Thursday Volume 690 11 March 2021 No. 188

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Thursday 11 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/. 979 11 MARCH 2021 980

lobbied the Chancellor prior to that decision? If so, will House of Commons he continue to push the Treasury to change its view and save jobs? Thursday 11 March 2021 Robert Courts: The hon. Member will understand The House met at half-past Nine o’clock that there had to be a change on that taxation regime at the end of the transition period. All taxation matters PRAYERS are a matter for the Treasury. They are kept under review by the Chancellor at all times, and I am sure he [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] has heard very carefully what she said. Virtual participation in proceedings continued (Order, 4 June and 30 December 2020). Mr Virendra Sharma [V]: The future of the aviation [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] sector needs greening, which will bring lower pollution and new high-quality jobs. Will the Minister commit to working with the Department for Business, Energy and Oral Answers to Questions Industrial Strategy to increase the Aerospace Technology Institute budget, so that we as a country can focus on TRANSPORT developing the technology that will support future zero emission aircraft? The Secretary of State was asked— Robert Courts: The hon. Member is quite right that aviation must play its part in the net zero challenge. It is Aviation Industry a challenge, but it is also an enormous opportunity. We (Denton and Reddish) (Lab): What are already working with BEIS through the Jet Zero steps he is taking to help ensure the recovery of the UK Council and the working groups not only on new airframe aviation sector following the rollout of the covid-19 types and new technology for aircraft, but on things like vaccine. [913229] sustainable aviation fuel. Amy Callaghan (East Dunbartonshire) (SNP): What Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues (SNP) [V]: It is simply not good enough. The Office for on support for the aviation industry. [913253] National Statistics confirmed that aviation has been Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) (Lab): What hardest hit. This Government promised a sector deal steps he is taking to support jobs in the aviation sector. but then did not deliver, barring a last minute and [913260] somewhat diluted version of the uncapped business rates relief available in Scotland. Let us recap: ending The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport VAT-free shopping at airports and refusing to consider (Robert Courts): The Government have provided significant arrival duty free; the most indebted aviation sector in financial support to aviation workers and businesses. the world, now about a third smaller with thousands of The will report in April on a jobs gone; and now EU cargo and chartered airlines return to safe and sustainable international travel. operating in the UK without reciprocal rights in many Andrew Gwynne [V]: Last week, the Chancellor set EU countries—this Government have utterly failed aviation out the support he is providing to businesses until they and its 1 million workers, have they not? can reopen their doors, but although the Office for National Statistics showed that aviation was the worst- Robert Courts: This is a Government who stand affected sector, it was not given a single mention. Does foursquare behind aviation, which is a real mark of the Minister agree that the support already provided to global Britain. As I said, we have seen approximately airports will not be enough to cover them losing many £7 billion-worth of support going to the aviation sector. times that amount each month? Is he not missing a trick Through the global travel taskforce we will be expanding here both to help the sector to survive and help it to horizons even further. Most recently, the consultation modernise to meet our climate change obligations? has been announced on air passenger duty, which I note has not happened in Scotland. Robert Courts: The Government have given the aviation sector approximately £7 billion of support over the (Wythenshawe and Sale East) (Lab): The course of the pandemic. The Budget we heard last week Minister is strong on rhetoric, but weak on delivery. from the Chancellor extended both the furlough scheme First, I thank the Secretary of State for writing to me to and the airport and ground operations support scheme correct the record after our previous exchange and for another six months. What we are doing to support confirming how few times the Jet Zero Council had and help the sector is the global travel taskforce. It is actually met. through getting people travelling sustainably and robustly On this global travel taskforce, the ONS says, as my that we will see brighter days ahead. hon. Friend the Member for Denton and Reddish (Andrew Amy Callaghan [V]: Duty free arrival was not part of Gwynne) pointed out, that it will take three years for the Government’spost- consultations,despite industry the sector to recovery.The Airport Operators Association stakeholders asking for it to be introduced. The Tory is saying five years. What assurances are there that what Government decision to end VAT-free shopping schemes the workstreams produce—are there any going on at for travellers will cost hundreds of jobs across Scotland. the moment and is it meeting?—will be robustly Establishing arrival duty free outlets could offset some implemented? We have not seen that so far with other of that. Can the Minister tell the House whether he announcements by this Government. 981 Oral Answers 11 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 982

Robert Courts: I simply have to disagree with the hon. 36 rapid charge points available per 100 miles, but we Member. The first global travel taskforce reported in obviously need to go further. We are working through November, as promised. We had the robust release of our rapid charging fund and we will make further the scheme in December in time for the announcements very shortly on this topic. Christmas market. Now it is right that we take stock, look at the whole aviation sector, consult carefully and Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab) [V]: We know have a new GTT. We will, as we have said, report to the that the Government’s road-building expansion will Prime Minister and publish the reports on 12 April, and lead to an estimated 270,000 additional tonnes of carbon 17 May is the earliest date on which international travel entering the atmosphere by 2032. However, in an answer can resume. We are working with and meeting and to a recent question, the Minister told me that she was consulting the sector on a weekly and daily basis. It is a content that the Government’s road-building expansion major ongoing piece of work very much at pace. programme was compatible with the net zero target. Will she tell me how she reached that view when the Union Connectivity Review Secretary of State overruled his own civil servants on the need to conduct an environmental review of the Rob Roberts (Delyn) (Con): What discussions he has policy? And does she agree that if the Government are had with Cabinet colleagues on the Union connectivity serious about reaching net zero and setting an example review. [913230] before COP26, that review should be carried out now?

The Secretary of State for Transport (): Rachel Maclean: I thank the hon. Lady for her question. Yesterday, I welcomed the Union connectivity review She will know that we are serious about decarbonising interim report. It marks an important moment in looking the entire transport sector. We will publish our transport at how transport can bring people together across our decarbonisation plan in spring this year, as we have . committed to do, which will set out how we will decarbonise the entire sector, including roads. I just say to her that, Rob Roberts: Transport infrastructure is one of the of course, we do need roads, but we want the vehicles most vital areas of development needed in my constituency. driving on them to be electric, and we are investing in I was delighted to see that improvements in connectivity electric vehicles—cars, vans, buses and lorries. to the north Wales coastline and the A55 featured strongly in yesterday’s interim report. Can my right Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) hon. Friend confirm when he expects the review to (SNP) [V]: Over a year has gone and we have seen publish its final report, and that there will be funding neither hide nor hair of this transport decarbonisation available to implement its recommendations, even though plan, or the national bus strategy, or the £3 billion on some cases were not mentioned specifically in the Budget? green buses. In contrast, Scotland is fast becoming a world leader in transport decarbonisation, with higher Grant Shapps: The interim report did, of course, take-up of electric cars, an impressive charging network, mention the A55, which my hon. Friend has campaigned actual investment in electric buses, on which everyone hard for. I have released £20 million to carry on further under the age of 22 is now able to travel free, and a work and studies on some of these routes and the final much praised rolling rail electrification scheme. Spring report will be released in the summer. is an elastic term in parliamentary terminology. When will we actually see the decarbonisation plan, and when Transport Decarbonisation will we actually see zero-emission buses being ordered? Rachel Maclean: I remind the hon. Gentleman that Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP): we have invested £2.8 billion to support the transition What recent steps his Department has taken to help to electric vehicles, and a lot of that money has gone to facilitate transport decarbonisation in line with the Scotland. The funds for the plug-in car grants are Government’s commitments (a) to the Paris agreement available UK-wide, and, as I said, we will publish the and (b) for COP26. [913250] transport decarbonisation plan in spring, as we have promised. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Rachel Maclean): The transport decarbonisation plan Transport Infrastructure Projects will set out transport’s contribution to net zero. We are also delivering ambitious international COP26 campaigns. (Dudley North) (Con): What steps his Department is taking to accelerate the delivery of transport Deidre Brock [V]: When does the Minister consider infrastructure projects. [913232] that there will be enough public charging points available for electric-powered vehicles to ensure that no domestic Sally-Ann Hart (Hastings and Rye) (Con): What user requires an internal combustion engine? I would steps his Department is taking to accelerate the delivery settle for her best estimate of when urban motorists of transport infrastructure projects. [913239] could be fossil-free. How quickly does she think the network can be built? (Carshalton and Wallington) (Con): What steps his Department is taking to accelerate the Rachel Maclean: We have ambitious plans to meet delivery of transport infrastructure projects. [913240] our target dates of phasing out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. At the moment, a driver is (Aylesbury) (Con): What steps his Department never more than 25 miles away from a rapid charge is taking to accelerate the delivery of transport infrastructure point anywhere on ’s motorways, and there are projects. [913245] 983 Oral Answers 11 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 984

Mark Eastwood (Dewsbury) (Con): What steps his 300,000 commuters every day on the Brighton main line Department is taking to accelerate the delivery of transport as well as those in areas of suburban London such as infrastructure projects. [913246] Carshalton and Wallington. What steps is my hon. Friend taking to ensure that this scheme has Government Mrs (South East Cornwall) (Con): support in order to make it a success? What steps his Department is taking to accelerate the delivery of transport infrastructure projects. [913249] : I know that my hon. Friend has met the Rail Minister on numerous occasions to discuss The Minister of State, (Andrew the Croydon bottleneck and the impact on stations Stephenson): Transport infrastructure is central to the across his constituency. We recognise the importance of Government’s plans to build back better from covid-19, the issue and are continuing to work closely with Network and the Department for Transport is at the forefront of Rail and operators to develop the scheme further. Project Speed. We have also created our own acceleration unit as well as establishing the Northern Transport Rob Butler [V]: My constituents are really enthusiastic Acceleration Council, through which we have identified about a piece of rail infrastructure that could bring a 112 schemes to progress. real benefit to their lives. No, they have not changed their minds about HS2; the railway they really want to Marco Longhi [V]: My Dudley North constituents see is the Aylesbury spur of East West Rail. are seeing record levels of investment coming to them, However, funding has so far not been secured, despite and much of it is dedicated to very light rail, metro it being in the original proposals and despite the DFT’s extension and the new transport interchange. However, own figures showing a stronger business case for East connectivity from local housing estates to these transport West Rail than for HS2. Will my hon. Friend commit to networks is key. What assurances can my hon. Friend working across Government to get funding for the give my constituents that every link in this chain will Aylesbury spur,which would reduce car use, cut emissions result in a truly integrated transport system? and help to level up my town? Andrew Stephenson: Dudley is indeed pioneering research Andrew Stephenson: As my hon. Friend is aware, in and development into very light rail, and I am pleased January the Government approved an additional that the Combined Authority recently £760 million of new funding to deliver East West Rail signed off funding into the Dudley interchange. Mayor between Oxford and Milton Keynes. I know that he has Andy Street’s vision is for it to be the best-connected met the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Rail region in the country, and the Chancellor has confirmed Minister to make the case for connecting Aylesbury to the £4.2 billion intra-city transport fund, as well as the East West Rail. I understand how important the connection levelling up fund, in the Budget. I am sure that, with his is to his constituency, and we continue to explore the help, Dudley will get its fair share of transport infrastructure options. funding. I am looking forward to riding the metro to Dudley Zoo very soon. Mark Eastwood [V]: The Penistone line stops at three stations in my constituency—Stocksmoor, Denby Dale Mr Speaker: And they will all go in twos. and Shepley—and currently runs an hourly service, hampering the connectivity of those villages. There is Sally-Ann Hart [V]: Investing in improved transport genuine cross-party support for having the whole of the infrastructure is well recognised by my hon. Friend as a line upgraded so that it runs half-hourly services, levelling necessity for turbocharging our economy and levelling up all our communities. A delivery plan is already in up. Beautiful Hastings and Rye has some of the most place for this much-needed upgrade, so will the Minister antiquated road and rail infrastructure in the country, agree to assist with co-ordinating this proposal with the which inhibits economic growth and is the reason why Treasury and the relevant rail authorities? HS1 must be prioritised. If we are serious about levelling up left-behind Andrew Stephenson: As my hon. Friend will be aware, communities, does my hon. Friend not agree that HS1, last week marked one year since the Government stepped as promised by previous Ministers, now needs to be in to take over the ailing Northern Rail franchise. Since delivered? What discussions has he had with the Treasury then, Northern has transformed services with a huge to ensure that funding will be available to finance such a investment in new trains and the retirement of Pacers, vital project? and completed the extension of platforms at more than 70 stations. He makes a strong case for increasing local Andrew Stephenson: I pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s services, and I know that the Minister of State, Department determination in drawing attention to this important for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Daventry local issue; this is the second time she has done so this (Chris Heaton-Harris), the Rail Minister, will be happy week, I believe. As she will know, the strategic outline to meet him to discuss this issue. business case for the Kent and East Sussex coastal connectivity scheme is currently being progressed by Mrs Murray [V]: As my hon. Friend knows, I have Network Rail, and it is due to be submitted to the long campaigned for the much-needed upgrade to the Department in April. I am sure that the rail Minister A38, which is the main trunk road through my constituency will be able to update her more in due course. to the nearest city,Plymouth. I am working with Highways England and undertaking surveys, but in the light of Elliot Colburn [V]: Network Rail has finished developing the fantastic news that Plymouth is to become a freeport, plans for the Croydon area remodelling scheme to help will my hon. Friend revaluate the urgency of improvements, to unblock the Croydon bottleneck—one of the most so that the whole of Cornwall can take advantage of congested parts of the rail network, which impacts Plymouth’s new status? 985 Oral Answers 11 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 986

Andrew Stephenson: I congratulate Plymouth on its Electric Vehicles status as one of the eight new freeports announced in the Budget last week. Freeports will create national Virginia Crosbie (Ynys Môn) (Con): What steps his hubs for trade, innovation and commerce, thereby levelling Department is taking to increase the use of electric up communities throughout the UK, creating new jobs vehicles. [913234] and turbocharging our economic recovery.Weare working across Government to support these exciting developments Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) and will look closely at any changes to transport (Con): What steps his Department is taking to increase infrastructure that are required. the use of electric vehicles. [913237]

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab): Our rail Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con): industry must play a pivotal role in fighting the climate What steps his Department is taking to increase the use crisis with ambitious plans for decarbonising transport of electric vehicles. [913241] infrastructure and extensive electrification. Shockingly, despite the UK’s being the country that pioneered rail, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport only 38% of our network is electrified—thanks to the (Rachel Maclean): By 2035, all new cars and vans need Tory Government’s chronic failure to act. We have been to be zero emission at the tailpipe. We are investing left far behind by the likes of Germany, France, Italy £2.8 billion to support this transition. and Spain, which have electrified the majority of their railways. Given that we do not have time for further Virginia Crosbie: Pentraeth Automotive on my island delay and dithering, and to keep costs down, why will constituency of Ynys Môn is at the forefront of electric the Minister not commit, here and now, to a long-term vehicle provision locally. Will the Minister consider rolling programme of electrification? providing support so that businesses like Pentraeth Automotive can retrain their skilled mechanics to ensure Andrew Stephenson: I politely remind the shadow that electric vehicles can be maintained safely? Minister of the statistics: under the Labour Government of 1997 to 2010, only 63 miles of the railways were Rachel Maclean: My hon. Friend is absolutely right electrified; since 2010, we have already electrified 1,110 miles, that the UK is at the forefront of the electric-vehicle and we continue to invest. industry, and I want her constituency to play its part. We are working with the Institute of the Motor Industry to ensure that the UK’smechanics workforce is well-trained Ports: New Trading Arrangements and has the skills needed to safely repair electric vehicles. Through consultation with the automotive sector, the Stephen Morgan (Portsmouth South) (Lab): What IMI has developed Techsafe, a register and professional recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues standard for electric vehicle technicians that the Office on the adequacy of support for ports adapting to new for Zero Emission Vehicles has endorsed. trading arrangements since the end of the transition period. [913233] Stephen Metcalfe [V]: To be able to truly embrace the EV revolution, does my hon. Friend agree that there needs to be a comprehensive network of on-street residential The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport charging points close to where people live, especially (Robert Courts): The Government continue to deliver where they have no dedicated parking space? Will she wide-ranging support measures to British ports, including work with local authorities to start this work now, so unprecedented levels of direct funding such as grants. that that is one less barrier to EV adoption?

Stephen Morgan [V]: Ministers continue to withhold Rachel Maclean: My hon. Friend is absolutely right the vital funds needed for Portsmouth international and we are already working closely with local authorities. port to complete the post-Brexit infrastructure mandated Our on-street residential charge point scheme has so far by the Government’s own border-operating model. With supported more than 105 different local authorities to full customs checks coming in July, what steps is the fund more than 3,800 charge points. We have recently Minister taking to secure the vital funding needed to announced that £20 million will be made available ensure that our local authority-owned port remains under this scheme for the year 2021-22. We are working competitive and prosperous, and that the chaos we so closely with local authorities to ensure the maximum saw at Dover in December does not become a reality in take-up of the scheme, because we do not want a lack of my city? charging infrastructure to be a barrier to anyone wanting to transition to an EV. Robert Courts: As a general rule, the “user pays” principle applies, so the Government would expect ports Andrew Jones: Following on from the previous question, to pay for improvements themselves, but the Government that charging infrastructure concern can be a barrier to have taken an unprecedented approach through the purchase. We know that most owners of electric cars ports infrastructure fund to support as many ports as charge their vehicles at home. That often relies on their possible with grants. Portsmouth was awarded more having a garage or drive, which is not always appropriate than £17 million, which is the third-largest amount or possible in a block of flats or in a very urban area. awarded to any port and is extremely significant funding. Will my hon. Friend keep the House updated on The hon. Gentleman’s city is, of course, part of the progress on charging facilities in the more built-up successful Solent freeport bid, which I am sure he urban areas, because that is absolutely critical if we are welcomes. to see significant take-up of these vehicles? 987 Oral Answers 11 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 988

Rachel Maclean: I thank my hon. Friend for his resources have the Department and the Treasury set question. He is absolutely right that we need to tackle aside to develop a single preferred option for the extension all these barriers, which is why we have recently announced to ensure that construction is under way as soon as that we are changing the criteria for our EV charging possible, to boost our national economy? schemes to include small businesses, leaseholders and those in rented accommodation, especially flats,to accelerate Chris Heaton-Harris: I thank the hon. Gentleman for uptake. Worth up to £50 million, the updated schemes his question. The Chancellor has been a tad busy in the will complement a further £20 million that we are past week or so on a very important economic piece for providing for our on-street charging scheme. the country. The Bakerloo line extension is a Transport for London project and the issuing of safeguarding Sam Tarry (Ilford South) (Lab): I am pleased to hear directionsactuallyrepresentstheGovernment’scommitment the Minister talk about electric vehicles, but the reality to fund the project, but it protects the route from is that we have seen little in the way of concrete measures conflicting development that could have raised the cost from this Government. We were promised 4,000 zero- of the project significantly in the future. His question is emission buses by 2025, but we have heard little more best aimed at the Mayor. about that—or, indeed, about the national bus strategy, which was expected months ago and has still yet to International Travel: Safe Restart materialise. It has now been a year since the Government published their transport decarbonisation plan. The Secretary of AntonyHigginbotham(Burnley)(Con):Whatpreparatory State himself said that steps his Department is taking on the safe restart of “Climate change is the most pressing environmental challenge international travel during the covid-19 pandemic. of our time”, [913236] yet all we have had is dither and delay. Although last week’s Budget saw the Chancellor freeze fuel duty for The Secretary of State for Transport (Grant Shapps): the 11th year running, costing the taxpayer about £1 billion The Government have launched the global travel taskforce and flying in the face of the commitment to tackle mark 2 in order to help facilitate international travel as carbon emissions, this Government have a legal obligation, we deal with this virus. lest we forget, to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. When will they start delivering? : My right hon. Friend will be aware that thousands of manufacturing jobs in my Rachel Maclean: Let me politely disagree strongly constituency are reliant on the aerospace and aviation with the hon. Gentleman on the Labour Front Bench. I sector. What those people need more than anything else would need longer than this one simple question to is aircraft in the air, flying again. Will my right hon. answer the allegations that he has put to me. Shall we Friend set out what steps he is taking with global start with the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan? Shall we partners, including looking at schemes such as the also refer to the transport decarbonisation plan, which, International Air Transport Association’s travel pass, to as I have now said three times, we will publish in the get aircraft flying again in a way that is safe and spring. The national bus strategy, as my colleagues have sustainable? reminded me, will be brought forward very shortly. Not only that, but we are installing charge points up and Grant Shapps: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. He down the country.We have already committed to phasing will recall that mark 1 of the global travel taskforce out petrol and diesel cars by 2030. We are leading the introduced test to release to assist with this. Mark 2 will world in this fight against climate change, and we will introduce travel certification by using schemes such as continue to do so. IATA’s travel pass or the World Economic Forum’s Bakerloo Line Extension CommonPass. He will be interested to know that I have been having conversations with my US counterpart and many others around the world to get that travel going Neil Coyle (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) (Lab): again. The report will be on 12 April. What recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for the Bakerloo line extension since the Government’s formal issuing of (Bexhill and Battle) (Con) [V]: The safeguarding directions on 1 March 2021. [913235] Secretary of State just mentioned 12 April for the global travel taskforce recommendations. Is that the date The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Chris on which the public and the aviation industry will know Heaton-Harris): I can confirm to the hon. Member that what the rules will be, or is it just the date when the neither I nor ministerial colleagues in the Department recommendations will be given to No. 10? have discussed this matter with the Chancellor since the safeguarding directions were issued 11 days ago. Grant Shapps: The Chair of the Transport Committee is absolutely right; 12 April is the date that we will Neil Coyle [V]: I thank the Government for safeguarding report back, and we will make it public on the same day. the land for the Bakerloo line extension. This is a Travel for leisure or other purposes will not resume or project that will not just improve transport across London, be allowed until 17 May at the earliest. It is important but create jobs and homes and provide a much-needed that people realise that that is the earliest date, but we economic boost for the whole national economy. The are very keen to get the aviation sector that many next step, though, is that crucial funding. It is disappointing Members across the House have talked about back in to hear that there have not been any discussions. What the air, and this is the route to get it there. 989 Oral Answers 11 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 990

Midlands Rail Hub on the Hope Valley line. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Robert Largan), who has Karl McCartney (Lincoln) (Con): What steps his campaigned relentlessly for the scheme since he was Department is taking to accelerate the midlands rail elected and has helped to get it over the line. hub project as part of the midlands engine rail plan. [913238] : May I take this opportunity to remind the Minister that my constituents in Fleetwood would like The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Chris to be connected to the rail network? Heaton-Harris): The Department has approved £20 million I heard the Minister’s answer to my question, but I do of funding for the development of an outline business not understand—perhaps he could help me out here—how case for the midlands rail hub. We are working closely he squares that with a 40% cut to Transport for the with Network Rail to apply the principles of Project North’s budget. SPEED to the development of this project to ensure that it can progress as quickly as possible. Andrew Stephenson: I know about the proposals to reconnect Fleetwood; I know them very well, because Karl McCartney [V]: It is good to see you again this they have been championed so well by my hon. Friend morning, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for his reply. the Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys (Paul The rail corridor to Lincoln, which the Minister knows Maynard). well, has a proposed upgrade of signalling at Newark, Transport for the North, which, of course,was established as well as plans for faster and more frequent trains to under the Conservatives—has seen its funding for Northern my constituency of Lincoln. Some of these schemes are Powerhouse Rail and the Rail North partnership increase almost shovel-ready and can begin this year. Will my year on year. Last year, TfN had funding available to it hon. Friend consider these schemes and help Lincoln to of £59 million for Northern Powerhouse Rail and of receive the train services that my constituents deserve? £680,000 for the Rail North partnership. For the next year, both those figures have increased—to £67 million Chris Heaton-Harris: Mr Speaker, I think we can and £700,000. We are getting on with delivering schemes. both agree that my hon. Friend is a wonder to behold, Whether it be the trans-Pennine route upgrade, the as he demonstrates to us all that a sensible, coherent Hope Valley line or phase 2a of HS2 coming to the campaigning strategy—bringing together people north of England, we are getting on with delivering. and businesses, and demonstrating the potential economic growth that could result from schemes and infra-jstructure Grahame Morris [V]: On that very point, will the —leads to this Government delivering that infrastructure. Minister take this opportunity to correct the Prime One only has to look at the roads around his great city Minister’s statement in which he denied that cuts were and the direct trains to London for which he has taking place to Transport for the North’s budget? Does campaigned. Midlands Connect is developing a proposal, the Minister believe that cutting core funding to Transport as he outlines, and if history is anything to go by, his for the North by 40%, which is what is happening, resourcefulness will help to speed it through the process. freezing Northern Powerhouse Rail’sbudget at £75 million —a third less than was requested—and mothballing Investment in Rail: North of England plans to roll out contactless ticketing on services like the Tyne and Wear Metro will level up and improve transport infrastructure in the north? Cat Smith (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Lab): What recent assessment he has made of the effect of his Andrew Stephenson: The hon. Gentleman has been in policies on rail investment in the north of England on this House long enough to know that the Prime Minister the Government’s levelling-up agenda. [913242] is always right.

Grahame Morris (Easington) (Lab): What recent Mr Speaker: You might be proved wrong. assessment he has made of the effect of his policies on rail investment in the north of England on the Government’s Andrew Stephenson: Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I levelling-up agenda. [913247] have just told the House, the budget for Northern Powerhouse Rail available to Transport for the North (Southport) (Con): What steps his last year was £59 million; next year it is £67 million. Department is taking to invest in rail infrastructure Looking at that funding alone, it has all the money it projects in the north-west. [913248] needs in order to deliver on the priorities in the north of England. At the same time, we are getting on with (Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Con): What steps delivering, with £29 billion invested in transport across his Department is taking to increase rail connections in the north of England since 2010, while in the Budget we the north of England. [913252] committed to over £40 billion more for transport and rail infrastructure projects, £17.5 billion in renewals and The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Andrew upgrades over the next three years, and £22.6 billion for Stephenson): The Government are committed to levelling HS2. We are getting on with delivering, levelling up and up rail infrastructure across the north. In that spirit, I building back better from covid-19. am delighted to confirm that we have awarded £137 million to Network Rail to complete detailed design and deliver Damien Moore: The infrastructure that underpins the the Hope Valley capacity scheme. The scheme will Southport to Piccadilly service, which serves transform journeys between the northern powerhouse my constituency, is part of the plan to bring in cities of Manchester and Sheffield by removing bottlenecks £400 million-worth of investment and to create jobs. 991 Oral Answers 11 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 992

Does my hon. Friend agree that connecting people to Cruises jobs and attracting investment is a key part of the levelling-up agenda? (Southampton, Itchen) (Con): What steps his Department is taking to allow cruises to safely Andrew Stephenson: Fresh from securing £37.5 million recommence during the covid-19 pandemic. [913244] for the towns deal for Southport in the Budget, I understand that yesterday my hon. Friend met the Rail The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Minister once again to make the case for his local rail (Robert Courts): Domestic cruises will restart alongside services, as he has consistently done since he was elected. domestic tourism and indoor hospitality. International I can assure him that the industry taskforce will be cruises will be considered within the global travel taskforce. doing its utmost to address the concerns he has raised Royston Smith: The cruise sector is worth more than while preserving the core aim of producing a simplified £10 billion to the UK economy and supports more than timetable that all passengers can rely on. 88,000 jobs. Southampton is the cruise capital of northern Europe, with 500 cruise ship visits per year, each one Aaron Bell: Newcastle-under-Lyme is the second largest generating £2.5 million for the local economy. Cruises town in the UK without a railway station of its own, are covid-safe and they are ready to go, but they need and if the Minister gives my hon. Friend the Member three months’ notice to become operational. Will my for Dudley North (Marco Longhi) what he wants, we hon. Friend work with his colleagues in the Foreign, will be up to No. 1. Keele University is the only major Commonwealth and Development Office to ensure that British university without a railway station nearby. Will the Prime Minister’s road map includes cruises, so that the Minister welcome the bid that I have submitted to operators have the confidence to start booking passengers? the Restoring Your Railway ideas fund that would solve both those problems with a station in Newcastle and Robert Courts: I completely agree with my hon. Friend one at Silverdale for Keele University? Will he meet me about the impressive steps taken by the cruise industry to discuss the bid so that I can show him some of the in its covid-19 framework, which was published in October details of how it will benefit my constituency? 2020. He is right to celebrate the immense financial and employment contribution of the cruise industry to the Andrew Stephenson: My hon. Friend makes a very UK, including to the Southampton, Itchen constituency, strong case for his constituency. As he correctly points for which he speaks so powerfully. I am pleased that out, the £500 million Restoring Your Railway fund is domestic cruises in England will be able to restart under one of the many ways in which we are intending to level step 3 of the road map, which will be no earlier than up the country and build back better. The Rail Minister, 17 May. The restart of international cruises will be as chair of the panel, looks forward to reviewing the bid considered through the global travel taskforce report on that my hon. Friend has submitted, and I know he 12 April. My hon. Friend is right that travel advice would be happy to meet him to discuss the proposals remains a matter for the FCDO, but he can be absolutely further. sure that my officials and I will continue to engage with that Department. Transport for London: Funding Transport Devolution Deal: Cambridgeshire and (Harrow East) (Con): What recent Peterborough discussions he has had with Transport for London on a future funding agreement. [913243] Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) (Lab): What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the 2017 Cambridgeshire The Secretary of State for Transport (Grant Shapps): and Peterborough devolution deal on transport connectivity The Government regularly engage with Transport for in (a) Cambridgeshire and (b) Peterborough. [913251] London on the impacts of covid-19, and—dare I say?—the The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Chris Mayor’s management of Transport for London. Heaton-Harris): The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has recently carried out a review Bob Blackman [V]: My right hon. Friend will be well on the progress of the devolution deal, and I understand aware that the current Mayor has increased council tax that the outcome of that will be announced in due by 30%, brought TfL to the brink of bankruptcy with course. £12 billion of debt, even before the pandemic struck, and now wants to charge motorists for coming into the Daniel Zeichner [V]: In the Budget last week, outskirts of London. Does he agree that it is time for a Cambridgeshire and Peterborough was the only mayoral fresh start? authority not to get money from the intra-city transport settlement. We are still awaiting the blocked £45 million Grant Shapps: I cannot have my hon. Friend be in housing funding, and we got just 75% of the indicative unfair to the London Mayor; we do have to consider amount for active travel, when everyone else got at that covid has been a part of that. This Government least 95%. What have the Government got against have stumped up £3.4 billion to assist TfL so far, and we Cambridgeshire? Isn’t the Mayor a chum? are talking to the Mayor and TfL again. But my hon. Friend is absolutely right to say that there was already a Chris Heaton-Harris: The Mayor is a chum, and I £494 million on-year deficit. Now the Mayor, through would like to think the hon. Member is a chum, too. not having collected or raised the price of fares over the The cities eligible for the intra-city fund announced in years, is considering a boundary tax to tax people the spending review 2020 have been chosen with the without representation to enter London. It is appalling appropriate governance and on the basis of a range of mismanagement of our rail services. factors, including population, economic growth rates 993 Oral Answers 11 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 994 and congestion. The Government are already investing Chris Heaton-Harris: I welcome the right hon. substantially in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough through Gentleman, who is a new member of the Transport the £1.5 billion A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon upgrade Committee, and look forward to working with him as that was completed last year and a devolved allocation we move forward on this agenda especially. We have met of £95 million from the transforming cities fund for on this subject previously. He will know that local 2020 to 2023, and we are also developing plans for a authorities across the country are doing a marvellous new Cambridge South station and, obviously, East job. Devon County Council has received £1.6 million West Rail. from the active travel fund in this financial year and is spending it very wisely. There are local authorities that Smart Motorways have not consulted on schemes quite as well as we would have liked in the past. We are trying to rectify Sarah Champion (Rotherham) (Lab): What plans he that, and we are working from the centre with local has to convert additional stretches of motorway to authorities that are struggling to deliver schemes, to smart motorways. [913270] ensure that they deliver them properly,with the appropriate consultation, and that taxpayers’ money is spent wisely. The Secretary of State for Transport (Grant Shapps): Highways England is delivering its plan for 2020 to Mr Speaker: Congratulations on clearing the list—that 2025, with sets of all-lane running motorway schemes is unique. being delivered over the current road investment period. Topical Questions Wehave committed £500 million to ensure these motorways are as safe as possible. [913289] Sally-Ann Hart (Hastings and Rye) (Con): If he will make a statement on his departmental Sarah Champion [V]: Since its conversion to a smart responsibilities. motorway,the 10-mile stretch of the M1 between junctions 32 and 35A has seen an average of 68 breakdowns a The Secretary of State for Transport (Grant Shapps): month in live lanes. Each of these incidents has the We aim to please, Mr Speaker. potential to end in a tragedy. By contrast, in the three Schools are reopening this week, and many more years prior to its conversion, not a serious incident people, including students and parents, are therefore occurred in which a vehicle was struck on the hard making essential journeys, so I am delighted to announce shoulder. When will the Government stop gambling that today we have released another 150,000 Fix Your with the lives of motorists and abandon these dangerous, Bike vouchers, helping people to get on to their bikes ill thought out death traps? and back into active travel. Each voucher is worth £50 and will help more people get their old bikes fixed Grant Shapps: I congratulate the hon. Lady for all her and roadworthy again—all part of our unprecedented campaigning on this subject, and she knows that I share £2 billion of active travel funding throughout this her passion. When I spoke to her a year ago today to Parliament. explain the 18 different steps involved in the smart motorways stocktake, she warmly welcomed that work. Sally-Ann Hart [V]: I welcome the news that Transport Smart motorways have been under development since for the South East has submitted its ambitious 30-year 2001 under the Blair-John Prescott Government. I think transport strategy, and my right hon. Friend is to have I am the first Secretary of State in 12 to carry out the regard to that in setting policy and investment decisions. stocktake and review, and I will not rest until these Decarbonisation is vital, and as Transport for the South motorways are as safe as possible. East has shown, its ability to bring together local authorities, Network Rail, Highways England and others and act at Cycling and Walking scale with six other sub-national transport bodies puts them in a perfect position to help deliver our Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab): What steps the decarbonisation initiatives. What role does my right Government are taking to help local authorities increase hon. Friend have in mind for STBs to help bring about levels of cycling and walking. [913272] the interventions needed to meet our climate goals?

The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Chris Grant Shapps: My hon. Friend is absolutely right: Heaton-Harris): The Government are investing £2 billion sub-national bodies are extremely important in helping in active travel over the rest of this Parliament, much of to bring together what can be quite different, disparate which will go to local authorities. This is the biggest systems within a sub-regional area, to ensure that the ever boost for cycling and walking. transport is effective but also, as she rightly says, decarbonised. I see their role as being pivotal to delivering Mr Bradshaw [V]: Many local authorities, including not only good transport but our transport decarbonisation Conservative-run Devon and Labour-run Exeter, are plan. working very well together to deliver on the Government’s vision. What will the Minister do about the small number Jim McMahon (Oldham West and Royton) (Lab/Co-op): of obstructionist local councils, such as Kensington Last week, I met some of the families of those who have and Chelsea in London, which, incredibly, does not died on smart motorways. I heard the pain and the have a single segregated bike lane in the whole borough devastation of those who have been affected by all-lane- and, furthermore, recently tore out a new temporary running schemes. We last had an update on the number one that was very popular with local families, forcing of deaths on smart motorways a year ago. Will the those families and children back out on to a busy main Secretary of State set out what the most recent number road on their way to school? of fatalities on smart motorways is? 995 Oral Answers 11 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 996

Grant Shapps: The hon. Gentleman is absolutely constant closures of the bridge during high wind, which right about public concern about smart motorways, has a very negative economic impact. I actually went which, as I mentioned before, I very much share. I was inside the bridge, which is something I did not know the first Transport Secretary to order a review and a you could do, and it was very interesting. Also, the port stocktake, which published a year ago yesterday with an of Felixstowe is to become a freeport—very good news; 18-point plan. Tomorrow, I will have an update on my Orwell bridge—good news. However, we do know that desk that I have ordered from Highways England, which with a freeport we are likely to see increased economic will give me all the latest data. The last information I activity and increased traffic. Will my right hon. Friend have is the 39 deaths between 2015 and 2019. commit to the increased investment in our road and rail infrastructure to make sure that we can sustain and Jim McMahon: I appreciate the answer, but I do not support this additional growth and activity? think it is acceptable at all that the data appears to be at the very least a year out of date about a scheme that has The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Andrew significant public interest and when there are grieving Stephenson): I am delighted to hear about the progress families who want to know the true impact. I ask the that has been made on the Orwell bridge, which was the Secretary of State to improve and to press Highways subject of an Adjournment debate between my hon. England to improve its data collection on that issue. Friend and I a few months back. I am also delighted to Yesterday, Highways England launched a campaign hear about the success of the freeport bid. Obviously, that encourages drivers to sing a Pet Shop Boys song as good transport links will be essential. We will consider a reminder to pull into a refuge. That reduces it down to the implications of freeports on local transport networks an insult, insinuating that drivers who became stranded in future infrastructure investment decisions. were somehow careless. They were not. They were the victims of an ill-conceived scheme that still leaves people [913291] Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab) [V]: [R] at risk today. What the families really want to know is, Here in south Yorkshire, we are providing free community what is being done to ensure that there are no further transport to vaccination sites for those who need it. We fatalities? At the last Transport orals, I asked the Transport are doing what we can, but covid has pushed our Secretary to pick up the phone and to reinstate the hard underfunded bus network to the brink. The national shoulder. Did he do that, and if not, why not? bus strategy is an opportunity to make meaningful change, so can I ask the Secretary of State to reassure Grant Shapps: First, the figures to which I refer are me that Mayors and local authorities will be given the national statistics. My understanding is that they have powers and the resources needed to improve our bus to be quality assured, and it is beyond the control of the services? Secretary of State to quote figures that have not yet been checked. In answer to the hon. Gentleman’s last Grant Shapps: I know from our many conversations point about why we do not simply reinstate the hard of the hon. Gentleman’s enthusiasm to get greater shoulder— and I know that is his policy—I know from control of bus services in his area. I can reassure him, the work that has been carried out that the statisticians, exactly as he has just asked, that not only is that our who have worked very hard on this, tell us that per intention, but—and this will interest other Members of 1 billion miles travelled, which is the way roads are the House who have asked about it today—he will not measured, there are about a third more deaths where have to wait very long at all for the bus strategy. there are hard shoulders, because one in 12 fatalities actually takes place on a hard shoulder. [913293] Imran Ahmad Khan (Wakefield) (Con) [V]: Inter- connectivity is vital to the prosperity of our northern As I mentioned before, I am the first Secretary of towns and cities. In order to ensure that Wakefield is State to undertake a full stocktake and review.Tomorrow, better connected to neighbouring communities and is more I will have a report, and I will come back to this House accessible, improving road capacity on routes is needed. and report on it very quickly afterwards. These are not Can my right hon. Friend outline whether a Denby new things; they were introduced in 2001 by John Dale bypass between Wakefield and Kirklees will be Prescott. However, I do absolutely agree with the hon. considered in the third road investment strategy to Gentleman’s desire to see the problem resolved. It is better connect us with Huddersfield, Manchester and important to know that, while I mentioned the 39 deaths beyond, while relieving pressure on the M1 and M62 on so-called smart motorways, at the same time there around Leeds and Bradford? were 368 deaths on regular motorways, so it is very important that we take all of these steps. Andrew Stephenson: My hon. Friend is a tireless On an education campaign so that people understand champion for Wakefield. A bypass for Denby Dale how to use all motorways, not just smart motorways, would be a matter for the local highways authority—in the £5 million campaign was one of the calls of the this case, Kirklees Council—to consider,but it is something stocktake. Many of the victims’ families, including Meera it could consider as a bid into the Government’s recently Naran, who lost her eight-year-old son, have welcomed announced £4.8 billion levelling up fund, which has the fact that the Government are spending a record improving local transport connectivity as one of its top £5 million to ensure that people know what to do when priorities. they do break down. Mr Speaker: Let us go to Christian Matheson— [913290] Tom Hunt (Ipswich) (Con): Last month, I paid [Interruption.] We will come back to him. a late-night visit to the Orwell bridge to meet the teams who are working on introducing the new speed limit, [913294] Rob Roberts (Delyn) (Con): With the impending which will hopefully mean that, when we have recovered cutting-out of petrol and diesel cars from production in from this pandemic, we no longer have to put up with the near future, will my right hon. Friend indicate what 997 Oral Answers 11 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 998 discussions he has had with the Department for Business, that line, and with the track re-layout as part of the Energy and Industrial Strategy to ensure that cars can Growth Track 360 project at Chester? Will the Minister be more affordable on a mass production basis? commit to that? Andrew Stephenson: It was worth the wait—it is always Grant Shapps: The £2.8 billion referred to earlier is a delight to hear from the hon. Gentleman. He will be designed to do exactly that—for example, investment in aware that as part of the integrated rail plan we are a megafactory or a gigafactory to produce those batteries, looking at a range of major investments across the which is one of the largest components of bringing north of England. I am keen to see connections to down the price so that cars are affordable. It is also Crewe enhanced, and Royal Assent has now been given worth considering that we already have more rapid for phase 2a that will take HS2 into Crewe. We have also chargers per 100 miles driven than any country in been consulting with the Crewe north connection on the EU. further investments, as part of the design refinement consultation for HS2’s western leg into Manchester. I [913296] (Rochdale) (Lab): The Secretary am keen to speak to the hon. Gentleman about this of State will know that during the covid pandemic, the issue. I have been working with local stakeholders, I number of people using bus transportation has fallen have met Growth Track 360, and I am keen for us to dramatically, partly because of people’s fears, but partly work together to achieve this. because of the social distancing rules. Does that not make it astonishing that, in the middle of its industrial [913297] Ian Mearns (Gateshead) (Lab) [V]: [R] On dispute with , Go North West is now Wednesday 10 February, in answer to my question, the packing its buses to shove passengers in? What will be Prime Minister said: done to increase bus transportation post covid? Will the “I can certainly confirm that we are going to develop the Secretary of State have a word with the management of eastern leg as well as the whole of …HS2”—[Official Report, 10 Go North West to insist that it does not put passengers’ February 2021; Vol. 689, c. 325.] lives at risk? but an implied threat was posed to that in the National Infrastructure Commission report, so in order to adhere Grant Shapps: I thank the hon. Gentleman. I am not fully to the Prime Minister’scommitment, can the Secretary familiar with that situation, so I am grateful to him for of State tell us when work on the eastern leg of HS2 will bringing it to my attention, and I assure him that I will start, so that the promises of his predecessors and the look into it this afternoon. On the wider point, he is Prime Minister to the people of the north and the right to say that right now people are being told to stay north-east can be fully fulfilled? at home and avoid travelling. We must do a lot of work to encourage people back on to our public transport—it Andrew Stephenson: The hon. Gentleman will be is important we do that—and as I have hinted to others, aware that the Prime Minister said that it is not a case of he will not have to wait long for a national bus strategy, to be or not to be. We are committed to bringing the which I hope will answer all his questions. benefits of high-speed rail to the north of England and work on the integrated rail plan is progressing well, but Ministers need to take their time to fully consider all the [913295] Mary Robinson (Cheadle) (Con): Following evidence from all stakeholders, including the National Cheadle’s successful town’s fund bid, I am pulling Infrastructure Commission and the Government’s own together an industry working group to collaborate on analysis, before finalising the plans. We therefore hope the delivery of our new £8 million train station proposal. to publish the IRP this spring. I look forward to working with representatives from Council, the Ministry of Housing, Communities [913298] Richard Fuller (North East Bedfordshire) (Con): and Local Government, Network Rail, and Transport People in Bedfordshire who commute to London on the for to restore connectivity, and put Bedford midland main line can already take advantage Cheadle on the public transport map. Will the Minister of flexible season tickets or carnet tickets, but my agree to meet me to explore opportunities for support constituents who use stations in Arlesey, Sandy and from his Department, and help drive that exciting transport Biggleswade cannot. When will my hon. Friend come project forward? forward with flexible season tickets, so that all my constituents can take advantage of them? Andrew Stephenson: The Department is considering my hon. Friend’s ideas fund bid for the East Didsbury Andrew Stephenson: The Government recognise that to Stockport Metrolink line. We are working closely changes in travel patterns, which have been accelerated with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local by covid-19, need to be reflected, and we need to Government as part of the assessment process, and I accommodate them in a more flexible style of working am sure my hon. Friend the rail Minister would be and travelling. We understand concerns about the cost delighted to meet my hon. Friend. of some rail fares and the impact that can have on people’s budgets. The Department is actively working with train operators to develop a solution that offers Mr Speaker: Let us return to Christian Matheson. better value and convenience for those who commute flexibly, including on GTR routes, and we will provide a [913292] Christian Matheson (City of Chester) (Lab) [V]: further update on that as part of the Government’s We will try again, Mr Speaker. I was pleased with the four-step road map out of lockdown. Hendy report on cross border connectivity, which talked about improving the north Wales coastline and access [913304] Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) (Lab): to HS2. Central to that is the Chester to Crewe line. Thank you, Mr Speaker, for my second bite at the Why not crack on now with electrifying and upgrading cherry this morning. I am deeply concerned that the 999 Oral Answers 11 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 1000 traffic policy in my constituency is pushing more traffic doing everything we can to bring them forward, particularly on to arterial routes and disproportionately risking the so that people who have already taken their theory test health of the poorer and BAME residents there. What do not end up in a position where they have to pay monitoring are the Government doing to ensure that again. We are doing everything we can. We have already well-intentioned pollution-cutting measures do not shift extended the period of time. We have an issue in that we the problem on to the most vulnerable? do not want people to take their practical test with a theory test that is so old that it would create new Grant Shapps: I am very sorry to hear about what the dangers on the roads, but I will look carefully at what hon. Gentleman’s local Labour council has been doing the hon. Gentleman has to say. with the traffic situation there. I will ensure that the Roads Minister meets urgently with Ealing Council to [913300] (East Devon) (Con) [V]: Exeter try to address his concerns, and those of other Ealing airport in my constituency of East Devon will continue Members, over their traffic process. to access bespoke support following last week’s Budget and I thank Ministers for engaging with me over the [913299] Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): [R] Will past year. Of course, we continue to grapple with the Transport Ministers ensure that funding for a new pandemic. Passenger numbers are down 90% at Exeter junction 10A on the A14 at Kettering is provided in airport, and it is clear that long-term solutions will be road investment strategy 3? Otherwise, with 2,700 new needed to ensure the recovery of my regional airport houses expected to have been built in the new Hanwood and many others across the nation. Please will the Park development by that time, traffic will grind to a Secretary of State provide an update on the progress halt in Kettering, Barton Seagrave and Burton Latimer. made so far towards the Government’s aviation recovery plan and say when it will be published? Andrew Stephenson: I thank my hon. Friend for raising that issue. I believe he met my noble Friend the Roads Grant Shapps: On 12 April, my hon. Friend can look Minister just last week to press the case once again. forward to seeing that report published. We will ensure Highways England is undertaking a full technical review that it contains a route not only out of lockdown for of the options for that junction, to obtain certainty over travel but, all being well, and as long the vaccination project costs. That will inform future decisions about programme is going as it is at the moment here and how to proceed. internationally, for international travel. I stress to the House that while we are in control of our vaccination programme—44% of our adult population are now [913317] David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP): We know vaccinated—we do not have control over other countries’ that as a result of the disruption caused by the pandemic, vaccinations. That is why we think we will require a many driving students have had to double-pay fees for a combination of vaccination and testing for international driving test. When pressed on that, the Department said travel to work again. There is a lot to be done. We are that the Road Traffic Act 1988 forbids refunds. Will the working hard, along with my hon. Friend the Aviation Secretary of State therefore support the private Member’s Minister, and we will report back to the House on Bill of my hon. Friend the Member for East Renfrewshire 12 April. (Kirsten Oswald), the Driving Tests (Repayment of Test Fees) Bill? Mr Speaker: I am now suspending the House for five minutes to enable the necessary arrangements to be Grant Shapps: Driving tests are among the many made for the next business. things for which there is a big backlog due to the pandemic. I know that because my children are desperate 10.35 am to take their driving tests—or will be shortly. We are Sitting suspended. 1001 11 MARCH 2021 1002

Speaker’s Statement Business of the House

10.44 am 10.47 am Mr Speaker: I would like to make a statement. All Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab): Will the Leader of members of the parliamentary community will have the House please give us the forthcoming business? been deeply affected by the distressing news relating to Sarah Everard. The House service will be issuing a The Leader of the House of Commons (Mr Jacob clarification for the media about certain matters which Rees-Mogg): The business for the week commencing have been reported. I remind hon. and right hon. Members 15 March will include: that it is extremely important now to exercise caution MONDAY 15 MARCH—Second Reading of the Police, and avoid references to any ongoing investigation. Although Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (day 1). the matter is not at this stage formally covered by the House’s sub judice resolution, we all need to be very TUESDAY 16 MARCH—Conclusion of the Second Reading careful to make sure we do not say anything which of the Police, Crime, Sentencing And Courts Bill (day 2). could prejudice any such investigation. WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH—Opposition day (18th allotted Before we come to the business question, I also want day). There will be a debate on a motion in the name of to make a statement following the point of order that the Scottish National party. Subject to be announced. was raised at the end of yesterday’s Prime Minister’s THURSDAY 18 MARCH—Debate on a motion on the questions by the right hon. Member for Leicester South UK’s commitment to reconciliation, accountability and (Jonathan Ashworth) concerning the accuracy of the human rights in Sri Lanka, followed by a general debate statement made by the Prime Minister. I want to make on World Water Day. The subjects for these debates it clear what my responsibility is with regard to answers, were determined by the Backbench Business Committee. and what the responsibilities are of those giving them. FRIDAY 19 MARCH—The House may sit on Friday It is long established that the Speaker is not, and cannot 19 March for further consideration of private Members’ be, responsible for the content of ministerial answers. Bills. This is subject to the progress of business and to “Erskine May” says: the approval of a sittings motion. “The Speaker’s responsibility for questions is limited to their The provisional business for the week commencing compliance with the rules of the House. Responsibility in other 22 March will include: respects rests with the Member who proposes to ask the question, and responsibility for answers rests with Ministers.” MONDAY 22MARCH—Considerationof Lordsamendments, All Members should correct the record if they make including consideration of Lords message to the Trade an inaccurate statement to the House. They can do so Bill, followed by the remaining stages of the Air Traffic by raising a point of order or in debate, or, in the case of Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill [Lords]. Ministers, they can make a statement or issue a written ministerial statement. The Government’s own ministerial Valerie Vaz: I thank the Leader of the House for code could not be clearer about what is expected of giving us the business. I hope he will join me in wishing Ministers. It says: for speedy boarding of the private Members’ Bills on Friday, with no disruption. “It is of paramount importance that Ministers give accurate and truthful information to Parliament, correcting any inadvertent I know that the Leader of the House takes seriously a error at the earliest opportunity”. lack of responses to hon. Members from Government The Speaker cannot be dragged into arguments about Departments. He will be concerned to hear that my whether a statement is inaccurate or not. This is a hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton () matter of political debate. All Members of this House has not received a response from the Department of are honourable.They must take responsibility for correcting Health and Social Care to a question from 9 October, or the record if a mistake has been made. It is not to two from 19 October. I know she has written to the dishonourable to make a mistake, but to seek to avoid Leader of the House. Can we ensure that she gets a admitting one is a different matter. response? I said when I was elected Speaker that we needed to The Leader of the House is very keen to have us back treat each other and the electorate with respect. What I here, but we seem to be having a lot more Zoom have talked about today is an important part of that, meetings. The Minister for Covid Vaccine Deployment, and I hope all Members will act in that spirit. I have the hon. Member for Stratford-on- (), been very clear, and so I do not wish to take points of is having a Zoom meeting, and the chair of the Trade order on this matter now. If necessary, I have no doubt and Agriculture Commission has invited us to a Zoom that we will return to this issue some time in the future. meeting. It is quite difficult in terms of accountability, because not everybody can join these meetings.In addition, the Official Reporters work very hard to make sure that things are on the record. In keeping with what you have just said, Mr Speaker, we need to ensure that things are on the record, and the relevant people need to come to the House to provide accountability. My hon. Friend the shadow Housing Minister has asked where the Building Safety Bill is. It was published in draft on 20 July, but it has not had its First Reading. It contains important improvements for the safety of residents in high-rise buildings and the building safety regulator. May we have an update? 1003 Business of the House11 MARCH 2021 Business of the House 1004

I know that the Leader of the House will be concerned “going back to the 1970s” about the National Audit Office report on local government at work and home, and in society. We wish everyone a finances during the pandemic, which was published happy Mothering Sunday, and our thoughts go out to yesterday, 10 March. Many face significant gaps in Sarah Everard’s family. funding. We are talking about statutory services such as adult social care and special needs libraries; all those Mr Rees-Mogg: Indeed our thoughts do go out to may have to be cut. The shadow Secretary of State for Sarah Everard’s family. The right hon. Lady is right to Housing, Communities and Local Government has said raise that and the more general point about the burden that councils have lost 60% of their funding in the last that has fallen on women during the pandemic. That is decade. Will the Leader of the House confirm that we a point very fairly and well made, and the men of the will have a debate on the NAO report in Government United Kingdom should be very grateful for that. It has time, particularly as our constituents may have to pay been a very difficult time for many families. for it in the 5% council tax increase? We also need a statement on whether councils are I share the right hon. Lady’s pleasure that Nazanin actually getting, pound for pound, what they have spent Zaghari-Ratcliffe has had her tag removed. My right during the pandemic. We know that the Government hon. Friend the Prime Minister spoke to the President have got the money, because they had £37 billion for of Iran and made absolutely clear that there is no Test and Trace. I know that the Leader of the House, reason to hold, detain or keep Nazanin any longer. She because he is very keen on making sure that public ought to be free to leave. As the right hon. Lady knows, money is spent wisely, will want to debate the Public this is an issue that the Government take very seriously Accounts Committee report on Test and Trace, which and have been working on consistently, and we must was published yesterday. It said that there is and will continue to do so. “no clear evidence to judge” I agree with the right hon. Lady that it would be good the “overall effectiveness” of Test and Trace. It was if the private Members’ Bills that are down for tomorrow supposed to be a game changer. The Scientific Advisory were attended to speedily, though that is out of my Group for Emergencies has said that hands. I do know some of the tricks of the trade when it “test and trace was having only a marginal impact on transmission” comes to filibustering, and I hope that my right hon. and hon. Friends will not feel that they wish to use and the NAO said that there was low compliance, yet those tricks of the trade next week. there is £37 billion of committed expenditure. We now have Serco, one of the companies involved, paying out The right hon. Lady made the point that people dividends to its directors. That is appalling. coming to the House to make statements that are on the Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your statement. I am record is better than endless Zoom calls. That is quite going to ask the Leader of the House whether he will right. I think that Zoom calls do have a place and it is correct the record. Will he write and place a letter in the very helpful to give cross-party briefings, but the Floor Library, having checked the Official Report from January of the House is where the real business takes place. 2020 to see what exactly the Opposition did? I will As regards the draft Building Safety Bill, the Ministry repeat it again. The shadow Secretary of State for of Housing, Communities and Local Government is Health said, “The House will not be divided on this.” certainly working on that. That is a matter of Government Let us see what the Minister said. He said that 1% for policy and the Government intend to bring that forward. nurses’ pay would cost three quarters of a billion pounds, Moving on to the right hon. Lady’s more contentious so—this is a rough calculation—2.1% would cost questions,starting with support for local councils,£35 billion £1.5 billion. We know that the £37 billion is in the is not bad going, is it? It is helpful to councils up and accounts of the Department of Health and Social Care. down the country, and £4.6 billion of that has been The head of NHS England said that 2.1% was allocated un-ringfenced, so there has been very, very considerable when the funding was agreed in 2018. We cannot trust support. That has gone across the country, so £9.5 billion the Government now to keep their word, to protect the has gone to the north, with £6 billion for the midlands, NHS, or with the finances. May we have a statement on £7 billion for London and £4 billion for the south-west. Monday clearing all this up, as the press secretary Councils have received huge financial support from the apparently cannot, or will not, announce it from the taxpayer. Ultimately, there is only one taxpayer and £2.9 million bunker? how taxes are paid is merely a question of how we It is wonderful news that Nazanin has had her tag divide it up. Great support has been given. taken off and that she will hopefully be home soon. As regards Test and Trace, it has done astonishing There is no word on Anousheh. He was a dutiful son things. I wonder whether the right hon. Lady is aware who was visiting his mother. Kylie Moore-Gilbert has that 9.1 million people have been contacted, thanks to said that if her ordeal was made public, she would not Test and Trace, who might otherwise have spread the have had a 10-year sentence. virus. We are carrying out a minimum of 750,000 tests a Thank you, Mr Speaker, for celebrating International day, and with the return to school and the lateral flow Women’s Day and Commonwealth Day on Monday. It tests, that has gone to over 1 million in recent days. is Mothering Sunday on Sunday. I do not know whether People are being contacted. They are being tested and, you are aware of the survey by the Office for National yes, of course this involves the private sector, but the Statistics, which said that, in the pandemic, women private sector is part of how our economy is structured. spent more time on household chores than men, and We cannot say with any sense of reasonableness that the that three quarters of women were emergency educating drug companies—big pharma—that have helped us to compared with just over half of men. A Mumsnet get the vaccine are marvellous, but that the companies survey found that women are worried that women’s involved in the roll-out of Test and Trace are somehow equality is improper. They are not. They have done a fantastic job 1005 Business of the House11 MARCH 2021 Business of the House 1006

[Mr Rees-Mogg] Mr Rees-Mogg: I always prefer the motto of Queen Elizabeth I: semper eadem—always the same—which and it is a considerable success, in spite of what the makes a very good motto. Or, if you like, Mr Speaker, much-respected Public Accounts Committee has to say. honi soit qui mal y pense, which is also a jolly good Even Homer nods, would be my answer to that. motto from the Order of the Garter. Regarding the issue of my right hon. Friend the My right hon. Friend is right to raise the issue of Prime Minister’s comments, the right hon. Lady seemed restoration and renewal. It is crucial that this building to change the goalposts a bit. She started talking about has its wiring improved and the basic services made a vote a year ago, whereas the right hon. and learned effective. On the fire safety issue, a considerable amount Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition referred to of work has been done; the new fire safety system is something two years ago, so there is a lack of clarity being tested currently, and I am getting regular reports about what on earth the Opposition are asking about. If on that. It is a mist system with significant excess the Opposition cannot bring themselves to answer clear capacity, which means that there is the prospect of questions, it is not surprising that they then do not extending it further. I am glad to say that that has made understand the answer. considerable progress since my right hon. Friend was Valerie Vaz: Can you clear it up then? the Leader of the House. Regardless of all these reports, regardless of what Mr Rees-Mogg: I am delighted to clear it up. Her people have suggested, this has to get value for money Majesty’s Opposition voted against the Queen’s Speech for the taxpayer. We have suddenly heard talk of costs at the beginning of this Session. The increases that this of £10 billion to £20 billion coming up. We cannot say Government proposed in NHS funding were a centrepiece that to our constituents. We in this House have the of the Gracious Speech, and their votes against the responsibility to protect taxpayers’ money. The other Queen’s Speech were an attempt to stifle the Government’s place, it must be remembered, does not. Weare responsible, agenda before it had even begun. The Queen’s Speech responsive and answerable to our constituents. Yes, we made clear our intention to establish in law for the first need to redo the wiring. Yes, we need to ensure that this time the NHS’s multi-year funding settlement, a testament place is safe and secure, but we must not turn this to how seriously the Government take funding the House of Commons into Disneyland. NHS. We have delivered a 12.8% increase in nurses’ pay over three years and we are seeing a 34% increase in Owen Thompson (Midlothian) (SNP): The transition nurses’applications.The right hon. and learned Gentleman period continues, and I again make a plea to the Leader the Leader of the Opposition did not ask about a Bill. of the House to do all he can to ensure the speedy He asked about a document, and it seems to me that the return of my hon. Friend the Member for Perth and North Queen’s Speech is a document because it is printed, on Perthshire (Pete Wishart) to his place in this situation. very fine paper normally—it used to be on vellum. I also welcome today’s debate on the celebration of We have to live within our means. Everyone recognises International Women’s Day. However, while we battle that. There is not a single person in this country who the covid pandemic, there is a hidden pandemic of does not recognise the phenomenal contribution made domestic abuse during lockdown. The World Health by the NHS over the last year, by doctors, nurses and all Organisation has reported that one in three women those who work in the NHS, but the Government—the globally—around 736 million—have been subjected to taxpayer—have an enormous deficit, one of the biggest physical or sexual violence in their homes during this in our history, and what is happening is reasonable pandemic period. I ask the Leader of the House to do within the context that nurses have already received a all he can to ensure that the Government take steps 0.7% increase. They will receive a further 1% increase in finally to ratify the Istanbul convention, as had been the next financial year, as will all NHS workers. It is agreed in 2017 under the Preventing and Combating worth bearing in mind that the last time there was a Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence 1% increase in NHS pay, it led to an average 2.7% increase (Ratification of Convention) Bill presented by Eilidh for the average worker in the NHS because of grade Whiteford, a colleague at the time. I hope that that can increments. So actually, the situation is considerably be brought forward with some speed. better than is being painted by the Opposition, and the Last week, I asked for an Opposition Day debate in admiration and appreciation of what people who work the name of the Scottish National party. It has been in the NHS have done is shared across the whole granted, and I commend the Leader of the House for country, but the country has to live within its means. the pace at which that was brought forward. I have no That is a hard truth that the Opposition seek to run doubt that he is eagerly anticipating the topics to be away from. debated. However, I am aware that the time for that Andrea Leadsom (South Northamptonshire) (Con): debate is not protected, so may I ask whether it is My right hon. Friend will see that the restoration and possible for it to be protected, or that every step possible renewal sponsor body’slatest report, out today,recommends is taken to ensure that we have the full time available exactly the same as the report in 2014 and the report in to us? 2016, and draws the same conclusion as the Parliamentary Last month, the Prime Minister claimed that directly Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Bill that I introduced awarded covid contracts were there on the record “for in 2018. My right hon Friend must surely see that the everyone to see”. We now know that this was widely risks of a major asbestos leak, a sewage failure, or, removed from the actuality. Indeed, the Government indeed, a devastating fire, such as we saw at Notre broke the law. Does the Leader of the House agree that Dame, are very high and remain very high, and we have supporting my Ministerial Interests (Emergency Powers) virtually no contingency for this place. My personal Bill would help to rebuild public trust, enable our motto is JFDI, and I would like to offer that to my right procurement systems to be protected, and enable us to hon. Friend to gird his loins to make some progress. build back better as we come out of the pandemic? 1007 Business of the House11 MARCH 2021 Business of the House 1008

