Government ties. As a firm and true friend, we have to be honest with cannot go unchecked. In Ilford, we have a hugely diverse our friends in India. community, and they are fully in support of the Indian farmers, with support extending way beyond our large As has been said, India is the largest democracy on and vocal Sikh community. There are posters up in the planet, and democracy needs the firm foundation of mosques and churches across Ilford about how outraged a free press and media. Tragically, democracy is being people are about what is going on in India. undermined because there are those that seek to prevent the operation of a free press and media. It is unfortunate I speak regularly to the members of the Singh Sabha that it is those in government who are part of the London East Gurdwara in my constituency,and, thankfully, process of undermining that free press. Regrettably, as they have been leading the campaign and globally reported by the International Federation of Journalists co-ordinating the effort to shine a light on what is going and others, eight journalists have been killed over the on. Like many hon. Members, led by my hon. Friend last 12 months. The Government use false arrests and the Member for Slough, I have signed a letter to the legal actions to deter and intimidate. Journalists are Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, urging them to arrested on trumped up charges of sedition, incitement engage properly over this issue. It is important that the or illegal demonstration. We have even seen the tax torch of truth is shone on what is happening. authorities in India used against media operations. As India is one of the greatest democracies in the world, has been mentioned, there has also been suppression of but using water cannons and police to crush dissent the internet and access to social media. strikes me as highly undemocratic. There are reports of The farmers’ protests have excited the latest round of elderly protesters being beaten and police even vandalising harassment of journalists, and now it seems that simply tractors owned by poor farmers who are protesting. reporting the actions of the state and the police in India’s leaders are not behaving in the traditions that violently attacking protesters is somehow an illegal act. have made India such a great democracy, and that is of Journalists are continuously being targeted by arrests great concern to thousands of people in my community and intimidation, and falsely accused of criminal charges. in Ilford and to millions globally. Given the urgency of Tragically, the political leadership feels it can act with this matter, I call on the Minister to ask our Prime impunity. Minister to speak to Mr Modi and seek assurances that We understand that Prime Minister is seeking to there can be a better way forward. visit India in due course. May I suggest that before that The situation is bringing such damage to the reputation the Government call out the actions of the Modi of India globally. It is simply not acceptable that our Administration and what they are doing to undermine Prime Minister is not prepared to raise this with Prime press freedom? When the Prime Minister visits India, he Minister Modi. Now is not the time for the British should meet the National Union of Journalists (India), Government to look the other way. Trade deals and as well as the International Federation of Journalists, to crucial business with India or any other nation should find out the exact truth of what is happening there. not come before standing up for human rights globally. Through the Prime Minister, the Government should The world is watching. “Bole so nihal, sat sri akal”, as demand that the intimidation ends and that the freedom my constituents would say at our local kabaddi club. of press and media is firmly guaranteed for the future. That is what a true friend advises. 5.23 pm Adam Holloway (Gravesham) (Con): It is a great 5.20 pm pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer. Sam Tarry (Ilford South) (Lab): It is an honour to A large number of my constituents have parents and serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer. As my grandparents from India—indeed, the hon. Member hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Mr Dhesi) has for Slough (Mr Dhesi) was one of them. He will confirm, pointed out on many occasions, it is not anti-Indian to as he did in his speech, that very large numbers of them, voice concerns about the policies of the Government of and virtually every such family in my constituency, the day in India, whoever that may be. I want to make it either have relatives working on farms or own land. 15WH Press Freedom and Safety of 8 MARCH 2021 Press Freedom and Safety of 16WH Protesters: India Protesters: India [Adam Holloway] The world saw the arrest of 25-year-old Nodeep Kaur, and then of climate activist Disha Ravi. The sessions This is really a huge concern and worry to many of judge said, in granting bail, that those families. It affects not just Sikhs, but every geography “citizens are conscience keepers of government” and every creed in India. and that they cannot be jailed I say to the Minister that I fully appreciate that we “simply because they choose to disagree with the State policies”. have limited leverage. The idea that the Prime Minister Medical support staff have been beaten at rallies. Concerns could tell the President of India what to do is clearly have been raised about journalists. The Sikh Human preposterous. However, I plead with the Minister and Rights Group, an NGO with special consultative status the Prime Minister to express their concern in the most at the UN, has received highly credible evidence, in the powerful way possible. Looking at the TV images of form of 20-plus first instance reports from the senior some of the brutality, it really is quite extraordinary advocateoverseeingcases,aboutallegationsof unsustainable and utterly disproportionate. The other point I would charges being made by the police. Those who have made urge the Minister to make is that India is a great any comment against the abuses have been subject to a democracy and should have the self-confidence to treat tirade of abuse from far-right forces. Indeed, also, an a free press properly. approach against gurdwaras in three cities a few weeks ago— 5.24 pm Graham Stringer (in the Chair): Order. We now move Seema Malhotra (Feltham and Heston) (Lab/Co-op): on to Front-Bench speeches. There is time for no more It is indeed a pleasure to serve under your chairship, than 10 minutes from each Front-Bench spokesperson, Mr Stringer, and to speak in the debate. I thank the leaving a couple of minutes at the end for the proposer Petitions Committee and Gurcharn Singh, who organised to wind up. We go to Scotland and the Scottish National the petition, which was signed by more than 3,400 party spokesperson, Brendan O’Hara. people in Feltham and Heston. It is of great concern to many of my constituents and those of other Members, including my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford 5.28 pm and Isleworth (Ruth Cadbury), who was unable to join Brendan O’Hara (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) [V]: It is a the debate today. We have friends and family who are pleasure to see you back in the Chair for this afternoon’s deeply affected by the situation, who understandably debate, Mr Stringer. I am sure that I speak for everyone feel anxious that things could escalate further. Indeed, in thanking the House staff who have worked so hard to our local gurdwara in Hounslow has raised the issue get Westminster Hall debates back up and running this with us. My family, two generations ago, worked in afternoon. I thank all colleagues who have contributed agriculture in Punjab. We are all friends of India, and to the debate, and I pay tribute to the tens of thousands that is another reason why the issue cuts very deep. of people from across the UK who have signed the Men and women have been away from their families e-petition, asking that we in this House take the time to on a protest that has now gone on for more than consider the plight of Indian farmer protesters and the 100 days, day after day, in incredibly tough conditions. difficult situation of many journalists currently working Indeed, on the front of Time magazine this week, the in India. week of International Women’s Day, are three generations I acknowledge in particular the contribution made by of women, forming part of the protest. According to my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow and East Oxfam India, 85% of rural women work in agriculture. Falkirk (Martyn Day), and thank him for the thoughtful We know that the issue must be resolved through way he opened the debate on behalf of the Petitions discussion and democratic means, in India alone, but in Committee. As he said in his opening remarks, the doing that, along with democracy there is a right to issues are complex. It is important that we reiterate, and press freedom and safety for protesters. No one supports make it clear, that in today’s debate in the UK Parliament violence, and that has rightly been condemned. The we have no locus on the merits or otherwise of the laws in question have been suspended for 18 months by agriculture reform Acts passed by the Indian Parliament the Supreme Court, and a solution must be found. last year. The future of Indian agriculture is a matter While the largest protests have been in Punjab, Haryana entirely for the people of India and their Government. and western Uttar Pradesh, there have been smaller ones Likewise, it is right that the Indian Government across the country involving people of different faiths. appropriately enforce law and order, and should protests It is not a religious dispute. The Indian Government cross the line into illegality, it is not our place to say that have said that they will preserve the minimum support they cannot police that appropriately.But what is undeniable price, but there is not yet a legislative base for that. The is that in a democracy the Indian Government have an laws have led to fear about income and livelihoods. obligation to uphold and defend the rights and freedoms Experience in other countries has suggested that, rather guaranteed to her citizens by the Indian constitution. than improving farmers’ incomes, corporatisation has That includes the right to protest and the right to a free depressed them, and it needs to be debated. press: one that is not subject to harassment, intimidation, Whatever assessment is made of the laws, today we violence or state censorship. Therefore, while the internal are discussing concerns about press freedom and the political matter of agricultural reform is not a matter safety of protesters. Those issues led to the Leader of for this House to discuss, I do believe that on matters the House saying: concerning international human rights, people outside India can, and indeed should, make their voices heard. “As India is our friend, it is only right that we make representations when we think that things are happening that are not in the As my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow and interests of…the country of which we are a friend.”—[Official East Falkirk said, since the start of the protests there Report, 11 February 2021; Vol. 689, c. 495.] have been numerous and widespread reports of violence 17WH Press Freedom and Safety of 8 MARCH 2021 Press Freedom and Safety of 18WH Protesters: India Protesters: India being meted out against protesters by both the police I was struck when the right hon. Member for Chipping and Government-supporting mobs. We have all read Barnet (Theresa Villiers) suggested that what was happening the reports from Amnesty International, Human Rights was nothing unusual. I beg to differ. These draconian Watch and, indeed, other human rights organisations clampdowns on press freedom and individual freedom about the beatings,harassment, intimidation and unjustified of expression have not just been condemned by international detention of farmer protesters that have sadly escalated organisations such as Amnesty International and Human in recent weeks. Since the tractor rally and the violent Rights watch; a whole raft of journalist groups in India clashes on 26 January, protest leaders have claimed that have been unequivocal in their condemnation. The National more than 100 people have gone missing as the Indian Union of Journalists in India, the Editors Guild of India, Government resorted to using laws of sedition to clamp the Press Club of India, the Indian Women’s Press down on protest. That move prompted the UN Office Corps, the Kashmiri Journalists Association, the Delhi of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to call on Union of Journalists, the International Federation of the Government to Journalists, Reporters Without Boarders and the Indian “stop threatening, demonising, and arresting peaceful protesters Journalists Union have all released statements on the and stop treating them as ‘anti-nationals’ or ‘terrorists”. crackdown on press freedom and in support of the journalists covering it. As we heard, the International Amnesty International called for the Press Institute has taken up the matter directly with the “immediate and unconditional release of activists and others who Prime Minister and has asked him to intervene. have been arrested for simply exercising their right to peaceful As was said in the opening minutes of this debate, protest and for the government to stop the harassment and demonisation of protesters.” how India wants to organise its agricultural sector is entirely and exclusively a matter for the Indian Government In many ways, I am glad that the UK Government have and their people, but human rights abuses and the silencing called out the Indian Government. They have made of the press are a matter for us all. Rajat Khosla, senior their position clear: they will continue to champion director of research, advocacy and policy at Amnesty human rights, and they regard the rights to peaceful International, said: protest, freedom of speech and a free press to be a vital “We have seen an alarming escalation in the Indian authorities’ part of any democracy. targeting of anyone who dares to criticise or protest the government’s As we heard from so many right hon. and hon. repressive laws and policies…The crushing of dissent leaves little Members, including the right hon. Member for Islington space for people to peacefully exercise their human rights including North (Jeremy Corbyn), the crackdown against farmer the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly in the country.” protesters did not happen in isolation. It was coupled to a raft of draconian measures affecting the ability of the There has been an alarming escalation in the Indian press to report freely what was happening. The hon. authorities’ targeting of anyone who dares to criticise or Member for Peterborough (Paul Bristow) was right protest against them. We add our voice to those in the when he described the clashes on 26 January and how international community and domestic organisations the Indian Government ordered mobile internet service calling for the Indian Government immediately to stop to be suspended in the Delhi area where the farmer their crackdown on the protesters, the farmers’ leaders protests were ongoing, claiming that it was to maintain and journalists. We want to see the immediate and public safety. The move was quickly condemned by unconditional release of all those who have been arrested campaigners and trade unions, who pointed out that and detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights under international human rights law, Indian officials to freedom of expression and assembly. The shutting should not use broad, indiscriminate shutdowns to curtail down of the internet, the censoring of social media and the free flow of information or to harm people’s ability the use of draconian laws against protesters and journalists to assemble freely or express their political views. A few who have been peacefully voicing opposition to the new days after the suspension of those internet services, the laws and questioning the Government’s methods must Government actually ordered Twitter to suspend the immediately cease. accounts of hundreds of users, claiming that they were Freedom of speech, the right to protest and a free inciting violence. A report in The Guardian afterwards press are the hallmarks of a democratic society. A said that those accounts belonged to democracy cannot function if those fundamentals are under attack, suppressed or eroded. Right now, it appears “news websites, activists and actors”. that all is not well in the world’s largest democracy. It is As we have heard, at about the same time, eight journalists up to the Indian Government to show their own people covering the protests were arrested on what Human and the international community that they want to Rights Watch has described as utterly baseless criminal protect that democracy and create a country that works charges. for all its citizens. I urge them to take heed of what has With eight journalists facing criminal charges including been said here this afternoon, and indeed across the sedition, promoting communal disharmony and making world, look at their own actions and act for the benefit statements prejudicial to national integration, it is right of all their citizens. that we as an international community speak out in condemnation. As the hon. Member for Nottingham 5.37 pm East (Nadia Whittome) pointed out, the arrest of the Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon) (Lab): It is a pleasure to journalists came just before other detentions including serve under your chairship, Mr Stringer. I thank the that of the 22-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi, who Petitions Committee and the hon. Member for Linlithgow was accused by the police of being a key conspirator, a and East Falkirk (Martyn Day) for opening this debate. formulator and a disseminator of a protest toolkit for I pay tribute to the many tens of thousands who secured farmers. Indeed, they also claimed that she shared that the debate through the petition process—what a great knowledge with Greta Thunberg. example of democracy in action. 19WH Press Freedom and Safety of 8 MARCH 2021 Press Freedom and Safety of 20WH Protesters: India Protesters: India [Stephen Kinnock] In recent weeks, campaigners have been particularly concerned about the Indian authorities’ disregard for We have heard many memorable and passionate freedom of expression, and specifically for media freedoms. contributions. I look forward to the Minister setting out Human Rights Watch has stated that during the protests what actions the Government will be taking. I particularly the authorities have introduced politically motivated thank the other contributors to the debate, not least charges against activists, and charged journalists and my 11 hon. Friends who made some truly compelling Opposition politicians with sedition simply for reporting arguments. The fact that the overwhelming majority of on claims made by the family of a dead protester. contributions to the debate have come from the Labour Following the Red Fort clashes between protesters Benches shows how hugely important this issue is to and police, the Indian Government shut off the internet our party. as a way of curbing the protest, suspending 4G mobile The farmers’ protests taking place in Delhi relate to internet services in three areas around Delhi, where tens three new agricultural laws that affect farmers. Taken of thousands of protesting farmers are camping. Services together, they loosen the rules relating to the sale, pricing were restored, but it is clear that bans of that sort and storage of farm produce, allow private buyers to violate basic freedoms. The Labour party therefore calls stockpile essential commodities for future sale, and set on the Indian authorities to recognise the vital role that out rules for contract farming. The legislation is deeply independent journalism plays within a democracy, and controversial, and Opposition figures and the protesting to protect its journalists from reprisals. farmers have complained that there was insufficient Mr Dhesi: In terms of independence, and the link consultation. The ongoing protests on the outskirts of between the Government and certain celebrities, the Delhi illustrate the strength of feeling and the level of farcical manner in which some Indian actors and cricketers anger that so many members of the farming community copy-pasted the official Government line simultaneously feel. Prime Minister Modi will by now be acutely aware on to their social media accounts not only exposed to a of the backlash against his policies, but India is a global audience the 2019 Cobrapost cash for tweets sovereign, democratic nation, and its agricultural laws sting operation, but severely dented their credibility of are a domestic matter. conscience. Does my hon. Friend agree that if our In a democracy, there will always be different views Government had issued such an edict, they would have on the right course of action to take. We acknowledge been laughed out of our country, and subsequently and fully respect that those views are held passionately celebrities with a conscience would have tweeted out the by many British Indians and those who retain close ties exact opposite in defiance? to India, but as it is a domestic issue it would not be Stephen Kinnock: I agree that the media and social appropriate for the UK Labour party to comment on media should never be manipulated for such political the specifics of the legislation itself, so I will not do so purposes, speaking through others in such a way that it today. However, since the first worrying evidence of is not clear where the originator of the message is escalating violence emerged, the Opposition have been coming from. It is important that the media is used as a urging the Indian authorities to protect and defend the neutral source of information rather than one that is universal human rights of all those protesting in India. loaded with a particular agenda. I assure hon. Members present that we shall continue to do so without fear or favour. Another universal human right is that of religious freedom. Prime Minister Modi will be aware of the deep The Labour party’s foreign policy puts the rule of concern about how protests by farmers on economic issues, law, democracy and universal human rights and freedoms which is what this is about, have resulted in a significant at the very heart of our global agenda, and we call for backlash against Sikhs. He will have seen Government those principles to be upheld consistently in every country supporters holding rallies outside Sikh places of worship across the world. Let me stress in absolute terms that and the fear that that will have engendered. Mr Modi the Labour Front Bench stands firmly behind the rights must recognise his responsibility in line with international of Indian farmers to exercise their right to freedom of law to keep— assembly, freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest. Seema Malhotra: My hon. Friend will be aware of the car rallies that targeted Southall, Leicester and Birmingham That is why on 1 February I issued a statement in two weeks ago. They caused great concern, and I pay which I drew attention to the escalating violence and tribute to the Home Office and the police. Does he the clashes between the farmers and police, and the agree that this is why it is so important that inter-faith threat to essential democratic rights. I called on both communities such as Southall Faiths Forum and Hounslow sides to show restraint, but made it clear that the onus is Friends of Faith come together, as they did at that time, on the Indian authorities to protect the farmers’ right to to say that they stand firm against right-wing groups peaceful protest, to respect their right of freedom of that want to harm our community? It is vital that across assembly and expression, and to respond to any incidents the world we defend our democracies and freedoms and of civil disobedience in a proportionate and appropriate protect our communities from attempts at division. manner. For instance, we are deeply concerned about reports of live ammunition being used by the police. We Stephen Kinnock: I agree absolutely with my hon. of course call on demonstrators to keep their protests Friend. Let us be clear that this issue must be seen be as peaceful and within the constraints of the law. The Red an economic and political one. It must never be allowed Fort incident on 26 January is an example of where to tip into prejudice around people’s faith or ethnicity. both sides must understand the limits of what is acceptable, It is vital that we keep focused on the issue that the and that certain actions are likely to provoke outrage protesters are protesting about. Mr Modi needs to and escalation. recognise that the world is watching and that what 21WH Press Freedom and Safety of 8 MARCH 2021 Press Freedom and Safety of 22WH Protesters: India Protesters: India happens in India resonates here in our country. He must respond to many of the points raised by right hon. and recognise his responsibility, in line with international hon. Members, but I am conscious that I need to give law, to keep the Sikh community safe and confident in the hon. Member for Linlithgow and East Falkirk a few India’s law enforcement. Such recognition is important minutes at the end of the debate—he says hurriedly, for the individuals and families affected, and also for looking at the clock to see how long we have. Perhaps those of us who are keen to see India flourish as the you might give me a pointer, Mr Stringer. great, successful, multicultural nation that we know it I will begin by saying that the officials in our network to be. of high commissions in India have monitored and reported The UK Government naturally and rightly value their back on the protests in response to the agricultural trade relationship with India, which stands at more reform laws ever since they first flared up in September. than £18 billion annually, but the UK-India relationship In January, the Indian Supreme Court suspended the must be broader and deeper than just trade. It should be reforms and established an expert committee to scrutinise based on working in partnership on issues of security the laws. Weunderstand that the committee has completed and climate change. Critically, it must be about the joint its consultations with concerned parties and will give a promotion of democracy, human rights and upholding final report to the Supreme Court at the end of the international law. month. We are also aware that the Indian Government On 1 February, I asked the Foreign Secretary to raise have met farmers’ unions on several occasions and that the issue of human rights with the Indian Government, those talks remain inconclusive, but are ongoing. and today I urge the UK Government to engage more Understandably, those events have caused alarm and actively and more urgently with New Delhi. What steps uncertainty for many British people who have family has the Minister taken to engage proactively with his ties to farming communities in India. The Government’s counterparts in New Delhi to ensure that the right to written response to the petition aimed to address those peaceful protest is upheld? Secondly, what representations concerns while making clear that agricultural policy is a has he made to his Indian counterpart about the need domestic matter for the Indian Government, as the to resolve the situation peacefully by working with all Opposition spokesman, the hon. Member for Aberavon parts of Indian society, including trade unions, and the (Stephen Kinnock), confirmed. The UK Government need to advance the negotiations that have stalled? firmly believe, however, that freedom of speech, internet Thirdly, will he publish a broader strategy to defend freedom, which was mentioned by the right hon. Member internet and media freedom, not only in India, but in for Wolverhampton South East (Mr McFadden) and other places such as Belarus, Hong Kong and Uganda? many others, and the right to peaceful protest, are vital Fourthly, what steps have the UK Government taken to to any democracy. support the rights of Amnesty International, which was We also accept that if a protest crosses the line into recently forced to discontinue its operations in India? illegality, security forces in a democracy have the right Finally, the invitation to join the G7 in Cornwall to enforce law and order in a proportionate way. We represents a significant development in India’s role as a encourage all states to ensure that domestic laws and leading nation in global politics. Will the Minister confirm the way in which they are enforced comply with that the Prime Minister will take this opportunity to international human rights standards. In that spirit, we stress to Mr Modi the need for India to adhere to the look to the Indian Government to uphold the freedoms high standards that are expected within the international and rights guaranteed to the Indian people by the community, particularly with regard to universal human constitution and by the international instruments to rights and the rule of law? which India is party. Concerns about press freedom in India were raised by right hon. and hon. Members, including the right hon. 5.48 pm Member for Islington North (Jeremy Corbyn), my hon. The Minister for Asia (Nigel Adams): It is a pleasure Friend the Member for Peterborough (Paul Bristow), to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer, under the hon. Member for Ealing, Southall (Mr Sharma), these new arrangements. So far, so good—the technology and the SNP spokesman, the hon. Member for Argyll appears to have worked very well. I am grateful to the and Bute (Brendan O’Hara). Again, let me be clear that hon. Member for Linlithgow and East Falkirk (Martyn this Government believe that an independent media is Day) for introducing this debate in an excellent way. I essential to any robust democracy. That is why we are pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman for his work on the committed to championing media freedom around the Petitions Committee.I am also grateful for the contributions world, as is evident from our ambitious media freedom from all right hon. and hon. Members, many of whom campaign that we launched in November 2018. have given passionate speeches this afternoon—under- India has a vibrant media scene that promotes lively standably so, given the interest in their constituencies and debate across the political spectrum, and the UK their own personal connections with India. Government have worked to support that democratic I also want to thank Councillor Gurcharn Singh, tradition. In 2019, for example, we awarded scholarships whom the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon on our flagship Chevening programme to seven talented (Layla Moran) rightly commended for initiating the and aspiring young Indian journalists. Last year, we petition and ultimately this debate. There are clearly supported the Thomson Reuters Foundation to run very strong feelings, both inside and outside the House, workshops for Indian journalists to help them report on about the farmers’ protest and about press freedoms in human rights issues. India, as indicated by the fact that more than 100,000 My colleague Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon is the people have signed the petition. May I thank every Minister responsible for both human rights and our single one of them for taking such a keen interest and relations with India. He regularly discusses media freedom, for bringing the subject to the House? I will try to including the Media Freedom Coalition, of which the 23WH Press Freedom and Safety of 8 MARCH 2021 Press Freedom and Safety of 24WH Protesters: India Protesters: India [Nigel Adams] sanctions on those who commit serious human rights violations or abuses. It is not appropriate to speculate UK is a founding member, with India’s Minister of on who may be designated under the regime in future, State for External Affairs. Right hon. and hon. Members as to do so could very well reduce their impact. will recognise that this is a time of great ambition for The Opposition spokesman also raised the issue of the UK’s relationship with India. Both Governments Amnesty International in India. We raised this case are working to advance shared priorities across trade with the high commissioner on 1 December and with and investment, health, sustainability, climate change, officials via Lord Ahmad, and our officials have raised and defence and security. We are also working with our concerns most recently in November, as well as in India as a force for good on the UN Security Council, December. We have requested that Amnesty’s accounts and it is one of the Prime Minister’s guest countries at be unfrozen while the investigation is ongoing, and in the G7 summit later this year in June. This co-operation our contacts with the Government of India we have will help us to fix global problems and it will strengthen noted the important role in a democracy of organisations prosperity and wellbeing in India and the UK. such as Amnesty. While this is an exciting time for the UK-India partnership, it does not hinder our raising difficult Graham Stringer (in the Chair): Order. Can the Minister issues. A number of right hon. and hon. Members, bring his remarks to a conclusion very quickly? including the right hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) and the hon. Members for Ilford South (Sam Tarry) and for Birmingham, Perry Barr Nigel Adams: I can; thank you, Mr Stringer. Let me (Mr Mahmood) spokeabout the Prime Minister’supcoming end by reassuring colleagues that the UK Government visit to India. This will be an opportunity to discuss a will continue to monitor developments relating to the range of bilateral issues with India. Where we have protests incredibly closely. Where we have concerns, we serious and specific concerns, we will raise them directly will continue to raise them with the Indian Government, with the Indian Government, as would be expected of a while respecting the fact that these agricultural reforms friend and neighbour.Candid discussions are an important are an internal matter. part of our mature and wide-ranging relationship with the Indian Government. 5.59 pm The hon. Members for Oxford West and Abingdon Martyn Day [V]: I thank all who took part in this and for Aberavon wanted to know what further discussions debate. It is fantastic that these debates are taking place, the United Kingdom has had since the Foreign Secretary so I also thank the House authorities for facilitating discussed the farmers’ protest with his counterpart during them, although we could clearly have done with a much his visit to India in December. This month alone, senior longer debate. The spirit of today’s contributions was Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials very much one of concern born out of friendship. The have met with the Indian high commissioner and discussed images and testimonies that we heard today are thoroughly this very thing—the UK parliamentary interest in the depressing. We rightly regard India as a valuable friend freedom of civil society groups, for example, to operate and ally, which makes it imperative that we do not turn in India—and Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon speaks regularly a blind eye to the events taking place. To do so would be to his counterparts in the Indian Ministry of External a failure of both diplomacy and friendship. Affairs, as well as to the high commissioner here in the UK. Human rights issues are an essential part of Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)). these conversations. The hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon raised Graham Stringer (in the Chair): In order to allow the the issue of article 9. We have not made an assessment safe exit of hon. Members participating in this item of of India’s agricultural bills in relation to article 9 I will business and the safe arrival of those participating in certainly consult officials on this, but I would stress again the next, I am suspending the sitting. Please will Members that these reforms are a domestic matter for India. The participating physically leave the room promptly by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Tahir Ali) exit door on the left while observing social distancing. raised the issue of sanctions. This sanctions regime, Thank you. which we launched in July, enables the UK to impose Sitting suspended. 25WH 8 MARCH 2021 LGBT Conversion Therapy 26WH

