Speeches by Atkinson.

“The first national infrastructure assessment was in 2018. I believe that the final review of it was in 2023, which found that the last Government’s progress on its recommendations had been too slow, and they needed a long-term infrastructure policy. This Government are putting in an infrastructure plan. What other lear…”

“Derby North.”

“A barrier to the growth of data centres for AI is their need for power. Rolls-Royce in Derby is at the forefront of small modular reactors and micro-reactors. SMRs are small enough to be on or next to data centre sites, and micro-reactors are the size of a shipping container. Co-location would mean less vulnerability t…”

“I rise to speak to three points: free breakfast clubs, the clauses dealing with kinship care, and—having spent the past seven years managing a team of barristers on a public inquiry—the Opposition wrecking amendment. First, we all know that children who have breakfast perform better at learning, and—a bit like me—can b…”

“I spent seven years managing a team of barristers on a public inquiry, and I have some insight into the benefits and limitations of public inquiries. Does the right hon. Member really think that wrecking the Bill would lead to a single perpetrator being brought to justice or protect a single child from these despicable…”

“The evidence is clear on the real benefits that breakfast can give our children and young people. Secondly, the Bill requires local authorities to consider kinship care before they issue proceedings for a child to go into the care system. Avoiding taking children into care when it is safe to do so leads to far better o…”

“I just wish to say that, nearly a decade after the national independent inquiry into child sexual abuse was set up, it is high time that the victims who so bravely gave evidence see action.”

“Mel was out of work and homeless, but YMCA Derbyshire saw only her potential, not her disadvantage. Now, she is at Toyota and on track for a leadership role. Its working assets programme has a 70% success rate in supporting homeless young people into employment. How will the youth guarantee help the Government join up …”

“23. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the youth guarantee on young people in Derby North constituency.”

“Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Sussex Circus Fish Bar in Chaddesden for its 50 years of frying, and its owner Ronnie, who was two weeks old when his parents opened it? With one in seven of us choosing to have fish and chips for Christmas dinner, a debate on the enduring contribution of chippies …”

“indicated assent.”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Mark. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jen Craft) on securing this debate. Derby has the largest number of deaf people outside of London, which I am sure is in no small part because we are privileged to have the Royal School for the Deaf Derby. T…”

“I am certainly biased in considering Derby as a city that makes things, in terms of the wide talents that are there. How is the Department planning to address the skills crisis that we have in the rail sector?”

“Yes, thank you. What progress has been made on establishing a long-term rolling stock strategy? What relationship will it have to the Government’s planned industrial strategy?”

“Chair, I was going to move on to rolling stock if that is all right, unless anyone else had anything on electrification.”

“It would be fantastic to get something in writing with that detail. Do the Government intend to produce the criteria for how they are going to assess where to electrify next and in what order?”

“I would be hugely grateful for a follow-up answer just in terms of that detail.”

“Is that where they are going? They have gone from midland to trans-Pennine.”

“The practical work is finished at the moment. The only work is design work. When we now face such a huge delay until the end of the tendering process, what will happen to those companies and those skills?”

“You mentioned the midland main line. While there is still design work going on, I understood that the practical electrification work for the stage it was at has now completed, and the end of the next tendering process will not be until September next year. Has there been any work in looking at the risks to the supply c…”