Speeches by Platt.

“I have a tiny question with regard to education and going back to working with the different Departments. I know that you outlined how that happens in the creative industries and sports. As a point for me to make, it is down to schools where we have seen a lot of success happen. I am going to mention Keely Hodgkinson a…”

“The Government have pledged £344 million over four years for the Olympics and Paralympics.”

“Can I add something and get your thoughts on this? You have mentioned working across Departments with Education. Health is obviously a huge aspect of this as well. In particular, with the creative industries, neurodiversity does play a part, which can be nurtured. If you are talking from an education level and how that…”

“What is the right balance between funding the elite sports, if you like, and grassroots sports that need the investment?”

“I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jen Craft) for raising this important issue, and I briefly want to mention my local authority. Since 2017, the number of children and young people requiring SEND transport has surged by more than 80% in Wigan, while the costs have exploded by 103%. To put that into perspe…”

“Many individual artists in places such as Leigh and Atherton have great difficulty in accessing funding streams. In many cases, the trickle-down from larger institutions does not work and holds back creative growth. Can the Secretary of State outline how funding will reach grassroots artists, empowering them to thrive …”

“11. What steps her Department is taking to help support the creative industries.”

“To go back to the evacuation, had artists started to leave Afghanistan before the Doha agreement was signed? We want to try to get a timeline.”

“Hi, I am Jo Platt. Thank you all for coming in this morning. I want to concentrate on the time of the evacuation and the rapid advancement of the Taliban, and my question is to Mohsen. How did the nature of the UK and US withdrawal impact the people you spoke to at that time?”

“I have a follow-up question about the UK Government’s response. They said that “open acknowledgment” of the preparation for “evacuations would have sent a message that UK were wavering.” How would you respond to that?”

“Mohsen, can I follow up on something you said earlier about the importance of the rich culture of Afghanistan? As creators who have worked in Afghanistan, you have told us about some of that rich cultural heritage. How had that cultural offer from artists in Afghanistan changed since 2001?”

“Caroline Gore, a 44-year-old mother, was tragically killed by her abuser less than four weeks after he avoided jail for breaching a restraining order. Although I welcome this Government’s commitment to halving violence against women and girls, does the Leader of the House agree that a minimum jail term for breaches wou…”

“My hon. Friend is making an excellent case on this important subject. I was deeply shocked to learn from Refuge that, in some cases, reports of intimate image abuse are not being taken seriously by the police force. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is essential for police officers to receive consistent, comprehensive …”

“It is a great honour to speak in today’s Budget debate. This is the first Labour Budget in 14 years, delivered by the first female Chancellor in 800 years, and it lays the foundation for local and national economic growth. Like many high streets across the UK, town centres in my constituency have faced serious challeng…”

“It is an honour to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Rosindell. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Cramlington and Killingworth (Emma Foody) for securing this debate so that we can discuss subjects that resonate deeply with our constituents. I wholeheartedly align with her position, which reflects my commitment as a…”

“I often say that, in order to move forward, we need to look back. With that, will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating Northwest Computer Museum in Leigh on showcasing the history of computers and inspiring the next generation, with education and new tech? Will she advise how best we acknowledge such organ…”

“Does the Minister agree that, when done right, public procurement can deliver positive change in our communities, especially given the poor state in which the previous Government left the public finances? What steps will she take to ensure that social value is properly embedded in our procurement frameworks, while deli…”

“14. What steps he is taking to reform public procurement.”

“The Wigan & Leigh short film festival, which took place last month, was once again extremely successful. It is a fantastic opportunity to gather like-minded creative individuals from the local area to celebrate and showcase up-and-coming talent from around the world. That is just one example of the enriched film an…”

“T2. If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.”