LGBT Conversion Therapy In preparation for today’s debate and throughout my campaigning on this issue since being elected as an MP, it has been my absolute honour to speak to campaign [JAMES GRAY in the Chair] and charitable organisations, to experts from the fields [Relevant Documents: Correspondence with the Minister of health, religion, education, law and beyond, and to for Women and Equalities on LGBT conversion therapy, legislators from across the world, including Malta, Canada, reported to the House on 27 July and 22 September 2020.] Australia, Spain and New Zealand, where these practices have either already been banned or are in the process of 6.15 pm being banned. Most importantly, I am grateful to the survivors for speaking out and sharing their stories. James Gray (in the Chair): We come now to the Their bravery in shining a light on these abhorrent second of these hybrid debates in Westminster Hall, practices will help to save countless lives in the future if which are actually being held in the Boothroyd Room in we can secure this ban. Portcullis House. From my point of view, they are an extremely good innovation. First, we must ask ourselves what conversion therapy is and why it needs to be banned. According to a May Before we start our debate on LGBT conversion 2020 report by the UN Office for Human Rights, and therapy, perhaps I can remind Members of one or two indeed according to a definition from the Government matters. Social distancing must be maintained in this Equalities Office, so-called conversion therapy is an room, as it has been already. Those who are here are umbrella term used to describe interventions of a wide- expected to be here for the beginning and the end of the ranging nature, all of which have in common the belief debate, including those who are with us virtually; please that a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity can stay until the end. And those who are here physically and should be changed. These so-called therapies can should use a wet wipe to clear up their space after they manifest in many forms, from pseudo-psychological have spoken. treatments and aversion therapies to practices that are With that, I call Elliot Colburn, who is appearing religiously based, such as purification or fasting. At the virtually, to propose the motion. most extreme, there has been evidence that this practice can also involve physical and sexual violence, including 6.16 pm so-called corrective rape. Elliot Colburn (Carshalton and Wallington) (Con) I will share just some of the stories of the survivors [V]: I beg to move, who have bravely shared their stories with me and the That this House has considered e-petition 300976 relating to world, in an attempt to help campaign for the end of LGBT conversion therapy. this practice in the UK. The first is Joe’s story. As a boy, It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Joe grappled with his hidden gay identity before leaving Mr Gray.The petition is entitled, “Make LGBT conversion for his year in a yeshiva in Israel—a highly significant therapy illegal in the UK”. The prayer of the petition moment for many young Jews. He sought out conversion states that therapy and began weekly phone calls with a so-called therapist. After a year this clearly had not worked and “I would like the Government to: instead he sought in-person therapies, where a group • make running conversion therapy in the UK a criminal leader would force them to process moments of homosexual offence attraction, only for them to be scrutinised, judged and • forcing people to attend said conversion therapies a criminal shamed, leaving Joe with an immense sense of depression. offence Thankfully, after hearing other gay Orthodox Jews • sending people abroad in order to try to convert them a speak out about their own experience, he stopped his criminal offence conversion therapy, but the experience has left a scar to • protect individuals from conversion therapy this day. Despite all major counselling and psychotherapy bodies in the UK, including the NHS, condemning LGBT conversion therapy, Next is Josh’s story. In 2017, Josh went undercover it is still legal and LGBT individuals in the UK are still exposed to for the Liverpool Echo to a Liverpool church that offered this psychological and emotional abuse to this day. The very a cure for homosexuality through a three-day starvation thought of this sickens me, and I would like to see it stopped programme. The assistant pastor told Josh to starve one day.” himself and not drink any water before taking part in When the petition closed, it had 256,392 signatures, weekly prayer sessions, referring to being gay as “the including 487 from my own constituency of Carshalton deceit of Satan”. In the prayer groups the assistant and Wallington. pastor would shout phrases such as “kill it with fire” I can think of few moments so humbling as opening this and “die in the fire,” while members of the congregation important debate today.II is a testament to the importance were seen crying, shaking, sweating and appearing to of this issue that the debate was heavily over-subscribed, speak in tongues. It is shocking that the assistant pastor and I know that many colleagues who wanted to get in was an NHS doctor at that time, and I can find no could not do so. Briefly, I want to thank and acknowledge evidence that he is no longer an NHS doctor. from my side of the House the campaigning done by my Finally, I want to talk about Carolyn. At 17, Carolyn hon. Friends the Members for Darlington (Peter Gibson), confided in her local vicar her feelings of self-hatred for Bracknell (James Sunderland), for Aylesbury and depression, and her suicidal thoughts, because she (Rob Butler), for Redcar (Jacob Young), for Watford did not feel like a boy. Her vicar took her to a doctor (Dean Russell), for South Ribble (Katherine Fletcher), and a psychiatric hospital, where Carolyn was strapped for High Peak (Robert Largan), for Bishop Auckland to a wooden chair in a dark room. As images of women’s (Dehenna Davison), for Bury South (Christian Wakeford), clothing were projected on to the wall in front of her, for Burnley (Antony Higginbotham), and others. doctors would deliver painful electric shocks, hoping to 27WH LGBT Conversion Therapy8 MARCH 2021 LGBT Conversion Therapy 28WH