Finally, I echo the comments of the shadow Leader Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the House and the Leader of the House about Sarah had a recent livestock worrying roundtable, which sounds Everard and send my thoughts to her family at this very, a deeply uncomfortable thing to have. None the less, it very difficult time. had a livestock worrying roundtable last week with the north Wales police rural crime team and representatives Mr Rees-Mogg: I understand that the hon. Gentleman’s from veterinary organisations, where technical questions colleague the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire on the use of DNA sampling in prosecuting an attack (Pete Wishart) celebrated his birthday this week, so may were discussed. I am aware it is something DEFRA is I, on behalf of the House, wish the hon. Gentleman looking at. I encourage my hon. Friend, in her effort to many happy returns of the day? make sure DEFRA considers it more and more, to seek The hon. Member for Midlothian (Owen Thompson) an Adjournment debate on this matter, but I will pass is absolutely right to raise the issue of domestic abuse. I on her comments to my right hon. Friend the Secretary am glad to say that the Domestic Abuse Bill is making of State. good progress in the House of Lords. I hope it will come back to this House in reasonably good time, so we Ian Mearns (Gateshead) (Lab) [V]: We have been led can have a Bill on the statute book that helps people, to believe that it might be the Government’s intention protects people and secures people. It is, of course, to retain Thursday 25 March for Government business, about more than just passing laws and conventions; it is which will no doubt be a disappointment to, among about changing society’s attitude, and an understanding others, the hon. Member for Southend West (Sir David that domestic abuse is wrong, that it is serious and that Amess). However, as always, should any time on days a domestic assault is just as serious an offence as any other than Thursdays become available, the Backbench other assault outside the domestic context. Business Committee has a number of tasty morsels to add to the parliamentary menu. I hear the hon. Gentleman’s plea for protection for I have been alerted to the fact that we have a situation his Opposition day debate. I would say in response that in our schools where, if a student has a covid positive having managed to get the Opposition day debate—ask lateral flow test in school which proves to be a false and it shall be given; seek and ye shall find; knock and it positive when countermanded by a negative polymerase shall be opened unto ye—but I am not sure I can chain reaction test, the current guidance is that they still promise protected time. However, Mr Speaker has no have to self-isolate and unnecessarily miss even more of doubt heard the request in regard to urgent questions their schooling. Can we have a ministerial statement to and I have heard it in regard to statements. It is sometimes clear this up and get these young people back to school— a very difficult balancing act when Members feel a and their families back to work, because isolating has to statement or urgent question is necessary, but it is, happen for the whole family? generally speaking, the aim to ensure that Opposition days are reasonably protected. Mr Rees-Mogg: I note the hon. Member’s request for Finally,on covid contracts, I just fundamentally disagree 25 March and for time when available. Of course, with the hon. Gentleman. I think we can be really proud 25 March is the feast of the Annunciation, so it may be of the honesty of our governmental systems in this an opportunity to have a debate on the importance of country, regardless of the party in power. I do not think the Annunciation in the general development of our we should throw around charges of dodgy dealing nation. I appreciate that he would like other days to be lightly, because we should have great confidence in the available too. honesty of our public systems. Normally we have a I understand that one in 1,000 lateral flow tests are system that takes three to six months to award contracts. false positives, so it is a rare occurrence. The circumstances We faced an emergency. It would have been ridiculous that the hon. Member outlines are therefore usual, but for red tape to hold up the delivery of contracts. The he makes a good point about the secondary test not contracts were given to Labour-supporting people as being authoritative, and I will take that up on his behalf well as to Conservatives, so it is recognised that people with the Department of Health and Social Care. who have interests in party politics can also provide PPE. We went from producing 1% domestically to (Winchester) (Con) [V]: Now that we 70%, and the vaccine roll-out has been a terrific success, have a road map of sorts for the House of Commons, dependent on the private sector. I think we should take what are my right hon. Friend’s plans for proceedings in great comfort from the efficiency of our private sector the Chamber, including for voting, by which I mean and the honesty of our governmental systems. what does he see as temporary and what does he see as permanent? Put another way, with reference to his Virginia Crosbie (Ynys Môn) (Con): Farmers in my earlier quote, will he be channelling his inner Elizabeth constituency, like others across the UK, suffer great I with respect to this place? emotional and financial loss every year as a result of dog attacks on livestock. National Farmers Union Cymru Mr Rees-Mogg: Yes, but I encourage my hon. Friend and the Farmers’ Union of Wales have been working to come to the Chamber to make his brilliant points, with the north Wales police rural crime team to make because there is no restriction other than the numbers the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 fit for within the Chamber. MPs have a right dating back to purpose in the 21st century. Will the Leader of the 1340 to come to this House, and I encourage them to House support me in finding time for a debate in exercise that right now that schools are back. Government time on this important subject? The return of MPs and staff gradually to the estate was approved by the Commission earlier this week, and Mr Rees-Mogg: My hon. Friend is right to raise this it broadly mirrors the national road map. Many of these issue. Representing a rural constituency, I appreciate matters are for the Commission and Mr Speaker, and how serious a concern it is. I understand that the some of them are for decision by the House. However, 1009 Business of the House11 MARCH 2021 Business of the House 1010

[Mr Rees-Mogg] (Coventry South) (Lab) [V]: Like women across the country, I have not been able to stop thinking the measures were agreed by consensus on the basis that about Sarah Everard; my thoughts are with those who they were temporary. If people want to keep some of knew and loved her. All women know the fear of these measures permanently, they must make the case walking home at night. We hold keys tightly between for them and bring them in at some later date, but we our fingers, we quicken our pace, and we pretend to must restore the status quo ante first, because that was make phone calls. It is almost second nature. the basis on which people agreed to the changes, and But women should be able to walk home without they would feel cheated—and rightly so—if anything fear. Does the Leader of the House agree that we, as else were done. parliamentarians, should make it clear that the emphasis must be on tackling violence against women and girls Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) and the norms that too often sustain it, rather than (Ind) [V]: The Department for International Trade’s victim-blaming narratives that say women should not parliamentary export programme launched this year. be on the streets at night? Businesses in my constituency will be able to participate in a series of briefings over the coming months run by the Department and assisted by Scottish Development Mr Rees-Mogg: I entirely agree with the hon. Lady—she International and Scottish chambers. Will the Leader of is absolutely right. Everybody in this country should the House schedule a debate in Government time on feel free to walk the streets at night safely and securely, how the UK Government can support companies to and women should be as free to do that as men. The best start exporting or expand their exports and adjust to way to ensure that is by tackling crime, making our streets the changing trade environment after Brexit? safer and getting the extra 20,000 police on the street. There is nothing more reassuring than seeing a police Mr Rees-Mogg: The hon. Lady raises a really important officer in uniform when walking the streets, and that is a point. The Government have a wide range of measures comfort that we in this country hope to be able to with which they support businesses that wish to export, continue to take, and to take more of, as more police including the export credit guarantee scheme, the use of join the various forces up and down the country. I never embassies to help people to export and guidance that is thought I would agree so wholeheartedly with a question available. To give that a higher profile so that more from the hon. Lady. people know what support is available is extremely worth while. While I cannot promise a specific debate, (Bury South) (Con): TSB in Radcliffe her point is one that I am sure the Department will want recently closed, and it was the only bank in the town. to follow up on. That has resulted in footfall in the town decreasing Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con): May we drastically, as I discussed with representatives from have a statement from the on the Radcliffe market recently, and TSB’s branch in Prestwich issue raised so eloquently in last night’s Adjournment in my constituency is due to close next month. debate by our hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury As we are talking about levelling up and the regeneration and Atcham (): the Nord Stream of our towns, will my right hon. Friend find time for a 2 pipeline and the strategic threat it constitutes to our debate on the importance of banking and cash machines central and eastern European friends and allies? The so that we can access cash on our high streets? Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member Mr Rees-Mogg: I know that the presence of bank for Aldridge-Brownhills (), agreed with branches on the high street is a concern for many the analysis by our hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury Members and their constituents.Her Majesty’sGovernment and Atcham but stopped short of agreeing with his recognise the importance of cash and access to banks to recommendations for action we can take. This is a very the daily lives of millions of people throughout the serious matter, and it deserves deeper and wider United Kingdom, and particularly those in vulnerable consideration. groups. Mr Rees-Mogg: My right hon. Friend is right to raise Although I can understand the dissatisfaction when the important Adjournment debate that was held yesterday banks close their branches, decisions on opening and by our hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and closing branches are taken by the management team of Atcham (Daniel Kawczynski). It is a useful example of each bank on a commercial basis. It would not be right how important Adjournment debates can be in raising for the Government to intervene in such decisions. issues of national significance. There are currently no Banks must balance customer interests,market competition autonomous UK sanctions being imposed with respect and other commercial factors when they consider their to Nord Stream 2, and it would not be right to speculate strategies. Since May 2017, the major high street banks on future sanction designations from the Dispatch Box have been signed up to the access to banking standard, this morning. None the less, the UK remains concerned which commits them to work with customers and about Nord Stream 2 and its implications for European communities to minimise the impact of branch closures. energy security and the interests of Ukraine. Our focus continues to be on regulation, diversification and Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD) [V]: Nature is declining decarbonisation of sources of supply,and we will continue all over the world at an unprecedented rate. Every year to work closely with our European allies on these issues, we are losing species and habitats, yet nature is important although the implications of the pipeline may be something to our survival, quality of life and mental health. The that my right hon. Friend’s Intelligence and Security next international convention on biodiversity is imminent; Committee is interested in looking into. will the Leader of the House commit to bringing the 1011 Business of the House11 MARCH 2021 Business of the House 1012

Environment Bill back to the House as soon as possible the furlough scheme cannot be used for that purpose, after Easter, so that the UK will have ambitious targets and we have heard worrying reports of pregnant women to restore nature? struggling to come to fair arrangements with their employers. Mr Rees-Mogg: The Environment Bill is in the other I again urge the Government to reconsider and listen place and the Government have every intention of to calls from Maternity Action and others for expectant bringing it back as soon as it can complete its passage. mothers to be eligible for furlough if they are unable to It is subject to a carry-over, so there is no risk of it work safely. Will the Leader of the House find time for falling at Prorogation; it is a highlight of the Government’s a broader debate on how we prevent the pandemic from programme. The commitment to nature is enormous, as deepening pre-existing gender inequalities in the workplace? has been shown in the ocean designations that have been created around British territories to ensure that Mr Rees-Mogg: I am delighted that the hybrid the oceans are safeguarded. We have done more in that Westminster Hall is getting important petitions debated. regard than almost any other country in the world. It is a very effective way of ensuring that the matters of the greatest concern to our constituents are aired. (Stoke-on-Trent South) (Con) [V]: Our It is obviously important that businesses work with high streets have been hit especially hard by the pandemic, their staff to ensure that they are comfortable going with many businesses forced to close. Will my right hon. back to work and that there is consideration for all sorts Friend agree to a debate to consider the support available of factors that may have an effect on people returning. for reopening our high streets, especially across Stoke- Pregnancy, inevitably, is a very important one of those. on-Trent, so that our retailers, hairdressers, beauty salons Employers have a duty—a legal obligation—to ensure and hospitality businesses can start off on a strong that their workplaces are secure. I think these issues are footing when they are allowed to reopen? best left between employers and employees, rather than having potentially heavy-handed Government intervention. Mr Rees-Mogg: The Government have set out their road map cautiously to ease lockdown restrictions,including James Daly (Bury North) (Con) [V]: Will my right the reopening of non-essential retail no earlier than hon. Friend make parliamentary time available this 12 April, subject to the data. The Department for Session for the Second Reading of my private Member’s Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Ministry Bill—the Pets (Microchips) Bill? Tuk’s law and Gizmo’s of Housing, Communities and Local Government have law campaigners have fought for many years to protect reconvened a small working group of retailers and local the welfare of dogs, cats and other pets, together with the authorities to discuss and work together on how best to rights of their owners. I believe that it is a Bill that the reopen the relevant sectors, so the Government’s approach whole House will be eager to support. is co-designed with the business community. So far, the Government have provided local authorities Mr Rees-Mogg: My hon. Friend has written to me on in England with £50 million of taxpayers’ money through this matter, and he will be aware that there is a sitting the reopening high streets safely fund, with grants being Friday tomorrow for the remaining stages of eight available to apply for until the end of June 2021. In private Members’ Bills to take place. As I said when addition to the financial support already provided, the sitting Fridays were suspended, I brought forward the Chancellor has announced that Her Majesty’sGovernment motion reluctantly following representations made to will provide additional one-off restart grants for businesses me from across the House. I committed to ensuring that in England in the non-essential, retail, hospitality, leisure, a motion was brought forward to bring back sitting personal care and accommodation sectors. That new Fridays at the earliest opportunity when it was possible restart grant scheme will provide £6,000 for non-essential and practical, which is why there will be a further businesses. motion for 19 March if tomorrow goes well and if it is a The Government continue to provide eligible retail, productive and useful session. That would allow for hospitality and leisure properties in England with Second Readings. 100% business rates relief until 30 June 2021, followed I congratulate my hon. Friend, because he is using by 66% business rates relief from the period 1 July 2021 parliamentary procedures entirely properly.A ten-minute to 1 March 2022. A great deal is happening, but my rule Bill does not normally become legislation in the hon. Friend is right to raise the issue because we want to Session in which it is introduced, but it begins a campaign see our high streets come back booming when we that raises the heat on the Government to do things. I reopen. note that he is turning up the gas mark with his question to me today. Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) (Lab) [V]: I thank the Leader of the House and all Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): I have always thought House staff for the restarted hybrid petitions debates; that the best way to deal with some of the historical just this week, petitions signed by more than problems that the Rhondda faces is getting the Senedd 370,000 petitioners have been debated. to work hand in hand with Parliament as a team. That I want to raise an issue pertinent to this week, which is especially true because we have some major infrastructure marks International Women’s Day. As a precaution, all projects that really need financial support. We have pregnant women are automatically classed as clinically already talked about the tips that need sorting out, and vulnerable to covid-19. The Petitions Committee there is the Rhondda Fach relief road, the Rhondda recommended back in September that furlough be extended tunnel and a whole series of drains that have major to expectant mothers who cannot socially distance at problems because of the honeycombing underneath work or work from home. Government funding through that results from the historical legacy of the mines. 1013 Business of the House11 MARCH 2021 Business of the House 1014

[Chris Bryant] Mr Rees-Mogg: The hon. Lady makes a really important point, which I would perhaps answer in a slightly different Will the Leader of the House please make sure that way. What this House does that is of the greatest there is a proper discussion of the levelling up fund so importance is not to have debates on particular issues that this really is a case of Westminster and the Senedd but to legislate. That is why I am particularly pleased working hand in hand? Will he make sure there is an that, unusually for a Second Reading debate, we have opportunity for valleys MPs to sit down and discuss two days on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts this properly with the Chancellor of the Exchequer? Bill, because when we legislate we change the law—we Then perhaps we can have a debate in the House. actually do things. When we have debates, we may develop views but we do not actually do things. Likewise, Mr Rees-Mogg: The hon. Gentleman is right to raise the Domestic Abuse Bill, which is in the House of this issue. It is important that all parts of the United Lords, does things. We should really focus the mind of Kingdom are able to benefit from efforts to level up. this House on legislating so that we can improve things One of the advantages of the United Kingdom Internal in the way the hon. Lady is calling for. Market Act 2020 is that it has made it possible for Her Majesty’s Government to fund schemes across the Esther McVey (Tatton) (Con) [V]: The anniversary of United Kingdom rather than simply in England. He is the first lockdown—the day that changed everything in right to call for further discussions to see how this can this country—is rapidly approaching: it will be with us be done. on 23 March. I am working with Variety, the children’s There are applications going in for the levelling-up charity, among others, to ensure that that date is fund now, and there are a further 49 deals to be awarded. commemorated so that we remember those who died It is about working together as one United Kingdom. I and those who have lost so much, thank those who have know that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State done so much, and also look forward to a brighter for Wales is very keen to settle these issues, too, so I future as lockdown lifts. Can the Leader of the House think that there may be considerable cross-party agreement assure me that the House, too, will commemorate that among Welsh MPs in this House on the issues that the date and have a minute’s silence? In doing so, can I hon. Gentleman raises. thank you, Mr Speaker, for your willingness to ensure that the House commemorates 23 March—the National James Grundy (Leigh) (Con) [V]: Rugby league is of Day of Reflection? great cultural importance to communities like Leigh; I am sure that my right hon. Friend will welcome the Mr Rees-Mogg: My right hon. Friend raises a very return of Leigh Centurions to the rugby super league. important point. It is going to be important for us to Will he join me in supporting Leigh Centurions fans to remember the people who have died during this national create a category 1 rugby league academy? Furthermore, pandemic. Obviously the proposal for a minute’s silence may I ask for a debate on the benefits such academies is a matter for you, Mr Speaker, but there would be can provide to young people in constituencies like Leigh absolutely no objection—indeed, there would be support— across the north? from Her Majesty’s Government. It may be, Mr Speaker, that your Chaplain would like to hold a service on that Mr Speaker: I hope this is a yes. day to have a commemoration. I think that it will be a prayerful day for the nation. Mr Rees-Mogg: I congratulate Leigh Centurions on their fantastic achievement. I do not really know how (Hampstead and Kilburn) (Lab) [V]: As fantastic their achievement is, but it sounds extremely Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s local MP, I have raised the good, and I hope that my hon. Friend will explain it to issue of the £400 million that the UK owes Iran with me in more detail at some point. three Prime Ministers and four Foreign Secretaries so Hosting the rugby league world cup later this year far. In a call to the Prime Minister yesterday, Iranian will provide a fantastic opportunity to recover, grow, President Rouhani all but confirmed that resolving this and bring people together. It is the start of our efforts to debt was the key to diplomatic progress, and could help unite and level up outcomes for people in communities Nazanin’s case. Will the Leader of the House finally across the UK as we seek to build back better. If I have admit that there is a clear link between the two, or at not confessed it already, I think my knowledge of cricket least allow a debate in Government time to test their is a little bit greater than my knowledge of rugby league, arguments? but I am looking forward to being educated by my hon. Friend—and, by the looks of it, by Mr Speaker as well. Mr Rees-Mogg: No. The hon. Lady has quite rightly campaigned for the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Alex Davies-Jones (Pontypridd) (Lab) [V]: I am sure as has the shadow Leader of the House. However, it that the Leader of the House will agree that it has been would be quite wrong to link payments of any money to an extremely difficult week for the family and friends of the release of somebody who is improperly detained. the 16-year-old who was killed in my neighbouring Once Her Majesty’s Government go down that route, constituency of Rhondda, as well as for the loved ones every badly run country in the world will hold us to of Sarah Everard, whose case I know we are all closely ransom via our citizens; we must not do that. We must following. No one should live in fear of male violence, be absolutely clear that the UK Government do not pay which is a topic we should be regularly speaking up on, for the release of hostages, whether they are held by and not just in an annual debate to commemorate states or by individuals. To link these two issues would International Women’s Day. Will he therefore commit be a dangerous change of very, very long-standing to a debate on male violence in Government time? Government policy. 1015 Business of the House11 MARCH 2021 Business of the House 1016

Sara Britcliffe (Hyndburn) (Con): I refer Members to believe in the vaccines, and we must lift restrictions in my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. line with the protection that the scientists are telling us It saddens me to say that Labour-run Hyndburn that the vaccine brings. I do not believe we should keep Borough Council announced that it will be closing the the country in lockdown any longer than necessary. We baths at Mercer Hall in Great Harwood. We saw the have to get people out, because of the substantial harms same happen with Labour-run Rossendale Borough that lockdown brings. Will my right hon. Friend talk to Council and Haslingden baths. All Labour councillors Government Ministers and ask them to stop changing also voted against a fully costed amendment by the the test for lifting restrictions every time we get past Conservative group to put capital investment into saving what we think might be the finishing line? I would also the baths and providing disabled access. There is a now like to say to the Leader of the House that I am looking a petition urging the council to listen to the wants of the forward to joining him in going to Annabel’s or anywhere residents of Great Harwood, but will the Leader of the he chooses. House also allow a debate in Government time as to how best to protect valuable local leisure facilities? Mr Rees-Mogg: That’s a date, then, although I am certainly not a member; perhaps my hon. Friend is. Mr Rees-Mogg: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for The vaccination programme has been a huge success raising this important point. It is regrettable that a and is a key part of the road map to get back to normal. Labour council—a socialist council—would close a local The Government’s aim is to offer a vaccination to facility that is loved so much by the residents of Great everyone in the first nine priority groups, including Harwood. It is a shame to see the people of Hyndburn everybody over the age of 50, by 15 April, and to all let down in this way. adults by the end of July. The road map that has been set out has been set out clearly so that we can stick to it The Localism Act 2011 introduced the community and the goalposts do not get changed. I think she and right to buy, which is a way in which communities have Government policy are at one on this. come together to protect local assets by making the case to their local authority to list the facility as an asset of Mr Speaker: I want to see the first dance! community value; local people can be assured that the amenity will not be lost without them being notified Stuart C. McDonald (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and and being given an opportunity to bring the building Kirkintilloch East) (SNP) [V]: Inspectors this week into community ownership. To date, the Government issued an absolutely scathing report about conditions at are aware that over 4,000 assets of community value, Napier and Penally barracks, into which the Home including leisure centre facilities, have been successfully Secretary has crammed hundreds of asylum seekers in nominated by community groups in England. I encourage the middle of a pandemic, and hundreds have become my hon. Friend to have an Adjournment debate to keep ill with coronavirus. It is challenging to say the least to raising the subject, so that support may be built up for reconcile that report with what Ministers have previously using the community right to buy. told this House. When will the Home Secretary be making a statement in response, and will she be correcting Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) (LD) [V]: The anything that she has previously told us about the Government have announced a consultation to reform conditions at Napier and Penally barracks? aviation tax, including air passenger duty, and a commitment to decarbonise. These commitments come Mr Rees-Mogg: I, like the hon. Gentleman, have read at a time when our travel and aviation industries are the interim report, and certainly it raises some matters facing the biggest crisis in their history, and at the time of considerable concern. There will be a full report of the Union connectivity review. Will the Leader of the coming later, and I think it is best to discuss these House tell us whether we will have the opportunity to matters in detail when we have the full facts. debate how our domestic airports and air travel, as part of UK connectivity, can be pursued with a green agenda? Shaun Bailey (West Bromwich West) (Con) [V]: The £67 million awarded to my borough of Sandwell from the towns fund is a great success for the Government’s Mr Rees-Mogg: The Government have made it very levelling-up agenda. However, my communities in clear with the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan how green Wednesbury and Tipton were the only parts of the we are going to be, while ensuring that there is good borough of Sandwell to receive nothing from the towns economic growth; that is absolutely at the heart of what fund. Can my right hon. Friend reassure my communities the Government are doing. The proposals for aviation in Wednesbury and Tipton, through a debate in tax are to encourage connectivity across the United Government time, on how the measures announced by Kingdom. I am sure that these matters will be debated our right hon. Friend the Chancellor last week in the over the coming weeks and months in the House of Budget can ensure that towns like Wednesbury and Commons, because they are important to the development Tipton get equal access to funding opportunities, just as of the country’s economy. much as towns like West Bromwich?

Mrs Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con) [V]: I Mr Rees-Mogg: The £4.8 billion levelling-up fund am a little concerned that Ministers are now casting will spend taxpayers’ money on local infrastructure that doubt on the reliability and efficacy of the vaccine, but improves everyday life across the United Kingdom, we have been told by scientists that the first dose brings including regenerating town centres and high streets, substantial protection, and the Joint Committee on upgrading local transport and spending money on cultural Vaccination and Immunisation has said that it offers and heritage assets. The fund will operate UK-wide, between 70% and 90% efficacy. We must follow the extending the benefits of funding for priority local science and trust the data—or so we are told. We must infrastructure across all regions and nations.The prospectus 1017 Business of the House11 MARCH 2021 Business of the House 1018

[Mr Rees-Mogg] I am not the greatest advocate of hybrid proceedings— they are better than nothing, but they are not as good as published at the Budget provides guidance for local real physical participation in debate—but I would rather areas on how to submit bids for the first round of have hybrid proceedings for a little bit when we could funding for projects starting in 2021-22. That includes not use this Chamber than spend a billion and a half guidance on the process for submitting bids, the types pounds.Weas Members of Parliament have a responsibility of projects eligible for funding and how bids will be to our constituents when their money is being spent to assessed. To reassure my hon. Friend, there are still accept that, while great reforms or restorations are 49 deals to be awarded, and the Ministry for Housing, taking place, we may have to put up with a little bit of Communities and Local Government will be making discomfort. There may be, occasionally, a little bit of further announcements in due course, which will be the banging and noise being made, and we cannot be too opportunity for other communities in his constituency fussy about that if we are to keep this as a working to apply. operational building. But the key work needs to be done, and it needs to be done in a timely fashion, with Liz Twist (Blaydon) (Lab) [V]: Two weeks ago, the value for money at its heart. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published its provisional assessment of the drug Kuvan, for the Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab) [V]: Please treatment of phenylketonuria, or PKU. While it is good could we have an opportunity to raise with the Steel to see NICE recommend it be made available for children Minister—the Under-Secretary of State for Business, up to 18, it is hugely disappointing that it has not Energy and Industrial Strategy, the hon. Member for recommended making it available for adults. People Stratford-on-Avon (Nadhim Zahawi)—the news that with PKU have already waited 12 years for access to one of Liberty Steel’s main financial backers has gone this treatment. Can we have a debate in Government into administration and the company is looking to time on access to medicines for rare diseases, such as refinance? We have an important plant in Newport at Kuvan for PKU? Uskmouth, with a dedicated workforce, and we need to hear what contact the Government have had with the Mr Rees-Mogg: I have a great deal of sympathy with company and that Ministers will do whatever they can the point that the hon. Lady is making. When we to protect our steel jobs. represent constituents who need drugs for rare diseases, it is important that we get them. I think the principle Mr Rees-Mogg: I thought that the hon. Lady would that NICE is independent in making these decisions is raise this important point, because I am obviously also a sensible one, but it is crucial that its decisions are aware of the reporting this week on Liberty Steel, which made in a timely way and appear to be reasonable to the is worrying for the company’s employees. I can reassure country at large. NICE is a matter that will come up for her that the Department for Business,Energy and Industrial debate, but it may be that the hon. Lady will want an Strategy is following the developments closely.It remains Adjournment debate on this specific issue. I had one on a strong advocate for the steel industry and continues to Batten disease before joining the Government, and the work closely with the steel industry to support the Government proved very sympathetic to the quest for sector’s transition to a competitive, sustainable and my constituent. low-carbon future. It has made some funding available for this, with £500 million of taxpayers’ money in relief Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): Some people for the steel sector since 2013 to make electricity costs overstate their case by saying that the state of this more competitive. It is obviously important, however, building is ruinous, but one thing that is certain is that that the Government and the company are working as the public finances are in ruins. So will the Leader of one to ensure a good prospect for the steel industry in the House take this opportunity to make it clear that, these difficult times, with regard to the background of when it comes to the restoration and renewal of Parliament, Liberty Steel. the absolute first priority of Government is value for money? In this context, will he note that the House has Mr John Baron (Basildon and Billericay) (Con) [V]: never voted to demolish the grade I listed Richmond We all understand that the pandemic has led to a House? It is a listed building, and there is the issue of substantial increase in correspondence between Members carbon and all the other issues. Can the Leader of the and Government Departments, and I do thank the House have an open mind about it and learn from our Leader of the House for his efforts to ensure that this experience of working virtually by perhaps not having a correspondence is responded to in a timely fashion. September sitting and, above all, getting on with the However, may I gently suggest to the Government that work now? In this report, where it says, “What is the extra resources need to be committed to the Department cost?”, the whole thing is blanked out. What is going on of Health and Social Care’s correspondence teams in here? Let us have value for money. That is what the particular? On occasions, I have been waiting for up to taxpayer wants. six months to receive a substantive response to my inquiries on behalf of constituents, despite chasing Mr Rees-Mogg: I agree with my right hon. Friend through the normal channels, and I know I am not that taxpayers’money has to be spent wisely.The proposal alone. Such a situation does not reflect well on either for Richmond House and the Queen Elizabeth II Centre the Government or Parliament. was that there would be about £1.5 billion of expenditure on temporary Chambers. This cannot have been a sensible Mr Rees-Mogg: I have taken up far too many Members’ thing to do even in less straitened ; in the issues with Departments relating to correspondence. I current circumstances, it seems to me to be for the birds. said last year that I had considerable sympathy with the We have to focus on value for money, and I agree with Department for Health and Social Care because of its my right hon. Friend. excess workload. I must confess that that sympathy is 1019 Business of the House 11 MARCH 2021 1020 no longer as great as it once was. My hon. Friend is Points of Order right that more resources need to be dedicated to the matter. Wehave a right and a duty to hold the Government 11.47 am to account, and the Government have a duty to respond to Members. Speaking on behalf of the Government, I Dr (North Somerset) (Con): On a point of also think that scrutiny leads to better government, so it order, Mr Speaker. As you know, the Prime Minister is in our interest as the Government as much as in that confirmed to me last week during Prime Minister’s of Back-Bench MPs that scrutiny takes place, and questions that we have a unified civil service in the therefore responses should be timely. United Kingdom and that there are no separate civil services in the devolved Administrations. Logically, that Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central) (SNP) [V]: New means that Ministers are answerable to this House of research from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service Commons for issues relating to the conduct of the has found that two thirds of people believe that the whole civil service. Will you please confirm that that is Tory two-child limit for universal credit and child tax the case, and that, if any Member of this House credit should be scrapped, not least because there is consequently wants to table a question or ask for a evidence that the policy is pushing women to terminate report into the conduct of civil servants currently serving a pregnancy rather than bring a third child into the in any devolved Administration, which Ministers would world. Can we have a debate in Government time on the answer such questions? Will you also confirm that any urgent need to scrap the pernicious two-child limit and Committee of this House that seeks information from the rape clause that stands part of the policy? any civil servants in any part of the United Kingdom will be able to do so if that is needed for any parliamentary Mr Rees-Mogg: As the father of six children, I have inquiry? rather exceeded the two-child limit. Children are a great joy to families and the country as a whole, but there are Mr Speaker: I am grateful to the right hon. Member limited public resources, and that is part of the difficult for giving me notice of his point of order. The Table choice that Governments need to make. Parents have a Office will be able to advise him about the tabling of responsibility to their own children. It is fundamentally questions. The Government decide which Department a parental responsibility, but anything that leads to a responds. The Table Office will be able to advise about termination is a deep sadness. the most appropriate Department to direct the questions towards in the first instance. The normal rules about Sir David Amess (Southend West) (Con) [V]: Will my questions, including on ministerial responsibility, would right hon. Friend find time for a debate on the role of of course apply. the monarchy? During such a debate, I very much hope Select Committees may seek evidence from a wide that the argument could be made that it is never wise for range of sources and certain options are open to them if a family dispute to be aired in public, with everyone that evidence is not provided. getting damaged and hurt by the fallout. Perhaps during such a debate, we can celebrate the fact that we are so Mr (Sutton Coldfield) (Con): On a blessed to have had our monarch for 70 years, compared point of order, Mr Speaker. Before the Clerk reads the with the alternative of having a president as our Head Orders of the Day for the Second Reading of the supply of State, which we very nearly had under Tony Blair. Bill, may I put on record that I and a number of my right hon. and hon. Friends had hoped to table an amendment yesterday to the motion on the vote on Mr Rees-Mogg: Were we to have a debate to praise account? The amendment would have referred to the our sovereign lady, it would take up all the legislative sums being appropriated to overseas aid in that motion time available in the House, so all I will say is: and sought to establish that the Government should “God save our gracious Queen! not be able to reduce planned expenditure below the Long live our noble Queen! sum set out in the International Development (Official God save the Queen! Development Assistance Target) Act 2015.I am advised—I Send her victorious, am sure correctly—that that was not possible, as no Happy and glorious, amendments could be moved at the roll-up, and the Bill Long to reign over us, is about to go through on the nod. That means that Members have no way of deciding whether or not the God save the Queen. House assents to the massive cuts planned in our support O Lord our God arise, for the world’s most vulnerable people. Whatever the Scatter her enemies, merits of that case, Mr Speaker, do you agree that if we And make them fall: are to take back control, one place to start would be to Confound their politics, get some grip on public expenditure plans, which are at Frustrate their knavish tricks, the heart of what we do in this place, and yet seem to be On Thee our hopes we fix: totally in the hands of Ministers? God save us all!” Mr Speaker: I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for giving me notice of his point of order. I confirm that Sir Edward Leigh: Follow that. he was given the correct advice, and that under Standing Order No. 55 no amendments can be proposed to the Mr Speaker: We are about to. roll-up motions. The matter is therefore not a point of order for the Chair, but the right hon. Gentleman has put his comments on the record, and the House has heard them. As he knows, this has been the longstanding 1021 Points of Order 11 MARCH 2021 1022

[Mr Speaker] Business without Debate way that the House has dealt with issues, and I gently SUPPLY AND APPROPRIATION say to him that he was the Chief Whip and he did not (ANTICIPATION AND ADJUSTMENTS) complain too much when he was in charge at the time. (NO. 2) BILL There are ways that we can change things, but at the moment we will carry on with the way we are. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 56), That the Bill be now read a Second time. Sir Edward Leigh: Further to that point of order, Mr Question agreed to. Speaker. When I was on the Procedure Committee, I Bill accordingly read a Second time. was instrumental in getting that committee to ensure Question put forthwith, That the Bill be now read the that we had proper debates on estimates days. On a Third time. previous occasion, when I tried to speak about the Question agreed to. estimates on estimates days, I was ruled out of order by your predecessor. We have made progress, but I would Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed. have thought that the whole debate to which my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr CONTINGENCIES FUND (NO. 2) BILL: Mitchell) alluded, shows that we can continue to make BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE progress on this and improve parliamentary scrutiny on Ordered, estimates. In particular, we should follow up the That the following provisions shall apply to the proceedings on recommendations of the Procedure Committee in the the Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill: previous Parliament that we should have a proper Budget committee. I appreciate that you are constrained by Timetable present rules, Mr Speaker, but I hope you will forgive (1) (a) Proceedings on Second Reading and in Committee of me if I make that point. the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall be taken at today’s sitting in accordance Mr Speaker: As you well know, Sir Edward, that is with this Order. not a point for me, but I am sure the Leader of the (b) Proceedings on Second Reading shall be brought to a House has managed to hear what is being said. I think conclusion (so far as not previously concluded) two hours after we will leave it at that. I will suspend the House for three the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order. minutes to allow preparations to be made for the next (c) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings item of business. on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall be brought to a conclusion (so far as not previously concluded) three 11.51 am hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order. Sitting suspended. Timing of proceedings and Questions to be put (2) As soon as the proceedings on the Motion for this Order have been concluded, the Order for the Second Reading of the Bill shall be read. (3) When the Bill has been read a second time: (a) it shall, despite Standing Order No. 63 (Committal of bills not subject to a programme order), stand committed to a Committee of the whole House without any Question being put; (b) proceedings on the Bill shall stand postponed while the Question is put, in accordance with Standing Order No. 52(1) (Money resolutions and ways and means resolutions in connection with bills), on any financial resolution relating to the Bill; (c) on the conclusion of proceedings on any financial resolution relating to the Bill, proceedings on the Bill shall be resumed and the Speaker shall leave the Chair whether or not notice of an Instruction has been given. (4) (a) On the conclusion of proceedings in Committee of the whole House, the Chair shall report the Bill to the House without putting any Question. (b) If the Bill is reported with amendments, the House shall proceed to consider the Bill as amended without any Question being put. (5) For the purpose of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph (1), the Chair or Speaker shall forthwith put the following Questions in the same order as they would fall to be put if this Order did not apply: (a) any Question already proposed from the Chair; (b) any Question necessary to bring to a decision a Question so proposed; (c) the Question on any amendment, new Clause or new Schedule selected by the Chair or Speaker for separate decision; (d) the Question on any amendment moved or Motion made by a Minister of the Crown; 1023 Business without Debate 11 MARCH 2021 1024

(e) any other Question necessary for the disposal of the business Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill to be concluded; and shall not put any other questions, other than the question on any motion described in paragraph (12)(a) of this Order. Second Reading (6) On a Motion made for a new Clause or a new Schedule, the Chair or Speaker shall put only the Question that the Clause or Schedule be added to the Bill. 11.58 am (7) If two or more Questions would fall to be put under The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (): paragraph (5)(d) on successive amendments moved or Motions I beg to move, made by a Minister of the Crown, the Chair or Speaker shall instead put a single Question in relation to those amendments or That the Bill be now read a Second time. Motions. This is a technical measure that concerns cash (8) If two or more Questions would fall to be put under management. Its purpose is to allow the Government to paragraph (5)(e) in relation to successive provisions of the Bill, use cash advances to act swiftly and decisively to safeguard the Chair shall instead put a single Question in relation to those the people of this country, both from the impact of the provisions, except that the Question shall be put separately on any Clause of or Schedule to the Bill which a Minister of the Crown covid-19 pandemic and from other unexpected events. has signified an intention to leave out. But I would emphasise that money from the Contingencies Fund constitutes a cash advance, which will have to be repaid once a Supply estimate is voted through the Other proceedings House; it is not additional spending. It is important to (9) Provision may be made for the taking and bringing to a be clear that the House will still be able to scrutinise and conclusion of any other proceedings on the Bill. debate where resources have been allocated in the usual way when the Government publish the Supply estimates. Miscellaneous As hon. Members will be very much aware, Parliament (10) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply provides the Government with the authority to expend to proceedings on the Bill. resources in the form of capital and cash. However, the (11) Standing Order No. 82 (Business Committee) shall not Government must also sometimes provide a swift financial apply in relation to any proceedings to which this Order applies. response to national emergencies and other pressing (12) (a) No Motion shall be made, except by a Minister of the events. That is why the Contingencies Fund exists. In Crown, to alter the order in which any proceedings on the Bill are the Contingencies Fund Act 1974, Parliament put a taken or to recommit the Bill or to vary or supplement the limit on the amount that could be issued from the fund provisions of this Order. at 2% of the previous year’s cash spend. That cap has (b) No notice shall be required of such a Motion. normally proved to be sufficient to meet unexpected (c) Such a motion may be considered forthwith without any and sudden financial requirements, but we are not Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that living in normal times at present, and uncertainty as to purpose shall be suspended accordingly. the impact of covid-19 has required a degree of flexibility (d) The Question on any such Motion shall be put forthwith; in setting the cap. and any proceedings suspended under sub-paragraph (c) shall As colleagues across the House will recall, a year ago, thereupon be resumed. as the full implications of the pandemic started to (e) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply emerge, the House agreed to change the limit on the to proceedings on such a Motion. Contingencies Fund from 2% to 50% of the previous (13) (a) No dilatory Motion shall be made in relation to year’s cash spend for the financial year 2020-21. That proceedings to which this Order applies except by a Minister of the Crown. had the effect of raising the amount in the fund from a possible £11 billion to £266 billion. This cash advance (b) The Question on any such Motion shall be put forthwith. has been invaluable to Departments in dealing with the (14) No debate shall be held in accordance with Standing unprecedented events that have been set in motion by Order No. 24 (Emergency debates) at today’s sitting after this the pandemic. In fact, over the past 12 months, requests Order has been agreed. from the Contingencies Fund have totalled over £210 billion. (15) Proceedings to which this Order applies shall not be It has provided the cash for Government interventions interrupted under any Standing Order relating to the sittings of the House. to support businesses, to support frontline workers and to pay for the furlough and other schemes. In addition, (16) No private business may be considered at today’s sitting after this Order has been agreed.—(Jesse Norman.) it has provided the financial firepower to help the NHS through the crisis, and it has funded numerous other measures that have helped to safeguard lives and livelihoods throughout this extraordinarily difficult period. As is the case in every previous year, the fund has also paid out on business-as-usual requests. This Bill again seeks to adjust the limit on the amount that can sit in the Contingencies Fund for the financial year ending 30 March 2022 to 12% of last year’s cash spend. I will set out the reasoning behind that decision. With the new cap, the amount in the fund will total £105 billion. By contrast, with the 2% cap—the normal percentage limit—the fund would have contained £17.5 billion. That is clearly a substantial sum, and it would be more than ample to deal with spending requirements in the normal run of things. 1025 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill11 MARCH 2021 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 1026

[Jesse Norman] The starkest example of failure by this Government must surely be their flagship Test and Trace scheme, a While the Government will provide Departments with programme outsourced at great expense and the subject suitable resources for the 2021-22 year, it is prudent to of a report published yesterday by the Public Accounts be prepared in cash terms. While the resounding success Committee, which was truly damning. The Government of the vaccination programme offers us light at the end should be embarrassed and deeply apologetic over Test of the tunnel, it is equally true that we must remain and Trace, which Lord Macpherson, who led the Treasury vigilant. The crisis is not over,and therefore the Government civil service from 2005 to 2016, described as believe it is only right to retain flexibility on the amount “the most wasteful and inept public spending programme of all in the Contingencies Fund. However,given the experience time.” accrued by each Department over the last year in dealing What makes it even worse is that everyone in the with the virus, we can scale back the limit from 50% of country desperately wanted Test and Trace to work. the previous year’s cash spend to 12%. Once again, let Everyone was willing the programme and its team to me assure Members that the House will still be able to succeed. We all wanted and needed that money to be scrutinise and debate where resources have been spent on a programme that would achieve its stated allocated in the usual way when we publish the supply goal, and we have all witnessed the profound consequences estimates. of incompetence on such a scale. I lost count of the This is a small and technical but important Bill that number of times that my right hon. and learned Friend will allow the Government to deal with unexpected the Member for Holborn and St Pancras (), events over the coming year. It provides Departments my right hon. Friend the Member for Leicester South with a mechanism to respond swiftly and decisively to (Jonathan Ashworth) and my hon. Friends the Members emergencies and sudden, unpredictable needs so that for Oxford East () and for Houghton they can safeguard our public services and support the and Sunderland South (Bridget Phillipson) called for wellbeing of people across the country. It does not the Government simply to focus on getting Test and impinge on Parliament’s right to scrutinise and question, Trace working, yet Ministers did not. but it does underline this Government’s commitment to The opening summary of the Public Accounts do whatever it takes to protect lives and livelihoods in Committee’sreport contains the following telling sentences: order to overcome this virus, and I commend it to the “The Department of Health & Social Care justified the scale House. of investment, in part, on the basis that an effective test and trace system would help avoid a second national lockdown; but since its 12.3 pm creation we have had two more lockdowns. There is still no…evidence to judge” James Murray (Ealing North) (Lab/Co-op) [V]: I Test and Trace’s “overall effectiveness”. thank the Financial Secretary for setting out the case for the Bill so clearly. The Bill seeks to amend the Only people who have no real understanding of the Contingencies Fund Act 1974, which is one of the value of money or the importance of public investment monuments of a previous Labour Government. The in changing lives for the better could be so reckless 1974 Act embodies principles that are central to the about how it is spent. We believe that the Government accountability of Government, so its amendment should really need to learn from the last year, not only by not be taken lightly. accepting that the outbreak exposed the weakness of our rights at work and the impact of a decade of cuts to This time last year, the Opposition fully accepted that our public services, or by recognising that they repeatedly the conditions of the pandemic made it necessary,expedient did too little, too late to protect the public’s health and and right for there to be provision for the Government our economy, but by making serious structural reforms to act swiftly. We accepted that, in the rush of the early to how they initiate and examine spending. response to the outbreak, there could be times when it would not be possible to follow normal procurement The shadow Chancellor, my hon. Friend the Member processes. We accepted that, at certain points, the spot for Oxford East, has set out how the next Labour price paid for particular goods facing global shortages Government would do things differently, by taking a might be higher than it would otherwise have been, and robust and determined approach to ensuring that public we accepted that, on occasion, at a time when the money improves the lives of those we serve. She has Government were taking on entirely new responsibilities, explained how we would invite the Comptroller and some mistakes would be made. But we do not accept, Auditor General to submit an annual report to Parliament, and the British people will not accept, that what may bringing together the National Audit Office’s findings have been excused in the early days of the outbreak has throughout the year into a single assessment of the turned into a succession of failures and scandals, which effectiveness of public spending in those areas that it it seems Ministers can no longer even see as wrong. has examined. As my hon. Friend has said, we must hard-wire value for money into the budgetary process. Last year, the Opposition agreed to a rise in the provision of the Contingencies Fund to some 50% of But the value for money aspect is not the only part of annual expenditure. While we accept that a higher than this extraordinary year for public spending that commands usual level for the Contingencies Fund is again in order our attention. It would be possible to achieve value for and we will not be opposing the Bill, Ministers would money and yet still fall far short of other standards we do well to remember that the fund was created as a expect. That is why the new clause that the Opposition fall-back and that its extension is an emergency response, will move in Committee seeks to improve the transparency not an opportunity for unaccountability. Ministers seem of Government spending. to have forgotten that public money needs to be spent We know only too well, as my hon. Friend the Member effectively, in a way that achieves value for money and for Leeds West (Rachel Reeves) has set out, that the way commands public confidence. in which procurement is conducted also matters very 1027 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill11 MARCH 2021 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 1028 much. Put simply, the time to end emergency procurement This Bill is about the Treasury’s capacity to make is overdue. Covid, as she rightly observed, is no longer a repayable advances to other Departments, so that they surprise. Supply chains have been established and, while can react to events if needed. Parliament has long there are of course still significant challenges and responding recognised that principle. The legislation governing it is quickly remains essential, there is no longer a case for 45 years old, but in fact the principle was established by the continued widespread use of emergency measures Treasury minute in 1862, when the Contingencies Fund of procurement for items that the Government now was created. For this financial year—and the next, if we know how and where to find. pass this Bill—the threshold allowed in the legislation Contract publication should now follow the normal has been increased, and for obvious reasons. We are rules, and when contracts fail to deliver, the Government dealing with the greatest health crisis in 100 years. should get money back. That is public money. “Deliver or you won’t get paid” is what contractors expect from Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): I spoke to the hon. every other organisation and company they supply. The Gentleman beforehand. Although I understand that Government must not be the softest touch in the market. this is specifically about cash flow, the whole House We must drive a culture of transparency throughout recognises that there is a real crisis in cancer treatment public spending. The new clause that we will move when it comes to diagnosis and surgical operations, and today seeks to improve the transparency of the many people have died waiting for those to happen. Contingencies Fund, because that is what the Bill before Does he agree that covid-19 has increased the demand us concerns, but it is time for every part of public for cancer care, and therefore all requests that come spending to achieve better value for money and for the from the NHS and the Department of Health and Government to use their spending power to improve Social Care must be treated sympathetically and urgently? standards in the way the public would expect. The Opposition believe that achieving these changes need Andrew Jones: The hon. Gentleman makes a very not be difficult or controversial. good point. There is no doubt at all that we have seen Werecognise the power of public investment to transform some health treatments delayed as a result of the crisis, people’s lives for the better. That is fundamentally why and that is a real tragedy. He is right that cancer is one we, like the British public, cannot bear to see Ministers of those where we should be most concerned, and the casually and carelessly waste public money on deals requests that come in should be treated with urgency that do not deliver, on contracts that do not work and and compassion as we seek to catch up on the treatments on outsourcing that should never have taken place. that the people we represent urgently need. That was a Every pound that this Government misspend makes it wise point. that bit harder for nurses to accept the Chancellor’s I go back to the core purpose of the Bill and why it pleading that a 1% pay rise is all he can afford. Every has been introduced. The Government needed to respond penny that this Government waste could have gone quickly and at scale, and they have done so. The Bill towards building a fairer, more secure future for our before us is about renewing the increased capacity for country. We will not be opposing the Second Reading of the next financial year, and we are only three weeks this Bill, but our new clause in Committee will set out a away from the new financial year. We are being asked to new standard of transparency that would pull Ministers approve a one-year increase in the limit from 2% to 12%. up, force them to sharpen their focus on value for That is, of course, a big jump, which amounts to more money and make sure we have more money to spend on than £100 billion. Weshould also perhaps remind ourselves the things that matter to us all. that the House approved an increase in the limit to 50% for this financial year—truly exceptional in every way. Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr ): Before I call I support increasing the limit in the Bill. We are not Andrew Jones, I want to point out that although what through this pandemic, and it is not hard to imagine we are dealing with is very important, we also have the circumstances where the Government have to react Committee of the whole House and Third Reading, urgently ahead of the regular voting provision under and then we have 70 contributions in the International the normal supply procedure. One of the lessons of the Women’s Day debate. If people could keep that in mind past year has been that the course of the pandemic has as they consider the length of their contributions, I not been linear. None of us can guarantee that the would be extremely grateful. future will not require urgent action. In reality, we can probably all predict that it will. 12.10 pm As my right hon. Friend the Minister said, this is quite a dry Bill, but once a Treasury Minister, always a Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con): Treasury Minister. That does not mean, however, that I will, of course, follow your advice as scrupulously as we should not scrutinise; of course we should. But the ever, Mr Deputy Speaker. Bill does not increase budgets, and it does not give the This Bill is about cash flow. It is not about all the stuff Government a blank cheque. These are cash advances, that we have just been hearing from the shadow Minister. which are highlighted to Parliament through the normal All organisations have to manage their cash flow and estimates booklets and memoranda, and then we vote meet their liabilities, and failure to do so is a significant on them. There is transparency as funds are drawn reason for corporate collapses. It is, obviously, different upon by Departments. There is guidance agreed between in the public sector, but the rule about meeting liabilities the Treasury, the National Audit Office and Parliament. remains as Government react to urgent situations. There That means that written ministerial statements are published are also clear mechanisms for making sure that in the throughout the year and cash advances are included in event of a cash need, the cash will be there. That is what the main or supplementary estimates. I hope we will not the Contingencies Fund is. be facing a contingencies Bill for the 2022-23 financial 1029 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill11 MARCH 2021 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 1030

[Andrew Jones] There is, however, a much wider issue regarding the ability of this House to properly scrutinise Government year. The progress that we are making in tackling the expenditure, which extends to the estimates process. For virus is obviously fantastic, but the consequences will someone who entered the House with a background in be felt for a long, long time. local government and who bore the scars of passing It is too early to spend time on an inquiry on the budgets as a co-leader of a minority council administration, lessons from the pandemic, but one thing I am sure we it is remarkable, in contrast, how contested local authority will consider in due course is how well and how quickly budgets running to just hundreds of millions of pounds government—I am talking about the UK Government, can be, when hundreds of billions of pounds across the devolved Administrations, local government and, above year in central Government expenditure can still sail all, the NHS—have responded. They have been nimble through relatively untroubled by the interference of and dynamic in their response. This Bill is simply about competing views from the Opposition. Although there facilitating the cash flow to allow that quick response have been some recent changes to the estimates days’ and that is why we should all support it. debates—the estimates can now be debated rather than needing the vehicle of Select Committee reports related 12.15 pm to them—it is still extraordinary to my mind that there Richard Thomson (Gordon) (SNP) [V]: This is a short is no meaningful way to seek to amend Government but important Bill. Last year’smeasures in the Contingencies spending through the estimates process or an ability, as Fund Act 2020 were absolutely unprecedented. Setting a matter of course, to scrutinise planned departmental a level of 50% on the fund ensured that the rapidly evolving expenditure before it is approved. policy response to covid-19 could be matched with the That brings me, in closing, to the current fiscal necessary resource. It was important that we did so. At framework. The Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Finance that time, we were heading for a lockdown and a has repeatedly pressed the UK Government to provide parliamentary recess for Easter. It was unclear when extra flexibility so that the Scottish Government can Parliament would be able to return and we had no mobilise funding when it is most urgently needed through means at that point, at least as I recall, of enabling this crisis. While the UK Government have indeed virtual participation in Westminster, so it was essential confirmed that the late funding allocated in this financial to allow necessary and perhaps even extraordinary year could be carried forward into 2021-22 without expenditure to take place in the short to medium term having to use the Scotland reserve, that flexibility is still to support the policy responses to covid that were limited and temporary. The crisis has revealed a fiscal deemed to be necessary, without the requirement for us framework in the UK that is not fit for purpose. As the to reconvene Parliament to ensure that further spending previous furlough extension for England demonstrated, could be authorised. no matter what the devolved Governments might wish This year’s Bill, by extending the scale of the fund to do in policy terms, problems still have often to be felt beyond the usual 2%, clearly recognises a need for that first in Whitehall before a budgetary response is triggered flexibility to continue. Setting this year’s contingencies for England, which then triggers its way through to fund at 12% may well give access in the short term to other Governments. the same amount of resource that was used in practice In my view, the best people to take decisions for last year. In the light of experience, it may be felt that Scotland are those of us who make our lives here. The out of all the arbitrary figures that could have been policy choices we make should be restricted only by the chosen for the Bill this year, this is the figure that limits of our own resources, the limits of our own somehow just feels right. However, for all the progress choices and the limits of our own imaginations, and not that has been made with vaccines and vaccinations in by limits and constraints that are set elsewhere. We will recent times, we are not out of the woods yet. There continue to press for these additional flexibilities as part have been mutations to the virus, which have increased of the fiscal framework review. its virulence and forced us in consequence to change our behaviours and responses. There may yet be further 12.20 pm mutations that force us to further reappraise our plans (Meriden) (Con) [V]: I refer Members to on how we wish to emerge from the present restrictions. my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. The only thing that we can predict with certainty I also take note of your indication to limit our contributions, about the future of living under this virus is that we Mr Deputy Speaker. I could speak for hours on the Bill, cannot predict it with certainty. As such, while the but I will refrain from doing so. Scottish National party group supports the Bill and will I want to speak in favour of the Bill because, quite not oppose the 12% level being set on the fund, I will frankly, if there was ever a time when we needed a place on the record that we would have been content, in contingencies Bill it would be during a pandemic, and the interests of prudence and good governance, to see a we are still in a pandemic. As the Financial Secretary higher figure being used. said, for those members of the public who will be Let me turn to the proposed amendment; I am aware watching today,the Contingencies Fund Act 2020 enabled of your injunctions about time, Mr Deputy Speaker, Government Departments to increase their percentage and that the Bill will have a Committee stage. I have of spending at a time when the country needed it most. looked at the amendment, which has been tabled in the It was vital to make sure that the Government could act name of the Leader of the Opposition and the shadow in a timely manner to safeguard the people of our country. Chancellor, and although it increases the length of the This is, of course, a contingency. It is not additional Bill tenfold, it clearly seeks to tackle important issues spending. It is there to ensure that Departments have regarding transparency and accountability in Government access to funds if needed. If there is one takeaway from spending. I have a lot of sympathy with its intent and the past 12 months, it is that we should be prepared for will listen carefully to the arguments in Committee. every eventuality. It is appropriate that the percentage 1031 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill11 MARCH 2021 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 1032 of the total supply expenditure is reduced to 12%, as “We’re not all in the same boat, but we are going through the opposed to the 50% it was last year. Of course, last year, same storm”— when the previous Bill was passed, we knew we had a some of us are in yachts, some of us are in boats and crisis, but it would have been near impossible to estimate some of us are in dinghies and just holding on. the full cost of Departments’ needs at that time. Recently, and Rishi Sunak promised Today, we know more. We have a world-leading to take care— vaccination programme, which means we have vaccinated over 22 million people. We know that infection rates are Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): Order. I have falling and, thankfully, the Prime Minister has laid out to correct my hon. Friend—I will put it that way. Please a road map as to how the economy will open up. In the do not refer to current serving Ministers or other Members light of that, it is correct to reduce the contingency need of Parliament by their names. while not yet returning to the normal 2%. We are, after all, not in normal times, so the normal 2% cannot apply. Dawn Butler: My apologies, Mr Deputy Speaker. I would go further. This Bill, in my view, represents The Prime Minister recently promised to take care of strong leadership, as the previous one did at the start of the nurses who sat at the nation’s bedside during one of the pandemic. our darkest moments, before offering them an insulting We should not forget what the previous Bill allowed and paltry 1% pay rise—a real-terms pay cut. The Government Departments to do. The urgent procurement question of cronyism is no different. Ministers on one of contracts allowed the Government to be swift in hand claim that they did nothing wrong. They say that their response. It allowed us to deliver 32 billion items Opposition Members are stirring up fake news, and that of personal protective equipment—32 billion, Mr Deputy we are not patriotic if we dare to question their actions Speaker—and 22,000 ventilators, when at the start of and how they are spending public funds, yet when the the pandemic there was an acute need. Those were quite evidence is too powerful and shocking to ignore, when literally matters of life and death. In such instances, the it is so stark that the Government have to respond, they Government have but one duty: to take every possible say that their mistakes can be excused because they were measure to provide security and safety for their citizens. rushing to procure vast amounts of equipment in a Since then, we have also completed 96 million tests. national crisis. Both those things cannot be true, so That is a phenomenal achievement and we should not which is it? Which do they believe? downplay that. Of course, the country is willing to accept that mistakes As we look to the Bill, it is correct to think about how were made, but that was a long time ago—a year ago, in the resources will be applied until the supply and fact. Ministers must have the humility to admit their appropriation Bill is voted on in this House.The Chancellor mistakes and errors, and work with the Opposition to last week set out a characteristically world-leading Budget, ensure that the current situation, which has eroded ensuring, to name just a few: the furlough scheme, many people’s basic trust in democracy, is never repeated. which has been a lifeline for so many, continues until Supporting this amendment is a start. September; more money for apprenticeships and restart The truth is that the evidence is overwhelming: as grants to get our worst-hit businesses back up and has calculated, more than £900 million in running; and the extension of universal credit. There Byline Times coronavirus-related contracts has been awarded to firms are also infrastructure spends across the country, which that have donated to the Conservative party—a huge are a testament to my right hon. Friend’s focus on the return on their donations. The country’s purse is not the next stage of dealing with this pandemic. As we emerge Government’s piggybank. Countless more deals have from the public health crisis, we must look to the been awarded to former Government advisers, chums economic recovery stage. of Dominic Cummings and former drinking pals of the Accountability and transparency matter, of course, Health Secretary. Ministers may dispute why so many and the Bill does not take away the usual mechanisms deals have been awarded to firms with close ties to the that have been in place for ensuring that expenditure is Conservative party and senior Government figures. Some met through the contingency fund and that it is scrutinised. of those firms were not even suitable or equipped to Advances made in this way are presented in the usual deliver what was needed. way in the estimates booklet and the memorandums that Parliament can scrutinise and vote on. The reason could be the Government’s infamous VIP To hinder the Bill would in my view seriously hinder lane, which meant that some firms with links to Ministers, the Government’s response in dealing with the pandemic. MPs and officials were 10 times more likely to win It would risk undermining the measures by the Government contracts. Some of it could be down to the old boys to help those who need our urgent support. That is why network—who knows? We still do not know, but we I am supporting the Bill. should know before we continue to trust the Government. Some Ministers may know what is going on and why, 12.24 pm and what the cause is of this rampant cronyism, but all Dawn Butler (Brent Central) (Lab): It is correct that a Ministers and Conservative Members must recognise contingencies fund Bill is vital when the Government the basic facts: vast amounts of public money have been need to react, especially during the pandemic, but it spent and wasted on firms with Tory and Government relies on trust. Trust requires transparency, truth and connections. People across the country are angry and honesty. Most colleagues in this House will have noticed disillusioned. the Conservative party’s habit of gaslighting the nation The Conservatives’ own constituents, and constituents over the past decade. “We’re all in this together,”Osborne of Members on both sides of the House, are questioning and Cameron said, before axing the safety net that the why the Conservative party has abandoned its belief in poorest in our country relied upon. I recently read a the basic principle of accountable, transparent public quote that said: spending. It is imperative that Ministers and officials 1033 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill11 MARCH 2021 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 1034

