Speeches by Hamilton.

“I am going to be awkward. I worked in local government for many years, where we talk about co-production and listening to people. I need you to tell me how we measure all that to say, “Government, you are not doing this, so we cannot achieve that on the ground.” We keep talking about it, but please help me to understan…”

“To follow on from Beccy, I will be talking about under-represented communities. Those are communities that are under-represented or marginalised—rural communities, black and Asian communities and what have you. In all the work you have done, what have you found to be the challenges in reaching more rural and ethnic min…”

“I have always been a massive advocate for all medical and nursing staff, and I absolutely understand what a difficult job our healthcare workers do, but given that flu is running rampant across the country and most NHS staff—including resident doctors, but also nurses and other staff—are suffering at this moment, will …”

“Is it funding that is lacking here?”

“I think we should leave it there. That is a good place to stop.”

“We know that the communities are there, that they are rural and that they do not speak English as a first language—you have that issue in Manchester. How are you engaging them?”

“A constituent of mine with severe health needs recently told me that she gained employment only after she was able to learn to drive and then secure a car through the Motability scheme. Can the Minister set out what further steps the Department is taking to ensure that disabled people with health needs receive the supp…”

“As someone who has had the pleasure of working with the chief constable, I can say that he is a very considered man. Having said that, as an MP who represents the adjoining constituency, I was given absolutely no information about what was going on. Can the Minister assure the House that lessons will be learned and the…”

“Jury trials allow ordinary citizens to participate in the justice system—which many groups simply do not trust—ensuring community representation and transparency. Can the Minister explain how citizen involvement can be continued, so that we do not see additional miscarriages of justice as a result of influence from per…”

“12. What steps he is taking to support people with health conditions into work.”

“I welcome last week’s Budget, which finally, after 14 years of Tory neglect, puts the people of Birmingham Erdington first. On our NHS, I was delighted to hear that the Chancellor announced further efforts to shorten NHS waiting lists, including an upgrade to Stockland Green primary care centre in Birmingham Erdington.…”

“I agree with the Government that we desperately need to tackle illegal migration. I hear that on the doorsteps, and I see it in my mail each week in Birmingham Erdington. How quickly after the changes come into force will the Government ensure that safe and legal routes are in place? That will be key to stopping the bo…”

“Good morning. My question is on the activities themselves. The chief medical officer wrote a report in 2023 talking about an ageing society. What interests me is that he felt people needed to exercise for at least two days a week. Then I read that you, Professor Todd, had performed a systematic review on what was going…”

“I would not go as far as that. I see some people around this table have got addicted to exercise. Fortunately, I am not one of them. I used to do parkrun every Saturday, I swear. I have the card; I have the evidence. But once I stopped, I did not miss it. I really did not, but I thoroughly enjoyed doing it at the time.…”

“I did enjoy it.”

“I am going to stop you there because I will run out of time. I want to ask Professor Orton about certain groups. What are the opportunities for expanding access to exercise for older groups from both under-represented communities or marginalised groups? In somewhere like Birmingham, a super-diverse community, it is nev…”

“How do those groups get linked in? If you were going to give any advice while you are talking to us now, who would you say are the key people in getting people into these groups?”

“What would be the one thing you would like to see so that does not happen?”

“Finally, as somebody who is an expert in public health, how have the funding cuts in public health really caused problems in some areas? You struggle to get people in those areas because the funding is removed, so where you would once have worked with local churches, mosques, synagogues and what have you, where you wou…”

“On what they need to do.”