[Elliot Colburn] I have two final points to make today. On what the ban must include, the Government do not need to start associate the feelings of being a woman with memories from scratch. Highly praised examples already exist in of intense pain. As with Joe and Josh, that experience places such as Madrid, Malta and Victoria in Australia. remains with Carolyn to this day. Learning from those examples, and in line with the UN Joe, Josh and Carolyn are just three survivors I have report’s recommendations, a ban must cover both the had the privilege of speaking to, and they experienced a public and the private spheres and all forms of intervention, wide range of so-called conversion therapies. I commend no matter what they might be, whether that be healthcare, them for their bravery in speaking out, sharing their religious, cultural or traditional, and so on. It must stories and campaigning to end these practices in the cover children and adults, those who have been coerced UK. Sadly, they are just three of many. In 2018, the and indeed those who consented to such conversion Government’s first ever national survey of over 108,000 practices. There must be an up-to-date definition of LGBT people in Britain found that 7% of respondents advertising to ensure that it encompasses public, private, had either undergone or been offered conversion therapy. community spaces and online advertising. The ban Some 13% of trans respondents had undergone or been must include the sending, or the threatening to send offered conversion therapy.Of those who had been offered someone,overseastoundergoso-calledconversiontherapies. it, 51% said that it was conducted by faith groups and a As well as investigative frameworks, a punishment further 19% said that it was done by healthcare providers framework for non-compliance must be established, or medical professionals. As the Ban Conversion Therapy and mechanisms created for support and redress to coalition has outlined, though, given the clandestine victims. Finally, it must truly protect all LGBT+ people. and deceptive way these so-called conversion therapies The ban cannot be just on gay conversion therapy. It are offered—giving them different names or dressing must cover degrading and inhumane interventions aimed them up as alternative treatments—the real number is at changing anyone’s sexual orientation, or gender identity likely to be a lot higher. Tragically, we will never hear or expression. We must remember that this is about the the testimonies of many who, grappling with their own practice itself and about the fact that absolutely no one identity while being told how wrong they were through should be subject to such abhorrent interventions. To these therapies, were left feeling that they had no other avoid confusion and to protect those delivering real and option than to take their own life. actual support to LGBT+ people, laws passed elsewhere in the world have introduced specific mention of what It is important to point out that we are not talking should not be considered as part of a ban, including about harmful practices that occurred some time ago; safe and supportive therapies. this is happening today, here in the UK, right now. A UN report into conversion therapy last year summed it My final point is about the need for a timeline. We up perfectly when it concluded that any and all forms of have the commitment, the evidence and the international conversion therapy are working examples, so what we need now is a Bill. I appreciate that the Government have been gathering “inherently degrading and discriminatory. They are rooted in the belief that LGBT persons are somehow inferior, and that they evidence, looking to understand this better and exploring must at any cost modify their orientation or identity to remedy options, but I hope that the Minister will deliver some that supposed inferiority.” good news and tell us when a Bill will be published, so that we may debate it on the Floor of the House. So strong was the report that it called for nothing less than To conclude, the evidence is clear. So-called conversion therapy does not work. There is no scientific basis for it “a global ban on conversion therapy.” whatever. Parts of every section of UK society have Here in the UK, the practice has received almost universal come together, united in their condemnation and calling condemnation. In 2017, a memorandum of understanding for it to be banned. Since 2021 looks like a year of on conversion therapy in the UK was signed by NHS restarting, reopening and regrowing, let us add to that England and 12 other psychotherapy and health bodies, positivity by getting a conversion therapy ban on to the charities and organisations. I thank Igi Moon for their statute book this year. As a gay man and on behalf of time speaking to me about the impact this has had. In LGBT+ people in the UK and around the world, I will another powerful intervention, in 2017 the Church of end by saying, we are here—our existence is real, our England also passed a motion condemning these practices lives are valid, and we cannot and do not need to be and calling on the Government to ban them—a call that cured. has now been echoed by over 370 global religious leaders and organisations. I pay particular tribute to Jayne Ozanne James Gray (in the Chair): It may help the House to and her foundation for her leadership, her courage and know that some 50 people originally put in to speak in her tireless efforts in campaigning on this issue. this debate, of whom Mr Speaker has selected 20. If we Finally, in the national LGBT action plan of 2018, are to achieve that number, as a courtesy to each other, I the UK Government committed to bring forward proposals suggest a maximum speaking time of three minutes—two to ban conversion therapy—a call that has been echoed minutes would be even better. many times in the House since that commitment was made. We have the agreement, the commitment and the 6.28 pm coalition of voices from all parts of society urging a ban to be implemented. What we need now is the action. John Nicolson (Ochil and South Perthshire) (SNP) With every day that passes, another person is at risk of [V]: “Converting gays”—just wonder for a moment being subjected to this degrading treatment. We risk about how primitive that concept is. It is a cruel hangover losing even more lives of people who feel there is no from a darker time—a time when to be gay, lesbian or other way out. trans was to be flawed or inadequate. 29WH LGBT Conversion Therapy8 MARCH 2021 LGBT Conversion Therapy 30WH

I do not know why I am gay. I do not know why I Such a law is an important step as a declaratory have green eyes or curly hair, but I do know that no one statement, as it is as a legal tool. If someone is LGBT, made me gay; I was born gay. When I was younger, to the law says that the state supports them. It supports borrow from Alfred Kinsey, I would have taken a magic how they want to live their life. When victims find pill to make myself straight, but I now know that that themselves under pressure that is improperly applied to was not because I hated being gay, but because I did not convert them to something they are not, they will know want to be the victim of prejudice. Who does? We know that it is against the law and that they can call it out. that there is no magic pill, nor do we need one. We need They can say to the person or people who are the source love and acceptance. of this—[Interruption.] LGBT conversion is the very antithesis of that. It promises a cure where none is available and none is James Gray (in the Chair): We have lost the sound, needed. We look back in horror at the tortures endured Mr Blunt. You are mute. by our LGBT brothers and sisters, even in recent history— electro-shock therapy,lobotomy and the chemical castration Crispin Blunt: My apologies. endured by Alan Turing at the hands of a vicious and The law gives the victims the opportunity to go to the ungrateful political class and legal system. police and, therefore, to have a weapon in their hand Changing people’s sexual orientation is, as we know, against the source of a conversion therapy. The state is scientifically impossible, but that does not stop bigots on the side of victims’ freedom—the freedom that that from trying. “Pray away the gay,” cry some religious individual is trying to take away from them. groups, who somehow see no contradiction with the The second point I want to make is that such protection command that thou shalt love thy neighbour. People must include trans people. They are by far and away the who hold out the promise of conversion are cruelly most vulnerable group among the LGBT community. targeting the most vulnerable. It is abuse. Identity around gender dysphoria is surely a much more Some hon. Members know I was a journalist before challenging thing to meet than a minority sexuality, but entering politics, and I once made a film for the BBC in all must be protected. The law must include trans people, which I interviewed a conversion therapist. It was one and not only because they are the group who need it the of the most chilling encounters of my career. The man most. In 2018, it appeared that trans people were on a in question, who was utterly untrained, advertised himself trajectory to achieve their rights and protections to live as offering the last chance at a normal life. He preyed on their lives as they wished, supported by the Government’s the young and the vulnerable: teenage boys and men in comprehensive LGBT action plan, but all that now their early 20s who were terrified of who they were. He seems to have changed. Trans people are a community talked of weak fathers and overbearing mothers. I sat in under siege. Organisations whose principle raison d’être on one session, and it was gibberish. is to attack and challenge the very legitimacy of trans I asked the man what his motivation was, and he told people have come into being, and they appear to trans me that his gay son committed suicide using the car people to be firmly in the ascendant. exhaust pipe in their garage. The boy had written two The lived experience of trans people reflects the awful suicide letters: one for his father, and one for his lover. paucity of services for them in the United Kingdom, as The man showed me the letter that had been written graphically illustrated by VICE News in January and to him. The handwriting tailed off as the boy lost November. They also see 250 articles a year attacking consciousness. He was pleading with his father to them in our newspaper of record, The Times. They see understand his anguish. He could not reconcile his that groups such as the Conservative Women’s Pledge certainty that he had been born gay with the church’s and LGB Alliance, whose purpose seems to be to protect teachings, and he implored his dad to befriend his cisgender women from trans women, have the ear of boyfriend and learn acceptance. “So what did you do?” Ministers. They see reform of the Gender Recognition I said to the father. He said he redoubled his efforts to Act 2004 abandoned, and the principle of gender-neutral convert and confuse the young. We must protect society legislation was reversed only last week. from men like him. I welcome the petition, and the Gender is much more complicated than sexuality, Government must now act. and the drafting of the ban on conversion therapy will need to protect those giving informed, regulated and 6.31 pm properly peer-reviewed advice to assist those on the Crispin Blunt (Reigate) (Con) [V]: I congratulate my path to reconciling their gender dysphoria. If the legislation hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton and Wallington does not include the protection of trans people, however, (Elliot Colburn) on leading the debate so well, and I it will send to them the unmistakeable message that congratulate his Committee on securing it. I have two their Government do not want to protect them, do not key points for the Government. The first is that we must value them and, at some level, do not really accept that legislate. Deliver the promise to protect in law. Use the trans is really a thing. That awful message would work done in the Government Equalities Office before inadvertently make the Government themselves party 2019. Use the examples elsewhere, particularly in Spain to the practice of conversion therapy. and the Australian state of Victoria, which have already legislated. Our common law system enables the drafting 6.36 pm challenge of defining conversion therapy to be met. There is no need to overcomplicate this issue. The Dame Angela Eagle (Wallasey) (Lab) [V]: I was proud police, prosecutors and jurors will know conversion to be a Minister in the last Labour Government, which therapy when they see it. Most critically, the victims will did so much to ensure that LGBT+ people were finally know it too, and they will have been equipped with a afforded equal rights in law.There is a difference, however, defence mechanism. between ending bigotry and prejudice in law, and making 31WH LGBT Conversion Therapy8 MARCH 2021 LGBT Conversion Therapy 32WH