[Dawn Butler] thanks mainly to many teams across the NHS and the public sector, but also to the led by figure out the root cause of this rampant cronyism, Kate Bingham. admit their errors and safeguard public money so that, The Labour party has raised test and trace because of in the future, it cannot end up in the hands of Conservative the Public Accounts Committee report yesterday. The donors. report said many things. It did not say that 80% of the Some in the Conservative party might say that the cost of test and trace is on the testing. On the testing, money is not wasted because some of the money that we are very much a world leader. I was looking at the has been given to companies is finding its way back to figures for the G20 countries—the 20 main countries in the Conservative party through donations, but that is the world—and we are doing twice as much testing as wrong and corrupt. If I am wrong in what I am saying, any other G20 country in the world. According to Our the Minister, when he gets to his feet, must admit the World in Data, we are doing 10.54 tests per 1,000 people mistakes and errors made. a day in the United Kingdom. The next highest in the G7 is Italy, at 5.2. We are doing four times as much as 12.29 pm Germany, and three times as much as Canada. We are Anthony Browne (South Cambridgeshire) (Con): I truly world-leading in testing and that costs money. It welcome the Opposition’s interest in this motion. It is also means that all the children can go back to school. incrediblyimportant.Iparticularlywelcometheirconversion We did 1.5 million tests on the day that they went back to the importance of value for money.It is the Conservative to school. It is only because we can do the testing and party that has always been the party that realises that the tracing that follows that children can go back to we are just guardians of public money. It is not the school to regain their education and we can slowly Government’s money. It is taxpayers’ money and we return to normality. should treat it as carefully as if it were our own. All these are great successes and the Labour party I arrived at City Hall after Ken Livingston was there should welcome them. The British public can see it: we and when the current Prime Minister was Mayor of can see the mood of the nation changing and, fingers London. Wewent through the accounts and were absolutely crossed, that will continue. However, we are still in the shocked at the staff’s attitude towards money—it was middle of the pandemic. It is not over yet. It is too soon just there to be shovelled out the door. We imposed a to take the hands off the brakes and say, “Let’s roll very strict control regime, which dramatically reduced down.”Things could go the wrong way and it is absolutely costs and improved value for money.If Labour Members right that the Government continue with their contingency want to learn more about value for money, I would policy, with 12% of supply, in case other things flare up. welcome them to the Conservative Benches, so that we This is not about spending more money. It is about could discuss it. giving us the ability to spend money should it be needed and I fully welcome it. This whole debate reminds me slightly of discussions that I have often had with environmental activists about nuclear power. They come out with lots of arguments 12.34 pm against nuclear power. One by one, those arguments are Kevin Hollinrake (Thirsk and Malton) (Con) [V]: knocked back. Finally they say, “Well, it costs too Accounts mean accountability. Every set of accounts much.” When they resort to that argument, we realise needs contingency lines—sometimes quite annoyingly, that they have lost the argument. The reason the in my experience—but this crisis has shown the importance Labour party is focusing so much on value for money is, of having a contingency fund. I fear, not because it has converted to this cause, but because there are no other lines of attack for it to I agree with my right hon. Friend the Minister: the follow. Government have acted swiftly, decisively and with a If we look at the progress of this pandemic since it great deal of flexibility in respect of the schemes they started, we will see that, at the very beginning, we were have rolled out. Almost every businessperson I speak to really worried about not having enough ventilators. We in my constituency is supportive of what the Government now have 22,000 ventilators. We have far more ventilators have done in this regard. It is not just the Government than we need at the moment. Then there was the who have acted swiftly and decisively; bodies such as personal protective equipment crisis—remember that? Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs have done a There was shock, questions and attacks the whole time tremendous job in getting some of the grant aid out to from the Opposition, who were saying that we did not businesses, and we should be grateful for those efforts. have enough PPE and asking why we did not have it in When I listened to the shadow Minister, the hon. stock. Actually, we only made 1% of the PPE in this Member for Ealing North (James Murray)—who I do country. We did not have manufacturers that we could not think is even in his place at the moment—all I got turn to and say, “Can you ramp up supply?” There was was a deep suspicion of the private sector. It was quite a global shortage. We now have, as my hon. Friend the astounding. It was reminiscent of that great Churchill Member for Meriden (Saqib Bhatti) said, 32 billion quote: parts of PPE in stock and 70% of it is made in this “Some see private enterprise as a predatory target to be shot, country. There is no line of attack that the Labour party others as a cow to be milked, but few are those who see it as a can make on PPE. sturdy horse pulling the wagon.” Then we come to vaccination. The Labour party I just do not understand why the private sector is still previously made many attacks on vaccination. What anathema to Labour, even though it has been responsible can I say? We all know, everyone knows, the voting for so many things in this crisis, not least the development public know that it is a great success. It is an absolute of the vaccine, the first of which, the Pfizer vaccine, was triumph and truly world leading, as is so well documented, rolled out without any public support whatsoever. 1035 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill11 MARCH 2021 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 1036

Things such as bounce back loans and coronavirus had kept people safe—if it had worked—that huge sum business interruption loans have all been delivered by of money might have represented value for money. Yet the private sector, through the banks. As I am sure you as the National Audit Office said: recognise, Mr Deputy Speaker, I am not shy of criticising “The Department of Health & Social Care justified the scale the banks, but this year they have done a tremendous of investment…on the basis that an effective test and trace system job in getting the money out to businesses, yet we see no would help avoid a second national lockdown; but since its recognition from those on the Opposition Front Bench creation we have had two more lockdowns.” of what the private sector has done throughout this The ineffectiveness of the outsourced test and trace crisis. system is one of the reasons the UK has experienced the All the money that flows through the contingencies worst death rate of any major country. Yesterday, Serco’s fund will of course be accounted for and the Government top two executives, one of whom is the brother of a will be held to account for the related spending. It is Conservative MP, received £7.4 million each in pay, important that the Opposition should also be held to including bonuses worth about £5.5 million. The company account for their spending. I find it quite astounding has previously handed out over £17 million in dividends that the shadow Minister talks about value for money; I to shareholders while reaping the rewards of its role in have sat through so many debates over the past five the grossly wasteful and ineffective test and trace years in which Labour has called time and again for programme. Today we read that the Business Department more spending via pensions, social security,health services has invited Serco bosses, among others, to apply for and social care—whatever—despite our spending challenges new year’s honours. We now have a Government all too and without any assessment of value for money. Labour happy to waste billions of pounds on dodgy contracts just wants that money to be spent without any consequence for companies with Conservative party links, and when or accountability. That cannot be right and the shadow the scheme invariably fails, they give the people responsible Minister’sclaim about value for money was quite laughable. a title as a consolation prize, all the while starving our Every bit of spending has to have somebody to pay for public sector of funding and our public sector workers it, and that is, of course, the taxpayer, which is why we of pay. have to be careful and judicious with Government or After £37 billion, no test and trace, and the failure to public money. It comes from the taxpayer. prevent the second and third lockdowns, Ministers and Most recently, Labour has been calling for a greater those profiteering from this say it was a success. The increase than 1% for nurses. Who is not sympathetic to National Audit Office says that there is no evidence of that? But I do not hear Labour saying what pay rise it effectiveness. England has had the worst death rate in would give or how it would pay for it. It is surely a Europe. Other countries were able to balance value for responsibility of any responsible party that wants to be money with support for the public’s health and the in government to say how it would pay for things. economy.If other countries can do better,the Government Finally, I think the hon. Member for Brent Central at Westminster can and must do better too. (Dawn Butler) was quite disgraceful in some of her All this is to say nothing of the disastrous PPE comments. I may be wrong, Mr Deputy Speaker, but I contracts. PPE Medpro was incorporated on 12 May. thought she described Ministers as corrupt. I think Just 44 days later, it was awarded a contract worth that is something you might look at, because it is £122 million for single-use medical robes, which it intended entirely inappropriate and entirely inaccurate. I am very to import. The contract was not advertised, but the much looking forward to talking more in Committee company had links to the Conservative party and a about procurement and why the Opposition are wrong Conservative peer. In contrast, my constituents who again. own Florence Roby Ltd, a uniform supplier with a track record of more than 50 years’ trading, spent 12.38 pm months trying to get a contract for medical robes but were given the runaround and eventually had to lay off (Sefton Central) (Lab) [V]: The staff. I am afraid that these examples illustrate perfectly Government’s test and trace scheme, outsourced to everything that has been wrong with procurement during companies such as Serco, has been one of the most this crisis: wastefulness and poor value for money. No scandalous wastes of public expenditure in living memory. wonder so many people think this is corrupt. It is quite difficult to imagine what £37 billion looks Compare this with the situation in Wales, where like, but here are some examples. In 2015, the Northumbria decisions on PPE are devolved. Since the outset of the Specialist Emergency Care Hospital was constructed at pandemic, well over 450 million items of PPE have been a cost of around £75 million; £37 billion is enough distributed in Wales, and the vast majority of the PPE money to build nearly 500 brand-new state-of-the-art issued has been directly sourced by NHS Wales Shared hospitals. With around 670,000 nurses on the permanent Services Partnership, with all contracts awarded subject NHS payroll, £37 billion is enough to give every single to robust governance. That includes additional scrutiny nurse a pay rise of not £3.50 a week but around £50,000. from a finance governance group, and all contracts over But instead, what did the Chancellor, in his recent £1 million are approved by the Welsh Government Budget, announce for nurses? Not even, actually, a pay directly. The UK Health Secretary has said that urgency rise of £3.50 a week, but, in real terms, a pay cut of is the reason that the Conservatives paid billions of about £5 a week. pounds to their mates for PPE contracts, but that does It is a disgrace that this Government are so profligate not excuse the fact that companies with connections to with their cash that they will give £37 billion to private the Conservative party such as PPE Medpro—which, outsourcing giants, including Serco, and at the same remember, was awarded a contract 44 days after time choose to take money away from our nurses with incorporation—were 10 times more likely to win contracts that real-terms pay cut. Of course, if that £37 billion than those without those contacts. 1037 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill11 MARCH 2021 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 1038

[Bill Esterson] is public money; it is taxpayers’ money—and I want to be absolutely sure that it has been used in the most In Wales, with a Labour Government, the situation prudent fashion by the Scottish Government and has was just as urgent, but the oversight and accountability gone where it should have gone. I support the Scottish were in place. Instead of waste, we have seen local Secretary’s plea for some sort of audit, balance sheet or, public health boards delivering effective contact tracing, if you like, profit and loss account to be produced at the without the scandalous payments that we have seen in end of this. England of up to £7,000 a day to consultants. The I have listened to the debate with the greatest of Westminster Government must be able to spend the interest—there have been some very high-quality money needed to address the public health emergencies speeches—and I shall listen to the rest with great interest. of the pandemic—everybody agrees on that much—but they must also listen to the National Audit Office, put 12.49 pm an end to the cronyism and put public health first. The day of reckoning will surely come for the gross negligence, James Murray [V]: With the leave of the House, I waste and cronyism displayed by this Conservative would like to respond briefly to the debate and pick up Government. on some of the contributions. First, I would like to address a comment by the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Kevin Hollinrake), who seemed to claim that I 12.45 pm was not in my place during his speech. I would like to Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) reassure him that I have been listening carefully throughout (LD) [V]: May I use this opportunity to personally in the virtual Chamber, but perhaps he was not here thank the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, who has earlier when I began my contribution virtually. met the gaps in support all-party parliamentary group My hon. Friend the Member for Brent Central (Dawn several times over the last few weeks? That was good of Butler) made a powerful and important case about the him, and it has been a constructive relationship with link between trust and transparency and how important Opposition MPs. it is for us to take action in this place to reassert that That takes me to the first of two brief points that I link. She also set out how insulting the 1% pay rise—a want to make. Clearly my constituency is very different real-terms pay cut—is to the nurses in our country. My from other constituencies. It is vast, it is very far away, hon. Friend the Member for Sefton Central (Bill Esterson) and we have particular challenges with distance, sparsity mentioned the huge waste that has happened through of population and even temperature. During the pandemic, Test and Trace and the private outsourcing giants that my constituency has had particular problems to be have benefited from that money. It is telling that no dealt with. I understand, and indeed I support, the Conservative Members today addressed Test and Trace mechanism that we are debating, which is about getting and the spending on that programme, as far as I could the money to where it is needed at the right speed. It tell. I found it curious, however, that the hon. Member might be useful if the Government agreed to meet for South Cambridgeshire (Anthony Browne), when Opposition MPs such as myself slightly more often, to trying to make a case around value for money, chose to look at the overall package and how it is hitting or not focus on the time that the right hon. Member for hitting where it should. Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson) spent in I will give one example. I have said many times in the City Hall, given that one of the most notable achievements House that businesses involved in tourism and hospitality of that right hon. Member in that office was to oversee are fundamental to the economy of my constituency £46 million of public money being spent on a garden and, indeed, of all the highlands and islands. The bridge that was never built. package of support during the pandemic needs to be best As I made clear in my opening remarks, we will not tailored to ensuring that those businesses can be got off be opposing the Bill’sSecond Reading, but in the Committee their knees and got going again once the pandemic debate that follows, I will set out how our new clause starts to recede. It would be tragic if we lost any of aims to introduce a new standard of transparency, those businesses during this time, because that would which we believe is urgently needed after the Government’s impoverish our tourism product, which people come approach over the last year. from not only most of the UK but all over the world to see. 12.51 pm We need a tailored package for tourism and hospitality Jesse Norman: I will not detain the House for long. businesses, and I am happy to talk to the Government By leave of the House, let me just say a couple of words. about that. There is a precedent. Last summer, the I thank all Members who have spoken so far. I thank Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster came to my the hon. Member for Ealing North (James Murray) for constituency, and, as he will agree, we had a constructive the Opposition’s support for this, but I think he was meeting with tourism businesses, which was helpful. I mistaken in relation to my hon. Friend the Member for am quite open about this: I will work with a Minister of Thirsk and Malton (Kevin Hollinrake), who was making any political colour if it is for the betterment of my a point about the absence of any person on the Labour constituents and the economy of my constituency. Front Bench during the debate. That has largely been a The second and final point I want to make is one that characteristic of this debate so far, and that is a pity. I needs to be stressed. A lot of this money is going to the thank the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and devolved institutions—the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Easter Ross (Jamie Stone) for his recognition of the way Government. I support the Secretary of State for Scotland’s in which I and colleagues at the Treasury have leant into plea that, when the pandemic is over, we look at what the difficult issues he raised in relation to the excluded. the Scottish Government have actually spent the money That does not bear directly on this debate, but the wider on. As other Members have said, this is not our money—it point he makes is welcome. 1039 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 11 MARCH 2021 1040

I am mindful that this debate has featured several Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill contributions from Labour Members that have resolutely Considered in Committee (Order, this day). failed to engage with the substance of the Bill under discussion, and that is a particular shame. This is a party that talks about proper accountability but simply [MR NIGEL EVANS in the Chair] finds it impossible to exercise that accountability in the The Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means Chamber by asking the Minister questions. I hope that (Mr Nigel Evans): Before I ask the Clerk to read the title hon. Members will do that in the next stage of the of the Bill, I should explain that, in these exceptional debate, so that we can have a proper discussion about circumstances, although the Chair of the Committee this. They have, after all, just had a long period of would normally sit in the Clerk’s chair during Committee debate on the Budget in which any of the points they stage, in order to comply with social distancing I will wished to raise—irrelevant to the Contingencies Fund remain in the Speaker’s Chair, although I will carry out Bill but relevant to that topic—could have been discussed. the role not of Deputy Speaker, but of Chair of the Instead, they have indulged in cheap and irrelevant Committee. We should be addressed as Chairs of the political posturing, and that is a particular shame—all Committee rather than Deputy Speakers. the more so as their contributions have had the effect of delaying an important and much needed debate in this House called by the Backbench Business Committee on Clause 1 International Women’s Day. TEMPORARY INCREASE IN CAPITAL LIMIT OF Question put and agreed to. CONTINGENCIES FUND Bill accordingly read a Second time; to stand committed Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the to a Committee of the whole House (Order, this day). Bill.

CONTINGENCIES FUND (NO. 2) BILL (MONEY) The Second Deputy Chairman: With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: Queen’s recommendation signified. Clause 2 stand part. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing New clause 1—Contingencies Fund: reporting in financial Order No. 52(1)(a), year 2021-22— That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of “(1) The Treasury must lay before the House of Commons money provided by Parliament of any increase attributable to the within 15 days of the end of each calendar month in the financial Act in the sums to be issued out of, or paid into, the Consolidated year 2021-22 a report which includes a complete list of each Fund which is attributable to increasing, in relation to times advance from the Contingencies Fund, in each of the following before 1 April 2022, the percentage specified in section 1(1) of the categories— Contingencies Fund Act 1974 to a percentage not exceeding (a) during the Vote on Account period, to meet urgent cash 12%.—(David T. C. Davies.) requirements (other than supporting a new service) in excess of the net cash requirement granted in the Vote Question agreed to. on Account; (b) to meet the cash requirement supporting an urgent service which Parliament has already approved through specific enabling legislation but for which existing provision is not available; (c) to meet the cash requirement supporting a new service which is urgent and cannot await Parliamentary approval of both the specific enabling legislation and the necessary Estimate; (d) to meet a further urgent cash requirement for existing services when provision for the total net cash requirement on the Estimate is exhausted; and (e) in the case of an Estimate where expenditure is largely financed from income, advances made in anticipation of the receipt of cash associated with such income. (2) The report under subsection (1) must include a reference to any written ministerial statement made to the House of Commons in relation to each advance from the Contingencies Fund in financial year 2021-22. (3) The report under subsection (1) must include any relevant formal written direction to the accounting officer where a Minister of the Crown decided to continue with a course of action which the accounting officer had advised against. (4) If a report under subsection (1) mentions in relation to subsection (2) or subsection (3) anything in connection with procurement from the private sector, the Treasury must refer the matter to the Comptroller and Auditor General for a preliminary opinion on the regularity and propriety of the procurement referred to. (5) Nothing in this section affects access by the National Audit Office to any documents as provided for under section 8 of the National Audit Act 1983.” 1041 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 11 MARCH 2021 1042

This new clause is intended to enhance accountability to Parliament Social Care ordered that 750,000 of those tests be for as long as the increased flexibility of the Contingencies Fund is withdrawn from use for safety reasons. Secondly, at in place, and in particular to provide an additional check on the least £150 million of a £252 million face mask contract regularity and propriety of any procurement decisions which lead to with Ayanda Capital seems to have been wasted owing advances being required from the Contingencies Fund. to the unsuitability of one type of mask in the order. We 12.55 pm understand that the contract included FFP2 masks, which did not meet requirements for use by frontline James Murray (Ealing North) (Lab/Co-op) [V]: The healthcare workers because they had ear loops instead new clause is intended to ensure that the Government of head loops. The sum of £150 million pays the salaries learn from the past year and, as I set out in my earlier of some 4,000 nurses. That fact alone should make clear contribution, not only recognise that they have repeatedly why it is so important for public money to be spent on done too little, too late to protect the public’s health and improving the lives of those we serve. the economy through the outbreak, but make serious The new clause sets out a new standard of transparency and structural reforms to how they initiate and examine that would pull Ministers up, force them to sharpen the spending of public money. The new clause would their focus on value for money, and ensure that we have ensure that the extra financial freedoms that Parliament more money to spend on the things that matter to us all. grants in the Bill are used in a manner that reflects the With such concerns in mind, I ask the Committee to importance of transparency with public money. support the new clause. I shall not repeat the arguments that I and other hon. Members made on Second Reading, but address the The Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means: substance of the new clause. Our new clause is simple. Before I call Andrew Jones, let me just say that I am Subsection (1) sets out that, in respect of each plausible grateful for the restraint that people demonstrated on category of unforeseen Government spending—urgent Second Reading. We have a rather extensive call list for cash requirements for existing services; urgent cash the International Women’s Day debate that follows, so requirements for new services, whether yet approved in if people could show the same restraint in Committee, principle or not; increased cash requirements; and short- whether they are remote or in the Chamber, I would be term cash flow issues—the Treasury must lay before the grateful. A number of people withdrew from the Second House a report of all the advances made that month. Reading debate; if anyone wishes to withdraw from Subsection (2) sets out that each payment from the Committee stage, please will they do so in the normal fund should be explicitly associated with ministerial manner, through the Speaker’s Office? statements, which explain the purpose of such expenditure. Subsections (3) sets out that where such payments have 1 pm been carried out only on the basis of ministerial direction, the fact and nature of that direction should also be Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con): disclosed. We fully accept that on occasion ministerial I will keep my remarks as short as possible; I fully directions are a vital part of how our country and recognise that we have a very well-subscribed and important political system responds quickly and effectively to debate to follow. unforeseen circumstances. There are occasions when I read new clause 1 with interest, but it should be the accounting officer will not be able to align urgent rejected. On Second Reading, I outlined the transparency needs with normal accounting procedures. What matters and accountability mechanisms already in place when is not the fact of the direction, but its nature. funds are drawn from the Contingencies Fund. I will Subsection (4) ensures that where rapid procurement not repeat any of that, but what the Contingencies decisions are taken, they provide an opportunity for the Fund does not need is extra layers of bureaucracy, and Government to improve and are assessed as such. The that is what the Opposition are seeking to bring in. The role of the Comptroller and Auditor General is crucial whole point of the fund is to facilitate speed of response. in our system of parliamentary control over public Adding monthly reporting to the existing reporting is finances. There are lessons to be learned from the not necessary, and it goes against the whole purpose of specific practice of emergency procurement. It is wrong to the fund. see each instance of rapid procurement as a special case. For one year, in the midst of the greatest health crisis Subsection (5) reflects the premise of subsection (4) in a century and the consequential biggest economic and ensures that there is no conflict with the wider role crash in three centuries, the suggestion from the Opposition of the National Audit Office. I very much hope that the is more bureaucracy. What problem are they seeking to Government will feel able to accept the new clause in solve?Accountingofficersarestillaccountable.Departments the spirit in which we propose it. must still notify Parliament. The Contingencies Fund is The Financial Secretary will be aware of the many managed by Treasury officials. The agreed procedures extraordinary and frankly irregular arrangements, which must be followed. have been explored in the court and in the media The Opposition also want to bring in extra measures recently, for the disbursement of public money in the when dealing with the private sector. How does dealing past year. I will not take the Committee through the full with the private sector reflect the cash flow in a Department? annotated catalogue as time is so limited, but I will Liabilities are liabilities, to whichever organisations they mention just two of the most egregious examples to are owed. Speed of response is need-based, not sector-based. emphasise our concerns. Basically, what we have here is Labour distrust of the First, there was the contract given to Randox private sector underpinning its suggestion. It is not Laboratories for £133 million in respect of tests. Randox relevant to the Bill, and it underlines Labour’s lack of is a company that we understand is advised by a relevance to the nation. That is why the new clause Conservative Member. The Department of Health and should be rejected. 1043 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill11 MARCH 2021 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 1044

Saqib Bhatti (Meriden) (Con) [V]: I cannot support must ensure that advances are given in line with strict the Opposition’s new clause 1 because, in my view, it rules agreed between Parliament, the National Audit would do nothing but introduce an additional layer of Office, and the Treasury. Such rules can be found in the bureaucracy where, frankly, sufficient and robust Estimates Manual. Finally, business is and can be a transparency and accountability systems are already in force for good. We would do well to recognise that. place. Sarah Owen (Luton North) (Lab): I rise to speak in As I said on Second Reading, of course accountability favour of the amendment tabled by the Leader of the and transparency matter. The Bill does not take away Opposition, which hopes to improve the transparency the usual mechanisms already in place to ensure that behind emergency spending that we are being asked to expenditure met through the Contingencies Fund is sign off. When the Conservative party took office 11 years scrutinised. Requiring private sector procurement to be ago, it promised people transparency and responsible referred to the National Audit Office would do exactly spending. The Prime Minister’s predecessor even told what businesses cry out against time and again when it us that sunlight was the best disinfectant—could we not comes to procurement practices.They want less bureaucracy do with some disinfectant to rid us of the stench of and less burden, not more unnecessary red tape that cronyism right now? would hinder engagement from the private sector. One hundred and eight million pounds to a pest To me, the new clause speaks to the intent of the control firm to make PPE; £60 million on antibody tests Opposition and their general attitude to the private that did not work. To top it off, a £37 billion test and sector. It does not recognise the crucial role that business trace system that at times did not test and did not trace. has played over the last 12 months in helping to tackle It was run not by clinicians or the NHS, but by a failed one of the greatest public health crises of our times. It phone company executive, who just so happened to be does not recognise the businesses that otherwise would one of the Prime Minister’s mates from the other place. have been shut down—Formula 1 teams such as McLaren, Cronyism, irresponsible spending and sweetheart deals for example—that adapted their processes to make that handed the public’s taxes to their mates are what ventilators; the companies, such as Burberry,that retooled this Government are all about—a £133 million testing to make personal protective equipment; or the companies, contract to a Tory donor, £108 million to Serco, and a such as the National Exhibition Centre in my constituency, £40,000 pay rise to Dominic Cummings. Under this that gave up part of their business to build Nightingale Government, someone who breaks the rules and fails at hospitals to ensure that the national health service was their job gets a pay rise; those who save people’s lives get not overwhelmed. a pay cut. If the Conservative party cannot be trusted to The new clause does not recognise, either, the big spend people’s taxes wisely, it does not deserve to serve pharma companies that came up with new drugs at our country. unprecedented rates, using innovative methods that only The Minister asked for questions, and I am sure we the private sector can come up with to vaccinate and all look forward to some answers. Will he tell the House protect the most vulnerable in our society. Frankly, it is why as much as £11 million was spent on the initial trial time that the Opposition recognised the role that the version of the NHS Test and Trace app before it was private sector played in overcoming this crisis. While it abandoned? Will he confirm whether he personally is not yet done, we on the Government side of the played any part in recommending contractors to the House certainly will not forget that role. Government over the past year? We are often told by While I am on the subject of intent, I commend the the party of Government that money cannot be found Government for their aspiration to reform procurement to feed hungry schoolkids, or that the healthcare heroes rules. The Green Paper put forward by the Government who looked after our loved ones during the pandemic puts value for money and transparency right at the cannot have a pay rise. We are told by Conservative heart of the United Kingdom’s procurement rules. The peers that nurses should be grateful for the job security Government buy around £292 billion-worth of services they have. from the private sector. Their proposed reforms will The public have a right to know how their money is allow UK procurement rules to be more modern and being spent. Covid contracts handed out to Tory friends flexible, allowing the Government to consider things and donors have now risen to almost £2 billion. Such such as social value, including economic, social and money could have provided free school meals to each of environmental factors. the 1.4 million children in poverty, including nearly These new measures will also allow competition for 4,000 children in Luton North. If there is money for the Government contracts under £4.7 million for public Prime Minister’s mates, there is money to feed hungry works and £122,000 for goods and services to be limited kids. If we can find £30 million for the bloke down the to small businesses, whether they are voluntary,community pub, we can find money to give nurses, and every other or social enterprises. Fundamentally, that will improve healthcare worker, a pay increase. the quality of suppliers’ output, and it will also increase Conservative Members will say there was no choice at competition, ensuring that taxpayers get a better deal the start of the crisis and that it was an emergency, as it while our small and medium-sized businesses have greater was. However, there is always a choice. Instead of turning access to Government procurement contracts. to established PPE providers from the UK safety industry, Ministers chose a deal that handed £30 million to the That intent can only be applauded, in contrast to the Health and Social Care Secretary’s mate from down the Opposition’s desire to make the process clunkier, more pub.That is a cruel and blatant failure by this Government. difficult and less accessible. The Bill asks us to sign off up to £266 billion in On accountability, as has been said, Ministers cannot emergency loans by the Government. That might be choose to use the Contingencies Fund. That is managed necessary, but it is unnecessary for such a number to go entirely by Treasury officials, and the accounting officer unchecked. 1045 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill11 MARCH 2021 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 1046

[Sarah Owen] much to be welcomed. I wish the Opposition would pay tribute to the efforts of the private sector, often working It is our job as MPs across the House to hold the in collaboration with the public sector. It is a partnership. Government to account. The public expect better and for us to spend their money properly, which is why Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/ Labour has tabled this amendment. We are not saying Co-op): Will the hon. Gentleman give way? that the Government should not do everything in their power to help people in an emergency; we are saying Anthony Browne: I will just give way to the hon. Lady that they must never forget whose money they are before I finish. spending, and who they need to answer to in the end: the British people. Meg Hillier: The hon. Gentleman has talked a lot about money going out into the private sector, but a lot Anthony Browne (South Cambridgeshire) (Con): I of this contingency money has gone into the public agree with the shadow Minister that we need accountability sector. The key point is, as my hon. Friend the Member and transparency, but there is already a whole framework for Luton North (Sarah Owen) highlighted, that it is for public spending. As others have said, all the amendment taxpayers’ money. Surely the hon. Gentleman agrees does is introduce more bureaucracy into the Contingency that we should have clear oversight and regular reporting Fund, without adding any value from the perspective of of how taxpayers’ money is being spent. public accountability. We need to learn the lessons from all this. It is an Anthony Browne: I agree, and I welcome the points unprecedented thing that hopefully will never happen that the hon. Lady makes. I did say in my speech on again, but we must ensure that we learn those lessons. Second Reading that I welcome the fact that the Labour Fortunately, there are bodies that help us learn those party have this new-found interest in value for money, lessons, such as the National Audit Office, which has because I absolutely believe that taxpayers’ money is already done several reports into procurement. not the Government’s money. It is taxpayers’ money Given that the speeches made by various Members and it should be treated as such. As I said earlier, we on the Opposition Benches have been all about scoring have sufficient mechanisms for accountability and cheap party political points, casting aspersions on the transparency. We do not need this new clause, and I will Government and Ministers and so on, I thought it was not support it. worth quoting the finding of the main National Audit Office report about the issues to which they are referring. Kevin Hollinrake (Thirsk and Malton) (Con) [V]: I It said: would like to speak to new clause 1. First, I am grateful “In the examples we examined where there were potential to the Financial Secretary for putting the record straight. conflicts of interest involving ministers, we found that the ministers It was a reflection of the fact that there was no Opposition had properly declared their interests, and we found no evidence of Minister on duty. It is suboptimal to have an Opposition their involvement in procurement decisions or contract management.” Minister speaking by video link: Members have no That is the National Audit Office, which has strong opportunity to challenge some of his statements, many powers of investigation. of which I thought were absolutely out of order. You I find it rather disturbing that the Opposition are are obviously the judge of that, Chair, but to call trying to use this important issue just to score cheap Ministers corrupt, as other Members have in this debate, political points. I suppose I should not; I am a new or to accuse them of cronyism, is basically bringing this politician, and I should get used to it. What I find most House into disrepute. concerning about the Labour party is its clear disdain Yet again, we have the Opposition’s obsession that for the private sector. It is using this issue to criticise everything public sector is good and everything private private sector manufacturers. The speaker before me, sector is bad. It is simply outrageous. It goes back to the hon. Member for Luton North (Sarah Owen), for that sturdy horse analogy. It is pulling the whole wagon, example, criticised companies that were trying to produce whether it be vaccine companies or indeed our GPs. PPE. We did not have a PPE industry in the UK at the Our GPs have done a wonderful job disseminating the start of this—we imported it all—and I welcome the fact vaccine to so many people, and it is heart-warming to that lots of companies that had not made PPE put in go to those centres and see that. GPs are private practices. the effort to develop it and then supply it to the national The health service has never been totally public sector, health service. That is to be welcomed. and we should recognise that. We should recognise the The drugs company in my constituency, AstraZeneca, benefits that the private sector brings, just as the public did not do any diagnostic testing. That was not what it sector clearly brings huge benefits, too. did; it had no arm doing that. It said, “Right, we will I agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Harrogate learn how to do this”, and it did it. It set up a whole arm and Knaresborough (Andrew Jones) that this new clause to do diagnostic testing. It did that at no profit, and that would simply bring an unnecessary added layer of is now a huge part of the testing industry in the UK. It bureaucracy.I absolutely support the need for accountability also agreed to produce the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and the proper assessment of where taxpayers’ money is at no profit to itself and to give that to the developing spent—we absolutely must be responsible about that—but world on a not-for-profit basis throughout the pandemic. I do not know where it would end under the new clause, That is a private sector company, as is Pfizer, which because much of the money that we have provided to produces the Pfizer vaccine, and Moderna, which does deal with the coronavirus crisis has been provided through the Moderna vaccine.All these are private sector companies the private sector, not least the loans through the banks. coming to our rescue and to the rescue of other countries The hon. Member for Luton North (Sarah Owen) around the world when we need it, and that is very seemed to think that there were no checks on that 1047 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill11 MARCH 2021 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 1048 process, which is clearly not the case. Banks go through spend over budget. It is fair to say that in this House we a lot of checks,even when the Government are guaranteeing are very bad at scrutinising Government spending. That loans, so that is simply not correct. is not down to individual Members or the official Opposition; it is because the structures of this place do 1.15 pm not allow us properly to discuss estimates, excess votes The new clause deals with procurement. The comments and so on. In fact, some time ago the OECD said that on procurement and allegations of corruption and cronyism as early as the 18th century our scrutiny of finances in just do not sit with the facts. As my hon. Friend the this place was “reduced to hollow ritual.” Member for South Cambridgeshire (Anthony Browne) The change in this legislation, which will allow the rightly said, there is no evidence of ministerial involvement increase in contingency funding, has been rushed through. in any of the decisions. The NAO report on procurement I do not deny that it is necessary to have additional said: contingency. The way it works normally is that if a “Government was having to work at pace…in a highly competitive Department overspends on its budget as granted, international market” albeit inadequately, by this House, the matter then and comes to the Public Accounts Committee and we “secured unprecedented volumes of essential supplies…to protect have to examine whether the excess is justifiable and front-line workers.” reasonable. Pretty much our only weapon is the Do we honestly want to go through a complex procurement ability to call in the officials who have made a mistake process at a time when we are desperate for supplies? and get them to explain the issue in public, but then a This is obviously a case of the Opposition trying to Government majority can certainly agree the excess score cheap political points. I think the public look at it vote regardless. and think “a plague on all your houses” when outlandish In Ghana—Mr Evans, you might be interested to claims of corruption are made. Clearly, some of those know this, and officials might be quaking as I say it—if claims will land, and the public think that all politicians an official overspends taxpayers’ money, they have to go are corrupt, but that is clearly not the case. The vast to court, and if they take an appeal to court, they have majority of people who come into politics do so for the best to pay up front half of the money that has been wasted. of reasons. It is deeply unhelpful and totally inaccurate. Certainly, that would sharpen minds. Finally, of course we need to improve procurement. The point is that it is right that we have a Contingencies In December, an excellent Green Paper was published. Fund Bill. I accept it is necessary, but I welcome new It was all about value for money, transparency, the clause 1, because the mechanisms for oversight of this cutting of red tape and, crucially, making it much easier are very flimsy; they are reports on paper after the for small and medium-sized enterprises to get involved event. This is not about more bureaucracy. I see it as in the procurement of public sector contracts, even to being about greater transparency. As Chair of the Public the extent that there would not have to be the international Accounts Committee, which has had an important competition that the EU rules used to require and we constitutional position in this place for 160 years, I get could have geographical conditions and thereby benefit passed information by Government—from Ministers SMEs in a local area. I absolutely support that approach. and senior officials—about issues relating to the finances There are lessons to be learned and there is room for of Government, sometimes confidentially, and that is some really good reform, but the new clause should not counted as the scrutiny of Parliament. be supported. I believe there is a very important role for the constitutional position of the Public Accounts Committee The Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means and thereby the Chair, a role I am privileged to occupy (Mr Nigel Evans): The next speaker, by video link, is at the moment—it is not about me, it is about the Jamie Stone. [Interruption.] Jamie, you may be on position—but that is not enough scrutiny. We are in the mute—I know that you are audio only. [Interruption.] middle of a pandemic, and spending eye-watering sums We will try to get back to you. Waiting in the wings is of money—hundreds of billions of pounds—with the Meg Hillier. public sector and the private sector. It does not matter where the money goes, in this sense; it is about scrutinising Meg Hillier: It gives me pleasure to rise to speak on that expenditure and making sure that Treasury Ministers, the Bill and perhaps slay some of the misstatements whom I would have thought would be aligned with me that I have already heard in the short while I have been completely on this issue, are clear that we are not in the Chamber. allowing Departments to overspend willy-nilly.Although First, I should point out to the hon. Member for the Treasury has its checks, it is important and vital that South Cambridgeshire (Anthony Browne) that value Parliament has its checks too and that we have sunlight for money in respect of taxpayer spending is not a on these issues in real time. This is important, and I new-found interest for most of us on the Opposition would say that the new clause is really pretty anodyne. Benches. I have spent 27 years being responsible for It is saying that we want better reporting to the House either spending taxpayers’ money wisely or scrutinising of what the Contingencies Fund Bill already allows to that spending. I am very aware, as are the shadow the Government. Chancellor and her team, that every pound of public The National Audit Office has been much quoted, money saved is a pound to spend on something else. We and I do not have the exact phrase in front of me—forgive may disagree about what that something else might be, me, Mr Evans, but for once I paraphrase, which I really but scrutiny is really important. try not to do—but the NAO has looked in detail, as Contingencies Fund Bills are interesting pieces of other Members have commented, at the Government’s legislation. They are about as old as the Public Accounts approach to procurement, and this is its clear message. Committee, which I chair,and are an important mechanism All these allegations are out there, but part of the for making sure that the Government cannot just routinely reason for that is the lack of transparency and the lack 1049 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill11 MARCH 2021 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 1050

[Meg Hillier] on their projects, such as the £37 billion on the outsourced test and trace programme—or test and waste, as it is of information being published in real time on some of increasingly known locally. The National Audit Office these issues. We have seen, heard and talked about in says that this incredible amount of money has been this place the many contracts that were not published spent for no clear impact, while the skills and expertise on time, and that undermines public and parliamentary of our local public health staff were spurned. Should trust in the process. Whether or not anything has gone we not be demanding better? wrong, it is undermining trust, and people start asking We understand that the Government had to act quickly questions and laying down allegations whether or not to put contracts in place at the beginning of the pandemic, they are true. but we are now a full calendar year on from then. They It is in Government’s interests, the taxpayer’s interests should no longer be operating in crisis mode, but should and Parliament’s interests to agree to this new clause. I be able to make clear, sensible and justifiable decisions. am disappointed—I am embarrassed really—that those Since the Chancellor announced that he is to run the on the Treasury Bench can come forward with a change biggest deficit since the second world war,with public debt at such short notice and not have a meaningful discussion at over 100% of GDP, I think our constituents should about what is a reasonable new clause to allow this expect us to be as open about our financial decisions as place greater scrutiny over what are unprecedented we can possibly be. It is not onerous to request that the amounts of spending in the middle of a pandemic. At a Government make a monthly report on its contingencies time like this, we need more transparency, not less. This expenditure, and improved transparency would help to is actually a minor change. It is not about bureaucracy; halt bad decisions earlier,rather than waiting for spendthrift it is about accountability and transparency, and taxpayers contracts to finally be revealed in court. deserve better. This is a reasonable and responsible new clause. A fiscally sound Government should not fear it or have (Warrington North) (Lab): Labour’s any objection to it. new clause seeks to make contingency spending more transparent and accountable to our Parliament and, through us, to the public—taking back control, if you Ruth Jones (Newport West) (Lab) [V]: This is a technical will. It is right that Governments have the flexibility to Bill, but it is important and so is parliamentary authorisation act in an emergency such as this pandemic, but this of public expenditure. That authorisation is an absolutely greater latitude for Ministers should oblige them to be crucial part of our democracy and of the principle of additionally vigilant about the value for money of the parliamentary control over the decisions taken by Ministers decisions that they make and the contracts that they in this Government. sign. This has unfortunately not been the case. As we Of course, I accept that the Government need to be have heard from my hon. Friends, this year we have seen able to act swiftly and decisively, and that financial case after case of appalling mis-spending of taxpayer control provisions may need to be relaxed proportionate money, too often on procurement from Tory friends to the need for the Government to take unforeseen and and donors—with, according to The Times in November, unforeseeable actions to reduce, resolve and mitigate £1.5 billion to Tory-linked firms.Companies and individuals the threats we face. As such, I fully accept the approach with no track record of producing the materials needed taken by the shadow Minister and support the fact that were given vast sums on a promise, and businesses in Labour is not opposing the Bill. However, while it is constituencies such as mine, with experience in vital that the Government have the space and ability to manufacturing this sort of equipment, were denied on respond to the crisis, it is vital that Ministers do not spurious grounds. take the people of this country for fools. Contracts for Some of the examples sound as though they come cronies, pals from the pub and family members cannot from an old episode of “Yes Minister”: £150 million of be the order of the day and must be rooted out fast. the £252 million of unusable face masks ordered from The Tories, as we have already heard, have wasted an investment firm advised by an adviser to the President hundreds of millions of pounds across Government of the Board of Trade; a £60 million contract to provide during the pandemic, from failed tracing apps to useless free laptops for disadvantaged pupils that delivered less PPE to insufficient provision for disadvantaged children. than half of what was needed, leaving too many pupils The analysis by my party and other independent in Warrington North without the tech they needed to organisations shows that the Government have made learn; and £208 million to provide food boxes wholesale the wrong decisions throughout the crisis. I hope they for people who were clinically sheltering, at a cost of will listen and learn. Every penny of public money must £44 a box, when analysis showed that the content could be accounted for and the people who pay their taxes have been bought for £26 from their local Tesco. There must be able to see that these monies are spent wisely was the £133 million to a Tory donor, a private healthcare and properly. firm, to make testing kits that were withdrawn for safety I support the Bill. I hope Ministers will accept Labour’s reasons. Its contract was actually extended for another new clause and will look to spend the people’s money six months for a further £375 million, without any other wisely, sensibly and properly. companies being invited to bid. During this time,consultants have been employed on up to £7,000 a day, equivalent to Naz Shah (Bradford West) (Lab) [V]: We recognise £1.5 million a year, by a Government who believe that that in the circumstances of a global pandemic the nurses and other NHS staff should not even receive a Government need to be able to act swiftly and decisively, pay rise at least in line with inflation. and that financial control provisions may need to be We understand that there was an urgency to get relaxed proportionate to the need for the Government contracts in place for PPE in particular, but this was not to take bold actions to reduce, resolve and mitigate the just a case of suck it and see, as Ministers doubled down threats we face. However, we know full well that the 1051 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill11 MARCH 2021 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 1052

Government’s record on proper and transparent Parliamentary authorisation of public expenditure is procurement processes, and on securing value for money critical, but we all recognise the need for this Bill to on public spending for emergency purposes, has been ensure that the Government can act quickly to support shameful. the economy. That said, the Government should not be The Times estimates that during the crisis £1.5 billion able to act without accountability and transparency. I of taxpayers’ cash has been given to companies linked support the comments made earlier by my hon. Friend to the Conservative party with no prior experience of the Member for Hackney South and Shoreditch (Meg supplying the Government, from failed tracing apps to Hillier) with regard to transparency and scrutiny.Indeed, useless PPE to insufficient provision for disadvantaged just this morning, as part of business questions, the children. Analysis by Labour shows that the Government Leader of the House reiterated the point that Members have made the wrong decisions time and time again have a right and a duty to hold the Government to throughout the crisis. account. He also said that scrutiny leads to better government, and that it is in the interests of Government That is exactly the story of Tory waste, negligence that scrutiny takes place. and cronyism, but the Tories want a pat on the back for spending over £700 million on coveralls, despite NHS It is with those principles in mind that I want to records showing only 500,000 out of 13 million were speak in favour of the amendment in the name of the actually used. In April, £16 million-worth of antibody Leader of the Opposition, which seeks to improve tests were sourced from two Chinese firms. Two million Government accountability to Parliament for as long as units were purchased, but the test did not work. A PPE the increased flexibility of the contingency fund is in contract worth £108 million was handed to a pest control place. I want to speak specifically with regard to the company, PestFix, which has just 16 members of staff. checks on the regularity, propriety and value for money Some of the masks failed checks by the Health and of any Government procurement decisions, particularly Safety Executive and emails obtained by the BBC suggest the importance of the reporting of any written ministerial that the HSE came under political pressure to ensure that directions given, so that Parliament can be clear when PestFix’s PPE passed necessary quality assurance tests. Ministers have decided to override objections made by senior civil servants. 1.30 pm Throughout the pandemic, the Government’s record Many companies, often better qualified to produce on transparent procurement processes and securing value PPE, but lacking political connections, were completely for money on public spending has been, sadly, too often shut out. One such example is Multibrands International completely inexcusable. Despite NHS Test and Trace based in my constituency. It is a British manufacturer being allocated a total of £37 billion and a Conservative that had already been producing PPE for China. Its peer being handed the top job, the Public Accounts owner, Rizwana Hussain, spent months trying to reach Committee’s report on test, track and trace made this Government officials through public channels, but because finding. In terms of tackling the pandemic, it said: she did not have the Health Secretary’s WhatsApp “There is still no clear evidence to judge NHST&T’s overall number and she was not on a VIP list, Rizwana and effectiveness.” Multibrands International lost out. Let us not forget the £108 million for Serco for contact tracing and the I also ask the Minister whether he has reflected on £84 million for Sitel. Those services were never fit for yesterday’s report by the National Audit Office on Test purpose, forcing local authorities to take matters into and Trace and whether it contained any lessons to be their own hands. learned by the Government as well. Just yesterday, the National Audit Office released a The theme of incompetence and cronyism does not scathing report on Test and Trace, saying that it was end there. In a Westminster Hall debate back in December, unclear whether its specific contribution to reducing I joined many other MPs in highlighting the fact that infection levels as opposed to other measures introduced the National Audit Office report on the Government’s to tackle the pandemic has justified its costs. Time and procurement during the pandemic had found that contracts again, this Government have failed struggling families had been awarded without due diligence, with a lack of during the pandemic. Again, businesses, small and large— documentation, and no clear audit trail or transparency. despite their struggles—charitable organisations and Just a few weeks ago, the High Court ruled that the community groups in my constituency did the Government’s Government had acted unlawfully by not publishing job and worked tirelessly to provide free school meals to details on the contracts awarded within 30 days, including children across the Bradford district. many awarded through the Government’s VIP lane. The The simple story is this: the Government had millions judge ruled that the Government’s inaction breached a to hand wastefully to their friends, but for those who vital public function of transparency regarding how worked day and night on hospital wards a pay cut and a vast quantities of taxpayers’ money was spent. The clap are all they get. This must never happen again. passage of the Bill should not allow the Government to Labour has tabled an amendment and will press it to a act without accountability and transparency. There are vote later today so that we can improve transparency of too many instances of the Government’spoor procurement emergency spending from the contingency fund. Never policy representing poor value for money. again can we let such Tory waste, negligence and cronyism In conclusion, I wish to press the point that Ministers take place. must be accountable and civil servants must not be scapegoated for the Government’s poor decision making. Rachel Hopkins (Luton South) (Lab) [V]: I refer The legally binding protection of written ministerial to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial directions ensure that they are not implicated in the Interests as a member of the Public and Commercial Government’sincompetent decision making and cronyism. Services Union. This is not unnecessary bureaucracy, as referred to by 1053 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill11 MARCH 2021 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 1054

[Rachel Hopkins] Thirdly, the House has seen throughout 2021 that Departments must notify Parliament by way of a ministerial thehon.MemberforThirskandMalton(KevinHollinrake); statement agreed with the Treasury where a commitment it is right for Parliament to be able to scrutinise them in a will be or has been entered into in advance of supply. I timely manner in the public interest. would like to make it clear that the mandatory WMS wording agreed with Parliament and the NAO already Richard Thomson (Gordon) (SNP) [V]: I will be brief. distinguishes whether this advance is a new service, new The concerns of Scottish National party MPs over expenditure or simply a cash requirement ahead of a certain covid-related Government procurements are well supply estimate. known and on the record, and we will continue to hold I remind hon. Members that the Contingencies Fund the UK Government to account for them. Nevertheless, is not a tool—some hon. Members have made this whether the new clause is viewed through that particular point—that Ministers can choose to use; it is not lens or not, the fact remains that taken on its own terms discretionary. It is managed entirely by the Treasury, it would greatly improve scrutiny, oversight and and the accounting officer must ensure that advances accountability, without creating any disproportionate are given in line with strict rules agreed between Parliament, impact on the Government or the overall efficiency of the NAO and the Treasury. These rules are set out the spending process. Trying to equate the improvement clearly in the published estimates manual. Every in process that would result with an attack on business, Department makes an application outlining the urgency as we have heard today, is frankly nonsense. It smacks of their case and how they plan to meet the listed of desperation, and I am certain that that is exactly how requirement. It is worth mentioning that the NAO also it will be seen. audits the Contingencies Fund accounts, and that includes The SNP will be supporting this amendment. If the a full list of advances. Government have any care at all for transparency on Let me turn to a couple of the points raised by these matters, and for being able to demonstrate that Members in the debate. I did ask for questions on the there is proper stewardship of public funds, there is Bill, but the hon. Member for Luton North (Sarah frankly no good reason for them not to support it as Owen) somehow found that difficult. She raised another well. irrelevant issue about public spending. She asked me about my own link. I assure her that I had nothing to do The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Jesse Norman): with the awarding of any contracts. As my hon. Friend As you will be aware, Mr Evans, clause 1 provides for an the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Anthony Browne) increase in capital for the Contingencies Fund. It raises pointed out, this is true for Ministers across the the limit from the standard 2% to 12%, providing a sum Government, according to the NAO. of approximately £105 billion for the financial year The hon. Member for Hackney South and Shoreditch 2021-22 only. (Meg Hillier), who chairs the Public Accounts Committee, We are all agreed across the House on the central made a speech, wonderfully—and I thank her for it—on importance of accountability to Parliament, but it is the the Bill. I am very grateful. She asked whether the Bill is Government’s very firm view that new clause 1 is not rushed through. The answer to that question is no, it is needed in order to achieve accountability. It is important not. It is important to do it, we think, before the to say again that supply processes continue to be used in beginning of the new financial year. The same Bill was the usual way with expenditure still subject to parliamentary put through in March last year, and so it is here. She scrutiny and a vote. This Bill simply permits an advance asked about Treasury controls. We fully, strongly believe on expenditure that will be included in the main or in them. She recommends Ghanaian principles of public supply estimates. finance, but I am not sure I can follow her in that direction. Let me set out four points that make this quite clear. First, the Contingencies Fund is about ensuring James Murray [V]: With the leave of the Committee, I cash flow, restricting it to urgent services in anticipation will respond briefly to the debate and pick up on some of parliamentary provision becoming available and contributions that hon. Members have made. My hon. temporary funds required for necessary working balances. Friend the Member for Luton North (Sarah Owen) It is not additional spending; it is simply a cash advance made powerful remarks and drew our attention to how to be repaid. It does not in any way preclude the hollow the phrase of the former Prime Minister—that scrutiny by Parliament of additional provision sought “sunlight is the best disinfectant”—now rings, given by a Department through the supply estimates, nor how the current Government have behaved. My hon. does it preclude the Comptroller and Auditor General Friend the Member for Hackney South and Shoreditch from expressing his view on the regularity of departmental (Meg Hillier) spoke from great experience about the expenditure. weakness of Parliament in scrutinising Government Secondly, each and every departmental accounting spending. She set out how the claims of bureaucracy officer remains fully accountable for expenditure; and, from Government Members are misplaced and that, in of course, that expenditure will be audited by the NAO fact, new clause 1 is about transparency and accountability. in the usual way as part of the annual reports and My hon. Friend the Member for Warrington North accounts of each Department. Transparency arrangements (Charlotte Nichols) set out clearly the consequences of for ministerial directions—where they are sought under vast sums being given to companies with no track the requirements of the doctrine of “Managing Public record of delivery, underscoring why this really matters Money”—will also continue in the usual way.Accounting to people’s lives. officers are already required to publish any direction My hon. Friend the Member for Newport West (Ruth that they receive as soon as possible, unless there is a Jones) made it clear that the Government should listen broader public interest in keeping it confidential. and learn from the events of the past year and regain 1055 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill11 MARCH 2021 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 1056 the trust of the public, while my hon. Friend the Member De Cordova, Marsha Jones, Ruth for Bradford West (Naz Shah) highlighted the Government’s Debbonaire, Thangam Jones, Sarah shameful record on transparency, value for money and, Dhesi, Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Kane, Mike crucially, the outcome of what is actually delivered. Docherty-Hughes, Martin Keeley, Barbara Finally, my hon. Friend the Member for Luton South Dodds, Anneliese Kendall, Liz (Rachel Hopkins) made some critical points on scrutiny Doogan, Dave Khan, Afzal Dorans, Allan Kinnock, Stephen leading to better government. She spoke from great Doughty, Stephen Kyle, Peter experience of why it is so vital that the reporting of Dowd, Peter Lake, Ben written ministerial directions is taken into account so Dromey, Jack Lammy, rh Mr David that they can take responsibility for their decisions. Duffield, Rosie Lavery, Ian I thank the Minister for his comments, but I was Eagle, Dame Angela Law, Chris disappointed that he did not use the opportunity to Eagle, Maria Lewell-Buck, Mrs Emma refute or respond to any of the comments about the Eastwood, Colum Lewis, Clive Public Accounts Committee’s report on Test and Trace. Edwards, Jonathan Linden, David I noted that despite some Government Members having Efford, Clive Lloyd, Tony spoken for a second time today, they still did not find Elliott, Julie Long Bailey, Rebecca Elmore, Chris Lucas, Caroline time to justify and explain how the spending on Test Eshalomi, Florence Lynch, Holly and Trace has been value for money. The Minister Esterson, Bill MacAskill, Kenny fundamentally failed to address the inadequacy of current Evans, Chris MacNeil, Angus Brendan scrutiny arrangements, given what has happened over Farron, Tim Madders, Justin the past year. Farry, Stephen Mahmood, Mr Khalid As I made clear in my opening remarks, our new Fellows, Marion Mahmood, Shabana clause aims to introduce a new standard of transparency. Ferrier, Margaret Malhotra, Seema Webelieve that it is urgently needed after the Government’s Fletcher, Colleen Maskell, Rachael approach over the last year. I am not convinced by the Flynn, Stephen Matheson, Christian Fovargue, Yvonne Mc Nally, John Minister’s argument. I welcome the SNP group’s support Foxcroft, Vicky McCabe, Steve for new clause 1 and we will seek a Division on it. Foy, Mary Kelly McCarthy, Kerry Question put and agreed to. Furniss, Gill McDonagh, Siobhain Clause 1 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill. Gardiner, Barry McDonald, Andy Gibson, Patricia McDonald, Stewart Malcolm Clause 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Gill, Preet Kaur McDonald, Stuart C. Question put, That new clause 1 be read a Second Glindon, Mary McDonnell, rh John time. Grady, Patrick McFadden, rh Mr Pat Grant, Peter McGinn, Conor The Committee divided: Ayes 267, Noes 360. Gray, Neil McGovern, Alison Division No. 237] [1.44 pm Green, Kate McKinnell, Catherine Greenwood, Lilian McLaughlin, Anne AYES Greenwood, Margaret McMahon, Jim Griffith, Nia McMorrin, Anna Abbott, rh Ms Diane Butler, Dawn Gwynne, Andrew Mearns, Ian Abrahams, Debbie Byrne, Ian Haigh, Louise Miliband, rh Edward Ali, Rushanara Byrne, rh Liam Hamilton, Fabian Mishra, Navendu Ali, Tahir Cadbury, Ruth Hanna, Claire Monaghan, Carol Allin-Khan, Dr Rosena Callaghan, Amy Hanvey, Neale Moran, Layla Amesbury, Mike Cameron, Dr Lisa Hardy, Emma Morden, Jessica Anderson, Fleur Carden, Dan Harman, rh Ms Harriet Morgan, Stephen Antoniazzi, Tonia Carmichael, rh Mr Alistair Harris, Carolyn Morris, Grahame Ashworth, rh Jonathan Chamberlain, Wendy Hayes, Helen Murray, Ian Bardell, Hannah Champion, Sarah Healey, rh John Murray, James Barker, Paula Chapman, Douglas Hendrick, Sir Mark Nandy, Lisa Beckett, rh Margaret Cherry, Joanna Hendry, Drew Newlands, Gavin Begum, Apsana Clark, Feryal Hill, Mike Nichols, Charlotte Benn, rh Hilary Cooper, Daisy Hillier, Meg Nicolson, John Betts, Mr Clive Cooper, Rosie Hobhouse, Wera Norris, Alex Black, Mhairi Cooper, rh Yvette Hodge, rh Dame Margaret O’Hara, Brendan Blackford, rh Ian Corbyn, rh Jeremy Hodgson, Mrs Sharon Olney, Sarah Blackman, Kirsty Cowan, Ronnie Hollern, Kate Onwurah, Chi Blake, Olivia Coyle, Neil Hopkins, Rachel Oppong-Asare, Abena Blomfield, Paul Crawley, Angela Hosie, rh Stewart Osamor, Kate Bonnar, Steven Creasy, Stella Brabin, Tracy Cruddas, Jon Howarth, rh Sir , Kate Bradshaw, rh Mr Ben Cryer, John Huq, Dr Rupa Oswald, Kirsten Brennan, Kevin Cummins, Judith Hussain, Imran Owatemi, Taiwo Brock, Deidre Cunningham, Alex Jardine, Christine Owen, Sarah Brown, Alan Daby, Janet Jarvis, Dan Peacock, Stephanie Brown, Ms Lyn Davey, rh Ed Johnson, rh Dame Diana Pennycook, Matthew Brown, rh Mr Nicholas David, Wayne Johnson, Kim Perkins, Mr Toby Bryant, Chris Davies, Geraint Jones, Darren Phillips, Jess Buck, Ms Karen Davies-Jones, Alex Jones, Gerald Phillipson, Bridget Burgon, Richard Day, Martyn Jones, rh Mr Kevan Pollard, Luke 1057 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill11 MARCH 2021 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 1058

Powell, Lucy Sultana, Zarah Crabb, rh , Stephen Qureshi, Yasmin Tami, rh Mark Crosbie, Virginia Hancock, rh Matt Rayner, rh Angela Tarry, Sam Crouch, Tracey Hands, rh Greg Reed, Steve Thewliss, Alison Daly, James Harper, rh Mr Mark Rees, Christina Thomas, Gareth Davies, David T. C. Harris, Rebecca Reeves, Ellie Thomas-Symonds, rh Nick Davies, Gareth Harrison, Trudy Reeves, Rachel Thompson, Owen Davies, Dr James Hart, Sally-Ann Reynolds, Jonathan Thomson, Richard Davies, Mims Hart, rh Simon Ribeiro-Addy, Bell Thornberry, rh Emily Davies, Philip Hayes, rh Sir John Rimmer, Ms Marie Timms, rh Stephen Davis, rh Mr David Heald, rh Sir Oliver Rodda, Matt Trickett, Jon Davison, Dehenna Heappey, James Russell-Moyle, Lloyd Turner, Karl Dinenage, Caroline Heaton-Harris, Chris Saville Roberts, rh Liz Twigg, Derek Dines, Miss Sarah Henderson, Gordon Shah, Naz Twist, Liz Djanogly, Mr Jonathan Henry, Darren Sharma, Mr Virendra Vaz, rh Valerie Docherty, Leo Higginbotham, Antony Sheerman, Mr Barry Webbe, Claudia Donelan, Michelle Hinds, rh Damian Sheppard, Tommy West, Catherine Dorries, Ms Nadine Hoare, Simon Siddiq, Tulip Western, Matt Double, Steve Holden, Mr Richard Slaughter, Andy Whitehead, Dr Alan Dowden, rh Oliver Hollinrake, Kevin Smith, Alyn Whitford, Dr Philippa Doyle-Price, Jackie Hollobone, Mr Philip Smith, Cat Whitley, Mick Drax, Richard Holloway, Adam Smith, Jeff Whittome, Nadia Drummond, Mrs Flick Holmes, Paul Smith, Nick Williams, Hywel Duddridge, James Howell, John Smyth, Karin Wilson, Munira Duguid, David Howell, Paul Sobel, Alex Winter, Beth Duncan Smith, rh Sir Iain Huddleston, Nigel Spellar, rh John Wishart, Pete Dunne, rh Philip Hudson, Dr Neil Starmer, rh Keir Eastwood, Mark Hughes, Eddie Yasin, Mohammad Stephens, Chris Edwards, Ruth Hunt, Jane Zeichner, Daniel Stevens, Jo Ellis, rh Michael Hunt, rh Jeremy Stone, Jamie Tellers for the Ayes: Ellwood, rh Mr Tobias Hunt, Tom Streeting, Wes Sir Alan Campbell and Elphicke, Mrs Natalie Jack, rh Mr Alister Stringer, Graham Bambos Charalambous Eustice, rh George Javid, rh Sajid Evans, Dr Luke Jayawardena, Mr Ranil NOES Evennett, rh Sir David Jenkin, Sir Bernard Everitt, Ben Jenkinson, Mark Adams, Nigel Brady, Sir Graham Fabricant, Michael Jenkyns, Andrea Afolami, Bim Braverman, rh Suella Farris, Laura Jenrick, rh Robert Afriyie, Adam Brereton, Jack Fell, Simon Johnson, rh Boris Ahmad Khan, Imran Bridgen, Andrew Fletcher, Katherine Johnson, Dr Caroline Aiken, Nickie Brine, Steve Fletcher, Mark Johnson, Gareth Aldous, Peter Bristow, Paul Fletcher, Nick Johnston, David Allan, Lucy Britcliffe, Sara Ford, Vicky Jones, Andrew Amess, Sir David Brokenshire, rh James Foster, Kevin Jones, rh Mr David Anderson, Lee Browne, Anthony Fox, rh Dr Liam Jones, Fay Anderson, Stuart Bruce, Fiona Francois, rh Mr Mark Jones, Mr Marcus Andrew, rh Stuart Buchan, Felicity Frazer, Lucy Jupp, Simon Ansell, Caroline Buckland, rh Robert Freeman, George Kawczynski, Daniel Argar, Edward Burghart, Alex Freer, Mike Kearns, Alicia Atherton, Sarah Burns, rh Conor Fuller, Richard Keegan, Gillian Atkins, Victoria Butler, Rob Fysh, Mr Marcus Knight, rh Sir Greg Bacon, Gareth Cairns, rh Alun Gale, rh Sir Roger Knight, Julian Bacon, Mr Richard Carter, Andy Garnier, Mark Kruger, Danny Badenoch, Kemi Cartlidge, James Ghani, Ms Nusrat Kwarteng, rh Kwasi Bailey, Shaun Cash, Sir William Gibb, rh Nick Lamont, John Baillie, Siobhan Cates, Miriam Gibson, Peter Largan, Robert Baker, Duncan Chalk, Alex Gideon, Jo Latham, Mrs Pauline Baker, Mr Steve Chishti, Rehman Gillan, rh Dame Cheryl Leadsom, rh Andrea Baldwin, Harriett Churchill, Jo Glen, John Leigh, rh Sir Edward Barclay, rh Steve Clark, rh Greg Goodwill, rh Mr Robert Levy, Ian Baron, Mr John Clarke, Mr Simon Gove, rh Michael Lewer, Andrew Baynes, Simon Clarke, Theo Graham, Richard Lewis, rh Brandon Bell, Aaron Clarke-Smith, Brendan Grant, Mrs Helen Lewis, rh Dr Julian Benton, Scott Clarkson, Chris Gray, James Liddell-Grainger, Mr Ian Beresford, Sir Paul Cleverly, rh James Grayling, rh , Chris Berry, rh Jake Clifton-Brown, Sir Geoffrey Green, Chris Logan, Mark Bhatti, Saqib Coffey, rh Dr Thérèse Green, rh Damian Longhi, Marco Blackman, Bob Colburn, Elliot Griffith, Andrew Lopez, Julia Blunt, Crispin Collins, Damian Griffiths, Kate Lopresti, Jack Bone, Mr Peter Costa, Alberto Grundy, James Lord, Mr Jonathan Bowie, Andrew Courts, Robert Gullis, Jonathan Loughton, Tim Bradley, Ben Coutinho, Claire Halfon, rh Robert Mackinlay, Craig Bradley, rh Karen Cox, rh Sir Geoffrey Hall, Luke Mackrory, Cherilyn 1059 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill11 MARCH 2021 Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill 1060

