Speeches by Smith.

“An estimated 265,000 homes have been empty for more than six months. There is nothing more frustrating to a street than an empty property; it brings the whole street down and potentially turns into more than one. I am sure we have all had casework on those frustrating situations. I am interested to understand what you …”

“I just want to go back briefly to what you said before and check that I have understood it clearly. You said that the ambition of delivering 180,000 homes for affordable rent as part of the programme was the target, but that it is now subject to the bids that are received. Or is it a requirement of the bids to still ac…”

“I congratulate my hon. Friend on this ambitious and much-needed plan. She met my constituent, Lorraine. Lorraine lost her daughter Milly and set up Milly’s Smiles, a charity that offers to families arriving at hospitals across the country a welcome pack of essential items to help them on their journey. I know that she …”

“Absolutely. I recognise my hon. Friend’s expertise: she worked in this area prior to coming to this place. Unfortunately, that statistic is no surprise, given the situation that children face in Gaza. This Parliament has repeatedly affirmed that human rights are universal, that the rights of the child are not suspended…”

“The hon. Member raises an incredibly important point. Children absolutely deserve the right to continue to have even the tiniest opportunity for some form of normality—something that helps them to imagine a world beyond the conflict that they are currently living in. I look forward to hearing from the Minister how our …”

“Unfortunately, the official numbers no doubt do not represent the full situation yet it is devastating to hear what my hon. Friend says. His intervention also points to a broader challenge, although it is not part of this debate, about the need for the international or global human rights order at the current time, and…”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered children and armed conflict. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stringer, and it is a privilege to bring this topic, which I know is an important one for many of my constituents, to Westminster Hall today. I open the debate with an uncomfortable statistic: t…”

“Another important factor in support for our brave troops is the provision of military clothing. The previous Conservative Government tied us into a contract whereby about 90% of Army clothing is secured through overseas suppliers, and a significant amount is secured from China. In my constituency of Hyndburn, the home …”

“15. What steps he is taking to support armed forces families.”

“Does my hon. Friend agree that under this provision, with the right economic drivers, there could be consideration in future for family-friendly trains—a service seen in some parts of Europe, where entire carriages are set aside for toddlers and children to travel in comfort, which might no doubt also increase the comf…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Western. My remarks will be incredibly brief, ahead of the Minister’s responses. To echo some of what my hon. Friend the Member for Truro and Falmouth said, as a representative of Hyndburn in Lancashire—which is currently not part of a mayoral combined authority—I look…”

“Does my right hon. Friend agree that while it is easy to debate who is getting it right and who is getting it wrong, fundamentally, we require a systemic shift in how we look at the problem, which is generational and intergenerational? Everything that she is outlining shows that we are taking a systemic view, to get to…”

“Q I spend about four hours a week on a train with a toddler, so I know well that inclusion on our railways is not just for those with disabilities, although that is incredibly important. I am interested in whether you think that the provisions in the Bill around accessibility are strong enough and will go far enough to…”

“The Reform county council is trying to delay our progression towards a mayor, which is deeply frustrating because of all of the things you have outlined, and much broader things as well, about the benefits of devolution. What benefits might Hyndburn get, without being part of a mayoral authority, as the Bill currently …”

“Q Ben, I want to come to your proposals around the duty to grow passenger use. Could it not be assumed that that runs throughout the Bill? Why do you think it is needed as an additional explicit provision? Ben Plowden: Clearly, in broad terms, GBR will be incentivised to increase passenger demand, not least because of …”

“As it says in the register, I am a member of GMB, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, and Community union.”

“Q In Hyndburn, we are less than 40 minutes from Manchester, but very proudly in Lancashire, obviously— Andy Burnham: We have no plans to annex you yet, but I will let you know if that changes!”

“Q In my constituency, we have a potential site for a rail freight terminal, and I welcome the commitment to rail freight growth in the Bill. As I understand it, GB Railfreight has invested in 30 new locomotives so far, and has raised more than £218 million of debt available for capital investment. Do you not agree that…”

“Q Do you think that duty could help to ensure that inclusivity is taken in the widest possible sense? I travel with my toddler, and there is a risk when I go to the toilet with him that he will hit the emergency open button and I will be exposed to the train. There is a conflict there: I absolutely recognise that disab…”

“Q I have a very short question about a slightly different area. John, I understand that you have worked across Europe and looked at different approaches across the world. In Finland, as I understand it, they have gone all out on family-friendly trains and ensuring inclusive access to trains in the widest possible sense…”