[Dame Angela Eagle] There was a similar petition in the Scottish Parliament entitled “End Conversion Therapy”, which was dealt the right to equal treatment and respect a reality for with last year by its Public Petitions Committee. Stonewall every LGBT+ person in our country. The petition aims Scotland, Equality Network, Scottish Trans Alliance to move us further towards that point. and LGBT Youth Scotland all supported the principles That would seem like an obvious, non-contentious of that petition. In response, the Scottish Government— step when considering the mistaken beliefs that underly positively, from my perspective, because this is not the existence of the degrading and dehumanising practice always how they respond—said they wanted to work of conversion therapy: that sexual orientation can be with the UK Government to bring about a ban. I want changed; that LGBT+ people are a threat to society, to encourage that working together on this issue so that evil or disordered; that LGBT+ people are ill, sick or we can deliver a ban that works across the United can be cured; and that LGBT+ people can be persuaded Kingdom and impacts on those in my own constituency or forced to become heterosexual by undergoing treatment in Scotland who might be put in this position. I also or counselling. If that approach sounds almost medieval, want to see the Scottish Government and the UK that is because it is, yet every day, people in our country Government working on the GRA issue. As my hon. have their lives and mental wellbeing put at serious risk Friend the Member for Reigate (Crispin Blunt) mentioned by being subjected to attempts, by people who have in relation to trans issues, we need that to be dealt power over them, to change their sexual orientation. with—on a UK-wide basis, in my view. The extent of the prevalence of conversion therapy in While I am sure that the Government’s intentions are the UK is shocking, as we heard in the excellent opening positive and the Prime Minister’s statement will be contribution by the hon. Member for Carshalton and honoured, the Government have given the impression Wallington (Elliot Colburn). There is very strong evidence of being tardy, and now is the time to end that impression. of the harm that conversion therapy inflicts: more than As the chief executive of Stonewall, Nancy Kelley, said: half of those who have gone through it report mental “The UK government must stop dragging its feet and make health issues, including breakdown, eating disorders, good on its promise to bring in a full legal ban, and put a stop to substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. conversion therapy in the UK for good.” Evidence also shows that it is being inflicted mainly, but I hope that the Minister, in her summing up, will give us not only,on vulnerable LGBT+ teenagers. That is horrific, clarity that that will happen and set out the timescale. but it is not surprising. Being told by faith leaders or your family that you are sinful, evil, and disordered for 6.42 pm being yourself creates self-loathing and trauma that only the strongest can survive. Being told to pray harder Mike Hill (Hartlepool) (Lab) [V]: It is a pleasure to to change and to question your innermost feelings and serve under your chairmanship, Mr Gray. I thank my thoughts, and being taught to hate yourself—none of colleague the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington that should be legal. (Elliot Colburn) for his wonderful introduction to the Conversion therapy certainly causes untold damage debate. I have been contacted by many of my constituents and trauma for those who encounter it. Many survivors about the petition, each of them as shocked as I am that need specialist help because of the damage that that the Government have still not acted to outlaw the unethical and degrading process has caused. The practice of so-called conversion therapy inflicted on Government must end the delay and bring the ban LGBT people. forward now. I welcome the petition, and I look forward The petitioners’ aims are not difficult to enact, nor to what I hope will be the Minister’s positive response are they asking too much. Their requests are clear and and a timetable for legislation. simple: they simply want LGBT people to live in dignity without having their sexuality or gender identity questioned. Every human being should have the right to express 6.39 pm their own identity without the judgment of others. It is David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and clear from the evidence surrounding this practice, compiled Tweeddale) (Con) [V]: I thank my hon. Friend the by the charity Stonewall, that that is not the case for Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Elliot Colburn) everyone who identifies as LGBT in the UK. According for his thoughtful opening of the debate and his moving to Stonewall’s figures, one in 20 LGBT people living in acknowledgment of survivors. I think it very important the UK has at some time been subject to or recommended that we see the debate as an opportunity for a call for for therapies that question their very identity. That action from the Government. number rises to almost one in 10 among young LGBT adults aged between 18 and 24 and almost one in five The debate is obviously of moment, particularly for for trans people. the quarter of a million people who signed the petition. It is an acknowledgment, as the national LGBT survey In a modern, supposedly decent society, that should demonstrated, that this is going on in our country: not even be an option, and it certainly should not be legal. 2% in the LGBT+ community had received such therapy Many of the people subjected to such practices have and 5% had been offered it. We must treat the term them forced upon them by their families. In some cases, “therapy” with the contempt it deserves, because we LGBT people are sent abroad for treatment by relatives must be clear that this is not therapy; it is a pseudo- who believe it will somehow cure them, when there is psychiatric 21st-century snake oil. There is nothing nothing—absolutely nothing—to be cured. The only more pernicious than to deem someone sick and then to result is severe distress and untold psychological trauma. try to coerce them into treatment for something that is Every recognised medical and professional body in right at the core of who they are and who they love. We the UK has described the practice as dangerous. Many cannot tolerate it continuing. other public bodies have signed a common pledge against 33WH LGBT Conversion Therapy8 MARCH 2021 LGBT Conversion Therapy 34WH the practice. However, substantial evidence still shows who abuse their authority. We must protect people from that too many people continue to believe, despite the those who carry out practices that would never be evidence, that sexuality and gender identity can be accepted by any qualified mental health professional. cured in some way. Enacting legislation to end these For that reason, representatives of every major faith so-called therapies and ensure that no practitioner in group, including the Church of England, have backed a the UK can consider them an option to which they can ban. The legislation I propose does not prevent individuals refer a patient would contribute greatly to preventing from seeking guidance from faith leaders. people from persisting in that belief. Thirdly, it is argued that a ban will not end the I appreciate that the Government have previously practice, and that the worst forms of conversion therapy made supportive statements on the issue. The Prime are already illegal. A practice such as this can never Minister himself described it as “abhorrent”, and as truly be eradicated, but legislation gives victims legal something that recourse. We need specific legislation, like we have for “has no place in a civilised society”. female genital mutilation, rather than relying on existing He made that statement last summer, but nine months general bodily harm laws. on there has been no movement. There is clearly cross-party Fourthly, it is argued that conversion therapy is not consensus in favour of legislating to outlaw this practice. happening in our country, or that it is happening to very Every day that the Government delay legislation, another few people and is not that severe. How many lives have LGBT person could be subject to this continued abuse. to be lost for it to be deemed to be worthy of tackling? We have the power to act and the support to pass the In our country, people are being forced to eat purifying legislation. All we need is the legislation to put our substances. They are beaten and whipped, forced to words into action. We can prevent further damage to undergo exorcisms and corrective rape,forced into marriages the lives of LGBT people in this country, but only if we and made to undergo genital mutilation. People in my act quickly. party have been threatened with, and forced to go through, conversion therapy. Two thousand people in James Gray (in the Chair): Physically speaking and the country have had the courage to tell the Government back from her maternity leave, we have Alicia Kearns. that they have been subjected to it, but how many more suffer in silence? 6.46 pm Finally, some opponents claim that transgender individuals should be removed from the legislation. It is Alicia Kearns (Rutland and Melton) (Con): When I quite straightforward to introduce a safeguard for was elected, I said that I would be a voice for those professionally accredited individuals who can assist persons whom others seek to silence, and I stand here today to considering undergoing a gender transition. Conversion do exactly that. The need for this ban is quite simple: therapy falls disproportionately on this community, and victims of conversion therapy currently have no legal any ban that excludes trans people would make legislation recourse to justice and, without a legislative ban, lives self-defeating. are being destroyed. On my election, I came to Parliament with one legislative Last year, I submitted to the Minister a proposed change I wanted to deliver,which was a ban on conversion legislative framework, backed by more than 15 major therapy. I particularly pay tribute to the campaigning LGBTQ advocacy groups and 10 representatives of all that took place before I came to this place by my right major faith groups in the UK. It sets out a framework hon. Friend the Member for Pudsey (Stuart Andrew) that would enable prosecutions to stop this heinous and my hon. Friend the Member for Finchley and practice and enable statutory bodies to give victims Golders Green (Mike Freer), and all those LGBT groups support and protection. It would enable us to identify and survivors who have worked so hard. To my fellow serial perpetrators, stop the advertising of this fraudulent MPs I say that, as legislators, we have a duty to protect quackery, protect potential victims and prevent them the vulnerable and deliver a ban. To the survivors of from being taken abroad. conversion therapy and all those hurting—to all those It is only through legislation that we will achieve the made to feel ashamed—I say today that love is not protection that those communities need and deserve. I conditional. You do not need to change. Love is not a thank the Prime Minister, the Women and Equalities pathology, and it damn well does not need treating. Minister and the Health Secretary for their support for a ban. I want to focus today on the arguments made by 6.50 pm those opposing the legislation. First, on the idea that people can consent to this so-called therapy, Parliament Gary Sambrook (Birmingham, Northfield) (Con): It and our courts have long recognised that one cannot is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Gray. consent to bodily harm and torture, and conversion Conversion therapy, in many ways, is a manipulation. therapy is that. Victims of conversion therapy bear It is a manipulation of emotions; it is a manipulation of mental and physical scars for life, and for that reason the coming-out process; and it is a manipulation of consent cannot be freely given. people finding themselves and understanding themselves Secondly, it is said that a ban somehow infringes on over many years. I came out when I was 22, nine years the practice of religion. It does not. Religious liberty is after I probably realised that I was slightly different fundamental, but so too is people’s liberty to live their from the rest of the lads at school. People go through lives free from identity-based violence and abuse. We emotional turmoil when they are going through that must protect the conversations between religious leaders process. Even when I started school—I am only 31—it and members of their flock. This is not a fight between still was not legal to adopt, and marriage was a distant, faith and unbelief; rather, it is about protecting the far-away thought. Until recently, the NHS still did not freedoms of the LGBTQ community and stopping those want my blood. 35WH LGBT Conversion Therapy8 MARCH 2021 LGBT Conversion Therapy 36WH