Maclean, Rachel Penrose, John Stevenson, John Wakeford, Christian Mak, Alan Percy, Andrew Stewart, rh Bob Walker, Sir Charles Malthouse, Kit Philp, Chris Stewart, Iain Walker, Mr Robin Mangnall, Anthony Pincher, rh Christopher Streeter, Sir Gary Wallace, rh Mr Ben Mann, Scott Poulter, Dr Dan Stride, rh Mel Wallis, Dr Jamie Marson, Julie Pow, Rebecca Stuart, Graham Warburton, David May, rh Mrs Theresa Prentis, Victoria Sturdy, Julian Warman, Matt Mayhew, Jerome Pritchard, rh Mark Sunak, rh Rishi Watling, Giles Maynard, Paul Pursglove, Tom Sunderland, James Webb, Suzanne McCartney, Jason Quin, Jeremy Swayne, rh Sir Desmond Whately, Helen McCartney, Karl Quince, Will Syms, Sir Robert Wheeler, Mrs Heather McPartland, Stephen Raab, rh Dominic Thomas, Derek Whittaker, Craig McVey, rh Esther Randall, Tom Throup, Maggie Whittingdale, rh Mr John Menzies, Mark Redwood, rh John Timpson, Edward Wiggin, Bill Mercer, Johnny Rees-Mogg, rh Mr Jacob Tolhurst, Kelly Wild, James Merriman, Huw Richards, Nicola Tomlinson, Justin Williams, Craig Metcalfe, Stephen Richardson, Angela Tomlinson, Michael Williamson, rh Gavin Millar, Robin Roberts, Rob Tracey, Craig Wood, Mike Miller, rh Mrs Maria Robertson, Mr Laurence Trevelyan, rh Anne-Marie Wragg, Mr William Milling, rh Amanda Robinson, Mary Trott, Laura Wright, rh Jeremy Mills, Nigel Rosindell, Andrew Truss, rh Elizabeth Young, Jacob Mitchell, rh Mr Andrew Ross, Douglas Tugendhat, Tom Zahawi, Nadhim Mohindra, Mr Gagan Rowley, Lee Vara, Mr Shailesh Moore, Damien Russell, Dean Vickers, Martin Tellers for the Noes: Moore, Robbie Rutley, David Vickers, Matt James Morris and Mordaunt, rh Penny Sambrook, Gary Villiers, rh Theresa Morris, Anne Marie Saxby, Selaine Morris, David Scully, Paul Question accordingly negatived. Morrissey, Joy Seely, Bob Morton, Wendy Selous, Andrew The list of Members currently certified as eligible for Mullan, Dr Kieran Shannon, Jim a proxy vote, and of the Members nominated as their Mumby-Croft, Holly Shapps, rh Grant proxy, is published at the end of today’s debates. Mundell, rh David Sharma, rh Alok The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair. Murray, Mrs Sheryll Shelbrooke, rh Alec Murrison, rh Dr Andrew Simmonds, David Bill reported, without amendment. Neill, Sir Robert Skidmore, rh Chris Bill read the Third time and passed. Nici, Lia Smith, Chloe Nokes, rh Caroline Smith, Greg Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): We will now Norman, rh Jesse Smith, Henry suspend for three minutes for sanitisation of the Dispatch O’Brien, Neil Smith, rh Julian Offord, Dr Matthew Smith, Royston Boxes, and to allow the safe exit from the Chamber of Opperman, Guy Solloway, Amanda those leaving and the safe arrival of those entering for Parish, Neil Spencer, Dr Ben the next debate. Patel, rh Priti Spencer, rh Mark Paterson, rh Mr Owen Stafford, Alexander 1.55 pm Pawsey, Mark Stephenson, Andrew Sitting suspended. Penning, rh Sir Mike Stevenson, Jane 1061 11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1062

International Women’s Day Deputy Speaker, became the first woman ever to hold the role of Chairman of Ways and Means, bringing [Relevant document: Fifth Report of the Women and your infinite wit and wisdom to that important role. Equalities Committee, Unequal impact? Coronavirus and the gendered economic impact, HC 385.] While we acknowledge these significant milestones, the pandemic has brought existing inequalities into 1.59 pm sharp focus too. Women have faced pressures in balancing work with home schooling and childcare. Domestic Mrs (Basingstoke) (Con): I beg to move, abuse cases have spiralled—up by 83%. When it comes That this House has considered International Women’s Day. to job losses, women have faced a heavy toll, with those It is a privilege to lead this International Women’s aged 25 to 34 facing the highest unemployment rise. Day debate on behalf of members of the all-party The Government’s mission of levelling up is very relevant parliamentary group on women in Parliament, who put to women. To mark International Women’s Day 2021, forward the application. I thank the Backbench Business my message and hope is that a focus on levelling up for Committee for its continued strong support for this women is in place now more than ever before, both here debate as an annual event. in the UK and across the world. I want to start by sending my thoughts and prayers to We have record numbers of female MPs, yet still men the family and friends of Sarah Everard, who are going outnumber women two to one in positions of power. A through such a painful time. Her abduction has sent 50:50 Cabinet would help to ensure that women’s voices shockwaves across the UK. Sarah did everything to are heard where they need to be—right at the heart of avoid danger. Let us be very clear: women are not the Government. This week, as part of a whole host of problem here. For many women, this news story will International Women’s Day celebrations, we heard from bring back memories of threatening situations they the parliamentary archivist, Mari Takayanagi, about found themselves in through no fault of their own, the remarkable contributions of early women MPs and sexually harassed on the streets when walking home the huge impact they had on law-making—how they from meeting friends, receiving anonymous threats of spoke out 100 years ago in this place about the most physical violence on social media, or sexually assaulted sensitive of crimes against women, like FGM. These in plain sight in rush hour on public transport on the stories of courage can be seen in the work of women way to work. Many choose not to talk about this and elected to this House today—women like my right hon. not to report it for fear of not being believed or taken Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), whose seriously. But the research shows that these sorts of courage means that we have world-leading domestic events are part of women’s everyday lives, and that is abuse legislation and the Modern Slavery Act 2015, a why what happened to Sarah Everard feels so very close blueprint for others across the world. to home. We need more women aspiring to become Members The shocking findings of the report published yesterday of Parliament, so I warmly welcome the Women and by the APPG on United Nations women show that Equalities Committee’s inquiry looking at the actions virtually all young women have experienced the threat taken on gender equality in the House of Commons. I of sexual violence in public spaces and, indeed, that hope that we can conduct a second gender-sensitive three in four women of all ages have experienced sexual audit as soon as possible, with a body identified as harassment. Although the raw facts may show that it is being responsible for putting its recommendations into rare for a woman to be abducted, the experience of practice. young women is that the fear of sexual harassment, or Above all, we need 2021 to be the year that we finally worse, is ever in their mind, whether on a night out at grasp the nettle of online abuse, which so badly affects the pub or after threats to their physical safety on social women, particularly those in public life. We need the media, while for the one in six women who will be forthcoming online harms Bill to be more than a set of stalked in their lifetime, the fear of attack is very real. regulatory guidelines. We need laws that make it clear So rather than telling women not to worry, listen to that online abuse is a crime, particularly with regard to our experience.Understand whyso manywomen relentlessly posting intimate images online without consent. A safer, campaigned in this Chamber for change to make women more respectful environment online will also lead to a feel safer by stopping the harassment and threats of kinder politics; I really believe that. In the meantime, let violence in the first place. We should not accept a us stand up to those who gratuitously abuse women culture of violence towards women, we should not be online—particularly women MPs and journalists—to complicit in covering it up, and we need to give help make sure that more women choose to stand for women effective mechanisms to report what happens in election and be leaders in our media too. order to expose the scale of the problem, call it out Women face barriers here in Westminster, but the publicly, and punish those who perpetrate this culture same is still true of other sectors—in healthcare, for of fear. instance, where women account for more than three Reflecting on the past 12 months women have gone quarters of the workforce yet fewer than half have through in terms of their response to the challenges leadership positions. An out-of-date workplace with a presented by coronavirus, at home women have been presenteeism culture does little to support women, prominent in delivering on the frontline of health and particularly when they have had children, so it was social care, with two women professors, Sarah Gilbert helpful to see the Birmingham Business School conduct and Catherine Green, helping to pioneer a global solution research through the pandemic to show that flexible to the pandemic. In the US, Kamala Harris has become working can improve productivity. We need as a nation the first woman to be elected Vice-President of the to adopt flexible working as standard, as part of levelling , shattering another glass ceiling in the up for women and delivering a truly modern British political world. Even closer to home, you, Madam workplace shaped around the whole workforce. We 1063 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1064 need to look closely at what Parliament should retain for an answer. Every young woman, every day, walks from the last 12 months of changed ways of working, under this threat, so they adopt myriad strategies just to so that we can play our part in modernising our get home from work in the dark—choosing the busiest workplace too. route, even if it is longer; keeping their keys in their In levelling up, we need to provide pregnant women hand; trying to go with someone rather than alone; and new mothers with better protections to stop them getting a friend or their partner to map their location on being pushed out of work simply for being pregnant. a phone app; phoning on the way home so that they The Institute for Fiscal Studies has shown that one in know they are expected. four pregnant women felt discriminated against in the Women will find no reassurance at all in the Metropolitan last year. Outlawing pregnant women from being made Police Commissioner’s statement that it is redundant, as Germany has done, would help to stop so “incredibly rare for a woman to be abducted from our streets.” many women falling out of the labour market into low-paid work when they have children. Women know that abduction and murder is just the worst end of a spectrum of everyday male threat to In this mission of levelling up for women, our voice women. When the police advise women not to go out at on the global stage will be just as important. The Prime night on their own, women ask why they have to be Minister has been a long-time advocate for girls’education subjected to an informal curfew. It is not women who as central to levelling up for women across the globe. As are the problem here; it is men. the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office considers its new role, including championing international The criminal justice system fails women and lets men development through open societies, we need to continue off the hook. Whether it is rape or domestic homicide, to take forward this principled commitment to girls’ women are judged and blamed—“Why was she on a education, alongside the UK’sinternationally acknowledged dating app?” “Why was she out late at night?” “Why role in outlawing the other inequalities and abuses that had she been drinking?” “What are those flirty messages women face—for example, abuse in conflict zones, forced on her phone?”—and men find excuses, raking up her marriage and the lack of a host of other basic human previous sexual history in court to try to tarnish her rights. character and prejudice the jury. Let us hear no more false reassurances; let us have action. With the UK leading the G7 this year, there is a truly unique opportunity for our country to show leadership Next Monday, we will be debating in this House the on the global stage in promoting gender equality. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. That is the UK Government ratifying the International Labour chance for the Government to banish the culture of Organisation convention on violence and harassment—the male excuses from the criminal justice system and, first international labour instrument that recognises the instead of blaming women, start protecting them. right of everybody to work free from violence and harassment—would be an act of leadership and an Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing): I appropriate start. Let us celebrate an astonishing year thank the Mother of the House for her very powerful for women and call for a commitment to level up for speech, as ever. We now go to the Chairman of the women across the UK and across the globe, for a fairer Women and Equalities Committee, . society for everybody. Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing): It 2.11 pm will not surprise Members to know that well over 60 people Caroline Nokes (Romsey and Southampton North) wish to participate in the debate, and therefore I am (Con) [V]: It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. afraid that we will have to start and remain with a time and learned Member for Camberwell and Peckham limit of just three minutes. (Ms Harman), who does so much in this place to champion women. 2.8 pm Last year in this debate, we were not learning how to Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham) run a Parliament remotely, and none of us had ever (Lab): I thank the right hon. Member for Basingstoke considered being able to contribute to a debate while (Mrs Miller) for securing the debate, and I agree with admiring the cobwebs on our own light fittings. In the every single word that she said in her excellent speech. spirit of celebration, I am going to think of uplifting This International Women’s Day debate comes in the things to start with, such as the sheer fact that this shadow of the menace of male violence against women. centuries-old institution has learned to flex and change—to I am sure we all feel the same as the Home Secretary, adapt to Zoom and remote voting. who said that she is “deeply saddened”by the developments I thank the Chair of the Procedure Committee, my in the Sarah Everard investigation, and we all hope right hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire Moorlands against hope that we will not hear the news that we all (), for having driven that agenda forward. dread. But at the same time as the sadness, there is real We have seen more women contributing more often in anger among women at the threat that they face on a Commons debates—more female voices in our Chamber, daily basis. That is not to spread alarm; it is to spell out whether physically present or not—and that I celebrate. the reality. We have seen stunning contributions and campaigns Here we are, in the 21st century, in a country where from women right across the House and across Parliament, women and men expect to be equal, but we are not. making desperately needed amendments and improvements Women, particularly young women, are terrified of the to the Domestic Abuse Bill. We have seen women threat of male violence on the streets—men who try to outside Parliament, such as Kate Bingham, who ran the get them to get in their car, who try to get their number, vaccine taskforce determinedly, making sure that we got who follow them, who film them, who will not take no that roll-out. 1065 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1066

[Caroline Nokes] a real living wage, we know that the consequences of that will disproportionately affect women. When we We have heard from the Secretary of State for have a stigmatising social security system that includes International Trade and Minister for Women and Equalities, things such as the rape clause, are we helping women? my right hon. Friend the Member for South West I do not want to sound ungrateful for the progress we Norfolk (Elizabeth Truss), about her support for the have made. Organisations such as Rape Crisis and normalisation of flexible working. That could mean so Women’s Aid serve to educate me just as they inspire much to women, and I look forward to an employment me, but as policymakers we must reflect on whether we Bill coming forward that champions that. are giving such organisations the support they need, But it is impossible for me to turn my contribution and treating their opinions with the value they deserve. today into an unabashed celebration. It is not going The inequality, harassment and poverty that women brilliantly for all women—not here, not anywhere. The disproportionately experience does not come about by hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley (Jess Phillips) nature; it is enabled by our institutions and culture. will speak later, and I know that she will have had to Human beings are varied and complex, and intersectional update that hideous, depressing list she is going to read feminism provides a greater level of clarity as to how out to add the name of Sarah Everard, so tragically inequality can impact different people. For example, the killed while just walking home. Overnight, we saw an experiences of a woman with a disability are likely to outpouring of stories from women about keys, headphones, vary from the specific experiences of a woman of colour. clothes and sticking to lit streets. We all know the reality Only by taking time to look through those additional is you will probably not be attacked by a stranger, but lenses can we begin to unpick what enables that inequality, the fear is there and the fear is real. and learn how we can better support each other as On this International Women’s Day, let us champion women. Rather than trying awkwardly to cram women all women—gay women, who do not need conversion into institutions that undervalue them, and structures therapy; trans women, who want to be treated with that were built long ago for men and by men, we must respect and fairness. Remember, they are the ones most reimagine and reorganise those very structures, but this likely to suffer domestic abuse. time build them with women, especially marginalised I wish to reference the work of the Women and women, at the heart of everything we do. Equalities Committee and its report on the gendered economic impact of covid. That was reinforced yesterday 2.17 pm by the publication from the Office for National Statistics Karen Bradley (Staffordshire Moorlands) (Con): I confirming that women have indeed suffered a greater start by referring to my entry in the Register of Members’ economic impact from the pandemic—more likely to be Financial Interests. It is great to see the Chairman of furloughed than their male colleagues; more likely to Ways and Means—a woman—in the Chair, and I be employed on a part-time contract and not entitled to congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for statutory sick pay; less confident that they will not be Basingstoke (Mrs Miller) on securing this important made redundant. debate. When I left this morning, I told my husband We no longer have to look at health policy in the that I was speaking in an International Women’s Day round because of the announcement this week of the debate. He said, “But that was on Monday”, and I said, women’s health strategy and the call for evidence, “Unfortunately we didn’t get time to debate it on Monday,” but apparently we still have to look at economic policy so I am pleased we are debating it today. in the round and cannot accept data from the ONS Time is short, so I will touch on just two issues. First that women have been harder hit economically. We will is the UK’s leadership and role in combating the abuse not get a female employment strategy, and I do not of women globally. I was a Minister with celebrate that. responsibility for preventing abuse, exploitation and crime, and I saw some of the most grotesque and 2.14 pm horrific crimes that can be inflicted. All too often they Mhairi Black (Paisley and Renfrewshire South) (SNP) were inflicted on women. Breast ironing, female genital [V]: I echo the comments made previously about the mutilation, forced marriage—things that are done to horrific news we are hearing about Sarah Everard. My and forced on women around the world; things that thoughts go out to her and her friends and family. should never happen to any woman. Celebrating women for one day alone is not enough. The UK has had global leadership in this area, and I Women’s issues are not challenges on the periphery that am enormously worried, given the mood music coming can be addressed in isolation, and the problems that from the Government around our commitment to overseas women face are firmly embedded in our everyday politics, aid, that we are not committed to those areas in the way systems and lives. Year after year, the overall experience that once we were. It is the UK’s leadership that has of women largely remains the same, and women are meant that we have seen reductions in these horrific still more likely to experience inequality, poverty and crimes. abuse. The UK’s leadership has also led to the focus on As with all forms of oppression, understanding how 12 years’ education for girls, which the Prime Minister women are held back requires an ability to reassess championed when he was Foreign Secretary. The UK everything as we know it, but through a different lens. has led on modern slavery, which affects men and For example, women make up the majority of part-time women, but predominantly women. Let us be clear: our employment, and when we create an economy in which overseas aid stopped Ebola becoming a pandemic. Those such work is often low paid and insecure, is it a surprise are real achievements that our aid budget has helped to when women disproportionately suffer the consequences deliver and I am desperately worried that we may see of that? When we have a Budget that will not implement that as a nice-to-have rather than an essential. I call on 1067 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1068 the Government to ensure that we have a debate on the As a Labour and Co-operative MP, I will miss my matter and a vote, so that parliamentarians can have a dear friend Karen Wilkie, who is retiring as deputy say on that manifesto commitment. general secretary of the Co-operative party in June, I want quickly to consider Parliament and this place. after 26 years of loyal service. In my role as Chair of the Procedure Committee, I am I thank my daughter Angharad from the bottom of very grateful to my right hon. Friend the Member for my heart for her love and support. Angharad is my Romsey and Southampton North (Caroline Nokes), world. the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee. It has been fantastic to see the way in which Parliament 2.24 pm has adapted. We did not want to be in this situation in Parliament. We did not want to sit 2 metres apart, but Andrea Leadsom (South Northamptonshire) (Con): we have to. We have adapted and women have benefited. Today, I feel pretty angry and sad: angry that women Evidence to the Committee shows that more women walking home in the dark have to be scared of the have used virtual participation than men. More women person walking closely behind them, and sad because have been able to enjoy the benefits of perhaps an even for far too many women, even getting home safely does more family-friendly House. We are following the road not mean they are safe from harm. So I say to all map and are coming to the point where we end lockdown. colleagues right across the House: let us never allow We should look carefully at the things we have done in party politics get in the way of protecting women and the past 12 months and consider what would work for girls. I want to use my short time today to raise an issue the future. that would help women, and that is making flexible work standard. 2.20 pm In 1995, I was working for Barclays. At the age of 32, and five months pregnant with my first child, I was Christina Rees (Neath) (Lab/Co-op) [V]: It is a pleasure promoted to senior executive. Of 240 senior execs, only to see you in the Chair, Madam Deputy Speaker. eight were women. I was told that taking on this massive It is a great privilege to be the first female MP for new job would mean coming back quickly from maternity Neath. I would not be here if it were not for the first leave, and I naively leapt at the chance. Three months female general secretary of Welsh Labour,Baroness Anita after Fred was born, I had fallen in love with him, but Gale of Blaenrhondda, who fought for all-women shortlists. he did not sleep much and I was under huge pressure My hon. Friend the Member for Newport East (Jessica from my male boss to go back to work. I will not dwell Morden) succeeded Baroness Gale and the current general on it, but after post-natal depression and 18 months secretary is Louise Magee—three inspirational female holding down the job while seeking to go part time, and leaders. two miscarriages later, I took legal advice. The head of Gwenda Thomas, the first female Senedd Member the UK bank had said: for Neath, is a staunch advocate for equal opportunities. “We have managed without female directors until now. We Margaret Coleman, widow of former Neath MP Donald certainly do not need part-time ones.” Coleman, is the busiest octogenarian in Neath. Renowned I was advised to sue for constructive dismissal and sex soprano Katherine Jenkins, famous actress and singer discrimination, but blissfully for me, I was now pregnant Siân Phillips and singer Bonnie Tyler are from Neath. with Harry, and this precious pregnancy was not worth During the 1984 miners’ strike, women were at the the stress of a court case so I took voluntary redundancy. front of picket lines, organised valley support groups, The reason that I could have sued was that, even then, and kept spirits up across south Wales. “Pride”was filmed employers were not allowed to refuse to consider part-time in Onllwyn Miners’ Welfare Hall, called the “Palace of work, and 25 years on, that is still the case, but the Culture”by my dear friend Hywel Francis.Dove Workshop 21st century demands change. was formed during the strike, by women for women. Its founders were Hefina Headon, Mair Francis and Lesley Mrs Miller: Does my right hon. Friend not agree that Smith. Dove Workshop retrained women to gain this is one of the many reasons why we should protect qualifications and is the birthplace of the Community pregnant women from being made redundant, as in the University of the Valleys. case that she is talking about? Women are pioneers in sport. As a former Welsh squash international with over 100 caps, and the only Andrea Leadsom: I completely agree with my right female Welsh squash national coach, I was awarded the hon. Friend, and I absolutely agree with everything she Sport Wales Female Coach of the Year in 2008 for my said in her remarks. contribution to squash. I am proud of our current During my time in the Department for Business, Welsh squash senior internationals. Tesni Evans is ranked Energy and Industrial Strategy, a top priority was to world No. 9, is a Commonwealth bronze medallist and make the UK the best place in the world to work, by British Champion two years running. Emily Whitlock is encouraging flexible working as standard, transparency a former world No. 12. Ellie Breach, aged 15, and her of employment terms and regular working hours. I sister Millie, aged 13, from Neath are both age-group planned to bring this forward in the employment rights Welsh internationals. Squash Wales held an International Bill, so that applicants could propose their own working Women’s Day virtual session with Tesni, and more than day as opposed to the employer setting the terms. 40 women across Wales joined in. I will continue to Whether someone works in a supermarket or behind a fight for squash to become an Olympic sport. desk, they should have the right to request a working My friend Bethan Howell, captain of Seven Sisters pattern that suits them without negative consequences. RFC Ladies, a Welsh international and Ospreys player, Of course, employees can already request flexible working, is a fighter for women’s equality, on and off the field. I but I have found that many fear to do so because of am proud to be patron of Seven Sisters RFC Ladies. repercussions for their job security. 1069 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1070

[Andrea Leadsom] Lastly, how often have we said to a friend on the way home, “Be safe—text me when you get home”? The fear Flexible as standard can also be a huge advantage for alone should tell us we have a problem. employers. If job ads do not specify fixed working arrangements, applications will come from a much wider Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing): We and more diverse pool of candidates. Employers must now go to the Father of the House, who, I recollect, has of course be able to refuse unrealistic offers, but enabling taken part in this International Women’s Day debate on flexible as standard will, in my view, improved quality every occasion I have observed over the last 25 years—long of life as well as productivity and diversity in the before it was fashionable. workplace. We know that women provide the majority of part-time workers and also the principal caring roles, so capturing all their talents will benefit both our economy 2.31 pm and our society. So, as we look to build back better, let Sir (Worthing West) (Con): That is us put flexible work as standard at the heart of our probably because my mother thought she would have recovery. been a better MP than I have been, and my wife, daughters and granddaughters are probably certain that 2.27 pm they could be, too. Angela Crawley (Lanark and Hamilton East) (SNP) I want to recognise that there has been progress, but I [V]: As always, it is a pleasure to speak in the International also want to join the right hon. and hon. Ladies— Women’s Day debate. International Women’s Day gives colleagues—who have spoken so far. We will listen in us the opportunity to reflect on the contribution that silence to the next speaker, the hon. Member for women make, here and around the globe, and to look at Birmingham, Yardley (Jess Phillips), giving the roll call how far we have come in the fight for equality and the of those who been killed by men. distance we yet have to travel. Of course, this debate is I echo the remarks that have been and will be made taking place at a time like no other. The past 12 months about the fact that cuts in our target for UN overseas have been incredibly difficult for all of us. Covid has aid will predominantly hit women—the women whom I brought disruption and worry, and to some it has have been dedicated to since I was a trustee of Christian brought heartbreak. It has also exacerbated the inequalities Aid, and since I served on the Select Committee on that were already present, and the means to challenge overseas aid in the 1970s. I hope that the House will these things has been hampered by the outbreak of the have the opportunity to say that the Government should pandemic. Sadly, this has exacerbated the inequality stick to the promise that was proudly in the Conservative between men and women. manifesto at the last election. Only 9% of working-class women in the UK can Domestically, it is not a question of, “Most men work at home. The sectors that are most severely affected behave well most of the time, and no one can claim to are dominated by women, including hospitality,education be perfect,” or a question of, “Why are most women in a and healthcare. With schools and nurseries only partially worse position?” The fact is that we all need to change. I open, it is women who are taking on most of the unpaid hope that we can get to the stage where I do not have to care, often reducing their hours or giving up their carry a whistle on my keyring, and neither do my employment to look after children. It is women who are daughters and granddaughters. more likely to care for their older or disabled relatives People need to feel safe at work, when travelling and and neighbours, and sadly, it is also women who will be in their domestic circumstances. For that to happen, we trapped in their homes self-isolating with an abusive need to find a way to ensure that people have the partner. Despite this, women and girls in the UK have patience and courage to challenge behaviours in themselves been largely invisible from the debate and excluded and others that result in people feeling threatened and from decision making. suffering violence, whether physical, mental or economic. Hundreds of billions of taxpayers’ pounds have been I would like people to be able to be people. I recognise spent without considering the specific challenges that that we may be men, we may be women, we may be women are facing. For example, in January the LSE female, we may be male, we may be mixed, we may have reported that 71% of women in the UK were in some other orientations or we may feel differently. That is not form of employment, but three months later that the point; the point is that we should be safe and secure, figure had dropped by 5%. If they have remained in and we should be able to talk. For that, we need to employment, women have seen their work volumes encourage each other. increase and have also experienced job loss. Furlough I hope that the elements of this debate will be reported was impacting 2.3 million women in January this year. in the newspapers, along with practical suggestions Although the extension is welcome, there should not be about what we can see in ourselves and around us. As a cliff edge to that support. The uplift to universal Dr Richard Stone—one of the assessors, along with credit, worth £1,040 a year to claimants, is due to be Sir William Macpherson, on the Stephen Lawrence axed later this year. That must not happen at all, at any inquiry—said in relation to housing, too often we time. ask the victims to put things right. He said that it is Women have been adversely impacted and are the normally white, middle-class men in full-time jobs who worst affected in this pandemic. There have been a few have the power. It is our responsibility to join with silver linings to the pandemic, and the opportunity for others to make life better. Whatever our age, stage, race, women to work from home and have flexible working is background or religion, people need to be safe, and at more important than ever. I call on the Government to the moment women do not feel safe. I am glad to have take into consideration the findings of the Women and contributed, and I hope to learn from what I will hear in Equalities Committee in this regard. a moment. 1071 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1072

Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing): I Bettison; Kimberley Deakin; Marie Gladders; Paula thank the Father of the House for his contribution, for Leather; Caroline Kayll; Lauren Mae Bloomer; Hansa his constant support in favour of this debate taking Patel; Helen Bannister; Marta Vento; Andreia Rodriguez place here in this Chamber—for which we have had to Guilherme; Joanna Borucka; Azaria Williams; Catherine fight over the years—and for his constant support also Granger; Eileen Dean; Sue Addis; Carol Hart; Jacqueline for the matters discussed here. Price; Mary Wells; Tiprat Argatu; Christie Frewin; I am now going to temporarily suspend the time Souad Bellaha; Ann Turner; N’Taya Elliott-Cleverley; limit, because I appreciate that the hon. Member for Rose Marie Tinton; Ranjit Gill; Helen Joy; Emma Birmingham, Yardley is going to read a list of names. Robertson; Nicole Anderson; Linda Maggs; Carol Smith; Members will know that the reading of lists is prohibited Sophie Moss; Christina Rowe; Susan Hannaby; Michelle in this Chamber, but Mr Speaker has given special Lizanec; Wieslawa Mierzejewska; Judith Rhead; Anna dispensation to the hon. Lady, as has happened in Ovsyannikova; Tina Eyre; Katie Simpson; Bennylyn previous years, to read this particular very sensitive and Burke and her two-year-old daughter; Samantha Heap; very important list. Geetika Goyal; Imogen Bohajczuk; and Wenjing Xu.

2.35 pm There has been much debate over what I would say at the end of the list. Her name rings out across all our Jess Phillips (Birmingham, Yardley) (Lab): Thank media—we have all prayed that the name of Sarah you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and thank you to all in Everard would never be on any list. Let us pray every the Speaker’s Office for their consideration. It shows day and work every day to make sure that nobody’s that Parliament is very committed to this issue. name ends up on this list again. In this place, we count what we care about—we count the vaccines done; we count the number of people on 2.40 pm benefits. We rule or oppose based on a count, and we obsessively track that data. We love to count data about Lia Nici (Great Grimsby) (Con) [V]: I thank the hon. our own popularity. However, we do not currently Member for Birmingham, Yardley (Jess Phillips), who— count dead women. No Government study is done into well, there are no words. There are no words at all. the patterns every year of the data on victims of domestic I want to talk about the influence of women in my abuse who are killed, die by suicide or die suddenly. life. I can honestly say that in my life, when I have Dead women is a thing we have all just accepted as part chosen parts of my career that have been male-dominated, of our daily lives. Dead women are just one of those I have had nothing but support from the male colleagues, things. friends and family members in my life. I would not be Killed women are not vanishingly rare; killed women here today if it was not for their wholehearted support. are common. Dead women do count, and thanks But we need to remember that we do not have that to the brilliant work of Karen Ingala Smith and the support from every man in society. We have come a long Counting Dead Women project, and the academics and way in the UK, but we still have a long way to go. That charities working on the femicide census, these women’s is true not only in this country but around the world. lives and the scale of male violence against women can be known. I want to reflect today on the commemoration of Beatrice Shilling, the now renowned engineer who was Since last year on this day, these are the women killed awarded a gold star for doing a lap around Brooklands in the UK where a man has been convicted or charged at more than 100 mph. That reminded me of my as the primary perpetrator in the case: Vanita Nowell; grandmother who was, in the 1930s and throughout the Tracey Kidd; Nelly Moustafa; Zahida Bi; Josephine second world war,a military dispatch rider on a motorcycle. Kaye; Shadika Mohsin Patel; Maureen Kidd; Wendy She travelled the length and breadth of the country on Morse; Nageeba Alariqy; Elsie Smith; Kelly Stewart; her own. When I started to drive as a young woman, she Gwendoline Bound; Ruth Williams; Victoria Woodhall; would ask me where I had been, but she could never Kelly Fitzgibbons, who was killed alongside her two understand where I had been if I talked about motorways. daughters; Caroline Walker; Katie Walker; Zobaidah I had to talk to her in terms of A roads and B roads, Salangy; Betty Dobbin; Sonia Calvi; Maryan Ismail; because that is how she navigated the country. Often, in Daniela Espirito Santo; Ruth Brown, Denise Keane- blackouts, she had to navigate the country totally in Barnett-Simmons; Jadwiga Szczygielska; Emma Jane the dark. McParland; Louise Aitchison; Silke Hartshorne-Jones; Hyacinth Morris; Louise Smith; Claire Parry; Aya Hachem; I would also like to pay tribute to my mother, who in Melissa Belshaw; Yvonne Lawson McCann; Lyndsey the late 1950s became a police officer. There were so few Alcock; Aneta Zdun; Nikoleta Zdun; Mandy Houghton; women police officers in those days that her police Amy-Leanne Stringfellow; Bibaa Henry; Nicole Smallman; number was 5. She was seen as a great talent and Dawn Bennett; Gemma Marjoram; Karolina Zinkeviciene; became a detective, but to go into the criminal investigation Rosemary Hill; Jackie Hoadley; Khloemae Loy; Kerry department in those days officers had to have special Woolley; Shelly Clark; Bernadette Walker; Stella Frew; dispensation to become a female detective if they were Dawn Fletcher; Deborah Jones; Patrycja Wyrebek; Therasia under the age of 21. Gordon; Esther Egbon; Susan Baird; Balvinder Gahir; Without my grandmother’s and mother’s stories— Lynda Cooper; Lorraine Cox; Suzanne Winnister; without them recollecting what they had done—and Maria Howarth; Abida Karim; Saman Mir Sacharvi; without their advice about what I could do by being Vian Mangrio; Poorna Kaameshwari Sivaraj, who was fearless, going out there and doing the job that I wanted killed alongside her three-year-old son; Louise Rump; to do, working with both male and female colleagues Julie Williams; Rhonda Humphreys; Nicole McGregor; and friends to put something back into society, I would Angela Webber; Carole Wright; Sarah Smith; Ildiko not be where I am today. 1073 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1074

[Lia Nici] every word she said. As for the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley (Jess Phillips), I just hope that, I pay tribute to the working women and our male when she is on her feet next year, she will be speaking colleagues who continue to support the great moves for a much shorter period of time and there are not so forward. I am so proud to be here, and thank you all many women killed at the hands of man. As for my very much. right hon. Friend the Member for South Northamptonshire (Andrea Leadsom), with your permission, Madam Deputy 2.43 pm Speaker, I would like to send her a virtual hug for her Kirsty Blackman (Aberdeen North) (SNP) [V]: It is brave speech. 2021—it is more than 100 years since women got the It is with a heavy heart that we are recognising vote and more than 50 years since the Equal Pay International Women’s Day today, and the mood of the Act 1970. We have come such a long way, and although House has once again been dictated by the actions of we are standing on the shoulders of those who came men, not by the achievements of women. That is the before us and fought for equality, we still have such a reality of our day-to-day lives. It is the actions of men distance to go. that dictate our lives and our choices, and for the next My children are growing up in a deeply unequal few minutes I want—I choose—to celebrate some world with deeply unequal experiences. They are phenomenal women in my constituency, particularly pigeonholed and they are stereotyped. Even now, in Helen Taylor-Thompson. 2021, little girls are told to be kind, to be nice and to Helen Taylor-Thompson lived in the village of Nutley smile, while little boys are told to be brave, to be fast and, unfortunately, I had to attend her funeral last year. and to be strong. How often have we picked up a toy When Helen was around, she was wonderful in providing teddy beer, looked at it and said “he”—used the word me with cups of tea and bits of cake. The reason why “he” to describe it—unless it has a pink bow? In all of she is so important is that, at the age of 19, she signed those cases, we will say “he” for those things. That is the Official Secrets Act and began working for the because this is drummed into us, and this is drummed Special Operations Executive, but she did not stop into our society works. there. Later on, she raised over £3 million and set up the We must consider this—we must look at stereotypes— UK’s first hospice caring for people with AIDS-related and we must always consider intersectionality: we must illnesses. It was the hospice where the late Princess of check our own privilege. Younger women, ethnic minority Wales hugged or shook hands with a Mildmay patient, women, bisexual women, trans women and disabled helping to break the taboo and stigma around HIV and women are more likely to be domestically abused. Terry AIDS. I wonder whether, if Helen Taylor-Thompson Pratchett wrote: had been a man, all us would know her name, but she “Evil begins when you begin to treat people as things.” was a woman, and I want to put her name on record today. But I also think it begins when we remove anyone’s When we celebrate the phenomenal vaccination agency or we remove their right to make their own programme, I hope that we do not whitewash the roles choices. Before we embark on criticising a focus that of women. I want women like those in my constituency someone has, we should all check our own actions and to be recognised, including Charlotte Luck, the practice we should check our own privilege. We have the ability manager of the Meads medical centre, for having done to fight on behalf of others, but we have that ability so much work in ensuring vaccines are rolled out efficiently, because we have our own agency and we have our own and Dr Susie Padgham, a GP based at Saxonbury rights to make choices. Before we can fight for anyone House surgery in Crowborough, who at one point was else, we need to have a measure of privilege that gives us provided with over 1,000 extra vaccines and was able to that those options and the energy to do so. get patients vaccinated in a short period of time. I hope The social security system and this UK Government that their stories are heard too. have done what they can to remove that agency and to I can speak about the progress of women and the fear remove those choices. We can see that by the number of and prejudice that we face, but I want to talk about the women who have had abortions during the course of plight of Uyghur women, who are living the nightmare this pandemic and have said that the two-child policy of “The Handmaid’s Tale”, and in particular the brave and the rape clause have created the financial situation woman Rahima Mahmut, who is a Uyghur survivor. that has forced them into this position. That is horrendous. We should carry her on our shoulders as she fights for In Scotland, we are putting dignity and respect at the the plight of women—women who are forced into being heart of our social security system. Instead of drowning sterilised or having abortions and who have their children out the voices of sidelined minority groups with our removed, all because they are Uyghur and based in own concerns, we should be hearing their voices, we Xinjiang. I hope that we can do much more within our should be listening to their voices and we should be power to support them. amplifying their voices. It is a pleasure to speak in the debate, but it would be Before #MeToo women were experiencing sexual far more powerful if we had more than just three harassment, before George Floyd BAME people were minutes to talk about the phenomenal progress that being murdered and before Sarah Everard’s murder women have made and the work that we have to do. women were scared to walk home alone. We should not be waiting until somebody is murdered before taking their voices seriously. 2.50 pm Wendy Chamberlain (North East Fife) (LD): I 2.47 pm congratulate the right hon. Member for Basingstoke Ms Nusrat Ghani (Wealden) (Con) [V]: I congratulate (Mrs Miller) on securing the debate. International Women’s my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke Day is supposed to be a celebration, but even before the (Mrs Miller) on securing this debate, and I agreed with last 24 hours—given, for example, the progress of the 1075 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1076

Scottish Parliament’s inquiries into the handling of to take part in it. I am the representative man who is harassment complaints and, more generally, the notably here to take the punishment and the blame, and I do more negative impact of the pandemic on women across that—I do not shirk from that responsibility—because, so many areas of their lives—it has not really felt like despite everything that has been achieved for women’s something worth celebrating. rights, this debate proves that this is not a job that has Mr Speaker reminded us earlier today that it would been done; it is still very much a job to do. I think of be inappropriate for us to comment on the live investigation things that have changed in my lifetime, such as the in relation to the tragic disappearance of Sarah Everard. right for a woman to claim she has been raped by her I cannot help but reflect that, of course, it is not all husband, and, in retrospect, it is astonishing that they men; but particularly where men in public positions of were allowed to persist in the modern age. trust are guilty of committing acts of violence against The main point I want to make is about the male women, it could be any man, and women feel compelled blindness that still persists, which can so easily distort to act accordingly. I retweeted a tweet expressing that decisions. We need a political settlement in which it is sentiment last night, and my 16-year-old daughter liked impossible for decisions to be made that fail to recognise it. She never likes my tweets. The fact that she chose to that, while men and women are equal, we have very like that one makes me incredibly sad. different life experiences, which means that we need I also reflect on my own time in the police service. I more women in the room when decisions are being was a trained sexual offences officer. I recall that early formed. Look at how disadvantaged women have been in the 2000s, my force ran a bus advert in Edinburgh in this covid crisis. How much do we think the Government advising women to think about what they drank and have been able to recognise that? who they were with when socialising—basically a plan If we want more women Ministers, I say to my to prevent sexual assault. In my early 20s, as I was then, colleagues on the Government Benches that we need I probably thought that that was reasonable. It shows more women MPs. I was tasked by , how conditioned we all are. when he first became leader, to increase the number of As part of my sexual offences role, I was responsible women candidates who could win Conservative seats. for taking the victim’s statement and then attending any Up until 2010, only 9% of those on the Conservative medical examination. Securing evidence and productions Benches were women. When my right hon. Friend the and maintaining a chain of evidence is crucial, but I Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) was first elected to also witnessed the impact of that initial investigation on this House, she was one of only 13 women Conservative the women involved. Time is a factor—the length of Members. At that same time, the Labour party had 101. time for a sexual offences officer to travel to wherever Today, we still only have 25%. I am very proud of that the assault was taking place, to take a statement, to rapid improvement, but it is not enough. Can I just travel to the place where the medical exam would happen point out to my male colleagues that half the population and for the exam itself, with women not being able to are women? wash or change in that time, in order to preserve evidence. I applaud the Prime Minister’s November statement It is an incredibly invasive process. No matter how that we should have a 50:50 Parliament, but how are we empathetic the investigating officer is—and I like to going to get there? Who stands in the way? It is the think that I always was—they are not your friend; they Conservative party, because we are not making this are not your family member. The real tragedy is that, a happen. Is the only way by legislation? I hope not, but lot of the time, all that comes to absolutely nothing. we men have to understand why so few women come And of course, that is just in the cases of those women forward, why so many women MPs feel hounded and who feel able to contact the police and disclose in the belittled by our political and social media culture, and first place. why most women tend to have shorter political careers than men. I urge my male colleagues to join the Prime So how do we choose to challenge? The challenge to Minister in this ambition. This is not just a women’s the Government is: pass the Domestic Abuse Bill, which issue. We men have to help to make this happen if we has been in the offing for four years; legislate to make believe in it, or else the men are still the problem. misogyny a hate crime; and make sure that those occupying positions of trust are people we really can trust. Men 2.56 pm need to step up. They need to be active allies. International Rosie Duffield (Canterbury) (Lab): Our International Women’s Day is just as much about my 13-year-old son Women’s Day debates are usually a chance for us to as it is about my 16 year-old daughter. celebrate our achievements, our pioneers, our trailblazers— The final challenge is to ourselves. We need to do those fearless glass ceiling smashers. We sigh and roll much more to ensure that when we talk about women our eyes in frustration about how much further we still and about discrimination and violence, we are inclusive. have to go. We remember that in contrast to the 5,000 or Wenjing Lin, 16, died on Friday at her family’s takeaway so men who have sat here, still only 520 women ever restaurant in Wales. The man accused of her murder have. But then we buck ourselves up, rally other women, appeared in court this morning. At the root of much of encourage them, ask them to stand, cheer those who our debate around single-sex spaces is the fear of sexual persist, be positive and push ourselves even further, violence perpetrated by men. Changing men’s behaviour looking forward still to the changes that are surely only changes that debate, and on International Women’s just around the next corner. But not today. Today is for Day, that is a challenge that faces us all. Sarah. I wish we could all tell her just how angry we all feel. I wish she could see how much she has touched our 2.53 pm lives and that we continue to keep her in our prayers. Sir Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) (Con): The women here know that this is the day we hear my I thank my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke wonderful hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, (Mrs Miller) for organising the debate. It is a privilege Yardley (Jess Phillips) read out that list. We bring tissues. 1077 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1078

[Rosie Duffield] The Metropolitan Police Commissioner said yesterday that such cases are rare. Yes, thankfully, it is rare that We prepare ourselves mentally as well as we can to hear women are abducted in this country, but the roll call the names of all the women killed by men since she last from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley (Jess read us that horrific list. We will ourselves not to cry in Phillips) is devastating. Incidents of women being harassed this place, but it is almost impossible not to be overcome are nowhere near rare enough. A recent report from as those names echo around the Chamber: ordinary UN Women UK shows that almost all women—almost and extraordinary women, mothers, daughters, sisters, all women—have been sexually harassed. We must do grandmothers, aunts, cousins, colleagues, best friends, more to address that. neighbours—all loved, all the centre of someone’s world. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill has We know the statistics all too well. We know that arrived in the House. I am pleased that it proposes to every single day of every single week—pandemic or extend the minimum term for sexual and violent offenders not—women are murdered by men. A very quick and and the power to end automatic early release. The basic search on a phone will reveal headlines such as Government should consider ending the standard “Three Women a Week Killed by Domestic Violence determinant sentences for rape so that the Parole Board During Lockdown,” “Domestic Abuse Killings More is always involved before these perpetrators are let out Than Double Amid Covid-19 Lockdown,” and “Calls into the public. to Women’s Helplines Soar During Lockdown.” It goes The Domestic Abuse Bill, thankfully, is progressing on and on and on. well through Parliament and will create a legal definition The outpouring of collective rage over the last 24 hours of domestic abuse to provide clarity that domestic shows that women are tired. We are tired of having to abuse can be financial, verbal and emotional as well as pre-empt possible violence. We are tired of having to physical and sexual. Critically, it is about patterns of risk-assess every ordinary everyday action every hour of abuse over time. More needs to be done. We have seen every day of our lives. We are tired of having to explain from the outpouring of grief, upset, worry and concern and justify every simple choice we make, every opinion that this exhausting pattern needs to end, and I hope we hold, every aspect of our appearance. We are sick of that the violence against women and girls strategy, our voices going unheard, our calls for action being which is forthcoming later this year, will look at what dismissed and delayed; sick of rules being changed to more we can do on police harassment and on the Crown exclude us even in the oldest and seemingly most noble Prosecution Service prosecuting cases. Women have a of our long-established institutions. Sarah Everard has right to feel safe and it is about time that we made that a reignited a fire within us, much like George Floyd did. reality. Enough is enough. We must take a long hard look at society, at social media, at misogyny, at violence, at 3.2 pm ourselves. Let us hope that next year’s list is virtually Dawn Butler (Brent Central) (Lab): I congratulate the non-existent. right hon. Members for Romsey and Southampton It is really painful to see the revelations that brave North (Caroline Nokes) and for Basingstoke (Mrs Miller) women are making individually on platforms such as on securing this debate. . Every woman I know will have a similar story. Every 16 minutes, a woman or a girl is abused. Every If a man is reading some of those stories and is moved, three days, a woman is killed by a man. We heard the list shocked or upset by them, I promise them that the read out by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, women in their life will all have lived some of those Yardley (Jess Phillips). We must get to the root of this experiences themselves. Some of those experiences just crisis. Inequality in society is fuelling the killing of need to be listened to. women. The bullying and silencing of women’s voices 2.59 pm contributes to the abuse that women receive. If a man was killed every three days, there would be investigations (Sevenoaks) (Con) [V]: It is a pleasure, at every level of society. Unfortunately, though, at every Madam Deputy Speaker, to see you in the Chair today. level of society, a man still holds the power—whether it I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for be economically, politically, in the media or the judicial Basingstoke (Mrs Miller) on securing this important system. One woman is killed every three days, but let us debate. ask ourselves this: what are we really doing about it. As the first female Member for Sevenoaks and Swanley, It is time for all those with power to stop being I was going to use my time today to talk about women bystanders in this pandemic and get involved. Just in the covid recovery and the need for flexibility in the yesterday, we read about Sarah Everard who it seems workplace. I strongly support all that my right hon. has been sadly killed. The suspect is a policeman who Friend the Member for South Northamptonshire (Andrea roamed the corridors of Parliament. I have made a Leadsom) had to say, but I want to follow the hon. freedom of information request to establish how many Member for Canterbury (Rosie Duffield) in talking police officers— about the heart-breaking case that we have seen and the developments in the past 24 hours. Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing): Order. What we have seen online is an outpouring of grief I must caution the hon. Lady to be very careful about and of people’s stories about the harassment and violence what she says, please. I will not say any more than that. to which they have been subject over a number of years. Perhaps she could go on to the next part of her speech. These terrors that we experience as we walk down the street, looking over our shoulder, clutching our keys Dawn Butler: I take the point, Madam Deputy Speaker. because we are nervous that someone will come up to I have made a freedom of information request to us, but hoping desperately that we will never have to use establish how many police officers have been investigated them are, sadly, universal experiences. for domestic violence. Recognised journalist Alexandra 1079 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1080

Heal won a Paul Foot prize for uncovering the shocking I challenge the gender pension gap that still exists stories of how police forces handle domestic abuse today. Women, particularly disabled, older, minority complaints against their own officers. Justice for Women ethic, from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds and highlighted the injustices face by women who kill abusive those with caring responsibilities, are among those who partners. Why are so many women charged with murder will have lower lifetime earnings for one reason or as opposed to manslaughter if there is strong evidence another. The gender pension gap is around 40%, more of domestic violence? It is because, predominantly, men than twice the gender pay gap of 17%. This leads to are making the judgments. £7,500 a year less pension for these women on average. There was the recent case of Anthony Williams, who Finally, I also want to reference the results, which was sentenced to five years in jail for strangling his wife have already been mentioned, of a recent survey of to death. She had her keys in her hand and was trying to 1,000 women commissioned by UN Women UK. Over escape. Judge Paul Thomas said that, in his view,Williams’s 70% of UK women say that they have experienced mental health was sexual harassment in public. Only 3% of women aged “severely affected at the time”. 18 to 24 said that they had not experienced any of the This is ridiculous. In 2019, Judge Hayden said: behaviours that were asked about. Only 4% of women reported these incidents, with 45% of women saying “I cannot think of any more obviously fundamental human that they did not believe reporting them would change right than the right of a man to have sex with his wife”— anything. We all need to take this issue seriously. We are really, Justice Hayden? How about the fundamental all aware of the tragedies that occur daily. We must right to life, or the fundamental right to say no? Lord Chief make public places safer for all and we must desist from Justice Burnett said that the small number of sexism victim blaming. cases in courts gives a false impression. I say that all sexism in courts must be eradicated and judges removed. 3.8 pm We need more men tackling male violence against women. We need judges to be barred if they do not (East Surrey) (Con) [V]: I thank my understand that any violence against women and girls is right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mrs Miller) wrong. I welcome Baroness Helic’s amendment to the for securing this debate, and for her wider work Domestic Abuse Bill and I hope that the Minister will championing women. say that the Government will support it. We need to I was recently looking at a BBC poll from the early challenge and interrupt abuse at every level in society, 2000s about the greatest Britons of all time. It is striking so today, I challenge the judiciary. The pool from which because only 13 of the top 100 are women, and most of judges are drawn is too narrow. Retention of women is those are royalty. That is not because women cannot be dismal because of the abuse they suffer at every stage. great explorers, scientists or war heroes; it is because, Our judiciary is poorly served because of misogyny and until relatively recently, we were not afforded those discrimination. We ultimately need a wider pool if we opportunities. What we have been through this past are going to change the culture and structure. Let us year, and what we are still going through, is like a war. start with three Ps—prevent, protect and prosecute. In previous wars, the heroes would have been great men such as the Duke of Wellington, Nelson and Churchill. This time around, people will remember the names of 3.5 pm Sarah Gilbert, Catherine Green, Kate Bingham and Marion Fellows (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) [V]: many more. I am fortunate: I am a white, heterosexual, well-educated Although it is always important to reflect on the woman. I am not a ’50s-born woman, and, as far as I progress we have made, today is a day to reflect on how am aware, I am fit in mind and body. I was married to much more we have to do. Since before I became an MP, the same man for 47 years and jointly raised two sons I have been privileged to work alongside brilliant and a daughter. After leaving university, I received the organisations encouraging women to stand in public same salary as men I worked alongside throughout my life, such as 50:50 Parliament and Women2Win. We working life. Other women are not so lucky. In the spirit know that women are much less likely to put themselves of International Women’s Day, I challenge the treatment forward, but if we are going to rebuild from this pandemic, of these less fortunate women today. I can list only we are going to need the very best talent, no matter a few. what their background or gender. We simply cannot I was raised in a different era by my mother, who was afford to miss out. Although we should do all that we born in 1919. I raised my family differently and, for my can to encourage women to put themselves forward for daughter, some things were easier than they were for what I think is one of the best jobs in the world, I am me.Wehave laws now on equal pay,protected characteristics pleased that the Government are also taking steps to and statutory maternity pay, which makes me wonder address some of the challenges that may put women off, why, last month, the Equality and Human Rights particularly around intimidation and abuse. Commission, in evidence to the Women and Equalities Like many others, this week I have been horrified by Committee, described pregnancy and maternity the disappearance of Sarah Everard. Her family are in discrimination as one of the all our thoughts, as is she. As someone who lived in that “most urgent…threats to equality” area for many years, I have both made that judgment to during this pandemic. I ask myself, is this to be a walk home alone at 9 pm and also felt the nagging fear never-ending fight? The Government must introduce of doing so. redundancy pay gap reporting by protected characteristics When one in four women has experienced domestic and reporting on the numbers of women who have abuse, and nearly 80% of all women have experienced been pregnant or on maternity leave when they were sexual harassment in public spaces, we have to acknowledge made redundant. that there is a lot to do on women’s safety. The responses 1081 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1082

[Claire Coutinho] women suffer most grievously from the effects of poverty. They suffer first and hardest from climate change, food that we have seen in the last few days show just how insecurity, conflict and disorder. As we have heard, so prevalent harassment and violence against women is. I many are in important caring roles, and they are often, know that I have experienced it: in the workplace, in a in the developing world, the earners in families. Some bar,in the street, on public transport and as a student—and 2.1 billion girls live in countries that, even before the that is completely in line with all the other women I pandemic, were not on track to meet any of the gender know. As long as this continues, we will need the brilliant equality targets set down by the United Nations. One of specialist services that we have. I constantly feel so the best ways of changing the world is to educate girls. grateful for East Surrey Domestic Abuse Services, and If we educate girls, they marry later, educate their own Reigate and Banstead Women’s Aid. children, tend to be more likely to be economically I welcome the landmark Domestic Abuse Bill and the active, and adopt leadership roles in their communities. hundreds of millions of pounds that we have added to That is why the Prime Minister is so right to champion—to funding domestic abuse services during the pandemic, aspire to—every girl getting 12 years of education. but they will always need more funding as long as abuse But all this great work will be prejudiced—British is on the rise. I think what they would actually like, leadership will be prejudiced—if we break our promise more than anything, is for us to take away their custom. on the 0.7% commitment. We have recently seen horrific I look forward to the progress that we can make on this, cuts, often of more than 50%, in Britain’s role in this particularly through the upcoming ending violence against area. For example, in family planning—giving women women and girls strategy. control over their own fertility so that they can decide whether and when they have children—there has been 3.11 pm huge British leadership since 2012 and before, but if Mohammad Yasin (Bedford) (Lab) [V]: It is a pleasure these cuts go ahead, 8 million women will not get access to have an opportunity to speak in this debate. Until to family planning. I have seen the powerful effect of recently, thousands of women were detained indefinitely British leadership in this area empowering women. I every year in Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre remember, on one occasion, watching 60 women sitting on the outskirts of Bedford. Many of those women under a tree in Uganda hearing what was possible were survivors of rape, torture and trafficking, and had thanks to UK taxpayers. At the end, they were asked if left their countries to find safety; yet, in the UK, they they wanted to proceed to further consultation about were locked up for weeks and even months on end, contraception and women’s health, and every single causing them huge mental distress. hand under that tree went up. The cause of women’s In 2015, research by the charity Women for Refugee empowerment will be set back if these fearsome cuts go Women found that 40% of women that it spoke to had ahead. self-harmed while in detention. In the same year, the As chair of the G7, we are the only country cutting chief inspector of prisons called Yarl’s Wood a “place back. Only a week ago, France committed to 0.7% for of national concern”. Campaigners, including women the first time. Germany has reached 0.7%. The United who had previously been detained in Yarl’s Wood, States has added $15 billion to the aid budget. We are called for its complete closure—a measure that I have relinquishing our global leadership. Every story on the long called for. But the Home Office did not close Yarl’s world stage will be about cutting life-saving support. Wood. The Home Office has now announced that it is One of the key aspects of global Britain is being trashed planning to open a new immigration removal centre for and binned. The Government must stop being timid and women in County Durham. It has decided to open this put this matter to a vote of this House. Failure to do so new detention centre for women, in spite of the fact that means that that they may be implementing an unlawful the number of women detained under immigration Budget from April. Let the Government ask the House powers is currently at an historic low its view on whether we wish to break the promise on Immigration detention retraumatises women who have which we were all elected just over a year ago. already survived serious human rights abuses. It is also often completely pointless. Home Office statistics show 3.17 pm that in 2018, just 14% of asylum-seeking women who (Congleton) (Con) [V]: International were released from detention centres were removed Women’s Day is an opportunity to highlight how millions from the UK. This Government could not find resources of women worldwide suffer discrimination, persecution in the recent Budget for any investment in areas that and violence doubly on account of their gender and would help women towards greater equality, such as their beliefs. Many are subjected to some of the most childcare, but they can find the resources to open an egregious atrocities on earth today, pressed into slavery, unnecessary detention centre that will retraumatise sexual or otherwise, tricked and subjected to human vulnerable women. trafficking, scarred mentally and physically through the use of rape in conflict. Young girls are sold as a commodity, 3.14 pm deprived of an education and, as a result, of a livelihood Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield) (Con): It is a and any chance of flourishing or reaching their full privilege to take part in this debate. I draw the House’s potential, subject to systematic abuses such as early or attention to my interests set out in the register. forced marriage, female genital mutilation and honour I want to talk about the position of women across the killings, or trapped in prostitution and poverty. world and the deep poverty that disfigures our world. I My duty, as the Prime Minister’s special envoy for think the whole House will accept that we cannot freedom of religion or belief, is to speak out against understand international development unless we see it this. I am proud to be the first woman to have been through the eyes of a girl or a woman, because girls and appointed to this role. Many women around the world 1083 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1084 suffer lower social status or reduced legal rights, which Yesterday it was reported that the Prime Minister and can exacerbate the problems they encounter in trying to President Rouhani had a conversation about Nazanin exercise their freedom of religion or belief. Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s release, and it was heavily implied that the £400 million debt that the UK owes to Iran was It is good that tackling gender and belief-based violence linked to my constituent’s case. I imagined being a fly is a priority for our Government. Let me focus on a few on the wall, listening to two men at the top of their instances where the UK Government are taking action— respective Governments discussing the fate of a poor although of course there is much more to be done. In woman who had been caught as a political pawn between , the ongoing reports of forced marriage and the two countries, taken hostage and imprisoned for conversion of Hindu, Sikh and Muslim women and crimes she did not commit, mentally tortured for years, girls, reportedly hundreds of girls a year, are alarming. I all to serve a diplomatic negotiation with an oppressive raised concerns about this a few days ago at a virtual regime over issues including a debt dating back to the meeting with our high commissioner in Pakistan. I 1970s and the international arms trade. know that my colleagues in the Foreign Office share For a lot of women we will hear about today, their these concerns and regularly raise them with the tragedies have been caused by personal or local Government of Pakistan. In Nigeria, officials have in circumstances. Gabriella’s personal tragedy has been recent months raised with the Nigerian Government caused by global injustice, which has overwhelmingly the case of Christian schoolgirl Leah Sharibu, abducted been orchestrated by men. At this moment, Nazanin’s by Boko Haram and the last of her group still not fate is held in the hands of men: President Rouhani, the released. Our Government are providing a package of judges in Iran and, of course, our Prime Minister. humanitarian and stabilisation support there, including for women, but more—much more—needs to be done. I hope that Nazanin returns to the UK soon, and that she returns to a country that is on a path to true Turning to China, reports of dehumanisation of Uyghur equality between men and women, where her daughter women there are deeply distressing. The Foreign Secretary and my son can walk the same streets as equals. recently addressed the UN Human Rights Council, saying: “The situation in Xinjiang is beyond the pale. The reported 3.23 pm abuses—which include torture, forced labour and forced sterilisation of women—are extreme and they are extensive. They are taking Ruth Edwards (Rushcliffe) (Con): It is a pleasure to place on an industrial scale. It must be our collective duty to follow the hon. Member for Hampstead and Kilburn ensure that this does not go unanswered.” (Tulip Siddiq), who made a powerful speech. Indeed, we must all ensure, as a true response to “A woman is like a tea bag: you can’t tell how strong she is until International Women’s Day, that they do not go you put her in hot water.” unanswered. More needs to be done. After the year we have had, Eleanor Roosevelt’s words Finally, Yazidi and Christian women in suffered certainly strike a chord. Women have spent more time horrific crimes at the hands of Daesh. Iraq must ensure home schooling and are more likely to have been furloughed that minority communities displaced by Daesh are allowed and to have experienced anxiety and loneliness. I want to to return home safely. No one should suffer or be thank all the women in Rushcliffe, whose sacrifices have coerced doubly because of their conscience or their got their families and communities through this pandemic. gender. More needs to be done. In particular, I want to thank four incredible women. First, Hetvi Parekh recently won the Prime Minister’s 3.20 pm Points of Light award for her volunteering with Sewa Day. She has provided hot meals to frontline NHS staff, Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Kilburn) (Lab) [V]: furnished a respite room in Queen’s Medical Centre Recently my four-year-old daughter proudly declared hospital, and made 750 activity packs for children on that she wants to be a politician when she is older, low incomes, which I am told involved wrestling with a because she wants to work to make life easier for other staggering 29,000 pipe cleaners. No task is too big, no people. Her words came back to haunt me when I saw challenge too daunting. She is currently collecting Easter my six-year-old constituent Gabriella Ratcliffe, whose eggs for children living in refuges. life has been anything but easy. Then there is Nicola Brindley,with whom I am working The story of Gabriella’s childhood is well rehearsed. to set up a network of J9 safe spaces in Rushcliffe, She was separated from her mother, Nazanin Zaghari- where survivors of domestic abuse can go to get help. Ratcliffe, when she was still being breastfed at 18 months. J9 is named after Janine Mundy, who was murdered by At the age of two, she had to wear a sack over her head her ex-husband. Nicola has trained 60 people in Rushcliffe. when visiting her mother in prison, and she celebrated She set up J9 in all Nottingham’s jobcentres and launched her third birthday in the waiting room at Evin prison. a programme to train a domestic abuse specialist in By the age of four, she had forgotten how to speak every jobcentre across the country. That work has saved English, and so lost the ability to communicate with her lives from day one. father, Richard. At the age of five, she travelled across Farah Jamil set up Meet, Greet and Eat a year two continents, from Iran to the UK, saying goodbye to ago—a project that enables adults with additional needs her mother indefinitely and promising to be brave. to come together and create a place they can call their I often see Gabriella on my Zoom calls with Richard, own. It helps participants build confidence, communication and she once asked me if mummy would be coming home and practical skills. The group provides food bags and hot in time for Mother’s Day—a plea from a young woman meals to elderly people, and it wants to set up a café and about her imprisoned mother to her female MP felt a social supermarket, providing opportunities for adults particularly poignant on International Women’s Day. with additional needs to learn, grow and be themselves. 1085 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1086

