Speeches by Alaba.

“In terms of other sectors, how do you feel the Department is set up to support them?”

“Yes; apologies, Chair. I want to also declare an interest. I was from the creative sector before I came into this House. I own a creative agency and run grassroots music festivals.”

“The industrial strategy is obviously very important to the Government. If you look at the areas that underpin the industrial strategy, areas like sport and heritage are missing from that, and even tourism as well. Is there any reason why those areas are not necessarily referenced?”

“In July, you came into the role. How did you feel the Department was positioned to take on board the direction that the new Government want from it?”

“Brilliant. Moving quickly on to the freelancers in the creative industries, as you know, those industries are underpinned by freelancers and creative people. What is the Government’s view as to how they can support that catalyst for change, that catalyst for creativity, that catalyst for new dimensions within industry?…”

“Thank you for that. Late payments is sometimes an area where freelancers feel they may not have a voice as such because they want the next gig, they want the next contract. It is a very symbiotic world, certainly in certain niches. I would definitely implore that the late payment aspects be front and centre as well.”

“Thank you. There is one last thing I wanted to ask you regarding grassroots music. Big arenas are being asked to support smaller grassroots venues. Do you feel that the large arenas are taking it seriously? Do you think that they understand the position and the role they play in the food chain of music and concert prod…”

“This Budget represents a huge step towards restoring the vibrancy and potential of my constituency. The commitments in this Budget will support our hospital and health services, revitalise trade and hospitality, and knit the community closer together. Over the past 14 years, our public services have been neglected and …”

“I pay tribute to all hon. Members who have made such brilliant speeches today. I pay particular compliments to the Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Thamesmead (Ms Oppong-Asare), for supporting me on my journey into politics. I do not come from a political background—I come from a military and self-empl…”

“My hon. Friend’s result was declared 20 minutes after mine, and we became Southend’s first black MPs. It is really important to talk about reframing narratives. Black history has too often been seen through the prism of the transatlantic slave trade and the American civil rights movement, so I want to talk about how bl…”

“I thank the hon. Member for Mid Leicestershire (Mr Bedford) for securing this debate. This is a matter close to me because my background is in the hospitality sector. I spent 23 years running and owning bars, pubs, restaurants and festivals, and I provided consultancy services to the industry. In my role as the MP for …”

“T6. In Southend East and Rochford, the Freight House and the Kursaal sit vacant. In times gone by, my community used those sites greatly. We cannot allow buildings with such cultural capital potential to sit vacant. Does the Minister agree that the regeneration of cultural sites such as the Kursaal and the Freight Hous…”

“I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Derby North (Catherine Atkinson) for securing the debate, which is incredibly important to me and my constituency of Southend East and Rochford. When we talk about high streets and city centre regeneration, we are talking about so much more than just the retail industry. The ripple…”

“I commend and thank hon. Members for all their brilliant maiden speeches. It would be remiss of me not to draw on the speech of my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich (Sarah Coombes); this month is Black History Month, and those, like me, of a certain vintage, will remember that West Bromwich Albion in the ’70s pr…”

“I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Lowestoft (Jess Asato) for arranging this debate. It is great to see so many MPs from the east of England present to discuss such an important issue. It is something that has come up time and again during my time as a youth mentor, school governor and behavioural mentor. My hon. Fr…”

“I commend the hon. Member for Chelmsford (Marie Goldman) for a great speech. I know Chelmsford well—it is a beautiful town—and I commend her passion for supporting young people in schools and their journey, which is very important and something that we need to protect. Thank you, Ms Ghani, for allowing me today to make…”