[Gary Sambrook] remarks. It is incredibly important in a debate like this to remember those whose voices may not yet be heard We go through this process, and it is incredibly difficult in this place, but for whom we need to speak. for people to process it, because we put ourselves under I also pay tribute to the journalist Patrick Strudwick so much strain and pressure. For me and so many other and to Vicky Beeching, who have done amazing work people, the emotions that we feel—the emotions that uncovering and talking about their own personal are being manipulated by this conversion therapy—are experiences, bringing to the fore an understanding of emotions of shame, of not belonging, and of being how toxic this treatment is. To everyone who has spoken selfish. These are the things we put ourselves through. so far and given their personal experience: that is what We talk ourselves down and we end up convincing Parliament at its best does. ourselves that we are doing wrong—that we are deliberately trying to behave differently from other people. The Like previous speakers, I want to take on some of the reason it took me so long to come out of the closet is arguments about why conversion therapy should be that I did not want to tell my mum that she would not made illegal. There has been a lot of focus on whether it be a granny, because I am an only child. We put works, as if there are any conditions in which such a ourselves through this for years and years. I was very therapy would be acceptable if it could be shown to be lucky, because I plodded on and managed to get through ethical. Many of the major bodies for psychotherapy in that very difficult period in my life, but so many other the UK have outlawed the practice and said that there is people can have those emotions manipulated. By allowing no semblance of an evidence base behind it. However, I these conversion therapies to continue, we are opening believe that we have to make it illegal, to send the clear the door for this sort of practice to continue. message that it is not about whether homosexuality is a pathology, because it is not. It is not about whether I talk about gay and lesbian people, because I am gay, being trans is a pathology, because it is not. It is a part but I also fully support many of the contributions today of who someone is. We in this place need to send the that have said that this conversion therapy also needs to clear message that we will not see the behaviour in end for trans people; I am 100% behind that battle too. I question indulged. We will not see the question as one want to send a message to the Government that it has of medical ethics, but as about a progressive, inclusive been three years since this promise to ban conversion society that bans practices that demean, belittle and therapy. We have got to get on with it and make sure discriminate against people. that we deliver on it, because every day is a delay; another day in which somebody else has their emotions Where young people who are gay, lesbian, transgender manipulated; another day in which someone else’s life or bi grow up in communities where they are not supported, could be ruined forever by going through these highly they are eight times more likely to have attempted suicide, traumatic experiences. six times more likely to report depression and three times more likely to use illegal drugs.There are consequences That could be any one of a number of us. Looking of living in a society where what I am talking about is through these stories, we can see similarities in what we even a debate, in many different communities, but we read. We can point them out and think, “This was me at know it is a live debate. Right now there are websites one point during my life” or, “This was a friend of mine where people can go to book conversion therapy, and it at some point during their life.” I look at the apology is talked about as a matter of free speech. Let us put the that was given last year by the University of Birmingham, argument to bed today. It is not a matter of free speech where electric shock treatment was given to gay people to cause someone harm in the way that conversion in the 1970s, and think, “That could have been me.” therapy does. We owe it to all those people to make sure that we It is also claimed that the matter is about a conflict ban conversion therapy as soon as possible, because if with spirituality. There is no conflict with spirituality. I we allow that door to be open for much longer, I fear will not give a platform to the organisations that can be the consequences for so many young people—and not found, but I want to give a platform to the House of necessarily just young people; it could be middle-aged Rainbow and the Reverend Jide Macaulay, who is a people; people who are later on in their life who find proud member of the local community in Walthamstow themselves hiding things and make daily lies a normal and our local faith communities too. He teaches every thing, as I did, to try to cover their tracks. This sort of single day that God loves you, not that God cares about stuff puts people through enormous emotional turmoil, who you love. Those are the organisations that we which is why it is so important that we ban conversion should be supporting. But we also need to send a clear therapy as soon as possible. message that it is not just about the medical side; it is James Gray (in the Chair): I apologise to the House. I simply about living in a better society. We want to inadvertently missed out the hon. Member for Walthamstow outlaw the practice, to protect people from the harm (Stella Creasy). and damage that it does. We know that it is possible to do that. Frankly, when 6.54 pm countries such as China, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Malta and even Samoa have a ban, we could have one in Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) (Lab/Co-op) [V]: It is the UK, and quickly. As the debate shows, there is easily done, Mr Gray; please do not worry. cross-party consensus for it, so I urge the Minister to I am honoured to be able to take part in this incredibly use the energy from the debate and the support across important and powerful debate, which clearly has cross- civil society for action and not to delay further. Let us party support. I start by paying tribute to the hon. make Britain proud to be a world leader, for once, on Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Elliot Colburn) some of those issues, rather than following the pack. for the way he introduced the debate and, in particular, Let us tell everyone in the community that we love them for centring the survivors of conversion therapy in his not for who they love but for who they are. 37WH LGBT Conversion Therapy8 MARCH 2021 LGBT Conversion Therapy 38WH

6.58 pm to conversion therapy, so we must draw a line in the sand. We must ask ourselves as parliamentarians, “What Hannah Bardell (Livingston) (SNP): It is a pleasure are we here for?” We are not here just to make grand to serve under your chairship, Mr Gray. I can think of speeches and gestures. We are here to bring about no better way to open my speech than where the hon. change, to change the law, and to outlaw that abhorrent Member for Walthamstow (Stella Creasy) finished, with practice. a passage from Vicky Beeching, who gave me a lot of support before I came out publicly.In her book “Undivided: Coming out, becoming whole, and living free from James Gray (in the Chair): We have 50 minutes to go shame”, she writes: “There was only one thing that had and six speakers. I call Simon Baynes caused vast emotional shame in my life for years. I had known I was gay since I was 12 or 13. Keeping that 7.2 pm hidden for two decades had been wrecking my heart and mind. Now, as I neared the age of 30, it seemed to Simon Baynes (Clwyd South) (Con) [V]: It is a particular be wrecking my body too. All these years I’d prayed and honour to follow that very moving speech by the hon. fasted, submitted myself to an exorcism, confessed to a Member for Livingston (Hannah Bardell). Today I Catholic priest, believed that conversion therapy could received an email from my constituent, Madeline Dhesi, change a person’s orientation, read the Bible until my eyes to thank me for my card wishing her a happy 18th birthday, were sore and never acted on my attractions even once. which she is celebrating today. She asked me to speak I’d done anything and everything to try and become today in support of the campaign to ban conversion straight or to shut down any desires for a life partner. therapy, particularly as articulated by Stonewall Cymru My immune system, my adrenals and my sympathetic to both her and me. I am honoured to speak in this nervous system were all stretched to breaking point debate on Madeline’s behalf and on behalf of many of from years of living in fight or flight mode.” my other constituents in Clwyd South who have written If Members need any other first-hand accounts of to me with views similar to those of Madeline. how devastating conversion therapy is, a good friend of The speakers who have come before me have articulated mine who wanted to remain anonymous shared this with with passion, emotion and clarity the barbarity of me: “I had not known until today what they had endured. conversion therapy, which is an alarmingly widespread It’s only now, at almost 35 years old, that I even have some practice that seeks to erase, repress, cure or change an small level of strength to begin to deal with it. It cost me individual’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity. I most of my teenage years and 20s. I still struggle with hope very much that we can end soon the possibility acceptance of my sexuality to this day, which has affected that conversion therapy can currently legally take place my ability to have any open and meaningful relationships. in medical, psychiatric, psychological, religious and cultural I went through years of really dark mental health communities in the UK. battles because of this. The first time I tried to kill I am glad that the Prime Minister has taken a clear myself by suicide was at 12 years old, because I wasn’t position and has stated that conversion therapy has no who I was meant to be, and this was unfortunately the place in a civilised society. Put simply, being gay, lesbian beginning of what was to become a very dark decade of or bisexual is not an illness to be treated or cured. I am self-hatred brought on because of these practices. It’s deeply concerned by the long-term impacts of this torture, and it has had lifelong debilitating effects that practice on victims, both mentally and physically. There affect every part of my life. It has to stop.” are clear links between conversion therapy and an increased We should not have to choose between our religion risk of suicide. As my hon. Friend the Member for and our sexuality, or between following the faith of our Carshalton and Wallington (Elliot Colburn) said in his choice or the person we love. I might not be formally powerful opening speech, the issue has cross-party support, part of any faith, but I recognise what a huge part faith and the call to ban conversion therapy is backed by can play in many people’s lives and in our society. The those in the health, counselling and psychotherapy industry. national LGBT survey of 2018 showed that 51% of Numerous countries have already banned conversion respondents who had undergone conversion therapy therapy and have taken action to tackle that abhorrent said that faith groups had conducted it, and 19% said it practice. The Government have been clear that such a had been conducted by healthcare providers or medical practice has no place in our society, and that they will professionals. As parliamentarians and legislators, we take action to prevent these activities from continuing. I simply cannot allow such a practice to continue. know that Ministers are considering all legislative and I was well into my 30s when I came out. Why I did non-legislative options in order to end conversion therapy not come out sooner will always be a mystery to me, but practice for good, but I hope that the debate will accelerate a big part of it was because I was from a single-parent the Government’s move to legislate for that ban, and family. I grew up in a loving family that I knew would therefore enable us to continue to progress towards a accept me for whoever I was, but I did not grow up in a world where everyone can live without shame or fear of society that would accept me for whoever I was. I grew their sexuality and whom they love. up in a society that said heteronormativity and having a parent of each gender was the ideal, and I could not face up to being a lesbian. Now, as the daughter of a 7.4 pm single mother and as a proud out lesbian, I realise that Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/ they are my strengths, my superpowers, but that is not Co-op): It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mr Gray. the case for so many in the LGBT community. I thank the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington I know how hard it was to come out to a loving (Elliot Colburn) for introducing the debate, and all family and friendship group. I cannot imagine how Members who have spoken so far for their powerful difficult it is for people who are oppressed and subjected contributions. 39WH LGBT Conversion Therapy8 MARCH 2021 LGBT Conversion Therapy 40WH

[Stephen Doughty] I stand by all those who have stood by the trans and non-binary community.They must absolutely be included The first thing to say is that conversion therapy is in this, and we must also protect the legitimate services happening. It is happening in this country, and that that are there to support them through transition and should be a shame to us. We must act on it. It has no the challenges that they face. We have to ban this, and I scientific basis. It is torture. It is a denial of basic hope that the Minister will be able to explain what the human rights. It leads to violence. It can, in some cases, definition is of “seeking spiritual support”, how trans as we have heard, lead horrifically to corrective rape. It and non-binary people will be protected, and when we is abuse and, in tragic circumstances, it can lead to will get on with this. death. I thank the many constituents in Cardiff South and Penarth for writing to me and reaching out, and the 7.8 pm friends who over many years have spoken to me of their own harrowing direct experiences. Mark Fletcher (Bolsover) (Con): It is a pleasure to I pay tribute to the group of organisations, the serve under your chairmanship, Mr Gray. I declare a memorandum of understanding group and all the other brief interest, in that my husband works for a lesbian, individuals and organisations, some of whom I have gay,bisexual and transgender charity that works in schools. met with this week, for all the work that they have been The hon. Member for Wallasey (Dame Angela Eagle) doing. I also pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member touched on the fact that society has come a long way. for Swansea West (Geraint Davies), who has been raising Some of that has been law led and some of it has been this issue for many years. In fact, he introduced Bills in developments over time. Ultimately,the discussions around this place to ban conversion therapy in 2013 and 2018. conversion therapy are really about acknowledging who It is a shame that they were not taken up by the we are—not who we want to be, not who society wants Government before now. This is not a party political us to be, not who our parents or friends want us to be, issue; it is a human rights issues, as we have seen from but who we are as individuals. the breadth and strength of feeling across the House. To be different is still difficult. So many things have changed and society has improved, but we still live with I will speak predominantly about the religious context, tremendous pressures upon individuals, who still feel because that is where I come from. I am gay. I am a the need to deny who they are. One of the difficulties Christian. God created me, God loves me, and I love that I have had in listening to an amazing array of God, but I have had some pretty unpleasant experiences speeches from people from all parties—this is a cross-party in repressive environments when I was not able to be issue and debate—is that we want to solve everything, clear about my sexuality. I was very lucky that I saw a and to say to every person in this country, “You can be therapist once, and when I said, “I don’t want to have a who you want to be, and you can be proud and happy.” sham heterosexual marriage,” she just said, “You don’t have to, Stephen. You don’t have to.” What if there were We cannot do that as lawmakers because only so more therapists like that, instead of some of the horrors many things are under our control. However, one thing that we have been hearing about today? that we can do, and there is clear consensus to do it within this room and among all the people on all these Anybody who has watched such films as “Boy Erased”, wonderful screens in front of us, is to take a step in the or heard the powerful testimony from such groups as right direction and end this “abhorrent” practice—not the Ozanne Foundation will know the reality that many my words but the words of the Prime Minister—for people can go through in religious experiences. The which there is no medical justification. The hon. Member 2018 faith and sexuality survey showed that, of the for Wallasey said it is medieval, and that term is absolutely 468 people who had been through conversion therapy, right. 91 admitted attempting suicide and 193 had suicidal I stand here as someone who is openly gay and who thoughts. Over 50% were advised to go through it by a came out at a comprehensive school in Doncaster. I am religious leader. not religious, but I did not have the best experience with The hon. Member for Rutland and Melton coming out, which I am sure many people can relate to. (Alicia Kearns) raised a point about consent. I do not I want to say to all the boys and girls who know that think that someone can give consent to this, and I was they are a little bit different, whether they are gay or alarmed to see, I am sorry to say, in the Secretary of whether they think that something is just not quite State’s letter attached to the debate, what I fear could be right, that we have your backs. We will continue to push a get-out clause.It talked about “seeking spiritual support”, for this ban and we will continue to try to make your but we need to be aware of what that can be used to lives a little bit better. cover up. I point to article 10 of the Evangelical Alliance’s In my last 30 seconds, I will just say one thing to the biblical and pastoral responses to homosexuality, which online LBGT community who have looked today and says: said, “Why should there be a debate? We should just “We encourage evangelical congregations to welcome…lesbians crack on and end conversion therapy.” I understand and gay men. However, they should do so in the expectation that their argument, but I question that arrogance, because they, like all of us who are living outside God’s purposes, will…see there is always a need to win the argument, and there is the need to be transformed”. always a need to keep advancing and making sure It also states that there is a need for that the things that we do here and elsewhere are led by the best arguments, and that we continue to fight that “pastoral care during this process and after a person renounces fight. same-sex sexual relations.” That could be used as a cover for some very dangerous James Gray (in the Chair): We have three more Back practices. Benchers to speak and five minutes left. 41WH LGBT Conversion Therapy8 MARCH 2021 LGBT Conversion Therapy 42WH

