Speeches by Baines.

“Last week was Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. I recently met my constituent Rob Denham to discuss the issues he has had with claiming the personal independence payment in the past—he compared the experience with being put on trial. Will the Minister assure me, Rob and all those suffering with MS that the review that…”

“Happy St George’s day, Madam Deputy Speaker. Alan Clark and a team of volunteers from the CAMRA award-winning pub Haydock Reading Rooms recently completed the West Highland Way, raising thousands of pounds for Clatterbridge hospital and for Ryan Lawrenson, who at just 21 was recently diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Will t…”

“Thank you very much. All this is known. This evidence is known; I have heard it in lots of different places. It is good to hear it from you so eloquently today. Do you think that that evidence—the scale of it, the weight of it, the importance of it—is appreciated across Government?”

“You have mentioned, in different ways, lived experience and the importance of hearing people’s stories. The Government are going to produce a baseline report in the summer—which might mean autumn—around a monitoring and evaluation framework. In your view, how should we effectively measure the impact of the strategy and…”

“Just expanding on that point, I am interested in what you said earlier, Alun, about your apprehension about the way some people use the term “disadvantaged”, what that means and the complexity behind it. In terms of the attainment gap and the effect on disadvantaged children, however we define that, do you think the Go…”

“Sir Charlie Mayfield suggested that we invite him back in 12 months to report on progress in developing the healthy working life cycle. What do you think we should expect to see by then, and what do you think we will see?”

“You have already mentioned the challenge with data and knowing exactly what is going on on the ground. Do you think the Government, and we generally, know enough about how child poverty affects different groups? In particular, I am thinking of those with SEND.”

“You have already mentioned the challenge with data and knowing exactly what is going on on the ground. Do you think the Government, and we generally, know enough about how child poverty affects different groups? In particular, I am thinking of those with SEND.”

“Yes.”

“How is the Department engaging with the Mayfield review and its implementation? In particular, what we are doing to ensure that any changes are beneficial and supportive, particularly for older people on lower incomes?”

“Do you see that as a priority for workers on low incomes in precarious employment?”

“I want to ask a couple of questions about the Mayfield review, but more generally, I get a lot of comments, as I’m sure we all do as constituency MPs, from people who are critical of or worried about the increase in the state pension age. Do you think that successive Governments, including this one, have done a good jo…”

“Sir Charlie Mayfield told us that we should not expect any tangible results for three to seven years, but we are hearing—and everyone is aware—that older workers now face ageism and disablism in the workplace. You have touched on this briefly in previous answers, but what is the Department doing now to help older peopl…”

“Young people are often unfairly criticised, but it is worth remembering that the vast majority of them are in employment, education or training. Those who are not deserve our support, and to be provided with opportunity, not the condemnation and ignorance that was all they got from the Conservatives in government, and …”

“The shadow Foreign Secretary said that this was “a moment for Britain to stand tall”, and I agree with her, which is why I was pleased to see the Prime Minister and this Government stand strong, instead of running blindly into another middle east war with no clear plan. Can the Minister assure me and the House that we …”

“You have probably already answered this, but maybe you want to sum it up. How well would you say support for carers supports the Department’s responsibility to help people plan and save for later life?”

“Thank you, everyone. There are about 4,500 people in receipt of carer’s allowance in St Helens, and what I have heard so far chimes with what I hear from them. Could you describe for me, in your view, the immediate and long-term financial impact of caring on individuals? Maxine, I know you have just co-authored a repor…”

“I was council leader at St Helens for five years before coming here in July 2024. I just want to say thank you to the Secretary of State and the Minister for Local Government, and the Ministers in post before them, for the engagement, because the relationship now is different from what it was before. The conversation w…”

“On Friday, I visited St James primary school in Haydock in my constituency, where, after learning about the dangers of knife crime, year 6 children are campaigning to install bleed control kits in their community, in case the worst ever happens. Can the Minister please assure them and all my constituents that this Gove…”

“This has been a very revealing debate in which Members on all sides of the House have made interesting points, but this matter has unfortunately become quite polarising. On one side of the debate, we have those who work with children and families and see the hugely damaging impact that the two-child limit has had. The …”