Speeches by Atkinson.

“8. What steps he is taking to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises are able to participate in defence procurement contracts.”

“Is the right hon. and learned Member as concerned as I am that the panel does not even need to consider looking at evidence from family, friends, or those caring for or treating the person? Is he also concerned that although the panel might be required to hear from the person, that will only be in exceptional circumsta…”

“3. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure that workers have necessary skills for the rail sector.”

“Derby is the centre of the largest rail cluster in Europe—an east midlands cluster employing 45,000 people. There is an incredible range of roles in the sector, from engineering to driving, digital to welding, advanced manufacturing to customer services, and many more. However, with a third of workers in the rail secto…”

“My hon. Friend will know that we have some incredible youth services in Derby. He has mentioned some, but there is also the local YMCA, the Derby Youth Alliance and DE23 Active. Does he agree that it is disgraceful how many other services have closed because of Tory austerity cuts?”

“Do you think more could be done in the guidance that the Department gives in enabling local transport authorities to make those decisions, but with greater direction from the Department?”

“We have youth concession schemes, but it varies from provider to provider and it can be quite difficult to navigate. I appreciate the return to local decision making and how important that is, but our young people have to access school and college. Is there something different that is not about local choice and much mo…”

“I have had young people and families say how hard it can be to cover the bus fare to get to college or school. Has the Department considered reviewing policies around concessionary fares to offer more consistent support for young people in education and low-income work?”

“Does protecting what we already have go far enough, when the aim is to improve it?”

“Does the requirement need to go further, identifying not just existing services but those that do not currently exist?”

“The requirement seems to apply only to existing services. For places like East Midlands, where we have seen 60% of our routes cut, how are you going to take the next step, measuring gaps where a service is socially necessary but does not exist?”

“We have heard evidence that the Bill is a bit vague about what socially necessary means. What do you think can be done to ensure that everyone knows what it means?”

“Can I bring us back to socially necessary services? The buses Bill will require transport authorities to identify socially necessary services within their enhanced partnerships. In what ways do you think that that requirement will improve bus services?”

“Is there something slightly different, though, about other measurements? It is about not just when things are going to arrive, but looking at performance data as well.”

“I think this has been covered, but it is about consistency of data. If different providers are giving slightly different data, it is just not usable. In your plan for one central data sharing, would it require the same data from everyone?”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Jeremy. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Marsha De Cordova) on securing this important debate. Our churches and religious buildings are so much more than the stone and bricks and mortar that they are made from, but if their walls and roofs fall …”

“Violence in prisons escalated for years under the previous Government, who left our prisons at breaking point. What is the Minister doing to bring down levels of violence in our jails?”

“Last week, this Labour Government announced the freezing of prescription charges, putting pounds back in the pockets of people in Derby. I have visited pharmacies, including the Littleover pharmacy, which provide essential care and support for their communities. The Conservatives underfunded pharmacies and more than 75…”

“Some car parking firms still believe that their code of conduct is enough—the code of conduct that they decide and that they police. Does my hon. Friend agree that we need a statutory code of practice so that car parking is straightforward, convenient and fair?”

“I completely agree. Firms hand out more than 43,000 parking tickets to motorists every day—one every two seconds. In line with what my hon. Friend said, I acknowledge the important role that private car parking plays, especially in our city and town centres. I want people to shop in our brilliant independent shops, suc…”