7.11 pm In the short time I have, I will finish by saying that Hywel Williams (Arfon) (PC) [V]: In my constituency the Ban Conversion Therapy coalition’s ask for support of Arfon, 243 people signed this important petition. I for victims and survivors—whether through charities, add my support and that of Plaid Cymru to the calls for faith groups or mental health practitioners—to help a legislative ban on conversion therapy across the UK them overcome the trauma that they have endured and and on minors being taken out of the UK for conversion rebuild their lives is very important. I ask that it be therapy abroad. This must include a ban on the advertising included in any future services that are offered. and promotion of such practices, and proper support My hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton and for victims. Wallington made some very good points about what an effective ban should include, and I echo his statements In 2018, the Conservative Government acknowledged on that. A ban should prevent people from being threatened the issue and committed to ending conversion therapy or sent abroad, it should protect people regardless of age, in their LGBT action plan. Nearly 1,000 days later, this and it should support victims and survivors regardless practice is still legal. Cranogwen, who was an important of whether they were coerced into or consented to the 19th-century figure in the history of LGBTQ+ people practice. It must ban the advertising and promotion of in Wales and a literary figure of national importance, said: said practices, both offline and online. These are the “It is a pretence in everybody…to try to be what they are not; right things to do, and the sooner the Government take and it is a loss for anybody not to be what they are.” action, the sooner the UK can join the growing number Despite progress since then, her words still ring true. In of global leaders in LGBT rights who have taken such fact, Stonewall Cymru found that a third of LGBTQ+ steps. employees in Wales hid or disguised their identity at work. James Gray (in the Chair): Very briefly, please, Banning conversion therapy is an important step Alyn Smith. towards creating a truly equal society, as is the Plaid Cymru policy of ensuring that trans people have legal recognition of their gender through a streamlined and 7.16 pm de-medicalised process based on self-declaration. Alyn Smith (Stirling) (SNP) [V]: It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Gray, and I can be Lastly, the action plan says that ending conversion brief. therapy will require a UK-wide approach. What discussions has the Minister had with the Welsh Government about I called for this debate back in September and am this issue and have the Welsh Government requested glad to see it tonight. I am also glad to see so many legislative competence to introduce a comprehensive passionate and thoughtful contributions from all points ban in Wales? of the compass across the House. This is an issue that we need to act on, and I praise the hon. Member for 7.13 pm Carshalton and Wallington (Elliot Colburn) for his excellent speech. I have to say that the hon. Member for Dr Jamie Wallis (Bridgend) (Con) [V]: It is a pleasure Rutland and Melton (Alicia Kearns) made a very strong to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Gray. contribution—it is good the see her back, and she has I begin by congratulating my hon. Friend the Member demonstrated why it is good to see her back. She has for Carshalton and Wallington (Elliot Colburn) on done a power of work on this issue, and it is great that leading this very important debate and on making such there is such a cross-party consensus on it. a compelling and moving opening speech. I will confess that I am a gay man, but I am happy to Conversion therapy is a damaging, degrading and say that I have no direct experience of this issue. Frankly, discriminatory practice that seeks to correct something the scale of the problem was news to me. According to that does not need fixing—somebody’s sexual orientation, the UK Government’s 2018 LGBT survey, 5% of or their gender identity and/or expression. It causes respondents had been offered conversion therapy and severe physical and psychological suffering; it violates 2% had undergone it in one shape or another. In the the human rights of the LGBT community; and it is trans community, the figures were even higher: 9% had considered by some to be a form of torture, and for been offered it and 4% had undergone it. There is much good reason. to agree with in the discussion tonight, but it boils down to one phrase: let’s get on with it. I say that as a If we want to eradicate this insidious form of challenge to the Minister while offering my support for homophobic, biphobic and transphobic abuse, we need her efforts. a legislative ban to make conversion therapy illegal and we need one as soon as possible. It is vital that this There is a cross-party need for legislation. There is Government lead the way for our LGBT+ community work to be done, of course, but work is well advanced and make history with an effective legislative ban as on the proposals for a legislative framework. The NGOs quickly as possible. are behind it, the equalities community is behind it and the faith groups are behind it. There is cross-party The national LGBT survey found that 7% of people support. The Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd had been offered or undergone conversion therapy. I and many people in Northern Ireland are supportive of should echo comments made in support of trans people, this legislation, and we need to get it done. The only because trans respondents to that survey suggested that people who are speaking in defence of conversion therapy they are almost twice as likely to have undergone or are quacks, bigots and bullies. They need to be called been offered such therapies. out for what they are, and their dreadful activities and It is important to echo the comment that this abhorrent consequences criminalised. If the UK Government are practice is taking place across Britain right now. As it is, serious about bringing forward legislation, they will the law does not protect my constituents from conversion have my support, and I look forward to hearing some therapy, despite how harmful and damaging it is. good news from the Minister tonight. 43WH LGBT Conversion Therapy8 MARCH 2021 LGBT Conversion Therapy 44WH

7.18 pm results and an accompanying action plan informed by its findings, it seems that the Government are still at the Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) (SNP) [V]: It is a research stage. What exactly are they researching? pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Gray, and it is a pleasure to have heard such impassioned and In July last year,the Prime Minister said his Government important speeches. The stories that people have told would do a study on where conversion therapy was have highlighted the damage that has been done and the happening and its prevalence, and then bring forward lasting consequences for lives. That is well understood, plans to ban it, but that information is already there. It so it must be time for action. is contained within the survey that the Government already did, with over 7,000 people among the respondents When I looked into the background to the debate, I who had either undergone conversion therapy or been was struck by the number of signatures on the petition offered it. That surely provides a clear picture of the that closed in September last year, compared with two geographic spread and the demography of conversion previous petitions on the same subject in 2017 and therapies across the UK. This determination to do 2018. Across the UK, the number of signatures increased more research, three years on, does not look like a over sevenfold from 2017 to last year’s quarter of a process of implementing change; it looks more like an million signatures.In my constituency of East Renfrewshire, attempt to stave off change, and that is not okay. the 2017 petition attracted 33 signatures, but almost 400 of my constituents signed last year’s petition, and I The UK Government have also said they will take a have heard from a great many of them by email. That UK-wide approach to this. The Scottish Government upswing in signatures tells us two things. The first is that have expressed their support for action by the UK there is a growing and welcome recognition of the need Government. There is already cross-border co-operation to tackle the wholly unacceptable practice of conversion on the issue. For instance, NHS England and NHS therapy, which we know is not only hugely discriminatory, Scotland both signed up to the 2017 memorandum of but so very damaging to those directly affected. The hon. understanding, along with other stakeholders, to record Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Elliot Colburn) their commitment to ending conversion therapy in the spoke very powerfully about that. UK. Commitments like these, from health groups, counselling groups, psychotherapy groups and many The second reason for the upswing in support for the religious groups, are welcome, but we need to do our bit petition could very well be a growing frustration that now. We need action. action is taking so long, which results in people who are potentially directly affected feeling that we are not If we look at the July 2018 action plan, the UK listening to them. A similar frustration was expressed Government said that they would bring froward these by the hon. Member for Finchley and Golders Green proposals, but their correspondence in May 2020 with (Mike Freer) when, over five years ago, he sponsored a the all-party parliamentary group on global lesbian, debate on conversion therapies.In that debate, he wondered gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) rights, of which why we are struggling to get conversion therapy banned, I am a member, raises some serious questions about when there is such significant agreement on the issue. what progress we are going to see. Let us be clear: LGBT people do not need their identities There are examples of attempts to implement a holistic debated nor do they need to be converted. That is ban on conversion therapies, starting with Brazil, which fundamental. Nobody’s identity should be subject to acted on the issue over 20 years ago; that is something debate or to change by other people. we could ponder. Action has also been taken by Canadian When we get to the end of this debate and hear the cities and by Spanish cities and provinces, including Minister’s response, I hope that is what she will say. I Madrid and Andalusia, which adopted a broad definition hope she will accept these concerns about delay, and of conversion therapies as respond to them by telling us what is the hold-up. As my “all medical, psychiatric, psychological, religious or any other hon. Friend the Member for Stirling (Alyn Smith) has interventions that seek to change the sexual orientation or gender just said, let’s get on with it. Is there a reason for the identity of a person”. delay? Are the Government experiencing some push-back Given these widespread examples, and the widespread on this? Who would be doing that? What has prevented understanding of good practice, it is concerning that in action from being taken before now? It is difficult to her response to the chair of the APPG, the Minister for comprehend. My hon. Friend the Member for Livingston Women and Equalities, the right hon. Member for (Hannah Bardell) described in vivid detail why it matters South West Norfolk (Elizabeth Truss), mentioned Germany and the horrific impact it has on many lives. and Albania as countries that she is reaching out to in I accept that the UK Government have been clear order to gain an understanding of the way forward. that they are committed to banning conversion therapy. What is proposed in Germany looks like it could be a I welcome that, but it is nearly three years since they prohibition on conversion therapies only on minors and laid out the plan to ban it across the UK. Since then, it on adults whose participation was secured by coercion looks like inactivity and prevarication to me. It looks or deception. That would absolutely not like they are kicking the can down the road. Meanwhile, “end the vile practice of so-called conversion therapy” as my hon. Friend the Member for Ochil and South that she says is her intention in her letter. There is a real Perthshire (John Nicolson) so eloquently described, danger that going down a road like that would legitimise more and more human tragedies occur. conversion therapy, and we are absolutely not prepared In July 2017, the UK Government launched what would to support that. To be clear, and to echo the very become, with over 108,000 respondents, the largest national sensible words of the right hon. Member for Dumfriesshire, survey of LGBT people undertaken anywhere in the Clydesdale and Tweeddale (David Mundell), this is not world. As the hon. Member for Arfon (Hywel Williams) therapy; it is very unfortunate that that is the phrase has told us, almost a thousand days after publishing the that people use to describe the practice. 45WH LGBT Conversion Therapy8 MARCH 2021 LGBT Conversion Therapy 46WH

I want to hear from the Minister a response that tells bodies and the NHS oppose treatments that try to me whether the Government are actually thinking about change a person’s sexual orientation or supress a person’s introducing a more narrowly defined Bill. I certainly gender identity. hope not, but if that is the intention, when did that All our major faith groups support a ban, as was change of policy take place and why? The Minister for reiterated at the interfaith conference held remotely in Women and Equalities’ mention of Albania raises some London in December 2020. As a religious Jew and a bi serious questions about the Government’s commitment. woman, I have been heartened by contributions from In Albania, every therapist has to be a member of the hon. Members in the debate who hold their faith close Order of Psychologists, and it is that body, not the state to their heart but know that there should be no dichotomy legislature, that has banned conversion therapies. There to reconcile between religious freedom and protecting seems to be little that we can learn from the Albanian the safety,wellbeing and dignity of the LGBT community. approach that has not already been implemented in the That cannot be a justification for continued delay, and I 2017 memorandum of understanding, so why is it raised thank my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff South as an example? and Penarth for making that point so clearly. When I look at all those things, I am concerned that A number of countries have fully banned conversion the UK Government are potentially finding diversions therapies, including Malta. In other federalised countries, along the way to avoid confronting the difficulties they various states and provinces have legislated for bans. I now face due to changes on their Back Benches. I hope I commend Instagram and Facebook for banning the am wrong about that. The LGBT community cannot be promotion of conversion therapies on their sites, and held hostage by right-wing politics or changes in political hope that other social media companies will follow suit. personnel. I say that, but I am mindful of the powerful In 2018, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead speeches that we heard today from Members from (Mrs May) and the Conservatives announced in their across the House, including very powerful speeches by LGBT action plan that they would ban conversion therapies. Conservative Members. I take some heart from those That was apparently still their policy at the last election. consistent and clear words. However, last year the Prime Minister said: In that context, and thinking about the people who “What we are going to do is a study right now on, you know, are directly affected by this practice, I urge the Minister where is this actually happening, how prevalent is it, and we will to do the right thing. We have a responsibility to take then bring forward plans to ban it”. action to right wrongs. This practice needs to be made I am sure that colleagues on all sides, not to mention the illegal. Nobody should be subjected to that kind of LGBT+ community, will say that we have waited long assault on their identity. It needs to stop, but it will not enough. Last month, Labour supported the Ministerial until we move this from being a debate to being a and other Maternity Allowances Act 2021 that rightly reality. It is time to make progress, and I really hope the permitted the Attorney General to take maternity leave. Minister tells us that will happen. That showed that the Government can take legislation through quickly when they want to—it did not require 7.26 pm lengthy studies to consider the prevalence of Attorney Generals becoming pregnant. Charlotte Nichols (Warrington North) (Lab): It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mr Gray. I congratulate There are LGBT+ people experiencing harms from the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington these practices every day and the longer we wait for action, (Elliot Colburn) on securing this important debate. the longer they are denied legal redress. The most recent annual update on the implementation of the Government’s So-called LGBT conversion therapies are disgusting, LGBT action plan was published in July 2019. Given exploitative, damaging and a relic of bigotry. In 2021, that it is now 2021 and that February was LGBT+ we recognise better than ever what illness and disease History Month, when can we expect publication of the look like. Being gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans is not a 2020 annual update? Labour has consistently urged the sickness; it is a fundamental part of an individual’s very UK Government to live up to their promise and implement identity. So-called LGBT conversion therapies need to the 2018 proposals. My hon. Friend the Member for be banned. Battersea (Marsha De Cordova), the shadow Secretary I thank in particular the hon. Member for Reigate of State for Women and Equalities, has continuously (Crispin Blunt), my hon. Friends the Members for pressed the UK Government to deliver on their LGBT Wallasey (Dame Angela Eagle) and for Cardiff South action plan. and Penarth (Stephen Doughty) and the hon. Member Putting laws on the statute book such as protection for Livingston (Hannah Bardell) for their powerful orders for people who are vulnerable to cultural or contributions. We are lucky in this place to have such religious pressure to suppress, deny or forcibly change assiduous campaigners on LGBT issues on both sides their sexuality or gender identity is not merely a matter of the House, and I am pleased that there appears to be of virtue signalling; it would make concrete legal cross-party consensus on this issue. defences for people who need them and would make it Pedlars of these supposed treatments not only perpetuate simpler for statutory support services to work together a fraud on the public but cause genuine harm, psychological to help people in need. I commend Galop, the LGBT+ distress and lasting emotional damage. The 2018 national anti-violence charity that I met on Friday ahead of faith and sexuality survey found that 58.8% of people the debate to hear not only the harrowing evidence it who had undergone such therapies had suffered mental has collected about such abhorrent practices but how health issues. Significant numbers cited anxiety, self-harm protection measures,including multi-agency risk assessment and eating disorders. More than two thirds had suicidal conferences, would have allowed individuals to have thoughts, and more than a third had actually attempted been safeguarded. The Labour party welcomes the action suicide. That is why all major UK therapy professional that the Government have taken in the past decade to 47WH LGBT Conversion Therapy8 MARCH 2021 LGBT Conversion Therapy 48WH

