Speeches by Asato.

“Finally, do available assessments need to change to drive change in these areas?”

“I hugely welcome the NHS 10-year plan, and its recognition that victims of domestic abuse are more likely to experience worse NHS access and worse outcomes, and will die younger. Domestic abuse costs the NHS £2.3 billion a year. Will the Secretary of State agree to work with Standing Together and other domestic abuse c…”

“We have heard that certain local authorities repeatedly breach SEND guidelines and regulations. Is the Department taking sufficient action to intervene and hold these repeat offenders accountable?”

“We also know that an increasing number of families, as I said, are turning to the SEND tribunal system, 97% of which are actually upheld. That is an extraordinary waste of valuable time in a child’s life, but also costs money both for the local authority and for the parents themselves. What steps can you take to preven…”

“Finally from me, local authorities have the responsibility for the delivery of SEND provision but have frequently lacked the power to do so, so they have not been able to open new schools, they have faced capital restrictions to expand existing well-performing schools and they have lost influence over pupil place plann…”

“The Committee received positive feedback on the Nuffield early language intervention, PINS, which you mentioned, and the early language support for every child programme. What plan does the Department have to scale these initiatives universally and sustain their impact once current funding ends?”

“Schools Week estimated that there are now 360 fewer full-time equivalent educational psychologists in 2023 compared with 2010, and over half of EPs feel unable to support children effectively due to their current workload. How does the Department evaluate the current deployment of educational psychologists and relevant…”

“Teaching assistants and support staff are also essential, as we know, in the delivery of SEN support, but often they may be the least qualified staff working with the highest needs students. What specific measures will the Department implement to improve their recruitment, training and retention?”

“We have heard from SENCOs that they are overworked, undervalued and isolated, as well as evidence highlighting incidents of head teachers and school leadership teams receiving training on SEND to ensure that fostering and inclusive culture is not the sole responsibility of SENCOs. What steps are you going to take to ch…”

“We have heard that there is significant concern from parents and charities and stakeholders about the future of SEND reform already. Some of this has included suggestions of removing EHCPs from pupils in mainstream settings, or a raised eligibility threshold or even scrapping the tribunal system. Many desperate parents…”

“No, thank you. I am sorry, but we have to make time for others. We know from other jurisdictions that it is disproportionately older and disabled people who would access assisted dying. These are two of the groups most vulnerable to abuse or coercion, particularly by strangers through financial abuse and cuckooing. Coe…”

“I did not start this process opposed to the idea of assisted dying, but having worked in the field of domestic abuse, I found myself increasingly concerned about how this Bill would impact on those who are most vulnerable to coercion and abuse. As a Labour MP, I reflected on why I joined the Labour party. It was becaus…”

“I rise to speak to new clauses 102 to 105 in my name. First, I thank the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for Pontypridd (Alex Davies-Jones) for her engagement on the issues I am about to discuss, and I pay tribute to UK Feminista, which runs the all-party parliamentary group on commercia…”

“Last weekend my hon. Friend the Member for Spen Valley (Kim Leadbeater) posted on X a story of two older people who wanted to die together, and who had found doctors to sign off their assisted death. Is my hon. Friend concerned that this debate might be romanticising suicide pacts given that, as we know, there are merc…”

“I thank my hon. Friend and I recognise the time constraints. On the issue of vulnerable groups, she may know that a letter has been sent about eating disorders but the spokesperson for the Bill’s sponsor dismissed it, saying that the concerns raised were old news. Does she agree that there is a problem with the way the…”

“On that point, will my hon. Friend give way?”

“Will my hon. Friend give way on that point?”

“I recognise that the situation facing my hon. Friend’s constituent is awful, but we are here today to balance such situations with the choices of people who may not be loved as dearly as him. Our concerns would be about the fact that many of these killings could be mercy killings, and if there is no recourse to the cor…”

“Will my hon. Friend give way?”

“NHS data suggests that almost a quarter of those aged 17 to 19 in England have a probable mental health disorder, such as depression or anxiety, but only 35% of post-16 students have access to a mental health support team. Full coverage will not be achieved until 2028 or 2030. What impact is that having on further educ…”