[Ruth Edwards] I take part in this debate knowing that we are many in this Chamber, but not enough. Two hundred and twenty, Jill Mathers started the Cotgrave Community Kitchen to be exact, were elected in 2019 to represent their in 2019 to tackle social isolation. It gets everyone together constituencies in the House of Commons. It should be for a nutritious meal at an affordable price. Refusing to at least 325. Actually, we are 51% of the population, so be beaten by lockdown, Jill and her volunteers provide it should be a few more, but I would happily take 325. 200 weekly food bags and takeaway meals. She also runs We have some way to go. Why? Historically, this place a mini-market with donations from FareShare. She was built by men, for men, as women did not have the cooked 188 Christmas lunches for local pensioners. She vote and could not be MPs until 1918. Its traditions and hopes she will soon be able to open a community café, procedures were developed by and for men, and, in the providing a social space, training opportunities and a most part, the hangover persists. market for locally grown produce. In 2018, before I came here, the “UK Gender-Sensitive Women are survivors. Women are fighters. As the Parliament Audit” was published. It identified stories of Hetvi, Nicola, Farah and Jill show, women “barriers…to equal female representation in Parliament, including: are the heroes at the heart of our communities. The culture of Parliament,” with 3.26 pm “reports of bullying and harassment, and sexual harassment; Afzal Khan (Manchester, Gorton) (Lab): International The challenges that working in Parliament poses for family life, Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate women’s including the unpredictability of business and…long hours; achievements, acknowledge the struggles that women The financial impact of standing for Parliament; and continue to face and recommit ourselves to the ongoing Online threats…in particular gender-based intimidation, fight for equality. The theme of this year’s International harassment and violence” Women’s Day is “choose to challenge”—a reminder to against women parliamentarians and candidates. challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. There has been progress, of course—220 is an all-time It is clear that women in conflict zones carry some of high, women Ministers can now take maternity leave the heaviest burdens. Horrors reported from Xinjiang without having to quit, there is childcare, and the hours reveal how Uyghur women in concentration camps have are not quite so long. I am grateful that I benefit from been violated as part of the Chinese Government’s the stand taken by my colleagues and my predecessors. brutal campaign to curb their Muslim population. The abuses they face include forced sterilisation and labour, However, one of the barriers highlighted in the audit sexual violence and rape, denouncements of faith and has not improved; in fact, it has got worse. Online abuse, torture, all of which can be described only as genocidal intimidation and threats impact all MPs, but I believe acts. Action is desperately needed, so I implore the that gender-based abuse is the biggest single impediment Government to consider sanctions and follow in the we have as a Parliament, and as a country, to ever footsteps of America, Canada and the Netherlands in reaching true equality. Without doubt, women receive declaring China’s treatment of the Uyghurs as genocide. more abuse than men. Many women in this place suffer horrendous amounts of abuse. Being called a “slag”, a As the son of a Kashmiri woman, it pains me deeply “bitch”, a “whore” and worse can be a daily occurrence that women in Kashmir live under some of the most on social media. We refuse to be victims, but we must difficult conditions in the world. They are subjected to call the abuse out for what it is, because it is one of the mass surveillance and sexual violence, and many are main reasons that women choose not to enter politics or half-widows. Their painful stories need to come to an public life. end, but for that to happen there must be sustainable peace in Kashmir, which cannot be imposed by military I recently called out for everyone in my constituency means. Time and again, the UK Government have of Ynys Môn to stand up to the online hate—to call it maintained that Kashmir is a bilateral issue, but the out, to report it and to make doing so as normal as the Kashmir conflict came about as a direct result of Britain’s hate itself has become. The support I have received has actions. Toassume zero responsibility is frankly offensive. been inspiring, but I have also been contacted by women who tell me that they will not stand for public office Global Britain is meaningless unless the UK leads because they have seen the level of abuse that I receive. the global effort to protect and empower those women. Often, it is their families and children that they want to It is disappointing that the Government have cut aid at protect, rather than themselves. a time like this; aid is often the first and last hope of improving women’s and girls’ lives. As a permanent In this debate celebrating women’s achievement, I ask member of the UN Security Council and the UN everyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity or political penholder on women, peace and security, the UK is in a persuasion, not to ignore abusive comments, not to pass rare position to do more. I urge the Minister and the them off as banter and not to think that they do not Government to grasp with both hands the opportunity matter, but to call out the hate. If we want a democracy that is in front of them to make a genuinely transformational that truly represents our beautiful, diverse country, then change that will improve the lives of women and girls we as a society need to take a stand. globally. 3.32 pm 3.29 pm (Bolton South East) (Lab) [V]: It is Virginia Crosbie (Ynys Môn) (Con): It is a pleasure so important that we have this debate each year to to follow so many powerful speeches by Members on honour the contribution of women across society.Covid-19 both sides of the Chamber and of all sexes in such an has highlighted and exacerbated inequality. Because important debate. of deep-rooted gender inequality worldwide, women 1087 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1088 and girls have experienced the pandemic differently. The theme of International Women’s Day this year is Some 47 million women worldwide are expected to fall “Choose to Challenge”, and while I want more women into extreme poverty this year, and 20 million girls, on to challenge for the leadership in their field, whatever it top of the 131 million out of school before the crisis, is, we must recognise that our ability to make that may now never return to school. choice often depends on an accident of birth or nationality. We have seen a huge surge in gender-based violence. I have been reading the World Economic Forum’s report In some parts of the world, it has been called a “shadow on the global gender gap, which contains striking details pandemic”. Women’s sexual and reproductive rights on the subtleties of inequality.Without including women, and services have been dramatically reduced. That is who are half the world’s talent, we will not be able to why the Opposition have been calling for gender analyses deliver the fourth industrial revolution for all societies, in the UK’s international response to covid-19. Instead, or grow our economies for shared prosperity. the Government shut down the Department for Technology is still overly dominated by men, but there International Development, which was renowned for its is also potential for it to improve the place of women in work on gender equality around the world, and now, as the world. Technology offers us a means of education, and the Father of the House pointed out earlier, they are a channel for us to communicate with those who face slashing the aid budget. oppression. It also offers a means for women, whose The Government must reverse their decision to cut stories we might not otherwise hear, to get those stories their aid from 0.7% to 0.5%. That will threaten lives. Let to the outside world. Sometimes they are positive stories, me give an example. There has been a 60% cut to the but too often they are stories of abuse and neglect. International Rescue Committee’s health programme in Technology can help to empower women through Sierra Leone, which helps over 3 million mostly teenage education. “Knowledge is power” might be a cliché, but girls in a country where one in 17 women dies in it is also a solution to reducing gender inequality. We pregnancy or childbirth. The global covid response has should surely be using our foreign aid to harness the abandoned women and girls. Another programme in technology that women can use for education, business Rwanda, which was helping over 200,000 young girls, and leadership. The covid pandemic has shown us all has also been scrapped. how we can work differently, so in the spirit of this day, I “choose to challenge” every Government, organisation On International Women’s Day, my hon. Friend the and non-governmental organisation to be more effective Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Preet Kaur Gill) in using technology directly to empower women and and I launched a consultation on advancing gender beat gender inequality. equality in development. If we really want to understand how to address structural inequalities in our society and 3.38 pm in the world, we must engage with communities and civil society, and understand the international perspective Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Streatham) (Lab): Women in my active in the global south. Will the Minister please community have been shaken to the core by the abduction speak to the Foreign Secretary and reverse the aid cuts of my constituent, Sarah Everard. The ongoing investigation that are taking place, because they are endangering so means that there is only so much we can say, but the many women who are already in difficult circumstances? response to the appeal and the investigation show that Only if we all fight together and stand in solidarity can Sarah was much loved, and my thoughts and prayers go we make a better, more equal world. out to her family, her boyfriend, and her friends at this unimaginably difficult time. Sarah’s disappearance has left so many women feeling 3.35 pm unsafe. With the theme of International Women’s Day, Mrs (Meon Valley) (Con): Like I choose to challenge the disgusting victim shaming that others, my thoughts are constantly with the family of we have seen since Sarah’s disappearance. It should go Sarah Everard. I have daughters around the same age, without saying that victims of gender violence are not and I can only imagine how devastated the family must to blame. Sarah did nothing wrong. All she did was be at what has happened. I am grateful to the hon. walk home. Member for Birmingham, Yardley (Jess Phillips) for her It should not be luck that sees us home safely at yearly reminder of the dangers that many women face, night; it should be our fundamental right, respected by both here and around the world, as they continue to be all. So on Saturday, as the sun sets, I choose to challenge attacked for their gender. the reality that being a woman means I am not safe, and Last week I spoke to one of my oldest friends, I will join Lambeth Councillors Anna Birley and Jess Leigh Henrietta Blyth of Open Doors, on a Facebook Live and others, who will be leading a vigil for Sarah and chat. We talked about how Christian women around the reclaiming our streets. world face the double danger of being attacked not only As we reclaim our streets in unity, I ask all women to because of their gender, but because of their religion. We remember what that unity means. Earlier this week, the are seeing the systematic murder of women in leadership world watched as a biracial woman recounted her struggle roles in places such as Afghanistan. Those women with mental health and her experience of racism. We could be the future in a failed state and could make a then saw how easily and vocally people berated her and difference, yet they are gunned down. On a more positive refused to believe her, even other women. I choose to note, I welcome to her post Najla El Mangoush, who challenge a feminism that is not intersectional and that yesterday was confirmed as Libya’s Foreign Minister by all too easily forgets the impact of racism on so many its Parliament—the first woman to hold the post. I women. It is wrong for those who have never faced know that all Members of the House will wish her and racism to discount the experience of those who have, her colleagues well in re-establishing peace and order just as it is wrong when men discount our experiences of in Libya. sexism and harassment. Our allyship cannot be selective. 1089 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1090

[Bell Ribeiro-Addy] 3.44 pm Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab) In our country, one in four black women dies in [V]: I thank the right hon. Member for Basingstoke childbirth. I know this pain all too well. My own pregnancy (Mrs Miller) for securing this debate to mark International nearly killed me and my daughter did not survive. The Women’s Day. children of black women have a 121% increased risk of being stillborn and a 50% increased risk of neonatal I would like to begin by celebrating a number of death. As women, we are told that it is just one of those women in my constituency who have gone above and things, but staggering health inequalities and outcomes beyond to serve our community during this difficult tell a different story. When, like me, you relive the year. Dr Sam Parrett OBE, principal of London and experience again and again, it is not hard to find instances South East Education Group, has done so much to where how you are perceived or if you are believed as a ensure that young people were supported throughout black woman make all the difference. I pay tribute to the pandemic. Sue Stockham, an ovarian cancer survivor, the work of the campaign Five X More, which continues is using her experience to raise awareness about the to raise awareness and call for change. I hope the House signs of ovarian cancer and the importance of getting will give Members time to fully debate the issue of black help quickly during the pandemic. Carmel Britto is the maternal health. founding director of LPF Kiddies Club, which offers educational enrichment to young children from African I choose to challenge a world in which all women do and Caribbean backgrounds. Kate Heaps is the chief not have the equality they deserve. executive of Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice. Yeukai Taruvinga is the founder and director of Active 3.41 pm Horizons, a charity that works to support black and Derek Thomas (St Ives) (Con) [V]: The UK is a ethnic minority young people in Bexley. Yeukai grew up signatory to the 17 sustainable development goals, which in Zimbabwe but came to this country after her political I wish we discussed much more in the House. Succeeding activism in Zimbabwe made her the target of a campaign in delivering them will lead to women and girls having of intimidation and violence. the greatest opportunity to live full, safe and rewarding And of course, there are the many women who have lives. That is not because the 17 goals are targeted served on the frontline during the pandemic as doctors, specifically towards the life chances and rights of women nurses, carers, cleaners and other key workers. I am and girls, but because we know that, sadly, women and afraid I cannot name them all, but we must not forget girls are most likely to be adversely affected by poverty, the sacrifices they have made and the burden that has prejudice, limited opportunities and poor quality water, fallen on them. I also take this opportunity to support to mention just a few of the injustices in the world. Unison’s campaign to create a lasting memorial to the The UK has reason to be proud of its role and record matchgirls—the women who took strike action against of raising those issues, which have an impact on world’s poor working conditions at the Bryant and May match poorest people, as we meet our foreign aid commitments factory in east London. and responsibilities. However, to mark International As well as celebrating the achievements of women, Women’s Day, I call on the Government to review our this debate is an opportunity to talk about the challenges progress on the sustainable development goals and especially and barriers that women continue to face in all walks of the areas that most affect women. life. Given the events of the last week, I want to talk The sustainable development goals cover 17 specific about violence against women. My thoughts are with areas, but I want to mention just a few. When we Sarah Everard’s family and friends at this awful time, adopted the goals in 2015, we said that we would but I also think of Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry. commit to ruling out poverty, ending hunger, providing While those cases are particularly shocking, we must good health and wellbeing, ensuring access to education, not forget that most violence against women occurs delivering gender equality, providing clean water and within the home. In the boroughs I represent, domestic sanitation, and giving greater access to decent work and violence is a significant problem. The pandemic and economic growth. Those are just seven of the 17 goals lockdown have only made this situation worse, with the and they all offer real hope, opportunity and improved Met reporting an 8.5% increase in domestic abuse incidents life chances for women and girls around the world. compared with the year before. Given the Government’s continuing commitment to I will finish with three specific asks of the Government. those worthy outcomes, I gently ask them to question First, the Government need to properly invest in and themselves about the justification for the cut in our UK reform the sectors that overwhelmingly employ women— foreign aid. International aid has led the war on forced most notably, the care sector. Secondly, the Government labour among migrant women and started to crack must commit to be more transparent about the impact down on human trafficking. The UK has led the global of policies and decisions on women, particularly black action on that. Foreign aid has led to African women and Asian women, including through gender pay gap finding a market for their camels’ milk and been essential reporting. Finally, the Government must provide targeted in the fight to end violence against women and girls in support for women to recover from the pandemic, including Lebanon. UK aid is critical in addressing the displacement investment in women’s mental health services, helping of women due to conflict, climate change and, more young women back into work and funding specialist recently, the covid pandemic. domestic violence services. As we mark International Women’s Day, will the Government consider what impact cutting international 3.47 pm aid will have now and for years to come on the women Miriam Cates (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Con) and girls who need our help if they are to lead full and [V]: This debate gives us a fantastic opportunity to fulfilling lives? celebrate women. As 21st-century women in Britain, we 1091 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1092 have so much to be thankful for: education, opportunities, Thanks to Karen Ingala Smith’s Femicide Census, we free healthcare and full equality under the law. Much of now have detailed, comparable data on femicides in the what has been achieved over the last century has been UK since 2009. In a report published at the end of last about empowering women by releasing choices and year,the Femicide Census examined 1,425 cases of women freedoms that our great grandmothers could barely killed by men. It found that the number of women have imagined. We have the choice over who we vote for, killed every year by men has stayed distressingly consistent choices over fertility, choice of career and freedom over over the past decade, at between 124 and 168 each year. our finances. Those achievements should be celebrated, This raises serious questions about the state’s response and we are deeply grateful to those who have gone to men’s violence against women in the past decade. before. The Femicide Census believes there is a lack of willingness But in recent years, the focus of progress has become to tackle the root causes of this violence, and identifies too narrow, and some of the things we are now fighting a number of systemic problems, including a lack of for in the name of equality are actually reducing the funding for and cuts to the specialist women’s sector choice, freedom and happiness of many women. So and a failure to collate, store and make easily accessible much of our recent attention in the UK has rightly been transparent, disaggregated data on violence against women. focused on trying to enable women to both work and Weneed this data because sex matters.Women are uniquely have a family life, with more free childcare, more flexible vulnerable to men’s violence because men are so much working, equal pay and excellent maternity rights. That stronger than us. That is a fact of our different biological has certainly benefited many women, particularly those make-up. Sex matters. who are well paid, with careers that are stimulating, This week, as women responded on social media to rewarding and influential. But many women do not the horror of the abduction of Sarah Everard, one have a career—they have a job—and for many women, woman tweeted: if they had a choice, they would spend more time with “Half my timeline is women being told they’re responsible for their children and less time in the workplace. keeping themselves safe from male violence. Half is women being Sadly, women in previous generations did not have told they’re bigots for insisting on retaining existing protections the choice to work, but in modern Britain many women against male violence.” no longer have the choice not to work. Our individualistic Her exasperation echoes that felt by many women. It tax system places a huge penalty on single-earner families, feels like our society is going backwards. Women who with UK families paying as much as 30% more tax than speak up for women’s rights are accused of bad behaviour, those in similar countries. while men accused of abusive behaviour are often shielded The penalty is so high that for a one-earner family to from the consequences of their actions. have the same standard of living as a single person on Men are still largely in charge, and many women who median income, the breadwinner needs to have a salary get the top are too scared, once they are there, to of £60,000—a wage that is simply unattainable for the challenge men who want to silence and control women. vast majority of families. For many women, then, there So they invent a new kind of feminism—one that is so is no choice but to work long hours, not in some inclusive and so kind that it will not dare name the stimulating, highly rewarding professional job, but in a problems that women face. Nobody wants to pit women job that pulls them away from their young children and against men, but we need to be able to name the denies them the time and energy that they want to problem of male violence against women. We also need spend on their families. A recent YouGov survey showed to be able to acknowledge that sex does matter, without that 78% of mothers of pre-schoolers would prefer to being labelled bigots. The high incidence of male violence work part time or not at all. against women shows us that sex is a reality that we As we approach Mother’s Day, we need to recognise cannot ignore. If we ignore the reality of sex, we distort that mothers who invest time in their children are doing reality in a way that will only make women more a great service to society, and that a woman’s value is vulnerable. not determined only by her economic output. Choosing to stay at home when children are small should not be a 3.53 pm privilege that only the richest can afford and should not be seen as an inferior choice or second best. For progress (Hyndburn) (Con): I am pleased to to continue, we must enable women to have a genuine contribute to this debate as the first female MP for choice to spend more time with their children if they Hyndburn and Haslingden. want to, including by looking at reforming the tax International Women’s Day is hugely important in system to recognise family responsibilities. Let us celebrate recognising women around the world. It is a time to International Women’s Day by committing to giving all reflect on the work that they do and a day to celebrate UK women real freedom and real choice over both their all that we have achieved. But women have significant work and their family lives. battles to face whenever they try to succeed, progress or do something to make a difference. 3.50 pm “A little girl incapable of thinking for herself”; “A cut-and-paste MP out of her depth”; “Apygmy lower than Joanna Cherry (Edinburgh South West) (SNP) [V]: In vermin”—these are just some of the insults I have a debate to mark International Women’s Day, it should received since being elected just over a year ago. I not be a revolutionary statement to say that sex matters. have been objectified, patronised and threatened on But it is and it does. more occasions than I care to count. My age, my looks Despite the fact that men’s violence against women is and particularly my gender have been used as weapons a leading cause of the premature death of women to try to undermine my confidence and “put me back in globally, research in the UK and Europe is inadequate. my place.” 1093 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1094

[Sara Britcliffe] this was a woman who wanted to use her experience for good and for change. Melissa moved to Amy’s Place Sadly, my experiences are not unique or even in the after spending time at residential addiction centres in minority. Indeed, I would be surprised if we could find Wiltshire and London. one female Member of Parliament across the whole After years of drinking and several attempts to manage House who has not had some kind of threat or abuse, or her addiction at home, with the help of outstanding just casual sexism during their time in office. specialists and therapists Melissa has now been sober for over three years. Melissa chose to challenge her Chris Clarkson (Heywood and Middleton) (Con): As addiction and her book, which follows her journey in all my hon. Friend knows, my parents and quite a lot of its sometimes heart-wrenching glory, is outstanding in my family live in her constituency. Their opinion of her the way it challenges the perception of addiction and its is that she is an extremely capable Member of Parliament. associated taboos. It has made me cry, but it has also She is also the youngest Member on our Benches. Does made me laugh out loud at times. Melissa is a strong she agree that it is really important for young women to young woman and I am so proud of her determination see strong women in this place? not just to turn her life around, but to help others to do Sara Britcliffe: I thank my hon. Friend. I absolutely the same. agree. Helping others is also key to the work of two other On a day when we celebrate the social, economic, wonderful women who deserve to be celebrated. Powered cultural and political achievements of women, I wanted by the belief that hygiene and being clean is a human to share my own story and highlight that, even in 2021, right not a luxury, journalist Sali Hughes and beauty the experience of men and women can still be very PR legend Jo Jones joined forces three years ago to set different. Even by highlighting this problem and making up Beauty Banks. This not-for-profit organisation collects this speech today, I am encouraging the trolls, the incels discontinued and unused stock from an array of high and the other people who like to see me as a target. I street and high-end brands and redistributes it to those will probably be accused of being a man-hater, or experiencing hygiene poverty.Sali and Jo chose to challenge dismissed as overly emotional or seeking attention. the poverty that they were witnessing, and they challenged the beauty industry to do something about it. The It is not just in politics that we see this. Women in results of their determination have made such a difference every industry—from journalism to the armed forces, to the lives of so many. Beauty Banks: please look it up! from lawto business and those on the factory floor—report The dignity it gives to so many is something that we similar experiences. Many stayed silent until last night, should all be championing. So I say to all women today, as we read and heard about Sarah Everard. They opened and to all young girls who are the women of tomorrow: up because they realise that this happens in everyday be strong, be determined, be supportive, be yourself society. For the first time, I publicly spoke about being and be proud of your achievements. mugged at 12 years old. I spoke about it because of comments that hit home about “not walking down that street at night alone.” This is what we still see today in 4 pm this day and age. Jackie Doyle-Price (Thurrock) (Con): May I first say Through learning from other women and recognising how nice it is to see so many men contributing to the the position I hold, silence is no longer an option. We debate this year? That has not always been the case in need to speak about this because we need to break the norm. previous years, but the fight for equality for women is as I am not saying that to suggest I am a unique victim; I much their fight as it is ours, and I am grateful for their am saying it because it is a widespread experience for support. We should all be champions of equality. women. We all need to stand up because it has to stop. I was driving home last evening when the news about To finish, I would like to end with a quote from the arrest in the case of Sarah Everard was breaking. I Malala Yousafzai: was listening to the radio and a gentlemen journalist “I raise up my voice—not so I can shout, but so that those expressed his horror at the report that 97% of all women without a voice can be heard…we cannot succeed when half of us aged between 18 and 24 had experienced some degree of are held back.” sexual assault or sexual harassment. I do not think that figure will come as a surprise to any woman in this 3.57 pm room, because we spend all our lives dealing with the Carolyn Harris (Swansea East) (Lab) [V]: Today, I reality that some men objectify us and behave as sexual would like to celebrate the achievements of a few women predators. It is so sad that it takes such a horrendous that I am proud to have in my life. This year’s theme is case as the one we are living through at the moment to “Choose to challenge” and these women have done just bring that home, but this has become normalised. That that—achieving great things, often in the face of adversity. is why I make no apology for continuing to fight for These are women who deserve to have their stories women’s safe spaces. This is our lived reality. Not a day shared and their names remembered. goes by when we do not take a decision to protect our I have a team of staff who are predominantly women. own safety; that has become part of the way of living as The newest member of our team is a young lady from a woman. Kirby called Melissa Rice. Remember that name and if There is so much I could say today, but there is so you read one book this year, read hers: “Sobering: little time. I want to raise the issue of the criminal Lessons Learnt the Hard Way on Drinking, Thinking justice system. I am sure that many Members will have and Quitting”. I first met Melissa back in 2019 when been horrified to see the sentence handed down for the she was living at Amy’s Place, a recovery house set up by murder of Ruth Williams. Her husband, who was her the Amy Winehouse Foundation for young women who murderer, received a sentence of just five years. At a are overcoming drug and alcohol addiction. Even then, time when some people are mooting 10-year sentences 1095 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1096 for bringing down statues, I think that puts a very low We have come so far as women, but there is still so much value on a woman’s life. It feels to me that the criminal more to challenge. I ask hon. and right hon. Ladies justice system is perpetuating a fiction that women in from across the political divide that we are not divided domestic contexts are effectively the property of their on these issues. husbands or partners, and that is why we see such low sentences in cases of domestic abuse that lead to death. 4.6 pm That really needs to be tackled. Dehenna Davison (Bishop Auckland) (Con) [V]: I In the few seconds I have left, I would like to pay start by echoing the comments and sadness expressed tribute to Keira Bell, a very inspiring woman I had the by so many colleagues about Sarah Everard. I cannot good fortune to meet last month. Keira had the experience begin to imagine what her family are going through, but of being put on gender dysphoria treatment as a teenager. I send my deepest thoughts and prayers to them and to It led to hormone treatment and a double mastectomy, the families of all those mentioned by the hon. Member but she realised that her issue was not that she wanted for Birmingham, Yardley (Jess Phillips). to be a man; she was a lesbian. This brings home the real difficulty we have with gender dysphoria treatment I entered the world of politics completely by accident for children. We must ensure that our pathways are safe in 2009. Little did I know that 10 years later, I would be and that we do not make young girls do things that are one of the record 220 female MPs here on the green irreversible when the issue is their sexuality. Benches, proudly representing Bishop Auckland. Some of those on the Opposition Benches may groan, but my 4.3 pm accidental interest in politics was sparked after watching Janet Daby (Lewisham East) (Lab) [V]: I am grateful a video at school about our first female Prime Minister, to speak in this debate, and although it should really be Margaret Thatcher. Taking politics out of the equation, a debate of celebration, I shall begin by saying that my because at that time I did not know the difference thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of between Labour and the Tories anyway, seeing a woman Sarah Everard. We all need to do all we can to ensure so unapologetically powerful and in the highest job in the that the UK is a safe place for all women. I also wish to land meant that I grew up never for a second doubting acknowledge the powerful and meaningful contribution that a woman’s place could be in No. 10. Again putting from the hon. Member for Hyndburn (Sara Britcliffe), politics aside, that is why I so warmly welcomed Kamala who spoke a moment ago. Harris becoming the first female Vice-President of the United States, because representation matters. I now wish to turn my focus to the cruelty that so many women experience in other parts of the world. In the decade since then, so much has changed for The brutal Chinese communist party regime in China women. Lazy stereotypes have been consistently challenged has put hundreds of thousands of lives under threat. and we are seeing more representation across all walks The women of the Uyghur Muslim community are of life. We have seen the first female winner of the Abel being persecuted as we speak, in what our Government prize for mathematics, the first female Doctor Who, and really need to accept is an attempt at genocide. In we have even had the first Marvel film to feature a Xinjiang province, women have been sterilised en masse female solo lead with “Captain Marvel”. I am pleased in an attempt to reduce the population, women have to say I have a figure of her standing proudly in my been forced to have abortions and women have been office in Parliament. separated from their children as they go off to prison In this place, much has been introduced to tackle the camps and their children go to orphanages. In the prison obstacles faced by women today and to try to demolish camps they are systematically raped by prison guards. them for the next generation. We have had the Equality They are beaten and their morale is broken. Footage Act 2010 and the largest ever single investment to help has been found of large-scale forced labour where they end female genital mutilation. We are leading the world are picking cotton, which then ends up on our clothes in promoting the right of every girl to quality education. rails. It is devastating speaking about this, but what is We are protecting women. We have reformed divorce even worse is that our Government are doing nothing. laws for the first time in 50 years. We will soon have the We sit back and merely condemn the Chinese regime, online harms Bill, which is set to challenge how we and the suffering of Uyghur women is getting worse by tackle harmful online content, and we are in the final the day. I call for the Foreign Secretary to impose stages of the landmark Domestic Abuse Bill, but we sanctions on the Chinese officials committing these cannot legislate to change attitudes. abuses and to declare that it is a programme of genocide. As this year’s theme for International Women’s Day Women are also being persecuted for their faith. is “Choose to challenge”, I want to challenge the double Open Doors UK has written about women and girls standards that exist in society for women. A female being at greater risk of gender-specific religious persecution, worker is still more likely to face questions on balancing including forced marriages, sexual violence and emotional home and work life, as though home is where we abuse. ActionAid UK has made it clear that the UK has women should be. If a man is a leader, a woman is a significant impact on challenging the oppression of bossy.If a man is considered, a woman is over-emotional. women around the world. If we restored the 0.7% rate If a man speaks his mind, a woman is oversharing. A of overseas aid, which our Government tragically cut man can react, but a woman can only ever overreact. last year, it would make a huge difference to so many To any woman wanting to enter politics at local or people’s lives. national level, this is a rallying cry. We cannot allow We are co-leaders of the UN action coalition on ourselves to be silenced by fear. We will not stand for gender-based violence. How can we hold that position abuse, and we will be here to lift one another, because with integrity while at the same time breaking our financial with every female elected, we see greater representation promises to charities and NGOs around the world? and, with that, the hope that one day a young girl Today we are reminded of male violence against women. watching this debate will see someone who looks like 1097 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1098

[Dehenna Davison] and for the focus they have put on tackling this issue by giving the violence against women, domestic abuse and her, and she will know that she can achieve anything— sexual violence sector in Wales extra funding this year. becoming an MP, Home Secretary or even Prime Lady Rhondda wrote that the suffragette movement Minister—because, after all, a woman’s place is anywhere gave women she wants to be. “hope of freedom and power and opportunity.” 4.9 pm It is vital, as we rebuild after this pandemic, that we progress from where we were so that every woman has Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab) [V]: Can I, too, the freedom and power and opportunity to live their life associate myself with all the thoughts expressed for however they wish. Sarah Everard and all those mentioned? International Women’s Day and this debate are a 4.12 pm chance for us both to celebrate those who came before us and to commit to fight for a better future for the women Chris Clarkson (Heywood and Middleton) (Con): It to come. In celebrating those who came before us, can I is a pleasure to take part in this debate on International start by putting on record my appreciation for the Women’s Day as a Member from the original suffragette fantastic inspiring women of the Statue for Lady Rhondda city of Manchester, home of Emmeline Pankhurst, and group, led by the feisty campaigner Julie Nicholas, who as a proud feminist. Women are the majority of the are fundraising for a statue of Lady Rhondda in Newport UK’s population, but only a third of the Members of as one of the next statues in the Monumental Welsh this place. While I am sure there is a strong quality Women campaign? Newport East’s Lady Rhondda, a versus quantity argument to be made, that sits badly suffragette who campaigned for women to take their with the majority of us who value fairness. For me, the seats in the other place, has been described as the problem lies partly in the belief that it is perfectly acceptable for a young woman to have a male mentor or “greatest global businesswoman of her era.” adviser, but it is seen somehow as unusual or undesirable She was the editor of Time and Tide magazine, which for a man to look up to a women as a role model. campaigned for gender equality, and she even survived I was lucky enough to grow up with strong female the sinking of the Lusitania. Any one of these achievements role models,and I was later encouraged by some remarkable would have secured her place in history, but she did it women on my way to this place. I would like to take a all. It is fitting that we celebrate her in this way, as you moment to thank them from this Chamber, because I cannot be what you cannot see. simply would not be here without them. In particular, I I would like to take a moment to thank all those would like to thank Judith Tope, who taught me the dedicated women on the frontline as key workers in my value of taking your duty seriously and yourself less so; constituency during the pandemic, as women are twice Laura Evans, one of the most selfless, self-effacing and as likely as men to be key workers in Wales. I also want genuinely good people I know, and hopefully the next to put on record my thanks to Judith Paget and Mayor of Greater Manchester; and my noble Friend Sarah Aitken at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board; Baroness Williams of Trafford, who changed my life Jane Mudd, Newport City Council leader; Pam Kelly, forever over a glass of wine in her kitchen simply with Gwent’s chief constable; and all those carrying the the line, “Why don’t you stand?” enormous responsibility in their leadership roles in this It is mind-boggling to people of my generation that unprecedented year. there should be any barrier to a woman being able to I want to highlight research by the Welsh gender achieve her potential, and I have to hope that the idea equality charity Chwarae Teg in its third “State of the will be utterly inconceivable to generations after. However, Nation” report, which monitored the impact of women’s until they are on these Benches and the third, fourth experiences, and thank it for the focus this brings on and fifth woman Prime Ministers have stood at the ensuring that we are not complacent. The effect of Dispatch Box, we have a job of work to do to remove sector shutdowns, business closures and unemployment structural injustices. I am proud to say that I have never is falling disproportionately on women. Young women needed an all-women shortlist to lose a selection to a in particular are more likely to lose their jobs in retail colleague, and every woman who has beaten me has and hospitality.Women are more likely to be furloughed, done so by being better than me. I would say that and 70,000 pregnant women and new mothers have Conservative women are the equals of Conservative been discriminated against in Government schemes. men, but some of them are very dear friends and I do Women of colour, too, have been excluded from support not want to talk them down. schemes and have been hit particularly hard in their I pay tribute to women such as the Mother of the employment. House, the right hon. and learned Member for Camberwell We know that women are more likely to carry out and Peckham (Ms Harman), who stuck it out as a caring responsibilities and home-schooling, and as Chwarae feminist in frontline politics when the derision and Teg points out, now is not the time for the Government value judgments that still seep out of the darkest recesses to be suspending gender pay reporting. If we do not of society were mainstream values. My hon. Friend the know the scale of the problem, we cannot address it. In Member for Hertford and Stortford (Julie Marson), a the words of the Women and Equalities Committee, fellow Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Ministry “this should have been a time for more—not less—transparency.” of Justice, took on the City boys’ club with a backbone The Government should review the impact of their of steel and a brain the size of Canada. My hon. Friend policies on woman, and the recovery from covid must the Member for Hyndburn (Sara Britcliffe), an inspirational be an equal recovery. We have also seen the worrying young woman, has achieved more in her 26 years than rise in domestic abuse, and I want to thank Welsh many of us have in our 30-plus, and, much to my chagrin, Labour Government Ministers for our partnership working is my mother’s favourite MP.My hon. Friend the Member 1099 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1100 for Cities of London and Westminster (Nickie Aiken) to thank all the women I would like to include—all the ran one of the most successful local authorities in the local champions, women who have volunteered in their country before turning her attention to these Benches. local communities during this crisis, nurses, teachers, There is much more talent out there, and we have to carers and key workers—so I will focus on the response recognise that the problem is not a lack of ambition or to the pandemic itself and, in particular, the women qualified candidates; it is a system that needs an across the public sector who have played a huge role in International Women’s Day because, quite simply, the shaping the structures crucial to dealing with the situation other 364 are men’s days. I join colleagues such as my we have found ourselves in. hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Guy Opperman) First, I thank the local leader of my council, Councillor in pushing to ensure that we as men do more to support Susan Hinchcliffe, the chief executive of City of Bradford strong women candidates into politics, and in working Metropolitan District Council, Kersten England, and to ensure that more men and boys understand that a our director of public health, Sarah Muckle, for all woman’s place is wherever she says she wants it to be. their efforts and leadership during the pandemic and the vital work that they continue to do to help us come 4.15 pm out of lockdown. I also thank vice-chancellor Shirley Hywel Williams (Arfon) (PC) [V]: I am grateful for Congdon for her leadership of our university, which the chance to speak in this important debate, and I was ranked No. 1 recently for social mobility. With congratulate the right hon. Member for Basingstoke the contributions of the chief officer of the clinical (Mrs Miller) on securing it. My right hon. Friend the commissioning group, Helen Hirst, and Mel Pickup, Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd (Liz Saville Roberts) the chief executive officer of the local hospital, Bradford wished to be here, but she is detained on other work. Royal Infirmary, which is in my constituency, we are Our thoughts today are with the family and friends of looking forward to getting out of the lockdown soon. Sarah Everard, and with all those who have suffered The joint senior responsible officers, Nancy O’Neill and from male violence against women. It must end, and all chief nurse Karen Dawber, who are responsible for the men have a duty to play our part. roll-out of testing centres and vaccine roll-out, have worked tirelessly to ensure that the people of Bradford I wish to focus on endometriosis, a condition that can are supported throughout the pandemic. have a profound long-term negative impact on all aspects of life. Endometriosis affects one in 10 women from Today marks a year since the opening of our first puberty to the menopause. It takes an average of eight designated covid ward, ward 31 at the BRI, under the years from onset to diagnosis. The delay has been leadership of Sister Emma Barnes. I pay special tribute unchanged for a decade, and in Wales it is nine years. I to those on the frontline, such as Dr Deborah Horner, applaud the work of Health Ministers in Wales and our consultant anaesthetist, who led on the operational England on endometriosis, and encourage them to ensure management and restructuring of services across the ongoing studies into pain alleviation, such as the use of hospital during the pandemic; Sara Hollins, our director medical cannabis. of midwifery services, who has transformed the service completely after being here for less than four years, not This is not only a matter for Health Ministers. A only reducing stillbirths by a quarter, but transforming recent study by the all-party parliamentary group on services to respond to the pandemic; and our ICU endometriosis with Endometriosis UK found that 38% of matron, Marianne Downey, who has led the ICU through those surveyed feared losing their jobs, and 35% had a the most challenging of times. reduced income due to the condition. Accessing support can be difficult. Statutory sick pay for a linked period of We have lost so many loved ones during the pandemic, sickness lasts for up to three years, penalising those with and Shaheen Kauser, our Muslim chaplain, has worked chronic conditions. Hon. Members will recall that the seven days a week providing loved ones with comfort period from onset to diagnosis is eight years in England and support during these most important times of grief and nine in Wales. Many of those most severely affected and heartbreak. During this pandemic, I have found struggle to access personal independence payments and myself calling NHS staff, particularly our chief nurse universal credit, partly as the assessment fails to recognise Karen Dawber, at very unreasonable hours. Karen told long-term intermittent conditions. me that her inspiring grandma, Joan Dawber, was a This pandemic has highlighted some of the outmoded midwife, nurse and health visitor during world war two. patterns of our welfare system, which need to be reformed, In the ’60s, Joan was involved in the first trial of the TB but many with endometriosis were already painfully vaccine, and now Karen is involved in the covid vaccine aware of the system’s deficiency. That is one reason why roll-out. The work of all these women and others across I will continue to campaign for better health and welfare my constituency inspires me to do what I do, and for provision, and make the case for the devolution of welfare, that I am very grateful. Here’s to International Women’s so that in Wales, with our higher rates of long-term Day and to all these women—may we know them, may illness and disability, we can create a fairer system for all we be them, may we praise them. in their time of need. 4.21 pm 4.18 pm Sally-Ann Hart (Hastings and Rye) (Con) [V]: I echo Naz Shah (Bradford West) (Lab) [V]: The world is not the sentiments that my colleagues have expressed today the same place as it was at the time of the last International about Sarah Everard and her family. Women’s Day. The challenges we face globally and This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is locally have been unprecedented and have required “Choose to Challenge”, and I am reminded of that unprecedented responses. I want to highlight some literally famous quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: life-saving contributions by some amazing women in “One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed my constituency. Unfortunately, time does not allow me in the choices one makes.” 1101 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1102

[Sally-Ann Hart] in the people using its helpline. Honour-based abuse may be best described as a collection of practices, or a The choices we make are ultimately our responsibility. code, used to control behaviour in order to protect To me, this quote says that life is about making choices perceived beliefs and honour. Breaking this code is and decisions, not just sitting back and accepting the often seen by perpetrators as having brought shame on status quo. Sometimes it is right to stand up and challenge, a family or a community. and to choose. We in this House have an awesome All around the world, honour-based abuse can lead responsibility in that our choices and decisions impact to horrific situations and outcomes. Two cases have directly on the lives of thousands, and indeed millions, been on my mind this month. In south Asia, a man was of people around the country and sometimes the world. filmed carrying the head of his 17-year-old daughter, The choices we make matter. whom he had beheaded because of her alleged affair As we think about this year’s theme “Choose with a man of whom he did not approve. I have also to Challenge”, I think about all the women locally in been thinking about Ayesha Arif Khan in Ahmedebad Hastings and Rye who do not talk about making a who filmed herself smiling moments before she killed difference, but who are doing it every single day in their herself because she could not deliver enough dowry to actions, from Joe Chadwick-Bell, who took over as her husband and his family. chief operating officer of the local NHS trust last Honour-based abuse does not always present itself in October in the midst of the pandemic, and who has horrific murder and suicide, but it exists in day-to-day inspired and steered her team through some of the life and we would all do well to recognise that. We can toughest months they have ever faced, to Natalie Williams, do so when we think about how many women are policed who runs the Hastings food bank and has tirelessly or make decisions on the basis of the honour code. The devoted her energy and enthusiasm to supporting and question of what people will say deprives women of helping the most vulnerable in our communities. opportunities, choices, dreams and rights. The dangers Then there are those in local government, such as of breaking the honour code are real, along with the Becky Shaw, who is the chief executive officer of East associated risk of violence. I know that pain all too well. Sussex County Council, and Jane Hartnell, who is the Contrary to the common understanding of honour-based managing director of Hastings Borough Council. Both abuse, it is not something that is rooted in culture or have shown grit and dedication over the last year to religion. It is important to recognise it as a form of help in the response to covid-19. Frontline leaders, from abuse that cuts across all countries, all cultures and all Dawn Whittaker, the chief fire officer for East Sussex religions and none. Members may be surprised to learn fire and rescue, to Jo Shiner, the chief constable for that I felt that the comments made by a man in the Sussex police, have shown tireless dedication to leading public sphere recently might resonate with some survivors. their teams and instilling confidence and security in the He said, “I was trapped, but I did not know I was communities they serve as we have battled through trapped. That is like the rest of my family. My father these dark times. and my brother are trapped. They do not get to leave, I could keep going. From Katy Bourne, our police and I have huge compassion for that”. It appears that a and crime commissioner; to Councillor Kim Forward, person does not need to be a woman, or even from an the leader of Hastings Borough Council; Rebekah Gilbert, ethnic minority background, to experience the honour the mayor of Rye; Jacki Monroe from the DWP; and code—indeed, they might even be a royal. chief inspector Sarah Godley at Hastings and Rother There needs to be a statutory definition of honour-based police, all these women and many others besides have abuse in the Domestic Abuse Bill. The racialising of chosen throughout their lives not to accept their lot. honour-based abuse needs to stop. We need to see it in a Instead, they have chosen to challenge, chosen to reach framework that recognises patriarchy and inequality as and chosen to be ambitious in the pursuit of serving the root cause of violence against women and girls, others and giving back to the communities they call rather than placing it in a cultural context. Even though home. If we choose to embrace their light and inspiration, the devastating impacts of this type of abuse are felt in if we choose to shun the pessimism of others and if we some communities more than others, we need our laws choose to challenge, in time we can make this a more to lead the world in this way. just and equal world. The leadership and inspiration of women that we see across Hastings and Rye will be 4.27 pm recognised and commonplace in all four corners of this country and the world. (Totnes) (Con): I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mrs Miller) on securing this debate. It has been a pleasure to follow 4.24 pm her work in the Westminster Hall debates when they Apsana Begum (Poplar and Limehouse) (Lab): It is a were taking place and her continued action on this pleasure to speak in this debate, just as it was a pleasure issue. to deliver my maiden speech in this debate last year. I I rise to speak in this House as chair of the all-party am grateful to be able to address the House today, as group on preventing sexual violence in conflict, an initiative well as the newly elected chair of the all-party group on that I worked on with the former Foreign Secretary, domestic abuse and violence. William Hague, and have continued to work on since I In the short time that I have today, I wish to pay was elected. tribute to women who have been subjected to honour-based Before I undertake to describe what we can do, abuse. Honour-based abuse is often misunderstood. I would like to pay tribute to where we have got to with the This is despite the fact that, in 2019 alone, the charity, Domestic Abuse Bill. It has been remarkable achievement Karma Nirvana, reported seeing a more than 60% increase for the Government, working across the parties, to get it 1103 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1104 to a place in which we can make a real and meaningful Smith and the Counting Dead Women project, has been difference. Communities in my constituency are grateful able to use today’s debate to painstakingly list the names to see the progress that has been made. Organisations of the women who have died at the hands of a male such as SASHA, based in Totnes, are hoping that we abuser over the last 12 months. But it should not be this will be able to pass this into legislation in due course. way. I fear that there are many more names that would I would like to speak about the international approach. sadly join that list if only their deaths were investigated Each year,the United Kingdom stands up on International and recorded in the usual way. If we are not clearly and Women’s Day and reaffirms its commitment to the centrally measuring the number of victims, how can we millennium development goals for gender equality,reaffirms possibly be getting a grip or a steer on prevention? its commitment to women’s education, and reaffirms its Colleagues will be aware of the vastly complex issues commitment to seeing through the preventing sexual around the way in which homicides involving females violence in conflict initiative. Unfortunately, this year, I with domestic abuse markers against their name are can only think that these are hollow words, because the measured and recorded in this country.There are families impact of the forthcoming cut in international development up and down the country—and more of them than we aid from 0.7% to 0.5% will place a significant burden on might think—who deserve clarity on the circumstances the way in which we tackle women’s rights. The way in surrounding unexplained or sudden deaths. The situation which people in Syria, Libya and Somalia are able to be can only change if more of us speak up on these issues. helped by the projects that we put forward is now cast It has been incredible to hear so many colleagues touch into doubt. The reason we have pushed forward these on domestic abuse in their contributions today. policies is not that there is a legal obligation to do so, There is clear work that all of us in this House can be not that Parliaments and Governments of yesteryear doing to support campaigners and grieving families decided to put forward an agreement that would hold across the country. We can reach out and ask our local and lock in Parliament, but because there was a moral police forces for the data. We can push for clear guidance duty for us to stand up for those who were most on how police should approach the scene when a woman endangered around the world. There was a moral duty with domestic abuse markers has died suddenly or for us to be able to help those in some of the most unexpectedly. We can legislate to give agencies—from difficult scenarios and circumstances in the world. GPs to local authorities to social services—the tools to In the time that the Government have before there is share information that will allow the creation of a a vote on this issue—and there must be a vote on the centralised database that has the power to speed up the 0.7%—I hope that they will rethink their approach, police response. maintain the 0.7%, and maintain our commitment to We need to start counting women and making women tackling women’s rights and eradicating gender-based count. The women whose lives have been lost at the violence. Make no mistake—gender-based violence is a hands of an abuser deserve a voice, even when their own pandemic. It is a pandemic that was here before covid has been silenced. I will not stop until I see practical and it will be here long after. If we have the strength reform. The system has failed these women, and it is our and ability to push this, we can garner international duty and honour to give them their lives in whatever co-operation, create new institutions, ring-fence spending way we can. and ensure that the United Kingdom is seen as a country that stands up for women’s rights across the Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Rosie Winterton): globe and that is not shirking its duties. Our final Back-Bench speaker is Liz Twist.

4.30 pm 4.32 pm Alex Davies-Jones (Pontypridd) (Lab) [V]: Diolch, Liz Twist (Blaydon) (Lab) [V]: I congratulate the Madam Deputy Speaker. It is a genuine honour to speak right hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mrs Miller) on in this debate, in what has been an especially difficult securing this debate. week for women across the UK. It is crystal clear to me International Women’s Day is a day to remember and that this country has a severe systemic problem with male to celebrate, and this year I want to celebrate the violence. As has already been mentioned, last week a wonderful women in trade unions. My union, Unison, 16-year-old girl died in disturbing circumstances, practically has nearly 1 million women among its 1.3 million on my doorstep. South Wales police have since confirmed membership. They are women working in public services, that the death, which took place in the constituency of ensuring that our essential services keep going, and they my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant), include: nurses, healthcare professionals, healthcare is being treated as a murder, and last night a man was assistants, cleaners and catering staff in our NHS. They charged. Of course, we are all aware of the sensitivities have been so vital this year, above all others, and deserve around Sarah Everard’s case; my thoughts are with so much more than the 1% pay rise proposed by the both families, as well as those who have lost a loved one Government. There are also the women in local government, at the hands of a male perpetrator. energy, schools, colleges, the police and social care, who I am extremely grateful to the people who have dedicated have been undervalued for too long. I want to say a their lives to campaigning for real change. I continue to huge congratulations to our new Unison general secretary, be inspired by the victims who bravely report their cases Christina McAnea, who was elected by Unison members to the police, by the journalists and editors who choose as head of Britain’s biggest union. Christina will do an to tell their stories, and by the families who continue absolutely brilliant job and make a real difference for passionately to seek justice on behalf of those who have her members. been silenced. I am also grateful that my hon. Friend the I also want to mention some other brilliant Unison Member for Birmingham, Yardley (Jess Phillips)—my good organisations and women here in the north-east with friend—with the support of the incredible Karen Ingala whom I work. The brilliant northern women’s network 1105 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1106

[Liz Twist] calls to modify our behaviour—are not right. We need to be able to walk down the street without any of that. is headed by Pat Heron, Maria Alberts, Linda Hobson, She was in her own driveway and, as she said, it does our regional convenor Nikki Ramanandi, Josie Bird, not get much more careful than that. Between that our national Unison president, and so many others brave interview and the news about Sarah Everard, I working to fight for what is important to women in have been thinking a lot about what women face when, work and in society—as well as, of course, our fantastic without consciously thinking about it, we do these regional secretary, Clare Williams. There are so many calculations about what we need to do to keep safe—all more people I could mention, including in other trade the “Text me when you get in”, “Oh no, I’ll be fine” unions, but time does not allow. routine. But sometimes it is not fine at all: the tragedy Trade unions are still needed by women in dealing that Sarah’s family is facing and the huge hole that with fairness and equality at work, but I want to mention could be ripped into her family if the worst news comes. the campaign backed by Unison to create a permanent I know that feeling will never go away if that is what memorial for an earlier group of women trade unionists— happens. Sometimes there is no positive end. the match girls. Those women and young girls took A wonderful, vibrant woman that I knew and loved strike action against the terrible conditions in the Bryant never did make it home. She was just near her own front and May match factory in London in 1888. Their action door, too, going about her business. I cannot adequately led not only to better conditions for themselves and explain what that meant and how life-changing it has their fellow workers, but inspired many more workers, been for those closest to her, who, I have to say, are male and female, to organise and fight for better and extraordinarily brave and strong. I can tell you that the fairer conditions at work. How sad it is to hear that police were, and remain, magnificent, and that my there must be a petition to save the grave of one of the admiration for those left behind is beyond what people strike leaders, Sarah Chapman. I look forward to marking could imagine. But that should never happen to anyone. the 150th anniversary of the match tax protest in April. This issue really matters, and we really need to talk about Perhaps we can also mark the day in this House. This it more if we want things to change. It is a universal struggle continues today. A survey of Unison female reality that affects women in every country, city, town workers, including nurses, teaching assistants and council and village in the world. Women experience low-level employees, showed that many feel on the brink of and high-level harassment and violence just for catching burnout in trying to juggle both work and home a bus or walking up the street—and I am not even commitments. getting into the issues online that the hon. Member for But today we must also think of Sarah Everard, and Hyndburn (Sara Britcliffe) described. We are not to my thoughts and prayers go out to her family. blame.Wedo not need to modify our actions or behaviours. We are not responsible for the actions of men. 4.36 pm Indeed, women do not get attacked because of Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) (SNP): I knew their actions; they get attacked because of the actions of that I would not be the only woman in this debate who their attacker. I know that some women are talking about changed what she wanted to speak about because of reclaiming the night. So they should—so we should. The recent events. The Sarah Everard case feels quite close solidarity of women in all this has been very powerful, to home for a lot of people, including me, and my and I think that has everything to do with how recognisable thoughts are with her family. and relatable this all is to women the world over. Looking online last night, I was struck by the scale of I think what I am saying is uncontroversial and many women’s concerns about their experiences of doing straightforward, but it has all been said before and yet mundane,everydaythings and feeling unsafe or experiencing here we still are. Hearing the concerns and fears of young harassment or attack. I did not see any women saying women in particular, and knowing the increased that it is fine and they do not feel like that. That is no vulnerabilities of so many because of covid and the surprise given the outcomes of the recent UN survey additional challenges for women in minority and and all we have heard today, and that is really quite marginalised groups, we absolutely need this to be a depressing. continued focus for us all. Of course no woman should have to face this. None I am really grateful for strong women leaders such as of us should have these concerns. We should not fear , who always raises her voice in support walking down the streets in the dark. I would like to tell of women—all women—day and daily, pushing back you all that I am scared of nothing. That is pretty much against stereotypes and barriers and making a measurable how I try and live my life. I am not sure that it always difference on gender equality in Scotland. I am also works, but I do try. I do walk down streets in the dark. I grateful for women more locally to me, such as will not be moved from the streets and I will not change East Renfrewshire councillors Angela Convery, Caroline my behaviour. But here is the thing: I do feel scared Bamforth and Annette Ireland, all champions of women sometimes. I cross the road, I have my keys in my hand, in my local community and all committed every day to and I think about where the streetlights are and where supporting women in all walks of life—and goodness the dark alleys are. I am aware—vigilant—because, like knows, they have made a huge contribution during all women, I have to be, and we all know that. We all covid. have reason to know that, directly and indirectly. We Maybe that is what some of this comes down to. know we need to protect ourselves. Maybe we need to get away from treating things as This morning on BBC Radio Scotland, I heard journalist women’s issues. They are just issues; it is not a niche Jane Dougall speaking about her own experience, which thing. Maybe the fears and concerns that we have heard was incredibly brave of her. She pointed out that all the so much about would be so much less of a problem if calls to be careful and to do this or not do that—the that was how we looked at the world. But for today, let 1107 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1108 us celebrate all women. I am glad of the progress we This International Women’s Day falls a year into a have made—there is much to be proud of—but I look pandemic that has had huge consequences for women. forward to the day when we have made a good deal Issues such as domestic abuse and childcare have been more progress. sidelined throughout this year. Pregnant women and new mothers have faced discrimination in the Government’s 4.41 pm job retention and self-employment income support schemes. Young women have been more likely to work in sectors Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) (Lab): I thank the shut down, and mothers have picked up more of the right hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mrs Miller) for unpaid care work and more of the home schooling. securing this debate and the Backbench Business Meanwhile, the childcare and social care sectors, in Committee for granting it. I am disappointed that the which women are more likely to work, have been hung Minister for Women and Equalities is not here to respond. out to dry. After a decade of austerity and negligence, That is no disrespect to the hon. Member for Lewes these sectors are on their knees and are being ignored. (Maria Caulfield), but the Minister should be here to Women have been on the frontline of the pandemic in respond. our hospitals, our care homes, our schools and our Before I begin, I want to give my thoughts and homes, and yet the Government think that now is the prayers to the family, friends and loved ones of Sarah time to give nearly 1 million women on the NHS Everard and all the victims and survivors of violence frontline an effective pay cut. It is shameful. against women. From my own personal experience, I know what it is like to walk in the dark feeling frightened, With gender pay gap reporting suspended for over a fearful and anxious, and I know that many Members year, we have no way of knowing what the cumulative across the House share that experience—in fact, I was impact of these failures will be. But we do know that not aware that many did, because my biggest fear was black women are still four times more likely to die in that I cannot see very well in the dark. We have so far to childbirth than white women; that over half of victims go to make our public spaces, both online and offline, and survivors of violence against women were turned safe for women. away from refuges last year because of a lack of funding; Let me begin with the many contributions that we that migrant women remain excluded from the Domestic have heard; over 50 Members contributed. My hon. Abuse Bill, with the funding announced falling short of Friend the Member for Birmingham, Yardley (Jess Phillips) what is needed; and that abuse against women—especially made a powerful speech, reading out those names. black women—on social media and in the press is going Certainly, we all only hope that, going forward, we do completely unchecked. This week alone, we have seen not have to hear such a long list of names being read. the Duchess of Sussex vilified by some in the media. Many Members, including my hon. Friends the Members The continued denial of racism in the media is unacceptable. for Brent Central (Dawn Butler) and for Canterbury Racism is real. It is a lived experience for many women, (Rosie Duffield), spoke about violence against women including myself. and girls. At the Budget last week, we did not see any action Many Members spoke about the hugely unequal taken to tackle the widening inequalities that have been impact that covid has had on women, and I will come exposed and exacerbated by the pandemic. Instead, we on to that. I also want talk about the plight of women saw a delay to the cut in universal credit. We saw a across the world, which my hon. Friends the Members complete failure for disabled women by not applying for Hampstead and Kilburn (Tulip Siddiq), for Manchester, the £20 uplift to employment and support allowance. Gorton (Afzal Khan) and for Bolton South East We have seen the Chancellor out there doing his bit with (Yasmin Qureshi) really shed light on. I pay special his high-vis and hard hat, sending a clear message about tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Streatham the industries he is interested in supporting. All the talk (Bell Ribeiro-Addy), not just for raising the most important of kickstart, restart and recovery is meaningless for points about black maternal health but for her bravery women unless the Government commit to equal in sharing her own personal experience. opportunities. We need to see them publish data that International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate all guarantees that equal numbers of jobs are created for the gains we have made in the pursuit of women’s women and men, so that STEM and care are valued equality. I want to pay tribute to many of the brilliant equally. I hope that that will be the case, as we run the women on whose shoulders I stand here today, from my risk of a two-tier recovery, which will only widen gender right hon. Friend the Member for Hackney North and inequality even further. Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott), who was elected as the first black female MP over 30 years ago, to my right I mentioned the Equality Act earlier, and I want to hon. and learned Friend the Member for Camberwell come back to it. I am concerned that it is being all but and Peckham (Ms Harman) and all she has done in ignored by the Government and colleagues, including introducing the Equality Act and championing the rights the Minister for Women and Equalities, who is not here of women. The Labour party has been and always will today.There have only been two equality impact assessments be the party of equality. We introduced the Equal Pay published since the beginning of the pandemic, despite Act 1970, the minimum wage laws and laws guarding this being the biggest public health and economic crisis against discrimination against women. I also want to for a generation. There was no equality impact assessment pay tribute to activists such as the late Olive Morris, a of the Budget last week. It is a complete failure that member of the Brixton Black Women’s Group, who these Acts are not being assessed adequately. It is went to school in my constituency of Battersea and was unacceptable that equality guidance is being overlooked a tireless campaigner against racism and sexism. It is a and ignored. Can the hon. Member for Lewes confirm shame that we continue to still have those same fights whether the Government will finally commit to publishing and struggles today. impact assessments? 1109 International Women’s Day11 MARCH 2021 International Women’s Day 1110