[Charlotte Nichols] I would like to take this opportunity to be clear that if someone commits an existing offence in the course of legislate against female genital mutilation and to take conversion therapy, they will be prosecuted to the full further steps against honour-based violence and forced extent of the law, no matter what their reason for doing marriage where these protection order frameworks are so is. At the extreme end of such practices, someone in place. This is a further area where we must now see could face charges of rape or grievous bodily harm. At action. the other end of the spectrum are acts that are primarily This is an opportunity to show the world the face of delivered through the spoken word or through the guise global Britain, setting an example and doing what is of healthcare support, such as advertising and selling right. Our values can be clearly put into law to be seen products, or charging a fee to undergo conversion therapy by other countries where these awful practices are more practices. common. The time has come for the Government to act The Government have been clear that we do not to ban these practices. If they do, the Opposition will intend to stop those who wish to seek spiritual counselling support them. as they explore their sexual orientation, but there will be cases when a line is crossed, where someone is actively 7.32 pm seeking to change another’s sexual orientation—an innate aspect of their personal identity—via coercion under The Minister for Equalities (Kemi Badenoch) [V]: It is the guise of spiritual support. The Government will a pleasure to speak under your chairmanship, Mr Gray. exercise great care when considering what does and May I start by thanking those who signed the petition does not constitute conversion therapy, and how to for raising the important issue of conversion therapy, intervene. Just because greater care is required, however, and my hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton and it does not mean that we should shy from protecting our Wallington (Elliot Colburn) for introducing the debate? most vulnerable from those practices. I also thank all colleagues for speaking so passionately about this issue. I know how important it is to so many It is clear that conversion therapy is associated with parliamentarians, and it is right that we should have this significant mental health problems and isolation from a time to debate it. I will endeavour to answer the various support network. That, in turn, can lead to homelessness questions put this evening. and abuse. We are also alive to the need to ensure that the I am pleased to be able to respond not just to action we take does not push those practices underground, acknowledge the importance of the topic but to say which could ultimately cause more harm to those who more about the Government’s approach to ending are victim to them. Our response to the issue will ensure conversion therapy.Wehave a proud record of championing that we end those practices, not hide them. equal opportunity, and it is of great importance to me It may help to explain the work that the Government and the Government that everyone has the freedom to are doing to tackle conversion therapy. Officials are live their life as they see fit without fear or intimidation. undertaking a review of the current legislative framework I assure hon. Members that we are committed to to see how conversion therapy can be stopped by making ending conversion therapy in the UK and we take the use of existing laws and offences. As I have mentioned issue very seriously.The Prime Minister reiterated recently previously, many acts of conversion therapy are already that we want to end conversion therapy and underlined illegal, including sexual violence and kidnapping, as that the practice has well as inciting violence. People who engage in those “no place in a civilised society”. criminal activities can and will be prosecuted for doing It is indeed shocking to think that conversion therapy so. Where dangerous practices are not already unlawful, practices still take place in modern Britain, yet the 2017 we are examining the best ways to stop them without national LGBT survey found that 5% of respondents— sending them underground. people in the UK—had been offered conversion therapy The Government believe that a comprehensive approach and 2% had undergone it. The national LGBT survey is needed to end the suffering that those practices inflict. was launched in 2017 and received more than 108,000 Weneed to explore all measures to combat those abhorrent responses, making it the largest survey of its kind in the practices, ensuring that survivors have access to the help UK. The aim was to gather more information about and care that they need. In addition to the work on the life experiences of LGBT people in the UK and the legislative and non-legislative measures to end conversion biggest difficulties they face, including conversion therapy. therapy, we have commissioned research into the scope Acknowledging that conversion therapy is wrong and of practices and the experiences of those subjected to should end is only the first step in tackling such behaviours. conversion therapy, so that we can fully consider the The Government want to ensure that we correctly identify needs of all those whom it affects. That is important in and capture these harmful practices. To do that, we have our approach to establishing the most effective way to been working hard to establish a clear view of what stop it happening. Once the findings have been reviewed, constitutes conversion therapy. “Conversion therapy” is we will continue to engage with key stakeholders to often used as an umbrella term for a number of acts. On ensure that we progress an effective approach as quickly the most egregious end of the spectrum are acts of as we can. violence. Around the world, sexual violence, including I know that there may be questions around what a rape, is used in sinister attempts supposedly to cure legal ban could include, and we have heard a number of someone of an innate aspect of their person. People views on that. We are actively considering that issue, on may also be beaten, or forced to fast or to take snake-oil which we have been consulting widely to seek a broad medicines, all because of who they are and who they range of views. We will continue that engagement to love. We are fortunate that in this country we have ensure that any action that we take is proportionate and cultivated a robust criminal law framework for dealing effective. As I said earlier, I want to make it absolutely with those types of conversion therapy. clear that we do not want to prevent LGBT people from 49WH LGBT Conversion Therapy8 MARCH 2021 LGBT Conversion Therapy 50WH seeking support on their own terms. People will always and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust in July. This is have the right to seek support from anyone and have the first service of its kind established in the NHS in conversations to rationalise and understand their own England for around 20 years.1 identity.Wewill not restrict the right to seek counsel when There is so much more that I would say about the needed, but that does not mean that we will tolerate the work that the Government are doing, but I am afraid use of conversion therapy described in the debate. We that we are out of time. Our goal now is to end these are working to understand the impacts on wider rights harmful practices, and we are going to engage widely and freedoms of any Government action to tackle and listen carefully so that we can develop measures conversion therapy. The legal landscape is complex, and that end them for good. I know that all Members are we want to ensure that we get our proposals absolutely keen to know the timetable. We continue to work to right. ensure that the actions we take are proportionate and We will continue to engage with religious organisations effective, and will set out our next steps soon. We have and groups to understand how best support to LGBT heard a range of views and voices, and it is imperative people of faith. It is not the place of Government to that we continue a constructive dialogue to ensure that dictate what is legitimate spiritual guidance, but it is the we get our proposals right. To answer the question Government’s place to protect all their citizens, and we asked by the hon. Member for Arfon (Hywel Williams), will not tolerate the use of harmful coercive practices officials from the Government Equalities Office have under the guise of spiritual support. I am also pleased been in liaison with Welsh Government officials, and that all major counselling and psychotherapy bodies in the Welsh Government have not requested devolved the UK have agreed to tackle conversion therapy in competence. healthcare settings. We will engage with experts to Put simply, being LGBT is not an illness to be treated understand the best way of ending conversion therapy or cured. This is an issue that has cross-party support, in these contexts in a targeted and proportionate way. and the call to end conversion therapy is backed by those in the health, counselling and psychotherapy industry. It is also encouraging to see jurisdictions around the I am absolutely committed to ensuring that LGBT world starting to take notice of the issue, and join us people can be truly safe and free to live their life as they with their own commitments to ending conversion therapy. wish, and this will be the next important step in ending We are in conversations with international counterparts, conversion therapy for good. both those who have introduced a variety of legislative and non-legislative actions and those who plan to. I take this opportunity to thank all colleagues who Although it is important to figure out what will work in have spoken in today’s debate in support of ending a UK context, we may also look to our friends around conversion therapy. It is wonderful to see so many the world to understand the effectiveness of different people united against this abhorrent practice, and I approaches. Hon. Members have mentioned, for example, look forward to many more debates on the issue. I am that Germany has implemented a ban on conversion happy to continue individual engagement, as I have therapy for minors only, or when an adult has been already done, where there are further questions. coerced, and I understand that other countries such as 7.43 pm Malta have also taken this route. However, we understand that different countries will take different approaches Elliot Colburn [V]: In my short summing up, I sadly that best suit their needs. This is not a one-size-fits-all do not have time to go through everyone’s contributions, approach. but I do want to send my heartfelt thanks to every Member who has spoken today for their very powerful The safety of LGBT people in the UK in every aspect interventions. This has proven to be a truly cross-party of their life is of the utmost importance to me, including moment, and I hope that it has proven that there is true in our work on conversion therapy. However, this is consensus across the House that we want a ban on only part of the work we are doing to promote equality conversion therapy, and we want that sooner rather for everyone. The Government understand that colleagues than later. I thank the Minister for replying, and I hope across the House who have taken the time to attend the we can send her away today with the message that we debate are passionate about the work that my officials want to see some proposals made very quickly indeed. I and I are doing, so I wish to update them on all the believe I speak for everyone who has spoken today broader LGBT work we are undertaking. In April 2019, when I say that we would like to see those proposals in we appointed Dr Michael Brady of King’s College the form of a Bill. Hospital to be the first national adviser on LGBT I thank you, Mr Gray, for being in the Chair, and for healthcare. This appointment shows the Government’s allowing the petitioners’ concerns to be raised this commitment to improving healthcare for all. I am very afternoon. I also thank the petitioners for signing the proud that in December 2020, the Department of Health petition, and I will end by reiterating what so many and Social Care announced that men who have sex with people have said throughout this afternoon’s debate: men in a long-term relationship will be able to donate being LGBT is not an illness, and we do not need to be blood in England, following changes to blood donation cured. criteria that will be implemented in the summer. Question put and agreed to. I am also aware that waiting times for gender identity Resolved, services are currently very long. Weare taking meaningful That this House has considered e-petition 300976 relating to actions to address the historical problems that have LGBT conversion therapy. resulted in long waiting times, and I am pleased that we will establish at least three new gender identity clinics 7.44 pm over 2021, with the first of these opened by the Chelsea Sitting adjourned.

1.[Official Report, 15 March 2021, Vol. 691, c. 2MC.]

