Speeches by Shanker.

“I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests relating to Rolls-Royce. By backing SMRs, which the previous Government failed to do, this Government are backing Britain, delivering stronger energy security and good, skilled jobs in Derby and across the UK. Does the Minister agree that, in…”

“9. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of small modular reactors on job opportunities. [R]”

“My constituents are fed up with getting fleeced by private parking operators, and this is an issue not just in Derby. The RAC expects a record 17 million fines from just the last year alone, costing drivers well over £100 million. This Government are right to stand up for drivers in Derby and across the country by intr…”

“Recently, I was proud to join EMR driver Ross and driver manager Peter in travelling from Derby to St Pancras. From the cab, I saw at first hand the skill, dedication and immense responsibility that every single journey requires of our dedicated train drivers. Friday’s crash has tragically demonstrated the scale of tha…”

“It is shocking that, in some hotspot areas, 50% of convenience stores or vape shops are linked to organised crime. My constituents in Derby South are really fed up with that, and so are legitimate business owners. Does my hon. Friend think it is time to crack down and shut down these dodgy shops once and for all?”

“Unfair terms on retirement village leases are leaving grieving families in Derby trapped, facing huge exit fees while extortionate service charges rack up on their empty properties. Will the Minister support those families by addressing the unfair terms that they face when a parent or loved one passes away?”

“From Denby Pottery to Royal Crown Derby, soaring energy costs are hitting our ceramics industry hard, putting more skilled jobs at risk. I welcome the recently announced ceramics support package, which will help bring costs down, but can the Minister confirm that he will work with colleagues across Government to ensure…”

“From Denby Pottery to Royal Crown Derby, soaring energy costs are hitting our ceramics industry hard, putting more skilled jobs at risk. I welcome the recently announced ceramics support package, which will help bring costs down, but can the Minister confirm that he will work with colleagues across Government to ensure…”

“Sexual assaults and harassment on trains have risen by more than a third over the past 10 years, yet too many trains and stations still lack adequate CCTV. That evidence gap lets criminals evade justice and fails victims. What steps are the Secretary of State and his colleagues taking to improve CCTV coverage across th…”

“You say that you have done some modelling. What figures come out of that?”

“What were the figures from your modelling?”

“We have heard that the proposed EV excise duty scheme might be the right policy but at the wrong time. Is introducing this new cost while trying to encourage more take-up a bit premature?”

“Q9. Derby is a manufacturing powerhouse, but too many people in our city have not felt the benefit of that success. That is why tomorrow we are delighted to be launching Team Derby with our East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward. Does the Prime Minister agree that with our brilliant Chancellor and our Labour Government backin…”

“The OBR has estimated that, taking into account the policies that incentivise take-up over the forecast period for eVED, there will be a net decrease of 120,000 vehicles. How does that affect the Department’s planning of the transition?”

“Electric vans are selling at only about half the rate required to meet the original ZEV mandate targets—last year, I think that 9.1% of new registrations were electric. What is the biggest barrier to electric van adoption? Is a new policy required to accelerate take-up?”

“Moving on to HGVs, the Government has launched a consultation on the new regulatory framework for HGVs and plans to publish two new strategies—the coach infrastructure strategy and the zero emission HGV strategy. What measures need to be included in these strategies to make them work?”

“Last month it was brilliant to see Derby, the home of rail, host the Community Rail Network awards, recognising the fantastic work people do on behalf of their communities and the railways, and welcoming over 600 people to our city. I saw that dedication at first hand when I went litter picking with volunteers at Peart…”

“We have spoken about many digital tools, apps, route planners and real-time information, and how important they are to get behaviour change. How do we do that without excluding those who are not as digitally confident as others?”

“Is better integration a way to bring about behavioural change, or will efforts to change behaviour lead to better integration?”

“In Derby and Derbyshire, 71% of habitual knife carriers are aged 25 or under. Does the Minister agree that, in Derby and throughout the country, we need to provide a tailored support package so that we can break the cycle of young people’s involvement in knife crime and keep our communities safe?”