[Marsha De Cordova] On the theme of women’s leadership in the covid world, we have seen some real-life heroines in the STEM We have come a long way, but progress towards sector, such as Kate Bingham, chair of the UK Vaccine meaningful change for women is still too slow. In the Taskforce, Dr , the deputy chief medical light of this week’s events alone, I would like to know officer, and Professor Sarah Gilbert, who devised the what the Government will be doing to address violence Oxford vaccine. These women have quite literally saved against women in public spaces and in the press. Is it lives, saved our economy and, quite frankly, saved our not time that misogyny is made a hate crime? Will the way of life, and they are role models for the next Government immediately reinstate reporting on the generation of women. gender pay gap? Representation and leadership matter. If we want to inspire young women, it is vital that we Diversity in decision making matters. start early, and that is why we continue to encourage girls to take STEM subjects at school, college and 4.50 pm university. While there is work to be done, there has Maria Caulfield (Lewes) (Con): May I start by saying been a 31% increase in entries by girls to STEM A-levels how delighted I am once again to have the opportunity in England in the past 10 years. to take part in this important debate? I thank right hon. The issue of violence against women has featured and hon. Members for their powerful contributions. heavily in this debate, and the last 48 hours have hit There were too many to single any out, but it was home for all of us. As the hon. Member for Canterbury poignant to have both the Mother and the Father of the (Rosie Duffield) put it so well, today we are all Sarah. House taking part. My prayers and thoughts are with her and her family at While International Women’s Day is an important this time. opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women in Women and girls are still suffering from unacceptable the UK and around the world, it is also an opportunity violence.I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Birmingham, to look at what more needs to be done. This year, Yardley (Jess Phillips), whose contribution has, covid-19 is the biggest challenge the UK has faced in unfortunately, become a sombre but important tradition decades, and everyone across the country has been in this House. Today she read out the names of women touched by it in some way. We have heard this afternoon killed by men in the last year. Sadly, her list seems much many examples of extraordinary women who have been longer than it was last year. I hope she does not take this at the forefront of the fight against this virus, including the wrong way, but I look forward to a year when she is those working in the NHS to keep us safe, many of unable to make a contribution to this debate. whom I have had the privilege to work alongside on the The home should be a place of safety and comfort covid wards during this period. I pay tribute to them for but, for many, it is not. During this pandemic, the their incredible efforts, bravery and strength. Government have listened to charities and the domestic The United Nations theme for International Women’s abuse commissioner, and in last week’s Budget, we Day this year centres on women’s leadership and the announced an additional £19 million of funding to importance of securing an equal future in a covid-19 tackle domestic abuse, with £4.2 million for a two-year world. We cannot underestimate the importance of this pilot project of respite rooms to provide specialist support approach as we build back better following what has for vulnerable homeless women. The landmark Domestic been a challenging year for many. The economic impact Abuse Bill has been on Report in the House of Lords of the past year is complex and emerging, but as the this week. It is on track to receive Royal Assent by the Office for Budgetary Responsibility, the Bank of England end of April, and we will publish our new tackling and the International Monetary Fund have all recognised, violence against women and girls strategy in the spring. our economic response is making a difference. It is This will help to better target perpetrators and support saving jobs, keeping businesses afloat and supporting women in relation to these crimes. people’s incomes. The Government takes all forms of harassment extremely In order to protect jobs for women, who are more seriously, whether it is in the workplace, in the home or likely to be furloughed, the Government have rolled out on the street, and I pay tribute to those across government, unprecedented levels of support, particularly in crucial up and down the country, working to make the UK a sectors such as retail and hospitality, which employ safer place for women. As my right hon. Friend the high numbers of women and those from ethnic minorities Member for Basingstoke (Mrs Miller) said, harassment and younger people, and the self-employment income is too regular an experience for women. I am inspired by support scheme has provided support for many of the many young women campaigning on these vital issues. 1.7 million self-employed women in the UK. As of In particular, I want to pay tribute to my constituent, 31 January, the scheme has received nearly 2.1 million Maya Tutton, and the Our Streets Now campaign, who claims from self-employed women across the three rounds are working hard to raise the issue of street harassment of grants. and the impact that it is having on the daily lives of Despite the progress in changing the stereotypical younger women across this country. The tragic news of views of the role of women at work, evidence shows Sarah Everard this week emphasises their point, so I that during the pandemic many women have been pressured welcome the Home Secretary’sstatement today,reinforcing into balancing work with childcare and home schooling. the Government’s commitment to protecting women Tohelp with that, the Government have enabled employers and girls from violence and harassment. to furlough parents who are unable to work due to the It is not just physical abuse that women have faced closure of schools, nurseries and childcare services. I during the pandemic. We know that more people have know that many will want to welcome and thank those spent time online and, although there have been many who have worked so hard for the safe reopening of benefits to this, there has of course been greater risk schools this week. of harm. My hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn 1111 International Women’s Day 11 MARCH 2021 1112

(Sara Britcliffe) said so eloquently how many female secretariat, the Fawcett Society and my parliamentary MPs—if not all of us—know only too well about the staff—particularly Rachel Edwards, for her extraordinary reality of online abuse and the constant toll of negative commitment to organising this week’s programme. comments, which people would never be brave enough In a world where gender equality issues are so entrenched, to say to someone’s face. Online abuse is unacceptable it is right that we should spend some time thinking and our approach will make platforms responsible for about how we can do things better. I thank every one of tackling abuse online, including anonymous abuse, while the 67 colleagues who wanted to contribute today, protecting the rights of freedom of expression. many of whom were not able to speak. Perhaps next There is also more to do to improve the lives of year we should have a new tradition: a full-day debate women and girls internationally, as my right hon. Friend to reflect the overwhelming support, to consider the the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell) and my issues that affect women’sequality and to mark International hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Ms Ghani) Women’s Day here, on the Floor of the House of emphasised. One of our most visible commitments to Commons, at the heart of our Parliament. this is ensuring that there are 12 years of quality education Question put and agreed to. for girls around the world. This is a transformational Resolved, development. Having volunteered in Rwanda on Project Umubano, teaching English in schools, I have seen at That this House has considered International Women’s Day. first hand the difference that education makes to women. There are perhaps a few Rwandan women speaking Business without Debate English right now with a slight cockney twist, thanks to my effort. Education is the key to breaking down barriers DELEGATED LEGISLATION (COMMITTEES) for women. In the last 10 years, the UK has supported at least 15.6 million children in gaining a decent education, Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Rosie Winterton): over half of whom are girls. With the leave of the House, I shall take motions 7 and 8, on the Church of England measures, together. In conclusion, I again thank all those who have contributed to this debate this afternoon and I thank Ordered, my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke for That the Measure passed by the General Synod of the Church securing this debate. of England, entitled Diocesan Boards of Education Measure (HC 1259), a copy of which was laid before this House on 8 March, be referred to a Delegated Legislation Committee. 4.58 pm That the Measure passed by the General Synod of the Church Mrs Miller: This is probably the first time that two of England, entitled Cathedrals Measure (HC 1260), a copy of Marias have followed each other in a debate, Madam which was laid before this House on 8 March, be referred to a Deputy Speaker, and I am very glad about that. This Delegated Legislation Committee.—(David Duguid.) debate comes at the end of a week of events organised ELECTORAL COMMISSION by the all-party group on women in Parliament marking International Women’sDay,with fantastic support from Mr Motion made, Speaker, many right hon. and hon. Members, the House That the Motion in the name of Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg relating to the Electoral Commission shall be treated as if it related to an service, the Parliamentary Archives, the Commonwealth instrument subject to the provisions of Standing Order No. 118 Parliamentary Association, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, (Delegated Legislation Committees) in respect of which notice the Fawcett Society and UN Women. This has been the has been given that the instrument be approved.—(David Duguid.) first time that we have organised events in this way, but I do not think it will be the last. I also thank the APPG’s Hon. Members: Object. 1113 11 MARCH 2021 1114

Concussion in Sport parts of the sponge get stretched, and sometimes they get stretched out so much that they never get back to Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House normal. do now adjourn.—(David Duguid.) Willie Stewart also said that 5 pm “the only thing that connects football to American football to … Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): I am good at clearing boxing to rugby to wrestling is head impact and head-injury exposure.” the Chamber, Madam Deputy Speaker. Let me start with a couple of quotations: He said that neurodegenerative disease and dementia “I felt like there was a rage inside me boiling up and I just “was recorded on the death certificate in about 20% of our former needed to get it out. On one occasion, I lit the grill and forgot footballers”, about it, even though my young child was in the kitchen. When compared with 6% of the population control: 20% versus the burning started, it was only when my wife turned up that I 6%. I am not sure how much more evidence we need realised. When I went out on my bike, I got completely lost, even though it was a journey I have done many times.” that concussion in sport is doing immense damage to players. In other words, the beautiful game is damaging Somebody else said about her father: brains and killing players. Nobby Stiles, Jack Charlton, “He started to ask: ‘When am I going to get this sorted? When Sir Bobby Charlton—I think five members of the 1966 is someone going to fix my head?’”. team have now been diagnosed with early onset dementia The truth is that brain injury is a hidden epidemic in of one kind or another. this country. We are used to talking about a pandemic at the moment, but there is a hidden epidemic. It is This is not just about dementia. Post-concussion hidden because lots of people have a brain injury and syndrome comes in many different forms.Some individuals we would never know. In some cases, yes, there is an have diminutive cognitive functioning. They have difficulty evident scar from an operation or road traffic accident, remembering things and do not understand why. Others but in many cases the damage is inside the brain and is have diminished inhibition, and a sense of rage—I not visible to anybody. Sometimes, the person in front referred to that earlier—or sexual inappropriateness. of us in the queue who is slurring is not actually drunk Those different elements of diminished inhibition also at all, but has had a brain injury. Our judgmentalism come with diminished executive function, such as an may make that moment even worse for them. inability to turn up on time, or sometimes chronic fatigue. I do not mean just feeling tired or lazy. Some Attitudes have changed considerably in recent people call it brain-drain, when every ounce of energy years. I remember watching rugby matches in which the that should be in someone’s Duracell battery has gone. commentators used to sort of celebrate the big clashes, There is nothing left; they are completely running on when head hit head or boot hit head. I was so proud empty and cannot get themselves out of bed. when in the Six Nations rugby matches this year every single commentator was saying, “I’m sorry, but that Others suffer from depression, anxiety, or horrific tackle is too high”, or, “That’s a really dangerous injury. mood swings that have a terrible effect on their relationships I hope somebody is looking at that. Isn’t it great that the with loved ones, family members and children. People player’s being taken off the field?” start to fear what they might do to their children, and In the past, there used to be so much: “Play up, play there is the horrible effect that that has on someone’s up, play on—play the game!” Or it was: “You’ve got to relationship with a wife, husband or partner. It causes stay on the pitch whatever, because you’ve been selected terrible family distress. and you want to show that you’re a man”—I will talk I have spoken to players and their partners who are about the issues facing women in a few moments. There desperate to support the person through this, but they was almost a celebration of that concept of being do not know how. They do not have the skills. Indeed, punch-drunk in rugby, and people would laugh at players they never thought they would need them, as the person who were clearly groggy and unsteady on their feet on involved was so fit—the epitome of health—and to see the rugby pitch or the football pitch. Thank goodness them in that condition is terribly depressing. Dementia that a lot of that has changed. The honest truth is that it and many of these conditions affect many families, has changed in very recent years—it is only three or regardless of sports, but they are strongly felt in the four years ago that commentators were sort of relishing sporting community.There is also second impact syndrome, these big fights. perhaps the most notable instance of which was Ben I am really proud that the Digital, Culture, Media Robinson in 2013. A young Irish lad, 14 years of age, and Sport Committee started an inquiry into concussion had a second concussion having gone back on to play. in sport. It feels like some of us have been making these He died later that day. arguments in the House for a long time. This week, This is not just about men, although a lot of the Dr Willie Stewart laid bare some of the problems. He research done so far is about elite players who are men. said of rugby that one player in every match suffers a That needs to change. We need to do far more research brain injury.In every single match that we watch, somebody into the effects of concussion on women, not least suffers a brain injury, and the effects of that may last for because in the United States of America more work has many years of their life. been done because of legal cases. If we consider the “Chronic traumatic encephalopathy” is one of the incidence of these problems per 1,000 athlete exposures— ways they describe it. This is a horrible image, but it was stick with me—as they call it, for women in soccer the given to me by Willie Stewart originally: basically, we rate is 0.54, whereas for men it is 0.26. In other words, it can imagine the brain as being like a wet sponge in a is 100% higher for women. Similarly, for lacrosse the hard bucket, and when it is smashed against something figure is 0.3 per 1,000 athlete exposures for men, and else, the sponge moves with it, of course, and all the 0.45 for women, which is 50% greater. 1115 Concussion in Sport 11 MARCH 2021 Concussion in Sport 1116

I suspect we would find all those figures writ large It is great to see the Minister here today, not least across football in the UK and for women’s sports, and because I know he has been taking some action recently. we need to do that work. For instance, lots of work has He has covered several roundtables online. I think I been done on men’s boxing, and one reason why people know everybody who has been on his calls. It is great to changed the rules on wearing headguards is that they see that work happening. I was a bit irritated with discovered that there tended to be more concussions Leader of the House when I asked him about the matter with headguards than without, which was counterintuitive. a few weeks ago because he said that action was for the That research was done on men, but there is still no data sporting bodies to take. I know that the Government, for women at all. It is shameful. through the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, It is not just about adults, either. Figures I saw today have co-ordinated work between different Departments, show that 40,000 children go to hospital every year with which is good. I had a meeting with the Under-Secretary a brain injury. That is significantly more children than of State for Education, the hon. Member for Chelmsford present in hospital with autism, yet we know far more (Vicky Ford) earlier today, which was really positive. about autism in children than about brain injury in As I have argued for many years, I want the Government children. to deal with the matter not in little silos, but through one whole co-ordinated effort because it affects the The sporting bodies have repeatedly failed the people Ministry of Defence, the Treasury, the Department for they should be there, as employers, to protect. Jeff Astle Work and Pensions, the Department of Health and died in 2002 and the coroner decided that he had died of Social Care,the , the Department an industrial disease. He was 59—my age. On 15 October for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport—indeed, there is 2020, the coroner decided exactly the same in the case hardly a Department it does not affect. We must therefore of Alan Jarvis; another footballer and the same verdict— tackle it in a co-ordinated way. I am grateful that the death by industrial disease. What has happened in between? Government are doing that. I hope the Minister will be To be honest, from the football authorities, next to able to say that they will be reporting back to the House nothing: a lot of hand wringing, moaning and saying, at some point on those joint ministerial meetings, because “Yes, we’ll do more research; we’re committed to funding I think they would receive a very strong welcome across more research”, but there has been precious little action. the House. In UEFA matches, there is still only three minutes for However, I think the Government will still have to go an assessment. A proper brain injury assessment cannot further. If we really want shared protocols on concussion be done in three minutes; 10 minutes would be far more in sport that are shared across all sports at elite, junior sensible. A team doctor still does the assessment. It should and grassroots level for both men and women, that will not be the team doctor but an independent medic who only really happen with real pushing from the Government does it. Of course, the team doctor wants the player to —and that means the Minister himself and his Secretary go back on. The Minister will rightly say that the UK is of State. We have to have shared protocols. I know trialling substitution, but only five countries out of 211 sports are different, with elements that might play out have decided to trial it—five out of 211. Not even all the differently,but rugby,football, cycling, hockey,ice hockey, sports organisations in Europe are doing it. That is a boxing and wrestling all need shared protocols. Quite disgrace. By now, substitution should not be a trial, but often, a child in particular will play several sports. They fully in place. will not understand why there is one set of rules when There is no independent medic sitting on the side of they play netball and a completely different set of rules the pitch, watching the match and deciding, “Sorry, that when they play baseball, basketball, soccer or whatever. person’s had a brain injury. Ref, you probably didn’t There has to be a shared set of protocols with the same spot it, Coach, you probably didn’t spot it, but I did. language used in all sports, and that will only happen if That person’s coming off because we’ve got to do an it comes from the Government. assessment.” It is just basic if we really want to protect I am a Welsh MP. The Minister sent me a text—I the players. hope I am not breaking a confidence—to say that I have to remember that some of this is devolved. I am fully How many times must I hear, “Oh, but the ball is aware of that, but because Wales plays England at much lighter these days”? Actually, the ball is exactly rugby in particular—the Minister may not want to the same weight as a leather ball. The leather balls remember that fact—it is important that we share the gathered more water, so they got a bit heavier, but if we protocols across the whole of the UK. I want a UK-wide do the physics, the real issue is the speed of the ball. The approach if we can possibly achieve that. If the Minister ball probably travels faster than it did in the past, which were to knock on that door in Wales, I believe he would means that we probably have more of a problem with receive a socially distanced welcome. heading the ball than we had in the past. We should Physical education staff in schools and coaches really listen to the research that has been done and implement need a full understanding of concussion. There are still its recommendations. far too many people who simply do not understand it. Far too much has been left to charities such as They think it is only a concussion if you have been Headway and Head for Change, which has just started knocked out. Actually, being knocked out is a particular up and has as ambassadors James Haskell, Geraint form of concussion where a particular part of the brain Thomas, Inoke Afeaki, Lewis Moody and me; I do not is affected. However, you might have several concussions look quite as good in the pictures on the website. There without being out at all. That is why it is really important comes a point when if people constantly obfuscate, that a better understanding is shared across all PE delay, refuse to act and demand more evidence before teachers and coaches. acting, they are complicit in the harm that is being On legislation, I am always very reluctant to suggest done. I have come to the conclusion that football is that we need to legislate, but I just note that in simply a disgrace. the United States of America between 2009 and 2015, 1117 Concussion in Sport 11 MARCH 2021 Concussion in Sport 1118

[Chris Bryant] The subject is getting increasing attention across the House and beyond, and I genuinely give him and the all 50 States and the District of Columbia introduced APPG credit for highlighting it. legislation on concussion in sport primarily, but on Sports national governing bodies are rightly responsible brain injury in general. The United States of America for the regulation of their sports, and for ensuring that has a traumatic brain injury Act—we still do not—which appropriate measures are in place to protect participants lays down all sorts of different elements. It may be that from serious injuries. We look to individual sports to if sporting bodies are not prepared to act, we will have take primary responsibility for the safety of their to consider legislation in this field. participants, but the hon. Gentleman is right to point There are arguments for legislation in other aspects. out that it must go beyond that, and that the Government There is a Bill going through the House of Lords at the have a responsibility too. moment to which Lord Ramsbotham, I think, has been I am pleased to acknowledge that positive progress tabling amendments this week that insist women who has been made in recent years on this issue, and I am have been subject to a brain injury as part of domestic sure it will continue to be made. The Rugby Football abuse will be guaranteed a proper test and be screened Union has been researching head injury in the UK for for brain injury. Women who go to prison will, when the last 20 years. Its extensive Headcase education they first arrive in prison, all be screened for brain programme, which the hon. Gentleman mentioned, has injury as well. I suspect we also need legislation on the helped increase understanding of concussion prevention treatment of veterans to provide for proper research and management. The British Horseracing Authority programmes and for the protection of prisoners. has also made extensive efforts to improve its concussion I warmly welcome the fact that the Select Committee management protocols. is doing its work and the Government are doing their In football, although there is clearly more to do, I work, but I suspect that it is still woefully under-resourced. welcome the Football Association’s introduction of two I do not know whether the Select Committee will produce concussion substitutes per FA cup match earlier this a report or whether it is having another day of evidence, year. I am also glad to see that the Premier League but I think the time is long past when we need a royal started trailing the use of concussion substitutes last commission on brain injury as a whole and concussion month, as the hon. Gentleman also highlighted—we in sport in particular, so that all the evidence can be should have shared a speech. Indeed, England is one of presented, analysed and considered in a quasi-judicial only five out of more than 200 countries to trial the new way and we end up protecting people. International Football Association Board concussion I end with this. Sport is good for us. I have no desire protocols. I am hopeful that far more countries will to stop people taking part in sport. I want more people follow our lead. We can be proud that we are leading, to take part in sport. I would like myself to take part in but there are clearly many more countries to follow. more sport. Sport often involves risks, of course it does, The FA also issued guidelines last year to help prevent but one player said this to me—I apologise for the children aged 11 and under from being taught to head language, which is not my language: footballs during training in England, Scotland and “I knew it would bugger up my body. I had no idea it would . It is not just national governing bugger up my brain.” bodies contributing to improvements in player safety. Last November,the Professional Footballers’Association That is the bit here that matters and that we have to announced that it would set up a dedicated taskforce to change. I am not interested in cotton wool—I do not investigate further the issue of brain injury diseases in want to mollycoddle anybody—but this is what Hayley football, and two independently led research studies McQueen, the sports presenter, said about her dad, supported by the FA are currently examining former Gordon McQueen, the ex-Man United player: professional players for early signs of deteriorating “I can’t believe football, the thing that gave him so much love, cognitive function. Those are demonstrably good steps has cruelly taken a lot away from us.” across sports, but there is clearly more to do. That will We do not have to lose the good. We can do the good. be a familiar theme. Concussions are notoriously difficult to identify. 5.20 pm It is important to note that about 10%—but only about 10%—of reported concussions involve a loss of The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, consciousness, so they are not always readily apparent Culture, Media and Sport (): I thank and the player’s injuries may be far more serious than the hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant) for securing they appear at the time. Player safety is the No. 1 this important debate. I know—he has just illustrated concern for sport. Much more work is needed to ensure this—how deeply he is concerned about the welfare of that robust measures are in place to reduce risk and sportspeople and this issue. I greatly appreciate the care improve the diagnosis and management of sport-related and commitment he has shown in regard to concussion concussion at all levels of sport. and brain injury in the sporting sector and beyond over That is why the Secretary of State and I hosted two many, many years. He has spoken eloquently yet again roundtables on concussion in sport last month. I am today, showing great empathy and emotion. I have grateful to the current and former sportspeople who indeed interacted with many people he has interacted attended the first roundtable. There were many heartfelt with over a much longer period than I have, and the contributions to the discussion, which gave valuable stories I hear are absolutely heart-rending. insight into the experience of those who have suffered The fact that this debate is taking place is testament the consequences of brain injury directly or via loved to the hon. Gentleman’s energy in chairing the all- ones. Attendees acknowledged that sports were now party parliamentary group for acquired brain injury. taking concussion far more seriously and players were 1119 Concussion in Sport 11 MARCH 2021 Concussion in Sport 1120 now more likely to admit to being concussed, but there course, women suffer injuries as much as men do. In are still concerns about culture, promoting safety for fact, the physiology is perhaps not as well understood, children, differences between the amateur and professional and I therefore appeal to all stakeholders to particularly levels and levels of education among players, whether focus on that area. that is advanced education or education and awareness We are currently reflecting on the ways that we can on the pitch when an injury happens and, indeed, all the move forward on the issues raised in these discussions, way to A&E and so on. There are many areas to and we plan further work and further discussions. The investigate. hon. Gentleman is right to sound slightly frustrated—there The second roundtable we had involved mainly national are lots of discussions, but we do intend to act. I do not governing bodies and academics who focus on this area. know what the conclusions of the work we are doing The Secretary of State and I wanted to further understand will be, but I do want to see action. I do not want this to what work is under way,what research is being undertaken just be a talking shop and ongoing discussions. I also and what more can be done. Chief executives and welcome, as he did, the Digital, Culture, Media and medical officers from various contact sports attended, Sport Committee’s inquiry, which I hope will add valuable along with academics. We also had in attendance evidence to this debate. representatives from the Department for Education and I know that sports want to make progress in this area. NHS England, and I am grateful again for those It is in their best interests to improve safety for players contributions. and, indeed, everybody involved in sport as much as We are in the early stages of these discussions, and it possible. As I said, we want tangible actions. The hon. is clear that the Government have an important convening Gentleman is aware of the further work that is happening role to play here, and perhaps more. Collaboration on across Government on the issue of brain injury. I was best practice, research and concussion protocols must delighted to attend a meeting convened by the Chancellor be a priority for sports governing bodies, because one of of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Minister for Care. the things that struck me is that while a lot of work is We will continue that work across Government, and being done and a lot of research is being undertaken, I I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will be involved. I was not necessarily convinced there was a lot of sharing invite ongoing discussions with him; in fact, I am due to of that information and research. As the hon. Gentleman meet him and the APPG shortly. mentioned, collaboration is key to moving forward Last week I met a non-governmental organisation, here. We must also ensure that players are not in a Podium Analytics, which is starting to carry out more position to overrule doctors on medical issues. important research in this area, particularly focused on under-18s, alongside work and collaboration with the Chris Bryant: One of my anxieties is that some sports Department for Education. That is important, and that are nervous about sharing because they think that there work will continue. Collaboration between sports, player are legal cases coming, and they do not want to reveal associations, NGOs and others is clearly important, their hand. We need to create a space in which they can and we want to ensure that it continues and progresses. do that with safe harbour. The importance of sport has come even more into focus in the last year. We want to redouble our efforts to Nigel Huddleston: I thank the hon. Gentleman for ensure that progress is made, and I am determined to that comment. He may well be right. Of course, as soon play my part. I firmly believe that we need to continue as we get into the area of litigation, I am not really able to work together in driving forward research and continuing to say much more. But on the principle of encouraging to improve player safety and welfare at all levels of the sharing of information and data wherever possible, sport. Everyone involved has a love for their sport, and he is absolutely right, and we will look at what role we good work has already been done, but there is more to can play in encouraging that. That is a really important do. We will do everything we can to ensure that all point. reasonable steps are being taken on safety and to protect The hon. Gentleman also mentioned the fact that British sport from concerns both now and in the future. there is lots of research on men but very little on Question put and agreed to. women. We brought that up in the roundtable. We were proactively saying, “Do you have any research? Is there anything more on women?”I think there was a recognition 5.29 pm that there is far more work to be done there, but, of House adjourned. 1121 11 MARCH 2021 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote 1122

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The following is the list of Members currently certified Scott Benton (Blackpool South) (Con) Stuart Andrew as eligible for a proxy vote, and of the Members nominated Sir (Mole Valley) (Con) Stuart Andrew as their proxy: (Rossendale and Darwen) Stuart Andrew (Con) Member eligible for proxy vote Nominated proxy Clive Betts (Sheffield South East) (Lab) Chris Elmore Ms (Hackney North and Bell Ribeiro-Addy Saqib Bhatti (Meriden) (Con) Stuart Andrew Stoke Newington) (Lab) Mhairi Black (Paisley and Renfrewshire Owen Thompson (Oldham East and Chris Elmore South) (SNP) Saddleworth) (Lab) Ian Blackford (Ross, Skye and Owen Thompson Nigel Adams (Selby and Ainsty) (Con) Stuart Andrew Lochaber) (SNP) Bim Afolami (Hitchin and Harpenden) Stuart Andrew Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) Kirsty Blackman (Aberdeen North) Owen Thompson (Windsor) (Con) Stuart Andrew (SNP) Imran Ahmad Khan (Wakefield) (Con) Stuart Andrew Olivia Blake (Sheffield, Hallam) (Lab) Chris Elmore Nickie Aiken (Cities of London and Stuart Andrew Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central) Chris Elmore Westminster) (Con) (Lab) Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Reigate) (Con) Stuart Andrew Rushanara Ali (Bethnal Green and Chris Elmore Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con) Stuart Andrew Bow) (Lab) Steven Bonnar (Coatbridge, Chryston Owen Thompson Tahir Ali (Birmingham, Hall Green) Chris Elmore and Bellshill) (SNP) (Lab) Andrew Bowie (West Aberdeenshire Stuart Andrew (Telford) (Con) Stuart Andrew and Kincardine) (Con) Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (Tooting) (Lab) Chris Elmore Tracy Brabin (Batley and Spen) (Lab/ Chris Elmore (Weaver Vale) (Lab) Chris Elmore Co-op) Sir David Amess (Southend West) Stuart Andrew Ben Bradley (Mansfield) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) Karen Bradley (Staffordshire Stuart Andrew Fleur Anderson () (Lab) Chris Elmore Moorlands) (Con) Lee Anderson (Ashfield) (Con) Chris Loder Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab) Chris Elmore Stuart Anderson (Wolverhampton Stuart Andrew (Fareham) (Con) Stuart Andrew South West) (Con) Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Eastbourne) (Con) Stuart Andrew Jack Brereton (Stoke-on-Trent South) Stuart Andrew Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Con) (Charnwood) (Con) Stuart Andrew Andrew Bridgen (North West Stuart Andrew Jonathan Ashworth (Leicester South) Chris Elmore Leicestershire) (Con) (Lab) Steve Brine (Winchester) (Con) Stuart Andrew Sarah Atherton (Wrexham) (Con) Stuart Andrew Paul Bristow (Peterborough) (Con) Stuart Andrew Victoria Atkins (Louth and Stuart Andrew Sara Britcliffe (Hyndburn) (Con) Stuart Andrew Horncastle) (Con) Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Owen Thompson Gareth Bacon (Orpington) (Con) Stuart Andrew Leith) (SNP) Mr Richard Bacon (South Norfolk) Stuart Andrew James Brokenshire (Old Bexley and Stuart Andrew (Con) Sidcup) (Con) (Saffron Walden) Stuart Andrew Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudon) Owen Thompson (Con) (SNP) Shaun Bailey (West Bromwich West) Stuart Andrew Ms Lyn Brown (West Ham) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Con) Anthony Browne (South Stuart Andrew (Stroud) (Con) Stuart Andrew Cambridgeshire) (Con) Duncan Baker (North Norfolk) (Con) Stuart Andrew Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con) Stuart Andrew (West Worcestershire) Stuart Andrew Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Con) Steve Barclay (North East Stuart Andrew Felicity Buchan (Kensington) (Con) Stuart Andrew Cambridgeshire) (Con) Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) Chris Elmore Hannah Bardell (Livingston) (SNP) Owen Thompson (Lab) (, Wavertree) Chris Elmore (South Swindon) Stuart Andrew (Lab) (Con) Mr John Baron (Basildon and Stuart Andrew Alex Burghart (Brentwood and Ongar) Stuart Andrew Billericay) (Con) (Con) Simon Baynes (Clwyd South) (Con) Stuart Andrew Richard Burgon (Leeds East) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Margaret Beckett (Derby South) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Bournemouth West) Stuart Andrew Apsana Begum (Poplar and Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Con) Limehouse) (Lab) Dawn Butler (Brent Central) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Aaron Bell (Newcastle-under-Lyme) Stuart Andrew Rob Butler (Aylesbury) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Liverpool, ) Chris Elmore Hilary Benn (Leeds Central) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Lab) 1123 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote11 MARCH 2021 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote 1124

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Liam Byrne (Birmingham, Hodge Hill) Chris Elmore Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire) Stuart Andrew (Lab) (Con) Ruth Cadbury (Brentford and Chris Elmore Angela Crawley (Lanark and Hamilton Owen Thompson Isleworth) (Lab) East) (SNP) Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan) Stuart Andrew Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Con) Virginia Crosbie (Ynys Môn) (Con) Stuart Andrew Amy Callaghan (East Dunbartonshire) Owen Thompson (Chatham and Stuart Andrew (SNP) Aylesford) (Con) Dr Lisa Cameron (East Kilbride, Owen Thompson Jon Cruddas (Dagenham and Chris Elmore Strathaven and Lesmahagow) (SNP) Rainham) (Lab) Sir Alan Campbell (Tynemouth) (Lab) Chris Elmore John Cryer (Leyton and Wanstead) Chris Elmore Mr Gregory Campbell (East Sir Jeffrey M. (Lab) Londonderry) (DUP) Donaldson Judith Cummins (Bradford South) Chris Elmore Dan Carden (Liverpool, Walton) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Lab) Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Wendy Chamberlain Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) Chris Elmore Shetland) (LD) (Lab) (Warrington South) (Con) Stuart Andrew Janet Daby (Lewisham East) (Lab) Chris Elmore James Cartlidge (South Suffolk) (Con) Stuart Andrew James Daly (Bury North) (Con) Stuart Andrew Ed Davey (Kingston and Surbiton) Wendy Chamberlain Sir William Cash (Stone) (Con) Stuart Andrew (LD) Miriam Cates (Penistone and Stuart Andrew Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab) Chris Elmore Stocksbridge) (Con) David T. C. Davies (Monmouth) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Cheltenham) (Con) Stuart Andrew Gareth Davies (Grantham and Stuart Andrew Sarah Champion (Rotherham) (Lab) Chris Elmore Stamford) (Con) Douglas Chapman (Dunfermline and Owen Thompson Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/ Chris Elmore West Fife) (SNP) Co-op) Joanna Cherry (Edinburgh South West) Owen Thompson Dr James Davies (Vale of Clwyd) (Con) Stuart Andrew (SNP) (Mid Sussex) (Con) Stuart Andrew Stuart Andrew (Gillingham and Alex Davies-Jones (Pontypridd) (Lab) Chris Elmore Rainham) (Con) Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con) Stuart Andrew Jo Churchill (Bury St Edmunds) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mr David Davis (Haltemprice and Stuart Andrew Feryal Clark (Enfield North) (Lab) Chris Elmore Howden) (Con) (Tunbridge Wells) (Con) Stuart Andrew Dehenna Davison (Bishop Auckland) Mr Simon Clarke (Middlesbrough Stuart Andrew (Con) South and East Cleveland) (Con) Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Owen Thompson (Stafford) (Con) Stuart Andrew Falkirk) (SNP) Brendan Clarke-Smith (Bassetlaw) Stuart Andrew Thangam Debbonaire (Bristol West) Chris Elmore (Con) (Lab) Chris Clarkson (Heywood and Stuart Andrew Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Middleton) (Con) Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) Chris Elmore James Cleverly (Braintree) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Lab) Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (The Stuart Andrew (Gosport) (Con) Stuart Andrew Cotswolds) (Con) Miss Sarah Dines (Derbyshire Dales) Stuart Andrew Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Con) Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon) Stuart Andrew Elliot Colburn (Carshalton and Stuart Andrew (Con) Wallington) (Con) (Aldershot) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Folkestone and Stuart Andrew Martin Docherty-Hughes (West Owen Thompson Hythe) (Con) Dunbartonshire) (SNP) Daisy Cooper (St Albans) (LD) Wendy Chamberlain Anneliese Dodds (Oxford East) (Lab/ Chris Elmore (West ) (Lab) Chris Elmore Co-op) Yvette Cooper (Normanton, Pontefract Chris Elmore (Chippenham) (Con) Stuart Andrew and Castleford) (Lab) Dave Doogan (Angus) (SNP) Owen Thompson (Islington North) (Ind) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Allan Dorans (Ayr, Carrick and Owen Thompson Alberto Costa (South Leicestershire) Stuart Andrew Cumnock) (SNP) (Con) Ms Nadine Dorries (Mid Bedfordshire) Stuart Andrew Robert Courts () (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) Claire Coutinho (East Surrey) (Con) Stuart Andrew (St Austell and Newquay) Stuart Andrew Ronnie Cowan (Inverclyde) (SNP) Owen Thompson (Con) Sir Geoffrey Cox (Torridge and West Stuart Andrew Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Chris Elmore Devon) (Con) Penarth) (Lab) Neil Coyle (Bermondsey and Old Chris Elmore Jackie Doyle-Price (Thurrock) (Con) Stuart Andrew Southwark) (Lab) (Bootle) (Lab) Chris Elmore 1125 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote11 MARCH 2021 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote 1126

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Luke Hall (Thornbury and Yate) (Con) Stuart Andrew (South West Surrey) Stuart Andrew Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East) Chris Elmore (Con) (Lab) Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) Chris Elmore Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) Stuart Andrew (Lab) (Con) Imran Hussain (Bradford East) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy (West Suffolk) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mr Alister Jack (Dumfries and Stuart Andrew Greg Hands (Chelsea and Fulham) Stuart Andrew Galloway) (Con) (Con) Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) Wendy Chamberlain Claire Hanna (Belfast South) (SDLP) Ben Lake (LD) Neale Hanvey (Kirkcaldy and Owen Thompson Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab) Chris Elmore Cowdenbeath) (SNP) (Bromsgrove) (Con) Stuart Andrew Emma Hardy (Kingston upon Hull Chris Elmore Mr (North East Stuart Andrew West and Hessle) (Lab) Hampshire) (Con) Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Chris Elmore Sir Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and Stuart Andrew Peckham) (Lab) North Essex) (Con) (Forest of Dean) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Workington) (Con) Stuart Andrew Carolyn Harris (Swansea East) (Lab) Chris Elmore Andrea Jenkyns (Morley and Stuart Andrew Rebecca Harris (Castle Point) (Con) Stuart Andrew Outwood) (Con) (Copeland) (Con) Stuart Andrew Robert Jenrick (Newark) (Con) Stuart Andrew Sally-Ann Hart (Hastings and Rye) Stuart Andrew Boris Johnson (Uxbridge and South Stuart Andrew (Con) Ruislip) (Con) Simon Hart (Carmarthen West and Stuart Andrew Dr Caroline Johnson (Sleaford and Stuart Andrew South Pembrokeshire) (Con) North Hykeham) (Con) Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Chris Elmore Dame Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Chris Elmore Norwood) (Lab) Hull North) (Lab) Sir John Hayes (South Holland and Stuart Andrew (Dartford) (Con) Stuart Andrew The Deepings) (Con) (Liverpool, Riverside) Chris Elmore Sir Oliver Heald (North East Stuart Andrew (Lab) Hertfordshire) (Con) David Johnston (Wantage) (Con) Stuart Andrew John Healey (Wentworth and Dearne) Chris Elmore Darren Jones (Bristol North West) Chris Elmore (Lab) (Lab) (Wells) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mr David Jones (Clwyd West) (Con) Stuart Andrew Chris Heaton-Harris (Daventry) (Con) Stuart Andrew Fay Jones (Brecon and Radnorshire) Stuart Andrew Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne and Stuart Andrew (Con) Sheppey) (Con) Gerald Jones (Merthyr Tydfil and Chris Elmore Sir (Preston) (Lab/Co- Chris Elmore Rhymney) (Lab) op) Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham) Chris Elmore Drew Hendry (Inverness, Nairn, Owen Thompson (Lab) Badenoch and Strathspey) (SNP) Mr Marcus Jones (Nuneaton) (Con) Stuart Andrew Darren Henry (Broxtowe) (Con) Stuart Andrew Ruth Jones (Newport West) (Lab) Chris Elmore Mike Hill (Hartlepool) (Lab) Chris Elmore Sarah Jones (Croydon Central) (Lab) Chris Elmore (East Hampshire) (Con) Stuart Andrew Simon Jupp (East Devon) (Con) Stuart Andrew (North Dorset) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mike Kane (Wythenshawe and Sale Chris Elmore Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD) Wendy Chamberlain East) (Lab) Dame Margaret Hodge (Barking) (Lab) Chris Elmore Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury and Stuart Andrew Atcham) (Con) Mrs Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Chris Elmore Sunderland West) (Lab) Alicia Kearns (Rutland and Melton) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Blackburn) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Chichester) (Con) Stuart Andrew Kevin Hollinrake (Thirsk and Malton) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Worsley and Eccles Chris Elmore South) (Lab) (Gravesham) (Con) Stuart Andrew Liz Kendall (Leicester West) (Lab) Chris Elmore Paul Holmes (Eastleigh) (Con) Stuart Andrew Rachel Hopkins (Luton South) (Lab) Chris Elmore Afzal Khan (Manchester, Gorton) Chris Elmore (Lab) Stewart Hosie (Dundee East) (SNP) Owen Thompson Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon) (Lab) Chris Elmore Sir (Knowsley) (Lab) Chris Elmore Sir Greg Knight (East Yorkshire) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Henley) (Con) Stuart Andrew Julian Knight (Solihull) (Con) Stuart Andrew Paul Howell (Sedgefield) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Devizes) (Con) Stuart Andrew Nigel Huddleston (Mid Worcestershire) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Spelthorne) (Con) Stuart Andrew Dr (Penrith and The Stuart Andrew Peter Kyle (Hove) (Lab) Chris Elmore Border) (Con) Mr David Lammy (Tottenham) (Lab) Chris Elmore Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con) Stuart Andrew John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh Stuart Andrew Jane Hunt (Loughborough) (Con) Stuart Andrew and Selkirk) (Con) 1129 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote11 MARCH 2021 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote 1130

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Robert Largan (High Peak) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Truro and Stuart Andrew Mrs Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) Mr Falmouth) (Con) (Con) Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow North Owen Thompson Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy East) (SNP) Chris Law (Dundee West) (SNP) Owen Thompson Rachel Maclean (Redditch) (Con) Stuart Andrew Andrea Leadsom (South Stuart Andrew Jim McMahon (Oldham West and Chris Elmore Northamptonshire) (Con) Royton) (Lab) Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) Stuart Andrew Anna McMorrin (Cardiff North) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Con) John Mc Nally (Falkirk) (SNP) Owen Thompson Ian Levy (Blyth Valley) (Con) Stuart Andrew Angus Brendan MacNeil (Na Owen Thompson Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Chris Elmore h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Shields) (Lab) Stephen McPartland (Stevenage) (Con) Stuart Andrew Andrew Lewer (Northampton South) Stuart Andrew Esther McVey (Tatton) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Ellesmere Port and Chris Elmore Brandon Lewis (Great Yarmouth) Stuart Andrew Neston) (Lab) (Con) Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham, Perry Chris Elmore Clive Lewis (Norwich South) (Lab) Chris Elmore Barr) (Lab) Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) Stuart Andrew Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham, Chris Elmore (Con) Ladywood) (Lab) Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater Stuart Andrew (Havant) (Con) Stuart Andrew and West Somerset) (Con) David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP) Owen Thompson Seema Malhotra (Feltham and Heston) Chris Elmore (Lab) Tony Lloyd (Rochdale) (Lab) Chris Elmore (North West Stuart Andrew Carla Lockhart (Upper Bann) (DUP) Sir Jeffrey M. Hampshire) (Con) Donaldson (North Cornwall) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Bolton North East) Stuart Andrew (Con) Julie Marson (Hertford and Stortford) Stuart Andrew (Con) Rebecca Long Bailey (Salford and Bell Ribeiro-Addy Eccles) (Lab) Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab) Chris Elmore Marco Longhi (Dudley North) (Con) Stuart Andrew Christian Matheson (City of Chester) Chris Elmore Julia Lopez (Hornchurch and Stuart Andrew (Lab) Upminster) (Con) Mrs (Maidenhead) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Filton and Bradley Stuart Andrew Jerome Mayhew (Broadland) (Con) Stuart Andrew Stoke) (Con) (Blackpool North and Stuart Andrew Mr (Woking) (Con) Stuart Andrew Cleveleys) (Con) (East Worthing and Stuart Andrew Ian Mearns (Gateshead) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Shoreham) (Con) (Fylde) (Con) Stuart Andrew Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Johnny Mercer (Plymouth, Moor View) Stuart Andrew (Green) (Con) Holly Lynch (Halifax) (Lab) Chris Elmore Huw Merriman (Bexhill and Battle) Stuart Andrew Kenny MacAskill (East Lothian) (SNP) Owen Thompson (Con) Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Chris Elmore Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and Stuart Andrew Oak) (Lab) East Thurrock) (Con) Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab) Chris Elmore Edward Miliband (Doncaster North) Chris Elmore Jason McCartney ( Valley) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Lab) Karl McCartney (Lincoln) (Con) Stuart Andrew Robin Millar (Aberconwy) (Con) Stuart Andrew Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Chris Elmore Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke) (Con) Stuart Andrew Morden) (Lab) (Cannock Chase) Stuart Andrew Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough) Chris Elmore (Con) (Lab) Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) (Con) Stuart Andrew Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Glasgow Owen Thompson South) (SNP) (Stockport) (Lab) Chris Elmore Stuart C. McDonald (Cumbernauld, Owen Thompson Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield) Stuart Andrew Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) (SNP) (Con) John McDonnell (Hayes and Bell Ribeiro-Addy Gagan Mohindra (South West Stuart Andrew Harlington) (Lab) Hertfordshire) (Con) Mr Pat McFadden (Wolverhampton Chris Elmore Carol Monaghan (Glasgow North Owen Thompson South East) (Lab) West) Conor McGinn (St Helens North) Chris Elmore Damien Moore (Southport) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Lab) Layla Moran (Oxford West and Wendy Chamberlain Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab) Chris Elmore Abingdon) (LD) (South Thanet) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Portsmouth North) Stuart Andrew Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Chris Elmore (Con) Tyne North) (Lab) Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab) Chris Elmore 1131 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote11 MARCH 2021 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote 1132

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Stephen Morgan (Portsmouth South) Chris Elmore Stephanie Peacock (Barnsley East) Chris Elmore (Lab) (Lab) (Newton Abbot) Stuart Andrew Sir (Hemel Hempstead) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Con) David Morris (Morecambe and Stuart Andrew Matthew Pennycook (Greenwich and Chris Elmore Lunesdale) (Con) Woolwich) (Lab) Grahame Morris (Easington) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Weston-super-Mare) Stuart Andrew (Beaconsfield) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) Wendy Morton (Aldridge-Brownhills) Stuart Andrew Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con) Antony (Con) Higginbotham Dr (Crewe and Chris Loder Mr Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab) Chris Elmore Nantwich) (Con) Jess Phillips (Birmingham, Yardley) Chris Elmore Holly Mumby-Croft (Scunthorpe) Stuart Andrew (Lab) (Con) Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Chris Elmore David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Stuart Andrew Sunderland South) (Lab) Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con) Chris Philp (Croydon South) (Con) Stuart Andrew Ian Murray (Edinburgh South) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Tamworth) (Con) Stuart Andrew James Murray (Ealing North) (Lab/Co- Chris Elmore Luke Pollard (Plymouth, Sutton and Chris Elmore op) Devonport) (Lab/Co-op) Mrs Sheryll Murray (South East Stuart Andrew Dr Dan Poulter (Central Suffolk and Stuart Andrew Cornwall) (Con) North Ipswich) (Con) (South West Stuart Andrew (Taunton Deane) (Con) Stuart Andrew Wiltshire) (Con) (Manchester Central) Chris Elmore (Wigan) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Lab/Co-op) Sir Robert Neill (Bromley and Stuart Andrew (Banbury) (Con) Stuart Andrew Chislehurst) (Con) Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con) Stuart Andrew Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Owen Thompson Renfrewshire North) (SNP) Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con) Stuart Andrew Charlotte Nichols (Warrington North) Chris Elmore (Horsham) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Lab) Will Quince (Colchester) (Con) Stuart Andrew Lia Nici (Great Grimsby) (Con) Stuart Andrew Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South East) Chris Elmore John Nicolson (Ochil and South Owen Thompson (Lab) Perthshire) (SNP) (Esher and Walton) Stuart Andrew Caroline Nokes (Romsey and Stuart Andrew (Con) Southampton North) (Con) Tom Randall (Gedling) (Con) Stuart Andrew Jesse Norman (Hereford and South Stuart Andrew (Ashton-under-Lyne) Chris Elmore Herefordshire) (Con) (Lab) Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/ Chris Elmore (Wokingham) (Con) Stuart Andrew Co-op) Steve Reed (Croydon North) (Lab/Co- Chris Elmore Neil O’Brien (Harborough) (Con) Stuart Andrew op) Brendan O’Hara (Argyll and Bute) Owen Thompson Christina Rees (Neath) (Lab) Chris Elmore (SNP) Ellie Reeves (Lewisham West and Chris Elmore Dr Matthew Offord (Hendon) (Con) Stuart Andrew Penge) (Lab) Sarah Olney (Richmond Park) (LD) Wendy Chamberlain Rachel Reeves (Leeds West) (Lab) Chris Elmore Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Chris Elmore Central) (Lab) (Stalybridge and Chris Elmore Hyde) (Lab) Guy Opperman (Hexham) (Con) Stuart Andrew (West Bromwich East) Stuart Andrew Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Chris Elmore (Con) Thamesmead) (Lab) (Guildford) (Con) Stuart Andrew Kate Osamor (Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Ms (St Helens South Chris Elmore Kate Osborne (Jarrow) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Whiston) (Lab) Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) Owen Thompson Rob Roberts (Delyn) (Con) Stuart Andrew (SNP) Taiwo Owatemi (Coventry North West) Chris Elmore Mr (Tewkesbury) Stuart Andrew (Lab) (Con) Sarah Owen (Luton North) (Lab) Chris Elmore Gavin Robinson (Belfast East) (DUP) Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson Ian Paisley (North Antrim) (Con) Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson Mary Robinson (Cheadle) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Tiverton and Honiton) Stuart Andrew Matt Rodda (Reading East) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Con) Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Witham) (Con) Stuart Andrew Douglas Ross (Moray) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mr (North Shropshire) Stuart Andrew Lee Rowley (North East Derbyshire) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Con) (Rugby) (Con) Stuart Andrew Dean Russell (Watford) (Con) Stuart Andrew 1133 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote11 MARCH 2021 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote 1134

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Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Brighton, Chris Elmore (Blackley and Chris Elmore Kemptown) (Lab/Co-op) Broughton) (Lab) Liz Saville Roberts (Dwyfor Ben Lake Graham Stuart (Beverley and Stuart Andrew Meirionnydd) (PC) Holderness) (Con) (North Devon) (Con) Stuart Andrew Julian Sturdy (York Outer) (Con) Stuart Andrew Paul Scully (Sutton and Cheam) (Con) Stuart Andrew Zarah Sultana (Coventry South) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Isle of Wight) (Con) Stuart Andrew Rishi Sunak (Richmond (Yorks)) (Con) Stuart Andrew Andrew Selous (South West Stuart Andrew James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con) Stuart Andrew Bedfordshire) (Con) Sir (New Forest Mr William Wragg Naz Shah (Bradford West) (Lab) Chris Elmore West) (Con) Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield) (Con) Stuart Andrew Sir (Poole) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Reading West) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Alyn and Deeside) (Lab) Chris Elmore Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) Chris Elmore Sam Tarry (Ilford South) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Lab) Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central) Owen Thompson Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) Chris Elmore (SNP) (Lab/Co-op) Derek Thomas (St Ives) (Con) Stuart Andrew Alec Shelbrooke (Elmet and Rothwell) Stuart Andrew Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/ Chris Elmore (Con) Co-op) Tommy Sheppard (Edinburgh East) Owen Thompson Nick Thomas-Symonds (Torfaen) (Lab) Chris Elmore (SNP) Richard Thomson (Gordon) (SNP) Owen Thompson Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Kilburn) Chris Elmore Emily Thornberry (Islington South and Chris Elmore (Lab) Finsbury) (Lab) David Simmonds (Ruislip, Northwood Stuart Andrew Maggie Throup (Erewash) (Con) Stuart Andrew and Pinner) (Con) Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab) Chris Elmore Chris Skidmore (Kingswood) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Eddisbury) (Con) Stuart Andrew Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Rochester and Strood) Stuart Andrew Alyn Smith (Stirling) (SNP) Owen Thompson (Con) Cat Smith (Lancaster and Fleetwood) Chris Elmore (Lab) (North Swindon) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Norwich North) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Mid Dorset and Stuart Andrew Greg Smith (Buckingham) (Con) Stuart Andrew North Poole) (Con) Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con) Stuart Andrew (North ) Stuart Andrew Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Con) Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Berwick-upon- Stuart Andrew Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab) Chris Elmore Tweed) (Con) Royston Smith (Southampton, Itchen) Stuart Andrew Jon Trickett (Hemsworth) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Con) Laura Trott (Sevenoaks) (Con) Stuart Andrew Karin Smyth (Bristol South) (Lab) Chris Elmore Elizabeth Truss (South West Norfolk) Stuart Andrew Alex Sobel (Leeds North West) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Con) (Derby North) Stuart Andrew (Tonbridge and Stuart Andrew (Con) Malling) (Con) Dr (Runnymede and Stuart Andrew Karl Turner (Kingston upon Hull East) Chris Elmore Weybridge) (Con) (Lab) Alexander Stafford (Rother Valley) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Halton) (Lab) Chris Elmore Keir Starmer (Holborn and St Pancras) Chris Elmore Liz Twist (Blaydon) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Lab) Mr Shailesh Vara (North West Stuart Andrew Chris Stephens (Glasgow South West) Owen Thompson Cambridgeshire) (Con) (SNP) Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con) Stuart Andrew Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con) Stuart Andrew Matt Vickers (Stockton South) (Con) Chris Loder Jo Stevens (Cardiff Central) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Chipping Barnet) Stuart Andrew Jane Stevenson (Wolverhampton North Stuart Andrew (Con) East) (Con) Mr (Worcester) (Con) Stuart Andrew John Stevenson (Carlisle) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mr (Wyre and Preston Stuart Andrew Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con) Stuart Andrew North) Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South) Stuart Andrew Dr Jamie Wallis (Bridgend) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Somerset and Stuart Andrew Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Wendy Chamberlain Frome) (Con) Easter Ross) (LD) Matt Warman (Boston and Skegness) Stuart Andrew Sir (South West Devon) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Con) Giles Watling (Clacton) (Con) Stuart Andrew Wes Streeting (Ilford North) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Stourbridge) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Central Devon) (Con) Stuart Andrew Claudia Webbe (Leicester East) (Ind) Bell Ribeiro-Addy 1135 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote11 MARCH 2021 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote 1136

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Catherine West (Hornsey and Wood Chris Elmore Craig Williams (Montgomeryshire) Stuart Andrew Green) (Lab) (Con) (Faversham and Mid Stuart Andrew Hywel Williams (Arfon) (PC) Ben Lake Kent) (Con) (Montgomeryshire) Stuart Andrew Mrs Heather Wheeler (South Stuart Andrew (Con) Derbyshire) (Con) Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD) Wendy Chamberlain Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Chris Elmore Sammy Wilson (East Antrim) (DUP) Sir Jeffrey M. Test) (Lab) Donaldson Dr Philippa Whitford (Central Owen Thompson Beth Winter (Cynon Valley) (Lab) Chris Elmore Ayrshire) (SNP) Pete Wishart (Perth and North Owen Thompson (Birkenhead) (Lab) Chris Elmore Perthshire) (SNP) (Calder Valley) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mike Wood (Dudley South) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Kenilworth and Stuart Andrew John Whittingdale (Malden) (Con) Stuart Andrew Southam) (Con) Nadia Whittome (Nottingham East) Chris Elmore Mohammad Yasin (Bedford) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Lab) Jacob Young (Redcar) (Con) Stuart Andrew (North Herefordshire) Stuart Andrew Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Con) James Wild (North West Norfolk) Stuart Andrew Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) (Lab) Chris Elmore (Con)

201WH 11 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Community Pharmacies 202WH

items every year. They deliver healthcare advice at a rate Westminster Hall of 48 million consultations a year. To put that in context, that saves nearly half a million GP appointments Thursday 11 March 2021 and 57,000 A&E visits every single week. That, by any stretch, is a service that is offering good value for [SIR GRAHAM BRADY in the Chair] money, and it deserves better support from us. Community pharmacies are part of the NHS family. BACKBENCH BUSINESS We often talk about “our NHS,” but what do we actually mean by that? Quite often, people think of our hospitals, Covid-19: Community Pharmacies and the doctors and nurses who work in them. For me, Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Order, the NHS is every single person who works in dispensing 25 February). health services, be they a nurse or paramedic working in [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] a hospital trust, or somebody working independently, either as a GP or a pharmacist. We must ensure that 1.30 pm whoever they are and wherever they are employed, if they are delivering NHS services, the NHS should ensure Sir Graham Brady (in the Chair): I remind hon. that they are adequately recompensed for it. Members that there have been some changes to normal practice in order to support the new hybrid arrangements. I am pleased to see the Minister in her place. I am Timings for debates have been amended to allow technical preaching to the converted, frankly, as she is a huge arrangements to be made for the next debate. There will supporter of pharmacists. I know that the contribution also be suspensions between each debate. I remind made by the sector over the last year has not gone Members participating physically and virtually that they unnoticed by her. Those working in the sector have also must arrive at the start of debates in Westminster Hall. felt well supported by the recognition they have received Members are expected to remain for the entire debate. If from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Members attending virtually have any technical problems, and the Prime Minister. It is a level of support they are they should email the Westminster Hall Clerks’ email not used to and they are grateful for it, but perhaps now address. Members attending physically should clean is the time to look beyond words of thanks and see that their spaces before they use them and before they leave reflected in deeds. the room. Members attending physically who are in the I am sad to say that while the sector is getting that later stages of the call list should use the seats in support from Ministers, it does not always get it from the Public Gallery and move on to the horseshoe when the machinery of the NHS or from the Department of seats become available. Members may speak only from Health and Social Care. The truth is that there are some the horseshoe, because that is where the microphones people in our health establishment who view pharmacists are. as nothing more but glorified retailers. They are not. Once we move on to Back-Bench contributions, I They are medical professionals who go through a substantial intend to begin with a time limit of three and a half amount of training, and they do not all work for Boots minutes. Hopefully we will not need to make it shorter and Lloyds. Most of them work independently, in small during the course of the debate. shops on our high streets, in the heart of our communities, and for those, 90% of their income comes from the NHS. 1.31 pm I am sad to say that I attended a discussion in which a Jackie Doyle-Price (Thurrock) (Con): I beg to move, DHSC representative asked, “Why can’t pharmacists That this House has considered community pharmacies and earn money from other sources?” My answer to that is, the effect of the covid-19 outbreak. “Why should they?” They are providing medical services. It is good to have you in the Chair for this important We have a contract with society that the NHS will meet debate, Sir Graham. It is an honour for me to chair the the cost of those services, and the pharmacy sector all-party parliamentary group on pharmacy, not least should not be expected to go scrabbling around for because so many colleagues are big fans of the pharmacy other business to subsidise work that is done for the sector. I am pleased to be introducing this debate this NHS. That is not the deal, and I think we need to afternoon and to see so much support from Members properly take that on. Their fundamental business is the who recognise the huge contribution that our community dispensing of prescriptions, which is an integral part of pharmacists have made during the pandemic. They are delivering an NHS that works for all patients. The NHS the front door to the NHS, and their doors have never therefore has a duty to ensure that it is supporting a been closed throughout the last year. We are all very functional community pharmacy sector. It is not the job grateful to them. of independent providers in our pharmacy sector to be That contribution has not been without consequences subsidising their NHS work through what they can sell. for pharmacists, both financially and in terms of their That is fundamentally not the ethos of our national own personal wellbeing. This debate is a chance for me health service. to make a plea that the Government and the NHS fully As such, I am very clear that we need to put our appreciate the contribution made by our community pharmacists on a more secure financial footing if we are pharmacists and ensure that they are recompensed to maximise the use of this sector in delivering good adequately for it. Pharmacists can play a much fuller primary care services, and we need to look at how it is contribution to primary care, as they have shown over supported and how it sits with GP services in our the past year, and they should be supported to do so. primary care system. My challenge is for DHSC and the Let us look at some figures. According to the NHS to look properly at whether, and how, they can Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, make sure that pharmacies get a fair deal. It is fair to community pharmacists dispense 1 billion prescription say that our pharmacies are held in very high esteem by 203WH Covid-19: Community Pharmacies11 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Community Pharmacies 204WH

[Jackie Doyle-Price] for everything they have done to support us in the last year. If we do not, we will miss them when they are the patients who use them. That has been especially true gone. during the pandemic, when patients often found that their pharmacy was the only ready source of advice. 1.40 pm Our 11,500 community pharmacies have been open Peter Dowd (Bootle) (Lab) [V]: It is a pleasure to see every day for every single one of us, but that has not you in the Chair, Sir Graham. I thank the hon. Member been without real costs, as I mentioned. Our pharmacists for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price) for bringing this issue today are facing debts simply because they stayed open. before us today. She is right to say that pharmacies need They had to supply their own personal protective our support now. They have played a crucial role as an equipment. They had to invest in keeping their shops integral part of our health service, which is under stress covid-secure. They had to deal with staff absence due to and strain at the best of times, and that is all the more sickness or self-isolation, and they had to deal with the the case during the covid pandemic. Pharmacies continue increased wholesale prices of medicines. to play an even more important role, if that is possible, Tobe fair,like most of the NHS, community pharmacies during this crisis. They have been there to support our did receive funding to ensure that they could remain communities when people could not access GP services. operational, but that was only ever advanced as a loan We have heard so many times during the crisis that that needs to be paid back. That is now threatening the people did not seek advice from their GP, local walk-in operation of some of our pharmacy businesses—as centre or hospital because they did not want to put even many as one in five, as estimated by Ernst and Young. It more of a strain on those services. Of course, many of simply cannot be right that, in stepping up to the them got the help and support that they requested, and challenge posed by the pandemic, some pharmacies it was from pharmacies. On behalf of my constituency, have unwittingly crippled their businesses, as the additional I would like to thank all the pharmacies that have costs are not being properly reimbursed. helped during this crisis. As the hon. Lady says, all the warm words we express The covid pandemic has highlighted that we are long count for nothing if that is all we do. Words are meaningless overdue a conversation about the role of pharmacy and without action to back them up. Pharmacists have had its place in the NHS, and the all-party group stands enough words to last them a lifetime, so I will cut to the ready to play its part in having that debate. Central to chase. First, the Government should review the response this will be the following principles. First, pharmacies from pharmacies during the pandemic and re-evaluate can play a fuller role in primary care. GPs will face a clear vision of what we need from these undervalued additional pressures as we come out of the pandemic. and vital frontline healthcare workers. It is not good Pharmacies can give that support, but they should be enough to take pharmacies for granted. If this properly supported in doing so. pandemic has shown us anything, it is how hard-pressed Secondly, we will be living with covid forever, and it yet responsive our pharmacies have been during the looks as if regular vaccination will become as big a part crisis. of our lives as the flu vaccine. I really want to see Secondly, the NHS and the Government should enable pharmacists fully engaged in that. There has been pharmacists to do more, as the hon. Lady said, by disappointment with the number of pharmacists engaged giving additional resources for training and support for so far, which I think is due to constraints on the supply this vital sector. The Test and Trace system has been of the vaccine, but I hope that will be properly addressed given £22 billion, with another £15 billion in the pipeline. as we go forward. That is almost £600 per person to run a system that, Thirdly, we need a plan to deal with the £370 million at best, has been mediocre in terms of its returns. loan to the sector. To be brutally frank, when we look at Frankly, a fraction of that resource could be put back the sums given to other areas of the economy, and to pharmacies. That would have a higher rate of return, indeed to the NHS, our pharmacies can be forgiven for be more productive and have a better outcome for our feeling a little hard done by. It will mean curtains for constituents. some businesses that acted in good faith after being Thirdly, a reassessment of the value of pharmacies, promised that the NHS would receive all the money it especially by finance teams in the Department of Health needed to fight the pandemic. No pharmacist should be and Social Care and the NHS, would be welcome. out of pocket for stepping up to this challenge, and we When was the last time any real assessment of the value really do need to look very closely at this. Fourthly, we of pharmacies was undertaken by the Department or need to make this sector understand that it is valued, NHS finance teams in a comprehensive fashion that has and we should encourage people to work in it. led to any real support for the sector? To end, I can advise the House that the all-party Fourthly, the Government should write off the advance parliamentary group on pharmacy held an inquiry in payments as an immediate way of providing relief. December in which we surveyed the opinions of Additionally, they should re-evaluate the financial pharmacists. We found an overstretched workforce implications of asking pharmacies to pay back the responding heroically to the challenge of a pandemic, £370 million advance. This is crucial, given that pressures with an attitude of doing what needed to be done, and I are pushing many community pharmacies to the edge. salute them for that. The survey also told a story of Quite simply, payments have not been enough to cover businesses being saddled with debt for doing the right the financial pressures brought on by covid-19. thing, and it found a workforce who felt undervalued Fifthly, and linked the points above, the sustainability and burnt out by the professional pressure they faced. of pharmacies is crucial. That is why the all-party Let us have a conversation about how we secure our parliamentary group on pharmacy is giving them its finances for the future. Let us properly thank pharmacists support. 205WH Covid-19: Community Pharmacies11 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Community Pharmacies 206WH

I urge the Government, before it is too late, to consider Ultimately,if pharmacies close—that is what is happening that current funding levels may already be causing now and it will continue at a faster rate if it is allowed to irreversible damage. It is time for us to give our local progress—the patients of Furness and those in pharmacists—for example, Dr Lisa Manning, the CEO constituencies around the country, along with the rest of my local pharmaceutical committee—and their of the NHS, will suffer. colleagues a shot in the arm. It is time to support them, No one could have predicted the pandemic and the and the time is now. massive impact that it would have on the NHS, the Exchequer and the country as a whole, but pharmacies 1.44 pm were already under massive financial strain before this. I Sitting suspended for a Division in the House. have already lost one pharmacy in Barrow and several others have cut their hours because of financial cutbacks. 1.59 pm It is worth looking at where the bulk of pharmacy On resuming— closures have taken place in the past four years. The vast majority sit in the most deprived areas of our country, Sir Graham Brady (in the Chair): The sitting is resumed. where we need to level up healthcare the most. Squaring The debate may now continue until quarter past 3. that circle is the challenge that my hon. Friends in the Simon Fell (Barrow and Furness) (Con) [V]: It is an Treasury face—one that they are no doubt alive to. honour to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Graham. As my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock said I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock when she opened the debate, community pharmacies (Jackie Doyle-Price) for securing this important debate. are the front door to the NHS. We need to make sure The pandemic has shone a light on some of the more that that door stays firmly open. extreme challenges that we face as a society, but it has also highlighted the role of some of the institutions that 2.2 pm support our communities—quietly, day in and day out. Holly Lynch (Halifax) (Lab) [V]: It is a pleasure to They are there for advice and support and offer a serve under your chairmanship, Sir Graham. I feel there friendly and welcome face to those who are not reassured will be a great deal of consensus over the course of this by going through online channels. Some people want a debate. relationship but do not want to trouble their GP, and I have shared my experiences of my first job working community pharmacies fill that role. These institutions in my uncle’scommunity pharmacy on numerous occasions have long been at the heart of all our constituencies, in Parliament. Indeed, I secured a Westminster Hall offering so much more than just prescriptions. debate on the role of community pharmacies in October It would be remiss of me not to mention a few of the 2019. I spoke of how there was never a dull moment in a local pharmacies in my community and the incredible pharmacy. I recalled the time a frantic mother handed work that they have done and continue to do as part of me dead headlice taped to a piece of cardboard, and the NHS family.Cohens, Coward’s and Murray’s, among someone asking me to run a pregnancy test on a bottle others, are Furness institutions that have been remarkable of cough medicine before discreetly letting me know it in the support they have offered the community over the was actually a urine sample and the bottle was the most past year. Not only have pharmacies remained open secure way that she could think of getting it to the shop. over the past year; they are now supporting the vaccination The lighter moments aside, what has always stayed programme. with me from my time working evenings and weekends A local pharmacist, Ben Merriman, was out vaccinating in a local chemist shop was that so often, particularly in Millom yesterday. I was told this morning of one for older people,someone’srelationship with the pharmacist pharmacist who was doing the same and, at the end of a was the longest standing and most trusted relationship very long day, found that their final patient was needle- they had with any clinical professional. When we think phobic. It took an hour of gentle persuasion to get that about the pandemic, we think what an invaluable final needle into the patient’s arm, which shows in one community asset pharmacies are,and I takethis opportunity simple act the generosity and forbearance of the community to thank all those who have worked so hard to keep pharmacist. This is a sector that we need to nurture and pharmacy doors open during the most difficult times of support, especially now. this crisis. Let us be honest: community pharmacies are struggling. Prior to the crisis, pharmacies had their budgets cut While they have never been busier—significantly busy back in 2016, with a reduction from £2.8 billion in at the moment—90% of their business is pharmacy 2015-16 to £2.59 billion in 2017-18. That represented work and not retail, and that part of their business has a 4% reduction in funding in 2016-17 and a further dropped off. They have also seen a significant increase 3.4% reduction in 2017-18. When inflation is factored in their workload as the number of consultations they in, as well as all the services that pharmacies already have taken on has increased since the start of the offer free of charge—costs that they absorb—it dealt an pandemic. Some of that is due to the approachability of almost fatal blow to pharmacies. The then Minister told community pharmacies, and some of it is due to word the all-party parliamentary pharmacy group that he of mouth. If someone has had a good service, they are expected between 1,000 and 3,000 pharmacies to close more than likely to tell their friends and family. as a result, because they would simply no longer be The Government’s support for this arm of the NHS viable, with multiples and chains of pharmacies best is welcome, and the £370 million helped to deal with placed to weather the cuts, and independent and more some of the immediate cash-flow issues at the start of rural chemists left at a disadvantage. the pandemic. I am sure my hon. Friend will continue to That was in 2016 and it set the landscape going into engage with the PSNC to ensure that this vital arm of the pandemic. When the pandemic started, these already the NHS has the support that it needs to stay afloat. underfunded pharmacies were called on to be a crucial 207WH Covid-19: Community Pharmacies11 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Community Pharmacies 208WH

[Holly Lynch] off other parts of the system. That is my key point: pharmacists are key frontline health workers. They element of the UK’s frontline response, dealing with a are owed a debt of thanks and I put my thanks on 20% rise in demand for medicines and a 35% increase in the record. required prescriptions. They experienced a doubling in The pandemic has shown what pharmacies can do. demand for home deliveries of medication and a tripling There is the work of the pharmacy-led vaccination in calls from the public. According to the PSNC pharmacy centres. In Knaresborough in my constituency, we have advice audit, pharmacies have been providing healthcare a vaccination centre run by the local company, Homecare advice to more than 600,000 people every week. We owe Pharmacy Services, at the former Lidl store. It is going a great debt to these underfunded and overworked great guns. It has the capacity to do 1,000 vaccinations pharmacies and their teams, who went above and beyond a day, and I have heard nothing but positive reports. to relieve pressures on our NHS. Looking ahead, I can see a role for pharmacies in I commend the work of the all-party parliamentary helping with the likely winter covid booster jab, which is pharmacy group under the leadership of the hon. Member probably going to be part of all our futures, and a role for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price) for its detailed work in helping people who take several medicines as they on this issue. I ask the Government to reflect on the ask manage what the NHS cheerfully calls “multiple within its recent flash inquiry report. We need comorbidities”, alongside their regular care and the pharmacists—that has to be the bottom line—so why community value that they bring, day in, day out. are we putting these perverse financial barriers in their My message is that pharmacies do a lot. They have way? They are providing a great deal of care, as well as shown us that, and that they could do more. They have social care, to those who most need it. We have to find the expertise and trust. They should be at the heart of ways of looking after them into the future. how frontline health services are planned. A stable, secure pharmacy sector, planning and supported for the 2.6 pm future, will be able to add a huge contribution to the Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con): health of our nation. It is always a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Graham. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member 2.9 pm for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price) on securing this debate. Taiwo Owatemi (Coventry North West) (Lab) [V]: It We all know that the pandemic has put unprecedented is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Graham. pressure on our health services. That, for me, includes I thank the hon. Member for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price) pharmacies. I consider pharmacies to be frontline medical for securing this crucial debate. As a qualified pharmacist, services and a really important part of patient care. I I know the important role that community pharmacists emphasise that view, which is clearly shared among play at the heart of communities, going above and those of us in this debate, but I do not think it is a view beyond for their patients on a daily basis. I thank those universally held across the health sector. in my constituency such as Allesley pharmacy and Before going any further, I should declare an interest. Rotherham Road pharmacy for their ongoing hard Many years ago, I worked for Kingfisher and I had work. Since the start of the pandemic, much of our responsibility for pharmacy marketing and Superdrug, high street has shut up shop, faced with the unique among other things. As a result, I spent considerable threats that covid presents. Community pharmacies, on time with pharmacists and understood the value that the other hand, have opened their doors to all those people place on them. I saw at first hand the expertise who need them. They quickly adapted their services to and care, and have had much respect and affection for be covid secure, and offered face-to-face advice and the sector ever since. healthcare on a walk-in basis when communities needed it most. They have been a shining light in the dark times This debate is focused on the current crisis. The way for our high street and taken the strain off other sections that the whole sector has responded—the NHS,pharmacies, of our health system. the pharmaceutical companies; everybody—has been truly impressive. They have showed agility, which is not Weshould celebrate the innovation shown by community always what we expect in large organisations.Their working pharmacists. Pandemic delivery services ensured that together has perhaps also taken them to new places. patients shielding at home were able to access their prescriptions without putting themselves at risk, and Pharmacies have remained open and accessible places pharmacists reviewed the medication for those discharged of advice and reassurance, and, above all, sources of from hospital, helping patients manage their medicines vital medicines. Keeping that flowing was critical. properly, reducing confusion and improving patient Pharmacies have adapted to new rules and used their safety. They have used their expertise to support the positions of trust and authority to really help patients. national covid-19 vaccination programme, making it I saw a little bit of that doing some volunteering for easier for many to receive the vaccination at their own the Harrogate Easier Living Project. It has not been the convenience, from a familiar trusted face. quietest time for MPs or I would have done a little However, these changes have come at a huge cost, more. I helped deliver prescriptions to those who were both financially and emotionally. Pharmacies have been shielding and visited a number of pharmacies across the left to fund the increased staffing costs, PPE, cleaning constituency as a result. I was impressed by the actions and social distancing measures that came with the they had taken to keep people safe and to continue their effects of covid. Coupled with a reduction in over-the- vital work. counter sales and services, many are now facing serious When the NHS was rightly dealing with the immediate financial challenges. Yet pharmacies have received no urgency of this crisis, pharmacies took a pace forward targeted funding for their efforts. Instead, this Government and helped with health advice. They took the pressure have taken advantage of the good will. From the ongoing 209WH Covid-19: Community Pharmacies11 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Community Pharmacies 210WH effects of the devastating cuts of 2016, to the unforeseen Through the pandemic era of the last year or so, cuts of the last year, pharmacies have been left in the access to GPs, hospital admissions and visits to accident lurch, forced to fend for themselves. and emergency have all been reduced. Those three The systemic underfunding has put community sectors, and other aspects, too, are part of the loss from pharmacies in dire straits and many owners have been the mainstream NHS that local chemists on our high left having to use their own money to keep these vital streets have taken up. We ought to credit them for that. parts of our community afloat. A third of pharmacies It has put enormous stress and strain on those on the and businesses in England are now in deficit and many frontline in community chemists. They suffer all the have closed for good. It is counterintuitive that pharmacies pressure of additional hours, busier working lives, and are being forced to close in the midst of the pandemic. concerns and fears about the risk of covid infection, as If we do not act now to stop the loss of community well as the pressure on chemists if someone is sent home pharmacies, our high streets will be hit hard and many for a period of time after a positive test. All those things of the most desperate and deprived will lose their main add pressure. To some extent, for community chemists, link to NHS services. Only by picking up the extra costs as with GPs, there is vocational element, but there is faced by pharmacists and writing off the £370 million also the aspect of the significant costs they have faced, in emergency loans—that most will struggle to ever which must be addressed. repay—can the Government ever hope to fulfil their Before the covid crisis began, there were significant promise to do whatever it takes. concerns about the long-term financial viability of the Looking ahead, we need to understand the value and sector, and I think those concerns have now been work that our community pharmacists do every day. compounded. I express my appreciation of the chemists Not only do they provide a key link between individuals right across my constituency, especially those at Hootons and a wider NHS but they are a vital part of our plan to pharmacy in Horwich, because of the work that they address the health inequalities that many in my constituency are doing on the vaccine roll-out, and for what they and across the country, are seeing grow more and more. have done at the University of Bolton stadium to give Our pharmacists have a fantastic set of skills, and a so many people access to vaccinations. I support the broad knowledge and expertise that can take some of recommendations of the APPG for pharmacies. Although the burden from the overstretched primary care network. we would normally want to reduce aches and pains and I hope the Minister will listen to what has been said, coughs and colds, will the Minister ensure that the because now we need active steps to give community Chancellor and the Prime Minister cough up the cash pharmacists guaranteed support grants and to fully for community chemists? fund the enhanced community and public healthcare 2.17 pm and covid-19 booster vaccinations. The Minister and his colleagues in the Treasury should remember that the Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab) [V]: It success of pharmacies does not simply keep our is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Sir Graham. I communities healthy. They also inject life into our high congratulate the hon. Member for Thurrock (Jackie street—which themselves have been ravaged by the Doyle-Price) on securing the debate. As we have heard, pandemic. An investment in pharmacists is an investment most community pharmacies have remained open in public health, local economies and preventing future throughout the pandemic, and many have worked extra pandemics having the startling impact that we have seen hours because they have often been the only available in the past year. This is an investment that will pay for source of medical advice. The pandemic delivery service itself many times over. has ensured that those shielding have been able to receive their prescriptions. Last winter, community pharmacies administered 2.6 million flu jabs. I had 2.13pm mine at Kings pharmacy in Cotteridge, administered by (Bolton West) (Con): It is a pleasure to pharmacist Ameet Pancholi. follow the hon. Member for Coventry North West Measures to take pharmacies covid-safe cost money. (Taiwo Owatemi), because she effectively puts over the Pharmacies have had to install door entry systems and concerns of many colleagues across the country. I counter screens, and buy their own PPE. They have congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock been involved in supporting people with mental health (Jackie Doyle-Price) on securing this important debate issues, and in fielding dental and optical inquiries, for and making a powerful speech championing the sector. which they do not get paid. Ameet Pancholi had to My right hon. Friend the Minister, and the whole employ extra drivers to ensure the delivery of prescriptions Health team, have done amazing work in general, but to vulnerable patients. particularly over this recent period. For the wider As with much of the health service, the Government agenda of the health service, pharmacies and high-street do not seem to recognise the real costs. Pressures date chemists are an important part of how we want the back to the 2016 Budget cuts, which resulted in many health system to evolve in the future. Making sure that closures, often in the most deprived areas. If drug prices this sector is secure, and can perform, in the long term rise, pharmacies lose out because they are tied to a ought to be a key part of her thinking about the way we pre-set NHS drug tariff. A recent Ernst and Young support these places in the future. I did not appreciate report concluded that our pharmacy network is just how many pharmacies there are right around the unsustainable within the current framework. It projected country.There are 11,500, with nearly 43,000 pharmacists that 72% of pharmacies would be in deficit by 2024. As and more than 19,000 technicians. As has rightly been we have heard, pharmacies received money to meet highlighted, they are all medical professionals. There have extra pandemic costs, but they say that they have spent been significant financial pressures, which, if not addressed, rather more, and it turns out that that money was loan may challenge the ability of the Health team to develop that will now be clawed back. What happened to “whatever and deliver effective health services in the future. it takes” and “all help necessary”? 211WH Covid-19: Community Pharmacies11 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Community Pharmacies 212WH

[Steve McCabe] customers with such things as obesity, smoking and drinking. They should also be providing a huge range of Only 55 days ago, I received an email from NHS additional services. Any and all vaccinations could be England extolling the virtues of community pharmacies. done at a pharmacy, as could sexual health screenings It told me that 200 of them were due to start delivering and HIV testing, and they could have greater powers to the covid vaccine. It quoted the Secretary of State as prescribe, to name just a few. saying: Secondly, pharmacies should be better represented at “It is fantastic that high-street pharmacies will now begin” strategic planning level, with representation in clinical administering the vaccine. He went on to say: commissioning groups and integrated care systems, for “Pharmacists have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, example, to ensure that they form part of the conversation often acting as the first port of call…and often staying open when about the delivery of health and care within our local all around have closed.” communities. It also quotes the Vaccines Minister as saying: Finally and most importantly, as has been well covered “Pharmacies play a vital role in caring for the nation”. and eloquently set out by colleagues, pharmacies have If Ministers want to keep these fantastic pharmacies, to be adequately funded for the work that they do. Time which they think play such a vital role, there is only one prevents me again from going into any great detail, but solution: we need a review of funding and the drug I echo calls from colleagues to look at the recommendations tariff, and they should be fully compensated for the of the APPG, at turning loans into grants, at the Ernst costs incurred during the pandemic. That means converting and Young report, and at formally making pharmacies the £370 million covid funding to a grant. part of our frontline NHS and using existing primary care resources where necessary to ensure that that can 2.20 pm happen. Elliot Colburn (Carshalton and Wallington) (Con) I will finish by thanking yet again the pharmacies in [V]: It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, my constituency and across the country for their Sir Graham. I, too, congratulate my hon. Friend the extraordinary efforts. I know how valued they are by Member for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price) on securing my constituents, so I hope that we can secure them this important debate, especially as pharmacists really greater responsibilities and appropriate funding to create have been the unsung heroes of this pandemic. Not only that “pharmacy first” culture in the UK. have their doors remained open to their customers for their regular services but they have also picked up huge demands for minor ailment consultations, medicine 2.24 pm deliveries for people avoiding GPs and staying at home, Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): It is a pleasure to and so on. serve under your chairmanship, Sir Graham. I thank In Carshalton and Wallington, I pay particular tribute the hon. Member for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price) for to my local community pharmacists for their extraordinary setting the scene, as she always does on such issues. I am efforts over the past year, and for their strong lobbying very pleased to speak on this matter, because it is on behalf of the sector, including Sanjay from Sutton essential for me. I have often referred to pharmacies in pharmacy,Jaymil from Hackbridge and Anna pharmacies, my constituency, and I have often sent questions to the and Alfie from MPS pharmacy. Of course, I know that Minister here, and to the Minister whose responsibility the Minister will know Reena from S G Barai pharmacy. they are back home as well. She does a lot of lobbying on behalf of the sector in the Those pharmacies have reported much of the concern UK, and I am so proud that she operates a pharmacy in that has already been outlined by others, and they are in my constituency. need of Government support. I have a good working The increase in workload has taken its toll, as we relationship with pharmacies in my area and I visit have heard. Pharmacists tell us that they have worked them fairly regularly, but they are under additional late into the night and over the weekend without a pressure because of the recent strains relating to the break in order to keep up. That highlights a real Northern Ireland protocol. I know that the Minister is problem: they have not been recompensed for much of not responsible for the Northern Ireland protocol, but the additional work that they have taken on. It has also this debate is about pharmacies and the Northern Ireland demonstrated a great opportunity for the NHS—something protocol becomes part of that, as it always does with that I know the Minister recognises but that I hope everything, for us in Northern Ireland anyway. NHS England will also recognise and grasp with both I was in contact with one of my local pharmacies, hands. who spoke with other members of Community Pharmacy Having worked in the NHS myself, I know first hand Northern Ireland and outlined the following: about the significant pressures on demand for GP “Community Pharmacy NI has been in on-going local and appointments and A&E capacity, but we know that national discussions in respect of matters relating to the supply of many people presenting at GPs and even at hospital medicines to Northern Ireland, and has highlighted the continuing could be seen by a pharmacist first. The talents and concerns in respect of continuity of supply from a Northern abilities of pharmacists were massively under-utilised Ireland perspective in 2021/22 and beyond. There is a 12-month before the pandemic began, and I argue that we need to derogation in place and Mr Gove has requested that this be unlock that capacity to ease pressures on the NHS and extended to 2023.” create a new culture of “pharmacy first” within the UK. That is good news because it helps us in the short term, I will quickly make three points. First, I will outline but we need a long-term solution as well. It goes on: what more pharmacists could do if we let them. I do not “there is work being undertaken at policy and operational levels have time to go into any great detail, but they should be to resolve anticipated supply issues before they impact on contractors on the frontline of the prevention agenda, helping their and patients here.” 213WH Covid-19: Community Pharmacies11 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Community Pharmacies 214WH

So, we are seeing some conciliation and help for us in I had my flu injection at my local pharmacy. It Northern Ireland, and we appreciate that. worked efficiently and discreetly, and I was pleased to Community Pharmacy NI continues: be able to have it there. Looking forward, pharmacies “However, additional regulatory requirements post 2021 may have a great role in the ongoing provision of booster put a significant burden on manufacturers for a small NI market”— vaccinations for covid. However, we have a problem at the moment with the net closure of something like 400 it might be small, but it is crucial for us in Northern pharmacies. Wehave a problem of funding there. Concern Ireland and for our constituents— has already been raised during the debate about the “and the fear is that this may force them to withdraw altogether emergency loans that were provided and being able to from supplying here and that there may be significant disruption convert those into some form of grant, or simply to to the supply chain which will result in shortages. write them off altogether. Any policy needs to reflect There are also looming implementation dates for full compliance the fact that pharmacies have had to provide covid-secure with HMRC and EHC requirements, which may impact on medicines movement. The potential shortage issue could be managed screening facilities on their premises, and that they have to a large degree by ensuring that the licensing status quo is not been reimbursed for having to provide their own retained as far as possible to allow the unfettered use of GB packs PPE. in Northern Ireland. For the future, there is a lot that can be built on the Community pharmacies in Northern Ireland provided a vital relationship between pharmacies and GPs. For example, role in supporting patients, the health service and by maintaining I see a role for pharmacies in being able to detect medicines supply to patients during COVID.” undiagnosed high blood pressure in a number of people. We have all said that. When my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester “As we go forward now in 2021 can Government provide details/give (Steve Brine) was a Minister, he always said that I used assurances that work is ongoing to identify and quantify any these debates as an excuse to reveal my ailments. I am possible medicines shortages and to put in place sufficient measures not doing that this time, but I am saying that this is a and contingencies to deal with any anticipated issues in respect of very good opportunity to be able to provide public medicines supplies to Northern Ireland?” health guidance for communities at a local level. Can the Minister respond to that today? If not, can she respond to it further down the line? 2.31 pm Local pharmacies are a focal point of villages and communities across my constituency. Throughout the Steve Brine (Winchester) (Con) [V]: I am delighted pandemic, the community pharmacies have battled through that the Henley reveal is not on show today. It is always as a lifeline for people. In the same way that we owe a good to discuss community pharmacy in the House. In debt to the NHS, I believe we also owe a debt to local doing so, I declare my entry in the Register of Members’ pharmacies, who did their utmost to keep it together Financial Interests and of course my experience as a and keep going. There must be a better use of them to former pharmacy Minister. relieve the pressure on the NHS. I believe that pharmacies The Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 has are at the frontline to do that. They could be addressing received Royal Assent, which is a good thing, as it is an issues to do with diabetes, minor ailments or small important piece of legislation. I remember its conception. medication problems. The Minister is right to say, as she has done previously, I end by putting on record my sincere thanks to all that it has the patient at its heart, but the Bill, and the pharmacists, technicians and staff who kept making certainly the discussion around it, has also advanced the packs, were available for assistance, and kept their the idea of making what would be a pretty fundamental doors open and medication flowing. We could not have change to community pharmacies through a shift to done it without them, and now is the time to do right by what we call the hub and spoke model, which I want to them. touch on. The Minister is very familiar with the arguments. For those who are not, we are talking about a totally 2.27 pm new way of working, whereby independent pharmacists John Howell (Henley) (Con) [V]: It is a great pleasure have a hub pharmacy that dispenses medicines on a to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Graham. I thank large scale for regular spoke pharmacies, which then my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle- supply them to the patient. Price) for securing the debate and for speaking so A consultation as far back as 2016 flew this flag, and eloquently. It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member it was confirmed in the long-term plan of January 2018. for Strangford (Jim Shannon); it is usually the other Fast-forward to life in the pandemic, and it is true that way around. He usually follows me, so it is a pleasure to the combination of rising prescription volumes and do it this way around. reduced patient access to primary care services has put My first point is about the question of inoculation. A great pressure on community pharmacies to keep up the number of hon. Members have said that their pharmacies face-to-face contact that their customers want and need. are already providing the covid inoculation. They are Boy, have they done that. I am so glad that Ministers not doing so in my area. I raised that with the Minister have consistently recognised the work of community for Covid Vaccine Deployment. He, like me, said that he pharmacists throughout, and I join colleagues in paying wanted to be able to wander down to his local pharmacy tribute to mine. They are a workforce who just get on to obtain his vaccine. His view was that it was not with it. available because of the lumpiness of the supply of Adding the rising volumes and access to primary care vaccine and that we would see more pharmacies coming services to the Government’s requirement for greater online to take that on. Can the Minister comment on value from pharmacy, it is clear why many people how we are getting on with that? How far have pharmacies believe that a hub and spoke dispensing model is the been brought into the continuation of the programme? way forward. On the flipside of the debate, many are 215WH Covid-19: Community Pharmacies11 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Community Pharmacies 216WH

[Steve Brine] health service. At a modest cost, they deliver very significant benefits, and they are a critical part of primary understandably worried that centralised dispensing could care that pays significant dividends, as well as alleviating drive down costs in pharmacy. Unless the pharmacy on pressure elsewhere. the high street then acts as the spoke part by handling I have six independent pharmacies in my constituency the prescription to the patient, we just end up with a and they are all highly valued: Yarmouth; Freshwater; bigger distance-selling pharmacy market and a lack of Seaview; Ryde; and Regent, which has branches in both patient contact, which then puts opportunities for wider East Cowes and Shanklin. I talk to all the pharmacists primary care contact out of reach. Put simply, the regularly. Despite pharmacies’ significant role during unintended consequence could be a total stitch-up that covid, by remaining open they have incurred nationally leaves community pharmacy not so much as “always costs of £370 million in staffing and other costs. I am the bridesmaid, never the bride”—as I have often heard— delighted that the Prime Minister said in a recent press but more like “jilted at the altar,” and I do not want to conference that that money was going to be reimbursed, see that happen. The truth is that, as with everything but following the Budget we have not yet seen that else, and especially the growth of distance-selling money and I am none the wiser as to whether we will see pharmacies, it is somewhere in between. it. Can the Minister therefore reassure us that the support We can debate the pros and cons all we like, and I am promised will actually be seen through, and that that really pleased that the Minister has committed to a full £370 million will reach pharmacists? public consultation on hub and spoke, to ensure that we Secondly, hon. Members have already referred to the get the right model going forward, but let us be clear Ernst and Young report. Three quarters of independent that it is already happening, with the technology embedded pharmacies are under pressure and may be forced to in the multiples and the large chains long ago. Can she close within the next 12 months, and between two thirds give an indication of when she thinks it is likely that her and three quarters of community pharmacies will Department will bring forward concrete proposals to potentially be in financial deficit by 2024, according to consult on hub and spoke? that report. I asked a written question about the report In closing, I return to an old theme of mine in respect but was told that, as it was not in the public domain, the of community pharmacy: whatever the future architecture Government would not comment on it. That is not true; of the NHS—obviously, the White Paper is being it is in the public domain and I would like the Government discussed—it must take its rightful place as part of to comment on it. If the Government agree with what pre-primary care, as I call it. That is why I have always the report says, the Minister needs to act. been so positive about the potential that primary care Thirdly, we know that independent pharmacies do networks have for this sector. PCNs are a great chance not gain the discounts given to big multiples, which are for community pharmacy, and the new integrated care often part of a single wholesale and retail chain. Why systems set out in the White Paper are the chance to can the Minister not ensure that pharmacies bake in primary care, in its widest sense, within the are paid the same and are allowed to make the same NHS family. Hub and spoke is a positive opportunity profit margins on prescriptions and other services? moment for community pharmacy post covid, but only Summing up, I know that the Minister has good if the income and the process of dispensing are replaced plans for pharmacies, because she has talked them in a way that allows the sector finally to realise its through with me in the past, and I am grateful to her for potential as part of primary care. sparing that time. However, pharmacies need to be open and functioning if they are to take advantage of the 2.35 pm plans that we have for them. There must be a financial model that allows pharmacies, especially independent Bob Seely (Isle of Wight) (Con) [V]: It is a pleasure to pharmacies,to make a reasonable living for the exceptionally see you in the Chair, Sir Graham, and also to follow a valuable work that they do nationally and in their very knowledgeable former Public Health Minister, my communities. I look forward to hearing some solutions hon. Friend the Member for Winchester (Steve Brine). I to these problems from the Minister. am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price) for securing this debate and for the 2.38 pm lot of good work that she has been doing on the Sir David Amess (Southend West) (Con) [V]: I all-party parliamentary group on pharmacy. congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock I will be brief, as we are all saying pretty much the (Jackie Doyle-Price) on securing this debate and on same thing. I hope that at the end of the debate the being determined that it would not be a hot air debate Minister will suggest some concrete measures that can but one in which we actually work together to find some make a difference, and specifically answers the questions solutions. that I will put. I have also written today to the Secretary Although many GPs’ surgeries closed their doors at of State and the Chancellor about support for pharmacies, the start of the pandemic, pharmacies have stayed open and I am grateful for the conversation that I had with and even increased their hours of operation in order to the Minister the day before yesterday about them. meet the extra demand for their services. They have First, we are attending this debate because we know been a lifeline for the elderly and vulnerable, delivering what an important service pharmacies perform for medicines to those shielding or self-isolating. Many communities, which they are embedded in. Pharmacies, pharmacies in Southend have also supported care homes, especially independent pharmacies, are a friendly, valued sourcing medication where there were shortages of and, above all, trusted voice. For the NHS and the end-of-life medicines. When needed, they have also nation, they take pressure off accident and emergency assisted with the reuse of medicines in care homes departments, GPs’ surgeries and other parts of the under national protocols. 217WH Covid-19: Community Pharmacies11 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Community Pharmacies 218WH

Working with local general practitioners, chemists hon. Lady that the sector is valued. There can be no are now processing the majority of prescriptions doubt that, throughout these islands, pharmacies play a electronically, reducing the number of face-to-face visits vital role in our communities, and they have gone above that are required. The discharge medicines service has and beyond that during the covid crisis. just rolled out to Southend pharmacies, so that they are Health is a devolved matter, of course, and in Scotland able to see all the medicines that a patient has been we do things a little differently, which means I often feel given upon being discharged from hospital, which improves like a foreign observer during debates about pharmacies safety and reduces potential errors. Many pharmacies and healthcare in England. We have heard from a have also joined the vaccination programme. Their number of speakers about the different practices that experience in handling large numbers of patients effectively affect their parts of England, and I hope that my has been vital in delivering the first jab to the elderly observations from Scotland may also be of interest to and clinically vulnerable. Members. I have commented in a few debates that there Having visited a number of pharmacies in my are often lessons that we can learn from one another, constituency before the coronavirus outbreak, I am and good practices that can be shared. This issue provides aware of the pride that they feel in serving their community an excellent case in point. and of their ambitions for the future. Frenchs Chemist Community pharmacies were developed in Scotland in Leigh-on-Sea suggested running a phlebotomy clinic 15 years ago and are there for minor ailments, chronic three days a week and installing a treatment room with medication and public health services. These services ultrasound scanning facilities, so that many routine involve pharmacists more in the community in the scans can be carried out without the need for a hospital provision of direct patient-centred care. It may be worth visit. Derix Healthcare Pharmacy, also in Leigh-on-Sea, pointing out that prescriptions are free in Scotland, and is keen to take on more work, such as producing blister that fact enabled the development of the minor ailment packs on behalf of the hospital, which is a very time- service across Scotland, which in turn has evolved into consuming task, and has offered to perform medicine our Pharmacy First service, launched last July.Originally use reviews and other services currently carried out in planned to start in April 2020, it was delayed to allow hospitals, freeing up staff time on wards and in out-patient pharmacy teams to focus on managing the covid-19 departments. pandemic. It is backed by £7.5 million of investment in As chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on 2021-22, rising to £10 million by 2022-23. liver health, I have worked closely with our brilliant The Pharmacy First approach removes huge pressure secretariat, the Hepatitis C Trust, to promote the delivery from GPs and A&E services and allows the public to of testing and treatment for hepatitis C in community access treatments more easily across some 1,200 pharmacies settings. A report published by the APPG in 2018 located throughout Scotland, and with the greater flexibility showed that, in order to eliminate the disease, levels of of longer opening hours. Community pharmacists can testing and diagnosis needs to be much higher. Offering only give out certain medicines and products, but the testing and treatment in community pharmacies presents benefits of this are massive because it can cut the an important opportunity to access at-risk groups who workload of GPs and other NHS staff across the country. are already attending for other services. Hepatitis C is a Pharmacists are located throughout communities in major cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer, and in order Scotland, from rural areas to the deprived inner cities, to eliminate it as a public health concern by 2030, those providing pharmaceutical care on behalf of NHS Scotland. who cannot be reached by traditional healthcare settings must be offered more help locally. The Scottish Government’spolicy remains that, wherever Of course, all this comes at a price, and many pharmacies possible, people across Scotland should have local access are struggling to continue the level of service they to NHS pharmaceutical care. From 1 October, Scottish currently offer. Coping with the pressure of additional pharmacies now receive £1,250 a month as part of this demand during the covid-19 crisis has meant many scheme, and in Scotland, if a person is registered with a extra costs in staffing and PPE and an increased cost of GP practice and has a minor illness, a pharmacy is the medicines. The advance payments made during the first place they should go for advice. They do not pandemic, which allowed them to cope with additional usually need an appointment, and they can go to any demand on their services, were welcome but will have to pharmacy. The pharmacist can give advice for a minor be paid back—a total of £370 million—putting pressure illness, and medicine if they think the person needs it. on pharmacies to cut services and opening hours. This Pharmacists, like GPs, can only provide certain medicines is a real opportunity for our wonderful pharmacies to and products on the NHS. Health boards in Scotland deliver even more services than they have been given the have been able to enter into local arrangements with power to do at the moment. pharmacy contractors for the delivery of the covid-19 vaccination, following an agreement between the Scottish Sir Graham Brady (in the Chair): I thank everybody Government and Community Pharmacy Scotland. for keeping to time so well, making sure that we have The covid pandemic has flagged up examples of both sufficient time left for each of the Front-Bench spokespeople good and bad behaviour from our fellow citizens. We to have up to 10 minutes to wind up, and for the hon. have heard tremendous examples today of how pharmacists Member for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price) to have at have adapted to the challenges over the past year,providing least a couple of minutes at the end to sum up. vital lifelines in so many of our communities. The work and efforts from our pharmacists have been a great 2.42 pm example for us all. The growth in abuse faced by pharmacy Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP) staff, on the other hand, is of particular concern. That [V]: It is a pleasure to take part in the debate, which I pharmacy staff are needing to wear body cameras to am grateful to the hon. Member for Thurrock (Jackie protect themselves speaks volumes about the world we Doyle-Price) for securing. I think we all agree with the now live in, and my praise goes to the Pharmacists’ 219WH Covid-19: Community Pharmacies11 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Community Pharmacies 220WH

[Martyn Day] about medicine supply remind us that, without the right supply, we can have all the best services in the world but Defence Association for its work in combating threatening we will be unable to meet need. Finally, I was delighted and abusive behaviour. We must all support, and give that the hon. Member for Winchester (Steve Brine), the leadership to, a zero-tolerance approach. former Minister, raised the issue of hub and spoke. This In conclusion, we have seen societal change from is going to be such a seismic change to pharmacy that is before the pandemic to where we are now, and indicators going to affect all of our high streets, and I will make a of what may emerge in the future, with more people couple of points about that in my conclusion in a than before now treating their minor ailments at home moment. with the support of pharmacies. We should encourage Throughout this pandemic, we have had many heroes this transition to continue, in order to alleviate the working on the frontline—doctors, nurses, dentists and strain that minor ailments place on the NHS, such as in other healthcare staff, as well as others in other professions, A&E. Scotland’sPharmacy First programme is an example such as teachers, retail workers and many more. They of how this is possible. have all adapted to fight the impact of the pandemic on 2.46 pm the frontlines. They have had to adapt the way in which they operate, as has everybody in some way, whether it Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/Co-op): It is is working from home, working with social distancing an honour to serve under your chairship, Sir Graham. I measures or being on furlough. We ourselves are meeting thank the hon. Member for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price) in an extraordinary Chamber today, and we are very for securing this important debate through the Backbench lucky to have the staff to deliver this for us. Business Committee, as well as for her leadership of the all-party parliamentary group on pharmacy. We are However, one profession that has carried on very very lucky to have her commitment and her expertise in much as normal on the frontlines is community pharmacy. this area, and we can tell by how subscribed the debate My local chemist in Bulwell has been open for me to has been and the high quality of it just how important pop in to pick up essentials, to get face-to-face advice community pharmacy is to Members of Parliament of and healthcare, and to pick up prescriptions. Now he is all political persuasions. This is a very well-timed starting up as a vaccine centre—Raza, we are very lucky opportunity to talk about this important subject. As a to have you. That has been the case all over the country, Nottingham Member of Parliament, I know that Boots and although the hon. Member for Thurrock and I have has been putting us on the map for 170 years now, so I obviously had similar briefings on this, I will reiterate am always very enthusiastic to talk about pharmacy. the numbers, because they are really something. As well as dispensing the annual 1 billion prescription items, The hon. Member for Thurrock made a number of pharmacies have delivered healthcare advice at a rate of important points, a couple of which I double-underlined. more than 48 million consultations a year. More than First, that sheer volume of work is indicative of the 600,000 people have sought advice from English pharmacies capacity, ability and creativity of our pharmacies, but on medical symptoms each week, with a further also just how popular they are with our constituents. 185,000 regularly needing help with an existing medical Secondly, she made a particularly important point about condition. cross-funding, which is what pharmacy is built on at the moment. We have to get to a place where pharmacy, Pharmacies are acting as a buffer for the NHS, sharing and the provision of what are, however we think about the load when it has been most desperately needed. them, NHS services, is not cross-subsidised from selling Thanks to community pharmacies, half a million GP Dairy Milks as well. That is the situation at the moment, appointments and 57,000 A&E walk-in centre appointments and we need to do better. every week have been avoided. This has been a massive The contributions from colleagues were really great, help for local communities and kept our NHS going. and it was really interesting to hear just how much We should feel very fortunate to have these services commonality there is. I will start with my hon. Friend available to us throughout the pandemic, but we must the Member for Coventry North West (Taiwo Owatemi), therefore show our gratitude in a meaningful way. because of her special expertise in the NHS as an On 8 March last year, the Chancellor said that the oncologist pharmacist. The points she made about how NHS would have whatever it needs. Well, like the hon. pharmacies stayed open and the financial pressures that Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Andrew they face today were shared by my hon. Friends the Jones), I count community pharmacy very much as Members for Bootle (Peter Dowd), for Halifax (Holly NHS—absolutely—and they should be covered by this Lynch) and for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Steve McCabe), too. That extra work and the extra costs of providing a but they were also echoed across parties,in the contributions safe environment have cost them money, and we have an of the hon. Members for Bolton West (Chris Green), obligation to meet those costs. That is not just my view, for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Andrew Jones), for but the view of the Prime Minister on 10 February at Isle of Wight (Bob Seely) and for Southend West (Sir David the Downing Street press conference. He promised Amess), as well as by the hon. Member for Barrow and reimbursement as soon as possible, but pharmacies are Furness (Simon Fell), who left us with the sobering still waiting. Those must not be empty words, to go reality that his community has lost a pharmacy during along with empty claps for carers who have done so this crisis. That is a big gap in the high street. much for us but whose justice is a real-terms pay cut. The hon. Members for Henley (John Howell) and for We cannot see that happen again. Carshalton and Wallington (Elliot Colburn) made very In a written answer to my hon. Friend the Member good points about vaccinations, which I will draw on for Luton North (Sarah Owen) published on Tuesday, shortly.The hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon), the Minister said that negotiations about this issue are as ever, brought his insight from Northern Ireland, ongoing. I hope the Minister can update us on progress which I thought was interesting. In particular, his points and give us some good news. I am very mindful that, 221WH Covid-19: Community Pharmacies11 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Community Pharmacies 222WH whatever we think about the recovery in dentistry, it was at the same time as the NHS Bill or after the NHS Bill. I not satisfactory that negotiations between NHS England understand that information sometimes cannot be shared, and the dentistry negotiating bodies collapsed before but knowing that would be of great importance to Christmas, meaning that the new arrangements were organisations that are planning their responses to imposed on dentists. That has left a lot of ill feeling and both things and that want to know what their priority anxiety. We should not repeat the same in pharmacy. should be. In that reply, the Minister also discussed advance The Minister has made welcome commitments about payments as part of Government support for pharmacy, consultation, but what is coming back to me from the but we know now that the Government want those sector is a desire for a really deep, proper technical emergency cash-flow loans to be paid back. We should consultation about this. I hope she can commit to that, not be selling this as money given to the sector, when it because this is one of those strange circumstances where is indeed a loan. That repayment of £370 million—an some people are already doing these things: we can average of £32,000 per community pharmacy—is a real build on their expertise and understand what hub and burden. I would be keen to know from the Minister spoke does and does not do. what assessment she has made of the impact, because Pharmacy is a critical part of our health service. It this could well harm patient care. It is impossible not to has delivered for us in the most testing of times. We do see, certainly because of the elegance of the figures, that not want to repeat the mistake that was made with that is exactly 1% of what we will spend on Test and dentists. We do not want broken commitments such as Trace. Given what the Public Accounts Committee said those that have been made to NHS staff. Pharmacy about the effectiveness there, community pharmacies, deserves better than that. I hope that today we can hear which are getting a 100th of the funding, have probably good news from the Minister about negotiations and had 100 times the impact. get a sense of where we are going in the future. This has been an ongoing situation in recent years. Pharmacy finances were marginal prior to this pandemic. A study by the National Pharmacy Association last 2.56 pm year found that 28% to 38% were in financial deficit already,that this number would more than double without The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health funding changes and that we have lost 400 pharmacies and Social Care (Jo Churchill): It is a pleasure to serve since 2016—disproportionally in the poorest communities, under your chairmanship, Sir Graham. I am incredibly as the hon. Member for Barrow and Furness said. That grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock has a significant impact on communities: patients travelling (Jackie Doyle-Price), not only for securing the debate further, people waiting longer for appointments with today, but for her work as chair of the all-party overstretched GPs, and people suffering in pain with parliamentary group on pharmacy, and across the health their minor illnesses and ailments or overloading our space more generally. A&E departments. Communities lose the benefits of All those who have participated today have shown prevention, tackling health inequalities, early identification how important pharmacy is to every one of us. The of disease, tackling obesity and other health conditions, voices of my hon. Friends the Members for Barrow and and, of course, the vital administration of vaccinations. Furness (Simon Fell), for Harrogate and Knaresborough Now is a good time to talk about the covid vaccine (Andrew Jones), for Bolton West (Chris Green), for supply. With vaccine supply doubling this week, and Carshalton and Wallington (Elliot Colburn), for Henley with community pharmacy being so keen to do more, (John Howell), for Winchester (Steve Brine), for Isle of could the Minister tell us how we might get up from the Wight (Bob Seely) and for Southend West (Sir David few hundreds to perhaps the majority of the 11,500 Amess) joined those of the hon. Members for Strangford pharmacies in England being part of the programme? (Jim Shannon), for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Steve McCabe), I want to finish by talking about hub and spoke for Coventry North West (Taiwo Owatemi), for Halifax dispensing. I am not against it, or particularly in favour (Holly Lynch) and for Bootle (Peter Dowd). Everyone of it. It still seems a bit like a solution in search of a recognised how important community pharmacy is in problem to solve. I have met with pharmacy big and their community, and I want to join in the thanks given small—pharmacy representative bodies, independents to that community today and say how much I value and massive multiples—and everyone is always pretty what it does on the frontline. As my hon. Friend the nonplussed by it. It is never in the top few things that Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough said, pharmacy they want to talk about. That gives me some cause for workers are key, skilled frontline workers and deliver concern. There will be thorny issues around the regulatory over and above, every day, to our communities. I repeat framework relating to the Medicines and Healthcare the thanks of the Prime Minister and the Secretary of Products Regulatory Agency and the General State for Health and Social Care, and add my gratitude. Pharmaceutical Council over issues such as refrigeration The fact that pharmacy workers are a key part of our and those differences that will need to be ironed out. NHS family, as my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock Similarly, there are issues about finances and where risk said, and have risen unfailingly to the many, varied and and reward relating to the dispensing margin will lie in enormous challenges of the pandemic should not go the system. unnoticed. There are 11,210 pharmacies sitting at the Despite the ambivalence on hub and spoke generally, heart of our communities. They are easily accessible: there is a lot of interest in how it is going to proceed. I 80% of them are within 20 minutes for someone walking echo much of what the hon. Member for Winchester there. They are highly rated, as many hon. Members have said. I hope the Minister will say today when we can said, and highly trusted. Throughout the pandemic they expect the consultation on hub and spoke and critically— have stayed open and served their communities. They have I have been asked this question multiple times—whether provided vital pharmaceutical services. Medicines are not the Government see it happening before the NHS Bill, something that people can choose to have or not have. 223WH Covid-19: Community Pharmacies11 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Community Pharmacies 224WH

[Jo Churchill] I agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester that there is great potential in hub and spoke dispensing. I am immensely proud to stand here as the Minister I also agree with the hon. Member for Nottingham for pharmacy,and I thank everyone involved in community North (Alex Norris) that there is already experience to pharmacy for their hard work, whether they talk to learn from in the sector. patients every day or are involved in the vaccine roll-out As set out in the community pharmacy contractual or the broader team. From the times I have spoken to framework five-year deal, we want to make dispensing them, I know that they are tired. They have worked more efficient and, by doing that, free up pharmacist unbelievably hard for the past year. I do not think that, time to provide more clinical services—they are highly when this started, anyone anticipated that it would go skilled, and we know they want to do that. The Medicine on week after week. They have been working evenings and Medical Devices Act 2021 paves the way for us now and weekends, and I would like to thank them for it. to progress legislative change to enable the better use of Hon. Members might recall that we agreed a five-year skills in pharmacies, something that several Members deal back in July 2019, before the pandemic. It commits this afternoon have alluded to. There is a large amount almost £13 billion to community pharmacy—just under of will to make sure that the whole team can use their £2.6 billion a year—and was the joint vision of Government, skills appropriately and perhaps free up the pharmacist NHS England and the pharmaceutical negotiating a little more for him or her to concentrate on other areas. committee, the PSNC, for how community pharmacy will support the delivery of the NHS long-term plan, We have already started informal engagement with and patients. stakeholders—that started this week—which will be followed by a formal consultation. I am afraid I cannot As we have heard from many, particularly my hon. give hon. Members an exact date, but I will commit that Friend the Member for Southend West, there is so much I want that to be as soon as possible—I want us to get more that pharmacies are saying they want to do for on with this. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for our communities. Having spoken to many pharmacists Winchester, who knows the sector extremely well, for and their teams, I know that using their full skillset is his comments about the opportunities that lie therein. I something they would welcome. It is what they want to am sure that many hon. Members will want to work to do and what they want to see happen. develop that. Over the period of the five-year deal, community New services will develop and expand the role of pharmacy will be more integrated into the NHS and community pharmacy across three key areas. Several will deliver more clinical services, taking pressure off hon. Members alluded to the fact that pharmacies other areas in the NHS, as the first port of call for would be expert in helping with prevention, urgent care minor illnesses. That recognises, importantly, the skill and medicine safety and optimisation. Those are all base in the sector.Tothat end, more than 2,800 pharmacists areas in which growth is envisaged in the short, medium each year go into training at the current time; there are and longer terms. more than 10,000 in training at the moment. We are making sure that, as the current cohort come out, they That brings us to the pressure. I am well aware of the are equipped to be part of that future high-skilled pressures community pharmacies are under. Not only workforce, enhancing their skills for consultation and has the last year brought quite unprecedented circumstances, so on. but it has not allowed some things to go on that we thought would be embedded by this point. Throughout Jim Shannon: One of the advantages that I am sure the last year, we have had conversations with community the Minister is coming to is that GP surgeries and pharmacy and stakeholders, and have tried to respond A&Es will potentially have fewer people to see if the as best we can by putting in place a package of measures pharmacies take over that role. and support for the sector. Most community pharmacies have been able to access Jo Churchill: I thank the hon. Gentleman for that some general covid-19 business support, including various point. rates reliefs and some retail, leisure and hospitality We are already making good progress on the journey. grants, and we estimate that there has been access to The community pharmacist consultation service went about £82 million in grants. There has been extra funding live in November 2019, enabling NHS 111 to refer for bank holiday openings, when—particularly looking patients into community pharmacies for minor illnesses back to last Easter,for example—the sector has responded or the urgent supply of prescribed meds. We have had phenomenally by remaining open and giving patients more than 750,000 referrals so far. access across long holiday periods; for a medicines In November 2020, we expanded that service to GP delivery service for shielded patients, which has been surgeries, so GPs can now formally refer patients to mentioned and has been hugely appreciated; and for a community pharmacies for consultation. In February, contribution to ensure that social distancing measures we introduced the discharge medicines service, enabling can be in place in every pharmacy. hospitals to refer discharged patients into a community Weare still talking, however. Wehave provided personal pharmacist for support with their medicines. There will protective equipment free of charge via the PPE portal, be more services introduced over the financial year. and have reimbursed community pharmacies for PPE Those services are to do what pharmacists and their purchased. Wehave also provided non-monetary support, teams do best, and that is to help patients. My hon. such as the removal of some administrative tasks, flexibility Friend the Member for Southend West spoke about around some of the opening hours, support through the hepatitis C. I assure him that, as of last year, we gave pharmacy quality scheme for the sector’s response to access to hepatitis C testing to those pharmacies that covid-19, and the delay to the start of new services, all chose to take up that option. of which have been requested. 225WH Covid-19: Community Pharmacies11 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Community Pharmacies 226WH

Between April and July 2020, an advance payment of medicines delivery service has been vital to ensure that £370 million was made to support community pharmacies vulnerable constituents have received their medicine. with cash-flow pressures, which were extremely acute. Community pharmacies have delivered the biggest flu Those were caused by several issues, including a sharp vaccination programme ever, vaccinating more people increase in prescription items in the March-April period, than ever before. higher drug prices, delayed payments from the pharmacy There are currently around 200 pharmacy-led covid-19 quality scheme, and extra covid-related costs. Acting vaccination sites, with a target to double that number swiftly and providing those advance payments helped to by the end of this month, and there have been 60 more alleviate immediate cash-flow concerns, but since then this week alone—on many of the questions around pharmacies have been paid for the increased items that vaccines, I will defer to the Minister for Covid Vaccine they have dispensed, reimbursement prices were increased Deployment. I expect more to follow, and NHS England to reflect higher drug prices, and payments have been is looking to designate more pharmacy-led sites, including made under the pharmacy quality scheme. sites that can deal with up to 400 vaccinations a week in We are still in discussions with the PSNC about the areas where there were not sites that could deal with reimbursement of covid-19 costs incurred by community large quantities of vaccine, which initially put some pharmacy, and I can reassure the House that the sites off. Government will take a pragmatic approach. I expect to We are considering the important role of community deduct any agreed funding from the £370 million advance pharmacy and how that can play out in future as we payments, and to discuss timescales around the advance learn to live with covid-19 and having vaccinations. In separately with the PSNC, being very mindful of the addition, community pharmacies are taking part in pressures. We need to assure ourselves that community pilots of antigen testing at lateral flow test collection pharmacies are financially stable. Without that stability, sites. If those are successful, community pharmacies they cannot deliver those services. will be able to provide a valuable service to their local I am aware of the concerns that current funding is area and will be paid to do it. not enough, and I need to work with the sector to look The community pharmacy continues to be part of at things in much more detail, because pharmaceutical local PCNs, and I know it stands ready to take its services are complex, and there is a range of different full part in primary care as we learn to live with the providers. The hon. Member for Nottingham North disease. Those examples show how community pharmacy mentioned that he has a Boots in his constituency, but is helping the broader healthcare family fight covid-19. that is a very different operation from many of the The Government are keen to make better use of the individual pharmacists, such as Tim, who has a pharmacy clinical skills, while giving pharmacies opportunities on the harbour in the constituency of the hon. Member to generate more income above the £2.5 billion per for Isle of Wight. year that the five-year deal went to—and there are Whether they are independent, small-chain or large-chain opportunities. pharmacies, no two pharmacies are the same. The solution Finally,I once again thank my hon. Friend the Member has to be one that we can tailor. A balanced and for Thurrock for this important debate. The past year considered approach must be taken to maintain the has tested all pharmacies, and the following months will variety and vibrancy that we all recognise as absolutely continue to be challenging. I am personally committed key in the pharmacy network. People and patients to doing everything I can to support all community absolutely value the diversity that best suits them and pharmacies in what I view as their essential role as part their own needs. We need a sustainable funding model of the NHS family, which, again, many have spoken of. that works for all types. This is a responsibility on all of us. Pharmacies bring I have heard the concerns about pharmacy closures, incredible value to local communities and their patients. and I can assure Members we monitor the issue very We are beginning to see the light at the end of a closely indeed. Our data shows that, despite the number troubling tunnel, and we would not have made it this far of pharmacies reducing since 2016, there are still more without the contribution from community pharmacy. I than there were 10 years ago. We have seen more closures look forward to having the conversation to ensure that in deprived areas, as many Members have said. However, we get a sustainable funding model not only with colleagues importantly, there were more in deprived areas, so making but, mainly, with the sector. sure that there are still more pharmacies in deprived areas is extremely important. 3.13 pm Proportionally, the closures reflect the spread of pharmacies across England, with closures tending to be Jackie Doyle-Price: No one watching this debate where they are clustered. The most recent data shows could be left without the impression that our pharmacists that three quarters of the closures were part of large are regarded with huge respect and affection, not just chains, and that aligns with consolidation announcements by Members of Parliament but by our constituents. We made before the pandemic. It is important that we heard the Chancellor say that the NHS will get everything protect access to pharmaceutical services. The pharmacy it needs to fight the pandemic, but it is fair to say that access scheme protects access in areas where there are some of us feel that pharmacists have perhaps not been fewer pharmacies and higher health needs so that no treated as fairly as they should be. I recognise that that area is left without access to a local NHS pharmacy. is fully connected with the future sustainability of pharmacy, and I look forward to having this debate again in due It is important to recognise that covid-19 is also an course. opportunity, which many Members have alluded to. The pandemic has shown across healthcare the value of Question put and agreed to. our highly skilled community pharmacy teams, and Resolved, how they can contribute and receive more funding. That this House has considered community pharmacies and Commissioning community pharmacies to operate the the effect of the covid-19 outbreak. 227WH Covid-19: Community Pharmacies 11 MARCH 2021 228WH

Sir Graham Brady (in the Chair): In order to allow the Patients with Heart Failure safe exit of hon. Members participating in this item of business and the safe arrival of those participating in [DAVID MUNDELL IN THE HAIR] the next, we will suspend until half-past 3. C

3.14 pm 3.29 pm Sitting suspended. David Mundell (in the Chair): I remind hon. Members that there have been changes to normal practice in order to support the new hybrid arrangements. Timings of debates have been amended to allow technical arrangements to be made for the next debate. There will also be suspensions between each debate. I remind Members participating physically and virtually that they must arrive for the start of debates in Westminster Hall. Members are expected to remain for the entire debate. If Members attending virtually have any technical problems, they should email the Westminster Hall Clerks’ email address. Members attending physically should clean their spaces before they use them and as they leave the room.

3.30 pm Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): I beg to move, That this House has considered quality of life for patients with heart failure. It is an absolute pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Mundell, and I look forward to this debate. Believe it or not, I applied for it this time last year. It has taken that long for the opportunity to come round. It does not matter that it did not happen in March or April last year; I am pleased that it is happening now. That is the important thing. I am very pleased to see Members virtually and in person. I look forward to the contribution from the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Justin Madders). It is a pleasure to see the Minister. I have already enjoyed her company for an hour and a half, and now I will enjoy it for another period of time. We will see how we get on. I am delighted to have been granted this important debate and I am particularly pleased to see Members from across the House present to take part in it. Heart failure is a progressive, long-term condition affecting nearly 1 million people across the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; nearly 20,000 people have been diagnosed with it in Northern Ireland alone. I am my party’s health spokesperson, so I am pleased to present the case, and as we are on the UK mainland, I ask the Minister to respond. I am pleased to see the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Steve McCabe). He and I had an opportunity to observe an operation at St Thomas’ Hospital. I was telling the shadow Minister about it. I will not go into the details, but the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak will remember it well. The operation was on someone who was having a stent put it. I thought we were going to have a wee chat, and was not fully aware that we were going to see it. When I got there, I suddenly found out. We were in the blue surgical gowns, had the body armour on and were present as the gentleman had his operation. The hon. Gentleman was more prepared than I was; he survived it, and I just about survived it. So, we have seen that in person, and I am sure the hon. Gentleman will make a valuable contribution later in the debate. 229WH Patients with Heart Failure11 MARCH 2021 Patients with Heart Failure 230WH

Around 98% of people in this country who have heart who may not be able to access the care and support they failure live with at least one other long-term health need at this time, and who may become more unwell as condition, and many have complex care needs. Living a result. The same is true of other things—for example, with heart failure means that the heart cannot pump cancer has been a big issue, and the Minister understands blood around the body as effectively as it should, and it that disease better than most—but I seek clarifications usually occurs as a result of a heart attack, high blood and reassurance on heart failure. pressure or congenital heart disease, though there are In 2016, the all-party parliamentary group on heart other causes. As people get older, their bodies get weaker. disease made 10 recommendations to improve heart I hope you are an exception, Mr Mundell. I myself am failure care in England. Its inquiry highlighted issues on a list of tablets, and during the last debate, about and opportunities across the patient pathway, including pharmacies, I knew my tablets were in my pocket, and I the need to raise awareness of heart failure among was thinking about them when the Minister was speaking, generalist medical professionals, so that they understand so I know what it is like to live with a disease. In my it. I know that they are experts, but they deal with lots case, it is high blood pressure and diabetes, not heart of problems. It would also be good to improve the disease. information given to patients at the point of diagnosis, At present, it is not possible to cure heart failure, as and to ensure that all patients can access the specialist there is no way to repair damaged heart muscle, so people care needed from a multidisciplinary team. They should with that condition can live their lives dealing with also be able to access rehabilitation services and timely severe fatigue and shortness of breath, among other palliative care. symptoms. A young lady called Tara Loughlin from Unfortunately, insight gathered by the British Heart Ballyclare was diagnosed with heart failure at the age of Foundation and others suggests that progress has been just 41, as the result of a rare heart muscle disorder. slow in realising the recommendations. Perhaps the Tara had symptoms such as breathlessness and extreme Minister will reassure us about the 10 recommendations fatigue for years. She visited her doctor multiple times made by the APPG in 2016. Services are still not always with those symptoms. Only when she felt very unwell joined up or consistently addressing the needs of people one day and was referred for an echocardiogram, which with heart failure across the patient pathway. That is an ultrasound scan of the heart, did she receive the variation starts at diagnosis. diagnosis of heart failure. We always say that diagnosis is so important—it is Unfortunately, a significant delay between identifying critical—but many people are still diagnosed late and in symptoms and a diagnosis of heart failure is common inappropriate settings. Research shows that although for many people with the condition. I will speak about 40% of heart failure patients display symptoms that that more as we go forward. Life changed forever for should trigger an assessment in primary care, as many Tara, who is a keen runner and loves nothing more than as 80% of heart failure cases in England are diagnosed walking her dogs or working up a sweat in Zumba in hospital. That can lead to worse outcomes and higher classes. People might think that Tara looks well from mortality rates. Why has that happened? That is one of the outside, but in fact she battles extreme fatigue and the questions that we want to ask. wakes up exhausted and breathless. She gets severe fluid Staffing shortages and variable access to echocardio- build-up in her hands and legs, to the point where she graphy—a key tool for diagnosing heart failure—in cannot wear jeans. Tara says this gets her down. Before, primary care and the community are just some of the she loved clothes and going out, but she is now forced to reasons for late diagnosis. Again, we seek from the wear looser clothing and stay home. She said she has Minister some assurance that such issues are being still not come to terms with her diagnosis, and the same addressed. N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide is applicable to many other patients across the United testing—a blood test that helps in the diagnosis of heart Kingdom. failure—is another key tool, but it is still not routinely Sadly, around half of people diagnosed with heart available or appropriately used in primary or secondary failure in the UK will die within five years of the care settings across the country. diagnosis, but that can be improved; we can do better. Heart failure can also be challenging to diagnose. With early diagnosis and access to the right treatment, What is happening on that? Are we are seeing an care and support, people can manage their symptoms. improvement? I look forward to the Minister’s response. Perhaps the Minister will tell us something about that in I know her well, and I am quite convinced that we will her response—I look forward to hearing what those get the answers we seek, which will help to alleviate things might be. They can have a better quality of life some of our fears and concerns. Symptoms are variable and live longer, which has to be good news. and can be confused with those of other conditions, That, however, has not been a reality for many people meaning that it is easy for those without specialist with heart failure, which is why the debate is being held expertise to miss the signs of heart failure. I sometimes —to look at those people who might not be getting wonder how that can happen, but it can, because of the what they need. At the end of my speech, the Minister system that we have. Better training of generalist healthcare will have heard the four questions that we are asking, professionals and improved access to key diagnostics and I hope she will be able to respond. We might ask a will be critical to improving outcomes, while early few more on the way; we do not want to let her off with intervention allows people with heart failure to live with just four, if we can help it. a better quality of life for longer. I gave an example of As we all know, health services across the country are that earlier. Their quality of life can be better, and they under unprecedented pressure, and I express my deep can live longer as well. gratitude to all frontline staff who work tirelessly to There is also significant regional variation in the provide care to people who urgently need it. It is vital quality of care patients receive following admission to that we do not lose sight of people with heart failure hospital; the percentage of patients seen by a specialist 231WH Patients with Heart Failure11 MARCH 2021 Patients with Heart Failure 232WH

[Jim Shannon] after which they recover, making it hard to know when they are truly at the end of their life. This means that is reported to be 100% in some hospitals in England end of life care decisions may be made late for many and Wales but less than 40% in others. Why the variation? heart failure patients, which limits the time for advanced Specialist input during admission is key, because it care planning, and increases the chance that professionals increases the likelihood that patients receive the drugs without the necessary palliative care skills will deliver and referral to ongoing support that they need. It is inappropriate care at the end of patients’ lives. I find important to note that the audit does not include data that disturbing—we all do—but it tells us that we have from hospitals in Northern Ireland, as this is obviously to look at this issue. This reduces the chances of patients a devolved matter, although the National Institute for having their wishes around their end of life treatment Cardiovascular Outcomes Research seeks the participation being met. of our hospitals back home for future reports. I intend to follow up on that, and I will replicate every question I Although these statistics are not published by nation, ask the Minister here to the Minister who has responsibility it is concerning to see that referrals to cardiac rehabilitation for this in Northern Ireland. services are low, and that conversations about end of life care are not starting as early as possible during a Regardless of where a person is diagnosed, National patient’s heart failure journey.This disrupts their chances Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance of receiving the care they need and of their wishes being recommends that heart failure be managed by a met at this critical time. To avoid this, we must stop multidisciplinary team with relevant expertise to optimise treating each healthcare touchpoint in isolation. By medications, provide the necessary information about focusing on the person and taking a full pathway approach, heart failure and its treatment, and refer patients to we can avoid disjointed care and better address all care other services, such as rehabilitation and palliative care, needs, including psychological support and end of life as needed. Again, it would be helpful to know from the care. Clear leadership across the whole pathway is vital. Minister exactly where the multidisciplinary team plays its role. Strong leadership in heart failure services has led to Hospital data shows that, in 2018-19, only 41% of significant improvements in care in Scotland. I often patients discharged from hospitals in England and Wales look to the Scottish health system with a purpose, were recorded as having relevant follow-up with a because it is always good to share. They have some member of the multidisciplinary team within two weeks advantages and have taken good steps—I welcome that. of discharge. That figure concerns me. Weneed reassurance The Scottish Heart Failure Hub is working to raise the that that shortfall is being addressed, and that, in the profile of heart failure among decision makers and long term, a much larger number of patients will have spread best advice across the nation. This has allowed it that treatment and this problem will no longer occur. to respond quickly to the impact of coronavirus. Health Access to multidisciplinary team-led care is vital for services across Northern Ireland, England and Wales improving outcomes for people with heart failure. As must follow suit, identify strong leaders of heart failure well as treating the acute episodes that bring someone services, and give the resources needed to drive change with heart failure into hospital, it is really important across the pathway, both nationally and regionally. that healthcare services treat each person as someone Despite improvements in heart failure therapies over living with a long-term condition, giving them the tools the past two decades, the risk of premature mortality to self-manage and access routine care in community remains high among heart failure patients. There are settings. inequalities linked to characteristics including age, ethnicity Only 13% of patients admitted to hospital were referred and gender, and details such as geographical location to cardiac rehabilitation services at the point of discharge. and socioeconomic status. The variability in mortality Many of these services have been severely depleted by can be linked to how quickly someone is diagnosed with the pandemic. I understand the pressures that the Minister heart failure and the severity of their condition at and the Government are under, and I know how hard diagnosis, the number of times that they are readmitted they work to try to address these issues, but that really is to hospital, and whether they receive support following a small number, so we need reassurance on that. I found discharge. evidence that some people are even disappearing, and others are moving online. Perhaps the follow-up is just Socioeconomically deprived groups have consistently not done in the way that it should be. worse outcomes than the most affluent. They face a 20% higher risk of hospitalisation, even after adjustment Rehabilitation services offer a range of support for for other factors. This inequality has persisted for several patients, including exercise to improve cardiac function, decades. Again, I ask the Minister, what has been done advice on living healthier, and psychological and peer to address this continual problem? Access to important support. How important is peer support? It should be services, such as rehabilitation and other relevant recovery there, if at all possible. It is the family around the and support services in primary care and the community, patient who give them the help that they need. Many can also vary as a result of demographic factors, people with heart failure who have been referred to geographical location and socioeconomic status. It is rehabilitation services describe them as having a major vital that comprehensive demographic data be collected, positive impact on their wellbeing. Many rely on these so that we can better understand the inequalities in services to help them exercise safely and to provide the access to care and healthcare outcomes. This will help emotional, psychological and physical support needed. those with worse outcomes to receive better care. Very few people with heart failure are referred to Government, and the Minister in particular, must act to palliative or hospice support, or are referred late. This is ensure that no one is receiving substandard care just partly due to the disease trajectory of heart failure. because of their age, ethnicity, or gender, where they Many patients can experience several acute episodes, live, or their economic status. 233WH Patients with Heart Failure11 MARCH 2021 Patients with Heart Failure 234WH

It is likely that the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated While some parts of the country lost heart failure all the issues that I have talked about—we all know that. services altogether during the first wave,due to redeployment Little did we know this time last year, when we were of heart failure specialist teams to the initial covid-19 coming into the covid-19 episode, that we would still be response, other parts maintained a skeleton service. The in it a year later. I certainly did not. We all thought that impact on services, combined with the continuing reduction the summertime would be better, but that was not the in capacity to deliver face-to-face care, has meant that case. The Government’s strategy and response, here and many people with heart failure have struggled to access in the devolved Administrations, together with the vaccine the support that they need. roll-out, has enabled us to look forward with positivity. Organisations such as the British Heart Foundation—I I give the Government credit for this: there is no doubt work quite closely with it; indeed, I think it works quite in my mind that the Government pushed that and made closely with everyone—have stepped in to provide it happen. From the regional point of view, we in information, for example through the BHF’s heart failure Northern Ireland thank them. Over 600,000 of our online hub and heart helpline. It is vital that people can people from Northern Ireland have had their covid-19 access the health and care services they need to live well jab. On Monday coming, at 20 minutes to 5 in the during, and indeed beyond, the pandemic. afternoon in the Ulster Hospital, I will have my covid-19 jab. I will go and get the other one about eight weeks The BHF has highlighted in its report, “Heart failure: later. a blueprint for change”, that one of the main problems is that there is a lack of co-ordinated data outside hospital While the NHS has rightly prioritised providing urgent settings, and particularly in primary and community and emergency care, the redeployment of clinical staff, settings. This has meant that a significant proportion of combined with the need to maintain social distancing, the heart failure community has been largely invisible to has resulted in a significant amount of routine care and the system during the pandemic, and opportunities to treatment being postponed. I understand that, but the drive real system change have been lost. Again, the question is: how do we address the problems that are information and statistics that the BHF has been able to being caused even now? gather show that many people with heart problems The postponed care and treatment include routine went missing during the pandemic. appointments that allow for review, opportunities for The covid-19 pandemic has clearly exposed the huge medication optimisation and access to treatments to inequalities in care that people have been experiencing prevent the exacerbation of conditions. These are the for years. I believe that now is the time for stakeholders interventions that enable people with heart failure to across the health service and the Government, maintain a good quality of life, and without them we and parliamentarians, to come together and seize the risk patients becoming more unwell, adding to urgent opportunity to build back better. I want to ensure that and emergency care needs, and to a rapidly growing each and every one of the 860 people diagnosed with backlog of people for health services to deal with as we heart failure in Strangford in the last year, and the come out of the pandemic. That is being seen not just thousands more across the United Kingdom of Great with delays to treatment, but with delays to diagnosis. Britain and Northern Ireland who have received a similar Again, the issues are very clear. diagnosis, has the opportunity to live a better quality of life, and that we all have an opportunity to create better Although we do not have figures for Northern Ireland, outcomes for everyone living with this condition. figures from NHS England show that completion of echocardiograms—as I mentioned before, these are scans I have four asks—indeed, I made a few asks throughout that can detect heart failure, so it is very important for my speech and I know that the Minister has been people to have them—fell by around two thirds, or 67%, writing them down. However, there are four key asks in April and May 2020, compared with February 2020. that I hope the Minister will respond to at the end of While I understand that there was some improvement the debate. I will conclude with them. throughout the rest of 2020, for which I give credit, can First, system leaders must take a full pathway approach the Minister say whether we have caught up yet and to improving services. By focusing on the person and matched the figure from before the pandemic? taking a full pathway approach, we can avoid disjointed The use of echocardiograms has struggled to return care and provide better support for patients, including to pre-pandemic activity levels, meaning that waiting addressing their psychological and emotional needs, lists have remained long—perhaps even longer than from diagnosis to end of life. they should have been. As a result, thousands of heart Secondly, we must stop just treating the acute episodes failure diagnoses are likely to be delayed or even missed, that bring someone with heart failure into hospital, and with potential implications for people’s long-term health instead treat each person as someone living with a and quality of life. long-term condition, providing them with the tools to manage their condition and access routine care in The fall in the number of people presenting to hospital community settings. with heart failure has also been dramatic, dropping by 41% in England as we entered the second wave of the Thirdly, leadership across the pathway will be vital. pandemic. I believe that there is limited information Recruiting heart failure champions at regional and national about how these missing patients may or may not have levels—it is really important that we do this—will help accessed care and support during this period. It seems to strengthen leadership and accountability for services, that many people with heart failure have fallen through and lead to significant improvements in care. the cracks since the pandemic began, adding to the Fourthly, collecting more reliable, comprehensive and picture of disrupted and fragmented care. Again, I seek timely data across the whole pathway could break down an answer to this question: has the Minister any figures the barriers to improving heart failure services and or statistics that can identify these missing patients? drive real system change. I do not know how many 235WH Patients with Heart Failure11 MARCH 2021 Patients with Heart Failure 236WH

[Jim Shannon] As we have heard from the hon. Member for Strangford, covid-19 has had a significant impact on the investigation debates the Minister and I have been at, but the issue of and care of people with heart valve disease, as with data comes up continuously. That data will prove where many other conditions. It has been reported that 100,000 we need to focus the attention, and I think that is what fewer heart operations were carried out in 2020 compared we are likely to do. with 2019. It has also been reported that 45,000 cardiac In conclusion, for too long people with heart failure procedures have been cancelled. have not been given the chance to live well with their condition, and the pandemic has disrupted opportunities When I had my mitral valve repaired, I was in an to make that a reality for more people. I believe we owe operating theatre for over seven hours. I was in intensive it to those people to finally address this issue and give care for three days and spent another two weeks in everyone the opportunity to live well for longer. I thank hospital, and it took me approximately six months to those who are going to speak for their participation, fully recover. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation— and look forward very much to the Minister’s response. TAVI— has been introduced as an alternative therapy to replace damaged aortic valves in patients who are considered high risk for traditional open-heart surgery. 3.55 pm The procedure is less invasive, and patients can be Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab) [V]: It discharged from hospital in a short period, allowing is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mr Mundell. them to return to normal life while also saving hospital As chair of the newly formed all-party parliamentary resources. As the hon. Member for Strangford said, he group on heart valve disease, I congratulate the hon. and I once witnessed a transcatheter procedure carried Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon), a co-founder of out on an 85-year-old gentleman at St Thomas’s. He that new all-party group, on securing the debate. The had a local anaesthetic and was largely alert during aim of the all-party group is to increase awareness of the procedure. He was able to return home and was heart valve disease in the United Kingdom, and help working on his allotment within three weeks of the ensure that patients receive timely diagnoses and the procedure. optimal management and treatment of their condition. Heart valve disease affects approximately 1.5 million The “Valve for Life” initiative, run by the European people in the UK. As we have heard, patients can Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions, experience fatigue, shortness of breath and chest tightness aims to promote transcatheter valve interventions, which and/or pain. The most common form of heart valve could be crucial in rapidly reducing the waiting list that disease is aortic stenosis, which affects about one in has been built up during the covid-19 crisis. It has four eight people over the age of 75. Unfortunately, awareness main goals: to raise awareness of valvular heart disease; and knowledge of the condition in the general population to facilitate access to new therapies, such as TAVI; to is alarmingly low: in a recent survey, only 3.8% of people increase educational standards; and to reduce obstacles really knew what aortic stenosis was. People with heart to therapy and discrimination in access to care. The valve disease have poor survival rates without prompt overall objectives of “Valve for Life” are to address treatment, and longer waiting times inevitably lead to inequalities in patient access and the disparities between worse outcomes. However, as we have heard, heart valve countries in Europe, as well as to inform Government disease is a very treatable condition, particularly if officials,healthcare administrators and healthcare providers patients are diagnosed early. about the clinical and economic value of transcatheter heart valve therapies in the management of valvular The all-party group receives secretariat support from heart disease. Heart Valve Voice, with which I have worked closely on several projects. Most recently, I have been working The UK has the second lowest rate of TAVI procedures with Wil Woan, its chief executive, on the “100,000 per million people in Europe. Even within the UK, Conversations”initiative, a campaign focused on improving there is a large geographical disparity regarding access awareness by encouraging people to discuss their condition to treatment, as I think we heard earlier. We are very with friends and relatives, particularly the symptoms, as lucky in this country to have Dr Daniel Blackman, one well as access to diagnosis and treatment. I should of our leading interventional cardiologists, spearheading perhaps confess that I had open heart surgery for a the campaign to raise the volume of transcatheter repair to my mitral valve back in 2012, and so feel very procedures. As we learn the lessons from the pandemic, familiar with many of the issues people raise. I recently I hope this is one area where we might be willing to had the opportunity to hold one of these conversations entertain new thinking. with the shadow Health Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Leicester South (Jonathan Ashworth), Heart valve disease is extremely common among older and I know Heart Valve Voice would be delighted if I people and will obviously continue to place huge demands could persuade the Minister to also take part in one. on our health service, but with early diagnosis and increased We are also working on a campaign called “Just Treat use of TAVI procedures, it need not be a killer. Indeed, Us”, which concentrates on encouraging patients to see it need not impair the quality of life. I hope that in the their doctor if they are experiencing symptoms such as months and years ahead we can work to increase the breathlessness, dizziness or fatigue, as well as encouraging use of new treatments and interventions, so that those care centres to treat patients, especially as the country suffering with heart disease can, in large part, look starts to move out of lockdown. A simple stethoscope forward to a long and productive life following timely test is often all that is needed to identify a heart valve treatment and prompt rehabilitation support. Once problem. Delaying treatment leads to worse outcomes, again, I thank the hon. Member for Strangford for but with timely treatment, people can go back to a securing the debate and for making such an informed good—or even a better—quality of life. contribution. 237WH Patients with Heart Failure11 MARCH 2021 Patients with Heart Failure 238WH

4.4 pm I am pleased that the Scottish Government are taking action to tackle heart health problems and will publish Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP) an updated heart disease improvement plan later this spring, [V]: I echo the comments just made. I am very grateful which will make sure that there is equitable access to to the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for diagnostic tests, treatment and care for people with heart securing this debate and for the comprehensive exposition disease in a timely manner. This must remain a national with which he started it. priority. In addition, £1 million has been invested in the A debate on heart health matters to many of our heart disease improvement plan, supporting important constituents who live with heart conditions. My father work such as that led by the Heart Failure Hub and the died in 1969, when I was 15 months old, of a heart cardiac rehabilitation champion. The recent publication attack in Hamilton where he had been working, collapsing of the British Heart Foundation Scotland strategy and dying at Hamilton Cross, leaving my mother widowed document has been welcomed by the Scottish Government, with eight children. I looked on helplessly as my stepfather who are keen to work with the British Heart Foundation. collapsed and died in the hallway of our home with a As we begin to hope that we can emerge from this heart attack in 1985, when I was 17 years old. That is health pandemic, we cannot forget the stark health something I will never forget. inequalities that were exposed and exacerbated by covid-19. Sadly, too many of those who have lived with someone The disproportionate harm caused by covid-19 to a with compromised heart health could recount similar number of groups in our communities, including those experiences. Sadly, in my family the deaths were caused with cardiovascular disease, has highlighted new by lifestyle factors, but it is important to remember that vulnerabilities and underscored existing health inequalities. the most important factor in such disease and premature That is why the Scottish Government in their recent deaths is poverty. Ultimately, it is poverty that kills, Budget delivered an increase of more than £800 million whatever may be written on the death certificate. We on health spending, bringing overall health funding to a really need to be mindful of that. total of £16 billion, with an additional investment of more than £1 billion to address pressures related to About 1 million people across the UK and 48,000 covid-19. A significant proportion of those resources people in Scotland have been diagnosed with heart will be spent on caring for those with heart disease. I failure. There are around 200,000 diagnoses of heart urge the UK Government to match Scottish Government failure every year in the UK, with some evidence to spending per capita on health and social care. suggest that the burden of this terrible condition is increasing and is now similar to the four most common I shall end where I began, by saying that the answer causes of cancer combined, in terms of the scale of the to many of our health problems, and even our social challenge. The British Heart Foundation estimates that problems, is to do all we can to build a more equitable around 230,000 people in Scotland have been diagnosed society. If we can do that, fewer adults will develop with coronary heart disease, more than 700,000 with heart failure and other serious life-limiting conditions. hypertension and around 48,000 with heart failure. There will be fewer folk whose health prevents them Heart and circulatory diseases are killing three in every from being economically active. Wewill have children who 10 people in Scotland. can reach their full potential if the chains of poverty and poor health outcomes can be broken. Health outcomes Some 98% of those in the UK diagnosed with heart are driven by poverty and our health is the key to the kinds failure live with at least one other long-term condition, of lives that each of us can live, the kinds of opportunities such as diabetes or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. that we can create for ourselves, and the kinds of paths As we have heard this afternoon, the signs of heart that we can follow. As with so many things, we could failure are there if you know how to recognise them: make much greater inroads into this and other health breathlessness, frequent and excessive tiredness, swollen inequalities if we were to tackle at source, with more ankles or legs, perhaps a persistent cough, a fast heart vigour and determination, inequality born of poverty. rate and dizziness. If anyone has these symptoms, it is As we begin to emerge from the pandemic, I hope that very important that they go to their GP. the Minister will reflect on the fact that there is no It is often the case that the underlying causes of heart better time than right now to look afresh at how our failure are heavily influenced by lifestyle factors, which society works, to make it better for everyone. can cause heart disease and high blood pressure, although we have to be aware of genetic inheritance and the fact 4.11 pm that some people are born, unfortunately, with congenital Justin Madders (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab): It heart difficulties. While treatment is available, there is is a pleasure to see you in the Chair this afternoon, no real cure, but the important thing for us all to do is to Mr Mundell. I want to add my congratulations to those do the best we can to live as healthy a lifestyle as offered to the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon), possible. However, as we have heard, the scale of this on securing the debate and on his persistence in getting illness is significant and demands our attention. it almost a year after he first requested it. It is important Those living with heart failure can find their lives to discuss the quality of life for patients with heart limited in ways that detrimentally impact their quality failure. I thank the hon. Gentleman for his excellent of life.They may experience various physical and emotional introduction, and for raising many issues, many of symptoms, such as dyspnoea, fatigue, oedema, sleeping which are similar to those that I want to talk about. I difficulties, depression and chest pain. These symptoms add my thanks to those he expressed to people working limit the daily physical and social activities of those in the NHS, for the wonderful care that they provide. living with heart failure and result in a poor quality I also thank my hon. Friend the Member for of life. That, in turn, often corresponds with high Birmingham, Selly Oak (Steve McCabe) for his contribution hospitalisation and mortality rates. and congratulate him on the formation of the new 239WH Patients with Heart Failure11 MARCH 2021 Patients with Heart Failure 240WH

[Justin Madders] are diagnosed late. In a hospital setting, that means they are more likely to have advanced disease, and therefore all-party parliamentary group on heart valve disease. face poorer outcomes. Research from Imperial College He spoke about the initiative for 100,000 conversations, shows that eight in 10 diagnoses of heart failure in which sounds like an excellent way of drawing attention England are actually made in hospital—for example, to the issue. Indeed, he brought his own experiences to when a patient is admitted with a life-threatening episode the fore, which can only help in drawing more attention of breathlessness—despite four in 10 people presenting to the matter. with potential symptoms, such as fluid retention or It is important to discuss heart failure. It is a progressive, breathlessness, to their own GP.That could have triggered potentially life-limiting condition, and there are a number an early assessment or diagnosis in a different care of potential causes; coronary heart disease, high blood setting. pressure and diabetes can all contribute. It can manifest NICE guidelines for diagnosis and management have in a number of different ways, including, as we heard, been in place for over a decade now, but the British shortness of breath, fatigue and sometimes swelling of Heart Foundation reports that they have not been the lower limbs. It can occur at any age and the example universally implemented, meaning that heart failure that the hon. Member for Strangford gave from his services remain variable across the country. When there constituency was of someone at the lower end of the are national guidelines in place, it really should not be age bracket. However, heart failure is of course more something that we have to address, and we need to do common in older groups. better. As we have heard, there are currently an estimated Moving on to admission, we know that specialist 920,000 people living with heart failure in the UK, with input during admission is vital to ensuring that patients around 200,000 new diagnoses every year. That is a receive the care that they need. It leads to fewer deaths significant number of people, by any calculation. Nearly in hospital and fewer deaths after discharge. Heart all of those people—98%—will also have at least one failure cannot be cured, but there are treatments that other long-term health condition. Sadly, about half of can keep symptoms under control, such as healthy all people diagnosed with heart failure die within five lifestyle changes, medication or devices implanted in a years of their diagnosis. Heart failure is a common person’s chest. Those treatments not only prolong life, cause of unplanned hospital admissions, with more as we have heard, but can improve quality of life, than 110,000 of those each year. The rate of such relieving symptoms and improving overall enjoyment admissions increased by nearly a third in the past five and participation in life. Some of the most common years, and now nearly one in 17 hospital visits in England symptoms of heart failure—breathlessness, fatigue and can include a heart failure diagnosis as either a cause or fluid retention—really matter on a day-to-day basis for a contributing factor. people’s quality of life. That of course means that the issue puts a considerable Some treatments can limit physical function, leading burden on the NHS. The Lancet reports that to withdrawal from activities and social contact. They can cause psychological problems. Being aware of our “the burden of heart failure in the UK…is now similar to the four most common causes of cancer combined.” own mortality obviously can have an impact, leading to sleep disturbance, depression and anxiety. Many things It accounts for 2% of the total NHS budget, and flow from such a diagnosis that cannot be underestimated. around 70% of those costs are due to hospitalisation. I It is therefore vital that we look at all of the pathway in should add the caveat that that clearly does not include terms of a patient’s journey, so that they receive the best covid, which we hope will not be something we must possible specialist care and treatment throughout, to deal with on an annual basis at the level we have had to ensure that their quality of life can get better following for the past 12 months. a diagnosis. The British Heart Foundation says that, despite We know from the heart failure audit carried out by improvements in heart failure therapies over the last the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes two decades, the risk of mortality for patients with Research in 2018-19 that the percentage of patients seen heart failure remains high, with the inequalities that we by a specialist ranges from as little as 40% in some have heard about linked to age, ethnicity, gender, socio- hospitals to 100% in others. That can continue following economic status and geographical location. Those discharge, when many patients are unable to access or inequalities can affect the entire patient pathway, from are not offered the care and support, such as rehabilitation how quickly someone is diagnosed, which of course, as and relevant recovery and support services in primary we have discussed, has an impact on the severity of their care in the community, that they need in order to condition, to the number of times they are readmitted continue to live well. to hospital and whether they receive the correct support Again, unfortunately that is particularly true for those in the community following their discharge from hospital. in socially and economically deprived groups, who have For example, while the National Institute for Health consistently worse outcomes than those in more affluent and Care Excellence reports the average age of diagnosis groups and are 20% more likely to be hospitalised. as 77, according to the British Heart Foundation it falls According to a population-based study by The Lancet, to the age of 69 for people from black and minority that has not changed in decades. We should be ashamed ethnic groups, and to the low 60s for people from the that we are still talking about it today. most economically and socially deprived backgrounds. This is before we even start to consider the impact In 2021, that is simply unacceptable. that covid has had on such vital services, which, as we Looking more closely at diagnosis, as with many would expect, has been significant. NHS England data serious health conditions, early diagnosis can of course shows that during the first wave of the pandemic the save lives, yet sadly it is still too often the case that patients number of echocardiograms fell by around two thirds 241WH Patients with Heart Failure11 MARCH 2021 Patients with Heart Failure 242WH in April and May of last year, compared with February to heart failure nurses, so that more patients with heart 2020, and it has since struggled to return to pre-pandemic failure who are not on a cardiology ward will receive levels. During the second wave, the number of people specialist care and advice. It is welcome that the Minister presenting to hospital with heart failure also fell has confirmed that these are priorities from the number dramatically—by some 41% from the beginning of October of written questions we have seen her answer recently. to mid-November. We know that there are shortages across the NHS We should be worried about that, because we know workforce. The 2018 audit of heart failure nurses showed that late diagnosis has long-term implications for health that the biggest concern was the significant case load and quality of life, but also because we do not know that they are having to manage, with demand on services whether these missing patients have accessed care and increasing without further resources being provided. support during this period or whether they have simply Can I ask the Minister to set out in her response what fallen through the cracks. Then there are the indirect steps she will take to increase the number of heart effects on patients who are already in the system who failure nurses to meet this commitment? Could she also face reduced access or delays because their care has update us on the number of heart failure patients who struggled to meet what we would normally expect in a actually have access to a specialist heart failure nurse? non-pandemic situation. The Minister will be aware that a report from the Weknow the reasons for that: staff had been redeployed; Public Accounts Committee in September was highly there is a need to maintain social distancing in clinical critical of the Government’s approach, finding that a settings; there have been changes to the way services long-term plan was not supported by a detailed workforce operate; and a significant amount of routine care and plan to ensure the numbers and types of nurses that are treatment for heart failure patients has been postponed, needed across the board. It also found that the removal including routine appointments just to review their of the NHS bursary in 2017 failed to see the increase in condition and their treatment or medication to ensure student numbers that we would have liked to see and that they are able to live well. The backlog has come that the Government had said would occur. about for a number of reasons. We know that services Weare also still waiting for publication of the substantive across the board were already severely strained before long-term workforce plan, which we all want to see covid-19 hit us. The shutdown of non-covid services, deliver a lasting solution to recruitment and retention in combined with drastic changes in patient behaviour, the workforce, ensuring that there are enough skilled means the NHS is now facing a large backlog of non- staff to provide the care that we all want to see. Again, I covid-19 cases. would be grateful if the Minister updated us on when We also know that stricter infection control measures we might see that plan. The long-term plan also commits mean that, as we hopefully move out of the pandemic, to greater access to echocardiography in primary care there will still be a reduction in the number of patients to improve early detection. Will the Minister update us able to go through hospital. That backlog could actually on what steps have been taken to improve that access? take longer to work through than we would otherwise I will say a few words on data, which the hon. expect it to. All this matters because we know that Member for Strangford mentioned. The only nationally diagnosing people with heart failure earlier and getting available mandated dataset for heart failure is the heart them into the specialist care as soon as possible not only failure audit, which collects data about hospital admissions, cuts emergency admissions, but relieves overall pressure symptoms, demographics, access to diagnostics, specialist on the NHS. It also improves the quality of those input, types of treatment, and mortality. Unfortunately, individuals’ lives, giving them the opportunity to live that data is not linked to primary community data, and well for longer. local systems struggle to get their own data back out of We are thankfully past the peak of the virus, we hope, the audit to inform their local decision making. We although we know the pressure that the NHS is still under. need a comprehensive dataset that is accessible and useable We know the number of patients in England waiting for clinicians in a timely manner. It should include the over a year for routine hospital care is now 130 times higher comprehensive demographic data that we need to than before the pandemic, and there are now 4.5 million understand inequalities in access to care and in outcomes, people waiting for NHS treatment. This could take years as well as an expanded range of data to include primary to address, and of course, as we have discussed many times community care, allowing clinicians and system leaders in the past few weeks, our healthcare workers are exhausted. to get hold of the analysis that I think we all want to They are struggling with the long-term consequences of have. Will the Minister tell us a little more about what is giving care during the pandemic, with one in four happening on the adequacy of data collection, and doctors having sought mental health support during the whether there are any plans to expand the collection of pandemic. The staff survey that was released today gave data across primary community care settings? some alarming statistics about how our NHS workforce As we know, many medical research charities have are feeling at the moment. made dramatic cuts to their research budgets because of It is vital that we come up with a realistic plan to fundraising shortfalls in the last year. The Minister will tackle the backlog in non-covid care, which is something be aware that the medical research charities reacted we have called for. I hope the Minister can set out how with some disappointment to the comprehensive spending the NHS, and heart failure services in particular, will be review, which committed to £14.6 billion in research able to recover from the pandemic, now that hospitalisations funding, but failed to ring-fence any of that for medical for covid are beginning to decrease. We know that the research charities and did not provide any long-term long-term plan already identifies cardiovascular disease assurances of funding for the sector. The British Heart as a clinical priority and commits to supporting people Foundation, whose research all Members appreciate with heart failure better through improved rapid access and rely on, has had to reduce its spending by half in 243WH Patients with Heart Failure11 MARCH 2021 Patients with Heart Failure 244WH

[Justin Madders] In the long-term plan we set out steps to ensure that by 2028 the proportion of patients accessing cardiac the last year. Are there plans to support those medical rehabilitation would be among the best in Europe, with research charities in meeting the shortfall that they will 85% of those eligible accessing care. It is a long way have to find after the last 12 months? from where we are now and will need a lot of hard work in the intervening years. We estimate, however, that this will prevent up to 23,000 premature deaths and 50,000 4.27 pm acute admissions over a 10-year period. NHS England and NHS Improvement is developing cardiac networks The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health that will support the regional delivery of the long-term and Social Care (Jo Churchill): It is a pleasure to serve plan ambitions and address the regional variations in under your chairmanship, Mr Mundell. I thank the health inequalities that the hon. Member for Strangford hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for securing alluded to throughout his speech. the debate, and for his tenacity in waiting a year before we could be here to discuss what is an incredibly important The long-term plan also commits to improving rapid subject. He is right: it is vital that we keep this serious access to heart failure nurses so that more patients with disease on the agenda. heart failure who are not on a cardiology ward can receive specialist care and advice. Better personalised I was interested in the comments from the hon. planning for patients will reduce nights spent in hospital Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Steve McCabe), and also reduce drugs spend. NHSE is accelerating who was also in the Chamber with us for the last debate, some of the positive lessons learnt from the pandemic, about his own experience in 2012. I am glad to see that such as the enhanced use of digital technology for he is a living testament to how well people can recover cardiac rehabilitation and the greater application of from heart incidents with the right treatment and in the remote consultations, enabling us to bring forward the way they live their lives. delivery of some of the ambitions for patients with Although in recent years we have made enormous heart disease. progress in understanding more about heart disease, I NHSE is working with Health Education England to acknowledge that it remains high on the list of biggest develop a new e-learning for health course, which aims killers in England, and there is still a lot of work to do. I to support healthcare professionals in learning more would like the hon. Member for Strangford to extend about heart failure and heart valve disease so that they my good wishes to his constituent Tara, about whom he can better recognise the symptoms of heart failure and spoke. Key to improving the quality of life that we want diagnose, manage and support patients further. We to see for everybody is ensuring that those who are anticipate this will be made available on digital platforms diagnosed younger and who probably do not have the in late summer this year, so they are working at pace. co-morbidities that we have spoken about in others We are also establishing community diagnostic hubs have access to those good services. to more rapidly diagnose heart failure patients, which We must, in particular, ensure that we intervene earlier, will include echocardiograms, blood tests and NT-proBNP that we have the right care, and that we have the right testing, making sure that that NT-proBNP testing is rehabilitation services and support. I hope to explain available to all general practices. what we are doing, and I am more than happy to have Hon. Members will be aware that high blood pressure further conversations with the hon. Members for Strangford can often be a component factor of heart failure. To and for Birmingham, Selly Oak in their capacity as increase support for people at greater risk, NHSE plans chairs of the APPG, and knowing their keen interest in to increase the number of people who have access to health matters in particular. remote blood pressure monitoring and management. I want to extend my thanks to all those on the The NHS at home programme remains committed to frontline who have worked so hard, particularly in the addressing health inequalities, and we have introduced area of cardiac services. They did recover, but they have targeted blood pressure monitoring systems for patients dropped again during this second wave, so we know who are clinically extremely vulnerable and have high there is work to do. Heart failure is a key priority for blood pressure, including individuals from black, Asian NHS England and Improvement. One ambition in the or ethnic minority backgrounds in areas of high deprivation. NHS long-term plan is to raise awareness of the symptoms We are making sure that we target communities who are of heart failure and to ensure early and rapid access to worst affected because, as we know, the statistics are diagnostic tests and treatments. The British Heart often worse in areas that are socially and economically Foundation report found that people are still concerned deprived and where health inequalities are greater. and worried about coming forward, so if anyone is We are also targeting those aged over 65 because age worried about any symptoms, I very much urge them to is a large component here. This intervention will allow come forward. The NHS is open and is here to help. people to monitor their blood pressure from their home, NHSE has a programme of work to support the which is something that we know they prefer, and to ambition, overseen by clinical professionals from across avoid trips to their general practice by communicating the country. It remained a priority during the covid-19 results to their primary care clinician via a digital platform pandemic. We know that cardiac rehabilitation saves or, for those who may not have access, a phone call to lives. It improves the quality of life and reduces, as the practice. From April 2021, a further 198,000 blood several Members have said, the hospital admissions that pressure monitors will be available for primary care. occur when people do not access services. In scaling up The NHS at Home scheme is a self-management and improving the promotion and awareness of cardiac scheme to enable patients with heart failure and heart valve rehabilitation, we aim to improve quality of life and to disease to look after themselves in their own home. reduce hospital admissions. However, they will work with a specialist clinician, and 245WH Patients with Heart Failure11 MARCH 2021 Patients with Heart Failure 246WH patients will be supported to understand their medications, We can all agree that this agenda really matters. Once how to reduce their salt intake, and how to monitor and again, I thank the hon. Member for Strangford for record their daily weight and blood pressure, as we highlighting this important issue. If we continue to make know that fluid retention is associated with the disease. an impact on the lives of people with heart failure, there They will also be helped to recognise—this is really will be significant benefits for the NHS and, mostly, important—symptoms if their condition is deteriorating, enormous benefits for those who are affected. Toconclude, so that they seek help in a timely manner. We know that I say to people that, if they have any of the signs— many people wait too long before they reach out for breathlessness and so on—or any worries at all, they help and services. should come forward to seek help. Where patients have suffered heart failure, doctors, 4.40 pm nurses, the valuable pharmacists who we spent the previous debate talking about, and allied health professionals Jim Shannon: First, I very much thank the hon. can provide support to patients in the multidisciplinary Members for North Ayrshire and Arran (Patricia Gibson) teams that the hon. Member for Strangford spoke about. and for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Steve McCabe). The It is anticipated that this will lead to a reduction in hon. Gentleman in particular referred to the APPG which hospital admissions and increased quality of life, which was started up four or five weeks ago. We look forward is a key component, with better patient and carer knowledge to working with many others, and we will probably hold about how to manage their condition. It will also improve an inquiry about providing a better quality of life. primary, community and specialist team communication. I am quite friendly with the hon. Lady, but I did not From 1 July 2019, all patients in England have been know that her father and stepfather both died from covered by a primary care network, and the development heart failure, which is a very personal thing. She also of the primary care network directed enhanced service mentioned poverty and socioeconomic status—to which for cardiovascular disease prevention and diagnosis is the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Ellesmere ongoing, with the phased implementation of new PCN Port and Neston (Justin Madders) and I referred, and services expected in 2021-22. This emphasises the the Minister responded—and how that can impact on importance of early diagnosis in the management of way of life, affecting us all. She also referred to tackling patients with heart failure and heart valve disease in at source inequality and poverty. We all heard the primary care, in line with the published NICE guidance. Minister respond and how she understands that. The quality outcomes framework—QOF—is an annual I thank the shadow Minister very much for his reward and incentive programme for general practice contribution. He, too, referred to the social and economic surgeries in England. Although the specific requirements backgrounds in which people are severely impacted; to were stepped down in 2021 to release general practice the pandemic’s impact on heart failure; and to late capacity in order to support the pandemic response, I diagnosis, which we all realise is an issue. am pleased that the QOF will be returning later in 2021. In particular, I thank the Minister very much. I This will include the updates that were previously agreed always do, but I mean it, because that was a very to support moves towards earlier diagnosis and comprehensive response. We are all heartened by that. management. GP surgeries are asked to capture data in You would not have given me the time, Mr Mundell, to order to evidence that they have fulfilled the QOF go through all the things on which the Minister responded, requirements, which encourage the earlier confirmation but what she said was marvellous—quickly, the cardiac of heart failure diagnosis and improve pharmacological rehabilitation input, the community diagnostic hubs, management. the NT-proBNP community specialists, the primary care network NICE guidelines and the GP surgeries As several Members have said, data is absolutely key gathering the data. As the Minister, the shadow Minister in this space for making sure that we know where and we all said, data is very important—with the data, patients are and that they are being managed. I am we can focus the strategy on where we want to be. pleased to say that this update also means that patients with heart failure can have an annual review in order to There are life changes to make and so a role for us all enable better management of their care, which goes to to play, including me. I am a diabetic today, because of the point about making sure there is sufficient contact. my lifestyle. I did not know what I was doing—or I did NHS England has had sight of the British Heart not know until too late—and it was all that Chinese Foundation report and thanks it for sharing it, and I food, plus two bottles of Coca-Cola. I would not have been assured that the national medical director has recommend it. My sugar levels were extremely high. written back on the matters that were included. Add a bit of stress to that, and all of a sudden, someone becomes a diabetic. I am guilty of that, but I am saying I hope that I have demonstrated that the Government, that we all therefore have a role to play. the long-term plan and the workforce have a key ambition to improve the lives and health outcomes of people I thank everyone for their contribution, you for your living with heart failure in this country. Everybody has patience, Mr Mundell, and the Minister in particular to play a part, including the individual. As the hon. for a comprehensive and helpful response. Weappreciate it. Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Patricia Gibson) Question put and agreed to. said, lifestyle plays an important part, so making changes Resolved, that can help prevent heart failure—healthier eating, That this House has considered quality of life for patients with reducing salt intake and exercising more—is particularly heart failure. important. As several hon. Members have said, it is often a disease with comorbidities, and many of those 4.43 pm changes will help health overall. Sitting adjourned.

41WS Written Statements 11 MARCH 2021 Written Statements 42WS

The full text and recommendations of the strategic Written Statements review can be viewed on the restoration and renewal website: www.restorationandrenewal.uk/resources/ Thursday 11 March 2021 reports/strategic-review The public want to see this UNESCO world heritage site, in which they have told us they take great pride, PARLIAMENTARY WORKS SPONSOR BODY protected from damage and decay, and at the same time want to see that money is spent well. Restoring Parliament will create thousands of jobs and apprenticeships in Restoration and Renewal Programme: towns, cities and communities across the UK, from Strategic Review Publication engineering and high-tech design to traditional crafts such as carpentry and stonemasonry. The detailed and costed restoration and renewal plan Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con): In May 2020 will be focused on delivering value for money and will the sponsor body established a strategic review of the be informed by around 100 surveys and investigations restoration and renewal programme. of the Palace of Westminster. The purpose of the review was to consider whether The review sets out clear proposed objectives for the anything had changed so significantly as to warrant a restoration and the need for clearer governance and change in the strategy for the restoration and renewal closer working with Parliament. Supported by the Delivery programme. Such reviews are a pillar of established best Authority, the sponsor body will continue to develop practice for major projects. the detailed and costed restoration and renewal plan The sponsor body invited views from Members, that will for the first time give an accurate sense of the Members’ staff, parliamentary staff and members of costs, timescales and full detail of the work needed. The the public. The sponsor body also consulted with the detailed and costed restoration and renewal plan will Commissions of both Houses, as well as relevant be put before both Houses for a decision before the parliamentary Committees on the draft strategic review parliamentary building works can commence. recommendations. [HCWS839] The sponsor body’s strategic review was completed in late 2020, and in the early part of 2021 has been going through a period of engagement with the Commissions of both Houses of Parliament. It has been published today. The review has considered all the evidence available, including previous investigations and reports and new EU-Great Britain Import Controls evidence from surveys and submissions to the review. It recommends new approaches to completing the restoration while minimising costs—and provides a clear direction The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the next stages of the work. for the Cabinet Office (Michael Gove): On 31 December last year, the UK left the EU’s single market and The review recommends the adoption of a set of customs union. This was the biggest change in the UK’s “essential” and “stretch” objectives, to be endorsed by trading relationships for decades. The Government have the Commissions of both Houses. The essential objectives always been clear that this meant change for business will form the core deliverables for the programme, to and for citizens, including new processes and requirements. inform a “do essential” option in the detailed and costed restoration and renewal plan. The stretch objectives The first phase of such changes came in on 1 January. will offer greater ambition. The Government have put in place the staffing, The review found that by approaching the restoration infrastructure, and IT to deal with the situation. Thanks in a new way, with a phased approach to the delivery of to the hard work of traders and hauliers, we have not the works to the Palace of Westminster,the time Members seen anything like the generalised disruption at our and staff would spend in temporary accommodation ports which many predicted, and supply chains have could be kept to a minimum. While the detailed and shown themselves to be robust. costed restoration and renewal plan will set out specific However, the Government recognise the scale and timescales, the period during which works are taking significance of the challenges businesses have been facing place in the Palace of Westminster should be thought of in adjusting to the new requirements, at the same time in terms of years and not months. as dealing with the impacts of covid-19. The review found that Parliament’s northern estate, Last June, we announced a timetable for the phased within the secure perimeter,is the best place for temporarily introduction of controls on imports from the EU into locating MPs. Specific plans for these arrangements will Great Britain, to ensure businesses could prepare in a be drawn up in collaboration with Parliament’s in-house phased way. This timetable was based on the impacts of team, respecting recent decisions from the House of the first wave of covid-19. We know now that the Commons Commission regarding the sequencing of disruption caused by covid-19 has lasted longer and has works on the northern estate and in line with the been deeper than we anticipated. Accordingly, the developing parliamentary masterplan. Government have reviewed these timeframes. Members of the House of Lords will be located in Although we recognise that many in the border industry temporary accommodation at the Queen Elizabeth II and many businesses have been investing time and conference centre, and proposals for this will have at energy to be ready on time, and indeed we in Government their heart an objective to minimise costs. were confident of being ready on time, we have listened 43WS Written Statements 11 MARCH 2021 Written Statements 44WS to businesses that have made a strong case that they WetakethepatientsafetyconcernsatEastKentmaternity need more time to prepare. In reviewing the timeframes, services very seriously. The independent investigation we have given strong weight to the disruption which has will provide an independent assessment of what has been caused, and is still being caused, by covid-19, and happened with East Kent Maternity and Neonatal Services the need to ensure that the economy can recover fully. and identify lessons and conclusions. We are therefore announcing today a clear revised The terms of reference have been finalised now the views timetable for the introduction of controls, as follows: of the families affected have been taken into account Pre-notification requirements for products of animal origin and are published today on the independent investigation (POAO), certain animal by-products (ABP), and high-risk (Independent Investigation into East Kent Maternity food not of animal origin (HRFNAO) will not be required Services: https://iiekms.org.uk/) and NHSE website (www. until 1 October 2021. Export health certificate requirements england.nhs.uk/publication/independent-investigation- for POAO and certain ABP will come into force on the same into-east-kent-maternity-services-terms-of-reference). The date. terms of reference include the scope and arrangements Customs import declarations will still be required, but the option to use the deferred declaration scheme, including that are to be put in place to support its functions and submitting supplementary declarations up to six months confirmtheindependentinvestigationwillexaminematernity after the goods have been imported, has been extended to and neonatal services in East Kent, in the period since 1 January 2022. 2009, when the trust came into being, until 2020. The Safety and security declarations for imports will not be terms of reference include the scope and arrangements required until 1 January 2022. that are to be put in place and confirm the independent Physical sanitary and phytosanitary checks for POAO, certain investigation will examine maternity and neonatal services ABP, and HRFNAO will not be required until 1 January in East Kent, in the period since 2009, when the trust 2022. At that point they will take place at border control came into being, until 2020. posts. The independent investigation will draw conclusions Physical SPS checks on high-risk plants will take place at border control posts, rather than at the place of destination as to the adequacy of the actions taken at the time by as now, from 1 January 2022. the trust and the wider system and will produce a report Pre-notification requirements and documentary checks,including to be disclosed first to the affected families and then to phytosanitary certificates will be required for low-risk plants NHSEI as the commissioning organisation, and then and plant products, and will be introduced from 1 January to the Department of Health and Social Care prior to 2022. publication. From March 2022, checks at border control posts will take The work of the independent investigation is expected place on live animals and low-risk plants and plant products. to complete by the autumn of 2022 and arrangements Traders moving controlled goods into Great Britain will be made for the final report to be presented to the will continue to be ineligible for the deferred customs Secretary of State; Ministers will subsequently publish declaration approach. They will therefore be required the report to Parliament, and a response will be provided to complete a full customs declaration when the goods in due course. enter Great Britain. A copy of the terms of reference will be deposited in Controls and checks on sanitary and phytosanitary the Libraries of both Houses. goods are of course a devolved matter and we continue [HCWS840] to work closely with the devolved Administrations on their implementation, in particular with the Welsh Government on their timetable for completing supporting HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL border control post infrastructure in Wales. GOVERNMENT We will continue to engage extensively with businesses Building Safety to support them to adjust to the new requirements already in place and to prepare for the new requirements set out above so that they can continue to trade successfully The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and under the new arrangements. Local Government (Robert Jenrick): I have undertaken [HCWS841] to provide the House with a monthly building safety update. On 10 February I announced my five-point plan to HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE bring an end to unsafe cladding: 1. The Government will pay for the removal of unsafe Independent Investigation into East Kent Maternity cladding for leaseholders in all residential buildings 18 metres Services Trust: Terms of Reference and over (six storeys) in England 2. Generous finance scheme to provide reassurance for The Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention leaseholders in buildings between 11 and 18 metres (four to six storeys), ensuring they never pay more than £50 a month and Mental Health (Ms Nadine Dorries): On 13 February for cladding removal 2020 I confirmed in Parliament that, following concerns 3. An industry levy and tax to ensure developers play their raised about the quality and outcomes of maternity and part neonatal care, NHS England and NHS Improvement 4. A world-class new safety regime to ensure a tragedy like (NHSEI) have commissioned Dr Bill Kirkup CBE to Grenfell never happens again undertake an independent review into maternity and 5. Providing confidence to this part of the housing market neonatal services at East Kent Hospitals University including lenders and surveyors NHS Foundation Trust (the trust). We have committed an unprecedented £5 billion The review will be known as the “Independent investment in building safety. This will ensure taxpayer Investigation into East Kent Maternity Services” (the funding is targeted at the highest-risk buildings in line independent investigation). with long-standing independent expert advice. 45WS Written Statements 11 MARCH 2021 Written Statements 46WS

Remediation statistics will now expire on 30 June 2021, protecting businesses Today we have published the February 2021 data from eviction. This will protect employment as businesses release on the remediation of unsafe cladding and the reopen and many more individuals, including renters, monthly building safety fund registration statistics. can return to work. These data releases show we are continuing to make In addition, the Ministry of Justice will also lay a good progress on the remediation of unsafe cladding, statutory instrument to extend the restriction on the use with around 95% of all high-rise buildings with unsafe of the commercial rent arrears process by landlords. ACM cladding identified by the beginning of last year This measure will increase the total number of days’ now either remediated or started on site. Also, 100% of outstanding rent required for the commercial rent arrears social sector buildings and 84% of private sector buildings process to be used to 457 days between 25 March and have now started or completed remediation. Overall, 23 June, and 554 days between 24 and 30 June. This 74% of all identified buildings have removed their ACM measure will continue to provide protection to tenants cladding, an increase of 17 since the end of January. of commercial leases with rent arrears accumulated during the coronavirus period, while protections from Our expectation is that unsafe ACM remediation forfeiture for business tenancies are in place under the should be completed as soon as possible and by the end . of 2021 at the latest. Full details of our progress with cladding remediation can be found in the Department’s Accompanying restrictions on the service of statutory monthly building safety data release, which can be demands and winding-up petitions, implemented through accessed here: the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020, are currently in place until 31 March. We are conscious https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building- of the impact of those measures not remaining in place safety-programme-monthly-data-release-february- while others are extended; the Government are therefore 2021. considering the future of these measures in the light of As at 11 March 2021, the building safety fund registration what has been announced today. statistics show that 978 decisions have been made on the The Government had previously announced that the basis that sufficient supporting information has now previous extension until 31 March 2021 would be the been received. Of these, 624 registered buildings are final extension to these measures. However, this was proceeding with a full application and 354 have been before the discovery of the new UK variant of covid-19 shown to be ineligible. The total amount of funding and the national restrictions announced by the Prime allocated is £226.8 million (including social sector) correct Minister on 4 January 2021. These restrictions have at 05/03/2021. Full details can be accessed here: prevented many tenant businesses from being able to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remediation-of-non-acm- trade normally and have undermined negotiations regarding buildings#building-safety-fund-registration-statistics. rent arrears and ongoing lease terms because tenants Enforcement have lacked certainty regarding when they may be able to resume trading. This has necessitated the introduction I am also today informing the House of a change to of a further extension to give time for the current the contingent liability for the provision of an indemnity national restrictions to be relaxed and for tenants to be for the joint inspection team (JIT), as was previously able to negotiate with their landlords with some certainty set out in my Department’s statements and associated over their ability to trade and so pay rent and accumulated departmental minutes, Official Report, 11 December rent arrears, given some businesses will only reopen in 2018; Vol. 651, c. 9-10WS. and Official Report, 25 June June at the earliest under the Prime Minister’s road 2019; Vol. 662, c. 28-29WS. map. The purpose of the JIT has been to provide support We are aware of concerns that some tenants who to local authorities in making hazard assessments of could pay rent are refusing to do so, and of the potential high-rise residential buildings with unsafe aluminium impact of this on the commercial landlord and investment composite material cladding and then to provide advice sectors, and on specific sectors who receive much of to local authorities on enforcement action. The change their income via rent, including the ports sector. extends the cover provided by the indemnity to advice to local authorities on high-rise residential buildings However, the Government are clear that this measure with all other types of unsafe cladding too. is not a rent holiday: where a tenant is unable to pay in full, landlords and tenants should be coming together I am laying a departmental minute providing further to negotiate in good faith, using the principles set out in detail of the change to the contingent liability. the voluntary code of practice we published in June. [HCWS842] This recommends that those tenants who can pay in full should do so, those who cannot should pay what they can, and those landlords who are able to grant concessions Commercial Property: Rent Arrears should do so. This code of practice and approach was supported by a wide range of sector bodies representing tenants and landlords. The Government will be publishing The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, further guidance to support this code and help facilitate Communities and Local Government (Eddie Hughes): I negotiations between landlords and tenants shortly. am today informing the House that I have laid a statutory Beyond this point, the Government’s current position instrument that will extend the moratorium on commercial is to support landlords and tenants to agree their own landlords’ right to forfeiture for the non-payment of arrangements for paying or writing off commercial rent rent (section 82, Coronavirus Act 2020). The moratorium debts by 30 June. This is supported by the code of that was due to expire on 31 March 2021 has been conduct published by the Government last year, setting extended via statutory instrument by three months and out best practice for these negotiations. But if these 47WS Written Statements 11 MARCH 2021 Written Statements 48WS discussions do not happen and there remains a significant cases where the court is satisfied that the claim is against risk to jobs, the Government are also prepared to take trespassers who are persons unknown; further steps. cases where the court is satisfied that the order for possession was made wholly or partly on the grounds of antisocial We will therefore launch shortly a call for evidence on behaviour, nuisance or false statements, domestic abuse in commercial rents to help monitor the overall progress social tenancies or substantial rent arrears at least equivalent of negotiations between tenants and landlords. The call to six months’ rent; or for evidence will also set out potential steps that the where the property is unoccupied and the court is satisfied Government could take after 30 June, ranging from a that the order for possession was made wholly or partly on phased withdrawal of current protections to legislative the grounds of death of the tenant. options targeted at those businesses most impacted by These measures only apply to England and they are covid-19. We would welcome a broad range of feedback expected to end on 31 May 2021, as we transition out of to this call for evidence. emergency measures, subject to public health advice England, Northern Ireland and Wales are covered by and progress of the national road map. the protection from forfeiture provisions in the Coronavirus Longer notice periods Act. Section 82 relates to England and Wales, and the A landlord seeking to recover possession of residential Welsh Government have announced an extension until property must give notice to the tenant before they start 30 June 2021. Section 83 relates to Northern Ireland, court proceedings. We know that many tenants will who are also considering a similar extension. The Scottish leave accommodation at the end of their notice period, Government shall be implementing similar measures before the case reaches court. The Government laid under their separate legislation. yesterday a statutory instrument to extend measures in If a Member has any further inquiries by giving the Coronavirus Act 2020 that require landlords to notice of a parliamentary question or by otherwise provide tenants with six months’ notice, except in the raising the matter in Parliament, the Department will most serious circumstances. The statutory instrument be happy to provide a response. applies to England only. [HCWS844] This means that most renters served notice during April and May will be able to stay in their homes until October and November, giving them time to find support Residential Property: Evictions or alternative accommodation. Shorter notice periods will continue to apply for egregious cases, recognising the continuing effect these The Minister for Housing (Christopher Pincher): I wish circumstances have on landlords and the broader to update the House on the measures taken to support community. These cases include antisocial behaviour renters following the Prime Minister’s announcement of (including rioting), false statement, in certain cases of the roadmap for national restrictions in England. domestic abuse in the social sector, rent arrears over six To support renters as we move towards the lifting of months, where the tenant has passed away or where the most restrictions in June, the Government announced tenant does not have the right to rent under immigration yesterday that we will extend the ban on bailiff enforcement law. This approach provides balance for both landlords of evictions and the requirement for landlords to provide and tenants during the ongoing risk of covid-19, by six months’ notice when seeking possession of residential continuing to provide tenants with enhanced protections property. These measures will be extended to 31 May, to while allowing landlords access to justice quicker where continue to protect public health and minimise the proportionate. effect on essential public services. Exemptions will continue The Government will consider the best approach to to apply to both of these measures in the most serious tapering down notice periods from 1 June, taking into circumstances. account public health requirements, progress with the road map and the longer-term transition into our broader Ensuring that renters remain protected until the end programme of reform. of May, while national restrictions remain in place, will align with the Government’sbroader strategy for protecting Guidance and wider support measures public health and will continue to help reduce pressure We will update our covid-19 renting guidance for on essential public services as we start to move out of landlords, tenants and local authorities to ensure it lockdown. reflects the latest information. We will also update our The ban on bailiff enforcement guidance to support landlords and tenants in the social and private rented sectors navigate the possessions process. Legislation will be brought forward shortly to continue The Chancellor has also confirmed that financial to prevent bailiffs from attending residential premises support will remain in place, continuing to support to enforce a writ or warrant of possession except in the renters in paying their living costs. This will include the most egregious circumstances. support for businesses to pay staff salaries through the I am grateful to landlords for their continued forbearance coronavirus job retention scheme and the boost to during this unprecedented time. It will remain important universal credit, both of which have been extended until for landlords to be able to advance cases in the most September 2021. serious circumstances, and therefore exemptions will [HCWS843] remain for: ORAL ANSWERS

Thursday 11 March 2021

Col. No. Col. No. TRANSPORT ...... 979 TRANSPORT—continued Aviation Industry...... 979 Smart Motorways ...... 993 Bakerloo Line Extension...... 987 Topical Questions ...... 994 Cruises ...... 992 Transport Decarbonisation ...... 981 Cycling and Walking...... 993 Transport Devolution Deal: Cambridgeshire and Electric Vehicles ...... 986 Peterborough ...... 992 International Travel: Safe Restart...... 988 Transport for London: Funding...... 991 Investment in Rail: North of England...... 989 Transport Infrastructure Projects...... 982 Midlands Rail Hub ...... 989 Union Connectivity Review ...... 981 Ports: New Trading Arrangements...... 985 WRITTEN STATEMENTS

Thursday 11 March 2021

Col. No. Col. No. CABINET OFFICE...... 42WS HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL EU-Great Britain Import Controls ...... 42WS GOVERNMENT—continued Commercial Property: Rent Arrears ...... 45WS HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE...... 43WS Residential Property: Evictions ...... 47WS Independent Investigation into East Kent Maternity Services Trust: Terms of Reference.... 43WS HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL PARLIAMENTARY WORKS SPONSOR BODY ... 41WS GOVERNMENT...... 44WS Restoration and Renewal Programme: Building Safety...... 44WS Strategic ReviewPublication...... 41WS 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 Thursday 18 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 Thursday No. 188 11 March 2021

CONTENTS

Thursday 11 March 2021

Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 979] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Transport

Speaker’s Statement [Col. 1001]

Business of the House [Col. 1002] Statement—(Mr Rees-Mogg)

Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) (No. 2) Bill [Col. 1022] Motion for Second Reading agreed to Read a Second time Read the Third time and passed

Contingencies Fund (No. 2) Bill [Col. 1024] Business of the House—(Jesse Norman)—agreed to Motion for Second Reading—(Jesse Norman)—agreed to Moeny Resolution—(Jesse Norman)—agreed to Considered in Committee; not amended; considered; read the Third time and passed

Backbench Business International Women’s Day [Col. 1061] General debate

Concussion in Sport [Col. 1113] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Westminster Hall Covid-19: Community Pharmacies [Col. 201WH] Patients with Heart Failure [Col. 228WH] General debates

Written Statements [Col. 41WS]

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