Speeches by Brackenridge.

“Will the shadow Minister give way?”

“The Conservative Government’s dereliction of duty meant that they failed to deliver 20,000 promised prison places, which exposes the hypocrisy in any Conservative claims to be the party of law and order. I welcome the new Government’s 10-year prison capacity statement. Does the Minister agree that publishing an annual …”

“Q To follow on from the question of my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash about security, I have a couple of things to say. Will you confirm the estimated benefit of the proposed business rate relief to small stores? Recently in my constituency, I accompanied my local neighbourhood police team to visit several stores o…”

“Q Thank you, Mr Gerrard. I am the Member of Parliament for cities and towns such as Wolverhampton and Willenhall, and we have a number of Co-ops and similar stores. I hear today that the Bill brings a welcome certainty and that the majority of Co-op stores will benefit from it. Co-ops and similar stores are important l…”

“Q Thank you for coming and sharing your views and experiences. Business rate relief is in the scope of the Bill. I am a former deputy headteacher who worked across state secondary schools. Private schools, I say, are businesses. I had to juggle reductions and constraints across the budget, with departments such as the …”

“Q My constituency of Wolverhampton North East does not have a city centre, but we have lots of cafés, brilliant restaurants, microbreweries and pub chains. What benefits will the Bill provide to those small businesses? Kate Nicholls: If the deduction is applied to the maximum, it will result in a significant reduction …”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Edward. I thank the hon. Member for Keighley and Ilkley (Robbie Moore) for opening this important debate on the sale and misuse of fireworks. Like many people young and old, I enjoy the magic of fireworks lighting up the night sky, bringing joy and wonder, and as a fo…”

“Like my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Adam Thompson), I will speak about the removal of the charitable tax status of private schools. I stand here as not just the Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East, but someone who has spent more than 25 years working in state secondary schools as a science teacher and a depu…”

“So it is clear to you—you have mentioned talking to headteachers, schools, and so on—that it is quite an inconsistent picture. Are you feeding into the curriculum review?”

“Yes. We have spoken about schools and a lot of the conversation has been about older children. What more could you do in your role—with support for early years educators and childcare providers—to help parents support children to not be so reliant on electronic devices at such a young age?”

“Would you agree that more or better training for teachers and support staff is important to ensure that through the curriculum we have digital literacy training that is consistent across all schools?”

“Our predecessor Committee’s inquiry into screen time found a lack of support for parents and schools to effectively manage children’s online presence. What should this new Government be doing to help parents and schools keep children safe online?”

“Interestingly, you mentioned the important role that Ofcom should be playing, and you spoke about a few strategies, but you mentioned the importance of pace at the start of this morning’s Committee meeting. How important is Ofcom being able to liaise with the tech companies to bring the pace of change that is clearly n…”

“The new Government manifesto promised to build on the Online Safety Act. What should that look like? Upon reflection and practice, where is the legislation lacking?”

“Post-16 outcomes for care leavers are a cause for concern, and this was highlighted in our predecessor Committee’s report in 2022 on children in residential care. What should the new Government be doing to better support young adults who have come through the care system?”

“I have a few questions on jobs and skills. How should PSHE—personal, social, health and economic education—be changed to better equip young people so that they have life skills ready as they navigate adulthood? As well as that, what additional support should be provided to schools to better equip teachers to prepare ch…”

“Years of inaction by previous Conservative Governments have led to vulnerable children feeling forgotten and councils being financially crippled. How will my right hon. Friend ensure that reforms truly prioritise children’s wellbeing and tackle profiteering at their expense?”

“I was shocked to learn that only 29% of adult social care workers are recorded as having received dementia training. With a diagnosis rate of 69% in Wolverhampton North East, and with many still undiagnosed, will the Government make time for a debate on making dementia training mandatory for all adult social care staff…”

“Like my hon. Friends, during the election campaign my team and I knocked on tens of thousands of doors and spoke to people struggling with the cost of living and to local residents genuinely worried about the future. They were worried about affording rent, about mortgage costs and about the path forward for their child…”

“This new Government’s Employment Rights Bill will help to overhaul workers’ rights, including by helping 30,000 new fathers to qualify for paternity leave. This will be much welcomed by many families as the statistics show that as many as two thirds of new fathers and partners who qualified for statutory paternity leav…”