Speeches by Fookes.

“Yes, that is fine. Irene, I was going to throw in my final question in this section to you as well— I feel like the Baroness has already answered a bit of it—so you can answer this and the previous question all together. What are the barriers, and then what are the challenges for the voluntary and statutory services su…”

“I agree with the hon. Gentleman, and I thank him for his intervention. That is exactly why the Government are taking action. I will come on to what the Labour Government are doing shortly. I was fortunate to meet Feargal Sharkey on the campaign trail. He endorsed my campaign, which means that I will be held to account.…”

“I thank all hon. Members for their contributions that demonstrate the strength of feeling in the House, especially from Labour Members, about the quality of our rivers, lakes and seas. We have had a tour, from Cornwall to Hexham, Whitby and everywhere in between. We heard about the idyllic sounding hidden river cabins …”

“I think we can safely say that Ofwat is already under review. In my mind, it has until 2030 to deliver everything that we want. We have an independent commission coming up, so I would say that the hon. Member’s new clause is not necessary. We should let the commission report and say what extra steps are necessary.”

“I thank the Secretary of State for his statement. I am delighted that Vantage Data Centres is working to build one of Europe’s largest data centre campuses in Wales, and plans to invest over £12 billion in data centres across the UK, creating 11,500 jobs. This is, of course, great news for our Government’s economic gro…”

“Does the hon. Gentleman agree that his Government had 14 years to reform Ofwat, during which time they did absolutely nothing?”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Vickers. I take the opportunity to welcome the measures in the Bill, particularly those in clause 1, and to thank the Minister for her really swift work. We know all too well the damage that has been done by water companies and agricultural pollution across the UK. Tha…”

“The reality is that Plaid Cymru Members are divided on this issue and are confused as well. Their colleagues in the other place supported provisions in this Bill to create a new commissioner with special responsibility for Wales, yet now the hon. Member is saying only devolution will do. Why does she think Plaid Cymru …”

“That is where the leadership from a commissioner or a Minister would come from, would it not?”

“On our transport policy in Wales, casualties fell by a quarter on 20-mph and 30-mph roads last year. Does the Minister agree that that will be of great comfort to schools like Osbaston in my constituency, and to parents like Rhiannon in Flintshire, who praised the scheme for helping to save her son’s life after he was …”

“Caroline, before I ask you the question, I just want to give a massive thank you to Age UK. Honestly, without your organisation, I do not know what my parents in England would have done a couple of years ago when they hit a bit of a crisis; your organisation was incredibly helpful. I have been the CEO of a women’s equa…”

“I have a question for you all. Have any of your organisations taken any steps to encourage older people to complain about ageist content?”

“I have a couple more questions. First to Rhian: your predecessor said she had approached IPSO to pressure them to include age in clause 12 of the Editors’ Code, and I know Carole has already touched on this. Have you pursued this and has there been any progress?”

“That is so true. My parents-in-law and my parents are all totally different. My mother-in-law is 98; she is incredible and can use the internet, whereas my dad never got around to it. Thank you so much everyone for coming here and a special croeso to Rhian, our commissioner from Wales; it is so lovely to see you. My qu…”

“Rhian, we have heard from you about the good, positive outcomes of having an Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, for example, the 26% pension credit increase in uptake in Wales, and all councils now have to have an older people’s champion, which is great; we have ours in Monmouthshire, I am delighted to say. Is ther…”

“I just wanted to raise public transport because we have not really touched on it. I live in such a rural constituency—a lot of Wales is incredibly rural—and public transport is so incredibly important with ageing parents, as driving becomes more difficult. Can any of you comment on how we are addressing older people’s …”

“I thank the Minister for coming to the House to explain what has been going on in relation to Storm Darragh. Like everyone I thank the emergency services, and I also thank Monmouthshire county council for all the work it did this weekend. Over 2 million households lost power this weekend, including a group of constitue…”

“I rise on Human Rights Day, the final day of the UN’s 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, to present a petition on behalf of my constituents on commercial sexual exploitation. Demand from men who pay for sex is fuelling and funding a brutal sex trafficking trade, yet our laws allow them to exploit women …”

“12. If she will take steps to educate children about the harms of commercial sexual exploitation.”

“I agree entirely. As we near the end of the 16 days of activism, it is really important that we continue to talk about commercial sexual exploitation, which is the exchange of money, accommodation, services or goods for sex acts. It has an impact on all young people’s lives, including in my constituency of Monmouthshir…”