21WS Written Statements 8 MARCH 2021 Written Statements 22WS

amend this section to enable the police to direct trespassers Written Statements away in a broader range of circumstances, including if there is damage to the environment, such as excessive Monday 8 March 2021 noise, litter or deposits of waste, and if there is disruption to supplies of water, energy or fuel. HOME DEPARTMENT We also intend to increase the period in which persons directed away from the land under section 61 and 62A Unauthorised Encampments of the CJPOA must not return—without reasonable excuse—without committing an offence or being subject to powers of seizure from three months to 12 by amending The Secretary of State for the Home Department section 61(4)(b) 62B(2) and section 62C(2)of the CJPOA. (Priti Patel): Today, I am announcing the Government’s We will in addition strengthen measures to tackle response to the November 2019 consultation entitled, unauthorised encampments on roads by amending “Strengthening Police Powers to Tackle Unauthorised section 61(9)(b) to allow police to direct trespassers to Encampments”. The consultation sought views on how leave land that forms part of a highway. to address and prevent the harm and distress caused by some unauthorised encampments and followed a public I am grateful to everyone who took the time to consultation in 2018 which demonstrated support for respond to the two consultations carried out by the more police action. Government on this issue. The views expressed in response have all been considered and have informed the decisions The vast majority of travellers are law-abiding citizens. we have made. As of January 2020, the number of lawful traveller sites increased by 41% from January 2010. However, there The measures I intend to introduce are a proportionate continue to be unauthorised encampments that can increase in powers for the police. I hope they will deter create significant challenges for local authorities and unauthorised encampments from being set up in the cause distress and misery to many. Harmful or disruptive first instance but, where that is not the case, they will encampments can also perpetuate a negative image of allow the police to take more effective action in response travelling communities. to an encampment causing damage, disruption or distress, in support of those communities living with or near I will therefore introduce legislation to increase the them. powers available to the police in England and Wales. As we pledged in our manifesto, we will create a new I am confident that we have taken steps to ensure criminal offence to tackle unauthorised encampments. those wishing to exercise their rights to enjoy the countryside In addition, we will give the police the power to seize are not inadvertently impacted by these measures. vehicles, and we will strengthen existing powers. The response to the consultation will be placed in the The measures complement the ongoing work by Libraries of both Houses and will also be available at: MHCLG to strengthen councils’ powers to tackle https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ unauthorised developments—building on land that an strengthening-police-powers-to-tackle-unauthorised- occupier owns without planning permission. encampments. Introduce a criminal offence of residing on land with a [HCWS826] vehicle, causing damage, disruption or distress A person will commit an offence if they: JUSTICE Are aged 18 or over and reside or intend to reside on land without the consent of the occupier of the land; Judicial Mandatory Retirement Age Have or intend to have at least one vehicle with them on the land; Have caused or are likely to cause significant damage, disruption The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice or distress; and (Robert Buckland): Following my recent announcement They: of the Government responses on reforms to the judicial Fail, without a reasonable excuse, to leave the land with their pension scheme and on proposals to address the unlawful vehicle and/or property once asked to do so by the occupier, age discrimination identified in the McCloud litigation, representatives of the occupier or a constable; or I am today publishing the Government response to the They, without reasonable excuse, enter, or re-enter the land Judicial Mandatory Retirement Age consultation. with an intention of residing there without the consent of Running from 16 July to 16 October 2020, the the occupier, and they have or intend to have a vehicle with consultation sought views on proposals to increase the them, within 12 months of a request to leave and remove their property from an occupier, their representative or a mandatory retirement age for judicial office holders to 72 constable. or 75, alongside a proposal to allow public interest-based extension of magistrates’ appointments beyond their Give police the power to seize any property including existing mandatory retirement age of 70, as is currently vehicles from those committing the new offence available to other parts of the judiciary. The consultation The police will be empowered to seize any property attracted considerable interest with over one thousand including vehicles owned or in the possession of the responses received from across of the magistracy, the individual on the land if they reasonably suspect that judiciary, the legal profession, and other key stakeholder the person has committed the above offence. groups. Strengthen existing powers It has been over 25 years since the mandatory retirement Section 61(1)(a) of the Criminal Justice and Public age for most judges was set at 70. A mandatory retirement Order Act 1994 (“CJPOA”) sets out the power of the age remains an important requirement of judicial office police to direct trespassers away from land. We will which protects judicial independence, preserves public 23WS Written Statements 8 MARCH 2021 Written Statements 24WS confidence in the judiciary, and promotes opportunities extend pavement licences for a further 12 months, making within the judiciary for those who wish to apply and to it easier and cheaper for pubs, restaurants and cafes to progress. I believe, however, along with the majority of continue to make al fresco dining a reality with outside respondents, that it is now time the MRA is amended to seating, tables and street stalls to serve food and drinks. reflect improvements in life expectancy and the changing Providing these flexibilities will support hospitality demands on our courts and tribunals. businesses to trade in these challenging times, helping Following careful consideration, I have therefore decided to protect jobs and livelihoods. The measures that we to raise the mandatory retirement age to 75 to enable us introduced and will remain in place are: to retain for longer the valuable expertise of experienced Al fresco dining judicial office holders and to attract a wider range of applicants. I believe the new retirement age could also As part of the Business and Planning Act 2020 the have a positive impact on diversity by attracting and Government introduced a simplified process for businesses promoting opportunities for individuals considering a to obtain a licence to serve food and drinks from judicial career later in life, such as those who may have seating, tables and street stalls outside their premises. had non-linear careers or taken career breaks to balance The process was previously long, costly and inconsistent professional and family responsibilities. I will legislate across areas.Weaddressed this through a capped application for this change as soon as parliamentary time allows. fee of £100 and quicker consultation and determination periods (10 days with automatic deemed consent if the Magistrates currently are unable to sit beyond the authority does not make a decision on the application existing mandatory retirement age unlike many judges before the end of the determination period). This enabled who can apply to have their appointments extended or business to serve more customers safely outdoors last to sit in retirement on an ad hoc basis. To further boost year and support them to do so again when they are capacity in the magistrates courts, I will include a permitted to reopen. transitional provision as part of the legislative change to allow recently retired magistrates who are below the The Government have made clear in the pavement age of 75 when the new MRA comes into force to be licence guidance that we expect local authorities to grant able to apply to return to the bench, where there is a licences for 12 months or more unless there are good business need. reasons for granting a licence for a shorter period, such As Lord Chancellor, it is my duty to ensure the courts as plans for future changes in use of road space. Therefore, and tribunals have the required resources to continue unless there are very good reasons, the Government dispensing justice. I am grateful for the commitment expect that licences granted under these provisions continue and resilience of judges, magistrates and coroners across to apply into this summer so that businesses do not have the country who have worked tirelessly throughout this to reapply for another licence or be charged a further challenging period. I know the changes I am announcing application fee when they are able to reopen to serve today will not immediately alleviate pressure on our customers outdoors.These temporary legislative provisions justice system. However, this once in a generation change are currently due to expire on 30 September 2021, but to the mandatory retirement age, alongside the important to give further certainty to businesses I will introduce reforms we are making to the judicial pension scheme, secondary legislation to extend these provisions for a will help to support and promote judicial recruitment further 12 months, subject to parliamentary approval. and retention, ensuring we are able to continue resourcing Freedom to use land for community events and outdoor our world-class judiciary for the future. hospitality [HCWS828] Last year the Government provided greater flexibility for individuals and businesses to use their land for HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL temporary events, such as markets and motorsports. We GOVERNMENT increased the number of days allowed for such events from 28 to 56 without needing to apply for planning permission. In November we extended this provision Covid-19 Road Map: Planning and Hospitality until 31 December 2021 so individuals and businesses, such as pubs, can set up moveable structures like marquees The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and and hold outdoor events without making an application Local Government (Robert Jenrick): As set out in the for planning permission. This will help businesses take Government’s road map for easing the lockdown forward outdoor activities such as markets, car boot restrictions, in step two, which will be no earlier than sales, summer fairs and sporting events. We expect local 12 April, hospitality venues will be allowed to serve authorities to support businesses using these additional people outdoors. I have written to local authority leaders freedoms as they reopen. to make clear the Government’s expectation that local Outdoor markets authorities support hospitality businesses to safely reopen, once they are permitted to do so. Wehave also introduced a new temporary right, extended to March 2022, that allows local authorities, either by Last summer the Government introduced a series of themselves or by others on their behalf, to use land to measures to support hospitality businesses to open safely hold a market and erect moveable structures on it. when lockdown restrictions were eased. These measures were a lifeline to many businesses, enabling them to Takeaways continue to serve their local communities under the Finally, we also introduced measures to support challenging circumstances. restaurants, pubs and cafes to serve takeaway food I have confirmed to local authorities that these measures when they were otherwise closed due to coronavirus will remain in place to support businesses as they reopen restrictions. These measures will continue to apply until this year. I am also pleased to confirm that we intend to March 2022. 25WS Written Statements 8 MARCH 2021 Written Statements 26WS

We introduced these changes to support hard hit on 10 February, setting specific environmental objectives hospitality businesses to reopen last year.I have encouraged for the spaceflight regulator to take account of when all local authorities to use these measures pragmatically considering these assessments, reinforcing Government’s to help support the high street, businesses and jobs, wider policies towards the environment and sustainability. once restrictions allow them to do so. Our spaceflight legislation has been designed from [HCWS829] the outset to support commercial operations.This, together with the technology safeguards agreement signed with the US in June 2020, means that the UK is well placed TRANSPORT to attract new commercial opportunities in this rapidly growing sector. Together with industry we set a target to grow the UK’s share of the global space market to 10% Commercial Spaceflight by 2030. Today we are a step closer to reaching this goal. The Government welcome the thoughtful and detailed The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport responses received from across the four nations of the (Rachel Maclean): On Friday 5 March 2021, I published UK. Invaluable insights were provided by those who the Government’s response to the consultations which responded to the consultation and included enthusiastic were held in the summer and autumn of 2020 on the responses from schoolchildren. We are pleased to report secondary legislation which will implement the Space that our modern regulatory framework was supported Industry Act 2018. We sought views on the operability by the vast majority of respondents, with many applauding and effectiveness of the draft space industry regulations the flexibility of our proposed approach, which fosters and associated guidance and supporting documents adaptability through an outcomes-based focus. (July); as well as the Government’s approach to liabilities, insurance and charging (October). We also asked The response I am sharing today sets out the ways we respondents to provide evidence and test the assumptions have adjusted the draft space industry regulations and in the consultation-stage impact assessment. associated guidance material to reflect, and where possible accommodate, the suggestions and recommendations This Government are committed to growing the space made through the consultation process. We believe that industry in the UK and cementing our leading role in this collaborative approach will not only strengthen the this sector by unlocking a new era in commercial spaceflight licensing regime we are implementing, but demonstrates across the UK. The draft space industry regulations, the Government’s ongoing commitment to growing this together with draft instruments covering accident exciting sector. investigation and appeals, will pave the way for a new commercial licensing regime for spaceflight activities My Department has worked closely with the Department from the UK. It will support safe and sustainable for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the UK activities that will drive research, innovation and Space Agency and Civil Aviation Authority to legislate entrepreneurship, exploiting the unique environment of for a wide range of new commercial spaceflight technologies, space. This will feed into our emerging national space including traditional vertically launched vehicles, air- strategy as we develop our priorities for levelling up the launched vehicles and sub-orbital spaceplanes and balloons. UK and promote the growth of this thriving sector in It is our intention to bring this legislation before the the long term. House later this year. We also recognise the importance of ensuring that Next steps the environment is protected from the adverse effects of Following the publication of the Government’sresponse spaceflight activities. This is why the Space Industry I will update the House once we are ready to submit the Act 2018 requires applicants for a launch or spaceport secondary legislation for parliamentary scrutiny. licence to submit an assessment of environmental effects [HCWS827] as part of their application. Wealso published a consultation

3MC Ministerial Corrections8 MARCH 2021 Ministerial Corrections 4MC Ministerial Corrections Education Route Map: Covid-19 The following is an extract from the debate on education route map: covid 19 on 25 February 2021. Monday 8 March 2021 Gillian Keegan: I thank the House for this opportunity to discuss the route map for schools and colleges in response to the covid-19 pandemic. We continue to be EDUCATION impressed by the resilience and positivity of everybody involved—parents, students and, of course, teachers— Education Route Map: Covid-19 throughout these difficult times. I know that the whole country will be delighted that children are returning to The following is an extract from the debate on education schools and colleges, and will once again see their route map: covid-19 on 25 February 2021. families and get the education that they deserve. [Official Report, 25 February 2021, Vol. 689, c. 1176.] Gillian Keegan: Weknow there has been strong support for face-to-face education. East Kent College polled its Letter of correction from the Under-Secretary of State learners just a couple of days ago and found that 97% for Education, the hon. Member for Chichester (Gillian wanted to return to onsite education. Keegan). [Official Report, 25 February 2021, Vol. 689, c. 1174.] An error has been identified in my response to the debate. Letter of correction from the Under-Secretary of State for Education, the hon. Member for Chichester (Gillian The correct response should have been: Keegan). Gillian Keegan: I thank the House for this opportunity An error has been identified in my response to the to discuss the route map for schools and colleges in debate. response to the covid-19 pandemic. We continue to be The correct response should have been: impressed by the resilience and positivity of everybody involved—parents, students and, of course, teachers— Gillian Keegan: Weknow there has been strong support throughout these difficult times. I know that the whole for face-to-face education. East Kent College polled its country will be delighted that children are returning to learners recently and found that 97% wanted to return schools and colleges, and will once again see their to onsite education. friends and get the education that they deserve.

ORAL ANSWERS

Monday 8 March 2021

Col. No. Col. No. WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 501 WORK AND PENSIONS—continued Benefit Claimants: Rent Arrears ...... 509 Kickstart: Departmental Discussions...... 511 Benefit Claimants: Repeat Assessments ...... 506 Kickstart: Employer Accessibility ...... 501 Budget 2021: Departmental Policies...... 507 Legacy Benefits...... 513 Contracted-out Health Assessments ...... 513 PIP Application Process: Disabled People...... 503 Covid-19: Disabled People and their Carers...... 514 Review of Special Rules for Terminal Illness...... 506 Covid-19: Support for Universal Credit Self-isolation: Financial Barriers...... 512 Claimants ...... 512 Topical Questions ...... 515 Employment Rates...... 509 Universal Credit: Monthly Assessment Period...... 510 Jobcentre Estate ...... 504 Youth Unemployment...... 515 WRITTEN STATEMENTS

Monday 8 March 2021

Col. No. Col. No. HOME DEPARTMENT ...... 21WS JUSTICE...... 22WS Unauthorised Encampments...... 21WS Judicial Mandatory Retirement Age ...... 22WS

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT...... 23WS TRANSPORT ...... 25WS Covid-19 Road Map: Planning and Hospitality ..... 23WS Commercial Spaceflight ...... 25WS MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS

Monday 8 March 2021

Col. No. Col. No. EDUCATION...... 3MC EDUCATION—continued Education Route Map: Covid-19 ...... 3MC Education Route Map: Covid-19 ...... 4MC No proofs can be supplied. Corrections that Members suggest for the Bound Volume should be clearly marked on a copy of the daily Hansard - not telephoned - and must be received in the Editor’s Room, House of Commons,

not later than Monday 15 March 2021

STRICT ADHERENCE TO THIS ARRANGEMENT GREATLY FACILITATES THE PROMPT PUBLICATION OF BOUND VOLUMES

Members may obtain excerpts of their speeches from the Official Report (within one month from the date of publication), by applying to the Editor of the Official Report, House of Commons. Volume 690 Monday No. 185 8 March 2021

CONTENTS

Monday 8 March 2021

Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 501] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

NHS Staff Pay [Col. 523] Answer to urgent question—(Helen Whately)

Women’s Health Strategy [Col. 535] Statement—(Ms Dorries)

Housing and Homelessness (Local Accommodation Duty) [Col. 550] Motion for leave to bring in Bill—(Ms Buck)—agreed to Bill presented, and read the First time

Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation [Col. 553] Debate (Third day) Debate adjourned

Disused Mineworks in Skewen: Flooding [Col. 629] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Westminster Hall Press Freedom and Safety of Protesters: India [Col. 1WH] LGBT Conversion Therapy [Col. 25WH] E-Petition debates

Written Statements [Col. 21WS]

Ministerial Corrections [Col. 3MC]

Written Answers to Questions [The written answers can now be found at http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers]